FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Years. Years! Andreas had been waiting for YEARS to get a Pokémon. And his patience had run out.

Living in a small town with a less than dedicated Pokémon professor was tough. Not that Professor Hackberry was bad at his job, but he didn’t really like setting people up with Pokémon - to him it was a chore rather than a distinguished part of being a professor. Part of the problem was that he was supposed to give youths options, but he didn’t want to keep Pokémon around if they weren’t picked. So he usually didn’t even send for Pokémon unless there were others to claim them.

Which was a problem for Andreas, because it was a small town and there weren’t a lot of new trainers to come about. And every time he learned about a potential new trainer, they were getting a Pokémon from a family member or a friend or someone else! Unfortunately Andreas’s family didn’t have any Pokémon to spare to him, and there was no one he knew giving one away. For five years, he’d been waiting for his opportunity, and it just wasn’t coming.

Today was the day, though. He hadn’t gotten his invite, but he was going there anyway. Because he KNEW the professor had a Pokémon - not a starter Pokémon, but a Pokémon all the same, one he certainly wouldn’t want to keep on hand for a long time. And he wasn’t going to wait any longer to get a start on things.

So when he burst into the lab, it was with an energy that startled the professor and his aides, nearly making one of them drop a tablet. “Professor Hackberry! I’m here to get a Pokémon!”

The professor turned to him, mystified. An older man, gray-haired and looking a bit absent, he didn’t seem to pick up on what Andreas was saying for a minute. “I...you...Pokémon? Did I...did I call you?”

“No, but I’ve seen a Pokémon around! I know you have one, and I know you don’t like to keep them around for a long time, so I can take him!”

“Goodness…” Finally Professor Hackberry seemed to get his bearings as he turned towards Andreas. “Look, I’m very sorry, but it seems you’ve perhaps made a mistake. I haven’t ordered any starter Pokémon, and won’t do so until there are three candidates to take them. I know you’ve been waiting a while-”

“It’s been FIVE YEARS.”

“Has it really? I could have sworn it wasn’t that long.”

Andreas groaned; this was part of the reason it was so frustrating. It was like the professor just didn’t register the lives of other people. “Look, that’s not the point. I know you don’t have any starter Pokémon. But another one came to your lab! The Lopunny!”

“Him? My, that’s...you know he’s not a starter Pokémon, right? He was here on injury recovery from a sanctuary. I don’t think you’re ready for someone like him. You should wait until I can order you a proper starter Pokémon-”

“Come on!” Andreas interrupted. “It’s probably going to be at least another year, and Leslie’s probably going to get her brother’s Houndour anyway! At this rate I won’t get a Pokémon at all, ever! I know you’re not ever going to order any, why can’t I just take the one I know you have so I can at least get somewhere?!”

“I’m supposed to offer you options-”

“Right now you’re not offering me anything. You haven’t offered my anything in FIVE YEARS.” Andreas glowered at Professor Hackberry. “You know that one of your responsibilities is that you’re supposed to get a starter Pokémon within ONE year of a trainer coming of age and requesting one? I know now that there’s a service that I can report you to for not doing what you’re supposed to.”

The professor looked stricken, and Andreas felt a bit bad. He didn’t want to have to pull that card out...but, Professor Hackberry had been deliberately shirking a responsibility, and even if he felt bad about it, he had every right to call him out. After a tense few seconds, the professor sighed. “Very well...I suppose I should give you the necessary opportunity. I shall bring him for you. But mind, this isn’t a starter Pokémon, and you will not find him easy to handle like you would one of them.”

Andreas nodded, smiling, though inside he was much less subdued. Finally, he was going to get a Pokémon of his very own! Maybe he wasn’t going to be as simple to work with as a starter, but Andreas was pretty sure he could win him over, somehow.

---

Things really hadn’t gone Lloyd’s way lately.

Being a sanctuary Pokémon meant he was supposed to be safe. Safe until he was ready to let himself be brought into the fold of a worthy trainer, someone he knew was strong and capable of bringing out the best in him. And the Lopunny was practicing for that day, building up his strength and skill so that he could put a prospective trainer to the test and really show his stuff.

