navy = flashback
Xellos knocked on the door and waited with a little mischievous smile playing on his lips. He stood there at the door clad in a dark purple suit, with a bouquet or dark red roses. Many girls had seen him walking in the town approaching Filia's house and were drooling over him. Yeah he looked good, bad thing was that he knew it too. I wonder what you'll think about the flowers. Heh heh. Those said roses were definitely beautiful but what made them a good choice for Xellos to give them to Filia was the fact that they had been laced with three different fine powders. The first was one that caused the person who had inhaled it to experience a strong lack of emotional control. The second was a powder that caused stomach sickness after a person eats food. And the third, which was Xellos' favorite, was a fine powder that caused temporary insomnia. That way after the date was over Filia wouldn't be able to sleep and would be stuck thinking about how she regretted 'toying around' with Xellos and about how much her stomach illness was bothering her. Heh, heh, let the games begin...
Filia had heard the knock on the door. But it was 5:30 not six like he was supposed to come. So Filia just did what De Tanga had instructed her to do. De Tanga did warn her that Xellos would either come early or late so she needed to be ready at least an hour before the pick up time and be a little patient. Filia glanced again at the rest of the instructions De Tanga had written down on a note:
3) If he shows up early then keep him waiting for at least fifteen minutes. Don't even talk to him this will kill him by getting him very angry. When you finally answer the door act as sweet as you can and you'll see him cringe and try to pretend that he doesn't mind.
4) If he doesn't show up on time, wait again fifteen minutes. Then write a note and leave it on the front door for him to see. The note should say something like: 'You took too long so I went with De Tanga instead.' And then go out the back way and meet me outside. And yes I was serious about taking you out on that date.
De Tanga
Filia grinned at herself in the mirror. She had chosen a spaghetti strap ice blue dress that was tight fitting with a slit down the side. She also had on a simple small gold pendant and matching gold earrings. Her hair was let loose and her face was down up with a light touch of make up. She was very satisfied with the way she looked and knew that she was going to turn some heads.
She watched the time very carefully. Xellos was letting his impatience be known by knocking much harder and more frequently on the door. It took all the self-control she had from refrain from laughing, but she did stifle a very quiet giggle. Five more minutes...
Xellos was slumped down on the mat in front of the door. He was very annoyed, he was... pouting.
What the hell is taking her so long?! And why can't she answer the damned door! How dare she keep me waiting like this?!
Waiting? But Xellos how can you be waiting? You're early... De Tanga amusingly comment to Xellos via telepathy.
Don't you have anything better to do than to hound me?
Hmm now do I? Nope. Aren't you blessed.
More like cursed...
Now, now is that any way to talk to your best friend?
Oh but I'm not actually talking to you. Xellos grinned to himself. He knew that De Tanga was around close by. What are you up to? Xellos absentmindedly thought realizing that he didn't guard that thought well enough.
Now why would I be up to anything? De Tanga cut off the link before Xellos could do anything further. Xellos was right he was very close by. Closer then he thought. De Tanga was about practically standing next to him but invisible to Xellos' eyes. De Tanga fiddled with the gem on his cloak. He had been given that very same gem many years ago as payment for helping a few elves from the clutches of death. The wearer of the gem was granted invisibility to all creatures for as long as ten hours at a time. Not only could Xellos not see De Tanga, he couldn't sense him at all physically or spiritually.
Xellos got up again and was about to pound on the door once again when Filia finally opened it. She stepped out so that Xellos could see her. Xellos was stunned and couldn't speak.
"I'm sorry I kept you waiting but you shouldn't have been so early." Filia said sweetly and adoringly bashing her eyes at the trickster priest.
"Um ah... sure no problem..." Xellos finally managed to get out once his voice had returned.
Filia was a bit puzzled but then quickly noticed the roses. "Those flowers?"
Xellos mentally shock himself off and regained his composure with his twisted smile back on his face. "Why Filia-dear they are for you." He bowed before her and handed her the roses. Filia glanced that the roses suspiciously.
