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The data was clear. There were no up-and-coming trainers who would make their way to the Indigo League. Every Gym Challenger that appeared in the past two months had met their match; often Sabrina for those in Kanto or Clair for those in Johto. So while the League was open for business as usual, two of the Elite Four taking their time while gathering supplies in Celadon City really didn’t hurt business at the end of the day.
They had already grabbed everything on their list. They had also grabbed the extra Rage Candy Bars that weren’t a necessity, but would spare everyone Bruno’s grumbling. So practically a necessity in their own way. Making their way back to the Indigo Plateau would have been the next logical step. But neither seemed to be in any hurry.
Besides, the both of them had to admit that they were among good company. Though Lorelei had only remarked that it was nice to get some fresh air, to get away from Agatha’s Ghosts lurking around every corner, and Bruno’s…well, Bruno-isms. She was not about to admit that she had a favorite among her fellow Elites.
Lance, for all of his talk about not being the most sociable guy out there, seemed to be adjusting rather well to the crowd around them. Ever alert, he would occasionally murmur observations about passers-by to Lorelei. The Ice-specialist listened more intently than she let on. She knew which responses would get the best reactions out of him. She knew just how to get that chuckle out of him; which the Dragon Master would quickly catch and compose himself, mentioning that it was below them to gossip .
That chuckle was a warm contrast to his usually stern composure. Coupled with the gentlemanly way he had insisted on carrying all of their bags, it was obvious why Lance had become an absolute heartthrob among trainers. A fact that he seemed clueless about, despite seeming to catch onto literally everything else around him.
That rare, clueless side of him was oddly endearing.
Lorelei was more than okay with dragging this day along a little more than needed.
Springtime was the peak season for most shops in Celadon City. But this year was even more lively. Erika’s outstanding work within the Gym had inspired citizens to beautify their surroundings. Hyacinths and tulips dotted the edges of the pavement, and several shop owners opted to display vibrant pots of foliage to draw attention to themselves.
Flashing lights battled against the sun, drawing the pair’s attention to what Lorelei could best describe as an eyesore of a building: the newly-opened Rocket Game Corner. Many natives felt it was a sore spot in their otherwise lovely town. But it drew in many more tourists, a small line of them gathered outside waiting for their own chance to strike it big.
Lance had only heard of the establishment before now. Upon delivering his own Gym Battle Reports last month, Viridian’s own Gym Leader had suggested that Lance and Bruno should join him for a night out in Celadon. To Lance, it seemed a little out of character. But everyone had their own vices. He just wouldn’t have guessed gambling to be one of Giovanni’s.
The Elite had been far too busy to take the Gym Leader up on his offer, though.
As they often do, most establishments scurried to find ways to capitalize on the growing market. Some followed the example of the flashy lights. Some advertised new points-for-prizes programs for their loyal customers. Some opted to tuck arcade machines under their awnings.
One such machine caught Lorelei’s attention.
TAKE US HOME!
˙ᵕ˙
ONLY 100 ₽ PER PLAY!
The cutesy hand-written sign taped to the side of the machine betrayed the legacy of every claw machine in existence. Within the confines of the glass sat several stuffed pokemon dolls, all haphazardly piled on top of one another. An unfortunate existence for those poor, plush babies. If claw machines weren’t notoriously rigged, and if Lance wasn’t accompanying her, she’d likely give in to the temptation to take them all home.
Her steps slowed in spite of herself as she scanned each of the dolls with a bit more intensity than she would have liked.
Pikachu… Oddish… Eevee... Nidorino… Abra…oh! A Seel! How precious…
“Is something wrong, Lorelei?”
Lance’s voice broke through her thoughts. At some point, she had stopped walking and fell a bit behind him. He now looked back at her with a raised brow. Lorelei quickly composed herself, shaking her head as she stepped towards him. But it was too little too late. He had followed her gaze and took note of just what she had been distracted by.
“Did you want to give it a go?”
“...absolutely not.”
Her voice came out hesitantly as a faint blush spread across her face. Clearing her throat, she adjusted her glasses before continuing.
“Those things are scams. It’s shameful that such a respectable business would resort to such tactics.”
Lance held her gaze for a moment before turning his attention back to the establishment in question. This particular bait shop wasn’t exactly known as being respectable . The owner was known to get into spats with patrons, and deliveries out of the store were often missing items.
He knew better. He knew that Lorelei knew better. And he knew that Lorelei was lying.
“Uh-huh…”
“I’m serious,” she continued.
The smirk he gave her spoke volumes.
After allowing her to ramble on for a moment longer, the Dragon-specialist took a couple strides closer to the machine, inspecting it carefully. His amber eyes moved from plush to plush before spotting a certain one squished under a large Meowth.
“The Seel?”
Lorelei raised a brow, feigning ignorance. But Lance once again shot straight through her defenses, repeating his inquiry. Less of a question this time. He already knew the answer.
