Conversations
As he opened his wallet again, he saw a business card he'd acquired. He tugged out his bills, passed them over and double checked the card. "Oh, I say! Is this...?" He glanced at the sign marking the building. "It is! I didn’t realize! How wonderful. I’ve been intending to come here for sometime.
"I saw your advertisement in a local publication and commented on it to an acquaintance of mine... " Ethan laughed softly. "Life has it's strange ways of taking us to places we've already planned on going."
She placed the other bills in the till with a remarkable alacrity and shut the drawer. She turned her back to him briefly, bent down and pulled the milk from the mini fridge. She stood back up and filled a glass with the creamy white liquid. Ethan watched the vortex swirl to the top of the glass; pure, white, perfect. It settled to the shape of it's container as liquid was wont. Bria didn't notice his fascination with the flow of milk and returned the container to it's proper place all with precise motions.
He continued to watch her as she opened the champagne bottle and filled the flute glass. "So, this is your first visit to The White Rose?" She smiled as she spoke, setting down the small bottle. She picked up her plate and glass and strode out from behind the counter.
"Mmm, this should be wonderful.." Ethan was murmuring as he gathered his plate and bottle in one hand, the flute in the other. "Hmm? Oh yes! This is my first visit.." He studied her form as she moved to the large bay windows and the three small tables that were set up there.
"In fact, I'm rather new to the area in general."
"I've been in Rhydin going on four years. It's not bad, once you get used to it." She chuckled softly as she sat in one of the chairs of a table for four, her back to the wall, not the window or the door.
"I'm thinking of expanding my business here. It seems a nice quiet place." He settled in across from her, no concern for his position.
"Rhydin does have its days." Each move again was precise, which contrasted with the bit of flour dusting her hair: She chuckled as she spread the cream colored, linen napkin across her lap. "There's something to be said when the business next door is run by a goblin and an orc.... " She ran her fingers through her already tousled hair, but managed not to pull the plait out.
He paused, plate and glass and bottle suspended. "A goblin and an orc you say? Sounds like something from my mother's fairy tales.." Blinking, he set his treasures down.
"Red Orc Brewery. They've got some pretty good stuff." Bria nodded slowly, taking a sip of milk.
Ethan reached for another napkin and tugged it across his lap. "Are they associated in any way with the Outback?" He raised both brows in query as he pinched the eclair between thumb and forefinger. He winked at her and took a large bite.
She put the glass down and her upper lip was fetchingly covered in a milk mustache. "That's them." She lifted the eclair up in one hand and licked the bit of filling that peeped out the end before taking a small bite. He couldn't keep his eyes off her mouth as he chewed his own large bite. A bit of creme escaped the corner of his mouth and he licked it away with the tip of his tongue.
She swallowed her mouthful then wiped her lips with her napkin. He grinned. "So, what type of business do you have?" Perhaps unconsciously, she flicked her tongue against the lip of the glass before she took another sip.
His pale eyes spoke volumes of his fascination with his snacking companion. He took a gulp of champagne and exclaimed, "Oh excellent," softly before he answered. Meanwhile, Bria was splitting her eclair in two parts. "I own a few. The business I'm interested in here would be a mining operation."
"Pardon me?" She eyed him curiously and raised her fingers to her lips to lick off the extra filling before wiping her hands on the softness of her napkin.