[D3 LA] Catch of the Day

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

Geoffrey walked the streets with the sisters d'Aubigny. He pointed out some of his favorite sights and offered stories about why they were his favorites. He was, for all intents and purposes, being a proper gentleman. But that doesn't stop him from stealing glances and eye contact with Nichole.

[Cearnach]

Who seems keen to do the same, her eyes lingering on broad shoulders and strong jaw. Matilda seems resigned to her role as chaperone, but both girls seem to take a genuine interest in the strange sights and sounds of the big city. After all, 25,000 people crammed into a square mile is a truly tremendous sight, dwarfing anything else in the Isles, even if it was half the size of Paris or Cologne, and a quarter of that of Milan, these girls were essentially country folk, and more than once their eyes widened at the splendor of a church or the craft of street artists.

"Tournemine," Nichole asks in a quiet voice, "do you suppose this is the grandest city in the world?"

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"Not quite, but at the rate it grows, it may well be soon," he says with a smile. "I've visited Paris three times, but even bigger must be Rome which I would love to see one day. Perhaps one day when I have an heir of my own I'll use the opportunity of their baptism to make a pilgrimage there," he says, not to either sister in particular.

"Are we ready to eat?" he asks.

[Cearnach]

"Oh, I think so," says Matilda. Nichole smiles and nods, linking her arm with yours as you walk. "I think Paris sounds a lovely place. I can't wait to get off this rainy old island."

Matilda scoffs. "You just got to London, Nikki."

"What? I can't be ambitious, now?"

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

He accepted the arm as though it were the most natural thing, guiding them to a small restaurant he preferred. He likes it in particular because it has a patio near a pavilion where entertainers frequented.

"I think that taking you to Paris might require a rather larger commitment than my word of honor to your father," he says. His smile said that it was a commitment that was not out of the question. But the absence of a follow up also suggested it was also not a guarantee.

"Lady Nichole wants to see Paris. Where does Lady Matilda dream of visiting?" he asks. When he asks this, however he looks to Nichole as though he thinks she might conspiratorially spill a sisterly secret.

The owner of the restaurant they arrived at was from the south of France. Similar flavors to other Mediterranean styles but with a distinctly French preparation.

[Cearnach]

"Does Matty have dreams?" Nichole muses quietly. "Well...I think she dreams of visiting Ullr. He's a shepherd on father's estate. Isn't that right, Matty?"

Matilda blushes scarlet. "Let's leave Ullr in Norfolk."

Nichole laughs. "I think Matty secretly feels much the way I do. The world is vast! When Queen Eleanor was only a little older than us, she was girded for battle and riding in the Second Crusade. And here we are stuck in Castle Rising until we get married, and then we'll be stuck in some other castle popping out spawn."

"Nikki! That's no way to talk." Matilda sighs, and suddenly sounds much more mother than antagonist. "Not all marriages are like Aubrey de Vere's. And anyway, I think in your heart you know that you'll probably like your spawn a great deal, frightening daredevils and pot-stirrers though they be."

Nichole frowns. "Maybe. I just hope they can wait a year or two. Just to let me breathe as a woman before I am a mother."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"Some men tend to have a great deal of respect for the opinions and interests of the women in their lives. Particularly those raised by and in the company of strong women," Geoffrey states, smiling. "It almost sounds like you might be hoping such a man might show his interest."

He leads the group to seats and speaks with someone to take their orders, letting the other two pick their food and helping with explanations of the different dishes.

[Cearnach]

"It would be nice." She smiles. "I mean, Matty and I are the most eligible girls left of our generation, so I understand that we are a commodity."

Matilda sighs at that, and Nichole continues. "But it can't all be hopeless. There must be some adventure, some space to breathe, or it's all a waste."

Matilda breaks in. "The food looks delicious, though, Lord Tournemine. What am I looking at?"

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

There was a large flat bread shaped like a leaf with a spread that smells of olives and capers presented first, then shortly after dishes of a beef based stew, but with a very different set of herbs that are popular from the region.

"Daube provencal, a braised beef stew with that uses Provencal spices and herbs. Also, fougasse with tapenade a preparation of bread and a savory spread. I usually have a few pieces of the bread with tapenade first, then eat the remainder of the bread alongside the daube."

