Chương 3: 3-Storytime

No matter how hard Tanya tries to integrate seamlessly into her new life, there will always be… bumps, tiny bits of cultural mismatch that only serve to slow things down. It was true in Germania, and it's even more true now because for all the upsides to her new species –and there are plenty – there's a near equal number of things that take a bit to get used to. Pausing for a moment, she inspects the fleck of 'pokechow.'

Things like eating dried brown kibbles –that look exactly like dog food– from a plastic bowl, on the floor, without utensils. After a moment Tanya shrugs and tosses the little brown triangle into her mouth. It was slightly humiliating at first, but seeing the caretakers doing the same thing made it clear it's normal, thus slightly more palatable. It also doesn't hurt that the kibbles are both delicious and seemingly infinite.

With a taste like slightly umami potato chips that leave one feeling full and satisfied instead of a greasy slob and just as hungry as when they started. Blinking as she feels around the plastic dish, Tanya glances down and finds that she's finished her second bowl, yet finds herself wanting more.

"Oh no!" Giggles her conversation partner.

"Well if you're still hungry we can share mine?" Tanya waves off Caretaker, the Chansey in a purple nurses hat, and picks up her own bowl.

"Thank you Caretaker, but I'll get another bowl. I'm still hungry." She says with a tinge of embarrassment. Because, despite eating significantly more than her batchmates, Tanya finds herself constantly hungry. Her appetite is unusual enough that she'd gotten bloodwork taken to ensure she's not deficient in some nutrient. Thankfully the test came back showing no issues meaning she's just, 'a real hungry girl!' as Matron puts it. Caretaker smiles and pats her charge on the head.

"Well no hurry! I'm not going anywhere, so we can keep talking when you get back." She says, before tossing back a handful of pellets from her own bowl. Rising to her feet with a nod, Tanya walks over to the line that's naturally formed around the Matron and her big plastic tub of pokechow. Idly, she considers that here is the best possible place to have this eating… issue.

Contrasted against the extremely regimented mealtimes and food rationing at the orphanage; here, no matter the time of day, all she has to do is get a caretaker's attention and within a minute there's food. Be it pokechow, some kind of quite frankly massive berry, even sometimes a pastry, there's always something. At the thought her stomach growls and the former soldier makes a note to see about increasing her exercise routine again to offset the calories from her increasingly absurd food intake.

However, as she enters the back of the line, she realizes exactly who she's standing behind. With a sinking feeling Tanya hopes against hope her batchmate doesn't notice her presence. She finds herself disappointed as she hears the Happiny give a chirrup and turn towards her with a wide smile. The batchmate that's now looking at her is around three centimeters shorter and two shades darker red. A particular shade the former soldier has learned to fear. She takes a step closer.

"Hey! We're playing Ditto Says! Wanna join?" Happiny cheers, pointing to a group of regulars who are all staring intently at the current 'Ditto.' Tanya gives a considering hum, however internally there's only exasperation for her earnest expression. This girl's obsessed with organizing games. She's not even that interested in playing them, seemingly more enjoying the process of getting everyone together and agreeing on one.

That aspect Tanya has no problem with, in fact she respects that love of organization and management. The issue is, somehow, she's gotten it into her head that Tanya needs to be included in every game and she can only pretend to enjoy children's games so many times before patience wears thin. Thankfully, the former soldier's got an excuse this time.

"Sorry, I can't. I'm talking with Caretaker right now." She apologizes. Happiny blinks, glancing at Caretaker.

"Oh…" She says, poorly hiding her disappointment. At the sight Tanya feels… something. But before she can get a grasp of it, her s- batchmate perks up again.

"Ok! Later then!" Tanya nods with an internal sigh. Reaching the front of the line, she holds out her bowl and Matron fills it with a smile, then gives her half a scoop extra before she can take the dish away. Nodding her thanks, Tanya makes her way back to Caretaker so she can continue their conversation. As she approaches Caretaker gives a smile and beckons her closer. After the fight in the yard Tanya noticed something she'd never expected to see again. Magic.

Specifically a form of healing magic that, according to Caretaker, all 'pokemon' of her line are born with. With such an ability it's completely logical that a Happiny's career path, once they 'evolve' into a Chansey, is to become a nurse! It's not the only magic they have, but the ability to heal comes naturally to their species. The other uses of mana still must be learned manually. As Tanya sits down she considers how useful it is to have a set of spells already implanted into a person from birth.