I wouldn't sniff them if I were you Filia. He's added some special powders to them. De Tanga's voice entered her head. It made a bit dizzy and lightheaded. Talking telepathically with someone wasn't something that she was used to doing.
"That's very...sweet of you Xellos. I'd better go put these in a vase. If you'll excuse me I'll only be a minute." And she went inside and did just that. She came back outside unfazed by the powder because obviously she had sniffed any of it.
"Aren't you going to smell them? They are very special roses and they smell... heavenly." Xellos gushed out with false sugariness. He was smiling and his eyes were open even though the left one was twitching at bit at the corner.
"I suppose they do. But smelling them would be no good for me. Right now my allergies are acting up and I can't smell anything. So shall we go?"
"Yes we shall." He wasn't too pleased with the current turn events but he took her arm walked with her through the city.
Way to go Filia. Everything is going well. De Tanga stated to Filia in her head with a pleasant happy tone.
Yes but De Tanga you said that Xellos would be angry and trying to hide it once I finally came out. He wasn't angry or happy. He seemed shocked if even. She glared at the said monster. He wasn't paying too much attention to her but she was still unnerved that she was walking arm in arm with him. Maybe it was the fact that everyone could see them or maybe it was because she was slightly enjoying it?
I noticed that too. I wonder why... But then I guess it's not everyday that Xellos gets the pleasure of taking out such a lovely and radiant dragoness out on a date.
Filia blushed slightly and cursed De Tanga for causing her to do so. Thankfully Xellos was far too absorbed with what was going on in his mind to notice...
The first place they headed to was the theatre. Xellos had bought them two tickets before and had it arrange that their section would not have any other people sitting in it. Now in most cases a person would not be able to arrange that or even buy tickets so late before a show, but you know Xellos, he has his ways. They sat down at their seats and Filia looked the trickster priest with suspicion. She knew that with very few people around Xellos could have an easier time with his little pranks.
Don't worry Filia, he won't be able to do much, not while I'm around. De Tanga reassured her. He himself sat down in the row behind them.
Xellos himself was grinning mischievously, plotting his little plans. That and he was quite happy to be going to see that particular play. It was a horror story and a good majority of the cast were monsters themselves. Meaning if someone stabbed them they wouldn't really get hurt. And they even used their magic abilities to make it look like they are bleeding when they are struck. These monster actors were also very good at making themselves appear dead. The reason why they would do this is the more they could scare the audience the more fear they had to snack on.
In the first scene of the play a man was brutally murdered and a flesh-eating zombie chased the second. Xellos laughed an applauded the acting. What he was planning to do was to both scare and gross out Filia so that she wouldn't be able to stomach eating dinner. Filia on the other hand also applauded the acting. First of all Filia didn't scare easily to stuff like that. Second, being a golden dragon she was able to sense just how many monsters were in the play. She was actually impressed by them. Monsters usually caused death and destruction to feed their appetites, but these monsters managed to feed themselves just by putting on a show.
So you like this idea?
You mean how they feed? Yeah I'm surprised.
Most of these monsters' are cursed and their magic skills are not very good. But with this little traveling play group the monsters of The Phantom Theatrical Group get the chance to feed without having to do much else then just putting on a show. And they also enjoy acting and putting on shows.
How do you know so much about them?
Because this little company has been around for quite some time and both Xellos and myself have been apart of it before in our earlier days.
Filia smiled and looked over a Xellos. He was watching the play intently and she could see a bit of longing in his eyes. It was apparent that he missed those days.
At the end of act one Xellos was expecting Filia to be scared out of her mind and would want to leave. But she was actually enjoying the play very much. As well as being a horror the play was also a mystery. She was left trying to figure out who was guilty and who was still dead.
"So what do you think of the play so far?"
