| Logs |
2001-05-14
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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Fencing with the Diplomat
A note in Don Carlos' elegant script arrives addressed to Alex in the early evening, after Sten has returned to the Guildhall. The courier is a brown-furred, tuft-tailed mouse wearing the house colors, who waits quietly for a reply.
My dear Sir Alexandra, I hope I am not taking advantage of your
kind offer too quickly, but the healer assures me that I will be able to
practice again tomorrow, and my people are still assessing the damage to
the Embassy. If you are available, I will call on you tomorrow morning
for a practice bout.
Respectfully yours,
Don Carlos
Alex blinks a little startledly at the note -- how... carefully formal! Is this what it's like in Costa Yermo? Hm... a practice bout. She's not sure, but that sounds like he's maybe expecting just to spar with her -- not an actual fighter practice. Well, hm... okay, she guesses that's all right... still, maybe she should talk to MacKenzie and be sure that's okay with him, since he runs the practice bouts. She nods to herself, then tells the small mouse with the unusual tail that she will have a reply for him in a moment. Then she trots swiftly off to check with MacKenzie. After that she'll need to write a polite reply, either way... okay, she can do that...
The wolverine just nods when Alex asks him about adding Don Carlos to her morning workout. "Not a problem. It'll do you good to practice against someone new. I'm sure he knows the drill."
Alex nods, looking pleased, and a moment later has a (mostly) nicely calligraphed reply for the mouse. She figures the slight wobbliness is excusable... trying to write calligraphy on a boat is tricky at best, and it's not like that's what he's interested in her for, if she's understanding this correctly! She wonders a bit as to the 'my dear' part in the original letter... but mentally shrugs and decides to let it pass for now. The poor guy got rather banged up... she can forgive him that, surely. She grins quietly to herself... worst comes to worst, she'll give him a run for his money tomorrow! She grins, handing the note to the small mouse, along with her thanks.
The mouse, if that's what he is, bows. "Gracias, senyorita. Don Carlos should be here at the first hour after dawn, si?" His accent actually is a little better than the coyote's.
Alex smiles, "Yes, please." She tilts her head curiously, adding, "You speak this language very well, senyor... may I ask where you learned?"
The little fellow looks a little flustered at the honorific, but shrugs it off quickly. "I have, as you say, picked it up here. I have been the Don's... valet?" He thinks for a moment and nods. "Valet. Since he was just a young boy." The little fellow grins. "And so, I was there through most of his language lessons, even if I was not required to do the homework."
Alex looks interested again, "Ah, like a batman?" She smiles, noting the fluster and not being sure if it was the honorific or not, but not wanting to increase his discomfort... then looks curious again, "So he took languages as a boy?" She blinks, casually covering her mouth to hide the sudden grin as it hits her -- apparently don Carlos was not a terribly avid student, eh? She adds politely, "What is your name, please?"
"Batman. That was it." He bows again. "I am Diego, milady. A humble jerboa in the service of Hacienda Chavez y Altimara."
Alex blinks, wondering if 'jerboa' is part of the job title? -then simply smiles, "All right then, Diego. Thank you for letting me indulge my curiosity a bit about the don." She discreetly hands the small mouse-like person a tip as well... he's been very polite despite her getting the title wrong and being nosy to boot, so it's the least she can do, she thinks. She'll ask someone else what a jerboa is, later, so he's not flustered again.
Diego bows yet again as Alex hands her the coin. "Gracias, gracias, senyorita. You are as generous as you are beautiful." He grins at her when he straightens up. "Don Carlos thinks so as well."
Alex coughs slightly in startled amusement, then grins ruefully, "Does he now."
The jerboa grins. "Well, he does not know if you are generous, perhaps, but he does think you are beautiful and talented."
Alex chuckles, shaking her head slightly, and murmurs amusedly, "Don't tempt me, Diego... or I'll keep pestering you with questions about him!" She grins, but doesn't comment further than that -- it'd be rude to burden Diego with her perplexity over don Carlos, let alone her much greater worries about species-ism and sexism in Costa Yermo.
Diego grins again, bowing once more as he takes his leave. "I should not wish to intrude on your time, milady. I shall convey your response to Don Carlos." He turns and heads back down the gangplank.
