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The wide spanning plains of Hisui. Most seasons there wasn't much to behold, simply dulled and dry from the hastily changing climate, the stray Ponyta or Shinx that would run about accidentally being the reason that much of the grass was singed away and scorched, leaving behind only small piles of ash and embers in its wake. This was true for summer, autumn, and winter. True for all but one small, short-lived season. Spring. The plains in the spring, now that was a sight that some would fight for to see. The monochromatic colors would burst into life, of lush greens, deep enough to rival even a rowlett's cloaking abilities. These grassy fields would spring to life halfway through the season with budding sunflowers, which would grow small but hearty, and cast a shining hue among the lands. Some used them as materials for a wish or a tribute, while others used them as fodder for potions or experimental foods.
Ingo however, would collect them for nothing more than their beauty.
He was always seen as a strange man within Hisui, that much was true. And while many tried to hide their remarks and curiosities from him, his sense of hearing was much more acute than any could've possibly believed it to be, or known it. Perhaps it was a trait that he had picked up from Lady Sneasler or her kin, but not much could get past him in terms of words or the latest gossip. Whether he wanted to be or not, he was Hisui's walking library, being seeked for often only to report the latest whereabouts of certain pokémon, or to give little snippets about what some of the Pearl Wardens liked as gifts, if the villagers were feeling particularly generous.
It was high moonlight by the time he had reached the desolate field, a hushed atmosphere hanging over it, ready to burst at even the smallest noise or movement. Kricketot could be heard among the sunflower field, though their locations remained unknown, too small to see beneath the thick brush of flora. The light of the night was a gentle glow, shifting the bold yellows below it into a paler color, hiding their sunny parallels. It was a comforting area, one that Ingo had found to become quite the hideout in the recent months. He had to have been in this world for a year now, maybe a little more; It was hard to keep track of time without a proper calendar in existence yet. And the occasional sundial he would find out and about through the lands didn't help much for deciphering the exact date.
Ingo couldn't recall the last time he was actually certain about what day it was. It had become fuzzy, the memory of a young woman and man, likeness uncanny to his own, gathered around a pamphlet that hung on the wall with a specific time scrawled strongly in a bright red. It fascinated him, these fleeting memories of people and places, the life that used to be, one that he used to remember so clearly, but he was never able to retrieve much else. Nothing that would be of help in identifying who those people were that his heart missed so dearly, nor the world that he had grown distant to in this current time. But, as time was his own worst enemy for these recollections, it was also his greatest ally. For the more he forgot of his world, the more he learned of this one. Each happy memory was replaced with a new one, and the feeling of isolation and loneliness had been cured by the most unexpected of people.
Warden of the Diamond Clan, Melli. He was irritating, narcissistic at times, and had such a raging superiority complex. Yet, to many of the members' surprise, Ingo had for some reason taken quite the liking to the eccentric purple-haired man. For reasons they were unaware, but for one that was an agreed upon secret between the two Wardens. For Melli's dignity, of course. If word got out that he'd burned himself on a fire once and had to recieve help from a Pearl, he feared he would never hear the end of it from the others.
As the conductor waded through the patch of flowers, an aroma wafting up that was neither sweet nor bitter, he was soon stopped by an awkward exclamation, prompting him to pause where he stood and turn attention to the man that chased after him, seeming to struggle through the field despite his taller stature from the other. "Sinnoh- You've no virtue for waiting on others, do you?" He pursued, earning a mere acknowledgement in the form of a hum. "Now, what is it you've dragged me from the comfort of my home for? I can already feel my nose beginning to itch at the pollen.." Melli trailed off in complaint, eyes turning away from Ingo a moment too long, giving the Pearl Warden a chance to carefully take his wrist and lead him further into the field. Physical contact was not something often experienced by either clan, let alone between members of the competing, but despite Melli's flabbergasted, flushed state, it was more than welcomed. The purple-haired man followed further without any more struggle, the hand whose wrist was being dragged going limp rather than try and pry the touch away.
As they neared the center of the field, Melli finally broke the trail, carefully taking his wrist from Ingo's fingers in slight hesitation, brushing against warm skin as a non-verbal reassurance he didn't do so out of spite or discomfort, just repositioning his arms to cross over his chest when they came to a standstill. He had grown much more tolerant of the Pearl Warden's presence over the last few months, and with it, he had become less reserved and drawn off. "..Well then, what is it you wished to show me, Ingo?" The man pushed again, hoping to coax some sort of explanation out of the quiet subway boss. As much as Ingo was friendly, it couldn't help but to be noticed that sometimes he seemed to zone out, or forget to say a word. All he needed was a small reminder though, and he would get right back on track.
"Warden Melli, I have found something that I think you would be pleased to see!" He suddenly began, enthusiastic and gesturing broadly to show it. "You have mentioned you enjoy flowers before, and stargazing as well. I have been thinking for quite a while, that I know a fitting place with both of those in mind." Ingo explained, signaling to the ground below before he slowly lowered to it, brushing his tattered coat hem aside and settling down into a comfortable lying position, fixing his hat so it would stay secure on his head.
