A nice dinner in the shared universe.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The cane made a small noise every time he set it down.
Why he had decided to walk today, he didn't know.
Fizz wasn't normally one to walk.
Of course, walking was a strong word. With his leg being all screwed up and all.
His fight with Kaurna had messed with something in his leg, quite badly, if that wasn't obvious enough.
This shared universe he was in had been nothing but trouble. This wasn't even the first time he had messed up his leg!
But still, it's where he was stuck, at least for the moment. Not that he minded. He still had contact with everyone back home, and he had some new friends here.
"Excuse me, sir?"
Fizz looks over to see an inkling, very nervously walk up to him.
"Yes? What is it, I'd really like to get home."
"Are you... Fizz?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Do you remember me?"
Fizz turns to face him completely. His glance at the cane is not unnoticed.
"No. Don't think so. Why? Should I?"
He shuffles a bit.
"It's Terry. We were in gym class... And you helped me get a job at the news station?"
Fizz recoils back.
"Shit! You're... Alive?! No way!"
"Yeah... After I passed out in our world I woke up here."
"Lucky you then. Look, I've gotta get going, I have a reservation at a restaurant."
Fizz starts to turn away.
"But, I wanted to ask something!"
Fizz sighs and turns back to him.
"Make it quick please, reservation."
"...How is Alicia?"
Fizz shrugs.
"I honestly have no clue. I know she visits your grave every year, but other than that, I just don't know."
He sighs.
"I miss her so much..."
"Huh? Wasn't she your rival though? You two were constantly going at it."
"At the end, just before we shot, I heard her say she loved me. I just... Really want to see her again."
"I could probably help with that. If only for a bit."
He looks up, hope in his eyes.
"Really?"
"I can try anyway. let's see how it goes."
Fizz claps his hands, opening a portal.
"Go on through. You can find Alicia once you're out."
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Fizz waves him off and begins limping away, hearing the portal close behind him with a whooshing noise.
"Poor guy. But no time to worry about that now."
He eventually arrives at the restaurant, taking to leaning against the wall outside the door.
He quickly opens his cane, takes a pill out, and swallows it.
He breathes a sigh of relief and pats his leg.
"And the pain is gone once again. Thank fuck Ash had these pills."
He checks the time on his phone and sees he still has a bit of time before his reservation.
"I should pick up some champagne. Might help him loosen up."
Fizz takes a look at a wine store across the street.
"Huh. Convenient."
Carefully limping his way across the street, he enters the store and goes up to the counter.
"Hey there! Got anything you're looking for?"
He leans on the counter to support his leg.
"Yeah, you got any champagne for octolings?"
"Octolings? Yeah, I've got a few that are widely available down there."
"Give me whichever one you consider the best. Full bottle."
The lady grabs a bottle from a shelf behind her and sets it down on the counter.
"That'll be 80 credits please."
Fizz blinks.
"For one bottle?"
"It's common down there, not up here. Not only that, but this is luxury champagne."
Fizz shrugs and passes over the credits, taking the bottle and putting it in his coat.
"Thanks."
"No problem. If you don't mind me asking, who's it for?"
"A friend. Of sorts."
The lady nods.
"They must mean a lot to you then."
"In a way, I suppose."
Fizz limps out of the store again and gets back to the restaurant, taking his spot on the wall again.
They arrive a few minutes later.
He passively waves at them, and they both don't do a good job hiding their confusion.
He waves back.
Interloper, and his... Let's say date, Kaurna.
Interloper leads her over to Fizz, despite the slight signs she was making to avoid him.
"Hey Fizz... Why're you here?"
Kaurna seems slightly annoyed.
"Yes, I would much like to know as well."
Her broken inkish was especially noticable. She hadn't been in inkopolis enough to learn the language yet. Compared to Ash, who knew the language the moment she came here.
"Oh, no reason. Just figured I bring this champagne to you guys."
He pulls the bottle out of his jacket and holds it up for them.
"I-I don't drink."
Fizz wasn't suprised. Of course, that's why he picked this specific champagne.
"I drink, some."
He smiles and holds the bottle out to her.
"Then it goes to the lady of the hour."
She hesitates for a second before taking it.
"Thanks..."
Interloper nudges Kaurna and points in the building.
"I'll meet you inside, alright?"
"Alright..."
