I Ain't Saying She A Gold Digger [So Done]

[latula]

(Elaborated from Starter backstory)

ʟᴀᴛᴜʟᴀ: ɢᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ

Because putting both parts of the gaming center in one building would make too much sense for the creators of this crummy place. She was an adventurous woman and she needed to put the pedal to the medal and claim her prize. But they always had to slow up a woman with procedures and blagh. Blagh. Blagh. Latula grinning broadly. Seriously it was an infectious kind of smile. What had started small smirk of satisfaction was wildly expanding into a gleaming look on her face as she made her way into the new building.

"Sup Skillz, Lil-Poke, Big-Poke." That was there names of course. Then there was the fourth one who no one cared about because seriously who trades in their winnings for charcoal or some other cheesy prize that just makes you wonder why they even entered the casino. Big poke. Or the middle man was about to meet a very happy skater as she dropped some mad CHA-CHING on that broad. Broads loved CHA-CHING Least Latula was pretty sure they did. Skateboard being brought alongside her as she offered.

"You know I never did understand why you priced these guyz so high. But now that I'm maxing on the high score I think I can get your whole gimmick here. Makes the taste of victory all that much sweeter like OMOMOMOM. Can't tell you what victory smellz like though...." The coin case was dropped on the table. Latula staring at them with expecting eyes. Those shades expressing a deep level of what are you waiting for and get me my prize dood. Latula leaning on the counter and looking over the selection of pokemon. Not that she hadn't already spent some time doing this but occasionally they threw in a new flavor or two. "Wanna see me do a handstand?" It wasn't a question apparently. Latula getting ready to show off her skillz.

Pausing. Something didn't quite register. Latula taking the moment to stare back at the bunch of people to see they were not in fact the illustrious bunch of throw around copies normally only reserved for Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny. There were actually some unique characters manning the place who were dressed like they were attending (or about to cause) a funeral. Actually there was still the guy no one cared about manning the petty items over at the side but there seemed to be an extra tall fella hanging on back at the counter. The more radical of the Pyropes trying to wave him over. Seriously what kind of guy leaves the big prize booth unattended? "Hey dude! Not to be hamstering your mellow but ain't you suppose to be over here?" You know. At the counter. Instead of lurking in the backdrop.

[Diamonds Droog]

Ah, a fresh batch of dubiously obtained Pokemon. Diamonds Droog lifted a cardboard box full of pokeballs and began placing them on the top shelf. Thankfully, the balls were labeled this time. Spades had gotten so caught up in catching Pokemon on their last restocking trip that he forgot to organize his catches. Ten hours of opening pokeballs and then chasing pokemon back into them that he would never forget.

Some Scyther, Pinsir, and Dratini snatched from the Safari Zone. A few Porygon obtained from Crockercorp, which the leader of Team Rocket owned. He whistled to himself in celebration of a successful haul. All was well and goo- wait, who’s this douchebag and why is she about to do a headstand?

“The hell?” Kids these days need to lay off the energy drinks. Maybe learn some patience.

Oh, she wanted prizes. “Er, I’m not in charge of that.” The guy at the unpopular counter was snoozing and Droog himself was busy. Guess that left Clubs Deuce, who was currently standing behind the counter. He was too short for the girl to notice him. “Clubs, this girl wants a prize. Can you grab a stool and cover for me? I’m busy organizing here.” After all, it’s not like anyone else in the room could reach the highest shelves.

[Clubs Deuce]

A few stubby fingers grasp the edge of the counter, and the short fellow's head peers over the top. "Oh! Hello there miss! Just wait one moment pleeeease!" he requests as he fetches a stool as Droog advised. With its aid, once he climbs atop it, Latula can properly view the squat black man whom she missed earlier.

One of the perks about this counter position is that he gets the excuse to wear this REALLY SWELL HAT. It's all decorated with a slot machine on it!! The slots even spin if you pull the little handle isn't it just great.

"And yup! That is exactly why they are so expensive! That makes you feel really great once you finally get enough, right?" He lays his mitts on Latula's coin case and opens it up, starting to count. "So, what will we be cashing in for today, miss? A move disk? An Abra? A nice cute Clefairy? Ooh, it looks like you have lots - maybe Dratini, then? Everyone seems to want one of those."

Clubs casts a comment toward Droog, more casually. "Did you manage to capture any more of those, Droog? They are tricky wriggly buggers!"

[latula]

Catch? Where did someone even catch a Dratini? Their rarity was supposedly off the charts or else everyone would be running around with a team of Dragonites. And honestly she couldn't say she wouldn't be too adverse to the idea of owning one herself but that statement did make her ponder her choice for a moment. She /could/ get a totally cool dragon pokemon that would inevitably become something amazing as her starter pokemon. Or.......

She could wait and catch one of her own! And instead pick a pokemon she's sure she wouldn't see without the world ending. If this Droog fellow was capable of catching one then so would she eventually. And while Porygon might not have that amazing dragon thing going for it. It would never be seen in a normal journey unless she gets all geeky and hits up a computer.

The teen spending a few moments staring at the little pokemon sheet. Get the pokemon that's not up to your taste-z. Taste with a z so you know things are serious right now. But you'll be able to catch a Dratini later if the things they said are anything to go by. Glasses being lowered to take in the two people. The short-y didn't look like a hardcore trainer but the tall one looked like srs-bizness. Business with a z so you know he's serious.

"Tell me about the one with the old school graphics going on." Like totally retro graphics going on right there. And it cost more. Things that cost more were always clearly superior.

