(╥⌒╥)b
So second year of college happened, and now my schedule is all messed up. This was meant to be released loooong ago, but got delayed due to it. This idea, is suggested by CaeruleumRex07 (idk if you're still reading this seeing how i desert it half the time ;-;) with a take on some men spilling their crushes when drunk and the women listening in on the tea ;)). I loved writing the whole thing, but it might have gotten a tad bit too long...
I know I haven't been a lot active, but thank you to everyone for still supporting and having fun throughout reading these one-shots :D At least, i'm hoping you're having fun. I'll update my profile from time to time if I don't update often, so you can check out there if you're ever curious as to where i disappeared off to again.
You can skip this part if you want,,,
haziqsaffari2: Thank u!
Kort: :)
F-14 Tomcat Lover: I'm sorry I can't understand your review ^^'''
123: Always about the best ship ;)
SentinalSlice: I've read some good one-shots of Bell either forced to dress up as a girl or turned into one, so might be interesting to write my own version.
Sagely Sage: Glad you like it!
pix25: Thanks :D
Random Guy: Princess Bell do be irresistable in the danmemo event lol
Snoop Halcycon: Now that's the first request I'm hearing of a prince Bell. Sounds interesting :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Danmachi.
"This... is the location, right?" Bell asked as he looked at the small paper in his hands, then at Welf beside him. Welf hummed in thought, looking at the 2 story, eastern-style building in front of them.
Bell knew lord Hermes tended to act whenever he thought was right but he'd never expected the god to try and invite them over to hang out again. It wasn't like they'd put aside their differences concerning the xenos incident, no nothing like that. In fact, both Bell and Welf had been cautious the first time the god swung by with a big smile and left a note in their hands, telling them to come on time.
Only after reading said note did they understand what he meant. He was inviting them over to a restaurant of some sort- Bell felt like he'd come here before, sometime after defeating the goliath and returning to the surface, but he couldn't pin-point it.
But point was, after reading the note, Welf had refused on the spot. Bell wanted to as well, but this was lord Hermes. Sure, he had been an ass with the Xenos mission and himself, but he'd helped before as well. It just didn't feel RIGHT to reject it without going there and seeing what it was all about. Maybe he wanted to make it up to them for all the things he's made them go through. And So, Bell convinced both himself and Welf to go- but Welf was only going because Bell was going, there was no way he was leaving him alone with that snooping god.
"Feels like we've been here before..." Welf said to himself. "Well, only way to know is to head in, right?" he stepped forward and went through the door.
"Yeah..." Bell followed with a look of hesitancy on his face. Maybe he should have rejected like Welf had before and stayed home.
The shop itself wasn't bad. The inside was wooden and decorated with elegant carvings- one he could only assume were famous in the far-east. It was clean and felt comfortable to be in, calming a bit of Bell's rising nerves. To the right was a counter where a cat girl stood, while in the other were a series of wooden doors that led to, presumably, other rooms.
Just as Bell was about to talk to the cat girl at the counter, the door on the far end of the small hallway opened and out looked... the god who'd invited them here in the first place.
"ah, Welf-kun, Bell-kun!" Hermes waved his arm with a wide grin. "Come over, we were waiting for you two to arrive!"
Bell and Welf exchanged looks before following his instructions.
As they stepped in the room and Hermes closed the door behind them, Bell suddenly felt aware of the many eyes on him.
Lord Miach and Takemikazuchi sat on one side of the table. Right next to them was a frowning Ouka, and beside HIM were... Finn Deimne and Bete Loga. Bell blanched and whipped around to look at the god, who only shot him a wink and took his seat next to Ouka.
"... lord Hermes, if I may-" Welf started slowly. "what in the hell?"
"That was exactly what we asked him too." Finn sweat-dropped.
"Don't give me that look! I just wanted to thank everyone for their joint effort on... well, everything." Hermes said.
"just admit you wanted to gather us here to execute another stupid plan of yours-" Hermes quickly picked up an apple from the fruit's basket sitting on the table, and stuffed it in Takemikazuchi's mouth, stopping him from speaking.