Of course, when pushing oneself, sometimes one got pushed back. Doing some agility training, jumping from tree to tree, Lloyd slid on a slippery branch and fell, ending up impaling his thigh on a sharp branch. He had pulled it out and thought he could let it heal, but it ended up getting infected, and they’d had to send him so surgery and then to a lab to recuperate, an even safer setting where they could monitor his condition.

After four weeks there, he was bored. He’d returned to health, but trying to get that professor to do anything was like trying to explain things to a Slowpoke. He was going crazy trying to figure out something he could do, some way he could get back to the sanctuary or at least get out of that boring-ass lab.

It was one of those ‘be careful what you wish for’ moments.

“Lloyd, meet Andreas. He’s been trying to get a Pokémon partner for a while now, and since you’ve recovered, I think you’ll do just fine.”

“What? Uh...you mean he’s a novice trainer?”

“Yes. You’ll be his first Pokémon.”

“Wait...you’re not...you’re not sending me back to the sanctuary?”

“It’s very difficult to organize things with them. I haven’t been able to do that. But we’re also not set up for keeping Pokémon in long-term care here unless they’re ill, and since you’re healthy now, it’s best if you can go on your way. Andreas will care for you well, I’m certain.”

And so he’d been saddled to a ‘trainer’ who hadn’t even a day of experience as a trainer. Not someone he’d been able to judge and deem worthy, some kid who never even could have had the opportunity to be judged. And he wasn’t even really given a choice in the matter...emotional manipulation had clearly been at play, the kid was so excited to finally get a Pokémon, saying no would have been a cruelty Lloyd’s heart couldn’t take.

Still, it was hard to hide his lack of enthusiasm as he walked alongside the human into the wooded path on the way to their first new destination. A trainer who didn’t have any real experience could be a lot of trouble...he wasn’t sure how long he’d last. The whole point of starter Pokémon was so that they could grow with them and get a better understanding of how to deal with Pokémon as they became stronger...there was no way this Andreas had any real sense of Lloyd’s abilities. Which meant either he’d underestimate them and send him after small fry that weren’t worth the time, or overestimate them and think he could beat trainers who had a hell of a lot fiercer Pokémon. Neither one was exactly a thrilling prospect.

As darkness began to fall, they detoured from the main path and headed into the woods to camp out. Andreas seemed as chipper as could be, while Lloyd gave non-committal answers to questions and tried not to be a downer. After all, it wasn’t really Andreas’s fault that this had happened...that professor had some serious issues. And maybe it could work out, if Andreas had a good natural talent for training. It was just...tough to get into that mode without actually seeing anything.

They ate by the small fire, and then settled in to the heat and light of the flames. After a bit of silence, Andreas spoke up. “So...you’re not really all that excited about this, are you?”

The Lopunny started a bit. “Huh?”

“It’s all right, I can tell. You’re not really a starter Pokémon, so I guess I should have expected it.” Andreas’s smile was a bit sad. “But...I can tell you’re really strong...they said you were a sanctuary Pokémon? Trainers need some kind of special access to be allowed to go into those places, right?”

Lloyd nodded. “Yes...usually only trainers of considerable skill are allowed to go into sanctuaries and pit themselves against the Pokémon in there. I...well, I was hoping that a trainer would come along and want to take me along, I was preparing myself to battle against them and make them earn it…”

“I guess I couldn’t really have done that.”

“No, not really. Not the way you are now. You seem like a good kid, but...you’ve done nothing as a trainer. I mean, you couldn’t do anything as a trainer, you literally started with me. And, well, I don’t really know if you’re able to handle me properly.”

Andreas looked down, then back up and nodded. “I...I know. I can tell how strong you are, and...I know I haven’t earned that, you’re stronger than I should have right away. But...I really want to make this work, I’ve been wanting a Pokémon for ages and I don’t know if I ever would have gotten one from Professor Hackberry. I mean...if you think I’m hopeless, I...I don’t know if there’s much I can do for that, but...is there anything I can do to try to convince you that I’m worth your time? Anything we can do to make this work?”

Jeez, the human was too cute. Even if he had no credibility as a trainer yet, he seemed so endearing and so willing to go to lengths for him. Maybe it was worth trying, just because he seemed like such an earnest sort. Lloyd thought about it for a bit...and then, an obvious idea emerged.