Alex decides that she is not going to wait around watching for Don Carlos -- she is the first mate, after all, and should be paying attention to her ship. She is still sipping her morning coffee by the ladder to the quarterdeck when Don Carlos rides up on a bay mare. He is dressed in appropriate clothing for a workout, though Diego is along with a pack mule apparently carrying a change of attire as well as his armor and practice weapons. Alex eyes the mare... pretty horse, she notes... nice lines. Not sure if she'd stand up to a good cross-country gallop... but nicely bred indeed.
Alex raises an eyebrow as she noticed the pack mule's load as well... interesting... and watches quietly from her usual slightly shadowed spot. Since she's currently technically off-duty, someone else can worry about seeing him aboard. She wonders why he's brought so much stuff... then pauses. Honesty compels her to realize also that he is in a bit of a difficult position -- he probably has no more idea of how one properly attends a ship-board fighter practice than she does of how to properly handle suitors when one isn't much into dresses, lace, and flowers. She grins quietly to herself... okay, point for the don that he's even willing to try.
Skeee and a small party of marines pipe Don Carlos aboard, since his civil rank is eligible for that honor. It's rather odd to watch when Skeee does it -- she doesn't use the bosun's pipes, but just sings the notes... Carlos salutes the bat and then the flag at the rear of the ship -- apparently he knows something about navies after all. He looks around and smiles when he sees Alex. "Buenos dias, senyorita. I realized after Diego had left that I had forgotten to ask whether you practeece weeth or weethout armor."
Alex is standing quietly by the time the don is aboard. She smiles as he salutes the flag, pleased, then nods politely and carefully essays the same phrasing, "Buenos dias, senyor. Well, we usually practice without, considering that most of our actual fighting will probably be at sea. We use heavier than usual practice weapons to compensate." Although, she reflects ruefully, grinning at the thought, I'd have to say most of the actual fighting I've done has been here in the streets of Maidstone!
The coyote smiles. "I had thought thees would be the case, but I brought my equeepment just een case. And a change of clothes for afterwards... one tends to be rather in need of a bath after practicing, si?"
Alex grins, "Rather, yes."
Alex has already stretched out, previous to the don's arrival, so now she'll take the don over and introduce him to MacKenzie, and make sure Pablito shows Diego where he can get a cup of coffee for himself and the don. She's in no particular rush... she'll let MacKenzie call the shots on this one.
Pablito has been a bit nervous at the arrival of a Costa Yerman noble, but manages to serve Carlos without bobbling anything. He doesn't say a word the entire time, though. Carlos doesn't seem to notice, and sips his cup appreciatively while watching the furrs practice. Alex gives Pablito a faintly puzzled look when the kit's not looking, wondering what's wrong... she'll have to ask him later. Carlos sends Diego for his padding after a few minutes, and lets the jerboa help him into it. Alex waits quietly, watching with interest. The don's arrival seems to have changed something here, but she's not sure what yet. Still, if she keeps watching maybe she'll figure it out eventually.
When the current group stands down, Carlos smiles at Alex. "Shall we, senyorita?"
Alex glances at MacKenzie to be sure it's time for them... then nods to the don, "Certainly."
Alex's rapier is neatly placed out of the way, and her quilted tunic laced on. It's been keeping her warm since she got off duty, in fact. She picks up the heavy practice weapon and heads over. Don Carlos takes up a stance, and salutes her with his own practice sword. "En garde." He drops to a ready position, apparently waiting for Alex's first strike.
Alex salutes properly, then also drops into stance. A moment to breath deeply, and then she essays a light probe of his defenses, which he parries easily. Alex nods as the initial attack is parried, looked like a quarte, let's see if he prefers that one... and if he assumes on my gender... She leans her weight back momentarily to strike swiftly again, slipping past the vertically held blade's attempt to block her out with a graze. It's close, but she puts a definite touch on him. She smiles internally to herself at the successful touch, Yah... bet he didn't expect me to be willing to shove in like that.
Carlos looks startled as Alex connects... for all his mental acceptance of Alex's skill, his heart apparently hadn't believed it yet, and his ears twitch back as he concentrates harder. "Touché." Alex nods politely -- she's being just as careful herself not to be rude and/or gloat -- the tables can always be turned in any fight, after all, as she herself well knows.
The don attacks this time, with a graceful balestra that bespeaks training... but Alex simply binds the blade, circling his with hers contacting so that his blade moves out of line. She easily avoids contact from his attack, and as he parries, the circle carries her own point back into line. A quick fleche, and she touches again.
