To say different was an understatment, though Alex hardly had enough experience with nobles to know what one truly acted like. It was only what she had heard through rumours and she knew how reliable those were.
She smirked as he spoke of the beast being loose and shook her head emphatically.
"I'm not much for straight up combat. In case you can't tell, I'm not exactly suited for it," she said, gesturing to her small body. "I'd probably lose more than a leg or arm."
She shrugged her shoulders ambivalently, unconvinced. It was rare that people of her age were successful, and owning your own winery definitely fit under the 'successful' bracket. She couldn't help but let a broad smile across her face as he spoke of her pretending to be a guy- it was something she had never tried, but she was supremely confident she could. Overexaggerating her movements, Alex slid off the stool and straightened her back. simultaneously pulling her shoulders back while minimizing her feminine form. She strode across the room without rolling her hips; a very boxy gait that would make her appear like an adolescent boy- the best she could hope for in this form. "I daresay you're right, though that would only last until she got my clothes off or I spoke. I doubt she's into younger men anyway, and even if she were I can't imagine she'd be very pleased when she found out the truth. Best not to try that approach." Her tone was light, as if she were joking, but she knew she wouldn't hesitate if she thought it would work.
Alex filed away the names of the wines- they would be good choices to ensure the woman was open to receiving her.
She nodded her head side to side as it appeared he was going to refrain from gossiping, too polite to disagree with him. She shot him a secretive smile when he gave in, and nodded. "He seemed to be the one most against me, though there were some awkward moments there..." She trailed off, her face beginning to blush as she remembered her mistake.
Something in his voice seemed to catch as he described Faith, but before Alex could ask him about it, they had moved on. "That is perfect. How much do you typically charge?"
She caught the grin and smiled in return, tilting her head slightly as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Well you are an alchemist, so maybe you can help me. I was looking to imbue some regular clothing items with special properties..." She trailed off. Most of them were suspicious to begin with, so she had to be careful.
"Like a dress that could stop an arrow." She said finally, looking up to meet his eyes. "I can't imagine that is easy to make, so don't feel like you need to help me. Something like that would just be helpful, if you could." Alex could feel herself beginning to ramble, and she shut it down.
"I appreciate you helping me out, King Cassander," she said, but her heart wasn't in it. Something had changed, and she wasn't sure what- perhaps talking about Padraig had brought out the disappointment she had felt when the promised items had never shown.
She did a half curtsey, and slowly walked out the door.
She smirked as he spoke of the beast being loose and shook her head emphatically.
"I'm not much for straight up combat. In case you can't tell, I'm not exactly suited for it," she said, gesturing to her small body. "I'd probably lose more than a leg or arm."
She shrugged her shoulders ambivalently, unconvinced. It was rare that people of her age were successful, and owning your own winery definitely fit under the 'successful' bracket. She couldn't help but let a broad smile across her face as he spoke of her pretending to be a guy- it was something she had never tried, but she was supremely confident she could. Overexaggerating her movements, Alex slid off the stool and straightened her back. simultaneously pulling her shoulders back while minimizing her feminine form. She strode across the room without rolling her hips; a very boxy gait that would make her appear like an adolescent boy- the best she could hope for in this form. "I daresay you're right, though that would only last until she got my clothes off or I spoke. I doubt she's into younger men anyway, and even if she were I can't imagine she'd be very pleased when she found out the truth. Best not to try that approach." Her tone was light, as if she were joking, but she knew she wouldn't hesitate if she thought it would work.
Alex filed away the names of the wines- they would be good choices to ensure the woman was open to receiving her.
She nodded her head side to side as it appeared he was going to refrain from gossiping, too polite to disagree with him. She shot him a secretive smile when he gave in, and nodded. "He seemed to be the one most against me, though there were some awkward moments there..." She trailed off, her face beginning to blush as she remembered her mistake.
Something in his voice seemed to catch as he described Faith, but before Alex could ask him about it, they had moved on. "That is perfect. How much do you typically charge?"
She caught the grin and smiled in return, tilting her head slightly as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Well you are an alchemist, so maybe you can help me. I was looking to imbue some regular clothing items with special properties..." She trailed off. Most of them were suspicious to begin with, so she had to be careful.
"Like a dress that could stop an arrow." She said finally, looking up to meet his eyes. "I can't imagine that is easy to make, so don't feel like you need to help me. Something like that would just be helpful, if you could." Alex could feel herself beginning to ramble, and she shut it down.
"I appreciate you helping me out, King Cassander," she said, but her heart wasn't in it. Something had changed, and she wasn't sure what- perhaps talking about Padraig had brought out the disappointment she had felt when the promised items had never shown.
She did a half curtsey, and slowly walked out the door.
