[PKMN] SPACE CASE!

[skinstealer]

Chugging down your drink nearly makes you choke, mopping sweat from your brow and catching your breath as you lean against the arena's cage.

FROND: Hey-

 

You sputter as you stop staring into space, the gloom approaching you giving a tiny wave.

FROND: You alright, man?

 

What do you even say?
What would-
This is just-

STRETCH: ...
STRETCH: I'm.
STRETCH: Fine.
STRETCH: i guess
FROND: I dunno, can't say that kinda look on your face goes well with guessing.

 

He leans against the cage with you, his smile far less...exuberant than usual.

FROND: ......
STRETCH: ............
FROND: So is it-
STRETCH: it is minerva yes

 

You crunch the plastic bottle in your hand.
Why did you just fucking say that?
Why did-

FROND: S'alright, dude.
FROND: Look-
FROND: ....you know you can talk to me about-

 

The miserable look on your face makes him trail off.

FROND: .....
FROND: You sure you should, like-
FROND: Be jumping into this?
STRETCH: ...no.
STRETCH: I'm-
STRETCH: I'm not sure.
FROND: But...?
STRETCH: .....
STRETCH: She's... very nice.
STRETCH: And- I-

 

You look at your free hand, opening and closing your fingers.

FROND: ....I know, man.
FROND: I know.
FROND: Like, I think- the fact that you're putting yourself out there-
FROND: Is so cool.
FROND: Like, seriously awesome.
FROND: You've totally needed to-
STRETCH: frond
FROND: ....
FROND: Just...
FROND: Come to me if you need it, okay?

 

Why does he...still care?
You'd spent the past...god, ten years? Mostly ignoring him, more and more every year.

Why did



anyone



still care about you?

STRETCH: ...okay.
STRETCH: Right now, I'm-
STRETCH: Adjusting.
STRETCH: To. Things.
FROND: Yeah.
FROND: S'been what, like, three days?
FROND: Mom always told me that this whole, League thing-
FROND: It's a life that moves fast!
FROND: Adventure, fame-
FROND: Getting into trouble...

 

He snickers.

FROND: Kinda a lot for me too.
STRETCH: ...yeah?
FROND: I mean, yeah-
FROND: But I get to talk to you again, too.

 

He pats you on the back before getting back up.

FROND: Cmon, we've still got time on the clock.
FROND: People need a coach!
STRETCH: ....

 

You realize your breath's evened out, hands stopped shaking.

STRETCH: Right.





STRETCH: Okay.
STRETCH: So.

 

The four pokemon front of you are expectant- looking to hear results as everyone munches on oran sandwiches. Minerva and Filigree- thank god- had managed to get through just as much lesson work as Frond and Eerie... albeit far simpler in technique. It figured, for two complete newbies.

STRETCH: Good news.
STRETCH: You're all fit for the gym now.
FROND: WHOOOO
STRETCH: And-
STRETCH: I think we have a decent shot at it.
EERIE: Pff, just decent?
STRETCH: It'd be higher if we knew what we're in for.
STRETCH: But. There's cohesion here.
MINERVA: Really??
STRETCH: More than I thought, yes.
STRETCH: I'll break it down.
STRETCH: I've got the highest numbers here-
STRETCH: But the gap means that we don't know how that works regarding potential.
EERIE: ...how's that work?
STRETCH: You're all the same level now.
STRETCH: We can compare your numbers easier.
STRETCH: Someone having more or less than another person stat-wise when you're on the same playing field is much easier to read.
FILIGREE: ...so...
FILIGREE: Any one of us could be stronger than you?
STRETCH: Possible.
STRETCH: We won't know until it balances out.
STRETCH: Evolution matters a lot here, too.
STRETCH: Minerva, Frond, and myself are going to hit heavier on principle.
STRETCH: ...if that's something any of you want to-
FILIGREE: Yes.
STRETCH: ....we can work on focusing on finding paths towards that.

 

You sigh.

STRETCH: I'll be hanging back in the gym fight.
STRETCH: Audiences don't like curbstomps.
FROND: Dude, you beat Slipper without taking any-
STRETCH: That was not for television.
EERIE: showoff
STRETCH: And I feel like showing what we have as a team would give us a better reputation.
MINERVA: So...should we let ourselves get roughed up?
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: Don't throw the match.
STRETCH: Give it your all.
STRETCH: But. Don't just wail on the opponents.
STRETCH: A good match has all of its fighters paying attention and keeping pace.
STRETCH: What we focused on today is keeping your eyes on what's happening and adjusting on the fly.
STRETCH: ...that will show us off at our best.

