Author's Note: Well boys, it looks like the majority of you are expecting some kind of cat fight between Diana and Anchovy to win Theodore's heart. Come on people, can't all our characters be happy at least once?
Before we begin, let's answer a few questions made by my loyal commenters:
"Okay, forget what I said about Diana falling for Theodore. It's actually the other way around, right?"
Could it not be both? Or maybe none of them are feeling the love tonight.
"Some pretty bad self-inserting here."
I know right, but I just can't help but add myself in. Whenever I write Beef Mc Whatnow into the story, I can't help but see him as me. Sorry if my qualities rubbed off on that bloated character a bit more than it should.
Also, it looks like the polls have been updated for who is best girl in Little Witch Academia!
First Place is still Diana, this time with five votes!
Second place is surprisingly Ursula with two votes!
Then Akko, Sucy, and Fem Beef Mc Whatnow are tied for third with one vote each.
I'll keep the poll up for anyone still interested
"So Theodore, how much further do we have to go?" I ask him as we wander through the streets of Rome.
I only ask this due to the fact that we've been walking for about half an hour now. Of course I expected these kinds of conditions, vacations always include so much walking.
But acknowledging something and actually experiencing it are two different things entirely.
But still, I can't complain about the scenery.
A light blanket of snow covers the streets, the strength of the cold being diluted by our jackets, heat from nearby shops and bakeries providing us with some warmth. A few times now, we have passed by Roman fountains made of marble, casually spouting its water as it did many years ago. And that's how it is in this city, through and through. Old classical Roman architecture mingles with the modern day, creating a blend not seen just anywhere.
"Not much, I believe." He answers, as we continue to move forward. "But I can't be sure, I've never been there before."
"How come?" I ask.
"It's mainly for tourists. I know my way around, I don't need a tour guide. But I'll be happy to come with you." He explains.
"You did promise me a tour of Rome." I ponder to myself.
It's true, I remember yesterday when I first arrived he had made that promise.
The two of us continue to move through Rome, the fine snow making a slight crunching sound underneath our feet.
"How did the call with your friend go this morning?" I ask, attempting to engage in small talk. "While I couldn't understand due to the language barrier, you sounded fairly excited."
He smiles as he relives his morning phone call.
"Yes, it's been so long since I've heard from her. It was nice to talk to her. In fact, she's coming to Rome today. We'll meet up after the tour."
I ponder these future plans quietly to myself.
I haven't heard much about her, not even seeing a picture. Additionally, Theodore hasn't even told me what she's like. If she's anything like his older sister, I'll simply put on a happy mask, and continue through the day. But if she's a good friend of Theodore's, I'm sure we'll get along well.
As far as Theodore has told me, we're going to be escorted around Rome on a carriage while a tour guide points out significant landmarks.
I have never been on a tour such as this before. I can only wonder what it'll be like.
"There it is." I hear Theodore say, as he points forward. "That's where we wait."
In front of another antique marble fountain, a few metal benches are sprawled around.
On one of the benches is a man who looks strikingly familiar. He's what I would describe as an overweight, out of shape, balding, lonely man. And being a lonely man, he's the only one there. His fat fingers pound away at a laptop, him staring with great determination at the screen.
"Please don't tell me..." I hear Theodore's voice drift away as he too notices the man.
I stare at him until I fully recognize that individual.
"Oh my, is that the man from the plane?" I ask Theodore.
"It is. He did say that we was going on vacation in Rome. I just never thought we'd run into him."
The two of us approach him, the man being fully engaged in whatever internet activities he's chosen.
What was his name again? It was something very unusual, and yet amusingly fitting.
"Beef Mc Whatnow?" Theodore asks, slightly hesitant.
The man looks up, his whole face in a state of shock, completely flabbergasted by our presence.
"Whoa!" He screams in greeting. "It's the girl with the legs and the arms. As well as the guy with the liver and the nose the size of New Orleans."
I would like to retort this man's rather rude introduction, but facts were stated. I do indeed have legs and arms, and well as Theodore have a liver and a...well...a nose of unusual size.
The two of us, wanting to avoid this man, sit on the bench next to him, rather than being directly besides him.
"So, are you people of unknown gender waiting for the tour guide?" Beef asks us.
"Mh hmm." Theodore responds. "Are you waiting for the tour also?"
"Oh yeah!" He explodes. "My cousin, Pepperoni Mc Whatnow, is the tour guide. I get this tour for free! Isn't that lit!?"
