a/n: So, Pokemon White & Black came out and I've been busy playing.

So enjoy more Elesa/Cress fluffyness.

-RV

Double Lariat

Cress wasn't the type of person who fell easily into other people's elaborate ploys.

Cress never left the cafe without reason. Someone had to man the stations, being that Chili and Cilan left whenever they so pleased, never considering the fact that the oldest of the triplet was getting tired of covering for them. Cress was working like an indentured servant - they owned the business so it wasn't like he was getting paid anything, but he bore all of this with a pleasant smile and a demand that you buy whatever was on the menu that fine morning.

So, it came as quite a shock when he didn't show up for work during the month of March. Cilan ran down the streets of Striaton, looking through every nook and cranny, for their missing brother. Chili called every library within a mile radius of the cafe, hoping to fine the blue-haired male there.

Nothing - Cress had simply disappeared and no one knew where he was. Chili and Cilan began to panic, because without their brother, the cafe was a mess. Chili was far too hot-headed to think things through, and Cilan was much to socially-awkward without Cress's presence to guide them through the day.

But they resolved to get through their shift without burning something, because that would be their greatest accomplishment together.

On the other side of Unova, Cress stood in line for the Nimbasa City Ferris Wheel ride. He rubbed his arm with his left hand, feeling like he stuck out like a sore thumb amist the regular customers of the amusement park. He was out of his usual uniform for once, and was dressed down in a simple pair of black jeans, a blue button down shirt, and a black wool blazer. He wore black oxford shoes, and that was that. He felt so awkward without his usual cafe attire, suddenly missing the comfort of his blue bow tie and black vest.

The male ran his hand through his hair, feeling stupid and dumb and every other adjective he could think of on the spot. Why had he left so recklessly? He wasn't like his brothers, he had a responsibility and he completely screwed it over for this maybe chance of seeing the girl with blue eyes, the girl who had read his poetry, the girl who had published it without his consent.

He took the first subway to Nimbasa with the intention of confronting Elesa and demanding why he did that to him.

(Or thanking her, because his poem was racking in awards like it was nobody's business. Caitlin of the Unovian Elite Four had called him and congratulated him on creating a fantastic piece.)

He had arrived at the Nimbasa Gym two hours earlier, with the intention of talking to Elesa and heading back home to Striaton, only to bump into the girl, who had been about to leave for Castelia. She explained on how she had a fashion show to judge, but would be back in a hour and forty-five minutes. She also told him to meet her at the Ferris wheel entrance, so they would be allowed to chat in an undisturbed environment.

At least, that's what he thought she said. He was far too busy panicking on the way he was acting, the way he looked, the way he talked - my gosh, he couldn't catch a break, ever. He was too occupied making sure he didn't look like a complete twit in front of Elesa that she had said goodbye and started to walk away and he hadn't said a word!

He had just stood there, staring with his mouth agape, tongue twisted in the middle of a semi-coherent phrase. (He cringed when he imagined Chili's response to his sorry tale - "YOU IDIOT, YOU STOOD THERE AND STARED LIKE AN IDIOT? MY GOD, CRESS, HOW BAD CAN YOU GET?")

Poor, poor Cress.

The blue-haired waiter stuffed his hands in his pockets and wondered if Elesa was actually going to meet him at the entrance of the Ferris wheel, like she promised. He was getting closer and closer to the contraption and Elesa was already over ten minutes late...he should probably leave while he still held the last piece of his dignity, right?

Right?

"Hey, Cress!"

The male turned around and nearly keeled over in relief, when he saw Elesa weave her way through the crowd, elegantly making sidestepping towards him. He felt his heart beat faster and faster, and she flashed the tiniest smile, an apologetic one to boot.

"Ah - er, Elesa?" Cress couldn't figure out what to say, so his phrase ended up sounding like a late to the party question. Elesa quirked a blonde eyebrow, and Cress's gaze couldn't help but wander. The blonde beauty wore a bright yellow peacoat - the color matched her hair, Cress noted - with white lightning bolt patterned tights and black thigh high boots.

She looked like she just walked out of a modeling shoot - which more than likely, she did.

"So sorry to have kept you waiting." She smiled once more, and Cress nodded mutely, a little too hurriedly. The ride conductor ushered them into the next booth, and Cress found himself sitting next to Elesa, their thighs barely brushing in the cramped seat.

"It's fine." Cress finally managed to say after a period of awkward silence. Elesa stifled a chuckle, and Cress tilted his head, bangs falling from his face, revealing his other eye. "What's so funny?"

"You, actually - everything about you." Elesa cracked another smile, and batted her eyelashes. Cress suddenly was completely and utterly aware of the situation.

Cress wasn't the one who easily fell into other people's elaborate ploys.

But of course, it had to be the girl of his dreams that would break him down.

He had been played, played like a violin - and she knew it.

"I'm glad you find me amusing - I take it you found my poetry that as well?" Cress attempted to feign nonchalance, as Elesa stretched her legs out, crossing them at the knee.

Elesa's eyes turned like the Castelian Sea, brighter than the sun. "Your poetry is fantastic, Cress. I do ask, however, you stop using me as your muse." She tilted her head back, headphones sliding off her head and onto the seat. Cress fidgeted in place, his fingers twitching, as he mentally scolded himself for even thinking about running his hand through the girl's hair. "I think you could do much better than that."

Cress simply bit his tongue - swallowed back his words.

"What's better than the best, Elesa?"