When I got out of high school, I expected a job to just naturally fall into my lap. I wouldn't call myself entitled or cocky, just massively misinformed. My entire school career was spent being showered with praise by teachers. They told me that I would have no problems getting a job, and to my impressionable mind this meant I should just sit back until my school days came to an end. How was I supposed to know that it would be much more difficult at fourteen years old? Hell, I was still in that mindset right up until my eighteenth.
The freedom was incredible for the first few months, and I could spend entire weeks at a time binging anime and TV shows while slowly turning nocturnal. However, the novelty soon wore off and I found myself wanting something that I'd never thought about before. Normalcy. I felt like a drifter, aimlessly wandering while simultaneously staying in the same place. All my old friends had learned how to drive, gotten not-so-glamorous jobs and formed new relationships while I was stuck at home.
Sure, you could call me lazy. I'm not going so far as to say I'd blame the school system, but I had always inherently had trouble interacting with others. That was the one thing I was told to work on by the career advisors, social skills. It was just much easier to limit my horizons and stay within the local area instead of diving into situations I wasn't comfortable with. One thing they had noted however, was my interest in Pokémon.
Here in Hoenn, there's a great focus on competitive battling. If you were to ask any kid who had grown up in Hoenn what they wanted to be when they were older, whether they lived in Verdanturf or Rustboro, the answer would be a professional Trainer. Not someone who just owned a couple Pokémon and battled for fun with their friends, but a full-blown traveller who took on the Gym Circuit. I'm honestly not sure why there's such an idolisation of battling here, but those high up in the ranks all have a massive competitive spirit.
I was slightly different though, in that I was more interested in the individual Pokémon themselves than how well they could pull off a Fire Blast or how quickly they could knock out an opponent. From my point of view, people tend to forget that they're living, breathing creatures with ambitions and personalities. All immensely different with their own fascinating quirks and habits, I did all that I could to devote myself to learning about them. Pokémon Biology and Psychology were the two reasons I stuck in with school for so long, letting boring stuff like mathematics and literature fall to the wayside.
So why the hell was it so hard to get a job? For someone who wanted to work alongside Pokémon instead of using them for their own gain, the options were limited. You could work in a Center, but then you'd have to go medical school for years and know how to treat a Charizard's exhausted flame sac without damaging its throat. You could work for Devon, developing innovative technologies, but then you'd have to devote your life to engineering.
Here I was, wanting some miracle job that involved getting to spend time with Pokémon and not too much interaction with people. The famous daycare in Mauville was nearly on the other side of the region, and my opportunities in Lilycove were limited. I wasn't prepared to don a flashy tuxedo and perform alongside a Gardevoir in a sequined dress. Contests couldn't be further outside of my comfort zone.
These thoughts swirled around my head feverishly while I let the warm water cascade over me. I somewhat hoped the troubling doubts about my future would be washed away and sent down the drain. Showers had always been some sort of strange respite from all the lounging around I did, where I would feel invigorated and ready to finally face the world. It was probably because I was at least getting something done, even if that was just simply getting clean. Everyone had to shower. Even Steven Stone had to shower. Usually, the minute I stepped out into the cold bathroom, the feeling would fade entirely.
At some point in the last week, I had realised that enough was enough and put up a small flyer in the local Mart and Center. It was practically a plea for any Pokémon Breeders or Trainers who needed help with their Pokémon to give me a call. I listed what little achievements and qualifications I had earned, hoping that my good grades in the Pokémon-related subjects would be enough. Apparently, that was as far as my drive went, and now I was just waiting for my phone to buzz.
As if on cue, I could just barely hear the embarrassing, upbeat ringtone over the rushing water. It was safe to have such a ringtone just because I was usually the only one who would even hear it. It was a good enough excuse to leave the heavenly warmth into the biting cold. Wrapping a huge towel around my waist with little concern to what it covered and brushing the sopping brown hair out of my face, I checked the cracked screen hopefully.
Was an unknown cell number truly flashing on my screen? The Beautiflies in my stomach began to flutter uncontrollably, which wasn't uncommon when I had to speak to a stranger on the phone, but there was just the tinge of excitement that caused me to answer without hesitation. Looking myself in the eye through the foggy mirror, I anticipated what kind of voice I would hear on the other end.
"Hey… is this Alex?" A calm, male voice responded. There was something about the way he spoke that was hard to place, but there was a confidence that meant he was comfortable speaking with clients through a phone. "I saw your flyer in the Mart, and I was wondering if I could ask you a little more about it."
"Uh… yeah it is." I said, my voice wavering nervously, as I chose to lean unceremoniously on the edge of the sink. "What do you want to know?"
"Y'see, my name's Thomas Brooks. I'm a breeder not too far out of Lilycove, and I was looking for fresh staff." He mused, oblivious to the rising shock coming from within me. "It says here that you got top marks in both PokBio and PokPsych?"
