I read the intricate swirly writing telling me what each delicacy was. I must have been looking over them a long time as the ditzy fangirl slid next to me pointing at a beautifully decorated slice.

“Why don’t you try our ‘Délice au chocolat séduisante’” she offered, the name rolling off her tongue with an alluring French accent. “That way you can get a thick shake with it at half price.” She smiled.

“Can i?” I turned to see if Sebastian approved. He nodded taking out his wallet. Where did he even kept that?

“Sure, and I’ll get just the pecan Danish pastry,” he said pointing to one of the duller pastries. Ditzy fangirl nodded and lead us to a fancy booth in the corner of the shop. I sat opposite Sebastian and fiddled with the table number waiting for my dessert to arrive.

The store was empty as many mers were still at work. “Is this what you had in mind for a date?” Sebastian asked lifting my blushing face. I quickly nodded and turned and looked at a painting of fruit on the wall. It was a rather generic sort of painting and wouldn’t hold anyone’s attention for more than a minute. “Do you know what ‘Délice au chocolat séduisante’ means?” he asked. I shook my head and began fiddling with the table number again. “Take a guess?” he challenged.

“Delicious chocolate something,” I answered trying to remember the little French I had learnt.

“Close, it translates to ‘Seductive chocolate delight’ he smiled. Leaning over across the table, he held my chin and tasted my lips edging his way further in. There was a sudden crash and we both jolted back to see Miss Ditzy staring at us in total bliss, while the glass laid shattered across the floor.

“Awww, that was soooooo sweet!” I swear if her voice went an octave higher, there would be more broken glass carpeting the floor. I was now sure my face was now the same colour as my hair. I looked down and played with the lacy edge of my top. Someone yelled from the kitchen and she instantly snapped out of her trance. “Oh I’m terribly sorry, let me just clean this up and I’ll get you another one.” She quickly swept up the glass and scooped the beverge and returned with a replacement strawberry flavoured thick shake. I smiled and thanked her, fingers crossed my face was back to normal.

She gently placed the delicate china plates in front of us with our selected treats. I think she must have picked the biggest and best slice for us as these ones looked better than when it was in the display cabinet. I picked up my ‘dingle-hopper’ and took a chunk off the corner and placed in on my tongue.

It was like summer dancing on the petals of springs last blooms while the gentle songs of a nightingale, lulling a newborn to sleep with all the energy for an out of control teenage party. All this and the chocolaty sensation playing on the trampoline of my tastebuds.

I slouched back into my chair rolling my eyes back in utter bliss.

“Mmmm, this is soooo good.” And it was only the first bite.

“Really let me have a taste,” Sebastian reached over and too a big forkful of my slice and popped it in his mouth. “Hmm, not bad,” he answered. I stared at him in disbelief. No one took my ‘Delicious Chocolate sedative’ French thingy and got away with it. 

“That’s not fair, I have to have some of yours now,” I took a little piece of his but he grabbed my wrist before I could get it to my mouth.

“Someone’s a little greedy today,” he mocked, looking me in the eyes with a scary flash of seriousness.

“Greedy how? Fair is fair,” I was stunned at his accusation. As far as I knew this was the only time I was getting somewhat spoilt.

“Who paid for it?” he asked knowing the answer already.  Sadden by the thought that I was actually being selfish I loosen my pull to the point where he was supporting my whole hand. He nimbly plucked the morsel of pastry from my fingertips. He was so mean. “Now open up,” he held the piece in front of me.

“I’m not a baby,” I snapped, grumpy as he had gotten away with my dessert.

“Ooh here comes the speedboat. Brrrrum brrrrum. Oh no it’s heading straight for the cave,” he laughed weaving the piece back and forward in front of my face before steering it into my mouth. No one and I mean no one can ever resist the aeroplane, speedboat spoon-fed trick.

I turned back to my slice and stuffed a forkful of the cake into my mouth ignoring Sebastian’s smug look of satisfaction. With that second mouthful, the party in my mouth began again. I took a sip of my strawberry thick shake. I have to admit I wasn’t too keen on it as it was more ‘thick’, than ‘shake’, as it had to be, otherwise it would dissolve in the water. That was the problem with most drinks and quite a lot of foods. Unless you went up to an air pocket, you were limited to your underwater consumption.

By the end of ‘délice au chocolat séduisante’, I had practically melted away into the chair. It was just the right type of medicine for an otherwise horrible day.

“Did you enjoy your meal?” Ditzy asked coming to take our plates away.

“It was lovely, an judging by the blissful jewel across from me, I think Aubrey enjoyed it a little too much.” Sebastian said taking me by the arm and handing a generous tip to the Bouncing Betty. “Oh send over a copy of those photos when you get them developed.” I instantly snapped out of my trance. Photos? What photos? “Ready to go home honey?” he asked. I nodded, making a note to tell him off for calling me ‘honey’.We made a quick escape before she could ask for autographs.

“Thank you,” I smiled grateful for my little indulgence of luxury.

“What was that?” he asked grinning nudging me.