Oh.
Ingo had remembered that Melli liked flowers. And Ingo had remembered that he liked watching the stars at night, trying to spot the constellations that he knew. Ingo had remembered that he had said no one in the Diamond Clan was ever awake late into the night that was able to share the activity. And Ingo had gone out of his way to invite Melli out, to a field of sunflowers with the perfect view of the luminous sky, all just for him. The action, once he'd realized it, made heat crawl up to his face, lingering in his cheeks and the tips of his ears. He fidgeted with his hair a moment, trying to process the situation with a slight embarrassment of his unawareness before joining Ingo on the lush ground, ignoring the pollen that may linger and instead resting his arms over his stomach idly, staring up at the sky with wide eyes.
Ingo had done all this for him.
He didn't have to, but he did. Because he wanted to.
It made Melli giddy deep inside, the type of happiness that would come from heavy flattery. Like receiving a compliment from the person you had eyes for, or an unmistakable gift of affection from your partner. It was new, it was strange, and it was nice! It almost felt like a more intimate moment of bonding, more so than the incident in the cave ever could have been. He couldn't think of a proper word for it, but it made the hopeless romantic in his heart spin around in an overwhelming joy. Despite his efforts, the Warden couldn't hold back the smile from his lips, beginning slowly and then spreading swiftly like a spark. Ingo enjoyed his company, he genuinely enjoyed him. And that was plenty enough for Melli to be happy. He had many feelings of his own in conflict, ones that made him wish for something deeper, that made him want to honor their ancestors culture of trying traditional methods to court the person you had fallen so deeply in love with, but the thought of Ingo actually enjoying his presence, even if just as a friend, was enough.
Letting out a heavy breath that he'd been holding, Melli couldn't help but clasp his hands together in an appreciative gesture, a gentle silence between the two as they watched the endless ocean of stars. They were truly beautiful, the way each had a different size and glow, how some burned with a warmer hue and how some looked cool. How the moon hung high in the air, surrounded by all of these tiny little specks of light, resting peacefully in its home. It was breathtaking, the cool air not a tad too frigid, nor too warm. The dew slowly collected onto the flowers and grasses that the two laid in, a refreshing sensation against the bare skin of their hands. It was a nice break from all of the get up and go of being a Warden, but no matter how captivating space was, to Melli, Ingo was so much more. His eyes dragged away from the sky, carefully resting on the rigid and worn face that watched the moon, seemingly softened and calm.
Ingo had a good balance, when it came to his features. His face was sharp, but not so much that it was jarring, a plump life to his cheeks that still rendered him as a younger man. Beneath his eyes, bags had formed, a creasing line telling quickly that he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a very long time. The way that his mouth was always formed into a deep frown, even though his personality often contrasted it. The man looked beat, completely and utterly exhausted. Yet, he always held a certain energy to him, pushing on no matter what and near constantly giving positive, encouraging praise to his members and even a few times Melli himself.
He had gone through quite a lot, hadn't he?
"Ingo," the Diamond Warden began anxiously, eyebrows furrowing as he tried desperately to find the right words. It was hard for him to keep a conversation without any sarcasm, as it had become normal to him, but he was still capable of putting in the effort to be serious. He was agitating, not irresponsible. Ingo turned his head towards him once his name was called, staring at the man with a half-lidded gaze. Some would see it as disinterest, boredom, but Melli knew well that it was patience he saw in his eyes. "if you truly came from another world, why do you not miss your home? You're always composed, straight-faced, I don't believe I've ever seen you dare express a negative emotion." He murmured, biting back his tongue slightly in regret, worried that he had said the wrong thing or stated his curiosity in a way that sounded mocking.
To his relief, Ingo didn't seem to take any offense to the bold query. He was silent for quite a time, pondering on the words before finally parting his lips to speak an answer. "I do miss my home. It..is hard not to. But, I know that I cannot do anything. I do not know how I got here, and so I do not know how to get back." The conductor stated, frown seeming to deepen for a moment as his eyebrows slanted down, almost in confusion. "I miss my family, my friends. But, I have a family here now, I have people who look out for me. Akari had recognized me somehow. I do not know why, and I am sad to say that I could not recall her from my past, but if there is a possibility she was part of my family in my world..Then I am happy that I could be here. Maybe my purpose is simply to give her the comfort of home, in a land very very far from ours." He finished off, a soft chuckle escaping him as he turned his head back to the sky.
"I do not know who I used to be. Sometimes, I can see people in my memories. A young woman, with a flashy outfit and a memorable hairstyle. And a man, who looks an awful lot like myself. I think that as long as I keep them in my memory, I will have never truly left my home. And they will always be with me, so long as I can remember them." Ingo mumbled, a slight sorrow to his tone. It wasn't exactly comforting, to know that you were slowly forgetting who you were and the people that you cared about, but it was something that he tried to have a positive outlook on. The sudden shift in mood caused Melli to frown instinctively, eyebrows knitting together in a pity for the man. He didn't have many people to talk about this to, by the sounds of it. So, the purple-haired Warden would do everything he could to make sure the man didn't regret trusting him with such a vulnerable state.
