Atalanta and Astolfo Get Ice Cream

Atalanta wandered into a small restaurant that was still open. After checking the menu, she let the hostess seat them. It was a small booth in the corner, looking out into the quiet street. Not many people were still awake at this hour, but there were still a few passersby. Atalanta ordered them both some water, so that they may feel a little better, and then perused the dessert section of the menu. "My goodness. There are so many different treats. I can't believe this is readily available. And after dark!"

[[They can both faintly sense two Servant presences to their west, and one more to their north. None of them are moving toward them though, and don't seem to be looking for a fight.]]

Rider's eyes gleamed as he looked over the parfaits. Shining cherries, peach slices dripping with whipped cream, sponge cake that looked lighter than an angel's wings... this was a dream come true!! Fuyumi... Fuyumi had promised one to him before...

He took a gulp of water so large it hurt his chest. It was dangerous, getting so close to a Master, but he had truly believed.

She didn't want to fight. Not really. She was a good person, but not strong enough to kill someone to grant her wish. He wondered...

"Ar - Atalanta, what's your wish?"

"I wish for a world where every child can be raised with love." she answered without hesitation, still gazing at the menu. "I was abandoned as a child by my parents. Left in the wild to die. Even in this modern world, I still see signs of things such as that happening. It is but for the grace of Athena and my mother bear that I lived. I would not see this situation repeated. No one should have to go through what I went through to gain affection that should be unconditional."

Rider's heart swelled. "What a noble wish!! You have such a grand heart, lady Atalanta!!"

"My wish is for everyone to have a hero - whether they're a friend, a parent, a teacher, whatever. Everyone needs someone to protect them and believe in them and support them unconditionally." He smiled, feet swinging over the restaurant floor. "I guess our wishes overlap a little, huh!"

Atalanta returned the smile. "They do indeed." she finally decided to order a strawberry milkshake. It looked pink and delicious, and even came with fresh strawberries!

Rider almost ordered a Parfait des Cerises Gigantique before realizing that the numbers next to the name actually meant something. He decided on a dish of vanilla ice cream with cherries and strawberry chocolate curls - cheaper, not so gigantique, but bound to be satisfying. And soooo cute!!

"We must taste each other's selections," Atalanta suggested with an almost childish smile. "It was hard not to order everything on the menu."

"Wasn't it!?" Astolfo's eyes glittered. He scooped up a bite of ice cream, making sure to get a bit of cherry and chocolate on the way, and held it out to Atalanta. "Now you scoop up some and we bite at the count of three!"

She deftly scooped up an equally good bite for Astolfo and held it out to him. "One," she began.

"Two.... Three!" Rider let out a pleased "nomph" as his mouth closed around Atalanta's spoon. It was everything he'd dreamed! His own dish was everything he'd dreamed! Ice cream was a heavenly miracle!

He bet Kirei didn't let himself like ice cream. What a weird and suspicious guy.

The taste was heavenly. Both her own ice cream and Rider's. Atalanta closed her eyes and smiled in contentment, savoring the taste of the treat for a few moments before continuing to eat what was clearly the dessert of the Gods.

Atalanta finished her ice cream, chatting here and there with Astolfo. Eventually she noticed the time. "Well, I suppose we should get back. I'm sure Kirei wouldn't want us to dally."

"All right! Let's venture forth!" Astolfo wiggled out of the booth and skipped to the door.