"No dress is necessary. I think doing your makeup and hair will be suffice enough." Ariana said as she stroked her chin. Brian's eyes became wide with horror. "You want to do what?!" he yelled as his eyes bulged and a vein popped outwards, along his forehead.
Ariana shrugged her shoulders and turned to Clawdean. "Would you like a slice Ms. Clawdean? I do recommend the ice cream at least if you are too full. I believe it's a rare treat in your city but I can guarantee you mine is so smooth it will feel like velvet on your tongue. Unless you want me to mix small bits of brownie into yours if you don't want just plain vanilla." she asked with bright, hopeful eyes.
Clawdean looked at her boss then and Ariana, her tail was wagging indicating her stress. "I would like to try the ice cream with bits of brownie." Seeley said with a bashful face. "I'll even put on a wig so you can do my hair."
Ariana blinked a few times before she threw herself onto Seeley. She giggled as she rubbed her face against his soft skin. "I would never make you do that. You're too nice to tease!" she shouted in his embrace. Seeley brought up his claw and started scratching his cheek in embarrassment.
Ariana jumped off him and looked at everyone at the table. "I'll bring everyone a bowl of brownie ice cream!" she exclaimed in delight. Clawdean sighed a breath of relief as she looked at Ariana's happy face.
Ariana quickly turned and rushed back to the counter. She saw almost everyone got a scoop of ice cream and was thankful that she made an extra batch of it sitting in the freezer. As she was cutting the brownie into small chunks she asked Roy to fetch her the other container. Roy quickly disappeared and returned with the other container in hand.
She thanked him and scooped half the container out and put it to the almost empty one. "Do you mind putting it away now?" she asked Roy as she held the container out. Rin intervened and grabbed it instead. "I can do it, let Roy have a break and eat a meal." Rin said as she started walking backwards. Ariana started to smile a little devilishly as she looked at the two. "Rin after your done putting that away you can have your meal break too."
Rin rolled her eyes and walked through the doors. Ariana looked at Roy and nodded her head towards the kitchen. "Go on." she mouthed to him causing Roy to jump into action. He quickly gave Ariana a thumbs up before he left.
Ariana arranged the bowls on the tray before she carried it, slowly back towards the table. The ladies in the room were happily chatting and now moved on to serving each other tea. Ariana placed the tray behind her and started to hand out the bowls of ice cream to Seeley, Clawdean, Sammie and Becca.
They all thanked her for the treat and started to eat. Each one made a delightful face after their first bite. Brian was sitting there patiently with his back straight and eyes twinkling with anticipation. Ariana met his gaze and raised an eyebrow. Brian stayed silent as he watched everyone else enjoy their dessert. As they were finishing their last bites, Ariana started to collect the dirtied bowls. Brian' smile turned into a frown and he turned his angry gaze at Ariana before she started to walk away. "What about me?!"
Ariana turned and face Brian. "What about you?" she asked in a dull tone. Brian pounded the table. "What about my dessert!" he said with a scowl. Ariana placed the bowls onto the tray before she placed her hands on her hips and gave him an ice cold gaze. "You questioned my ability, you looked down on my gender, you flashed me earlier today and were lucky enough to even have dinner! You want dessert then prostate yourself and ask for forgiveness from the ladies in this room. You pompous jerk!" she yelled shocking everyone in the room.
Brian was dumbstruck and Ariana was pleased with herself. She turned around, picked up the tray and walked back to the counter. As she started packing everything up she heard a loud sound. She looked up and saw that Brian had flipped over the table. He stood tall and commanding as he stared Ariana down. She stopped what she was doing and stood up straight, matching his gaze.
Brian's left eye started to twitch before he dropped to his knees in one swift movement. He raised his hands into the air and brought his whole body down as he bowed onto the floor. "I apologize for my insensitive words. Please forgive me and allow me to try dessert!" he yelled into the floor boards. The room was silent then suddenly they heard clapping. They all looked around and saw that is was Ariana clapping happily. "Now that's more like it! For such a show how about an ice cream sandwich?"
"Yes please!" shouted Brian without even lifting himself from the prostate position. Lady Zula started to poke Brain with the tip of her shoe to get him to turn his head towards her. "Get up, put the table back and sit down like a good boy already." she said in a bored voice.
Brian looked up to see if Ariana was in fact preparing something for him. When he saw her quickly cutting a brownie in half he shot up and started to put the table back.
After she gave Brian his dessert and Lady Zula an apple spice tea. She made her way into the kitchen. Roy and Rin were happily chatting with each other as they ate. Ariana didn't want to interrupt, so she quietly plated some food and placed it over a red checkered cloth. She tied off the ends and made her way towards the back exit. "Where are you going?" Rin asked as she popped another bite of stake into her mouth.
Ariana turned and looked at Rin innocently. "Quick delivery... I swear it's just 4 steps from the door and then I will be right back." Rin started to get up and Ariana quickly raced out the door. As she said she took four giant leaps out and placed the covered up food onto the ground.
She inhaled deeply, rocked back on her heels, clenched her fists and kept her arms straight down at the side of her body. "Clayden if you're out there please accept this plate of food as thanks for today!" she shouted with all her might before she turned around.
