Mark took the hat from Chad, putting it on just to get Chad to calm down. Chad clapped his ghostly hands, allowing Mark to scoot around him to get up. Having grown up with automatonophobia, he was terrified of dolls... and it didn't help that Chad looked like a ratty old canvas doll. His fear never bothered Chad though. After clapping, Chad scurried away under the bed to loop circles around the legs in his joy. Mark noticed Sean pouting on the bunk bed and moved closer to him. Sitting down on the master bed across from him, Mark removed the hat to set it on the bed. It didn't sound like Sean was crying but he certainly looked distressed. Reaching out, he tapped the side of Sean's knee, asking him nicely. "What's wrong?" Sean peeked between his fingers, muffling out dryly. "Nothing. I'm just feeling a little sick to my stomach." Mark rubbed his sore ribs, answering coolly. "Lovesick?" Sean stiffened, slowly lowering his hands from his face as he grumbled out defensively. "No..." Mark leaned back on his arms, spreading his legs a bit for comfort as he retorted. "Right. That's why you can't look at him without blushing. While he thinks that he traumatized you."

Sean looked at the bathroom door, asking him softly. "Why would he think that?" Mark rolled his eyes. He forgot how innocent some people were. Grinning, he told Sean bluntly. "Because you act like you are scared of him. He doesn't recognize the signs. But I do." Sean's eyes darted back to his, defensively mumbling out. "I don't know what you're talking about." Leaning forward slowly, Mark locked eyes with Sean's bright blue ones. Sean leaned back a little from him, prompting Mark to purr out smugly. "I think you do. You are a smart one, Mystic. So, what scares you more? The fact that you've protected your heart so well that it is painfully aching for affection again. Or does it scare you that he's a criminal... and that gives you a rush?" Sean shook his head but didn't look away or answer. Mark smirked, chuckling out lightly. "Both?" Sean's voice came out low and wispy as he said. "Stop teasing me." Mark shrugged, calmly replying. "I'm not teasing you. I just relate. I fell for a stalker, remember?" Sean rolled his eyes, grumbling out. "It's not the same... You never loved your stalker."

Mark bit his tongue for a second before telling him openly. "Did I say that?" Sean stared at him a little confused, before he nodded and retorted. "Yes. You said that you guys kissed and afterward he loved you, but you didn't." Mark shook his head, correcting him in a cool clear voice. "That's not what I said. I said he saw us as being in a relationship after we kissed. I didn't. I didn't say that I never loved him. You want the truth?" Sean nodded again, looking at him nervously. Mark took a deep breath, leaning back again before admitting honestly. "Truth is... I'm not that innocent. I was a wild kid. I'd lie and manipulate people around me to get what I wanted. I never wanted permanent relationships. I wanted to have fun. Live like a porn star. My older brother was the good kid. I took the risks. My parents were divorced. It was my way of rebelling against it, or dealing with it. Depending on who you ask. Point is, that night when I kissed Chad... I'd never kissed a guy before, and I was curious what it would be like. So... I slept with him."

Sean's jaw dropped a little. Mark chuckled, continuing on with a smile. "Doesn't end there. See... He saw us as in a relationship. I didn't because I told him that he was too nerdy. He was the boy next door type. He's the type you take home to meet your parents. I wanted a rebel. A free spirit. Someone that ignites a fire in your heart and is hell on wheels. So... Chad tried to be what he thought I wanted. For a bit it was cute as he tried. Then one night, he nailed it. He had completely changed. He actually had me considering him. Until he started threatening people around me. Be careful what you wish for, I guess." Mark looked away, inhaling slow and deep before adding softly. "I tell myself that I need a new type... but... nothing beats the rush of forbidden fruit." Sean shook his head, telling him seriously. "And guys like that are bad for your health. You turned him into a possessive stalker and mine was an abusive drunk. I'm not going down that road again. I'd settle for the boy next door... but they are all married by now. And I'm not going to get sick from eating forbidden fruit again!"

