Drinks

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

The cleaning at home was driving me mad, servants scurrying everywhich way on supposedly urgent tasks. What did I care if the guest rooms where made up? I had no guests, and doubted I would. Not without charging for room and board anyway. But when I told them not to bother they looked at me as if I'd told them to bash their heads against the wall, and trying to explain to them took entirely too much effort. So I decided to nip out for a drink, before I started bashing my own head against the walls.

I made my way to Night's Doorstep on foot, the beter to waste time, as well as to explore the city I'd only been to once before, as a small child. I picked a tavern at random, knowing it would be no harship to find a new one should the first prove unenticing. Siddling up to the bar I ordered a Siovalese ale I was fond of and took up a stool near the back with a view of the door.

[Jessamine de Mornay]

Since after the L'Envers fete I had begun going out to investigate Night's Doorstep, fun and merriment I disguised as 'research', which it partly was; a writer always needed inspiration and one could find it just as easily in jovial, merry places as solemn and tragic ones. I was too young for sad tales anyway. For a moment I considered going to find one of my friends to come and spend time with me, but I knew that they'd be busy with getting ready for Midwinter or just disinclined, so I walked in alone, smiling to some people I knew and chatting as I went to the bar, chatting with the tender as I got a glass of wine, smiling at whoever managed to catch me eye, a gown of deep green velvet swirling at my ankles.

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

I hadn't been long at the bar, when a pettite firey thing came in, all smiles and sparkling green eyes. No need to waste time alone, was my very quick thought. I caught her roving eye for a moment and got the same smile she seemed willing to give anyone. Not exactly a direct invitation, but it was at least an opening.

Smilling crookedly back at her, I slid my way round the bar toward her. Leaning in with a sardonic smile I said "What's a beautiful girl like you doing in a place like this?" I said in that tone that means, yes, we both know it's was a line.

[Jessamine de Mornay]

Smiling widely, eyes flashing with mischief, I said, "The same thing as everyone else, I'd expect, and being complimented besides." He was handsome and had signs of a quick mind; all in all, not a bad choice of someone to talk to. I'd always been a social creature. "I'm Jess. What about yourself- what is such a charming man doing in a place like this?" I said, matching his tone.

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

Taking up the seat beside her I propped my chin in my fist, resting my elbow on the bar, "Trying to avoid being dusted in the whirl of cleaning that is my new house. I'm worried I might be mistaken for some furniture." I set my drink on the bar and extended my hand to her, "I'm Sébastien, Jess."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

Nodding, I took his hand and shook it firmly and in a friendly manner. "It's good to meet you, Sebastien," I replied with a grin. "I have to ask though, do you usually keep human-shaped furniture in your house or is it that much of a frenzy?" I teased lightly. "You must have recently come to the City."

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

"Who says it's one or the other?" I said with a sly waggle of my eyebrows. "And I am newly come. Just in from Siovale." I said, taking a sip of my drink.

[Jessamine de Mornay]

About this time Sophie, one of the barmaids, handed my usual drink of a glass of deep, sweet wine as I smiled my thanks at her and got another smile in return. Taking the glass I sipped from it and then turned back to Sebastien. "I arrived only a few weeks ago myself, but from Eisheth. Already I love the City, it has so many interesting things to do and people to meet." I rewarded him with another smile as I tucked a curl behind one ear.

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

"Well, you are the only person I have met so far, and I must say you're an excellent introduction to the city." I took another sip before asking, "So what brings you to the City, Jess?"

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Freedom and learning," I replied smoothly and with a warm smile. "Also, my art. It's not really reasonable to write about the world without experiencing more of it that a small Eisandine manor. Luckily, my parents were easy to convince in that respect. What about yours?"

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

"A writer, hm?" I smiled softlyas my mind ran that tidbit over, freedom and learning indeed. Writers crave experience. "My mother actually sent me here, it was her idea from the start. Not that I opposed it. To learn and grow, I suppose. No, strike that. To grow up, I think is the long and short of it."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"To become an adult I agree with, but not to 'grow up'," I disagreed calmly. "All of the mature people I know are unhappy and brooding; I'd rather keep a small part of my sense of wonder, to see me through the rough times. And yes, I am a writer- nothing of terrible death, just stories of love, battle and passion. Everything that my Eiran blood craves," I said with a laugh.