"how did he even manage to get vanargand and braver here..." Welf muttered as he and Bell took their own seats.
"AS I WAS SAYING, how about we put our differences aside and just... hang out, like this? I don't see why not." Hermes grinned cheekily, crossing his arms. The only thing he earned were raised eyebrows and a scoff from a certain wolf.
"Did he just answer his own question?" Bete muttered under his breath.
"Ouka, hand me the bell?"
"ah, did you call me?"
"no, I didn't." Hermes rang the bell and the door suddenly opened, startling everyone in the room. It was a girl dressed as a waitress. "Can you bring in the meals I pre-ordered?"
"Of course." the girl replied in a monotone voice and closed the door with a slam. Silence fell around the room.
"... Interesting shop. Or, should I say restaurant." Finn scratched his cheek. Hermes clicked his tongue.
"I know, right? We can have all the privacy we need, in this one room." he waved his hands around dramatically and Bell sweat-dropped.
I remember now, I have been here before. When we returned after the goliath incident, this exact group except Takemikazuchi-sama, Finn-san and Bete-san gathered to celebrate our return. And they talked about boobs and butts falling from the sky... sometimes he really regretted being associated with any of them.
Soon enough the door opened again and in came the waitress, holding MANY dishes. The first thing crossing through his mind was, how can she hold so much while having only 2 arms? And the second, is lord Hermes really expecting us to eat all this?
Once the dishes were set and the waitress left with another slam of the door (seriously leave the door be, Bell could basically hear it crying), Hermes clapped his hands, and smiled.
"Let's eat, shall we?" Something about that smile told Bell he should get the hell out of there, but instead of believing whatever sixth-sense he had, he picked up a weird looking... donut? Fish? And gave a strained smile back.
"cheers, I guess..."
…..
Unknows' to the group of men, the room beside them was in use not too long after they'd gotten together.
"ahh, it really is nice of you to invite us here again, Asfi-kun." Hestia smiled and Lili beside her nodded wholeheartedly. It wasn't only them present in the room. Beside her was Mikoto and Chigusa (the latter was forced to come by the former), and on the other side sat Tiona and Tione, the two amazon sisters. Beside Asfi herself was Ais and, surprisingly enough, Hephaestus.
"Remind me again why you invited me to 'thank' me? I wasn't a part of anything you did." she said as she pressed her hand against her temple in exasperation.
"Neither was I!" Tiona raised her hand. Then she paused and thought back. "... except maybe helping train argonaut-kun during the war game... but it wasn't that big a deal!"
"ahaha... no matter if you participated in it or not, it felt right to invite everyone." Asfi laughed sheepishly and looked away. Unlike the rest, she was fully aware Hermes was also here alongside the other guests he'd insisted on inviting (probably scheming something else, that retard of a god). She'd REALLY hoped he wouldn't choose any nearby room but... luck wasn't on her side. If later she gets her hands on that god, she won't spare him and his miserable life. "But enough of that, I'm glad most of you were able to come."
"mhm. Riveria wanted to come but..." Ais said. "... she got stuck taking care of Loki."
"Haruhime-dono also wanted to come, but then no one would be home to watch the mansion, so she had to stay back as well." Mikoto said regretfully. As much as she wanted to renard to enjoy to herself with all the other girls, Haruhime had only smiled and said she could go another time. Bell and Welf had also been invited by someone so they weren't available either.
"no matter, we'll be sure to include her the next time we do this." Asfi smiled. She genuinely wanted to, not only because she wanted them to enjoy themselves, but also as an apology for whatever dump thing her god was about to do today. She wished Lionn was here to help her handle her god, but she couldn't get any free time. Probably because of them, she winced. She'll have to compensate her better.
The door suddenly slammed open, making everyone in the room jump-or in Chigusa's case, shriek- in surprise. It was the waitress with the food.
"Your food is ready."
"please don't slam the door open like that..." Chigusa whimpered as the waitress stepped ahead to place it on the table, but her foot got caught in the carpet and the plate when flying from her hand-
CRASH!
Bell jumped at the sudden crash, attention shifting to the wall beside him. "What... was that crash?"
