"RUFFFF-LET!"

Malcolm snapped straight up at the sound of the cry, ready to fight off the source of the noise.

Damn scavengers are probably after what grub I have left... The thought ran across his mind as he went for his pocket knife. But as he drew his blade, he saw nothing except standard alley refuse. He looked to his right, and beside him were his happy little trio of pokemon, still sound asleep.

"RUFFLET!"

Malcolm turned his gaze upwards to the source of his awakening. Not to his surprise, the pokemon was a Rufflet, perched on the ledge of one of the buildings. It had it's feathers ruffled, as if it was trying to scare Malcolm off. But Malcolm had run into his fair share of Pidgey before, and from what he could remember, they didn't have intimidate.

"Ah, fuck off now!" Malcolm groaned, grabbing a discarded bottle on the ground. "I was dreaming of Playboy Lopunnys, ya arsehole!"

And with that, he threw the bottle near the Rufflet's ledge, cracking against the wall and waking the his pokemon. The Rufflet's bravado crumbled, and it flew off at a breakneck pace.

"Buzz..." Ex groggily mumbled.

"Yeah, yeah, I was having a good sleep to. Sorry buddy." Malcolm said as began to stand up, making his way to his tattered backpack. "Get the other two up, will ya? Let's move somewhere with less annoyances, then I'll start fixing us up some grub, eh?"

"Buzz..."
"You do all the work?! When's the last time you paid for food?!"

"Buzz!"

"Alright, alright, put a sock in it. I'll give ya the fact that I'm the only one who can collect the pay, but I do my fair share too."

"ELECTA-Buzz..."

"Yeah, yeah, good morning to ya too buddy."

@jeroukoo

March 2nd in Casper Wyoming was a cold Saturday, no doubt about it. It had snowed earlier that week, and it barely ever got above freezing. This morning in particular was as cold as it had been in a while, around 15'F.

It was a good thing Malcomlm was no armature to dealing with life as a wanderer, including cold weather. But perhaps this was a little more than he bargained for.

As Malcolm was rummaging through his backpack looking for morning chow, a sudden thwack against his head almost took him off his feet. He gather his footing and turned to the tackler, rubbing the back of his head.

"Ah Arceus, what's the matter Screech?"

Screech had developed a habit of tackling Malcolm whenever he wanted attention, an annoying one, but since Screech was still just a Zubat, it didn't bother Malcolm that much. At least, not yet.

"Zu-zu..!" The pokemon wailed.

"I'm freezing my tail off too, pal." Malcolm sighed. "What, is it too cold for you?"

Screech flew to Malcolm's chest, trying to make his way inside his coat. He sighed again, unzipping his jacket so Screech could make his way inside.

"Guess that answers that." Malcolm turned to the other two pokemon. "And the rest of ya? Do you two want to find some sorta subway to make breakfast in?"

"Abra." Split slowly began to levitate from the ground.

"Yeah, like we have the spare funds for an indoor meal." Jason grunted. His stomach growled in response. Maybe a cheap diner would do. But for now, the subway would be his destination.

"Alright, plan A is the subway, plan B is we look around for somewhere cheap, and I emphasize, cheap."

"Zubat!" "Abra." "Electabuzz!"

"Glad you all are excited." Malcolm chuckled. "Then after that, library, alright? Gonna look online for some more cash."

And with that, Malcolm slung his backpack over his shoulders and headed out the alley, looking for someplace indoors where he could set up his camp stove.

@jeroukoo

As Malcolm and his Pokemon wandered through the streets of Casper Wyoming, it became painfully clear that this town was too small to have a Subway system. All they had for public transit was a bus system. Sure there were a few Subway sandwich shops, but that wasn't in the cards.

Towards the center of town, they spotted the local Poke Center. Though all of Malcolm's travels, he had seen many Pokemon Centers and smelled the delicious food they offered to trainers for free. But until this moment, he had always stayed away from them. After all, they were only for trainers right? Or perhaps they would help him out regardless?

The thought had never been more tempting.

