Hunger Switch Cafe

[IFBench]

"..."

Coleane didn't respond, only looking down dejectedly at the ground.

There had to have been good intentions, right? Right? Bad humans didn't exist, right?

 

[Shiny Phantump]

[It is okay,] Hazel signed. It took a moment for Gladion to start paying attention and translating again. [It is okay. I am being safe now.]

“We’re alright. Just, watch out for Aether. No idea what they want with you, but it’s probably bad news.”

 

[IFBench]

"...ok. See you," Coleane said, before beginning to trot out of the cafe, wings dragging across the ground.

 

[Shiny Phantump]

The two of them watched the Tropius mope off.

Hazel whimpered. [I am sorry.]

Instead of trying to call Coleane’s attention back to communicate that, Gladion just have Hazel a scratch on the back. “You did nothing wrong. Don’t apologize for existing.”

<><><><><>

 

[IFBench]

Chicken nuggets were another Unovan delciacy Gen never had, and...they didn't really live up to the hype. They tasted bland, empty. Where was the spice, the flavor?

"Um...I h-have. They're...from Hoenn, r-right?" Gen said. That...was about the extent of his knowledge on Manaphy.

 

[IFBench]

"Um...n-not really," Gen said, gripping onto his reunion cape. "Um...o-other Oshawotts, I guess? B-Beck, Kaijumaru, George, Ramirez, Opal, Prince...though the latter two are Dewott-Wartortle h-hybrids..."

 

[IFBench]

"Uh, s-sure!" Gen said, his tail beginning to wag a bit. "Th-that sounds nice!"

He nibbled on his last chicken nugget. Yeah, these would be so much better with some spices. Or at least some sauce.

 

[Shiny Phantump]

Conversation With: Two Contacts

Either of you free? If we want to find a mythical species, I think I caught a glimpse of a Manaphy in the cove. Meet me at the cafe if interested. Only got two contacts other than you two here so please feel free to let other people you consider trustworthy know.

Conversation With: Hazel (Not that one)

Hey, any luck with the caverns? Going looking for mythical species in a bit, think I might’ve spotted a Manaphy? If you’re interested I’ll be at the cafe. I’ve only got, like, three other contacts here so if you’ve got others who’re worth trusting, feel free to let them know.

Conversation With: Wallace

Hey you’re interested in Manaphy, right? I think there was a sighting in the cove we last chatted in. Meet me in the cafe if you’re free, bring anyone else you think is trustworthy if you want.

Admittedly, Gladion wasn’t 100% sure what the point of finding a mythical species here, but it had been a common goal and he felt obligated to follow up on his sighting.

If this Manaphy was more like Wallace’s than like the sort he was familiar with, it wasn’t too hard to imagine the possible benefits. Or, it was still kinda hard to imagine but he’d take Wallace’s word for it…

 

[Sinderella]

Either of you free? If we want to find a mythical species, I think I caught a glimpse of a Manaphy in the cove. Meet me at the cafe if interested. Only got two contacts other than you two here so please feel free to let other people you consider trustworthy know.

Well, that was convenient. Odette had simply been planning to go on a solo hunt for Celebi or Jirachi or Meloetta, but if Gladion had already seen something, who was she to pass that up?

That's exactly what I was planning to do today. I'll be there in five. [[ @Shiny Phantump ]]

"̸S̴o̵o̸o̷o̴o̸o̶o̸o̴o̵o̶o̴o̸o̴o̸o̶o̵.̷.̸.̷w̴e̸'̶r̶e̵ ̵n̷o̴t̶ ̸l̷o̸o̴k̶i̶n̶g̷ ̴f̴o̶r̸ ̴J̸i̴r̸a̶c̷h̸i̵ ̸t̴o̷d̷a̴y̶?̷"̸


"Did you not read the text? Gladion already spotted Manaphy so why would we go try to find Jirachi?"


