[ she closes the distance between them in no time and gives her a quick once-over to make sure nothing is wrong.
good, checks out ok. looking healthy, if not weary. which, you know, she can definitely empathize with. ]
I... suppose, yes. I know a few people who are staying here, so I was invited. But I must do something to repay them, so I am contributing as I can...
[ if she's successful is ANOTHER MATTER. her gaze drops to her toes, brow furrowed, before she lifts her eyes again. ]
I - I cannot cook any of the menu items yet, but could I get you something to drink? You can pick any of the open tables. I will personally tend to you...!
[ Said SO bluntly but not meant as an insult. She's envious that Jeanne has them already, as someone who struggles with being comfortable with solitude, but decides not to voice that particular bit as she steps into the cafe. She picks a table nearby out of convenience. ]
Uh, sure! I don't know what the menu is, but I'll take whatever you feel comfortable making, I guess.
when it comes to vanitas? right now, she doesn't want to think about that. she picks up a menu from the pile somewhere and scuffles back over to set it down in front of her just in case she wants to read it and look at the pictures (???) ]
Friends from home? Damn, I can't tell if that's lucky or not...
[ Because on one hand, having a bunch of them transported to this particular hellhole kind of sucks. On the other, at least she has people to cope with. Can't say she's not jealous, still, but her attention shifts back to the menu.
With a bright smile, she nods β ]
Yeah! Tea would be pretty sweet. Can you add some milk and sugar to it, too?
[ both, if she had to say what it was. her line of thought runs parallel to kara's.
jeanne offers a small smile back and nods. there was something she was supposed to say. oh! ]
Yes. Coming right up.
[ with clenched fists and her attempt at being excited when her mind is in turmoil. maybe it's convincing, but there isn't that same sparkle in her eye as she turns and hurries to the kitchen to get the kettle going.
which tea? she forgot to ask. ummm, sweet. something sweet, she said. peach! peach tea sounds sweet.
jeanne returns with the kettle and a tray of dishware. there at the table, she sets a teacup, a little jar of milk, and a little bowl of sugar. right there in front of her, she pours the steaming liquid into the cup and a bit of milk. ]
[ Kara explores the rest of the menu while she waits for Jeanne. It's nice to have some sense of normalcy while she's here, and this is keeping her grounded. It's a cute little place and she has a feeling she might come around more often.
Jeanne arrives, and the tea actually smells good! Well done, Jeanne. The question is interpreted as a simple, factual question (wow the misunderstandings are everywhere) and she nods. ]
Yeah, I would say so. That should be plenty. Thank you, Jeanne!
[ glad that she's done her job to kara's taste; her smile tugs higher and her cheeks color faintly.
what's next? oh, right.
shyly, she slides into the seat next to kara and shoves her hands into her lap. someone give jeanne shoujo manga so she can pretend she's a love interest. ]
Kara places her hands around the teacup and brings it up to her lips. Before she can take a sip, Jeanne asks her question. Out of politeness, she places it back on the dish. Her answer is simple. ]
Mm, I don't know. Things are complicated here and some things are beyond my comprehension. It's stressful for me, even if I don't always show it.
[ Says the girl who was clearly stressed out around Jeanne while they were painting rooms together....... ]
But this? This little place? It kind of reminded me of home. Made me feel like maybe living normally sometimes isn't out of the question here. Then I saw you, and you graciously offered to make something for me. So, here I am.
[ oops!? she didn't meant to interrupt her enjoying her tea. next time, she will wait. she will wait for sure.
jeanne won't comment about how she was CLEARLY stressed, yes, in the rooms they were renovating. but she understands the feeling. all too well. too much information to digest. topics beyong her ken when she's only known how to fight, and kill, and win. ]
It also reminds me of Paris. [ jeanne says quietly, that small smile still on her lips. ] I'm glad you stopped by, then. I understand how you feel. Seeing things that remind me of home are the most comforting right now.
Come anytime you like. If anyone tells you that you can't, I will crush them.
[ CLEARLY STRESSED!! She likes to smile her way through everything, but often times, a grin can't hide everything. Kara takes Jeanne's answer as an opportunity to both sip her tea and let her curiosity be piqued. Paris? She wonders what that must be like.
Before she can ask, though, Jeanne presents a threat.
Kara chokes on her tea and coughs once, twice, then pats her lips with a napkin. ]
C-crush them?! No, no, there's no need for that! [ JEANNE.... ] I mean, I can totally do it myself!
Also...what? [ She tilts her head curiously. What does Jeanne mean by this. ] I mean, I think I can. ...Maybe not, actually... I'm tough, but I'm not an expert.
