Arc II: Promiscuous IV: Claret
DV- Welcome to another chapter! It seems our update schedule is settling into about one chapter a month. Occasionally we might do more, but expect about one a month. Not the best way to keep readers, we know, but we prefer quality over quantity.
US- and yet this time you get both. A bit longer than most, but necessary due to pacing issues on our end. Anyhow… Wheel of Colour, spin, spin, spin. Tell us what symbolism today our audience shall win!
Oh- and it lands on… Claret. Another shade of red, typically associated with wine. In many ways, extravagant and affluent. Wine can also stain deeply, and is difficult to remove...
Disclaimer: Pad word count generator, pad word count generator, pad word count generator, pad word count generator, pad word count generator, pad word count generator. We own nothing! Well, we do own things. Just nothing here, except our characters.
Joseph POV
"Joe, hit me." said the voice on the other end of the Pokegear. "You're ringing, you're never the one to willingly do that, and it hasn't even been two hours since I left. So- what the hell has happened?"
I gave Whitney the truth and nothing but the truth, "SophieandKeikokeepfightingovermeandaresuperpassiveaggressivetoeachothersoIstoppedthembutnowthey'reabouttothrowdowninaTrialbyCombat AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO."
"I see. I see." the sagely nod was apparent to me from her tone, even without being able to see the pinkette's face. She was predictable like that, "I imagined that something like this might have happened."
"Then why oh why didn't you warn me!?" I demanded. "They are literally on the sparring field right now and the only thing stopping them from pummeling each other into the dirt is because they're waiting for a referee!"
"You're the Tamer." She warned pointedly. "Dealing with infighting like this is your job. Still, from the jist of things, shit's gone down and Sophie and Keiko are at each other's throats, right?"
"Right." I nodded.
"Then don't worry about it." she casually reported.
I gawked disbelievingly at the device for a moment. "Don't worry about it!? What, just let them kick the stuffing out of each other?"
"Basically." the Leader sighed unhappily. "This is just a dominance issue. Sophie was here first, and Keiko's come in and is strutting her stuff, hoping to be in charge. See, to Pokegirls, being the Alpha is a big deal, and when someone muscles in to try and take the spot, then it's basically open warfare."
"Alpha? Explain." I demanded.
"Okay. Imagine it to be the second in command position of the group. They're the ones that take charge when the Tamer's gone. But who is it? The Alpha is normally the strongest and most dominant Pokegirl, and are have the duty of making sure the group runs smoothly. They resolve problems, and lay down the law, basically."
"So… what? Keiko wants to be this Alpha thing, when Sophie formally had the job by virtue of being here first, so they're just gonna be fighting for it?"
"That sums it up. I could see it happening- the blatant challenges from Keiko, the ignoring and the clinginess. She wants to be in charge of things. So don't worry about it too much. This fight was inevitable. I figure that girl would have found some excuse to start it eventually. You probably just hastened the punch out."
Despite myself, I sighed in relief. "Whoo. Well, at least this is just a dominance struggle. It felt kinda uncomfortable when I figure they were fighting for my 'affection' or something."
"Oh no. They were definitely doing that too. It's just that the Alpha thing was the most important issue."
"Take your places!" A voice yelled. I turned my attention away from my Pokegear. The referee (A pudgy middle aged man in sports shorts) and his Pokegirl (A tall woman with silver hair and red and white colouring over her body. A Chimecho, perhaps?) had arrived. At his appearance, my own Pokegirls had gotten into position. Sophie was in a variant of a sprinter's stance- just waiting for the fight to begin- while Keiko stood more casually, but with her hands clenched into tight fists.
"Shit. The ref's here! So what do I do!?"
"Nothing." She reiterated. "Whatever happens, it happens. We can't intervene. You need to accept the outcome of this fight, even if you don't like it. Whoever wins is top Growlithe, and you can't change that. Trying would breed resentment. So if… if my sister loses… you'll have to let it go. At least until she gets the strength to 'dethrone' Keiko."
"Fine." I hung up, and turned my full attention to the upcoming fight. Whitney had said that this wasn't my fault, but it really was. I'd brought in Keiko. She was my responsibility. And here she was, stirring up trouble. I almost wished I hadn't gone for her- that I'd collected any old submissive girl that had been offered. Because I couldn't deny I was unfairly biased to Sophie, and this newcomer wanted to rock the boat.
"I can only hope things get better after this." I hoped. "I want Sophie to win… but I'll accept the outcome if she doesn't, even if I don't like it." The only thing I could do was wish the Normal type the best of luck, and leave it to her.
"Get set…" the ref continued. He raised an arm… and then he dropped it, while to his left his Pokegirl let loose a sound like the clear chime of a bell. "And BEGIN!"
