Friendship lunch

[Pandora Valis]

Pandora was eagerly waiting for her visitor, she had the shop sign flipped to closed for lunch but Raize de Sardet would know the back of the shop would be unlocked for him so people wouldn't get huffy. 

In the main area on the counter where she worked, she had a spread of meat hand pies, tarts, fresh mulled cider, and a few other snack bits set up. There was a happy skip in her step as she set up lunch and got the chairs while she waited for Raize- it had been too long since she last had a lunch with him and she was all but bouncing while she covered the pies to make sure they stayed nice and hot.

While waiting, she would sit and pull out some new herbs from her garden that she grew, sniffing and looking them over before placing them in neatly organized bottles. She was working on a new herbal batch for mental relaxation and so she was being picky with the herbs she used at the moment.

[Raize de Sardet]

"You know, Bubbles," de Sardet called, opening the back door and stepping in, "Every time you make me use the back door like this, I feel like we're having a tryst!" He stomped the snow from his boots and the warmth back into his toes. His tone was light with amusement, but as usual, there was a sort of...sincerity about the suggestion. Sex jokes were something he could easily understand. Beyond that...well, he'd been disciplined for both his crude humor and his lack of it. It as always a bit easier with Pandora, at least. Having been close friends since they were small children, he felt just as close to her as he did his own sister.

He'd only just finished speaking when the scent of the meat and sweets and cider hit him. Shrugging out of his cloak, he grinned and wandered into the main room. "That smells delicious!" He always seemed surprised she knew what food he liked. It wasn't as if he could visit as often as he would like considering his military duties, but considering he visited every few days, he really shouldn't be surprised. This last time had been quite a bit longer since he'd been away visiting home and then had to catch up on errands in the city upon his return.

Following his nose to the food first, he leaned over the table to take in a large sniff and drool over the pies a little. And then he remembered his manners and straightened upright, turning to his friend. "Lady Pandora," he offered a bow. "Pleasure to see you as always..." He'd had something else proper he wanted to say but she was working on something and he was immediately more interested in that. "What are you making?"

[Pandora Valis]

The voice calling out made her smile but then he was making her cheeks burn red as she let out a laughing giggle at his words as she turned in her seat to look at him with dried leaves in her hands, "Well! It's the only way people know I'm closed otherwise they are always coming in and they don't know about the back door like you do," he countered with a small laugh, a bright smile on her face as she placed them down and looked to him as he shrugged off his coat.

"Go hang it up by the fireplace to dry it so it'll be warm when you leave," she told him, giving him a little look if he thought he was going to get away with just tossing his snow covered cloak just anywhere. "All fresh, I just finished unpacking it all and was waiting for you," she told him with a smile. No, she didn't cook the meat pies but she had made the cider because it was something fun she enjoyed doing.

"Lord Raize, you as well- come sit!" she urged before picking up some leaves, "These are from my garden that's hidden away and I'm seeing how well I can make a tonic to help with relaxing someone who's always stressed out, smell it," she would offer as she held the dark green and red spots on it. It would have a very earthy smell but under it was a slight sweet-minty scent. "I've almost got it right but I need to mix up the right combination still, it needs something a little bitter to help balance it out." she told him with a slight pout on her face.

[Raize de Sardet]

"So...you're embarrassed to be seen together?" This was actually a serious question as he hung up his coat as instructed. He was always a little confused why she closed the shop when he came to visit, never imagining she did it to just enjoy his company alone without customers or anyone interrupting. It wasn't as if they didn't go out together in public either. Maybe it was because they were both of marrying age. That...made some sense. Two young people alone was...a bit scandalous. "I suppose it is a bit strange I am younger than you, but I think our parents would be alright with it." Okay, maybe he was making a leap there. The Valis family were higher in rank than his own family, so his father certainly would approve.

