After weeks of preparation, the day had come at last. The Festival of the Seven Crops had arrived. Even as dawnlight cracked the horizon, George couldn’t sleep anymore. The sound of nails being hammered down across Verdant Valley was too distracting. Burying his head under the pillow did little to stop it, nor did plugging his ears. Whether he liked it or not, he was getting up early. As was Blitzer.
The Dewott scratched his chest, then stretched his arms while letting out a large yawn. “Wakey wakey. Big day’s here.”
Blitzer’s tail crackled with excitement as he jumped off his bed. “Didn’t have to repeat it! I’ve been telling myself that all night! In my dreams, that is.”
George fixed up his fur. “Dreams? What, like sleep talking?”
Blitzer stuck his tongue out. “Nope! Just in here!” He pointed at his head. “Sometimes I get lucid dreams, sometimes I don’t. It’s random, but tonight I was really feeling it! How’d you dream, George? Do you get lucid dreams too?”
In response, George moved his ears back and forth, his eyes panning from the tips of his toes to Blitzer’s eyes. “Sort of. They get pretty intense though.”
“How so?” Blitzer asked. George smiled.
‘Oh, he fell right for it.’ “I’ve been trapped in one for a few months now, does that tell you anything?”
Blitzer laughed, and George joined him before either could so much as blink. “Good one! Man, and I thought I had the best jokes in mind… wait, is it even a joke?”
“Half half,” George replied. “It’s been going on for so long, calling it a dream is plain stupid. At the same time though, the whole thing’s been surreal. Think about it. Once a human, now an otter with psychic powers in a world of crazy magical creatures. I’d be called a dork if I thought this up back home. Headmistress would think I’m insane.”
“Oof,” Blitzer said in an overly exaggerated manner, while he straddled his way to the door. “Sounds rough. Glad that’s all behind you now, isn’t it? Well, not saying we’re living in the best times here, either, but… at least you feel somewhat at home with us, right?”
George nodded. “Yeah… Yeah, I do.” ‘I guess. I still don’t get why life back home ended up that way.’ He bit his lip. Thinking about his human past made his head sting. “Enough about me though. We’ve got the festival, right?”
“Right. Do…” Blitzer tried climbing the walls, tilting his head in an odd manner. “Don’t know if they’re done preparing… wait, there’s people outside! Yeah, let’s go! But where’s Porov?”
“Probably outside,” George replied. “Let’s go!”
His ears tuned in to all the hammering and commotion outside, George freshed himself up. A small granola snack to start the morning, get the final tangles out his fur, and so on. Blitzer ate a little as well and did some stretches; George didn’t look this time.
Everything was in order, and it wasn’t long before both were ready to ‘brave’ the festival. A celebration of the region, with religious underpinnings. There were bound to be rules, but why let that get in the way? They’d already forgotten them. People might value the spiritual meaning behind the festival, sure, but George and Blitzer had a different one in mind.
Just plain old fun.
One minute into the festival, Blitzer had already vanished one way, and George had gone the other. Everyone from Verdant Valley and surroundings had to have been populating the streets. Kids were running around, parents were laughing, huge crowds were assembled around various stands, some with games and others with things to buy. Some workers were still building stands, but their work was soon to be done. Smiles were on their faces; they got to join in on the excitement soon enough.
The entire town was decorated with colourful flags: Blue, brown, pink and green, and each had a crude face drawn upon it. Above each face were a number of horns, though each colour had the same amount: One for blue, two for green, three for brown, then four for pink. George pondered on it for a moment. Hadn’t Venusa said something about this? The gods that blessed the Ruby province, allowing civilisation to bloom… were it their faces?
The religious nature of the festival was palpable right off the bat. Several of the stands were shrines. People left offerings ranging from food to hand crafted trinkets, then prayed for a great harvest come next year. But right next to the shrines was a huge wooden tub of water, with several apples bobbing inside.
“Come here, come all! Fresh apples to whoever wants ‘em!” A Typhlosion without any purple markings rang a bell. “Hey you there, Dewott laddie! C’mere, will ya?”