Carlos is taken aback, not by the fact that Alex got through so much as the fact that she's making it look easy. He decides to press his attack, taking advantage of his weight and reach. A sharp, strong beat on Alex's blade by the don to knock it aside -- and yet she somehow manages to cut-over in spite of his superior strength, her blade's point flipping neatly to the other side of the don's blade -- and as he lunges, her point taps him again, and she's not where he expected. Alex debates attacking again more fiercely, then realizes she should let the don try her defenses out first -- this is obviously not what he expected at all. To seriously whack him would be rude... just as rude as it would be for him to let her win.
Don Carlos mutters something under his breath as Alex gets through his guard three times in 30 seconds, then steps back, raising his blade in the signal to hold. "Caramba."
Alex steps back and brings her blade up in salute also, then sharply down to wait... although her ears are still warily pricked up and alert. She won't be taken by surprise any more... not after Dimitri's unforgettable lesson. A little puzzledly she asks, "Um... I'm sorry, I don't know what that means...?" Pablito has been watching from the sidelines, sitting with the other crewfurrs. He seems quite pleased that his lady is so much better than the aristocracy his parents fled. Diego is watching from the opposite side, his face carefully neutral, but his tail twitching every time Alex gets through.
The coyote grins. "Just an expression of surprise, Sir Alexandra. I see now how you were able to stop an assasseen. I am not conseedered a bad swordsman een my own circles, but you are superb."
Alex looks faintly relieved -- she had just been internally debating whether she should say the unknown word back, in case it was some sort of salute or greeting! Then one of her ears tilts suddenly to the side, the earrings jingling slightly, as the lovely compliment registers. She blushes faintly at the ear tips, "Ah... thank you, Don Carlos!" She recovers her manners and bows slightly (although still warily), "You are too kind, senyor."
The don replies with, "De nada. Shall we try again? En garde!" Alex looks pleased again -- good, they get to keep going! -- although she does do a careful look at the don's face as she slowly drops into stance again. She'll feel pretty darned stupid if she pushes him to the point of illness again! Good, he looks fine...
The don advances more firmly this time, in a combined series of moves. He starts with a strong fleche -- Alex parries with a sixte, but doesn't have time to attack in return. In the next move the don tags her cleanly as she withdraws, startling her. More confidently he advances in another graceful balestra, but finds she recovers quite swiftly -- despite his perfect delivery, she disengages tightly and his blade moves unexpectedly out of line -- and hers is even more perfectly in line to tag him again with a following fleche.
Alex doesn't let up -- she presses close, snapping her blade around his expected quarte in a neat cut-over to just barely touch him again. He's taken aback enough that her following lunge catches him squarely on the undefended chest, but she gets cocky then, and he tags her lightly on the arm with his own bind and fleche...
Carlos and Alex spar for the better part of twenty minutes before MacKenzie calls a halt for the next pair to take over. The crewfurrs are treated to a fine and instructive combat, with Alex scoring on Don Carlos about three times as often as he can score on her. He is not unskilled, but the vixen's speed and agility keep her out of harm's way while his own advantages of reach and strength are minimized. When the halt is called, he is panting heavily but seems unfazed by the exercise. "I theenk the healers were right. I seem unharmed."
Alex beams happily, panting lightly herself, "Glad to hear it... and thank you for the sparring, don Carlos!" Internally she's greatly relieved. It's one thing to consider going to a country where you're likely to be considered a second class citizen... it's another to consider it when you're likely to be able to defend yourself adequately as well!
It's only a few heated seconds later that it occurs to her -- the don kept going. She was tagging him regularly, and he didn't bow out! She tilts her head at him in curious wonder, exploring that thought... was that difficult for him, coming from where he does? Would he get laughed at for being beaten by a woman, there? She's a little startled at the sudden, fiercely hot reaction she feels inside -- an indignant realization that she'd just shove that kind of laughter right back down the throat of anyone rude enough to do that to a friend of hers! -er, wait... is he?
Carlos nods to Diego as they walk away from the practice area, and the jerboa starts unfastening the coyote's padding. "Ees there somewhere I can wash?"
Alex blinks, startled out of the thought by the don's query, "Ah, pardon? Oh! Yes, certainly..." She looks around for Pablito, to show where to go... then pauses, turning to give the don another thoughtful look.
He nods to Alex. "The honor was all mine, Sir Alexandra. I theenk eet would be a grand surprise to eentroduce you to some of the males at home." He gets an impish grin at that idea, marred only by a wince as he moves a little injudiciously. "I fear I shall have bruises to show for thees morneeng's activities."
