04 - 10
The gentle rays of the morning sun caresses the sleeping cliff-side city of Tabindagat. Early risers busy themselves with their morning rituals: opening up shop, sweeping the pavement, and moving on the cobblestone streets.
A cool and salty breeze blows through the sleepy streets, greeting the snow-white Vulpix, making her pause for a moment to appreciate its soothing embrace.
Smiling, she continues on her way towards the tall and magnificent building up ahead. As she climbs the steps, she spots her two friends standing by the large entryway of the guild, her ears picking up their soft voices.
"Morning!" she greets them.
The couple turn and smile at their friend.
"Morning, 'xie," the yellow Shinx greets back.
"Looking great today," the Cyndaquil compliments with a smirk. "Trying to kill your lover boy with your looks alone, huh?"
A faint redness burns through white cheeks. "M-maybe...?"
"He's still doing night shifts?" the electric-type asks.
Thankful for freeing her from the fire-type's focused grin, the ice-type nods. "Mhmm... Linik said they're taking a day off after they're done for today, and then they'll go back to taking missions again."
"Speak of the devil," the Cyndaquil says, eyeing two figures climbing up the steps, and a small one on the other.
Blinking, the white Vulpix turns around and smiles after seeing the Sentret waving at her. "Linik! Good morning!"
"Morning, sunshine," the normal-type greets her back, and freezes in place after receiving the ice-type's hug. Recovering quickly, he hugs her back, running a paw on her curls as his teammates go inside the guild.
"Ooooh..." The fire-type leans toward the electric-type. "They've moved to nicknames now."
The yellow Shinx chuckles as his two friends break the hug.
"Huh?" the Vulpix turns to her friends in confusion. "Nicknames?" After a blink, it clicks, and her cheeks reddens once more. "O-oh! Uh..."
"You uh..." the Sentret awkwardly scratches his head. "Sorry. I'll stop if you want."
"No no!" she hurriedly tells him. "I liked it! It's just..." Her gaze falls down. "I... I haven't thought of one for you..."
The fire-type blows a raspberry and laughs, earning a punch on her shoulder from the yellow Shinx.
After letting out a hearty chuckle, the Sentret shakes his head and smiles at the embarrassed Vulpix. "Don't sweat it, 'xie." After nuzzling his love's neck, he turns to the others. "So are you guys going to be taking up mission requests?"
The yellow Shinx nods. "That's the plan, yeah."
"Whose turn was it to pick again?"
The electric-type blinks at the Cyndaquil. "...Uh, I don't remember."
The ice-type taps her chin in thought. "Hm... Let's see..." She looks at her friends. "I think we did—"
"Linik!" a melodic voice calls from the streets. Smiling, the Delcatty quickly walks up the steps towards the surprised Sentret. "I'm so glad that I've finally found you!" she says and quickly throws her paws around him, wrapping the nervous Sentret into a hug. "I'm so sorry," she quickly says, her voice cracking a bit.
"U-uh..." The Sentret manages to stammer.
The Cyndaquil looks on in confusion. "Uh, what's going on?" She points at the larger normal-type. "And who is she?"
"The girl Linik was trying to flirt," Shino says with a frown.
"Was trying to flirt?" the fire-type repeats, and then suddenly recalls something. "Oh... Right..." She then glances at her ice friend.
Breaking the hug, the Delcatty tearfully smiles at the still-surprised Sentret.
"Uh," the Sentret quietly says as he starts to sweat. "H-hey there, Olu—"
The Delcatty places a dainty paw on his mouth, silencing him. She shakes her head. "No. Let me say something first," she says with a sad frown. "I want to apologize for not being fair to you." She looks away with a faint hint of a blush on her cheeks. "I... I wasn't sure if I felt the same, so I...tried to ignore it. To ignore you." She closes her eyes and shakes her head. "But I realized that I was denying what I truly feel, and I longed for you when you stopped showing up." She smiles at him as a fresh tear rolls down her face. "I missed you, Linik, and I like you, too." She suddenly leans toward him—
A white paw blocks both lips from meeting.
Confused, the Delcatty pulls back and blinks a confused blink at the glaring white Vulpix. "Oh, um, I'm sorry..." She smiles a shy smile. "I ah, I suppose showing affection in front of the guild is forbidden?"
"No no, it's fine," the Sentret quickly explains. He yelps and decides to shut up after a pair of ice-cold eyes glare at him.