"You may be expecting the daube to have an English stew flavor, but I assure you, the olives and herbs make it taste something else entirely," he says.

With the sprinkling of Occitan into the explanation his accent really shows itself. And sounds almost like music paired with French as he speaks both side by side.

"I think, Lady Nichole, that you are correct in your assessment of the eligibility of your sister and yourself. And I think the most eligible even before the other ladies of your generation were married as well. It is hard to find a proper match for such beauty. Your father's task is a difficult one, trying to match the loveliest of smiles with someone that can give reason for you to share it with the world each day."

And I would give you reason to smile... his eyes promised. In a spot that is just below the table where Nichole could see but Matilda could not, he slowly and gently rubbed two fingers in a circle on his leg, around a button on the side of his pants. It was probably just absent minded fiddling right?

[Cearnach]

Matilda is delighted with the food, and seems to enjoy the description of its provenance and components.

Nikki's face remains mostly composed, but you notice her eye is transfixed upon your thigh. The vein behind her left eye has begun to twitch.

"Father may well take the cross," Matilda says quietly. "I have rarely seen anyone quite so enthusiastic about a subject."

Nichole remains silent on that subject. Matilda continues: "If he does, I imagine that time will become a factor. I expect it is difficult to arrange a marriage by correspondence, and he may be gone for years."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

Geoffrey nods at that. It was a good thing to consider. Even having their father present here was a huge boon for taking quick steps towards courtship. But that Matilda brought that up with him made him consider. Certainly the flirtatious meeting had not gone over well, but he seems to have made up for it elsewhere, which was what he was hoping.

"Then I suppose it would be in the best interest of any man to act quickly if they were hoping to tie themselves to your family?" he asks, Matilda.

Even as he speaks he starts fiddling with the button slightly more aggressively. At this point anyone else watching might think he had a nervous twitch. And why would a man dining with two fine young ladies not be nervous?

"But one must be careful not to rush into anything, no? Patience and temperance," he asks Nichole with a smile, she had been uncharacteristically quiet and that may arouse some sort of suspicion from Matilda.

He wondered if his name might escape her lips later that night when she found some time to be alone. It wouldn't be the first time. He's had others admit to it. Usually when they no longer wished to play games and wanted to act.

[Cearnach]

Nichole blinks once, slowly.

"Yes. Temperance. Right." She shakes her head and tears her eyes away from your display, focusing back on her sister.

Matilda, oblivious, answers directly. "Oh, quick action might be best. It is possible that father will leave my brother to watch over the domain, but I suspect they'll both be going, and, as I say, it is a challenge to coordinate across the world."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

He had been eating between words, and had gotten through a fair amount of his meal.

"Perhaps I should have a more in-depth conversation with your father and brother tomorrow. Perhaps a visit in the morning would be called for?" he asks both, gauging their responses.

[Cearnach]

Nichole frowns slightly. "I...suppose so."

Matilda, however, nods vigorously. "Oh my, yes, if you happen to be serious about the arrangement, I think it might be wise to commence with the formalities."

Nichole's expression would best be described as squeamish.

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

He looks to Nichole, with a smile. Then to Matilda. Apparently his time with Matilda that morning had grown the elder sisters interest. But in this moment he wondered. "Although... even with such heavy conversations being planned out I would still like to make time to show you more of London. My friend will be hosting us for dinner later if you are interested and it seems that a performance is being set up across the street just now. Serious talk can be delayed in favor of a bit of excitement and entertainment no?"

He looks to Nichole once again.

"I do love the sound of an impassioned soprano. It is music to my ears every time."

[Cearnach]

Nichole turned her head slightly. "Some music might indeed be nice. And a friend to meet is always welcome."

Matilda seemed to agree with this. "And thank you for the meal, my lord," she added.

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

He nods, and stands, offering to help each girl with a cloak in turn to ward off rain before putting his own on. He offered an arm to Nichole once more, but he did have two if Matilda was feeling more warmed up to him now.

This city had rain so frequently that most did not even pause at it. One still needed to make a living. So he approached the area of the performance where the two girls were treated to a comedic singing routine, that happened to have a few bawdy parts, but also was just plain clever most of the time. It was good fun for Geoffrey.

