Balmoral Street Blue Egret Drinks

[Billy Broder]

outfit

Billy fixed his jacket and ran his hand through his hair, a worried gesture he was barely aware of at this point in his life. He was dressed casually, at least it would have been casual in Vegas. Here in Easthaven was it business casual? He wasnt sure. Still, he was looking forward to this.

Even if he was still unsure about some of it like why he felt the way he did. He had left a note on the fridge in case June got home and wanted left overs, took Scoob for a small walk and let him get some energy out of his system so he could sleep. They kept him crated when no one was home since he was still in his chew everything phase. Last of all Billy left the window open so Rowling could go hunting once night fell.

And once he ran out of things to do he showered, dressed, and stressed for the next few hours until this moment. He got out of his Uber, checked his phone, and waited for Lin.

[Lin Nari]

outfit and style plus jacket

As one of her competitors, the Blue Egret was within walking distance of the Honey & Ivy, allowing Nari to take the scenic route along the Old Town sea walls. After Billy's call, she finished her smoke and spoke with a few informants who'd visited to offer her information for money. Then, she got up to go, enjoying the sound of the ocean and the breeze off the water.

The dragon was approaching this meeting with mild caution. She was still curious about what the wizard was after, but he'd shown himself willing to take things without thought. He hadn't been specific. Was it romantic or business? After months of no contact, she was beginning to err on the side of business but clumsily phrased, as Billy tended to be. Nari didn't mull over it for too long. She would learn what this was about soon enough.

She arrived on the dot at four o'clock, spying the tall wizard getting out of his Uber from a little way down the road. After he looked up from his phone, she lifted her hand to wave for his attention, offering one of her typical closed-lipped smiles.

[Billy Broder]

Billy smiled when he saw Lin. He didn't mind her street wear and his eyes focused intently on her small smile. He walked over to her waving a hand. He had originally considered doing the flash paper rose trick when he saw her. But tossed that idea out because- he reminded himself sternly- no magic.

That wasn't real magic of course but it was too easy to jump from sleight of hand and stagecraft to the real thing. Best play it safe. He could always use the flower bit some other time anyway.

He remembered his mom had loved it when he saw his dad do it the first time. She had smiled and swatted the old man's arm remembering better times.

Billy walked up to Lin and tilted his head toward the Blue Egret. “Shall we?” he asked while stepping to get the door for her. Good manners he reminded himself.

[Lin Nari]

With nary a how-do-you-do beyond a smile, Billy had them heading into the little cafe. With the door opened for her, Nari followed his urging, stepping into the shaded interior. The dragon looked around with a keen eye--she was indeed here to enjoy the food and earnestly patronize the establishment, but she was also nosy.

After a quick once over, she turned back to the wizard to lead the way, smiling her sphinx-like smile and tilting her head as she gazed up at him. “So, Billy. It's been a very long time. How have you been?” she asked, becoming the first to extend pleasantries.

[Billy Broder]

Billy held the door for her and she walked by. He started in behind her and noticed her looking g up at him, he liked her eyes. They were... inquisitive but also like they held a secret. She asked how he had been but brought up that it had been a while.

He ran a hand through his hair. “Good, um busy. But good. Sorry, I kind of let the world get away from me I didn't mean to wait so long to ask you out ” he said honestly

“Thanks for seeing me. How have you been?” he asked. He had been worried she would have said no. He'd sent her an odd text now and then but Lin didn't seem the type to settle for a text. He took that to mean she wanted commitment or not to bother her.

[Lin Nari]

Nari considered this explanation and accepted it with an easy shrug. It had been no issue for the dragon, but it implied to her that Billy was young and inexperienced. That he did not fully know what he wanted, to the point where he did not know how and when to pursue it.

Looking away from the wizard, she glanced around the cafe, finding it with a comfortable population of patrons. Not enough to make getting a table difficult, but enough to tell her they were getting close to the evening dinner hour. Spying them, the host lifted a hand and picked up a pair of menus before gesturing for them to take an empty table near the front windows. Typical hands-off service.

Nari drifted over to the table, taking the seat that kept her back to the wall as she answered sedately. “Busy as well.” Busy killing oni and chasing down leads on this ritual murder case for the Inquisitor, but she did not like small talk.

[Billy Broder]

Billy gave a small nod to the staff then saw Lin got to her seat before he could offer to get the chair for her. It was fine.... but he still felt bad about it. He slid into his own seat and glanced around quickly until he found what he wanted to see.

A container on the table, the top of some salt, with a shiny silver top. It gave him a small view of behind him. It had been a game he and his dad played on road trips. Using reflections to see behind you if you had your back to a door.

The silver top didn't give him a great view but there was no meaning behind the game so he didn't let it bother him.

“So, what do you like to drink?” Billy asked. He was eager to have an answer to that damn question!

[Lin Nari]

Looking from the cafe to her table companion, she watched him take his seat, and seem to look over the table for something. The dragon followed his gaze momentarily, wondering if he spotted a stain or leftover food from previous diners. The table was clean though, but after a moment he was apparently satisfied and his attention returned to her.

His question made her smile faintly. “Rice wine,” she answered, her Cantonese accent hanging heavily on each word. “Yours?”

[Billy Broder]

Billy blinked as if a bit taken aback. Not by her preference for rice wine which he had no real opinion on since he had never had it himself. He just hadn't expected the question asked back at him. He should have expected it since that was how, you know, conversations naturally flowed but for some reason he was just more focused on finding out more about her than a trade of information. “Oh, I guess if its alcohol I'd say jack and coke. To be honest I don't drink a lot and I've never had rice wine before.” Billy said honestly.

He didn't mind drinking really, but he didn't particularly enjoy the mental impairment that came with it. Very specifically he hated that feeling of wanting his arm to move and then the small delay before it actually happened. That disconnect made him feel like he wasn't in control of his own body and terrified him as much as it made him realize the affect it must be having on him. He was reckless enough without getting drunk and the idea of messing up a rune or his incantation due to a drink too many didn't really appeal to him.

He did like coke though which was why Jack and Coke was his drink of choice.

“Should we order some rice wine for the table?” He asked, smiling at her to see if she'd like some of the wine or just some tea.