"Fish from the lake? Well, sounds like you had fun earlier." Lunalel said with a slight giggle. Their dinner continued on for a bit but they soon finished their food, paid and headed back home.
"That was good. I've not had any fish in a while. I guess that's what comes with being inland." Well, at least the worst of it was over. Though, she'd probably think about it later.
"Anything else you wanted before we retire for the night?"Eith threw her own blanket at Meal-Ticket. Less so because she liked him enough, and more so because she pitied him like any who have recieved the harsh selfishness of the Nemoriennes. Much like how she felt for herself in the past. Not like she really needed the blanket. She just liked how fluffy it felt. She looked him in the eyes for a second before laying her head down again. Truthfully, the Shellagh just wanted to get away from Lyssa but that demon was more domineering than her positive personality told.
”Ehh? Ahh. Anooo. . . Inviting me to dine with you? Seriously?” That was unexpected. Mugi expected the girl to call her out on being a little bit of a jokester, but this was beyond expectations. Now she her pale face even started to flush red. Why was she blushing? There was no reason for that. She blinked a few times as she stared at the maid’s face.
”I-I mean, if you’re inviting I guess I won’t say no. . .”Well that was unexpected. It seemed the Yuki-Onna did have some sense of shame, or at least could be flustered. Perhaps a more direct approach would work here instead, then? Well, now that she wasn’t feeling so flustered herself…
“Blushing simply because someone asked you on a date?” The maid chided with a dispassionate huff.
“Are you not experienced in such matters? For someone claiming to be my elder you shouldn’t be blushing like a flustered schoolgirl.” The maid sighed. Well, not like she had any more experience herself in such matters aside from…certain activities.
“I…suppose that is fine, though. I am not…particularly experienced in such things myself.””I just. . . I’m just not use to people I’ve playing jokes on asking me out on a date.” Well, it’s not like the maid was wrong. Mugi’s never really been asked out on a date. She’s like most of her life sitting at home and living with her sisters.
”I mean, I’m sure I’m older than you, but I’ve just lived with my sisters. . . You don’t ask your sisters out on date like this. . .” What she was trying to get across was that this was the first time for her. Not that she minded at all.
”A-anyhow. Where did you plan on going?”“…jokes?” Cynthia replied with a small frown. For a moment, she had to question whether the other girl was being serious. Was the entire things she had said before simply been a joke, then?
“There’s a good place that isn’t so not far from here.” Cynthia continued with a quiet huff.
“If perhaps you do not mind it being…somewhat expensive it is a fairly good place. I heard it has food from some land far to the east, though I have never eaten it myself…” ”To the east?” Mugi had to ask. That sounded vague enough to be glorious Japan. . . At the same time, it sounded vague enough to be India, China, or some other nation over that way.
”But expensive is a bit. . . I don’t really have much money. . .” She wasn’t really sure about that, honestly. She’d have no idea how to pay.
“Can’t pay for it?” She had enough money for the both of them, she was certain. Mostly because Livia tended to pay quite a bit for her services, plus she herself wasn’t too keen on buying luxuries or frivolous things.
“Hm...I suppose that is fine.” She replied with a somewhat annoyed sigh. She’d question her finances later, but it was her job to be able to do such things so she didn’t mind.
“But if you do not have money perhaps you should seek employment somewhere instead of bothering the public with your indecency.” The maid chided as she turned on her heels, heading in the direction of the restaurant she mentioned.
”Oh my! Thank you. . . Maid-chan!” Mugi jumped at the maid’s arm and pulled it close to her chest. Her arm was lost in the valley between two mountains and oddly, Mugi hadn’t planned this either. It just kind of happened. Mugi’s face showed some thought but seemed to have decided she didn’t know something.
”Come to think of it, I never got your name. I’d like to know the name of the person asking me out on a date”“Cynthia.” She replied, attempting to ignore where her arm had ended up. The Yuki-Onna smiled at learning the maid’s name.
“And It is quite improper to cling to someone in public so openly.” Though, she made no effort to move herself from the Yuki-Onna that tightened her grip on the girl’s arm. The walk to the restaurant Cynthia mentioned was a short one. The building itself was fairly large, though it didn’t seem to be particularly busy and just as Cynthia said, it had a distinct Oriental feel to the restaurant's atmosphere.
