Special thanks to Vilkas and Ingrit for helping me write this! Starts off with Roderich again~! There wasn't a manual or anything to go with this character so I made stuff up. Enjoy~
1/19/16: GUYS I FOUND A MANUAL SO IT'S TIME TO DO SOME EDITING credit to Vanechka for the reference
It must have been morning when I woke, I knew that much. I could never get myself to go back to sleep once I noticed the sun was up... I propped myself up in the small bed and examined the sparsely furnished room. Funny, I couldn't remember what had happened the previous night but I had the slightest feeling I'd been here before...
A small beige nightstand with a lamp stood to the left of the bed and thankfully my glasses were there, neatly folded atop a small white sheet of paper. I figured it was safe to read it, what with my name scrawled across the front in large, sloppy script.
"Good morning! Sorry I couldn't be around to greet you again this morning but I had work. I took Kiku with me to meet a friend of mine who he'll be staying with so it's just us again..
I'm sorry! But we'll see him often enough. Come by the cafe and I'll get you something for breakfast!
-Caligo
P.S. I'll sign my full name so you'll remember I'm a girl xP"
Whoever Caligo was - I'm quite sure that's the name of a color or something of the like - they must be either very kind or very naive, not that I didn't appreciate the hospitality. When had Japan been here though? Caligo probably had the answers I needed.
"No use sitting around here then. I might as well find this cafe... How am I going to find someone that I won't be able to identify!"
-Kiku's P.O.V.-
"Here you go Kiku. Some nice hot soup."
"How did you manage to get miso soup in a French cafe?"
She smiled, winked, and turned on her heel before carrying her serving tray off to another table.
'I wonder if she put something in my soup..' It wasn't as if she could do anything terribly horrible to me, but it didn't mean that it couldn't hurt me.
"But what reason would she have to harm me...?"
"More likely than not she doesn't have one."
"Austria-San?"
"The Tramonto Cafe," he muttered, examining the small table menu in the center, "Odd seeing a French restaurant in a place like this, don't you think? It doesn't quite seem to fit the area."
"Just a little... Although it still bothers me a little as to how she managed to procure Japanese food here."
"She's quite hospitable apparently. I'm sure you don't mind," he said, gesturing to the seat across from me.
"Please."
I wonder how I must have seemed, offering him that seat so quickly. Regardless, a familiar face was always a comfort in a new environment. Actually, this cafe, even the apartment was a pleasant change from before... Perhaps it wasn't so much the woman herself that unnerved me, but what exactly it was that she planned to do with me now that I was in her care?
Austria, meanwhile, took his seat and didn't seem the least bit surprised when a cup of coffee in a blue ceramic mug was placed in front of him. It was almost as if he had been expecting it.
"I was starting to wonder if you'd ever show up. I'll bring you something to eat."
"Ja, but I must admit I don't care for having to walk all the way here. Is there something to eat?"
"I would've driven you here but you just wouldn't get up! But since you're here now I'll see what Beni's willing to do for your breakfast."
She smiled at him, a bit of cheekiness in it and he frowned but I suppose she ignored it. Turning on her heel yet again (I started to wonder if the soles of her shoes ever got worn down from it) she strutted back past the espresso bar and to the kitchen. It was actually a little refreshing to have such hospitality.
"I do hope you intend to do something other than stare at your food," Austria stated, sipping his coffee.
I was rather hungry, but still wary of the food she provided me with, though I had no idea what for. What could it do to eat something? Steam rose from the bowl as I stirred the liquid and brought the first spoonful to my mouth.
"If I die, please notify my next of kin."
"You can't be serious Japan..."
"I am quite serious."
"Well you look alive and well to me so I don't see the problem."
~20 minutes later~
"Sorry that took so long! Here you go Roderich. It took some convincing but I got Beni to tell me where he hid the roll cake."
The white plate she put down in front of him was small but the slice of what appeared to be a strawberry cream roll cake looked no less appealing. A couple of mint leaves and a light sprinkling of powdered sugar decorated the outside while a heart made out of sliced strawberry halves was neatly tucked in the center of the cream.
"Do you have any actual French people working here?"
She looked at him with a confused look one might see on a child. Almost fitting for her if I didn't know the Caligo from the night before.
"Um, well, the owner is half French I think and Francis is our boss if that counts. Why?"
"Just curious," he murmured, though he certainly made no attempt to hide the way he rolled his eyes about it.