The Delcatty slightly tilts her head in confusion. "Oh, but then why...?" She turns to the sweating Sentret. "Are they your friends, Linnie? Oh!" She gasps and bows an apology. "I'm so sorry for suddenly appearing like I did! I should have introduced myself first."
"Yeah, I guess," the Cyndaquil agrees with a frown before turning to the Sentret. "So, Linnie, you mind introducing us to your friend here?"
"O-oh, uh..." His ears droop as he turns to the confused Delcatty. "Guys, she's Olusa." He then proceeds to introduce the Delcatty to his other friends. As the Delcatty greets his three friends, he closes his eyes and takes a breath to steel himself. Opening his eyes, he turns to the Vulpix. "Olusa is, well..." He scratches his head. No use hiding the truth, he thinks to himself. "She was the girl I was, well, flirting with before I...y'know...went out with you."
"Oh..." is the Vulpix's simple answer.
The Sentret gulps. "You, uh..." he trails off. He takes another breath, and smiles a hopeful smile at the ice-type. "Y-you're okay with this, right?"
A polygamy, where someone has multiple partners at the same time...
...where someone divides their love and attention to their partners.
"Wait... Linnie," the Delcatty calls the Sentret with a soft glare. "Correct me if I'm wrong in my assumption, but are you currently going out with this Vulpix?"
The Sentret turns to her. "Y-yeah, sorry..." He closes his eyes and sighs. "I uh, gave up in trying to make you love me back then..."
"I see..." Frowning, the Delcatty walks up to them. "I'm not really comfortable with this arrangement," she says as she stands beside the Sentret. Closing her eyes, she sighs, smiles, and reopens her eyes. "But it's my fault, and I do like you," she says as she nuzzles the blushing Sentret's neck. "And if this is what you want, then I suppose I can give it a try." Pulling back, she then turns to the white Vulpix and smiles at her. "Hello, Vixie," she says with a nod. "I hope the three of us can get along."
The Shinx and the Cyndaquil share a look.
Closing her eyes, the Vulpix takes a breath, and exhales through her nostrils. Reopening her eyes, she looks at the Delcatty who is smiling sweetly at her, and then at the Sentret who is smiling nervously at her. She nods. "...Sure," she says. "I think I'm okay with this," she tells them with a small smile.
An unsure smile.
As if a heavy weight has been lifted off of his shoulders, the Sentret sighs a big sigh of relief as the Delcatty's eyes twinkle.
"Vixie," the Cyndaquil quietly calls as the Delcatty and the Sentret engage in a lively conversation. "Are you really okay with this?"
The white Vulpix smiles a small smile at her. "I...think so?" She closes her eyes and shakes her head. "I mean, I'm...well..." She turns and looks at the two normal-types. "...maybe it'll turn out okay," she says as she smiles at her two teammates.
"It's settled then," the Delcatty says with a smile and a nod. She then turns to the Vulpix. "The three of us should get to know each other more." Her smile sweetens, making even the white Vulpix and her friends blush upon seeing it. "How about we go eat somewhere together?" She places a dainty paw over her fluffy chest. "My treat, of course!"
"Wait," the Sentret immediately says, blinking at her. "You don't have to do that."
"Oh, none of that, Linnie." She boops his nose. "It's the least I could do."
The white Vulpix blinks. "Ah but—"
"Go ahead, 'xie," the yellow Shinx cuts her off. He smiles as the ice-type turns to him. "Don't let some silly little guild work stand between you and those two," he tells her, forcing himself to keep his smile up.
The ice-type frowns. "Shino..." She then turns to the shrugging fire-type. "Are you guys really sure it's okay?"
"Why not?" the Cyndaquil tells her with a smile, but it immediately morphs into a worried frown. "But what about you though? Are you really sure you're okay?"
Ears drooping, the ice-type shakes her head. "I don't know."
"Then all the more reason to go with them!" The yellow Shinx pats his friend's shoulder. "Don't let your dates wait, 'xie." He winks at her. "Go and enjoy your day."
The white Vulpix smiles and nods. "Thanks, Shino." She gives him a hug, and then turns to the Cyndaquil to hug her as well. "And thanks for worrying about me, Cindy." Breaking the hug, she smiles at them both. "I think I'll be fine."
The fire-type nods. "Well, if you say so." She smirks. "Just tell me if he breaks your heart, cuz I'm gonna break something very dear to him if he does."
The electric-type shivers, his ears drooping.
Vixie chuckles. "I'll ah, keep that in mind." After nuzzling her fire-type friend, she then walks down the steps and joins the two normal-types.
