Greetings, all! This is a quick little one-shot that I oddly felt compelled to write. What was the inspiration? I dunno - maybe I just like the cast of Pokemon: Scarlet and Violet that much. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy reading this. And Merry Christmas!
It was the day before Christmas, and Larry was working overtime at the Paldea Pokemon League office again. And for one reason - he had to retake his photo. However, there was one teensy-weensy problem...
"Larry, would it hurt you to smile at the camera just once?" Pokemon League receptionist Rika frowned at Larry, who was asked to take a photo for his Gym Leader picture - multiple times.
"Honestly, it would," Larry replied in his trademark deadpan tone, his visage unmoving even after he was asked to retake his photo. Rika, slowly losing her patience and will to live, pinched the crown of her nose.
"I am not going to say this again...you have to face the camera." Rika made sure to put a little emphasis on the key words, just to get the message across. "It's bad enough I'm stuck doing this on Christmas Eve."
"Well, I don't like looking into the camera. I prefer keeping a low profile. I don't care for being recognized that much."
"You don't care for being recognized? That's the biggest crock I've ever heard. There must be another reason."
"Maybe there is...maybe I'm just shy." Larry looked to the side as he said this, with Rika under the impression that Larry had told yet another fib.
"Whatever, let's just take this picture over again. One last time. I'd like to go home too, you know."
"Don't we all..." Still looking to the side, Larry remained still as Rika adjusted her glasses and got the camera ready.
"Ready when you are," Rika said as she positioned herself behind the camera, growing annoyed when Larry had yet to move a single inch. "...I said."
"I am ready for my close-up." Finally, Larry moved, standing right behind the camera looking as dour as ever. Rika was already not a fan.
"Alright, Larry, I'm gonna need you to smile. It's the holidays! Just smile already!" Smile Larry did not, as he didn't have it in him to move a single mouth muscle.
"Quite frankly, this is the best that I can do." Doesn't seem like you're even trying that much, Larry. "Did you ask Brassius and Grusha to smile for their photo?"
"No, but...they're different. At least they don't act all doom and gloom wherever they go. Grusha probably smiles behind his scarf more than you have done your entire lifetime!"
"Good, then let him have that right." Larry refused to let Rika break his visage, and Rika was getting exasperated. But then, chairwoman and Top Champion Geeta showed up...surely Larry must brighten up now.
"Ah, Larry and Rika! You're still here," Geeta said to the two Pokemon League employees, pleased to have some company during the evening hours. "Working for overtime pay, I assume?"
"Not my choice," replied Rika as she shot a quick glare at Larry, who was nonchalantly scratching underneath his nose. "I'm still here because Larry is being difficult, as always."
"I'm just being myself, that's all," insisted Larry, showing no signs of changing his attitude even with La Primera standing by.
"Now Larry, I know you aren't acting like a scrooge," Geeta said to the salaryman, hiding her disappointment behind her friendly face. "It's the holiday season! Lighten up a little!"
"Why should I? Just because it's the holidays doesn't mean I have to be nice. Besides, being nice requires way too much effort."
"Someone is definitely going on the naughty list," quipped Rika, and Larry could only take the joke in stride. Larry seemed like the kind of person who wouldn't bat an eye to getting coal in his Christmas stocking.
"Who's going on the naughty list?" asked an eavesdropping little girl, as Poppy ran into the room cute as she knew how. "I know it's not you, Larry!"
"Meh...it wouldn't be the end of the world," responded Larry, his stoic nature greatly contrasting Poppy's boundless joy. 'Twas a miracle that Larry and Poppy were able to get along. Opposites attract, as they would always say...
"Larry! You have to think positively. Would Santa like you being such a negative Nelly?" Poppy had her hands on her hips as she questioned Larry, waiting to hear his response.
"I'm sure he wouldn't if he existed." Larry's reply struck a chord in Poppy, who gasped out of shock as she cupped her hands over her mouth. "Everyone knows that Santa's not real."
"Santa Claus is...not real?" Tears were welling up in Poppy's eyes, and Larry barely reacted as he maintained the same boorish face he had when he walked inside the room.
"Sorry kid, but the truth hurts." Larry devastated Poppy, and he had the poor girl crying her eyes out. The sobbing Poppy was nearly inconsolable, as she turned to Rika and cried into her legs.
"Look at what you did, Larry..." Rika reprimanded the salaryman as she put her comforting hands on Poppy's back, allowing Poppy to cry for as long as needed. Poppy might very well cry deep into the night.
"I hear crying, what happened?" someone inquired, as art teacher Hassel stepped inside the room after hearing some crying from afar. He saw Poppy crying to Rika, his stern yet concerned face demanding an explanation.
"Larry ruined Christmas for Poppy by saying that Santa Claus didn't exist," Geeta explained to Hassel, as Poppy cried even more. Now wide-eyed, Hassel looked at Larry in disbelief, as if he were Poppy's father.
"C'mon Hassel, even you know it to be true," said Larry, with very little regard for what he had done. No surprise that a man of his caliber lacked a soul.
"For shame, Larry...for shame," Hassel shook his head at Larry, before kneeling down at Poppy with his arms out wide. "Hug?" Hassel asked Poppy, who stopped crying and looked at Hassel before running into his arms.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me..." Larry was beside himself, as Poppy hugged Hassel tightly while crying a bit more. Hassel embraced Poppy, doing his best to ease her worries away.
"You know, I expected better out of you," a disappointed Geeta said to Larry, who was led to believe that La Primera was taking Poppy's side. When Poppy calmed down, Hassel took her out of the room, escorting her by the hand.
"Ruining Christmas for Poppy..." sighed Rika, who would be disappointed with Larry herself if she wasn't so surprised. "...I gotta admit, I always knew you had it in you, Larry."
"So I guess this means no Christmas bonus for me next year, right?" Larry asked Geeta, before exchanging looks between her and Rika as his question was left unanswered. "I'll just show myself out, then..."
Forgoing to retake his Pokemon League picture, Larry casually walked past Geeta and Rika as he exited the room. Watching Larry leave, Geeta sighed as she pinched the crown of her nose.
"He's coming into the office tomorrow morning, isn't he?" Rika asked Geeta out of morbid curiosity, slightly fearful of the response she would receive.
"I wouldn't put him past it," replied Geeta, who once had to move heaven and earth to convince Larry to take a day off - on his birthday. "Wouldn't be the first time. But who knows - maybe he'll surprise us!"
Denying the existence of Santa Claus AND making Poppy cry in the process - yet another day in the office for the exceptional everyman, Larry.