Maya smiled lightheartedly, "Thanks, Rider. Really. But, you don't have to pay for everything; I can help." She began a rather leisure amble, her marveled gaze shifted amid the silhouettes that had surrounded them.
"Oh! Look, that place doesn't seem too gritty!" She bellowed resoundingly, her grasp onto Rider's hand. Maya subtly reddened, a tint of crimson present in her merry expression; until, that is, she had hastily withdrew his rather soft hand.
"Uh-- um, let's go!" She briskly gesticulated, making a rather rushed stride towards the aforementioned establishment. It was a rather simplistic setting, with rather full, rich, conveniently soft settees, emblazoned with linen of a subtly carmine color, and fluorescent light that further adorned the already vibrant setting.
Rider laughed as Maya grabbed his hands. She wants me. When she let go, another smirk broke across his face. She most definitely wants me. He followed behind her leisurely, but with great strides. "Yeah, that place looks good. Definitely one of the finer establishments in this town." Not saying much. "And I will pay." Zephyr caught up to her and looked through the corner of his eye. "I am a gentlemen of course."
He walked up to the front desk. "Table. For two." He winked at Maya and chuckled darkly as they were led to a table near the window. Rider pulled her chair out for his female companion. "Your chair, my lady."
"Thanks, Rider." Maya blithely thanked him, briskly inhabiting the rather admirably mellow settee. She mused at such a thought.
Wow.. This.. is really soft; I could lay here all day and..
A considerably senile, albeit bearing a rather eerily striking merry expression, unhurriedly approached the blithe twosome and spoke, her tone strikingly raspy, and with rather accentuated successions of words, "Oh. Hello, dears. And what would you madly- in- love couple want at such a lovely evening?"
The rather garrulous Madame further babbled, "Oh, young love! So passionate, so hot! It reminds me of my youthful days. Oh! It brings back such wonderful memories! Such bold romance! Ooh!"
Maya stiffened at the thought. Though, despite her unease, she did naught, but prolonged her steady discontent. Her rather rigidly tense gaze shifted to Rider, bearing a rather stiff expression, hinting that the lady, as disrespectful as it was, was galling.
"Uh.. Rider. Let's make our.. orders.. now.. " Maya stammered, with a rather rigid accentuation of
"now."
Rider just about lost his composure when the old coot made a comment about the two of them being madly in love. It was hilarious! But still...Maya was a good looking girl...and everyone could agree that Zephyr was a good looking guy. They could be a good looking couple. "I agree." He turned to the old lady. "And we are ready to order, madame." He winked at her and seated Maya, taking the seat across from her. "I'll have a burger with fries."
Should I get a beer?...Nah. "And a root beer to go with it." He smiled at his companion. "What will m'lady be getting?" He made sure to thrown in a cheesily-romantic voice. "After all, I am merely a humble servant at your command."
Maya murmured, albeit inaudibly, with fevered ire, "We aren't a couple. Dummy."
"I'll just.. have a cup of coffee. And pasta, capellini, thinner than usual."
The ever- so loquacious Madame chimed in, "A cup of romance, perhaps? Ooh. Such a cute couple, needs a hint of spice, in such a
passionate relationship."
Maya refused, her ire becoming much blatant, but still ever- so subtle, "Uh.. no, but.. thank you."
The Madame, then, left them be, for now, at least, bearing a yet still eerily merry smile.
"That lady.. And no, Rider. We are not a couple. Gosh." Maya remarked, reddening in subtle anger, though with a hint of sarcasm, that truth be told, is blatant to Rider, and with a rather intense accentuation of
'not.'
"So, are you ready for the tournament tomorrow? I mean you know, the
great Rider, can't
possibly lose, can't he? But,
no pressure." Maya asked, with a hint of sarcasm in her tone of voice. Truth be told, she was considerably cherishing Rider's accompaniment, more than she'd anticipated.
A grin broke across Rider's face as the old lady walked away, and Maya reprimanded him for his leading on that they were a couple.
