A nosey detour to Oak's lab

Curiosity seizing you, you figure the PokéMart can wait as you creep closer and closer to the lab and skulk out of sight. "Okay, but Blue, look," you hear Oak’s voice, measured and patient, but not without fatigue. "I gave you a bigger starting allowance than any trainer in all of Kanto could dream of. If you managed to lose it in less than a day, I can’t help you.”

"But Gramps, I need Potions to get to Viridian!" You hear a whiny voice retort, laced with anger, before it lowers into a quiet, humiliated mutter. "Not my fault that bitch took my money."

Oak’s voice rings out confidently in a tone of finality that brooks no argument. "Blue, I’m not giving you more money. We agreed I’d pay you for every gym badge, but until then, you’re on your own.” His eyes flicker from Blue towards the door, a smirk settling on his face, before he adds, "Perhaps Amber would be willing to lend you some money – if you asked her nicely.”

Well, your cover’s blown, so no point hiding anymore. You spin around from your hiding place and stroll through the automatic doors as they open. "Ask me what, Professor Oak?" you say, feigning ignorance. You can feel Blue’s eyes burn your skin as you ignore him and walk closer to Oak’s desk.

"Well, Amber," Oak begins, slowly, his attention split between you and the object before him, "my grandson has managed to lose his allowance to another trainer in less than a day of being a Pokémon trainer himself. He’s asking me for more, but there’s a hard lesson to be learnt here, and I’m not willing to let that go." He looks up at Blue. "But it seems he isn’t out of luck yet," he continues, "seeing as though you two were such great friends growing up, maybe he’d ask you." You suppress a laugh at Oak’s comment. Even he seems to know how untrue that is. But an idea comes to you—Blue needs money, and you have money. And even if he doesn’t make it back through Trainer Battles, you know he’ll be able to repay you after beating Pewter or Cerulean Gym. A pang of guilt stabs you as you consider making him beg for the money, but it’s dismissed quickly by your recalling of yesterday’s events. "Wow!" you start, an edge of fake confusion dressing your tone, "He lost all his money already? How can he even hope to survive Kanto if he can’t keep his money safe for a day?!” You begin to head to the door, continuing with an unassuming tone of innocence. “But I’m not rich, sorry. I haven’t got much to spare, Professor.”

“Amber, before you le-“ Oak starts, but is interrupted by a scurrying Blue’s cry, “W-wait Amber!”.

He grabs your arm, and you spin around, snapping it off, before responding, the same tone as before, “Yes, Blue?”

He cringes at your deliberate, unnatural use of his name but quickly recovers. His eyes still refuse to meet yours as he finds the words. “Tch… Look, I know you got lucky earlier, but I need some money to get to Viridian. Just lend me $200 already.”

You beam at him, clasping your hands together around his. “Oh, you need money to get to Viridian, do you?”. You release his hand, and begin to count on your fingers, not because you don’t remember how much you have, but because making him wait is funny. Eventually, you look back up at him, sweat dripping down his eyes. “Good news, Blue. I can spare you $200”, you start, as his face glows with relief. “But I don’t have all my money with me right now, Blue” you watch his face fall, resisting the ever-present urge to smirk. “You’ll have to come by my house after dinner tonight. 6 PM, don’t be late!”

Blue’s fists clench, and his eyes close for a few seconds before he looks at you once more. “Fine. Whatever. 6 PM” he says, voice flat, before he turns and leaves.

You turn to bid Oak farewell, and he asks you to come to his desk. “Amber, I wanted to give you this”, he says, picking up the object he was working on during your conversation. It looks like a red tablet, small and manageable. “This here is a PokéDex, Amber. Doubtless a smart girl like you already knows what it does.”

Wow, a PokéDex! These are not only expensive, but the League has special rules regarding them. To have your hands on one - how lucky? But why you? “Thanks so much Professor. But why? This must’ve been expensive even for you, no?”

He pulls a frame out of the drawer of his desk and looks at it affectionately. “It was your father's, that Dex was. When we realised his time was near, he asked me to give it to you on your 18th birthday.” He sets the frame down, sadness barely present in poise. “He always knew you’d become a trainer.”

You try to comfort him, but the words remain lost in your throat. You didn’t know your father all that well, after all. Your mum always spoke of him being a good man, but he passed before you were six. You resort to a simple “Well, thanks Professor.” before excusing yourself and leaving the Lab.

PokéDex in your pocket, you head off to the PokéMart to purchase supplies for tomorrow, mind wondering just what game you want to play with Blue tonight.