Ch. 64
The vacation continues!
Trainer
Despite the stressful evening, and my mind mulling the tournament brackets I was tired enough that sleep came easily to me. Or perhaps it was the cool sea breeze mingling with the warmth of my family all curled up with me. We'd given up the notion of the bed entirely, pulling the mattress to the floor and piling up the blankets in a haphazard nest that was even still not quite big enough for all of us. But Penance didn't seem to mind at all the notion of being everyone's pillow. Soft and warm, the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest with her breath lulled me into a peaceful, loving dream. The weight of her paw wrapped around my chest helped. A comforting thing. Warm, and safe. My thumb idly stroked her thick, black nails until I drifted off to the rhythm of her own sleep.
Claire and Mira visited my dreams, as they were wont to do, not quite enough to stir me to consciousness, but lingering afterimages of violet flowers and soft caresses danced in my morning thoughts as I finally stirred to the light of dawn creeping in through the window. Greeted by the light of day, the warmth of my lovers, and an eagerness to enjoy every moment in what would be a busy day for us all.
It was a lovely start to the morning, the first match just after lunch. And, if we won, the second would be just after dinner. Something about the way the matches lined up gave me pause, and I found myself mulling over the pamphlet they had handed out at registration. Time enough to gloss over it again while I pampered Claire a little, sitting up on the bare frame with the beautiful vixen in my lap for a good brushing, I had her hold the page and look it over with me. Cocoa and Tempest had set about tidying up our little love nest, while Penance murmured something about five more minutes and promptly fell right back asleep by the sliding glass door to our little balcony. The sea breeze was cool, almost cold, but I'm sure she barely registered the difference beneath her thick fur.
Penance would need a good brushing, too. A realization that struck me with a kind of delight and whimsy as I looked around. Fur. Fur. Fur. Fur. SO much fur. Of course, Cocoa and Mira didn't have the same issue, and Tempest wouldn't bother, as quick to just dip into the shower with me and let the water sort it out. No care about the odd tangle or matting. Comfortable exactly how she was. But I was getting distracted, and with an apologetic thought to Claire, nuzzled into her shoulder before resuming my care of her.
'You have a type'. Her thought brushed against the edges of mine, and images of what I'd been checking out the previous night danced to the surface unbidden. 'Or two. Or six.' Tinged with laughter, warmth, and a sudden flush at the vivid memories of a vaporeon followed freely. 'Nothing wrong with that. Even if there was, you can blame me.' She teased, reaching down to squeeze my thigh. 'But what was it about the tournament you were thinking of?'
Right. The tournament. Hard to think of anything more than how much I wanted to rearrange how she was sitting in my lap. Although on the bare metal frame I was sitting on, that would not have been a very comfortable feeling. Still, the thought got a grin out of her, and one hand slipping down between us to caress me. 'Finish your thought, and the brushing, you're getting sidetracked.' A sudden flash of color at the edges of my vision. Something that hadn't happened in a while. Silver and seafoam. Enthusiasm and want tinging the color of her thoughts, a want to make up for lost time, even if we couldn't do it right then.
"The tournament. Right." I finally said aloud, shifting enough that she could rearrange to stroke bare skin while I sorted out the knots in her fur. "The first few days are really going to set the pace for who's going to move forward. We had a happy bit of luck yesterday." I mused, as I gestured to the format. "See here? How the brackets fall together? How the matches are spaced out? A little rest between, but not enough to really recover completely. Most of these people are going to run out of steam before they get halfway through. Lead with their best, but then they'll have nothing left in the tank."
Which meant that starting with Penance and Helena was, for us, lucky. Even if the win had been a little costly, it was the right kind of costly for what we needed to do going forward. Tempest's ears had perked up, and she'd clambered over the bare frame to sit beside me as I gestured at the pamphlet, Claire handed it over to her, and I focused my brushing on her shoulders, arms, and chest. Brushing, and no few moments letting one greedy hand sink through fur to the warmth of her body beneath. A very welcome softness and as I felt her up, a playful squirm of her hips atop me.
