Clubs

The Spade residence, (REDACTED), NH. 8:47 PM.

He lay on the top bunk of a bed that was his for the time being wondering how he had gotten here. The whole affair had been a cocktail of the selfishness of others, a lack of caring from some girl, and a bundle of bad luck. The bed was big enough for him to lay there and ponder away but not good for much else. To say nothing of how old these beds were. His eyes were fixated on the bleached ceiling that was a little too close for his own comfort. The fan would've been a health risk if it was only a few inches closer. The entire room was strung about with dirty cloths, half used cloths, a bottom bunk somewhere, a once-white-now-greyish desk that held a homemade computer, a bottle collection strewn along some makeshift shelves, more cloths, and a TV hooked up to a gaming system. His only thing was a suitcase filled with his stuff. So he lay there, and let thoughts run through his head.

The good news; it was getting warmer outside.

The bad news; everything else.

It wasn't that he wasn't grateful though.

Spade wasn't going to be home for the next few hours because computer programming's a bitch so he took this time to center himself by doing nothing—a perfectly viable strategy.

This guy was tall but not the tallest, wiry but not the thinnest, and sometimes he felt that the only thing going for him was "Seven and a half?" he smiled a little as that now ancient-seeming conversation between friends played through his mind. His skin was a healthy peach tone and he had the slightest amount of stubble. He had an affinity for jeans and alternative rock bands with female leads. His hair was a short, shiny, black and his eyes were dark as well.

It then occurred to him that Boney hadn't come out in a while. Boney was, most certainly, a nickname of a nickname. Originally named Dry Bones, the fact he was a huge Paper Mario fan when he was young was mostly the influence. But Boney just sort of fit and Dry Bones didn't seem to mind. If anything it was better than what other people had called Boney—names like 'runt', 'orphan', or 'little shit' were some that came to mind.

He made sure no one ever said a bad word about Boney again though. So he pulled out that little device that held him and popped it open. The device was a red and white ball about the size of an orange. It had always amazed him and his group of friends that there were Pokeballs and not flying cars or instant virtual reality video games. Yet, here he was, in 2013 setting his friend free from a contraption that breaks down all the little atoms of Boney and spews them in a small beam of light onto the floor ridden with half used t-shirts and jeans. Something about the molecular or atomic makeup of Pokémon being so vastly different from Humans that it was possible to break it down. It was either a lot simpler than people's or a lot more complex. He didn't remember and it didn't matter. All that did was that his friend was about to join him.

Boney stood a little less than three feet high with a belly comprised of off white-bands that acted as protective plates for his gut and chest. The rest of him was made up of a thick, leathery, deep brown skin with a little spiked, reptilian tail. His legs were short and stumpy and 'feet' ended in a single, big, bone of a toe. His hands looked like mittens with the thumb also being a protruding bone. The head of Dry Bones was the skull of something that looked like a mix between a dog and a reptile. It was made entirely of bone and had jagged spikes in the back acting as 'ears'. The jaw was also completely bone and was almost like a flap to the bottom of the mouth. His species had a longer, more scientific sounding, name but was colloquially known as a Marowak. All Pokémon have their own language and can communicate as such, however, after many years of evolution their vocal chords have become equipped to recite their names in whatever Human language they've heard the most. It's similar to a parrot only, almost all of the time, these Pokémon are much smarter.

"Marowak." Dry Bones voice was thick, deep, and short. Boney didn't say much and his 'master' was pretty comfortable with silence. The Marowak's hands were clenching and unclenching, trying to be contained, but grasping for something nonetheless.

"Hey man," He responded, his voice cool and relaxed. Boney nodded. "Get enough rest?" Bony nodded again. "Awesome." There was a little pause "Feel like going outside?" Boney nodded once more, a quick up and down of the cranium. "Awesome." He was quickly able to get down from the bunk and onto the floor. Reaching into his suitcase, he pulled out something that had more than a little meaning to the two of them. It was the left half of a jawbone from a creature that was at least a foot taller than the 'master' and probably one or two hundred pounds heavier. The bone itself was hefty for the average person to hold and all of the teeth, each about the size of his thumb, had been perfectly preserved. The whole jawbone was actually in pristine condition. Dry Bones was handed the bone and promptly clutched it, his hands quickly relaxing.