George’s mouth opened a little. “Oh- Of course,” he said, then stepped up before the tub, right where the Typhlosion gestured him towards. A few young Pokemon followed, much to Typhlosion’s amusement.
“Haha! C’mere, you all! Why don’t you try bobbing for an apple? One Eracoin per attempt!”
George nodded while staring at the water. His face could use another good rinsing. It always could, really. Water felt nice in his fur. Also, it wasn’t as if fifty others had dunked their head in that same water already. It was only morning.
“Sure, why not.” George fetched a bag of coins hanging around his waist, then slipped one in Typhlosion’s hand, much to the latter’s delight.
“Haah! Now that’s what we’re talkin’ about. Not particularly darin’ eh, Dewott?”
George raised an eyebrow. “Is it supposed to be daring?”
“If yer of fire or a groundling, for sure! Rocklings too, y’know the drill. Ain’t so scary when it’s yer main element though, right?” Typhlosion said with a cunning smile. George blew air out his nose. All that was missing was the sunglasses.
“...Right.”
Typhlosion waved his arm in front of George’s face. “Don’t misunderstand though. ‘Tis supposed to be fun! Just ain’t exactly the same as all the other kids here. Confrontin’ what yer afraid of is what separates kids from adults! All youngsters in the Ruby Province gotta do it eventually, and ain’t no better way to start than with something fun like this, no? All I’m sayin’ is that yer missin’ out on that bit.”
With a dull hum, George stepped up to the tub. All the other kids in the queue were getting antsy, some bored and others frightened. The apples were bobbing up and down in the pale water. At the bottom, some kind of steel pipe was connected to the tub. George eyed it for a second, before Typhlosion tapped his shoulder.
“Ya ready?”
George shrugged. “About as ready as can be.” ‘Not like this is something to get ready for.’
“Then here goes!” said Typhlosion as he took a deep breath. His shoulders ignited, then he clamped his jaws down on a metal tube sticking out of the tub. Fires rumbled through the steel pipe below. It was then that George noticed the small holes in the pipe: Bubbles rose from the holes towards the surface. The water grew restless, and the apples were swept right along. George harrumphed.
“Huh.” ‘So there’s a trick to this. Interesting. Pretty sure this wouldn’t be allowed back home. No fun police.’
Typhlosion let go of the tube. “What are ya waitin’ for! Have at it!”
Unwilling to keep anyone waiting, George pressed his head into the water. Warmth flowed into his fur right as his face entered the warm water. But warm wasn’t hot. Scalding heat would’ve been miserable. This was more like a bath.
George dipped his whole head in. He didn’t close his eyes. No point if they were already open, and all the bubbles covered him nicely. No one would know he was cheating.
All he had to do now was bite an apple and fish it out. Sure enough, one bumped him in between the ears. One good chomp that would make a Tyrantrum blush later, and George came right back up, hands on his hips while he displayed his prize to the kids waiting in line, who all cheered him on. The edges of a smile appeared where the apple couldn’t reach.
‘I look like a dog with a tennis ball in my mouth, don’t I?’
“Hahaah! Well done, laddie! George, was it?”
The Dewott took a bite from his apple, water dripping from his fur. “Yah? How’d y-” ‘Oh. Othersider, Porov. Right.’ “Was fun.”
“Enjoy your apple.”Typhlosion, amused, turned to the other kids waiting in line. “See kiddos? That’s how it’s done! Who wants to try next?”
“ME! Me! Me!!” the children screamed.
George watched them fight over who got to be next, much to Typhlosion’s amusement. Boy did they look stupid, and George was glad to be old enough to escape that mess. Fights like this back at the orphanage or at school always sucked. Always a waste of time that got broken up. Sure enough, Typhlosion did just that, pointing at the one kid that was next in line. George took a bite from his apple, then walked away.
‘Kids are stupid. No wonder every adult laughed at us back in the day. Or just pulled our ear, that too. Ugh.’
