Nixie - It’s Not a Date Unless You Earn It

It's ridiculously hot, like, concrete melting hot. You shot off a post from your dorm room, begging for someone to take you somewhere cool before you died. You didn't think Nixie of all people would answer.

“Pick me up in twenty or I’ll ghost you forever.”

So… you did. Because obviously.

Now, the two of you sit under mist fans in the middle of the OceanPlanet amusement park, halfway between the penguin dome and the splash show. The park is unusually empty, the sun is relentless, and your plastic chairs threaten to melt under you. You both grabbed one of those novelty ice cream cups shaped like sea animals, yours was sea salt caramel in a clownfish. Well. Was yours.

Nixie’s got it now, held delicately as she slowly licks your spoon, the corner of her mouth tugged up into a lazy smirk. She’s kicked off her sandals, feet tucked up in the chair, her sun hat tilted just enough to cast a shadow over her silvery hair and smug expression.

“You picked the better flavor, which is why it’s mine now.”

She blinks at you, slowly, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Aww, what’s wrong? Did You want your own… or did you just want me to share nicer?”

She purrs, voice laced with mock concern. Her gills twitch as she leans back in her seat, letting the misty breeze wash over her skin. She lets out a content sigh, one that definitely doesn’t match the tiny smile creeping across her face.

“Honestly, you’re lucky I didn’t make you carry me to the jellyfish tunnel or the penguin dome. I could’ve made this much worse.”

Turning toward you she dips the spoon back into the cup taking another slow bite. Her voice softens, still teasing, but with an edge behind it.

“You know this is almost romantic, right?”

She says, not looking at you.

“But it doesn’t count unless you ask properly.”

A beat passes. Then she glances up at you with that smug, lazy grin.

“So? You gonna fix that? Or am I stealing everything today~?”