[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Vjbkt6H.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/u0GYKOs.png[/img][/center] After doing some research, Olivia finally found the perfect place for Suzuya to try pizza for the first time. Located on Baker Street, just across from the Baker Street tube station, and only a short walk away from the Sherlock Holmes Museum, L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele was widely considered to make the best pizza in London. Their Neapolitan-style pizza, while incredibly delicious, was also noted to be easy on the stomach, something she knew Suzuya would be grateful for. It was a rare sunny day, with clear, blue skies, but Olivia had still decided to bring an umbrella, just in case. [color=LightSkyBlue]“I haven’t really read too many Sherlock Holmes stories,”[/color] Olivia was saying in her nasally voice as the pair entered the restaurant. [color=LightSkyBlue]“But Edgar Allan Poe wrote quite a few detective stories, so I thought I’d give some Holmes stories a try. They were actually pretty interesting! Plus, I really enjoyed reading Neil Gaiman’s [i]‘A Study in Emerald’[/i], which combines Holmes with H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos!”[/color] she added excitedly. [color=LightSkyBlue]“So, yeah, I think it would be really fun if we could visit the museum later!”[/color] The restaurant they found themselves in was rather small, although Olivia had mentioned that most of the seating was actually in the basement. Still, with it being such a nice day, the bespectacled brunette picked an empty table by the window, right next to a wall upon which the words “I want someone to look at me the way I look at pizza” were spelled out in bright neon letters. It was also [i]hot[/i], the large oven taking up the center of the room emanating the warmth of a bonfire. Yet, on such a crisp day, the heat was quite appreciated, at least by Olivia. [color=LightSkyBlue]“You know, I’ve never actually had a genuine Neapolitan pizza before,”[/color] Olivia noted as they sat down. [color=LightSkyBlue]“So this will be [i]my[/i] first time, too!”[/color] Suzuya was unsurprised to find Olivia had no issue keeping up conversation even as Suzuya was taking in all the sights without the filter of concern over Pageless to dull the surroundings. A pleasant day on the town, no Merrywell or Magical Girls to worry over, and the even sunnier disposition of her roommate to keep things lively. She'd done a little looking into pizza after accepting the invitation and the pictures of greasy, starchy discs of pizza wider then she was did little to fill her with confidence. Olivia's words of reassurance, however, did. Trusting that she wouldn't steer her wrong and had put thought into this she went along with a small smile and her hands clasped before her. Her eyes bounced from the museum across the way to Olivia herself, finding it odd that- of all things- Olivia wasn't a blonde out of her transformed state. [color=yellow]"We'll enjoy it together than...you know, it's a little funny, but I don't think I realized you wore glasses until today. I'm a little used to you being transformed to keep Xolys out and about. It's almost like we match."[/color] Suzuya nudged her own frames higher up her nose for emphasis, her expression soft yet tentative as she tried to keep Olivia engaged as the warmth of the ovens washed over them. A comfort that reminded her of being enveloped in her Grimoire, but seeing as they actually wanted the staff to see them, neither had come with tails or tentacles in tow. [color=yellow]"Sorry, I got a little distracted. I actually rather like books...I guess that's no surprise given who we are...though my knowledge of Western literature is a little limited."[/color] Would Olivia think less of her for not knowing? Feeling herself flush with color she looked down, fiddling with her napkin rolled around a bundle of steel utensils. [color=yellow]"Not that I haven't heard of Sherlock Holmes. He was, umm, done by that guy who wrote Hamlet, right?"[/color] [color=LightSkyBlue]“Oh gosh! You’re right!”[/color] Olivia exclaimed with a smile when Suzuya pointed out how they both wore glasses. [color=LightSkyBlue]“And I suppose I [i]am[/i] often transformed,”[/color] she conceded. [color=LightSkyBlue]“I just love being able to have darling Xolys around to chat with, but I wanted [i]this[/i] to be a girls’ day out,”[/color] she added. [color=LightSkyBlue]“A special treat for just the two of us! Plus, for some reason, Xolys didn’t think they’d let him in here… He can be so silly sometimes!”[/color] she said with a giggle that came out as more of a snort. Then Suzuya mentioned the author of Sherlock Holmes… [color=LightSkyBlue]“Oh, no,”[/color] Olivia corrected, her expression one of cheerful amusement. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Hamlet was written by William Shakespeare. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote Sherlock Holmes. Well, the original stories, anyway,”[/color] she clarified, adjusting her glasses ever so slightly. