DISCLAIMER:

I do NOT own Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana, nor do I own any of the characters, places, item names, etc. within.

Veola: Ta-dah! It's finished! I call it the Revealing Bikini. I bet you can't wait to put it on and try to get inside Klein's pants.

Lita: Thank you, Veola. What a beautiful thing to say.

Klein: …

Veola: What? No witty comeback? That's not like you. It's no fun this way.

Lita: Sorry to disappoint you. But it's kind of dark in here. Would you like to have this conversation outside?

Veola: Huh? O-outside? No, I'll pass.

Lita: I see. Well then, let's go Klein. I guess it's just the two of us.

Veola: Grrrr. Have fun taking your flea dip!

(Lita smiles and exits the shop with Klein and they head back home.)

Klein: Lita, you're acting a bit strange. You didn't have anything to say when Veola insulted you, and you smiled when she said you have fleas.

Lita: I don't have fleas. She was talking about the mana bath. I'm smiling because, thanks to you, I don't have to worry about that anymore.

Klein: Oh.

Lita: And what she says doesn't bother me like it used to. Before, I didn't have any friends. My mother passed away and no one would speak to me because I'm a humanoid. I never fit in, always the outcast. It used to hurt when she said those things; it reminded me of what I was.

Klein: But you never broke down. You always had something clever to respond with.

Lita: Don't you see? I had to. Otherwise I would always be trampled over by humans. I had to become strong and defend myself. It was the only way.

Klein: You're not like that now, though. Remember when you saved us from that monster?

Lita: It's because… you're not like other humans, Klein. You accepted me for who I was. Not only that, you went out of your way to create the Ruby Prism for me. It…I caused you so much trouble, but you didn't give up.

Klein: I couldn't leave a damsel in distress. I guess there's a little Delsus in me afterall.

Lita: Thank you, Klein. For all you did for me. I'm normal because of you.

Klein: Do you mind if I ask you one favor, Lita?

Lita: What is it?

Klein: Norn went to visit Zeldalia and Delsus took Marietta to see the snow in Duran. How about you try on that new bikini for me?

Lita: Ghaleon Ashley Delsus Delvarood! When I get my claws on him!!

Klein: Heh heh oops. Maybe there's too much Delsus in me.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

This is such a great game! I haven't had time to write any fics in a while and I just realized my last update was in 2003! I figured a quick one-shot wouldn't hurt. Sorry for the whole Reel Big Fish "for all the suckers who still believe in love, this one's for you" angle.