“Well, here’s a thought. I’ve always felt that a trainer should earn the loyalty of a Pokémon through a demonstration of their skill and ability. If you haven’t done that, then...well, I don’t think you’re ready to be my trainer. But that doesn’t mean I have to leave, if I think you can get good enough to prove yourself. So...what about this. I come along with you, but I’M the one in charge. So maybe I’ll do what you say in battle, unless there’s a reason not to...but outside of battle, you listen to me and do things the way I want. If you can do that, it’ll show that you’re really dedicated to this, and that you’re humble enough to be willing to learn what it takes to be a real trainer. You think you can do this?”

Andreas nodded eagerly and smiled warmly. “Yeah, I can do that! I mean, you deserve to have someone prove they’re worthy before they train you...I’ll do whatever I have to do to prove myself, but I’m fine if you’re in charge until I do!”

Finally, Lloyd was able to return the smile. “Good, I’m glad to hear it. Starting tomorrow morning, we do things my way...you’d best be ready, I’ll try not to push you farther than you’re able to handle but we Pokémon are used to the wild, so it’ll be a physical day.”

“Understood! Thank you, Lloyd, I’ll make sure you don’t regret it!”

And the Lopunny was thinking he wouldn’t, as they settled down to sleep by the fire. In fact, he was wondering just how far he could push the human on the matter of being in charge...if he was willing to do THAT, then it was possible this would turn out a lot better than he first thought.

---

When Andreas awoke the next morning, he felt a furry body on top of him. At some point during the night, Lloyd had decided to cuddle up with him rather than sleep in his own spot. He felt himself redden a bit, and he wasn’t entirely sure why.

Or maybe he was, as he felt a stirring in between his legs. He tried to will it back down, not wanting to cause any problems now...being in such close contact with another male, though, was unfamiliar to him. He knew there was something about that that he wanted, something he’d discovered about himself a couple years back and kept desperately hidden for fear of being found weird. And he didn’t want Lloyd to find him weird either, not when they had such a tentative arrangement.

“Ah, you’re awake!” Andreas would have jumped a bit if Lloyd wasn’t on top of him.

“Y-yeah. When did you-”

“I woke up and you were shivering a bit after the fire died down, so I decided to warm you up a bit.” Lloyd pushed himself upright, using Andreas as leverage, pushing his fuzzy groin against the human just slightly as a tease - he could smell something on the human and it wasn’t fear. “You ready for your first day under my command?”

“Ah, yes, I, I am.” Andreas rose up as well, trying to shake off the nerves and uncertainty. “Um, yeah, just let me get properly dressed and we can, uh, do what you want.”

That got Lloyd grinning a bit. “I don’t think so...in fact, I think you should take off what you have on already.”

Andreas stared. “Wh-what? You want me to, uh...go naked?”

“Why not? You see me wearing anything? What’s the problem with that?”

That was true, but Pokémon had different demands from humans, and Andreas was pretty sure that it wouldn’t be nearly as acceptable for him as it would be for the Lopunny. But he remembered what he had promised, Lloyd was the one in charge, and it would be a pretty bad thing to refuse the first thing he was supposed to do. Blushing, he pulled off his shirt, and then slowly dropped his boxers, now unable to hide the semi he had bene sporting since he awoke. “Uh...I need to wash these, I don’t want to put them in my bag dirty and get everything else, uh…”

“There’s a stream not far from here, right? We can wash them up there.”

“Y-yeah, okay.” Andreas picked up his clothes and his bag and started walking; he knew generally where the stream was and figure it would be kind of hard to miss running into it. It was an important landmark, dividing the tamer forest from the wooded mountain hills, where Pokémon were far stronger and trainers rarely went without quite a lot of experience. Hopefully they wouldn’t run into anything…

It turned out to be almost an hour to the stream, an hour which had Andreas stepping rather tentatively, not used to being nude in the outdoors, and Lloyd grinning as he kept his eyes on the human’s rear. Oh, he was pent up, he hadn’t gotten ANY action at the lab and he was used to one or two sessions daily in the sanctuary. Mostly with smaller Pokémon, since he was more of a dominant sort, which wasn’t especially common among Lopunny and somewhat turned off the big alpha males who were looking to put it in, not take it. Andreas was almost Lloyd’s size, maybe a couple inches larger and slightly broader, though nothing especially large for a human either.

