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With the hill just behind, the car was rushing on the asphalted path, aiming at the closest of the 6 facilities caught on sight. The car was descending the small downhill, as it was about to reach a guard post with its vehicle barrier down: the post had the number 1 on its side.
The car slowed down, until it stopped right in front of the barrier. The front-left car window lowered, while the small building's door opened. Bars' head stuck out of the opened window, as he grinned over the humanoid shark who was waving his fin-like hand at him.
"'Morning Sam!" He tilted his head over the barrier.
"'Morning Bars!" The man leaned his back on the wall. "Rumors are claiming that you got some extra work to attend."
"Whoa, whoa!" Greta bended herself over Sam, as she expanded her eyes. "No one snuff anything about an extra!"
"My ears don't lie, Greta." He adjusted his blue cap with both his hands. "They also mentioned that the co-producer isn't jumping because of happiness."
"You don't say!" Her mouth opened wide for a brief second. "What else that guy does anyway?"
"Complaining?" The shark stretched his arms down, shrugging it off.
"Aside from that." She sighed, shaking her head and thinking about something else. "But how about we talk about that during lunch? As you know, we have a recording to catch."
"Aye aye, ma'am!" Sam walked back inside his post. "See you later."
"Yeah! Catch you later, dude!" Bars chuckled, as he grasped the steering wheel and slid his fists backwards as if he was rotating a throttle.
Shortly after, the barrier rose… as the car dash-started forward before stopping immediately! The car force made Greta tilt over the dashboard, as her hands flattened on its surface.
"Whoops!" He laughed in a whisper, as a sweat drop grew on his head. "Got a lil' pedal-happy there!"
Greta simply frowned at the boy, as she snorted and folded her arms.
"Aaaaaww, girl… like, I don't like seeing that sad, little face you are making…" He gently pressed the pedal, as he was staring at the road. "You heard Sam there, right? I got twice the weight to lift, today!"
The car was slowly marching on the road, passing near two Inklings walking on the sidewalk to the right, while each of them was carrying a suitcase.
"That could also be half the weight you have to lift…" Her eyes closed, twisting her head away from him. "… not that I will deposit a care about it or something."
"Not even if I bought you some of your favorite snacks?" He simply smiled, turning his head over hers.
"Hmm…" Her head leaned on the seat's headrest. "I don't know…"
The car followed a white sign pointing to the left, as it was saying 'Parking Lot - 1'.
"How about a snack plus the exclusive drink you love so much?" He nodded, grasping a sensation of hope.
Her mouth waved, as her saliva was gradually dominating her mouth.
"… it's still morning, Barsy…" She opened her eyes, holding her stomach internally as much as possible. "I'm gonna eat all the canteen, if you make me all addicted to food thinking already…!"
"You are gonna think more about the job… like you usually do." He chuckled, turning the steering wheel to the left.
Greta rolled her eyes, tightening her arms together. The car was moving over the logo printed on the asphalt and placed in between two white lines: the logo was depicting a goods lift. The vehicle went above it, as the engine calmed itself down until it went silent.
The front car doors opened, as each Inkling stepped out of the car and closed their respective doors back.
"Good thing the time schedule isn't all that nasty…!" He was holding a car remote key, presenting three buttons on it.
His thumb pressed over the top button, which had the icon of a padlock.
Clic.
His hand put his car keys inside his pants' front-right pocket, before his two hands entered each inside the closest pocket on the front.
"It's like this isn't even a job… but a hobby!" He walked around car, reaching Greta on the other side. "Isn't that beyond cool, girl?"
"It would be cooler if you keep an eye on the gas pedal more!" She was still frowning at the boy. "Can you promise that?"
"Pedal-happy can't always happen if you are cautious…" He lowered his shoulders, as they felt heavier than usual. "… guess I just need to"
"Greta my dear!"
The girl twisted behind, immediately tracking down a familiar face… she smiled, waving her hand out of pure instinct. Walking off the sidewalk, who was standing in front of the parking lot, Mr. Surfeln had his arms wide open and his smile just as big.
"Hello daddy!" She sprung herself forward, opening her arms too.
The daughter caught her dad with her arms, hugging him and resting her head on his left shoulder. Bars' had his hands behind, simply staring at the scene.
