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The streets of Ul'dah seemed to glow at night. Veronyka hadn't been too surprised to learn this, given that Limsa, from which she hailed, also had quite the lively nightlife. Still, there was something certainly different about late nights in Ul'dah. It was cooler, for one thing, a lot cooler, so much so in fact that she was grateful for the lovely red coat that Minfilia had bought for her at the first market stall. Now, Veronyka kept an eye out for other market stalls, trying to find something that might suit her girlfriend, to repay her for the kindness of buying this jacket.
"What's your favourite colour?" Veronyka asked while Minfilia perused a market stall showing fine pieces of jewelry (at traditionally sky high Ul'dahn prices, naturally).
"Hm? Oh, I often have trouble choosing between pink and purple, though pink does seem to suit me more, I find. Why do you ask?" Minfilia asked, turning to look at Veronyka.
"No reason," said Veronyka, but Minfilia's smile was knowing.
"Very well," said Minfilia. "What would you like for dinner? My treat."
"How did you know I haven't eaten yet?" Veronyka asked, warmed inside at Minfilia's obvious care for her wellbeing (not that Minfilia was the best at remembering to eat, herself).
"Well, when I heard tell of a great, winged beast sighted near the Hammers, I naturally assumed that you might be interested in putting down said beast," said Minfilia. "Yet, before I could even call you over the linkpearl, I saw you racing out of Horizon with that familiar determination in your eyes to join the fray."
"It did take a while to defeat," said Veronyka. "And then there was a huge frog back in La Noscea and a buffalo in another part of La Noscea, then a big tree thing in the Shroud..."
"Truly, the life of a hunter is a busy one," said Minfilia, a smile on her lips, such love in her eyes that Veronyka felt the urge to look away, a blush colouring her cheeks.
"It's very hungry work, too," said Veronyka. "But you've lived here longer than I have, what's good to eat around here?"
"I do hope that you'll be able to provide the same services for food sourcing when I come to Limsa," said Minfilia. "Whenever that may be."
"I hope it's soon," said Veronyka, Minfilia thrilled at her boldness.
"Me too," said Minfilia. "We do have quite... strained relations with the admiral thanks to our differing opinions on the beastmen, but I am certain that she won't let differences of opinion get in the way of the future of our realm."
"If she does, I'm sure Louisa will be able to talk her out of it," said Veronyka. But she had scented something that interested her, something spicy that had her pupils dilating and nose actually twitching. "What is that smell?" Minfilia inhaled deeply, a grin blossoming across her face.
"A rarity in a place that shuns our kind," said Minfilia. "Authentic Ala Mhigan cuisine." Veronyka chirped, then covered her mouth.
"Sorry," said Veronyka. "My sister cooks it sometimes, but I don't really get the chance to eat it much."
"Which is a shame, really," said Minfilia. "Everyone should get the chance to eat food from their homeland, difficult though it may be in the current state of our realm." As she spoke, she steered Veronyka towards the stall selling the delectable-smelling meats and stews.
Spiced skewers in hand, the two women continued through the market, Minfilia trying not to giggle at Veronyka trying not to moan too loudly at how delicious the food was. She couldn't stop her tail from wiggling behind her, however, nor could she stop the excited wiggling of her ears.
"Your sister has never prepared these before, I'll wager?" said Minfilia, grinning from ear to ear.
"No, she mostly does the more homey food, none of this street food stuff that's easy to eat on the go," said Veronyka, and chewed on another delicious morsel of aldgoat. "Which is annoying when I want to go out doing things. She did teach me how to make dried meat, though, for my fishing trips."
"Well, that was thoughtful of her, at least," said Minfilia, Veronyka nodding.
"And speaking of thoughtful," said Veronyka, her eyes having finally landed on just the stall she needed. Then, she paused, looking down at her hands, which were sticky with meat juices and spicy marinade. "Or, um. Maybe that should wait a bit, I'm sure I look like a mess."
"You look fine, my dear," Minfilia assured her, though Veronyka still sought in her coat pocket for a mirror, which she used to see if she had any marinade on her face. Frowning, she dabbed at it with a handkerchief that Minfilia had also bought for her. Shoot, and she hadn't even paid for dinner! Minfilia was doing all of the hard work on this date, and that just wasn't right.
Veronyka finished her delicious skewer quickly, telling herself that there would be more in future, and, after one more cleaning up of her face and hands, headed over to the stall, the one draped with all kinds of fabrics and yarns including, to Veronyka's delight, scarves. Several of them.
"Here you go," said Veronyka, beaming as she handed a pink scarf and pink knitted hat to Minfilia, who accepted them gratefully.
"Oh, Veronyka, you didn't have to buy these for me," said Minfilia, winding the scarf around her neck, smiling, her cheeks as pink as her new garments. "But thank you for them, all the same. I'm so often cloistered away in the Waking Sands, as bad as our dear Urianger, I quite often forget just how chilly it gets here of a night."
"You're welcome," said Veronyka, a purr rumbling in her chest, loud enough for passersby to hear. She didn't seem to mind, though, all attention focused on Minfilia. "Limsa gets pretty cold at night too with the wind coming off the water, but it's more of a shock here in the desert."
"A fact which takes many people by surprise, so I'm told," said Minfilia. "I only wish that warm drinks could be sold here, to ease the chill of these nights some."
"I thought something was missing," Veronyka mused. "Even at home, there are some places selling hot drinks. Sure, they're not as good as the mulled cider or hot chocolate you can get from Gridania, but they hit the spot when the nights are cold." She smiled. "I kinda like Louisa's more, though."
"Oh? Does she make mulled cider?" Minfilia asked.
"It used to be hot chocolate when I was younger but yeah, she makes mulled cider sometimes," said Veronyka. "Not that I'm home to enjoy it much these days, but it's nice to have whenever I'm there."
"Perhaps somebody should tell her that you can be lured home with mulled cider," said Minfilia, a teasing tone in her voice and a glint in her eye. Veronyka gasped, then laughed.
"Only if someone's trying to get rid of me," said Veronyka.
"Or," said Minfilia. "Someone could equally ask her for her mulled cider recipe, the one that her sister loves so much." This time, Veronyka brightened, ears perked forward.
"You'd do that?" Veronyka asked. "For me?" Minfilia nodded.
"After all," said Minfilia. "Something needs to make these cold nights warmer, especially if I have a certain miqo'te to entertain after a long day spent adventuring. Or hunting. Or fishing. Saving the world. Whichever." Veronyka laughed, tail swishing behind her.
"All in a day's work for an adventurer," said Veronyka. "But I think Louisa would give you that recipe, if you asked. You'd just have to meet her first."
"My, my," said Minfilia. "We've scarcely been dating a few weeks, and already you're wanting me to meet your family."
"Well, I've met your mother," said Veronyka, blushing hotly. "It just seems right, you know?"
"That is true," Minfilia agreed. She beamed. "Alright, then. Next Limsa night markets, I shall simply have to... make myself available."
"I'm sure you can manage," said Veronyka. She really, really hoped that Minfilia would be able to make that happen.