It had taken forever to escape the crowds of fans after his performance. Silver hair and red eyes were not common in Hoenn, and that made him all the easier to spot while in the middle of Splashfest, especially now that Teravolt had become even more popular. His only saving grace was that they hadn't chosen to deliberately model the band after their own faces, Callan needed that privacy, especially now, since he wanted to spend time with Elly alone without distractions.

He received the text an hour after his last performance, playing every day had taken a toll on his fingers, even though he had enjoyed everything about it up until now. It helped, greatly, to remove the memories of Sootopolis from his mind, and he was hoping much the same when he returned to see Elinor by the sun. Taking on his glasses and feeling the sun beat down on his pale skin, he felt the red sting of a burn coming on to him, having neglected his sunscreen this morning, but nevertheless, part of him was happy to finally be able to set some time down and see her again.

He found Elly and her Bagon sitting down by a parasol, happily taking one of Laurence Anderson 's snowcones, he himself was dressed in nothing but a pair of shorts and a pair of cheap sandals he had purchased from a nearby tiki bar. Sneaking behind Elly, he peered over her sunbeach and leaned down to kiss her lips upside down, running his hands through her hair. "Hey Elly." He smiled. "What flavor's the ice cream?"

She had been somewhat lost in thought when Callan suddenly leaned down over her and kissed her lips upside down. Cheeks grew flustered and red by surprise.

“Hi Cal!” She replied, her smile trying to compete with the very one Callan send her. “It’s Aspear Flavored.”

The Bagon’s eyes shot daggers, and its mouth growled, combined it became a very SCARY FACE at Callan, though its effect might be lessened by the pink sunglasses she wore. She moved the Ice cream further away from him, fearing he might steal it just as he was stealing her trainer.

“Oh, calm down Minh. He won’t steal your Ice cream, right?” She sent a mischievous smile toward Callan. Wondering whether he would double down or play nice.




OOC: Mission thread for SUNNY DAY
LOCATION: SLATEPORT BEACH

Callan chuckled, his ears turning red watching her blush, he ran a finger against her cheek before he felt the ice cold chill of murderous intent from the Bagon. "Oh no, I'm not taking dessert away from such a mighty beast." He grinned, though still feeling the effects of its power. "Let me put my things down."

Callan slid his bag onto the seat beside Elly, it carried most of the essentials, only his clothes and his pick, in case he needed a change. The rest he carried in his pockets, and his guitar was being looked after for now. "I haven't had the chance to talk to you in forever." He said, sliding behind her and wrapping his hands around her waist. "How've you been Elly? How's council work?"

Elinor Anderson

Minh found no comfort in Callan’s words. He had already proved himself to be the trainer stealing type, what was a delicious desert compared to that? Still, her tension seemed to wane somewhat as Callan acknowledged that she was indeed a mighty beast.

Callan took the time to slide his back onto the seat beside her, while taking the opportunity to do a bit of sliding on his own, wrapping his hands around her waist as he slid behind her. Surely a position enviably by all his fans.

“It’s been far too long.” She nodded in agreement. “It’s been So So, you know how it is. Far too much bureaucracy and far too few big sweeping movements.” Elinor sighed. “But I would be lying if I claimed that I wasn’t expecting that.” She admitted.

“How have being a superstar been treating you?” She turned the question around, figuring it was Callan’s turn.




OOC: Mission thread for SUNNY DAY
LOCATION: SLATEPORT BEACH

Callan adjusted his position to snuggle in a more comfortable position for Elly, as he listened. With the dragon's anger abated for now, Callan gave his attention to her words, before answering her question.

It was hard to reconcile the entire experience in a way that he could really say, but he tried regardless. "Its like living a dream, I guess." Callan replied, smiling, "I realized there's nothing I loved more than people screaming the lyrics to a song I wrote as I jam out on stage. It's where I belong." Callan paused, "But of course, there's still the hardships that come with it, and the fact that a meteor's going to drop on our heads soon."

"When you talked about sweeping movements, what did you wanna do?" Callan began, genuinely curious. "Actually I also wanted to know why you took up the position too, it surprised me, but I also felt happy, when you got the job." Callan raised a whimsical eyebrow, "Hope it's not for job satisfaction, I imagine you'll be at a few cuthtroat meetings, if you haven't already."