It was something the young man had thought about sometimes, but...he was just getting used to living away from his parents and after one awkward betrothal where the woman had eloped before even meeting him, it had left a bit of rumors as to why. Needless to say de Sardet was happy for a bit of space a bit longer. Admittedly, he did like Pandora. But...being kids together was a bit...odd in that department.

He grinned and sat down, scooting the chair closer like he was a little boy. He was at heart. She didn't need to ask him twice to smell anything. His senses might not be as keen as his brothers, but he didn't need magic to enjoy smelling or eating things. "Not for me then, but smells nice. Like sweet dirt," he mused. He meant it nicely; he liked the smell of dirt. "Happy to help fine tune, of course." He was quite a laid back person and imagined the effects would be less pronounced but...well, relaxing was nice for anyone, he supposed. "This by request?" He asked curiously, shifting slightly so he could lean over and snag a small pie and eat while they spoke. If his mother could see him, she would have a conniption fit over his decorum.

[Pandora Valis]

"What? No! I just don't want to have to get up every few minutes to help someone when I want to spend some time with you without interruption," she told him with a little wrinkle of her nose at him. She couldn't believe he would think like that! She cared about him and she was a tiny bit selfish in wanting some peace with her childhood friend. His statement had her quiet and then puzzling it out for a moment, "Do you think I care about your age and if we were to uhm...court, yes? They would be fine with it for sure," she told him with a little chuckle. Ok, maybe her father might have a small issue due to titles and ranks but so far he had kept his nose out of things.

In truth, she had rarely thought of her future beyond her safety bubble of a shop. This place made her feel content and safe- happy when home was dark and dreary. She wasn't sure if she thought of Raize as a romantic partner- or she had but it was confusing since they had grown together and she remembered when he was rather clumsy.

Crossing her legs at the ankles as she would watch him smell it and then she giggled a little, "Sweet dirt?" she said as she would sniff it. Ok, maybe kind of she could understand that. Hearing that, she nodded, "I need to tinker still but I'll have something for you to try by tomorrow? Next day the latest," she told him as she would pour them both some cider. "No, I was just wanting to make something new for the shop to sell. I feel I need to keep bringing around something new and different every few months just so that everyone knows I'm always working on something new," she told him with a little smile. Pandora never cared much on how he ate but she would place a napkin on his leg as she carefully picked up a pie, "So- what have you been up to? How's your family?"

[Raize de Sardet]

"That makes sense," he said thoughtfully, not really intending to say it out loud. He hesitated, having realized he had and then moved on. De Sardet shook his head. "No, that isn't how I meant it." Of course she didn't care and he didn't care but there was always that vague they that seemed to care about that sort of thing. Someone else might have made a poor joke about Pandora's age considering she was a few years beyond the usual marrying bit but that wasn't the young man's style. "I think my mother is looking again." He meant looking for another wife for him. Pandora would know what he meant, considering she knew all about the first time a year ago.

He wasn't sure what to make of being married just yet. On one hand, it was expected that he be a good son and bring honor and reputation and more family to his family. But...well, he wasn't sure he was done having fun doing the opposite of that just yet. Or what to even do with a wife, especially if he didn't know her.

De Sardet knew Pandora well enough to know her time management wasn't all that great when it came to experimenting. But she was quite good at her recipes. "Day after tomorrow," he confirmed. And even if she did, by some miracle, have it finished tomorrow, he couldn't manage two lunches out in a row. He was too often indisposed due to allergies or some minor illness to take time off for fun, not without getting glared at or poked fun at. Thankfully, at the moment, he felt fine. Visiting home seemed to have cleared up whatever was bothering him before they left, but there was still plenty of cold months to plow through.

"Very professional. Business is good then?" It always seemed to be. Herbs and potions were useful and the Moonflower had a charming interior and curator to boot.

