Chapter 74: Lesson Learned

Now, I don't expect you to last long given how much you keep fidgeting about as you struggled to put another one into your quivering lips, but I do expect you to at least acknowledge the fact that try as you might, replicating Ash's mannerisms was really not your thing.

Or maybe it is, prove me wrong - shove that green thing in your mouth. Ash wouldn't have even hesitated for a second, so why were you?

Reaching for another sip of water, Ria? Second time in a row? You really should get a move on, Adalia can only pour so much.

Seriously she was like a spoiled brat that won't eat her veggies. How do you get to live to however old she was without getting accustomed to consuming the healthy stuff?

Strange indeed.

"Um… may I be excused?"

So that's your limit then, three minutes before breaking into a plea. I expected longer, very disappointed.

"What's wrong, Ash?" I asked, munching into some greens of my own. "Not to your liking?"

Ria closed her eyes and when she next fluttered them open, gone was that flimsy Elf-shaped mask, her frowning lips heaving away a long sigh. "I get it, I get it. You don't wanna play pretend - fine. I'll stop Ash-ing. Just don't kill me over it, please? I'm about to keel over, and I rather not have you see that and go losing respect over me, so I may seriously be excused, please?"

My chair made a screech as I leaned against it in a victory slump, spreading my arms wide, and smiling the smile she always used against me.

"Keel away," I said, reveling away at her expense with much satisfaction.

Ria, glaring, scurried away from the table in a hurry, bashing into random pieces of furniture on her way to the bathroom. The distant slamming of a door echoed back to me a mission well-accomplished, the retching and the flushing of water afterward got me feeling a little guilty admittedly - but overall though, I got no regrets.

The lone silent bystander to it all stood and watched from afar, her expression a vapid mixture of vagueness and ambiguity. Can never tell what this vampire is thinking until she actually comes out and says it.

And judging by the way on how she slowly turned my way, it seems she was about to anyway.

"Phoenixes are mostly… carnivorous… in nature..."

Ahh, a reprimand. The ever so subtle slighted tone tinging her words… it sounded like Adalia wasn't much of a fan of bullying chickens. I guess she was under the impression that I was unaware of phoenixes and their tendency to turn their noses away at the slightest glance of anything resembling a plant, and it wouldn't be far-fetched of her to think that… but here's the thing -

"I know, Adalia," I told her. "I know."

Saw a phoenix in Asteria. Got an option to feed a phoenix in Asteria. All I had were herbs. Mistakes was the mother of learning. Had to go back to town to find a healer for all the burns I've acquired.

Ria came back to the dining room table, scrounging the remaining remnants of her shattered pride, and marched back to her seat all dignified-like.

"A girl tries to have a little fun…" She huffed at me, slamming her elbows to the table.

"If you can't eat them, why make them?"

"Was trying to be authentic," She explained, retiring her detective hat by the wayside. "The restaurant I had in mind serves these vile ghastly things. Didn't want to, didn't have to, but I did - all for your sake… and you dare use my own weapons against me… Ooo, boy, guess that's my bad for thinking you kind, isn't it?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

"Well played then," She clapped her hands with a stare ever stoic. "But you know, the lesson here was that you're supposed to be talking to me like how you would with the Elf, this wasn't supposed to be an opportunity for you to get a 1-up over me."

"Lesson was flawed from the start, anyhow," I said, twirling another roll of pasta around my fork. "If you can't eat your veggies, how are you supposed to be Ash?"

Didn't hear a retort, didn't get an answer… for the first time ever, Ria kept mute, forced to swallow the bitter taste of defeat. Quite literally. Seeing her pout and chew in silence was like the cherry on top for me.

"Chin up, love detective," I said. "You'll get 'em next time."

Though it was a victory all well and good, the feeling of triumph was rather short-lived. This final lesson of hers didn't exactly come to fruition, and even if it did, it was just eating - romanticize all she wants, dinner was still dinner, can't do much with that.

Adalia as well didn't bother keeping up the facade for any longer. The pitcher laid on the table, and she laid on the couch, staring up into the ceiling and entering a world of her own until it came the time for feeding. The atmosphere overall was a strange feeling.

The chilly draft from the A/C unit flickering away at the candle burning bright which enveloped the vicinity in a warm, soft glow. Dinner date this was not, but admittedly, it was not far off.

Tomorrow I'll be with Ash - real Ash, not fake. Tonight, however, just for now… Ria was the one sitting across from me.

Maybe… perhaps...?

"Don't even think about it," suddenly spoke out her voice, a pair of crimson eyes gazing at me with a dubious expression.

