Not-so-great Date

How did we get here?

It's somewhat of a rhetorical question. We left through the front doors to the lab where I distinctly remember Sycamore giving me a coy smile as I was dragged outside.

The real question is how in the world did I end up on an impromptu shopping date with the champion of Sinnoh of all people?

Well, I call it a date, but I'm afraid to vocalize it. I'm more of a…glorified tour guide right now. After Cynthia finished recording everything that she wanted about Gwen, who was all too happy to give it, she invited me to go shopping around Lumiose because, and I quote, "I don't get to come here that often." Me being the sucker that I am for people I may or may not have a crush on agreed without thinking about any sort of negative consequences.

Such as being the one to hold the bags…or explain what each store has. I seriously suspect that she already knows, but that would beg the question of why ask me? Does she want me to explain like she knows nothing? The only reason for that would be if she wanted to hear me talk, but there's no reason for that. Unless she sees me as an interest of any kind, which is a statistical impossibility since this is the first time we've met in person, then I, for all my brain power, cannot fathom the machinations of Cynthia's mind.

I'm going in illogical circles. I should just focus on the now, enjoy my maybe-date, and go with the flow.

…No. I can't do this! Maybe I should just distract myself from the reality of being just the one holding the bags? Umm…I know! There's been a kink in my reality detector lately. A bunch of pixelated artifacts keep showing up on the device, but there's nothing there when I check. Maybe I need to clean the sensor or something?

Argh! Okay. Let's…focus on the now. Umm, we're in a jewelry store. Not really a fan of jewelry since I can make my own and know that these places markup about 500% what they bought the jewelry for.

"Here, Nicole, do you think this looks nice?" Cynthia points to a rose gold bracelet, and I'm forced to refrain from my metallurgy knowledge to avoid putting her off. Like the fact that rose gold is an alloy of copper, gold, and silver with 22% copper on average…

"Um. Yeah…" I weakly reply, not really sure how to act. Cynthia giggles and moves on to the dismay of the store attendant.

Following her through the store, we stop at an actually nice silver necklace. Small and simple chains with an empty ring at the bottom. Slightly weird design choice, but it's fine, I guess.

"Ra!" Hearing that familiar cry, I look down to find Gwen had escaped her pokéball when I wasn't looking and was pressing her face against the glass. She's practically salivating at the necklace.

Cynthia, enraptured by Gwen's personality, points to the necklace and asks the store attendant, "Can we buy that one?"

I turn to her, not really wanting to be in debt of any kind to her. "I-I really don't think that's necess—"

"Don't worry about it," she cuts me off. "If it's for such an adorable pokémon" —she leans down to pinch Gwen's cheeks, who in turn backs off— "then it's fine."

"I don't think—"

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We walk down the road; Gwen skipping along beside us. Her new necklace glistens in the daylight. In the meantime, I've given up all pretense and began using my Octillery Arms to carry around the bags.

Cynthia seems as cheerful as ever until someone…familiar blocks her path.

"Cynthia, I didn't know you were in Kalos," The Lysandre says with a jovial smile, completely ignoring my presence.

"Lysandre," Cynthia flatly says. "How nice to see you. I didn't know you were in town."

His smile doesn't fade, but his eyebrow slightly creases. "Lysandre Labs is stationed in Lumiose City. I'm here quite often?"

"I know."

Hmm… I've never been one for social events, but even I can tell when there's subtext I'm missing. Time to break this up.

"Cynthia. Didn't Sycamore want us back at the lab soon?" I lie, giving Lysandre the side eye.

"Oh, that's right! Sorry to have to leave so soon, but we have prior engagements," Cynthia waves to Lysandre as she immediately walks off.

"We?" Lysandre mutters before his cold, calculating gaze falls on me and trails on my robotic limbs…all of them. I give him a calculating stare in return as I size him up and determine how much of a threat he really is without his grunts…

I could take him in a battle. Not a pokémon battle, mind you, though I could probably win that too despite my poor performance. No, I could easily take him in an actual fight. It'd be easy. Just rip his spine out of his ass.