Dragon Games update redone

Hey all I wasn't too happy with yesterdays update, so I rewrote some parts of it, and added another 1k words. I wanna rework the earlier chaps and bring them up to standards as well, so next update might be slightly delayed.

Jim and Cassidy returned to find the drama club and the Mythics struggling to recover from their shoreside bender, the humans and Pokémon laying on the sand in various states of intoxication. The less wasted among the group had managed to call their parents for a pickup, and before long, headlights of parking cars cut through the night, the various mothers and fathers trudging down the sand to take their drunk kids home.

Jim helped a snoozing Kendra into her parent’s car. He was a little less coordinated from his prior romps with Cassidy, but at least he could stand, unlike the Typhlosion. As the hours passed, the group slowly dwindled to a handful of people, Jim taking Cassidy’s hand into his own as he took a seat on his towel, settling in as he waited for his father's car.

“What happened to you two?” Isaac asked, one of the last few of the group still waiting around. “You go for a swim or something? You’re all wet.”

“In more ways than one,” Jim mumbled, chuckling when Cassidy play-punched him on the arm. Isaac looked between the two, frowning as the cogs in his head turned. If he had any suspicions, he kept them to himself.

Before long, another car pulled up to the lot, Cassidy climbing to her feet when she recognised the licence plate. “That’s me,” she said, leaning down and grabbing Jim’s face in her hands, pulling him in for a kiss, Jim meeting it eagerly. She held him there for a few moments, then released him. “Call me later?”

“You bet,” he said, watching her butt jiggle in her swimsuit as she turned around. Her pudgy tail caressed his cheek as she walked away, the Garchomp rolling her hips as she felt his eyes on her.

When she was out of earshot, Isaac leaned over. “You two fucked, didn’t you?”

Jim didn’t answer, watching the oversized Pokémon car reverse away, a stoic expression on his face as he refused to give Isaac any reaction.

“Did you fuck her? Jim? Jim if you don’t answer that means you did. Jim come on, pleeeeeease-!”

“Alright!” Jim said, throwing up his hands. “We did. There, you happy?”

“Very. Jimmy tapped that derg ass. Proud of you, dude.” He leaned closer, looking around as though afraid of being overheard, bringing his voice down to a low murmur. “Well? Come on, what was it like?”

“I’m not telling you!” Jim replied. “What happened on that boat stays on that boat.”

“The what? Oh, you stole one of those skiffs from that sailor guy, didn’t you? Taught her how to rock the boat, huh?” Isaac chuckled. “At least give me something, man, I’ve never been with a derg before.”

“You’ve never been with anyone,” Jim shot back. “but fine, I’ll tell you one thing, Garchomp’s aren’t happy with just the one round.”

“No shit? How many times did you go at it?”

Jim turned his eyes up in thought, Isaac nudging him as he started mentally counting. “You dirty dog, Jim, it must have been a lot since you were gone for hours. Looks like you made it, my friend.” He put an arm over Jim’s shoulders, waving a dramatic arm in the direction Cassidy had gone. “It’s all downhill from here, though, get her on her back as much as you can, that’s my advice.”

“Dickhead,” Jim pushed his arm away. “How did things go with you and Sasha?” he asked.

“Very well!” Isaac squeaked in reply. Jim smirked at him, and his friend’s mood soured. “Okay I’m lying. No matter how much I came onto her, she just wouldn’t stick.”

“Maybe you should be taking my advice,” Jim said.

“Screw you, she’s got her eyes on you, Jim, if you weren’t around I might have had a shot.”

“But I was gone for hours, just like you said.”

Isaac grumbled something under his breath, adjusting himself on the sand as he folded his arms. “You’re caught between a dom and a scaley place, Jim. Even I’m not sure whether to be jealous or not. I’d tell you to play them both, but I’ve never tried entertaining two Poképussies.”

“Or one, either,” Jim added. “Cass has got nothing to worry about.”

“Don’t be such a simp, man.” Isaac said, drawing random lines in the sand. “You realise what Salazzle’s can do in the sack, right? It’s hard enough just trying to picture the possibilities.”

“I don’t need to picture anymore,” Jim replied. “You’d understand if you were in my shoes.”