The day had barely started. What else was there to see during the festival?
* * *
‘Where’d George go?’
Blitzer’s head was shooting back and forth like a startled cat. Crowds in front of him, crowds behind. Just his luck. Right at the start, and he’d already lost George. He pulled on his scarf, then sighed out a puff of steam.
‘Eh. Guess he went somewhere else. I’ll go explore myself, that’s what!’
With a good few thumps on the chest, Blitzer puffed himself up. The town was his Cloyster. Limitless fun depending on what he made of it! If he didn’t have any, he just needed to try harder. No bells and whistles attached; that’s it.
And how couldn’t he be excited? After all the suspense and hype, there was no way this could disappoint. Everyone looked so happy, smiling and laughing and chatting away at the stands, the adults hopping around as much as the children were, the air already making his mouth water…
‘Gods, that’s…! Vegetable soup! Miltank! Oran cake! Aagh, that whole feast later…’
He was licking his lips in the middle of the street, lost in fantasy. And the air continued to smell so nice… in part because the stand next to him was selling pastries drenched in cinnamon. It was irresistible. His belly did the talking for him as he jingled his wallet, bought one, then ate it in two bites. He’d devour every last one if he had the money.
“Mmm…”
Licking his mouth and rubbing his belly, he strolled through the streets with all the energy in the world. To say he felt good in his skin was an understatement. His steps were filled with confidence, his tail was burning bright. It was a great day.
‘Aah… it’s so great to be a Charmeleon… I feel so powerful today! Like I can take on anyone! And do anything I want! Just… stand on a hill, roaring into the sky and breathing fire! Nothing can stop me!’
“Oh heeey!”
“Huh- Oof!”
Eyes hidden behind his eyelids, Blitzer bumped right into an Absol. “S-sorry! Sorry! Didn’t mean to-”
“I did mean to!” Absol said, putting her face right up to Blitzer’s chin. “That’s a nice scarf you’ve got there! Where’d you get it?”
Blitzer sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. “W-well, my mom made it for me-”
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Absol cooed. “Aww… that’s so sweet! Has anyone ever told you how cute you look with it?”
“C-c-cute?!” Blitzer put his claws beside his snout, his feet shaking as the Absol rubbed her nose on his scarf.
“Yeah, you do! Hey, since we’re talking, do you want to go for a dance? You know, for fun!”
Blitzer’s cheeks were getting puffier by the second. “D-dance?! What?! No, I- No I can’t dance, it would be awful-”
Absol just chuckled at him. She might as well have swept him off his feet while she was at it. Everything was going wrong. He was blushing, she was making him shy, his feet were shaking, his claws were shaking too, everyone was watching and laughing along and making him blush and…
“Aw, don’t be silly! We all weren’t any good the first time! Come, I’ll show you how to do it! It’ll be fun, I promise!”
“Yh, yeah- no- ehh...” Blitzer swallowed. “Ehh, err, ehrm, y-yeah, I’ll, I’ll try it, okay, ehhr..?”
“Fantastic!” Absol nuzzled Blitzer on his belly. “Come this way, right here it is!” She nodded with her horn towards a wooden platform. Two other couples were dancing on it. Blitzer gulped.
‘Help meeee…’
* * *
‘...was that rain?’
George licked his fingers, then pointed his hand skywards. Nothing. There weren’t even any clouds, so why would there be rain? He scratched his head.
‘Just a little itch on my head, that’s all.’
After finishing his apple, he’d gone around town and chatted with a few people, all in good fun. Being one in the crowd wasn’t so bad. To the contrary, it was nice being someone besides ‘The Othersider’ for a while. The people here were great, and more interested in who George was beyond whatever reputation Porov stuck onto him.
Nowhere in the Ruby Province seemed unfriendly, but nowhere were bonds as strong as in Verdant Valley. Everyone viewed each other like family. Sure, that might’ve just been a festival thing, but everyone got to belong no matter who they were, or where they came from. Even weirdos like George were welcome. That was something precious, whether the Pokemon here knew it or not.
