Crush Culture [lab]

[Deleted]

Elspeth wanted to get out of her stupid, boring town, so she made her plans and packed her bags and took a train to Revihs City, then a cab to Coral Port, then a boat to Blue River Valley, then another boat to Greenberry Town, and now here she was in an even more stupid and boring town than the one she had left in what seemed like lifetimes ago because there was no straightforward way to get to Greenberry from Gilda. She hadn't even gotten her starter yet and she was already disillusioned with her soon-to-be coordinating career.

But Elspeth was no quitter, though she certainly was a complainer. She soldiered on, and soon enough she reached the Ascua lab, where her future awaited.

She entered without knocking. "I called ahead earlier," Elspeth declared, assuming that whoever had confirmed the appointment with her was here and would recognize her instantly. Looking around, she murmured under her breath, not quite inaudibly, "Ugh. It really is the sticks out here."

[Mod Kris]

@elspeth

Professor Cypress adjusted her glasses as the lab's front door opened and a young woman marched in without preamble. The professor raised an eyebrow at the declaration, taking a few seconds to comprehend what the young woman was here for.

"Excuse me," Professor Cypress said, putting down her reports on the closest counter to reach the visitor's side. "An introduction from you would be beneficial to help both of us. Who are you? And what did you call ahead for?"

[Deleted]

"Really on top of things here, are we?" Elspeth drawled, arching an eyebrow. She wasn't the type to tone down her attitude at times when she really needed to—if anything, she ramped it up. It was far from efficient, but Elspeth was no suck-up.

She met the Professor's gaze dead-on. "It's Elspeth. Elspeth Melo? I called about getting a starter." Elspeth undid the trillion buckles on her studded leather purse and withdrew a somewhat crumpled sheaf of paperwork she'd filled out beforehand, slapping it onto the counter next to the Professor's reports. "Though you should know that already," she added as she did so, just because she could.

ooc: honestly feel free to kick her out if she gets too difficult

[Mod Kris]

@elspeth, oh she's fun! We'll see how this plays out.

"Oh, we're on top of many things here, dear," Professor Cypress said. "Our theories on the ecological system of various areas of the region, our trackers on wild Pokemon to learn more about their whereabouts and habitats, the phenomenon that result in Pokemon who evolve by location rather than other means, ordering and tracking supplies for not only our lab but the town, caring for the plethora of Pokemon that were sent here by trainers who had earned the gift of a starter from our labs rather than believing a starter Pokemon from our labs is a right...

"Greenberry Labs handing out starter Pokemon to beginners is something that we do rather than our sole purpose," the professor continued, "and please do not delude yourself into thinking that you are the only one to have called ahead for a starter."

She glanced rather disinterestedly at the paperwork next to her reports. "While we appreciate the call ahead, of course, do not believe that we were sitting here twiddling our thumbs in anticipation for your arrival, Ms. Melo. Please, enlighten me as to the reasons why you believe we should give you a starter Pokemon. Frankly, your first impression does not exude any of the patience or keen interest that it will take to raise a young Pokemon into a loyal partner."

[Deleted]

Arceus, what a lecture. She would have thought that she left those behind back in high school. "Sure, I'm not the only one to have called ahead for a starter," Elspeth said, placing sarcastic emphasis on the words she was borrowing from the Professor, "But it looks like I'm the only one who arranged to come in at—" she glanced at her noticeably watch-less wrist "—two o'clock exactly on this particular day." The clock on the wall read 2:15, but whatever. Close enough. "If you have so many things to be on top of here at Greenberry Labs, maybe you should invest in, I don't know, a schedule? Just a suggestion."

(She was being unfair. She knew she was being unfair. It didn't matter to Elspeth one bit.)

Elspeth clicked her teeth irritably together when the Professor refused to back down. "Seriously? What do you want me to do after that, grovel? Sorry for having a few opinions, I guess, but I don't see why I've gotta kiss up to you just so I can get my starter." She examined her false fingernails. "Don't you have any better ideas?"

[Mod Kris]

@elspeth

Professor Cypress inclined her head in a nod. "A suggestion I will take into consideration," she said fairly regarding adding those who called ahead for starters to the lab's schedules. "Granted, the majority of beginning trainers have attitudes adjusted enough to be here for only a few moments before leaving with a starter Pokemon. They rarely impact the lab's schedule at all, especially since the majority are right on time." Her eyes glanced at the clock as well.

"With that said, excuse me." The professor turned away from Elspeth, her boots clicking on the floor as she ducked her head into one of the back rooms. With a shout, she asked for someone named John to keep an eye out for the shipment of medicine that was to come to the back door in about five minutes. Generally, Professor Cypress met the shipments herself, but she was a bit preoccupied at the moment.

"Now." Professor Cypress returned to the foyer. "I said nothing of groveling to me. If kissing up to me were a prerequisite to receive a starter Pokemon, you would have failed and been turned away nearly the moment you opened your mouth. I'm speaking of your credentials, something that I ask of everyone who wishes to have a starter Pokemon. Sell me on why I should entrust someone with such an attitude as yours an impressionable, young Pokemon. You don't seem to be the type capable of raising a Pokemon."