Oh, you again. (Rita - Daiko)

Light gradually left the skies over Rose garden, night falling over the city. Tonight was dark, the moon and its stars obscured by a thick layer of clouds.  Rose Garden would have been pitch-black if it hadn't been for the magic street lamps along the roads, the lacrimas inside the lamps giving off an enchanting light.

A bit frustrated and at a loss, Rita swept her fingers through the bangs of her caramel locks, loosely pulled back into a thick and low fitting braid.  The mages boots quietly thumped against the road as the she traversed the streets of Rose Garden.  She wore a long dark maxi skirt today, slits on the sides running up her thighs, and a knotted blouse, navy in color.

Unfortunately, The Fairy had missed her ride back to Magnolia... She refused to wait around in the station for the train that came tomorrow afternoon... There were too many creeps sticking around there for her taste.  So, Rita set off into Rose Garden, seeking something to do or at least some where she could crash for the night.

From what Rita could see, it was obvious that Rose Garden was a place blooming with magic. It was quite literally everywhere, from the shows on the streets, the shops, the lights, and even in the air she breathed.  

Rose Garden was a lot bigger than she last remembered it to be. There were all more people occupying the place too. When she came here she had expected maybe a couple streets with a few small shops and what not.  Rita had been mistaken; the place was easily a city.  She wouldn't admit it--- but she quite easily found herself well...lost?

Daiko sat on the bench, simply sighing. This wasn't the first time he'd missed the train back home, and he was sure it wouldn't be the last. He then saw a black object fly through the sky, then landing on his face. Sighing, he picks the creature off, setting it down on the bench next to him. A high voice spoke, and the mage rolled his eyes. "Dai. I'm going to fly home without you unless you get me some food." The small cat then began to kick at Daiko's shoe, stomping around like he was powerful. Just about ready to jump in front of a coming train, he spots someone whom he recognized easily. Blinking, he notices the familiar brown hair, and the face that looked pissed off almost all the time.

"Casper, Just go home and get it yourself... I'll head over there later." The cat rolled his eyes, rubbing his stomach. "Whatever you say..." The cat said sarcastically, leaping in the air before going his full speed, 100 meters per second into the direction of home. The mage then runs over to Rita, getting her attention. "Rita? What are you doing here? I thought you stood around at home being angry all day."

The mage stopped in her tracks as approached by a familiar face, crowds rushed around them as if they were stones in an avalanche. Rita blinked, Wait… who the hell was this guy again? She wondered scanning over him dumbly with sapphire hues. It took a moment, then it finally came to her –Oh. “You again.“ Rita stated, a lack of entertainment in her tone.  “I should ask you the same question; don’t you just sit around lighting up?” She mocked rolling her eyes as she folded her arms over her chest. Rita re-listened to his words mentally, glancing up with an annoyed visage. If he was going to assume she was angry and bitter all the time she would have no problem being a bitch around him 24/7. Expect the worse and ya get the worse, or so her father would of said.

 The air went silent between them and her gaze carried into his eyes. Purple, What an odd color, had she noticed it before?... Her expression lightened and she released a sigh, turning her back to him, arms still laced. The Shadow hesitated to speak.“Eh- I missed the trip back home, okay.” She murmured lowly, embarrassed.

As it turned out, Rita actually spoke back. Usually she only looked angry and had to be saved during fights. He recalled times with that strange man with the toxic spider and Chapel. Chapel was just a douche, seeming to only go after this poor girl, while the weird man just looked like a pedophile. Daiko shook his head, then blinked in the general direction of the girl in front of him.

"S-Sitting around and lighting up? What's that supposed to mean!" Daiko shoots her an angry glance, then sighs into the palm of his hand. He heard what she said, and laughed. "That's funny. I missed it too. Plus my only transportation there flew off..." He sighed, then looked up at Rita. "Since none of us have anything to do.. Why don't we just head somewhere and eat food?"

Rita blinked back to him slowly, surprised to hear that he was in the same situation as herself. “So were both stuck here till morning then, heh?” she scratched her head wondering if it was just coincidental.

“Well,” She forced a grin, seeming to change her attitude towards him. “We haven’t even known each other for a month and you’ve saved my rear twice, I’ll pay if it’ll even the score” The brunette explained waving a hand of paper bills, jewels. The mage had missed the train headed home from a mission; you would figure that she had some extra cash to blow after all.  Rita made no effort to find a place.  She assumed he knew where he wanted to go, being that he suggested food in the first place.

Daiko continues to walk with the girl, laughing a bit. "If you insist.. Thought there are some other was you could pay me back." He tugged on her braid in the back of her head, so that she would hopefully follow him. He began to walk, not looking at Rita, though keeping track of what she was doing. Girls that were as salty as her were usually violent.