[Diamonds Droog]

"Yeah. Things kept squirmin' around, but 'ol Droog caught 'em with class and efficiency." By class he meant poaching in the restricted areas. By efficiency he meant trying to fish for several hours before giving up and sending Havsabborre out to look.

Old school graphics? What was this lass going on about? Back in his day, Porygon was the utmost in technological innovation. "You mean Porygon? Crockercorp first created that thing a little over a decade ago. Able to move through cyberspace and possibly also outer space. Now has one upgrade and a so-called "mod" that glitches like crazy."

[Clubs Deuce]

"Yeah, Porygon is a 'virtual' Pokémon! It was made on a computer but you can use it in a computer OR in the real world!" He looks over to Droog, then back to the girl. "The Up-Grade disc you use to bring it to its next form, works like an evolution, but also like a software upgrade. Sold separately." Clubs states as if he were a commercial. "Oh, and, the 'evolution' after that one - that one is not authorized by Crockercorp and will void your warranty if you choose to install it." He closes his eyes and lifts a finger matter-of-factly. "We take no liability or responsibility if your Porygon2 exhibits glitch-like behaviour after modding it to Porygon-Z." He was obviously trained to say this whole shpeal.

Clubs looks back down to the Coin case. "But I guess all that is a moot point since you could never raise enough coins to actually purch..." His statement tapers off as he counts. "Wait..." He finishes up the numbers quietly.



"D-Droog may I - may I talk to you." Clubs hops off his stool, taking the Coin case with him, and moves away from the counter a bit, to talk to DD in a kind of loud whisper. (At least it's not as loud as Tavros's though)

"This girl has 9999 coins!!! That has not ever happened before! Well, not since I was hired - I think maybe the girl who worked here before me-- But, I have never actually given out a Porygon before!!" Deuce is a mixture of excited and anxious. "Do you think she cheated?? I did not think you could actually get 9999 on these rigged - I mean 'tricky' machines."

[Diamonds Droog]

Right as Droog was about to get back to shelving, Clubs started pestering him again. For fuck's sake, does this guy ever shut up? "What's the problem?"

He bent over to whisper. "Who cares? Just complete the transaction." He ruffled through his box, found a ball labeled "Porygon", and tossed it to Clubs. "Kid might be a highblood. Probably blew all her change on the 10000 pokedollar 500 coin packs." Some suckers would pay any price to get their mitts on a Game Corner exclusive Pokemon. Yet Team Rocket could get a fresh batch of them from Crockercorp any time they wanted. Scam of the century.

[Clubs Deuce]

In retrospect, why had Clubs even expected Droog to be suspicious? He just wants stuff over and done with, as efficiently as possible.

Deuce catches the tossed Pokéball in both hands and examines it absentmindedly while thinking this over. He really admires how Droog gets things done, in many ways. In fact he would judge that he and Droog get along better than anyone else. Well Boxcars isn't bad! Oh he really shouldn't be picking favourites. Especially not at a time like right now.

Apparently Droog isn't going to miss one Porygon, even if it is quite a rare Pokémon. For trainers, anyway. Good luck finding one of those in the wild, when these suckers live inside computers.

So Clubs returns to the counter. "Sorry for that delay! Just had to clear something with my superior!" he explains as he climbs atop his stool. With a flair of showmanship, he presents the sphere to Latula, using both hands. "Here it is! Top prize, the Virtual Pokémon Porygon. Congratulations on reaching top tier! If you like, you can release it here in the shop - just do not let it knock anything over, alright?" Hopefully she will keep in mind that info about evolutions that Clubs memorized. He worked hard on that speech!

[latula]

She could release it right here...But that could ruin the whole point of getting a new pokemon. Seriously if she was planning to showcase it she should do it over in the gaming center with a bunch of chumps who've never seen the pokemon before except for on the pamphlets of the top prizes. It's what a kinder showcase would do, show them a pokemon they would never be able to collect themselves. Or she could release it here and see the blank stares of two people who've seen this pokemon close to a thousand times.

"How do you get the upgrade, yo?" She would ignore the fact they essentially bad mouthed her right in front of her. And did so in such a horribly ineffective way that she didn't even know if they wanted to be caught. She was prepared to adventure and any deviating from this course to pick a fight would just be a silly way to start her journey. At least right now while she's still new to the ranks of pokemon battling.

[Diamonds Droog]

Droog sighed. "You'd have to go to Crockercorp HQ in Saffron to get an Up-Grade. There's a shop on the first floor that sells official products and merchandise."

He wasn't actually trained to give out this info, it's just that he was at the HQ the day before. A whole hour was spent in the first floor lobby while he waited for a scientist to come down and hand over some Porygon. By the time she actually came, he had browsed the shop inside and out. People need to learn how to get things done on time.

[latula]

Well that was everything you needed to know. She doubted they would tell her about the second disc. Fingers strumming the cool button without actually pressing in. Simply staring at the two. Well this was....."Smell ya later!" Not! And with that Latula was heading out and going to prepare for tomorrow.

[Clubs Deuce]

No sooner had Latula walked through the exit, than she hears clattering behind her. Clubs had been handling one of the other prize Pokéballs, and ended up releasing a Dratini indoors. It proceeds to fly about the room, knocking things off the shelves while Clubs frenziedly attempts to simultaneously re-capture the Dratini, and catch the falling goods - in effect accomplishing neither.

Naturally the trollgirl would ignore this commotion entirely. Not her problem! She's got big things ahead of her. Forget this crazy scene.

"No not the Smoke Balls--!"
FWOOF.