The two combatants sprung to action- surging into battle like coiled springs suddenly released. The fight had begun, and I was sure that the outcome would affect the dynamics of the two Pokegirls for months to come.
Sophie kicked things off with a flash, disappearing in a burst of displaced air and silver coloured light. My eyes could barely keep up with the moment, it was that fast. The words came after- "Quick Attack!" Sophie announced.
Keiko smiled and braced herself. The attack hit her head on- Sophie had basically tackled her at high speed, but she didn't buckle. Instead, Keiko skidded. I saw a slight wince of pain from the redhead, before she lunged out like quicksilver and clamped hold of Sophie's shoulder with one hand. Her other hand glowed- no, it did the opposite of glow. It darkened, drawing in all ambient light.
"Payback!" She declared, and struck Sophie right in the face with the Dark type move that doubles in power when used as a counter attack, while the defender couldn't dodge due to the hand clamped down tight upon her. Keiko let go, and Sophie was sent flying by the force of the strike. "Quick Attack!" Keiko followed through, flashing towards her reeling foe and elbowing her in the stomach with her speedy strike.
I winced at the sight. Sophie buckled, and I saw spittle fly from her mouth as she was thrown back and into the ground.
"Well, that was easy." Keiko teased, planting her hands on her hips while she literally looked down upon her opponent. "That was pitiful, in fact."
"Tch." Sophie spat, and forced herself to rise. But as she got to one knee, Keiko mercilessly pressed her advantage, planting another Quick Attack into her so she was knocked back down into the floor.
"That was dirty." I thought to myself, then winced in pain. Almost unknown to me, my nails had been applying pressure to my palms. I hadn't pierced skin, but there were several marks where I'd almost done it. I was worried- the Fire type was absolutely dominating the fight.
"Ouch. I bet that hurt." Keiko noted, almost clinically as she approached the sprawled form of her enemy. Sophie wasn't even trying to rise, and Keiko knew it. There was a certain triumph to her posture.
"Almost as much as this." Then, Sophie wasn't on the floor. In the time it took to blink, she'd kicked off the floor and was rapidly rising. Give Keiko credit- she reacted immediately, moving to dodge, but she'd been too close, and hadn't seen the attack coming.
"Slash!" Cried Sophie as white claws of light burst from her right hand as she finished her upwards rise, leaving undeniable claw marks upon the Vulpix.
"Gah! Ember!" Keiko spat out a ball of fire and leapt back to create distance between them, obviously seeking to recuperate from the powerful Normal type move. She succeeded in leaving close quarters, while her Fire move was able to force Sophie to roll away to prevent herself being hit by it.
"Damn! I didn't see that coming!" Keiko commented, a shocked look on her face, which was replaced by pain as she tentatively felt out the damage done to her in the form of four lines of red crossing her torso. "I can almost respect you for pulling that of. Almost. You shouldn't know how to do that. Egg Move?"
"Yes. I am a Move Inheritor; from my grandmother."
Keiko nodded her head appreciatively. "Hmmm. You are a Gym Leaders sister. You might be a spineless wimp, but I suppose I should have expected something from that pedigree. Still. That was my fault. It really was. Father always did tell me off for playing with my food. I suppose I should stop holding back, huh?"
"S-shut up!" Sophie snapped. "I hit you hard. You're bleeding. This match is over. Just… submit, and I don't have to hurt you any more."
"Hurt me?" Keiko began to giggle girlily. "This doesn't hurt, silly sweater chest. This is practically a grazed knee to me. My older sisters used to hit waaaay harder than that. Tee hee." At this, fire began to climb up her body. Unlike before when Keiko produced fire from her mouth, these flames seemed to spring up from nowhere. The air was turning crimson from the intensity of the flames that were starting to encircle the Vulpix's limbs.
"Wh-what the-!?" Sophie couldn't speak, nor could I. I was speechless- whatever Keiko was doing was extremely powerful. Much more potent than anything that had been thrown around this match so far. No- it looked genuinely dangerous. To both of them, if the wince of pain I briefly saw cross Keiko's face was anything to go off.
"Ref!" I snapped. "Call it off! She's gonna hurt someone."
"Sorry." He shrugged. "Fight's not over. Plus, we can heal 'em up after." He pointed at his Pokegirl. "Not like they matter too much in the end."
"Now… why don't you surrender." Keiko's benevolent smile was all tooth and fang- no real kindness behind it at all.
"N-no." Sophie shook her head, resolutely keeping to her decision to fight despite the sudden escalation. "You can't threaten me. Slash."
