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[attr="class","bisc"]The brunette grinned. “Don’t worry!” He started. “‘I can take plenty of heat.” Not because he was a tough guy, though. His disorder just stopped any pain from coming with the fire, There’d been plenty of blisters before he learned not to stick his hands on hot stuff. Then, of course, there were the hospital visits. His mom had tanned his back when she found out he hadn’t fell into the bonfire but stuck his arm in it on a dare.

At the rush, Biscotti paused. His voice stuttered as he fingered the belts at his waist. “Right! I should probably, uh…” He chewed at his lips. Only the taste of blood let him know it’d been too hard. “Come on out—!” After a second of struggling to grip the orb with his sweaty palms, he chucked it onto the field.”Rawr…” From it emerged a towering Tyranitar. Its beady eyes shifted back to its trainer with a look of disbelief. ‘Seriously? A dog?’ Its gaze seemed to say. Shaking its head, the dragon stomped onto the battlefield proper.

As he lifted a finger to point at the tired dog, Biscotti wondered if he should have led with the ground type before him. Or, at least, he thought that’s what it was. “Hit...Fido with a Rock Slide!” It seemed like a pretty wide move. And, hopefully, that’d stop it from missing. And, hopefully, that name sounded more like a taunt than acknowledging he totally forgot the dog's name.

Josh Devlin

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[attr="class","bisc"]The blades of ice were less katana and more kitchen knives by the time Chugga hit his target. Water dripped onto the field around them, the result something like a hound shaking after a bath. As he went for another rotation, the dog lit up like a beacon. This was a big-daddy move right here! “Nnngh!” Biscotti turned away as bright flashy fire mixed with a cloud of hissing steam.

Sudden, intense flames burnt away what remained of the Dunsparce’s frosty armor. Its fast trajectory and moist skin lessened the damage. But it didn’t erase it. A strange noise—half squeak and half hiss—punctuated the fading heat. An angry burn mark covered the creature’s side. The sound of crumbling bricks followed. When Biscotti opened his eyes, the Dunsparce had vanished into a hole beneath the ground.

It looked like an underground attack was in their future. Or, uh, it had been. Unable to sustain the burn, the Dundunsparce would come to rest at the bottom of the hole. Its half-opened eyes were closed. Its drill-like tail spins lazily like a child’s pinwheel. “Oh, uh, nice one, dude.” Biscotti nodded to the Arcanine and its trainer. His hand slipped to a belt at his side as he waited for the call. "Talk about a heat wave..."

CHUGGA IS KNOCKED OUT

Josh Devlin

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[attr="class","bisc"]Even if he didn’t feel pain, Biscotti winced in sympathy. Chew toy probably wasn’t at the top of the Dundunsparce’s life plans. Still, it’d be pretty hard to dodge a bite at close range. Like trying not to get bit by an Arbok when holding its tail. The heavy serpent’s lunge is surprising in its speed and ferocity. Biscotti grins, Hah!! That should make up for that little snafu!

The normal type’s spiky beard drips violet poison. It hisses and pops as it rolls down its bulbous chin to the ground. But this sludge never found its target. “Teleport!?” Biscotti squawked. Since when could dogs do that?! “Uh—uh—come on!” There wasn’t much time to ponder that question before the dog disappeared. On the far end of a whip crack, the Dundunsparce found itself flying toward the earth. He had to get it to straighten out! Maybe he could use the momentum to do, well, something. Anything? Wait, he’s got it! “Ice spinner!” The brunette blurted as his pink-on-yellow fellow almost kissed dirt.

Its body turned crystalline as its death spiral turned into something more graceful. Its tail dug a furrow into the ground as it redirected itself. All of the Arcanine’s energy was sent right back at it as the reptile turned into a spinning, crystalline shuriken.

Josh Devlin

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[attr="class","bisc"]Cannoli needed the day off. A few more days in this place, and she’d have metamorphosed into an Alcremie or something. He couldn’t remember the last time she went on a date. Still, it took fifteen reviews of the morning to-do list before she left Biscotti to his own devices. Now, all he needed to do was stop the place from burning.

By some strange twist of fate, his shifts and Shigure’s visits rarely coincided. Maybe the shifts didn’t line up right. But today’s opening shift brought them nose to nose. Or, uh, nose-to-glass-to-nose. And it wasn’t like either of them were licking the case—that’d be super weird. Where have I seen him before?

