Tomorrow is going to be pretty terrible, so I'm just going to focus on my time with Lan and forget about it!
We went back to the hotel and I got changed.
I put on a shoulder strap light purple dress with a flowy skirt that reached down to my knees. I just hope it doesn't get caught on anything. There are a lot of random objects it could catch onto.
I brushed my hair over to the side and braided it while I kept it together at the end with a hair tie.
Of course Lan and I have to wear our matching sneakers, it wouldn't be a night out without them!
"Are you ready to party?" Lan asked me while grasping both of my hands in his own.
I slowly looked up to him. "Ready? Ready doesn't even describe it!"
We high-fived and then held hands as we walked to the taxi that was waiting for us outside.
Once we got in and sat down, we could barely contain our excitement.
In a foreign land, hitting the town, living the night scene! It's exactly how we envisioned our trip to be!
"We totally have to hit the bar at the restaurant!" Lan loved his liquor.
"Yesss!" I might also be a fan.
"I heard they have this drink called the 'Cross-Combination', I think it was a mix between a few drinks and fruit juices that really pack a punch!" He was talking more excitedly than I've seen him all week.
"Hehe, don't get wasted too fast! I want to spend all night out!" I had to tell him now, I don't want to pack it in early!
"I know! I can hold my liquor pretty well as you know. You, my love, are on a WHOLE different level though. I don't think I've ever seen you have more than a buzz." It's true, I'm not sure if 'Nepgear' was a good drinker or what. I do know that it's really hard for me to get drunk. Maybe it has something to do with me being a goddess.
I start poking his sides while giving him a smug smile. "Try not to start another drinking contest. I'm running out of ideas for punishments."
"Ha! Haha! You are so funny!" He then proceeded to roll down the window and screech like some kind of cryptid.
"Oh dear, my husband has turned into a strange creature once again." I feign exasperation with a sigh.
"That's right! Tonight I am a creature of the dark! You will fear my roar!" Yup yup, I am terrified.
We continue our silly banter until we drive up near the entrance of the restaurant.
Lan steps out and opens my side of the car for me. "After you."
"My, what a perfect gentleman." He took my hand and made the ugliest expression I have ever seen.
"Nuuhhuhuhuah."
"Ewww, that was the most disgusting combination of face and laugh I have ever had the displeasure of seeing."
"Aww, you're gonna make me blush!" I was not trying to compliment him.
"Haah, don't keep the face too long or it'll stick." I warn him.
"Would you still love me if my face was stuck like this?" He made the expression again.
"Yes, I would. But I would rather not have to." He is really hyped up today.
"What if I was a dogoo? Would you still love me?" Oh my god.
"Of course I would! Even if you were a sand worm!"
"Most excellent. Truly, you are worthy to be my Queen." With an unnecessary elegance he rolls away to the door.
Wait. "Are you wearing those shoes with the wheels right now?"
He freezes and slowly turns to me. "Of course not. That would be silly."
"Where are the sneakers?" Honestly, the sneakers are like my favorite part of our outfits.
"Don't worry!" He gave me a better look at the shoes, and I noticed that they were the sneakers.
"So you've made some modifications?" He gives me a smug smile and raises both of his eyebrows repeatedly.
"I, of course, made adjustments to yours as well. Just open the little compartment on the bottom."
"Uhh, I think I'll just stay with the normal shoes." Why would I want to roll around when I could just walk?
A few minutes later we confirm our reservation at the front desk and both roll over to our table.
"It's kind of scary." I say, still getting used to rolling.
"Scary how superior you feel to the plebians beneath us?"
"Yeah…wait, no. Scary how I could fall flat on my face." Is that why he uses them?
"Oh yeah, that is unnerving at first, but you get comfortable with it pretty quickly."
'Is that so' I say and he nods his head along.
"O! The little robot waiters are coming!" I turn my head very calmly to take a good look.
"They look like little butlers! I want to take one home with me!" They did in fact look like little butlers.
Like they had little suits on and bowties!
"Lily, can we take one home with us?" Lan looked at me, I could see him pleading with his eyes. I want one too! But…We…can't steal it!
While we suppressed our desires, the two of us ordered as coherently as possible.
"I will have five dumplings, pork." I assume you order by talking to it.
"And five more, dumplings." Lan added to our order.
"I'm definitely going for the cheese ravioli." His eyes shined as he closed the menu.