"Lit?" I ask, not understanding.
He smiles a very wide and ugly smile, saying
"I've been trying to understand teenage slang. I figured the reason why I have such a hard time being liked is because I'm behind the times. I'm not hip, I don't get jiggy with it. In fact, I took a few classes on twerking. Do you wanna see?"
"No." Theodore responds, frowning.
Slightly saddened, Beef looks back at his laptop. After a few clicks, he beams with a new found happiness, as if he just discovered something exciting.
He looks at me specifically, asking
"Hey, have you ever been so far as to even pretend to ever want to go to do more like?"
"What?" I respond with, not understanding his question.
"Are you only a creep if you get caught?" He asks.
"What?" I repeat, still lost in confusion.
In a huff, Beef Mc Whatnow grabs his laptop, quickly getting up from his seat. Almost instantly, he sits down next to me, the whole bench shaking underneath his great weight. In my defense, I feel Theodore scoot a little closer to me.
"I was wondering if you could help me with something. I could use a woman's opinion."
My mind can only guess at what a person such as him could possibly request.
I notice his sweaty hands practically crushing his laptop with his mighty grip. He seems to be bursting at the seams with excitement. It doesn't matter how detestable someone may appear, a bit of civil behavior will make all the difference.
"What is it that you need?" I ask him.
"I'm setting up an account for a dating website, and I was just wondering if I could run it by you."
That wasn't as bad as I thought. Perhaps the sooner I give him my opinion, the sooner Theodore and I can be alone again, possibly being able to enjoy the tour in peace.
I nod at him, agreeing to his request.
He squeals in delight, the noise echoing throughout the street.
He quickly clicks around on his laptop a bit more.
"Okay..." He says, pulling up his profile. "The first question is 'What is your job?', and I answered with I make teeth for things."
Confused by his occupation, I raise an eyebrow, silently requesting him to explain.
"So, kind of like a taxidermy guy." He says. "I put dentures in. Only teeth though."
Why only teeth?
"Instead of that, perhaps just put that you work as a taxidermy man." I suggest.
"Gotcha." He mutters, tapping away at the keyboard.
"The next question is 'What's your favorite food?' Beef obviously, you stupid idiot."
I look at him, once again in question by his choice of response. This is a dating website, right?
"Too much humor?" He asks innocently.
"This isn't funny." I hear Theodore bluntly remark.
Ignoring him, Beef continues to read his self summary.
"On a typical Friday night I'm eating ribs in the tub, baby. And there's room for one more."
Once again, I question his answer with nothing more than a confused stare.
"You know, I'm trying to be a little flirty." He explains. "Just think, we can get as messy as we want, and we're already in a bathtub."
Just imagining that scene actually being carried out disturbs me.
"What else do you have?" I ask, wanting to skip that one in particular.
"They asked for any hobbies." Beef responds. "So I said, I'm playing on Stank Row with my band 'The Fart Trio'. I'm on drums."
"So music?" He asks me. "Girls like a musical guy, right?"
"Some girls like that, yeah." I agree.
He smiles, nodding his head at what he perceives as a correct answer.
He looks back to his laptop, continuing
"They asked for any notable achievements. So, I said I ate a wet newspaper for a t.v. talent show that never aired."
"If you want to be funny." I say, trying to justify the answer.
Beef's face suddenly turns serious.
"Oh it's no joke. I'm actually pretty proud of it."
As I try to imagine such a strange feat, Beef continues on.
"What would you do with an unexpected bonus from your job? I'd go ape shit at Home Town Buffet."
Before either off us can form a proper response, Beef continues.
"This one is similar to the last one." He explains. "What would you do if you won the lottery? Give it to a charity. Not! Atlantic City with my goon squad."
"This is horrible." Theodore says.
"Do you have any suggestions?" Beef asks my friend.
"Yeah, redo all of it." He says.
"That's why we're here." Beef says, looking back at his screen.
"Any major obstacles in your life?" Beef reads the next question. "They removed the lump from me, and now everything flows where it should."
"It was actually the one I showed you on the plane." Beef says, pointing at my friend.
"That, and my giant foreskin." He mutters to us, looking back at the screen.
"Beefy's got a beefy one." He explains while typing it into the answer.
After he finishes typing, he looks back to address us.
"So, on a scale from one to ten, how would you rate my dating profile."
"I'd say a strong two."