He opened the door for Boney and the two began walked into the miniature hallway, passed the bathroom, and into the kitchen. He heard a voice;

"Headin' out Clubs?" this was Spade's dad. He wasn't a very imposing man, but he made up for his lack of height or weight with a Santa Clause-like beard that seemed to have been in a perpetual state of greatness ever since Clubs and his friends were adolescents.

"Yeah, we'll be back soon."

"Don't get eaten." Mister Spade's always dry humor was more than welcomed.

"We'll try." He smiled. With a nudge he opened the sliding glass door, waited for Dry Bones to exit, and promptly followed suit. They were now on a red porch, probably ten feet up in the air, with a quickly descending ramp off to the left.

The duo went down the ramp and began walking around in the darkness. The moon was bright and there were plenty of stars. Light pollution be damned in these small New England towns. The entire backyard was long and grassy. Off to the side there was an old, old swing set and slide that had filed for retirement at least six years ago. It was a grassy expanse and a few feet in front of him was a tiny, babbling, river that he could cross by foot, albeit difficulty, but there was a bridge built across it.

He had memories of when this bridge was a crude collection of crappy wood with missing steps that one would have to hobble over.

The backyard had a big tent-like structure that was used as a gathering place. It had screens all around and a mosquito net. There was also a red 'snoopy house' off to the left and, on the side of that, there sat a stone wall with a full sized statue of an egg with a face and arms. Spade's dad had an affinity for fairy tales and a knack with power tools and paint. The statue wasn't very off putting due to the craftsmanship. Gardens were strewn about growing nothing in particular. The two walked on the path and around a few of the plots of vegetation and dirt.

Clubs pulled his only other Pokeball from his hip and opened it up in the vegetation. From the flash of light came a creature that was a little bigger than Boney except more spherical. Its body was covered in blue vines, so many that its entire body was obfuscated and only a pair of eyes shown. The eyes were big and vaguely humanoid, except his irises were big black blotches. Clubs always thought that he was adorable in his own way though. His feet looked like little red, lumpy, booties that were actually rubbery sacks where he held clumps of vines. The vines themselves had tiny, thin, hairs that they used to sense their environment. Raphael was this one's nickname, however, its diminutive was used more often.

"Hey Raph." Clubs smiled.

"Tangela!" Raph's voice was peppy, muffled, and a little nasally.

Boney retorted "Marowak."

"Tangel—a!" Raph hopped and practically skipped around the dark garden.

Clubs looked up at the moon, wondering how to feel happy again. The memories started to cut back and he gritted his teeth. Things were shit, to say the least. Tears almost came to his eyes when his mind—he felt a tug on his pant leg; "Wak." Boney's voice was solid as he extended the jawbone for Clubs to hold. They grasped it at the same time.

It would get better. It had to.

Spade

Technical Institute, (REDACTED), NH. 10: 32 pm.

Fuck JavaScript.

Fuck flash.

All of these goddamn projects can literally go fuck themselves in a conga line.

He was in a computer lab on a computer that wasn't his in a building he was all too familiar with. It was exactly how one would expect a computer lab to look; rows of machines with uncomfortable plastic chairs at same-looking desks. His mind was a blur on the five zillionth program that he swore there were no motherfucking syntax errors in. Line sixteen was fucking fine. Maybe it was because he had been at school for thirteen hours and should have been home a while ago. It was already dark out the drive home was already going to suck. So tired he could hardly drive. Been working like a starved slave for weeks on end.

When was the last time I ate? Whatever.

Thus was the life of someone going into programming and game design. Following your passion was actually a bitch, who knew?

This guy was, to most, uncomfortably skinny. His skin was this sort of peach pale hue and he wore a brown trilby which was, in essence, a miniature fedora. His hoodie was a forest green and had a slightly obscure reference to a game that was popular with people his age. It was a shield, at its core, but it was also a lot more to someone who grew up killing Ganondorf. He wore jeans that fit well enough and shoes that, while old, also fit well enough. He had a tiny beard that was basically the bottom of a goatee. His eyes were, paradoxically, a bright and tired blue. This guy's hair was a little long and a little unkempt.