‘Man… somehow I fit in more with Pokemon than regular humans. Never thought of myself as weird, but… damn. Maybe this was how it was meant to…’ He gave himself a knock on the head. ‘Don’t think like that. I’m still a human deep down… just in an otter’s body.’
He went back to strolling around town to take his mind off the past. Today wasn’t the day for it. No day was, really, but that was another matter. When life was giving you all the lemons in the world, it was time to open up a lemonade stand. Speaking of lemonade, some was being served at a stand. Or Nomelade, as the locals called it. George bought one mug, and his cheeks puffed up like they were full of lemons; it was one sour brew, that was for sure. He wasn’t the only one: The vendor gave out water to rinse your mouth with afterwards, which George had no problem taking advantage of.
After a little more walking, he happened upon the restaurant Vli had destroyed. The wall had mostly been fixed, but the street was still empty. George shook his head.
‘There’s still trouble coming, isn’t there. Has to be.’
“Hey wait… George!” said a voice that was too close for comfort. ”Is that you?”
George jumped around; Minos was practically breathing down his neck with how close she had been standing to him. He wasn’t the only one caught off guard, as his jumping got a loud trill out of her.
“Yeah? It’s me alright. Seen any other Osha- no, Dewott around these parts?” he asked while rubbing his cheek. ‘This evolution thing…’
The initial surprise having ended, Minos laughed at the whole situation, even the trill she got out of a nearby Torracat. “Bah, stupid of me. Should’ve known it was you just by the scarf and the blue fur. Who else here is that blue? You look like you fell into a paint bucket.”
George furrowed his brow. “...Thanks, I guess.” ‘What a way to greet someone.’
Minos waved her paws around as she saw the change on his face. “Don’t take that the wrong way. Didn’t mean to be insulting, honest! I’d sooner set myself on fire than badmouth you after your help.”
“Right…” hummed George. His eyes shifted towards the nearby crowds. “So, you wanted me to be here, right? I promised.”
“Yeah,” Minos mumbled, kneeling down to his eye level. “Wanted to have some fun with you beforehand. Just to get a good feel for who you really are, you know? I’d prefer not knowing people from purely a ‘business’ point of view, if you get me.”
George folded his arms. “Yeah, I understand. But I didn’t see me helping as doing business.”
Minos shook her head with a lot of vigour. “Of course not. But saying we became instant friends like that isn’t true either,” she said, snapping her fingers. George wondered how she managed to with digits that small. “No one becomes friends immediately.”
To that, George folded his arms while his eyes rolled off into every direction without a Meowscarada in sight. ‘Yeah… about that…’ “Of course. But ehm, was there anything in particular you wanted me to do here? Or did you-”
The Meowscarada shrugged. “Well, you’re here right now, why not do the strength test?”
George raised an eye. “Strength test?”
“Yeah, strength test. Just look for yourself.”
She stepped aside, giving George a full view of the ‘strength test’. One tall slab of wood with a red bell at the top, with some kind of metal rail running down the middle. On the bottom of the rails was a paddle connected to a pad. George’s eyes ran up and down the rails, then his brow furrowed. All that was missing was the hammer.
“Right. Seems simple enough. Just have to hit that pad on the bottom hard enough to hit the bell,” George said. “Only question is, what are you supposed to hit it with?”
Minos and several of the others watching audibly cracked up. “With your body, what else?”
George’s eyes narrowed. “I dunno… a hammer?”
The chuckles turned into full blown laughter in the back. George furrowed his brow. ‘What’s so funny about that?! It’s just a question!’
Minos must’ve been having a blast, since she went on to give George a pat on the head for no reason. George wasn’t in any state to stop her. Type, them being in public, and not being Gareda levels of psychotic were stopping that idea dead in its tracks.