"Oh, but I really can. Still, sometimes the only thing better than talk… is ACTION!" Then, the redhead went on the offensive. Almost recklessly, she charged straight ahead at the Sentret poised with twin claws of light. The flames reached a crescendo, and Keiko jumped. Using the ground as leverage, she shot forwards and spun, giving her fire covered form a spiral effect to it as she met Sophie from a slight point of elevation. "Flare Blitz!" She screamed as she slammed into her opponent, and suddenly I remembered what her father had said about her capabilities in a fight.
"Keiko came third in a fighting competition. Meanwhile, Sophie got the occasional bit of training from her criminally busy sister. There'd never been a question of who was going to win, had there?"
For the winner had been decided the moment Keiko had used her trump card. The intensity of Flare Blitz was such that she had easily broken the Slash attack and continued on to smash into Sophie with perhaps 70% of the intensity of the attack. Sophie let loose a whimper, and hit the floor- steam rising from the spots where the flames had hit her. I could see it- her sweater and most of the clothes under had been almost completely burned off, and angry red burns were splattered all across her upper body, arms and neck.
"Call it!" I roared at the ref, grabbing him by the vest. "Fucking hell! She's on the ground and hurt! CALL IT!"
"I was." he snapped, while his Pokegirl glared at me and forcefully yanked me off him. He nodded at the silverette, who blew out another bell like chime. "Match over! Winner… Vulpix!"
The Vulpix turned to myself and the referee and smiled widely. She bowed thrice, as if she were an actor in a fancy play who had been called out for an encore, and could only bow in pride at her work. Her eyes were locked on me, and her smile was large and genuine. "I told you I was pretty tough!" she announced, triumphantly. "Aren't you proud of me?"
I didn't smile at her though, or acknowledge her in any way, shape or form. She was tough, certainly. But that was irrelevant- I couldn't even look at her. All I could see was the wounded body lying behind her, wheezing in pain. Sophie looked oh so vulnerable without her signature sweater covering her.
And I couldn't help but note that it had been Keiko that put her in this condition. And it had been me who had brought her into my group.
The ref's Chimecho had been able to deliver some emergency first aid, but getting Sophie to a Pokecenter had definitely been a priority. I'd been reluctant to return Sophie to her Pokeball, but eventually necessity overcame my moral reluctance.
And so I ended up in my present position: waiting outside the treatment room while the Nurse Joy working there performed the medical procedure necessary to treat her burns. Keiko had needed treatment too, but some mild Potion therapy had been enough to heal her, meaning she had finished quite early and was thus forced to wait with me.
The silence between us wasn't comfortable- I'd argue it was almost as bad as the mood had been between Sophie and Keiko at the dinner table. And this tension was undeniably caused by me, and I didn't care.
I knew Pokegirls fought, especially as Pokemon did too. Sophie had talked about Tamers and their Pokegirls serving as unofficial militia and about challenging Gyms. Fights happened, and I couldn't necessarily blame Keiko for having ambition and seeking to 'replace' Sophie… but her manner? The way she did it? I couldn't forgive that. She'd mercilessly beat down her foe, hitting her when she was down and taunting her when she wasn't, while her final attack had been excessive- to put it mildly.
And her post battle performance… she'd enjoyed the fight, and revelled in the victory. And the way she looked to me with such joyful eyes, expecting praise for hospitalising her fellow Pokegirl (Even if for only an afternoon)...
That had been the thing that pissed me off most of all.
"Mr. White?" a voice asked. I snapped awake, and saw a Joy clad in the typical nurse attire of her profession.
"Yes?"
"Your Pokegirl Sophie will be just fine." she told me.
I relaxed into my seat slightly. I'd know that her wounds weren't fatal, but just hearing that took a weight of my shoulders, nevertheless. "She'll likely need to apply some Burn Heal to the worst of the burns for the next 48 hours, but apart from that, she'll be fit to leave with you in about an hour."
"Great. Thank you." I told the nurse honestly, whom smiled and walked away to go attend to one of her many other duties. Luckily for me, my relationship with this Nurse Joy was way better than the one I'd had with the woman at the hospital I had first woken up in.
"I'm glad that she'll be okay." Keiko told me from her seat across from me.
I looked at her, raised an eyebrow and looked away. At this, Keiko let out a sigh and rose from her chair. She sat down on the seat two seats to the right of me. I would have shuffled left if I wasn't the on the final seat.
"You may not believe me, but I am glad." Keiko told me. "This fight… it was nothing personal. She was just in the way of what I wanted."
"The fucking Alpha position." I muttered. "Was it really worth it?"
"Yes." she told me. "Because Sophie was meek and shy and weak. She wasn't suited to the role. It took one passive aggressive Pokegirl to cause her to buckle under the pressure. But me? I'm tougher than that. I'm strong. I'll prove myself as worthy of standing by your side. Together we'll beat the Gym Circuit, and I'll make this team great."