Her question earned a shrug at first as he finished eating his pie, hardly noticing the addition of a napkin until his wiped his fingers on it instead of his pants. Oh. Very nice of her. He took a drink of cider and the tartness made him smile. "The Viscount is busy as usual. Mother...well, I told you about her. Raina's still invested in her work. Much better than me - don't tell her I said that - and I think Aiden might finally get to leave the Castle like he's been dying for. He's of age, but mother is attached." His little brother was the baby after all, though their mother was attached for more than just that reason. Still, de Sardet would like to have his brother around more often.

[Pandora Valis]

Pandora then smiled at that as he realized what she meant, that she didn't care who saw them together and that they were friends and she enjoyed just spending time with him. Yes, she wasn't married yet or even betrothed but that was because, to put it simply, her father did not care much. He ran his business and just left her alone so long as she did nothing to tarnish the family name. Since she never did, he never pushed for her to marry. "She is? Any idea at who she's looking at this time?" she asked him curiously. She remembered last year and felt bad for him after that whole mess and she could only hope it wouldn't happen again.

She did wonder who she might end up with, she honestly hoped that she'd meet someone and they'd hit if off and that would be it but she didn't know what to do with any romantic feelings at all as she never really had them- at least noticed them. It was very easy to peg her as naïve in this regard because of her not knowing.

"Perfect! I'll let you give it a try, I'm going to make it first into a tea and then into an extract and see which works the best and hopefully doesn't taste terrible," she told him with a little chuckle at that. She knew that Raize had trouble with the colder months, so she did have some tea's prepared for him to take home that should give a little reprieve for him if things got too bad.

That compliment made her beam as she took a little bite and then nodded, "Mmhmm! Sale's haven't dipped, I've got a new supplier of herbs so that is one less worry for me and I won't have to go out to my garden every few days to collect...though I might still because I love the walk and it helps clear my head a little and lets me think of new ideas for the shop and what to sell," she told him with a little chuckle at that.

Pandora had seen that coming the moment he started eating, she didn't say anything but the grin on her face was there as she took another bite while listening to him. "I won't, promise," she told him with a little chuckle as she took another bite before her brows went up, "Really? I hope he enjoys it... well, she worries and that's what mothers do. Once she sees he's fine, she'll be ok," she told him. Pandora wasn't wholly sure if that was true but she liked to believe it. It did make her miss her own mother for a moment, her eyes looking down for a brief moment as she took a bite again before looking back to him with that happy look she always had.

[Raize de Sardet]

He shrugged. He had no idea who his mother had her sights on for him right now. He could imagine there were a few candidates. The St. James sisters, the McIntyres, the Bolton daughter, even Pandora...honestly, the young man wouldn't be surprised to hear his mother wanted him to marry the Princess. Thankfully they weren't quite important enough for that. Or maybe they were. Regardless, he had no desire to be in charge of anything. Hence his avoidance of the family empire. Scratch that, he had no desire to be forced to be in charge of anything.

The young man didn't care about feelings so much as about getting along. He didn't imagine he would manage to be on his own much longer and all he could ask for was someone who could understand him and who he could understand. OR at least that they would both try. He was too practical to be a romantic. But he didn't really like hearing Pandora fantasize about the like.

"'Doesn't taste terrible?'" he repeated. "Not a very high standard," he said, more confused and less accusing. Anyone else might have made it an obvious joke. "Glad you are doing well. Who's the supplier?" He asked politely, finishing off another pie. He enjoyed listening to the bubbly small woman talk about pretty much anything that excited her. "I like those walks too but not in winter," he noted, at least when he managed to have the time to join her and help carry things back and forth. They smelled good. He had been told not to put things in his mouth sometimes. A lot of times.

De Sardet might be a corporal at the moment, but he wasn't the fighter his sister was. He tried to be though. And sometimes he succeeded based on sheer build but he wasn't as good a soldier as he was a strategist. He preferred chess to any martial playing field. It was a game he was impressively good at and always had been. It was...difficult to find others of his caliber to play with however.

"He might stay with Raina and myself. Nothing is set yet." His mother was never simply 'okay' with anything but he wasn't about to discuss her any more than he needed to in present company. He took a moment to consume more food. That was what it was there for, after all, and he was always hungry. "Is there anything I can try for you today?"