I had a type, or two or ten but she was definitely one of them. I'd enjoyed teasing her even as a fennekin, the delicate buds of her nipples had always made her squirm in delightful ways. That hadn't changed as a braixen, a soft swell developing beneath them. One of the small but delightful differences between her and a human girl, she'd kept the full set. The uppermost set subtly more pronounced, but hidden beneath silky fur, she retained all six and only seemed to grow more sensitive for their slight growth. The only real change as a delphox was the degree in difference between them in size. Her slender figure didn't give much away, of course. But to my hands, they felt perfect. The way she trembled in my lap felt perfect.
'I don't want you to stop. But we should get moving.' Her thought, tinged with pleasure, a hint of embarrassment, and an awareness of her own growing wetness brushed against mine. 'Tonight. After your visitor, if they stop by.' Her tone might have seemed insistent, but the way she was grinding herself against me told a very different story. My thought to her in return, how easy it would be to just... slip me in. Let me finish brushing her, with those soft, dark lips wrapped so perfectly around me. A tinge of embarrassment, a nod of need. And the not-so-subtle movement of her hands beneath us, enough to free me, before, with a hike of her tail, she settled back in. Rocked herself gently over me while I returned to the task of brushing her out.
Tempest
It was always fun to watch my two favorite lovers play. But for a moment I was distracted by the page, by his words. It made sense. This wasn't about who was strongest today. It was about who could endure fight, after fight. Right to the end. We'd never done that before. Always plenty of time to rest, or the little fun and games that weren't going to go far enough to be a problem. But the smart trainers, the ones who figured this out like he did, who understood it for themselves? They were going to be holding their best back. Just like he said.
It meant, of course, that I'd have to wait. We'd have to wait. He'd want to send Claire and I out only when he needed to, to give the others enough rest, to not betray his best hand. I hated waiting. But the thought of only having the toughest fights was no small consolation. I'd just have to fight twice as hard then for all the fights we were going to miss. He was getting distracted again, so was I, the sound of her body accepting him was as perfect as always. The way her eyes met mine, smoldering, desperate, needy. My lover needed more than just him inside, and he'd love it every bit as much as she to feel me there, too.
They tasted amazing together. The slight spice of her, and the warm, earthy scent of his maleness. The urgency of my mate aching so desperately to fill and seed my lover. I knelt down in front of them, scratched along bare thigh, teased at her with my nose as she rocked harder against him in anticipation of what we would have together. Making up for yesterday's distraction. For not being able to sit still. A shame to have missed out, if we were going to have to wait anyway.
Today, I was going to make her gush so hard her stomach hurt.
Trainer
With Claire and Tempest not having the anticipation of today's matches looming, they had opted to stay in for a while, while the rest of us went out. Promises that they wouldn't be late, just in case I needed them, but also a kind of passionate, playful shooing seeing us deck side so they could take their time together. I had nothing to complain about, though. Hadn't they already seen to my enjoyment? It was their turn.
Mira'd perched on my shoulders, chatting with Helena about plans for the day. It seemed Cocoa and Penance had agreed that breakfast and a nap in the sun were in order, a little time for the farm girls to go enjoy one of their favorite kind of indulgences together. The sheer joy of sleeping in. I understood, poor Cocoa was usually the first up helping us get ready for the day. I was a little concerned for Penance, she'd clearly had some discomfort in her jaw from the fight yesterday. Not quite right as rain by morning, but that might have been partly for keeping still for as long as she had. Either way, I'd be getting her checked up later on. Just to be safe.
I had been distracted and didn't realize where Helena was leading us to. But the flashing lights and bright sounds of an arcade greeted us. I felt a little out of place, in truth. Video games were not my forte, but Helena's enthusiasm was growing by the moment, and Mira had already begun to be sucked in by the vibe.