As sad it was to say, she wasn't wrong. The traits she'd described about Sophie weren't wrong, while her claims to strength weren't exaggerated either. Her style had been merciless, but it had also been competent, which I couldn't fault her for. Hell- I didn't particularly care about having a strong team, since I only wanted to fit into this new world, find my place in it and have enough money to live comfortably. But Keiko didn't know that. I'd told her that I wanted her for her combat abilities, because I wanted to challenge the Gym Circuit. Her 'actions' as they were technically fit the bill for accomplishing this goal I'd given.
Damned if I wasn't still pissed at her though. I could see her motivation, and could almost forgive her high handed ambitions to be the top dog by taking down Sophie and also trying to take my 'affection'... but I didn't have to be happy about it.
"Fine." I told her. "I decided I'd accept the outcome of the fight, even if I didn't like it. So you're… Alpha now. Happy?"
She smiled at me- and there was satisfaction in her eyes. "Yup."
"But- BUT!" I interjected, raising a threatening finger. "But I have conditions. Got it?"
She arched an eyebrow. "I won. I'm Alpha."
"Yes, but I'm still the- still the Tamer. And that means I wear the pants in this party! Got it!?"
Keiko looked as if she were about to argue- to pressure and defend and no doubt tell me that she didn't have to listen to me concerning her Alpha position. Except she kinda did as I was the Boss, so she meekly bowed her head in deference. "Very well."
"One: no bullying any of my other Pokegirls. I don't care if you don't like her. You have problems with her, take 'em up with me. Two: don't rub your victory in Sophie's face. You won, and that should be enough. Three: you're the Sempai now, so the priority is always to look out for your junior Pokegirls. Got it?"
I was getting better at reading my newest Pokegirl. Outwardly she looked contemplative and thoughtful, but I could sense an internal struggle. Her eyes were cold and calculative, and I knew she was considering the matter carefully. Finally, she reached a decision. "Okie dokey! I can do that- no problem."
"Excellent." I told her.
"So…" Keiko started, pausing midway to stress her words and give me a suggestive eyebrow waggle. "how's about we celebrate my new position together tonight?"
"Keiko, I'm still pissed as fuck at you, and this really isn't the time. Don't press your luck." because I was still unwilling to do-the-do, and because even if I did want to do it, doing it when one of your friends is in hospital and with the one who put her there to begin with is just bad form.
"Fair enough." the Vulpix nodded her head in acceptance… though that didn't stop her from undoing several of the buttons on her shirt because 'the hospital was warm'.
"I'm REALLY going to have to do something about her flirting…" I decided with a tired sigh. I just knew that Keiko was going to make this Tamer business thrice as hard as it had been when it was just me and Sophie.
Ben POV
"BEN HAGEN!" A voice screeches as we walk into the Pokecenter. Who could possibly...oh. Duh. Didn't know she could reach notes that high though.
"Uh-," is all I manage before I'm bowled over by two hundred fifty odd pounds of Katsumi. I bite my tongue 'accidentally' to avoid snarking at her as my back hits the floor way too hard. God damn it. This is not exactly how I imagined this all going. But then again, no plan survives first contact perfectly intact.
Or something along those lines. What was that quote again?
From my new acquired real estate on the Pokecenter floor, I groan, vision dazed, "Is that Canis Major? Isn't it just gone noon?"
While Katsumi is slowly constricting me to death, I make out the pink hair of one of the resident Nurse Joys above us, who snarks, "I know you're happy to see him Katsumi, but I think you've given him a concussion and he looks about ready to suffocate."
As I get roughly deposited on the floor once again via Katsumi dropping me like I was contagious or something, I slowly stand up, before the world spins again. At least this time I have the grace to collapse into a chair. Lovely.
Raising a hand, I say, "Just...just give me a minute."
Opposite from me, Katsumi sits down as well, sliding her ultra ball over to me across the small table.
With a moment of trepidation, I take and place it on the first slot on my belt. Even with Lorraine tagging along, Katsumi is still first. She knows me the best anyway, and vice versa. And really, given what I've discovered about how this odd blend world works, the Pokegirl Alpha concept still applies. And Katsumi was first, she gets it by default. If Lorraine wants to fight for it, she can. Though I hope she doesn't. It'd make things complicated. More so than they already are.
"Ben dear," she begins, and damn if it doesn't creep me out, "Is that another ball I see on your belt?"
My lips press tightly together for a moment. I was hoping I had more time. Time to work out a reasonable explanation. The truth works, but it'll create a sense of tension. Katsumi is kinda territorial. I doubt she'll take Lorraine literally muscling her way in well. But if she wants to hardball immediately, I can play.
After a moment, I say, calm as possible in this delicate minefield, "It is."
She smiles sweetly, or at least tries to, but it's clearly fake, "And why do you have such a thing?"