"Why are ya asking the obvious? Of course one of them dropped something!" Bete grumbled and everyone shot him looks. Finn, for his part, raised his hand and whacked him in the head. He then gave the others a smile.
"don't mind him. Gareth was originally the one planning to come, but something came up and I had to take him along instead. He's still not happy about it."
"Yeah, no shit. Having to sit with weaklings of all people,"
"Now now," Hermes suddenly burst out, startling Bete into silence. "Let's not get violent! Here, have something to drink." he suddenly shoved a glass into Bete's hand. He'd ordered drinks not too long ago. "In fact, everyone, have something to drink!"
"Do you take me as an idiot? It's obvious you plan to get us dr-"
Instead of letting Takemikazuchi finish, Hermes grabbed his own glass, grabbed Take's startled face, and forced him to chug the liquid down his throat. Seeing his god being manhandled like that, Ouka choked over his own drink and started laughing. Loudly.
Ah yes, Bell remembered how he'd already downed 2 glasses of that drink. He was sure at this point that it was alcohol, and that Ouka was drunk.
"Take my friend, sometimes you need to read the atmosphere. Enjoy the drink, forget about that world!" Hermes patted his back and let him go, leaving him in a sweat-dropping Miach's care. His eyes then turned to Bell, and Bell was suddenly very glad he knew how to fight.
"I-"
"-need a drink too, right? Bell-kun, just how long are you going to stick with the water? It's going to get boring at some point!" he tipped his hat up, revealing his usual grin. "letting loose every once in a while is nice for a change you know."
What the hell is up with this forceful persuasion? Bell sweat-dropped when a glass was also shoved into his hand. Hermes held up his glass.
"to celebrate mine- I mean, our success!" Although weirded out, the others followed him suit. "cheers!"
"What success is he talking about?" Finn whispered to himself and Welf sighed.
"I don't know and I don't want to know. Knowing him, it's probably something dumb." he then gulped down his drink in one go. Bell watched him apprehensively.
Should I really be going around getting drunk? What if goddess... He looked down at the slightly purplish drink in his hand, then at the men around the table who weren't really hesitating in drinking it. Goddess isn't here; she can't judge me. Steeling himself, he raised it to his lips and gulped it down.
"I'm sorry, I'll bring you another dish." with that the waitress left, but not before slamming the door shut and giving Chigusa another heart attack.
"Now that that's dealt with..." Tione started. "... before we start anything, I wanted to clear up something with the Hestia familia," said familia perked up at the mention, Lili and Mikoto exchanging looks while Hestia blinked. "Concerning the whole... xenos, incident, I'm really hoping there's no ill will between us. You understand well that we had to do it, right?" it was after all a case involving monsters being spotted on the surface, despite them not really being 'monsters'."
"don't worry about that Tione-sama. everyone had their own roles in that mission, so let's not bring that tale into this gathering and just enjoy ourselves." Lili smiled sweetly and Tione hummed in agreement, with her own smile.
"oh a side note... I am curious, Hestia. Who exactly invited Bell and Welf away?" Hephaestus spoke up and Hestia shrugged.
"they didn't tell me. Welf didn't look too happy, and neither did Bell in all honesty, but they went anyway. Something about not being rude."
"ahaha..." Asfi coughed to herself. Her god really WAS going to get it from her. "w-well, let's talk while the food arrives-" a sudden slam from the room next door silenced her and startled everyone in the room.
"BULLSHIT! How DARE you think liiiickit isn't as good at the shhhrimp!" Ouka pointed accusingly at Bete, his face partially red. The wolf, whose face was also a tad bit red, growled back, leaning over the table.
"becaus' It isn' not! Whomst in t-heir right mind namesss that shit l-lickit?!"
"ahaha, I always thought you were supposed to lick it. Get it, lickit lick it? Ahahaha!" Finn was out of his mind, laughing aimlessly as he held his glass in his hand. His face, like the other's, was also red.