"A negative two." Theodore responds with.
"And the average of that..." Beef thinks. "Is zero."
"Whelp, I clearly have some changes to make." Beef says, before returning back to his laptop.
"Which website is this?" I ask him.
"Farmers Only. I want to be plowed." He simply replies, not even looking at us.
As Beef continues to type, we heard the sounds of heavy wheels rolling and horse shoes clanking.
Upon looks towards these sounds, we spot a horse drawn carriage approaching us with two passengers. One is the driver, and the other sits in the carriage.
It stops in front of us, with the man sitting in the carriage coming outside to greet us.
He's a large man, his entire body bearing a slight resemblance to a meatball. His long, greasy hair comes down to his shoulders, making him look like some garage band rock star.
His eyes glance past us, but seem to brighten with joy once they make contact with Beef.
"Beefy! Oh, I'm so glad you could make it!" The carriage man happily exclaims, walking up to him.
"Of course, Pepperoni." Beef answers, putting his laptop aside, and standing up. "After all, if I'm going to tour around Rome, why would I choose anyone else when I have my own cousin?"
The two exchange a quick hug, before Pepperoni takes a glance at us.
"Are you two also here for the tour?" He asks.
"Yes." Theodore answers.
"Well then..." Pepperoni smiles, before turning his back to us.
He gets back on the carriage, half of his body leaning out.
"All aboard!" He cries, like some kind of train conductor.
Beef Mc Whatnow is the first to move. As he approaches the carriage, he stops momentarily.
He proceeds to smell the air like a dog. After a few whiffs, he brings his nose to his armpit, repeating his sniffing.
In an instant, he jerks his head away, his eyes watering and his face turning a tinge of sickly green.
"I should've showered before this. Hashtag Stank!" He cries in disgust.
He quickly grabs his laptop, slinging it underneath his arm.
"I have to Pokémon Go!" He yells, before running away, rounding a city block, slipping out of sight.
"Well, that's Beef. He's always got somewhere to go." Pepperoni informs us, seemingly not bothered by his cousin's behavior.
But then again, neither are Theodore and I. I've only known Beef since I met him at the airport, and my friend seems to known him longer. Even in this limited time that I've been subjected to him, I hold Beef with little regard.
Now forgetting about Beef's departure, the two of us approach the carriage, Theodore reaching into his pocket.
"How much?" He asks, referring to the tour.
"It's five euros for each."
Theodore pulls out two five euro bills, handing them to our tour guide.
He takes the paper, and immediately tears both into tiny pieces, throwing what's left to the wind.
"Money means nothing to me." He claims.
"Okay." My friend uncomfortably responds, a frown on his face.
What is this? Based off of Pepperoni's past behavior and limited contact to his cousin, I assumed their personalities would be at least different. While that might still stand, I can see that the gene of uncouthness is hereditary. I mean, what kind of individual just throws aside money that is offered for their services? At this point, Pepperoni is now working for free.
The two of us board the carriage, us in the back, while Pepperoni takes his assigned position in the front. Only one row separates us from him.
Pepperoni begins communicating with the driver in Italian, perhaps informing him to begin.
As we wait, I turn to Theodore, wishing to engage in small talk. However, all I'm greeted with is a rather irate friend, staring ahead as he thinks whatever thoughts he bears.
But, I've been around him long enough to know plenty well about what's making him so cross at the moment.
"Oh, why even bother?" I ask him, referring to the destroyed money. "Either way, this tour was going to cost us ten euros. Who cares what happens to the money now that it's not in our possession?"
He looks back at me, his negativity a bit countered, but still shown.
"I do. I payed for this, and I don't want to see the money just discarded like nothing. My grandpa always says to never waste the money that you work for. It pained me to see him rip it up before our eyes."
"Your grandpa seems to be rather reserve when it comes to spending." I point out. "It's a shame that he gave us both the cold shoulder upon his debut."
He leans back into the seat, his cross attitude now fully dissipated.
"Well, we're having dinner with him tonight. Perhaps you can introduce yourself to him then."
Dinner with the Sempronias? While I of course expected to share meals with them, I did not anticipate the behavior of a few. His parents seem fine, and I can at least tolerate Feliciano. However, his sister doesn't appear to be very fond of me.
"Is it a family dinner?" I ask.
"Yes."
"Is Romana going to be there?" I ask, this time an audible tone of displeasure in my voice.
Theodore picks up on it.
"Of course, she is family."