Wonder if I can push it that far...he definitely has some interest from his body, we’ll have to see what I can do…

Finally they reached the stream, a slightly clearer area with a good few feet of bank between the treeline on their side and the water. On the other end, they could see the trees merging with the bank, bigger and thicker, making the woods seem darker over there. Andreas had always wondered what it would be like to go over there, and wanted to visit when he had the experience...now probably wasn’t a good time, though. He got to work dunking and scrubbing his clothes in the stream, a crude washing job but good enough for travel. Setting them on the bank to dry, he got to washing himself, dunking into the water and rubbing himself all over to clean off a bit, something he’d probably have to get used to. There was a bit of current in the stream but nothing too hard to deal with, hardly a raging rapids ride like he’d taken a couple times on family vacations.

As he climbed back onto the bank, he couldn’t see his clothes or his bag. “What the…”

“Something wrong?” Andreas jumped a bit as Lloyd popped up next to him.

“My stuff’s gone...did you-”

“Stuck it up in a tree.” Lloyd grinned slightly deviously at him. “You’re not going to get them for a while.”

“What? Why?”

“Because, we’re going to be giving you some real experience.” Lloyd took hold of Andreas, a surprisingly tight grip, and turned him around to the stream again. “Cross the stream and meet me on the other side.”

“What?” Andreas had no time to get a response, as the Lopunny took off at a full sprint, leaping up into the air and making it across the stream in a single bound, landing adeptly on a dry spot between two trees. He had no choice but to follow - he didn’t know where his stuff was and the Pokémon he was obeying was waiting for him, he couldn’t really try to leave at this point. The stream fortunately didn’t get too deep, although walking on the slippery rocks caused him a couple stumbles. But he made it over unscathed, and made it up to where Lloyd was, panting a bit. Not that he had long to dwell on that, as Lloyd beckoned him to follow and darted off into the trees, keeping him on his toes.

By the time they stopped, probably twenty minutes later, Lloyd was pretty sure he was hopelessly lost. He didn’t recognize any of the terrain - how could he? - and he didn’t know which direction the stream was in. And he was really tuckered out from all the running around...Lloyd didn’t seem at all bothered by it, but he was in much better shape. He looked up at Lloyd, confused. “I...don’t understand…”

“Like I said, experience. Trainers have to deal with adverse conditions sometimes, sudden changes in course, and unfavorable situations. You’re going to get a crash course like they rarely get, starting with nothing and having to totally rough it. Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to know how to deal with it all right off, that’s why I’m here.”

“Well...okay...if it helps me become a better trainer.” Andreas still felt overwhelmed, but that was probably normal. “Um...what should I do first?”

“Well, first, you need to learn about another part of taking care of Pokémon...addressing their needs. And for that...you remember that I’m in charge, don’t you?” The human nodded uncertainly. “Good. So, let’s see you start taking care of me.”

Andreas got the picture a moment later, as he looked down and saw the Lopunny’s half-emerged dick from his sheath and his swelling sack underneath. His eyes widened, it was clear what the Lopunny meant, but...he was a human, and that was a Pokémon! Would that really be all right? But...Lloyd had commanded it, and...oddly, he found himself getting aroused by that, he could feel the stiffening between his own legs. And it wasn’t like he hadn’t seen a few pictures of Pokémon doing stuff with humans…

Blushing profusely, he knelt in front of Lloyd, bringing his face to the now fully-emerged cock. Although Lloyd was a touch smaller than him, his tool was significantly larger, almost twice as long and half-again as thick as his own, with a slightly pointed head that quickly thickened out...for some reason that was turning him on, too. Not to mention the musky scent coming off of the Lopunny, slightly spicy and oily, but it smelled...enticing.

He started to lick the top of Lloyd’s cock, while one of his hands went to fondle the Lopunny’s balls, the other staying under him for support. The salty, musky taste was a bit strong, but he didn’t pull away, letting himself get used to it. He had never been with another male before, but he’d seen pictures and read stories here and there, and the general idea of the acts wasn’t too foreign, if not practiced. And with the slight moans and pants from Lloyd that were clearly contented, it seemed like he was doing a good enough job. Certainly Andreas was enjoying it, he was getting a thrill from the act and his heart was starting to pound from the excitement...in fact, partly from the knowledge that he’d essentially been ordered into it, he realized.

