Death on the Menu

[donjavier]

Javier quirked an eyebrow at the dark skinned woman’s words “¿Habla español?” He attempted tentatively. He didn’t want to be wrong, it would be good to have someone else to talk to, but he hadn’t heard of a Saracen noble staying in or near the castle. It was possible she was new to town, but if not, what was she doing there? Was he being kept out of the loop of some political goings on? Javi hated politics, and if there was going to be some big uproar over the holy war, he wanted no part of it.

But the next second she told him that she thought he was new. Granted, he had only been there a few weeks, but surely that was long enough for him to have integrated into society at least a little. Perhaps he hadn’t attended enough of these blasted public events for him to be known much outside the castle.

Her next comment, however, dashed his hopes of having found someone new to talk to. Get someone killed? Is that really what she thought he was doing? He couldn’t help but be affronted by how idiotic she seemed to assume he was. Of course, it was improper of him to act the way he was around the peasant girl, but nobles flirting with peasants was a fact the world over. In most cases - Javi’s mind conjured up a picture of Sebastian Mannering - Mason’s assumption would have been right. He’d thought that flirting would have been more of a help than a hindrance. Or maybe she’d seen through that, and realised what he’s real intentions were. Now that was a scary thought. Perceptive people were not the kind he wanted to associate with. “Not that new, no” He said, as politely as he could muster. Giving too much information away could be dangerous.

Javi had to hold back a laugh when the girl declined the offer. It seemed that she knew her own mind, at least. That thought sent his mind back to Isabel, and he found himself more determined than ever to make sure she was alright. “If there is anything I can do, Señorita, just tell me” He said with a smile. He couldn’t help but feel a little sad, though. He knew if it was Issie he’d been talking to, she would have had some quick-witted comment ready to fire back at him and have him smiling all over again.

[mira]

Interesting, Mira thought watching the two of them. A defiant servant had got her interest the most, she had merely suggested for the time being if asked that she was with her. Her voice had given it away more than anything, just that little tilt of not accepting and that remark back. "I see" she said a little cooly to the girl who also refused to give her name.

She looked over to Don Javier, maybe he had after all just taken a fancy to her, who knew, it was not uncommon for bachelor Lords to take the peasant women and use them but what did she hope to gain from it. Unless she was not really a peasant and that made Mira wonder even more. The girl would be worth watching and Mira made a note to look into this family she served.

Mira gave a quick look around, but Mason was off elsewhere so Mira decided she would not remand the girl for her insolence. Lowering herself indeed . . and Mira smiled, she was starting to like this girl.

Don had asked her a question and and she looked back at him "Sí hablo un poco" she replied then reverted back to English "My Father taught me many years ago" she smiled. "He was great man, but seems your servant girl has had enough of me for one day so I shall let thee be, enjoy your day" she smiled giving them both a small nod of her head. "Until we meet again"

Mira wandered off and headed back to the markets, her thoughts on the young servant girl who dared defy a Noble. . . Interesting . . for Mira could do with such a girl . .

((Thanks for letting me drop in for a few posts ))

[hazel]

((un poco, means a little don't it?? and no dramas.))

Hazel wasn't quite sure if she was ready to make a full joke about her situation when asked by the nobleman if there was anything she wanted. There was a strong temptation to ask him to feed her, get her lovely, spledid clothes and a horse, but she wasn't sure if he'd take that in the joking nature she'd mean it. So she went for something a little more safe. "You could teach me you mother tongue? That way I could understand what you say." It may have seemed rude to ask such a thing, but when the pair conversed in Spanish, she felt like a fool not knowing what was being said. More than anything she loved to learn and do her best to make people feel happy and welcome.

In truth, when the dark skinned girl left, she wasn't overly sorry to see the back of her, but she felt guilty that she had driven her away. It certainly wasn't her intent to do that, but asking her to be a slave when she was already a peasant who had to stay with another peasant family to get by. Why should she have to even pretend to be worth less than that? And what's more she felt bad in case Javier wanted to converse with her in their own tongue.

[donjavier]

Javier’s face split into a smile as the woman spoke Spanish to him. Even though he’d been beginning to dislike her, it made him so happy to hear someone speak in his mother tongue. Of course, her accent was a little out, but that didn’t matter to him. Issie’s accent had been appalling, but hearing her speak Spanish was one of the most enjoyable things he’d ever done.

However, she only spoke a few words before reverting to English, and took her leave of them the next moment. He was a little sad to see her go, seeing as he had so recently found someone to converse with, but he felt that maybe, even though she spoke his language, they would not have that have had that much to talk about anyway. He sighed, then turned back to the peasant girl and offering her a winning smile “I suppose it would be in vain for me to enquire for your name?” He asked, hoping he might win her over now that the other woman had gone. Now they were effectively alone he probably didn’t need to keep up the pretence of flirting - the people milling about the courtyard would assume that was what he was doing anyway - but he found himself wanting to.

