From Cold to Warm

> “I have no idea what I’m doing. Really!” ~Xiv Arcturus

You look nice, Xiv thought, almost to the point of saying it before the butterflies in his stomach made him gag. He walked back and forth in front of their reserved room, trying to figure out how to greet his date.

“Of course she’ll look nice, what in Brymeia’s name are you thinking?”

Nice clothes.

“That’s worse.”

How long did it take to do your hair?

“Are you a child?”

Xiv stopped and sighed, letting go of his frustrations. All the while a service attendee looked at him with concern. She was a mature elven canintine, holding a tray of refreshments with such skill as if she forgot about them.

“Welcome to the Skyside, sir. Is this your first time?” she asked.

“Yes, sorry.” Xiv was desperate. “I don’t think I have enough time to think of what to say and it’s making me all jittery.”

She smiled, barely hiding a giggle. “I meant first time in Skyside.”

Xiv shook his head and cursed internally. “Yes, yes. First time in Skyside.”

“It’s okay to feel nervous, sir…?”

“Xiv. Xiv Arcturus.”

“Sir Xiv.” The canintine smiled like a doting mother sending off a child to the academy for the first time. “If you’re worried enough and nervous enough to have a breakdown, it means you actually care about your date. Who’s the lucky one?”

“Frill Veli.”

“Oh!” The canintine opened her M.O.B.I.L.E. to check her list of guests.

Xiv quickly intervened. “The reservation’s under Katherine’s name.”

“Indeed. Apologies, I just took my shift. This is very unprofessional of me. Your room should already be prepared. Shall I arrange for an escort for Miss Frill?”

“Oh, no need,” Xiv replied right away, immediately regretting if he should’ve considered it a bit longer. “I think we’re just keeping it simple for now. We don’t want a lot of attention.”

“Well, that’s what you’ll get for dating the Aria in Red.”

“So I’ve been told. We’re minimizing it.”

“In that case, we’ll keep everything subtle and private for you two. An interface should be present on your table should you need anything from us. I’m Carol, I’ll be your head servant for tonight. I’ll make sure everything goes swimmingly.”

“Thank you, Carol. Do you have anything for the nerves?” Xiv asked. He rubbed his hands together to keep them from shaking.

“Some liquid courage, perhaps? Nothing too strong, but should be enough to calm you down at least.” Carol presented her tray. There was a small bottle of a brand Xiv didn’t recognize and a small glass with ice cubes.

“Just a small one, then.”

With a practiced motion, Carol spun the bottle and poured a generous swig of its contents, giving the glass a few twirls with a mixer before offering them to the Vyndivalian.

The taste was crisp and cold, then immediately spiced and warm, shooting straight within his throat and offering him some needed heat in his freezing nerves.

“Better?” Carol asked, her fluffy ears flapping inquisitively.

“A lot better, thank you.”

“Then may I recommend that you stay inside your room? It would be a poor impression for the lady to show up to find you fidgeting around like a lost puppy.”

Xiv nodded. He assessed himself first. Just like his emotional state, his training allowed him to read his stress levels and mental stability. They were all borderline frigid, stunned to a freezing halt by his own unreasonable and illogical imaginations. It would take him a few minutes to thaw the ice, which was not enough time.

“Mind if I take another glass?”

“Sure, I’ll take the entire bottle inside.” Carol opened the door and gestured for him to enter.

The room, no, the venue, was an outdoor, private dining space. It was wide enough for multiple tables, but only a rectangular one was present at the center. It was large enough for a number of plates, but small enough that he could reach the other side if he leaned in. A fancy table cloth, red mixed with white frills, gave a stark contrast to the entire blue and green theme the veranda had going for it. A small candle was at the center, providing a simple, yet intimate atmosphere. Two lustrous chairs faced each other, with designs grand enough for the evening.

Only now did the name ‘Skyside’ clicked for Xiv. The building was at the edge of the permitted construction site allowed by Atlas Sid. This gave the establishment an elevated seaside look. It seemed that Katherine specifically picked a reservation with this in mind. He appreciated her taste.

The rest of the open space was filled with beautifully arranged plants and flowers, allowing the fresh air for them to breathe. Smaller light sources were scattered about, giving the entire place a cozy and secluded feel. At least here, they could talk in private.