"Yeah, um, top in the region, that is…" I stumbled, surprised at my own accomplishments when they were said from someone else's lips. "The courses aren't taken that much, so it's not as good as it sounds."
"Don't gimme any of that, kid." He scoffed. "You should be proud of what you got. It made me interested in what you can do."
Was this really happening? This man saw the small, boring flyer that I had made with barely any ink left in the printer, and called. From the way he spoke, it sounded like he ran an actual business. That was rare in the breeding community, as most trainers or families would either catch a local Pokémon or take unwanted eggs from the region's daycare. Most popular breeders were extortionate in their prices, and only those serious about battling could afford to get a viable Pokémon bred.
"What I can do?" I asked. This is where the phone call would inevitably end, with me having to admit that I had no experience in a working environment.
"Let's see here…" He began, a certain drawl to his voice that made my heart slide up and sit like a stone in my throat. "Can you tell me the… breeding behaviour of male Swellow?"
"Well, I'm not too confident in my knowledge of Flying types, but I know that Swellow are especially prideful of their plumage…" I wracked my brain, barely missing a beat. "They'll often compete with other males through performances and tests of skill, and the female will breed with the one with the most vivid chest and longest tail feathers."
There was a question that was similar to the one he had asked in the final exam paper for Pokémon Psychology, but it featured Unfezant rather than Swellow. The behaviour of most male avian Pokémon was the same, where extravagant shows of their form and plumage took the place of fights for dominance. It helped that Swellow were native to Hoenn, but I wasn't expecting such a question.
"Damn…" I heard a shrill sound that must have been a whistle pierce its way through the phone's speaker. "That's spot on and there's no way you would have had the time to Google it."
"As you can probably tell, I spent more time with the books than I did other people." I let out a nervous laugh, shoulders relaxing a little now that I had answered his question correctly.
"Clearly." He noted, clearing his throat. "Now, I'm not going to hire you based on that small piece of knowledge, but I'm willing to meet up with you so we can hash something out. When's a good time for you?"
I didn't want to admit that my plans for today involved re-reading some old manga and eating cereal straight from the pack in my boxers. Now that I thought about it, there was no way you could even try to put a positive spin on that. Maybe it could've been healthy cereal? Just thinking of the sugar-filled multicoloured ensemble of 'food' that was waiting in the kitchen put a stop to that question.
"I'm free today, so whenever you want to discuss things is fine." I said, settling on that vague explanation. Sometimes, it was better than telling the truth.
The rest of the phone call consisted of mostly location details, which was hard to pay attention to with what felt like Mount Chimney itself erupting inside of me. Maybe everyone should just sit around waiting for random breeders to give them a call. There was one thing I knew for sure, I was definitely going to buy a lottery ticket on my way to his ranch.
"I'm looking forward to seeing you in person, Alex. I expect great things!" He proclaimed, and I could practically see the grin on his face. "Oh yeah, you'll probably be meeting the other staff too, so look presentable."
With that, the phone went dead silent, leaving me with nothing but the realisation that I could have a job by the end of the day. Goodbye were the days of avoiding social media because everyone seemed to be doing more interesting things than me. Hello to having to wake up at reasonable times. Ah, the ebbs and flows of life.
.-.-.-.-.-.
After trying to make myself look as professional as possible, which was really just wearing jeans instead of sweatpants, I set off for the ranch. Thankfully, it was only about a thirty-minute walk from the outskirts of Lilycove. If it was any further, then my lack of a car and driver's licence would be a glaring problem. For now, it just stayed as a mild inconvenience. There was no way I was going to beg my big brother to drive me into the ranch every day.
The sun was high in the sky when I arrived at what must have been the ranch. It was hidden away in an area of Route 121 that I had never seen before, despite spending most of my childhood exploring all its nooks and crannies. The heavy scent of sea salt was still present here, even though the ocean was nowhere in sight. It was something that I had grown accustomed too, almost never leaving Lilycove where the smell was less prevalent. It was nostalgic and helped to calm my nerves. Even though I was excited about meeting Thomas, I couldn't help but fall back into the old habits of wanting to turn right back around and go home.
No, Alex. Stop being a fucking idiot. Walk through that damn door and get this job. Thankfully, my legs complied after getting berated by my mind. The building itself was tiny, looking like little more than a couple rooms. Taking a deep breath and finally pushing open the door, I was greeted with a sparse welcome room that reminded me of what you'd see in an office building. A computer that was several generations old sat on the desk, and that was about the only piece of technology in here. A huddle of chairs and a low desk sat in middle of the room, clearly a place where clients would sit. A potted plant that looked like it was barely clinging to life at least throwed some green into the mix.