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Like I was saying earlier, lots of other people have written about him over the years. So, um, what kinds of stories do [i]you[/i] enjoy reading, Suzuya?”[/color] The image of Xolys stooped over their table did bring a giggle to the blonde easterner, and it was so easy to see Olivia oblivious to anyone's concerns about wayward claws catching a waiter trying to shimmy past his impressive body. Suzuya was finding herself desensitized to him readily enough, in part because her transformation got her through the initial shock, but mostly due to coming to know him as a person on his own. It was more awkward to think of him as a summon who disappears when Olivia isn't in a ball gown then as someone she'd usually see passing her in the hallway. [color=yellow]"Oh. My mistake. My english is adequate but my knowledge of the culture is...limited, to say the least."[/color] She sighed, not feeling judgement for her error but not feeling great about it either. Still the pleasant atmosphere kept the wall flower from drawing inwards and she met Olivia's eye with a small smile. [color=yellow]"I like short stories. The kinds where every paragraph can have a dozen different meanings and you can pour over them for hours analyzing how different interpretations change the entire context of what has come and will follow it. There's this writer in Japan who was one of our first to reach world wide acclaim, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, who did a whole lot of them. My favorite was [i]In A Grove[/i]. In a way it's also a detective story but the reader is the detective and everyone's testimony is suspect. It even got made into a Kurosawa film!"[/color] [color=LightSkyBlue]“Oh wow! That sounds really cool!”[/color] Olivia gushed. [color=LightSkyBlue]“I’d really like to read that sometime! Did you know Edgar Allan Poe mainly wrote short stories as well?”[/color] she asked. [color=LightSkyBlue]“He even once said that he thought all stories should be short enough to be read in one sitting. I don’t know if I completely agree,”[/color] she continued. [color=LightSkyBlue]“I mean, there are a lot of benefits to getting invested in a long novel as well, but I can still see where he’s coming from. Oh! So does that mean your favorite genre is mystery fiction?!”[/color] [color=yellow]"I don't think I'd want every story that short either. Sometimes you need a book worth coming back to sitting after sitting with more to offer, no?"[/color] Suzuya's expression steadily brightened as they talked, her fidgeting hands going still as she left the crumpled napkin lay across her lap. [color=yellow]"And yes, I do enjoy mysteries. Not so much murder mysteries but...the stories were someone grapples with the morality of something and there is no right answer. Even horror has a tantalizing mystery to the unknown, though when it turns out to be a monster in a rubber suit I tend to lose interest, movie or book regardless.”[/color] [color=LightSkyBlue]“I suppose that makes sense…”[/color] Olivia conceded with a thoughtful frown, before quickly brightening up again. [color=LightSkyBlue]“But even then, some of those monsters [i]do[/i] look kind of cute. Still, I agree, the [i]most[/i] interesting creatures are the ones your own imagination can come up with,”[/color] she added. [color=LightSkyBlue]“That’s what I love so much about eldritch horrors! They’re just [i]so[/i] interesting, they defy description!”[/color] [color=yellow]"We have these books. They’re like comics but read right to left. You'd like some of the horror ones. Junji Ito would be something you and Xolys would enjoy, now that I think about it."[/color] The blonde wondered if she could get one mail ordered for her, and was reaching for her phone when she smelled a fresh whiff of tomato and saw a man walking up with their order. The hesitancy she felt about it didn't seem to rear up this time and she adjusted her glasses. [color=yellow]"I'll find you something of his another time. For now we should enjoy our meal."[/color] … … … [color=LightSkyBlue]“That was great, wasn’t it Suzuya?!”[/color] Olivia was saying as they stepped out of the restaurant. [color=LightSkyBlue]“The perfect flavor, yet not overly filling in the slightest! In fact, I think that was the [i]best[/i] pizza I’ve ever had in my entire—”[/color] [color=Red]“Um, excuse me,”[/color] an American-accented voice called from behind them. [color=Red]“I, uh, think you forgot this.”[/color] Turning around, Olivia was greeted with the sight of [url=https://imgur.com/zCnMvjz]a short-haired young woman with a camera hung around her shoulder, and holding…[/url] [color=LightSkyBlue]“My umbrella!”[/color] Olivia gasped. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Thank you so much!”[/color] [color=Red]“Don’t mention it,”[/color] the girl replied with a chuckle. [color=LightSkyBlue]“I know it’s absolutely gorgeous out right now, but I’ve learned that the weather can change quite rapidly here!”