Seeing Old Friends

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

My eyes fluttered closed and I inhaled. "Smells like home," I said, then opened my eyes again. I smiled in delight.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"I'm glad you like it," I told her sincerely and with pure pleasure to see her glee. "Shall we go inside and see if everything is as delicious as it smells? I recall that it is."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Let's," I said with another smile. As much as I was enjoying the food here, the scents immediately reminded me of the comforts of home.

[Landis de Verreuil]

With a wide smile I led her inside the cafe- it was one of many Aragonian- themed restaurants in the City, but by far this one was my favorite for it's open-air courtyard and variety of light but plentiful plates. "Where should we sit?" I asked her, knowing she likely had a preference even though she may not have said so unless asked.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"In the sun, if you don't mind," I requested, smiling at his thoughtfulness. It was one of the things that I loved about Landis.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Sounds fantastic," I agreed, then led her over to a table and pulled out her chair with a grin and a wink.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

At his wink I blushed a little, more at the thoughts it inspired than his actual action. I settled into the offered chair with a murmured thanks. "Have you been here many times before?"

[Landis de Verreuil]

"A couple," I admitted, noting her blush and biting back a grin at it as I gently pushed her seat in and then went to my own. "Always wandering, as I do, tends to mean I run across places like this from time to time. I'm glad you like it, truly."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Well I haven't tasted the food yet," I said with a tease, recovering from my blush. "Though if the smells match the taste it should be more than tasty."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"The fact you're not completely skeptical is good enough for me," I told her with a small laugh as the waiter came over to get our drink orders. "What is the best drink to have with an Aragonian meal? You'd know better than I would, after all," I teased lightly as I waited for her to choose.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Why Aragonian wine of course." I told him with a smile. I turned to the server, switching to my mother tongue. "Do you have any parraleta from Enate?" I asked.

"Of course my lady," he replied respectfully.

"Perfect," I said with a smile, speaking in D'Angeline once more. "A bottle should be plenty."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"I'd figured out the 'probably something from Aragonia' bit," I teased mirthfully, then listened to her speak in her native tongue, not understanding a word but finding beauty in the sound of the words and her voice nonetheless.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I looked around to see if anyone was looking, then stuck my tongue out at him. Then I grinned. "I've always liked the wine from the Enate estate. I had him fetch a red." The waiter had left behind menus before leaving to retrieve our wine, and picked one up. The titles of everything were in Aragonian, with D'Angeline descriptions beneath. "You've been here before, what did you enjoy?"

[Landis de Verreuil]

Laughing softly, both at her mirth and the instinctive way she looked about to see if there was anyone ready to reprimand or gossip I carelessly stuck my tongue back out at her, then turned to the menu. "I rather liked the spicy chicken soup."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Calamares to start?" I asked, still smiling as I continued to gaze at the menu. "Unless you don't like squid?"

[Landis de Verreuil]

"I think it sounds delicious," I told her sincerely. "Though I can't say I've had it before. Still, I'm generally fond of seafood."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"I must admit, it's a little indulgence of mine," I said with a smile. "I adore it."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"I know you have excellent taste, so I'll enjoy it," I told her with a grin that was almost sly as I turned back to the menu. "Now, what looks good to you in terms of main courses?"

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

There was something about his smile that I didn't quite understand, so I put it from my mind to think on later.

"Let's see, calamares then your soup... Perhaps some lechazo asado? Roasted lamb," I added so he didn't have to immediately look at the menu to translate.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"I trust your judgment completely," I assured her sincerely, taking a sip of the wine she'd chosen and smiling at the taste. "The wine is excellent, thank you for choosing that as well."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"I'm glad you enjoy it," I said, then took a sip of my own after silently toasting him. The familiar taste rolled across my tongue causing me to smile. I signaled the waiter subtly, and ordered for the both of us. It was nice to have an excuse to speak in the comfort of my first language.

[Landis de Verreuil]

She was truly enjoying herself and it was truly warming to see her taking the lead to do so; my smile softened a bit as I watched her, then reached out and gently brushed her hand with my fingertips. "I'm glad you agreed to see me today," I told her happily.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

My cheeks warmed, but I returned the sentiment so strongly that I didn't even flinch in surprise from his touch. "I'm glad to see you too," I replied with a shy smile. "I was so disappointed when I didn't see you at the fete."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"I was as well, though with so much going on it's often easy to miss people," I admitted. "I did look for you, though. Did you have fun?"

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"I was well enough. It was... an interesting night." I said, not sure how to describe such matters in a discrete way. I was saved by the arrival of our appetizers, the smell of fried squid wafting up temptingly from the plate.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Fetes sometimes turn out that way, though I'm often too oblivious to notice until after it's over," I told her, then looked over the rings of fried squid. "That looks delicious, Mercy- you're good at this."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I blushed in pleasure from his compliment. "Thank you," I said with a smile. "Though you should probably try some before I truly start patting myself on the back."

[Landis de Verreuil]

"Is there any special way to eat it, or is it simply catch as catch can?" I asked curiously. "After all, common sense says 'ladies first'."

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"You're only saying that because you want a demonstration," I teased with a smile. I picked up my fork and speared a ring, dipping it in the sauce on the side before popping it in my mouth. My eyes closed with pleasure. "The cucumber dressing is very fresh," I said with approval once I had swallowed.

[Landis de Verreuil]

"You know me too well," I replied, chuckling at the fact she immediately guessed exactly what had been on my mind. After she'd finished I repeated as she had, then smiled for the warm, crunchy-but-chewy bite I'd taken. "It is very good."