Thar Shaddin

Marcella strolled into the dimly lit room and paused to look around. The lack of lighting was either because the establishment couldn't afford it or they were trying to create some sort of romantic 'mood'.

She sighed and headed for an empty table, pulling out her lacy handkerchief and ran it over her chair before sitting down. It wasn't that the place was dirty, or even unsavory even, it just wasn't what she was accustom to. Afterall she did come from a fairly wealthy family. Speaking of family, she wouldn't even be here if it hadnt been for her little brother.

A week ago she had recieved a letter summoning her to a 'bind date'. Apparently Armando had thought that it would be a good idea to sign her up for this event of sorts. This was a blind dating pool where, once you signed up, you would receive a note telling you when and where to meet your unknown date. It could be days or years from when you signed up but at least she was lucky enough for it to be only a few short weeks and that she was not married or being courted by anyone. Wouldnt the relatives just have loved to see her put in a compromising sitution, with a stranger nonetheless.

She had tried to get out of it, explain that she hadn't entered herself and that she would not be attending. A rather quick response followed restating the location and time with just a single line stating that she would attended or suffer the consequences. Not in the mood to figure out what that entailed, Marcella packed up her horse and headed out but not before Armando had broken down in tears. Apologizing he stated that he just wanted his sister to fall in love and be happy. Marcella couldn't stay mad at her kid brother and showered him in kisses before saying goodbye.

Now she found herself sitting alone in a busy room hoping that the man she was supposed to meet at least had manners. Good looks or a clever wit would be nice too but Marcella wasn't going to push her luck.

Egg did not understand what he say as human foolishness. He had no idea that he had apparently entered himself in a lottery for a 'date', which was a good way to tell himself that he needed to pay more attention to what he signed. But now he was involved, and at least he would show up. It would be rude and quite mean of him to not show up, especially if the woman he was supposed to meet would be there. At least the pony he was riding was in good shape, and was a nice enough creature. It made him quite glad that he had paid for it's upkeep at a local stable. He managed to get it stabled for the time being at the inn, and then checked his clothing for dirt or ink stains or anything else.... gnomish before walking in the door. He did manage to forget the stub of pencil behind his ear.

After checking the room, he decided to ask the bartender. Maybe the man would know something to help him. And he did, directing Egg to where his companion for the evening was sitting. Which of course, immediately disappointed Egg. She looked taller than him, which while not a problem, was usually a problem from the woman's point of view. Ah, he sighed, might as well get it over with. It can't be too bad, no? At least we both get a meal out of it, and maybe she will be interesting instead of disgusted with a gnome. He walked over to the table, feeling the eyes of every single person in the room on him as he did so. They most likely weren't staring at him, but Egg was a bit self-conscious about his size, and so he always felt it.

"Madam?" He cleared his throat briefly, "Excuse me, but I am your date for this evening." He bowed slightly before saying, "Egglebert Sprocketfizz Tinkerton, at your service."

Marcella had tried to tame her hair but yet again it seemed to insist on doing the opposite of what she wanted, which was most likely partially because she had ridden here with her hair down. Jabbing a couple pins in and rearranging her aureolian silk flower she hoped that there was some sense to the whole things and regreted not taking one of her maids along to help out. Thankfully her myrtle coloured dress had survived the journey with only a few creases in the rear that her date probably wouldn't even get a chance to notice and judge. Her dress was simple yet did it's job to draw attention to her small waist before flairing out into a long full skirt. She was in the middle off smoothing out some imaginary wrinkles when she heard someone clearing his voice beside her.

Her 'date' had not keep her waiting long and if first impressions proved anything, her first wish had come true, he had manners. As for the others, time would tell. Beauty was only skin deep afterall. A man's actions or wit could sometimes make him more attractive desirable then someone with just a prettty face. And if the drama that surrounded her on almost a daily basis had taught her anything was that marriages were to form alliances not to aquire some sort of love match, if anything that is what lovers were for.

The first thing that she noticed about Egglebert was his height, or more so his lack of height. He stood a good two feet, if not more, below her. Marcella couldn't help but grin at the the image that came to mind if he ever tried to kiss her.

