A/N: Just a preview of a short story I have been working on involving Cristoph and, potentially, the Pokemon White II player character. The story is aimed to take a look at the aspect of people who use Cristoph/Curtis solely for trading Pokémon; going on the Nimbasa 'dates' with him only until they have collected all the Pokémon they can get and then never calling him up again. Please enjoy the preview!


"Today on 'Pokémon Idol Chat,' we're going to find out what makes the popular Pokémon Idol Christoph tick," he could hear the host's voice somewhere in the back of his mind, his thoughts distant rather than focused on the interview. How long has it been since he last heard the ring of his Xtransceiver?

"Ah ha ha," came his mechanical response, rehearsed many times before with his agent, "Please go easy on me!"

A rumble of chuckles came from the studio audience at their favorite idol's response to the start of his interview, hushing only when the host began once more with a bright, "So, let's get started, shall we?" Not one person out there seemed to notice that there seemed to be something wrong with him; that he did not hold his usual cheer.

He had to make it appear as if he was paying attention; had to pull through for his fans who sat watching, both in the audience and in their living rooms, listening to his every word. How could he even think of letting them down? The show must go on, right? Nervously, plagued by his scrambled musings, he shifted his weight over to prop his elbow up on the arm of his chair and reached to grab the glass of water that rested on the table beside him. Take a sip, calm down, pay attention, and get through this…

How long has it been now since he last heard her voice? Since he last saw her face over the screen or took a break from his work to ride the Ferris wheel in Nimbasa? No. No, he needs to listen to what the host is asking him and wait until he can get backstage to figure this all out!

"Cristoph, what do you do on your days off?"

Months. It has been several, long, aching months since she had called him up to even chat.

"…toph?"

The Pokéballs he wore latched to his belt almost seemed to burn in reminder to him that she even existed; without them, he honestly could have dismissed it all as nothing but a dream. Those nights spent together discussing the beauty of Unova. The trades they made in proof of their developing friendship. The side glances of affection they attempted to hide from one another. What happened to those times?

"Cristoph?"

Oh! He missed his cue…

"My days off? Well, if I have the time, I often go fishing. Catching a big one just makes that stress melt away," he was able to make himself sound as if everything around him is perfectly fine even when his entire world is crumbling one negative thought at a time. That's what celebrities did, right?

…Right?