Lunch with Avrielle

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

"Since I cook about as often as I breath, it would be a lot of food to help with," I told her, chuckling. "I think for both our waistlines we should just hope Désir stays in business."

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

I raised my glass again. "To Désir," I said, "to a delicious lunch, and to our waists." My plate was almost empty by now, except for a few carrots and some stuffing.

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

"To all three," I said, lifting my glass and toasting her before taking a sip. "Let me know when you are ready for dessert."

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

"In a minute," I said. "Let me bask in the afterglow of this excellent meal." I settled back in my chair a bit, smiling.

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

"As you wish," I told her, smiling. With a slight motion of m hand, I beckoned one of the other staff over, a young man who had everything but our glasses cleared quickly.

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

I slowly savored the last of my winter blush, eyeing Plaisir over the rim of my glass. A successful man such as he, you'd think he'd have a wife or lover.

Setting my glass down, I said, "Ready when you are."

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

"You have your choice - a warm apple tart with cinnamon glaze or chocolate cake with rum sauce," I told her.

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

"Oh no," I said. "How about, whichever you get, I'll have the other and we'll share? Both choices sound too pleasing to pass up."

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

Ah yes, I thought, there was the hint of what had ended her at Valerian. Rising, I told her, "I shall be right back."

With that, I went to the side station to assemble our desserts.

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

Something in his eyes told me he had had an epiphany of a sort, and I wanted to know what it was. I waited for him impatiently to return, dessert was looking like a better and better idea.

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

Humming slightly to myself - something I found I did a lot while working with desserts - I put together two plates, each one containing half of the apple tart and half the chocolate cake. I laid a line thick, chilled caramel down the middle of the plates to keep the sauces from mixing and brought them back to the table.

"Ta da," I said, setting down the plates and handing her a clean fork. "I hope you enjoy."

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

I gasped. "Oh, Plaisir!" I exclaimed. "How wonderful!."

Taking the fork, I eagerly cut into the cake. It was thick and rich and moist and I smiled as I swallowed. "This is the best part," I said. "My mama always said, have your desserts first, but I disagree. Waiting makes things sweeter, even though I'm not exactly a patient person."

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

"There are a few customers who come in and just have double desserts, no real meal," I told her, chuckling. "I'm glad you like it though."

I took a bite of the tart, smiling at how it tasted now that I had gotten it right.

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

As I savored the taste of teh cake, I took the opportunity to try the tart. It was perfect, crispy and light.

"What were you thinking, when I asked you to share with me?" I asked curiously. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

"Nothing really, just understanding a little more how you ended up at Valerian after Orchis," I told her, then took a bite of the cake.

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

I thought a minute about what I had said, then smiled. "You are more perceptive than I," I said. "Sometimes I do not always know why I am where I am. I'm a fair dancer, yet I left Eglantine. I'm good company, and cheerful, yet Orchis wasn't right either."

I frowned, then smiled. "I like Valerian," I said, "because it lets me express every part of myself. Some people see it as restraining, because of what the House demands of its caste, but I, I am freer because of it. You can't be an Orchis who has Valerian taste, but you can be a cheerful Valerian."

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

"That makes sense," I said, agreeing. "I have never thought it important the name of the place where a person is happy, only that it mattered that they were happy."

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

"I agree with you," I said, "but some would disagree. My own mother could not accept it when I moved to Valerian. I have not spoken to her since I told her."

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

"I'm sorry Avrielle," I said softly. "I hope she comes around and sees how happy you are now. She will change her mind if she sees that."

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

"I hope so," I said, a bit sadly. "She is my mother, after all. I know she loves me. I thought I would see her after my virgin debut, tell her how I am and how happy I've been, and let her know that I'm on my way to being successful."

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

"That sounds like a good idea," I agreed. "Why don't you bring her here and I will treat you both to dinner. You can have a nice table out front and I will make sure everything it special."

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

"You're very kind and it's a wonderful idea," I said, "but, no offense to you or your offer, I would like to pay for the dinner myself. That way, I can prove to my mother that I made the right choice and am happy and successful with it." I hoped he would understand that I needed to show my mother that I was a success at Valerian, no matter what she thought.

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

"Alright," I said, smiling. "But you'll get the friends discount."

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

"Now that I can appreciate," I said with a smile. "I don't want to spend my entire first patron gift in one go." I clapped my hands. "I can't wait to take her out."

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

Chuckling, I told her, "And I will personally make sure it is as special as you are hoping."

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

"Thank you for helping me," I said, taking another bite of cake. My plate was almost empty, so I dragged the cake through the caramel for extra sweetness. "Promise you'll make this cake again for her."

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

"I promise," I said, smiling. "Just make sure and give me two days notice so it can be perfect."

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

"I will," I said, mopping up the last bits of apple tart. Pushing back my empty plate, I sighed. "That was amazing."

[Plaisir Durante (R)]

I grinned wide. No matter how many times I heard it, I was still filled with pride when people enjoyed my creations.

"I am so pleased you liked it all," I told her, signaling for our plates to me cleared.

[Avrielle nó Valerian]

"Not as pleased as I was to be able to eat it all," I said with a grin.