"̸B̷e̴c̸a̶u̶s̸e̶ ̵I̴ ̶w̴a̶n̴t̷e̴d̵ ̵t̶o̵ ̶h̶e̶c̵k̷l̶e̸ ̵J̷I̴R̴A̷C̷H̸I̶,̵ ̷n̴o̶t̶ ̶f̷u̵c̷k̴i̷n̴g̷ ̷M̵A̸N̷A̶P̴H̷Y̷.̷"̵


Odette was far too tired for this whining. She knew it was inevitable, more or less, but Odile could stand to wait a fucking hour or so.

"Cry me a river, build a bridge, and get over it. We have plenty of time to go find the rest of them."

--

Upon walking into Hunger Swap, Odette was able to pick Gladion out of the crowd. Even though he wasn't exactly her Gladion, it was still frightfully easy.

"Hey there," she said as she approached him. "Sorry for rushing over. I was already headed out to do some mythic hunting anyway, so your text came just in time. Good shit spotting Manaphy," she complimented. "Not sure what we'll glean if we're able to track it down again, but maybe it knows a little more about this godsforsaken island than we do."

"̶A̷n̸d̶ ̸m̷a̷y̴b̸e̷ ̵I̶ ̶c̷a̶n̸ ̶a̶s̶k̸ ̸w̷h̶e̶r̷e̸ ̵J̴i̶r̶a̴c̶h̶i̶ ̸i̴s̵ ̵s̷l̸e̸e̵p̷i̶n̷g̶ ̸s̶o̶ ̸I̶ ̷c̵a̸n̵ ̸g̴o̶ ̶p̷o̴u̶r̶ ̵w̷a̸t̸e̸r̴ ̷o̷n̷ ̶h̴i̴m̴.̴"̸


"What other mythics do you have problems with?"


"̷T̸h̶a̸t̷'̵s̴ ̴n̷o̶n̵e̷ ̷o̸f̴ ̶y̵o̷u̶r̷ ̴g̷o̵d̷d̷a̵m̷n̷ ̴b̵u̶s̵i̵n̴e̴s̸s̸,̸ ̷n̵o̷w̸ ̴i̶s̸ ̵i̵t̷?̴"̷

 

[Shiny Phantump]

Gladion saw two people walk into the cafe. Odette, and… also Odette again but more vampiric-looking this time. He leaned back in surprise.

“Hey, Odette. Nice to see you, but…” He glanced towards Odile and back at her. “Who’s this? You got a goth identical twin or what?”

 

[Sinderella]

“Hey, Odette. Nice to see you, but…” He glanced towards Odile and back at her. “Who’s this? You got a goth identical twin or what?”

She blinked a few times before stopping in her stride to eye Odile. "Oh. My bad. No, this is my Pokemon from--"

As Odette spoke, Odile spun around once, immediately morphing back into her tiny bat form. "̷S̴u̵r̶p̵r̷i̸s̵e̵!̶"̸ she yelled as she gleefully flapped her wings. "̵'̶G̶o̷t̷h̷ ̴i̸d̴e̷n̶t̵i̷c̶a̶l̷ ̴t̴w̴i̶n̴'̵ ̵i̴s̷ ̴a̶ ̴h̸u̴g̵e̴ ̴c̵o̶m̷p̸l̶i̶m̶e̸n̵t̷ ̴t̴h̶a̷t̸ ̵I̷ ̷w̴i̸l̷l̷ ̶e̵g̷o̸t̶i̷s̵t̴i̵c̴a̷l̸l̶y̷ ̷a̸c̴c̷e̷p̷t̴,̶ ̴s̸o̶ ̵t̵h̷a̵n̶k̷ ̸y̵o̵u̴.̴"̴

 

[Shiny Phantump]

Gladion sighed. “Y-You’re welcome? I think you just set a new record for the weirdest thing I’ve dealt with in the past few days. I’m impressed you managed to beat the previous record holder, who was…”

He mimed getting out a piece of paper to check the contents. “Oh! Also you two. Congratulations, you’ve outdone yourselves.”

