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Busy adults, with equally as busy schedules, was an accurate way to explain Ingo and Emmet's availability in getting opportunities to hang out with their beloved sis-in-all-but-blood Elesa. Between their shifts at the Battle Subway, their many doctor appointments, and Elesa's job as both model and Gym Leader it was no surprise that most of their plans to spend quality time together were in a voice-call for game nights or a lunch date squeezed in here and there.
But often, more times than not, things lined up just right for them to have a full day together. Or—in their current situation—Elesa parted an opening into her schedule as though she were a Pokémon using Surf.
It was mighty impressive the way that Elesa got Ingo and Emmet permission to the backstage premises of a verrry important photo shoot that she was taking part in. For her usual modeling gigs, it was a given that her brothers would have special behind-the-scenes action privileges should they want to observe her in her 'natural environment'. It was hardly different from her new Gym set, just with a lot more people, in their opinion.
However, this was not her standard fashion team, no. For this shoot, and given the time of year, they assumed that Elesa was modeling off a collection that had debuted earlier that week during Nimbasa Fashion Week. It was a big hullabaloo every year during the winter and summer seasons and a current key reason as to why Elesa's cab had yet to cross paths with their own one-car train. She had been booked the whole week that September, showcasing the Spring Collection to designer name brands that had their heads spinning trying to memorize the line-up.
It was funny how what affected Elesa in the modeling sector also affected them at Gear Station as well. There was always a noticeable uptick in the transit lines as visitors from other cities or towns rushed to Nimbasa to see what the latest and greatest of their generation had to offer. Consequentially, they also noticed a couple of newcomers to the Battle Subway—although those battlers rarely lasted a long enough of a streak to receive a token.
Thankfully, while it was great to see the station full of happy and buzzing passengers, Ingo and Emmet were more than grateful when the commotion died down. It allowed an opening in their own schedule, that was quickly swooped up by Elesa and her offer of an invite.
With Ingo doing the walking for the day, they arrived at the studio promptly and as punctual as always—after all, it was important to follow the schedule! Elesa greeted them at the doors and gave them a set of black and white clearance badges. In comparison to the baby blue, pleated garment that hung off of her natural form, Ingo and Emmet looked quite drab in their white work shirts and black pants. They forewent their ties today, and of course, didn't wear their coats outside of work, but still wanted to dress business casual to show their respect to the team that Elesa was working with.
As they walked over to the elevator that would take them to the floor that her photography session was on, she explained a little more about what was happening.
"This isn't actually for any collections featured this week, as those shoots are done way in advance during the production period," she corrected their assumption, throwing a look back at the two as she led them around after a quick pop-in and out of her dressing room. "Which you knuckleheads would have known from previous years, because it's not as if, oh, I haven't been doing this for a while now."
"You know how it is with us," Ingo chuckled as he looked around the set. It was almost blindingly bright around the area that he figured the models would, well, model the clothing. The design however was reminiscent of a familiar urban center. He took great care to not interfere with any of the cables or equipment around as they made their way to a table with a couple of chairs. "In one ear, and out the other."
"Especially when it is something not about battling or engineering," Emmet joked.
"Hardy-har-har," Elesa struggled to keep a pout on her face as a smile tried its darnedest to show. "Well, maybe today you guys will learn something and it will sink in for once."
Ingo rose a brow, "Are we back in school?"
"And will you test us?" Emmet added.
"I will so listen up and listen well! Hmm… Alright here's a fun fact for you that will be on the multiple choice exam, so don't forget it," she wagged a finger at them as they settled down in their seat for a quick rest as they had been on their feet for a while now. "Now, what do you think models were originally called?"
"I am Emmet and I don't know," he said. "Were they not always models?"
"Nope! They were called mannequins," Elesa smirked before transitioning into a striking pose, "Not even a hundred years ago you could expect to see darling beauties like me working in Kalosian salons wearing modern styles for an expectant débutante and other patrons. Tea-time gowns galore in a style similar to what I'm wearing now. Cool right?"