Alex considers the don for a moment, despite the politely raised eyebrow she gets as she (basically) stares at him for a moment... finally her ears tilt back and she inquires, almost shyly, "Um... actually... I tend to go into town and get a really hot bath and lunch afterwards, at the White Hart. Ah... would you care to accompany me?" She lifts her arms out of the way so Pablito can unlace her padded shirt, wondering a little curiously what he's so excited and pleased about, then whews! -shaking her sweaty shirt out so it's no longer plastered to her, "Thanks, Pablito!" She looks inquiringly at the don for his reply.
Carlos looks startled, then his ears go up, then back down as his brain catches up with the rest of him. "Thees might be an enjoyable theeng, yes. Do you know of a good place to go? We have our valets as chaperones, after all..." Diego's face goes utterly bland at this, while Pablo looks aghast for a moment before following Diego's lead. Of course, the poor little rabbit had taken quite some time to stop being embarrassed by Alex's nonchalance about bare fur.
Alex blinks... then her ears go back a little more firmly. Well! That answers that question! she thinks in slight irritation. Still, she bites back on a sharp retort... he did finish the bout with her -- that's worth a lot. Instead she says politely, "I'm not sure why we'd need chaperones, but if you will wait but a moment I will be ready to go."
Alex will have Pablo get her usual duffel of stuff, collects her usual guards, and heads out with the don... although she can't resist pausing to smile and gently rub the pretty bay mare's nose. The mare nuzzles back, trying to lip some of the salty sweat off of Alex's shoulder. Alex grins, apologizing for not having a proper treat, then steps back with a faint sigh to wait for the don. I miss horseback riding!
At the White Hart Alex orders a room for the don, and once he's been safely seen off with his virtue intact, she orders her usual -- a room with two tubs. She'll soak happily in one, and her guards (and Pablito, if he wishes) in the other. Pablo hasn't been exercising and just took a bath last week, so he'll be happy to hold Alex's soap and towels and brushes. He looks happier when Don Carlos is out of sight. Once the cleaning up is over with and the soaking is happening, Alex will curiously ask Pablito if he could answer a few questions for her... "-like what does 'jerboa' mean? Is that a job? and 'caramba'... what does that mean too?"
Pablo grins at the questions. "Jerboa ees what he ees, milady. Like fox or tigre or bat. Caramba... thees means... eet ees just theeng to shout, si? Not bad word, but excitements?"
Alex ahs and nods interestedly, "It's Diego's species, then... I understand!" then just lays lazily in the steamy water for a bit, watching her tail float and fluff out underwater. Finally she says quietly, just to the little rabbit kit, "Pablo... why were you so worried about the don being on the Mare? He won't hurt you, you know."
Pablo looks uncomfortable. "He won't while you are there, milady. But what eef he finds out I and my family run away from one like heem?"
Alex smiles at Pablo, "Well, I suppose he's just going to have to deal with it... after all, you're of St. Genevieve. We're certainly not going to let him run rampant over any of our people, regardless of where they were born." She thinks a bit, then grins, "Tell you what... we'll tell him, shall we? -and then you'll know he won't do anything!"
Pablo's ears go straight up and quiver a bit at that. "But what eef he gets angry?"
Alex raises an eyebrow at the rabbit, "Then he'd better mind his manners pretty darned well, if he expects to not irritate me a lot!" She waves a small paw dismissively, "I'd be quite surprised if it was any bother at all to him, really," then adds curiously, "May I ask a somewhat personal question, Pablito? May I ask why you chose to be my batman, and not the captain's?"
Pablo shuffles his feet and his ears turn pink. "...you were kind to me, milady. An'..." He blushes even more, "-an'... you are preettier, but you need someones to help you look good. Captain Carroll ees already know how."
Alex giggles, "That's so sweet, Pablito -- thank you so much!" then lets her whiskers droop mock-teasingly, "I looked bad?" She grins again, obviously just teasing Pablito... then hms thoughtfully, "The captain should have a batman though, especially if the first mate does already. Let's see... do we have anyone that isn't too busy...? Ah!" She brightens, "Pablito, do you know if Rosita's at all worried about having a job once we don't need her services as a translator? She needn't be worried, but she may not know that... and I wonder if she'd like to be the captain's batman?"
Pablo thinks about this for a bit before answering. "I do not know, milady. She ees theenkeeng that she can steell translate other talks for you, and she ees working hard wit' Meestress Cleo on learneeng mageeck."