 

You wait for the whispers, the dismissal-




-only to realize everyone's eyes are still on you, even Eerie nodding slightly.





They're actually listening to you.
You'd had fellow students seem to appreciate your help, but-




They respect you.



You.



As their team captain.

EERIE: S'a good move.
EERIE: More coverage we get, the better-
EERIE: And we have to bash some heads in-
FILIGREE: Professionally.
MINERVA: Theatrically.
EERIE: Enthusiastically.
FROND: I think we've got it!

 

Your chest hurts, but not in a bad way.

STRETCH: Right.
STRETCH: Individual reports.
 

STRETCH: I've got bubble and twineedle.
STRETCH: Bubble isn't doing much.
STRETCH: I'm only going to use it in a pinch, or if I can pick up on a type weak to it.
STRETCH: Ideally, we won't need to resort to that.
STRETCH: It's not even all that flashy, so.
STRETCH: Mildly useless.
STRETCH: But-
STRETCH: Twineedle has done very well.
STRETCH: I'm very experienced with it and people like it.
STRETCH: It looks different from the norm-

 

in a way you hate

STRETCH: In a way that people find exciting.
STRETCH: It's registered properly, but has an element of...
FROND: Intrigue?
STRETCH: ...sure.
STRETCH: Intrigue.
 

STRETCH: Eerie, you're a slower fighter and lack experience with the kind of ranged skill needed to make smog work-
EERIE: HEY
STRETCH: But you are bulky enough to take some serious attacks.
STRETCH: At least comparatively.

 

She snorts, accepting this follow-up.

STRETCH: You have experience with the club, especially after today.
STRETCH: The hesitation in frantic situations is something to be careful about, but.
STRETCH: Big progress.
STRETCH: If you focus on the flow of the fight, you'll do good.
STRETCH: ...That said.
STRETCH: We are going to want to be careful about-
STRETCH: Local...associations.
EERIE: What, with the gang shit?
STRETCH: Nn. Yes.
EERIE: Pff.
EERIE: I told you, I'm completely over those guys.
EERIE: Anyone who assumes I'm not can suck it.
STRETCH: As...long as you're careful.

 

STRETCH: Frond, you know what to do.
STRETCH: Use rest strategically.
STRETCH: If you time it and get someone to safely tag in and throw you back out of the ring-
STRETCH: It's a huge asset that a lot of early teams don't have.
STRETCH: But.
STRETCH: Don't knock out too close to the action, if you do that.
STRETCH: League switch rules mean that the mon tagging in would have to resume your position-
STRETCH: So back up if you need to pass out.
STRETCH: Swift will always work as long as you're conscious and able to fight, so use it.
STRETCH: You'll be fine.
FROND: Aye aye, cap'n!

 

STRETCH: Minerva.

 

Focus.

STRETCH: You hit hard.
STRETCH: You have a variety of moves.
STRETCH: Your job is to cause as much damage as possible and bail.
STRETCH: Get people stunned, on the ground, and ready for someone else to take finish off if you need to.
STRETCH: You're going to do good.

 

When you look up to meet her eyes, she's smiling.

Not just in the flirty way, but-



Proud of herself.

STRETCH: Filigree.

 

The bellsprout straightens up again, at attention.

STRETCH: You're a glass cannon.
FILIGREE: ...meaning?
STRETCH: Do damage and don't get hit first.
STRETCH: You're slower, and at risk of being hurt worse than others here.
STRETCH: If you can hit people in weak points and stun them, you'll be more able to outspeed and really work them over.
STRETCH: Even better, if someone else like Minerva knocks them down for you and needs to tag out-
STRETCH: You'll have a good chance of easy victory.
STRETCH: Great potential.
STRETCH: Let's use it.
FILIGREE: ....
FILIGREE: Got it.
FILIGREE: I'll do my best.




STRETCH: Our overall strategy should be paralysis-centric.
STRETCH: We lock down opponents and keep them staggered.
STRETCH: Immobile if we can.
STRETCH: Twineedle and smog can poison, so that's also viable.
STRETCH: As much as possible, opponents should be sick or stunned.
STRETCH: If we can't make that happen, we focus on the members with firepower hitting hard.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Worst case, I could step in and end things.
STRETCH: But.
STRETCH: I would rather everyone get a shot.
STRETCH: We're a team.
STRETCH: The world needs to know that.

 

You aren't expecting Frond to clap, and even less when everyone else joins in.