More interestingly was the young man wearing a grey business suit. He looked like he should be working in a consulting firm rather than a breeder's. He was lounging coolly on the swivel chair, his dress shoes propped up on the desk next to the computer. His black hair was slicked back, and he had a Bluetooth headset on his ear. He noticed me just standing in the entrance like a frightened child and his face immediately lit up.
"Afternoon, Alex." He smirked, and I immediately recognised the voice. I had expected Thomas to be wearing dungarees and boots, covered in dirt and hefting a shovel over his shoulders. He looked remarkably young for owning a business and couldn't have been that much older than me.
"Uh… hi Thomas." I said, as shy as a schoolgirl confessing her affection for a boy she liked. I avoided eye contact and instead focused on the drab, dark blue carpet. Man up, Alex.
"No need to stand in the doorway like a skittish Skitty, come on, we'll walk and talk."
With that, I followed him outside and into the vast fields. I couldn't help but let my jaw slacken as the rolling hills were littered with various Pokémon. More than I had ever seen in one place before. Volbeat. Growlithe. Lillipup. Plusle. Meowstic. Just scanning my immediate surroundings yielded species I had never even seen in the flesh.
In particular, I noticed a Mudsdale slowly meander around the field close to us. His hooves almost shook the very ground we were standing on, and he wore a stoic expression that they were so famous for. Alolan species were one of my favourites, mostly because the region had gone under the radar until a few years ago. It was my first opportunity to see one that wasn't static in a textbook, and I couldn't help but stop and watch the equine Pokémon graze.
"Now that's the expression I wanted to see." Thomas turned back and smiled. I had completely forgot about tailing behind him, too wrapped up in watching all the commotion. "Your fascination with Pokémon goes beyond knowledge, doesn't it? You look at them the same way we do."
"My parents never let me get a trainer's license, so I've never really had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with Pokémon."
"Really?" He questioned incredulously. "I thought you would have had at least a Zigzagoon or something at home."
"Family just didn't really see the point." I muttered, trying not to think about all the lonely years I had spent longing to have a companion Pokémon.
Catching up with Thomas after falling behind, I realised that we were walking towards another building. This time, it looked like a cross between a barn and a massive shed. Made entirely from wood, it was painted a dull greyish colour. On the front however, was the classic representation of a Pokémon egg. A spotted green oval had been painted right above the large doorframe.
"As you can probably tell, this is where we store and incubate the eggs after they've been laid by the females. Wanna take a look inside? I'm sure Hannah's on break with the others but I have a set of keys."
Without really waiting for me to give a reply, he stuck a silver key into the rustic lock and twisted forcefully. The door creaked open slowly, revealing a row of strange, capsule-like machines placed against the far wall. They looked futuristic, almost alien and must have cost a fortune to have this many of them. They all contained a myriad of large eggs, some striped or speckled while others had more intricate designs. I didn't want to get any closer with the risk of disturbing something, but even watching from afar filled me with amazement. Just a couple feet away from me were developing baby Pokémon. Eggs so delicate yet capable of producing such intricate life.
"Take a guess at what species that one is." He smirked while pointing the capsule on the far right. "Not saying that this is part of your interview or anything, but if you can get this one I'll be impressed."
Prepared to take on another one of his quizzes, I studied the huge egg intensely. It was hard to see through the foggy glass, but the egg was a very faint, light blue colour. I knew that eggs would usually leave clues as to its contents, but this one was very bare. I squinted my eyes as I noticed something amidst the blue. What looked like white splotches covered the sides of the egg, barely noticeable among the baby blue. What Pokémon vaguely bared a resemblance? The splotches looked like white smoke, puffy and large. It couldn't be Torkoal, then the blue wouldn't make sense. I gasped as an epiphany struck me. That wasn't a depiction of smoke. They were clouds.
"It's a Swablu egg, right?" I asked, confident in my answer. "Blue with clouds on the sides. Did you pick that one because I said I wasn't good with Flying types earlier?"
He let a hearty laugh while patting on me the shoulder. "You're something else, kid. If I asked any other teen your age I doubt they'd be able to give me an answer. They're more concerned with what comes out of the egg than the egg itself."
Leaving the incubation shed, we walked a little further while making more small talk. The way Thomas carried himself, wildly making gestures and confidently putting his hands over me was completely different from the way I acted. His personality was completely opposite to mine, almost overconfident while I was unsure. I was certain that he wore the suit just to complete the demeanour of a salesman. It explained how he could converse with clients and run a breeding business at such a young age. He was just born with the ability.
We had passed countless different Pokémon at this point, and I was amazed at the variety of different species he was able to keep and breed. He explained to me that some clients would request a very specific Pokémon that they couldn't obtain by themselves, and then he would have to travel to different regions and catch whatever they wanted. Once he was back, he would add that Pokémon to the ranch and breed it with a suitable mate to produce the egg. They would almost never give the egg to the client before it hatched, but would wait until everything was okay with the offspring. Of course, they got a truckload of money whenever they had to fulfil a specific request.
