All You Can Taste is Sweet

[Talia Bracken]

Work and play. Two words. Sometimes mingled together and sometimes not. For Talia, they mingled. There was a fun she had in her dealings with the people she met. Especially in the meadery. Chat was common. Thick with rumors. The things she could learn just by listening were numerous. There was even more she could find out with a bright smile and pretty face. No one suspected her. She was just a barmaid.

But even she needed a break now and then. Only for a little. So she headed outside. Breathed in the fresh air deeply. As much fun as she had with deception, she needed a breather. Especially today. Business was higher than usual. All she wanted to do was sit. She'd been standing the whole time. But since there wasn't really a place to sit, she just found a spot outside the meadery and sat.

"No wonder there's so many today." The day was beautiful. Not too hot and not too cold. The perfect day to draw people out. And make her day busier. Yet it got her more information. A trade of sorts. One she was fine with making. So long as she got a few minutes to sit outside and enjoy the sunlight. Even if she was on the ground. She glanced up at the sky now and smiled. It really was a beautiful day.

[Felix Whitegate]

The sun was surpassingly warm, the clouds being kept at bay as the season slipped into the warmth of summer. It was pleasant day by the standards of most, and Felix was making the most of his time that was taken up with guard duties; Not that he didn't enjoy his position, but it was tiring and the training was exhausting... The young man was frankly just happy with having a few hours of not carrying his longsword across his back, although he kept a dagger on him for piece of mind.
Felix had never seen reason to carry around a greater weapon then that when not on duty; Perhaps he should, given his heritage, but in his mind the noble had never viewed himself in the same vein as his royal cousins... They were Princesses, princes... He may be the son of the late King's sister, but that was a distance enough to Felix to warrant in his mind to being less important in terms of his relation to the royals, and therefore not as important a kidnapping victim or someone to bother taking out; It wasn't like he was next in line.

The warm day met Felix well, and he found himself casually strolling along his usual patrol route out of habit; He enjoyed the sights and sounds of Goldcrest, the bustle of human life; He'd lived the majority of his life in seclusion due to his family being on the run during the war, moving from safehouse to safehouse... So he took great pleasure in simply taking a walk out in the sun with the company of the general public. He lifted his eyes to the sky, grinning as he shielded his eyes from the sun; He'd have to return back to the City Guard's barracks soon, before his patrol began. He paused, bringing his gaze now to the building he'd found himself next to; The meadery. Well, there was time for one drink surely before work? Felix however then paused, a young woman catching his eyeline; He recognised her as the waitress of the establishment, her blonde hair catching the sun... She was sat down, and a look of slight exhaustion of her features.

"Busy day?" Felix mused politely, casting the waitress one of his slightly goofy grins as he approached her. "With this weather, I'm not surprised." He then blinked and pointed next to her. "Mind if I join you? You look as though a good conversation as opposed to drunken revelry would be a welcome change."

[Talia Bracken]

A familiar voice made her look up. The familiar face made her smile. He had on one of his goofy grins. The relief seeing him brought was surprising. He wasn't shocked her day was busy, given the perfection of it. Talia laughed but got up to greet him. Threw a hug around him. "Felix! I'm much more glad to see you than anyone else inside." She admitted with an eyeroll. Yet it was the tired truth. Then he spoke up. Could he sit with her? She looked like she could use his company over a drunk's.

"Please." It was firm, if a little weary. Taking her arms away, she sat down again. Sighed. "Believe me, I've had my fill of the 'drunken revelry' for the day. Although I'll have to brave it and go back in there eventually." It was a fact. Unless she wanted to get in trouble. She eyed Felix with a wry smirk. "I'm sure it's a lot of fun on their end of the deal, but not so much on mine." Yet she pushed the idea to the side with a shake of her head. Offered Felix a genuinely happy smile. "But enough about that. What brings you around here? Off duty?"

