An Evening Between Nobility

AS the sun set down for the second time since the Heat had landed, a small rainbow appeared in the skyline only to be washed away again only five minutes after appearing. To no one's surprise, the rain still continued to pour.

The current lord Fairfax returned to his ship, ignoring the two bodyguards following him. He took a few good minutes to try and freshen up. He dried his glasses and did as much as he could to tame his hair. He made sure to pick up a book and thumb through it again, his eyes scanning the page to make sure he remembered everything he could find on it. And before he left, he was careful to pick up a few paper flowers from his desk and hide them on his coat pocket where his mother was least likely to spot them.

With himself back to working order, he left again and took a quick detour to a flower shop to pick up some larkspur in a Tussie-Mussie, something his mother had insisted on for this meeting While he hardly saw the point, apparently it was a tradition of sorts.

With that he returned to the Heat, retrieving the paper flowers and setting them in the small gathering of flowers before knocking again.

Lavinia had had to wrestle with bustles, skirts, and hair, but had managed, within the space of an hour, to appear as fine as any Lord's daughter should appear when dining with a Lord in a nice restaurant. The periwinkle blue suited her quite well, and the feather in her hair was perfectly in keeping with her outfit. Diamonds and pearls made her jewelry and necklace quite stunning. When there was a knock at the door, she picked up a small package, threw on a camisole to keep herself warm, and grabbed her umbrella. She wouldn't keep Lord Fairfax waiting. In just another moment, she was downstairs, opening the door.

With a hint of panic at the opened door, Perry glanced down at the flowers, desperately trying to remember what he was supposed to do with them. He knew he was supposed to give them to Lavinia, but he wasn't entirely sure if ti was proper to do so before one spoke, after one spoke, after some conversation...

In an instant, he made a decision and hesitantly held them in her general direction, saying perhaps a bit too quickly, "Good evening miss Cardham. It's lovely weather, isn't it?" There was a beat before he realized he was still holding his umbrella, and it was still raining dreadfully. "At least lovely for Electric City, I suppose."

Apparently he had chosen the speak and thrust flower at the girl at the same time. This was looking to be a long night.

Lavinia decided to put her poor friend out of his misery. "Come inside a moment, Perry, while I find a vase and some water for those," she answered with a kind smile as she stepped back to allow him entry. She could tell he was trying, even if he was terribly awkward about it. Courting her was likely his mother's idea, and not a bad one at that. A marriage between the two of them was likely the most natural thing in the world, so long as she understood some of his little quirks. He would likely allow her her own little quirks as well, even if he did not think of her ever as more than a friend. But she was not one given to passionate fires in any case, and she could not marry a man she could not connect with on an intellectual level.

She set down the umbrella, and traded the flowers for the package, leaving Perry at the door for a moment as she looked for a vase in the kitchen. "Thank you for the flowers. They are quite lovely."

Perry entered the ship with as much speed as he could muster while holding some semblance of grace, catching his umbrella on the door frame as he tried. Meekly he closed the thing before reentering.

"I... yes, they are quite lovely. Though I tend to prefer the paper sorts that are in there. They mean a bit more to me than plants. They show humanity taking something from nature and improving it. They're just as nice, but they also require no water and no feeding and they last forever..." Perry replied, staring at the flowers to keep his eyes from wandering the ship in nervousness.

He had only one shot at this. That was the problem with human interactions, you only had one chance at them. If you made a mistake on a machine you could break it down, find the problem and try again. People, however, could not be controlled or retested. While it didn't bother him as much on small interactions, when he was charting into new territory the whole concept terrified him.

"It is a lovely sentiment," Lavinia answered, pulling the paper flowers from the rest. "I shall treasure them." She then put the other flowers in water and left the vase on the kitchen table to add a bit of color to the room before moving to put the paper flowers in her room upstairs. She would find a proper accomodation for them when she returned that evening. When she was done, she made her way back down the stairs and took her package back from Perry. "Are we ready to go then?"

