Clodion Café

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:33 pm

Alys and Tarragon walked into the quint cafe and the witch looked around brightly. She had never been out of the school properly and today, she was finally going to go out and explore the hidden village near Durmstrang. The cafe was nice, she thought as she looked at the high ceilings and comfortable wooden furniture. A very cozy environment. She even spotted what looked like art exhibition posters on the wall and behind the counter, meaning the place hosted exhibitions from time to time.

Smiling, the witch turned to Tarragon. "Is it okay if we sit by the window? I want to soak in some sunlight before it inevitably starts to snow again."

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:41 pm

"Of course we can." He replied, "What would you like to eat and drink, I'll get it and you can grab a table."

He got out his little sack of Knuts and Galleons, and looked up at the menu and waited for her to answer him.

by Guest Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:58 pm

Right, it was a self serving cafe, Alys realized as Tarragon got out his money pouch. "You're not paying for my food," she said firmly, reaching into her backpack for her own purse which she had stowed there with her coat. Walking with him to the counter, the witch studied the dishes on the menu intently before smiling at the girl behind the counter.

"One birnen, bohnen und speck please," she ordered. "And some hot mocha too." Turning to Tarragon she said. "Go on, your turn."

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:07 am

"One Rouladen with vegetables, please" He smiled at the girl behind the counter, "And a pumpkin juice for me as well. I'll be paying for both of them as well"

He passed the money for both meals across the counter, not braving to look down at Alys in fear of what she would say. He turned his back on the counter to look for a table, and conveniently there was a seat by the window like Alys had wanted. He turned back just in time to see thier tray be readied and passed over. He picked it up and walked over towards the window seat, knowing Alys would follow.

Placing the tray on the table, he slid into one of the bench seats, pulling his plate towards him, and picking up his knife and fork.

"I can't believe you are eating that!" Tarragon exclaimed, pointing his knife at Alys' food.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:04 am

Alys followed him sulkily to a table by the window and upon taking a seat across from him, took out a few coins from her purse. "The price for my meal," she said firmly, making it clear she would not budge. "If you don't take it, I will leave it here as tip for the nice lady behind the counter. And I will do the same with everything you pay for me until i say you can."

Leaving the coins on the table between then, the witch pulled her own food towards her and reached for a fork, not answering his question on her food preference. Alys took money matters personally and she knew Tarragon had a lot of it but that didn't mean she wanted him to pay for her.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:17 am

Tarragon rolled his eyes at Alys giving him the money and left it on the table between them, because he wouldn't accept money from Alys when he wanted to treat her.

"We'll leave it as a tip then," he conceeded to her. "Now, someone tells me that I missed your birthday?"

He cut off some of his meal and put it in his mouth, careful not to eat too quickly and look like a pig. He was hungry, but he was also in Alys' company and didn't wish to embarass her. He swallowed his mouthful before continuing.

"So, I was going to ask if it would be okay for me to buy you a present whilst we are in town?"

He smiled hopefully across the table at her.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:44 am

Alys fully intended to stay mad when the boy refused her money but then he mentioned her birthday. The girl looked up at him in surprise, spearing a bit of pear on her fork. "How did you know it was my birthday a few weeks ago?' she asked. It was funny really how on the day of her turning twelve, no one had said a thing but now, mid march, people seemed to be wishing her left and right. First Lukas, than the other boy from Geschik and now Tarragon too. "Did someone release a secret flyer that it was my birthday at the end of February?" she asked seriously.

When her asked permission to buy her a present, she considered it thoughtfully. She really didn't want him to spend money on her. "I'll tell you what, you can give me a present so long as you don't buy it. You can make it or find it but you can't spend money on it." She grinned, inserting the fruit piece in her mouth and chewing as she waited for his reaction to her proposal.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:03 am

"I just heard the rumour, that's all and felt bad that I hadn't given you anything. And spending nothing is fine by me, if that is what you wish. But for your information, I wasn't spending anything anyway, I don't flash my cash all the time Miss Diederich, and I'd hate to think that you thought that little of me either." He felt his face flush red as he spoke, but he didn't know why.

He cut himself some more food and watched Alys eat her own as well as looking out the window at passers by. He brought himself some more time with another mouthful of food, swallowing and wiping the corners of his mouth he looked back at her.

"We'll spend the rest of the afternoon here in the village, then we'll head back to the castle for dinner. Then after dinner, you can have your surprise."

He smiled shyly at Alys.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:16 am

The witch was happy enough at the idea of not having him spend money on her. School had changed her that way. Before Durmstrang, the girl hadn't cared a thing for gold but now, when she was realizing how so many of her fellow students were so well off, she felt a little self conscious. Not that she would ever tell that to anyone.

"Of course, after we eat, we're off to the music bar, remember?" she said. Alys was still looking very much forwards to it. She had a sneaky suspicion Zara would be there too and the witch couldn't wait to catch up with her housemate. "Surprise after dinner sounds good," she said through a mouthful of beans and bacon. The salad here really was one of the best she had had since her arrival in Norway. Or maybe it had just been that long since she had tasted authentic German food. The witch chewed slowly, letting the taste caress her tongue.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:29 am

"Of course, I hadn't forgotten! How could I?" He smiled, "And it would be nice to finally talk to Zara, she seems to avoid me."

