2025-01-15 - I Choose Pika-You!

The break room is surprisingly empty for the time of day. Artemisia is dressed down out of her princess dress for the moment, having swapped it for leggings and an oversized knit sweater - but her face still looks like something out of a fairytale with long lashes and glittering cheeks. She's even still wearing the crown. Currently, her feet are kicked up on the table and she has a handheld game console where she is attempting to catch a pokemon. "Come'on pikachu! I know you've got it in you," she coaxes, mashing the buttons.

Erika is still relatively new and hasn't explored every corner of the tunnels. She's gotten a break from clinic so, wearing a pair of acid washed denim jeans, a dark green turtleneck sweater and black Converse All-Stars that have white rubber highlights and sparkling black laces, she has taken to them using a map app she downloaded from the employee support website. She steps into the breakroom as Artemisia calls out to the Pokemon game. Her hair is currently light brown with streaks of dark green highlights in it.

The Norwegian grins and walks over to one of the vending machines who are ubiquitously found in staff break rooms around the world. She waves her ID badge at it and punches the button for her desired soda. Once the machine registers her account and sends the charge to it the drink is released with a loud chunk. Erika bends down to pick up the can. With a loud hiss she opens the can of Crush Pineapple soda.

"Which game is that?" she asks the gamer in her Norwegian-accented English.

Pausing in her battle, the music ping-pinging jauntily, Artemisia tips her head back to look towards Erika when she speaks. "It's an emulator, so yellow. Pokemon, that is."

After taking a sip of her soda, Erika says, "That sounds cool. I'm aware of the games but never got into them personally. Was a fan of the cartoon though."

She steps closer to look at the screen if the Artemisia allows. "How are you doing?," she asks. "I know the goal is to catch them all of course," this last she adds with a weak but friendly smile.

"They're a good way to kill some time between having to turn back into a princess." Artemisia's dark eyes dance with amusement as she regards Erika, patting the seat. "Well, there's a good time to try - here." She offers her the game console and pats the seat next to her. "Step into the world of tiny monster battles. It's weirdly satisfying."

Erika sits down with the Not-Currently-A-Princess and takes the controller after setting down her drink. "Thanks! Do you want me to just continue your game then?" She sounds willing but also seems to understand how some gamers are deeply concerned with their games.

"I'm Erika, by the way," she says to introduce herself.

"Sure." Artemisia shrugs. "I'm not real precious about it - I'll explain the attacks to you but currently you're trying to catch this little bug dude." She points at the screen with a glittery pink nail.

"Artemisia. You can call me Arte."

Erika nods and then examines the screen for information. Seeing there is a selection box on the screen she says, "I'll just try one and see what happens." She selects an option called 'agility' with the arrow keys then starts pressing buttons on the other side until something happens, calling out to the screen "Let's go Pikachu!" with abandon as she does only to watch to see what happens next.

Artemisia shifts her curl so that she can watch Erika's choices. "Oh. Nice. That'll boost your speed," she comments approvingly, flashing Erika a broad grin as she calls out to the screen. "I think I like you, Erika. What do you do at the park?"

Erika takes a moment to grin back at Arte and says, "I'm a nurse. I work in the clinics treating guests and staff as needed. Mostly skinned knees and the like."

"Oh! That's really cool. Now I'll now who to go see when I find myself caught in a bush," Artemisia says like this is a totally normal occurrence. Her dark eyes warm with a soft pink iris, almost seeming to glow. "I'm a performer. Mostly I do atmospheric music around the park, but I'm training to join the Spookeasy piano duels. And I do a bit of painting. So-" She laughs. "Mostly, I go wherever they need me."

"Piano duels? I don't think I'm familiar with that act," Erika says excitedly. She seems to have forgotten the game for interacting with Arte and she asks, "What exactly is that?"

"It's like... kind of a collaborative show. Both artist play separate songs or sometimes together on the pianos," Artemisia explains the best that she can.

"Oh, that sounds neat in concept. I'd love to attend a performance, are they daily?" Erika asks. She's set down the controller for a moment to grab her soda and takes a drink of the pineapply yum which she makes an appreciative mmm, over.

"I think ever other day or so. I am not playing quite thst often yet, if you give me your number I can text you when I'm supposed to have a show?" Artemisia offers, pulling out her phone.

"Sure thing," Erika says and then states her number. "Text me please so I have your number?" she suggests with a warm smile.

"Okay." Artemisia only fumbles the number a few times before she manages to get it into her phone correctly (with Erika's help). Ping! "There," she says with a warm smile.

Reflexively speaking her native Norwegian, Erika exclaims, "Fantastisk," (literally "Wonderful" but one German language to another the meaning is relatively transparent) and claps her hands, one palm to the heel of the other hand which still holds the soda can. Luckily the fluid level in the can is low so no mess is made. She returns Arte's warm smile and says, "Hopefully you don't need to use my services though," having switched back to English.

"No, but better to know who to cry 'doctor' to," Artemisia jokes with a playful wink. "Speaking of, you should use a healing potion on that pikachu," she says with a point at the console. "Then I'd follow it with a pokeball. You've got the enemy's health low - now's the time to capture it."

Erika looks back at the screen. She says, "Potion...?" and glances around the screen for a moment as she sets her can down. As she picks the controller back up, she asks, "How do I do that?"

"Okay, so you go to your bag..." Artemisia leans in and walks Erika through pokemon 101 this time rather than just handing her the controller. "And if you wanna catch this little bug guy, your next turn you throw a pokeball. You can see its health is down here." She gestures to the hp bar. "It's like... a bit of a puzzle. You gotta figure out the best way to catch 'em."

Erika smiles and lets Arte have the controller. As she watches she continues to drink her soda. "Oh, that makes sense," she replies as she is shown the steps to take. "Thank you for showing me that," she adds after her swallow.

"You should start your own game," Artemisia says enthusiastically, saving out her own game and rebooting it for Erika. "Then you can tell me of all your pokemon adventures. Everyone should play it once. It makes way more sense with the walk through."

Erika follows Arte's advice and kicks off her own game. She also pulls up the suggested walk-though website on her phone. "Thanks, I'll give it a try without the guidance of the webpage, but I've bookmarked it just in case," she explains. She then says, "I'm a bit of a hugger, mind a hug before I dive in? As a way to express my thanks."

Hug received or declined, Erika then hunkers down on the couch and watches the introduction to the game and begins to play though the tutorial zone.

"I'm totally a hugger," Artemisia half-squees, easily wrapping her arms around Erika in a squeeze. Hi new friend! She watches Erika play until she has to go back to her shift, offering little hints when she hits places she struggles.