I lean back in my chair, attempting to figure out how that could possibly go.
Perhaps I can try to subdue her with kindness, try to win her over with the politeness that I was raised in.
But, my mind flashes to that brief confrontation in the guest room.
I'm not sure if she chose tomatoes because they are a notorious item to throw at witches, or if it was just coincidence.
Not to indulge myself in stereotypes, but we are in Italy after all. Tomatoes are a staple food here.
My thoughts on this matter end, as the carriage begins to move.
The wheels and horseshoes make their mutually iconic noises, as parade through the streets of Rome.
We pass by multiple gift shops, bakeries, fancy restaurants, and other tourist traps.
We continue on through this modern side of the city, and begin to spot more and more ancient wonders.
More and more of these elegant fountains from the past cross our path, still spouting off its water. Snow continues to shed thin blankets on the ground, sometimes mingling with the fountain water itself.
One of these ancient constructions would not look out of place in the Sempronia's home. Honestly, they probably already have one or two.
The wind blows a cold breeze passed us, chilling my face.
I spot another creation, this time it's definitely no fountain. It's a statue made out of pure white marble, almost completely matching the ground that's covered in snow of similar color.
It appears to be a statue of a man, dressed in an iconic toga, holding what appears to be a scroll.
I look over at Theodore, curious for his judgement at this sight. However, his eyes just cast by each marble construction without another thought.
Well, that is to be expected. He has lived here his entire life, and probably bear witness to these ancient relics every single day. It's only natural that these creations, no matter how much Roman pride Theodore might hold, would begin to lose their magic after some time.
I am curious as to what individual that statue represents. Well, we did hire a tour guide, so why not take advantage of our investment?
I look over at him, asking
"And what is-"
I stop, as I notice Pepperoni staring off into the distance, his eyes not even in focus.
"One last ride, then it's night night forever." He mutters, a certain calm in his tone.
I glance at Theodore, a slight look of concern in my eyes.
He glances back, but rather than concern, he shows confusion.
Neither of us can interpret the words of the man, and neither of us want to, for fear of your minds coming to a grim conclusion.
"Let me tell you something." Pepperoni chimes. "I need these rides."
"And why is that?" I ask, both of us now looking at our tour guide.
"I come on these rides to get away from my skanky step daughters."
"You know, I didn't raise them, so you have to deal with what you're given." He continues his description. "But, the way they dress and...the photos...super skanky."
I uncomfortably look away from the man, now towards the streets. On the sidewalk, I spot another statue.
It's of another toga wearing man, this time riding a chariot similar to our own. The marble man is also doing a Roman salute.
"And what does that statue represent?" I ask, wanting to abandon the past conversation.
He sees where I'm pointing, and eyes the statue. After a few moments of analysis, he says
"Right there is the best spot in the city to get a Roman Blowhole."
I frown at his worthless description.
Well then, he is definitely not living up to his tour guide title. I wonder if everyone with the surname Whatnow behaves in such a manner as the two I've already seen.
Suddenly, I hear a loud ringing, and in an instant I see Pepperoni pulling out his phone.
"Hello?" He asks, addressing the caller.
I hear indescribable noises. coming from the phone.
"Hey dad, I'm in the middle of a tour." Pepperoni answers back.
More language comes from the phone.
"Yeah, I'll be home later."
More sounds, this time in a slightly angered tone.
"Alright, you little bitch."
More dialog comes from the phone.
"I did say bitch. First you were mom's bitch, now you're my bitch, bitch."
Calmness returns in Pepperoni's dad's voice, as he continues with the conversation.
"Yeah, Christmas is just a week away, bitch. What do you want for Christmas, bitch?"
More noise, what I can only guess being the dad deciding his gifts.
"Bye bitch."
And with that, Pepperoni ends the call, returning his phone to his pocket.
A moment of silence now envelops the carriage, the only sounds being horseshoes hitting the cement road.
This man, Pepperoni Mc Whatnow, well what can I say? It's almost as if words cannot express the powerful wave of confusion and concerns crashing down on us. Thankfully, words need not be spoken, for the madness within the Whatnows is self evident. A mere child could discern the differences between a regular person, and one of them.
Pepperoni looks back at us, face swearing with worry and regret.
"You know what, fuck this." He mutters, before suddenly hopping out the carriage.
He continues to run down the street until he disappears out of sight, continuing to curse all the while.
The driver, noticing this, looks back at us.