 

[Sinderella]

“Oh! Also you two. Congratulations, you’ve outdone yourselves.”

"̴Y̶O̶,̷ ̶O̷D̴E̷T̵T̶E̸,̸ ̷E̷N̷O̵R̵A̷.̷ ̷W̶E̸ ̴B̷E̵A̴T̴ ̶O̸U̴R̶ ̵F̶U̴C̴K̵I̷N̶G̵ ̴R̴E̵C̷O̵R̸D̷.̷ ̷W̶H̶A̶T̴ ̴D̶O̸ ̸W̸E̵ ̵W̵I̴N̴?̵"̸

Odette forced a half-hearted laugh as scratched at her cheek. "The esteemed privilege of getting to say we might be the most unnerving trio on the island."

"̷.̴.̸.̵w̴h̸y̴ ̶a̸r̴e̶ ̴y̵o̵u̵ ̶s̷a̶y̷i̸n̵g̴ ̸t̴h̶a̴t̶ ̴l̸i̸k̶e̸ ̶i̷t̶'̶s̴ ̸a̷ ̶b̴a̶d̷ ̵t̸h̴i̶n̶g̸?̵ ̶U̶n̸n̶e̴r̷v̷i̷n̷g̶ ̷G̴O̶O̵D̷.̸ ̸E̴x̷c̴e̷p̸t̴,̸ ̵E̴n̷o̴r̷a̴'̵s̷ ̷n̵o̵t̷ ̴u̸n̸n̴e̴r̴v̶i̷n̵g̷,̶ ̵s̵h̸e̸'̷s̴ ̵m̶o̶r̷e̸ ̸l̸i̶k̴e̸ ̵t̴h̵e̸ ̶s̵n̴o̴o̶t̴y̷ ̵o̸f̵f̴i̸c̷e̵ ̷w̴o̵r̷k̴e̵r̸ ̵i̵n̶ ̵a̴ ̷S̶t̸a̷r̶y̸u̸b̴u̶c̵k̴s̸ ̵t̶h̴a̷t̸ ̵c̶o̷n̸d̶e̸s̸c̷e̶n̶d̴s̸ ̷t̵h̵e̸ ̶d̵r̸i̴n̴k̸ ̴m̴a̷k̶e̶r̵s̷ ̵i̶f̶ ̴t̸h̴e̸y̶ ̴d̴o̷n̵'̴t̵ ̷p̴u̶t̷ ̷e̶n̶o̵u̵g̶h̵ ̷c̴o̷c̴o̶n̴u̷t̷ ̴m̵i̴l̸k̷ ̷i̶n̶ ̶h̸e̴r̸ ̸d̵r̵i̵n̵k̸ ̶a̵n̵d̶-̶-̸"̵


"I don't even like coconut milk, you heathen."

With a roll of her eyes, Odette glanced back at Gladion. "All in all, sorry to uh...keep throwing loops at you. Is it just us today, or are we meeting up with some others? I only have two other people I'd be willing to trust, but I stupidly never got their numbers."

 

[Shiny Phantump]

"All in all, sorry to uh...keep throwing loops at you. Is it just us today, or are we meeting up with some others? I only have two other people I'd be willing to trust, but I stupidly never got their numbers."

Gladion shrugged. “Nothing to be done about it. I did send out a few other messages, but you’re the first to answer. Ought to give them a bit to answer, I think. May I ask who the other people are, just in case I run into them?”

 

[Sinderella]

May I ask who the other people are, just in case I run into them?”

"That blonde girl with the Espeon partner. Her name was Kimiko. They both seem nice and very much not shady," she replied. "And then the guy with the white-ish hair, Steven. And his Aggron. If I ever couldn't find you or Laura, I'd most likely stick around them."

 

[HelloYellow17]

Wes walked into the cafe and nearly turned right around to walk back out when he saw the growing crowd of people there. Dammit, he just wanted to grab some food and have some space for a moment, but he supposed wanting anything to go his way on this island was a tall order to fill.

