The Other Side of the Coin

The Tipsy Tepig wasn’t exactly the kind of place Hailey thought of Carita eating at, but it was the first restaurant they saw that had reopened their patio after the storm.

Carita wanted to sit outside for some reason, maybe the ceilings were too low, who knew?

“Hmph, so much fat in these dishes, salt too.” Speaking of the dragon, she was flipping through the menu, not looking terribly impressed. The weird part was she hadn’t spoken at all about why she’d pulled Hailey out here, or why Gem and Pomona had stayed behind.

“Hey, you chose the place, worried that it won’t live up to hospital mush?”

“It’s not all mush” she shot back, “and besides, it’s perfectly formulated to get you the nutrients you need.”

“Yep, everything I need, except flavour, texture… I swear, one Tropius cooked meal on a camp stove and I don’t think I can go back. Should get the double cheese patty, just to load on as much as I can before I go back.”

“Fine, get it, nothing wrong with a bit of fat, especially on you, been trying to fatten you up for years. I’m more worried about the sodium content. Get a salad on the side, some vegetables.” No one who actually listened in on what they talked about could ever mistake them for partners. Mother and daughter with a strained relationship maybe, but partners? Only if you’d been hit with a Confusion.

Suddenly, Carita glanced up from giving the menu a Mean Look. “Actually, Tropius… was that… what was her name, Miss Brigit’s partner… Thảo!”

“Yeah? I mean, how many other Tropius am I likely to have run into?” A waitress came over to talk their order. Funny it took so long, considering they were the only ones out here.

In defiance of Carita’s suggestions, Hailey opted for a sugar loaded soda, double burger, and fries. Despite more stink eyes, the dragon said nothing, just ordered a large salad with a side of Tourtière. Oh, and an entire pitcher of some kind of beer, Hailey didn’t catch which, too flabbergasted by the idea of Carita, Dr. Carita, drinking! In public! In front of her!

Like nothing had happened, Carita just turned back to her. “Well, I wanted to make sure. I did meet Thảo when I went to question Miss Brigit. Those Oran Berry pancakes the next… well, it’s certainly true that a lot of cooks could learn a thing or two from her.”

“Still don’t know why you tracked them down.”

“To better track you down of course! I wasn’t about to leave it to some lackadaisical Rangers. Besides, it’s a good thing I did. They were worried about you, I believe, perhaps even a bit hurt that you left so suddenly.”

It was the second part that made Hailey feel like she was burning up inside. “Well I wasn’t about to stick around once they started… a-and besides, I can’t imaging they were that… bothered. Not like I can just ring them up anyway. If you hadn’t gone they would have forgotten soon enough.”

“I hardly think so, not Brigit at least, and even Thảo was far more lucid about the encounter than I could have ever supposed, the later parts of it at least.” That got Hailey’s attention, so much so that she hardly noticed when Carita’s hand went under the table, only to return with a small block.

Roughly rectangular, in regular red, with a round hinge visible.

“You’re not a child so I can’t make you…” Carita cleared her throat, “but I do think you should at least call them, let them know you are all right. It’s the polite thing to do.”

It wasn’t Carita’s Dex, she’d seen that one before. Styled white with an orange stripe, one of the only pieces of ‘flair’ Hailey could ever remember seeing around the doctor.

“You… lose your Dex on the flight over?”

“Of course not, I always secure my belongings before flight, or I wouldn’t have any! No, I just… thought it was time you got your own. Year before lasts model, but it’s in good shape.

“Um, wow, thanks, but how am I supposed to… pay…” Carita cut her off. The dragon seemed to want to speak, not like Hailey had ever seen her before.

“It’s on a pre-paid plan for now. A bit restrictive in some aspects, but at least I can get in touch with you whenever needed. Not like my hoard does much, most of my salary just goes right into the pile.” There were more important things to think about, but Hailey really did wonder if that pile was literal or metaphorical. You heard stories about Dragons…

Slowing herself, Carita took a breath, almost talking to herself. “Yes, might as well use it for something. Listen, Halcyon, it’s been my job to take care of your health, but only that. The responsibilities of a hospital M.D. don’t extend beyond that. But… I’ve kind of become your only link to the rest of the world, haven’t I? You don’t really get on with the other nurses.”

Hailey simply nodded. She might say they didn’t get on with her, but perhaps that wasn’t entirely fair.

“Honestly, when I first saw you, I didn’t think you’d ever be out of that bed for more than an hour at a time. I worked, hard, to get assigned to Our Lady because I wanted to practice on the hardest, the most challenging cases, but you pushed me to the limit some days, even when you weren’t yelling at me. You’ve honestly surprised me though Sunbeam. I wish it was in a less stress inducing way but still. This is… almost certainly crossing the bounds of a Doctor/Patient relationship, but everyone deserves a chance to actually live instead of just survive. Now, I am aware of your financial… circumstances…”

“Yeah, I’m broke as hell, and if I try to change that I lose my state health benefits.” She wasn’t trying to be catty, Carita was clearly being sincere here, it was just force of habit.