[/color] Olivia explained, sounding very serious. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Why, just a few weeks ago, some friends and I were walking through a lovely park on a sunny day, when, all of a sudden, a terrible storm blew in, and we were all completely soaked!”[/color] [color=Red]“Yikes…”[/color] [color=LightSkyBlue]“Oh! I’m so sorry!”[/color] the bespectacled brunette gasped as a thought occurred to her. [color=LightSkyBlue]“I never introduced myself! I’m Olivia, and this is my friend, Suzuya.”[/color] [color=yellow]"It's nice to meet you."[/color] the blonde chirped, radiating contentment after discovering the simple joy of seasoned tomato and cheese settled in her stomach. [color=Red]“Same here.”[/color] the girl replied with an easy smile. [color=Red]“I’m Kate.”[/color] [color=LightSkyBlue]“It’s very nice to meet you as well, Kate!”[/color] Olivia added in her typical, over-enthusiastic manner, although Kate seemed to be more amused than bothered by it. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Um, judging by your accent, and that camera, I’m guessing you’re a tourist?”[/color] [color=Red]“Yup,”[/color] Kate confirmed. [color=Red]“And I may be goin’ out on a limb, but I don’t suppose [i]you[/i] two are from around here either,”[/color] she added with a grin. [color=yellow]"No, we're actually students studying here abroad. I've only been here in London a little over a week."[/color] Suzuya chirped, finding the tourist a friendly enough face. While there was yet to be a cloud in the sky it would have been dreary to be caught by a sudden storm and getting soaked outside her Magical Girl state. [color=yellow]"You're having a good time seeing the sights?"[/color] [color=Red]“Sure am,”[/color] Kate confirmed. [color=Red]“This isn’t my first time in London, but even when I visit someplace more than once, there always seems to be something new to discover.”[/color] [color=LightSkyBlue]“This is actually our first opportunity to explore the city since we arrived,”[/color] Olivia explained. [color=LightSkyBlue]“And there are so many interesting places to check out and exciting experiences to have! In fact, Suzuya just finished having pizza for the very first time!”[/color] she added happily. [color=yellow]"H-Hey, don't go telling her that. People might think I'm some kind of country bumpkin!"[/color] The blonde laughed, sticking a finger into Olivia's side for embarrassing her with her ardent sincerity. [color=yellow]"It, was, pretty good. Wonderful even. Though I still feel the need to walk it off, so we were going to visit the museum over there."[/color] [color=Red]“Ooohh… Sherlock Holmes, huh?”[/color] Kate noted with a grin. [color=Red]“Nice. Say, before you head over there, would you like me to take your picture in front of the restaurant?”[/color] Kate asked, pointing to it with her thumb. [color=Red]“Havin’ pizza for the first time is an experience you should have a memento of.”[/color] [color=LightSkyBlue]“Oh, yes! That would be wonderful!”[/color] Olivia gushed. [color=LightSkyBlue]“Don’t you think so, Suzuya?!”[/color] Grinning with a giddy sort of energy Suzuya squeezed in closer to the brunette, the London light striking their glasses as the frames bumped against each other with their proximity. [color=yellow]"Sure, a picture sounds fun. It'll be nice to make a pleasant memory."[/color] [color=Red]“Okay,”[/color] Kate said with a chuckle as Olivia leaned in and placed her arm (!) around Suzuya. [color=Red]“Say ‘cheese’!”[/color] [color=yellow]"Cheese!"[/color] *Snap!* [color=Red]“Looks good,”[/color] Kate told them as she inspected the image on her camera’s display. [color=Red]“I just sent it to your phones, if ya wanna see for yourselves.”[/color] [color=LightSkyBlue]“O-Our phones…?”[/color] Olivia asked, somewhat surprised to see that she had gotten a new message. [color=LightSkyBlue]“But how did you…?”[/color] [color=Red]“This is a pretty special camera,”[/color] Kate explained with a wink, while patting the device in question. [color=Red]“I got it custom-made. I guess you could say I’m somethin’ of a world traveler, so havin’ a top notch camera is pretty important. It’s not much good for selfies,”[/color] she added with a chuckle. [color=Red]“But I’m not really into that kinda thing anyway.”[/color] [color=LightSkyBlue]“Gosh… That’s really cool!”[/color] Olivia marveled. [color=LightSkyBlue]“And the picture looks great, too!”[/color] [color=Red]“Thanks! Well, I’m gonna get goin’ now,”[/color] Kate said as she readjusted her camera strap. [color=Red]“I hope you two enjoy the museum!”[/color] [color=LightSkyBlue]“You’re welcome! And I’m sure we will!”[/color] Olivia called. [color=LightSkyBlue]“This has been such a great day already, hasn’t it Suzuya?”[/color] she noted, giving her friend a big smile, before looking back down at the picture on her phone’s display screen. [color=LightSkyBlue]“I’m going to cherish this day for the rest of my life!”[/color]