Seeing Old Friends

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I blushed a little but spoke bravely. "Well as long as we were both flustered, there was no harm at all," I replied then finally looked at him again. "And you were definitely memorable Landis." I glanced away again, feeling too forward even though I knew he wouldn't view it so.

[Landis de Verreuil]

Her modesty was still so thick with her, and I knew the limits of what it had been- but had it grown stronger, or did she let herself free a bit more now? "You don't realize how memorable you were, Mercy," I told her softly, knowing she wouldn't meet my gaze but looking at her and willing her to anyway, so she'd believe my sincerity. "For a good while after I left I equated you with peace and longing."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

His words surprised me enough to glance up, and then I immediately looked away again when I saw what was on his face. Our history shimmered between us, nigh palpable. "That seems rather conflicting," I replied in a voice for his ears alone.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"I would disagree," I replied with a low chuckle. "They are both good things, and reminders of easier times in their own right. The longing for peace, the peace of simple longing- they are what they are, is that not true?"

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"They are what they are," I agreed. I was glad I had never been to war, had never had to deal with ways of keep my sanity. It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him how I had ached for him while journeying home, but... I might have, had we been in a more private place. But I said nothing. "I am glad I could lend you some comfort when you were gone."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"I will always be in your debt for you doing so," I told her, then smiled. "But I'm afraid I'm growing morose again, and before we've even done anything fun or had lunch. Next time just order me to be happy and I'll remember to make an effort."

Oh, there was still tension between us- but here was not the place to resolve it in one way or the other.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"I'm not ordering you to do anything Landis," I protested with a smile. "Are we anywhere near the Aragonian place you mentioned?"

[Landis de Verreuil]

Looking around for a moment I gained my bearings by the various landmarks, then placed my memory of the restaurant's location into it. "Not terribly far," I assured her. "Maybe a few blocks. Do you want to start heading there now or shall we wander a bit longer?"

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Let's wander over in that general direction," I suggested. I knew it wouldn't be long before I was hungry.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Very well," I agreed, leading her toward the right side of the street and then down the avenue that connected it at a steady, slow pace. "I do happen to be good at wandering."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Well practiced are we?" I asked with a grin, glad we could still laugh and joke in between the more sombre moments. We both meant a lot to one another, and I was just realizing it now. Well, I always knew how much he meant to me, I just didn't know it was returned.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"But of course- if nothing else my mind is doing so constantly," I assured her with a laugh, feeling even more playful for having the things I said off my chest and in the open. "I'm sure you do your own wandering, in your own way."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I chuckled. "Oh yes. More than I perhaps should sometimes. Though less now that I'm not attending mass." I said with a playful smile.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"That makes sense," I replied in an understanding tone, though I gave her a wink. "Though I have to admit it's not so much like that here for the most part."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I blushed again, unable to help myself. "Yes, our religious observances are quite different aren't they?" I commented, only to blush harder. Observing religion had quite a different meaning here, and I had not thought before I spoke.

[Landis de Verreuil]

At her reaction I could only laugh at the way my words must have sounded even as I gave her an apologetic look. "That's not quite what I meant, but I can see what you mean," I managed to admit in mirth. "But we do have chaste lessons of theory and stories and such as children, and that's what I was trying to explain. I will admit, though, that the adult ways of studying are usually more fun." I gave her a playful wink at that.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"D'Angelines teaching chastity? Who would have known?" I said, still managing to tease him back even as my cheeks were flaming red and I couldn't meet his gaze.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Well, until we're sixteen we're not allowed to have the other lessons, at least not in practice," I told her, beginning to worry that I was embarrassing her. "What do you learn in your classes on faith, Mercy?"

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"They sound much different from our lessons," I commented. "We learn stories of our Lady Mother and her followers, and through it proper values. We learn of loyalty, honour, and duty."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"So do we, just with different meanings to it," I replied conversationally. "I know it can seem like we're all about one thing, but we're not. Like with other peoples we have those who are virtuous, and those who aren't. No matter what religion that would be the case, wouldn't it?"

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Of course. Any society or religion has an acceptable leeway in certain areas. But I was taught from an early age that... well... one married to produce children. It was your duty. It wasn't until I was older that my mother gave me the D'Angeline interpretation."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Most people here do that as well, though not all.." I replied, confused for a moment until I realized she was likely speaking in euphemisms and metaphors. "Well, d'Angeline women have the luck to bear the blessings of Eisheth, so that probably changes our interpretation a bit," I ceded with a smile.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

“More than a bit.” I replied with a smile. I had always wondered if I fell within the parameters to enjoy Eisheth’s gift, my faith strongly rooted in the church. My mother had assured me I did, but I wasn’t about to test it for more than one reason.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Most likely," I agreed, thinking on how much d'Angeline men and women both took that blessing for granted at times. Without it, we likely wouldn't be able to freely express our passions as we did- and Elua's precepts likely would have been followed in a more Cassiline way all along. "And I think it makes you a far stronger person than I."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I looked down modestly. "Thank you, but I am hardly unique." And doesn't mean I'm not often sorely tempted.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Perhaps not in Aragonia, but I haven't quite met anyone like you here," I told her sincerely as I fought the urge to turn her head back to mine.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Perhaps I should invite some of my friends from home to visit me here then," I said with a smile, glancing back up at him.

[Landis de Verreuil]

Chuckling lightly I shook my head. "If that's what it would take to make you happy here I don't see how anyone could complain, though I wonder if that means your friends here are less satisfying in some regards. Personally, I appreciate you all the more for being the only one like yourself in the area- and truly, I doubt there's anyone exactly like you anywhere."

Softly I stroked her hand for a moment as I caught her gaze, then noticed the restaurant approaching.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Don't tease," I said with a smile. "I like you just fine, and I haven't been here long enough to be unhappy." I blushed a little, squeezing his hand lightly.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Well, as long as you're not unhappy yet," I teased in return, stroking her palm for a moment before I indicated the building which housed the restaurant we sought. "Do you smell the food?" I asked.