“Yes, it’s not a great system, relying on people having family or partners that can take care of them, but bureaucracy moves at Magcargo speeds. Still, there are… ways to skirt things, especially now that you have partners.”

“Heh, speaking of, surprised you haven’t flattened either of them into a pancake yet.”

“I AM NOT SOME UNCONTROLLED… I mean, there would hardly be a reason for me to ever, especially once it was confirmed they hadn’t kidnapped you. Gem is… well, a small electric type, but after having a conversation with Pomona I think, I hope, that they can be trusted to look after you, at least short term.”

“Sooooo, what?” Hailey almost didn’t want to ask, just in case. “You’re cutting my loose? Free to the wind with just a brat rat and a floating bedsheet?”

“Hell no.” The voice was deadpan but Hailey could see the fire behind Carita’s eyes. “That’s most of what the Dex is for. You’re going to be getting daily calls for checkups and you best be honest if you know what’s good for yourself. I’ll also be giving you weekly checkups at least, and that’s IF you’re condition stays… manageable.”

“Ok, so I’m out but I have to stay around Jubilife?”

“No, Sinnoh isn’t that big, at least for me.”

“I mean, I could just not tell you where I am, it’s still a pretty big place.” Perhaps flying a bit close to the sun there, but she couldn’t resist.

In response, Carita just leaned forward, huge head on huge hands, the table tipping under her elbows, an evil sort of smile spreading across her face, mirthless. Not a look she had ever seen before on the dragon.

“Oh that would be a bad idea Halcyon, because if an escapade like this one were to happen again, I actually would strap you down to your bed. I found you once, I can find you again. My job is still your physical health above all.”

Abruptly, she shifted back up, arms off the table. “But I doubt that will be the case, you aren’t a stupid girl Hailey, and even so, I trust Pomona from what I’ve talk to her. Plus, the Dex has a tracking app installed.”

There was a response to be made, but then their food showed up. It was… quite good, the hospital would never have allowed this much grease on anything, but Carita didn’t seem impressed.

---

So Hailey cleaned her plate, even though she wasn’t hungry anymore after just half.

“Left behind again! I tell you Pompom, that dragon is really testing this whole bond thing.” They were back on the street again, wandering fairly aimlessly as Gem skipped to keep up with Pomona. The ghost only hummed in response.

“Hey, hey, you know what would be a great idea?” No response was forthcoming so the Minun continued. “We should find em, should be easy to track Hailey down, and then we could spy on em!”

“Hmm, no.”

“What! Why not? You’re all… ghosty! We could totally get to some place the big bad dragon wouldn’t notice!”

“Perhaps, but I got the sense that this was a truly important conversation for her, so it would not be right to impose. Also, while that may be the case, Ms Carita is… sharp, it may not go our way.”

“Boo, you whore. Well, what else are we supposed to do? We bonded with her first, she keeps getting taken away from us!”

“Actually, I am wondering if that is true, but it won’t be for long.”

“Yeah, humans right? Not natural to be apart from them, just makes you itch, ya know?” A third voice entered the conversation, seemingly coming from directly between the two. Pomona slowly spun around while Gem hopped and jumped.

It was a real mystery how the third Mon had stuck up on them, because she wasn’t light. The newcomer was about between Gem and Pomona in height, but far… girthier. A tan brown with darker blotches, round face with huge nostrils, eyes high up, and kind of a dopey expression.

“Well, it certainly does not feel great Miss… Hippopotas, but we’ll manage.”

“I mean yeah, after all, what are with without them? I wish she wouldn’t send me away for errands, but Ms Snider’s the boss! Oh sorry, I’m Sandy!”

“I bet you are.” Gem narrowed her eyes. This Mon was giving a real desperate vibe. Arceus, was this what she’d been like?

“Yeah, I just wanna be beside her all day every day, it’s really where we… Oh! There she is! Was nice meeting you, bye!” Taking off at a run that made the street shake a bit, the Hippopotas dashed at a figure in the distance.

“Huh, that is not what I expected her Partner to look like, Cyber Street is so three years ago.”

“Did you not only respawn less than two years ago?”

“So? I do my homework! I read magazines!”

The trainer really did stand out though. Amongst the crowds in summer dresses, short shorts, cropped tops, she looked like she was dressed for a rave. Was probably sweating like a Grumpig in all that black too.

The leather jacket and pants could not have been well ventilated, and the weird blue visor thing she was wearing clashed terribly with her bright green, leafy hair. She seemed to be berating Sandy, it was hard to tell, before pulling a can out of the bag the Mon had brought and taking a long swig.