"Well I'm really don't know whose the person who murdered Dalen and his brothers but I'm pretty sure that the bar maid knows something more then she's letting on. Maybe Dalen isn't even dead, you know he could just be faking it and trying to get the family inheritance for himself. Meaning his father would probably be the next target -- "
"You mean you are actually enjoying it?!" Xellos was shocked and his face conveyed that. Filia almost laughed out loud. His expression was priceless. De Tanga on the other hand didn't need to worry and was laughing hysterically.
"Why wouldn't I? I love murder/horror mysteries. And great thing that they've that most of the cast are monsters, because they wouldn't be able to pull off effects like that normally."
Xellos mentally kicked himself. He had forgotten that Filia could sense monsters. Oh well I've still got my little bag of tricks. Xellos smiled as the next scene started up. De Tanga smiled too. He had been able to hear Xellos' thought, and what Xellos didn't know was that someone had 'tampered' with his bag of tricks. Namely a dark blue green haired monster. Xellos' bag of tricks was now just a bag. De Tanga had replaced Xellos' bag with another on of Xellos' other bags that's roughly the same size. When Xellos would look at he bag he would think that he brought the wrong one by mistake.
And Xellos did realize the bag problem and he did think that he had grabbed the one by accident. That put a damper on some of his plans, but he didn't let it bother too much. I'll just watch and enjoy the play and I'll think of something to do at dinner. Again he smiled mischievously and returned his attention back to the stage.
After the play was over Xellos and Filia were the only ones smiling while leaving the theatre. Everyone else was green in the face and terrified out of their minds. To then it really looked some of the actors had been killed, because they knew even with excellent acting and effects, no one could pull of things looking that real. But of course to everyone else's knowledge all of the actors were human. But Xellos and Filia were the only ones who knew otherwise. Both the golden dragon and the monster found the other audience members reactions funny and couldn't help but laugh. Of course all of those other audience members thought the two of them were crazy anyway.
"Xellos were you surprised on the ending?"
"Oh not at all."
Filia shot him a dirty look. "Oh so you didn't find it surprising that it was in fact it was priest behind it all?"
"No I didn't Filia-dear."
"And why didn't you?"
"Because I've actually acted in that same play many hundreds of years ago. Unless they changed the script then I knew exactly what was going to happen anyway."
"Was anything changed in the script?"
"Actually there was, they changed a few scenes. Dalen was actually supposed to have been killed in the second to last scene instead of the third scene in the first act. So I was a bit surprised on some of the changes. I was still expecting the priest to be the main culprit in the end, but I wouldn't have been too surprised if it had been someone else." Xellos thought back to when he had very first done that play. He went out afterwards and fifteen people who had seen the play were scared at the sight of him.
"What part did you play?"
"That's a secret."
It's a bit funny actually Filia, he played the priest. De Tanga informed her.
"Knowing you, you were probably playing the role of the priest." Filia flashed him a smile while Xellos just stared at her puzzled. He didn't tell her that she was right, but he also didn't say that she was wrong.
"So where are we going for dinner?"
"Just follow me." And follow him is just what she did.
Xellos grumbled a bit. He didn't know what was going on. Everything he'd tried that night just wasn't working. He was really getting frustrated. But he planned to change it all around at dinner. Filia-dear you left me no choice. I wasn't going to take you to this restaurant but since nothing else is working... Xellos grinned an evil smile as he lead Filia through a wooded passage of all things. De Tanga followed close to the pair and was as mystified as ever.
Filia I would be careful, Xellos is up to something and I have no idea what. De Tanga warned Filia, he didn't like that smile that Xellos had on his face.
You mean you don't know where he's taking me?
No, I don't know of any restaurant around here so he's probably taking you someplace secret.
Good thing or bad thing? Filia dared to ask.
By the way he's smiling, I'd wager a bad thing. De Tanga was silent after that and Filia took the opportunity to steal a glance a Xellos. Though it was pretty dark out Filia could see the outline of Xellos' little devilish grin.
"So Xellos where are you taking me? Monsters don't exactly need to eat food." Filia flashed him a little smile herself, which did throw Xellos a bit of guard. Not that he'd shown it anyway.