Alex nods, "Excellent, then she's probably not worried... and you and I can ask her quietly if she'd like that, so she can say no if she wants, and no one the wiser!" She grins, then gets out of the tub to dry off and dress for lunch. She has one final question (of sorts) for Pablito, as she's buckling on her sword-belt... she grins at him, "I noticed as the don and I were sparring that you seemed pleased at how things went?"
Pablo grins, this time echoing just a bit of Alex's predator glee. "Si, milady! You were much better than he was!" The little rabbit brushes a bit of fluff off Alex's tunic and makes sure her belt is straight in back. "There you are. Look your best, si?"
Alex laughs softly, "It was reassuring for me too, Pablito, I must say!" She grins, giving the little rabbit kit a quick hug, "You bet! and thanks... it's nice to know I've got folks cheering me on, even if it's silently!" She happily trots off to lunch, leaving a startled kit behind her!
The dining room of the White Hart is rather modest in appearance, but the food is good and the ale is excellent. Alex and Carlos emerge from the bathhouse section almost simultaneously, and the coyote bows respectfully. "And now that we are clean again, shall we have lunch, Sir Alex?"
Alex beams cheerfully at Don Carlos, "I'd love to, senyor!"
The special of the day is steak and fried potatoes, with salads for those who indulge in such things. Earlier patrons are already eating, and the food looks delicious, the smells permeating the air enough to set any carnivore's mouth to watering.
Alex will also bow politely before seating herself, then order some food for herself. She'll also point the don towards a few of the tastier dishes, if he's not familiar with the Hart. While eating, Alex realizes (a bit to her surprise) that she has to keep a tight rein on herself -- more than once she finds herself about to share the food on her plate, or to nab a bit of his, like she does ordinarily with her brothers. Somehow, she thinks ruefully to herself, the don might not find that comfortable... instead she asks him politely if he got enough soaking in? She knows that helps her tremendously when she's feeling achy after a workout?
Carlos smiles, with just a hint of a twinkle in his eyes. "Well, perhaps not quite enough... I was eager to see you again, after all, so I hurried." His valet and guards are still standing behind him as he orders the special, until he notes that Alex has sent all but one of her people to eat and waves them to join their opposite numbers.
Alex turns faintly pink at the tips of her ears, but just grins back, "You're very charming, sir." She has a bite of food, then grins, "Well, if it weren't for Pablito I'd probably look pretty darned scruffy, even after a bath!" She beams rather proudly over at the table her people are sitting at, then adds cheerfully to the don, "He was born in Costa Yermo, you know. He's very good."
Carlos twitches his ears at that. "So? Where did you find heem, then? I understood that you had never veeseeted our land?"
Alex says, "Haven't." She has another bite of food, then adds, "He and his family were part of a group of slaves that Roberto el Rojo had captured in Hamasura and was taking back to Costa Yermo." She tilts her head curiously at the don, adding, "He seemed worried that you'd be angry about this... that he was born in Costa Yermo. I assured him it wouldn't be a bother to you at all, of course... but I was wondering if you could tell me why he'd be worried about that?"
Carlos frowns. "Not angry, senyorita, but... eet ees forbidden to emigrate weethout permeesions. Eet ees not a problem my own holdings have, but not all lords are pleasant to work for. I am not conveenced that such rules are a good theeng, but I am honor-bound to uphold them where I can. Een thees case, I have no jurisdiction as long as he ees outside of Costa Yermo, but eef he comes back I should be required to return heem to hees rightful lord or obtain permeesions for heem to stay weeth me."
Alex raises an amused eyebrow at the don, "You do realize this would be a bad thing, I hope? He's of St. Genevieve now. Not Costa Yermo." She hms, studying her fork thoughtfully, then adds, "Oh well. I guess I just won't be able to visit Costa Yermo." Her eyes are dancing teasingly as she adds, "Be hard to ever visit your lands, I guess..." She grins.
The coyote nods. "Si. Wheech makes theengs more deefeecult for me, but by our laws he ees not released from hees oreegeenal status to make new alliances proper. I shall perhaps eenquire eef thees transfer can be made while he ees here, and eef hees former master says no, he can stay away, or perhaps you can persuade the Queen to give him deeplomateec status." He looks mock-stricken. "Never to veeseet? Ah, but you must, milady! The grandeur of the desert mountains, the waves runneeng to the shore after travelleeng across the ocean... eet ees beautiful."
