The Benefits of Partnership

[turntoash]

Who: Ash, Pukamon; Ash's managers, random Disney cast members and guests
When: January 5th 2011 (the most epic backdate of all)
Where: Epcot, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
What: Pukamon wants Ash's Disney benefits!

"Please don't screw this up," Ash muttered into his bag.

"Why would I screw up going legit?" Pukamon asked.

"I don't know," Ash admitted.

They waited for the rest of the busload of CPs to go into cast services before Pukamon floated out of the bag and onto Ash's shoulder.

"Ready?"

"Are you?" Pukamon asked.

Ash took an extra moment.

"Okay, now I am," he said.

They went into the building. Ash flashed his cast member and housing IDs before indicating Pukamon. Words failed him at that point, though, so Pukamon took over: "I'm Pukamon, I'm signed in by Ian Bellamy in DPI."

"I'll have to see some ID," the security cast member said, disbelieving.

It was their first hurdle. Ian, the manager who had said he'd sign Pukamon in, was called out to security to verify this was Pukamon. This was actually their first meeting; Ash had to rely on scared eyes and nodding behind the security guard's back to communicate to Ian that yes, this was the digimon partner he'd talked about when he'd asked about getting him registered as his partner or dependent. Eventually Ian pointed out that kids signed in backstage weren't required to have ID so why was this guy?

"I'm so sorry," Ash kept saying as they walked past costuming.

"It's fine," Ian said. "I figured since we were talking about making the little guy legit, we should go all the way."

"I wish I did have some kind of ID, though," Pukamon complained.

Ian chuckled. "Believe me, life without ID is much tougher for humans. Did you know you and Ash don't have exactly the same accent?"

Pukamon nodded; Ash had warned him that Ian was concerned that he was just a ventriloquist. "We never have. I didn't use to sound like an Aussie but it's still not as bad as Ash's has been."

"Really? Where are you from originally?"

Pukamon figured he was checking their stories matched. "The digital world. Coela Point, specifically."

"Ah," Ian said; it was the same 'ah' of incomprehension he'd used when he'd met Ash's trainee who had been from Dresden, Ontario. "Sorry I haven't heard of it; we don't exactly do much digital world geography in Delaware."

"We don't do much real world geography in the digital world either," Pukamon said, grinning. He liked this guy already.

"Or Australia," Ash sighed.

"Yes, Ash, we all know you'd never heard of Delaware," Ian teased. Ash's lack of knowledge of American states had been on its way to becoming a running joke in Disney Photo Imaging of Epcot until Ash had challenged the entire department to name the Australian states without looking them up ("and we only have seven!").

They continued with small talk until they reached the private office of DPI (after Ash had put his bag in his locker and clocked in). Sitting down in the closed office made Ash feel like it was his first day in Photopass all over again.

"So, Pukamon," Ian said. "Ash tells me you want his cast member partner or dependent benefits."

Pukamon nodded. "I was hoping to meet more of his managers..."

"Isabella and Ron are in the park right now," Ian explained. "You can meet them later. But first, just out of curiosity, why do you want to be a registered partner now? You've obviously been enjoying the Disney Difference unregistered."

"I've always wanted it," Pukamon said. "But you know the no pets rule for CPs; we weren't sure if I counted. And I'd never let him just wander off to another country for a year on his own, so staying at home was never an option."

Ash's exchange had changed their relationship: Before, Ash still had misgivings with being partnered and was all too ready to leave Pukamon in Australia; his older sister had been the one to badger him into bringing him along. On exchange, Pukamon was the only one around who spoke fluent English and was a guaranteed friend without miscommunication. He'd had to start leaning on him then, especially after his host sister had left for Australia. Today, Ash readily counted Pukamon as his best friend.

"I know I could have asked," Ash said apologetically, "but I knew Pukamon would have snuck into my carry on or something, so I thought if I asked they'd keep more of an eye on me and I'd be sent home if someone figured it out."

Living in fear of Pukamon getting him fired meant that Ash always had an ear out for pet-related terminations: Ash's only trainee to ever get fired had been fired for repeatedly looking after a friend's pet rabbit in housing, and he'd heard rumors of a Kiwi suspended for looking after a squirrel.

