From: RobfromVoid <RobfromVoid@prodigy.net> Subject: [PW!] Last Minute Christmas Shopping Date: Sunday, December 26, 1999 8:52 PM "It's frrrreeeezing!" Robert crosses his arms over his chest, "How can it be so cold in Celadon during Christmas and so warm in Lavender at the same time of year? M-m-m-m-maybe it's the fog... Brrrrrrr!" Robert's teeth chatter as he walks down the snow-covered streets of Celadon City with his girlfriend. He is wearing his black shirt, zipped up to the top, blue jeans, and black sneakers. He glances off to the side to see the Celadon tree catching on fire then being put out mere moments later, "I w-w-w-ish that firey special effect would happen more... I'm s-s-s-so... c-c-c-old... Need... body... heat... Rilli!" "You should've brought a jacket..." Mithril-rama notes, not feeling the cold since she's wearing her Winter sweatshirt. She looks ahead towards the Celadon City Mega-Pokemart entrance to see Santa, one of his Jynx, and Britney Spearow standing there, waving to people. Rilli smiles, tugs on Robert's sleeve, and points at Santa, "Look over there, Robert, it's Santa Claus!" "Huh?" Robert looks up to see a cloud of red and green smoke where Rilli is pointing. "I don't see Santa, but I do see the Pokemart!" Robert hurries towards the building, hoping that there will be heating and presents left inside. Not only does he have to buy something for Christmas, which is today, but he also has to buy something for Rilli's birthday, which is tomorrow. When Robert arrives at the entrance he says, "Okay, let's split up so that our presents for each other will be a surprise!" Mithril-rama wraps her hands around Robert's arm, "Don't get lost again, Robert... Spending one night without you was bad enough. When we're done shopping, let's go back to the Pokemon Center to pick up Gengar, Haunter, and the egg." "Okay..." Robert kisses Rilli on the cheek, then heads inside the Pokemart to bask in the warmness of the building's central heating. He wanders up to the already crowded elevator and pushes the button for the fourth floor. Voooom... Ping! He steps outside to see the "Wiseman Gifts" boutique decorated with mistletoe hanging from the roof, "Aww, now I wish that I hadn't split up with Rilli..." Robert carefully walks through the room as if it were a field of land mines, not wanting to step underneath any mistletoe so that none of the fat women buying presents would try to kiss him. A male clerk dressed in red and green who looks way too happy about his job steps up to Robert, "Mmm-ello! I hope you're having a verrrry merrry Christmas, sir! I see you still haven't bought any presents for your loved ones. May I help you?!" Robert raises an eyebrow, then says, "Uhm, yeah, I'm looking for a Christmas present for my girlfriend and for my mom..." "I have just the present that'll keep your girlfriend from spanking you..." The clerk smiles and runs behind his counter, "...or encourage her to spank you, depending on what you're into. Bwahahahaha!" The clerk crouches to get the present. Robert sweatdrops and starts to back away, but he sees mistletoe hung above all around him, so he stays where he is, "Uhm, it's not underwear, a whip, or black face mask, is it? I don't think she'd want any of those kinds of gifts..." "Don't be rrridiculous, sir! Bwahahahaha!" The clerk pops up from underneath the counter with a package wrapped in green and red. He opens the top of the package and shows the box's contents to Robert - a pink Clefairy Pokédoll. When Robert looks disappointed about the gift, the clerk explains, "This Clefairy doll isn't just cute, it's also functional! You can run from wild Pokemon by distracting them with a Pokédoll!" The cheery man closes the box and smiles, "That'll be only 1000 bucks!" Robert almost faints at the mention of the Pokédoll's price, and decides to haggle, "That's a little steep... How about 500?" The clerk reaches over and grabs Robert's shirt collar, pulling him near, "Look, kid, it's Christmas day and I'm being forced to work instead of spending time with my family... Do you think I like being here any more than you do?! Just buy the damn doll, because it's the only thing you're going to find on Christmas Day. They're even running low on video games downstairs!" Robert fumbles with the cash in his pocket, forks it over, and takes the wrapped gift. He opens up the box and pokes the Clefairy Pokédoll. The Pokédoll wiggles its hands and feet and exclaims, "Clefairy? Fairy, fairy, clefairy!" Robert smiles at the gift as he places the top back on, "This is a pretty good Christmas gift, but I just *have* to get her something more special for her birthday, even though she said that one present is enough..." Robert puts Rilli's gift under his arm and reaches into his shirt. He withdraws the crystal prism with the dragon within that hangs from his neck, "Something special like this, her gift to me on my birthday... Though the greatest gift she gave me on my birthday was the proclamation of our love for each other and our first kiss. How can I even come close to matching that present, the greatest one I've ever received?" Robert gets spun around and kissed on the cheek by a familiar blue-eyed face - that of Brooke's, the girl who flew beside him on the Pidgeot Express trip from Viridian City to Celadon City. She is wearing a her fuzzy red scarf, a red jacket with Santa's Rapidash on it, green pants, and thick snow boots. Robert rubs his cheek where she kissed it and asks, "What was that for?" "Ha-ha! You were under the mistletoe, Robert..." She points up, "...and boy, you sound ungrateful. You gay or something?" Robert shakes his head, "It's not that. I already *have* a girl friend, so don't even think about trying to seduce me with your..." Brooke starts to giggle uncontrollably, "Hahahaha-ha! You give yourself too much credit, kid. Do you really think that I find you in any way attractive? I mean, come on, you were crying like a little girl on the trip here - not exactly the sexiest thing a guy can do. I just pecked you on the cheek 'cause you were under the mistletoe, and I'd hate to be the one to break tradition!" Robert narrows his eyes at Brooke and stomps away from her, towards the elevator. He has to go back to the Pokemon Center, to find Rilli and exchange Christmas gifts. Little does he know that he still has Brooke's red lipstick on his cheek... -Robert