Moving slightly to reposition himself, Melli laid on his side, one arm beneath his head for support and the other warily sneaking over to the body about a foot from his own, slender fingers resting gently onto the conductors shoulder, giving a tight, reassuring grasp as if to reground him. "I know…it may not be of much comfort, but I'll help you in any way that I can. I will- we will all try and get you back home, Ingo. Akari, Adaman, Irida; Everyone." It was a simple attempt at sympathy, at comfort, but it was enough to cause Ingo to look at him, staring blankly for a moment. When he did seem to process, his movement was abrupt, rolling onto his own side and slinging his arms towards the man, catching him by surprise. Melli stammered only for a moment, being pulled in closer into a deep embrace before he could understand what Ingo was doing. The subway boss gripped onto the back of the Diamond Warden's outfit tightly, fingers turning white from the pressure as he laid his head on his shoulder, having long abandoned his hat in the sudden action.
Melli had frozen under the strong hug, expression blank and eyes with a thousand-yard stare, attempting to quickly compose himself again. His face was flushed a gentle pink, but this was no time for his feelings of adoration. Instead, he took a sharp breath in, tenderly returning the embrace and giving Ingo a reassuring pat on the back, letting the man seek out comfort in the touch. They held the position for a long time, the moon having swayed slightly, deeper into the sky than it was when they had arrived. At one point, Melli was almost worried that Ingo had exhausted himself too much and fallen asleep, trapping him in an embrace that he wouldn't be able to pry from until morning. But, this was quickly proven wrong when the conductor slowly retracted from the touch, prompting Melli to let go as well and watch him return to his previous spot, albeit a bit closer than he was before.
The silence that hung in the air now was heavy, but not of tension or an uncomfortable feeling. No, it was one of safety. A sense of security between each other, known only to them and the moon. The purple-haired man's lips fell ajar for a moment, fidgeting with his hair before he decided against breaking the quiet this time. Instead, he laid on his back once more, eyes locking on the full moon and inspecting every crater in it. He would've continued, if his attention wasn't suddenly snagged by the familiar silhouette that suddenly shot through the sky. He pulled himself upwards, sitting on edge as he watched the pokémon slow in front of the moon, head soon turning to the two of them from where it floated. It gave off a gentle glow from the rings attached to its body, casting a faint pink light onto the meadow. Ingo soon copied Melli's surprise, coming to sit up and stare in a starstruck state.
The night was still, and as the lunar pokémon watched the two Wardens, it eventually turned fully to face them, eyes narrowing. At first, Melli feared that they had somehow angered it by staring, but as a gentle hue suddenly fell from its body, floating down to them carefully, it was apparent that it was just the opposite. Once the pink feather was in reach, Melli took it from the air with a reserved hand, treating it as if it would disappear if he held it wrong in any way. And, with its gift, the pokémon turned away, zipping back off through the night and leaving behind it a trail of soothing song. His eyes looked over the shining quill, turning it over and taking in every small detail of it before he looked to Ingo, who watched with a similar fascination. The Warden's eyes looked over the pale face once more, taking in its features again before reluctantly pushing away the pride of being 'blessed' by such a pokémon, receiving a revered item. He wasn't the only one who was there to witness it, afterall.
Slowly, Melli offered the feather to Ingo, fighting back yet another flush of heat as he prompted the man to take it. "You would put it to better use than I would." He admitted, not waiting for the other to respond before pushing it into his hand, retreating quickly. It seemed that the calm had overstayed its welcome, and the usual demeanor he wore was beginning to return, eyebrows furrowing slightly before he pushed himself to stand, brushing his clothes off and giving a strong nod. "Thank you for the company, Warden Ingo. I must be going now, I have responsibilities to attend to." He excused, causing the conductor to look up at him with indifference, "Wait for a moment please, Warden Melli." Ingo started, getting up and adjusting his hat onto his head once again before looking at him. "I will escort you back to your residence, it becomes dangerous at night."
There it was again, that giddy feeling. No matter how hard Melli tried to push it down, it burst into an unmanageable flame, growing taller and taller until it turned his skin a saturated red, tripping over silence before turning his head up at the suggestion, partially out of an attempt to keep up his pride, and partially to hide the blush across his face. "..If you must then. Come, make it quick!" Melli agreed, spinning on his heel and marching away without a further word.
He was truly, madly besotted with Ingo. And it was becoming more and more of a struggle to hide it in refrain. Oh at this rate he wanted to pull on his hair, he could feel it stir in his stomach, the growing urge to do something terribly out of character for his usual on-goings. Any longer and he wouldn't be able to hold that want back anymore, pulling his own hat down over his eyes in an attempt to hide away the buzzing sensation. He was the one to be courted, he was the one to be charmed and flattered, not the other way around! But perhaps it didn't sound so bad. Making Ingo smile, metaphorically, or hearing him laugh at something he would say. It sounded quite..
Ineffable.