Walking, Daiko hums. He finally makes it to the restaurant that he was at, it was where he had brought someone named Amara. He had fallen from the sky into her breasts. That was an awkward day. "Alright Rita, you ready?" He turns around, making sure she was there.

She trailed at a moderate pace behind, careful not to lose track of Daiko amid the other bodies occupying the streets. Eventually, the duo reached their destination, a restaurant north of Rose Garden's center. The place didn't stick out. Not to fancy nor too trashy; It was somewhere comfortable in the middle. The Shadow hopped that the food wouldn't be horribly expensive, Seeing as she was covering the check.

She blinked up at him as he turned back, saying something to her. Rita nodded once, remaining silent as she disappeared through the doors behind him.

In little time the two were attended too, led to a table in the back by their waitress who would come back with drinks and to take their orders shortly. Without delay, Rita took a seat accost from where The Demon Slayer would of sat, gingerly scooting her seat in. 

She drummed her fingers against the table, glancing at the menu laid out in front of her and briefly back to him. It was then that she realized just how little she knew about Daiko... She knew his name and that seemed to be it. Hesitant, she opened her mouth. "So, how did you end up in stuck in Rose garden?" Not a topic she had in mind. Of course she would let and opportunity to learn about him slip through her fingers-- and by bringing up a dumb question like that too! Rita was terrible at communicating with people, getting to know them especially! M-Moron...

Daiko blinks, and he looks at Rita. She had asked him what he was doing here. To be honest with her, he had no idea why he was here. It was almost pure luck that he had ended up in this town, and even in the same town as her. "H-hmm? What was I doing here? I was just looking for someone fun to hang out with." He picks up a spoon and twirls it through his fingers, seemingly occupied with practicing dexterity. "Anything specific bring you here?" He glances at Rita, subtly checking her out. She was an attractive woman, and seemed a bit calmer and more composed than she usually was. Maybe it was because this time he wasn't saving her ass. "Oh, I think Chapel was actually making plans of becoming part of Fairy Tail..." He looked at her, raising and eyebrow. "Though I doubt the guildmaster will allow it. He doesn't really take kindly to criminals." He laughs a bit, staring down at the Fairy Tail guildmark on his wrist. The skin behind it was melted and warped. Though it wasn't obvious that he had skin grafted over his burnt Savage Skull guildmark, he still noticed it every day. 

"What would you lovebirds like to start off with~?" The waitress asks in almost a flirty voice, looking at Daiko. "O-Oh we're not really dating..." He states awkwardly, a blush coming to his face. The waitress tilts her head slightly, nodding. "Well~ What can I get you then?" The Slayer stared at the woman, then blinked. "U-Um... I'll just have this hamburger.." He points to a cheeseburger with bacon on top. He then blinked at Rita, and nodded. The woman then dropped an old receipt after taking Rita's order, and Daiko blinked at the woman as she walked away. As he opened it to read it, it said "Why don't you ditch that flat-chested girl and get with a real woman~?" it then had a phone number on it. The mage stared at the piece of paper, then shoved it in his pocked awkwardly, looking back at Rita, trying to take his mind off of what just happened.

“Someone fun to hang out with, hmnn?  Heh unfortunately you ran into me instead, I came out here with a mission, missed the ride back.“ She began.  “I’d hope that Ken wouldn’t let a guy like that into our guild hall, I’m not too bold about forgiving people like that, and I’m sure I’m not the only one pleased with that criminals work.” She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring down down at the silverware in front of her “I could care less where he ends up as long as it’s not anywhere near my guild.“ she murmured with a bitterness.  

Rita mimicked his actions, gazing to the guild mark on his wrist just as he did. She recalled the burn she had managed make out on his wrist on the day of their job. The Shadow shook her head quickly trying not to ponder on it too much, it was just a burn, and you could get those in a million ways in Fiore.

Rita seemed to roll her eyes at the waitresses’ remark, resting her head in one of her hands.  A silent sigh slipped through her lips. Rita flipped the menu close giving the woman her order.  She was okay with a soup, the mage wasn't all that hungry to begin with but she could eat. Her sapphire hues subconsciously followed after the buxom waitress as she left with their orders.

Rita picked a roll from a wicker basket which had been set in the middle of the table, tossing in in her hands once. Looking at the mage sitting across from her, she spotted a slip of paper in his hands. She raised a brow “What is that?” she wondered honestly. Rita blinked, biting into the roll absently as he forced the piece of paper into his pocket.

Daiko continued to stare down at his wrist, gathering his thoughts about the past few months. Snapping his attention back at Rita, he scratches his head. "Eheh-- It's nothing.. Don't worry about it. Just thinking about when I was younger." The mage chuckled awkwardly, and drummed his knuckles against the table. He noticed that rolls had been taken to their table, and shoved two into his mouth at once. He then unwrapped a butter packet and stuffed that into his mouth, swallowing the mixture whole. 