“Maybe I would,” Isaac relented, visibly deflating. Another car rolled into the parking space above them, the two squinting into the glare of the headlights. “Maybe I would…”

2

The drama club continued to work through its big production, with rehearsals changing to three or four times a week. Even though Jim had other commitments, using his head during the last match had given him enough free time to be there for the club, and any extra moment spent in Cassidy’s presence stirred something in his chest. He didn’t have to be awkward and tactful around her anymore, they’d shown a new side of themselves that night on the boat. It had been so long since he’d expressed himself in that kind of way to another, and it felt even better after the heartbreak of his last relationship, as if he was rekindling some lost flame inside him. Lara had said one last, horrible thing to him before she’d left, and even though it might have been nothing more than words meant to sting, he was starting to worry he might ever find someone he could be so close to.

Kendra kept his critical eye handy as she assigned each member to a role, from main characters to one-tricks. It couldn’t be avoided given the scope of their final play, but everyone seemed happy to chip in, and those with less experience were glad to give the spotlight to those who wanted it, like Sasha or Amelia. He helped Kendra mark their deliveries and correct any mistakes in the manuscript, the ideas slowly transitioning into a coherent plotline as they started practicing.

There was one moment of surprise worth recalling throughout the production’s early days. The club was all clustered around the stage, going over their lines for the next scene, when the doors to the hall suddenly swung open.

“We’re in session,” Kendra snapped, turning to the entrance. “we don’t need interruptions when… we’re… doing… P-Principal Clark?”

The Typhlosion’s snarl melded into a grin, the principal giving off an air of authority even she couldn’t ignore. The whole club stood like a gaggle of army recruits being called to attention, aside from Sasha, who just rolled her eyes at the scene. Given that the principal had the final say in the fate of this club, Jim wasn’t surprised to see them act so sheepish.

“Good evening, class,” the principal began, waiting as the club chorused their own greetings. It was like being in kindergarten again. “How are things coming along, Miss Ayers?”

“Th-They’re coming along great!” Kendra replied with a conspicuous gulp. “Would you like to take a seat and watch? We were just practicing.”

“I wouldn’t want to intrude, plus that would spoil the play if I knew details beforehand.” Some professors liked to watch the students work from the shadows, saying things like just pretend I'm not here, but at least the principal was aware enough that his presence would only make the club nervous. “I just came to relay some news concerning your play.”

“There’s nothing wrong, is there?” Kendra asked. Jim had seen her act this way around the principal before, but seeing the surly Pokémon this concerned was weirdly satisfying. She wasn’t always an ass.

“That’s for you to decide. I just came from a meeting with the campus staff, and your play was one of our topics of discussion. Mrs. Felix brought up the fact that we did not have a firm date set for your performance yet, so we gave you one. November 25th, right at the end of term. Exams will be over, and the campus will be free of lectures. Perfect time to host events, don’t you think?”

“I, uhm, yes. Yes, it’s perfect! We’ll be ready by then!”

“Good. I expect great things from you all. This hall wasn’t cheap,” he added, turning to admire the vaulted ceiling and the luxurious seating arrangements. “Best of luck to you.”

The principal walked away, the club murmuring to each other when the doors shut behind him. “Alright alright everyone,” Kendra said, hushing the group. “We have a deadline now, so all the more reason we should get stuck into this script.”

“If I didn’t know any better,” Sasha began. “I would have thought he was threatening us just now.” When everyone just looked at her she went on. “Think about it. He picked the date without even consulting us, and it sounds oddly specific to mention the 25th.”

“What are you saying?” Jasmine asked. “November is months away, if he wanted to threaten us he could have said the play’s happening tomorrow.”

“It’s just an observation,” Sasha said, shrugging. Her aloofness seemed to worry the Sylveon, Kendra cutting in before more of her worries manifested.

“Who cares what the principal thinks?” Kendra asked. “I mean… we should care, but not about what he thinks of us! If he doubts our club, then we’re going to prove him wrong when November arrives, won’t we? Now if there are no more interruptions, we still have a few more pages to go over…”

But it seemed there were plenty more interruptions aside from the principal’s sudden visit. Just as they were resuming their lines, a loud, thumping sound echoed off the window on the northern wall, the impact shaking the trestle table lined up against it, one of the stacks of cups there tipping over as the sound repeated.