The notion stirred something in Xiv and he tried to calm it down by taking another swig at his drink as he took a seat. Carol gave him a refill before placing the bottle on the table.

“What’s this drink, by the way?”

“It’s called Rainshine, Sir Xiv.”

“Xiv is fine.”

“Of course, Xiv.”

“Rainshine tastes good.”

“Thank you. It’s a local liquor, produced here on Atlas Sid. While it’s not as potent or as flavorful as Minaveil’s special brew, it’s good enough and calm enough to let you enjoy the kick while keeping your wits about you. Provided you keep it under a bottle or two.”

Carol made a short bow. “Enjoy the quiet while you wait for Frill, Xiv. I’ll keep an eye out for her in the mean time. Should you need anything else, here’s the interface I was talking about earlier.”

She slid a small panel from beside the table before leaving him.

Xiv reminded himself not to drink too much, but he was immediately tempted to take another glass. Left alone, his thoughts began assaulting him once again. He tried to recall everything Frein and Katherine said to him, but they were immediately overshadowed by his own worries.

“You should be excited,” a voice said. A woman’s voice.

Liona’s voice.

“Liona?” Xiv whispered.

“Even if you say awkward things, sad things, or weird things, my sister won’t hate you. She’s not that kind of person.”

Liona’s voice had never told him anything this lengthy and coherent before.

“I guess it’s because you’re stressing out. Your mental faculties are trying to imagine ways to cope. So, here I am helping you out.”

“You’re saying I’m imagining things?”

“Could be. How am I supposed to know? I’m already dead.”

Xiv listened for more, hastily taking another glass of Rainshine. He promised himself this was the last one before Frill arrived. He heard nothing more for a while.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Well, I guess you’ve calmed down now. So, like everyone else said before, just be yourself. Talk about things you want to talk about, it’s not like you haven’t had a discussion with her before, right? Just say the things you want to say at the top of your head, and don’t stress too much about the words.”

“Are you… watching from inside my head?”

“Is that what you’re supposed to be worried about right now? I’ll talk to you later, Xiv. Oh, and if you can, can you please not think about my sister when you deal with your fantasies? I know you’re into her, but that’s just creepy.”

“Hey! What are you—are you still there?” Xiv called out, but Liona’s voice had completely gone.

A few seconds passed and just like that, a knock came from the door. Carol didn’t wait for him to reply, opening the door and allowing for Frill to enter.

She looked astoundingly simple. Her pink, frilled dress and white shawl carried much of her iconic dancing fish theme, a fashion style that Xiv had grown to love and expect from her. Her face was more prim, but the makeup was subtle enough, as if she didn’t want to wear any in the first place.

It made him conscious of his own clothes. All he had working for him was a rented summer vest over a pair of jeans. He felt a little too casually dressed for the occasion.

Frill was smiling subtly. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Xiv replied. He spotted Carol from behind Frill, gesturing all over her clothes while pointing towards the Aria. “You look…amazing.”

Carol pressed a hand to her forehead, shaking her head.

“Doesn’t sound convincing if you hesitate,” Frill said, unable to hold back her smile.

“I was looking for the best word to compliment you,” he reasoned out. Each word stung his tongue and punched him in the gut. He felt the immediate need to explain himself. “I mean, every positive word can apply to you right now, so I thought ‘amazing’ would encapsulate all of them. But now it sounds like I’m just trying to make excuses, ‘cause it sounds so simple now that I said it.”

“Well, thank you for the compliment, Xiv. Should we take a seat?”

“Yes, yes of course.”

Xiv was his most careful self at this moment. If there was one thing Frein kept reminding him, one thing he learned from every other story he read, every other date he had heard from his colleagues, it was to make sure to properly assist the lady on her seat.

It wasn’t mandatory at all, at least, as far as other simple things in life went, but it was the number one task for a gentleman to perform this task on their first date. Everyone made it sound so important, and so Xiv made absolutely sure to do it well.

By freezing behind the other chair.

Frill had instinctively read which chair he was going for and took the opposite one without thinking about it. She was halfway on her seat before she realized Xiv had intentionally pulled the other one for her.