Alex grins at the don, but is still at least partly serious, "I might want to visit someday, Don Carlos... I don't know yet. But I cannot and will not endanger one of my people to do so. It would be irresponsible of me." She looks curious as she adds, "Um... may I ask a somewhat um... possibly personal question, Don Carlos? I mean... well, maybe personal isn't the right word, but... well, why are women and herbivores treated so shabbily in Costa Yermo?"
Carlos shrugs. "Eet ees the way theengs have always been. Everyone has a place, and society works as everyone knows where they belong and what their duties are. Haveeng seen the League, I beegeen to theenk that somehow we are stifleeng ourselves. You are... less organized, yet somehow you accompleesh much more."
Alex nods quietly, thinking... then says slowly, "Don Carlos, I... don't mean to seem difficult, but... well, I can't help but wonder... I mean, there're so many things that we do so differently here. It must be very hard for you, putting up with such a different point of view from me, and well..." she looks a little apologetic, "I... I guess I'm just trying to um, to kinda warn you that I um, that if I spent much time in Costa Yermo I um... would probably do my best to change people's points of view on women and herbivores, y'know? and... well, I just thought I should warn you ahead of time?" She pfts! in annoyance at herself, "Damn, I'm just not saying this at all well, am I?"
Carlos looks at Alex very seriously. "Milady, you have done more to change my atteetudes in the short time I have known you than in the year I have been here. I suspect that eef you were to do such theengs in my homeland, you might very well succeed. Though I am not sure how well the Inquisitors would take thees." The coyote looks just a trifle shocked at Alex's language, but quickly suppresses it and lets it slide past.
Alex smiles a little ruefully, "Well... I just was trying, a little clumsily I fear, to let you know that I understand you're being really nice about this and trying to let me be comfortable all the time around you, and um..." She studies her fork for a moment, looking a bit self-conscious, "Well, um... see, it's Carroll that's the diplomat, not me, y'know? and um..." her voice slides down into an embarrassed mutter, "...I uh... fly off the handle sometimes when I see something I think is uh, wrong..." She mumbles, "Sorry... thought you should know..." She has a hasty mouthful of food, and chews it, intently studying nothing much in particular and feeling a bit silly... she hopes the don gets what she's trying to say.
Carlos reaches across the table to gently lay a hand on Alex's. "Thees ees what I told your brother. You are speereeted, talented, and courageous as well as beauteeful. You are true hidalgo even though you are a woman. Eef you weesh to say sometheeng, then you weell say eet."
Alex blinks, both at the touch and the word... but doesn't mind, really, except that she can't resist asking, "What's um... ee-dal-go mean, please?" She looks a bit relieved, in fact. Good... he understands!
Carlos smiles. "What you call knight. The Queen gave you the honors you truly deserve."
Alex says, "Oh!" She thinks about that a moment, then looks tremendously pleased, "Oh... thank you so much!" She beams, then adds a little sheepishly, "I... just didn't want you to be embarrassed by me all the time, were we in Costa Yermo, you know? -and um, well, while I can tell when I've pushed you too far, fortunately, it's um... a bit late by then, you know?" She grins, adding, "Your ears go right up! -it's kinda cute!"
Carlos grins. "Only when I let them. I do not stay on my guard weeth you as I must when I am being a diplomat. And you are not an embarrassment. Never that. Controversial, yes."
Alex says, "Oh, no, please don't do that! Yuck... I'd never know when I'd pushed you too far then. I'd feel bad if I found out later that I'd done so." She wrinkles her nose, then adds ruefully, "It'd be embarrassing... like what if I'd not known you don't like bathing with women? I wouldn't have known to order a room just for you!" She adds thoughtfully, "Although... that doesn't explain Pablito's and Diego's reaction... let me guess, men can't bathe with women in Costa Yermo?" She gets a faintly perplexed look, considering that odd thought, then adds, "You do know I wouldn't have attacked you in the bath or anything, right?"
Carlos actually blushes just a bit. "Eet ees not that I do not like eet, but eet ees not done at home. Not unless one ees married."
Alex says, "Oh." She sounds a bit startled... then asks curiously, "Why not?" She adds pragmatically, "What if there's only one bathtub?" She also looks a bit surprised -- and very curious! -- when the don blushes.
"Eef there ees only one bathtub, then you take turns. How else?" The coyote looks whimsical. "You would not weesh to smear a lady's reputation, after all."