The yellow Shinx and the Cyndaquil watch them go until they become one with the traffic.
The fire-type lets out a sigh. "I'm sure she'll be fine."
The electric-type frowns, feeling his cheeks hurt a bit after keeping up a forced smile for so long. "I sure hope so. She's been through a lot..."
The two continue staring at the flow of traffic down the street.
The morning sun shines down on the busy streets of the busy cliff-side city of Tabindagat, where many Pokemon of different shapes and colors and sizes walk and float and glide through the traffic of bodies going through the cobblestone streets.
A trio of Pokemon walk through the traffic, their lively conversation mixing with the many sounds in the drifting salty air as they head towards a restaurant for them to dine in.
Well, two of the trio are having a lively conversation, at least. The Delcatty is sharing a tale of something about her cafe that the Sentret is attentively listening to as the duo walk side-by-side, with the white Vulpix walking behind them. It's not so much a conversation, the Vulpix thinks to herself, and the Delcatty at least looks back to her and asks for her input of her tale before she continues with it. The Sentret seems happy about it, so she tries to be, too. The story is somewhat interesting anyway, so there's that.
They soon arrive in front of a restaurant. A frown graces the Delcatty's features upon laying her eyes on it. Not something she's used to, but she turns her frown into a smile after a promise from the Sentret that they'll love the food. After placing their orders, the Sentret immediately excuses himself to the restroom to at least make himself look decent.
"Oh, right... You just finished your work," the Delcatty voices out her realization.
With a nod, the Sentret leaves the two females on their lonesome.
After watching him enter the restroom, the white Vulpix turns to the Delcatty, who's smiling sweetly at her.
"I got to admit," the taller Pokemon says, looking around the place. "This place's a little messy, but I'm starting to appreciate it." She looks up and eyes the patterns on the ceiling. "It gives off a certain story."
The ice-type tilts her head in confusion, and then decides to look up. "So uh," she starts, trying to steer the conversation to something she's more comfortable with. Or at least has any ideas on how to respond anyway. If she's going to be with them, she might as well get to know her more. She looks back to the Delcatty. "How did you and Linik meet?"
The Delcatty smiles at her. "Oh, our meeting isn't really out of the ordinary. He just walked in my cafe one time and I served him coffee." She chuckles. "But the times he spent helping me in my cafe..." Her smile widens as a faint hint of a blush appears on her cheeks. "...would be a good story to tell over a meal." She winks at her. "Wouldn't you agree?"
She blinks at her. "I guess so."
The Delcatty nods. "I'd love to hear your story, too, Vixie." She slightly tilts her head, smile still as serene and lovely as ever.
A soft blush reddens the white Vulpix's face. No wonder the Sentret fell for her.
The Sentret returns, looking somewhat more presentable than he was earlier. Not long after, their meals arrive.
Breakfast goes well.
Or at least, that's what the white Vulpix thinks anyway, as she takes another bite from her meal all the while the Delcatty shares another tale that has happened in her cafe. It's not that there's a problem with that, it's just that the entirety of their meal so far has been spent with listening to the Delcatty's stories, and the Sentret seems to be content with that as he listens and responds whenever appropriate.
The Delcatty pauses from her tale as she takes a sip from her cup, the aroma of her tea making her smile. "You're right about this place, Linnie," she tells him as she places her cup down, smiling sweetly at the blushing Sentret. "It may not look wonderful, but their food is divine."
The Sentret quickly waves it off with a paw. "Oh, it's nothing, really." He chuckles. "I guess I just have a talent for scouting out places with good food."
A small hint of a blush graces the Delcatty's cheeks. "O-oh?" She manages to chuckle lightly. She then turns to the white Vulpix, who suddenly stiffens under her attention. "Oh, Vixie dear. How do you find your food?"
"Er, it's quite alright, I guess?" she tells her with a small smile. She blinks. Wait... Why is she talking like her?
"Isn't it?" The Sentret asks with a smile. "I'm really happy that the three of us are here."
"So am I," the Delcatty agrees as Vixie nods.
The trio continue eating their meal as they listen to the Delcatty's continuation of her tale.
But only for a few minutes.
"Hold that thought," The Sentret says after the Delcatty asked him a question, sliding off of his chair. "Need to visit the bathroom."
The Delcatty frowns. "Again?"
"Don't miss me too much," he tells her, and then turns and winks at the ice-type.
The white Vulpix rolls her eyes in amusement.
The Delcatty chuckles. "We'll try not to." She watches him go for a second or two.