“Oh,” she said, quickly rising from the chair and taking the one he offered. She smiled nervously. “Thank you.”

Xiv couldn’t believe it. This woman, capable of wooing an entire crowd with her songs, popular beyond belief, would act so nervously in front of him.

“Should we make our orders?” he suggested. Carol was quick to respond by presenting their menu. She waited patiently on a corner. Frill must’ve asked her to stay in the room rather than wait for the interface’s prompts.

Xiv observed Frill flip through the pages, her purple eyes keen on considering which one to order. She turned the menu’s pages twice before speaking.

“If you’re going to stare at me all night, do you want me to order for you as well?” Her eyes turned to meet his, not allowing him to look away. “I don’t mind. You staring, I mean.”

Xiv swallowed hard. He felt her pushing against his wavering confidence, urging him to push back. He nodded, more abruptly than he intended. “I don’t know much of the menu anyway. I’ll eat whatever you order for me.”

The menu was large and fancy enough to cover Frill’s lips, but the way her eyes narrowed gave Xiv confidence to assume that she smiled. He breathed a sigh of relief, hiding it under his own menu before putting it down.

Xiv spent the next five minutes admiring Frill as she gave Carol their orders for the evening. She was magnificent. Her slender form filling her dress in just the right way to show her proper curves, accentuating both her beauty and restraint at the same time. Her semi-translucent shawl teased the skin on her shoulders and the features of her collarbone just enough to keep him wondering what was underneath. Her hair was done just like any other ponytail, but with a few, beautiful shells for her ornaments. And a small armlet filled with tiny, sparkling gems swayed back and forth on her left hand whenever she moved it.

“You do stare a lot,” Frill commented, finally done with their orders. Xiv didn’t even notice Carol had gone. “I’d say I’m used to it, but I’ve never been in front of someone who stares at me with this much intensity. I have to admit, I’m a little creeped out.”

“Not even your fans?” Xiv asked before he could even process the rest of her words. She frowned. Not a good sign.

“I don’t sit down and date my fans, dumb-o.”

Xiv was quick to panic. “I’m sorry, what I mean to say is—”

“You’re extremely nervous and I’m just as jumpy as you are. Relax, Xiv. It’s not like you haven’t seen me curl my eyebrows at you.”

“Well…” Xiv remembered the first time they met. It was a battlefield he’d rather forget, save for those little snippets of her. They were all filled with suppressed fury. “That’s true. But you don’t look like a bundle of nerves like I do.”

Frill smiled again. “Well, I am.” She showed her hands. Thin, slender fingers trembling white as if all the blood had been sucked out from her entire arm. Xiv did his best not to hold them. He felt the urge to try and calm her down, and quickly realized she was keeping everything under control for him.

Instead, he offered her some Rainshine. But there was only one glass. She took it anyway.

“Always like this before a concert,” she continued after upending the glass of liquid courage. “And it’s a terrible feeling. I always think something will go wrong, then I’ll have to apologize in front of thousands of people.”

“So I’m worth thousands of people?”

Frill blinked at him once. “Thousands of strangers, yes.” When his expression lowered, she added, “but just like them, I don’t want to disappoint you.”

Xiv was stunned. He thought his witty quip had brought him the initiative, but she was quick to turn it against him. His mind, capable of observing himself as it was, observed his feelings falling all over for her again.

It was addicting.

But Frill wasn’t done. “See, I actually wanted to apologize for earlier today.”

“What for?” Xiv quickly realized what it could possibly be. “Oh.”

“I felt a little cornered and didn’t know what to do, so I ended up forcing you into the spotlight.”

“Is that why you suggested that we go through it even if I didn’t come up with a date plan?”

“I did feel a bit responsible, yes.”

Xiv pressed his lips together, stopping himself from asking one more question. He was afraid.

“What is it?” Frill asked inquisitively.

“It might anger you. Nevermind.”

“You’ll just make me more curious if you don’t tell me. And if you don’t, I’ll be angry anyway.”

Cornered, Xiv sighed. He would be too bothered to not know anyway, so might as well ask it now. “I know I said the things I said earlier, and quite frankly, they are my honest thoughts and feelings, and I will follow them through to the end. But I want to know, Frill, if you’re just dating me because I have your sister’s meiyal core.”