Malcolm's gaze stopped on the pokécenter. He sighed, the appeal of free food was tempting, but he didn't want to pose as a pokemon trainer. Sure, he could probably pass as one, but the tattered clothes and unkempt face might make them think he was just a homeless person looking for a free meal.

Which, technically, he was. Forget technically, that was the situation he was facing. He went to his wallet and opened it up. It didn't surprise him that he was getting pretty low on pokédollars. He really wanted to steer away from having to spend money on food, but it was too cold for him and his pokémon to enjoy a meal outside.

"I hate winter..." Malcolm grumbled. "Alright boys, let's head into the pokécenter and see if they'll throw us a bone."

I can only hope I can fib my way out of not having a trainer's liscense.

Malcolm made his way to the center with Ex and Split following closely behind him, and Screech almost falling back to sleep inside Malcolm's jacket.

@jeroukoo

As Malcolm walked through the Center's automatic sliding doors, his unkempt appearance drew the eyes of trainers and Pokemon Center workers alike.

One worker, a woman in light blue hospital scrubs, stepped toward Malcolm. She smiled warmly as she spoke. "Well, hey there traveler. Can I help you?" Her eyes darted over Malcolm's exposed Pokemon for a brief second before she pulled her focus back to holding eye contact.

"Well, hey there traveler. Can I help you?"

Before Malcolm could spoke, he noticed the lady's eyes dart over to his pokemon. At first, Malcolm didn't understand the stink eye she gave them. It was a pokémon center. They surely saw pokemon all the time. But then it dawned on him. Pokéballs.

"Oh, haha, ignore them being out." Malcolm smiled. "We were just streching our legs, I can put them back in their little spherical prisons if it bothers ya."

He made a friendly laugh, which was followed by a bit of awkward silence. Malcolm cleared his throat, and began again.

"Anyway, me and my pokés were just out for a stroll, and got a little hungry, that's all. Was wondering if we could stop by for some food?"

He made a friendly laugh, which was followed by a bit of awkward silence. Malcolm cleared his throat, and began again.

"Anyway, me and my pokés were just out for a stroll, and got a little hungry, that's all. Was wondering if we could stop by for some food?"

The nurse squinted her eyes for a split second during the awkward silence. It was obvious that she knew something was off. But when Malcolm mentioned that they were here for food, her expression softened. "Sure, right this way." She then guided Malcolm to the line where he could get food, but to get into the line, there was a card reader that would have to be swiped to get a metal security bar to turn. Without drawing any attention, she swiped her own card and motioned for Malcolm to pass through. "Please, come see me after you and your Pokemon have ate. I'll be at the front desk."

"Thank you so much, miss... uh..." Malcolm coughed, realizing he never introduced himself, nor asked for the woman's name. Before he went to ask for her name, his sentence was cut off.

"Zuuuu!Zuuuu!" Screech screeched from inside his jacket.

Malcolm rubbed his head and chuckled again.

"Sorry, you'll have to excuse me, the boys are hungry." Malcolm motioned for Ex and Split to follow behind him, which they quickly did.

"Thank you again, and I'll find ya afterwards."

Malcolm waited in line for his food, with the process being relatively uneventful. He slid his plate onto a table with Ex, Split, and Zu making themselves comfortable at the table as well. Usually, hot meals indoors were a once at the end of the month thing for Malcolm, but luckily the nice doctor or nurse let them in without much hassle.

"Alright guys, we lucked out this time. Enjoy the food!"

"Thank you again, and I'll find ya afterwards."

Malcolm waited in line for his food, with the process being relatively uneventful. He slid his plate onto a table with Ex, Split, and Zu making themselves comfortable at the table as well. Usually, hot meals indoors were a once at the end of the month thing for Malcolm, but luckily the nice doctor or nurse let them in without much hassle.

"Alright guys, we lucked out this time. Enjoy the food!"

When Malcolm and his Pokemon were finished eating. They went to see the nurse at the front desk, as promised.

"Feel better?" She asked, less of a question and more out of politeness. She then leaned forward a bit over the counter and lowered her voice. "Would you like a room for a few hours? I hope you don't think I'm being to assuming, but I bet your Pokemon would enjoy a nice warm bath." She winked.