Nick and Rick, who had followed Lord Fairfax, at Toryc orders, and despite Perrys objections, were waiting outside the door, and trying not to let their laughter become audiable. "I think we might have to give the Lord a hand here, Rick." said Nick. "I heartily agree, Nick." said Rick. "Why dont you go ahead to the restraunt and ensure their reservations are in order, old top?" Nick said, regaining his composure. "As you say, old bean." said Rick, "I think I'll even try and ensure them a more secluded area so that he dosent get any public shame in the process." Rick gave his brother a large grin, that Nick couldnt help but return, then headed off to his errand.

"I believe I have nothing more to do on this ship, if you would allow me to lead you," Perry replied, eyeing the book for a split second before regaining his proper eye contact and offering an arm to her and preparing to open his umbrella once he was out again.

Nick heard the pair moving to the door, and opened it for the pair, guessing that Perry would occupy both his hands in an attempt to be a gentleman. Nick held the door while the two passed, and then closed it, befor falling into step about three paces behind the pair.

Perry looked back behind him when he spotted Nick again, continuing down toward the restaurant while letting Lavinia lead the way. "Good sir, I believe I have told you that I don't need an escort. I believe there are a few bars among these streets, I ask you to surrender your evening to one."

Nick gives the Lord what he hopes resembles an appologetic grin, "Sorry, m'lord, but Toryc would have my hide if I did that. If it helps you any, think of me as extra protection for Miss Cardham, should the Farichilds get it into their heads to be more... direct."

"I hardly need such protection," Lavinia answered. "I am perfectly capable of handling myself." She glanced to Perry. "However, I could use another hand to make sure we are not interrupted."

"Unless it is Mr. Fairchild. If he should show up, please send him our way," Perry replied, still letting Lavinia lead still. Part of him wanted to make sure they would simply leave and let him try this dating business on his own, though with Lavinia giving them permission to be there he really had no leverage to object on. The young lord sighed and tried to collect his thoughts again, mentally tearing apart a watch as he walked.

Lavinia frowned, but said nothing. If she pressed too hard on the matter things would not likely go well. "When we arrive, I have a present for you. It isn't much, but I thought it might be something you would appreciate."

"I was hardly expecting any sort of gift," Perry said, looking a bit surprised with the speed she had managed to obtain something. He had only mentioned he was arriving the day before.

The restaurant came into view on the left, a particularly classy joint that appeared to specialize in human food, to the luck of most human patrons with money to burn in the area.

"Well, I saw the opportunity and I took it," she answered. "I thought you might appreciate it."

"I look forward to seeing it," Perry replied, his nervousness at the situation triumphing over a hint of a smile.

"You do not need to be so nervous," Lavinia muttered to him. "We are old friends, aren't we?" She patted his hand in reassurance. "We are old friends enjoying dinner together in each other's company."

"Of course, and catching up on what has happened with in each other's lives," Perry replied, trying to at least look a bit calmer. Old friends were one thing he could handle easily enough. Attempting to initiate courtship on the other hand...

The restaurant at the top of the world's fair tower was as crowded as the night before and the two were greeted with the same waiter. However, this time he seamed much less nervous than the first time Lavinia had seen him. "Good evening! Is this all in your party?"

"Yes, I believe so," Perry responded, taking another glance back at Nick to make sure he got the hint. "A table by the window, please."

Lavinia waited to have her camisole and umbrella tended to while Perry took care of the table. "Do be a good chap and stay here," she muttered to the guard. "No doubt his mother has put him up to something. He is nervous enough about it without an audience."

Nick offered the lady a calm grin, "My brother and I have no interest in bothering you, ma'am. We'll be within shouting distance, but we wont bother you otherwise." With that, Nick went to try and find Rick.

Perry finished the arrangements while the other two had their short conversation and waited politely to lead Lavinia there. Once he was seated, he tried desperately to think of a good conversation topic. "So, I has been a good year or two since we've last seen each other. Tell me, what is it you have been doing in that time?"

"Studying and preparing for my thesis," Lavinia answered.

"That sounds... rather uneventful if I must be honest. How is your father and brother doing? Are they well?"

"Richard is having a grand old time with his hunting, from what I am given to understand. He visits friends often and is talking of investing in some moving picture project or other." She shook her head. "Father has never been particularly fond of the theater, and Richard's investments have been a point of contention between them, even when profitable."

She unfolded her napkin and placed it delicately in her lap. "Father has also been well. He has recently invested in a new shipping line."