Elinor Anderson

The focus on her comfort was appreciated, as she adjusted accordingly.

Callan’s tale was one she had heard before, not from him of course. But from people in similar positions. However, at the time she couldn’t appreciate those words. But now, coming from Callan they struck differently.

A somber tone was applicable when the meteor was mentioned, though it was quickly thrown out in favor of curiosity as Callan asked more questions.

“Well for starters I wanted to rouse the League from its state of inaction.” Though she knew very well that the League was putting in work, just not enough.

“But no, I didn’t take the job for the satisfaction,” Elinor replied, a chuckle lingering just at the edges of her smile before her face grew somewhat somber as she looked towards Minh the Bagon. “You know after what happened at Sootopolis, I’ve come to realize the region is not prepared for the future.” Elinor began. “We as a populace are sleeping upon a bed of laurels left behind by our predecessors, woefully unprepared to take the wheel when they step down.” She paused, to breathe and push away memories best left in the dark “I took the job so future generations will be prepared for what is to come.”

And as if realizing her politician mask had by accident slid upon her face, she halted herself. Mentally removed the mask and brightened up, as she looked toward Callan. “I know that assumes we survive the meteor.” She snickered. No use in falling into despair, right?




OOC: Mission thread for SUNNY DAY
LOCATION: SLATEPORT BEACH

Callan ran a hand through her hair as he listened. Sootopolis was a touchy subject for him, and he'd rather not go back to it, he had lost two of his Pokemon as well, though nothing so much as Elly, who had lost Gon, one of her most trusted partners as far as he knew.

"It's not, no." Callan agreed, his eyes growing dimmer as he thought about it. But it wasn't due to a lack of preparation, in his eyes, it wasn't for a lack of resources, it was because there weren't enough people willing to try, or willing to put themselves on the line. It was because everyone was stuck in their own heads, unwilling to prioritize, unwilling to see things for what they were, still thinking about the luxury of morality when the situation was that they would die, if nothing happened.

It pissed him off, but he didn't show it now.

"You'll make a great councilwoman, Elly." Callan remarked, looking into her eyes. "And we're gonna survive the meteor, we just need everybody to be aware of the situation." They had a plan, they had the means to do something about it, they had the capacity to avert the disaster coming for them.

Of course, it also meant putting everything else except their universe in danger, but Callan did not believe in unchanged fates. And right now, he needed to protect the woman in front of him and his daughter. Callan placed a hand on the back of her neck as he pulled her into him for a kiss. "Wanna go for a walk?"

Elinor Anderson

Callan’s gentle hand that ran through her hair kept her calm, perhaps even grounded, as she spoke. Even if their opinions differed on the cause, it seemed they agreed on the prospect of the future, even if their differing opinions weren’t made known to her.

His words comforted her. Gave her strength and belief in her ability to do what had to be done. And he was right. As their eyes met, she knew he was right. They would survive this. No matter the cost, they would survive. She would make sure of it. She wouldn’t lose him as well. “You are right. We will survive.” She acknowledged his words.

If only she had seen that which Callan had seen. Alas, she had not had the luxury of seeing the end of the world.

Callan pulled her into a kiss. She allowed her lips to lock with his for a brief moment until Callan found it proper to disengage and instead suggest that they took a walk.

“Sure, I'd love to.” She nodded enthusiastically and moved to get up. She looked towards the Bagon. It did not seem inclined to join them. “Minh, keep an eye on our things.” The Bagon gave a small nod and returned to its task of consuming ice cream and doing its best draconic impression of a guard-dog.




OOC: Mission thread for SUNNY DAY
LOCATION: SLATEPORT BEACH

Callan took her by the hand and kicked off his shoes, feeling the sand between his toes. In truth, he did not particularlike sand, it was coarse and rough and got everywhere.

But the sand on Hoenn beaches were nicer, soft, and the sun was a pleasant warmth rather than the endless beat of fire it had been the last month or so. "Do you like going to beaches often?" Callan asked, as he took them closer to the water's edge, then towards the line of water to let the sea wash between their feet. As they walked, their steps pressed into the sand behind, only to be washed away by the sea, but the trail there was present for the little while they were there.