Mind reading was the last thing I expected to get from a phoenix. I leaned back in my seat, mildly surprised.

"Think about what?"

"That look in your eyes," She said, "I don't like that look. It's telling me you're up to no good again. You're going to try and twist this around, aren't you?"

"Nooo…"

"Well, too bad," She stood up from the table, her fork and spoon clattering onto an empty plate. "This is dinner, not a date. Said it yourself."

"A few questions, at least?" I asked, losing to my curiosity once more. "I know jack all about you."

Ria couldn't even be bothered to entertain the thought, she scampered off, plate and cup along with, onwards to the direction of the kitchen sink.

"And you're better off for it, I'm telling you," was all she had to offer. "Don't think too much, finish your food, I'll clean up. You go rest - big day tomorrow, after all."

Now she was being deliberately cooperative and considerate. It was a good way of shutting down the subject, and she was absolutely utilizing it to its fullest. Barely even scraped off the last scraps on my plate, before she came swooping down and swiping it away from me.

No words, just action after action with no room for interjections. I don't know man, but I get the feeling she doesn't wanna talk about it. Might be just me, though, I dunno.

"Fine," I muttered, resignedly myself to simple ignorance once more. "I'll drop it for now."

Was getting sleepy anyway. Might as well strike at the opportunity while I still have it. To rest, I go, but not before addressing one more thing.

"I'll be in my room, Adalia," I called out from the tippy-top of the stairs. "Hungry, come see me, alright?"

Adalia grunted… or did she moan? Not sure, but it sure sounded like a 'yes' to me, good enough.

The floorboards of the second-floor hallway were greeted by my lumbering, heavy steps. Exhaustion was an easy, logical explanation for it, but the actual cause was a far more insidious being wreaking havoc in the creases of my head.

Today was a day spent overthinking much. Part of my brain was dedicated to my parents, another piece on Ash, an intrigued portion focused on Ria, then suddenly Amanda came waltzing in throwing a wrench in things…. mentally, I was running on fumes, my brain cells were working overtime to keep me up and about just for long enough to reach my bedroom door without collapsing outright.

Five feet away from the doorknob, brain cells ready to clock out on a job well done.

Then my eyes went looking, my body went turning, and my legs went walking in the total opposite direction.

My battered mind howled at me 'Why?!', and all I could say for my defense was that Ash's bedroom door was slightly ajar.

Unsurprisingly, a little detour proved no daunting task anymore for that little voice in my head.

Haven't seen her all day… what has she been up to?

Unabated curiosity spurred me onwards to that little slit in the doorway, cautiously I let my eyes peek through into her room expecting to see her hunched over by the desk, a controller in her hands… hearing the sounds of swords clashing, monsters growling like I always have these past few days.

I didn't. Nothing greeted my ears, nothing came to view except for the sound and sight of a silent night. The laptop was on the table, as it always was, but closed instead of open, lying there folded with Ash nowhere near in sight.

Confusion was a natural reaction to have, but then I poked a little bit further, and all was made clear, and bright… and very… breathtaking.

All four corners of her room had something to occupy the empty space.

One had the closet, one became a study place, the other had a beside drawer facing it… the last one had a glossy, extravagant standing mirror, and in that corner, surrounded among a pile of worn clothes, was the same shopping bag from the clothing store.

That cardinal rule Ria mentioned… what was it again? You can't see the wedding dress until it was on the bride.

Well, that rule technically wasn't broken.

I saw the dress, but it was already on the bride. A pure diamond white sundress, fitted to perfection across her pale supple skin, its curls and edges adhering graciously to every twirl and spin she made, her reflection replicating her every move, the glow of emerald eyes scrutinizing every nook and cranny for imperfections but ultimately finding none.

Not to my eyes, anyway.

The snowy white of her hair flowing and blending well to the whites of her dress. It was all impeccable.

Ash thought differently, however, her expression still muddled, still troubled - clearly she thought something was missing, that one piece needed to achieve the perfect look.

What was it?

She looked on and on, tilting to every angle, swaying to every side, what was missing?

So simple yet so far out of thought.

Just smile, Ash. Smile. That's all you needed to do, and you'll finally find what your missing.

In more ways than one.

I retreated back to my room, collapsing onto the bed with another thought in mind.

Those piles of clothes sprawled around her feet… her fretting over every loose strand of hair, every furl in the dress… this date wasn't that big of a deal, that's what I keep telling myself.

Yet to her, it was much more than that. Everything that was asked of her, she'll pour her all into it. Including this.

Perhaps I should too.

Tomorrow… I'll get you that smile tomorrow. I swear on it.