"Well, that's Pepperoni, so unpredictable."
That's an understatement! It's like whatever was being processed in his mind had just blown up without warning.
The driver then stops the carriage by the sidewalk, and says
"Go on, tour's over. No refunds."
After a moment of him staring blankly at us, the both of us realize this is no joke.
We both quietly exit the carriage, both of us in such a state of confusion that we can't hope to protest. The driver suddenly races down the road.
Only now, that I can see the backside of the carriage, do I see a sign saying
'Thanks Fo' Yo Money, Suckas!'
It then rounds a city block, never to be seen again.
"Well, that was a rather horrid waste of time." I bluntly remark.
So far, the day has been wasted with the Whatnow cousins.
"I think that was a scam." I hear Theodore suggest.
I turn to him, asking
"Shall we file a report?"
He shakes his head.
"No, it's fine. That carriage ride was kind of amusing." He stops to glance at his watch. "Anyway, it's 2:53, I told my friend we'd meet her at three."
"Your native friend?"
"Yes, my native friend. I'd also consider her my first friend."
"I never did ask you her name."
A thin sheepish smile grows on his lips, as he faintly scratches the back of his head.
"Well, as a child, I could never pronoun her name. So, I gave her a nickname, and it just stuck."
I raise an eyebrow.
"And just what was this nickname?"
He sighs, still a little embarrassed.
"It's Anchovy."
The two of us walk through the streets of Rome, heading towards Theodore's designated meeting spot.
In this meantime of walking, I might as well engage in discourse with my friend. Maybe I can learn even more about his.
"So, how long have you known Anchovy?" I ask, using the nickname provided.
"Since my early childhood. Like I said, she was my first friend." He responds.
Childhood bonds that have lasted into adolescence tend to be strong.
"What is she like? Her personality, I mean."
He thinks for a bit, before saying
"I'd say she's nice and strong willed. Think of a mix of Akko and Amanda, with a bit more of an advanced vocabulary."
I give a slight frown at this.
"Well, that doesn't sound very good."
As far as I concerned, those two in question don't hold a very good opinion of me.
"So, where are we meeting at? I don't remember you mentioning."
"I don't think I did. It's just a little pizza place that Anchovy and I would hang out at. We should come upon it at any moment now."
A pizza place, huh? How Italian.
Just as Theodore stated, in a few moments, a pizza place comes into sight.
It's small, but practical, positioned at the front of the street, allowing any drivers passing by to notice. A few tables lie outside, abandoned due to the cold. Several huge windows would allow us to see inside if they weren't fogged up from the winter weather.
Theodore approaches the building, and I follow his lead.
Theodore opens the door, a bell ringing overhead to signal the arrival of new costumers.
"After you." He says, holding it open.
I smile at his act, following his instructions and entering, him soonly following.
The warmth from the multiple actives ovens, and perhaps a nearby heater, hit me hard. A welcoming change to the coldness of the outside. Speaking of ovens, the smell of baking pizza and those freshly created mingle to create a rather nice odor. A nearby radio playes a light song, naturally spoken in Italian. Conversations coming from the patrons drown out most of it, leaving the song nothing more than insignificant background music.
Theodore gazes around the restaurant a bit before letting loose a wide grin.
"Ah, there she is." He says, pointing to her.
In the corner of the building, a lone girl sits by one of the fogged up windows, waiting our arrival.
Theodore instinctively moves towards her, and I soon follow. As we get closer, her appearance comes into view.
She has reddish brown eyes, and grey hair tied into two long ponytails by black ribbons.
She doesn't appear to have seen us.
"Anchovy!" I hear Theodore call out.
Upon hearing her nickname, Anchovy gazes into the direction of the sound.
As her eyes make contact with her long time friend, her once bored expression immediately transforms into one of pure joy, with a hint of excitement.
"Theodore!" She responds, standing up to greet us.
I note that she is shorter than both Theodore and I.
As the three of us draw near, the finer and more grisly features of Theodore become apparent.
"What happened to your face!?" She shockingly demands, a certain amount of bluntness in her voice.
While I expected Theodore to resort to his usual lie on this matter, what he says next surprises me.
"I got into a fight near the school. Please don't worry about it. It's been taken care of, and handled. I think it happened a few months ago."
He looks over at me, asking
"It was a few months, right?"
I nod, saying
"I believe it was."
The two of us look back at Anchovy, who now appears to be skeptical, with a hint of caution.