[Pandora Valis]

That could mean a few things that he didn't know or didn't care, she was leaning to that he just didn't know at the moment. As far as she knew, no one had spoken to her father about her hand in marriage or even to court her to get to know her on that level alone. She wondered if her age had to do with it or that she was too independent compared to other ladies.

She wanted a partner she got along with but also felt something for, even if she didn't know what those feelings were yet because she hadn't felt them yet. Her thoughts drifted to Raize and how he had grown up with her. Sure she was older than her but no one would guess that with how she looked compared to him but he was a good man, a sweet man who she enjoyed just being around.

That made her chuckle, "Well, sometimes the best things that work taste bad and if I mix too many herbs into it to try and alter the taste it alters the properties I'm working towards," she explained as she would take another bite before dabbing her mouth with her own napkin. "Her name is Rosemary McIntyre, she came over and made an offer to provide me fresh and new herbs and plans and the stock she brought...it was like my own mother had gathered it herself," she told him with a small smile. Her mother had always had a green thumb and her plants looked perfect and fresh and it had quickly tugged something inside Pandora for that. "I know and I don't want you getting sick from the cold either but once it warms up again you can come with me again," she said brightly. She did love having company there, it made it less lonely and dull and maybe a little less scary.

She would finish her pie and take a sip of her drink as she listened and gave a nod, "Well, if he does, He'll be in the best hands," she told him with a little smile to him before stopping and thinking for a moment, playing with a napkin before she grinned and hopped off of her stool and went over to a cabinet that was close by and unlocked it with a key she kept on herself. The sound of glass bottles clinking together could be heard until she pulled out a vial, "I had a request from a soldier to make something to help give him energy without it being draining afterwords- so like how coffee works but after you crash. So something like coffee with little to no crash and I've come up with this just yesterday." she would tell him as she brought out the vial and undid the stopper which held a long glass dropper. She would squeeze some of the clear liquid up into it and then squeeze some out until there was only a little left, "Ok, try two drops and wait a couple of minutes and tell me if you feel anything, ok?" she asked him as she held the dropped for him to either take or for him to just lean to her and she'd drop it into his mouth. The taste alone was very similar to a strong black coffee with various cinnamon undertones.

[Raize de Sardet]

He entirely understood not wanting to off balance the mixture. But what bothered him was thay nature had designed something useful to taste terrible. Plants did not make any sense to the nobleman. Thay was probably why he left all the theory and care and work to Pandora and offered to help in the simplest, most true to himself way he knew. Eating things. Even things that tasted bad.

He watched her eat her pie with dainty bites and clean fingers and proper poise and for a moment, all he could think about was how stupidly impressive she was.

McIntyre. De Sardet knew the name. She was one of the lady's in waiting to the Princess, after all. Not from a very impressive family, but they had connections. Last he had heard, she was in a...questionable relationship. Some rumors suggested she was unreasonable, others that he was. The young man didn't pay enough attention to know the truth of it or even if it was officially over or not. "See, I always knew you weren't the only noble lady with a green thumb," he said firmly with a nod. He meant it simply, but belatedly realized they could be talking about magic. Between Pandora and his own family(of which he had never spoken), he would not be surprised to know every noble and their mother were mystics. "Glad to see you making friends." It was difficult not to like the bubbly shopkeeper.

He smiled faintly. "It would be worth it," he noted earnestly. He got sick a lot. In fact, he was surprised at how little he had this winter but he put that down to Pandora amd the amount of blankets and cloaks his mother sent over. She worried a little too much sometimes.

He watched attentively. Things that came out of that cabinet were often very fun. Or at least experimental. He raised an eyebrow as Pandora explained. The nobleman did not drink coffee. He didn't find he ever needed it. Not to say he bounced off walls like Bubbles did, but he never found himself wanting. The perks of being young, perhaps. He watched in fascination as she used the little dropper and leaned forward and stuck out his tongue without any further prompting.

