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Lumiose in the summertime is Philippe’s longtime least favorite season of hrs city and he selfishly takes every moment he can of comfort in the Rust Syndicate’s frigid air conditioning. Every grunt on staff is currently clamoring and running out to the front courtyard to congregate around to bear witness to Corbeau’s next wild scheme. Philippe steps out into the sweltering blaze through the crowd of grunts and lets out a gasp of disbelief.
Wrapped in Rust Syndicate’s dripping signature branding is a white van blaring a happy twinkling jingle from it’s music box. The words on the top of it’s graphic banner reads, “ICE CREAM - SNOW CONES - SNACKS - COLD DRINKS”. All plastered around the front of it’s serving window is colorful and enticing signage depicting the truck’s respective tasty offerings. It’s a dream that is almost too good to be true.
“Boss, you cannot seriously be telling me that thing is real.”
“Oh but it is!” Corbeau says while flicking his hair. “I’ve got it’s permits and everything!”
The grunts are ooh-ing and ahh-ing in wonder. Corbeau is dressed in a long sleeve white button down and a bowtie with a purple and white vertical striped apron. He’s wearing the silliest little paper hat Philippe has ever seen him wear. Philippe bites back the gentle laugh that's trying to escape from his throat.
“What are we going to do with it?”
“I’m SO glad you asked me that, my dear Philippe. We’re going to take it out to the city and give out free ice cream!”
Philippe makes his way into the truck and observes the space inside. It’s packed with freezers and coolers and just barely wide enough for him to make a full turn around. The ceiling is incredibly low and he finds himself needing to duck his head in certain parts as to not concuss himself on the truck’s air conditioning units.
Philippe opens one of the massive freezers that takes up the space, it’s jam packed to the gills with tubs of ice cream, pre-packaged cones, popsicles, and bars. A tiny Vanillite in the corner chirps awake and opens it’s angry glaring eyes up at him.
“Sir… are you aware there is a Vanillite in the freezer?”
“Oh yeah, that’s just Big Jeremy. He comes with the truck.” Corbeau says nonchalantly. “Just don’t keep the doors open too long, yeah? He’s a little biter!”
Draped over the driver seat is Philippe’s new uniform. Oh the things Philippe would do just for his beloved Boss and seeing to the execution of his most wildest ideas. This one is something they've shared together for a long time that's finally seen the light of day.
“Count yourself lucky that I know how to drive a stick shift.” Philippe chuckles.
They took the tactical advantage of parking right next to the city library and to the side of the Syndicate building. Lumiose unified school district and their field trip’s storybook reading time would be over at any second and every child in the city would be trampling their way outside.
“You think we’re ready, boss?”
Corbeau leans in to give him a mint-chocolate chip coated kiss and beams with a cheerful light more powerful than the summer sun.
“I am now!”
Philippe feels the bundle of nerves inside him quell. Soon enough, the sounds of excited cheers and screams as the children stampede to surround their van.
“Free ice cream for everybody!” Corbeau announces over the truck’s intercom.
‘Yippie!! Hoo-raaaay!!’ goes the young crowd.
“Can I get a chwocklate cone please!” says the first child that’s excitedly jumping up and down.
“Coming right up!” Corbeau says.
Philippe is on cone duty, and he finds an oddly relaxing and meditative pace of carving out stainless steel scoop into the frozen tubs of flavors and making the final touches of sprinkles and toppings. Corbeau is handling the controls of snow-cone machine making the ice shavings with Big Jeremy and dousing it’s shavings in colorful syrup.
It’s been a little too long since since they last worked side-by-side like this. It’s always been a feeling of deep comfort for Philippe to physically work beside Corbeau and it's what makes everything they do together feel all the worthwhile.
They both pose with smiling children and their parents and school teachers. This is what the Rust Syndicate’s principles was truly about, serving the community and the city they love. Scolipede is outside entertaining the children that climb on her back until she grows tired and crawls under the space under the truck to take a nap. Soon the rush of the crowd dies down just enough for Corbeau and Philippe to take a moment to tidy up the truck.
“We might run out of napkins, Boss.” Philippe says, while taking stock of their inventory.
“We can pick up another box while we’re still near office before driving to our next stop.”
Corbeau’s Garbodor and Gyrados and Philippe’s Skarmory and Scizor make well work with tidying up all the sticky mess of wrappers and trash. The place is completely spotless and in fact, looks even better than when they first arrived. With everybody brought back inside their Pokeballs, they’re all done and ready to take off.
Corbeau is outside of the truck in the middle of shmoozing his charms through an interview with the local news station. Once the news caught word on social media, they where lightning fast to deploy their own van and followed them all the way from the library to Bleu plaza.
“So what you’re saying everything on this truck is actually free?!” She exclaims while conducting the cameramen around the truck.
“Sure is! We’re just out here giving back and doing our part to help Lumiose fight this blasted heatwave.” Corbeau says.
“How sweet is that?! Thank you, Rust Syndicate! This is Shayla reporting live from KT-L5 and now right back to you in the studio!”
Philippe and Corbeau are in the middle of handing out cones and bars to the news crew that’s breaking down and packing up their production when Lumiose’s police entire force begins tromping their way out of the station and into the plaza.