"We're at a fine dining restaurant! You're still going to get the ravioli?" I exasperatedly point out the rare chance we have to try some high end food.
Whenever we go anywhere for the first time he has to order ravioli. He really likes ravioli but…
"It must be done, my adorable carnival prize! You can tell a lot about a chef with how they make ravioli." He makes it sound so profound, but I can't think of any basis for it.
"What are your sources?" Genuinely, I'd like to know.
He scoffs and flips his hair and strikes a pose like a protagonist who saw through the villain's scheme.
"The source is my blindingly radiant intelligence." So basically you made it up.
"Oh, is that so?" Trying to ignore his ridiculous revelation, I turn back to the menu.
They have a wide selection of dishes. Seems like a fusion restaurant with cuisine from all the four nations. Some stuff even looked familiar, and I'm only really familiar with food from the PC continent area.
I wonder what Nepgear liked to eat? Did she often eat with the other CPU's? Maybe with just Uni or Neptune? Hmmm.
While I was lost in thought looking through the menu, I could see Lan in the corner of my eye making his straw wrapper do the worm. No thoughts in his head tonight huh?
Because of that though, I snapped out of my thoughts and finally decided what to get.
"I'll go for the Beef Wellington, thanks." With that we hand the little robot server our menus and he scurries off. So cute.
"Oh, didn't you want that Cross combo drink thingie?" I forgot all about that.
His attention is diverted away from his little worm wrapper. "Hmm? Oh, I ordered it while you were looking at the menu."
Guess he won't get distracted enough to forget that.
It was then that I noticed some guy arguing with the people at the entrance of the restaurant. He seemed pretty heated.
Lan seemed to notice too. "I wonder what that's all about?" I was wondering the same thing. "I really hope this doesn't interrupt us." I sigh as I feel like too much has been happening around us lately.
The hostess at the front steps away for a second and the guy and I make eye contact. Oops. I quickly look back to Lan.
He smirks and gives me a smug line. "What? Your eyes got lonely without me in them?" Dear Goddess, give me the patience to deal with this man. Oh wait, that's me! Hehe.
I rolled my eyes and looked back at the guy by the door and he was walking towards us! Noooooo! I knewww ittt!
"Lan!" I turn to my husband who is still impressed by himself and his dumb lines.
"Yes, my sweet succulent roasted potato?" …Just gonna let it slide. "That man is coming to our table!" I'm practically whisper-screaming at this point.
"Psshhaww, he could be going to anybody's table right now! Don't be so para-" Right before he finished his sentence, the man reached our table and looked at me with…it was almost like a fanatical joy. Needless to say, it creeped me out.
Lan was clearly not happy that we were getting interrupted during our alone time. Again. I told him to calm down with a quick look and turned my attention to the stranger.
"Can I help you, sir?" I was trying to be polite, but truthfully I was also a bit annoyed and worried.
"Ahh! Even your voice is the same! I knew it was you!" What.
"D-do you know me?" It's possible this was a guy I knew before I lost my memories.
He laughed and shook his head. "Of course I know you! I'm sure that most people in the nation, or even the world would know you!"
"O-oh? Is that so?" What does he- Oh, I'm a Goddess. Right.
"Most people will think you're just a look-a-like, but I can tell you're the real deal. I've been watching you for so long after all." He just casually drops a creep bomb. I guess he's one of my supporters though? …Even if he is a little off-putting.
"Where have you been my Goddess? Oh, how I have waited for you!" These are some lines straight from a cliché creep.
I don't want to tell him too much. "Sorry about that. I'll be talking at the special conference being held tomorrow, so you can hear all about it then."
He looked a bit dejected, but seemed to accept it. "I see, it must be quite the story."
Phew, it seems we got through that. Good, because Lan has been giving this guy the death glare.
"Hm?" He finally seems to notice Lan who does a complete 180 of his previous expression and is all smiles now.
"...And, who is…this gentleman?" I could hear the venom literally oozing out of his voice. I CANNOT tell him.
"He's a friend of mine that I met while I was away." I pleaded to Lan with my eyes, and he just lightly sulked. So cute.
He seemed to buy it because he went back to his earlier expression and demeanor. "I see! Well, be careful! You don't want any rumors to start spreading! ….Who knows what people would do." After giving us that last ominous warning, he said his farewells and left right out the front door.