"It was necessary."
"I see," she says neutrally.
Uh...what? I narrow my eyes. Now why would she just accept that? I was prepared for her to rage, perhaps scream, though it would be unlike her. But passive acceptance? That's...odd. Why would she do such a thing? What's her game?
She adopts a rather worried look and changes the subject, drawing off my line of thinking. It almost seems...intentional, "What specifically happened to you anyway? Where have you been? I've been worried about you!"
Uh huh. Right. Sure you have. After we fought for three days? I don't buy it. No, there's something she wants out of this. But what?
I shrug, "Brasi misses Karev apparently, and hired out some revenge. Needless to say, it failed," I remove Lorraine's ball from my belt, bouncing it on the back of my hand, "Though it almost succeeded if she hadn't saved me from drowning."
She brings a hand to her mouth as she gasps, but it almost seemed like there was a split second delay. Normally I'd say I was just being paranoid, but discounting oddities is part of the reason I was shanked so easily in the first place,"Brasi?"
I place a hand on the wound that's not completely healed and will almost certainly scar, "Yeah, Brasi. A shame really. He seemed to like me at the party."
She smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes, "Yes, a shame. But what are you going to do about it?"
"Do about it? Whatever could you mean by that?"
I watch her eyes dart around the room, taking stock of everything within. It's not a popular hour, and we're only one of four groups in the center, and each has gravitated towards a different corner.
Mikhail gives a grateful, if discrete, smile as he catches up with his mother in the corner closest to us.
Katsumi leans in closer to me, half-whispering conspiratorially, "Yes, do about it. Don't tell me you're just going to let it go because he failed this time."
At my shrug, she frowns, saying, "You know, they won't restrain themselves to just you. Anyone close you is a target. Like me or," she scrunches up her nose like she smelt something particularly unpleasant, "her. And even if they did, do you think you can just react forever?"
I...see. She's right. This must conclude somehow. If she's right, anybody who wants me dead won't simply give up because one plan, no matter how good, failed. But, can I bring myself to strike first? I've just been reacting so far. It's easier in the heat of the moment. But premeditated in cold blood… . Can I do that? That final step. The final fall. In theory, yes. I can always justify it to myself. But when it comes down to it, can I pull the trigger?
But...can I afford not to? Can I let others be hurt due to consequences of my actions because I want to keep my hands cleaner?
How would that feel? If Mikhail was killed, simply because he was an associate of mine? Or Lorraine, for the crime of being part of my harem? Katsumi would have it worst, being the Alpha.
Ist die welt nicht so ermüdend? Mögen wir in interessanten zeiten leben, ja?
As if reading my thoughts, Katsumi drapes herself over me, whispering, "You know you want to. After all, what if something happened to us? Besides, it's hardly different from what you've done already, why the hesitation?"
Walking down the stone streets, breath misting in the cold, I give a quick shrug at her silent inquiry, "It's not like you're being replaced. Despite our fighting, I would miss you."
Here she gives me the first genuine smile I've seen from her in just shy of a week. She takes her left hand and grabs mine, the gold bands right next to each other.
"I should hope not."
I had taken it off after our second day of fighting, but put it back on during the flight here. Clearly a smart choice. Almost lucky, I'd say, if I didn't know her reasonably well. It's not cheating. Not really.
Which is a good thing, in retrospect, because my relationship feels like a minefield, and the slightest misstep could make things quite a bit worse.
Placing my head in my arms, I groan, mumbling, "This trip keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?"
As if to mock me, my Pokegear buzzes in my pocket. How they came up with such a name for a cell phone, I'm not really sure. But whatever. Easy enough to remember.
My eyebrows raise as I read it, muttering aloud the most important part, "Black Bishop to E7? What the hell is he thinking?"
It's a moment later that I remember all the specifics on what, or rather who, I tasked this associate with tailing after the incident on the boat.
Shaking my head, I mutter, "Oh you glorious bastard you. Setting up for a run on the Queen. Just a shame I'm one step ahead now and you've so nicely pinned your Bishop in place for a couple turns," before I type back, "Noted. White Knight to D5, taking the pawn in the way of the Bishop."
"Acknowledged."
Katsumi takes my arm in her classic vice-grip, stating, "You know, you didn't let me meet my new subordinate yesterday."
I shrug, or at least I try to. It is slightly hard to do an instinctually equal movement when one half is pinned in place. The streets are, well, not bustling with people, but it's midday and hardly quiet.
"Well, due to the circumstances that were out of our control, it'd been some time. I wanted to spend the past couple days with you. We didn't exactly part on the best of terms last time."
The look she gives me is some odd mixture between relief that I'm thinking of her without holding a grudge and not quite believing me. Funny, great minds think alike.