“Don’t push it,” I said playfully shoving him back but ended up pushing myself away backwards. Gravity’s force was a weird thing to get used to here. Even though I went swimming a lot in the past, it was a completely different experience to be able to do things under the water besides holding your breath. Sebastian quickly reached out for me before I could drift away any further.

“You’re such a lightweight. You have to work on your tail muscles, before you even have a chance of budging me,” he joked circling around me. I struggled to turn fast enough as he sped around me. I jumped when he came up and hugged my back sending me tumbling forward, sinking quickly.

“Ok, I get the point.” I braced myself ready for when I hit the ground, which never came. I glanced over my shoulder to see him holding me. “Can we go home now?” I asked noticing an abundance of mers starting to appear for work.

***

I fell across the length of the couch ready to doze off. As routine Sebastian came and lifted my head plonked himself down at the end of the lounge and laid my head across his lap. The silence was wonderful. I felt his hands gently stroke my hair and back.  I turned over and stared up at him.

“What’s my heart saying?” I asked. He looked down at me with a curious smug smile.

“It’s telling me not to say anything cutesy pie otherwise you’ll…,” I hit in the face with a cushion before he could finish. “Hey you’re not supposed to swat me! I didn’t even say anything remotely cute.”

“Oh that was for calling me Honey, yick” I said scrunching up my nose before hitting him again.

“What was that for?” he asked stunned by the second hit.

“For playing that stupid speedboat game,” I explained staring up at him innocently showing my actions was completely justified.

“Well ok I admit that was…” I hit him again, giggling on a sugar high.

“That was just for fun” I grinned jumping up hitting him one last time before making a retreat in the next room, giggling. “Oh sugar, what a wonderful thing,” I smiled to myself curling up into my ball of happiness giggling like a school girl.

“Are you ok?” Sebastian asked popping head around the corner. I giggled rolling over laying on my stomach.

“Never better, you want dinner?” I asked heading for the door. I accidently banged my hip against the door frame jolting me to the side a little. I saw Sebastian inch forward to help me but I kept giggling. “Hehe what a silly door” I mumbled and continued to the kitchen. “Hmm what to cook? This bread is all funny and flat and great to make quesadillas. Hehe reminds me of armadillos. What a funny animal and little ears, hehe hilarious.” I giggled aloud. I grated the cheese, sprinkling it over the bread. I was almost finished cooking it in the kitchen air pocket when Sebastian swam up to me.

“Are you sure you are feeling ok?” he asked concerned. I waved a dismissive hand.

“I’m fine. Stop worrying. Hehe Armadillo,” I giggled. He placed his hand against my forehead feeling for my temperature. I slapped it away. “No touchy, no touchy. Otherwise no dinner for you. Hehe llama king.” I giggled thinking of the movie ‘Emperor’s New Groove’. “Llama eating a blue dillo, what a silly llama man” I babbled.

I noticed a fish with a red tag below the surface. A messenger trawl? Sebastian unclipped the note and read the message. He grumbled something inaudible and turned to me.

“Ok off to bed young lady,” he said suddenly.

“Nooo, I wanna finish dinner,” I argued sounding like a three year old who had just learnt to talk. Sebastian in three swift movements slung me over his shoulder.

“I can finish dinner, but I’ve got to get your sorry ass off to bed,” he said descending down away from the air pocket.

“You a bad cook, I’m not even sleepy.” I hit his back but he ignored me. Why was he being so mean?

“Gosh, I’d hate to see you when you’re seriously drunk, I’m surprised you’re not sick,” he said.

“I’m not drunk, I don’t even drink,” I explained giving up fighting him as we were almost to our bedroom.

“Well it is partly my fault. I knew that slice you had, had some alcohol in it. But after a quick little letter to Miss Mintel…”

“Who’s Miss Mintel?” I asked, rudely interrupting. “Oh you mean ditzy fangirl!” I felt so smart. I should get an award for my smartness.

“Yes, Ditzy fan girl. There was a reason that cake was called ‘seductive’ chocolate delight. Seems the alcohol level in that slice was a bit higher than one would have thought.” He laid me on the bed, and looked deeply into my eyes, his body hovering over me with hand either side.

“No I don’t want to,” I said smacking him in the dead centre of the face. He was on the verge of cussing but thought the better of it, holding his throbbing face waiting for the pain to ease off. I reached up and hugged his neck. “You smell nice, like pineapples,” I giggled closing my eyes. I felt him unwrapped my arms and kiss me gently on the forehead, pulling the blanket over my shoulders.

“You silly armadillo,” he mumbled closing the door.

_______

ok so there's a lot of references here. But first off did you like it?

Ok so I thought of this chapter when I was going through Taylor swifts music clips, and I saw her in a patisserie in 'Begin Again' - hence Ditzy fangirl is called Taylor

also my friend Ally (who is to slack to get round and read this series) gave me the idea of Sebastian pinching her snack. Not sure this is what she had in mind though... did anyone else ever have the Airplane/boat land in their mouth? *me*

Her getting a bit tipsy was honestly me just filling space. but when I thought of the food I honestly thought of armadillos and then llamas and then Emperors new groove...... I have a cold, I honestly don't drink.

Might be a little while til the next upload. 

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