"Not the best move, especially with your trying to go legit now, but understandable," Ian said. "What interests you the most about his benefits? Health insurance?"

"I've never seen him sick," Ash said at the same time as Pukamon snorted.

"No offense, but the American healthcare system is terrible. No, I mostly want a Maingate."

It somewhat relieved Ash; surely their talking over each other proved he wasn't just a good ventriloquist.

Ian leaned forward, interested. "Why do you think it's even necessary? Ash told me people bring you in as a stuffed toy usually."

The real answer, which Pukamon hadn't even really communicated to Ash beyond random whining: Pukamon wanted official recognition in general, and a company seemed easier to make an impact on than a government.

"A few reasons: Safety's the big one. And I'm a paying guest when it comes to food and merch; it doesn't seem fair that I can sneak in when random guests can't. That, and I want to get people into the parks too, you know?"

"I should go check my first assignment," Ash said, looking at the time. Ian had requested that he and Pukamon come in fifteen minutes before Ash's scheduled time to work, not because he thought a talk would take that short, but to give him some time not only with both Ash and Pukamon but also some alone time with the digimon. While the boys had come to Epcot at the suggested time, the first five minutes of this had been eaten up by at security and it took another five to walk through cast services and to the entertainment building.

Ian pulled a pen and notepad towards himself and began writing. "Before you do, hand this to Michelle, would you?"

"Sure," Ash said, taking the note. Pukamon took his seat as Ash escaped.

Michelle, the coordinator scheduled on at that time, raised an eyebrow reading the note.

"Ian wants you at the entrance, current rotation be damned. What did you do?"

"It's a long story," Ash sighed, looking for equipment. Of course Ian would want him on the other side of the park to where Pukamon was.

"Safety?" Ian repeated.

Pukamon nodded. "Safe-D Begins With Me."

Ian looked rather impressed: Pukamon had quoted a park cast member slogan he'd often heard Ash referencing (though usually mockingly). Encouraged by this, Pukamon went on.

"'Capacity' around here isn't the real amount of people you can cram into the park at once, yeah? It's the amount of people you can have in here safely. When I go into the parks I don't get ticketed in so I'm not part of the count if an emergency hits. I could get in someone's way. Or if I go missing no one except probably Ash would know I was even here to look for me."

Ian nodded thoughtfully.

"What were your other reasons?"

"I pay for food and merchandise," Pukamon stated. "Well, whoever's with me does because cast members aren't particularly impressed by dolphins paying for stuff. But if I'm with someone who isn't a cast member or doesn't have a Maingate, I pay full price. How is that fair? I know Ash has explained our partnership to you, but to add to that, people's husbands and wives get Maingates, right? No offence to the institution of marriage, but digimon partnership is more bonding than that: Married people can get divorced."

Ian laughed, though the look on his face afterwards betrayed the fact that he felt terrible for it.

"Till death do us part? Digimon partnership actually means it."

"You can stop there," Ian warned.

Pukamon made a mental note to ask Ash later if Ian was a divorcee.

"And it's not just discounts I want from a Maingate. I want to get people in. I have my own friends who aren't necessarily Ash's; if Ash doesn't like them, they're not getting in the parks for free without a lot of nagging."

This wasn't strictly true. While Pukamon did get along better with some of Ash's friends than Ash himself, their friendship circles almost completely overlapped. If anything, it was one more argument, one which the company couldn't disprove.

"Anything else?"

Pukamon hesitated, but wanted to try and make him laugh again without getting apparently too personal.

"Ash's bag really stinks," he said.

Ian guffawed long enough that Pukamon joined in. When he sobered up, he looked pretty thoughtful.

"You are aware that Maingates are only issued to people eighteen and over, right? How old are you, exactly?"

"Around thirteen," Pukamon said. "I know you said 'exactly', but Primary Village isn't that big on dates."

Ian was starting to look skeptical. Hurriedly, Pukamon asked, "Why eighteen?"

The manager looked surprised; it seemed he'd never been asked that before.

"It's the age of adulthood here, the age we hope people will be mature adults."

"It's the same in Aus," Pukamon said. "Adulthood has a different meaning to digimon, though: It's a measure of inherent power and strength, not age or maturity. Ian, my power level's so low that I'm considered a baby in digimon levels, but I've been at this for thirteen years. Would you consider me a baby?"

