Just a little drink

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

I walked back from one of the bars that I had just spent my evening in. It was not to late so I did not think I was in danger of being mugged. I should probably be more careful, but tonight I had a taste for drink and it was easier to acquire if I did not venture too far from the Night Court.

As I walked I saw a merchant who was selling treats. My sweet tooth sang and I walked up and bought two large bags of sweets. At least I was able to unhand all of the coin I had brought, so if anyone mugged me now all he would get is sweets.

I continued my walk, sucking on a sugary drop when I saw a young kid who looked poor and sad. Dirt covered his face. I took a few of the treats out of my bag and asked if he wanted some. He gladly shook his head and accept them. Before I knew it a crowd of kids jumped around, asking for treas. I knew naught what else to do so I started throwing the candies at them, only a few for each, think absently that maybe I was going to be mugged, just by a young crowd.

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

I was walking back to Dahlia from an assignation when I saw a young woman, an adept, judging from her looks, tossing candies to a gang of kids. I laughed and clapped my hands.

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

I had gone through one bag and had started on the second, trying to only give candies to kids who had none. I had not realized how many kids there were out here. It was not extremely late so maybe they had not meet their curfew yet.

I heard the sound of clapping and I looked toward it's direction. There stood a rather striking man. I smiled at him just as I felt a hand tug at the bag, I turned my attention down to a girl of maybe 7 and reached in to give her some pieces. I was shewing away kids as they already received their hand outs, though some were starting to look a bit familiar, some who maybe had bulging pockets, but I could not be sure. I probably should have skipped that last glass of wine.

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

I strode over to a boy who looked as though he had had more than his share of candy. "Now I know you're going to share that candy with all your brothers and sisters, right?" I said.

"Yeth, thir!" he lisped.

I chuckled. "Get on with you," I said, shooing him off. "That goes for the lot of you! Let some of the others get some sweets."

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

The man came over and started to releave me of my munchkin burden. "Thank you," I said to him as the kids started to dispurse, "I never thought there would be that many of them out here."

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

"It's the way of the world," I said, chuckling. "If you feed them, they will come." I looked at her face. "I'm Conrad."

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

I found Conrad's comment about feeding them very amusing and laughed, probably a little more than one normally would. A bubbly laugh fueled by the wine in my blood. It had been some time since my last drink and my quick acting energy was slowly starting to sober me up. At times I found it rather irritating how fast I did sober. I was an easy drunk but it didn't last as long as I would like, unless I drank myself to the point of passing out.

When I was done with my giggles I smiled and said, "Aaliyah no' Eglantine, please to meet you."

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

"Oh, you are an adept?" I said. I drew myself up proudly. "I am the second of Dahlia house. How fortuitous, to meet another adept who loves children."

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

I had not thought to what his occupation or status might be, but I was happy to hear he was an adept and then impressed because he was a Second. "I am pleased to meet you too," I said, giving him a only slightly drunken curtsy. "do you get to care for the children at Dahlia?" I asked.

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

"Only when I wish it," I said. "As second, my time is occupied with many other matters. I try to make time to be with the children as much as I can, though."

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

I had occasionally helped out with the kids and I had also used them as subjects for practice paintings. I almost enjoyed the latter as much as the first.

"I enjoy painting them," I said, "but not in a pose, just playing and enjoying life."

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

"So you're an artist?" I asked. I offered her my arm. "Here, let's go home. Can't have your Dowayne mad at me for keeping you out too late."

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

I happily took his arm, leaning in on him a little since it made walking a bit easier. Granted I wasn't drunk to the point to where I would fall over, but, it was still easier. I also liked him, he was hansom.

"I am a artist," I said with a smile, always happy to tell about my craft, "I paint, mostly portraits. What about you?" I asked, "do you have any, um, specialties?"

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

"Besides being proud and helping children? Just your adept's repertoire," I said. "Though I am a superb adept."

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

"Mmmmm, I bet you are," I said. He was a second, I wondered if seconds keep their skills only for their patrons or if they shared. "Have you ever visited Eglantine? I asked.

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

I chuckled at her double entendre. "Only in a non-sexual capacity," I said. "Have you ever visited Dahlia?"

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

I shook my head no, "I have never contracted an adept," I said, and then thought for a moment, "nor have I ever been in a showing." I thought again, my brain a bit fuzzy, "I don't think I have any Dahlia friends."

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

"Well, by the time we get home, I think you will have at least one," I said. "So tell me, Aaliyah, do you want children of your own someday?"

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

I smiled at Conrad's offer of friendship and gave him a warm hug, it didn't bother me that I had just meet him and I only vaugly hoped that he would not find it too inappropriate.

I didn't have to think of an answer to his next question, "yes," I said with a smile. Then, probably because of my drink I said openly, "I just recently asked my Dowayne about it, you see I have just turned 18 and I thought it would be a good age to have a little Eglantine."

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

I laughed at her embrace. "Eighteen, and a mother? You make me feel practically ancient."

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

I giggled a little at Conrad's response and said with a smile, "you don't look like you are that much older than I." Then with a flirtatious smile I said, "I know you can't be older than 22." I hoped that he would take my odd method of flirting in jest or compliment and not offense.

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

I laughed loudly at that. "22?" I said. "You are either very charming or very silly. I'm 29."

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

"I was only off by a few years," I said with a silly grin on my face. Then with a little curiosity and a little bit more of a serious tone I asked, "why haven't you had any kids yet?"

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

"I haven't found the right mother yet," I said, "that, and my dowayne hasn't asked me to breed with anybody." I looked at her. "Does your dowayne have someone in mind for you?"

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

I nodded my head no, "since I am the one who wants to have a child, and she didn't ask me it is up to me to find a father." I thought then that I could ask Conrad, but it seemed like such a open question to someone that I had just meet. Instead I blushed and looked down at my hands momentarily. "I have no idea who to ask," I said, instead.

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

"I have an idea," I said. "You keep looking, but if you don't find anyone else you like, I'll be the father of your baby." And why not? She was pretty enough, and the child would be raised in Eglantine so I wouldn't have to change my life too much.

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

My eyes lit up at Conrad's suggestion, "I will do that!" I thought for a moment and then said in a rare moment of shyness, "I don't have anyone in mind right now." Then after a pause I said, "I havn't lit a candle yet though, I was waiting till I did find someone."

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

"Well, don't light it yet," I said. "You might not yet know for a while. Besides, how do you know that I'm not a drunk or a lout?" I grinned. "I'm not, but you should at least get to know me before we make a child."

[Aaliyah nó Eglantine]

I probably wouldn't win a contest in character judgement but I was pretty confident that Conrad was a decent person. However, since he was cute, I had no problems with spending extra time with him. "Don't worry," I said with a silly grin on my face. "I don't currently have candles and I don't think there are many stores open at this late hour."

[Conrad nó Dahlia]

"You've actually got to go to Eisheth's temple and get one," I informed her. "Otherwise, I think there would be a lot more babies running around this city."