What did he come in here for? Wait…was it to talk to me? Also he left so suddenly. How did he know I was here? I have a really bad feeling about this.
I relay my concerns to Lan. "Lan, I'm pretty sure he-". "Knows? Yeah, I think so too. He didn't seem in the right mindset either. I think we're going to have to take our dinner to go." He grabbed me by the hand and we headed over to the kitchen and explained the situation.
The chef and manager understood our issue and allowed us to take our meal to-go. Except for the drink. I'll have to make it up to Lan later. They were very kind. We headed out the back and ordered a cab to pick us up down the street. Can't take any chances.
We roll down the street trying to get away quickly, but also in style.
Lan and I both sighed as we waited on a bench for our ride.
"Can't do NOTHING in this town." He's right, ever since we came here we've barely had any time to ourselves. I'm even starting to get annoyed.
"Hahh, I want to go back home. All this being dropped on me out of nowhere really frustrates me." As I was saying this I was lightly slapping Lan's thighs. Hmm, excellent sound.
Lan patted me on the head. "I know, we'll figure out how to deal sooner or later."
I really hope so. I don't want to leave my old life and Lan behind just because of some 'responsibility'. On the other hand, leaving my re-discovered sister isn't really an option either. And now random people are recognizing me and acting creepy and scary!
Just when I'm starting to fry my brain, Lan suddenly pulls me close to him and buries my face in his chest. Oh, he smells really nice tonight. Wait.
"L-lan? What is it all of a sudden?" He tells me to shush and I hear a lot of people passing by. What's happening?
After a minute or so of this Lan finally decides to answer me. "A hella amount of people are heading toward that restaurant we just left." Oh, so he was hiding me. …I'm not totally disappointed, only slightly.
"O-Oh, so good thing we left huh? …Can you let go now?" I'm not totally embarrassed, only slightly.
He rests his chin on my head. "Mmmm, I think we're gonna stay like this until the cab gets here."
"No! That could be forever! People could be watching!" I try to break free from his grasp, but it's futile.
He gently laughs. "It's too late! You are in the grip of the cuddle master! There is no escape!"
Luckily for me the cab shows up right then and he is forced to release me with a huff.
"Hah! Seems fate is on my side this day!" I pose triumphantly.
"So fate is against us cuddling?" He gives me a sad look and sighs as he gets into the cab.
"Guh! T-that's cheating!" I follow him inside and he sighs and looks out the window.
"Stop sighing! Ugh, fine! When we get back we can do whatever you want! Is that good?" I instantly regret that.
His face perks up and he looks at me with that knowing gentle smile. "Anything?"
"...Almost anything." I try to backpedal but he won't have it. "Ah ah ahh, it's too late. Hmmm, I wonder what I'll have you do~."
We tell the cab driver where to take us while I try to mitigate the damage I caused to myself.
Well, he never gets too crazy with his requests. "...As long as it isn't something too naughty or something, I guess it's fine." I sigh and accept my fate.
"Naughty? Me? Why, I'm as pure as the driven snow~." He makes it as if I've wounded him and does it dramatically so.
I can think of several cases off the top of my head where that isn't true.
"Yes, yes. You are a delicate and pure maiden. Tell me what it is this time that you want." It doesn't bother me that much. We are married after all. I've read that stuff like that is good for a relationship. It isn't like I dislike it either. I mean, it's cool I guess.
"Oh, it isn't anything too much. I just want to get some ice cream and cuddle in our pajamas." …What?
I thought for sure…"T-that's all? Just ice cream and cuddling?"
"Goodness, you almost sound disappointed!" Y-you!
"Hmph! Hardly! Well! Let's! Get! Your! Ice! Cream!" I hit him in the shoulder between each word.
"Ow, Ow, I get it-ow! It huuurtsss! Lilyyy! Ow!"
Hmph, that's what you get for playing with a maiden's heart!
Wow Wow Wowww! These poor lovebirds just can't catch a break! And it's only going to get worse with all the CPU duties. Well, Lily is a rather smart and determined gal. I'm sure she can figure it out. Better hope she does before Lan does something dumb , because he will. Sorry about the slow updates, like every other author that I get invested in, I had to deal with 'real life'. (Also lack of motivation) Truly is a struggle when you just want to think about anime girls all day. Next time on "I spilled my Gatorade all over the manuscript!" The big conference that everyone is dreading! Even me! And I get to write it!