"Well, if it's all taken care of, then I suppose it's just some nitty gritty detail that you don't want to be brought up."
Theodore nods.
"I don't want it to ruin the moment."
Anchovy smirks confidently, saying
"But if you have any future problems with this mystery man, do not hesitate to find me! I guarantee to you that I will not lose! I mean, I will win!"
Theodore flashes a smile at her, and Anchovy follows this pattern. The two Italians have both seemed to cast away the previous conversation, now reverting to a warm welcome.
She turns to me.
"Greetings, you must be Theodore's friend from school! My name is Anchovy, his lifelong friend! Pleased to meet you." She greets me, her hand outstretched in a handshake.
While her voice was loud, it was not in the same consistency as someone like Akko. It was more like a bold statement, made by a dictator towering over her people.
I accept her offer, sharing with her my own introduction.
"Hello Anchovy, my name is Diana. It's nice to meet you."
After our exchange, Theodore's friend points behind her with a thumb, saying
"I took the liberty of saving us seats. Follow me."
Now it is both Theodore and I that follow, as Anchovy takes us to the booth she was previously sitting at.
Theodore is the first to slide in, taking the fogged up window seat.
As I'm about to join him, Anchovy slides in, taking the only spot next to him.
Neither of them notice, as she playfully slings an arm around Theodore, laughing.
"Just like old times, huh?"
He joins in with a smile.
I wanted that seat...
Sighing to myself, I take a position in the opposing seat, now facing the two.
I watch on as the two continue their playful chatter.
Clearly Anchovy must have some kind of strong bond with Theodore. This fact might have been already stated by my friend, but it was certainly reinforced by his own actions.
The most groundbreaking piece of proof was most definitely Theodore's response to her question concerning his scarring.
While it is to be noted that he left out the part concerning a Roman god, a piece of evidence that he has only shared with Lotte and I, he still went above and beyond the status quo of his answering. He even left his own family in the dark, not trusting them with this precious information. A very strong bond indeed.
"May I take your order?"
I'm snapped out of my deep thinking as I hear this.
Looking up, I see a waiter, pen and clipboard in hand, awaiting our request.
Theodore looks at me, asking
"What do you want, Diana?"
Before I have time to give my suggestion, I hear Anchovy say
"I'll have a cheese pizza."
Theodore now looks at her, asking
"Isn't that your favorite?"
She nods, saying
"Affirmative."
Our mutual friend looks back at the waiter, saying
"We'd like a large cheese pizza please."
He writes down his order, asking
"Anything to drink?"
"We'll have three waters."
He finishes copying down Theodore's words, before leaving to the kitchen.
A cheese pizza? That wasn't quite what I was going to recommend, but I suppose that's okay too.
It seems as though Theodore was interested in my food recommendation, allowing me to chose first, that is until Anchovy decided to give her thoughts.
The two Italians decide to engage themselves in their own conversation, leaving me alone.
At least they're speaking in English, so I can follow along.
"So Theodore, you told her to call me Anchovy?" She asks, a sly grin as if planning something.
"I did. What of it?"
Her smirk grows.
"Did you also tell her the second nickname you had for me?"
Instantly, Theodore's face turns a light red.
"Oh, come on! I haven't called you that since we were little!" He protests, his embarrassment shown clear as day.
"Go on and tell her." Anchovy requests, nudging him in the side, grin forever visible.
"I refuse."
"Come on." She insists.
"It's embarrassing."
"That's why I want you to say it."
"I'd like to know." I inform him.
Upon hearing this, he lets out a defeated sigh, muttering
"It was...it was Duce."
I suppress a giggle.
Really, Duce? The Italian word for leader?
"Oh yes, you should've seen him when we were kids." Anchovy recollects. "I can sill see it now. Wherever I went, I heard the cries of 'Duce! Duce! Duce!'" She exclaims, pretending to be Theodore.
"Awww, how cute." I smile.
I hear Theodore moan, before leaning against his seat.
"So, how have you been?" Anchovy asks. "A magical school in England must be different than here."
He sits back up, saying
"It definitely wasn't what I expected. I'll admit, when I first entered, I thought I'd fly through the ranks, leaving everyone behind. While my grades are above average, I've never been the best."
"That's not true." I bring up. "You're quite good at destruction magic. When we took the AP entrance exam, you were able to produce a flame of almost double the average power."