"Amateurs." eyes turned to the red-haired blacksmith, who put his glass on the table and stood up. He put his hand on his chest dramatically, the lightning coming from the ceiling above illuminating his teary-eyed face. "you do not know the true BEAUTY of lickit. The texture, the slight crispy taste at the end, the syrup that's poured on it-"
"llllies!"
"shhtaph with that sentimental crap!"
"heyyy, are you me?" beside Welf, Bell held the Bell they'd use to call over the waitress. "you know, maybe I was just like you once upon a time... but thennn I denied the coming of a bell Bell, and became a human Bell instead. I'm so-rry I denied my own race..." he practically cooed the last part to the silent and unmoving Bell.
Takemikazuchi and Miach watched the chaos unfold while still sipping the alcohol.
"... hmm. Take, should we stop them?"
"no. Maybe this will teach them a lesson to never listen to Hermes."
"I'm worried Bell's on drugs rather than drunk."
"shh, just let it happen."
"is that... Welf?" Hephaestus' eyes widened as she leaned over to listen to the voices.
"and Bell too..." Ais trailed off surprised. His voice seemed... different?
"and captain too! I know his drunk voice anywhere!"
"yeah, because you're the one getting him drunk more often than not." Tiona rolled her eyes. "And there's also Bete too. I thought they got invited somewhere else by someone..."
"..." silence fell over the place, as everyone slowly turned to Asfi. Perseus REALLY hoped she could murder her god now. "... I have no idea what lord Hermes is about to do."
Before Hestia could break all hell loose on the poor woman, Hermes slammed the table to catch everyone's attention. "Alright everyone! Focus!" Everyone stopped what they were doing, and Hermes again tipped his hat over, now giving a mischievous grin. "let's talk about a topic we can all agree upon- and no, it does not involve lickit." Welf and Ouka sat back dejected while Bete grumbled and slumped down beside Finn.
"Here comes his masterplan." Takemikazuchi rolled his eyes and Hermes huffed.
"a masterplan indeed. Let's discuss, gentlemen, about the girls we fancy!" he declared, the words echoing in the room. What followed soon after was silence.
"a masterplan, huh..." Mikoto sweat-dropped from the other side. At this point all the women were leaning against the wall, listening intently to whatever they were talking about. It wasn't eavesdropping, why would they do that? It was just... listening in to them. And making sure they didn't say anything out of line. Yes, that.
"... the girl I 'ancy, huh..." Ouka started, bringing up a hand on his chin only for it to slip back on the table.
"yes! The girl who has taken your weak, poor heart, who plagues your mind day and night, who you wish to be together with for the rest of your mortal lives..." Hermes said, wiping away a fake tear from his eye.
"... hmm... hmmm..." Ouka hummed for a short while, looking like he was thinking very deeply. He looked at Hermes, and shrugged. "no one."
"eh?" Hermes blinked. He didn't expect this blunt answer.
"i'll aaadmire a girl and her body when I 'ome across her, but no one has really caught my interest like that. In the end it comes and pass'es." Hermes deflated at that, immensely disappointed that his master plan led to nothing in the end. But, as Ouka continued thinking in his drunken face, a face suddenly flashed through his mind. "-buuut, I guess I can say Chigusa is pretty cute!"
"eh?!" On the other side, Chigusa's face suddenly turned very red.
"She's kind, she's pretty, and she m-ight not be someone who men can proudly call a woman... but I know what she's like. I know what she's been through, and when she shows her real strength, through caring for others and pushing herself to do her best every day." there was a soft undertone to his voice despite his words being jumbled by all the alcohol he'd consumed. "I like that Chigusa. No one can compare to one of my familia members, especially someone like her. You can tell me she's a mere supporter who lacks skills whatsoever, but that argument isn't valid. I like her just the way she is."
The men in the room were silent, staring at him in surprise. To hear that from the far-east warrior was a surprise on its own, especially about the supporter.
In the other room, Mikoto silently congratulated Ouka for not being as dense as a brick while Chigusa's red face turned even redder, her head feeling light at the words she's just heard. Did that mean... he felt the same for her...?!
A tap on the shoulder from Lili, brought her back to reality. She flushed and mumbled an apology.