“George c’mon. I know you used to be a human, but you can’t just forget about Pokemon attacks like that,” Minos said, pointing at the game over her shoulder.”That thing can withstand one hell of a beating, let me tell you. Even if Yveltal reincarnated out of the fires of Mount Tenebrous, this thing’s gonna stay standing-”
Both George and Minos’ ears went flat against their heads from a loud wooden bonk. “Hey. Stop hogging up the queue here,” said a Mabosstiff who’d been watching. “I came here for action, so where is it?”
“In a moment,” Minos replied, running a paw through the green fur in her face before standing up. “Well, George? You want to have the honours?”
George nodded. “Sure.” ‘Though I don’t know what’s so honourable here.’
All eyes on him, he patted himself down to his hips, unsheathed one of his scalchops, then took a deep breath. The crowd was already hollering and howling nonsense that sounded vaguely motivational. Except it wasn’t motivational. Motivational to someone who’d spend the night passed out on the streets of Agate Township, maybe, and no one else.
Nevertheless, that was no excuse for not doing your best, and George wasn’t about to let Terez’ words fail him now. He took a deep breath, steeled himself, then leapt skywards, bringing his scalchop right down on the pad. The paddle rose…
…about halfway across. Then it felt right back down. Click.
The crowd went from hollering to laughing, yet again. Mabosstiff barked out a laugh, Minos followed him, and all the rest jumped right in. No insults, at least. Well, not any that George could understand, anyway. He sighed.
“That was horrible.”
He took a step back. Minos replaced him in line right afterwards. “Everyone’s first try at this sucks, George. Don’t worry about it! Instead, watch how a professional does it…”
She dismissively dusted her fur, then snapped her fingers at the bell. A bundle of flowers materialised out of the sky as if it had come out of a magic hat, falling and splattering apart on the pad. The paddle shot into the air; the bell ringed out a winner. And the crowd went feral with people roaring them all on. Several other Pokemon had joined in.
“Ta-daa! Still got the touch!” Minos proudly announced to the world, snapping her fingers in a rhythm. George was left with a deadpan stare on his face, looking on from the loser’s corner.
‘Guess I still have much to learn, huh…’
The bell might’ve rung, but George wasn’t going to let the rules stop him. His scalchops were still in his hands; it would take some sheer force to pry them away. He inhaled another breath, and prepared to send that paddle flying…
* * *
An eternity passed before other Pokemon had taken the dancefloor. New music was playing, different dances were being performed, yet nothing would wipe the memories of what happened moments earlier. Least of all when you couldn’t even wipe the blush off your face.
‘I-I just got kissed by an Absol…’
Blitzer stood right in the middle of the street, tail flopped onto the ground, mouth hanging half open. His scales were even redder than normal, and his scarf dangled loose on his neck.
She’d been gone for a few minutes, yet she’d left her mark alright. Scarf, mouth, cheeks and all. But that wasn’t even the worst part. It’s like his insides had been turned into goo, he felt so hot on the inside. And not just because he was a fire type, either.
“Iiiiiii…” He gulped, then scooped his tail off the ground. ‘J-just gotta keep on- find something else to do! Anything!’
Away he ran, holding his tail like he’d stepped on it by accident. Everything he did was louder than the buzz of the crowd. It was as if everyone talking, or all the hooves and paws clattering against the ground didn’t exist. Just Blitzer’s teensy little footsteps, and the shaky breaths passing through his jaws.
Somehow he had lost five years in the span of half an hour, and all he got in return were mediocre dancing skills.
‘What else is, what-’
The swish of a whip passed by him as the wind picked up. Blitzer got on his toes. Right in front of him, some kids were playing jump rope on a patch of grass. Not many were watching, aside from one vendor selling Oran juice nearby. Blitzer sighed in relief, then rushed his way over to watch.
‘Finally, something more my thing! Just need a moment to-’
“Hey guys, stop. I think the Charmeleon wants to join in!”
Hardly enough time to blink passed before the rope stopped. Eight sets of eyes came Blitzer’s way. He gasped.
“Wait, no, I was just- Aaah!”
The Braixen on the rope made the decision for him; his feet stumbled right forward until he was first in line, right in front of a laughing Morgrem.
“We’re ready!”
“Here goes!”
