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“Olivier, how do you impress a girl?”
Rahn’s best friend let out a sleepy groan. “Couldn’t this have waited for morning, Rahn?”
He rolled over on his bed. “I can’t stop thinking about it! Please tell me, I’m desperate.” Besides, it was only midnight, not that late at all.
“I regret ever letting you talk about your sweetheart,” Olivier grumbled, and then sat up to light the lamp. His black hair was mussed with sleep, but he still looked effortlessly handsome. It almost wasn’t fair.
Rahn turned redder than his hair. “She’s not my sweetheart, Olivier. That’s why I want to know how to impress a girl. You’ve done it before and it doesn’t even look like you’re trying!”
Olivier absently scratched a horn while he answered, “Do you really think it wasn’t from years of practice? I actually had to interact with people growing up, unlike you, you poor, socially awkward bookworm.”
He cried an automatic “Hey!” before laughing. It was an old hat between them, so he easily ignored it in pursuit of his goal. “Come on, Olivier, you have to help me. She’s perfect.”
“Gods, you’re hopeless. All right, loverboy, the first thing you can do to impress a girl, or rather, to impress Violet, is to give her a dashing, debonair smile. Like this.” With practiced ease, Olivier smiled charmingly.
“It would help if I had your looks,” Rahn muttered. “My face isn’t grown up at all.”
“Focus on the smile, Rahn, not your squishy cheeks. Besides, Violet might think you’re cute.”
Considering that he had already woken up or prevented his best friend from falling asleep, Rahn promptly did as instructed and tried channeling the energy Olivier was giving off so that he could smile the same way. “Well?” Usually, he was an excellent student, capable of learning and mastering quickly. Girls, however, were an entirely new subject to him, even with four sisters of varying ages.
“It could use some work, but not bad for a first try. You know what could really impress a girl though?” Olivier leaned forward, his face serious.
Rahn leaned forward as well. “No, what?”
“Showing her that you care about her. Compliment her sincerely; that’s important Rahn. Girls can tell when you’re being fake.” He reached up and patted Rahn’s head, stifling a laugh when the miqo’te swatted his hand in perfunctory protest before leaning into it. “Or, if you want her to swoon, you could just sing for her.”
“No way!” Rahn gasped in horror, his eyes popping open. “Sing? What if she laughs? Or thinks I’m terrible? Or feels embarrassed? What would I even sing about?”
Olivier sighed and then pinched the scruff of Rahn’s neck, instantly forcing him to go limp. His other method of making Rahn stop what he was doing was unavailable, as it involved placing a slice of cheese or bread on his head, and their food was packed away. “Calm down, Rahn. Relax. You have to remember that Violet is human, not some mythical angel.” Even as much as Rahn waxed poetic about her, it was still the truth. She was only human. “Besides, amongst all that poetry you spout off, she sounds like a nice person, and she wouldn’t be mean to you about your songs.” Then he let go.
Rahn blinked as his shoulders relaxed. “You really think singing would impress her?” he asked, his voice soft with shyness.
“With a voice like yours? Yes. She already seems to like you enough to let you come close to her.” Rahn hadn’t quite explained why he wasn’t sure he should try wooing Violet, but from what he did say, there was good reason to be careful. Olivier had seen it over and over in Ishgard, and so had much more experience with girls like her. And girls like Violet didn’t become good friends with boys unless they liked them. “How did your father impress your mother? You could try something similar.”
Rahn flinched. “By being mysterious, saying comforting words, and doing kind gestures like giving her sandwiches. I don’t think almost dying for her impressed her, although it definitely left an impact. What about yours?”
Olivier shook his head. “My mother wasn’t impressed when my father said the ixals weren’t his problem, so let’s not think about how my parents got together, all right?”
“Well, I don’t think I could do what my father did. I’m not sure she would find my studies interesting either.” At least G’raha Tia had had Allagan research to impress his mother with; he had nothing remotely interesting to tell Violet. Mastering at least five different types of weapons, with further variations, particularly of blades? He was a little afraid she would think he had no life growing up if he could do so many different jobs and craft from clothing to jewelry and gather a variety of materials. His desire to prove himself was really biting him now.
His friend smacked his palm to his face, evidently tired. “You really like her, don’t you?” he asked. “I mean, the poetry and exaggerated descriptions gave it away, but you’re serious, aren’t you?”
Rahn nodded. “More than anything. I love her.” It was worth it to be dropped out of his own time if it meant he could be with her for a while. She made him feel like he could do anything, and he wanted so dearly to make her feel loved. “I want to impress her.” Admitting it made him feel like a fool, however.
“That’s only natural. She’s a pretty girl and you’re smitten. You know her better than I do, so even with all this advice, you would know what would impress her. That being said, I’d sing for her. Dazzle her with a smile. She definitely wouldn’t resist you then.” Olivier yawned. “Or you can use one of those dozens of jobs you know and save her from some harrowing situation.”
Rahn looked away nervously. “I met her by jumping onto a morbol with my spear. The same one she was fighting, in fact.”
Olivier laughed. “You mean you already impressed her? Rahn, why on earth did you ask me?”
“You can’t know that impressed her!” he protested. “I could have left no impression on her at all.”
“Sure I can,” answered his friend. “I know what dragoons look like, and I’ve seen your armor. A dragoon jumping on top of a monster I was fighting and destroying it? If I were her, I would’ve swooned a little, even if I didn’t let him know that. Besides, after that she let you join her, didn’t she? Violet must’ve been impressed at least a little.”
“If you say so,” Rahn mumbled, blushing.
“I do. I’d sing for her to impress her again, and keep doing whatever else you’re doing to show you love her. Can we go to sleep now?”
“All right, all right. Sorry for keeping you up.” Rahn reached for the lamp. “Thank you, Olivier. I’d be hopeless without you.”
Oddly, instead of joking an agreement like he expected him to, Olivier simply smiled. “Think nothing of it, Rahn. Try not to be nervous.” Then he patted Rahn one last time, laughing when once again, the miqo’te swatted his hand, paused, and waited for more pats. “Okay, good night, and go to sleep. Seriously. We have places to go in the morning.”
“Good night, Olivier.” The lamp went out, and soon both of them were fast asleep.