Iâm sorry, Iâm just like this. (I like giving hugs) I just wanted to say something nice to youđ
Bye bye!
(Also I saw your keychains, and think theyâre cute. I PLAY VIOLIN TOO! I CALL IT MY SCREECH MACHINE BECAUSE IM HORRIBLE AT IT!)
aw thank you! i really appreciate it! asks like these always make me feel really good about my art and it makes like all the effort i put into drawing it worth it!
This most certainly was not a date, despite Emmet insisting that it was. This was not a date. He simply had to speak with the company that had been hired on to do routine maintenance for Gear Station. Â
White tagged along with him because she was as stubborn as a Bouffalant, and followed him. And because fate seemed to have it out for him and his productivity schedule, his destination just happened to be in the entertainment district of Nimbasa City, which led to-
âIngo, Ingo look! Whatâs that?â
-White being captivated by everything and anything. She practically pulled his arm out of its socket as she led him to one of the concession stands. A middle-aged man had set up an expansive array of bright, colorful hand-made sun catchers. White was enraptured by a particularly intricate one, depicting four Horseas swimming happily against a deep blue backdrop. âTheyâre all so pretty, arenât they? Oh, look!â White picked up a smaller piece and waved it in Ingoâs face. It was a Chandelure, and while it was a stunningly crafted piece of artistry, all Ingo could think was that it was a pale comparison to the real thing.
âDo you like that one, miss?â The vendor asked. He had completely gone into bartering mode, giving White a disarmingly charming smile. He looked towards Ingo with a particular gleam in his eye, âit doesât cost that much. Maybe your boyfriend will buy it for you.â
âI am not her boyfriend,â Ingo snapped coldly. The man looked taken aback at the harsh retort, and Ingo inwardly scolded himself. âWhite, can we move on please?â
She pouted, looking back at the Horsea sun catcher longingly before putting the Chandelure back on the table. Â âFine. Okay. Weâll go and do your boring stuff.â
âI warned you ahead of time what I was doing wouldnât be fun,â  Ingo sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose  as they walked away from the stand.
âBut look at this place!â White skipped ahead and spread her arms out, âthereâs that giant ring thingie over there, and those fluffy pink clouds those people are eating, and- OH HOLY KYOGRE!â She dashed away from him before Ingot could even begin to question what she had just seen. He was beginning to seriously doubt if he would ever get any work done today. Â He found her at yet another vendorâs stand, gushing over the Pokemon plush toys that were on display. âThey have stuffed Seels!â She exclaimed, pointing at one of the objects in question like she had found some sort of holy relic. âI mean, actual Seels are way cuter. But I could hug one of those and not have people look at me weird.â
ââŠDo you want one?â
âCan I?!â
Ingoâs growing susceptibility to White was becoming concerning. He would readily admit that he found her likable and charming, if not clingy and short-sighted. She was childish and naive for her age (what he assumed to be her age, anyway), and all he wanted to know was why.  It was a mystery that needed to be solved, and he⊠he always was fond of mysteries. When and if he solved it, his interest in White would go back down to a more reasonable level.  He would stop actually looking forward to seeing her at the end of his shifts. He would stop worrying whenever she showed up late.
His feelings were becoming too dangerous. Too frightening. He needed to snip them in the bud while he still could.
âOn one condition,â Ingo began evenly. âYou will stop climbing into my bed,â the vendor of the plush stand of the gave him a suggestive look. He glared back in response before continuing, âduring thunderstorms.â He stressed.
âBut I like being in your bed,â White argued, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked at the Seel plush longingly before heaving an overly dramatic (something she learned from Emmet) sigh. âIf it means I get an adorable not-real-Seel baby, Iâll accept your dumb con-di-tions.â
Ingo paid for the toy, firmly telling the vendor (who would not stop wiggling her eyebrows) that White was afraid of thunderstorms. Nothing happened when they were in bed together, and he hated that he had to stress so firmly that he and White were not a couple. The warmth he felt in his chest when he saw White happily skipping along side him, clutching her new toy to her chest, was perfectly normal, perfectly platonic fondness.Â
(Stop, stop,stop, stop.You know what happened last time. Donât do it. Donât let yourself. Donât do this to yourself again.)
