Blondes at Lunch

[Shona Tertignan]

“How sweet,” I replied with a smile. “That you won’t let me die yet of starvation.” The place was, as usual, bustling with activity, and I instinctively grabbed Nyx’s hand before we set about to locate ourselves a table. Cripes, the place was packed with adepts. For some reason, I felt protective of her. Must be age gaining on me – or maybe she reminded me, ages ago, before I’d lost all of my innocence.

Someone bumped into me, and I recognized her to be Melinda, that adept who had been so surly the night someone tried to enter the House. Well, such was my belief, anyway. She grunted, I gave her an obnoxiously sweet smile, and off she was. Ah. A booth. “How’s that?” I asked Nyx. “Looks like Fortuna’s on our side.”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

She led me through the bustle of people, and I was glad she spotted the table with her extra height. "Seems she is," I agreed. But I didn't miss the look she exchanged with another woman, and as we sat, I made comment. "That smile was rather familiar."

[Shona Tertignan]

“Was it?” I asked, as I sat in the bench across from her an eyebrow lifting up unbidden. “How so?”

I gave her a wry grin, and stifled a chuckle. Of course, my smile to my housemate had been rather despicable. She was unpleasant, and I knew she hated it when I gave her my sweet grins, so I lavished her with them – if we were to not get along, at least make it fun. Besides, at Bryony, I barely liked anyone. Let me correct that – save for Fisher, because we were friends, and Resa because she was kind enough to close her eyes on my indiscretions, I didn’t care much for them.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"I've used it myself on occasion," I replied with an impish grin, and picked up a menu. Lauraine still glared on sight, if not worse, and I was still dodging her cronies. It had become routine for all of us by this point.

Oh, but it was worth it.

[Shona Tertignan]

I laughed lightly. “You could be my sister indeed, then,” I said with an amused chuckle. “If you care to know, that was my housemate, and she’s particularly disagreeable.” I looked at the menu, and added under my breath, “Not that Bryony in itself is all sunshine. It’s more like a world of sharks, or a wasp’s nest.”

I sighed, and added, “I’m happier when I visit my friends – at Orchis, in particular.”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Oh really? Who do you know at Orchis?" I asked after looking up at the mention of Keegan's House.

[Shona Tertignan]

Well, that certainly got her interest. I couldn’t help but smile wryly. “An old friend, Larquel. I’ve spent some time with Genevie as well, since Larq has been traveling away.” I gave a merry laughter, and added, “There used to be a time where I knew the nooks and crannies of Orchis better than my own house, you know.” I lifted a curious eyebrow, and asked, “Ring a bell?”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I shook my head. "I don't know many at Orchis," I replied, dodging the unspoken question for now. I wasn't worried, Shona seemed the type to take joy in the challenge of weaseling answers out of people. I'd give her the game, see if she'd play. "You used to live there?"

[Shona Tertignan]

“Not quite,” I replied with a grin. “But I used to sneak out of Bryony to pay visits – unfortunately my penchant for mischief was noticed a tad too late, so Bryony it was.” I chuckled. “Besides, when your best friend is a prankster, you’re better off knowing all the potential hiding places….”

I had nothing to hide at all as far as my relationship to Orchis House was concerned, but her interest was intriguing. “You’re awfully curious, though,” I teased. “If I were a reasonable person, I’d deduce you have special interest in that house too…”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Perhaps I do," I replied with just the slightest teasing flair to my voice. But then we were interrupted by a handsome man wanting to take our order. I asked for the lamb with rice and a fruit juice with a smile.

[Shona Tertignan]

Damn those accursed waiters! I repressed an amused chuckle at the convenient timing, and bade he bring me the cheese soufflé and a glass of red wine. After he left, I gave Nyx a wry smile. “That’s one waiter I’d like to see wait for me,” I whispered in jest. Oh, I hadn’t forgotten… but a gambler knows when to wait for the odds to change.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I giggled. I had been thinking much the same thoughts. "Oh, I agree." I whispered back, glancing back at him just once as he walked away. I couldn't help myself, I giggled again.

[Shona Tertignan]

She giggled, and I chuckled. I hadn’t giggled in years, though she was starting to make me want to follow. I tried, failed, chuckled again. It wasn’t natural anymore. “I think I could eat him alive, but…” I gave her a conniving grin, “if you want him, you could have him any day. Did you even see the way he looked at you? He was smoldering.”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I laughed at that. "I think you're reading too much into his look. Though..." I paused to consider him as he waiting on a table near by. "He is rather cute. Think I could get him to Cereus?" I asked her, a mischievous glint to my eyes.

