8 Chilling With Arlecchino

Noctis

I used the spare key Arlecchino had gotten me and pushed the door open. I instantly noticed the sound of running water and  when I got into the room, I saw the white overcoat dress type thing which she wore drenched and on my bed...

I stared for a second biting the corner of my lip in frustration, but then I realised I would just have to get used to this.

So, I acted as the bigger person and shoved the wet dress coat thing into her pillow case.

'That will teach her to put drenched clothes on my bed' I thought to myself with an evil grin.

I looked over to the small table which somehow had a kettle on it now, I'm not complaining.

I turned the kettle on and since I had nothing to do while I waited I just watch the increasing amount of spoke come out from the kettle as it's internal temperature increased. Before it clicked, signifying it was finished, I grabbed two cups from a small shelf which I hadn't seen in my first inspection of the room.

I place a tea bag in each of the cups. Then, in the first cup I put two sugars and the second cup I put four. I went back over to the shelf and grabbed a small carton of milk. It was that long lasting milk which didn't need to be refrigerated, kinda manky but whatever.

Once the kettle clicked I poured water into the cups filling them about 60% of the way. I slowly stirred each one and then poured enough milk to make them filled 90% of the way. Once again I stirred them both.

Sure Arlecchino did leave me and dart off in the rain and sure I'm still soaked as I make this tea... but it just feels wrong making only one cup when there is two people. I put in extra sugars because she seems like she has a sweet tooth despite looking so plain.

I took a sip of my tea and then placed it down on the mini shelf so I didn't mix the cups up.

I took off the jacket I was wearing and hung it on the back off the room door. I took my shoes off and took some fluffy slippers out of my luggage. Mainly because I'm wet and cold but also because I don't want to walk around on a cold wooden floor.

I went back over to the mini shelf, took my cup of tea and sat down on my rickety old bed. As I waited for Arlecchino to finish her shower I slowly drank my tea, which was visibly steaming still.

About 10 minutes later the click of a door latch and the creaking of hinges causes me to look at the bathroom door. Coming out of it was Arlecchino.

She had a towel on her shoulders and was wearing a thin white t-shirt that refined her assets. On her lower half was a pair of tight black shorts that only went half way down her thighs revealing her cleanly polished features.

I looked away instinctively before speaking to her.

"I made you a cup of tea." I said in a calm voice trying to display I show no hostility and don't want to piss her of.

While waiting for an answer I slowly looked back towards her, straight into her eyes which gleamed a beautiful crimson. A small smile crept its way onto her features before she spoke.

"Thanks I guess. Shower's free also, you should probably have one." I would've retorted against her but I completely agreed. I was cold and wet and wanted a shower as quick as possible.

"I think I will be getting in that shower... right now..." she just nodded in response, walked over to her bed and sat down on it.

I grabbed a towel and some simple clothes, a black t-shirt and trousers, from my baggage and walked into the bathroom. The room was still full of steam and the one glass door into the phone booth of a shower was covered in condensation still.

For some reason I have a feeling the Tsaritsa would love it knowing about me and Arlecchino's current living arrangement...

After a nice refreshing claustrophobic shower I stepped out of the bathroom in my new clothes. My hair was still drenched, problems of long hair... but it wasn't rain water at least.

Once I was back in the main part of our room I noticed that Arlecchino was laying her bed simply reading a book in silence.

"Has the rain stopped?" I asked, Arlecchino look towards me as she folded the corner of her book and shut it.

"Yes, I believe it has, why?" she spoke while not breaking eye contact with me it's quite unnerving...

"I was just thinking we should get some food from a nearby cafe or something." Arlecchino pondered in silence for a while and then stood up.

"No can do, I'm already comfortable." I sighed in my mind before I spoke again.

"We literally haven't eaten today..?"

"Well why don't you go and just bring back some food? Because I ain't going back out..."

"Fine, what do you want?"

"Just get us both the Fontanian Foie Gras." She told me what she wanted to eat but I was confused also decided what I get to eat.

"Why do I have to get the same?"

"Think of it as a recommendation." She said with a small smile.

"Fine.."

I walked out of the hotel and through the streets of Fontaine looking for a nice restaurant that looks best, when I mean best I mean least packed. It only took about 5 minutes and I was able to find an empty looking restaurant.

I went in waited for about 3 minutes in line and placed my order. The staff were kind and I could smell the aroma of the food cooking as I waited sitting in one of the chairs inside the restaurant. The food only took around 30 minutes to be prepared and only cost 4,400 Mora, I gave 10,000 Mora as an expression of kindness.

