#konin took my energy for awhile and wouldn't give it back

[phonypizza]

It's not boiling. But the pot is full, and he's stuck under Red. Konin thrashes and thrashes and realizes he has to let go if he wants to get his head up above water. His hands release the slippery bastard and he pushes himself up with a heavy gasp, his eyes wide and wild before a coughing fit overtakes him. Konin's heart is hammering as he hacks and sputters and gags on the water he'd swallowed while shrieking his defiance.

... so, all in all, it wasn't very effective. Or cool.

Swoosh clenches his little paws as he watches his friend struggle to breathe. A flash of yellow and red rushes over the little otter's body as he brings all of his focus to a single point, energy surging through him. Swoosh used Focus Energy!

... he doesn't look very intimidating, even with his increased chance of a critical hit. A Pokémon that truly matches the vibe of his human...

No one wants to become one with the broth, anymore. Where was the respect for the unqualified head chef, and the delicate craft of Italian soups artistry he’d spent years failing to hone? Now LRYYBJ would drag Red into the pot, as if LRYYBJ knew anything about making a quality otter-spit soup!

One of Red’s hands tried to clamp around the rim of the pot to push himself back up, and the other would attempt to push LRYYBJ further inside of the pot; but, with Red's doughy limbs being thoroughly soaked as they were, his grip was not as powerful as he would have liked.

And to make matters worse? The water in the pot was cold! It would take forever to boil, and Red hadn't even started a fire, yet!

LRYYBJ wouldn’t be thrashing around so much if Red could bash him over the head with something. Like a tenderizing stick, or –

Right, he was supposed to be looking for that.

But he had faith in Creech. She would find some other way to prepare the other annoying pest for the other broth without it, and however she’d managed to dismantle the carcass would be fine. The little ankle-biters would not complain. There would surely be no issues!

This one, however. This one would be a problem.

What happened to that dough-coated rope he’d tossed aside a moment ago? That would've been useful…

Oh. Red had carelessly flung it all the way on the other side of the boulder/makeshift kitchen counter. He can’t reach it from here, and LRYBBJ refuses to accept his fate as a mediocre ingredient long enough for Red to fetch it! Great.