After a moment, she blushes, looking away, before saying, "I-I'm sorry that I let such trivial things get to me. I'm supposed to be better than this. I am...I will be better."
We come to a stop in a minor park, before pulling her into a hug, "I'm sorry too. If there's anyone I expected to keep calm, it was me," I sigh, "But as usual, I couldn't resist escalation by prodding."
As we sit down on a park bench as snow begins to fall, she rests her head on my shoulder, "I suppose we both made mistakes. And I'm sure we'll come out the better for it."
I can only nod, "It is how we react to our failures, more than our successes, that truly define us. But, for the sake of not having a repeat incident, I suppose we'll have to work on the assumption that my knowledge of things is quite patchy. I won't know some basic knowledge, but I'll know other things that you've never heard of before."
"That must be...odd. I'm sure you'll explain how such a thing came to pass when you're ready. Anyway, the snow is picking up, return me to my ball and get us somewhere warm."
Boots crunching frozen leaves as I stand, a thin string of red light returns Katsumi to the stasis of the ball.
Pulling my coat tighter around me and readjusting my scarf, I trudge through the falling sleet back to the hotel room that I've rented out for the night.
Sitting on the bed while looking out the window, the heavy snow is building up, coating roofs, hampering people scampering into cover still and slowly building on the windowsill. It's quite the sight, even if it's one I'm familiar with. One is never too old for snow.
The sound of running water, alerts me that Lorraine has commandeered the shower while Katsumi sits on the other side of the bed, gracefully combing her long hair.
They still haven't met yet. That's happening quite shortly, and I'm expecting it to go wonderfully.
Throwing my head back, I laugh. A laugh half-maniacal, and I'm glad the peculiarities of this world have ensured that, at least in the upper end hotel I'm staying in, all the rooms are individually soundproofed. For...obvious...reasons.
"Was für ein tag! Was für ein schöner tag!"
Afterall, a slight bit of madness is a perfectly rational response to a mad world.
Joseph POV
"Rise and shine, sleepy head!" the cheerful voice announced. I cracked open my eyes and saw that Keiko was already up and out of bed, and was dutifully awakening me one minute before my alarm was due to go off.
"... I would have liked the one more minute, to be honest."
"Don't tell me this wasn't the better wake up call." Keiko gave a vulpine smirk, and gestured to her scantily clad body. I looked despite myself, and couldn't disagree with her statement, though I would never voice it aloud. It had been nerve wracking trying to get to sleep with both Keiko and Sophie in the bed with me (Once we'd dragged Sophie out of the Pokemon Center and we'd all basically collapsed onto it), and the awakening was just as distressing. Because Keiko was wearing next to nothing, and her turning round to pick up the dressing gown she'd dropped there the night before wasn't helping matters.
"Thank god I'd managed to keep her from jumping me when we got in. Hell, I'm lucky I even got her to wear anything to bed considering how blatantly she's been flirting with me since we met yesterday despite my specific requests for her to not."
"Where's Sophie?" I asked, because I couldn't see her in the bedroom at all.
"Oh, she's already dressed. I sent her out earlier." Keiko said dismissively, then went to the wardrobe and began to pull out her clothing for the day- uncaring (Or perhaps encouraging) of my eyes upon her. I couldn't help but notice her choice of words though- she'd ordered it.
"Fair enough." and with that I myself got out of bed, and dressed as promptly as I could. Keiko hadn't even started putting her clothes on by the time I'd left the room, so I figured I had a few minutes before she'd emerge.
"Morning." I told Sophie when I saw her.
"Morning." She softly echoed me. I took her in, looking her up and down, trying to see how she was doing based on her body language. Considering Sophie could be very quiet when she chose to be, it was often easier to look at her hands or her twitching tail to see how she was really feeling. And based on the drooping of those ears and the fact that she was favoring one leg, she wasn't doing well.
I opened my mouth to continue the conversation, but no words came out. What was there to say? "I'm sorry you got your ass handed to you? That the Pokegirl I brought into our home is a bitch who's now in a position of pseudo-authority and whom I honestly wish I could return with a receipt? That its my fault you're limping and red? That I barely talked to you when we pulled you out of the Center, when you probably needed a friend the most, because I felt guilty as fuck?"
No- none of that was anything was something I could say. However, Sophie could be rather perceptive sometimes, probably due to the way she prefered to watch the world pass her by while she had her face hidden behind a book. I could already tell by the way she looked at me that she was aware of most of the stuff I'd left unspoken.
"Are you feeling any better?" I finally decided on saying.
She gave me a small, tentative smile. "A bit sore. That girl can throw a punch. Still, I'm a Pokegirl. We recover pretty quickly."
"I'm glad." I blinked. "Well, glad that you'll get better quickly. Not that she hit you like a tonne of bricks."