After exchanging words with the staff that seemed to know Cynthia, It did not take long for the two of them to be seated near the back of the restaurant. Cynthia took a seat, trying to think of something to say to start a conversation, but couldn’t come up with anything.
Mugi definitely felt this place resembled her home-country more than most of the other places. She only let go of the maid’s arm once they got to their seats and she took the one opposite Cynthia. The maid seemed to be thinking, but. . . Failed perhaps?
”So why did you choose this place?”“It is my job to know what people like.” Cynthia replied with a dismissive scoff. Of course, she could have been completely wrong, but…she didn’t feel like she was. Knowing what people wanted was part of serving anyone. She didn’t give Mugi much time to reply, though. Now that they were here, she had something she wanted to ask.
“These ‘jokes’ of yours you mentioned…what did you mean by that?”Mugi had looked around the place in awe. Yep, they definitely used things made back in her home country. It was-- Oh, that maid was asking her a question? About her jokes?
”Oh, those? Aaaaahhh. Well, Yuki-Onna are a species both known for being tricksters and seductresses. Anyone in Japan could tell you that. We like to joke, tease and trick people. . . Though I just like to mess with people that are cute.” Well, not like she was lying. When she messed with Gwynn and Maoin, Mugi thought they were cute together and just wanted them to be honest with each other. . .
With Cynthia. . . She was just cute when she blushed. . . Though Mugi wasn’t sure if she should tell the woman that.
”That’s sort of why I’ve been like. Since you’re cute. Especially when you try putting up that tough act afterward.” Hopefully that was good enough?
There the woman went, saying she was cute again. Cynthia huffed in mild seeming annoyance, but she didn’t mind being called that, really. She just minded the fact that the other woman was intent on being a public nuisance.
“I do not put up any ‘tough’ act.” Cynthia replied, after telling the waiter what she wanted to eat.
“I simply take my jobs seriously, and I have little patience for those who don’t, or those who interrupt my work.””Well, you’re not on the job right now, are you? I rather think I’ve not been in your way, and I have no job to take seriously.” Mugi mentioned after ordering her food, glad to find something cold to suit her unique palette.
”Though I suppose I should apologize again for the flash snow. I thought everyone would enjoy it.” The Yuki-Onna seemed slightly downtrodden at that thought, but she would not let that deter her as she put the optimistic look back on her face.
”I’ve just been trying to get use to campus and meet people. I’d say most people have been openly friendly. Most people.” She emphasized again as she gave a silly look Cynthia, making an implication.
“It is not my job to be friendly, and I have little time for pleasantries.” Cynthia replied, not bothered at all by the implication.
“Being blunt tends to make things faster, and I have little time to spare…usually. The headmistress has…given me the rest of the evening off from my maid duties, and I will likely have tomorrow off as well.” That meant she had to find something else to occupy her time with. It was rare when she had such time, but she was going to make the most of it.
“I suppose I could try being less…severe, as some people have told me I am, but I do not see the point of it.””If you want to stay ‘blunt’ I won’t complain. You’re still cute as is.” Mugi said with a smile. The maid seemed unsure.
”I won’t say anything bad about you either way, though it might be nice to see you a bit more sweet.” It was almost unimaginable trying to think of this woman as anything but cold and calculating, but the Yuki-Onna had seen her blush before so anything was possible, right?
Cynthia said nothing, merely gave a small glare towards the Yuki-Onna and a huff as her face reddened slightly. She supposed she could try to be…’sweet’ later, but she didn’t entirely know how to go about doing that. At least, not in quite the way Mugi was likely describing.
Silence again, huh? This maid didn’t seem too amazingly keen on talking if she didn’t have to. Well, Mugi will have to keep the conversation up herself then.
”So, is there anything you like? Things you like to do other than your job? Things you like in people?” Mugi had to hold a laugh back at that considering the girl’s typically brazen, no, confident personality.
”If it’s a date, we might as well learn about each other.”Right, talking. That was a thing she should at least be attempting here, shouldn’t she? One of the only things she wasn’t good at. Small talk. Things she liked to do other than her job? Difficult question. She liked…well, helping people in general but that was a silly thing to say, and not something she was going to even hint at. She needed something else then…but what? Her job left her with very little free time, but she should at least have an answer. Something that wasn’t related to her job.