"Well monsters can eat mortal food we just don't get nutritional value out of it."
"But wont you be hungry if the food isn't even going to fill you up?"
"Oh no at the theatre I did have the opportunity to feed of the other audience members emotions. So I'll be fine no need to worry about me." He gave her an all-knowing smile.
"Well okay then. But where are we going anyway?"
"It's a secret." He said smiling larger.
But it wasn't a secret for long because they finally reached the restaurant. Not only was it well hidden in the forest behind the town but there was also an invisibility barrier on it to make sure that no one finds it. The name of the restaurant was Depths of Water.
"What type of restaurant tries to keep customers from going there?"
"Or it's not to keep out customers in general, it's to keep out unwanted customers. Plus the food here isn't exactly cheap either." Xellos lead her through the door and inside the restaurant it was dark with candle lighting. The colors of the place were shades of rich dark red and green and furnished with oak floors tables and chairs. The place itself wasn't very large, but there weren't that many other customers in the place either. What was weird about the restaurant though was that faint music filled the place yet there were no musicians visible anywhere around the restaurant. Or at least not players that Filia could see, but De Tanga on the other hand could. And where were the performers? Why right in plain site only it is hard to see a ghost isn't it? A person with light blue skin and white hair greeted them as they entered.
"Ah Monsieur Xellos! How good of you to come back. Oh and a date as well! Well then I shall get you a table for two! Come this way please." The man led them to a secluded table on the left side of the restaurant. De Tanga followed in confusion. He had never seen this place before let alone know of Xellos going to any restaurant regularly. But for whatever reason the name of the restaurant did seem familiar to him and he didn't even know why.
Well De Tanga? What can I expect from this place? Filia asked De Tanga as she was seated. Though she was a bit cautious about the place she was impressed by it. With Xellos she was almost expecting him to take her to some cheap place that served bad food.
Honestly I have no idea. I've been here before. Heck I haven't even heard about this place ever in my life.
Well with Xellos picking the place there has got to be something wrong with it.
Just be careful okay?
Sure.
Xellos looked around the place for their waiters and smiled when he saw them coming. Filia was shocked when they came. But why would there be two you might ask? Well it's because that both of them were only really the size of a bowling ball. One was literally a floating ball of fire with eyes and a smile. The other also floating was a blue and purple spiky ball with a tail, Xellos style closed eyes and was also smiling. Got any guesses on whom they are? If you don't it's Popo (the blue one) and Pyro (the red one).
"They are so cute!" Filia said turning chibi and all smiling herself. Popo grinned larger while Pyro almost appeared to be blushing. They both handed Filia and Xellos the menus which did seem odd because neither of them had hands or arms.
"So Popo, Pyro what are the specials tonight?"
"Psspupa padu pope pitu." Pyro said.
"Pwada pokoddffugh ptitu." And Popo finished.
"Ah yes very good. I guess I'll order the house special wine for now. That will be all." And with that Popo and Pyro floated off. Filia looked at Xellos with a questioning glance.
"Xellos did you understand a word they said?"
"Why that my Filia-dear is... a secret." Xellos said with another smirk while Filia just waited for De Tanga to fill her in.
If he says that he did then he's lying. Those two speak a language that not even monsters understand.
But then how do they tell the cook what we want to order?
Good question I think I'll find out. De Tanga went off to see where Popo and Pyro went and came back shocked and stayed very quiet.
"So shall we look at the menus hmm?" Xellos said all cheery as he opened his. Filia followed suit and gaped at what was on the menu. Besides these unknown 'Noonsa' dishes and the salads everything else had dragon in it. Lake dragon to be exact. Filia didn't how to react to this. Though lower dragons were considered lower and nothing compared to golden dragons, Filia didn't know if it was right to actually eat dragon.
Oh my god...
Lake dragon? My that's almost as odd as who the cooks are.
Who are they?