“Not my vibe, not at all.” Gem said. “Boots look nice though, real stompy.”

“Yes, this time of year, at this time of day? She would look far nicer in something looser, perhaps a turquoise?”

“Oh so you do know colours other than black and purple! Where was that the other day?” Gem tried to elbow her in the side, but it phased right through. The recovery involved no small amount of arm pinwheeling.

“So, what should we actually do then?”

“Well, we only visited one store yesterday, perhaps more looking is in order?”

“Hey, I’m down, but also still broke, so you’re buying!”

Pomona just hummed.

---

It was actually a good thing Carita was there to push as Hailey felt a little unsure about moving under her own power after that meal.

The food had been good, at least she thought so, but the rest of the meal had been… awkward, to say the least. This was a side of her doctor she hadn’t really seen before and even the normally unflappable dragon didn’t really seem to know how to handle it.

What did they even have to talk about besides her treatment or boring life?

Still, it was a familiar feeling, having her push the chair through the early evening light. Carita had a steady, even pace, much like the rest of her. People often didn’t believe it but Hailey could tell who was pushing her blindfolded, just through the vibrations, though she still paid attention to the scenery.

“Uh, hey? Carita? Don’t think this is the way we came.”

“No, no it isn’t. Still have one last errand to run tonight.”

What, was she getting taken along to pick up groceries? Carita had been acting weird lately.

Their destination, as it turned out, was a bike shop. Ride Em Hard Bikes, charming. The sign also said closed, looked like it had shut down about 15 minutes prior.

“You training for a triathalon? Must need to get em custom made to hold all that stuff you’re… drag’in.”

“Hardy har har. If you do start looking for work I wouldn’t suggest comedian.” Seemingly heedless of the closed sign, the dragon walked right up to the door, hammering it with her fist. Probably shaking the whole building.

Hailey actually felt a bit awkward sitting outside an obviously closed business, just because Carita was used to being called in at all hours didn’t mean everyone was.

Eventually, a blurry shape moved behind the door, and the tinkle of a bell sounded out, followed by a rough “Yeah yeah, keep your pants on, unless you wanna discount.”

The voice was gruff, ruff, any it wasn’t a surprise why, some Pokémon were thirsted over enough that even she’d heard of them.

The Lucario that answer the door looked like a walking grease trap. The old pair of overalls, which were all she was wearing, had done little to keep the oil from her fur, black streaks running all over. Dishevelled, but Hailey got the feeling that many people would probably call it sexy.

Her expression changed from grumpy to one Hailey didn’t trust as soon as she saw who it was though. “Ooooh, the Dragon, knock knock knocking up my door again. Hey there Miss Tall and Orange.”

“Yes, I did say I would be back Sprocket.” Carita said, pointedly ignoring the canine’s fluttering eyelashes. “Is it ready? I know it’s short notice but you said you could…”

“Oh yes! Such short notice, but I am nothing if not eager to please.” Arceus, now she was leaned up against the door frame, arching her back. “Why I worked day and night, slaving over a hot welder to…”

“Yes yes, I know it was a big ask but you’ve already been paid and I really need to get back to Jubilife.”

“Oh, money is money but you’d just go? Leave a girl? After all the work I put in? I thought I maybe deserved a little…” The no doubt totally innocent words were cut off by a big, meaty dragon hand clapping over the Lucario’s muzzle, though she didn’t seem too bothered by it.

“Fine, Fine!.” Carita hissed, just a bit to loud to keep Hailey from hearing. “I can swing back before I go but not with… I mean, I need to drop it off first, ok?” Did Carita sound… embarrassed? Well, she was just seeing all sorts of new sides of her today. Not very surprising that the shopkeep hadn’t noticed her, Gem and Pomona continued to be weird, who knew what was up with that?

Another flutter of the eyelashes and Sprocket turned and headed back into the shop. Carita wiped her hand on her coat like it was wet, pointedly avoiding looking back.

After a minute Sprocket came back pushing something, but it wasn’t a bike. Rather than plain steel it was painted orange, brown, soft looking seat, not much of a backrest, with sturdy looking tires, nothing like the caster wheels on the current thing.

“One ruggedized light weight wheelchair, assembled in record time if I do say so myself.”

“Very nice Sprocket, I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.” Well, now Carita was talking like she wasn’t here, probably to avoid confusing the Lucario. Hailey thought about correcting her, but she was having trouble speaking for some reason.

Carita grabbed the chair, repeating her promise that she would “swing by” later to settle up. It was rather unceremonious the way she picked Hailey up and switched her over. The feel was immediately different, without rests in the way her hands could naturally reach down to rest on the wheels. This was… something she could move in.

Carita still flipped some handles up and pushed her though.