"Hmm," Emmet's head faux-bobbed. "It would be cool if we were talking about train models."
"You guys are hopeless," Elesa collapsed—well, that was the wrong word as she carefully and precisely sat down so as to not crease the dress—into the seat across from them. "Fashion and you guys are like oil and water it seems."
"Well, it's only natural. Fashion is inaccessible to us," Ingo commented idly, with Emmet nodding his head along, as he glanced at the photo director who was speaking to a select other models. When he turned back toward his friend, it was to a pinched expression on her face.
"I know, and I'm sorry about that," Elesa apologized, for no good reason as nothing was her fault in the slightest. "My team and I do our best, but you guys know you can come to us for anything, right? If the fabric is still getting snagged or-"
"Oh," he blinked, unintentionally and loudly interrupting her. "Well, yes that as well in the sense that we need accommodations, but you and your team have done a super bravo job with altering our outfits! So apologies are neither necessary nor accepted. What we meant was more of Fashion-"
"With a capital 'F'!" Emmet chimed in.
"As in the whole," Ingo rolled his hand as he ruminated on the description. "Lifestyle of it."
"It is too much work!" Emmet declared. "Work that could be better spent on battling!"
"Also the concept of designer fashion is absurdly ridiculous," the leftmost twin continued, with an amused huff.
"Why spend so much money on something that will be out of vogue the following season?" Emmet posed. "Such a waste! Not worth the money spent if you ask me."
"Nor worth the time," Ingo continued. "Take that dress you're wearing as an example. As you explained it to us earlier, the garment will need to be re-pleated after how long exactly? Was it a year?"
"I recall her saying a year," Emmet confirmed.
"So in a year, if we bought that dress the beautiful natural pleats would disappear," Ingo shook his head. "Sure, its ability to be tied into a twisted bundle of fabric is convenient for storage I'll give you that but functionality over form is key."
"Plus that doesn't count all of the non-fidget accessories to keep track of, and match properly with outfits," Emmet tried to suppress a yawn, not out of rudeness but because he was still feeling the remnants of the midday rush from the day before.
"Dressing for comfort, on the other hand," Ingo raised his pointer finger to emphasize his final point, "Is always worth it."
"Yup, yup, yup!"
"Fashion is suffering-"
"So why suffer at all!" Emmet finished with a cheerful harrumph.
'Because Fashion,' was the answer to that question not that Elesa would speak it. Now, she could have interrupted their little bit to inform them about the way that Fashion cycled its way down to just clothing, but decided to spare them the lecture. Instead, she said, "You guys are lucky that fratricide is frowned upon in this society."
"Please, if it was legal do you really think that Iris wouldn't have gotten to us first before you," Emmet challenged with a burst of laughter.
"It's true," Ingo commented. "Have you felt the strength behind her strikes? I fear that she is getting more fearsome by the day."
"It must be all the wrestling with dragons that she does, yup," Emmet rubbed his chin. "Dad is a horrible influence on her."
"As if you guys are any better!" Elesa exclaimed. She looked over and saw the photo director giving her the cue that they were just about ready to return. Considerately, before leaving she asked, "Do you guys wanna stay on set or go hang out in my dressing room?"
They had glimpsed a peak earlier and took note of the plush couch situated in there. But the twins looked at each other, being of the same mind earlier that day and thus had engaged in proper planning. Ingo and Emmet wanted to support their sister in full, and so Ingo answered, "We might pop in there if we feel that our back is truly starting to hurt, but we came prepared today with our back brace."
"Yup! Verrry prepared," Emmet nodded. "I am Emmet and he is Ingo and we will try and stay as long as possible to cheer you on!"
"You guys are sweet," and she leaned over to nuzzle her head against theirs in a quick hug. "Alright, wish me luck!"
"Break a leg!" Ingo clapped.
"But not actually! That would be verrry upsetting!"