at a lonely desk. A window was opposite to the curtain door, similar to Mr. and Mrs. Serperior's office. Rowlet mulled over the last payment for any mistakes. This seems fine… I suppose I'll update everything tomorrow when it's officially come through.
A heavy thump hit the wall before Mr. Serperior slithered in. "Oh? It's been a while, sir. What seems to be-" A small, shaky Eevee walked in behind them. "Huh. A new member of the guild?" No- Surely he would never let anyone so skittish and unsteady join. Do they not remember Flaaffy?! They almost - no. At least get a good look at them, it can't be that bad. Rowlet hopped onto their desk to get a better view of the newcomer. They were thin and willowy, their brown coat in knots and their mane mangled. Her left ear was chipped, a good inch off the tip was missing. It doesn't even look like they've settled in yet! No Pokemon I've met is being half-starved and messy after being here for a few days!
"No, not at all," Mr. Serperior replied. Phew! "Perhaps one day, but not now. However, I want you to check how much we'll have left over. They're in a peculiar position. I've decided to let them stay here, and let Snivy help them settle in."
Oh. Vague as always. "I see." Rowlet flew next to a board which they updated just an hour ago. "Aside from what you've set aside for emergencies, bills, housing and what not, we have-" Rowlet began. As they struggled to find the line, they paused. Where was it again? Oh! There it is! I should probably make it easier to find. Let's see, we've got 802, he'd nod alongside his thoughts, yet our monthly payments add up to 136, and we still need to set aside money for employees I just finished looking over, so that means we'd have "493 to spare. Certainly not much to get by, or to replace Snivy's normal amount from the guild, not to mention how efficient he is. And we both know how crippling this would be to him."
Serperior looked down at Eevee in thought."Well, yes, ordinarily it would, but they wouldn't have to spend money on medical supplies or stockpiles of preservables. Besides, I'll cover Perdita's stay here out of my personal account." I guess that makes sense, most of their income is used- Oh, the Eevee has a name? At least they're probably social. Guess they've got this figured out. Serperior's tail flicked side to side in a quick, harsh rhythmic pattern. "Though, that being said, how much do we have in emergency funds?"
"Seventy-thousand, one hundred fifty six, sir." Unfortunately, that still grows, instead of everything else. Do they expect to wake up in a fiery abyss where nothing of this town once stood? Why must you remind me of this? Rowlet scowled at the number for a few moments before quickly putting on the best smile his beak could make. "I presume that you'd want to take from the emergency fund concerning Snivy's pay?"
Something struck Rowlet. Something was fundamentally wrong with this statement. Wait, why does Snivy work here again? Who puts their kid through this kind of work? He's 13 for goodness sake, and there's no way he'd- Oh, right. He's a rebellious, reckless teenage brat.
Serperior nodded, not minding Rowlet's disdain. "If it comes to it, yes, though I doubt it- There would have to be several dry months for business, and that's never happened." That's a first. I was thinking you'd correct me and explain some catastrophe or something. "Next thing on the list is the volcano project."
"Alright, alright, let me guess. There's another problem that's further delaying the project?" Rowlet sighed in disappointment. Really, earthquakes, eruptions, storms, typhoons- Did they drill into a mystery dungeon too?!
"Yes, Rowlet. It seems as though Charmeleon doesn't have plans to repay me." Mr. Serperior looked over at Perdita. "Oh, sorry, Perdita. You can go back to the office. I'll be back soon."
"Oh- uh. Sure." The petite Eevee padded out of the room on her toes, brushing past the door. That doesn't seem healthy. He thought. No one has ever walked like that before.
"So, what do you need? The amount they owe, how long it's been, the interest…?" All of the above, preferably? Rowlet fluttered over to their desk and opened a cabinet with an outstretched claw.
"Just the length of time since they've last paid their dues. I'm considering backing out of the project temporarily." Serperior's gaze travelled down to the ground, his eyes narrowing.