Well one was a small green fuzzy creature with a garnet on his forehead whom was yelling loud obscenities as he was tenderizing a piece of meat. Another cook was a tall bluish purple hair woman with amber eyes only the odd thing out her is that she had glasses on and a lab coat on like she is more of a scientist then a cook. Plus I didn't quite like the evil look in her eyes and her matching evil grin. But the weirdest one of all is well...
Well who?
You know that Greater Beast Zellas is Xellos' master right?
Yes.
Well my master Deep Sea Dolphin is the last cook.
That is um... anyway De Tanga what the hell am I supposed to do? I can't eat dragon!
Well why not try those um 'Noonsa' dishes?
I don't know somehow I'm a little worried that Noonsa might be worse.
Do you have any other choice?
...
"So Filia-dear have you made a decision on what you'd like to order?" Xellos grinned at her like a cat.
"You know I'm a bit curious about these Noonsa dishes. Do you know what Noonsa is?"
"No I don't think I've ever heard of it myself." Xellos mused. He could recall Lina saying something about some fish named Noonsa but he couldn't quite remember what.
"Well I'm feeling adventurous today so I think I'll have the Noonsa special." Basically the Noonsa special is a complete dinner with Noonsa as the main ingredient.
"Alright since you are having the Noonsa special I think I'll have the lake dragon special." Same as the Noonsa special only using lake dragon instead.
Popo and Pyro came back and Filia and Xellos gave them their orders and in a matter of minutes the two floating balls brought out their dishes. (Again they defy logic by carry lots of plates without the aide of arms and hands) Filia herself was surprised by what she ordered. It was absolutely delicious while Xellos ate his trying the best annoy Filia whom was ignoring him and too wrapped up in what she was eating. So again Filia enjoyed herself while Xellos was left grumbling. They paid the check and left for their next destination.
The more time that Xellos spent on his date with Filia, the more frustrated he was getting. But De Tanga was starting to wonder if Xellos was just getting annoyed because he wasn't succeeding in bothering Filia or that maybe he was getting annoyed with himself for actually enjoying the date. Well whatever the reason Xellos still lead Filia off to their next destination. The plan with this one was to make Filia embarrass the hell out of her self. How exactly was Xellos planning on doing that? Well it just so happens that there was a large outdoor dancing ball happening in the town square due to some festival that was just starting.
"Oh my god I forgot! Tonight is the beginning of the Moon festival!" Filia exclaimed looking around the town in wonder. She had heard about this festival but this was the first time she had the opportunity to see it. Filia didn't know that much exactly about the festival, all she knew was that on the first night there was eating, dancing, music and lights all through the night till sunrise.
"Filia-dear can you wait here just one second? I need to go take care of something." Xellos flashed her one of his devious smiles before speeding off the people sitting at a table near the musicians.
De Tanga? What's he up to?
I have no idea. But I'll go find out. De Tanga started to head off in Xellos' direction but as soon as he got to him Xellos had finished whatever business he had and was heading towards Filia.
Damnit! I didn't get over there in time. Sorry Filia I have no clue what he's up to but by the way he's smiling it can't be anything good. Be careful.
Filia frowned, De Tanga wasn't so reassuring.
"Something wrong Filia-dear?" Xellos grinned larger and snaked his arm through hers.
"Nope. Just wondering how Val is doing. I just hope he isn't getting into any trouble."
Good cover.
Thanks.
"Well boys will be boys. So shall we look around?"
A few hours later Filia and Xellos were still looking around at the festivities. Xellos still hadn't said anything on what he was talking about at the man at the table. In fact Filia was starting to wonder if Xellos really had a plan up his sleeve or not. But then the dancing competitions started up.
First it was just little competitions like who can dance the best or who could dance the most complex steps. Then it came to the big one. This one happens every year. It's one of those dancing competitions where couples try to see who can keep dancing the longest. But rather then do something simple the organizers usually picked a physically demanding dance. That way the contest wouldn't last forever. And there was another catch too. If you didn't dance well with enough energy (meaning you started to slow down because you were getting tried) you would be taken out of the contest. This year the choosen dance was the tango.
