Ari/Aspel - 2:30 AM
"Eighteenth-century Valendian opera is easier than fruit tarts for me," Ari said, amused. "Nonetheless, I suppose we are exceptions to the rule - Kiernan says few of his female friends have managed to forge any sort of understanding with Lucy." She grinned. "Apparently, she has good taste." Opera and tarts notwithstanding, anyway.
She listened as Aspel elaborated on her meaning regarding the plunking, wondered at the curious expression that crossed the other woman's face when she mentioned the inevitability of a miss eventually - after all, it was only common sense, wasn't it? - and then Aspel answered her original question, and she was so surprised that she nearly tripped over her own two feet, and only having her arm tucked in the other woman's saved her from an inelegant sprawl. "Gemini 11th?" she repeated incredulously. "The day of the..." the honey buns, the song, that call... "the auction?" she recovered. "That was your birthday?"
And she couldn't help it, really, she had to laugh, hard enough that she had to stop walking to concentrate on laughing. "I - I have either the best or - or the worst timing in the world," she finally managed to respond.