At last, Welf slowly nodded his head. "I get where you're comin' from. If someone told me Hephaestus as a goddess isn't the most beautiful woman in the world, I'd probably eitha' not give a shit or punch them in the face!"
"how does that relate to his side?" Takemikazuchi sweat-dropped.
"I like her just the way she is, with or without that eyepatch. Doesssn't matter if everyone else thinks it's horrendous, they're 'rong in every way possible! They don't know her kindness, her skills in smithing, her care for her familia, and even her love for someone who rejected his own skills for his own pride!" he stood up, hands again on his chest. The look of determination on his face made some of them stare at him in awe, but the redness in his face due to the alcohol ruined the scene.
Hephaestus's eyes widened, a blush creeping up to her face while Tione cooed at how romantic that was. She felt someone tap her shoulder and glanced to her side, immediately regretting it as Hestia's smirking face and wiggling eyebrows came into view. She'll deal with her later.
"Wow, such straightforward words from the far-east warrior and blacksmith here!" Hermes clapped with a grin. His master plan was working, it was really working! (and maybe, just maybe, he'd also helped the women in the other room). He then turned to Finn and smirked. "what about you, braver? Anyone you fancy or at least think of? Like, that certain amazon who adores you?"
Takemikazuchi shot him a look, wondering just WHAT he was planning. On the other side, Tione immediately perked up, shoving her sister aside to hear clearer.
A few moments passed, until Finn sighed, setting the glass he had in his hand. "no... not really. Tione's love is... well, hers."
Tione's eyes widened, her hope faltering at those words. Tiona grimaced beside her, wanting to say something to take her attention off the voice of the loki familia captain, but Finn wasn't done just yet.
"it's certainly overwhelming... And she might be a bit of a hassle to handle, if you've ever seen her around me. But she always keeps me engaged on my feet and her feelings are honest. I respect that, respect that she wants to keep going despite having gotten nothing in return." he tapped his finger on the table. "Though I might have spoiled her a bit..."
"Understatement of ta' whole fucking year." Bete slurred out and earned another, much harder whack on the head. "Ow! Control those tiny miniscule hands of you you good for nothing-"
"don't tempt me to tie you with a collar again you unfiltered-"
"captain..." Tione trailed off, deeply touched by her words. Even if they weren't the words she wanted to hear, they still meant something to her.
Suddenly Bell slammed his glass on the table, raising his finger accusingly at the pallum battling with the wolf, and pouting as he said; "i thought you liked Lili?! You went to such-lengths to get her to meet you alone, and even asked her if she wanted to marry you!"
Welf stopped inches away from eating another lickit, slowly turning to stare at Bell blankly. Ouka's own lickit slipped from his hand, his attention snapping to the loki familia captain. Miach suddenly coughed over his drink, setting it down hurriedly while he hit his chest to let the coughing bout pass. Takemikazuchi openly gaped at Bell and Finn, while Hermes gasped. In glee.
Which was weird considering everyone else was shocked.
In the room, Tiona and Ais looked just as surprised. Lili spluttered at the sudden words while Hestia sighed. She really needed to teach Bell what it meant by 'dropping a bombshell'. On the other hand, Tione's face had turned into a deadpan, her eyes blank.
"well of course I like her- as an adventurer and a fellow prum!" Finn said immediately after, disregarding the looks of everyone else. He still had Bete in a chokehold. "Her bravery and quick thinking in any situation is admirable, and she's certainly not someone I would call 'bad-looking'. I really hoped she would accept my proposal..." he trailed off, looking almost depressed now. "to have let her slip like that was regrettable, but in the end it was her decision..."
"h-h-he's only saying that cause he's drunk, Lili's sure of it..." Lili muttered, very flustered at those words. That was Braver saying those words. BRAVER, the living legend! She, like any other sane girl out there, would be over the moon hearing that! That explained her reactions perfectly fine, she argued as Hestia snickered beside her, otherwise her heart belonged to Bell and Bell alone-
A chill suddenly ran down her spine. She slowly turned, her face growing pale as when seeing the familiar twin amazon behind her.