Expanding her grin into a relaxed smile she nodded politely as he took his seat. "I am pleased to make your aquaintence Senor Tinkerton. I am Senorita Marcella Guiate de Morua, but why don't we drop the formalities and you can call me Marcella." Her date, whose full name she didn't quite catch, obviously wasn't quite in the same class as herself, but then perhaps that would make this whole ordeal more enjoyable.

Egg coughed to cover the slight burn of embarrassment as he had to climb into the more human sized chair. That was one of the more difficult aspects of living in a more human centric world, that everything was just so tall. But at least the chair was tall enough that he didn't require a seat to bring him closer to the table top. He was fairly sure that he would have to leave from the embarrassment that would cause him, especially with a date he was beginning to see was very beautiful. Or at least so by his standards, which he was unsure how they compared to human standards. For all he knew, he could be talking to someone that many humans considered troll like. Which he never understood, because he had seen trolls, up close and personal. So a human that did not have trollblood looking like a troll was nigh on impossible. Maybe it was just an easy insult?

He blushed a deep shade of red as he realized she had said something to him.

"I am sorry Marcella, sometimes I get lost in my thoughts." He smiled wryly at her, "To be honest, it happens quite often, so if it happens again tonight, you're more than welcome to throw something at me to get my attention. I won't mind."

Marcella felt a bit bad for the man, er gnome. If she had known who she was meeting then perhaps she could have done better to make it easier or less awkward for him. After all that is what she did, or tried to do, when planning meeting and events. But it was too late for that and she wasn't really responsible for setting this 'date' up in the first place so the only thing she could do was her best to make him feel most comfortable. After all she had traveled a fair distance to get here and she wasn't about too leave just because he had trouble climbing up in a chair.

She laughed at his suggestion to throw stuff at him, "I don't know if I could do that to you. But hopefully I will be entertaining enough to keep you from getting lost. So please do tell me." She said as she leaned forward to rest her chin in her hand. "What do you do? Are you a writer?"

She was curious about the pencil behind his ear. Was he planning on taking notes or their date? Or was it just part of his job and it so much a part of him he had forgotten it was there, she had seen that kind of thing happen to people. Marcella was honestly interested in him. She had seen and briefly met gnomes before but she had never gotten an opportunity to talk to one like this. Were gnomes just miniature humans? Or where there greater difference besides their sizes?

Egg blushed again, partly at her now closeness. People didn't usually lean forward, or down to gnomes. They were usually so concerned with getting that little bit of extra on someone. Making a gnome tiptoe to try and talk to them was sometimes the only feeling of power someone where he was from would feel in their day to day lives. So it was strange that someone, let alone a human of obviously high ranking, would deign to lean forward to talk to him. He wasn't sure how he felt about strange. His life was strange, with the random bursts of inspiration and invention, but people were usually so static. They were so... they were people. What else could he say about it?

He cleared his throat before speaking, "Why no, sadly, I am not a writer." A smile grew across his face, his best attribute, the almost pure sunshine look that came over him when he smiled in full effect, "I am an inventor, and I also brew beer." He shrugged before speaking again, "Sadly, nothing I've invented has really made any money yet." His smile died a little at the corners, thinking about the gnomish desire for inventions to succeed, and the way the community of inventors looked upon one that didn't sell. His smile came back in full force before his next words, "But, I've helped a lot of people with them. So there is that. What do you do Marcella?" He blushed and looked down again, "Something very interesting, I am sure."

Marcella bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. In the long line of people that she had met, the only people who could still bring the natural pink and red hues into their cheeks were either very naive or very good at acting. It was refreshing to meet someone so....quaint.

She listened with interest as the gnome explained his hobbies, or his career if that is what one called it. "Well I will have to taste this beer of yours one of these days. And your job sounds so fascinating! And the fact that you help people, even though you haven't made much money, well that is so philanthropic. I like it. My responsibilities are not any where near as interesting at yours." She allowed a pout to cross her face before smiling shyly across the table as she brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"My responsibilities vary but I am responsible for taking care of my father's household, alongside my aunt. The most exciting thing is planning dinner parties, and even those get boring. Not to mention after a while, you get tired of kissing up to people who don't care for you, or at least who you really are behind the family name and all that."

