Operation Mush the Shrooms part 1

Otto sighed deeply and Zak only snuggled deeper into the plush blanket nest he’d made himself. The idiotic zigzagoon refused to do ANYTHING. Enough was enough! The ghost type simply couldn’t handle babysitting the bastard any longer. He had to get out. HE HAD TO LEAVE THIS WRETCHED SUITE AT ONCE! The normal type had barricaded himself in Clear Waters after the whole night with the Skitty bimbo. He wasn’t’ exactly ready to readapt into society. But it had been a month. Right? Possibly two. Time was a meaningless concept for a ghost type but he tried his best to keep some kind of track of it. You had to if you wanted to take care of a mortal being. But back to the matter at hand already-

“Zak. I implore you to reconsider your current lifestyle. You can’t just bum around here for the rest of your life! You can’t just PROCRASTINATE civilizing yourself. Don’t you miss your old life?” the ghost type asked loudly, floating over to shake the pokemon out of his poofy hole. There was a sudden movement and Otto could only imagine it was Zak flicking his tail in thought.

“Fuck off.” He spoke after a moment. Otto let out another exasperated sigh. He couldn’t get through to him. Nothing was bringing him out of this. Not even coffee. Zak hadn’t had caffeine in how many months. It was scary to think but maybe he was finally over his addiction! Oh happy day! If only the circumstances were different.

“I just want to sleep forever...” Zak piped up once more without a warning. Otto frowned wondering if this was a depression. It was more than some humiliation for letting himself go so much on his first night back. The ghost type moved about the room, his worry deepening as he realized how empty the room still was. All they had were berries they’d brought back from the Jungle. The citrus ones were useless and they’re favorite food was already long gone. Otto had adjusted to the homey smell of Clear Waters once more. It was the same room but it didn’t feel right just yet. They had to get back into the swing of things, and senselessly killing things wouldn’t help. They’d had their share of mindless murder on their expedition. The Sableye floated to the window and watched the townspeople mill about. He caught sight of multiple teams moving to and fro with large orange mushrooms on their person and then he got an idea. Of course! Why hadn’t he just thought of it before? It wouldn’t be coffee or money that would get him going again, he had to feel like a citizen of Blue Town again.

Zak loved festivals after all. Even if he barely showed it. But Otto had been around the piece of shit long enough to understand that the normal type had a thing about this town’s events. As trivial as it felt to go out and collect mushrooms…Otto would do it if it meant ridding Zak of his terrible depression or whatever he seemed to be avoiding. He would agree to his partner’s unspoken request. With this in mind, the Sableye steeled himself for the worst and turned around ready to act the part. “C’mon Zak, wouldn’t you like to go out mushroom hunting with the rest of the town? All the interns- rookies are having so much fun it looks like.” Otto said gently leaning in towards the bundle of plush blankets. The zigzagoon’s twitching tail froze and after a minute or two, his nose peeked out from under one of the blankets. “You hate mushrooms.” He said flatly, dark eyes studying the other pokemon intently. Otto felt hot in the room underneath Zak’s gaze.

“But you love them. And I don’t HAVE to LOVE mushrooms to pick them out. No one said I had to eat jack shit.” The ghost type replied with a shrug. Another minute or two passed as the Zigzagoon mulled it over. “Are you sure about this? We’re going to be around the buggers a lot.” He asked quietly digging his nose back into the mattress.  Once more, Otto forced himself into liking the idea. He had to get over this wall or else risk watching Zak stay a hermit forever and worse- they’d have to live off his jewel collection! It was barely a collection after the looting their room had gone through but still! He care for each and every…tiny precious gemstone. There was like three. BUT EACH ONE WAS SPECIAL GODAMNIT.

“Positively ecstatic.”

After that everything had been such a blur. Otto sealed his fate and his partner had dashed about the apartment with hidden energy. He hadn’t eaten in days so the ghost had no idea how he mustered so much excitement after being static for so long. Maybe it was in his nature. One thing led to another and now his precious backpack was being loaded with mushrooms, while his hand was occupied holding Zak’s extra-large caramel macchiato. Zak milled around, occupied with his own thoughts about the whole thing. His tail no longer twitched, but wagged happily and the corners of the male’s mouth twitched upwards every once in a while Otto sighed once again before pointing out a rather disgusting looking growth on the ground. “What about that one?” he asked cheerfully, a fake smile gracing his face. To which Zak only responded by quickly standing up and going to inspect the abnormality. Otto swallowed hard and steeled his will for a long afternoon of digging up nasty mushrooms for the festival. A little part of him was relieved to have pulled his partner out of the house this far though…