From: Adrian Tymes (wingcat@pacbell.net)
Subject: [PW!] Shopping At Jay's
Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon
Date: 2003-11-30 23:26:03 PST
William Rendfeld wrote:
> [OOC: I concur. I just hope my writer's hunch was right on this. If not, feel
> free to change this as you will.]
[NS: No, you were right.]
> [More OOC: Alex's secrets are beginning to surface, a slight nudge sooner than
> I'd planned. Adrian, if you have something big planned, please send me a line.
> Not to be rude or anything, but I kinda like knowing about a few things in
> advance.]
[NS: No prob. Nothing planned until the first round, and unless Alex is
planning to leap into someone else's match...]
Chet Weaver - Burn Up and Go! wrote:
> "See ya," Alex said as they parted ways. Once they were out of earshot, she
> added, "That was close. I thought your cover would've been blown for a moment
> there. How did you know what to say? Did you use that mind trick again?"
>
> "In all likelyhood, he was here for the conference," Dee explained. "Other than
> that, I just gave him ambiguous answers and changed the subject. Nothing big."
>
> "It looks as if you might have some questions for your daughter once you find
> her."
>
> "Indeed."
"But for now...let us shop."
---
"Haa-ay! Welcome to Jay's Super Discount Megamall," a bubbly blonde
bombshell in businesswear beamed. "If you want it, we can put it on
sale!"
Alex and 'Aerie' sweatdropped in unison, while Alex's shoulder-mounted
feathered friend looked around. "Who is this 'we'? I only see you."
"Umm...aheh, that is..." The saleswoman sweatdropped back. "I'm kinda
still trying to get in contact with my sisters. It's just me, for now."
"Two lost families in one night," Alex muttered just loud enough to be
heard.
"Well...they're not really *lost*...I supposed that'd be true, actually,
come to think of it, but I've never actually met them. I'm just sure
they exist."
'Aerie' narrowed her eyes. "How do you know?"
"Well...you know how there's a bunch of Nurse Jennys and Officer Joys?"
"Other way around," Alex corrected.
"Right, right. Aaanyway, I'm *sure* there are a bunch of Jays all
around running shops just like mine! Why, I'm sure you'll find one or
more of us in those big department stores I've always heard about. I
mean, it's always been *my* dream to run one, get rich from helping
others, and live a life of luxury, ever since I helped out part-time at
the local PokeMart. So I'm sure it's my sisters' dream, too!" All this
time, Jay's eyes had not budged from their up-turned smiles, often
associated with extreme happiness or desparation.
"Which explains why this store is standing where the PokeMart was
yesterday," 'Aerie' confirmed. "And why the merchandise is about what
you'd find at a PokeMart."
"Uhh...right, yep, that's true. But I've branched out! I've got
*clothes* for sale!"
'Aerie', Alex, ShadowWarrior, and Surtur all cocked their heads in
confusion.
"It's the latest thing! We've all heard how practical it is to travel
around in the same, boring, dull clothes all the time, with maybe a
change or two in case what we're wearing gets stained or torn. But
these pack so tightly you almost won't know they're there, and they let
you be fashionable, fantastic..." One of Jay's eyes finally opened,
while the other straightened into a conspiratorial wink. "Dazzle your
opponents in battle so they can't command their pokemon well."
"Well...I dunno." Alex looked towards the clothes.
'Aerie' nodded. "Sounds a little dishonest to me. Shouldn't pokemon
battling be about pokemon battling, not how well you dress?"
Jay collapsed to her knees, clasped her hands, and turned on the
waterworks. "PLEEEEASE! At least try some on! I haven't had any
customers all night! They only want to know where the *PokeMart* is!
I...I couldn't stand the thought of being trapped in a dead-end job
like PokeMart franchise operator all my life, but I have to have
customers or I'll go bankrupt! Please, buy something! Anything!"
"Well..." 'Aerie' plucked an ultra ball from a rack. "I *am* going to
need a spare tomorrow. How much?"
The saleswoman's eyes opened in blissful shock for just a moment, before
she dove behind her cash register. "Twelve million!"
"Ahh, right. Nevermind." 'Aerie' started to replace the ball.
"Did I say twelve million? I mean twelve hundred! No, SIX hundred!"
"That's more like it." The requisite cash soon appeared in her hand,
and was laid on the counter just as fast.
"Thank you for shopping at Ja-ay's." Jay tapped a few keys, put the
currency in the register, and pumped the air. "Yeees! The first sale
of Jay's Super Discount Megamall! Look out, shopping malls everywhere,
JAY'S WILL MEAN SHOPPING, AND SHOPPING WILL MEAN JAY'S! Someday."
Alex, by this time, had pulled a couple of outfits - ones which looked
like they might de-emphasize her chest, and help bring peoples'
attention above her neck - from the small stack of boxes next to the
potions. "I'll go try these on. Where's the changing room?"
"Oh! That's what I need to add, a changing room. Umm...why don't you
use the restroom for now? I cleaned it this morning just after I
changed the sign, and no one's been in there since."
TBC?