Still, he recognized some of the trainers from the boat, and this didn’t seem like a casual get-together. If there was something happening, he wanted to know about it. So, ignoring his natural instinct, he walked over and took a seat near the edge of the gathering, close enough to listen in but far enough away to not…be weirdly intrusive. At least, he hoped as much.

 

[IFBench]

Gen was with Wallace, huddling against his new uncle.

 

[Shiny Phantump]

Once the group had collected enough people- or, in Gladion's opinion, too many people, they set out for the cove.

<><><><><>

 

[Panoramic_Vacuum]

The cafe was practically empty at this time of the morning. Steven sat at a table by himself, Aggron hunched warily beside him. His fingers drummed against the tabletop, Hayes’s letter burning a hole in his jacket pocket. He knew he was early; he woke with too much nervous energy to simply remain in his room. He even skipped his usual morning coffee, gods knew he would be even more jittery with the caffeine.

He glanced again at his watch, and then at the cafe’s entrance. Still early, way too early. But Hayes had said it was urgent. There was no way he was going to chance missing him again today.

Aggron rumbled quietly at Steven’s side, a sign for his trainer to stop fidgeting.


“Ah, sorry Aggron,” Steven said. He knew his anxiousness was rubbing off on his partner. His drumming stopped and he rested his hand against Aggron’s side instead. It was calming. Though perhaps not enough, as he began to thumb the rings of his other hand.

The minutes ticked by, and while another trainer or two filtered into the cafe, still no sign of Hayes.


“We’re early. It’s early,” Steven muttered to himself. “Just be patient.”

Perhaps it was his imagination, but it sounded like something was happening outside. It was distant, though, or maybe that was just his tunnel vision on this meeting with Hayes. His hand pressed hard into Aggron’s side, eliciting a snort and look from his partner.

"..."


“Sorry,” Steven grated out, clearly distracted. His other hand jammed into his pocket where it tightened around the note, crumpling the paper. He couldn’t leave, even just to check. He had to wait here. It was too important.

 

[Panoramic_Vacuum]

The cafe was even emptier than when they first arrived, with Steven and Aggron being the only ones still there. Steven's tap-tap-tapping on the tabletop felt deafening in the empty space.

He had given in to the urge and grabbed a cup of coffee while they waited. He'd needed something to do with his hands other than fidget... But now, the cup sat empty on the table, and his anxiety was through the roof, so he was back to fidgeting as the worry in his brow creased deeper and deeper.

Aggron has lost count on how many times his trainer had checked his watch. Either way, they'd been there for a while now, and still no sign of Hayes or his shiny Nosepass (who was very hard to miss.)

So when the door to the cafe opened, both of them jumped and turned to see who it might be.

In pranced an espeon and an umbreon, followed by one of the two dark colored trench coat wearing trainers.

Aggron huffed an annoyed noise and turned back around, and Steven slumped a bit in his chair. Not the people they were waiting for.

Steven was almost ready to grab another cup of coffee when the eon trainer's phone beeped. Instead of getting up, Steven leaned forward and cupped his empty mug with both hands, and listened.

Nothing was said, just a text then. But then, the man said something, and Steven stiffened in his chair, knuckles white against his cup.

“There’s been another abduction, guys,” Wes said to the two at his feet. They both tensed and looked up at him, fur bristling and ears pinned back. “At the Cove again. We’re gonna go and see what we can find out.”

Steven froze, and waited. Waited for the man to leave. For the door of the cafe to open and close again. For the room to be empty once more.

He didn't need to check his watch to know Hayes was late. Hayes wasn't going to show, and someone had been taken. Oh gods Hayes wasn't going to show.

Steven swore and bolted from his chair. He was already out the doors and around the corner at a brisk walk before Aggron could follow. He made it two steps beyond the village edge before breaking into a run.

<><><><><><>​