STRETCH: ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT.
STRETCH: GOOD JOB TEAM
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: thanks
FROND: Well, only one thing left to do-
EERIE: Get all the damn sweat off?
FROND: Two things left!
FROND: We need a team name!
EERIE: Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
FILIGREE: No, he's right-
FILIGREE: We'll need to register the party properly.
FILIGREE: Stretch's already the team captain in practice, but us entering the League and scoring our first badge means we'll all be formally registered as members-
FILIGREE: And can swap out as needed for gym fights and official challenges.
FROND: And we get jerseys!
FILIGREE: They don't have to be jerseys!
MINERVA: Oh, what about capes?
EERIE: I dunno, I'm kind of digging the jersey idea.
STRETCH: ...uniforms and, all of that, can come later.
STRETCH: But-
STRETCH: Yeah.
STRETCH: Team name.
STRETCH: Ah.
STRETCH: Hm.
FROND: How about the one from-
STRETCH: oh god no
FROND: Cmon, you were so proud of it!
STRETCH: frond cmon
FILIGREE: We need something.
MINERVA: I'm sure it's lovely!

 

Your voice comes out deadpan.

STRETCH: We can be.
STRETCH: The "Shooting Stars".
STRETCH: Or something.
EERIE: ...
EERIE: Well, it's better than I was expecting.
MINERVA: Very evocative!
FILIGREE: It's...pretty good, yeah.
FROND: WHOOOOOHOO

 

You are now the captain of The Shooting Stars.










A tent was one thing.
A rented room was another thing.


Minerva grinding against your dick in an out-of-the-way locker room stall was something different entirely.

STRETCH: M-min-
MINERVA: W-we can't go out there like this...
STRETCH: I know, I know, I-

 

You have to cover your mouth as she starts to line herself up. Against your better judgment, Minerva gently leaning on you and whispering that the two of you should probably clean up was all it took. You were practically all over each other as soon as you got into the room, the calmness of the strategy meeting tossed aside to handle both of your tension from earlier.

MINERVA: W-we'll be quick, okay?
STRETCH: Okay, I-

 

You take a deep breath before grabbing her hips, pushing in hard and watching as she has to clamp her own mouth shut.




It's different from either of the times you'd done this, a sort of panicked frenzy to it. Anyone could walk in at any time, you needed to get this done as soon as possible, relief before anyone realized-

MINERVA: pleasei'mreallyclose
STRETCH: It's-
STRETCH: we're already- already pushing it-

 

She tightens around you and you lose it, unable to keep from going at her hard enough for it to be audible, not stopping after the first wave hits you, or the second-

She comes on your chest, gasping for breath as you consider passing out then and there.

It takes you a second before you notice just how wet everything feels, carefully pulling out.

Oh, thank god.

Nothing broke, but- you were pushing it. Tying the condom off fills you with a whole new kind of embarrassment, Minerva wiping off what remains quickly.

STRETCH: hh.
STRETCH: Th.
STRETCH: Thanks.
STRETCH: D. Did need that.
MINERVA: S-same...
MINERVA: I just-
MINERVA: It-
MINERVA: ...scares me, sometimes-
MINERVA: ....you know?
STRETCH: Did I-
MINERVA: No! No, just-
MINERVA: It,it starts feeling so strange, painful even..
MINERVA: ....when I don't do this.
MINERVA: And that feels bad, because-
MINERVA: Not everybody gets it-




 

...oh.


You blink.

MINERVA: It's like I-
MINERVA: I can't stop thinking about this sort of thing-





 

You pull her in with a tight squeeze, latching onto her chest with as much force as you can.






Her breathing slows, and yours follows.





You're gross.
You're a real nasty piece of work.
You just fucked someone you barely know in a locker room hours before your first League fight.
Deviant sex- your parents weren't kidding.
At this point, you're probably too far gone.
You crossed the bridge you swore to never even consider- touching another person, let alone giving in to these feelings.








.....








But maybe Minerva's gross with you.





It's the first time you let the anxiety go, if only for a moment.












You aren't sure how to feel about the fact that you actually make good time on getting back with the rest of the party, both of you seemingly skilled at the fastest panic showers in the world.

....it feels like a secret, but-

Not exactly like the blood thing.

She smiles at you when the team starts walking and chatting, and you kind of wish you could smile back. Your face still feels stiff and difficult to express with, like a mask stuck on far too long to be removed.

You were definitely moving too fast. Even letting yourself feel any kind of glee in this makes you want to throw up, a little bit. Being happy and content with things was never your strong suit, and everything always comes with the caveat of being inevitably ripped out of your hands.


Besides- surely this was going to get in the way of your goal. You can't get to the top if you're railing a party member at any given opportunity.


....so why do you feel so refreshed?