The thought conjuring the ridiculous idea of a mage orb somehow being part of the caster. It stops being funny after the idea turns to vision Schugel with a mage orb in one hand and a scalpel in the other.

"Sorry, where were we?" Tanya apologies with a shake of the head to dispel irrelevant images, placing the bowl on the floor. Caretaker had been incredibly accommodating for all her questions, which is only natural considering her job is to raise the next generation of nurses. She'd answered every 'why' and 'what' with endless patience and enthusiasm. It's a marvel Tanya's not seen any of her batchmates utilizing this invaluable resource, more their loss.

Of course, such questions naturally lead to questions on what exactly the duties of a nurse are. Then, as always, those answers lead to questions that flow back to the core of the society, the axiom on which the world itself spins. Capitalism.

"If you don't mind me asking, what's a nurse's salary like?" Tanya asks, justifying the slightly rude inquiry with Caretaker's assurance she can ask anything. The Chansey blinks, confused.

"Could you explain a little, dear?" She asks. Tanya mirrors the blink.

"... Money, how much do you get paid for your work?" She asks, equally confused, before a horrifying thought begins to encroach. They couldn't be paid… hourly? Could they? Tanya shudders. Unaware of her thoughts, Caretaker's face lights up in realization.

"Oh! Money!" She chirps, "Me and my partner work together, so we share our money." Tanya looks at her uncomprehendingly.

"But what do you get on your paycheck? Separately." She presses, food forgotten. Caretaker pauses for a moment, thinking.

"I'm… not sure." She muses, "I don't really think about it, my partner handles our money mostly." There's another pause as she wobbles side to side, crunching on some kibbles as she thinks.

"I'm… pretty sure we make more than nurses without a partner, but I don't know if I get my own paycheck." She hums before looking over with a smile.

"That's a good question! I'll have to get back to you on that!" The capitalist stares. Not sure? How can she be ' not sure?'

"Ok." She says with a breath, trying to find something familiar in this madness.

"Say you want to buy something with the money you earned? How would you do that?" Caretaker's smile widens as she's back on familiar ground. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"Well I just tell my partner and, if we have enough, we'll buy it!" She lectures, "I actually just got-""But what if you want something and your 'partner' says no, even if you have enough?" Tanya demands, cutting her off. The idea has Caretaker looking completely baffled, as if the thought has never crossed her mind. She taps her lips, tilting her head in consideration. Realizing she's staring, Tanya drops her gaze and forces herself to eat her food while she waits for a response.

After a few seconds Caretaker gives a humming shrug.

"I guess I'd ask why." She says consideringly.

"She wouldn't do that without a good reason."

"But what if-" Tanya starts but is interrupted by Matron calling across the room.

"Alright everyone! Storytime!" She shouts as she steps back into the playpen, having put away the tub of pokechow. At her words every conversation stops dead, replaced by the patter of feet rushing towards the storytime corner. The fact that storytime is always right before naptime means it's also where the pillows, blankets, and all other soft things have gathered. Tanya trails behind the mob of siste- batchmates. Coming to a stop at an empty spot on the periphery of where they're congregating.

As she sits down, she watches everyone else gently jostle for a position closest to Matron. She watches the caretakers gently herd a few stragglers and help settle the developing Happiny mosh pit, and as she does, the former soldier considers the career she's been born into. She'd never considered nursing before, ever, in any life.

Caretaker was insistent that it's not the only viable career path, but Tanya's no fool, from what she can tell this entire facility is designed as a pipeline to raise Happiny into Chansey, then nurses. There has never been a single point where she'd considered nursing as a viable career path. But now she's faced with not just the option, but the expectation to play that role. Tanya knows Caretaker wouldn't lie to her about it being a choice, but to push against the current like that would no doubt be… difficult.

Even if it's technically possible they invested no small amount of time and effort caring for her, they'll expect a return on investment. But… Tanya watches Matron settle in front of a crowd of eager eyes as the caretakers gather up the discarded bowls from mealtime. She finds that she's not against the idea. As long as she figures out what's going on with this payment nonsense.