"Hmm... I wonder when our food will get here.." He stares up at Rita, noting the features on her face. She didn't look pissy and seemed pretty relaxed. He smiles at her, and catches the waitress in his peripheral vision, and he blushed slightly before laying his head down on the table.

She continued to snack at the appetizers; one roll disappeared after another. The mage reached into the basket again only to discover crumbs. She blinked at the empty thing, holding her gaze with it for a moment. Unfortunately, her looking didn't make more bread appear. She was only spoiling what appetite she had, and the food hadn't even showed up yet.  The air went silent but only for a second. Shattering the silence, a low growl came from her stomach. Rita grimaced, face going red at the noise. Maybe she was hungrier than she originally thought... “E-Euem” she coughed trying to dismiss the sound as best as she could. “I want asking about what was on your mind… I meant--- That paper or whatever. You think she dropped it?” she wondered honestly, raising a brow. “Is it normal to get the receipt bef-“she was interrupted when her lungs suddenly forced down air, emitting a hic. …Well damn, that wasn't supposed to happen—another squeak came from her. Rita clasped a hand over her mouth instinctively. Hiccups, how convenient… Perhaps she shouldn't of snacked on all of that bread.  She grabbed at her glass of water, hoping that it may do something to cease the sudden hiccups, mid swig she flinched again proving her efforts ineffective.

Daiko simply drummed his fingers on the table, not paying attentions to the rolls as they slowly disappeared. "Th-The paper?" The mage tilted his head, thinking about what Rita had just asked him. "Oh.. That..." He rolled his eyes, thinking about what he was given. "That wasn't a reciept. The waitress was just hitting on me.. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you." He rolled his shoulders, Rita having a hiccup fit. She was making cute little squeak sounds over and over. "Those are cute little squeaks." Daiko laughs once more, and their food arrives. Daiko's eyes widen at the amazing hamburger in front of him. The bread itself was a golden color, and the patty was juicy and looked amazing. It was complete with lettuce, tomato, and other things that go on top of a hamburger. The slayer's eyes get wide, and he's tempted to devour it all in one bite. He waits for Rita to start eating, though.

She blinked, unsure what to think of the waitress after Daikos explanation. Instead, Rita merely brushed that aside as she released yet another squeak.

“C-Cute.” She echoed annoyed with a slight vex. “They are an- HIC   annoying more than any- HIC thing.” She stammered, trying her best to maintain a serious expression. She chugged at her water in an attempt to stop the noises, hiccuping again mid gulp. With a clatter, she slammed the emptied glass against the table.

Evidentially, there food did arrive. The mage looked across the table at him briefly, Daiko was practically drooling over the meal in front of him. Rita smiled absent-mindedly, ignoring another hiccup. She picked up a spoon and gave the soup a taste. Gah!-- That was hot. She hadn’t given the liquid enough time to cool, therefore burning her tongue. The mage flinched instinctively; she was such a mess today. Tongue and taste buds numb, she continued eating after giving the sup another second to cool off.

Daiko chuckled softly, listening to Rita hiccup every couple of words. It was adorable to say the least, the woman of short stature making such high squeaking sounds in the middle of her sentences. He then tapped his fingers down on the table a few times, and watched as she began to eat. He didn't want to tell her.. but he hadn't eaten all day. He took his entire meal, and ate it in a single bite. This was followed by a small sip of the drink beside him, then he blinked. "So... Have you gone on any interesting jobs lately? Other than the one with that asshole Chapel, hah..." He trailed off, staring off into the distance. He was pretty exhausted from the day's work, and was looking forward to resting later.

Rita blinked with surprise as he chowed down the whole burger in one  bite. Were all guys able to eat like this?! Surely everyone that Rita knew. Rita paused, still shocked from what she had just witnessed before replying to his question. “Not much, unfortunately all I've been doing is running errands.“ She sighed. “Damn…  I didn't think you’d eat that quickly, I might as well finish and take care of the check so we can get out of here.”  The mage sighed. Hesitantly, she hefted the bowl to her face and began to chug down the rest of the brew in one go. With a ‘phew’ a puff cloud left her lips comically as she slammed the bowl, emptied, back down onto the table.


By the time the bill had arrived Rita had been cured of her hiccups. She took care of the check, folding the designated amount of jewels in the check book with the receipt now all that was left was the tip for the waitress. She would cover that too. The mage spit into and wadded up an insignificant 1J bill, leaving it in the middle of the table for the waitress from earlier. “Ayy, let’s go.” She said to Daiko, getting up from her seat and adjusting herself.