On my walk back towards the hotel I noticed a small shop. It was quite empty and from out here I could see a lone barista sitting inside washing a few cups. It looked like a serene environment. My eyes drifted to where the name of the shop was plastered.

"Le Souffle du Silence. Huh, it looks like a nice place. Maybe I should go there one day." I spoke to myself as I continued walking back towards the hotel.

I walked into our hotel room to see Arlecchino reading the same book she was earlier. She was so deep in her book she hadn't even I had entered the room.

"Arlecchino? I bought the food." I spoke up as I walk over towards her bed and placed the bag of food onto it.

"You got what I asked?" she said while folding the page of her book and placing it down near her side.

"Yeah. I got the exact thing you told me." I spoke while taking the two servings out from the bad and handing one to her.

I took my portion and sat on my bed with the food on my lap.

"Give it a taste then." She said and even without looking at her I could feel her crimson eyes observing me.

I held the cheap wooden cutlery that they provide and cut a piece of the food of and then pierced it with my fork. Not hesitant to try a new food I quickly placed it in my mouth and began to chew.

"Its great!" I looked over to Arlecchino who was digging into her meal as she begun to speak.

"Of course it is. I recommended it." Normally I'd argue but this was delicious, it felt as if each of my taste buds was in heaven and the aroma coming from the food only helped to enhance that feeling.

I flopped back on my hard hotel bed after fishing the meal. It wasn't an extremely large meal but I still felt absolutely stuffed, as if I had eaten an entire turkey on my own.

"It tastes great and is nice and tender. I'm guessing it's duck?" I said as I looked over to Arlecchino who had just finished hers.

"The meat is duck, to be more specific the liver." She responded as she took her cutlery to a small bin in the corner of the hotel.

"So it tastes good and is full of nutrients, huh?" I said nearly drifting away to my thoughts.

"A perfect meal to have before a nice long rest." Arlecchino commented as she walked back over to her bed and laid down.

I adjusted my body and moved into a more comfortable position on my stone-aged bed. I lied on my back staring at the plain white ceiling for a while before Arlecchino spoke.

"How do you like Fontaine?"

"I think it's an amazing nation, and, I can't believe I didn't come here first!" I spoke while still laying in my same position but a small smile crept its way onto my face.

"That's good to hear. By the way, what nations have you been to?" Her voice carried genuine curiosity so I believed it be best I answer seriously otherwise we will never get along.

"So far, I've been to Inazuma, Sneznyah and now Fontaine."

"Inazuma?" she let out in a slight yelp of surprise.

"Well yeah, I technically originate from there?"

"You're Inazuman!? But your name is so far from it.

'Well I did kind of make this name up...' I thought to myself but then realised it looked like I was ignoring Arlecchino.

"Oh, I suppose my parents were feeling a bit creative?" I watched as her eyes narrowed, her gaze never left me, I thought the next words from her mouth would be something serious but instead.

"Creative is an understatement.." Arlecchino spoke as a teasing smile bore its place on her face.

"It's  not that bad..." I retorted.

"So, why did you join the Fatui anyway?" She spoke the teasing smile quickly vanishing leaving behind a more mature expression.

'back to the serious stuff I guess...'

"I suppose I joined because my goals aligned with the Tsaritsa's." I said as I rolled onto my side so I was facing Arlecchino's bed. It makes it easier to see her, I don't have to keep straining my neck...

"You wish to go against Celestia?" She had a dumbstruck expression as if she couldn't understand why someone like me would have such a goal.

"My reasons are personal. So, for now we can say it revolves around a family matter."

"What kind of family matter causes you to become enemies with Celestia?" She asked confusion lacing her expression and voice.

"That's personal." I simply stated not wanting her to push any further.

"Alright, I understand I won't force anything you don't want to say out." At least she is respectful unlike Childe who would've tried to force every single little detail out of me, even if I told him it was personal.

"Thank you for your understanding"

"No problem, I guess."  Her voice was softer than usual, is she trying to show empathy or something?

Arlecchino eventually changed the subject and we spent a long while talking about all the different Fontainian foods. I have a feeling she's already been to Inazuma but she still made me tell her all about the different foods and desserts there.

At one point during the conversation Arlecchino asked me if I had ever met the Electro Archon. I simply told her I hadn't because she rests in The Plane of Euthymia.

Before I knew it I was engulfed by fatigue and I had fallen into a deep and somehow comfortable sleep. Who knew having conversations right before bed could be so exhausting, just like continuing sheep huh.

(A/N) I'm writing this chapter at 3am because I'm bored so there may be a lot of mistakes. Also I put in a small reference to Unusual's Serentiy System because I think its a great book and its one of the reasons I wrote this one