Mark shrugged, chuckling out as he leaned forward slowly to whisper back. "You already are. Whether you like it or not... You only have two options. Love again... Or crush your heart beyond repair. But a life without the ability to love anything or anyone, isn't worth living." They stared at each other for a long moment. Mark loved staring into his clear bright blue eyes. It reminded him of the ocean on a sunny summer day in Alola. It was strangely calming. From the other room, Zoey interjected out with a sly grin. "What about a boy next door that turned into a forbidden fruit?" They turned to look at her in unison, causing her to blush had shrink back behind the divider to mumble out playfully. "Just throwing that out there." Sean chuckled softly, drawing Mark's attention back to his face. Seeing Sean's split lip, Mark reached out to grab a tissue from the box on the nightstand. Bringing it to Sean's lip, he gently touched the tissue to the blood. Sean jerked a little, but Mark told him in a deep calm voice. "You're bleeding. Here." Sean cautiously took the tissue, putting it to his lip as he thanked him.

Licking his own lips, he told Sean nicely. "I don't think I ever thanked you for stepping in like you did. So, thank you." Sean smirked, mumbling out. "You're welcome." Mark put a hand on Sean's knee, watching Sean close his legs shyly. He opened his mouth to tell Sean something, until the bathroom door opened. Nate stepped out, skidding to a halt as he looked between them. Mark removed his hand from Sean's leg, chuckling out as he got up. "Wow. You look different." Nate raised an eyebrow, prompting Mark to add in nicely. "I meant that you look... approachable." Nate huffed, adjusting his shirt better over his clean cut black jeans. Slipping between them, Nate grabbed his shoes and leather jacket, asking them shortly. "Are we ready to go?" Mark got up to slip on his pokeball belt, calling out casually. "Chad, return." Chad dashed out from under the bed to hug his leg, then turned into red light as he returned to his ball. Nate finished putting on his jacket and belt, leading the way out with Zoey at his heels.

Mark followed them to the elevator, asking Nate curiously. "Why don't you put her away?" Zoey turned her head slowly to glare at him. Nate chuckled, leaning back against the wall of the elevator as he said coolly. "She'll go when she wants too." Sean used his bracelet to get the elevator moving. Since he was the only one that had bought the room, the elevator and room door would only work for Sean. Stepping out of the elevator, Nate pulled the brim of his pixel trainer hat down to cover his eyes. Together they went to wait in one of the lines in front of the front desk. Mark was the first to be called up. Walking up, he removed a pokeball tray and began to put his pokeballs on the six holders. The man behind the counter gestured to a scanner and asked his name. He scanned his bracelet to verify his Trainer ID as he told the man his name. The man checked the computer to make sure he matched his bracelet's ID, then asked him. "Healing? Or switching them out?" Mark told him they needed healing. The man typed a few things, then put a device over each ball to scan them.

After he scanned them, he listed off the pokemon he had. Mark nodded again and the guy told him happily. "Thank you very much. We will call your name when they have recovered." Mark watched the man put a plastic case over the tray with a painted number on it. After locking it, the man gave the tray to an approaching short round pink pokemon with an egg nestled in her stomach pouch. It was a Chansey with a nurse's hat on. Chansey happily took the tray, giving the man a bow before carefully waddling into the back room. Mark stepped aside, moving toward the Pokemon Café Center. The place was well lit and the large windows surrounding the sides were trickling with rain from the storm outside. The view of the dark ocean was still beautiful though. Walking down the steps, a bipedal pokemon of predominant blue and black color approached him. A single spike adorned the back of its hands as it raised its paw like hands to greet him with a gentlemanly bow. It was a Lucario in a custom designed tux. Without moving its mouth, Lucario asked him politely through telepathy. "Good evening, Sir. How many in your party?"