It was when he heard Elesaâs painfully familiar cadence did Ingo seriously think that Arceus had a personal vendetta for him.
âWell hey there, you hermit~â She trilled, slinging an arm around Ingoâs shoulders like she had any right to invade his personal space. âFancy meeting you here. And youâre with a little cutie!â Elesa looked at White, appraising her like she was some poor, disillusioned girl auditioning to be Unovaâs next top model. It made Ingoâs stomach lurch. Â
White, for her part, didnât seemed to be too thrilled about the idea of someone else hanging off of Ingo. She clutched her plush a little tighter, her eyes narrowing at Elesa slightly.
âHi.â She said in a cold, suspicious, clipped tone.
âSheesh, tense. I can see why you two are friends.â Elesa said with a chuckle, poking Ingoâs cheek playfully. Â With a barely-hidden grimace, Ingo shrugged her arm off his shoulder and took three full paces away from her.
âTo what do I owe this⊠pleasure, Elesa?â  He asked.
âOh, what? I canât just say âhelloâ to my old childhood friend? Itâs been ages since we last spoke.â
âI saw you two days ago when you were with Emmet.â
âYes, you saw me. You then proceeded to avoid speaking to me at any and all costs.â Elesa replied, cocking her hip to the side. âAre you still upset that Emmy and I started dating without your permission? For goodnessâ sake, Ingo, weâve been honest with you for a year now.â
âI would find irritating even if you werenât dating my brother.â Ingo said firmly. âYou didnât answer my question.â
âYouâre no fun. But since youâre so insistent, my gym has been temporarily closed for maintenance. Â I also donât have any shoots scheduled for today, which means I have nothing but time on my hands. Youâre here, I have time, canât we spend it together?â
âI am trying to get something done, Elesa.â Ingo groaned into his hands. âIâve already wasted enough time with White dragging me to see every little frivolous thing that catches her eye.â
At his side, he could feel White tense up. The temperature dropped several degrees, and his stomach with it.
âOkay, wow. That is not how you talk to about lady.â
âThat isnât what I- I didnât mean-â
âI think what you meant came across clearly.â Â Hearing such an ice-cold tone from White was alien. Unnatural. Her voice was controlled and her speech as precise as her accent would allow. The material of her hoodie flashed to something that did not look like cotton, before shifting back again. Ingo blinked against the sudden headache building in his skull. Â âIâll just explore by myself then.â She marched off into the crowd.Â
Elesa tsked, âIâll go after her. Cute little thing like her is bound to get some unwanted attention. You go off and do your super important business.â
Ingo groaned into his hands again. He looked up through his fingers towards the sky, and wondered what he had done to deserve his afternoon becoming such a travesty.
~~~
âExcuse me- pardon me- no, not now- Hey! Girl with the plush!â
White stopped when Elesa called out to her, drawing her shoulders up to her ears. Â âI finally caught you. Youâre quicker than you look. I feel like our first meeting started on the wrong foot,â Elesa held her hand out to White, a warm smile on her face. âMy name is Elesa, the gym leader of Nimbasa City, and one of Ingoâs friends.â
âHe didnât seem to like you very much.â White returned, staring at Elesaâs hand skeptically.