The group took their time with the food, relishing every bite. For free food, the quality was amazing. Mashed potatoes, fresh Pinap berries, and even some filleted magikarp. As Malcolm made way at his potatoes, he looked over to his pokémon, making sure they were enjoying the grub as much as him.

Screech was ravenously devouring the pokéblocks they gave him. Even though he was a small pokémon, he had one hell of an appetite. Maybe it was a sign of him growing. Or maybe it was a sign of how bad the food Malcolm made.

Ex was alternating between eating his food and keeping Screech from spitting scraps all over the table. Ex had grown to have a paternal relationship with Screech, slowly trying to adapt the wild Zubat to civilized life. Malcolm tried his best, but Malcolm had found that it was sometimes best for Ex to teach Screech how to behave instead of himself. He chalked it up to pokémon knowing pokémon better.

And at last, there was Split, quietly levitating her pokéblocks into her mouth and watching the chaos that was Screech. Split had always been curiously quiet since the joining the group. She preferred to sit back and watch, rarely partaking in any of the party's decisions. At first, Malcolm thought Split joined the party merely to spy on him. Probably to report back to the other pokémon in the warehouse he stayed at for awhile on human life, adding to their building pile of information they would use to take over the human world. But, overtime, Split began to speak her mind more, and Malcolm realized she was just a shy pokémon.

After about an hour, Malcolm cleaned up the mess him and his pokémon made, then slowly made his way to the reception desk. He thought about just leaving without saying anything, but the lady who helped him was exceptionally kind to him, so he figured the least he could do was say goodbye to her. He hoped she wouldn't try and convince him to become a licensed trainer, or try and blackmail him in some devious way.

"Feel better?" She asked, less of a question and more out of politeness. She then leaned forward a bit over the counter and lowered her voice. "Would you like a room for a few hours? I hope you don't think I'm being to assuming, but I bet your Pokemon would enjoy a nice warm bath." She winked.

Malcolm's brow furrowed. This lady was being very nice to him, something he was not used to at all. Very few people went out of their way to treat a wandering vagrant with such warmth. Was she after something? What could Malcolm have to offer her, other than the few pokédollars he had? He shook his head no in response.

"Uh, thank you so much for what you've done, but I really should get going." Malcolm said, looking over his shoulder. "The meal was very nice and all, but I gotta find a way to make some money for the day, and that's not the easis-"

Malcolm was cut off by a tugging on his jacket. He looked down to see Ex, with a pleading look in his eyes.

"Electa."

"Yeah, it would be nice buddy, but we don't have it in the budget for a vacation today."

"Buzz!"

"You know why!"

"Electabuzz..."

"Yeah the smell is getting bad but all we really need is a sink an-"

Malcolm stopped, realizing the woman was audience to this whole affair. He turned to her and smiled sheepishly.

"Listen, thank you, I really appreciate what you did, but I do have to get going. Pleasure to meet you, miss..." Malcolm paused again. Deja vu. "Uh, you know I never got your name."

"Listen, thank you, I really appreciate what you did, but I do have to get going. Pleasure to meet you, miss..." Malcolm paused again. Deja vu. "Uh, you know I never got your name."

The nurse smiled, though there was a touch of sadness in her eyes. "I'm Nurse Alice." She paused, the finished with. "If you ever change your mind, let me know. I'm always happy to help."

"Alice," said another, older, Nurse from behind the counter. "Dr. Richmond needs you in the OR. They're about to start."

"Oh, uh, yes" Alice answered. She then gave Malcolm a quick wave and walked away with pace.

A moment after she left, the older nurse turned to face Malcolm. "Sorry about her, she can be a little too helpful. Have a good day, sir." The look in this woman's eyes were much more what Malcolm was used to from people: cold, uncaring, and judgmental. She could tell Malcolm was the lone wolf type and had no pity to spare.

Ah, there it is. Malcolm thought to himself. I thought maybe the nurses around here were all just nice.

"Thanks again, Nurse Alice!" He called out to her as she walked away.