"Oh a tango dance off? My that would be very interesting to watch." Filia exclaimed with a bit of excitement. The dancers were getting ready and their numbers were being handed out. One thing about the people competing was that they had a lot of guts. Because there were hundreds of people watching only a few couples danced in the competition.
"Here you go." One of the dance competition organizers handed Filia and Xellos a number.
"Wh-what? We aren't even dancing!" Filia exclaimed with a mortified expression.
"Opps. I guess I forgot to tell you, I entered us in the competition." Xellos with his evil cat grin glance down at her. What he was expecting was Filia to blow up at him and refused to dance.
Filia just stared at him.
Filia you know the reaction he wants.
Yeah I do.
So you are going to have to dance in the competition with him.
Who said I wasn't?
Huh?
Filia gave him a look down and glanced at him skeptically. "Well I don't know Xellos if I want to be in a dance off I'd want to win. And I don't think that I'd have a good chance with you as a partner. Is it too late to switch partners?" Filia looked around the town square pretending to be looking for a better partner. Xellos didn't say anything he just stood there staring at her in shock. De Tanga almost laughed his head off. Xellos' expression was absolutely priceless. His mouth was gaping, his eyes wide-eyed and his eyes also had pure shock in them.
Filia herself was trying to refrain from laughing. But still she pretended to look for a partner. "Well it doesn't look I can find anyone else that would be better. So just try to keep up with me, oh and you may want to close your mouth." Filia said with an evil smile as she lightly pushed his mouth back up.
Xellos snapped back into reality and quickly put on his number. So she thinks that she can say something like that huh? Well I'll show her then. Try and keep up?! Ha! Xellos narrowed his eyes smiling yet again.
Hey Filia you've really pissed him off. Good job.
Thanks
The dance off started off slow and progressed getting a bit faster. Unlike what Xellos had originally expected, Filia was very much enjoying herself. She was getting very competitive and had completely forgotten that there were people watching. All that she was thinking about was winning and dancing. And she was putting up quite a dance too. Xellos who was going to try to out dance her ended up dancing at the exact same level as her. He was very aware of the people watching and he was having fun making the other competitors envious of their dancing skills and seemingly endless stamina. The underlining thing was that they were both having fun. All the people watching were very impressed, including De Tanga. He really didn't know that either of them had it in them. It appeared that Xellos and Filia were going to win with no trouble. Some of the other dancers had seen this too and had quit. Soon it was down to just Xellos and Filia and this other couple that was starting to look very tried.
Looks like you two are going to win.
Filia smiled because she knew that De Tanga was right. She stared up into Xellos' face. His eyes were open and he had a mischievous expression plastered on his face. That is until his eyes met hers and it changed to a smile and Filia instantaneously smiled back. Then the two of them realized what they did and looked away from each other with slight blushes.
Filia and Xellos soon won after and was awarded with prizes. Everyone came over to congratulate them and asked when Filia had married or started dating Xellos. Filia was going to set them straight until Xellos intervened.
"Oh no Filia-dear isn't my wife. No we aren't married. We're just engaged that's all." Xellos smiled and put an arm around Filia who was very close to clubbing Xellos for saying something like in front of so many people. But of course she couldn't give Xellos satisfaction so she just faked a smile and nodded.
"Dear how about we get out of here, I'm tired from all that dancing and I want to go home and rest." Filia oozed out fake sugariness.
"Yes, yes you should get some rest considering that we are expecting the baby."
Filia shot him a mortified look.
"Filia you are pregnant?! Oh isn't that lovely! You're going to have a little brother or sister for your son Val." One of the townspeople gushed out.
"Ah yes that would be nice. But we aren't a hundred percent certain that I'm even pregnant right now. But really thanks all of you, we have to get going now. Bye!" Filia hurried off dragging Xellos with her and De Tanga silently following. De Tanga was very fearful that Filia was going to murder Xellos for that little scene. But she didn't even say anything.