Alex raises an eyebrow, "I'd say not, indeed! -not unless you wanted her to demand satisfaction of you! Or no, wait... didn't you say something about not letting your women protect themselves?"
Carlos nods, his ears flattened. "Si. A lady ees expected to have a gentleman to protect her honor, rather than doing eet herself. You weell come as a shock to many of my class, I theenk. I also theenk that thees would be a good theeng."
Alex flattens her ears slightly, the earrings in the left ear tinkling lightly against each other, and wrinkles her nose again, "Yuck. I can tell already I'm going to be horribly controversial if I ever go to Costa Yermo..." She sighs faintly, then adds, "Let me guess... a gentlewoman isn't allowed to notice what a nice rump a gentleman has either, right?" She pauses, realizing the don's flattened his ears, "Uhh... I'm sorry, was I rude?"
Carlos looks like he's trying not to laugh with a mouthful of food, his ears straight up again. He finally manages to swallow without choking. "Caramba. Thees I do not know, Sir Alex, but she ees not supposed to tell heem she has noteeced."
Alex watches the don in some startlement, then has to cover a giggle of her own, "Ah... guess my timing was off on that one, eh?" She grins suddenly, her eyes dancing with mischief, "Oh, can't let him know? Okay..." she gives the don an intent (and obviously teasing) stare, "I didn't say that, and I didn't notice anything!" She sits back with a bit of a grin... let's see how he handles that one! she thinks gleefully!
Carlos' ears turn pink again, but he's put his diplomatic face back on and just smiles. "Thank you, I theenk."
Alex hmfs, folding her arms, "No fair. How'm I supposed to know what you're thinking when you're hiding like that? You've got your diplomatic face on again!" She grins, "-like you used on the duchess!" She giggles, then adds in mock-severity, "And did I hear any thank you for rescuing you from a tango with her?!"
Carlos grins at that last bit. "Eendeed, and I was remiss een not saying so earlier... but I was a bit deestracted by the end of that eveneeng. I am most certainly grateful for that timely rescue, Sir Alex."
Alex laughs! "Ah... but how could I not? I'd never seen you freeze like that before!" She grins, adding, "You do know that she loves teasing you and guys like you, in that way, yes?" More curiously she adds, "Have you ever thought about training yourself not to do that?"
The coyote grins, though rather ruefully. "Eet ees not easy. I do know she does thees on purpose. There ees a very sharp mind behind that hedoneest's face."
Alex grins and cheerfully offers, "Well, if you'd like I'm sure between me, Carroll, and Jessie, we could help you learn not to be bothered by it?" Happily she adds, "Jessie and I have been watching carefully and taking notes! I'm pretty sure we could replicate her moves now, I think." She remembers something else she'd noticed at the party, and quietly scans the don to see if he still has that curiously bright aura. Curiously bright for a non-magic user, that is.
Carlos tries to look appalled. "I am not sure that the world needs another mink like the Duchess. Thees may not be a good idea."
Alex grins, "No, silly, not just Jessie... I meant her and me dancing with you that way... taking turns. Or if you prefer we could just have me do it. I figured we'd be less threatening than the duchess, and Carroll could help you teach yourself not to mind it that way." She rolls her shoulders and adds cheerfully, "'Sides, I want to see if I have the moves down too!"
Carlos smiles. "Eet ees not the moves that bother me, Sir Alex, but the duchess herself. She ees just a beet predatory for my tastes. I would be happy to practeece danceeng weeth you, however."
Alex tilts her head curiously, "Predatory how, please?"
Carlos just twitches an eyebrow. "She collects men. I do not weesh to be just another belt in her notch."
Alex bites her lip... then giggles in spite of herself, "Um... I'm sorry, did you mean another notch in her belt?" She grins, "That's okay. Carroll isn't, and he doesn't mind dancing with her." She pauses, then says curiously, "So is that a bad thing in Costa Yermo? Sex with more than one person?"
Carlos looks prim. "I meant eet the way I said eet. And eet ees not so much that eet ees bad to, how you say, play the field? But to do so thees blatantly ees not done."
Alex looks relieved, "Oh, good! I was worried there for a moment!" She happily goes back to eating and casually scanning the don for magical aura. Yup... there it is, same as at the party. Curious. She'll have to ask him about that later.
Carlos just twitches an ear at Alex's relieved look. "Why do you say thees? You have an 'istory that you deed not weesh to tell me?"