Theodore smiles at my compliment, his past embarrassment now gone with the wind.
"Can you perform some magic for me?" Anchovy asks, a little excitement in her voice. "I'd love a little show."
"I can't do any spells outside of the range The Sorcerer's Stone." Theodore admits. "It supplies magic to witches and wizards who can't create their own, like me."
Theodore is normally not the one to admit flaws, and when he does, it's often a quick and vague confession. Perhaps Theodore just so comfortable around Anchovy that he wouldn't even hesitate. Those two are definitely very close.
"What about you?" Anchovy asks me, referring to my magical capabilities.
"While I can, airport security wouldn't allow the transportation of our wands. We left them behind."
Theodore nods, confirming my statement.
"So, have you made any other friends at this school, besides Diana." Anchovy asks him.
"I've made a few. There are four main friends, with three minor."
"Im guessing she's one of the main?" She asks, pointing at me.
Theodore nods.
"So, are there any boys in your new circle of friendship?" She asks.
"No, they're all girls." He answers back.
"Come on, Theodore." Anchovy disapproves. "The only guy friend you have is your older brother, and before the magic school, I was your only friend! When are you going to branch out?"
Our mutual friend scratches the back of his head, slightly embarrassed by the truth of the matter.
"Well...it's kind of an all girl's school."
She narrows her eyebrows in question.
"An all girl's school? I didn't even know a boy could join."
"It's definitely an anomaly." Theodore agrees.
"I'm still curious. Just how did you manage to join?"
"Well, I was already signed up from their website. To remove me from the records might've been more a hassle then it's worth."
"Also, the school is currently having financial troubles." I point out. "That could've played a role."
"I remember that website." Anchovy recalls. "You told me about it before you left."
"Still though..." She continues her questioning. "After browsing the website, you still didn't realize it was only for girls? You didn't research the school at all?"
"I didn't." He replies, shrugging his shoulders. "I guess I was just too excited to notice."
She smirks at him, saying
"You need to be more observant."
Our current conversation comes to an end, as the waiter returns.
"Here's your large cheese pizza." He says, setting it down on our table.
"And three glasses of water."
He sets those down as well.
"Would that be all?" The waiter asks.
"Yes, thank you every much." Theodore responds.
Anchovy and I also say our thanks, and the waiter leaves.
The three of us each grab a slice of the pizza, laying it down on our respective plates.
We begin to consume our individual slices, all the while continuing our conversation.
"And which school do you go to?" I ask her, taking a bite of the food.
"I go to Anzio Girls High School." She responds, also eating a corner of her slice.
So, she goes to an all girl's school as well?
While it's certainly not as magical as Luna Nova, I can still wonder how her educational establishment is fairing.
"How is the school?" I ask.
"It's a fairly big academy, beautiful, almost like a college. As spacious as one too."
"Although it's underfunded..." She continues. "We still enjoy a variety of different clubs, some very rare to other schools."
"Like what?" I ask.
Anchovy smirks, saying
"The most obvious being The Tankery Club."
I blink a few times, my mind not being able to fully processing this strange phrase.
"Tankery Club?"
"Pretty abnormal, huh?" Theodore asks, grinning at me in solidarity. "Definitely something not of the status quo when it comes to school activities."
Anchovy snorts.
"Says the guy from an all girl's magic school!"
This sudden but accurate fact sends a laughing fit between Theodore and I.
After the joke has subsided, and a few more bite of pizza follow, I ask
"So, how would a school even host a tank club? And how does it work?"
"It's just like any other school club. We designate a time of day, and occupy ourselves with learning about tanks." She explains.
Oh, for a second I thought they-
"We also compete against other schools from around the world. For example, Anzio high just participated in a match against Ooarai Girls High School."
So that's it? It's just as I thought when the words 'Tankery Club' were first uttered to me. No wonder why Anchovy's school is underfunded, half of there budget must go into that one club alone! How much is the cost of one tank? Too much for a school to fund, that's for sure.
"And what was the outcome?" I ask.
"Well, we lost." She mutters, not at all enthused by reliving that detail.
She suddenly snaps back with an energetic burst.
"Oh well, it isn't just about the battle! After the match, we show our appreciation for the participants and staff involved. This, my friend, is the Anzio way!"
"And what way is that?" I ask.
"Our school is no slouch when it comes to fine cuisine!" She then mutters to herself. "If only that enthusiasm my fellow students had on food were somehow translated into matches..."
