Dinner and more experiences

[Marie Legard]

I glanced around at the area we'd found ourselves in. It was busy and had quite a different air to where Aramis's shop was.

"Do you come to this area often?" I asked him.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I nodded. "Once every two weeks or so," I said. "Though not usually to eat, just to get a mug of ale and enjoy a little relaxing time."

[Marie Legard]

"This looks a good place to find both a mug and a good time," I said, smiling at him.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"It is," I said. I looked at a restaurant, "The Prince and Pony Inn" the sign read. "Does this look good to you?" I asked.

[Marie Legard]

I turned my attention to the restaurant. “It looks wonderful,” I said, unable to keep the excitement from my voice. I knew Aramis was now my employer, but this was going to the first time I was ever out having a meal with a man I wasn’t related to.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I grinned, before moving to the door and opening it to let her enter first. "After you."

[Marie Legard]

“Thank you,” I said, grinning at him and then stepping inside. I tried not to gape as I looked around, taking everything in. it all seemed so wonderful. There were a good amount of other customers, but nothing off-putting.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

There were a few empty tables scattered about. "Do you want to sit in the middle or in the back?" I asked.

[Marie Legard]

I thought for a moment, but couldn’t choose. “I can’t decide,” I said, chuckling. “You pick.”

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Well, it depends on whether you want to be able to hear me talk," I said, raising my voice a little to be heard above the clamor of the restaurant; a very noisy group had just entered. "If you're tired of hearing me drone on, I'll understand." I grinned.

[Marie Legard]

"Oh no, I want to be able to talk," I said, not having to think.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"Then let's go to the back," I said. Taking her hand, I began to lead her to an empty table.

[Marie Legard]

I followed behind him, holding tight to his hand as we wound through the crowd. I was pleased I wasn't here alone, at least my first time. I was enjoying Aramis's company very much, this day had been so wonderful.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I pulled out her chair so she could sit before sitting in my own. A busty waitress approached our table. "What're you havin', sir, miss?" she asked.

"A flagon of spiced ale, and a shepherd's pie," I replied, before looking to Marie.

[Marie Legard]

"The same," I said. I thought it best to just order what he had, trusting his choices.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

The waitress nodded and swished away; she was very well endowed in the behind as well and I looked briefly to appreciate her before turning my attention back to Marie. "I hope we get lucky," I said. "I've never eaten here before."

[Marie Legard]

I watched as he watched the waitress, then looked at her as well. She was very womanly in all the ways that mattered and I felt incredibly underdeveloped in comparison.

"Ah, then I hope so too," I said, smiling a little. "I thought I was safe ordering what you did."

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"You might be," I said, "I have pretty good taste in most things. It comes from owning a food shop."

[Marie Legard]

"Let's hope their standards are even half as high as yours," I answered.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I laughed. "Let's hope indeed," I said.

The waitress returned with two flagons of ale, and I took mine and raised it. "To the bright future of Shahrizai and Sons," I said.

[Marie Legard]

I raised my flagon and touched it to his. "Absolutely," I agreed before taking a sip. The liquor was strong, a little harsh, and well spiced. I managed not to cough and look a total fool but jsut barely.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I saw her throat quiver and suppressed a chuckle as I sipped my own ale. It was quite good for the cheap stuff. "Mmm," I said. "This isn't your first drink, is it?"

[Marie Legard]

“No,” I said, my guard going up as I got the feeling he was making fun of me. “I’ve had plenty of drinks before, just not usually spiced ale.”

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I noticed the change in her face and tone. "I'm sorry," I said. "I was just curious; today is your first day doing a lot of things, I thought having a drink might be one."

[Marie Legard]

“My first are all related to being in the city, or at least most of them,” I said, relaxing just a little. “Our farm in Camlach is not close to anything larger than a small town.”

[Aramis Shahrizai]

She could be defensive, I noticed, and made a mental note not to tease her too much. "But you've gone to town before alone?" I asked.

[Marie Legard]

"No," I said softly, looking down. Ah, here it was, the moment he realized just how naive I was. I wondered if it would change his view on wanting me to work for him.

[Aramis Shahrizai]

I leaned back in my chair, taking a thoughtful sip of my ale. "Well," I said, putting my mug down with a decisive thud, "we'll have to change that, won't we?" I leaned forward again. "Tell me some of the things you've never done. I can help make them happen, if you'll let me." I began to tick off my fingers. "So far, I've given you a job, taken you to Night's Doorstep, taken you for dinner..." I grinned at her. "See how helpful I am?"

[Marie Legard]

I jumped a little as his mug thudded against the table. His words eased my fears though.

"You've already done so much, I couldn't possibly ask more of you," I said, not being coy but just honest. "You can't possibly know how much you've done just giving me a job."

[Aramis Shahrizai]

"You didn't ask," I said. "I offered. Besides, I need to make sure no one fleeces you while you're working for me. We'll make a worldly woman out of you, Marie Legard."