Alex blinks at the don, "A what? A history?" She looks a bit pink about the ears, but just shakes her head, "No. I was more wondering if there'd be any problems arranging for us each to have someone nice to cuddle with while I was off saili-" She suddenly turns much more flushed, "-er, I mean if we were actually uh, having to um, to plan for that..." She decides eating dinner is very important just now. Very. Yes. Good food.
Carlos looks enlightened. "Ah, thees practeece of a leman when you are separated from your spouse. Thees would... not surprise anyone. Women of the League are supposed to be... uneenheebeeted. I theenk that eet ees more likely that you are not likely to pretend to an ideal you have no intention of meeting, si?"
Alex blinks, working through that sentence slowly... then looks enlightened herself, "Oh! Right, I don't think I'd make a good Costa Yermo lady at all... and besides, it'd be mean to have a leman either on the ship or in any port, and not allow the same to one's spouse, you know?" She looks curious, adding, "What do you mean by uninhibited?"
Carlos looks a little uncomfortable. "At home, they say that League women are, how to say..." He grins. "Ah. Of course. They are all like the Duchess."
Alex blinks curiously, then laughs! "All?! Good heavens no! The men would all be exhausted all the time!" She giggles, then grins mischievously at the don, "So, if I just give them my best predatory look, I should scare away all the Costa Yermo men, eh?"
Carlos continues to grin. "I thought thees would be unlikely, too. And there have been few women who seemed eager to wrestle me to the ground -- aside from Her Grace, at least. You weell fasceenate and worry them, milady, just by being yourself."
Alex giggles delightedly at that image! -then grins at the don, "Well no... wrestling's not as common as fencing around here." She chuckles quietly, adding, "Well, I can't very well not be myself, so I guess that's a good thing...?" She grins to herself and decides not to mention to the don that she's good at flipping people around -- might scare him!
The conversation continues into the afternoon, long after their food is gone and the guards have all had a chance to eat, even the ones on duty for the first round. After the intense barrage of questions Alex had at the beginning, things drift to less personal subjects. When the Don finally takes his leave, pleading business, the vixen realizes that she's had a pleasant time.
Alex sits quietly after the don's left, finishing her drink and smiling faintly to herself. Interesting... he was really nice about everything... about her being a better fencer than he, about her mix-up about men and women not bathing together in Costa Yermo... about so many different things. She hadn't expected that... and he doesn't even seem to mind her being herself, either here or in Costa Yermo! That's a tremendous relief.
Alex sips her drink, still thinking... it's nice that she has something she can offer back, since he's being so nice about teaching them all the language. She doesn't know if he'll accept an offer of fencing tips from her -- he didn't seem that interested in the dancing tips -- but still, at least there's something she can teach him too. She'd be embarrassed if she had nothing to offer... if she were completely inept in comparison to him.
Alex pauses at a sudden worrisome thought... totally inept in comparison... uh-oh... on second thought, there is something she's totally inept at, compared to him. The tips of her ears turn a little pink at the thought, but honesty compels her to face it squarely. She sighs... well, he's had kids, so he obviously already knows about sex. She shakes her head wryly at herself... she'd been so sure as a kit that she'd never have to worry about that! Ah well... it just means she's going to have to learn really fast now, is all -- she won't be embarrassed, or embarrass the don, by not knowing anything about the subject -- er, should it come up, that is, she hastily amends to herself.
Alex frowns to herself, sipping her drink, eyes distant. Well, she'll just have to plan ahead. Sex... okay, need a partner for that. How does one find a partner?
Alex's ears tilt at a wry angle... this is not going to be easy, she realizes! She can't ask her brothers... Horatio would be aghast, and Carroll... she blushes, her ears flattening as she intently studies her mug -- he'd laugh. Pfoo. No, can't ask them. She thinks a bit more, then sighs... it's not like she can just proposition someone on the Mare either, darnit. Wouldn't be right -- they might feel pressured.
Well... who does that leave? Hm... she wrinkles her nose a little resignedly -- yuck. She'd so much rather take Carroll's advice and ask someone she cares about... but none of the folks she cares about can be asked! She heaves a sigh... bleah... maybe she could hire someone? But how to tell which is a good one to hire? She ponders morosely for a moment... then brightens -- Bryn! Bryn will know how to tell -- she'll ask Bryn!
Alex sips her drink some more, looking relieved. She doesn't know if her mother and father and Bryn planned out how helpful Bryn's been to the siblings... but even if not, she's sure glad Bryn's been there for them all!