Chapter 2 - Booze with you tastes so blue
As the crossroads left our sight and the soft crunching of leaves filled the silence between us, I find myself wondering as to the reason why anyone would need to come get me directly, unless…
"Is there anything you need of me? Something that can't be asked through regular channels?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at the blatant disregard for personal space that Gigi portrays on a daily basis.
Gigi flinches, stumbling in place as she uses her hammer to balance herself on the ground. "What do mean? Of course I don't, I just missed you is all." Gigi replies blatantly, her eyes darting back and forth.
"Last time you said you 'missed me' I had to pick up chunks of Scolipede from your gear. Fuck you." I reply, shooting a semi-angry glare at the pink twintails bouncing beside me.
"Well, it's not like there was much more for me to do. After all, my underlings take care of all the boring paperwork. Perks of being the Sect Head."
"Gigi, you can't be serious."
"What? I'm just saying, I alone stand atop the peak of martial arts, but when it comes to everything else it's best to leave it to the eggheads."
"That's not the point! There are serious documents that are to be seen by your eyes only!"
"Well their eyes are my eyes."
Gigi's nonchalant response makes my blood boil. Her laissez-faire attitude towards anything that isn't martial arts or her feud with the Orthodox Sect is… honestly astounding, if I'm honest.
"Well, please keep in mind that sometimes there are very important things that we send by Guild Mail, things that are of the utmost importance to your 'Sect'." I gently admonish Gigi, patting her head. A soft blush creeps across her cheeks and she uses her hammer's handle to try sweeping me off my feet.
When the handle connects with my ankles I am blown backwards from the force of the sweeping motion and I find myself sprawled on the cobblestone path leading to the guild. Gigi stands above me, her red eyes looking down on me from above.
"My my Rags, what happened to you? Are you really so tired that you can't even keep yourself upright? That won't do." Gigi giggles, pulling me upright with her stubby hand.
"Next time you do that I'm blocking your underground supply lines."
"Relax, it was a joke. Gosh, I never took you for someone so frail."
"I'm not frail, it's just a consequence of my actions."
.
The silence between us is palpable as we resume our trek back to the guild, Kricketots chittering in the setting sun. Eventually Gigi speaks up.
"Do you really miss your old life?"
"My old life was alright, but it's my body that I missed the most." I respond, gripping the metal bracelet on my wrist.
"Why would you want your fleshy self back when you're so much stronger as a Swampert?" Gigi asks, stars in her eyes as she looks at me. "You can cause earthquakes with your stomps, and the oceans themselves are at your beck and call!"
"That body you're so amazed by is nothing more than a coat. It doesn't feel right."
"Bah, feeling schmeeling, power is power in the end. You gave it your all for months on end, for what? Your human body and a severe downgrade in power? You can't even use internal energy!"
"...I'm not helpless, not completely at least."
"Yeah, in the dungeons. What about when you're outside? What if someone ambushes you while you're traveling between continents or during the night?"
Gigi's tone turns somber, her voice quivering as shaky fingers grip her hammer's handle.
"...What if I can't protect you in time?"
The question takes me aback, and I ponder the meaning of her words in silence. My mind wanders back to when I first regained my human body and the subsequent attack I found myself in. The panicked screams, the tear-filled pleads, the roaring fires.
My voice is only slightly above a whisper, but it carries all the emotion I can muster. "...You can, because you always have."
Gigi seems to perk up at my words, and her step regains her usual pep.
"Well of course, I'm the great Heavenly Pink Demon after all!" Gigi blusters, twirling her hammer in her hands.
"Just be careful with that thing, you might end up killing me again, and this time I don't have reviver seeds on hand."
"Pshaw, who do you think I am?"
"It's exactly because I know who you are that I ask you to be careful."
"...I'll rein it down a bit."
Trying not to spoil the mood I decide to steer the conversation in another direction.
"It'll be nice to finally rest in my own bed for a while, I haven't slept well since I took on this mission."
"I'll say, your bed is really empty without you."
"...Excuse me what?"
"What?"
"You can't just drop that out of nowhere and then act all coy."
"Drop what?"
"...Forget it, this isn't worth the headache."
.
Gigi's giggles fill the air as we finally reach the rocky outcropping overlooking the guild: green rolling hills fill our sight as I take a deep breath and let the clean air fill my lungs. To call it a simple guild would be an understatement, as the once simple building has now become a sprawling town, complete with shops and facilities that cater to the guild members' and residents' needs. The large stone walls that encompass the guild's coat of arms, standing proudly and exclaiming their staunch protection of the residents.
I follow the cobblestone road down the hills and into town, its wooden plaque depicting Emberspark's name renewing my energies.
The hustle and bustle of town is contagious as pokemon of all shapes and sizes walk about to and fro, going on about their daily lives. A centiskorch grills skewers above his heating pads; a leavanny sells custom clothes as her sewaddle kids play around her; the small spinda café stall sells smoothies to a long line of waiting customers.
Turning through an alleyway, I take Gigi to 'The Intrepid Explorer', a small bar that we both know located deep inside Emberspark. The owner, an elderly alakazam greets us with a warm smile.
"Hello my friends, what shall it be today?" He asks, his psychic powers sparkling as he mixes cocktails in the air.
I give him a warm nod and sit down at a small table in the corner of the bar. "I'll take a scotch on the rocks and a plate of salted olives."
Gigi pipes up greedily "I'll have baijiu and don't skimp out on the sliced shellder!"
The bartender chuckles warmly and produces a cold glass of whiskey with cubes of ice and a plate of seedless olives, as well as a small bottle of warm baijiu and a plate of sliced shellder. Clinking our glasses we enjoy our drinks and snack on the appetizers.
"So, retracing back to what I said before." I say inbetween bites. "It's not normal for you to try to act all cute and nonchalant. Is there anything you need?"
Gigi finishes what she's eating and washes it down with a glass or warm liquor. "Fine, I guess I can tell you. It's nothing major for either of us, but something big for my underlings."
I await for Gigi to down another glass; Swaying from side to side on her seat she pipes up. "They have been doing really well on their missions, and I think they deserve a little reward. I know things are a bit rough at the moment considering we just got out of the fight against Dark Matter but… Do you think you could give them some extra rations? Not forever, mind you, just for a week?"
I ponder Gigi's proposal while nursing my drink, munching on an olive. After a while I speak up. "Well, I don't see the issue. However, I want it written with the correct procedure, okay? A proper written request with justification and your personal seal."
Gigi lights up, nodding enthusiastically. "Thank you so much! For a hardcore stickler you're very soft when it comes to things like these, huh?"
"If they did well they deserve it. Good behavior begets rewards, I think."
"Do you think the Guildmaster will allow us to use the event hall for a party?"
"Depends. Considering you and your sect never follow the rules most likely not."
"...Maybe I can seduce him into letting us party there?"
"I think the guildmaster has the impression that you have a crush on me."
"Well he's not wrong."
"...I'll assume that's the liquor talking instead of you."
"Consider that what you will."
We finish the rest of our break in silence, enjoying eachother's company while we nurse our glasses, our drinks seemingly lowering at a slower speed than normal.
Well, chapter 2 is here. I'm still trying to get my groove back, so if you have any comments don't shy away. Have a good one.