The Ballad of Troy & Roe, Part 2
Roe was happy to see Troy when she got to the car, even if his cousin was weird. Troy was dressed up to about the same extent she was—a dress shirt and pants but no tie, and a blazer rather than a serious dress coat—so she was glad to have chosen the right clothes. He was holding the car door open and smiling at her, and she felt her uncomfortable smile relax into a real one. He was awfully cute.
“My lady,” he said, bowing slightly to her as she reached the car.
She giggled. “I’m not a lady.”
“Well, you are for now.” He helped her into the car, then went around the back to get in the other side. Link had gotten into the driver’s seat, but at least Roe and Troy were alone in the back. There wasn’t much privacy—the car was an ordinary sedan, not a limo or anything—but there was a barrier at least.
Link started the car as Troy got his seatbelt on. Roe opened her mouth to ask where they were going, then shut it again, unsure whether she should be asking Troy or Link. And was she supposed to talk to Link at all?
There was an uncomfortable few minutes of silence before Troy spoke. “Um, I hope you like French food. I picked out a nice restaurant.”
She nodded, then grinned, embarrassed. “Actually, I’ve never had French food. But I’m sure I’ll like it. I’m glad I dressed up the right amount.”
“Yeah, you look beautiful!” he said quickly and enthusiastically. She smiled at him, but the conversation was awkward and stilted like that until they got to the restaurant. Link pulled up to a place that wasn’t really a parking spot and got out, holding the car door first for her and then for Troy. She smoothed her dress as she got out, feeling awkward.
“I’ll be right outside,” he said in a low voice to Troy. “So don’t worry. Or try to escape out the back.”
Troy nodded, not meeting his cousin’s eyes. “It’ll be fine, Link. You worry too much.”
Link shook his head but didn’t argue. Instead, he preceded them into the restaurant. Roe and Troy waited behind him as he spoke quietly with the waiter. Roe glanced around at the expensive-looking place, feeling uncomfortable and confused, but she was pretty sure she saw money change hands somewhere in there. Then Link turned around and left and the waiter led them to their table.
It was small, round, and by a window. There was a lightweight curtain, but it only partially shielded Roe, and didn’t shield Troy at all. The lights inside made it so she couldn’t see through the window very well, but she was sure Link would be somewhere outside, fully able to see them.
She opened the menu that had been handed to her, then stared at it in horror. “Uh, do you speak French?”
“Oh, yes,” said Troy. “I mean, I read it. I’ll order for you. Is there anything you won’t eat?”
Roe was about to protest until she realized that this was such a fancy restaurant that her menu didn’t even have prices on it. And this was a first date. She supposed Troy could be in charge. “No,” she said softly. “There isn’t.”
I still might write a better wrap-up for Book 8, but in the meantime, please enjoy the continuation of Troy and Roe's date!
Comments
Thoughts
At least they get some time alone (even if their privacy isn't complete).
Aww!
Very cute! But very fancy for a first date, yes.
I hope they'll have fun. (and that she won't regret her decision not to mention anything she won't eat!)
Suspicions
Now that you mention it, I suspect that the dish is going to contain escargots or something else that a someone with anglo-saxon palette would want want to withdraw from.
Hmm...
Well, escargots (snails) are not that bad; they taste just like the sauce they were made in. I was thinking more along the lines of what she'd consider undercooked meat, or internal organs or something.
But it's a date, so he'll probably behave :)
Frog legs...
Well, I hope it won't come to frog legs...
...and also that they will have a nice time *wishes Roe and Troy the best*
*looking forward to the next part of the date*
mjkj
True...
Those somehow seem sadder than all other animal-related food!
(okay, lamb is also very sad... and chicken, if you think about it... also, what did cows ever do to us? ... pigs are very smart...)
Oh dear. I can't afford to go vegan! :P
*lol*
Well, and then what did that vegetable or this plant do to you?
...and soon you are starving... :-P
mjkj
Yeah...
Perhaps you could eat potatoes? They are so unromantic... But how about the little animals that lived between the roots, before the plant was taken out?
*trying not to think about how the liquorice I'm eating actually came to be in that little plastic bag?*
Well, do not think too much
Well, do not think too much about stuff like that -- otherwise you really will be starving soon...
mjkj
Yes you can!
Beans are cheap ;) (Not sure why you would say you can't afford it unless you're thinking of protein...)
You could become a fruitarian. They only eat things that don't kill the plant they come from, which mostly means fruit.
Ah, nice one...
Well, that is true :)
Fruits and grains (if you leave the blade/stalk standing...)
mjkj
No...
I was thinking about protein, iron, vitamin B12, calcium...
Now I eat meat and fish only *sometimes* (most of the places I eat are quite dirty, you don't need that much meat/fish to begin with, it's still kind of expensive, and it's still sad to eat meat of course), but it's pretty expensive to change all of that just to vegetarian products (most students I know here live below welfare!). Now, if I were to cut out the milkproducts and eggs and eggstuff as well, I could either live very unhealthy :P or not have money for textbooks and stuff.
Also, carbon footprint! Meat, milk, eggs come from around here, tofu needs to travel and needs lots of water to grow.
Typo
She opened the menu that had been handed it to her.
Oops
Thanks! I'll fix that.
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