Room 413 [evening]

[notqueenyet]

Aravis was fairly certain that of all the bad habits she could have taken up, smoking was one of the worst.

However. The boy from yesterday had intrigued her, and though she hadn't enjoyed the cigarette, she'd gotten herself a pack today in addition to some loose tobacco and the far-more-familiar hookah, though it looked different from what she'd

Comments

[bloody_luck]

"Do I smell smoke?" Mat asked from the door.

[bloody_luck]

Mat nodded. "And there's a nation of insane bloody people from across the ocean who claim to be descendants of Artur Paendrag," he said, "but most folk brush that off as rumor."

Mat had been there when the Seanchan had been pushed back to the sea, so he knew differently.

[notqueenyet]

"And most people brush off Narnia's talking Animals as rumor," she noted, grinning, "but rumors always have a basis in fact, don't they?"

[bloody_luck]

"Most of the time," Mat agreed, "though when you hear the rumor, the event that started it has been stretched completely out of recognition."

[notqueenyet]

"That's true. My supposed scales are an excellent example," she noted.

[bloody_luck]

"My blinding good looks are true, though," Mat said humbly.

[notqueenyet]

"Blinding?" Aravis repeated, raising a brow.

[bloody_luck]

"You aren't given a headache by standing so long in my radiance?" Mat teased.

[notqueenyet]

"Mmm, you're right. I probably won't be able to ask you to stay any longer," she said thoughtfully. "So as to shield my poor, delicate eyes."

[bloody_luck]

"Or you could just close your eyes?" Mat suggested, backpedaling rapidly.

[notqueenyet]

"But then that takes all the fun out of it," she said sadly. "Plus I won't be able to see what you're doing, and you might go through my underthings or something."

[bloody_luck]

"Are they especially fascinating underthings?" Mat asked, grinning.

[notqueenyet]

"Well." Aravis peeked in her bodice. "Not the ones I'm wearing, but you've not seen the modern things I've had to purchase over my tenure here! Some of them are very fascinating. I'm still not sure how they really work."

[bloody_luck]

"I could offer my services," Mat said oh-so-gallantly, "if they are so terribly confusing for you."

[notqueenyet]

"Hmm. Are you certain you wouldn't be intimidated? They're black lace and very small," she noted helpfully. "And there are many fastenings."

[bloody_luck]

Please hold. Mat's brain has stopped working.

"...are there?" he finally asked.