Ian contemplated this and eventually shook his head.

"You've certainly made some mature arguments I'd never expect of a human baby even if they were this articulate."

"Exactly. An adult level digimon could be a couple of weeks old and still be no mature than a child level. It gets weird for us."

Ian nodded. "It's very different for digimon and humans, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but we want a lot of the same things," Pukamon said. "Happiness. Friendship. Other people's safety."

Suddenly, the door burst open and a Latina woman swept in.

"Ay, it's so slow today; I swear it was busier this time last year. Ian, why do you have the door closed when you're talking to no one?"

"Hi," said Pukamon, floating upwards.

"Isabella, meet Pukamon, Ash's digimon partner," Ian added.

Isabella strode over and shook the flipper Pukamon offered. "Oh, you're so cute!"

"I get that a lot," Pukamon agreed, deadpan.

She laughed. "Ash's partner? I was the one who signed his application to go seasonal."

"He told me. Thank you," Pukamon said. "It made him really happy."

"And made you come here, I guess," Isabella said. "Ian, go clock out. Delfiníto*, let's talk."

"Oh, Soarin' is amazing," Ash lied through his teeth. "You see the breezeway over there? Just go through that, past the fountain, through another breezeway, and keep walking straight. It's inside the Land on the bottom floor."

As he waved the guests off, Isabella approached. This in itself was nothing out of the ordinary (he even tended to look forward to her visits more than his other managers'), but Ash had to try and keep his composure when he noticed that Pukamon was riding on her shoulder.

"Are digimon really Disney Look," he said faintly, referring to the exacting standards in appearance and clothing that Disney had for its employees.

"No, but neither is your hair and we don't complain about that," Isabella pointed out. Ash cringed. "Get it cut before you come back; we're finally getting Professional Interns this year. Hooray, I can finally change status to part time."

Before Ash could answer, they were interrupted by some Spanish-speaking guests whom he had to let Isabella handle. One more reason to take Spanish classes this year. Their conversation went on much longer than Ash had expected, long enough for him to take another guest's photo; they seemed very excited about Isabella's nametag saying she was from Colombia, and at one point he was pretty sure he heard Isabella mention Pukamon.

"They say you are cute," Isabella said once they were gone. "And they wanted to know which character you are and if you're available in Colombia."

"I'd love to visit Colombia," Pukamon replied, "but I won't be available there."

"He's definitely a character though," said Ash.

Isabella laughed.

"Anyway, I wanted to tell you that registering Pukamon as your partner or a dependent isn't up to us, but Ian and I decided to bring it up to the people who are."

"That's all I can ask for," Ash agreed, amazed. "Tha--"

"Thank you thank you thank you!" Pukamon exclaimed. "You guys are amazing."

"So are you," Isabella said with a smile. "So, Ash, have you had any problems or anything today?"

Ash shook his head, knowing she was only talking about work.

"Alright. Call me if you need anything!"

Pukamon, still on Isabella's shoulder, poked his tongue out at Ash as they left him.

"Was Pukamon a handful to work with?" Ash worried as Pukamon chatted to one of the CPs.

"No, not at all, he was a pleasure," Isabella said. "He's more fun than you."

"Thanks," Ash said dryly, as he took a photo of the waving Mickey on the clock out page ("My last clock out as a CP!!" he planned to post on Facebook).

"Really," Isabella maintained. "Will you two be visiting tomorrow, or just packing all day?"

"We'll probably visit, yeah," Ash agreed. "I've been sending stuff home ever since my family visited; I really don't need a whole day to pack up."

"Okay then, see you tomorrow maybe. Good night. Pukamon, good night," she added, louder for Pukamon's benefit.

Pukamon waved back as he floated back to Ash's shoulder for the walk back to cast services. They were nearly out the door when Isabella yelled at them again.

"Oh, and Ash?"

He turned.

"Clean out your bag!"

"Okay?" Ash said, baffled. He couldn't see Pukamon's grin.

* Dolphin, with a diminutive. 'Widdle dolphin'?

(OOC: Does anyone here watch Modern Family? Because I imagine Gloria for Isabella.)