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

"Well I suppose you and my mother will just have to agree to disagree." I said sagely, "Have you anything published? Not, of course that it's nececsary to be published. But is there anything of your's I might have read, or might now read?"

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"One book published, another about to be so," I said with a smile as I rolled my eyes. "I don't even know why I got them published, except that maybe the stories would amuse others as much as they did me while I was thinking and writing them. I keep expecting to get word any day that some mother found her young daughter reading my novel and has started burning the copies by the crateful."

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

"And what exactly about this book would drive a poor mother to such impassioned acts?" I asked slyly, looking at her sidelong. "Or are you just trying to incite me to look it up?"

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"All of the things a mother thinks their daughter is too young to know deeply, no matter their age," I said sweetly, eyes flashing good-naturedly. "Passion and battles. Then there are the other, less sensational portions- travels, curses, true love, music, dancing- that I enjoy to read about. I think it's the love story aspect of the book that would bother them the most, it can get a little...explicit."

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

"Not being a daughter or a mother I shall have to take your word on the matter. Not having a typical mother, I am even moreso guided by you." I said raising my glass to her in a little half salut. "But I do think I'll dig up a copy for myself. I find travels absolutely rivelting."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Well, I know my mother would have fainted if she'd seen me with the books I read that taught me to write in the manner I do," I said with a chuckle, "So that it the extent of my experience in the field." Raising my glass in a matching gesture I smiled and winked. "Well, I certainly hope you have as much fun reading the book as I did writing it. Unfortunately, my second book travels no further than the Night Court, so that one may not interest you as much."

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

"Yes, I'm sure I'd find a book of that ilk positively dull." I said sarcastically, before smiling brightly and taking a pull of my ale.

[Jessamine de Mornay]

Smiling back, nose wrinkling in an exasperated look, I took the last sip of my wine and slid it to Sophie to be refilled, which she did so immediately, winking at me. Rolling my eyes at her I grinned and then said to Sebastien just as sarcastically, "I suppose most would. Well, everyone has to do an experimental piece of work. At least I got a few of the Houses right so that will be worthwhile."

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

Smilling I took another long pull at my drink. "Which Houses are on the money?" I asked, wondering just what assurances she held.

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"I have friends at Heliotrope, Orchis and Valerian and I've been to Eglantine to watch some dancing, so those ones," I said with a smile. "The rest are based on research and conjecture by others who have been. In all, there are books that have been based on less."

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

"Some interesting Houses. Heliotrope has always baffled me a little, I must confess." I nodded to the barmaid in askance of a refill, "Well, if Bryony ever strikes your fancy, I have an excellent source for you." I picked up my filled mug with another little nod of thanks.

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"I actually know more about Heliotrope than the other houses- two friends there," I replied. "But Bryony was very hard to get information on. What source would you recommend?"

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

Smilling crookedly I said, "My mother. Though she may charge you for it, call it an authentic experience."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

Laughing, I said, "That does make sense in a way. Still, I think I'll continue to try my luck here, and for free. It must be interesting to have an adept for a mother though."

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

"It has been so far." I said with a rueful shake of my head. "Though, technically, she was already a 'former' Adept by the time I was born. My father paid off her marque, and married her to boot. " For all the good that did him, it certainly didn't tie her down.

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Sounds like a wonderful story," I said with a smile as I cocked my head sideways. "And having an adept, former or not, for a parent is something that I always thought would be wonderful. Coming of age would have been SO much easier."

[Sébastien de Rochegrâve (I)]

"I do sometimes get the feeling that I had a more frank relationship with my mother than my friends did theirs." I said, grinning. "But then again, that's also where this silly 'growing up' notion of hers comes from."

[Jessamine de Mornay]

"Oh, some people are meant to grow up," I teased. "I'm just not. I'm going to write and travel and do interesting things, and never settle down to take over the estate until I absolutely have to."