[ Kara is, unfortunately, A TOTALLY NORMAL HUMAN. Her exposure to non-humans is a different story, but as far as this conversation is concerned, she's but a simple girl who likes to pretend to be a fighter with a baseball bat. Which she doesn't even have on her right now, either. ]
Mm? I guess so! I've survived up until now, so that has to mean something!
[ Whatever the hell that means...... ]
I'm sure you're much better at it. People don't threaten to crush others if they're not strong!
[ that's not unfortunately, TOTALLY NORMAL AVERAGE HUMANS ARE GREAT!!!
what a strange thing to say, though. even humans back in paris were relatively safe. as long as they didn't run into a curse-bearer. if kara is from a different world like so many people here, she has to wonder where she's come from to justify saying something like that.
she should ask abou - oh. ]
Eug - [ THREATEN. ah, she did. oops. ] No, I - ! I-I am merely... protective.
[ Huh! She doesn't know if she'd have made that connection if Jeanne hadn't said anything. Sure, the gal's protective and defensive, but a knight is taking those things a step further. Maybe she shouldn't be so surprised, after all. ]
Whoa, that's cool. You protect someone of noble blood, then? Or something like that? I think we still have a few of those where I'm from, but none I'm familiar with...
[ A sip of her tea β which she does need to compliment Jeanne on. ]
By the way, good job with preparing this. It's sweet but not overly so.
[ overwhelmed with just that bit of praise from someone she doesn't know that well, jeanne blushes. ]
Th - thank you. I am glad it is to your liking.
[ the rest? ]
Yes. I've been tasked with protecting someone very important back home. [ not just to society, but someone important to her.
doubly protective. ]
... But is being a knight that impressive...?
[ almost on instinct, she reaches to grab a macaron but stops short and lets her hand fall to the table as her eyes go wide. ]
I - I forgot snacks! Just a moment!
[ with a clatter, she gets up and hustles back to the kitchen. just a few minutes later, she comes out with multiple plates of little cookies and biscuits to enjoy with the tea. they're overflowing. oops. ]
It is. It's not an easy job! Not one that an ordinary person would be willing to take, anyway. You need a certain level of strength, I'd imagine.
[ And then before she can continue, Jeanne zooms off to grab more snacks. Ah? She forgot about them personally, but the poor girl seems nervous about working here, so Kara won't comment on it.
...Or so she thinks. Because when Jeanne returns with multiple plates full of snacks, she can't help but raise her eyebrows. ]
Oh, you weren't kidding about bringing some snacks. ... Jeanne, you seem like the kind of person who puts her all into everything she does. Does that sound right?
[ see, had jeanne not gotten up to zoom off, she might've argued that being a chevalier is a much easier job than what she's used to. compared to her previous, especially.
she WOULD agree that she's strong, however. it is a point of pride. however small her self-esteem might be.
after setting down numerous plates, she slides back into her seat next to kara. mid-reach for one of the cookies, she stops and blinks. ]
U - Um, yes. Perhaps that is true. ... Is that strange?
[ She'll go ahead and reach for a cookie herself, though. There are so many of them, after all. They'd better get to work on cleaning this plate!!! ]
I find it admirable.
[ It's nice to see that Jeanne works so hard, cares so much doing things right. It makes Jeanne seem... ]
...It's a quality that makes you seem earnest. I don't think you should overwork yourself or anything, but something about seeing a very full plate of cookies made me smile.
[ when kara does take a cookie, jeanne looks pleased about it. that's all of the checkmarks, isn't it! drink βοΈ food βοΈ conversation βοΈ
oh, smiling!! well, she's been doing that. blushing, too. when she's called admirable. and earnest. she's no one to admire, but she's touched to hear something like that. kara is a good person. kind. ]
O - oh. I see... [ jeanne pops a cookie in her mouth to chew. eating it in the blink of an eye as her face remains flushed.
since they met, she's gotten the feeling that all of kara's smiles and good attitude were more shaky than she let on. ]
... I'm glad it could. Lately... it's been difficult to smile about things.
[ there's a pause as she pops another cookie into her mouth. ]
But full plates of cookies make me smile, too. [ because she's a lil FOODIE. ] Have you still been staying at the Valentia?
Difficult? You mean, because we're here, or did something else happen?
[ Sure, she's a bit nosy, but this is genuinely more of an open invitation for Jeanne to talk about what's been eating at her. She deserves a platform for it after working so hard today. They don't know each other well, but Kara understands that in order to make friends, she should invite conversation. Be personable. And those are part of a side of her that she's hoping to present to Jeanne today. ]
I'm glad you can find a reason to be happy here, in this moment. I think your smile is very nice.