"So," the white Vulpix suddenly says, catching the taller Pokemon's attention. She smirks at her. "What are the chances that he's gonna ditch us so he doesn't have to pay for the food?"
The Delcatty lets out a gasp. "Vixie! Do you really think he'll do something like that?"
Silly jokes doesn't seem to work on her. She sighs. There goes her attempts at breaking the ice. "I was joking..."
"I do hope so..." The Delcatty's ears droop as she lets out a sigh of her own.
The white Vulpix blinks at her curiously. "Is something wrong?"
The Delcatty looks at her with a small smile. "Vixie dear, be honest with me." A pause, and then, "am I trying too hard?"
The ice-type tilts her head. "Uh, I'm not sure I understand."
The Delcatty's smile falters. "But you noticed. Surely you have." She shifts her gaze back on her teacup. "This is supposed to be a date, for the three of us to get to know each other." She closes her eyes and shakes her head. "No. This is supposed to be for the two of us to get to know each other." She reopens her eyes, her frowning reflection looking back at her. "But my jealousy wouldn't let me."
A surprised blink. "Jealous? You?" She points at herself in disbelief. "Of me?" The ice-type quickly shakes off the shock. "But why?"
The Delcatty looks at her with a small smile. "Why wouldn't I be?" She closes her eyes and lightly shakes her head. "I pushed Linnie away, but you welcomed him with open paws." She reopens her eyes and looks up at the ceiling. "I was afraid to love him, thinking that maybe he's just like those exes that my friends all have, but there you are, taking a risk and giving him a chance." She looks back at her with the sweetest of smiles. "And you're giving me a chance, too. That takes a lot of courage to do!" She lightly tilts her head. "So why wouldn't I be jealous?"
A blush burns through the white Vulpix's cheeks as she shyly looks away. "I... Y-you shouldn't be." She closes her eyes and shakes her head. "If anything, I should be jealous of you."
The Delcatty blinks a confused blink, her ears perking up a bit. "Why so?"
"You're beautiful," she quietly says, glancing at her. "And not just on the outside, either. I think any guy, or even girls, can easily fall for you."
The Delcatty sighs. "And that's part of why I fear romance, Vixie." She frowns at her. "They only love me because of my looks, and I feared Linnie was the same."
"Is he?"
A blink. A tilt of the Delcatty's head. "Well..." A small smile. "We're here now, aren't we?"
The ice-type reflects her smile. "We are." A light shake of her head. "So I think we shouldn't be jealous of each other."
"Why not?" the Delcatty asks with a gentle smile, making the ice-type blink in confusion. "The two of us are trying to get dear Linnie's attention." A soft chuckle. "I think it'll be fun to have a little bit of competition, wouldn't you think so?"
The white Vulpix frowns. "I'm... not sure if I like that idea."
The Delcatty chuckles once more. "I suppose it's the business-side of me talking." She winks at her, making the ice-type's breath freeze for a short moment.
"Hey, girls," Linik greets them as he walks up to his seat. "I hope you didn't miss me too much."
"We did," the Delcatty tells him. She throws a teasing wink at the Vulpix and then smiles sweetly at the Sentret. "But I missed you more."
The white Vulpix rolls her eyes and takes a bite out of her meal.
"And Vixie here thought you've run away to avoid paying."
"Wait huh?" the Sentret looks at the startled Vulpix.
"It was a joke!"
A Sentret lets out a big and long yawn, his pace getting slower and slower as he and his two dates walk through the traffic in the streets.
A frown graces the Delcatty's face, looking down at the smaller normal-type. "Linnie?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," he quickly tells her with a tired smile.
Her frown stretches further down. She opens her mouth to say something, but something catches her eye, gaining her attention for a moment. "Perhaps we should take a small break?"
Following her gaze, the Sentret sees a few empty benches on a grassy lot between two large buildings. "Sounds good," he says, his smile growing as he makes a beeline towards the benches, the two females following close behind him.
The three settle on a bench, the Sentret seated between his two dates. The Delcatty frowns at him with worry.
"Are you not feeling well?"
The Sentret chuckles. "Nah," he says, shaking his head. He throws a tired smile at the confused Vulpix, and then turns to the Delcatty. "My team and I just got back from our night shift watch when you showed up in the guild."
"I'm sorry," she says, her long ears drooping.
The Sentret shakes his head. "No, it's kinda my fault." He turns to the Vulpix. "I originally wanted to just have a quick breakfast date with Vixie, and then calling it a day."