A waiter was finally approaching the table, not that she wasn't enjoying herself but she was famished. When she rode Marcella found that is was common for her to forget to eat, but it wouldn't be fun or polite to eat alone, especially if her partner wasn't feeling up to her company for very long. "So what would you like? Just a nice cup or tea or coffee, or shall we extend our date to a full meal? It is getting late..." She smiled again as she tried to subtlety hint that she really was interested in staying longer if that is what he wanted as well.

Egg smiled happily when she mentioned tasting the beer. He could go on about the work, the love, the little bit of soul he put into he batch, for days on end if someone would let him. It was the one thing he truly loved, even more than inventing. Then again, Egg had always been an odd gnome. Now he was just proving it in his own little ways. But that didn't much matter now, did it? She most likely didn't know what the difference between a strange gnome and a normal gnome was, the positions being quite reversed by human standards.

"Oh, but planning dinner parties must be very difficult! Making sure you have enough food, enough drink, making sure that you don't sit two ancient enemies together at the same table..." He shook his head, "I could never keep track of all of it to do it. I can make an engine that runs off steam and powers boats, but I couldn't plan a dinner for more than myself and get it right."

Egg opened his mouth to answer, and then turned bright red once again as his stomach answered for him. With a rumble that sounded like it belonged to a much larger man than himself, it let its hunger be known. "I believe even if I just wanted tea, my body would mutiny. I would love a meal if... if you would like to continue our conversation."

"Well then I guess we are equal since I can't do any of that! Meals sound simple to me compared to all that. Although, I will say it can be rather entertaining at times. Two girls started throwing food at each other once time when the seating charts somehow got messed up and found out they were dating the same man." Marcella put on an innocent look but was unable to keep the mischievous look out her eyes.

This time Marcella couldn't hold back a small chuckle when Egg's stomach growled. Who knew such a small person could make such a loud noise. "A meal with you sounds delightful. I am quite hungry as well."

She looked down at the menu and glanced over the options. Half the food she wasn't familiar with. Salad was normally a safe option but she was hungry for more then just a light snack type supper. She was lucky that her stomach had yet to start protesting against it's current state.

"I will have the chef's special." Marcella stated as she handed the menu to the waiter. She had no idea what she had just ordered but apparently today was a day to try new things.

'Somehow' hmmm? He had caught that look in her eyes. It was the same look he was quite sure that he had caught in the mirror when he was making something that was going to be used for a prank or two. Well, that was good. It seemed obvious at this point that she had a sense of humour, and as someone that liked a good joke himself, that would only help their night go smoother and allow them to get a long even better.

After her acceptance to joining him for a meal, he started to pour over the menu he was handed. Was the chef some kind of madman? Apparently. Half of these flavor combinations sounded like something cooked up by a man that didn't have a tongue. Finally, he settled on something that not only didn't sound too revolting, but was actually a meal he would love to have and didn't get enough of where he currently stayed.

"I'll take the steamed shellfish meal, please." He handed the waiter his menu before remembering, "Oh, and I'd like to sample a beer." As the waiter walked away, Egg winked at the lovely Marcella. "Let us see if this fine establishments beer can please a gnomish palate."

Marcella chuckled before quickly stopping. Egg seemed to have caused her drop her guard and she hadn't paid attention to her reactions and how it could affect him. For her calling this place a 'fine establishment' was quite the joke but perhaps for him it was. She didn't want to insult the poor fellow, especially now that they were going to have to endure a full meal together. There was always the whole running off to the washroom and disappearing act if things got too awkward but she liked to think that she had enough hosting skills to keep from having to do that. Plus who knew how often the fellow went on dates, she didn't want to hurt his feelings. Although perhaps in gnomish standards he was a real catch. It was always hard to tell what was considered attractive to different races, different people even!

Turning her attention back to her date she asked another question as they waited on their food and drinks "So my dear Egglebert. Where do you hail from? Hopefully you didn't have to travel too far?"

She clapped her hands excitedly as their drinks arrived, the beer for Egg and the tea that Marcella had requested come when her date arrived. She had been rather specific about her tea order and hadn't want to embarrass herself about being so particular about something that she knew some people might find silly.The last thing she wanted to do was seem like some kind of control freak on a first date whether it mattered or not.

Taking a delicate sip she found herself pleasantly surprised. The tea had been made correctly and the blend was even half decent. "Does the beer appeal to your palate?" She asked with a smile, the tea having calmed the nerves that had stared to frizzle just a bit.