Wulf half-snarled, unused to being scrutinized by people. He liked the shadows better, the forests, not this part of the city. Everyone here stank of riches, and they knew it too. And judging by the looks they gave him as he patiently awaited entrance, they did not like his kind around here. Which just made him angrier. He had signed up for this stupid lottery when he entered the city and started to live here, but he had never thought that he would actually be called up for it. And especially be chosen and then have to come to the inner city and the nice parts of it for his 'date'. But still, he had agreed to it. And as long as the city was still his home, he would abide by their rules and what they asked of him.
So he had dressed as nicely as he could, with a little help from the widow who lived under his rooms, and had followed the directions to this place. It was... it was very nice. Much nicer than anything in the historic district, even smelling nice, if that was truly a thing. It smelled clean, like nice furniture and food that was well made. He felt out of place and uncomfortable in his buckskin clothing, his long hair pulled behind his head in a ponytail. It made him feel even more out of place, sure as he was that everyone could see and was drawing attention to the rounded off points of his ears. He resisted the urge to bolt as the human who had stopped him at the door lead him back to a table.
Now he just had to wait. He smirked slightly, ready for the moment when he met his date. At least he wouldn't have to listen to idle chatter, what with the fact that he couldn't hear her in the first place. To be sure he would be able to communicate with her, he pulled out his small notebook and pencil. Hopefully she could read. He looked around the place he was in again. If she couldn't read, and she came here, she was probably be blind.
Blind Dates: Navarre and Wulf
Re: Blind Dates: Navarre and Wulf
Navarre had always looked down on dating, considering it far too choreographed and artifical for her tastes. In her centuries of life, switching from body to body, she had dated many men and women, and she could only recall a handful whose presence she enjoyed. Dating offered nothing new: most people had similar bland, interchangeable personalities, so finding a partner compelling enough to keep her interest was nearly impossible. Her colleague Alexander was the only worthwhile lover she had since coming to Marn, and although he was a valuable ally his age was taking its toll. What they shared had been enjoyable, but it was in the past. Now she had to focus on persuading the government to back her campaign, which meant romance had to wait for a long while.
But that didn't mean sex did, too.
A blind date, as laughable as the concept was, struck her as a good opportunity for some much-needed relief. As an influential aristocrat and public figure, visiting a whore house wasn't an option. Besides, those people were riddled with all sorts of diseases, and she didn't want to possess another body anytime soon. A quick, quiet encounter through a dating service seemed like a safer bet. There was a risk that her date would be below her standards, but if that was the case she'd play nice for a while and end the date as soon as possible. She had important business at hand, so if this wasn't worth her while she wasn't going to waste her time.
Oh, and it had better be worth her while. She borrowed a fine outfit from Loreena for just the occasion – a form-fitting, strapped violet dress with a matching light purple bow. Bishani was no issue for the Abernathy family, so needless to say it was the best on the market. If she dressed up just to be matched with some hopeless dullard, she'd consider adding another name to the list of the resistance's victims.
She stepped inside the restaurant where she was to meet her date. Since the card hadn't given a description, it was useless to try and look for him in the crowd. Walking up to the front desk, she greeted the waiter with a false smile. “Pardon me, I'm here to meet with a man named Wulf. Has he checked in?”
The waiter's face brightened. “Ah, Lady Navarre! What an unexpected pleasure. Yes, he's here – I'll escort you over personally.”
“How kind of you.” Navarre walked with him to a table near the back, then raised her brows when she saw the man sitting at the table. Well, this certainly... wasn't what she had expected. Did he not understand what formal attire meant? Or perhaps he didn't own any. No doubt a commoner, but he was handsome enough, and judging from his ears he had some elvish heritage.
“Wulf, is it? I am Navarre. A pleasure I'm sure.”
But that didn't mean sex did, too.
A blind date, as laughable as the concept was, struck her as a good opportunity for some much-needed relief. As an influential aristocrat and public figure, visiting a whore house wasn't an option. Besides, those people were riddled with all sorts of diseases, and she didn't want to possess another body anytime soon. A quick, quiet encounter through a dating service seemed like a safer bet. There was a risk that her date would be below her standards, but if that was the case she'd play nice for a while and end the date as soon as possible. She had important business at hand, so if this wasn't worth her while she wasn't going to waste her time.
Oh, and it had better be worth her while. She borrowed a fine outfit from Loreena for just the occasion – a form-fitting, strapped violet dress with a matching light purple bow. Bishani was no issue for the Abernathy family, so needless to say it was the best on the market. If she dressed up just to be matched with some hopeless dullard, she'd consider adding another name to the list of the resistance's victims.
She stepped inside the restaurant where she was to meet her date. Since the card hadn't given a description, it was useless to try and look for him in the crowd. Walking up to the front desk, she greeted the waiter with a false smile. “Pardon me, I'm here to meet with a man named Wulf. Has he checked in?”
The waiter's face brightened. “Ah, Lady Navarre! What an unexpected pleasure. Yes, he's here – I'll escort you over personally.”
“How kind of you.” Navarre walked with him to a table near the back, then raised her brows when she saw the man sitting at the table. Well, this certainly... wasn't what she had expected. Did he not understand what formal attire meant? Or perhaps he didn't own any. No doubt a commoner, but he was handsome enough, and judging from his ears he had some elvish heritage.