[ Said with a grin of her own as she stuffs her face with a cookie to hide her mild embarrassment. ]
Mm, yeah, I have been. It's nice to have a somewhat permanent roof over my head, so I can't complain.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
BROW WAGGLE
good, checks out ok. looking healthy, if not weary. which, you know, she can definitely empathize with. ]
I... suppose, yes. I know a few people who are staying here, so I was invited. But I must do something to repay them, so I am contributing as I can...
[ if she's successful is ANOTHER MATTER. her gaze drops to her toes, brow furrowed, before she lifts her eyes again. ]
I - I cannot cook any of the menu items yet, but could I get you something to drink? You can pick any of the open tables. I will personally tend to you...!
WAGGLES BACK
[ Said SO bluntly but not meant as an insult. She's envious that Jeanne has them already, as someone who struggles with being comfortable with solitude, but decides not to voice that particular bit as she steps into the cafe. She picks a table nearby out of convenience. ]
Uh, sure! I don't know what the menu is, but I'll take whatever you feel comfortable making, I guess.
[ is it water ]
WAGGLES INTENSIFY
[ and BOY "friends" sure is complicated right now. lady dominique is someone she respects and loves, but calling her merely a friend is a disservice. noΓ© is someone she trusts, if nothing else. she likes him.
when it comes to vanitas? right now, she doesn't want to think about that. she picks up a menu from the pile somewhere and scuffles back over to set it down in front of her just in case she wants to read it and look at the pictures (???) ]
What I feel - ? Um. Would... tea be alright?
[ SHE CAN MAKE TEA. flavored water. ]
HE HE HE HEEHHHH
[ Because on one hand, having a bunch of them transported to this particular hellhole kind of sucks. On the other, at least she has people to cope with. Can't say she's not jealous, still, but her attention shifts back to the menu.
With a bright smile, she nods β ]
Yeah! Tea would be pretty sweet. Can you add some milk and sugar to it, too?
>:3c
jeanne offers a small smile back and nods. there was something she was supposed to say. oh! ]
Yes. Coming right up.
[ with clenched fists and her attempt at being excited when her mind is in turmoil. maybe it's convincing, but there isn't that same sparkle in her eye as she turns and hurries to the kitchen to get the kettle going.
which tea? she forgot to ask. ummm, sweet. something sweet, she said. peach! peach tea sounds sweet.
jeanne returns with the kettle and a tray of dishware. there at the table, she sets a teacup, a little jar of milk, and a little bowl of sugar. right there in front of her, she pours the steaming liquid into the cup and a bit of milk. ]
Are two sugars pretty sweet?
[ she misunderstood the slang. ]
no subject
Jeanne arrives, and the tea actually smells good! Well done, Jeanne. The question is interpreted as a simple, factual question (wow the misunderstandings are everywhere) and she nods. ]
Yeah, I would say so. That should be plenty. Thank you, Jeanne!
no subject
[ glad that she's done her job to kara's taste; her smile tugs higher and her cheeks color faintly.
what's next? oh, right.
shyly, she slides into the seat next to kara and shoves her hands into her lap. someone give jeanne shoujo manga so she can pretend she's a love interest. ]
So. Um. What brings you here?
[ yes! excellent conversation starter! she's doing it!! ]
no subject
Kara places her hands around the teacup and brings it up to her lips. Before she can take a sip, Jeanne asks her question. Out of politeness, she places it back on the dish. Her answer is simple. ]
Mm, I don't know. Things are complicated here and some things are beyond my comprehension. It's stressful for me, even if I don't always show it.
[ Says the girl who was clearly stressed out around Jeanne while they were painting rooms together....... ]
But this? This little place? It kind of reminded me of home. Made me feel like maybe living normally sometimes isn't out of the question here. Then I saw you, and you graciously offered to make something for me. So, here I am.
no subject
jeanne won't comment about how she was CLEARLY stressed, yes, in the rooms they were renovating. but she understands the feeling. all too well. too much information to digest. topics beyong her ken when she's only known how to fight, and kill, and win. ]
It also reminds me of Paris. [ jeanne says quietly, that small smile still on her lips. ] I'm glad you stopped by, then. I understand how you feel. Seeing things that remind me of home are the most comforting right now.
Come anytime you like. If anyone tells you that you can't, I will crush them.
[ jeanne. ]
no subject
Before she can ask, though, Jeanne presents a threat.
Kara chokes on her tea and coughs once, twice, then pats her lips with a napkin. ]
C-crush them?! No, no, there's no need for that! [ JEANNE.... ] I mean, I can totally do it myself!
[ these two ]
no subject
though her hands flutter in worry, she rubs kara's back to make sure she's okay. ]
You... can...?
[ pikashock ]
... Are you also...?
