love at first sight

Henri knew that if he ever did venture out to the Inner Heart, he'd stick out for the pure fact that he was a commoner. It was like these magicians knew or something - and he couldn't stand intruding, or being looked at rudely even if he hadn't done anything. He heard rumors, too, about commoners who dared go in without an invitation. But those were just rumors, and Henri didn't really believe them. Still, it was a word of caution, and no sane-minded commoner would ever just wander in with reckless abandon.

"Oh, I'll keep that in mind." Henri had more or less asked the food question to see if his choice of food would be alright with Bran. At it seemed like, for the most part, any choice of food would've been go, so he was in the clear. Henri was much the same - he just ate whatever, really. It came with the lack of money. Sometimes he would have cravings, but those were far and few between, and didn't really matter. He really did miss his mother's cooking though...

"Haha, sweets. What - oh, wait, never mind, I'll ask later." He'd almost slipped and asked another question - but at least he had one in mind now. Even if it was just as simple as the first. Though he heard Bran's stomach growling, maybe he should skimp out of the topic of food for the time being. "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to make your stomach react."

He thought for a moment, two, head cocked to the side deep in thought. "Favorite memory, huh..." He had a lot of those. His first friends, his parents, his daily going abouts, the sights to see, the pages to fill full of memories he dare not forget. "I guess it would be this one time, my parents took me out during the night. We went to a rooftop, up above the other buildings. From there I could see it - the Eiffel Tower. It was clear and bright as day, and incredibly beautiful. I was maybe five, but I can still remember it." Yeah, that had to be his best, his most favorite.

"Ahem, well I guess my question kind of pales in comparison to yours. I know you said it was impossible to pick what kind of sweets you like the most, but do you like chocolate better than candy, or maybe something else? If that's too hard, I guess I can ask something else."

Brandon Sauveterre

Henri felt a bit bad that he couldn't come up with better questions, but he supposed if Bran said it was alright, then it was alright. It had to be alright, surely. He promised to himself - he'd come up with better questions this time around. Surely he had something, lurking in his brain, that was better than his rather straightforward questions about edibles.

He kept a mental note. Chocolates better than candy. But sweets were sweets. But still, he thought that maybe the chocolates part would be a good thing to remember.

"Ah, I hope you don't become bored of me, Bran. I know I'm not the most interesting person on the planet, but I'd like to stay interesting to you." If Bran was bored easily, he wasn't sure if he could keep his attention. He was just a regular old person, who just happened to save him from a perhaps disastrous trip to the unsavory parts of town. It was a beautiful place to be, if you could look past the ugly. And the streetwalkers. And the all-around gloomy atmosphere.

"Three things I'd like to see? Oh, that's too easy. I've had a lot of time to think about it, whenever I imagine that maybe someday I'll be able to go. Wishful thinking, you know? I definitely want to see the Eiffel Tower up close! It's a really big monument, and even from a distance it's beautiful. Maybe I could go up it - is that allowed? Oh, I don't know... that would be hoping for too much, isn't it? The Louvre too, I hear there's the most beautiful paintings inside. I could probably be in there all day, just admiring it. And the Cathedral - oh, the rumors say that it's an absolutely gorgeous piece of architecture, inside and out." Oh, he could almost see it, imagine it in his mind's eye. He'd be so happy if he just got to see it, just once, but he knew it was impossible.

"Oh. I got a bit carried away. Let's see..." He was stuck on a question. He said to himself that this one had to be a good one this time, something thought provoking, but he was coming up with very little. "Maybe, uh.... Hmmm. I just don't know how you do it, your questions are always so good. I guess - what kind of people do you like to hang out with?" That was a good question, right?

Brandon Sauveterre

Ah, did he hear that right? Henri made Bran, happy? Simply by talking? Well, that was easy. Usually it was other things that made people happy, but he was glad that Bran was easy to please. He preferred it, actually, because what if he did other things that made him even happier...?

No - Henri shook it out of his mind. He had to stop thinking like that.

"Th-thanks, I guess. I have a tendency to do that, but not a lot of people stop me when I go on and on. I guess that's why. I like making you happy, Bran." He offered a smile again, as he listened to him talk about the people he liked. That was a pretty good question, and it would give him some idea as to what kind of person Bran liked, too. Apparently, that person was Henri (not that he minded, he liked being liked). "No one's really put it that way. 'Interesting'... I guess that's a good thing. Usually I get stuff like 'you're fun to talk to' or 'you're really nice'."

And then he dropped the bomb.

"I... ah..." Henri suddenly felt like he was treading on thin ice. So that was it, huh? He felt a little blindsided by then, a bit abashed, a little flattered but a lot embarrassed. "I've never had someone be this forward with me, but yes, it's been mentioned in passing before." Did Bran really find him handsome? He couldn't help but feel glad of it, yet incredibly flustered over it. He was a bit stunned, unable to come up with a question.

"So um... oh!" The train pulled to a stop, doors opening, and Henri realized they were here. The food place was just a few blocks from here, by far the fastest way to get there. "This way, to food."

Brandon Sauveterre

It hasn't been Henri's intention to make Bran feel sorry for his words - not at all. He wasn't really bothered by it, either. Just a little surprised - he was actually a bit pleased at it. But he was also hitting himself for making Bran feel bad about it. No, no, no, that had not been his intention at all.

"Oh, I think you misunderstood me. I'm flattered you think I'm handsome. Really, I am. It's not everyday a dashing young man says so." Perhaps dashing wasn't the best way to describe Bran. Cute probably wasn't the best to start off with. Neither was adorable. Or innocent.

