pyr min solemnly swears he is up to no good (twinclaws) wrote in emillion, @ 2014-01-22 23:56:00 |
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Whisking Ridley away from the clinic had seemed a daunting task, at first. Pyr didn’t talk to her all that much, but from the handful of run-ins they’d had around town since Ridley had started her job, it seemed to Pyr that she worked far too hard, always carrying around heavy books and often coffee for her boss. He didn’t know her well enough to know if she had many friends, but in his opinion, she deserved a break, to get out more, and maybe have fun for a few hours without worrying about white magic or more zombie attacks or whatever it was scholars worried about. And while he was at it, he supposed he might as well kill two birds with one stone. Ridley wasn’t the only teenage girl he knew who could stand to worry less and have more fun. He waited for them by the takoyaki stand in the Bazaar market, as agreed. Now that evening was setting in, the masses that had flooded the market area earlier in the day were gone now, replaced by a different sort of crowd, coming out to celebrate the end of the day’s work. Juliette arrived second, coming from the crystal. She knew this stand well -- and as she approached, she thought of the time she had recently encountered Pyr’s brother in this very location. One could hope this afternoon would go better. The other squire had been a little cryptic, mentioning he had a friend for Juliette to meet (she had wondered if Sky would be here, but then, he had said friend, not brother; as it was, she saw only one familiar head of dark hair). She raised her hand in greeting (a polite nod had long ago proven “too stuffy” for Pyr’s taste, and she saw no reason not to indulge him in this, at least; there was nothing shameful about waving if one wasn’t in a ballroom) and smiled faintly as the smell of the food reached her nose. After a full day of training, finally back with her mentor at last, she was very hungry. But she wasn’t the only one. Tending to Cormac and the clinic all day made for a hungry scholar, though she’d taken care to eat on her short breaks. And while it seemed a lot of work to anyone else, Ridley enjoyed herself, and reveled in being useful. Besides, it was her job. It was far more preferable to being on her own in the Tower. After the clinic had closed for the evening, she took the long way to the Bazaar, enjoying the evening breeze despite the snow beneath her feet. She was readjusting just scarf when she first spotted the two by the stand, pondering on the friend Pyr had insisted she meet. Only when she was close enough did she pause in her step. Was that…? Juliette saw the blonde girl a moment later, a small smile arising on her face. “Ridley.” This friend did indeed receive a nod (Ridley was not the sort to complain of stuffiness) along with the smile before she turned her curious gaze on Pyr. “Ridley is the friend you wished for me to meet?” Unspoken, but likely written plainly across her face: how does she put up with your lack of manners? He looked between them. Seeing that introductions were unnecessary, he shrugged. “Yup. I didn’t know you guys were friends already.” Getting them to meet and become friends had been his main goal for the evening, but just as well that it had happened without his intervention. This way, they could move on to their next item of business that much faster. “I’m starving,” he said. “What do you guys feel like eating?” The scholar had a smile upon her face as she shook her head. “I will eat whatever you two choose. I last ate some hours ago, but I’m not craving anything in particular.” Snacks here and there were what kept Ridley going at the clinic, though she always did eat lunch, and often a big one if she could manage it. A look was directed to Juliette as if to say: What do you think? “I am content to remain here,” Juliette admitted; as always, the scent of fried octopus was tantalizing. “However, if you would rather go elsewhere, I would not object, provided the menu is… somewhat varied.” She was uncertain if Pyr had realized yet that he only ever saw her eating fish, but Ridley surely knew and would steer them in a good direction without Juliette being put on the spot to explain. “How do you feel about octopus, Ridley?” She had to assume that Pyr enjoyed it (and his brother certainly had, when they had met here a few weeks back) but it was, she had to admit, an acquired taste. Canting her head slightly, the blonde pondered that. “Before the twins, I might have never considered eating octopus. It has a strange texture,” she explained, but smiled. “I do like it, though. It’s called takoyaki, isn’t it?” While she was hardly one to go off and try new things on her own, when others offered, it was hard to say no, and octopus really was good. Pyr grinned. “Yup! Takoyaki. And it’s really good here, it’s just like getting it from home.” He hadn’t chosen this stand as a meeting place randomly; he’d been hoping the smell of warm takoyaki would convince them to stay and order from here. They moved to stand in line, and before too long it was their turn. The vendor grinned at their appearance, and Pyr waved. “Hey there, Pyr,” the man boomed. “Looking to be in fine company today! Not one, but two lovely ladies.” He winked at both girls. “Welcome back to my stand! Best takoyaki you’ll find—” “—this side of the desert!” Pyr finished along with him, grinning. “These are my friends Juliette and Ridley, and,” he turned to the girls, “this is Ken!” Ken touched two fingers to his forehead. “The one and only. You three feeling hungry today? Or, I should say, you two.” He laughed and jabbed a thumb at Pyr. “No need to ask this one.” Manners were deeply ingrained in Juliette, some of them foolish, and most of those regarding food. Though she was ravenous, after she murmured her own greeting, she only said, “Everything smells delicious. Just a standard portion for me, please.” The man—Ken—gave Pyr an amused look (Juliette tried not to flush; she hoped he was not getting incorrect ideas about Pyr’s ‘friends’) before turning to Ridley to take her order. Belatedly realizing he was looking to her and expecting an answer, the blonde blinked, forgetting her for a moment before offering a kind, “The same for me, please and thank you.” Pyr rolled his eyes. “You know I’m paying, right?” They both worked hard all day, so they had to be feeling hungrier than that. "Yes, you mentioned that." Juliette's expression was faintly confused -- what did that have to do with her order? "Thank you." But Ridley understood his meaning, offering a smile. “I ate a few hours ago, but this should suffice.” “Ladies and rascal.” Ken placed the takoyaki inside small plastic boxes, closed them with elastic bands and handed them to the three over the counter. “Sorry for the wait. Here’s your order.” Pyr counted the takoyaki and opened his mouth to point out the mistake, but Ken cut him off before he could. “Threw in a little extra in case you get hungry later.” He winked. “On the house.” Pyr grinned. “Awesome. Hey, if I bring them here again, do I get a discount?” The vendor let out a booming laugh. “Nice try, kiddo.” He received the payment from Pyr and grinned at them before shouting, “Next!” As they shuffled aside to make way for the next customer, it seemed the girls still had something to say, but Pyr shook his head. “It’s a gift. You can’t return a gift.” He nodded at a nearby stone bench (the one he’d shared with Ari, the day he’d first met her) and said, “Come on. Let’s go eat before the food gets cold.” |