Oh, she called me girlfriend while murdering a man with her eyes. That got quite the blush from me as I watched Aria let him go, the man running off as if he’d met death herself. To be fair, if they knew what Aria was, that wouldn’t be that far from the truth. Also, he’s going to need a change of underwear.
“One, you can read minds? Two, girlfriend?” I grinned, my own cheeks still a bit red as I watched her open her eyes in surprise. The blush returned as she softened up like mush, mumbling adorable noises instead of words for several seconds.
“…It was a heat of the moment thing!”
I giggled as I hugged her from behind, giving her hair a little tussle.
“Come on, let’s find you a seat before you murder someone else.” I moved her along the empty restaurant to a nice table with the least beat-up chairs.
“I’m not reading someone’s mind or anything silly like that…Just that I sense what people are feeling. It’s hard to explain.” She began as she took her seat, the murder eyes having calmed down, returning to the multi-speckled white gems that normally dotted her eyes.
“Huh. You’re the second then. My brother’s girlfriend, probably wife now, she’s got that too.” I pointed out as Aria’s eyes lit up, surprised. “She says it’s a pain in the ass.”
“I thought it was a Pact Mage thing or something…but I’m glad it’s not!” Aria gave a happy little clap as I nodded. When she said Pact Mage, she pretty much always meant dragon. I figured it out as a little trick of hers on the way here.
“Ya, that was why I wasn’t too surprised.”
Aria replied back with a cheeky ‘You saw me turn into a dragon, nothing will surprise you ever again,’ smile.
“Maybe I should introduce you to my sister-in-law? The two of them live in Mithil, after all.”
At first her eyes glittered with delight, then a sigh of disappointment.
“Mmm…how about after I finish what I have to do in Mithil? It’ll be busy, for obvious reasons.” She wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t like she was going to get freer after word got out that there was a third dragon trying to claim the throne. I’d ask her about it later.
“So…what prompted you to murder the poor guy?” I folded my arms, giving her a curious glance as I watched her eyes open wide, a little afraid.
“Do…Do you not want me to do that?” Uh oh. I think I spooked her into worrying about it.
“No no! I thought it was really cool and sweet! It looked like you took it personally. That’s all,” I pointed out as she twirled her hair around her fingers nervously.
“Well, when I make a choice, I expect that the people around me will trust me with that choice. If it’s something major, then I’ve likely put a lot of thought about it. If it’s a bad idea, then I need to figure that out myself? That’s just the way I am.” She looked down, a little sullen.
I was a little confused, but I thought I got the point. There was a far more pressing issue, like my empty stomach.
“I mean, murder approved, but I’m kind of hungry.” I groaned as Aria gave a hungry moan and dragged herself across the table.
“Me too. We didn’t get to order anything…” She whined as an older lady came out with some candles.
She reminded me of a sweet older grandmother, the kind that would bring her grandkids cookies with each visit. I did not have such a grandmother. She was insistent on going out swinging and kicking bear’s teeth in with a longbow.
“There you go, dears.” She placed some softly scented candles, and some warm garlic bread.
Aria was very much resisting the…Oh, she’d started eating the entire basket of bread already. I gave a knowing, cheeky sigh. That’s a dragon for you.
“It’s delicious! Here!” She handed me the half empty basket as I grabbed a loaf. It indeed did taste as good as it smelled.
“We’ve prepared a bit of everything for you tonight, and if you want extras of anything you taste, don’t be afraid to give ol’ grandma call.” She smiled at the two of us as Aria’s eyes softened up a bit.
“Um…sorry about the whole…thing,” Aria sputtered, food still in her mouth.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m glad you kids found someone nice for each other.”
The two of us exchanged smiles as a bell rang in the back.
“Oh! More food! I’ll be right back.” She shuffled off, leaving me to watch Aria stuff her face with garlic bread.
* * * *
The food was marvelous. Sweet and tender elk. Lamb, gravy, and potatoes. A whole chicken slowly roasted and marinated. Plates of steamed and salted vegetables, all lightly drizzled. Under normal conditions, it would be far too much food for two people. However, we were trying to feed a dragon. A very hungry dragon that had spent the last few weeks without a good meal, flying, and generally trenching through snow. There were also yells from the back of the kitchen, no doubt our grandmother giving her kid a good whipping. Whether that whipping was metaphorical or literal was hard to tell.
“Okay, date game!” I gleefully exclaimed as I produced a hat, some sketching pencils, and a small bag. Aria was currently in the process of eating an entire chicken and looked up at me with a worried glance. I could swear every new thing this date brought had worried her to no end.
“So each of us gets at least three slips of paper, then we write a question on each slip, toss them into the bag, and then pull them out!” I stared at Aria’s sauce-covered hands.
“On second thought I’ll pull them out.”
She eyed her hands, covered in sauce. Then she nodded, before swallowing a chicken leg whole, bones included.
“Normally we play three rounds, and then we can each choose to add more in, but seeing as it’s getting late, let’s just keep it to three.” I carefully tore off a few well-divided slips of paper, and then tossed my questions into the bag. Aria had this dead-pan look of terror the entire time as I was giggling to myself. Then I handed the pencil and paper to her.
“I guess we’re going to find a lot about each other then…” she said, her voice shaking with fear and excitement as she wiped down her hands. “I think talking about my past brings down the mood though…”
“Why does it have to be the past? Come on, you’re not worrying about that, are you?” I could tell that she was definitely worrying about it.
“Right. Okay, here.” She folded them and then tossed them into the bag. “I’m excited.”
“Same!” I exclaimed as I rummaged through the bag, before pulling a slightly crumpled note. I could tell from the handwriting that it was Aria’s.