âOh, heâs always been like that. I give him a hard time, he gets upset at me; deep down weâre best friends. But letâs forget about that for now, and focus on the the fact that I donât even know your name.â
âWhy did you follow me?â
Elesa blinked in surprise. âYou stormed off in such a huff, I was worried. There are plenty of guys here who would take advantage of a pretty girl who looked like she was upset at something. And if that happened, Ingo would not be happy.â
âHe wouldnât care,â White said, hugging her Seel plush tighter. âI annoy him.â
âSweetie, everyone annoys him. But, trust me when I say this, when I first saw him it was the most relaxed Iâve seen him in a long time.â
White perked up, looking at Elesa with wide and hopeful eyes. âIs that a good thing?â
âConsidering Ingo is emotionally constipated, yes it is.â Elesa clapped her hands together, âIâll tell you what: since itâs pretty obvious you like him, why donât we go get something to eat and Iâll tell you how to break through to him. Heâs actually a real softie underneath that constant scowl.â
Even if White wanted to protest, Elesa didnât give her much of an opportunity to. The blonde laced their arms together and began leading her off to the nearest concession stand.  âNow the most important thing to remember about Ingo is thatâŠ.â
~~~
The good news was that Ingo had finally done what he needed to do before it got too late in the day. The bad news was that he saw White and Elesa talking. He couldnât hear them, but he had a horrible feeling that they were talking about him. Â He breathed in through his nose and walked towards the two, deciding that he might as well accept his fate. Maybe that would appease whatever deity had decided to torment him.
âIngo, hi!â White greeted once he was within her range of sight, waving a hand high above her head. She didnât seem to be upset anymore, which was good. âWhy didnât you in-introâŠâ She cleared her throat, âintroduce me to Elesa earlier? Sheâs the best!â
âYes, Ingo, why didnât you?â Elesa chimed in, resting her chin on the back of her hand and grinning like she was privy to some scandalous secret. Â âYou know I always make time for you and Emmet.â
âI have been busy,â Ingo replied slowly. âBut listen, White. I didnât mean to upset you earlier, and I apologize.â
âI told you heâd apologize,â Elesa said, grinning in Whiteâs direction. The latter smiled so brightly, it was almost blinding. âWe were just talking about how you could make it up to her. A ride for two on Nimbasa Cityâs famous ferris wheel! Honestly, itâs a crime she hasnât been on it, yet. And I just so happen to have two tickets right here,â Elesa pulled two ferris wheel tickets out of a hidden pocket of her dress and waved them in front of her face like a fan. âFunny how that works out, isnât it?â
âYes, itâs almost like someone I know planned this.â
âI am as innocent as a baby Deerling.â The way she smiled betrayed that statement so much, Ingo didnât even feel the need to comment on it. Elesa handed a ticket to White, âSweetie, why donât you go save a spot in line for the two of you? I just need to talk to Ingo for a quick second.â
âOkay!â White replied, snatching the ticket out of Elesaâs hand and practically skipping in the direction of the ferris wheel. âIf you take too long, Iâm going without you!â She called back over her shoulder. Â
Elesa laced her fingers together and looked back at Ingo from beneath her bangs. âShe really likes you. You realize that, right?â
âIâm not oblivious, Elesa.â
âAnd what are you going to do about it?â She rested her cheek on the back of her hands. âIâm going to give you my opinion. My serious opinion, no sass or teasing involved.  I think sheâd be good for you. It looked like you were actually relaxed when you were with her earlier.â She held up a hand before Ingo could interject, âIâm not going to force you to go for it. I am going to tell you that, despite the self-deprecating bullshit you tell yourself, you do deserve to be loved. But,  donât listen to me prattle on. Youâve got a ferris wheel to get to.â She waved the remaining ticket in his face. âGo on, get!â
Ingo gave Elesa a dubious look before carefully taking his ticket from her hand.
Photo: volkswagen
Elon Musk is going to Germany, the Volkswagen ID Buzz looks good, and Avtovaz. All that and more in The Morning Shift for March 21, 2022.
1st Gear: VW Thinks It Will Sell A Lot Of ID Buzzes
Iâm not so sure that the ID Buzz will be a big hit, very much because it seems like a good car. Iyou also seems quirky, or at least presents itself that way, recalling, of course, the TypeâŠ