It was strange, but Austria actually seemed a little ruder than what was usually expected of him. Speaking of being rude, however... "Ah, thank you for the soup. It tastes very nice."
"I'm glad you liked it! And I think we'll have to swing by Yen's place today after my shift..."
Getting into a car with her was the last thing I wanted to think of since last night. The drive here was uneventful, but even if it wasn't busy at five in the morning it did nothing to ease my nerves. Midday traffic was not an idea I wanted to think about right now. Another table called for her attention and the second she skipped off to serve them, I looked back at the composed Austrian across from me.
"Does she like to drive fast?"
"I've absolutely no idea what you're talking about."
That's right. He had been fast asleep when we came home last night. He'd only been with her for a day or two. He probably had no idea what driving with her was like and I will admit that I am quite envious of that.
"They make rather good coffee here though. I'm not exactly sure where "here" is but I won't complain just yet."
I'm sure he would have liked to continue enjoying his coffee if not for the ruckus the table next to us had suddenly started.
"Hey! Miss!"
Caligo had almost walked right past him, a damp towel cradled in both hands. "Sorry sir, I just need a minute to-" She wasn't quick enough to avoid the arm now blocking her path and the man didn't need to stand up for me to know that he already had her beaten by size alone.
He didn't look happy and he didn't look as if he were in the mood to wait another minute. "I've been sitting here for the last twenty minutes waiting for coffee and I've watched you serve four other tables already but mine."
"I'm sorry. What was the name on your order?"
"I didn't even order yet!"
"You're going to have to go up to the counter and order first then."
The argument was already attracting a considerable amount of attention already but the person I noticed paying the most attention to the man was Austria.
"I-Is there something wrong Austria-San?"
He stood abruptly without a word, adjusting his cravat and strode over to the table where Caligo was currently getting an ear full from the man. While I would usually gladly help a friend, something told me I might end up being on the receiving end of whatever he had in store for the disrespectful individual... I would still keep watch though. Surely it couldn't hurt to have an extra set of eyes for any situation.
"Excuse me sir, but if you had any sense, you'd have realized that the people being served before you went up to order first. There's even a nice sign that says 'order here'. Now if you could kindly shut your mouth and let the Frau get back to her work, I'm going to go back to my table to enjoy my coffee."
The man was absolutely livid if his red face was any indication and even Caligo herself wasn't sure where Roderich's attitude had suddenly come from. Most likely, the comment had made his mood even worse but there was a tension in Austria's body language that even I found unnerving. The others in the cafe caught on to it and Caligo glanced at me at least once. She didn't look as confident this morning. I noted the offending patron's jaw clench as he snuffed loudly at the Austrian and glowered at Caligo.
"I'll be back to talk to your manager."
Even after he'd left it was hard to breathe easy again. Austria still had an oddly malicious aura about him when he came back to finish off his coffee.
"Roderich what the hell was that," she hissed angrily. Caligo dropped the damp towel on the table, a few pieces of glass tumbling out of the cloth and a few small red spots on the white linen. Her coworkers behind the counter had all come out to see what would happen next and her own temper seemed to be at a low simmer, although her cheeks were a little pink.
Austria, however, didn't seem to notice all the attention he'd managed to draw. He finished off his coffee and left the cup on the table before turning to her. "Let's go."
"What? No! My shift's not over!"
"It wasn't a suggestion."
A low growl rumbled in her chest and she moved to smack his arm but to no avail. Austria was faster and stronger than her and true to that, he caught her by the wrist without so much as batting an eye. The shock on her face was quite noticeable and perhaps she tried to pull her hand back, but neither of them budged for a long moment.
"Go," he told her, and he seemed much more pleased when she didn't put up a fight.
There were at least a dozen sets of eyes boring holes into us and the cook looked ready to follow us out. He was still carrying his kitchen knife from the back.
"Sorry guys. I promise I'll make up my shift tomorrow okay?"
Caligo almost made it sound as if this was normal. Hopefully it wasn't, because this wasn't like Austria and I suppose even I didn't like it very much. Her driving skills were the last thing that concerned me as we drove further into the town and presumably to YenKin's apartment. The complex appeared to be a middle class establishment, though it still gave the impression that there was still a decent chance you could be mugged somewhere between the street corner and your door, but still a rather comfortable environment.
"Where exactly does your friend live?"
"3rd floor. Apartment 22."
"Wouldn't my presence be imposing on-"
"Nah! He's been kinda lonely lately and the apartment manager's like "you can't have pets!" but the dude's got like 3 cats and-"
"You're rambling." Austria gave her a pointed look, not quite pleased that they had gone somewhere other than home.