It just dawned on him he knew very little about Elly, despite them having dated for a while, circumstances had cut short their actual knowledge of each other. He wanted to fix that. "What kinds of things do you like to do in your spare time, councilwoman?" He chuckled.

Led by Callan, Elinor found herself joining him in walking upon the sand. Feet bare, they slowly began to dig into the sand, only for them to be ripped up and moved a bit further forward, as one does when walking.

“From time to time yes,” Elinor replied as Callan took them closer to the water’s edge. She felt the salty sea water wash over her feet as they walked alongside the water line.

Elinor gave him a curious look as he referred to her as councilwoman. She figured he meant it in jest. But it did make it dawn upon her how little she knew of the man. “In my spare time?” She said as if the concept was foreign to her. “Oh, I don’t like to have a lot of that. But I suppose when I am not working or training I like to do stuff like this.” She gestured out towards the beach and sea. “Enjoying nature and all its wonders.” She paused for a moment, thinking about her next words. “Though I am considering if perhaps I should get a hobby, something I can do when the weather or time does not permit me to travel into the wilderness.”

“And what does a famous musician like you do, when you aren’t busy being fawned upon by fans?” She asked, her tone making it clear she spoke in jest. She found herself moving closer to Callan, almost to the point of leaning against him as they walked, but not enough to be a hassle while moving.

OOC: Mission thread for SUNNY DAY
LOCATION: SLATEPORT BEACH

Callan paused as she asked her question, Arceus there was a lot. "Oh... I don't have much time anymore." Callan replied, "Just from Teravolt alone, I have to do interviews, go to signings, participate in award shows, perform live, attend meetings with the record label, and make music." Callan began, "Then there's gym battles when I get the time to work on those, and after that, I still perform some ranger duties, less so now even as Meteno is coming in." A small hint of guilt could be heard through that particular sentence, but he chose not to delve on it too much.

"So when I have free time... Mm... I try to hang out with people I've promised to hang out with, make music, or train some of my Pokemon." He smiled, "Kinda like what we're doing now." As she leaned in, Callan embraced it, shifting his arm from her hand to her waist as he wrapped her beside him. "Let's go in the water." He suggested, "How's your stamina dear? Still able to make the Ranger standards?"

Her brow furrowed with worry for a moment as Callan spoke of not having much time. She worried he might be stressing too much. But at the same time, that was like the pot calling the kettle black. With her work week, talking about stress was the last thing she was supposed to do, and so she listened.

Once Callan finished speaking about his free time or lack thereof, she went in to lean against him more. She did mutter. “I know this is rich coming from me. But remember to take care of yourself as well, okay? Stress is a real thing.” She fully expected him to throw that comment right back at her.

And then Callan suggested they go into the water. She nodded. Going into the water sounded like a good idea. “I’d like to think my stamina is still up to par.” She replied cheekily. “What do you have in mind?” curiosity filled her voice.

OOC: Mission thread for SUNNY DAY
LOCATION: SLATEPORT BEACH

Callan pointed out towards an island in the brief distance, relatively small, mostly rock with an ourcropping of sand and a few bushels of wild grass that was mostly uninhabited. "A lot of people on the beach, we could swim over there and keep to ourselves for a bit." The unfortunate price of fame was that anywhere he wanted garnered attention and he likely felt Elinor was the same given that she was a councilwoman now.

Callan unclipped a Pokeball from his pocket, sending out Messi, his Cinderace and Lady, his Yamper. "Watch over our things and look after Minh, would you?" The Cinderace bolted upright in a mock-salute towards Callan, before hopping over to watch over Callan's things as his Yamper followed suit. "Buy an ice-cream for the two of you!" He yelled, as he watched his impatient fire hare leap over to snatch his wallet to spend frivolously. Callan pressed a hand to his neck, deciding to worry about that later.

"Shall we go for a swim?" He asked, before taking her hand and sinking her deeper into the water. If she accepts, Callan sinks into the waves into the waves, as the shoreline descends for crystal clear into a deep, lapis blue.