[Cearnach]

Matilda does indeed accept an arm, though she insists that they stop so that she can purchase an umbrella.



Nichole seems to be a fan of the wordplay, but you notice that the ease with which she took your arm at the start of the day has wavered somewhat. She's wary, now.

Matilda, however, lives in ignorance, and is patently delighted by the show, laughing warmly at several occasions.

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

The umbrella is acquired, two if one is not large enough.

He could think of a thousand different reasons that she might be feeling different now. Shock at his earlier finger display, surprise that Matilda had seemed to do have done a 180 on her opinion of Geoffrey in such a short time, perhaps a breeze blew in the wrong way, maybe speaking on the idea of actually approaching about formal courtship or marriage laying a burden on her shoulders... He knew better than to assume what was wrong, but finding out could be equally hazardous with the wrong words."

"You are concerned about something... please tell me..." he whispers to Nichole during a round of applause.

[Cearnach]

She tenses just a bit. "I am just...your gestures..." She frowns. "I don't often think Matty is right, but that was a little much."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"My sincere apologies Lady Nichole. I give you my word, I would never pluck a flower that is not ready. That would be cruel," he whispered in all seriousness. "It will not happen again."

[Cearnach]

She nodded once. "Alright, Tournemine." She turned her head back to the songfest, determined to make a good show of the rest of the afternoon. "I...can't really tell what's going on, but it looks like the lady wants her dog back from the bass. Am I getting that right?"

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"Yes, that is it. But the bass doesn't know that it even has the dog," he replied, smiling widely.

He continues chatting with them as the show goes on, complete with singing, dancing, jokes, and pratfalls.

Geoffrey does his level best to show contrition for his misstep, being as charmingly polite as he can be.

[Cearnach]

And the frost seems slowly to melt away, both girls take in the show, Matilda with some enjoyment, Nichole with bemused confusion.

As the show comes to an end, Nichole, who spent the last 5 minutes looking down the street as an urchin lifted the purse from some artisan and was chased down the street by some other boys, eager for the scraps.

"The law of the forest seems to be pretty well in place, here doesn't it?" she asks.

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"That it is," he said with a nod. "And that is an unfortunate downside for any large city. The people that are allowed to fall through the cracks that need to rely on such things to survive. Each of those boys is likely an orphan, some of them likely have siblings they need to care for, and none of them ever prayed to God for the life of a thief. And yet, when a sheriff or constable catches them they will be punished for wanting to live."

He offers an arm to each once more, so they might huddle under the umbrella and continue their walk.

[Cearnach]

The girls follow, supporting the umbrellas while taking your arms. "Does your friend live far from here, Tournemine?" Nichole asks.

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"Not very. He is the one that introduced me to that restaurant as he goes relatively frequently," he explained. "He has lived in the city most of his life, so it's definitely home for him. I think you'll love it. It's unique to say the least."

As they come around a corner, there is a particular house of decent size, evidence of a well off artisan, but it stands out especially because a good three quarters of the windows look like piecemeal stained glass.

"He uses old and slightly damaged stained glass from his projects to decorate."

[Cearnach]

Both sisters seem to like this expression of artistry. Matilda actually leans forward to better take in a window, and catches a bit of rain for her trouble.

"Perhaps it can be marveled at better from the inside, my lord?" Nichole asks teasingly.

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"It certainly can," he says with a nod to Nichole, as he knocks on the door and it was opened to greetings from a maidservant.

They were well off enough that they had a couple servants, but it was no noble welcome or anything like that. Reginald de Blanc sat near the peak of artisanal accomplishment and enjoyed great respect from the church for his works, so life was good for him.

Geoffrey was comfortable enough to give a short tour of the house on the path to the sitting room, letting the girls take in the stained glass menagerie.

Eventually arriving at their destination, Geoffrey introduced everyone to each other, Reginald, his wife Laria, and the sisters d'Aubigny.

[Cearnach]

The greetings are warmly received, and it isn't long before the girls are chatting amiably with your friend and his wife. Matilda seemed to develop an interest in the process of stained-glass making that kept Reg talking. Nichole was more visual, dropping the conversation at times just to look about, and once shifting a candle to see how it played through a prism Reg had constructed.