"Oh," the Delcatty breathes out. "I didn't mean to mess your plans, Linik, and Vixie."
Alarmed, the Sentret quickly turns to her in a panic. "Oh no no no! You didn't mess it, I swear!"
"Well, I am now feeling bad for the both of you..." The Delcatty shakes her head. "Perhaps we can end the date for today?" she asks with small yet sweet smile. "And perhaps we can go out again some time?" She turns her smile to the white Vulpix. "The three of us."
A sigh escapes his mouth as he leans on the backrest. "I guess, yeah." He frowns. "I don't really want it to end so soon."
The Delcatty chuckles, and leans down to nuzzle him. "Can't be helped, Linkie."
"Linkie?"
The Delcatty smiles at the white Vulpix. "Mhmm. Doesn't it sound cute?"
A blink. "I thought it was Linnie?"
She winks at her. "Better come up with a nickname soon, else I might make claim to all of them."
The white Vulpix rolls her eyes.
After a hearty chuckle, the Delcatty then looks down at the Sentret. "I'll let you decide the date for the, well, date. I think it's more convenient that way, since I'll just be at my cafe most of the time anyway."
The Sentret nods. "I guess." He turns to the white Vulpix. "Vixie and I will be at the guild most of the time, so we can plan a good day for our next date." He looks back at the Delcatty. "Does that sound okay?"
"More than okay," the Delcatty agrees with a nod.
"Then it's settled," the Sentret says with a big smile, and then he lets out a long yawn. "Damn... I don't know about you guys, but I think I'm hearing my bed calling my name."
"And I better return to my cafe as well," the Delcatty says as she watches the Sentret slide off of the bench.
"You have great Pokemon working for you," he tells her. "So I think it'll be okay."
"Oh, I wouldn't know about that," the Delcatty says with a huff, and then turns to the ice-type. "Shall we walk together?"
The ice-type shakes her head. "I should maybe go back to the guild now."
"Oh," the Delcatty says with a frown, but then smiles when an idea pops in her head. "Well, we should walk you there!"
The ice-type blinks. "Oh no, you don't have to," she quickly says, shaking her head, and smiling at her. "I don't think Linik can stay awake for that long either."
"Yeah," the Sentret agrees with a nod, and chuckles. "I might end up passing out on the road."
"Wouldn't that be a good thing?"
Both Vulpix and Sentret blink a confused blink at the smiling Delcatty.
"Vixie and I could carry you!"
"Can you even carry me though?"
The Delcatty blinks, blushes and looks away. "W-well Vixie can help."
"I don't understand..."
The smiling Sentret turns to the confused Vulpix. "Olusa here can barely carry a—"
"Linik, hush!" the blushing Delcatty shushes him, much to the Sentret's amusement.
"Sorry, sorry," the Sentret says, and sighs as his ears droop. "I can't think properly when I'm sleepy."
The Delcatty shakes her head and huffs. "Honestly, don't expose me like that..." After another shake of her head, she then turns to the ice-type and smiles. "Vixie, you should visit me in my cafe sometime. After all..." She pauses as a faint blush appears on her delicate cheeks. "...we're going to be spending a lot of time together down the line. We might as well start breaking down a few more barriers, don't you agree?"
The white Vulpix blinks at her.
The Delcatty winks. "I have a few dresses that I think would look really lovely on you." She closes her eyes, puts both paws on her cheeks, and squeals in delight. "Oh, I can imagine it now! You're gonna look so cute!"
"Eh heh heh..." is the ice-type's awkward response.
"No clue what you guys are talking about, but," the Sentret says, and pauses as he lets out yet another yawn. "I really need to sleep."
The Delcatty sighs dreamily. "Alright." She nods at him, and then smiles at her. "But really, do visit me in my cafe whenever."
"No dresses?"
She winks at the ice-type. "No promises."
The ice-type lets out a quiet chuckle, shakes her head, and smiles at the taller normal-type. "Alright. I'll visit your cafe soon, Olusa." She turns around, but looks over her shoulder, smiling at the both of them. "I'll see you guys later."
The Delcatty nods her head. "Good luck with your guild work, Vixie."
The white Vulpix nods her head, and waits...
...as she watches the Sentret sleepily walk down the street, with an amused Delcatty looking after him.
Watching them go for a few seconds, the ice-type then walks toward the opposite direction. As she walks through the sea of Pokemon on the cobblestone streets, she is trying her best to stop herself from frowning as waves of thoughts flood her mind.
She fails.