[Shona Tertignan]

I followed her gaze as she indulged in the pretty boy once more, and replied without hesitation, “If he could afford you, absolutely. Besides, you should make an easy game of it. You're more beautiful than he is handsome, and he visibly knows it. He'll never know what hit him.”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I grinned, then a thought hit me. Or rather an itch. "It will have to be a long term project." I told her, slightly disappointed that success meant I was foiled on that particular day. "I just had my marque started, and it's not completely healed yet."

[Shona Tertignan]

I nodded knowingly. I remembered the long days I spent healing when I’d finished my own. “Itches to the end of the world, doesn’t it?” I replied with a grin. “Well you can wait to be done with this itch, before you scratch that one,” I added with a little chuckle. “Congratulations though. It’s a long process, but it will be wonderful when it’s done.”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I smiled wide. "Thank you. I think it's pretty wonderful already, and I only have a couple of inches done."

[Shona Tertignan]

"It's a start," I replied with an encouraging smile. "I remember my own beginnings," I told her. "It was with Jasper de Montchretien." I lifted an eyebrow, and added, "A character, if there ever was any."

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Oh, do tell," I replied, the look on her face piquing my curiosity.

[Shona Tertignan]

“Oh, just one particular individual,” I explained. “Raw talent, very little formal training. He was less expensive than the others because of it, because he was indeed just this side of ruthless. Not enough to warrant a complaint, but enough to make you squirm under the tapers.” I shrugged. At the time, it hadn’t mattered – all I cared about was getting my marque done and over with.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I listened to her story, and was suddenly very glad I had chosen Darien. "No offense, but that doesn't sound like my cup of tea. I went to the Salon Kachine." I was about to say more, but then our drinks arrived along with the handsome waiter. I smiled up at him almost shyly, and kept a straight face when I saw Shona was right about the way he looked at me.

[Shona Tertignan]

Gods but the lad was simpering. I looked away, trying to be wistful, though I was very amused. He departed, leaving a little piece of paper by Nyx’s hand, and I couldn’t keep away the chuckle.

“Kachine,” I repeated, tapping my lips thoughtfully. “I’ve never quite worked with him – I found out about his existence after my marque was complete. I heard good things about him, though,” I noted. “He is very gentle, is that right?”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

I picked up the paper while listening. "He was... reassuring. I was terribly nervous, but he talked me through. I don't know about gentle, not having anyone to compare him to."

Finally I opened the note and read the contents. "It would appear I have an admirer," I told her. I glanced around and found him watching. I smiled at him and watched him grin in return.

[Shona Tertignan]

“Oh, young love,” I said with a cynical grin that was rather amused. “How delightful a flower to pluck, in its essence, and in its muck.” I chuckled. “I’m a horrible poet,” I admitted, “I’ve one been begged to stop my rhyming,” I added proudly.

“Well if you’re satisfied with your marquist, don’t change,” I told her more seriously. “I didn’t mind Jasper’s work one bit, but that’s me. Others would have rathered someone else, no doubt.”

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"Young love isn't all bad," I told her with a little smile. "And I have yet to see any muck."

[Shona Tertignan]

“Oh, in love, are we?” I asked with a wry grin. “And who would be the lucky chosen, then?” I gave her a teasing grin, “And don’t tell me it’s that simpering fellow over there, as gracious as he may be, I wouldn’t believe you.”

I took a sip of my drink, and added, “You don’t have to tell me, I know how it is.” Eh. She’d just started her marque, poor thing. She was up for a great deal of frustration, unless the man were a regular patron.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"No, it's alright. He's another adept, I met him when I was delivering a package to Orchis," I replied, tracing the lines of my glass idly with the pads of my fingers. The thought of Keegan made me smile.

[Shona Tertignan]

“Oh dear,” I signed as my eyes followed her tracing hand. I took in her smile. Gods. Poor little thing. She was really smitten, smiling at the empty air as she toyed idly. “I can understand, though. Orchis adepts are wonderful.” I smiled, though my own grin was different – merely one of a good memory. “I told you, I have an affinity with them.”

That made me wonder. Was I in love? Had I ever been? There was a memory of gentle kisses and warm love-making that flooded my mind. Bah. I’d been so confused in the past. I was, in truth, emotionally inept when it came to matters of the heart. I'd have to let time decide on my behalf.

[Nyx nó Cereus]

"I can but agree," I replied, looking at her again. My smile turned into a friendly grin. "Has one of them caught your eye then?"