Operation: Dinner Date

Cast: (Felicia x Xander, Elise)
Prompt: Felicia x Xander, featuring Elise

Felicia walked into Elise's bedchambers.

"Um, hello? You wanted to see me Lady Elise?" asked the maid. She was a little uncertain of the reason behind her arrival. In fact, Elise was not even present.

It appeared that the young princess's writing desk was newly placed in the center of the room. A dusty, ancient (and somewhat stained) tablecloth rested over the table and there was a lit candle in the center.

"Hi Felicia!" Elise chirped, startling Felicia.

"Whoa! Lady Elise, please don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Oops! Sorry, Felicia!" Elise then cleared her throat. "Welcome to your dinner date!"

The older woman raised her eyebrow. "Eh? My dinner date? You mean, you want me to tend to your dinner with someone?" She smiled. "Aww, are you and Odin finally going steady?"

"N-no!" Elise blurted out. "This is a dinner date for you!"

"For me? … With… you?"

"No! The other guest just hasn't shown up yet! Please, be seated!" Elise requested. Felicia awkwardly nodded, and complied. She went to one side the desk and sat down. After a moment, the maid inspected the tablecloth more closely.

"Whoa, this tablecloth's kinda old! Do you want me to clean it or get a new one?" There was no answer. "… Lady Elise?" Felicia looked up and saw that she was alone in the room. "… Hello?"

Suddenly, there was a voice in the hall.

"O-okay, take it easy, Elise!"

"I asked you to be here ten minutes ago!"

"I know, but I was busy. I tried to make it as soon as possible."

"Wait, I have to come in first!"

A sigh was audible.

Elise ran back into her bedroom and cleared her throat. "Your table is this way, 'sir'. Heehee!"

Xander walked into the room. "My table? What do you mean?" The young king then looked, and found that there was a table (which he recognized as Elise's desk) and there was an unoccupied seat. The other seat had Felicia, whom was blowing out a tiny fire from the candle, which had formed on her sleeve. His cheeks went red. "Felicia? What are you up to?"

"L-Lord Xander! Uh, I mean Your Majesty!"

Xander turned back to his sister. "Elise, what is this all abou-"

"No talking, just sit down!" Elise started pushing Xander toward the table, and the man sighed.

Finally, with both guests at their seats, Peri crawled out from under Xander's bed. "Hi Lord Xander! Hi Felicia! I'm going to make dinner! What do you want?"

Xander raised his eyebrow. "Peri, what is this all about?"

"Just answer her question!" Elise stage-whispered. Xander internally sighed and tented his fingers.

"Felicia, have you anything to do with this?"

"No, sir! I was called in here just like you!"

The king nodded. "I see… I believe Elise would like us to share dinner together."

Elise pouted. "No, don't talk about it, just do it!"

Xander smiled at his sister. "Elise, I appreciate what you're trying to do," then his voice became firm, "but I'm very busy today. And I'm sure Felicia has work she needs to do as well."

Elise crossed her arms. "Ha! We already took care of that! Leo's seeing to your king stuff today, while Flora's working double-time! So you two can enjoy a romantic dinner together!"

"We?" asked Xander. "This wasn't just your idea?"

"Nope! Well, it was mostly my idea, but everyone liked it!"

Felicia looked around nervously. "And… Corrin doesn't need anything from me?"

Elise shook her head. "Nope! Corrin was one of the people who wanted this for you the most!"

"Oh. Okay then!" Felicia smiled and looked at Peri. "I would like soup!"

Xander nodded. "Hmm, yes. Soup would be nice. You favor Vegetarian Chowder, yes? That's how Corrin started to like it."

Felicia's eyes widened. "Yes! How did you… how did you know?"

Xander blushed. "Well, I… make it a habit to know things about… people important to… me… Um, I'll have the same."

Elise giggled to herself, while Peri nodded. "Okay, I'll go make it!"

Peri briskly exited the room. Elise then walked past the table, carrying her violin. She went out to the balcony, out of sight, and started playing. "Don't mind me, it's just ambience!"

Xander and Felicia, however, kept awkwardly staring at the balcony. They eventually turned back to each other, and Xander coughed. "Well, I suppose we have no choice. N-not that I wouldn't enjoy a dinner with you!"

"O-oh I know, Your Majesty, I understand!"

A smile formed on Xander's face. "We've discussed this, Felicia. You are free to refer to me by name. It's not as though our relationship is a secret."

The maid blushed. "Yeah, I know… It's just… old habits… And with Elise right there-"

"No I'm not!" Elise insisted.

"How about a new subject?" Xander offered. "I hear the Ice Tribe is doing well after our new treaty-"

The music stopped. "Nooo! Don't talk about boring stuff! Start with something funny!" She resumed playing violin.

Felicia perked up. "Oh! Remember that time you tried to help me cook something?"

He cringed. "Yes… You had me use Siegfried to chop meat and lettuce… I still have no idea how I agreed to that. And then the food tasted… surprisingly nice."

"I called them Sieggy-Tacos!" Elise interrupted. "Oh, uh, forget I'm here!"

Xander shook his head, and Felicia fished for a new subject. "Uhh… Oh! How are… Have you read any interesting books?"

"I did, actually. A book about peace." From where she played, Elise smiled. "A good read, if a bit overly idealistic."

"I read one about these lovers, they eloped to Nestra and then died! Err, there was a bit more to it than that… and I just spoiled it…"

Xander smiled. "I've read that. Corrin insisted."

"Haha, yeah…"

Peri barged in. "Soup's ready!"

Elise smiled, and kept up her performance. Xander and Felicia deserved this. They both worked hard, and did not have much time for each other. It got off to a rough start, but it looked like Operation: Dinner Date would end up a resounding success.

"Thank you for the soup, Peri! Ooh, this spoon is real pretty- Oh! Aah!"

"My eye!"

"Sorry Xander!"

… This was okay. Elise welcomed the challenge.

A/N:

Another mod birthday gift, but this one was on time. I was actually a little stumped trying to think of something to write. So I just went with one of her favorite characters enforcing one of her favorite ships.

Go to the blog if you have requests.