Mark held up three fingers and the Lucario asked him curiously. "Booth, Bar, or table seating?" Mark didn't feel like sitting on the stools or chairs. So, he answered clearly. "Booth seating will be fine." Lucario turned fluidly, taking three menus off a podium shelf before leading him toward an open booth seat. As they walked between tables, Lucario stepped around and over the other pokemon staff. Mark nearly tripped over a Bulbasaur that was serving tables with its vine whip abilities. Then again with a Munchlax that was eating the scraps left over at the tables before taking the plates back to the kitchen. He had just reached the seat, when an Eevee in a little sou chef hat dashed between his legs with a notepad in her mouth. She pawed at the man's leg in the booth seat behind his, until the man looked down and thanked her. Taking the notepad, he wrote down his order and handed it back to her. Taking it, she dashed off to a supervising woman. The woman read the note, then told the order to a Machoke behind the bar. The Machoke nodded, beginning to make the drinks.

Taking a seat, Lucario bowed to him, putting out the menus as told him happily. "Take your time. Any questions or you need special changes to your food or drinks, press that button there. It will signal your waiter to come over. Otherwise, you can order your meals and drinks on the tablet there. Enjoy." Mark turned his eyes to the little figure of a Charmander holding a tablet on a rotating platform that was scrolling through specials going on. Around the statues neck was a necklace that was designed like a red button. Tapping the screen, the tablet brought up categories. Pressing appetizers, he scrolled through a few items and smirked to himself. He hadn't been in a Pokemon Café in years, he'd forgotten how fun and cute it was. Pressing the tabs for Goldeen cheezie fries, mild Pidgey wings, and Blaziken spicy wings. Mark chuckled to himself. They weren't really made with pokemon, it was all for the cute astatic... or that was what his mother had told him. So, he chose to believe that.

By the time the others joined him, he was ordering drinks. He didn't know about them, but he wanted to have a little fun. Nate pushed Sean into the booth first, causing Sean to huddle up in the corner with a blush. Nate dropped into the seat, adjusting his jacket as he told him with a smirk. "I had forgotten how bright this place is. Gives a very cozy feeling." Nate shivered like it unsettled him, making Mark laugh as he asked them curiously. "Anything you feel like having to drink?" Nate leaned back, answering bluntly. "Anything stronger than non-alcoholic." Sean rolled his eyes, answering softly. "Just Koffing Coffee for me, thanks." Mark put in the orders, then turned the platform toward them to let them order their own food. Sean was the first to start putting in his order. Mark leaned back in the seat, looking around at the young trainers. Part of him was worried about where Pryce had gone off too. He didn't see him in here. Across from him, Nate stretched himself out more, saying under his breath. "This is the longest I've sat without people looking at me like a criminal."

Mark rolled his eyes, saying sarcastically in a playful voice. "Can't imagine why the big red 'R' might be unsettling." Nate kicked his foot under the table and Mark laughed. Nate adjusted his hat to cover his eyes as an officer walked by their table to leave the Café. Mark bit his lip, loving how the hat shrouded Nate's face in shadow. After they all had placed their orders, a human waitress came over balancing two trays of drinks. Stepping over the small pokemon dashing about and around her feet, she asked them all sweetly. "ID's please?" Beside her, a baby pokemon that Mark recognized as a Riolu, raised up a bracelet scanner. Riolu was Lucario's first form. Unlike the adult form, Riolu hadn't grown into its spikes yet and it stood no taller than a small child. They scanned their bracelets in turn as the woman told the little Riolu. "See? That blinking green light? That means they can drink. So, all you have to do is make sure that their picture matches their faces. Understand?" The little Riolu looked over the pictures, then shyly looked at them over the scanner with its big red eyes. The woman lowered the trays to let them unload them, apologizing with a smile. "Sorry. She wants to help like her dad... but she's still so shy around strangers." Mark helped her unload the trays, watching Riolu approach Nate. She looked over her device, then tried to lean in to peek under the brim of his hat. All Nate did was push his brim up slowly to look at her and she dashed behind the woman to hug her leg. The woman chuckled, putting the empty trays under her arm as she cooed out to the little Riolu. "He's not going to hurt you." Sean snorted, mumbling out just low enough that she didn't hear him. "Steal her more likely..."

