(( Gotta say the illustrations have been a BLAST so far. Love Baru's emphatic "NOPE" here. ))
that espurr clearly needs someone to tell them about how meat is murder
Meat=murder! Meat=murder! Meat=murder! Start chanting about justice as it's not like that Espurr would attack you in a place like this!
[[Also I think the voting time is a little off 'cause if you look at it more closely it kinda seems like it'll close... next year? I mean, it doesn't really matter but I find it kinda funny that it looks like we're waiting for a year for this to update]]
That’s a young Espurr tho, eating meat that was presumably served by the establishment itself. Wouldn’t we be going up to an actual small child and traumatizing them with our vegan spiel? Gonna get our head popped off by an angry Meowstic! Bidoof Pot Pie for dinner tonight!
Now, we could give her a name like Blessra or Tessa, something similar to a named Espurr in the clearly inferior and totally abandoned written story… but this is the new and improved tale! I vote for Kiki or Jiji!
Your eyes can't help but keep darting to the espurr, Kiki, and the half-eaten meat on her plate. Eugh, that was probably someone's parent or child or sibling. You understand that some pokemon just have to eat meat, but it still grosses you out. Sure, there are a significant number of regulations on the meat industry, but that was still a living, breathing pokemon at one time!
Maybe if you go over and talk to the espurr, you'll be able to get your mind off of her meal. Or maybe she'll beat you to the punch.
Kiki: Howdy, Baru! Fancy seeing you here at this time of day!
Baru: I could say the same to you. I thought you'd be at work still.
Kiki: Nah. Boss gave me the day off. Said things were peaceful enough that I could stand to take a break.
Baru: Fair enough, I guess. Though I'll be honest, I'm STILL surprised they let you join the guard so young.
Kiki: I'm almost grown, Baru. Just ain't evolved yet, just like you.
Baru: Yeah, I guess that's fair, but...
Baru: ...
Kiki: You okay? You're actin' real funny today. Baru.
Kiki: Baru?
You can't do it. The stench of the meat. The glistening, succulent skin, fire roasted and splitting, juice driping into the Espurr's chin fur. You can't take it. You're going to be sick if you look at it a moment longer.
Baru: Sorry Kiki, I just remembered something I need to do. I'll have to catch up later. Gonna hurry up and eat my own food.
Kiki: ...
Kiki: ... You're not fooling anyone, Baru.
You return to your table, skin crawling. You don't mean to insult Kiki. She really is a nice girl. It's just... the meat. You can't stand it. They were someone's family member or loved one.
If the gods are real, they are certainly cruel creatures, to force pokemon to eat their neighbor to survive. If you ever meet The Original One or Mother Mew, assuming they're real at all, you're going to have some choice words.
Unfortunately, before you can drown yourself in mead, you hear a commotion outside. It's probably nothing, but you're debating checking it out, anyway.