He laughed softly, and finished off his plate of food. He looked up at her cautiously before asking.

"Would you like pudding, or will I get shouted at for spending money on you again?"

Tarragon was still hungry after skipping breakfast and still wanted more, but didn't want to hold Alys up to getting to see her good friend either.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:49 am

"I wouldn't mind something with chocolate in it," the witch grinned, adding a few more sickles to her pile on the table. "The money's there," she said lazily, letting her eyes stray to the window. The sun was still out but it was slowly making its way behind what looked suspiciously like clouds full of potential snow.

The girl laughed when he mentioned Zara out of nowhere. She supposed certain words always went together, like "Zara Stoudt" and "music bar". "She doesn't avoid you," the blonde reassured him, laughing. "Would you believe me if I tell you the girl likes to sleep? She really is my sloth twin. We can sleep for ages and ages. Once Anja even told us she thought we were dead because we slept for thirty hours straight on a weekend."

They had laughed so much when the panicked girl had woken them up, and then thrown their pillows at her worried face before cuddling up in their comforters once again. Really, Alys loved Ava with all her heart but Zara was the one who understood her like she couldn't believe, right down to the secret and embarrassing habit of needing to hug something when sleeping.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:00 am

"Chocolate. I'll be right back."

Tarragon got up and went back to the counter, he ordered Alys a chocolate muffin, and got himself a white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake. He picked up the tray after paying and headed back to the window.

"I got you a chocolate muffin, but you can have my cheesecake if you'd prefer?"

He waited for her to chose her pudding as she talked more about Zara. He was looking forward to going to the bar, but hoped they weren't going to be dancing, not fast dancing, he was no good at that!

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:21 am

"I have a better idea," the girl grinned and taking a knife, divided both pastries in half. "Here you go," she said, giving him half a muffin and half a slice of cake and taking the same for herself. The girl brought a forkful of cheesecake to her her mouth and felt it melt on her tongue. If nothing else, the boy had good taste in dessert.

"You're lucky I'm being so civil with dessert," she laughed after swallowing her bite. "If Zara was here, we would probably be drinking chocolate source straight from the bottle. You wouldn't believe some of the things the house elves have brought up to us, whipped cream among them. Kanthe says we're going to regret all the chocolate dragons and hot cocoa but I thinks she's just jealous because her Mama told her she can't have sweets anymore." Alys chatted away happily, making her way through her half of the muffin.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:35 am

Tarragon listened to her intently, picking at his own dessert absently. The boys of Muhe weren't as fun going as the girls, they seemed to have a lot of fun. Tarragon didn't mind talking about the best Quidditch players of all time, or the season, but he longed for some more interlectual chatter, even if that did involve spraying whipped cream straight into their mouths.

"It doesn't sound like you lot sleep at all to be quite honest!" Tarragon laughed, taking a sip of his pumpkin juice. He looked down at his watch, "I think we better get a move on if you want to go dancing!"

He smiled across the table, taking out his sack of Galleons and chucking down the equal amount of change that Alys had left in the middle of them.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:51 am

"Well, nowadays we don't what with exams. But when you don't see me all day on a weekend, I'm usually holed up in bed, mine or Zara's. Depends on which one is nearer and occupied. See, mine is closer to the showers and her's to the dorm door. And the odd thing is, they're side by side. Which is why Anja thinks we're lazy to walk the extra two feet. She says what's the point of picking beds if we'll end up sleeping in each other's." Alys' mood was getting better and better as she recounted all the Zara stories to Tarragon. Really, all her qualms about having to share a room had diminished the night Zara Stoudt had stumbled into the first year Muhe girls' dorm and fallen face down over her trunk.

Finishing off the last bite of cheesecake, the witch got ready to leave. "We're not going there to dance," she corrected him as he reached for something. "The place will be too packed anyway. It's just been ages since I heard some proper music. Honestly, the place is more for leaning against walls or on bar stools and listening to really loud music."

"What that for?" she added as Tarragon placed some money on the table.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:01 am

Tarragon smiled at Alys' happiness in her dorm, it made him happy to see she was a little more settled now at school.

"I'm glad you have made such a good friend with Zara. And you mean I brought my dancing shoes for no reason?" He asked with a mock smile. "That? Oh, well if you're allowed to leave a tip, then so am I, aren't I?"

He knew it would wind Alys up that he was spending his money on her, but he was trying to prove that he didn't mind spending it on her. He offered his hand to her again as they made their way out into the street and headed for the music bar.

by Guest Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:10 am

The witch looked at him incredulously, he had out down the exact amount of money she had on the table. That was gong to be one happy girl behind the counter. Scowling at the boy, Alys ignored his hand and got up by herself. She wanted to stay mad at him but the prospect of walking out into the weak sunlight and going to the music bar forced a reluctant smile one her face.

"I'm not happy you did that," she assured him as her fringe fell over her eye, making the witch sweep it back behind her ear. "But what you do is your business." What she left unsaid was "let's see how long you can keep this up."

The bar was only two streets over and by the time they reached it, Alys' spirits were considerably lifted.