"Whatever. Point is, you'd be a great friend for him to have around! Well, you'd get along at least, I'd bet a number of things on that."
There wasn't anything terribly remarkable about the building and the apartment itself was sure to be small, but I could work with small. She rapped on the door with her knuckles three times, tapping her foot as we waited...
"Is he not home?"
"If he's not at work like he should be then he'd better be here..."
More time passed awkwardly in the hallway until Caligo knelt by the lock, pulled out a hair pin and began fiddling with it.
"I didn't know you could pick locks..." Definitely something I'd feel better NOT knowing...
"I'm not great at it but... I mean obviously I still need practice. We don't have time for this shit."
The pins were replaced with the Karambit knife I had seen her pull out the night before and she used the blade to jimmy the locks. If I would be staying here I will certainly have those replaced if only for my own peace of mind.
Inside was pitch black, save for the light from the hallway and what appeared to be a small game system in the far corner of the room. The sillouette of a person huddled in the corner illuminated by said glow didn't even acknowledge our presence once.
"Oi, Yen."
She strode over and nudged him with her foot a couple of times, producing strange whining and grumbling from the person before he smacked her leg away.
"Good grief... Cover your eyes guys. This might hurt a bit."
"Hurt...?"
"LET THERE BE LIGHT," she shouted, throwing the drapes wide open and filling the room with sunlight.
"AAAAUUGHHH! Turn out the sun! Shoot it! Burn it!"
The boy hissed viciously and cowered as Caligo drew the curtains back to the center a little more, clutching his PSP tightly to his chest.
"My precious...!"
"Geeze Yen, chill! You do know you missed work today, right?"
The mention of work didn't seem to make any sense to him for a few minutes and the most that came out at the time was an unintelligible "uh". Eventually though, he sobered up from whatever it was he was on and paled a little more at the mention of the distasteful word.
"Crap... I'm sorry Cal," he muttered, dragging his hands down his face.
"Beni's the one you're gonna have to apologize to dude."
"I know! Crap!"
She sighed, arms crossing over her chest and looked down at her friend.
"What game is it THIS time?"
"Persona 4..."
"You're such a nerd!"
"Damn right," he muttered, standing and looking at us. "So...uh...sorry, what were you here for again?"
"I asked if you'd mind having a roommate. His name is Kiku."
He looked at me again, like someone who was trying to remember the name of someone who had said hi to them, and made an "ah, I get it now" expression.
"Yeah, you can stay. It'll be like living with sane people again."
"Except this one," she said, jabbing YenKin in the side with a finger, "Might periodically slip into video game comas. Oi, Roderich! Don't touch that!"
"Is he with you," YenKin asked, utterly confused as he watched Austria replace the small glass sculpture on the coffee table. He still had that same irritated expression from the cafe.
"In a sense... Gilbert managed to knock the crap out of him a couple days ago and he's been at my place ever since... But it seems like he can't remember anything from before that."
"Well how's he gonna get home then?"
"I..." She let out a long sigh and leaned back against the wall, hands behind her head. She looked as if she'd never been more troubled in her life than now...
"Caligo."
"I know, I know...! But," she bit her lip, hesitating to speak about the matter in front of them. "How am I supposed to...? I can't just file a missing person report... Can I?"
YenKin shrugged and stretched out his legs that were surely stiff from sitting around for so long.
"Worth a shot, right?"
Caligo sighed again and waved which he seemed to take as an "ok, fine, I'll do it later" before waving as well.
"Call me if he doesn't take good care of you Kiku!"
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence Cally!"
"You're welcome Yenny!"
Austria was more than happy to leave, sparing me only a brief goodbye and now it was just the two of us...
"So Dinner's at 7..." He glanced the clock which read 11:14. "Oh. I guess lunch is now. You hungry?"
"No thank you. Caligo gave me some soup."
"Cally made you soup?"
"Hai."
"And you ATE it," he almost shouted as I nodded. YenKin chuckled and entered the dark kitchen. "You're braver than I am."
...
"W-Wait! What does that mean!"
A/N: Ok, before anyone says anything, yes, Austria was very OOC but there's an explanation for that later on as I write more, so don't worry about it! He goes back to normal for a while so yeah. All will be explained later, I promise!
1/19/16: So that's my interpretation of Austria's dominant mode in case anyone was wondering.