She winced.
"Okay- bad analogy." I waved my hands. "So yeah. Things are a bit… different… now-"
She scoffed quietly, and I could swear she muttered, "You think?"
"But-" I continued, trying to take this moment to reassure her. "I just want to let you know that nothing has changed between us. We'll still do what we've always done. There's just two plus one now."
She nodded her head, then gave me the most melancholy look. "I really should have expected this. I knew objectively that I would probably have to share a Tamer, but I never expected it would be this soon. And I have no idea how I could have expected to keep the Alpha title. She… was right. I'm weak."
I frowned. "Jesus, I'm gonna kick that idea into the curb before we start to head into angst territory. Sophie, you are anything but weak." This wasn't a lie. I had nothing but respect for the Sentret. She'd been patient with me, and even when I fucked up she was happy to give me a hand to lift me up, even as she told me off for being a dumbass. A different kind of strength to the raw, fiery combat ability and confidence Keiko possessed, but strength nevertheless.
"I don't want to hear any more of that." I told her, and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Sophie, you are-"
"Good morning, is it not a wonderful day~" Keiko practically sung as she skipped into the room, timing her entrance perfectly and causing Sophie to push my hand off her and step away, to turn to the new Alpha in the group.
"Just at the wrong time too. Talk about mood killer." It was going to be hours before I'd get the chance to have another private one on one talk with Sophie. Just when I had almost given her a hint of reassurance. My message hadn't sunk in- Sophie was a bit too annoyed with Keiko interrupting us to fully appreciate the sincerity of my words, or the message I'd been prevented from fully giving.
"Hello, Sophie." Keiko said, almost friendly, yet also a bit sharply.
"Yes. Good morning." Sophie replied politely, albeit coldly. Sophie had accepted her loss in the power struggle, but she didn't have to like it.
Keiko turned away from Sophie, as if she was barely worth paying attention to, and gave me a beaming grin. I noticed that she'd already put her makeup on, and that her clothing was a bit too nice for the casual day I had planned for us (Since I figured training for the Gym could wait until Sophie was a little better). "Anyway, Joe, you can go sit down and read the paper or something! Leave breakfast to me today~"
"Excuse me, but I normally make breakfast." my first Pokegirl formally interjected. "Because-"
"Yes, yes!" Keiko waved her off with a brisk handwave. "Well I'm here now, and I won't subject my precious Tamer to inferior meals, so I'll be taking over her meal effective immediately." she shook her head passionately. "Nothing but the best for my Joseph, and luckily for him, while my cooking isn't perfection, it's still pretty damn good."
"Really?" Asked Sophie, crossing her arms.
"Yes." Keiko replied sharply, turning to deliver a piercing glare. "Do you wish to challenge me on the validity of my skills?"
"Not at all." Sophie replied quickly and looked away. "If you want to cook, be my guest. Saves me a chore."
"Right then." Keiko swept her hands together in satisfaction. "I'll get started."
With that, she strutted into the Kitchen and began to open cupboards, retrieve saucepans, and search for ingredients. I went to the table, and I watched her. After a minute of looking at the contents of the fridge, and a minute more as she quickly searched through the cupboards, she frowned.
"Sorry for the intrusion, but can I assist you?" Sophie asked, with the falsest smile imaginable. "You look a little distressed."
"N-not at all." Keiko denied. At this, Sophie smiled. This was a rare chance to see the Vulpix flustered, I could tell she'd remember this moment. Strong memories of hate can be almost as potent as powerful memories of love. "I was just wondering where all your proper ingredients are. I can't see any tofu, beans or fish. We don't have any nori either. Honestly, you should be ashamed of yourself for having such a bare pantry. How can I deliver a perfect meal for my Tamer if you failed to have the foresight to stock the fridge correctly?"
I smiled, despite myself. The look on Sophie's face was just so smug. I hated to see her sad, and she'd been nothing but that since I dragged Keiko into her life. But this- I knew that look. It was predatory- Sophie knew something Keiko didn't. I could pretty much guess it, but Keiko couldn't. Here and now, Sophie had an advantage, and she was going to mercilessly use it while she had the chance.
"Tofu? Beans? Nori? I am sorry to disappoint you, but this fridge is stocked with ingredients which will last for at least four days."
"Don't be stupid." Keiko snapped. "Like hell could I make even a single bento from the stuff you've left me!"
"Because we don't eat bentos here." Sophie replied, before adopting an expression of false sincerity. She put her hands to her mouth, as if simulating surprise. "Oh my! Didn't you know? Our precious Tamer dislikes far eastern food. He'll eat curries and some other dishes, but for the most part, his tastes lean more towards the west: pasta and meats and cheeses. Sure, I've been slowly introducing our local cuisine to him, but progress is slow. So like the good Pokegirl that I am, I've adapted. We primarily eat and cook western food here."