[Felix Whitegate]

Felix stumbled back a little when the young woman threw her arms around him, having been caught a touch off guard, but he quickly returned the action. "You flatterer, Miss.Bracken!" He grinned with a warm chuckle. "I suppose you say that to all the guards."
Although he supposed he couldn't blame her... The meadery was a popular spot, and given the weather it was a honeypot; And mead often came hand in hand with drunk related trouble. No doubt once the day slipped into the cool evening, Felix's patrol was going to be a rather more interesting one then on the average day. The guardsman placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head slightly with his usual goofy smile when the barmaid agreed to his offer, and he sat himself down next to her. The warmth of the late afternoon sun bore down upon them, on the slightly cooler side of hot, but enough that it wasn't uncomfortable.
"Hmm?" Felix hummed softly as he rested his forearms on his knees, looking to Talia, before he chuckled. "I can agree with you there... But have no fear, if there's any trouble, you send them my way. I'm sure they'll all quell in fear." The young noble then gave another chuckle, playfully raising an eyebrow. "No, the guard simply opted to have a more casual dress for today." He joked, before looking upwards towards the beautifully blue sky, running a hand through his fluffy hair. "... It was such a nice day, I couldn't let it pass by in the barracks."

It was rare that the guardsman got most of the day to himself with no duties to address, and remaining in his quarters felt like a waste.
"Although it's a shame you're stuck in there... Want me to falsify a raid tonight on the meadery so you get the evening off?" It was another joke of course, and he playfully bumped her arm with his elbow, a mischievous smile adorned on his lips as he said it.

[Talia Bracken]

He stumbled back. Caught off guard. She flashed him a sheepish smile. Yet it warmed when she saw his. Turned to laughter when he spoke. She was a flatterer and said that to all the guards. "I might." She teased. "But I'm most glad when it's you, on duty or off." The guards could help put down any rowdy business in the meadery. Which was rare, but did happen from time to time.

He could agree with her statement, and she could fetch him if there was any trouble. No doubt they'd quell in fear. Talia chuckled and shook her head. Hopefully there wouldn't be trouble that day. He made a joke about the guards dressing casually. Her eyes snapped back at him with a playful scowl. She lightly shoved his shoulder. "Well sorry I'm curious!" Yet the real answer soon came. It was a lovely day and shouldn't be wasted in the barracks. Talia simply nodded her head in agreement. It really was.

It was a shame she was stuck here. Did she want him to falsify a raid for her? It came with a playful bump and mischievous smile. It was returned with a smirk and blue eyes full of mischief thenselves. "Are you saying you'd lie? Why Felix, here I thought you were such a good example!" It was another tease, plain to see.

[Felix Whitegate]

Her teasing remark that she may offer other guards the same flattery, followed by an assurance that she was more so glad when it was him, warmed the guardsman's heart. Felix had taken to spending the occasional evening in the meadery, even though he wasn't an overly indulgent drinker; He didn't go there to drown any sorrows he may have at the bottom of a tankard... He enjoyed the company of the barmaid, a young woman who, to him, had a kind and light hearted disposition. It was admirable how she continued to be so, despite how some of the tavern's customers would get a little too merry on it's wares on occasion, leaving her dealing with a bunch of rowdy drunken patrons.

"Consider me well and truly flattered then," He responded brightly to her comment, the honesty evident in his words.
Felix's playful smile stretched when she retorted from his joke with a smirk, chuckling as she continued to tease him. He blinked at her, his eyes widened as he mocked being hurt, pouting his bottom lip slightly as he placed a hand on his chest. "You wound me! To think I'd do such a thing," He grinned. "Mind you, if lying helps get a lady free for the evening surely it would be considered an act of valour?" He laughed again before giving a gentle sigh, his bright eyes moving from her to watch passers by. "... So how are things at the meadery? People behaving themselves?"

[Talia Bracken]

Consider him well and truly flattered. His tone was very genuine. Occasionally it still surprised her. She wasn't used to such consistent honesty. Everyone had somethig to hide. Yet for the most part he was an open book. Although she was sure there were things. Everyone had a skeleton in their closet. But she smiled all the same. "Good!" It was firm but cheerful. Playful. It almost always was with him.