The first thing Frill did was look around in a panic, her hand was too late to stop him from speaking, just inches away from his lips. The fragrance of her hand smelled of sweet flowers.

Frill returned to her seat after confirming no one else was around. She sighed and considered his question in earnest.

“Would you be mad if I say, it’s part of it?” she asked.

“And what of the rest?” Xiv didn’t even consider the possibility of this fact not being part of the equation. It was sensible from a logical standpoint, and he wouldn’t blame her for the convenience of it.

Am I being too lenient?

“Yes, but don’t let that stop you.” Liona’s sudden voice forced every drop of Xiv’s willpower to discipline himself and avoid jumping out of his chair out of shock. He waited patiently for Frill’s response, steadying his breathing while disguising it as anticipation.

“There’s also Kristel’s proposal to help your campaign in uniting both our countries,” the Aria said, oblivious to his internal struggles.

“What about between just the two of us?”

“You’re really going to make me say it?”

“I imagine it will only get more embarrassing from this point onwards, whatever happens.”

Frill nodded, more towards herself rather than agreeing to Xiv. “Fine. I admit it. I’m interested. Alright? I…”

She took a breath and kept quiet for a while, staring at her hands while she organized her thoughts. Xiv waited patiently.

“I’m curious to know where this will all lead. I can’t tell you yet, but apparently, I’m going to have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders soon. And I’m afraid I can’t do it alone.”

“I’m willing to help,” Xiv said almost immediately. “I’ll always help.”

“And that’s why I’m hesitant, Xiv. I don’t want you to think that I’m just stringing you along so I can get your help for free.”

“It doesn’t matter to—”

“Will you let me finish?” Frill tapped both hands on the table. She wasn’t frustrated or angry. Just irritated.

Xiv backed up right away, raising both hands and nodding slowly. He didn’t speak any further.

“I’m sorry, it’s just…” Frill took another deep breath. “For some reason, I feel like it’s too early to tell anyone about it. Like some greater power doesn’t want me to tell you, or Katherine, or Kristel.”

But what about Frein? Xiv desperately wanted to ask. Frill read his face like a book.

“My part will start when he’s done with his job, I think. And then, I’m sure, I can share it with you. But my point here is that I don’t want this relationship to balance itself on those factors. Not even on Liona. I want you to know about this so that you know what you’re signing up for, because I don’t think we can avoid them.”

Xiv waited for more, missing his cue entirely.

“I’m finished,” she said, frowning some more. “You can say something now. Please.”

“It doesn’t change anything for me, Frill,” he began. “If you’re meant for something greater than you already are, then I’ll be there with you.”

Frill’s satisfied smile melted Xiv like ice in the middle of the day. He realized she was blushing.

“Alright then, Xiv,” she said while taking her hand out for a handshake. “If you’re this gung ho with this ridiculousness of mine, I’ll make sure to drag you along to all the craziness waiting for me out there.”

“Now you’re making me excited for it.” This time, he took her hand with no hesitation. It was ice cold, so he used his other hand to cover it, giving her warmth.

“That feels nice,” Frill said, showing her other hand. Xiv took care of it immediately.

“That reminds me,” he started, “where’s our order?”

Just then, a bell chimed from their door and a bunch of servants appeared, carrying with them two trolleys which contained four plates each. They carried them one by one, presented each of them with their names and lavish recipes.

Xiv didn’t hear any of it. The moment the first smell of food reached his nose, he immediately realized how hungry he was. He hadn’t eaten anything since late morning.

More importantly, he was astounded by Frill’s greedy look. The way she eyed each entre was akin to a vork about to pounce on its prey after an entire day of tracking and hunting. She looked like she could finish them all.

By the moment the servants left, she was practically drooling. It took her a moment to gather herself.

“Sorry. Haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.”

“I also heard integrating with materials also takes a lot out of you,” Xiv commented, adding some casual flair.

“Come on, let’s eat!” she said, filling up her plate with a steak of some kind.

“I bet you can eat the whole thing.”

“If you don’t start eating, I definitely will!”

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