“Wait, no! Aaaaaaaah!”
Alas for Blitzer, jelly legs or lack of breath wasn’t going to make him any friends here. The rope curled right over his head. Childhood instincts took over, and he jumped over the rope like it was a giant saw blade.
And again, and again, and again, and again, there went the rope, swinging fast, Braixen laughed, Blitzer gasped, Morgrem grinned, when the rope, increased in speed. His tail flickered, it might burn, things were bad, it won’t stop, need more room, and-
There went the rope, right against Blitzer’s legs.
“Aww. That was one of our best tries!” Morgrem grumbled. Braixen, on the other hand, was still laughing, much to Blitzer’s discomfort.
“Not one of, the best! Charmeleon, you’re pretty good at this!”
Blitzer gulped. “It’s been a while since the last time, to be honest.”
Braixen tugged on his arm. “Nah, don’t make a long face! We’ve been busy for twenty minutes, most of our attempts don’t last that long. C’mon, ya wanna jump with us again?”
“I guess,” Blitzer said, keeping his tail close to his body. “I still have a lot to see and do, but uhh… I guess I like it?”
He might’ve been putting on a straight face, but the nerves were audible in his voice. In truth, he wasn’t convinced at all that he was enjoying this. The last time ended with him setting the rope on fire by accident, and all the kids in town hating him for it. Then again, these kids must’ve been used to that.
“Sweet! Alright everyone, let’s try breaking the record this time!”
“Like always!”
“Yeah, like always. Except without failing this time!”
As the rope once again left the ground, Blitzer wondered how the kids back home were doing. The thought went as fast as it came. Jump rope wasn’t a casual game.
* * *
The autumnal sun was high up in the sky when a bell rang through the streets. It was time for the feast, and there were several criers throughout town happily spreading the word. Everyone had been looking forward to it most of all. This was the heart of the festival, the great expression of gratitude to those who made life possible in the first place.
George still didn’t fully get it, but his belly sure did.
‘Damn… smelled spices all day, but now it’s like someone’s holding food right under my nose! Where’s everyone going…?’
Just as his belly was devoted to the gods, so too was it calling the shots. George waddled his way through town, following in a family’s footsteps. Tales of the feast had put images of a giant banquet table in his mind, with large piles of food taller than himself piled on top. Drinks, jokes, laughs, everyone happily eating together for the occasion…
Instead, he ended up in front of a house, fur flying right into his face.
‘Uh… what?’
Several questions to people on the street later, turns out most would feast at home, or in a restaurant with their families. All the fun drained right out of George’s face. Boy if he didn’t look silly. As if his blue fur didn’t make him stand out enough already, now he was the only one left outside. Verdant Valley looked like a ghost town with all the decorated yet empty streets. It was absurd.
He returned back to the house he and Blitzer were staying at, giving the door a gentle knock. Sure enough, the door flew open moments later with the force of a battering ram.
“There ye are! What took ye so long, me boy?” The Darmanitan inside gave George a tussle on the head. George sighed as one blue tuft fell over his eyes. Not that his fur wasn’t messy enough as was.
“Traditions are hard.”
Porov stuck his tongue out. “Pfft. Why don’t ye show me someone who’d get the entire festival on their first time here? We’d hold the next festival in yer honour if ye managed it! But ‘ey, don’t let it get ye down. We’re all ready for some good food here, aren’t we?”
Negative opinions be damned, Porov dragged George right into the house, then shut the door behind him. Blitzer was already in the kitchen, of course, longingly staring at a large pot and two plates in the oven. George bit his lip. Had he even left the house at all? Blitzer was quite the eater. Then again, he was also a dragon, and with teeth that big they were bound to like their food.
But what kind of dragon had giant puppy dog eyes like he did? It’s like he was begging for table scraps, especially with the way he was clasping his claws together, too. George chuckled a little. He looked cute in all the right ways.
“I could eat a whole Mudbray!”
“Hohoho, gettin’ excited, are we?” said Porov while stirring the pot with a large spoon. “Just a lil’ longer, yeh?”