It had been a pleasant surprise to Lloyd that it had taken so little pushing to get Andreas to work. He’d expected some resistance to the idea, to have to exert a bit more dominance, but the human was as pliable a sub as he’d ever had. And not bad in the effort department as well, going from licking to wrapping his lips around the Lopunny’s cock in pretty short order, lapping up the pre spurting from his tip. “Nnnyes...very good…” he breathed out, unable to stop himself from getting a grip on the human’s head, not pushing him further down yet but certainly putting the suggestion there. “Go all the way, get it all in there.”

Andreas flushed; he felt a twinge throughout him as he registered Lloyd’s words, commanding him to go a lot farther than he already was. That excitement ramping up a notch, the pressure on his head, and realizing he was hard and throbbing himself...the Lopunny taking control of him was really turning him on. Not only did he feel like he had to follow the order, he wanted to follow it, and wanted to feel like he had to follow it...moving his hands to Lloyd’s hips, he pushed himself further down on that musky Pokémon dick, testing his throat on it. He had to fight the urge to gag the first couple times he teased his throat with that pointed tip, but he was insistent on following his command, and finally overcame it to let the dick sink deeper into him. Once he was a little ways in, he felt the push of Lloyd’s hands a lot harder, carrying him all the way to the root of the Lopunny’s cock, his nose and lips pressing into the musky-oily fur of his sheath and groin. He moaned a bit at the suddenness of it, but that power was such a turn-on!

It was too good for Lloyd, the lack of action over the last few weeks meant he felt almost a desperation to get his sexual kicks and Andreas was really giving him as much as he could handle. He started to buck into the human’s throat, pulling out and jabbing in with as much restraint as he could manage to not overdo it. Andreas didn’t seem to be struggling at all, though, pulling back what little he could and pushing into those thrusts...and now Lloyd was realized what he’d gotten here. Holy shit, he’s a total bitch...this is gonna be more fun than I thought.

A couple more thrusts into the human’s mouth was all Lloyd could handle, and with a loud moan he started to empty the contents of his needy balls into Andreas. Cum gushed into the human’s mouth and throat, the strongly salty and masculine taste washing over his senses uncontrollably...he swallowed when he could, but the bucking of that cock into his throat sometimes blocked that off, letting some of the build-up get forced out his mouth to dribble down his lips and chin. He didn’t stop trying to take in as much as he could despite the rough usage of his maw, moaning and groaning as he felt himself get hotter and needier.

And then, just before it was over, Lloyd pulled all the way out of his mouth and took aim at the human’s face. Andreas had just enough time to close his eyes before the first splatter of bunny batter pasted him. And then there was another, and another, bolts of white fluid shooting over his cheeks, nose, lips, and hair, making a thorough mess of him...it would be impossible not to see what had been done to him, to say nothing of smelling it. And they were far from the stream, too, which meant no washing it off...which was of course the point, and only fueled his arousal further. It was like he’d been marked for ownership by the Lopunny, which made sense, since he was the one in charge.

Lloyd’s orgasm finally faded away, but he was able to look with satisfaction on the white-streaked face of the human on his knees in front of him. “On your knees is a good look for you, bitch.” The last word slipped out, a little harder than he’d intended to go, but when Andreas nodded Lloyd knew the last line had been crossed. Not just willing, but accepting his place under him...he knew he could do whatever he wanted now, Andreas would obey. His grin widened as the possibilities of that started to come to mind. “But there’s another good one I know. Down on your side, and lift your leg, show yourself to me.”

Without hesitation, Andreas complied. It just felt so nice to do what Lloyd wanted, it made him feel good, that he didn’t even want to question it...he didn’t care that he wasn’t really acting as a trainer, after all he hadn’t earned that yet. He went down, lifting his leg as high as he could, showing both his unguarded rear and throbbing cock to the Lopunny, wiggling and squirming a bit in an unintentionally enticing fashion. Suddenly he felt a furry body press against his, one arm snaking between his body and the ground while the other took hold of his thigh, spreading him further. He was pretty sure he knew what was coming when he felt the tip of that thick cock press against his pucker, and let out a shuddering moan of anticipation.

“Heh...you feel how strong I am, bitch?” Lloyd’s voice was as deep and aggressive as a Lopunny’s could really get, a voice he’d practiced trying to make it sound even a little intimidating. His muscles flexed in their holds, tightening a bit. “How much stronger I am than you? I’m gonna make sure you know just how powerful I am, that’s something you’ll learn to always respect…” Andreas didn’t get a chance to respond before that cock speared him, ramming its way into his virgin anus without a care. There was a momentary sharp spike of discomfort that got a quick cry out of Andreas, but it faded fast and left the human panting hard, moaning and wanting more.