EERIE: So-
EERIE: Why are we doing this now, exactly?
STRETCH: Best time to challenge a gym is when you're warmed up.
FROND: You're already in the zone!!
EERIE: They teach you that in fight school?
FROND: Nah, just something students pass around as a hot tip.
FROND: If you practiced moves before an exam, you'd do way better than doing it soon as you wake up.
STRETCH: And then you pass out for the rest of the day.
FROND: Yeah!
FROND: Best naps ever.
FILIGREE: Let's hope we don't have to get dragged out of there...
MINERVA: Are you worried, Filigree?

 

They nod, adjusting their bag strap as they walk.

FILIGREE: This gym's new, but-
FILIGREE: Regulation says the Pewter gym has a mandatory four gym fighter rule.
FILIGREE: We'll have to go through three challenge fights, and then the leader.
STRETCH: You got any idea what Cleave's deal is?
FROND: Any puzzles, themes, anything?
FILIGREE: ....no.
FILIGREE: Nothing.
FILIGREE: No one does.
MINERVA: But-
MINERVA: Surely there have to be challengers?
FILIGREE: All I know is that they're still using the old registration booth, but the actual gym location's been moved.
FILIGREE: If people are getting badges, they're turning around and leaving as soon as possible, with no details released to the press.
MINERVA: ....
EERIE: .....
EERIE: Well.
EERIE: I don't blame them.
EERIE: Place is a shithole.
EERIE: Doesn't exactly need advertisement.
MINERVA: I-
MINERVA: I am inclined to agree...
FILIGREE: Guess us locals are unanimous.
EERIE: Not exactly a hot take.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: We'll leave as soon as we can, then.
STRETCH: Mt. Moon isn't that far, and-
STRETCH: I'd rather risk a bunch of caves than these punks.

 

You come up to the registration booth, the pigeot inside looking thoroughly bored.

They don't react to you standing there, rolling your eyes and tapping the glass with reverb.

????: F-
????: What?!
STRETCH: Here to register for a fight.
STRETCH: Are there any appointments for-
????: What, one today?

 

They laugh, bitter.

????: I can get you in with an hour's notice.

 

Filigree looks particularly troubled, and you can't blame them.

STRETCH: Standard turnaround's three hours on a slow day.
????: Yeah, and the wait here is nonexistent.
????: Cough up a thousand and you're in.

 

You slide the coins across the counter, the pidgeot barely bothering to count them. Your antennae twitch as you overhear the nearby, growing snicker at your apparently surprising entry.

????: Think we can get in to see this?
????: No chance, they think they've got the right to be picky on who's in the seats.
????: Beggars can't be choosers! Stations won't even broadcast the matches!
????: Last I hear, they might actually push for it-
????: Bringing the freakshow right to your couch-

 

Your antennae are crackling, biting the inside of your lip.

MINERVA: ...Stretch?
STRETCH: H
STRETCH: I.

 

You're getting looks, but the feeling of inexplicable anger building in your chest numbs your self consciousnes as you take your tickets.

STRETCH: Have a bad feeling about this.

 

The group walks away, getting some distance. You're surprised to see Frond as just as irritated, a rare scowl on his face.

FROND: ...gonna be one of these, then.
MINERVA: ...one of what, exactly?
FROND: Someone up top playing dirty.
FROND: League gyms get put under a lot more scrutiny.
FROND: Usually all gets slapped on TV and the radio, helps build hype for challengers going further into the circuit.
FROND: Public image's just as important for a gym as getting exciting fights on the air.
FROND: Local circuits?
FROND: Now that's good ol' family values!
FROND: Community members. The guy down the street!
FROND: Heroes right in your neighborhood!
FROND: The League-
FROND: It's not just for "serious" people.
FROND: It's for people willing to put it all on the line, even a sense of "decency."
FROND: It's always been an adult sport.
FROND: It's violent.
FROND: Wardrobe malfunctions mid-fight. Battlers caught in affairs on camera.
FROND: There's blood, puke, personal feuds gone wrong.
FROND: God knows me and Stretch caught flack for wanting to specifically go into it versus some kind of smaller, southwest Kanto circuit.
FROND: League challengers, gym battlers, they're broadcasted and pried into and-
FROND: ....
FROND: Anything goes if it lines pockets.
FROND: That's why-

 

He doesn't continue the thought, huffing to himself before changing gears.

FROND: ....if this new gym is getting censored, something's up and I don't like it.
 

---

 

Our heroes have reached the first major hurdle in their journey... but what could possibly be waiting for them in the Pewter City gym? Even with their newfound strategies and bonds as a team, can they bring their best to rise to the top?

Suggesters...with Stretch as the team leader, it's up to you what kind of pep talk it gives here!

Find out next time...on SPACE CASE!