Sharing a drink

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“Indeed we are,” I said, echoing her grin as I held the door open for her.

[Géraldine Grangier]

With a smile and a nod of thanks, I entered the Black Boar, and I had to take a small moment to let my eyes accostum themselves to the relative darkness of the pub, especially by contrast to the sunny day we’d left, but I had no regrets.

I turned to Alain, and said, “Thank you, you are a true gentleman.”

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“At times,” I said with a chuckle as I followed her inside.

“Do you have preferences as to where we sit?”

[Géraldine Grangier]

“As a matter of fact, not quite,” I replied with a smile, slightly twirling onto myself for the excitement of being in a different place. “Besides, I picked the place, so I leave it up to you to pick the seat,” I added, grinning wide, my eyes caressing his own furtively.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“Then I choose there,” I said, smiling as I pointed to an empty table near a window. I walked over to it and held a chair out for Dine, waiting for her to join me.

[Géraldine Grangier]

If anything, Alain was decisive, I thought with a chuckle. I walked over to the offered seat, and smoothed my skirts under me as I settled in the chair. “Thank you,” I said with a smile. “This was a wise choice.”

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“Thank you,” I said, grinning as I sat across from her. A serving girl approached and asked for our order. I raised my brows at Dine, letting her order first.

[Géraldine Grangier]

Wise with Alain's warning about the ale, I ordered some mead. I was more of a wine drinker myself, but in Alba, do as the Albans do, is that not right?

The girl then turned to Alain, and waited for him to take his order.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I ordered mead as well and the girl went off to fill our requests.

“Well, what do you think so far?” I asked Dine, gesturing to the tavern around us.

[Géraldine Grangier]

“It’s different,” I replied after I’d taken in the place. “I like it, though. It has a je-ne-sais-quoi which is resolutely foreign, though I couldn’t say how close it is to an Alban establishment, seeing as I’ve never been across the Straights.”

One girl further off had a tattoo on her forehead, and I tried to remember what it was. It didn’t ressemble Decimus’ whirls at all, and I thought I’d read somewhere about it, but it just wouldn’t come to me then.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“It’s pretty authentic,” I said, nodding slightly as I looked around. “Spend enough time here and you might be able to say you did travel across the straights.” I chuckled and gave her a wink.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I chuckled, remembering with amusement the threat of being carted all the way to Alba. It seemed indeed incredibly foreign. “That would be an interesting claim to lay,” I said with a smile.

“Have you done so yourself?” I asked curiously, though his remark let on he likely had.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“I have indeed,” I said, leaning back slightly in my chair and smiling. “In fact, the last place I traveled before returning to Terre d’Ange was across the straights.”

[Géraldine Grangier]

I couldn't help but put my hands under my chin. Travellers fascinated me - a remnant of being my father's daughter, no doubt.

"Well, do tell," I asked, not hiding my curiosity. "How was it, everything?"

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“It was incredible. Everything is so beautiful, in a different way than in Terre d’Ange, but just as lovely. Everything seems to have this ancient, mysterious air about it,” I told her. Our drinks were served and I paid the serving girl, including a decent extra bit for her.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I nodded thanks and a smile to the girl, and turned my attention back to Alain. "Ancient and mysterious..." I tasted the words. "How so? I am so very curious of other places...." I admitted with a little blush. While I had no desire to leave myself, I liked to hear such stories.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I took a drink of mead before answering. “Well, everything there feels older, even the ground itself. The history and traditions there have had longer to permeate the land than those here in Terre d’Ange have and you can feel it everywhere,” I replied.

[Géraldine Grangier]

I took a moment to ponder his words, and had a sip of mead. "Hmm..." I said thoughtfully. "It must be a humbling place to visit. Did you spend a long time there?"

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“Not really. I had to return to Terre d’Ange for family matters. I wouldn’t mind returning someday though,” I answered after another drink of mead.

[Géraldine Grangier]

"I hope it wasn't anything too dire," I said softly, my smile gentle as I nursed my drink.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I shrugged noncommittally. “It was unexpected,” I replied. I was not going to get into the matters of what had happened with a person I had just met. “Do you plan to travel after your marque is made?”

[Géraldine Grangier]

His shrug was met with one of my own. "Perhaps if it is allowed for by other plans," I replied with a shy smile. "Though what most Heliotrope adepts hope for is well known and therefore probably no secret to you."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I smiled at her words. “True,” I agreed. “And is there someone in your life you’ve hopes fulfilling that dream with?” I’d tried to phrase it in a friendly and not too prying way in case she didn’t wish to speak on the subject.