She saw Rin's displeased face as she leaned against the door frame. "You're doing something completely useless." she said with obvious disdain. Ariana gave her a melancholy look before she slowly walked back towards her. "I'm allowed to believe you know." she mumbled as she walked past.
Rin was taken aback and tried to reach out to Ariana but was instantly stopped when she saw the emptiness reflecting in her eyes. She pulled back her hand and semi hugged herself. Again she forgot that she was still only a 12 year old girl, she tried to push back the guilt but it just gnawed at her heart as she watched Ariana walk towards the sink.
Ariana stepped onto the foot stool and started to scrub the dishes silently. Roy walked up next her, placed a single kiss against her temple before joining her. While Rin tried to awkwardly join them.
After they were done about half the dishes, Roy kicked Ariana out telling her it was time for her meeting with the others. Ariana stretched out her back, yawned and slowly walked out the doors. She looked around the hall and the ladies were still happily chatting while they drank tea.
She smiled to herself as she ducked under the counter and walked towards Lady Zula and company. The moment she had reached the table Lady Zula stood up and called for everyone's attention. "Ladies, ladies, ladies! We must thank Ariana, Roy and Rin for the wonderful dinner they provided.... well Ariana is the only one here and Roy and Rin are probably on clean up duty so maybe another time. As it is late I ask that you make your way upstairs for now. Get a good night's rest as tomorrow we will start training and construction!" she shouted happily as she stretched out her arms.
The ladies in the room started to cheer and applaud. Ariana started to beam, she had never felt so happy to have touched so many hearts in her life.
As the ladies one by one walked by, they either hugged, kissed her head or curtsied as they walked past her. Except Ariel, she was the last one who was left behind. She took a deep breath and marched her way towards Ariana. The look in her eyes were of pure determination but Ariana did not waver she stood her ground as she clutched her chef's coat.
Ariel stopped once she was toe to toe will her and looked down at her small face. There was a tense atmosphere around the two that the spectators could have swore they had seen sparks fly. Ariel took a deep breath before she reached out her hand in front of Ariana's face.
Ariana refused to flinch, she looked at Ariel's flushed face and was surprised. Then moved her gaze to her outstretched hand and felt her guard completely shatter. She gingerly lifted up her hand and softly touched the edges of the brass compact. "I'm just giving back what belongs to you." Ariel said as turned her face away.
Ariana couldn't believe what she was hearing and withdrew her hand. She didn't take the compact back, instead she took a step back. "I don't think I can take this right now... do you mind keeping it safe for me until I'm ready?" she asked her gently as she looked at her with a soft smile. Ariel turned a deeper shade of red and shoved the compact against her chest.
"If you can't keep what's yours safe how are going to save us from this life! Don't be silly just take it!" she spat before she started to walk away. Ariana held the compact tightly against her chest and watched Ariel as she stopped a step away from the stairs. "Thank you for the meal it was delicious! I hope.... I hope you have a goodnight!" Ariel shouted before she ran up the stairs.
Lady Zula watched Ariel until she reached the top of the stairs before she turned to face Ariana. "Child are you alright!" Lady Zula gasped as she saw Ariana pinch the bridge of her nose. Ariana nodded and pocketed her compact. She pulled out a handkerchief afterwards and started to clean up small amounts of blood from her nose.
"I'm fine mother... but I got to say I can see why she is one of your favorites! She just too cute." she said as she wiped up the last of the blood. Seeley gave her a toothy grin before he looked back up to the stairs. "I agree."
Brian gawked at Seeley, Sammie laughed with Clawdean over Brian's reaction and Lady Zula's eyes twinkled with a mysterious glint. "Right, cute lady, cute kid, great meal, I just wanted to get to business now." Becca said in a monotonous tone as she placed her elbows on the table and cradled her head on her hands.
Clawdean stopped laughing instantly and looked at Ariana. "No, before you guys start talking about business I want to know what happened to you after you were teleported." she said as her tailed lazily swayed behind her. Ariana sighed an scratched the back of her head. "Alright just don't get mad." she said as she looked at Lady Zula.
Lady Zula was in complete shock, she didn't think whatever Ariana had done would cause her temper to rise so much that she had to even say that. "I won't I promise." she said sternly as she nodded her head to Ariana. Ariana sighed a breath of relief and began her story. "Okay so I was teleported into an alleyway...."
"and that's it " she said as she carefully watched Lady Zula's hands. They were strangling her folded fan during a majority of the story and Ariana feared the worst. She was worried that she would be thrown out for her incompetence as she failed to find out what the men's true motive were.
Lady Zula saw her worried face and let go of the fan. She took a deep breath and tried to give Ariana a reassuring smile. "Honey I'm not mad at you... you were very brave. I'm upset at my brother Zachary, I will be visiting him soon to give him a piece of my mind." she said in a shaky voice. "So now that is out of the way, let's talk business."
Ariana shook her head as she looked at everyone. "No, I lied to you in the beginning... there was nothing possessing me... that was all me, I played a mean trick on you and I am sorry." Ariana said remorsefully. "I know." Lady Zula answered immediately as she twirled a lock of hair with her finger. "I stuck around and heard you laughing."
Ariana's jaw dropped as she looked at her. "Then why did you...." she started to say but Lady Zula raised her hand. "You impressed me and that's hard to do, ask my son. So what happened in the past is done." she said with a laugh and looked at her proudly.
"But Lady Zula there is more."