“…I like writing.” Cynthia eventually replied after their food arrived. She had, on occasion, spent any time she had off writing. Sometimes just harmless little thoughts she had. Other times, she got a little more…fanciful with them. Not that
those stories were ever getting the attention of the public. She wasn’t going to answer the latter part of that question. She was here with Mugi, so that answer should be obvious.
”Writing, huh? Never took you for one.” The Yuki-Onna said with a slight bit of amazement in her voice.
I was never good at writing in my own language, so I never learned the writing system of any of these western languages. Otherwise I’d ask if I could read them. Hehehe.” Not that she’d have expected to get to read them anyway.
”Perhaps since I asked you I should answer the question myself.” Mugi asked, but went to thinking without a reply.
”Well, I guess for now I just like talking to people and continuing the hunt for my One. Err, my one special person. Soulmate. I guess?” Mugi giggled. Was it a silly thought perhaps? Well, maybe a little but she was happy enough to search.
“That is a foolish notion.” Cynthia replied with a harsh sounding huff.
“Such things are nothing more than the idle fancies of those who have nothing better to do.” Harsh, certainly, but she had yet to be proven wrong about such things. Soulmates did not exist, and that was something she was firmly going to standby.
“And you can’t even read or write – and you call yourself my elder.” Cynthia was sounding more and more displeased by the second, if her unimpressed frown was anything to go by.
“…perhaps you should get someone to teach you. How are you even attending the school if you cannot even read or write well?”Well, even Mugi realized it was foolish, but Cynthia went about that so. . . Harshly.
”That said, you go ahead and learn three different sets of characters, one of which has a different character for every word, or a mix of different words to mean another.” Mugi pouted. She wasn’t even all too sure if she was playing around or if she were serious, though she lightened up a bit as she went around thinking about what Cynthia said.
”Wait. . . Are you offering to teach me?” She missed her chance to say something about her being able to remember things very well if one were just to tell her just to ask that question.
“It is my job to take care of troublesome students sometimes.” Cynthia replied dismissively.
“…I am not familiar with the language where you are from, but I could perhaps find time to teach you the written word here.””Ahh.” Mugi shortly said, thinking for a few seconds before finding a reply escape her lips.
”Yea. I think that would be nice.” The Yuki-Onna said with a soft smile. She couldn’t tell what this maid was thinking most of the time, but she could tell that she wanted to help.
”I’ll be in your debt.”“It is my job,” Cynthia dismissively replied.
“You owe me nothing.” Cynthia at least seemed happy with the development. It’d be…difficult to work in something like this considering her usual schedule, but she’d find the time.
“Are you free tomorrow, then?”Well, I’m not exactly a student quite yet. So I think I can fit something in my open day. Mugi giggled.
”I don’t have my own room yet either, so I’ll just have to rest at my friend’s place again. She said, just on a bit of a tangent. Hopefully, the demon she shared a room with didn’t forget about her. . . Mugi just figured she’d see when the time came.
”Where did you want to meet up and when?Where to meet up and when? Cynthia frowned. Well, the classroom would have been a decent place to learn, but for more private tutoring it wasn’t exactly the best place. She could always take Mugi to her room, then. She had a private room in the Headmistress’ house, after all. It would be close enough to anything they might need for the tutoring session.
“Meet me at the headmistress’ house. I have a private room there we could use.” Spending her day off teaching someone was not exactly how she imagined it, but…well. She couldn’t exactly complain.
”The Headmistress’ house? Got it.” Mugi said confidently. Perhaps the maid was right, and she needed to learn the alphabet and the written language. . . Actually, that said. She did have one question for the maid.
”Ano. . . Where is the Headmistress’ house?”Cynthia gave Mugi a disapproving frown, but did not comment.
“I can show you after we finish here, if you wish. It is located close to the main school building.””Okay.”The rest of the dinner passed in much the same manner. Cynthia would eventually have difficulty having a conversation, and Mugi would start another. For the most part, it was a pleasant date for her. The food was good, and aside from the Yuki-Onna’s teasing and constant calling her ‘cute’ and a bit of other teasing, at least. Not that she didn’t like being called cute occasionally, but it started to get tiring. Eventually they both finished, and Cynthia followed Mugi out the door. With a small bow, the maid said goodbye and headed to the bath house before retiring for the evening.
Fish of Oblivion
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