Bang~! –went the glass, the ground shaking as if someone had dropped a bowling ball. But Jim didn’t need to guess the source, the noise was oddly familiar…

“Those stupid boys and their handball!” Kendra muttered, throwing the manuscript she’d been holding to the floor. “I’m going to get the principal and-”

Jim was already moving, the club turning to watch as he jogged over, lifting one of the curtains and peering round the fabric to the outside, a scowl slowly forming on his face.

“Jim, wait!” Kendra called. “the door’s unlocked you don’t need to-”

Jim vaulted out of the window after opening it, his sneakers clicking against the pavement when he landed. Like the interior, the immediate area outside the hall had been refurbished, with the cracks in the cement filled in, and the sheet roofs repainted. The handball court from before had been cleaned over, but someone had taken to outlining a very crude, and uneven square on the concrete in the same spot, this time in yellow chalk.

And just like the last time, a group of boys were standing around the court. Jim couldn’t remember their exact number, but it felt like there were more humans here, including a very mean-looking Haxorus, the dragon turning his red eyes on Jim, his throat warbling as he growled in a not-so-friendly greeting.

“Theatre boy’s back again!” the one holding the handball said. The ringleader smiled, but his rat-like complexion wasn't a friendly one. “How’s your gay little club going?”

“Pretty good,” Jim replied, gesturing at him. “Got your ball back, I see.”

“Yeah, you threw it pretty fucking far, but my friend here thinks he can throw you further.”

He nodded to the Haxorus, the Pokémon stepping forward. He stood at least a head taller than Jim, maybe two, his horns coloured a blazing red, shaped like two edges of a battle-axe. His muscles flexed beneath his yellow shell, it looked like he could chuck Jim like a human javelin if he wanted to.

“I throw your ball and you sick a dragon on me?” Jim asked. “That’s a little extreme.”

“You’s did more than that!” another boy said, and Jim recognised him. It was Acne, one of the guys who’d been bullying Edwardo. And now Jim saw the resemblance, Acne must be the ringleader’s brother or something.

“Ah, you again,” Jim said in greeting. “Where’s your friend? The one my girl kicked so hard his sack went up into his intestines?”

“Fucking bitch got’s him good,” Acne snarled, folding his arms. “He won’t even go near here, pussy’s afraid of the stupid dragon bitch.”

“At least he learned his lesson,” Jim said, he put his hands on his hips, looking between each boy as they made a circle around them. “Well guys, I’ll make this simple. Take your ball somewhere else, and I won’t have to chuck it over that fence again.”

The one with the handball tossed his ball up and down in one hand. “Not this time, dickwad. How about you stay on that side of the window, and I won’t tell Barbus here to punch you in the brain? Ba dum tss.”

It didn’t look like many of the group would stand back and watch this time, and Jim didn’t think he could take on a Haxorus as well as Acne, not with his injury head, the young man hesitating as he weighed his options.

He heard something behind him, Jim turning to expect one of the boys was trying to get on his rear, but instead, he saw Cassidy poking her snout through the window. Taking a page out of Jim’s book, she jumped through the frame, landing with a thump as she joined him by his side. The door to the left of the window slid open a second later, Kendra, Sasha, and most of the drama club filing out into the open, Jim feeling a surge of confidence swell through his chest as they formed up beside him. The space here was too small for everyone, the rest of the club peering through the window to watch.

“You want to punch my boy’s brain?” Cassidy asked, the Garchomp on Jim’s left. She pointed a claw at Acne. “Go ahead, just try it. I'll squash your sack just like the other guy!”

“Look at these bitches,” the handballer scoffed. “you girls couldn’t fight shit. Come on, Barbus.”

Although the Haxorus stood taller than any of the Pokémon present, even Bernard’s shell didn’t quite reach his tall horns, the yellow dragon looked hesitant, glancing between Acne and the handballing humans for support. For a moment the two groups silently stared each other down.

“What are you all waiting for?” the one with the handball asked. “Jack, fucking do something.”

Acne, or Jack as he was apparently called, looked down at his sibling, then back to Jim. “You heard him, clear off, we’s trying to play a game here.”

“Don’t talk with them,” the ringleader scolded. Sighing, he turned to the Haxorus. “Barbus you ain’t a bitch. I’ve seen you take on three Blastoise, these girls ain’t shit to you.”