Nate removed something from his leather pocket and held it out to Riolu, telling her in a smoothing voice. "Here. I'm sure you could smell them." Mark moved a little to see a Jigglypuff shaped cracker cookie. The Riolu held onto the woman's leg, but cautiously reached for the cracker. Taking it, Riolu shoved it into her mouth and dashed back behind the woman's leg to chew. The woman tapped her head with a finger, asking her like a mother. "Riley... What do we say to the nice trainer?" Mark didn't hear her answer, but Nate smiled and said sweetly as he leaned down to her level. "You're welcome." The woman coaxed Riley off back toward the kitchen, giggling as she eyed Nate with a blush. Mark's heart skipped watching Nate smile so brightly. The second Nate looked back at him though, his smile vanished, and he cleared his throat. Mark smiled at him, pushing a group of nine shots toward him. Nate lined up the shots in front of him, uttering out at their staring faces. "What? She reminded me of Zoey." Sean pulled his coffee closer in a pokeball mug. The mug had enough white foam that someone drew the skull and crossbones symbol in coco powder to match the symbol on Koffing's chest.

Mark pushed another set of nine shots to Sean, then set up three separate shots in the middle, grinning out. "Choose your poison." Sean shook his head, uttering out in warning. "Oh, no! I'm not much of a drinker." Mark rolled his eyes, muttering out playfully. "Neither am I. But we are all going to do this. Come on. Let's have a little fun." Nate cracked his knuckles and said aloud. "I'm game. I was always good at this game." Sean rolled his eyes, mumbling out embarrassed. "I don't get how to play." Mark pointed to the nine colored shots in front of all of them, telling him quickly. "Ok. These nine are Eevee shots. Eevee, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, and Sylveon. These three here are the starter jello shots. With me so far?" Sean shrugged.

Mark pointed to the starter shots, telling him slowly. "We each pick one of the starters. Then we pick an opponent and drink to counter these Eevee shots. So, If I drink fire. Nate or you will most likely drink water to counter me. Then you would drink something to attack me or Nate. We go until one of us gets sick or until we run out of ways to counter. If you can't counter the person's attack... you have to drink a 'Critical Hit.' Which is one of the three legendary bird shots." Mark gestured to three tall shot glasses with a picture of one of the Team birds on them. Taking a quick breath, Mark told them simply. "You take a 'critical hit' you are out. So, choose wisely. Normally, your legendary bird shot is based off of what starter shot you drink. Meaning; Squirtle gets Articuno. Charmander gets Moltres. And Bulbasaur gets Zapdos... but for the sake of being clever. We'll take the critical hit from the person's team that you can't counter. I'll be Zapdos. Sean, you can be Articuno. And Nate, you can be Moltres. Good? Got it?" Nate grinned wickedly, leaning into Sean to devilishly tease him. "And just so you know... You don't want to take a critical hit. Those shots are fucking brutal. They will knock you on your ass." Sean's eyes grew wide, upon asking them meekly. "And this is fun?"

Mark chuckled, answering excitedly. "Ya. It's a very popular drinking game. I played it at the academy all the time. Ready to start?" Nate reached out to grab the Squirtle jello shot called 'Bubble Beam.' Mark quickly reached out to snatch the Bulbasaur jello shot called 'Razor Leaf.' Nate gave him a sly grin. Mark tried to suppress his own. The one no one wanted to start with was Charmander's 'Flamethrower' jello shot. It burned like hell going down. Sean took the last shot, mumbling out. "I wanted Charmander anyway." They clinked glasses, then tossed back the shots. Nate and Mark got theirs down easy. Sean tossed his back and after swallowing with difficulty, he coughed loudly and snapped out in a dry voice. "Oh...! You assholes!" They all chuckled loudly, letting Sean go first as his eyes watered. Mark didn't have the heart to tell him how bad the Moltres shot would be. He just hoped this would open them up and allow them to knock down some walls. To Be Continued...