We had also travelled through different biomes, that he said were made artificially when it was possible, so that the more exotic Pokémon would feel more comfortable. A small forest that was filled with towering trees and different plant life were the home to species that were nocturnal or preferred to be in the shade. I could see a large lake in the distance, obviously housing Water types and other Pokémon that didn't do so well on land. There was even a massive sand pit that was heated by generators, for any Pokémon that were found in the desert. I was astonished at the variety of terrain and the lengths that Thomas would go through to create a natural habitat just so that they could feel at home. He really cared about what the Pokémon themselves wanted, not just the profits they made him in the end.
"How much did it cost to build and maintain all of this?" I asked. There was no way that someone could build a ranch on this scale without having a ton of money beforehand. Most owners of day-cares and ranchers were old couples, reaching retirement, because they had saved up a massive fund by working for decades. Thomas had to be no more than in his mid-twenties.
"I'm not gonna tell you the figures outright, but let's just say I come from a well-off background and that my family covered it until I actually started making money." He said professionally, wiping some dirt off the front of his suit with a handkerchief. "I kind of lucked out with all of this, but that doesn't mean I didn't have to work for it."
He wore a preppy suit and smelled of expensive cologne, but I had noticed the way that he held his back and strained whenever he had to bend down. His hands were rough and callused despite looking like he'd never touched a shovel. Clearly, he had spent years digging trenches and re-planting trees. Even though I barely knew him and we had only talked for a couple of hours, I was starting to respect him. We came from different backgrounds, but our love for Pokémon made me feel like we had a connection.
We came to what looked like our last stop on the tour of the ranch. It was the largest building that we had come across. A lodge sat in front with us, still keeping with the wooden aesthetic of the other buildings, but was far more imposing than the others. It looked like it could be a hotel or a place where kids would stay during a summer camp. Even with its old-fashioned exterior, I could see plenty of modern furniture and art through the large windows. I wasn't sure what its purpose was, as I thought that the welcome building would serve as a break room for the workers. Sensing my confusion, Thomas let out a low chuckle.
"The people that work on this ranch spend all day out in the sun, working with the Pokémon and making sure that things don't fall apart." He began, raising his arms to highlight the massive lodge. "I feel bad that I'm out with them as much as I used to be, so this is where they come to unwind and take their breaks."
How many people did he even employ? The lodge certainly looked like it could house tens of workers, but I hadn't even seen a single other person working out in the ranch. He said that someone was on their break earlier, but that had been almost an hour ago and there was still no human activity.
"So, Alex, this is your last test. It's all well and good that I've taken a liking to you, but you're going to have to win over my employees. If they give me the go-ahead, you're welcome to start working here properly."
I started to panic. I could deal with having one-on-one conversations with someone, but having to meet groups of new people all at once left me feeling slightly overwhelmed. If they were anything like Thomas, then there wouldn't be much of a problem but it was still nerve-racking. He gave me a final pat on the shoulder for re-assurance and began to walk away.
"I've got some business to attend to, but I trust the rest of the gang to show you the ropes of what we do around here. They don't bite." He gave me a final back-handed wave, and I could do nothing but watch the back of his suit until he was far away.
In a strange spark of bravery, I strode up to the front door. There was no point in knocking, Thomas probably told them I'd be coming to meet them. This was it. All I had to do was make a good first impression on whatever group of people were in here. The tight hallway I was faced with lead straight forwards to another closed door. Just in front of me, there were three sets of shoes. One set was a large pair of muddied hiking boots, another was a smaller set of comfortable sandals and the last pair were flashy pink trainers. Were there only three people in the lodge?
I could hear a faint noise behind the door, like someone being repeatedly slapped over and over again. I wondered if two of the staff members had gotten into a fight. That would not be a good way to introduce myself if I had to break two people apart. My steps began to falter as the familiar feeling of wanting to get the hell out of there washed over me. I was tired of rea-assuring myself that there was nothing to freak out about. Ignoring the sense of dread, I simply walked forwards and turned the doorknob, intent on interrupting whatever fight was going on.
Instead, I saw a Gallade sitting on a couch with a woman grinding on his lap. The Pokémon's eyes were tightly closed as a groan escaped his lips. The girl was completely naked, her perky breasts bouncing as she rose up and down on the Gallade's member. I didn't need to look any further to see what they were doing. The smell of sweat, the loud moans and the slapping sounds were enough.
"S-Sorry! I didn't mean-" I blurted out, too stunned to move or say anything else. My gaze was fixated on the woman squealing in pleasure. She was having sex with a Pokémon. There was no other way around it.
So much for a good first impression.