Nibble was busily preparing the freshly caught food. Today? Goldeen, Finneon, Krabby, Squirtle, and some Octillery for good measure. The latter two were rare catches! Business would be nice today, there were always customers who sought to try the rarer species. It was sometimes messy business, and sometimes Nibble had to call Anana in to negotiate with families of lost children. That was the way of things, and it was his life. It was too good of a business not to keep running, so run it he would. Someone would fill his place if he left it, besides. So why not? Wanted to eat meat? Wanted to do it in a place where you wouldn’t be held accountable for the lives lost? Well, Nibble’s sushi shack was for you!

It didn’t fit a lot of tastes (nor many wallets), but the Bay was known for attracting Pokemon with money to spare. That was good for Nibble. It was just fine. It seemed foreign and exotic. And it was! Nibble wasn’t from the bay, but he had picked up the strange dialect early on. Sometimes, he knew his phrasing was awkward and off. The funny glances and the blank pauses before responses always told him he’d mixed up the placement of a word or misused it entirely. He might not ever totally understand the slang on this coast, but it was all right. He would keep on keeping on, and he would make the best sushi he could.

A crack as his strong horns broke open another Krabby shell, emptying the contents of its innards onto a platter. Perfect!

The restaurant’s door jingled, and Nibble stood up from behind the counter to make sure it was the correct customer. So it was! The ascot-clad Persian who’d rented the place for an hour and a half. But.. he didn’t seem to have a party with him. It was only a single... another Kecleon? Nibble double checked just to make sure it wasn’t Anana. The lizard’s poor, dim scales should have said all, but it never hurt to avoid making a nasty mistake.

Nibble spoke up as soon as Twigs neared. “What do you like now?” he asked. Naturally, he also flashed his best smile. It might have been endearing, but any of his actual smiles brought about a smile from his horns, as well. On a Mawile, smiles like that only ended up unnerving most of his customers.

Not today! It looked like neither of them were fazed. That was good. (It’s not like he had to worry about losing business, for the sum Nibble received to close the shop for the Persian’s party was more than the chef usually made in a week. Still, it was nice to not disturb others.)

“What are your catches today?” Twigs asked. He took a seat at the bar and crossed his arms. The Kecleon slowly followed suit, head drooping and tail dragging. Twigs closed his eyes and immersed himself in the task of giving himself a miniature bath as he waited on Nibble’s response, starting with his paws. Nibble did find this a bit rude, but...

“Well, today is good day. Very good day! Octillery. You like. Maybe you want some of Squirtle, too?” Nibble was fine giving his good catches to this wealthy couple. He wouldn’t be out any money for it, so why not? Maybe it’d become an extravagant habit on the Persian’s behalf and this summer Nibble would be able to afford a nicer place. What a dream!

Twigs paused mid-groom, opened a single eye (he could not afford to open the second, apparently, for he might lose his interest in self-bathing), and nodded. Then, the bath was resumed. Well, that was that. Now what about the other?

Nibble turned to his left and locked eyes with the Kecleon. “And you?”

“I’m not really in the mood for rubbery stuff. What else do you have?” she asked. Nibble was briefly surprised to hear the voice of a flustered, tired young lady instead of that of a defeated old man. Interesting.

“I have Krabby, Keikouo, Tosakinto.”

She perked up a little and then looked confused. Nibble realized his mistake only after he’d spoken, ah...

“Excuse me,” he said, “ I mean to say Krab, Finneon, and... er, orange fish with white. Horn.” A little bit of flush worked its way into his face. How embarrassing, he didn’t usually mess up species names like that! He could usually at least recall them almost immediately after any blunders! He pantomimed the horn and made a fluttery motion with his arms... ugh!

Twigs kept grooming himself, unamused. The pressure Nibble felt from the fussy cat... it was almost unbearable, but then he looked back to the other, the lady in the old shell. She was about to laugh! It was enough for poor Nibble, too much. He ran into the back room, hoping to compose himself as well as fetch the forgotten fish in question.

====

Part 8 of "The Dates"


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