"So, what's the plan?" I asked, as I ruffled Helena's fur, taking a knee next to her to hear her over the general din and clamor. She looked at me as if to question if I'd been paying attention, then rolled her eyes and nudged me with her horn. "Tuned us out, huh? That tournament can't take up all your attention, it's not fair to us." She scolded gently. "So come dance with us. Or come watch us dance. Whichever."
Dance? Alright. That was different. But as she led the charge I saw it, a few players already queued up for a game where the buttons were stepping platforms on the floor. I was glad for a chance to observe first, to mimic from the background. It was an interesting game, and might have made for some good footwork training if I'd had it back in my heyday. Mira was swaying to the music, her ribbons waving back and forth as she bounced a little in front of me. I'd snagged us a few tokens while we were waiting in line, and as it was a two player game, sent them ahead of me, I'd take a turn maybe, but this was something they could bond over, clearly.
Helena had picked the song, something easy, she'd said. To give Mira a chance to feel it out. A quick glance over her shoulder to make sure I was watching, and off they went.
Helena
That's right. Keep your eyes on me. At one point I could have done this particular song blindfolded. I could feel it, the rhythm beneath my feet, and with a glance at Mira, who was already locked in, and anticipating the first few motions, began to play. Forward, back, left, and right. A hop, a twist, and I could almost feel his eyes on my ass as I stretched for the double. Mira slapped it with her ribbons, a little off on the timing, but she was close and only getting better.
I wanted to play, together. To play with her, and she seemed to be right there on my vibe. With a glance and a nod, we switched pads, and I put in the work to catch up her score. Sooner or later we were dancing back and forth together, trading off and drawing a crowd. Like we'd been doing it for years. I had, but she was a natural, and having someone there who could keep up with me, without being salty and overly competitive was absolutely a blast.
But the best part was I could see the way he was watching us. He'd never seen either of us this way, and I could feel it like electricity down my spine that it was working for him. He loved the way we moved. The way I moved. He was absolutely enthralled. I'd remember it. Do it again when we were alone. I could dance for him, if it turned him on so much. Arceus, fuck, but the way he watched me I could tell had me damn near dripping. I'd never been looked at the way he was right then.
That's right, fucker. You just keep your eyes on the prize. Enjoy the show, I'm gonna make you beg for it, later.
Mira's ribbon nudging me got me back in time, the lapse in concentration had killed my streak, but it was fine. With a grin and a bark, we swapped our stations again. Take my own advice. Let's play another song, sweetie! Eyes on the prize!
Mira
Exhilarating. An absolute rush. I had no idea human games were fun like this. Helena let me pick the next song, and I upped the stakes. Something faster, a little brighter. Paws and ribbons both having to work hard to keep up. Helena was incredible! But she wasn't trying to upstage me. The playful grin, the bounce in her step, and the swaying of her shoulders to the rhythm, it was a side of her I'd never seen before. Where did that dour, grumpy girl go? Back and forth we danced, flashing lights, numbers climbing, and a growing excitement from the crowd as we came to the end, neck and neck.
When our round was over, she almost bowled me over in her excitement, nuzzling against my side and calling out above the sound of the machines, telling me I was too good, and promising we'd come back later on. Master had taken his place on stage, and with a helpless shrug to his dance partner, did his best to just keep up. He wasn't terrible at it, but he'd need a lot of practice to be on Helena's level. Still, it was clear he was having fun for his first time. More than a token effort, he really put himself into it. Halfway through, his motions changed, clever sweeping kicks, and well timed pivots. A martial arts performance to playful pop music. And as weird as it seemed, he was killing it. Well timed, and better executed, but it wasn't enough to catch up by the end, a graceful finish, and a wave goodbye as he hopped off the stage, room for the next performer.
I could see it being addictive. Certainly, I was looking forward to coming back.
We'd whiled away a couple more hours there among the arcade games, but they were mostly human diversions. Helena had had a little luck with a claw game, bringing home a cute toy shaped like a spheal. Enough time to duck back into the room to drop it off, but then it was food on the go, and up to the next match. Not that I was complaining about the quick bite, and the view from master's shoulders. Nobody seemed to notice my ribbons tucked down his shirt as far as they could reach, taking in the feel of his heartbeat, his joy, his focus.
He'd had a good morning. A truly good morning. It was the best feeling in the world to know there was nothing on his mind. No anxiety, no fear. For the first time in ages, he felt free beneath me.
Thank you, Helena. Thank you.
Trainer
I had no idea. Had no idea either of them could move quite like that. Play quite like that. They had found their rhythm together and showed everyone up. People were sad to see them leave. I was sad the show was over, too. But we'd be back. Maybe later on in the night, late, when it was just us, no crowd, quieter hours. A light lunch. More a snack, really. Not enough to weigh any of us down, and we went to meet up with the others on the battle deck.
Cocoa was the first up today, facing off against a kanghaskan. I could almost feel sorry for the other trainer. They were overconfident, came out aggressive, but I'd trained Cocoa specifically for it. She was in the same weight division, but a third shorter. She had the advantage for every throw and grapple I'd helped her learn by sheer center of gravity. The kanghaskan was getting frustrated and it showed. A few hard shots rolling right off of Cocoa's defensive curl, and countered with a headbutt that knocked the breath out of them.
Their next pokemon fared a little better, the fearow getting some solid pecks and keeping out of harms way with some graceful flying and agility. But Cocoa didn't get riled, up about it. Just kept her guard up and settled it with a well practiced punch. I called her back, ready to switch her out for the third, but while she came back to my side, she didn't want to go just yet. Reassuring me that she was completely prepared. Scrappy girl she was. Honestly, I was impressed. Two fights in and she wasn't yet breathing hard. She'd learned to pace herself perhaps better than anyone. So be it.
The venusaur she was up against cut an impressive figure, and quickly forced her into a corner. Hard lashes leaving welts and rising bruises anywhere they struck. But she wasn't so easily cowed, and in a surprising change of tempo, charged in, fire and fury, battering him with punch after punch. Even as he retreated toward his trainer, she pressed the attack, not giving him an inch, and making sure he left with as many bruises as he gave her. The score was 3-0, and she came back to my side, goading the other trainer. Calling him out to send a real challenge.
So much for keeping a low profile. I'm sure eyes were on us, now. But how could I be mad? She was still raring to go, but she'd already knocked the steam out of him. The last fight was a formality, and a foregone conclusion. The teddiursa he had wasn't really ready for the fight, and he called it back before she stomped it into the lower decks. If she felt any particular remorse over how one-sided that was, she didn't show it, just came back to me, and waited for the announcement of our win, moving us forward one step in the brackets.
Battered, bruised, she winced at my touch, gentle as it was, and laughed. "Guess that's me for the day, huh?" She asked, with a playful note in her voice. "Gonna be a mite tender for a bit, but that don't mean y'gotta go easy on me now, hear?" Cocoa teased, with a playful nudge against my side as we made our way to the pokemon center for a checkup.
The weavile I'd met the other night was already there, and rushed over to Cocoa. Clearly a new fan. A rush of questions and exuberance as the confused miltank did her best to answer and keep up. She looked to me and I just shrugged and winked. "Sybil, meet Cocoa. Cocoa, Sybil." It explained absolutely nothing, but she still rolled with the punches, played nice, tried to make a new friend.
Sybil
What. The. Hell. I just watched a miltank. A. MILTANK. Arceus be damned, she absolutely wiped the floor with someone else's entire team. Four on one, and she seemed bored for half of it! And the way she beat down that venusaur? And I mean. BEAT. DOWN. Just battered him right back to his trainer, one punch at a time. Took every lash of his vines, kept herself from being tripped up or tangled, and thrashed him like he was nothing.
