The Perk, Monday Afternoon

[crimson_sister]

During her previous visits to town, Lucille had passed by what resembled a tearoom, or at least its equivalent in this time. She knew she had to careful with how she spent her money, but surely she could afford a cup of tea now and then?

The place had more options for coffee than tea it turned out, but she was able to get a pot prepared without those paperbag teas. Settling down at a table, she pulled out the book she had borrowed yesterday. Face had suggested that she start with the sheildmaiden series, and she was already several chapters into the first book, and it had completely absorbed her. She carefully hid the cover, however, not because she was too bothered about the kind of novel it was, but because the cover depicted a shirtless boy. Perhaps people might not believe that it was an important part of the story?

[Open!]

Comments

[seeks_truth]

It was rare for Cassandra to venture all the way out here without wearing her full armor, but since she was simply running some errands, she had opted to bring nothing but her sword (and shield, strapped neatly to her back) with her.

Now she had a bag full of groceries and a parched mouth; she could afford to have some manner of drink at the Perk.

Of course, she was immediately distracted from this idea upon entering, as she tilted her head to try and see what Lucille was reading.

[crimson_sister]

As soon as she felt observed, Lucille tensed and assumed a posture meant to push people away from speaking to her. When she saw it was Cassandra, she relaxed and smiled.

"Good afternoon," she greeted, and quickly showed her the cover of the book, doing her best to hide it for anyone else. The girl at the counter might have noticed though, but Lucille failed to register this.

[seeks_truth]

"...Ah, sorry, Lucille," Cassandra said. She cleared her throat. "I see you have found the shieldmaiden books."

She would not be excessively fangirly cheerful about this in public. She would not.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille wasn't stupid, and she quickly realized that it was best not to share the enthusiasm for these books that they had in common here. Instead she said, so as to still let Cassandra know what she thought, she said:

"Yes, sadly. They are just like you described them." Really exciting.

[seeks_truth]

"Is it all right if I order a drink and then join you?" Cassandra asked. Very lightly.

[crimson_sister]

"Of course," Lucille replied, gesturing to the seat opposite her own.

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra gave her a nod - and then a whisp of a genuine smile - before she swept briskly towards the counter and gave the barista her order.

[crimson_sister]

That Cassandra was not one for excessive displays of emotion made Lucille feel more comfortable in her company, and made sharing mutual interests so much easier.

Waiting for her to return with her during, Lucille marked the page she had been reading with a silk ribbon bookmark and closed the book.

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra returned not too long after, a cup of tea in her hands. She settled down in the seat that Lucille had offered her earlier, the scabbard of her sword briefly brushing against the floor as she moved.

"How do you like it?"

[crimson_sister]

Did Cassandra carry weapons in case the mages she mention would appear, Lucille wondered.

At the question she hesitated. Should she be honest? Should she beware of the squirrels Cassandra had mentioned? She tried making an expression that asked this question without words.

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra frowned, attempting to make heads or tails of that expression.

She only barely sat down on a reflexive Out with it!.

[crimson_sister]

She hadn't been clear enough, Lucille realized, so she leaned close and whispered: "Should we beware of squirrels?"

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra let out a faintly irritated sigh. "They will know," she said. "Though perhaps we can distract them? They sell a nut pastry here."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille gave an understanding nod. "I will see to that."

She promptly rose from her seat, walked over to the counter and ordered a nut pastry, then placed it on a table at the other end of the room. Returning to Cassandra, she said, still in a low voice:

"I quite like it. Especially the way the writer describes how they look at each other. It truly expresses their affection. And the heroine is quite good with a sword."

That last part might be an opening to Cassandra to explain why she was armed.

NFB

[seeks_truth]

"She is," Cassandra agreed, smiling. She had not yet caught on to the idea that her sword was anything to explain. "She slays a dragon in one of the later books. It is rather inspiring, even if the author does not hew entirely close to the facts."

Re: NFB

[crimson_sister]

"I don't know the facts," Lucille confessed, taking a sip of her tea. "I would love to hear them though."

Re: NFB

[seeks_truth]

"My family has a reputation for dragon hunting," Cassandra explained, "though our prowess at it has rather declined in recent years, despite the reemergence of the beasts."

She took a sip of her tea. "Dragons do not have any real desire for treasure, I can tell you as much."

Re: NFB

[crimson_sister]

"Dragons? Where I come from they are pure legend. What are they like in your world?"

If she was reading about them, she would like to know.

Re: NFB

[seeks_truth]

"Dangerous," Cassandra said. She warmed her hands on her cup. "They prefer to live in caves, and few actually survive long enough to grow as large as this world's stories picture them. The largest and oldest are invariably female. There are several kinds; they are all capable of differing elemental breaths. Fire, ice, electric."

Re: NFB

[crimson_sister]

"Have you ever seen one?" Lucille asked. "Do they lay eggs like other reptiles?"

What would it be like to live in a world where dragons were real?

Re: NFB

[seeks_truth]

"I have not seen any, but my brother..." Cassandra trailed off, for a moment, ostensibly to take a sip of her tea. "He had hopes of becoming a hunter. He claimed to have seen the eggs. Large and round, and purple."

Re: NFB

[crimson_sister]

"What happened to him?" Lucille asked cautiously, understanding that this was a sensitive subject.

Re: NFB

[seeks_truth]

"He... passed away a long time ago," Cassandra said. "And... that is all I am willing to say on the matter. I am sorry."

It was personal. And painful.

Re: NFB

[crimson_sister]

"I understand," Lucille said quickly. "I am sorry." She knew she would feel the same if Thomas died.

She took another sip of her tea while casting a glance out the window, trying to think about a way to get back to happier subjects.

"I borrowed the book yesterday. Your friend was very helpful and thoughtful." Like when he let her check out the very risqué novel by herself to save her from embarrassment.

Re: NFB

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra immediately brightened. "Garik has his moments of being quite wonderful," she agreed, "Though never tell him I said as much."