There was a kicking knock on the opened door and, as the figure entered the room, his spirits were lifted a little. This creature was only a little over five feet high and looked like a big, muscled, torso with two eyes. His eyes were expressive and looked like sideways ovals with little slits for pupils. The whole body was covered in soft, brown, hair and he had lanky arms that ended in three fingered hands. The legs were interesting though. A majority of this creatures legs looked like tightly bound coils, however, weren't made of metal—they were hairless muscles bound extremely tight and could relax and have a similar effect to releasing the tension on a spring. The skin on these 'springs' was very tough and could take nearly any type of beating save a gunshot wound. His feet were like big pads with three, talon like, toes on the end. "Lee." It recited the last part of its name, entering the room. In his hands was a cup of boiling coffee.

Exasperated, yet thankful, he breathed; "Thanks." And took the cup. It was hot and seared his tongue a little but was worth it. It was cream-less and bitter but he still loved it. He bathed in the glow of the florescent lights for a moment and sighed. "Think we should go home, Linnell?" he addressed the Hitmonlee with a name based off a childhood idol.

Linnell looked at him and leaned back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head. The look swiped across his face suggested that he was thinking. "Hitmonlee?" he asked, pointing to the computer.

"Man, I need sleep." He got up and took the cup with him. Linnell made a 'hm' noise in agreement and arose. He walked, almost reflexively, out of the building with Linnell in tow. The parking lot was pitch black with only the orange glow of the lot-lights for vision. He managed to quickly find his car, as it was the only beat up minivan in the parking lot let alone the only car, and slipped inside. The thing smelled old and he hardly noticed anymore. His friend got in the passenger's side. "How do you think Flansburgh is doing?" he mainly asked these questions to keep himself awake.

"Lee." Linnell's apathetic tone said it all; Snorlax's don't often think of others and don't expect to be thought of in return.

"Yeah, I guess." He pulled out of the parking lot and prepared for the longest ten minute drive ever.

Diamond

Diamond's house, (REDACTED), NH. 1:12 AM.

The house was pretty dark, just dark enough for someone to think no one was home. This wasn't the case though, there was someone in the house alongside several other creatures. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring unenthused at the TV as nothing he cared about played. It was a movie that he wasn't particularly interested in that he put on because the noise would be a better than ear splitting silence. That and the myriad of playlists he had were getting old.

This young man wasn't particularly tall or athletic or masculine but what he lacked in those areas he made up for with well-groomed fiery red hair, a fantastic taste in clothing, and the sexual prowess of a well-aged porn star. Some of those things were up for debate. He sat in his navy blue boxer briefs with a mouthful of noodles. His skin was the exact color you'd expect from a redhead and his eyes were this brilliant emerald color. Tiny glasses rested on his nose. This shouldn't lead one to think he was unattractive though, he was quite the looker for most.

"Whatcha thinkin about?" he asked to his four legged friend that lay next to him.

A gaping yawn was her response as her huge teeth, meant for ripping into shellfish and the scales of other aquatic life, gleamed. This beautiful creature had a huge, off white, fan around her neck and big cream colored ears that resembled fins. A big fin also jutted from the crown of her head. She had the elongated tail of a dolphin and the body of something similar to a lean seal with four, dog like, legs. Her whole body was a baby blue hue.

"Yeah, I hear ya." He responded to her, leaning back and looking up at the ceiling.

"Vaporeon." She rolled over on the bed and nudged him with the empty space in between her left ear and her crown fin. Her skin was very smooth and almost a little spongy.

"You think?" he laid down, lazily chewing his spaghetti, as the movie turned into a total background event. His room smelled of expensive cologne and shampoo specially used for aquatic Pokémon that smelled strongly of mint and a little bit of citrus.

He wondered how his lady-friend was, he wondered how his close friends were, he wondered if Clubs was doing any better, he wondered if this numb feeling would ever pass. It crept up along him and made him almost squint his eyes out of confusion. In place of moving he just let out a slow exhale through his nostril and decided a full blink would accomplish eons more than a squint.

Just then a face appeared inches in front of his. It was filled with teeth that looked like various broken vampire killing devices and had brilliant red coals for eyes. Its whole body was an amorphous aubergine blob with little stubby clawed hands on either side of it accompanied by equally stubby feet. Spikes jutted off in random directions and seemed to constantly change position. This thing would have been terrifying if it had just appeared in front of any random passerby.

"Vaporeon!" she scolded the Gengar.