The taste made him wrinkle his nose. He swallowed and then tried to avoid putting his tongue in his mouth. "Is tha wha co-ee paste like?" He attempted to complain, finally giving in with a shudder. "That, is disgusting," he grumbled more clearly. He gave the herbalist a look almost like he had been betrayed. Just a little. He slid his drink closer to himself on the table and took a few swallows to clear his mouth.

[Pandora Valis]

Pandora was glad to have him and his taste buds, he was always willing to try something for her no matter what it was. If it was something dangerous though she'd never let him try it of course but she had a fair amount of other tonics to test and see how they reacted with a person.

She was a very neat lady, she didn't like being a mess and so always tried to eat neatly- even messy foods. She would munch away and dab at her mouth before reaching to take a drink as she looked to him before a bright smile crossed her face as she looked down some at what he said.

"Her plants are impressive, truly, I'll be giving her some of my own seedling cuts for her to grow as well and hopefully that will boost the quality of what I have here as well, 'she said with a bright smile. "I'm trying...I do like having friends but sometimes it makes me a little nervous since everyone just looks at people and studies them to try and find a fault in them, 'she told him with a small shake of her head at that as she would take another drink from her glass.

With the tonic in hand, she would place a couple of drops on his tongue and then she had to laugh a little as she shook her head some, "That is what the extract tastes like, real coffee is much better but the extract doesn't taste the best," she told him as she would watch him take it into his mouth finally and then cringe from it.

"Now if you don't start feeling anything I might have to give you a couple more drops to see how it's working or if I need to extract more of the caffeine in the beans to add into it," she told him as she set it on the counter. She would pull out an essential oil extractor, basically a fancy double boiler with a lid that dipped into a vial. She was carefully adding in some coffee bean while she waited, "So are you up to anything new Raize?" she inquired curiously, a brow raised as she looked to him.

[Raize de Sardet]

"Glad the two of you get along," he said with a smile. He might not understand plants and they got along fine, but he knew it meant a lot to Pandora to have friends who had similar interests and knowledge bases. "You have nothing to be nervous about." Of course everyone judged others. It wasn't always conscious or malicious and most didn't act on judgements without reason. Humans naturally compared themselves to others. Some were, admittedly, more...negative about it than others. "You're basically faultless." Maybe he shouldn't have added the 'basically' but he didn't want to come off as too patronizing. De Sardet meant his words sincerely.

He pursed his lips, clearly not believing her about 'better.' The young man more than understood flavor preference to be personal and unique, so while it might taste better to her, all he knew was that he didn't like it. He supposed it was just as well he didn't feel he needed coffee. The taste wasn't worth it. "More cinnamon might be good." Of course, more cinnamon might ruin the effect. And too much cinnamon tasted terrible too. "Or no cinnamon. I don't know," he allowed with a shrug, admitting he lack of understanding in that department.

Pandora's suggestion of more was met with a vague nod, de Sardet deciding it was likely best to avoid thinking about it and let any effect happen naturally, while he was doing something else. Like acquiring the tarts Pandora had set out and shoving a whole one in his mouth. He hummed happily. That definitely helped take his mind off the taste.

He consumed a few more while she set up the contraption. He had seen it before and understood the simple science behind it quite well(yes, cooking was a science in his head), as he did with most of the tools she used. It still fascinated him to watch her put her tools and craft into practice, however. The noble tilted his head almost subconsciously, watching. He didn't look up at her as she spoke or when he answered. "Pulling a few extra shifts at work," he said, clearly not very excited about it. "Nights mostly. It is difficult to get attention right now." He meant for promotion. De Sardet liked being a soldier, but...he felt obligated to push himself to prove to his father he was useful there.

"I am thinking about getting a dog," he added.