“Uh-oh, Boss. Looks like we’ve got some trouble.” Philippe says while turning off the truck’s music box.
“Let’s keep things real nice and cool then.”
The hardened and gristly police chief is leading the charge as they approach. The mustached man stops in front of the window bristling with years of hostility.
“Well well, what are you boys up to now?!”
“Heya Chief, long time no see!” Corbeau grins leaning over the counter.
“Do you got the permits for this thing?” He says, lowering his aviator sunglasses to inspect the truck.
“Sure do, chief,” he says while handing him a massive 3-ring binder. “Everything you need to know about my truck is right in this here binder.”
One of the wide-eyed rookies pipes up, “Is it true you’re both giving out free ice cream?”
“Sure is.” Philippe says.
The chief chastises and shushes the rookie while flipping through permits, documents and the manuals of their freezers, equipment, and generator. He’s looking increasingly disinterested and increasingly sweaty. His Houndoom doesn’t seem care and wags her tail happily at the sweet smells of treats emanating from the truck.
Another officer speaks up, “Awwwh, c’mon chief. We’re all out dyin’ of heat in our uniforms today. Pleeease?!”
“Alright! Just keep being a good neighbor and stay on your side of our plaza away from my station and we won’t be having any problems.” The chief says while slapping the binder back into the counter. “Get me one of those silly Pikachus with the bubblegum eyes and a poke-cup with whipped cream for my girl.”
With the police station satisfied and out of their hair. Corbeau and Philippe take a moment to catch their breath while holding each other's sticky hands in the front seats of the van with the air conditioning blasting.
“That was amazing.” Philippe laughs aloud.
“Hah! Never seen them all so happy to see us before!”
“Let’s hope it lasts, yes? Nothing wrong with a little sweet persuasion.”
They have enough inventory for another stop and Philippe’s eyes go wide at the last destination Corbeau is typing into the GPS. Corbeau’s eyes twinkle with mischief as he steals a little kiss.
“Oh, Boss. Those two are going to be so pissed off with us.”
Philippe is barely parking the van on Vert street while the crowd of people that's been chasing them from Centrico Plaza begins to surround the truck. They’re already at the window serving up the crowd as fast as they can to control the line. Big Jeremy is there and gently blasts the crowd with icy chill to keep their cool. They’re going to quickly run out of inventory at this pace.
From the other side of the street he can see Nouveau Café’s truck and an incredibly confused Grisham and Griselle. Their thirsty patrons are trying to quench themselves with their ice coffees and teas and they all all turn their heads before making their way over to the Syndicate truck. Griselle takes both of her fingers to flips them bird when Philippe makes eye contact.
Corbeau is practically giggling with excitement while serving up the crowd. Grisham and Griselle make their way and cut through the line. Scolipede and Skarmory stand their guard and puffs out their chests at them.
“Since when do you two own an ice cream truck?” Grisham says, adjusting his glasses to look over the menu.
“Why should we give a fuck, Grisham? They’re here stealing all our paying customers. You two meatheads better move your shit!” Griselle scowls.
“So what are you averaging making here with this operation?” Grisham says while slightly peering open his eyes.
“Nothing. It’s all free!” Corbeau smiles with charm.
“I’d love a Charizard character pop,” he says while pensively rubbing his chin.
“What the hell, Grisham?!” Griselle huffs.
Grisham rips off the plastic wrapper and bites into the ice cream bar. He gives his thanks with a gentle over-the-shoulder wave before walking back to Nouveau Café’s truck. Some of the café regulars have since dispersed back to their usual spots to enjoy the uncommon team collaboration of ice cream with their coffee.
Griselle rolls her eyes, “Tsk! Whatever! Just get me an extreme fire Cherubi ice pop.”
After a few hours the day's rush begins to slow down. Corbeau's counting out the tip jar, something that several patrons insisted upon on making a jar for them to leave tokens of their appreciation behind and pockets the wad of cash into his apron. Corbeau steps out of the truck at one point to grab an ice coffee for himself and Philippe from Nouveau Café’s truck. He tips them handsomely for their troubles to ensure they're still amicable and that the two baristas won't be tampering their future coffee orders with handfuls of Hoennian Salt.
Daylight begins turn to dusk. Most of their inventory is long gone after passing out whatever else is left and with that, they drive back to the Syndicate.
Back at the office, the pair are chatting away about the day's events while breaking down the truck to finally head home for the night. Corbeau's making a lewd gesture with a popsicle on the tip of his tongue and in his mouth while sitting on top one of the freezers.
"Beau!"
"What?! I'm just cooling off after a long day's work!"
"C'mon, you're making a sticky mess, I just cleaned that freezer." Philippe says while nuzzling into his boyfriend's sweaty neck and wipes off the freezer again.
"I'll show you a sticky mess!"
Corbeau sticks out his tongue stained with purple food coloring. Philippe brings him in to share a steamy kiss. Corbeau melts and wraps his arms and legs around Philippe as they tear off each other's aprons and hats.
"Let's go home and both cool off together with a shower, my love."
"Now that sounds like a real treat."