She'd talked a little bit, while we waited, about being trained by him, about the badge she'd helped them win, and it was something she really felt something about. Special to her. Special to him, too. He didn't hesitate to show it off, tell her how proud he was of her. I was green with envy. The last badge I saw was on an officer escorting my 'trainer' out of a bar because she was making a scene. Again.
I knew I'd promised him a good time, but at the moment all I could think about was wanting to learn as much as I could about his team. So I might have been a little too enthusiastic about joining them for dinner. The sylveon seemed happy to keep up with me, our back and forth banter staying mostly in safe territory, but I could tell by the way she looked at him he'd been giving her what I was gonna be getting later that night. I mean. If he was interested. He ... was he? Whatever. Either way!
It wasn't hard to read him, he was surprised I was there. But he wasn't unhappy about it, clearly. He didn't hesitate to look at me, and I mean really take me in, so I didn't hesitate to give him a little more to look at. As much as we could really get away with over dinner in a crowded place, but he didn't seem to mind. We'd touched briefly on where my trainer was, hung over and heaving her guts up in the room. An entire day lost because she wanted to ... I don't even know. What she got out of it was a mystery to me I didn't care to solve. Cared less to hang around with the smell of her. So I ditched her while she was heaving up her guts, had fun for a change. Fuck her.
The sylveon seemed sympathetic, but in the kind of bullshit way someone is when they don't really understand what a big deal it is. Not false, just hollow. The right noises, but no real understanding. The human though? Man, I could tell he got it. Really understood. I guess after last night, there was no way he couldn't. The lycanroc had made a comment about sobering her up, and my laugh might have sounded a little more cruel than I wanted, but the human just chuckled and shrugged. "If you think it'd help, I'd pretend I didn't see it. Just don't get caught."
Joking. Clearly joking. But it felt good he'd joke with us like that. Let me have my anger and not be upset at me over it.
We had hours before the evening matches, and he had me feeling good. They all did. Accepted me easily. Talked about everything and nothing. The general excitement of being on a cruise, going somewhere new. The fun they'd had in the tournament, even the Arcanine laughed about getting kicked right in the mouth, completely on purpose, she insisted. Showed him who was boss, didn't she?
I'd have given anything to have stories like that. Most of mine involved holding hair out of someone's face so they could throw up, or trying to find my pokeball in her messy rooms before I had to hear, see, or smell her getting nailed. Still, if things kept the way they were I'd have at least one good one later on. We'd found ourselves near the bow of the ship, pulled some of the deck chairs together and lounged about in varying degrees of sunshine. Didn't surprise me that the delphox was all about it, while the sylveon kept to the shade. What did surprise me is nobody said a word about it when I settled myself in on their human's lap, and made myself comfortable. I guess they were used to shit like that, from the way they carried on, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Glad they couldn't hear my heart racing. He was a weird fucking human, still. But it felt good to be close to one that really seemed to get me for a change.
It was fun chatting with everyone, for the while they were awake, and around. The arcanine drifted off first, Cocoa right behind her, curled up beside us underneath the umbrella. Apparently they'd been sleepy all day, nobody was surprised, just glad they were resting for a change. The absol and the sylveon were thick as thieves, headed down to the arcades again, scolding the human to stay put, let them practice together. They'd put on a show for him later. He just gave the sylveon some money and a kiss atop her head, before the absol demanded the same affection, nuzzling into his neck and whispering something I didn't catch that made him blush.
The other two had been chatting back and forth but grew quiet, nestled in each others arms, unabashed lovers enjoying a chance to just be together. It was sweet, they were cute, but it also made me think about being alone with him. Properly alone. I needed more than a moment, more than what I was thinking of the night before, in the little closet I'd found poking around. A few minutes of him stretching me open. No. I wanted time. Real time. Enough to appreciate him. To really show him what I could do.
So, with promises of catching up after the next matches, I moved to hop off. Not before sneaking him the kind of kiss that would ruin him for human girls. The kind of kiss that stupid skank only wished she knew how to give.
I had a few things to take care of.