"ahh, as expected of braver, he's already got 2 girls in the loop!" Hermes laughed.
"Finn-san, I'm worried you're trying to choke the wolf member of yours." Miach commented seeing Finn still had Bete in a chokehold. Finn at last let him go, ignoring the growl Bete shot at him. The wolf got up just as Hermes turned his attention to him.
"and you, vanargand, who's the one you fancy?"
Bete picked up his glass and chugged the alcohol inside.
"no one. Women are weak, they suck and the amazons ESPECIALLY annoy me." he started. That last bit might or might not be directed to how Tiona bugged him all the time and how a certain crazy amazon followed him around, claiming him punching her in the stomach caused her to become pregnant. He lightly shivered at the thought. "a certain swordswoman is the sole adventurer in my dicTionary who's worthy of standing beside me!" he slammed his glass on the table and the rest jumped.
"a... certain swordswoman?" Ouka blinked. "Is she in ya' familia?"
"you could drop a name here and there you know." Finn said, leaning against the table. Bete only glared at him and fell silent. The rest sweat-dropped.
"Well, I guess that's the only thing we're getting out of him so nevermind. And now, Bell!" Hermes suddenly slammed the table, making the boy on the other side startle. "Who do you fancy?"
"ahahahaaaa, it's obvious with that status on his back!" Welf slapped Bell's back, hard.
"status?"
"weeelf, stop being so drunk!" Bell pushed him away. On the other side, Lili, Hestia and Mikoto exchanged panicked looks, hoping very desperately the stupid and drunk blacksmith didn't reveal his skill. This did not go unnoticed by the rest, especially ais. What status was he talking about? Did Bell have the name of the person he fancied... on his back?
The sword princess glanced to her side, where mini-Ais huffed. She motioned for the actual Ais to move closer to be able to hear her rabbit and the name of the girl he liked. She wasn't going to lie, she was very interested to know who it was. So, she did.
"so, Bell, who's the lucky girl?" Hermes already knew the answer but this was the peak of his masterplan. He can't abandon this!
"the girl I fancy..." Bell hummed to himself, tapping his chin as he did. "... I really admire Ais!" he said with a wide smile, the blush on his cheeks intensifying.
"HAH?!" Bete burst out, banging on the table so hard it threatened to break.
"Please refrain from breaking the poor table, you'll be the one paying for it." Miach sweat-dropped.
On the other side, the sword princess' eyes widened. Other eyes also turned to her, some of jealousy while others of understanding. They knew it didn't stop at 'admiration' and went further than that, but they won't say that to her.
"she's strong, pretty- no, that's no' the right word..." Bell paused. "... she's beautiful-" Welf scoffed fondly at his change of words. So cheesy. "-she's kind and caring and she can be a bit of an airhead who doesn't know all that much about social cues... but I think th-at's really cute!" he chuckled to himself. "I really look up to her- ever since she saved me on the 5th floor! She was so cool there..."
"you little-" Bete growled lowly, glaring at the white-haired boy.
"hmm, I think I can guess who 'vanargand' means by 'a certain swordswoman'." Ouka nodded to himself.
"ugghhh, Bell, why did you have to say that..." Hestia grimaced. Then she sharply turned to ais. "and especially when she can hear you!" Asfi and Hephaestus could only watch as both her and Lili glared at the sword princess, while Mikoto and Chigusa tried to divert their attention away.
"ohh, argonaut-kun likes you ais~" Tiona whispered teasingly while Tione chuckled.
The girl herself was... not any good than the drunk men in the other room. A-admires me? Bell admires me? And that I'm... beautiful and cute... her face heated up. Mini Ais looked over the moon, circling around her legs, jumping up and down with the biggest smile on her face, pointing at the door to just go and get her damn rabbit she wanted to see him right now. But before she and her rapidly beating heart could make a move, the voice of Bete interrupted her little triumph.
"hah! You're not even worthy of getting her attention, what makes you think she'd want anything to do with you?" Bete locked eyes with Bell. Finn exchanged looks with Miach and Takemikazuchi, knowing this would lead to a fight. Welf continued eating lickit while Ouka kept nodding to himself as if he'd solved the world's problems just by thinking. "She knows when ta' go after real men, men like me!"