And Lloyd was more than willing to provide. His grip remained tight on the human as he started to buck in and out, taking a nice quick and sharp pace to break in his new bitch. He’d never gotten the chance to take control like this on something of around his size, and it felt like such a wild thrill, such a victory...oh, there was no way he was going to give this up, even if he did eventually decide that Andreas had earned his way to being his trainer, he was going to make sure that came with a healthy side of bending over for him. After all, those two states could coexist, he’d heard plenty of stories about that.

For Andreas, it was a rush unlike any he’d ever known or imagined. Quick panting moans and cries escaped his mouth as he was rut hard by the Lopunny, held firmly in place by the strong muscles. He could feel exactly what Lloyd was talking about, the firmness that he held Andreas with, the force and speed with which he entered the human and pounded his prostate, getting wet jolts of pre to shoot hard out of his cock...Lloyd was a touch smaller than Andreas was but he was so much more powerful, such strength packed in his body. Of course he deserved to be the one in charge, he was the capable one, Andreas was weaker in every way...it felt right to serve him, he was just a weak human. And the other Pokémon in this area, they were bound to be so much stronger, too...he knew his place was beneath them, that he couldn’t demand anything of them but they could demand of him. It felt like such an important lesson for him, knowing his place, understanding what their power meant to him and what they could do...and what he wanted them to do.

His cries got suddenly louder as his climax hit, the sudden onset making him jerk a bit in the Pokémon’s grip. His cock shot hard, lances of cum spraying several feet away into the grass, getting a little farther when Lloyd would nail his prostate. He didn’t have nearly as much to offer as Lloyd did, his dick settling after about ten shots, but it was by far the most satisfying orgasm he’d ever had, leaving him a shivering and moaning lump to be used by Lloyd to reach his own peak.

“Sounds like you loved that, bitch…” Lloyd laughed in his ear, his thrusts speeding up and hitting even harder. “About to do the same thing, paint your ass with my seed just like I did your face…”

At this point, Andreas couldn’t have wanted anything more. “Y-yes...please, cum in me and mark me as yours...please, Master!”

That was more than enough for Lloyd - hearing the human concede to him so completely was the best finish he could have imagined. He slammed in hard a couple more times and then held himself there as he began to shoot, filling up the human with another ample load. Andreas moaned underneath the Lopunny’s cry as he felt the sensation of being filled up, no doubt the first of many times, all of which he would welcome without hesitation...each pump really did make him feel like he was being marked, sticky fluid clinging to his inner walls as the rest pumped deeper inside him, or leaked out of him around Lloyd’s cock. He felt stretched, used, marked, and so deliriously happy.

Lloyd let go of Andreas’s thigh and draped his now-free arm over his human bitch, staying tight to him as he felt the crest of pleasure die away again. He didn’t want to pull out just yet...he probably had a couple more rounds left in him, but he could tell Andreas would need a bit longer to fully appreciate it, so he just stayed inside, keeping his cock hard with those tight walls clenching and flexing around him. “Now you know what my power feels like...and this is only a taste. I’d bet most of the Pokémon in this part of the forest are stronger than I am. And I’m not going to just fend them off for you...you’ll have to show them that you know your place, that they don’t have to worry about you.”

Andreas needed no diagram to know what Lloyd was suggesting...and any thought of refusal was well out the window as he nodded. The thought of other big, powerful, sexy Pokémon ordering him around, marking him and filling him...he wasn’t even sure if he wanted to be a trainer anymore, when submitting to the creatures was so much more thrilling. But, maybe he could still be one, have a team of powerful Pokémon he could command in battle and obey outside of it...he could decide later, once he’d even earned the right to be a trainer. “Ah...what if...we run into a trainer...out here?”

Lloyd grinned. “Then you’ll offer yourself to service all their Pokémon. I think you’ll be surprised by how many would eagerly accept an offer like that.”

Andreas again could only nod. Maybe it wouldn’t happen, but if it did, he would be ready, and eager to serve. And he was looking forward to it all...not how he’d imagined things going, but this was much better than anything else.