Time to have some fun. "I am shocked, m'lady! I am merely professing my love to you!" He made sure to make a dramatic scene to the nearby customers, who were seeming to enjoy the exchanges. "Are you saying that we...are no longer together?" His face was filled with horror for a moment, but the next it was replaced with a grin the size of a Wailmer's. "You know I kid." Rider began to laugh quietly. "But of course I'm ready! No way in Hell I'll lose! I'm the best! You saw my battle earlier! Type disadvantages hold no fear over me, size makes no difference, I'll crush them! and I'll find a loop hole in any strategy!" He gave Maya a thumbs up and a dashing smile. "And we all know,
all of the ladies want to be with the legendary 'Rider.'" Zephyr added a wink on the last one. "I don't believe in pressure."
"I like your enthusiasm." Maya remarked, complimenting Rider's overly blatant self- assurance.
She smiled slyly, "Though.. Don't expect your victory to be
that easy. After all, Loryn, Seth, and I, are your opponents."
"But.. I guess that it's your confidence that makes you who you are. Not all trainers have that kind of spirit, that you have."
"Ah. Having such a pleasant conversation there, yes?" The Madame chimed in.
She briskly cleared her voice, and spoke, her tone yet still richly raspy, "Here you go, pasta, capellini of course, coffee.. Hamburger, coupled with french fries.. and root beer." The mellowed Madame, then bestowed the rather well- fixed cuisine to their equally well- furnished table, handling it with proper care. "Please, do enjoy." In a blink of an eye, she had departed.
Maya, incognizant of Rider's presence, devoured the well -prepared cuisine heartily; as indelicate as she was, she was simply starved. In a blink of an eye, the formerly warm plate was depleted of its cuisine.
Her merry gaze at Rider, she spoke, "That was delicious." She paused. "Shall we go?"
A look of amazement crossed Rider's face as Maya wolfed down her food in no time. "Well then..." He took his time eating, but finished soon enough. "You sure were hungry." He chuckled and called for the check, paying for it in full. "Thank you, madam, and I'll have you know that the Princess ate very well." Zephyr winked at Maya yet again and led her outside. "Now, we have plenty to do!" He swept his arms wide. "We can avoid gangs, do in drug dealers, battle scum, you name it!" Rider's sarcastic tone was blatant as he listed the various things. "The choice is yours, madame!"
Maya laughed heartily, at Rider's rather casual mention of drug rings, and other notable malefactors. "How about rest? I'm sure we both need much of it tomorrow."
She smiled slyly, "And since you've offered a place to stay, we might as well hit the sack there! So, how about it?"
"Of course...M'lady." Rider winked and smiled. "As I said, what's mine is yours, and what's mine is yours." He began to lead her towards his rather...out-of-the-way house on the outskirts of town. "Well, this is it." He gestured to the small shack. "My castle." He opened the door and led Maya inside. It may have looked rather dirty on the outside, but the inside was pure white, including tile floors and other such things. "Casa del Hombre." He looked to her. "House of Man." He winked. "You can have the bedroom." He gestured to the bed in the far right corner and smiled. "I'll take the couch." It may have seemed like he was taking the bad spot, but damn! That is one comfortable couch. The pair climbed into their respective sleeping-areas, both of them drifting asleep after a little bit.
Present Day.
The vibrant sun radiated amid the bright azure horizon, the mockingbird heartily sang its elegant, alluring hymns, its clear notes interspersing within the whistles of the wind; indeed, it was a vibrant day.
"Hey, Rider! Let's get a move on! We're late!" Maya bellowed, fully aware that the long- awaited Tournament rendezvous was already unfolding, and that their arrival was, truth be told, becoming belated. She flounced her brown hair in clear frustration, though her rather merry smile implied otherwise.
"Oh yeah baby...You know I like it like that." Rider twitched in his sleep, "Oh-"
"HEY RIDER!"
A startling voice knocked Rider off of his position on the couch and on to the floor. "I'm up! I'm up!" The young, and dashing, bounty hunter stood up quickly, dusting off his clothes. "I see you are up, as well, my lady." A smirk appeared across his ruggedly handsome face. "Hold on!" He walked into the the kitchen and rummaged through the pantry, looking for things to eat. Moments later he emerged with a cereal bar, handed one to Maya, and walked out the door. "Today, madame, we BATTLE!"
Maya smiled, "Of course, we will." The twosome, then, ambled through the ordinarily festive boroughs, and arrived at the equally festive Coliseum.
"It looks like we made it!" Maya bellowed, seeing Seth, and her fellow contenders.
Zephyr looked around and nodded. "Good to be here, guys. But you're all gonna lose."