He has no right being this perceptive! Couldn’t he just be like every other cute guy and have Geodudes for brains?!
Before she could put her objections into words, he had made his way over to the machine, setting the shopping bags down as his feet and reaching into his pocket.
“You can not be serious,” she spat as she made her way next to him, placing both hands on her hips.
“Dead serious,” his smirk widened as he slid a coin into the slot.
The machine came to life with a jingle and some synchronized flashes of light. As his hand rose to the joystick, Lance peered at the plush battleground that he had thrown himself into. He never threw himself into battle without a plan. And he wasn’t about to start now. That Meowth was going to be an obstacle. The Pikachu next to it could be hazardous as well. But a bit of Seel’s tail was out in the open. That was his target.
Something within Lorelei fluttered as she watched his face shift from thoughtful consideration to a proud determination. It wasn’t a new look for him or a new feeling for her. Every time she had watched him battle, he displayed the same intensity. Every time, she felt her breath catch. But it had always been so easy to excuse herself before. “This matchup is simply intense!” was a line that she had long perfected.
No claw machine carried that same weight. Yet they both fell into the familiarity of their roles.
As the claw lowered and grabbed at the Seel’s tail, the pair held their breath. But as it began to rise, the weight of the Meowth proved to be too much and the prize slipped unceremoniously out of its grasp. A huff escaped Lance as he moved his hand away from the joystick to scratch at the back of his neck. His gaze remained on the obstacle before him as Lorelei spoke up.
“I told you, these things are designed to make you lose.”
“I never lose,” Lance replied bluntly.
Coming from anyone else, it would have come off as foolishly arrogant. But if anyone could back that statement up, it was the Dragon Master of the Elite Four. Lorelei stared silently as he reached into his pocket and pulled out another coin.
“I just need to try a different strategy.”
Round two began with the same mechanical fanfare. Lance bit at his lower lip as he guided the claw towards the Pikachu. Most would have aimed straight for the Meowth, to get it off of the Seel. But Lance knew better. The Pikachu pressed up against the Meowth in just such a way that kept the larger plush in place. If he was to reach the Seel, he would have to take down each opponent one by one.
As for the bonus stuffed dolls that his strategy would win him? He would find a home for them in due time. They were an afterthought. Getting Lorelei that Seel was his top priority.
At least, in the beginning they were an afterthought. But as he pulled the Pikachu out of the prize chute, he noticed the way something in Lorelei shifted. He had thought to discard the plush, to shove it into one of the shopping bags next to them. But there was a softness in Lorelei’s gaze as she looked on at the doll. A sort of longing that she was doing a very, very poor job of hiding.
And that’s when it clicked. The Seel may have been Lorelei’s favorite, but it was less the fact that it was a Seel and more the fact that it was a soft, cuddly toy that had drawn her attention.
For all of the professionalism that the Ice Queen had been known for, there was a soft side of her.
Lance’s smirk shifted momentarily into a softer smile as he carefully handed her the Pikachu. He was quite pleased to get the honor of seeing this side of her.
The Meowth proved a bit more difficult, even with the Pikachu out of the way. His first two attempts to catch the cat left him empty handed. The third lifted the doll up into the air, but it dropped halfway into its ascent. Which allowed a Slowpoke that the pair had not yet noticed to flop on top of the Seel’s tail, while the Meowth plopped back onto the Water-type’s head.
Though Lorelei covered her mouth the moment it happened, Lance caught the gasp that escaped her as the Slowpoke made its appearance.
Looks like I just have to get her that little guy as well.
It took four more rounds to net the Slowpoke. But the gleam in her eyes as she took careful hold of it before hugging it against her chest made it all worth it.
Lance really could get used to seeing this side of Lorelei.
The Meowth came up without any trouble after that. Lorelei spoke up, somewhere between a laugh of embarrassment and utter disbelief, trying to urge Lance that he had done enough. That he had done too much for her . That he was simply blowing through the League’s budget at this point.
Lance simply objected that he was only using his own money as he continued.
Anyone else would have gone into debt by this point. But for Lance, his victories against the dastardly claw machine came almost effortlessly. He would have never even come close to running himself dry.
With two more tries, the Seel that had ignited this battle was now joined with the rest of its plush companions in Lorelei’s arms. Lance considered trying for a Psyduck that had been left out in the open. But his declaration of such intent was cut off by an uncharacteristic rumble. He hadn’t realized he had worked up such an appetite. Though he cleared his throat to compose himself, the sound of Lorelei’s laughter stopped him in his tracks.
“Shall we go grab a bite to eat, Plush Master? I guess I’ll pay.”
Though such banter between the pair was commonplace, Lorelei’s tone lacked its usual icy edge. Or maybe it was just Lance’s imagination. Maybe it was something about the way the afternoon sun flickered and danced in her scarlet eyes. Or maybe his hunger was just getting to his head.
Either way, he knew he would be back for that Psyduck another day.