[Pandora Valis]

Pandora smiled at that and nodded, she was glad for it to, she liked people and liked getting along with them. When he told her that she had nothing to worry about though, she would blush and then laugh a little as she reached out and then leaned her head against his arm gently, "Thank you, I guess it's just silly worried claiming my head," she told him with a bit of a chuckle at that. He was a good man too, she knew that and felt it deep down that he was one of the bet men she knew.

Listening to his request, she chuckled a little and nodded, "I think I can add more or even a spriggen of vanilla beans to help as well,' she told him as she would pull out the dried cinnamon sticks and then a jar that held some pods in it. She was humming and thinking for a moment while she let the coffee essential oils be extracted while tapping on her lower lip a little.

"You are remembering to take care of yourself and drink some hot tea when you get home after your night shifts right? The cold of winter setting in will knock you for a loop if you don't," she told him with a little bit of a gentle tease in her tone that faded off at the mention of a dog.

Pandora all but bounced as she faced him more, "Really?! What kind? You really should do it," she told him, trying to encourage this decision wholly with him. Even though she had no clue what kind of animal he was looking to get, she felt he should have a companion like that.

[Raize de Sardet]

"Vanilla...I like vanilla better," he noted with a nod, as if that was done. He could almost imagine the taste of the smooth ground beans and it helped distract from the residual taste in his mouth. He probably should have known he wouldn't like it beforehand, but it wouldn't have stopped him anyway.

De Sardet let out a loud, exaggerated groan. "Yes, mother, I bundle up and I move around, and I have a torch, and I eat warm soup and drink hot tea and I..." he trailed off in a fake annoyed huff, lost for what else to claim he did. "Do other things to stay warm and not get sick," he added with a smile. Most of it he meant. Except for the tea bit, that was entirely a lie. It was usually something alcoholic or somethings hot chocolate. "I only got a cold once this year," he grumbled. That was true. Winter wasn't over just yet, but he'd been rather good so far.

He was not at all prepared for her excitement at his vague idea about a dog. It did make him more excited himself however, to know Pandora liked the idea. "Oh, well...probably the sort I grew up with. Large hunting dogs. I...hadn't actually thought about it that much..." He shrugged, just a little embarrassed. He'd raised and trained some of his family's dogs, but he had never had one of his own. Joining the military had made that difficult and even now it would be a bit. But he liked the idea of having a companion on patrol and just in general. The responsibility of it...well, that was another step too, one he wasn't sure he was ready for. "Something fluffy."

After a moment of contemplation and then he turned to look at Pandora more directly, choosing his words slowly, as if trying to make sure of something. "I...don't feel anything, Bubbles."

[Pandora Valis]

That had her smiling and trying to not laugh, "Ok I'll add more vanilla to it to help offset that bitter taste," she told him with a little smile at that. She would check to see how her essential oil maker was going, so far so good as it was slowly starting to do what it needed to.

Now she was laughing, a little smile on her face before she gave him a little pucker and wrinkle of her nose at him, "Hey it's cold out so of course I'll worry about my best friend," she told him with a positive nod to that one. She would nod to that, "One cold is good, it'll help keep your body working to keep you healthy as well," she told him with a smile. So far though, she'd never actually been sick. For whatever reason, Pandora had an immune system of steel that was hard to ding.

She would lean in a bit, bouncing a little bit as she did as he spoke, "Why not go for it though? You should have a companion like that and fluffy awww yes," she told him with a nod. She wanted him to do it and secretly she would be excited to be able to play with the dog too since she didn't have any pets. "You'll have a companion with you and dogs are great to have as another set of eyes and can help in the military as well," she told him, hoping to give him a little more incentive on that factor.

When he said he didn't, she gave him a sad sigh, "Ok, lets try a couple more drops then, let me do this first," she told him as she would pick up a spoon and then pull out some vanilla sugar she had and scooped just a little bit on the spoon before apply three drop to it and holding the spoon out to him, "Here, try it this way and see if that helps cut down the taste. Sugar won't effect it at all," she told him so that he wouldn't worry about that little detail.