That's cruel. "4 months. It hasn't been too long, has it?" Then again, this is Serperior we're talking about. Anyone else would've let them go unpaid for a while longer. Rowlet hovered over the open drawer, and looked up at Serperior.
"It's been too long, especially with Charmeleon's record." He's only forgotten twice before now! He almost always pays his debts! "This makes the third time, and that's three times too many. What exactly is his debt sitting at then? It'd help to have it fresh in my mind."
Rowlet dragged out a binder with a wood cover and string bindings. As they he flipped through the pages with their talons, he finally got to Charmeleon's account. "2,056, sir."
"Excellent. Oh, and one last thing. Do you remember that debt that Cradily owed me"
"Mhm. What about it? Wondering what it's at now, or did they borrow something again?" Rowlet tilted their head. This is the third time this week you've added to all of these favours from every-
"No. Go ahead and consider it paid." Rowlet was silent, stunned, almost forgetting they were still airborne, and felt themselves begin to fall before quickly flapping their wings, returning to a similar height as before. They could've heard a Flabebe drift to the ground. What? "Uhh, sure. And, uh. What did they pay you back with, exactly?" Cradily has done nothing for you! NOTHING! How could they have possibly paid it all?!
"Just a small favour" A small favour? That's hard to believe. For the past 300 or so days you've lent them your aid, your money, your supplies, and your guild members to help keep things under control! At least Charmeleon tries to pay you back quickly! You've put off their projects all the time and now this?!
"You're absolutely sure that a 'small favour' is enough?" He let themselves lower to the binder, and turned to Cradily's respective page. You're usually not one to forgive something like this. They said in the back of their mind. "Let me remind you they still owe you ten thousand ranging from labour, food, and that one time you sent two thousand you sent to help them with their poor spending habits."
"Not anymore, they don't. Perhaps I understated the favour's worth and importance, but regardless, they did me a favour which I value, and so I'm considering it paid." What kind of favour could be hidden from plain view? What kind of problem has no one, not even I, seen except for him.
"Of course sir." They hovered over the desk, dipping their front talon in black ink before writing the word 'favour' under a dotted line by dragging the outside of the talon along the paper. "I'll have an update by tomorrow." They finally landed on a fleeced towel.
plain view? What kind of problem has no one, not even I, seen except for him?
"Of course, sir." They hovered over the desk and dipped his front talon in black ink before writing the word 'favour' under a dotted line, dragging the outside of his talon along the paper. "I'll have an update by tomorrow." He flew back and finally landed on a fleeced towel on the edge of the desk.
"Thank you, Rowlet. Sorry for all the sudden developments today, and I'll see you later." Mr. Serperior slithered out of the room.
Everything seems to check out except for this favour… It would take something truly remarkable and newsworthy for this to be paid off all at once… They looked over at the open binder, which was still turned on the now-paid debt Cradily supposedly paid. This reeks of corruption, but I need proof that this is happening, and a plan to… a plan…. What about Snivy- they must've heard something! Maybe the spoiled kid can tell me something. They quickly lifted themselves off their desk about to fly out the door. Wait. Ugggh. They'll be negotiating with their parents forever!
Everything seems to check out except for this favour. It would take something truly remarkable and newsworthy for this to be paid off all at once. They looked over at the open binder, which was still turned on the debt Cradily supposedly 'paid.' This favour has to be more! I need proof that something is happening, and a plan to… a plan…. What about Snivy? They must've heard something! Maybe that spoiled kid can tell me something. They quickly lifted themselves off their desk and were about to fly out the door. Wait. Ugggh. They'll be negotiating with their parents forever!
They landed back on the desk, looking at the paid favor. At least this is the last thing worth doing today. Maybe I just missed it while I was in here. Yeah. It could be nothing. He would fly over to the board, relieving the unpaid debts section of Cradily's, alongside changing a few other related numbers, such as the net total. After one last look, they floated to the curtains with two heavy flaps of their wings, exiting the office, and making their way to Joltik, who let the platform down with an electric jolt. "Still not talkative. Still nice seeing you little bud." Once the platform fully lowered, they flutteredd over next to Flaaffy.