"B-b-but! No way!" Keiko shook her head in disbelief. "You must be kidding me. No Johtoian food!?"
"Sorry. She's right." I shrugged apologetically. "It takes me time to step outside my comfort zone, and the food here is particularly strange to me."
"Joe doesn't need anything fancy or extravagant. His idea of a good breakfast is cereal with toast." She giggled a little. "Even a Mankey could prepare that correctly."
Keiko growled, and sparks began to dance along the exposed skin of her arms. "And what are you implying about me?"
"Nothing at all. Only that it's far above your station to do the morning breakfast, Alpha mine." Sophie sighed regretfully. "If only you'd listened to me. I would have told you all this. But you insisted you'd cook, and you are the Alpha…"
Keiko's anger only increased. The sparks had become miniature flames, which clung to her, and her eyes were dark. "You little-"
"Enough." I snapped, and slammed a hand onto the table. "I said it before. No arguing. Too much shit to deal with, without adding interpersonal bullshit into the mix. The only reason I let you fight yesterday was so maybe we could have some semblance of peace and civility in this house."
"Bu-but!" Keiko stammered. "This weakling is mocking me."
"Yes." I agreed. "But you asked for the job, and she just took advantage of the whole setup. I'm disappointed in you both, but you asked to cook without even bothering to question us about our preferences, so you shouldn't be surprised that we might not like the dishes you planned to cook."
"I -" began Keiko, standing tall and proud with back straight and gaze clear. "Am an excellent chef. I have been taught to cook Johtoian food since I was 10 years old. My cuisine is second to none-"
"But it's also unneeded." Pointed out Sophie. "Can you cook Atlo Marean food?"
"Well, no-"
"Hows about Kalosian?"
Keiko's teeth grinded together, like stone against bone. "No, but-"
"Hell, what about Avalonian? Unovan food?"
"Of course not! But ask for a Jhotoian dish, or even a Kanto recipe-"
"And Joe will tell you 'no thanks'. Meanwhile, I can cook dishes from those locations." finished Sophie, smug smile in place.
"Enough!" I banged the table again, and feared that either the table would give or my hand would by the time I needed to actually stop doing it. "Sophie, don't show off. Keiko, don't trouble yourself with cooking. I'm happy you offered, but it would really go unappreciated by me."
"But I cook. Really well!" Keiko insisted, petulantly, with a stomp of the foot. "I was going to cook for you, and feed it to you, and you were going to love it!"
I winced. "Well, it's just bad luck really that your speciality dishes are the ones I don't much care for. I'm sure they are delicious, just not for me."
"Fine then." Keiko simmered. "I see how this is. The two of you are ganging up on me. Well, that goes against the spirit of all of yesterday! I am the ALPHA. I demand respect."
"Then don't act like a brat." I finally snapped at her. "Jeez, it's just food. Hell, I would cook, and sometimes even do cook, but Sophie is better, so she does most meals. Its nothing against you. It's just Sophie can cook stuff I like, and you can't. Nothing more than that."
Keiko looked like she wanted to continue, but her eyes flickered between us and the kitchen. FInally, the fire started to extinguish. The more calculated ice returned to her gaze, and she made her decision. Her annoyance ran off her like rain on an anorak, and she put on a great smile. "Fair enough. Sorry to make a big deal out of it. I just wanted to cook food for you. Oh well. I'll prove myself in other ways. Partner."
Following that almost ominous statement, the volatile Fire Type calmly walked into the bedroom- no doubt to cool down a little by herself, where she wouldn't have to put up false pretences and could let out her anger.
I turned to Sophie, and she looked to me. We tried to resist, but almost immediately we both descended into giggles. "Oh my god, that was so funny!" I exclaimed as quietly as I could.
"Yeah- she was so pissed!" Sophie continued to chortle for a few more seconds, before we managed to pull ourselves together. I took the moment to memorise the last vestiges of laughter on the Normal type, before her more dour features returned. "I am going to so regret that later. She's the Alpha. Her revenge will be swift."
"Probably." I admitted. "She looked pissed with me too. I think I'm in the Dog House, or rather the Herdier House, too."
"Oh well. It was worth it." Sophie decided. "I-I can't just lie back and take it. I can't set a precedent. Have to fight back, or she'll never stop grinding the boot in."
"I don't blame you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna put some bread in the toaster."
"Put some in for me too." Requested Sophie, and I complied. With that drama over, we began to sink back into the familiar and mundane routine of morning breakfast.
Before that happened, I felt the urge to make just one more comment before we moved on. "Oh, and Sophie? Well done. For earlier. Lets just say I hope you get back that treasured 'Alpha' title back someday."