"..." Bell blinked blankly at him. Then, setting his glass aside, he leaned over the table staring at the wolf, and smiled. "Alley dogs shouldn't be dreaming of the unachievable."
Finn burst out laughing while Welf choked over his food. Hermes leaned back and patted himself on the back for a job well done. Meanwhile, Bete's face turned even redder than before and he growled, coming face to face with the other.
"pfft-" even Hephaestus was inclined to laugh at the words. "Are you sure we should let him continue in there? Seems like a fight will break out between him and Bete."
"an invitation to go disturb them? I'm in!" Hestia immediately jumped on her feet, only to be stopped by a nervous Mikoto and Asfi.
"Hestia-sama, you can't just walk in like that!"
"that'd be far too suspicious, they'll know we've been eavesdropping on them!"
"I don't want to know what Ouka might do if he finds out I heard him..." Chigusa said meekly. Hestia looked at her, then at the others present in the room (even Ais looked hesitant to go there, despite mini Ais dying to see the boy on the other side) and sighed.
"You've got some nerve, saying that." On the other side, a war was about to start. "Who do you think you are, saying that about me? You're not even in our familia, yet you think you have a chance to earn her affection!"
"i don't NEED to be in your familia to earn her affection, if the lap pillows she gives aren't proof enough!"
"LAP WHAT NOW?!"
"hehe, I bet you've never gotten one from' Ais-san, have you?" Bell smirked cheekily, crossing his arms and looking at the wolf pridefully. And also a bit childishly. "that just goes to show how little she thinks of you!"
"YOU LITTLE PIECE OF-"
"Gentlemen, gentlemen!" Hermes did damage control before the wolf could flip over the table and possibly destroy the whole place. "Let's fight like civilized people!"
"or not fight at all, that's always an option."
"I think that's the best option."
"Fights can be civilized?"
"shuuuut up lord Hermes, can't you see we're having a very important discussion," not paying attention to take, Miach and Finn's words, Bell pointed a shaky finger towards Hermes accusingly.
"And, you can finish that really important discussion of proving who's better, by a simple challenge." Hermes knew exactly what he was doing, and even if it ended in disaster, at least his plan will be successful. Bell and Bete both looked at him in question, and he rang the Bell. Moments later, the door opened and the maid stepped in, with a tray full of bottles of alcohol. She set them on the table and left, of course slamming the door as loudly as possible on the way. Hermes ignored it, grabbing one of the bottles and raising it like a trophy.
"by having a drinking match, of course! Whoever passes out first while drinking, loses!"
"That is a bad idea." Lili said as she listened. Asfi was already formulating a plan to murder her god when they busted in the room.
"it probably won't be that bad, right...?" Mikoto started, and silence answered. Still, they stayed and waited for anything else.
Finally, Bete picked up a bottle and started to pour it in the mug, chugging it down as he did. Bell watched him, startled, and went to do the same.
"hmm... oe, blacksmith, whooo do you think will win?"
"ehh, I wanna support Bell but like, he rarely drinks and he'd gotten dead-ass drunk the last time with one cup sooo,"
So imagine, to their pure surprise and Finn's loud laughter, when Bete, on his third bottle, dropped his mug full of alcohol and proceeded to fall backwards. Bell, also on his third bottle, looked to his side blearily.
"'e passee-d out?"
"How the hell are you still up?" Welf gave him a look, and Hermes nodded to himself with a serious face.
"sheer will for the love of his- the person he admires!"
"you, don't say..." Takemikazuchi trailed off, just as Hestia decided enough was enough and stomped to the door. Ignoring the other women's desperate calls to stop, she walked to the other end of the door and threw it open with a slam, nearly giving everyone inside a heart attack.
"YOU!"
"Hestia?!"
"Hestia-sama, please-"
"CAPTAIN~~"
"oh, goddess save me."
Amidst all the shouting and noise, Bell's hazy mind registered the familiar blonde hair in the room, swaying elegantly as the woman in question stepped inside. It was ais. But there were 3 ais...? Was he in heaven? It must be heaven.
