From: Nendil <lucyliu@flash.net> Subject: Re: [PW!] Last Minute Christmas Shopping Date: Thursday, December 30, 1999 3:35 AM RobfromVoid <RobfromVoid@prodigy.net> wrote in message news:3866F091.4D640C8@prodigy.net... > > "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. Meanwhile, Rilli worked her way up the stairs from the bottom floor, hoping to be through in her search. She passed up the second floor fairly quickly, figuring that Robert probably didn't need the generic pokémon products or weaker TMs sold there. Besides, the shelves were nearly cleaned out anyway, leaving only the occasional Potion wobbling on the rack. Even if she had wanted something, she doubted that it would be found on the floor or even in the store. The third floor's "TV Games" department seemed more promising, but proved to be disappointing as well. Rilli headed for the Color Gameboy section, having remembered Robert's birthday present. Unfortunately, the only games that were left were "Mickey's Racing" and two copies of "Mario Golf". Rilli wrinkled her nose and walked by the counter, where a clerk was busy sorting out money and goods. "Excuse me--" she started. The worker quickly cut her off. "No, I don't want any more questions, not after the huge Christmas rush. I'm only a counter here, and no we don't have any more games! Here, you can have this if you'll leave me alone!" He quickly stuffed a box-shaped product into her hands. "Take this! It's TM18!" Rilli looked at the machine in her hand. "Uh, but--" "TM18 is Counter! Not the one I'm leaning on, mind you!" the clerk rattled on as though he's recited the lines hundreds of times over. "As a matter of fact, not like me either! Now shoo!" "Err, right..." Rilli decided not to make note to the man that the box he had handed her was labeled "TM13 - Ice Beam" and instead quickly headed for the stairs. Fourth floor, the well-decorated Wiseman Gifts, was of course in a similar condition as the lower floors. Rilli wasn't sure where to even start on the wide range of possible gifts, but then remembered Robert's shivering on their way to the store. If anything, there is at least one thing he needs right now, she decided as she headed for a more specific area towards the back of the store. ----- "Whew, it's sure chilly out there," Mithril-rama breathed as she stepped through the welcoming doors of the Pokémon Center, flexing her frigid fingers. She hurried to the room she shared with Robert, juggling the shopping bag she carried from hand to hand. "Robert, you're back already?" she asked as she sat down on the bed and tried to blow some warmth into her fingers. Robert chuckled. "I guess it's true what they say about women shopping for a long time, even when there's nothing in the store!" Rilli stuck her tongue out at him. "Not my fault that I wanted to get something decent--what's that on your face, Robert?" "Face? I don't have anything on my..." Robert rubbed a hand over his cheeks to check. "...Uh." Rilli frowned. "That's not lipstick, is it?" "Um, maybe it is..." Robert chuckled nervously, remembering his encounter with Brooke. "I didn't ask for it! I tried to avoid the mistletoe!" "Right..." Rilli frowned again--there WERE plenty of holiday decorations in the store. "Did you know her?" "Well, I met her when I took the Pidgeot ride over here..." Seeing Rilli's suspicious look, he quickly added, "But I didn't know her that well! I mean, she was the one hitting on me! I mean, uh, she's just a weird girl! I don't know!" he finished rather helplessly. "At least I came back here to you, didn't I?" Rilli showed just a hint of a smile. "All right, I'll give you that. And if you really wanted to get friendly with her, you probably would have more lipstick on you than just that..." She pulled a tissue from the nightstand and handed it to Robert. "How 'bout the presents now?" Robert quickly wiped at his face with the tissue, leaving a faint red mess over his cheeks. "Here's your present, Rilli..." He reached over and handed her the box. "It's not much, but I hope you like it..." Rilli opened the box to pull out a plushy pink Clefairy Pokédoll. Robert poked it in the stomach, and it wiggled its limbs exclaiming "Clefairy? Fairy fairy clefairy!" Rilli squealed and hugged the doll. "It's so cuuuute! Thank you!" she giggled as she gave Robert a similar hug. "Now open mine," she encouraged, holding out the bag. Robert reached into the large paper bag to pull out a dark blue ski jacket. "Wow, hey! Just what I need!" He quickly slid his arms into the sleeves for the warmth. "It's a little bit big, but I can't ask for anything better! Thanks, Rilli!" "There's more," Rilli smiled as she opened the bag further. "Take a look, Robert." A little digging brought out the box that Rilli had received. "Ice cream," Robert read off the label. "In this weather?" "No, Ice *Beam*," Rilli corrected him. "It's a TM. Your pokémon don't know ice moves, do they?" "No... this'll definitely come in handy," Robert replied with a smile. "Thank you for all this, Rilli!" "Same here," the girl laughed as she gave him a kiss. "Now shall we go visit our newest ghost family?" Nendil -- The Aquafraternal Fanart Corner http://www.freespeech.org/aquafraternal/