He pretended to be hurt. Pouted even as he put a hand to his heart. She wounded him, thinking such a thing. Yet a grin soon followed. If lying helps get a lady free for the evening, surely it was an act of valor? Talia raised a brow and smirk. Folded her arms over her chest and tilted her head back slightly. "I dare say you're trying to steal me for the evening, Felix. Tsk tsk." But a smile disarmed the words as her arms fell again. It was all in good fun.

How was the meadery? "Other than people singing who really shouldn't be, a few spilled tankards, and the occasional grabby hand, it's been fine. Nothing I can't handle." The statement came with a shrug. Then blue eyes studied Felix. "What about you? How's the guard been treating you? Well, I hope."

[Felix Whitegate]

Felix was, quite consistently, a honest man. He saw little need to hide the truth from others unless it would harm them or himself, and found that when he was open about himself, those he spoke to would generally return the notion; Important not only for his public relations between him as a member of the guard and the citizens of Goldcrest, but also simply because he took great pleasure in socialising and bonding with people... Likely due to having been kept practically in captivity during his childhood; It was also, quite frankly, part of his nature.
"Steal you for an evening? Keep talking like that Miss.Bracken, and people may get the wrong idea!" The guardsman teased in response, before falling silent as he listened to her complaints about the meadery. He chuckled a little at her comment regarding poor singing, before he sighed a little at her mention of the occasional unwanted hand; Perhaps it was his upbringing, or the way he naturally was, but Felix was nothing if not a gentleman through and through, and it pained him when others didn't take simple good manners into consideration. "Remember you can always call for the guard if you need help if things get out of hand at the meadery." He mentioned softly, reaching out to place a gentle hand upon her shoulder with a warm smile. "Although I'm pretty sure you're a deft hand at handling yourself." He chuckled again, removing his touch from her, before settling back a little, leaning on his hands as he cast a thoughtful gaze to the near cloudless sky.

The guard... Felix adore his position within the ranks of the City guard, but sometimes he could not help but feel as though he should be doing more to aid the people of Goldcrest. Felix lived close to both the mages and the Chevaliers, and even though their lives were strict... He couldn't help but feel that if the Coterie did make some attempt at war again, that the young noble would be able to do so much more under the title of Chevalier... Although if that was a path he truly opted to go down, he knew it would be far from easy... Especially given the fact that many did not even survive the process to becoming one.
He hummed in consideration of her question. "... Well. The hours are long, but I'm enjoying what I do," He commented honestly. "... Although sometimes I think I could do..." He trailed off, his smile falling a touch. "More... Don't get me wrong, I love the guard and what we stand for, and the work we do for Goldcrest... But I just think I could do... Something more." He took an intake of breath, before blowing it upwards, ruffling his fringe, before he looked to the young woman beside him. "Sorry, I don't mean to go on."

[Talia Bracken]

If she kept talking like that, people might get the wrong idea. It was clearly playful from his tone. Talia laughed and shook her head. Others might get the wrong idea, though she certainly wouldn't mind the minor rescue from her work. Not that she complain too much. She did like it. And it was an excellent way of getting information. It just came with its problems. She could always get the guard to help if things got out of hand. Though he didn't doubt she was a deft hand at handling herself. She flashed him a sweet smile. "Thank you, Felix. I know I can count on the guard to handle what I can't."

He hummed in consideration. Took the time to think. What was going through his mind, Talia could only wait for. The hours were long, but he enjoyed it. Although he wished he could do more. Talia glanced over at him curiously. He did love the guard and what it stood for and did, but he wanted to do even more. Talia studied him while he apologized. Scrutinized and thought. Then looked up to the sky.

"I'm going to take a stab in the dark and guess you're talking about becoming a Chevalier or something similar." Blue eyes turned back to him with a playful smile and a wink. "Unless of course you've suddenly changed your mind and want to dive into the world of nobles and politics."