“Of course,” Blitzer said, hopping onto a stool. George gulped and sat right next to him, pinching himself in the thigh.
‘Why do I keep feeling weird around him?’
The awkwardness of it all wasn’t fading, no matter how strong the chicken he smelled got. George pinched harder. If anyone noticed him looking, he was toast.
Blitzer had sat down for all of five seconds before his mouth was wide open. It was just for a yawn. “What a day… where’d you go, George?” he said, slumping his arms towards George. “Didn’t see you at all these past few hours. I thought you’d stayed behind at the house, or gotten lost somewhere!”
George shook his head. “Could say the same about you. Turned my head, boom. Gone. How’d that happen?”
The Charmeleon shrugged. “I dunno, how’d I lose someone as blue as you in a sea of red?”
They both chuckled, with George swatting at Blitzer’s claws on the table.
“So George, what did you do so far?” Blitzer asked.
Something was bubbling in the kitchen, and Porov was humming in approval. George shrugged. He’d find out soon enough. “Eh, bobbed for apples, did a strength test, spoke with Minos a bit. She said she’ll help us get the flute piece. You?”
Blitzer licked at his cheeks. “Welp,” he chirped, “I… jumped rope. And uh, someone invited me to dance.”
“...Dance?”
“Y-yeah, this Absol girl. About our age. She… um, she taught me how to dance. I don’t know how to dance. T-then she kissed me.”
“Kissed?!” George leaned back in his chair, utterly dumbfounded. “Just out of nowhere?”
He got a tepid nod in return. “Yeah. Out of nowhere. Well, after the dance, she… she said I was cute…?”
“Okay…” George mumbled. A pressure was building up in his chest, and it grew the more Blitzer spoke, for reasons he didn’t understand. “How was it? Did-”
“Awful! Who does that?” Blitzer whined. “Who just invites someone to dance and kisses them?”
Suddenly, a giant metal pot was slammed on top of the table. George’s stool shifted backward while he gasped, while Blitzer almost jumped for cover, chirping all the while. Porov’s hands were on the lid, and his eyebrows were flickering up and down in a rhythm.
“Oi. Ya know I’m here, right? ‘Cause I don’t mind invitin’ a lady for a dance, heheh!”
“O-oh. Sorry,” Blitzer mumbled, all shy and timid. Porov drummed on the table, then laid out three bowls.
“Nah, who cares? ‘S time for eatin’, not datin’. Lemme just fix it all up, just a sec.”
Steam poured out of the pot as Porov served up the food. George peered into the water as his bowl was being filled. Ramen with some cuts of meat that smelled like chicken, mixed in a combination of cabbage, leeks, turnips and onion. The aroma itself cleared up his nose. It’ like the food was begging to be eaten.
There was just one little problem, though.
“Are you giving us a spoon?”
“...Spoon?” Porov dismissed the question with a shake of his head, like a master warrior being asked how to tie a shoe. “Ever heard of chopsticks?”
“Chopsticks?” George asked. Before he knew it, two wooden sticks were pressed into his hand. Blitzer received his over the table; given the confused look on his face, the roles may as well have been reversed.
“Err… how do you eat with these?”
“Why don’t you try yourselves?” Porov asked, ticking his sticks together. With fingers that big, one wouldn’t expect him to be so dexterous. Famous last words.
George clicked his tongue. “Right… let’s just…”
He swatted at the noodles. Then stabbed. Then dipped. Then shoveled. Stabbed again at the meat. When none worked, he attempted to contort his fingers just as he saw Porov do it. After a good thirty seconds of twisting and turning in and over the bowl, accompanied by the soothing sounds of Porov laughing, George concluded that either his memory was spotty, or that he needed a pair of glasses. If glasses even existed in Eravate.
Probably not.
He looked to his left.
Evidently, Blitzer needed them too.
“Ehh…”
“...Right. Can you show us how to eat with these?”
“Pfah! Never gets old, never! C’mere, you hold ‘em like this…”