"Geeeeeeeeeengar." His face melded through the other side of him and a huge tongue stuck out at the Vaporeon.

"Lady," he addressed his lovely little aquatic friend "thanks." And he managed to put on a smile. "Zero, stop being such a dick." Diamond gave a small laugh as the Gengar rested on his chest.

After extensive research scientists still weren't exactly sure how Ghost Pokémon functioned due to their ability to only be contained in pokeballs and nothing else and even then it was speculated that they stay in the balls out of sport. Many believed that they were just gaseous forms that had complete control over their molecular makeup, thus allowing them to do things like turn invisible and phase through objects. This theory was well and good and might explain the Gengar family, but not things like Shuppets which were clearly solid figures. Diamond did fine not knowing how Zero functioned and was wholly satisfied with just being his friend.

Diamond almost had a quick staring contest with the ceiling due to losing interest in the world around him but instead retorted; "I think I'm just gonna head to sleep."

Almost as if on command Lady gave another yawn and cuddled up against him; "Vaporeon." She said, nuzzling him.

"Night Lady," he took off his glasses and folded them on the nightstand "Zero," he finally succumbed and yawned "don't get into too much trouble."

"Gengar." This time when he spoke it was reassuring. Like all Ghost Pokémon Gengar don't sleep, this didn't stop Zero from fiddling with the electronics and possessing a box of cereal though.

Hearts

Private College, (REDACTED), IL 12:23 AM

He sat at the computer wondering what he was going to do with the remainder of the night. His room wasn't very big and hardly held two people so it was almost some sort of godsend that his roommate had 'taken some time off'. He still was in an apartment with three other individuals though.

This individual drummed his fingers across the desk and stared blankly at his screen. Writing was an option. Video games were an option. The endless void of rainbows and sunshine that was the internet was an option. None of these seemed too appealing though. Maybe a walk …? Walking was his mortal enemy though, any sort of physical exercise put him out of breath and left him feeling defeated. He was not a small individual; upwards of six feet high and clearly an avid fan of food, this young man would definitely watch his weight eventually. He had clean, yet unkempt, brown hair and skin that told the tale of too many days spent inside. His eyes were a bluish grey and the glasses reflected the computer screen.

The desk Hearts was seated at almost blocked the door and was crammed up against the edge of his bed. Parallel to that bed was another where a friend lay. The old roommates bed had turned into the sleeping quarters for someone just as big as Hearts was, except this one was covered in hazelnut fur and had a big, pale, ring around its stomach. It was almost identical to a bear with the only major change being that this one preferred to stand on its hind legs.

"Ring." The bear said simply and pawed at its nose with its huge claws.

"I dunno." Hearts responded.

"Ursa. Ring."

"King, I don't really feel like moving," the Ursaring looked at him and then looked back at the ceiling "like you don't know what that's like?"

"Ring." King responded.

"Right?"

"Ursaring." King flopped down off of the bed and walked over to Hearts.

"Wanna say hi to Maggie?"

King just nodded.

Hearts and the Ursaring trotted downstairs and outside meeting the typical Midwestern spring night. That is to say, it had just transitioned from 'unnaturally cold' to 'stupid hot'. Hearts popped out his Pokeball and opened it up.

Outside came three silver orbs attached to one another with two magnets for each 'head'. They had big, faux, white eyes with small finger print sized pupils. It had speakers on the back of its two bottom heads. This creature was very straightforward in its appearance and casual with its mannerisms. She floated right at eye level with Hearts and made a warm humming noise; "Magneton." She responded in a voice that sounded like a soothing automaton. It wasn't distinctly male or female and had qualities of both. Scientists have debated for years what makes Magneton and the pre evolution so clam. It is an artificial Pokémon but the AI was made just that way, to be an AI. It wasn't given set emotions yet nearly every Mangnemite that has been created is astoundingly serene. To say nothing of how the Magnemite grows two 'dummy heads' when it evolves.

"Ursaaaa!" King seemed to pep up a little bit and nudged Maggie.

"Magnet." And, thus, Maggie nudged back.

It was moments like this that made Hearts feel comfortable, as there was this little warm glow in him. It made him think about his old friends, human and not-so-human, and how far everyone had come since his being an emotionally unstable fifteen year old. That comfort would last even if he was nearly a thousand miles from home.