Breakfast and heading home

[Leyna de Somerville]

I looked back over my shoulder and laughed. I turned Soir around and went back to them. Soir fell in step with Noche and we slowly made our way towards the stalls selling food.

There were so many to choose from and everything smelled so good I couldn't decide where to even begin at.

"What looks best to you?" I asked Nic, smiling and looking over at him.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Smiling back at her as she turned around to meet me I inhaled and looked around, glancing at her through the corner of my eye. One stall was smelling particularly tasty and I pointed to it, even though I had no idea what it was. "Let's start there and you pick next," I said.

[Leyna de Somerville]

"Sounds like a plan," I said, grinning and urging Soir in the direction he pointed. I liked the idea of picking from different stalls not just because we could taste a lot of different things but because it meant I would get to spend more time with Nic.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Steering Noche after Soir- it would be bad to get them all tangled up anyway- I let myself bask in her smile and then bought two of their wares- sausage or some other kind of meat wrapped in a pastry. With a grin I handed one to Leyna.

[Leyna de Somerville]

"Thank you," I said, taking the item from Nic. I moved Soir over to the side, out of the traffic lane and took a bite.

"Mmmm, this is delicious," I said, smiling. "Good choice." I took another bite, suddenly ravenous. As I chewed I look around at the other stalls, trying to decide where to go next.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"Thank you for your confidence," I said lightly, jesting with her as I took a bite. It really was very good and I was hungrier than I thought. Swallowing, I said, "If you ever do come to Aragonia the food there will suprise you- it's got much more spice to it than the food here."

[Leyna de Somerville]

I smiled, swallowing the bite in my mouth before answering.

"You can count on me visiting," I said, grinning. "Even if I have to pack crates full of bland d'Angeline fare to snack on."

I took the last bite and in a very unladylike manner licked the crumbs from my fingers.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Once she'd swallowed I moved Noche a little closer to Soir to jostle her slightly just so Leyna could feel it. "I don't think you'll have to go that far, you've got enough fire in your spirit to handle it. Now, your pick."

[Leyna de Somerville]

I laughed and pointed to a stall across the way that was selling bowels of figs stuffed with soft cheese and nuts.

"There," I said, urging Soir over there. I paid this time and took the two bowels, handing one to Nic.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"Thank you," I said with one of my most charming smiles as I led Noche off to a side to eat this new treat. "Good choice."

[Leyna de Somerville]

"I'm glad you like them," I said, eating one myself. "I love figs, there's just something so yummy about them."

I looked around at the swirling crowd, feeling happy and at home. There were a few people rushing here and there, but for the most part people just seemed to be enjoying another mild winter morning. There was laughter and conversation and I was filled with a sudden pride for my homeland and its people.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

She revelled in her City and it's people- it was a part of her as much as her arm or her blood. It made sense, considering their stories of where they had come from, and she was even more closely connected to that then most d'Angelines, given her apple scent, gift of husbandry and what that meant. She would visit other places, but this land would always be her home. I could almost understand how she felt.

Smiling a little wistfully I ate some figs, savoring the sweetness of the fruit. "What is your favorite part about the City?" I asked, head cocked to the side in interest.

[Leyna de Somerville]

I smiled, blushing softly at being so lost in thought and wondering just how obvious my thoughts had been for him to know what I was thinking.

"The people," I said, after eating the last of my figs. "I love seeing how they interact, hearing their stories, and feeling like I belong no matter who I am talking to."

I looked over at him, so sensual and handsome, none of my own people attracted me the same way he did.

"What has been your favorite part of the City so far?" I asked, smiling.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Smiling at her question I thought for a moment of all of the things that had happened while I was here. "The people are nice enough, especially those I get to know personally," I said, winking in her direction, "But I think it's the overall atmosphere; everything is airy and open and light. It feels like a dream to be here at all."

After all, charming behavior can be a shield as well.

[Leyna de Somerville]

I blushed deeper at his wink and chuckled.

"I used to hear almost every foreigner who visited my home say those exact words. They all said it was like a dream to be here and it made me all the more curious as to what exactly was so different from their homelands that caused that feeling. I would press and press for answers but no one could ever tell me exactly what it was. MY mother finally got so tired of me pestering their guest that she very firmly asked me not to do it anymore," I said with a chuckle. "I won't press you for an answer, don't worry."

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

"It's just that in order to understand the difference you'd have to go somewhere else long enough to come back here with fresh eyes," I said with a grin. "It would be like trying to explain hunger to one who has always had enough to eat or colors to one who is blind. It just can't be done adequately, at least not by me."

[Leyna de Somerville]

"Well," I said, nudging Soir closer to Noche," When I Aragonia I will just have to stay long enough to see the difference when I return."

I smiled and leaned across to kiss him on the cheek.

"Your pick next, but I could really go for something to drink if that's alright," I said.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Smiling slightly at her words and the kiss on the cheek- I couldn't tell whether she was just being flattering or really sincere- I lay a kiss on her opposite cheek. "Once again you have a brilliant idea- you must have read my mind."

Wiggling my fingers in an old counting-game I picked a random stall with drinks. "Let's try that one."

[Leyna de Somerville]

I laughed, enjoying myself immensely even in this public and innocent encounter. I adored Nic and the way he made me feel. How could anyone not be happy around him?

"Lead on, good sir," I said with a grin and a slight bow.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Childish though it was I stuck my tongue out at her briefly before leading Noche over to the stall and grabbing a couple mugs of ale. Handing one to her, I asked with a raised brow and twinkling eyes, "Have you thought of any good toasts yet?" I was as at ease with her as I had been with anyone, as though I'd known her for many years.

[Leyna de Somerville]

"Somehow my mind has been on other things since our last mugs of ale," I said, sticking my tongue out at him.

I thought for a moment and raised my mug towards him.

"To an amazing yesterday and many more like it in the future," I said, smiling.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Laughing, I lifted my mug to hers and echoed, "Yesterday and the future," as I took a drink. I was starting to wonder how frequent this was really going to be and not really caring what the answer was. I'd always been an accepting creature, and that came in useful now.

[Leyna de Somerville]

I drained the ale, and returned the mug to the vendor.

"Now I'm full," I said with a smile. I sighed softly, not wanting to move on to the next part of the morning which would be my returning home.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Placing my empty mug next to hers I heard her words and her sigh and was a little sad that the fun had to be over. I'd always had a hard time stopping games and going home and this was by far the most fun I'd had in the City.

Moving Noche over next to Soir again- something he wasn't too slow to do I noticed- I placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "After you go straighten up you should come see me and then we'll both go see Sabrina, just to see how long we can keep a straight face without letting anything slip. Does that sound good?"

[Leyna de Somerville]

"Yes," I said, reaching over and squeezing his hand, grateful for his amazing way of making difficult things easier.

I let go of his hand and urged Soir forward at a slow walk, heading us towards home but wanting to take as much time as possible to be with Nic.

[Nicanor de las Aragonia]

Noche kept on course with Soir for as long as he could before I finally had to stop him where our paths parted. Smiling, I pressed my lips gently to Leyna's and said, "I'll see you soon, I hope," before leading Noche down the street to the Palace, wondering how long it would take her to get ready- and whether her next gown would be as easy to remove. With another sigh and a reminder to behave I smiled wryly and let Noche walk- there wasn't any hurry, after all.

[Leyna de Somerville]

I sat for a moment and watched him make his way towards the palace. I sighed and then urged Soir towards home, letting her find her own pace. We made our way through the streets, a happy smile curving my lips.