For a tense moment, everyone was quiet as the dragon made up his mind, Jim’s heart racing as Barbus took a step forward, pounding a fist into a palm. “You know who you’re messing with, right?” Jim asked, the Haxorus pausing as Jim addressed him. “You must have heard about the guy who took down the Charizard during the last home match? Well, that guy is me! So unless you want to be my second dragon slaying, you’ll walk.”

Jim liked to think he wasn’t bluffing, but he was, his concussion lingered in his head like a sneeze that wouldn’t come out no matter how much it was forced. His friends were here, however, and that sent a fresh surge of confidence through him, inspiring him just enough that he could hold the Haxorus’ gaze for a few tense moments.

The dragon made up his mind, looking between Jim and the Pokemon around him, and then turning around. With that, the tension bled away, the handballer’s watching as the yellow dragon stalked away. They lingered before following, Acne and his brother the last ones to give up.

“You’re such pussies!” the ringleader called, Acne shrugging as he too walked away. Now it was just him and his handball, and he didn’t even have enough in him to say some last insult before following after.

“Wait just one second,” Kendra said, the ringleader looking over his shoulder as he stopped. She held out her hand expectantly. “Your ball. Now.”

He chucked it like he was throwing a roll of toilet paper at an adversary’s house, which Jim wouldn’t be surprised if that was something he’d done before. He aimed for Kendra’s face, but she caught it one-handed, grinning as the ringleader's footsteps faded as he left.

She turned the ball over in her palm, everyone watching as she bent over and placed it on the ground. She straightened up, wiped her hands, and then raised a clawed foot, her knee coming to her chest. She brought her leg down hard, ending the poor ball's life beneath her lowering heel. It popped like the Death Star, strips of rubber exploding in a perfect ring from the point of impact, one last Bmp~!  –sound marking the end of the ball’s existence.

“You don’t know how LONG I’ve wanted to do that!” Kendra said, turning to Jim and releasing a satisfied sigh. She was so giddy it was almost uncomfortable, Jim leaning away as she smiled at him. She hopped on the spot, leering like she wanted to hug him but was keeping herself in check.

The drama club put their hands and voices together in a cheer, knowing they wouldn’t have to worry about handballs anymore, patting each other on the back as the handball menace was finally over.

“You can be very… assertive sometimes,” Cassidy remarked as the club slowly filed back inside, the Garchomp looking at him covetously. “I've never seen someone talk a dragon down before. That Barbus looked ready to rip your head off.”

“I nearly crapped my undies,” Jim said, Cassidy snorting at the admittance. “but with all you guys here, it made it easier.”

“You’ve given them a lot of confidence,” she said, gesturing at the departing group. “you showed them their problems won't just go away. You jumping out that window inspired them to act, and you’ve earned their trust. They have your back, including Kendra.”

“They don’t need me,” he said, feeling his chest swirl as he watched the Pokémon chat and laugh. “They’ve got talent, and they don’t need some jock to come in and show them how to act or look tough.”

“Maybe not anymore,” Cassidy said. “but they just needed a push, and you provided.”

Jim wouldn’t have put it that way, but he was just glad they wouldn’t take any more shit if any would-be handballers came looking around for a court.

“Cass?” he said.

“Yes?”

“You wanna hang out tomorrow? Dad’s making a mean roast if you want to have dinner.”

“At your place?” Cassidy asked, her eyes darting up and to the left when he nodded. “I… don’t think I can make that.”

“Oh?” he said, chewing his lip. “I think my dad’s been wanting an introduction for a while now.” Was that too presumptuous? They’d already made love, surely dinner with a parent would be a step down.

She saw his confusion, her demeanour shifting. “No, I mean, dinner sounds nice. But, how about you come over to my house? I’m not good with meeting the in-laws,” she added, as if she needed to explain herself to him.

“In-laws?” he said, smirking. “Planning ahead a little, aren’t you?”

“Wait no I didn’t– you know what I mean,” she chuckled. “My parents want to meet you as well. Tell you what, we’ll take it in turns.”

“Yeah, okay,” he replied. He wasn’t sure what had gotten into her, but maybe she’d had a bad history with her previous boyfriend’s parents, but it felt rude to ask her about it.

They agreed to a time, then rejoined the club inside (using the door and not the window), Jim contemplating whether to buy some new clothes this afternoon. If there was ever a time to make a good impression, it would be with Cassidy’s parents.