"Please don't feel like you offended me or anything." Henri had somehow changed from being embarrassed (though very very happy) to trying to reassure Bran that him being handsome was, in fact, very good.

"Hmm, I know this place is here somewhere. Oh, there it is." They had walked a bit out of the way from the station, toward a restaurant. "Don't let it fool you. It might be a bit on the large side but it's pretty cozy."

He led the two of them into the restaurant, which was almost empty. Probably no one really eating at this time. There were a few people here and there, but the two of them were seated almost immediately. "What would you like?"

Brandon Sauveterre

"Ah, I guess you're right about that. Hmmm, it's been a while. I think when I was here, I had the spaghetti. It was large, big enough for two people. IF you don't mind sharing, that is. Just your standard spaghetti and meat balls - if you're okay with that! There's more in there, in case you don't like spaghetti. There, oh there's chicken, and pizza. Pizza's always good, too." On and on again! Henri was too far gone at this point. So many words just tumbled out of his mouth, and he was powerless to stop it.

This was actually a very nice restaurant. He'd remembered it because a client had brought him here. Something about romantics, though it had been a bit odd. Still, it was a very good restaurant, and he couldn't say that he didn't like it. He often ate at restaurants, and this one was no exception. It's cozy atmosphere did make it somewhat more popular for couples than alone, but he had forgotten until it was too late to turn back.

He hoped Bran didn't notice. Though, there weren't that many people to notice.

Oh, he had forgotten. Yes, he did say that he wanted to escort him back home. Bran had been so adamant about not allowing him to come with him home before that he had dropped the subject completely, and yet was he bringing it up again. Did he have second thoughts? "Oh, yes. If you'd allow me to, I'd love to escort you home."

That was okay, right? Yes, definitely so. He'd probably have to pay out of pocket for his departure from actual real life work, though.

"I'll order, then, if you're good with it." He called over the waiter.

Brandon Sauveterre

He ordered quickly, a bit embarrassed because the waiter looked at them a bit curiously. Surely no one misunderstood them as a couple on a... a date, right? Well, if he looked at this from an objective standpoint, they were just two guys sitting in a restaurant that was known for catering to couples, sharing a plate of food between the two of them, having a nice time...

Oh dear lord.

They really did look like a couple. Not that Henri really minded terribly, to be honest, but it still took him a few seconds to really comprehend the information. He was a bit taken aback from the revelation, as well. Did Bran know? Was he late to the party? Was he late to realize this, or something? Maybe they could pass off ass just good friends, even though they were really strangers. Hopefully Bran didn't take this the wrong way, he'd really feel bad leading him on like that. Perhaps another time.

"Oh, that's fine. I don't mind at all. I'd rather you be safe. It's dangerous at night, these streets are prone to crime. I mean, if we go toward the richer districts it's better, but it's still a chance. I'd rather not risk it, and two men walking have a less chance of getting jumped or anything." It was getting pretty late, he was a bit worried about taking the trek back to his own home. But that was a bridge to cross when he got to it.

It would be probably dangerous, but he was capable, if anything. If he were so easily mugged or killed, he wouldn't be where he was today. He had muscle, if anything, and he knew how to use it (relatively). He didn't like to use it, at all, but desperate times called for desperate measures. And who was he if he couldn't defend himself as a high profile resistance leader?

"Oh, I suppose it is. I guess it's a bit of payback of my own, now. Has anyone told you how incredibly adorable you are?"

Brandon Sauveterre

Henri didn't expect such a strong reaction. He had been teasing Bran, for the most part. After all, if they were going about complimenting each other though thinly veiled questions Henri thought that would be the best way to describe Bran. He really was adorable when he stuttered about and blushed and was, altogether, embarrassed.

Was it bad that Henri found Bran all the more adorable to his reaction?

"I'm just teasing you. But you really are adorable, has no one ever told you that before? Or maybe you're just this adorable around me." Maybe, just maybe he was really being conceited about that now. And maybe, just maybe Henri was realizing just how flirtatious he was getting.

Why was he being like this? The only time he really did it was when he needed a customer that badly - usually when rent was due the next day. Did people really fall for that crap, though? Evidently so.

"And I think your awkwardness just adds to your charm. And you are cute, trust me." Henri didn't argue with Bran anymore, even if he wanted to reassure him that it was all the truth and nothing but. It was clear to see, plain as day. He wondered why Bran was so adamant that he wasn't cute. Had he looked in a mirror recently?

Though he didn't regret the question one bit. To see the plethora of emotion run through Bran's face was amusing and it made him feel somewhat proud that he could do that to Bran.

"Hmmm, that's a good question. A story? I don't know that many stories. I mean fairy tales I know a little bit about from my childhood. I can scarcely remember them though. Beauty and the Beast counts, right? I always loved that story." It had been, at least for him. He liked those kinds of stories, especially ones that ended in a happy ending. They were kind of romantic too, though he knew he probably wouldn't end up in a castle.

Didn't stop him from wishing, though.

"Oh, um, hmmm. To tell you the truth I'm awful at coming up with questions. I know I can't ask you about your favorite story because I remember you telling me you couldn't possibly choose. But, uh, then how about this. What is your honest opinion of me? I mean, did I make a good introduction? Am I too mean... I always fear being too mean, sometimes..."

Well that could have gone a bit better.

Brandon Sauveterre