She walks inside, leaving Fizz and interloper alone.
He crosses his arms.
"So why are you really here?"
"You had a reservation, right?"
"Yeah, I called ahead."
"Well... So do I."
He seems surprised by that. Not sure why.
"Really? ...By yourself?"
Typical.
"Nah, I'm taking Ash out."
"And Sarah's ok with that?"
No, I'm clearly going against her wishes. What do you think?
Of course, he doesn't actually say that.
"It's more of a treat then anything. We're actually gonna... Go for it... when we get home though."
"Ah."
There's a sort of awkward silence for a bit. He's trying to think of something to say.
"So where's Ash? I don't see her."
"She's coming, don't worry."
He nods and looks inside.
"Well I should be getting inside. Can't keep a lady waiting, right?"
Fizz chuckles slightly.
"Yup. I'll see you inside."
He walks inside, glancing behind him Ashe goes in.
It doesn't take long for Ash to show up.
She grins and runs up to Fizz.
"Hey! Thanks for taking me out!"
"We haven't even eaten yet."
"So? You're still taking me out."
Fizz shrugs and gestures for her to come inside.
They are seated, and after an exchange of waves from interloper's table, begin looking at the menus.
"Is that interloper?"
"Mhmm."
"Who's that he's with?"
"His girlfriend, or so I assume."
He looks over to the other table, seeing Kaurna make a disgusted face. He must've told her what he was going to be doing that night.
"They planning anything special?"
"No idea. Not what we're doing, I can assure you."
"Laaaame."
"That's just how they are."
Their food arrives, and Ash immediately starts digging in. She notices Fizz's rather empty plate.
"Not a heavy eater, are you?"
"Not particularly."
"Why's that?"
"Picky eater."
Time passes, with both tables finishing their meals. Interloper and Kaurna get up first and leave.
"Almost done?"
Ash nods.
"This stuff is so good!"
Fizz smiles and looks torward the door.
"Wonder if they stuck around..."
The waiter appears with the bill, and Fizz quickly pays.
He and Ash get up and walk outside.
They pretty quickly run into the other two, making out in front of the building.
Interloper sees them and pulls away from Kaurna to speak.
"Oh! You're here!"
Fizz looks between the two.
"We interrupting something?"
Kaurna looks slightly disappointed, and also slightly annoyed.
"No, we were waiting for you and got bored."
Fizz is about to comment on that, when Kaurna moves forward.
"So you are the one called Ash? Pleasure to be meeting you."
She holds out her hand, and Ash looks at it for a second before taking it.
"Likewise. But, if you don't mind me asking, why do you talk like that?"
"I am not speaking the inkling well... Still learning. Still new to city."
"Ah, I see."
Fizz waits for Ash to move back before speaking up again.
"You two got anything special planned?"
"Not sure. I'm taking her home after this. We may share a few kisses there."
"Figured as much. We should be going home ourselves."
"What-"
"No conversation? Shame."
The interruption stops interloper from saying anything for a few seconds.
"Well, we'll be going too."
He holds out his arm, and Kaurna grabs onto it.
"I guess we'll be seeing you then."
Fizz nods.
"Mhmm."
Ash then grabs onto Fizz's arm. He wasn't expecting that.
Interloper grins.
"Have fun!"
Fizz rolls his eyes.
"You too."
"We will! Many thankings for the champagne!"
Fizz smiles and nods at her.
"No problem!"
Interloper turns to Kaurna and takes the bottle.
"Just drink responsibly."
"I do. "
She pauses for a second.
"Want a sip?"
He grumbles back.
"I said I don't drink."
"Just ooone?"
He sighs and gives the bottle back to her.
"Just one."
"Yaaaaay!"
They walk off, talking about the night they have ahead of them.
Ash rubs Fizz's arm a bit.
"So why the champagne?"
Fizz shrugs.
"I figured they needed to let loose for a night."
Ash giggles.
"Let's hope they take the hint then. In the meantime..."
She turns Fizz and kisses him. Hard.
She then whispers into his ear.
"How about you and I get home and do our own thing?"
She runs a hand down Fizz's chest, who brushes his tentacles back and nods.
"Good boy. Let's get moving before it gets too late."
Ash grabs his hand and pulls him along, with Fizz making sure she doesn't mess up his leg too badly in the process.