The sword princess silently made her way to him, kneeling down to him. She hoped she wouldn't be noticed by his goddess lest she get attacked. "... Bell? Are you okay?" it was a drinking competition after all, and through her own experience (from watching others), it never ended well. And Bell right now did NOT look good.
"... Aaaais?"
"... yes?"
"Aaaais!" Bell swung his arms around the sword princess and pulled her down to him. She fell against in his chest, in a slightly awkward position, while he giggled giddily. "ddddid you kn-ow Ib'eat the big 'ad werewolf?"
"..."
"HEY! YOU TWO! STOP THAAAAAT!"
If the citizens of orario witnessed a group of beautiful women either carrying or dragging the city's probably most handsome and well-known men, they continued on with their lives. It was, after all, orario. Anything was possible.
…..
-The last thing he remembered, was going to the restaurant, meeting with Hermes and some other people, and-
"and everything is blank after that." Takemikazuchi nodded as Ouka frowned, looking very troubled.
"I'm sure you'll remember soon enough. For now, focus on recovering."
"Of course, lord Takemikazuchi." Just then, Chigusa stepped in the room with a plate of food in hand. She set it on the table, glanced at Ouka, turned bright red and shuffled back to the kitchen. Ouka blinked after her, confused at her reaction. Take only nodded wisely and continued eating.
On the other side, Finn was in a situation. For whatever reason, Tione had been awfully affectionate. Not that she always wasn't, but this was a bit too affectionate. Did it have to do with yesterday and how he remembered none of it? Perhaps. Was Tiona also involved in it? Probably, seeing how she snickered every time she saw him and Bete.
Speaking of Bete...
"... will you just tell me already why you keep giving me that look?!"
"... what look."
Finn sighed for the 100th time that day, as Ais gave Bete a huff and pout.
"That, the annoying one you're making right now!"
"exCUSE me, Ais-san's pout is very cute!"
"Lefiya, not the time." Tiona said with a sweat drop.
"..." Bete glared at ais, grumbling and slumping back on his chair, mumbling something about wanting to remember what happened yesterday. Ah, so Finn wasn't the only one.
Later that day, a distracted Ais encountered an equally distracted Bell on the walls.
"ah, Ais-san." he smiled when he spotted her, and she turned to him surprised.
I really admire Ais-san! She's beautiful, and kind, and kind of an airhead but I think it's cute!
Those words repeated themselves in her head, and her face suddenly felt warmer.
"how have you-" before Bell could finish, the sword princess had already climbed up the wall, and jumped down just as gracefully. Bell blinked, before letting out a cry and bounding towards the wall. He spotted the sword princess landing safely on the roof of a building and continuing to run away.
"Ais-san? Ais-san?!" he shouted after her, but she was long gone. Running away was his thing, he stressed. Why was she the one doing it? Was this revenge of some sort?!
Maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with yesterday. His goddess and Lili were angry, Mikoto was giving him encouraging looks, Welf looked like death (basically just like him) and now ais. He remembered bits and pieces, like how Hermes managed to get everyone drunk and talk about... something, but what that something was and what happened afterwards, it was all hazy. It only proceeded to worsen when he decided to drink 3 WHOLE BOTTLES of alcohol. Believe him, he considers himself a lightweight. And he is a lightweight. But, the feeling of wanting to prove something about something to someone was very familiar, and he felt it was the reason he could hold on for so long.
Now to figure out what that something and someone was, he gave a defeated sigh. Perhaps then, he can figure out why ais, of all people, ran away from him.
Meanwhile, Ais went to see Riveria and the high elf laughed at her explanation of what could potentially be a heart disease.
She was going to have so much fun teasing her.
... In the end, it did end up getting too long xD but it was fun writing nonetheless. The main focus was definitely not Bell and Ais, seeing how the text barely covers half of it, but writing of other characters and their ships was a nice change of pace! I'm hoping to get to write one-shots like these in the future. Hope you enjoyed, until next time! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*✲ﾟ*｡⋆