Sixteen: Leaving Uva
"So, tentative plan is for you to finish the Pokédex of Paldea?" Mr. Vaughn asked as he and Elaina sat looking over Elaina's independent study packet. "With side goals of helping your friends with their independent study and taking the gym challenge. You have a lot on your plate, Elaina."
"I know it's a lot, but the good news is I get a whole lot of material for the write up, and some dumbass bet me a suite of Apricorn Balls that I couldn't do it." Mr. Vaughn narrowed his eyes. "That one didn't land, I suppose. Sorry, Mr. Vaughn." She started fidgeting with the tie around her neck before Mr. Vaughn burst out laughing.
"See, it's funny. You think I'm going to lose the Pokédex bet I made with a student." He pulled a box from under his desk. He passed it Elaina, who opened it up to reveal the entire thing was filled with various rare Pokéballs. Her eyes widened. "How do you have so many of these?" She asked as she closed the box.
"The guy who makes them lives in Azalea town. We met at a bar in Goldenrod city about three years ago and I bought him a drink. Now I keep a steady supply of Apricorns going his way and I get sets of these for like two hundred Poké. He's gotten rich off of his Galar sales alone. These are supposed to launch the Paldean branch of his PokéPublic store."
"Mr. Vaughn, do you know literally everyone?" Elaina asked as she did some mental math. "That's a couple million Poké just sitting under your desk." Mr. Vaughn put it back under his desk and put his feet up on it. "And you're using it as a footrest." Elaina sighed.
"Not everyone, but I worked for the International Police, Elaina. I've met a lot of people in this world. Including your father." Elaina went silent as her face dropped and she looked to her shoes. "But I'm not going to talk about it. You're not him." He said as he flipped over one of the pages of Elaina's independent study packet. "Everything looks in order, Elaina." He said as he signed her independent study packet. "And seriously, I don't hold your father's decisions against you."
Elaina nodded and stood up. She tried her best to shake off her bad mood. "Thanks for not judging me for my dad, Mr. Vaughn. A lot of people really do when they find out who he is." Mr. Vaughn just sighed. "Elaina, you were just born into the family. It's not like you got to choose. You're a good student and you seem to have a good heart, so I don't care who your father is. Now, go make sure you're packed for independent study."