Gunpowder had already laid his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. Sleeping sounded like a very good idea. He could probably sleep forever, but reality would not permit him to do so. It didn’t feel like long before he had fallen asleep...

… and it felt like even less time had passed when he was woken up by the sound of the door opening. It was Otis, unsurprisingly, explaining to Gunpowder that they had arrived and that he should watch his step. Gunpowder paid no mind to such advice and promptly landed flat on his face, which his rat companion found most amusing.

The pair had barely exchanged words before Otis had departed for whatever his next destination may have been. Seemed a bit in a hurry. Gunpowder waved in thanks. Otis was a salesman, so perhaps he had somewhere to be. Deadlines seemed unusual to Gunpowder. He hoped this Devonshire fellow wasn’t a fan of them either. He hoped they got along well.

Gunpowder observed how quaint the village was. It was so much smaller than the bay, and the buildings had such unusual shapes. He didn’t know much of small towns. His home town and the bay were both rather large. It made finding the “shady, boarded up building” rather easy, however. It was merely a hop and a skip away.

At last, he stood in front of it, and it was then he realized his journey to Tao had finished. It seemed so much longer than it was. And the building in front of him looked far more sketchy than he had hoped. Was this really the place? he thought. He imagined all manners of terrible things befalling that rat in the event that it was bad advice.

Hopeless as it was, Gunpowder knocked on the door to the dilapidated building, genuinely expecting someone to answer. Not a soul. The only peep was the echo of his knock in the empty-sounding structure. It was starting to look more and more like Otis was just trying to avoid conversation about the subject and sent Gunpowder on a wild goose chase. That was when Gunpowder noticed someone coming around from the back.

“'hoy, the two of ya-- do ye know where at I can get a drink?” Gunpowder hollered. His rough and raspy voice quickly got the attention of the two Pokemon. One was a black and red fluffball, and the other was.. weird. Gunpowder didn't like his look very much. Looked lazy and a bit dense. So did Gunpowder, which he was and still is fully aware of, but he judged just the same.

He remembered that day quite well, in fact. It was one of the few things about his memory that wasn't foggy. It was, after all, the first day he met Devonshire. It was also the day he began to rack up the largest tab Spinda Cafe had ever seen, and to this day, it remains unpaid, save for a few coins here and there to avoid the guilt of debt.

Gunpowder had found Devonshire by harassing the staff at Spinda Cafe (which had also become a regular pastime of Gunpowder's), and then that fox and dog creature. They told him the entrance to Devonshire's elaborate cave system was in the back, covered by a rock. Gunpowder made short work of the cave system, as caves were his speciality. He thought he might even know the layout better than Devonshire, now.

As it turned out, that cute little fox was working for Devonshire and had just quit. Just as Otis had said, Devonshire offered him a job, no questions asked. Not just any job, though: a leader of this “Rogues guild.” Gunpowder hadn't known what a guild really was then, and he still didn't fully understand now. He was completely unfit for the job, but Devonshire was desperate, and so the two began their partnership.

Devonshire was very accommodating towards Gunpowder. If he needed anything – food, shelter, money – Devonshire would provide. It was a great deal for the two, since Devonshire had no need for material possessions, and Gunpowder didn't mind the work. In fact, he found it rather easy, at least at first.

Devonshire had Gunpowder taking on the more mundane tasks that he was incapable of doing, most of which involved leaving Tao due the ghost's inability to do so. Devonshire didn't care how Gunpowder accomplished these tasks, neither, and Gunpowder was quick to pick up some “mercenaries” to handle the especially simple things. Like cleaning his cave, or fetching him food, or massaging his back.. the sorts of things required to operate.

Those mercs were quick to join up with the Rogues. It seemed Gunpowder was more approachable than Devonshire. Not surprising, as most fear the dead. It was an efficient system: one handled recruitment, and the other handled jobs. The Rogues guild was Devonshire's right hand, and no one seemed to care. It seemed like Devonshire cared the least.

====

Part 10 of "Well of Memories" by
Prev:
Next: