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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - LATE AFTERNOON
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Maybelline hobbles in through the door, her mood practically floating her through the day, but sadly her leg still does not agree with long term walks. Still, she sets the crutches aside at the door again and limps to a bar stool, climbing up to order her usual coffee with umpteen sugars in it, grinning like an idiot as she sips the hot drink.
Nesseth is sitting at the bar as well, currently munching on a sandwich. He looks to the side when he senses someone joining him at the counter, then smiles and waves. "Oh, hey there, May. You're looking pretty chipper, today."
Maybelline laughs, "I'm feeling pretty chipper, Nesseth! In fact, you're just the guy I was hoping to find here!"
Nesseth tilts his head a bit. "Oh? You needed to see me for something? What's up?"
Maybelline sets her coffee down, fiddling with her hands a little, "Well... I uh, sorta had a... date, and I think it went really well, but uh, I just don't know! I mean, I've never done this before... I know you and Doc have been dating or whatever for awhile now, right?"
Nesseth chuckles a little and nods. "For a few months now, yeah. It sounds like you're settling in nicely around Respite."
Maybelline blushes slightly, but nods, "G-guess I am, yeah. Nothing wrong with that. I guess... I was just curious... what do you two do on dates? If that's not too personal. I mean, I just want to know what to do to do it right."
Nesseth hums thoughtfully at the question, setting his sandwich down to consider. "Well... we do a lot of things, really. Though, if I had to settle on any one answer, we just do whatever lets us enjoy each others company."
Maybelline hums, listening thoughtfully. "Well, that does sound pretty good. I mean, there's no manual for dating that I could ever find, and I never actually got to go on a real date until the other night. I guess we did mostly just talk."
Nesseth nods. "Yeah, there's no real guide to it, I guess. You just... do whatever you and your partner think would be the most fun. You don't always have to be doing anything exhausting or adventurous."
Elizabeth comments as she has walked in few seconds after Maybelline: "Dating is whatever you make of it. Warren used to take me all kinds of wild places that betrayed his 'calm and professional' exterior." She smirks.
Maybelline chuckles, "Well, that's good. I'm the least adventurous stoat I know. But she's..." She shakes her head, "Eh, I probably shouldn't be talking about it. I mean, it's been one date. I don't know how she'd feel about me announcing it all over town." She glances back at Elizabeth and nods, "Calm and professional... but... wild. Yeah... that seems about right so far."
Elizabeth steps to the bar and waves for her usual glass of wine: "If you have a chance for a good date, I'd say take it."
Nesseth nods at Elizabeth's statement. "Sounds like good advice right there." He chuckles, "As for announcing it all over town... well, sooner or later, someone's going to see who you're out and about with, and it'll get around."
Doc Plume walks into the bar and takes a seat next to Nesseth, surprising him with a peck on the cheek. They've clearly been working all day and look a bit tired, but are in good spirits. "I guess the thing with that is to not mind being seen with that person, then." They turn to the Barkeep and order a mug of seltzer and a bowl of stew with bread.
Elizabeth chuckles as well: "Seems like a small enough town that word goes around." She takes a sip of her wine as she gets it, looking at Plume in mild surprise: "That is certainly one part of it." She glances at the ring on her finger, giving it a warm smile.
Maybelline chuckles, "Heh, no doubt... but I'm not gonna be the one to start spreading rumors." She glances at Doc and smiles at the sign of affection towards Nesseth. "Well, we had one good date, at least, it felt really good, and she said it was good, and we've planned for another one. I guess I just gotta be fearless about it, but I want to make sure she's enjoying herself as much as I am."
Nesseth blinks and jumps a little at the surprise kiss, but smiles upon seeing Plume taking a seat beside him. He grins a bit and leans over, pulling them into a gentle, one-armed hug. "Hey there, Plume. Finished for the day?" He nods at May after a moment, "And yeah, the main thing is that you and your partner are enjoying things. That, of course, includes each other, as much as whatever you two might be doing."
Elizabeth chuckles softly at the young lovers around her: "Take it from an old prune - you're not going to be young forever. Make the most of it."
Doc Plume leans against Nesseth and drapes a wing around his shoulder. "Would be, but apparently word came through that a few folks have fallen ill on an incoming caravan, so I just need to eat quickly and then get ready to meet it when it arrives." They sigh a bit. "If word hadn't come, I'd be at the bathhouse right now."
Nesseth hums and seems to sag a little, but straightens up again after a moment. "I guess you're probably going to be busy for a bit into the evening, then, huh? Well... I'll drop by with a snack for you later, if you want, and make sure you're not overworking."
Doc Plume starts in on her stew and nods to Nesseth. "Yeah. I figured I should get some food in me before I have another busy day where I forget to eat." They wipe off their beak with a napkin before stealing a quick kiss from the lizard.
Maybelline is looking into her coffee, thinking at Elizabeth's words, "Yeah, I mean, I know that I guess. But I guess my parents were a really bad example. They loved each other so much, they were best friends, always wanting to spend more time with each other. My Dad always said he'd just found the right person." She smirks a little, "I really, really want that. And I'd rather be alone then be with the wrong person... but maybe that puts too much pressure on both me and my date."
Elizabeth nods, musing on this: "I can see that. I'm not really... probably not the best person to talk from experience, about choice. I was married to the same man for four decades. It was an arranged marriage at the beginning."
Nesseth nods at May. "Wanting the 'right person' is all fine and good, but you also need to make sure you don't set standards too high. Also... don't compare any perceptions of who your ideal is to who your partner right now is. It'll do nothing but make you miserable."
Maybelline smiles at Plume and Nesseth and laughs, "I think I'm avoiding that... being alone just... sucks. Really bad... it's hard to set standards when no one will even say 'yes'." She sighs, but smiles and looks back at Elizabeth. "Arranged? Huh... I mean, four decades... you uh, decided to finally break it off after that long?"
Elizabeth gives a bit of a wince. She is quiet for a second, then turns back to Maybelline: "I came to Respite Falls alone. I didn't want to."
Doc Plume looks to May. "Whoever it is you're with, just enjoy your time with them. I never expected to have anyone, and I certainly didn't think I'd be with someone like Nesseth. I think I'd talked to maybe a dozen lizards before I came here? Not something that was under consideration really." They go back to their stew, focused on getting back to the clinic as soon as possible.
Elizabeth nods quietly at Plume's words.
Maybelline winces in return to Elizabeth, looking back down to her coffee. "O-oh... sorry. Guess you're right, Plume, that's just why enjoying your time together is so important while you have it." She sighs. "I just... really want this to work out, that's all. But it's early yet, and we're... still learning about each other and all."
Elizabeth considers for a moment, then gives a soft chuckle: "I remember our first date without chaperones from both sides. 'Awkward' doesn't even begin to describe it."
Doc Plume blushes a little as they look over at Nesseth.
Nesseth leans lightly against Plume as best as his seat allows, just quietly hugging them as they focus on eating. He smiles as he glances towards Plume. "The first date for us was anything but awkward, but it was a pretty lovely day out at the falls, if I recall. Of course, we'd been kind of seeing each other for a while before that first date, so I dunno if that counts."
Maybelline thinks, "Ours was... a little awkward. Mostly from me, I think. Oversharing and crying on the first date, that's me."
Elizabeth laughs a bit at a memory: "Warren accidentally pushed me into a mud puddle, then fell right after me."
Maybelline giggles, "We managed to avoid anything like that. No clumsy falling into one another. A few hugs though... those were pretty on purpose. She's so soft..."
Doc Plume laughs a bit. "Yeah... we had a bit of a weird path." They feed Nesseth a spoonful of stew before getting back to eating for themself.
Nesseth happily eats the bite of stew and sneaks a soft kiss, then smiles sheepishly at Elizabeth and May. "Yeah... by comparison, Plume and I had a weirdly smooth first date. But then, I guess that's because we were already spending a fair bit of time together before that first 'official' date..."
Elizabeth sighs, looking down: "Now you're just making me miss him more." She smiles at the couple next to her, then at Maybelline: "Dive into it. You never know what happens."
Maybelline smiles at Elizabeth and gives her a nod. She points over her shoulder at Nesseth and Plume, "Those two are my inspiration. If we can be that happy..." She shrugs, "I think diving in is all I can do now."
Doc Plume blushes more at May's words. "I just... coming here was the first step in making my own life for myself, and Nesseth was a very unexpected second step." They kiss the lizard gently. "Even if it doesn't last forever, I'm happy to enjoy it while it's here."
Elizabeth sips at her wine, musing: "I had a long journey with Warren. I might have my regrets, but none of them are related to the way we had time together."
Nesseth nods with a small smile. "Jump right into it, May. Enjoy it for what it is, however long you two have it and make it work.
Maybelline smiles. "Thanks, all of you. I guess... I'll try not to overthink it, jump right in, and do my best to... whatever it is I'm expected to do on dates? Have a good time, or... yeah. Yeah."
Elizabeth chuckles: "Don't shortcut through a shady alley after your second date." She smirks at some private incident.
Doc Plume finishes up their stew and drinks down their seltzer. They give Nesseth a tight hug before standing up. "Well, back to the clinic. Take care all." They steal one more kiss from Nesseth before heading out.
Nesseth hums warmly at the hug and releases the hug with some reluctance. "I'll pop by later this evening, Plume."
Maybelline chuckles, "Well, I'd at least feel safe, but I think if we were to shortcut, it'd be by air." She points up and grins, "It uh... I'm dating Louma, the guard captain. So, that's out there, and I'm pretty happy with it." She waves goodbye to Doc as they head out, "Don't work too hard, says uh, the pot to the kettle I guess."
Elizabeth blinks, then smiles: "Okay, less of a problem for you then. And probably in Respite as well, comparatively speaking." She nods at Doc leaving, then turns to Maybelline: "With a Guard Captain you're definitely safe."
Nesseth smiles as he listens to May, only to blink and pause in surprise upon hearing who she's dating. "Wait... you're dating Louma?"
Maybelline nods proudly, "Yeah, so what if I am, eh? You all are right, I need to just dive in."
Elizabeth smiles into her wine glass as she listens.
Nesseth leans back in his seat a bit, smirking a little as he thinks on this new bit of info. "Huh... Interesting. I didn't think Louma had a soft spot for anyone at all."
Maybelline shrugs, "I can't say. She... well, it took us a few to figure out what we were both saying to one another, but, yeah."
Elizabeth smiles: "At least it's not arranged from what I understand. You're starting it on your own volition."
Nesseth nods. "Of your own volition, and maybe some mutual awkwardness isn't a bad thing. You're both exploring some new territory together, maybe, so that means it'll be fun for both of you!"
Maybelline nods. "Both our own choice to start, and uh, yeah. Awkward and amazing and... yeah!"
Elizabeth laughs a bit: "I wish the best of luck to you. That first glow is great."
Maybelline laughs in response, "It's so dumb but I can't believe it's happening at all. It's only been one date but I'm just... absolutely giddy about the whole thing. It's almost enough to drive a lady to distraction, if she didn't also happen to be building a once-in-a-lifetime generator to power Respite. Honestly, between the two things at the same time, I'm feeling pretty damn lucky right now."
Elizabeth chuckles, shaking her head a bit: "Sounds honestly pretty great. I wish I had that sort of drive left anymore."
Nesseth can't help but chuckle in turn. "It sounds like you're really enjoying life in Respite, now, compared to when you first arrived. I'm glad you were able to find that spark to motivate you in all regards."
Maybelline 's laugh breaks a little as she awkwardly scratches her head, "Well, yeah... I definitely didn't feel like this when I first got to town. This was gonna be the end of my life, not like... the beginning of it, I guess." She frowns, glancing at Elizabeth, "So uh, what no hobbies? No passions? Nothing you can grab and call your own here?"
Elizabeth blinks, then sighs: "...I have honestly not thought about it much. Been busy just... making sure I survive. And my 'manor' is a disaster zone." She lifts up her left hand and shows a bandaged pinky finger: "Learning some basic hammerwork for the first time in my life."
Maybelline glances down at her leg, then grins. "Eh, any injury that doesn't kill ya is just a lesson in life. It can kick you down pretty damn far, but standing back up again is the important part... definitely learned that since I got to Respite."
