(Untitled)

[quarkonium]

Hey Marcus, got a minute? There's something I need to ask you.

((Because sneaky!Merlot is sneaky. ♥ Also, she has no idea that her dad's around... yet. :D))

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[quarkonium]

Khrista was at the café early, and it wasn't because she was excited. The date, after all, was merely a dare, and there were only two reasons why she was taking it seriously: one, because she wanted to show Merlot that she wasn't the type to back down from any form of challenge, and two, because she resented being told to look and act like a lady. She was ladylike, only that convenience usually won over style and grace, and she was going to prove that now. What was the best way to do that but to turn herself into a housewife-cross-supermodel?

The first part was easy. She chose the café, which met the 'somewhere suitable' requirement, but instead of simply ordering something to eat, she opted to cook herself. She might've lost the time to indulge herself in such a hobby as of late, but she was a good cook, inheriting most of his father's talent. The second was even easier; she'd learned to dress up for various occasions, as it came with being a politician.

Ten minutes to seven. She'd just completed the finishing touches on the table when she saw a familiar silhouette somewhere outside. She smiled; either she scared him enough when she told him not to come late, or he had military etiquette after all, one which many soldiers sadly lacked. She gave the table one last look before heading into the comfort room to change.

[inmymothersname]

It was probably a mixture of the two, plus the fact that Marcus wouldn't know "fashionably late" if it hit him over the head.

He knocked hesitantly. "Khrista?"

[quarkonium]

It took a few more minutes for Khrista to open the door. "Thank you, for not being late," she said, smiling. It also meant that they could be done early, too. She opened the door wider so he could enter, and boy was Marcus in for a surprise. She wasn't wearing make-up, and she left her hair untied as always, but she was wearing a dress (and a rather short one at that), and pretty sandals instead of her customary boots. "Come in. I got this place just for the two of us tonight."

[inmymothersname]

"Why would I have been late?"

Marcus smiled back, a little nervously. "You look good, Khrista."

[quarkonium]

"You don't go on dates much, do you?" Khrista asked, and rather bluntly. He may be nervous, but she certainly wasn't, and there was no blushing or stuttering on her part. Not yet, anyway. "Thanks. You look good yourself."

[inmymothersname]

"Not really, but what does that have to do with being late?" Blunt he could deal with. In fact he could probably deal with blunt better. "Um, thanks."

[quarkonium]

He really was naive. Khrista tried not to sigh audibly. "For a lot of people - Terrans and Klausians, anyway," she added, speaking from experience, "it's SOP to be a little late when going out on a date. Either to make a grand entrance, or simply to let the other party wait. It's a tactic politicians use on some appointments, too. But I suppose Elicoorians do things differently." She stopped herself from saying that it might've had something to do with their civilization being a little behind the times. "Or you're just a military man with etiquette and discipline."

[inmymothersname]

Or he was just clueless, but he wasn't about to admit to that even if it was true. "Well, um, honestly... this is the first date I've been on." Or maybe he was.

[quarkonium]

Khrista was torn between chuckling and wincing. She decided on the former. "You're doing a pretty good job, so far. Not that... there's a rating system for this, or anything." For a rather attractive and likeable young man, it was pretty surprising. Either he was picky when it came to women, or just unusually shy. "Let's sit. These heels are killing me."

[inmymothersname]

Mostly the latter. "Right." He stepped over to the table and pulled out a chair for her - he could be sure of getting that right, at least.

[quarkonium]

As expected from a duke's son. "Funny how we agree to go out on a date, and everything suddenly has to be so formal." Although the venue was really due to Merlot's condition that it had to be in a suitable place; if Khrista had her way, she would've just invited him over to her place and she wouldn't have to endure wearing a dress and heels. "And sorry about the meal. I haven't had much practice."

Her 'not much practice' involved a sumptuous four-course meal that nobody from his family could dream of cooking up in a matter of hours and without help.

[inmymothersname]

Marcus looked puzzled as he took his own seat. "What are you apologizing for? It looks wonderful!"

[quarkonium]

"Glad you think so. Well, enjoy."

Khrista was happy that her cooking was appreciated. It was one of her strange pasttimes. The recent events in her world might have prevented her from doing so, but it was something she'd never tire of. It was a talent she'd unknowingly inherited from her biological father.

"So, tell me more about yourself, Marcus." She was, unfortunately, making it sound like a job interview.

[inmymothersname]

"What do you mean?" Launching into his life story didn't sound like the best thing to do on a date.

[quarkonium]

"Hobbies, likes, dislikes..." Khrista stopped herself from saying, Right, you haven't been on a date before, and simply smiled. "Anything you want, really."

[inmymothersname]

"Um." Marcus bit his lip; he really hadn't been expecting this. What do I do now? It's not like we're going to talk about politics or something...