[ a vampire ]
no subject
Also...what? [ She tilts her head curiously. What does Jeanne mean by this. ] I mean, I think I can. ...Maybe not, actually... I'm tough, but I'm not an expert.
[ She is but an ordinary human (mostly). ]
Sorry, what were you going to ask?
no subject
Huh? Oh, that. Um.
[ it was so normal back home with other vampires. proving they are cut from the same cloth with fangs. rather, changed from the same babel.
but what if kara is a TOTALLY NORMAL HUMAN? she doesn't want to scare her or do something bad here and get in trouble for it. ]
A - a - are you also good at self-defense?
[ yeah. NAILED IT. another topic to chat about!(?) ]
no subject
Mm? I guess so! I've survived up until now, so that has to mean something!
[ Whatever the hell that means...... ]
I'm sure you're much better at it. People don't threaten to crush others if they're not strong!
no subject
what a strange thing to say, though. even humans back in paris were relatively safe. as long as they didn't run into a curse-bearer. if kara is from a different world like so many people here, she has to wonder where she's come from to justify saying something like that.
she should ask abou - oh. ]
Eug - [ THREATEN. ah, she did. oops. ] No, I - ! I-I am merely... protective.
[ not a lie. ]
I was hired as a knight.
no subject
[ Huh! She doesn't know if she'd have made that connection if Jeanne hadn't said anything. Sure, the gal's protective and defensive, but a knight is taking those things a step further. Maybe she shouldn't be so surprised, after all. ]
Whoa, that's cool. You protect someone of noble blood, then? Or something like that? I think we still have a few of those where I'm from, but none I'm familiar with...
[ A sip of her tea β which she does need to compliment Jeanne on. ]
By the way, good job with preparing this. It's sweet but not overly so.
no subject
Th - thank you. I am glad it is to your liking.
[ the rest? ]
Yes. I've been tasked with protecting someone very important back home. [ not just to society, but someone important to her.
doubly protective. ]
... But is being a knight that impressive...?
[ almost on instinct, she reaches to grab a macaron but stops short and lets her hand fall to the table as her eyes go wide. ]
I - I forgot snacks! Just a moment!
[ with a clatter, she gets up and hustles back to the kitchen. just a few minutes later, she comes out with multiple plates of little cookies and biscuits to enjoy with the tea. they're overflowing. oops. ]
no subject
[ And then before she can continue, Jeanne zooms off to grab more snacks. Ah? She forgot about them personally, but the poor girl seems nervous about working here, so Kara won't comment on it.
...Or so she thinks. Because when Jeanne returns with multiple plates full of snacks, she can't help but raise her eyebrows. ]
Oh, you weren't kidding about bringing some snacks. ... Jeanne, you seem like the kind of person who puts her all into everything she does. Does that sound right?
no subject
she WOULD agree that she's strong, however. it is a point of pride. however small her self-esteem might be.
after setting down numerous plates, she slides back into her seat next to kara. mid-reach for one of the cookies, she stops and blinks. ]
U - Um, yes. Perhaps that is true. ... Is that strange?
no subject
[ She'll go ahead and reach for a cookie herself, though. There are so many of them, after all. They'd better get to work on cleaning this plate!!! ]
I find it admirable.
[ It's nice to see that Jeanne works so hard, cares so much doing things right. It makes Jeanne seem... ]
...It's a quality that makes you seem earnest. I don't think you should overwork yourself or anything, but something about seeing a very full plate of cookies made me smile.
no subject
oh, smiling!! well, she's been doing that. blushing, too. when she's called admirable. and earnest. she's no one to admire, but she's touched to hear something like that. kara is a good person. kind. ]
O - oh. I see... [ jeanne pops a cookie in her mouth to chew. eating it in the blink of an eye as her face remains flushed.
since they met, she's gotten the feeling that all of kara's smiles and good attitude were more shaky than she let on. ]
... I'm glad it could. Lately... it's been difficult to smile about things.
[ there's a pause as she pops another cookie into her mouth. ]
But full plates of cookies make me smile, too. [ because she's a lil FOODIE. ] Have you still been staying at the Valentia?
no subject
[ Sure, she's a bit nosy, but this is genuinely more of an open invitation for Jeanne to talk about what's been eating at her. She deserves a platform for it after working so hard today. They don't know each other well, but Kara understands that in order to make friends, she should invite conversation. Be personable. And those are part of a side of her that she's hoping to present to Jeanne today. ]
I'm glad you can find a reason to be happy here, in this moment. I think your smile is very nice.
[ Said with a grin of her own as she stuffs her face with a cookie to hide her mild embarrassment. ]
Mm, yeah, I have been. It's nice to have a somewhat permanent roof over my head, so I can't complain.