Elizabeth looks at Maybelline's crutches, then nods slowly: "...I suppose. I mean, I am in Respite because I refused to stay put and let my fate come to me..."
Nesseth hums. "One thing about Respite is that everyone learns to pull themselves back up after a fall. Heck, Respite is how some folks pull themselves back up."
Maybelline nods. "And from what I've seen, the folks here are happy to offer you a hand to get back up. Most anyways..."
Elizabeth nods, smiling slightly: "I have seen that, yes. It's... refreshing."
Maybelline grins, "A lot different from back home in Sarn, eh?"
Elizabeth nods: "It is. Back there in the city, folks just don't... care. I didn't, but... I might have to revise my opinion here."
Nesseth smiles a bit. "It's like that in Sarn too, hm? I kind of remember that same feeling in the Orelan capital city... Makes me glad I wasn't raised there."
Maybelline nods at Nesseth, "In Glaushire at least, yeah... folks in the poorer parts of the city tend to stick together... unless you stick your neck out the wrong ways." She snorts. "And the folks in the richer don't care much either..." She glances at Elizabeth, "Uh, no hard feelings. I mean, I don't blame you, I get it. Just the way things were."
Elizabeth looks at Maybelline, then just sighs: "Well... I'm not part of the rich part of any city, am I?" She manages a small smile, but her heart isn't really in it.
Maybelline smiles back, "Hey, sorry. I just meant... things are mostly different here. At least, they have been for me."
Elizabeth nods, sighing: "It has been a lot to get used to. But maybe there's a silver lining somewhere."
Nesseth smiles at Elizabeth. "Hey, I've been living here for about five years, now. Respite Falls has something good for just about everyone that's thrown down roots for one reason or another."
Elizabeth glances at Nesseth: "Guess I will see. It's not like I can go back to any of the big cities, anyway. I have to make the most of this."
Maybelline chuckles, "I think that's what I said when I first got here. I was way more bitter about it though, so you're already ahead of me in that regard."
Elizabeth smiles wryly: "Or you just haven't seen me at my worst yet."
Nesseth chuckles. "Well, as long as 'your worst' doesn't have to get the guards involved..."
Elizabeth gives a bit of a pained smile, but refrains from commenting.
Maybelline shrugs, picking up her coffee to take a long swig of the semi-cooled liquid. "Don't blow me up. Already done that once. Other then a brighter life outlook, I don't recommend it."
Elizabeth raises an eyebrow: "...'blow you up'?"
Nesseth hums. "May got caught in the original generator's explosion. She survived, as you can tell, but... well... let's just say that once is probably good enough for her."
Maybelline points at the bad leg, "Still recovering. Arm's mostly healed though."
Elizabeth winces a bit at the explanation, but then nods: "I am glad you've survived, then."
Maybelline: "I was having a bad week. Briefly thought maybe I shouldn't have survived, but ultimately... I'm really glad I did."
Elizabeth nods, musing: "Perhaps I should be glad that I have, at least... survived."
Nesseth nods a bit. "Surviving is good. It means you've still got some fight left inside."
Maybelline gives Elizabeth a thumbs up before finishing her coffee and hopping down off the bar stool, a move she instantly regrets with a heavy cringe in pain. "Gah... Y-yeah. Surviving is good. Not doing anything stupid is good too. But you'll both have to excuse me... got work to attend to. You both have a good evening!"
Elizabeth nods at Maybelline, smiling: "Take care. I'm sure we'll see again."
Nesseth waves as May departs. "See you around, May. Take it easy."
Maybelline limps to the door to retrieve her crutches, then smiles, returning the wave to the two. "Yep. Take care and all that!" She steadies herself and heads out of the bar.
Elizabeth turns to Nesseth: "Five years, hmm? I guess you'd be one to ask what Respite is like, then."
Nesseth smiles and nods as he turns back to Elizabeth. "Sure! Let's see... the town's really not changed much since I first arrived. It's still about as I remember it being back then, which is to say, pretty quiet and close-knit. Though... in the past couple of years, with more folks showing up..." He starts to explain to Elizabeth what the town's been like over the past few years since his arrival, showing that it has indeed been pretty unchanging, except for the influx of visitors and new residents.