Arcana One Shots

ғɪʀsᴛ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ [Nadia X F.R]

Art: tumblr: prakran

I'm at the market, dragging a half filled basket along. I'm out to get some ingredients and maybe some pumpkin bread. After a while I have everything I need and turn around to walk back to my shop, but unfortunately I bump into someone. My basket flies out of my hand and I watch as it falls to the ground. But in the last second a hand reaches out and catches it. I look up and am greeted by a pair of purplish red eyes, the rest of their face covered by a scarf. They're mesmerizing, but I rasp myself and bow to them. "I'm sorry for bumping into you! And thank you so much for catching my basket!" I say and the person smiles. They give me back my belongings and speak up. "Hm it's no problem. Do you know a nice place to have some tea?" Her voice is soft and elegant and I nod. "Yes, just a little ways from here. It's about two streets away."I say, but notice her expression. She doesn't seem to know the way, even though I just told her. I smile and look up at her meaningfully." Want me to show you? " I ask and she gets flustered. "Uhm that would be very kind of you." She sais and I nod, starting to walk ahead. She follows me, never leaving my side. We walk for a while before we reach a nice little shop called the Cupped Lavender. "Here. It's a new shop, only opened a few weeks ago, but their tea is one of the best in my opinion." I say and she nods thankfully. "Thank you, dear." She sais and I smile. "Would you like to have a cup of tea with me? I'd like to invite you as a thank you." She sais, but I shake my head. "I'd be happy to, but sadly I have a shop to run. But if you'd like to drink tea some other time." I say, scribbling down on the other side of my shopping list. "You know where to find me." I say, giving her the piece with my address. She looks a mused and thanks me, saying our goodbyes as I walk back to the shop. "Oh, by the way!" I shout as I'm already a bit further away. She turns to me and I smile. "My name is Y/N!"

-about a week later-

It's my day off and I'm sitting in the kitchen eating some eggs. It's around 9 in the morning, Asra left to somewhere unknown to me and now I'm bored. Suddenly I think back to the lady from the market. She seemed very mysterious. "Hm... I wonder what she's-"  A knock on the door makes me jump and I hurry over to see who it is. I open up and see the same woman standing in the door frame whom I met at the market. I smile and let her in. "Thank you for having me." She sais politely and I nod. "I didn't think you'd actually come." I say and she seems surprised. "Why ever would you think that?" She asks me, surprised and I shrug. "I don't know. You seem so elegant, unreachable, I thought I didn't have a chance." I say and she laughs softly, her voice delicate. "Oh please. You seem interesting, why else would I have offered a drink of tea?" She asks and I smile. "Well anyways, I'm glad you did come. Would you like something to drink or eat?" I ask and she shakes her head. "Actually, I came here to ask if you'd like to go to the Cupped Lavender with me." I nod happily. "I would love to." She waits patiently as I put on something more elegant to not stand out beside her, and we start to walk through town. Our hands meet occasionally and I blush, looking away. After the fifth time I look up shyly and see her staring back. She smiles, a bit flustered and grabs my hand, entwining our fingers. I smile to myself as my heart starts to beat a bit faster. After a while we reach the shop and decide to take a seat near one of the windows. A woman walks over and gets our orders. We sit there in comfortable silence for a while before I decide to speak up. "By the way, do you mind me asking your name?" I say and she nods slowly. "Uhm. No, I don't mind. It's just.." She seems a bit conflicted and I understand why. "It's fine, I understand that you don't want people to know, but I won't tell anyone. Just enjoy your time in town without crowds forming around you." I say, winking at her and she blushes, being caught off guard. "You knew?" She asks me utterly surprised and I chuckle. "Your disguise is fine, but your aura. I immediately knew." I say and she sighs with a smile. "Looks like I can't fool you, Y/N." Our drinks arrive and we start to enjoy them while I hear her out. She talks about what life in the palace is like, having to do so many tasks and rethinking all of her steps, what she says, how she acts. It's a lot of weight on her shoulders, I can tell by the way she talks and the look in her eyes. "What about you, Y/N" I look up at her, furrowing my brows. "Do you think I'm doing a good job? Or do you also think of me as incompetent." She asks me with downcast eyes and I shake my head. "What? Of course not! Sure, there are a few things that rubs people the wrong way, but they also don't know your side of the story. They shouldn't be mad at you, rather your court. They didn't take good care of the city while you couldn't. There are parts of town that are miserable, but it's not your fault." I say and she seems to gather her thoughts." Y/N, you seem like good company. And you have a good head between your shoulders. What do you say about helping me out?" She proposes and I tilt my head, not quite understanding. "I can't possibly go to town very often, but you. You live here, you could help me by sending me information about how things are going around certain parts. You could help me make Vesuvia a better place." She sais, determination in her voice. I smile, thinking for a bit." As long as I still get to work at my shop, you have yourself a deal. " I say and she looks overly happy at my answer." I'm sure we'll make a great team, Y/N. " She sais, raising her cup. I do the same and speak up. "I believe so too, Nadia." We smile as our cups meet in agreement.