Either she's doing it without a 'partner' –whatever that really means– or she's forming an actual employment contract with whoever that person may be. Caretaker might be lax enough to trust some random person with her finances, but Tanya holds herself to a higher standard. As she's thinking, a siste- batchmate ignores Tanya's personal space and sits down right next to her, close enough to be almost touching. The act evokes a small exasperated sigh as Matron speaks up.

"Well!" She cheers with a clap.

"Now that we're all settled in. Any suggestions?" She says and pretends to be blown back by the cacophony of responses, laughing at their enthusiasm.

"Goodness! You do!" She giggles, lifting a blanket and rummaging around.

"But I think I heard…" She holds up a book with a beautifully rendered drawing of a pidgey rubbing his head against a grumpy looking spearow's neck.

"The Pidgey and the Spearow!" She proclaims over her audience's cheers. Opening the picture book to its first page, Tanya settles in as the story begins. It's not complicated as children's tales go. Opening with a pidgey finding an injured spearow in the forest, but when he tries to help the spearow is, 'nasty and mean' as Matron puts it. Despite accepting the help, the injured bird would always yell and peck, too proud thus proclaiming he doesn't need the pity.

But the third time the pidgey arrives, the spearow actually lands a hit, scratching the helpful pokemon's offered talon. The injury finally makes the pidgey snap, stand up for himself, and shout at the now cowering spearow that, 'If he doesn't want help, just say so, and if he does to stop being so mean.' Giving a slow blink as she glances around, Tanya has to commend Matron's storytelling skills.

The Chansey turning the simple story into a play in pantomime, drawing the total attention of every single Happiny in the audience. Even Tanya found herself drawn into the narrative, despite having heard this story at least five times already. What drew Tanya out is the feeling of another sister settling down next to her, using the former soldier's shoulder as a pillow. Glancing down, she gives another sigh and lets her attention drift back to the story.

She'd missed a page or two, but remembers how it goes, so soon enough she's caught back up. After the kind pidgey's outburst, the spearow realizes how rude he's being and apologizes. Afterward, every time the kind pidgey comes to help, the spearow just grumbles and accepts without struggle. As he heals they learn more and more about each other until, when he's better and the 'mon stretches his wings in preparation for his first flight, he pauses.

Then, after a moment, he looks around to make sure they're alone, leans in, and says thank you before flying away. Matron lingers on that last image of the spearow soaring into a beautify drawn sunset. Giving a small epilogue about about how they became close friends for the rest of their days, and with that she closes the book just as the lights in the room dim to match. Blinking slowly, Tanya watches Matron put the book back underneath the blanket and step over the walls of the playpen.

As she does, Tanya ponders, with a yawn, how… unusual that moral is compared to any children's tale she'd heard before hatching here. A strangeness that's not unique to this story. Because every single one assumes, from the outset, that kindness and helping others without the offer of a reward is the default. Not just expected, but like the very idea was never called into question. The things that the stories are actually trying to teach seem to be more on exceptions to that rule.

The Pidgey who should stand up for himself. The Skitty that has to stop sharing his berries lest he have none. The curious Happiny who shouldn't push her strange new friend's boundaries and, like in the case of the mimikyu, sometimes friends have secrets for good reasons. It's strange, but not surprising. Considering exactly how… soft hearted, her sisters are. It makes a certain amount of sense that those traits are species wide and not unique to them.

Glancing around with another yawn Tanya notes, to her surprise, that she's completely surrounded. Moving her head as much as she can, she sees she's completely engulfed in a pile of sisters, ranging in wakefulness from slow blinks and tired chirrups to completely dead to the world. In the days since the fight with the torchic, her sisters have treated her… differently. Right now is a perfect example of how despite the fact that verbalizing it remains elusive.

Because this isn't unique, every time she sits down she can expect someone to be beside her in under a minute, leaning up against her without a word. Where their games of share used to end with neither party holding any more toys than when she started, sometimes now she has trouble standing with all the gifts, and whenever Tanya turns around there's always someone standing a few steps away. Not looking at her, just there. And none of her sisters have articulated anything even remotely close to a reason why.

Tanya's assured them repeatedly that she's uninjured after their caretaker's healing magic, yet they continue to behave… oddly. She doesn't get it. Recognizing there's no way she's getting out of the nap pile, Tanya sighs and wiggles a bit to snuggle in before closing her eyes.