Attending a play

[teo]

“It is the truth,” I said. I almost reached for her hand, but stopped myself, as much as I wanted to we were in a very public position.

A server came up and offered us menus, and I was a little grateful for the moment to compose myself.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I took the menu, grateful for an excuse not to look at him. I don't know what was on my face at that moment, and I didn't want to give him the wrong impression. I looked at the menu, but rather blankly. I wasn't hungry, my stomach more resembled a ball of yarn, tangled with nerves. Maybe I would get some tea, let the warm soothe the red from my cheeks.

[teo]

I looked over the menu, only comprehending part of it as my mind seemed scattered to the winds.

“um..” I said as I thought. “Just a glass of honeyed water to start for me.” it was too late in the night for me to start drinking. I glanced at Mercedes to see what she wanted.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Camomile tea please," I request softly, hoping the herb would relax my stomach. The waiter bowed and left us to get our drinks.

I didn't say anything for a moment, but then had to ask. "Why?" It was clear from my tone that I was perplexed. I blushed, but didn't take back my question.

[teo]

I blinked, confused by her question.

“Why?” I echoed, thinking she meant my drink choice. Then it occurred to me what she probably meant. “Why do I enjoy your company?”

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I nodded, not able to say anything else. I could not put to words how it felt to be a maid this long, to have all my friends marry around me. To have men lust after my body, my wealth and power, but never truly want the person I was underneath it all. I trusted Teo to give me an answer without falsehoods.

[teo]

“You are kind and intelligent, you make me smile and I love the way you look at things,” I said, finding myself replying before I could worry about what might happen afterward. “Even a walk in the garden seemed better when you were there and I find myself wanting to experience more things with you around.”

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

Never once did he mention if he thought I was beautiful, and for once, it made his speech all the more dear to me.

"I..." I didn't know what to say, and my voice was a little thick with emotion. "Thank you."

[teo]

This time I didn’t stop myself as I reached across and gently touched her hand with mine. “You are very welcome, but I should be thanking you for spending time with me.”

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I didn't pull back, but I still wasn't quite brave enough to touch him in return. "I... I couldn't think of a reason why someone wouldn't want to spend time with you," I whispered. My cheeks were red, but they often were, so I pushed it aside.

[teo]

“You must be forgetting the part where I told you how boring and unadventurous I am,” I said, smiling and trying to lighten the mood.

The server returned with our drinks and I drew my hand back.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I let him make the self-deprecating joke, needing the lighter atmosphere as much as he. I took a moment to doctor my tea, needing to get my swirling emotions under control.

"Perhaps then I shall take it upon myself to make your life a bit more adventurous," I said with a smile, meeting his eyes once more as I stirred my tea gently.

[teo]

“I am not going to protest that,” I said, chuckling. I was glad the serious moment had passed without it becoming too uncomfortable.

I took a drink of my water and glanced at the menu again. “Are you hungry?” I asked her, considering the offerings.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I shook my head, the familiar fear making my stomach clench even if I had been hungry. "No, but please go ahead if you are Teo. I won't want you wasting away." I gave him a small, teasing smile.

[teo]

“If you don’t mind, then I think I’ll have something,” I said. I ordered a pureed dip that came with pieces of flat bread then handed the server my menu.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I handed my menu over as well, and we were left to our own devises once more. "So what do people do for sport here?" I asked, wondering just how I could make his life a bit more adventurous as promised.

[teo]

“I hear lots of talk of fetes, the Night Court, the Hall of Games, and time at taverns,” I replied, smiling and then taking a sip of water.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"A remarkably social group then, you D'Angelines," I said with a smile, teasing since I was half D'Angeline myself.

[teo]

“We try,” I said, chuckling. “What passes for sport in Aragonia?”

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Much of the same. But we have athletic sports too. Pelota is quite popular right now, especially with the peers that hail from the northern sections of our country," I told him with a smile. "It can become quite... rigorous."

[teo]

“I’m afraid I don’t know that sport,” I said.

The server arrived with my order and then departed again after setting it down.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"The rules vary depending on where you are, but you play with a leather ball and bat, and try to score points against the other person or team. You can either play against a wall, or on a court where the sides are separated by a net." It was hard to simplify the game enough to summarize, for the rules did indeed vary widely. "At court the men play, and the women gather around and watch their prowess." At that I grinned.

[teo]

I laughed at her last words. “Now that makes it sound like it should be a d’Angeline sport,” I said, using the little knife to spread some of the dip onto a piece of bread and then taking a bite. It was quite good, the chick peas and other ingredients were pureed enough to be spreadable but not so much as to be mushy.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

I chuckled as well. "Some things are universal," I said with a smile.

[teo]

“Quite true,” I said, after finishing my bite and wiping my mouth. I was trying hard to keep myself presentable. “Do you ever go watch matches?”

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Sometimes," I admitted with a slightly guilty smile. "It can be quite amusing. The men try to show off for us, and sometimes it backfires."

[teo]

“Which do you enjoy more, the showing off or when it backfires?” I asked with a grin.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"That's an unfair question," I replied with a laugh. "Either I'm shallow enough to enjoy beauty without thought of personality, or I revel in their mistakes." I did like when conversations turned playful and teasing, too much of my life was serious.

[teo]

“Actually, I was thinking it was a choice between appreciating the sport or enjoying the humorous side of it,” I said, chuckling and giving her a smile.

[Mercedes de las Aragonia]

"Touché," I said with a laugh. "Never having played the game, I would not be the most appreciative of the sport in and of itself. I look at it more as a social experiment when they play at court."