Looking Around

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

Noelle was still away visiting Lord Denis, and the weather was so beautiful, so I took the carriage down to Elua's Square. I brought a small basket lunch with me, and I took a seat at the edge of the fountain and began to eat my croissant and watch the people go by.

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

I had only arrived in the city a short while ago, but had already made it a habit to drop by the fountain in the square every day. This time I arrived later than usual, and had brought with me some sweet bread I purchased for the occasion. When I got to the central fountain that dominated the plaza, I spotted a youthful maiden sitting alone on the edge, eating a pastry.

It would be a shame to let her be alone when I was also doing nothing, so I walked over and sat next to her. I said nothing as I leaned back, watching the clouds pass by lazily. It would be awkward for her to ignore me, so I simply waited and prayed that she realized that fact, too.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I glanced sidelong at the man who sat next to me, so casually as if we were old friends. His silence was a bit discomfiting, and I returned to my pastry, chewing slowly and wondering if he was going to say hello or not.

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

Hm. I wouldn't call her behavior rude, but it was certainly off-putting. It would be a wound to my dignity if I was ignored, so without moving my eyes from the skies, I spoke to her.

"A lovely day, is it not, fair mistress?" I said lightly in my mild Aragonian accent. I waited for her to speak. This could very easily become a nice game of cat-and-mouse between myself and her.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

Oh, a foreigner! "Indeed," I replied, keeping a tremor out of my voice. "Very lovely."

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

I finally turned my head to view her. She was a modest looking girl by D'Angeline standards, even though I found her beautiful. I felt that her personality would match her shy appearance.

"Would it be arrogant to ask your name, m'lady?" I inquired.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"N-no," I stammered. "No, my lord, it wouldn't."

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

I waited a second to see if she would actually say it, but nothing was forthcoming. "My name is Claes, so what might your name be?" I asked like a child would. Every egg has a weak spot.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"Abigail," I said. "But some people call me Abby, sometimes."

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

"Then I suppose I shall call you Abigail until we are on better terms." I said.
"What brings you out here this fine day? Certainly not the weather, though Elua knows it is beautiful enough"

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"No, my lord, merely the sunshine and the pleasure of eating outdoors," I said. "My sister is in the country, and it was lonely in the house by myself."

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

"Lonely? Well, I will keep you company until you find a more suitable companion. I do not enjoy seeing beautiful maidens lonely." I said so with a snake's charm, though on her stern countenance it was probably lost.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"You flatter me, my lord," I said. "For my part, I shall not pass judgment on your suitability as a companion until we have spent time together. I cannot know if you are pleasant company unless I experience your company, true?"

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

"And a fine philosophy that is, m'lady." I said genuinely. I thought for a while about something more entertaining than sitting here. "Would you like to go do something, or would you rather relax here?" I inquired, curious to her response.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I gestured to my basket. "I'm still eating my lunch," I said. "Are you hungry? You can have some."

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

I briefly held up my sweet bread for her to see, adding "I have my own, but thank you very much for the offer." Remembering that I had bought it out of hunger, I took a small chunk off and chewed on it, plotting how to best tackle this girl's obstinacy.

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"Oh," I said. "Well, if you change your mind..." He seemed...annoyed, so I added, "I'd like to walk when I'm finished, if it's not too much trouble."

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

Excellent, now I was getting somewhere. I took another piece of my sweet bread and plopped it in my mouth, this time happily chewing. When I finished I replied, "That sounds fair."

After a brief pause, I added "I apologize for acting so incessant; I feel as if I should repay you for lending your time to me. Is there any way in which you would have me do as much?"

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"It is no fault of yours," I said. "I am...not very talkative." I gave him a soft smile. "But your pleasant companionship should be enough repayment, as you say."

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

"Well then," I said, rising and giving a small bow, "I am honored to keep your company, my introverted Lady."

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I giggled at his formality. "Delighted, my lord," I replied. "Have you any siblings, my lord?"

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

Finally, I had gotten a laugh out of her. It was encouraging to know that she could be open, albeit only sometimes. "I have had no word from my parents about another child, so I am the only one so far. If nature sees fit to bless them with another, I would be delighted, however. And please, call me Claes. I am not one to stand so much on formality."

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"Of course, my lord Claes," I said, then abruptly realized what I'd said. "Claes. It must have been lonely with no brothers or sisters."

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

I smiled at her when she corrected herself. She certainly was preoccupied with formality.

"Lonely?" I pondered aloud, "No, not as much as you might think. I had my friends, my parents, and plenty of books to keep me company. I was never so much lonely as I was bored, but that is an entirely different matter altogether."

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"Why were you so bored?" I asked.

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

"Ah, and she jumps right on it," I commented aloud. "I was only bored for lack of excitement. Nothing much happened in my childhood, and even still nothing much has happened. It certainly saves my dear heart, but it gets rather dreary at times."

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

"You were bored even as you were traveling?" I asked incredulously. "You must have seen so much on your way here."

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

"Ah, maybe I chose the wrong words." I explained, "It was not boring, but it was not exciting. Monotonous, if you will. Does that make more sense?"

[Abigail d'Aubigne]

I nodded. "I think so," I said. "You saw a lot of the same?"

[Claes de las Aragonia (I)]

"At first it was exciting, " I stated, "but the novelty wore off quickly. I am very pleased with Terre d'Ange, though."