"So, are there any clubs at your school worth noting?" Anchovy asks me, now forgetting her ill equipped staff. "I'm sure a magic school has much to offer."
"There is the Luna Nova News Network. I think there's also a Destruction Magics Club, as well as one for alchemy."
"There's a Destruction Magics Club?" Theodore asks.
"I'm quite sure. I believe it's hosted by Faralda."
"I'll look into that once our vacation is over." He claims, taking the final bite from his food.
Speaking of that, I look down at my own plate, only now noticing it's bear of food.
So is Anchovy's, and even the main pizza plate itself, the only thing left being a thin layer of grease.
I look outside the window, me forgetting that it's still fogged, but that doesn't matter. Even with this winter veil blocking my vision, I can still tell that there's less light outside than before. It must be the late afternoon.
"It's getting late." I point out to the two with me.
Theodore takes a glance at the window, also noticing the light disparity.
"My parents are expecting us home soon. We're having dinner with them tonight." He says to me.
Anchovy sighs.
"Already? I suppose time really does fly when you're spending it with your best friend."
After Theodore leaves our total costs on the table, the three of us leave the building.
After spending that length of time in a hot restaurant, the coldness of the winter night air hits me.
I blow my breath into my hands.
"Its unfortunate that you have to leave now." Anchovy says. "I was hoping that we'd have more time together."
"I was too." Theodore agrees, smiling at his friend. "Still thought, it was wonderful to see you again."
Anchovy takes a few steps closer to him, saying
"I agree. We should meet up more before winter break ends."
"Definitely." Theodore says, also approaching her.
I feel my face become fairly warm, even under this night air.
Oh my, their faces...they're so close together. Why, with just one nudge, they'd be-
The two embrace in a hug, a tight hug, something with even more passion then what he met his family with.
Did he even hug his family? If I remember right, only Feliciano had such treatment, and it was only after he knocked Theodore to the ground.
The two Italians continue their embrace, still with that spark of passion.
It's strange that Theodore would show this amount of affection to someone, while is family received a subpar sample.
And what especially got to me was how Theodore so quickly and so easily told Anchovy about the nature of his scarring.
Sure, the source character of this happening was left under the rug. But still, Theodore didn't even bother to tell his family the truth.
The two Italians finally end their embrace, Anchovy now approaching me.
"It was very nice to meet you." She says, grabbing my hand in a handshake. "As Theodore's lifelong friend, I approve of the relationship between you two."
"Well, um...thank you."
Anchovy and Theodore exchange a nod, smiling at each other.
Then, the two part ways, Anchovy and Theodore walking in opposition directions, while I follow my friend.
Perhaps maybe a distance of fifteen feet at best separates us, before Theodore suddenly spins around, waving his hand, shouting
"Goodbye Anchovy, have a wonderful night!"
At this point, nighttime darkness has won, as my friend has only shouted into the empty void.
However, both of hear a familiar disembodied voice.
"You too Theodore! Until we meet again!"
And with that, no more words are exchanged, as the two of us remaining continue our walk through the snow covered streets on our way back to Theodore's house, the lights of nearby stores and bakeries allowing ample light.
I must admit, at night, the city of Rome is quite romantic.
Even with all these warm emotions, I can't help but battle the chilly air.
I suppose the natural coldness of the night, as well as the harsh powers of winter must be taking its toll on me.
Once again, I blow into my cold hands, all the while a slight chill crawls up my spine, causing me to visibly shiver.
Theodore takes note of this.
"Are you cold?" He asks me.
"A little." I respond, a visible discomfort in my voice.
I hear the sound of a zipper, and soon feel extra weight added to myself.
Turning towards him in question, I spot Theodore, now jacketless, placing this article of clothing onto me.
"There you are..." He mutters, getting it in a satisfactory position.
"W-what is this?" I ask him, a growing blush beginning to ward off the cold.
"Kindness to a good friend." He responds, smiling.
Without any further words, Theodore resumes his walk, me following close behind him.
With a cold hand, I grab the empty sleeve of Theodore's jacket, now around me like some kind of cape.
I smile a gentle smile at this act of affection.
Quite romantic indeed.
Author's Note: Well, I hope I didn't upset anyone for not writing in Diana and Anchovy having a bikini mud fight for Theodore's affection. Oh well, that'll be something for the next anniversary special…
Also, don't forget to follow and fav, as well as a comment, means so much to me that my work is loved by all of you.
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