Flaaffy looked up upon noticing the owl. "Heya Rowls. How've you been today?"
"Hi Vallerie. It's. been a confusing day, but I'm fine. What about you?" Dammit, old habits die hard.
"Please, call me Flaaffy." Flaaffy looked down at the floor. I should've thought about what I was about to say. "I've been fine though. Wanna talk about it, or…?"
"Right- Sorry, sorry. But, it'd help to get some thoughts on all of this." You've always been able to read me like a book.
"You're fine. You haven't used it as much as you used to anyway, so you're getting there. Anyway, you said it'd help to talk, right?"
"Alright, alright. No point in delaying my paranoid self," Rowlet landed next to the pink biped sheep. "Apparently, Cradily did Serperior a "favor", and he forgave all of their debt. It just doesn't seem like him to me. I'll admit, it's piqued my curiosity. I dunno, I just don't understand what could be so important yet unnoticable."
"A favor? I haven't heard anything about that yet. That is weird." Flaaffy shocked the metal rod, letting the platform raise. "I wouldn't let it bother you though. They've got us in good hands, and the guild takes care of everyone."
"Well, yeah, but you haven't heard anything, and you hear all the gossip! what if-"
Flaaffy interrupted. "Oh please! All of the ifs and buts in the world won't do anything but stress you out. It's great you haven't changed and still question everything, but Greenford's stable, isn't it? It'll be fine."
"I guess so." Rowlet looked off to the side, pausing for a moment as an awkward, stiff silence filled the air. …Should I really ask this? It seems insensitive, but I want to understand them better- Like I used to. Maybe it won't hurt as much now that it's in the past. "Just two years ago, you'd be telling me that it's worth looking into, and give me all the encouragement and help I could ask. But since then you've been distant and… Passive? It's great you've been able to settle down, but, if you wouldn't mind, could you tell me what changed for you? "
Flaaffy looked over. "I guess there's not much to it. A few months before that, actually, I started questioning why I worried so much, even when it hurt everyone around me. After those Shinx, I thought it was best to let things go. It's not like there's much I can do without holding everyone back."
"Oh…" Rowlet sighed. I guess having that kind of experience makes you see a thing or two. "Well, see you when I get back."
"Sounds good. Talk to ya later!" As Flaaffy spoke, the platform finally reached to the surface, and Rowlet lifted themselves off the ground and flew out of the tent as they ascended into the air.
They looked down upon the small town, Several arrays of torches lit the dirt roads of which looked plain from the dark orange sunset skies. Rowlet rested his wings upon. They were glad they could come here after such a long, tedious day to think and process what had happened.
A Pokemon's flames grabbed his attention, typical of any fire type Pokemon. The flames appeared to comprise the mane of a Ponyta. They saw something else, three glowing forms near the horse. Their tails and ankles glowed yellow, but it was too dark to pick out their features.
Aren't those Shinx? Rowlet dived down to get a closer look. Each Shinx had mangled, patchy fur. One of the Shinx started to approach the young foal, who turned its head around, noticing the patter of its footsteps.
"Oh- hello" the Ponyta greeted shyly with a nod, their voice light and feathery.
"Hello to you as well. Care if I join you?" The Shinx offered. Their voice seemed oddly familiar. As they looked around for the other two Shinx, they had already wrapped around a few cabins. It can't be- No- NO! Not again- I need to do something-
"Sure thing! I don't mind." Ponyta cheerfully replied. NO! Don't just- Rowlet began to dive down towards one of the hidden shinx, but stopped, keeping themselves above the unaware Shinx. What would this even accomplish? They'd just hurt everyone- They're going to hurt them anyway! Rowlet looked around, trying to gather their thoughts. Right. At the very least we can try to keep them alive once all this is over. Rowlet soared through the air, and glided into a tent.