“Wulf, is it? I am Navarre. A pleasure I'm sure.”
Re: Blind Dates: Navarre and Wulf
Wulf felt his face heat up as he stood. They had told him to stand when his date got to the table. That was what he was supposed to do apparently. Usually, he would just shake someone's hand. But that apparently wasn't what one did in this situation. He knew he was supposed to pull her chair out, but was that before or after he introduced himself. And shite! Introducing himself.
He patted down his pockets until he heard the crinkle of paper, pulling out the note he had had written earlier in the day. While his script was legible, the Professors was much neater and easier to read. The note was simple, merely saying 'Hello, my name is Wulf. Due to a childhood accident, I cannot hear anything unless you are either speaking loudly or yelling, and sometimes even that does not work. I can read lips, and write replies for any questions you have.' It was simple enough, and if she had a problem with it, then he could leave this place early. He wanted to spend the night in the woods anyways. Not stuck in some stuff place with the rich.
And she was rich, or close enough to it that it made him uncomfortable. He didn't know anything about high fashion, but the dress looked nice. It looked expensive. He didn't feel self-conscious about what was his best clothing, but he did feel as if she was judging him for it. What more could he expect, truly?
He patted down his pockets until he heard the crinkle of paper, pulling out the note he had had written earlier in the day. While his script was legible, the Professors was much neater and easier to read. The note was simple, merely saying 'Hello, my name is Wulf. Due to a childhood accident, I cannot hear anything unless you are either speaking loudly or yelling, and sometimes even that does not work. I can read lips, and write replies for any questions you have.' It was simple enough, and if she had a problem with it, then he could leave this place early. He wanted to spend the night in the woods anyways. Not stuck in some stuff place with the rich.
And she was rich, or close enough to it that it made him uncomfortable. He didn't know anything about high fashion, but the dress looked nice. It looked expensive. He didn't feel self-conscious about what was his best clothing, but he did feel as if she was judging him for it. What more could he expect, truly?
Re: Blind Dates: Navarre and Wulf
Navarre raised a brow as he started fumbling through his pockets. When he pulled out the note, her eyes rested on it for a moment before she hesitantly reached for it. She read it over, keeping a neutral expression in spite of her annoyance. Out of all the potential men in the date pool, of course she'd end up with the deaf mute. She looked up from the note and examined him again. Well, it could be worse - she could have ended up with a gnome. Besides, he was handsome enough, inappropriate attire notwithstanding. She decided she might as well give him a chance. If he turned out to be unbearable, then she could always quietly sneak away.
"Ah, I see," she said as she took her seat, putting on her usual false smile. "A little unexpected, but fair enough."
Just as she took her seat, a waiter approached the table. He gave Wulf a distasteful look, then turned to Navarre and smiled. "We're honored to be graced with your presence this afternoon, Lady Navarre. I have been asked to inform you that an anonymous party has agreed to pay for your meals this evening. They wish you both an excellent time."
She gave him a confused look. "Oh, it must have been the group organizing the blind dates! I wasn't aware they were picking up the bill," she said, looking at Wulf. "What a pleasant surprise. I suppose we can order whatever we'd like, in that case."
Relieving news, indeed. Although she was living quite comfortably masquerading as Isyrion, she didn't have a lot of bishani to spare with her political campaign underway. And she sincerely doubted this Wulf character could even afford a glass of water for this place. She had been concerned she'd have to pay for him, but fortunately that was a moot point.
"Can I start you off with something to drink?"
"A cup of tea, please."
The waiter gave Wulf a disdainful look. "And your, erm... friend?"
"I'm afraid that my date for the evening is mute, so you will have to bear with us. Do you happen to have any spare paper he can use to communicate?"
"We should have some lying around," the waiter answered, frowning. He walked over to Wulf and put his note pad in front of him. "Please write down what you'd like to drink. I'll bring more paper with me when I return."
"Ah, I see," she said as she took her seat, putting on her usual false smile. "A little unexpected, but fair enough."
Just as she took her seat, a waiter approached the table. He gave Wulf a distasteful look, then turned to Navarre and smiled. "We're honored to be graced with your presence this afternoon, Lady Navarre. I have been asked to inform you that an anonymous party has agreed to pay for your meals this evening. They wish you both an excellent time."
She gave him a confused look. "Oh, it must have been the group organizing the blind dates! I wasn't aware they were picking up the bill," she said, looking at Wulf. "What a pleasant surprise. I suppose we can order whatever we'd like, in that case."
Relieving news, indeed. Although she was living quite comfortably masquerading as Isyrion, she didn't have a lot of bishani to spare with her political campaign underway. And she sincerely doubted this Wulf character could even afford a glass of water for this place. She had been concerned she'd have to pay for him, but fortunately that was a moot point.
"Can I start you off with something to drink?"
"A cup of tea, please."
The waiter gave Wulf a disdainful look. "And your, erm... friend?"
"I'm afraid that my date for the evening is mute, so you will have to bear with us. Do you happen to have any spare paper he can use to communicate?"
"We should have some lying around," the waiter answered, frowning. He walked over to Wulf and put his note pad in front of him. "Please write down what you'd like to drink. I'll bring more paper with me when I return."