"Zu, zu!" "Buzz!"

Malcolm waited a moment for Split to chime in for her thanks. After hearing nothing, he turned to Split, who was just sitting cross legged floating.

"You gotta at least say thanks, Split."

Split remained silent, and Malcolm sighed.


"One of these days, Split, you'll learn to talk to people. One of these days."

Malcolm said nothing to the older nurse and walked out of the pokécenter. The weather outside had warmed up a bit with the sun being out and the cold wasn't as unbearable as it was before.


"Alright, to the library to use their computer. Hopefully there's something I can pick up quick, there usually isn't a whole lot going on in the winter."

"Buzz?"


"What was that?"

"Electabuzz."


"There's a computer in the pokemon center?"


"Buzz."

"Ah, shit. Shoulda just used that one." Malcolm grumbled. "Well, I think our luck with nice people has run out today, if that old nurse was a sign of anything. Let's just make our way over, it's not that long of a walk."

"Abra."

"So you pipe up when you want to sass me, huh?" Malcolm laughed sardonically. "Anyone else want to ridicule me? How about you Screech?"

"Zu!"

"Yeesh, everyone is a critic..." Malcolm sighed as he walked off towards the library.

"Yeesh, everyone is a critic..." Malcolm sighed as he walked off towards the library.

As Malcolm walked through the small city, he frequently received sideways glances from the people he passed. Sometimes they were looks of pity, other times they held some degree of contempt. This was the difference between small cities and large ones. In larger cities, a disheveled, likely homeless person would mostly be ignored. In smaller cities like these, where homelessness isn't as much an issue, people were more unsure of how to act around the sight.

Malcolm arrived at the Natrona Count Public Library at around 11am. By that time, it was now a whole 19 degrees Fahrenheit, not far from the soon to be high temperature of 21° for the day.

Since he didn't have a library card and couldn't apply for one because he didn't live in the county, the librarian at the front desk had to give him a temporary guest access to the computers, which would be good for two hours.

Malcolm made his way to the computers and pulled up a site for odd jobs. He began to scour for available options.

Malcolm made his way to the computers and pulled up a site for odd jobs. He began to scour for available options.

There weren't nearly as many jobs available in the Casper area as there would have been near a larger city. Still, there were options. As usual, jobs generally came in three kinds.

One, there were the jobs that he couldn't (or perhaps shouldn't do) like babysitting or clerical work.

Two, there were the low paying manual labor jobs like, washing dishes, construction site assistance, garbage collection, and well, that was pretty much it in this small city.

Then of course, there were the higher paying, easier help wanted jobs like, helping people find lost objects or moving furniture for people with new homes. The only problem, as was always the case, the people who post these kinds of jobs were always asking for certified Pokemon trainers. Sure, almost anyone could become a trainer (even rather shady individuals), but for some reason, people always seemed to trust trainers more that the average Joe.

(Redacted Accidental Post)

"Tch, everyone wants a goddamn training licenses with every employer they get..." Malcolm sighed. "I've been avoiding it for a long time, but everyday it gets harder not to have one..."
The library was the only time he kept his pokemon in their pokeballs, as they were usually too noisy to be kept out. If Ex was out, he probably would have suggested getting a license, as usual. And Malcolm would give the same response, he wasn't going to let his Dad win.

But this grudge against his father seemed harder and harder to hold as each day passed. Malcolm sighed again, clicking on the construction worker job. It was probably the best he could do per hour, but the labor was always tough.

"Alright, construction it is. Hopefully it's not too far of a walk..."

"Alright, construction it is. Hopefully it's not too far of a walk..."

Before heading off to the construction site, Malcolm thought it best to give the number on the add a call. It was a good thing he did, because the man who posted the add said that they wouldn't be working today. "I have things to do with the family this weekend. We'll be back at it Monday, weather permitting."

After checking on the other odd jobs, the only thing that Malcolm could confirm for today was a dishwasher job at a local dive bar. Apparently, they were short staffed in the kitchen. They were offering $8 an hour, cash in hand, to work tonight and tomorrow night. At least the job would be out of the cold.