"Oh my! You look so cute, today!" He gave Greta a kiss on her forehead, as he immediately petted her head. "Without those piercings, you look so natural and mature…!"
"Eh eh!" Her arms retreated back on her sides, as she lowered her eyelids to the middle. "Gotta wonder what the modern generation would say about that…"
"They would agree with my opinion!" Mr. Surfeln's head looked over the boy. "Would you say, Mr. Bars?"
"Like… I guess?" He shrugged. "Never thought of that, actually."
His feet began stepping forward, reaching the other two Inklings.
"Daddy, how come you are here?" Her shoulders rubbed against her dad's arms. "Is it Squidsmas already?"
The man laughed.
"I have an appointment in Facility number 3… but I didn't read the e-mail well enough, so I arrived 20 minutes earlier than needed."
"20 minutes you will spend with your daughter… am I right?" She smiled widely.
The Inkling laughed again, as he found another excuse to pat Greta's head.
"How about we talk for a bit, while I accompany you and your friend over Facility number 1?" His arm went behind her shoulders, pushing her a bit.
"Deal!" Her head turned to the right, as she tried to look at the boy from there. "What would you say, big boy?"
"Deal!" He grinned, while closing his eyes.
Her father kept pushing the girl, until she started her walk.
"Impatient, today?" Only her right eyebrow lowered down, looking at the man with a suspicion vibe.
"It's better to not make co-producers wait any longer, my dear!" His arm pushed Greta over the sidewalk, as he was walking a bit faster than before. "And not just them… but also the contracts! They are ticking bombs in the world of the entertainment!"
"Gee, dad… how did you figured out that my experienced look wouldn't know THAT basic fact?!" She almost grimaced, stepping now on the sidewalk.
"Ah… …" His head lowered, keeping his smile and cool. "… is my little girl growing up?"
"Duh?" Her temptation over grimacing increased…
"Not in the height sense… but in the future sense." His hand rubbed her back, as he sighed silently. "Are you thinking about your future, my dear?"
"… aaaaah…!" Her irises went up. "To think he appeared more obsessed with my career…"
His eyes were looking at hers, as his smile increased.
"You sure look like your mother, Greta... especially in the intelligence department." He winked. "At your age, she was already planning everything out…"
"Yeah, speaking of planning… I came up with a quick, easy one." Her irises pointed at the road on the right side. "I keep my mind relaxed, before I enter the facility and meet the storm known as the Facility number 1 crew."
"Remember what I said the other day…!" Bars puffed his chest, as he smiled widely.
"Your presence isn't going to help us much." Her head shook. "They want work, not words."
"Well, I want future… more specifically, I want to see your future and be very proud of you!" He hugged her briefly.
The girl snorted, catching a glimpse of the nearest facility's right corner…
"Ok, now it's getting annoying…" She shook her shoulders. "Can you think something else now?"
"Sigh…" His head lowered again, this time without keeping his smile and cool. "… my dear daughter… as a father, I can't ignore the fact that I'm no longer looking at a little girl…"
"Don't ignore me too!" Greta frowned at her father, as she pushed herself away from him, only to be held by his arm. "Do I look like a Squid who lives just for the sake of love?!"
"Noooo, no, my dear daughter!" He pulled her over him, hugging her tightly. "It's that… you know…" He released a stream of tears from his eyes. "… e-everything is happening so quickly…! Yo-you were so little, I-I could pick you up…! An-and carry you on my shoulders…!"
Greta's eyes turned into a line each, with a black dot located below the middle part.
"Now… n-now you are spending your time with that man… t-talking about your future!" He sniffed loudly.
Her mouth couldn't open more in front of that statement… same for the blush who quickly conquered her cheeks. Bars laughed so much, he bended forward.
"Liiikeee…" He couldn't stop his blush… "… not sure you would call that 'future'… but still"
"DON'T GIVE HIM IDEAS!" Greta went full red, as her irises shrunk into dots.
Mr. Surfeln's cries only increased, as he leaned his forehead over her right shoulder.
"M-my little actreeeeeessss…! Ooooooh…! Sh-she… she is now a young adult…!" He sobbed loudly.
Greta stared at her father, before staring back at her friend. Bars smiled, as he nodded at the girl. She kept looking at him… as she formed a smile.