That messy fringe of hair. The golden eyes. Somehow it all felt so familiar. He knew how that hair would feel between his fingers and the way the other boy laughed. He even knew how he messed up lullaby lyrics to get a laugh. But stuff wasn’t quite right. The smile was wrong and the voice too. This guy had the face of his husband. Or, well, boyfriend. The souls though seemed different. It wasn’t like he could ask either. It’d make him look like a crackpot. Still, he’d come across as a total creeper if he said that.

So, instead, he kept sneaking glances. Memories of a nonexistent lifetime came flooding back, nearly drowning the labrador boy in the tide. The last brush In this deluge, he struggled to find the right—no, any--words to say. Fortunately, Shigure galloped to the rescue with a question. Suddenly, Biscotti remembered this wasn’t a medieval rotunda. It was the 21st century.

“Seasonal what?” The brunette stammerred. It felt like he was mulling those words for the first time. He blinked. Dropped his gaze to the pastry cabinet. “Oh.” Panicked. “These—uh—these are new.” He gestured to a pair of twin cupcakes on the counter—one with bright blue icing and the other with red. The sprinkles were arranged in a strange pattern.

Had they been there earlier?

A voice whispered: 'Red or blue?'

SHIGURE URUHA

☉

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[attr="class","bisc"]The giant serpent's spinning ended with it in a line a few yards from the fire dog. Any resilient dizziness quickly faded with a shake of the normal-type's ears. Though its expression didn't change, it couldn't emote much, the little wings on its back stood much straighter. But, if he was waiting on a follow-up, it'd take a minute.

Honey eyes widened as Biscotti's gaze flickered between the round boy and the now bald dog. He actually hit it? Holy crap on an Arceus sandwich! That was cool. For a minute, he struggled to find words for this feat. He didn't expect that hit to feel so good. It wasn't like he had done anything. A fist pumped in the air as he congratulated the expressionless lump in front of him. "Choo-Choo! Nice one, Chug!" But that smile faded when the gym leader's hound responded with a sparking maw.

Dodge! We need to dodge that! But the question of how put him off kilter. It wasn't like the thing had armor or anything. "Uh--" Biscotti hesitated. One heartbeat. Two. He tried to remember what he'd taught this newest acquisition. Or, at least, what had been sent with its owner manual. Maybe we should just hit back or something? He imagined impatience as the Dundunsparce stared at him, its wings stiff as the dog grabbed its tail. Electricity buzzed up and down the creature's body as it squealed.

"Shit! Sorry, Chug!" But if he wanted to shake it like a ragdoll, he underestimated the sheer mass of the thing in front of him.

But what to do now? He had to let go eventually, right?

"Poison jab!" Fighting against the pain, the snake launched back along its length, aiming to drive one of its spikes into the hound's face and maw.

Josh Devlin

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[attr="class","bisc"]Not one to shy from Pokemon, Biscotti stepped forward to meet Pinky’s greeting. The tickling was met with a grin and gentle stroking. “Hey to you too, bud.” He’d try to return the favor, but that’d be super awkward. You never knew when some weirdo would take a bad picture.

Josh greeted him warmly. Warm honey eyes blinked twice. Have we met before? A backward glance at Jangle revealed his starter was just as confused. Was he talking about that weird game he played? Did other people know that you tried their stuff? Arceus, he hoped not. He’d never get a date. Instead of questioning this, Scotti responded with a grin and nod. “Uh, you too.”

As the rules were explained, Biscotti felt his heartbeat speed up. His hands rolled into fists at his side. You’ve got this. Nilla did, and she’s like 12 or something. Never mind that she had more gumption in her pinky than he did in his whole body. It wasn’t like he was doing any work. All of it would be up to Jangle and the company. The words began to blur together. What was that? Sudden death?

“I don’t know, bud.” Biscotti grinned at the gym leader. “I’m pretty good at pondering.” As the big fluffer took the field, the brunette withdrew his Incineroar. Fire is weak to water. And, rock, right? Or is it ground? His hands shifted between two balls for a moment. He muttered a quick song under his breath. Miney-mo. He then swapped his fingers away from the ball it landed on.

“Come on out, Chugga!” A long, spindly snake emerged from the ball. Dragon-like wings fluttered wildly. Hopefully, this guy would listen, “Hit that puppy with a hyper drill!” Its body spun rapidly, and the normal-type rocketed toward its opponent. Drills were ground type, right?

Josh Devlin