Javi’s jaw practically hit the floor when Hazel asked to learn Spanish. Had fate just thrown him Issie in another guise? He managed to correct his features back into a genuine smile again after a few moment, hoping the girl wouldn’t think anything of the look he’d just given her. “¡Por supuesto!” He said enthusiastically, before leaning in towards her surreptitiously and adding “That means ‘of course’” with a wink.

[hazel]

Hazl looked to the Spaniard before her, pondering whether or not to give him her name. But then again how would giving him her name cause any problems? Not much he could do with her name. She was one peasant among many. Well, pretend peasant, but that was beside the point. "My name is Hazel." The brunette said clearly but not too loud, only for the Spaniard to hear. It didn't bother her if people were watching, let them, they didn't know what was being said or going on. It was unusual for a noble to talk to a peasant, but it was up to the imaginations of those spectating as to what was being said.

Hazel tilted her head Javi gave her, but she wasn't going to ask him about it, it was his business, if he told her what it was about then that was fine, she wasn't going to pry. Those thoughts were quickly pushed aside as she gave a small laugh at the enthusiasm he seemed to have for the job of teaching her. But Hazel had a couple more questions. "We can't learn out here. Is there somewhere we can go?" Not implying his bedroom on any pretext, just some place a little more secluded and away from curious eyes.

[donjavier]

Javier’s smile widened when Hazel told him her name. He’d half suspected she wouldn’t, he knew if he’d been in her position he’d have kept it to himself. Of course, she could have given a false name, something else he probably would have done – why arouse suspicion when you can pretend to comply_ Part of him liked to think that the woman in front of him really was called hazel, but he supposed it didn’t matter either way. It was more than she’d told the Saracen woman, and that was what counted. “Encantada” He replied, letting the smile remain on his lips and offering her another little bow. For the first time in a long time, Isabel Brighton wasn’t at the forefront of his mind.

He couldn’t help but quirk an eyebrow at her suggestion they go somewhere else – anyone with their wits about them would realise the implication of that proposal, but he presumed she meant it honestly and innocently, so he decided to take it that way. Perhaps he would have done otherwise if it had been a different young woman he was talking to, but he pushed those thoughts aside and held out his arm for Hazel to take. “Claro” He said graciously, deciding to speak in Spanish as much as he could, although how far that was to help Hazel was negligible “That means the same as `por supuesto´” He added, winking at her again “See, you’re learning already!” He wasn’t entirely sure where they were heading – he had half a mind to take a horse from the stables and ride them out somewhere remote, but decided he’d just see what happened.

[hazel]

"Encantada." Hazel repeated hoping to get it right and not insult him in his own language. Trying to work out what that might have meant, she made a guess. "Does that mean 'excellent?'" It was the best she could do, all she had done was give him her name when she hadn't divulged that to the noble woman. Maybe it cheered him up and made him feel worthy or something. But she was going to do her best to learn. It gave her a focus instead of moping and perhaps would make him feel better. In a land full of foreign people to him, at least it would of some comfort to have another person able to speak his mother tongue. It was only polite to make travelling nobles feel welcome and give a good impression. And Hazel had that desire to learn.

Just wondering around she repeated the words he said in Spanish. Some she didn't know at all, but at least he explained some of what he was saying. Hazel wondered how long it would be before she managed to pick the language up, but she'd stick to it until she could say the basics. "What's 'Hello' and 'How are you?"" That would help her the most for now, unless he could think of anything else she would need as she learnt the language. But would Javier be around long enough to see her become fluent?

[donjavier]

Since meeting Hazel, Javier seemed to be smiling all the time. He did so again when she attempted to repeat the word he’s said. Her accent was atrocious, but that was always the way when you started learning a language. He knew his English accent was far from perfect. He couldn’t help but snort with laughter though, when she attempted to translate it. “No” He shook his head, still smiling “Es como…” He thought about the best way to translate it himself “Enchanted” and deciding this wasn’t enough, added“to meet you” He bit the inside of his cheek as he considered it “You would say ‘my pleasure’ in English?” His mastery of le language was far from perfect, and he was perfectly happy to learn from Hazel as he taught her. He thought he’d got the phrase right, but it was best to check. Normally he just used ‘encantanda’ and it wouldn’t do to attempt to use the English and get it all wrong.

Javi was enjoying their stroll in the afternoon sunlight through the courtyard, and he still hadn’t quite made up his mind where exactly he wanted to go, so was happy to stay wandering for the moment. He led Hazel through a wide archway and into a fairly deserted but well lit alleyway. As they walked along he pondered her question “Hmm” He paused to lean against the stone wall and consider it. “Literally, ‘hello’ would be ‘hola’, but we don’t say it like this,” He was probably getting far to technical. He remembered his last attempt to teach someone Spanish had been a lot more informal “‘Buenos dias’ is best, like ‘good day’. And as for how are you,” He pushed himself off the wall and continued down the lane “‘Que tal’, or ‘como estás. Or ‘como está’ if you’re talking to me, because I am your better and you must show me respect” He finished, with mock hauteur that he couldn’t keep up, and it descended into an impish grin.

[hazel]

Hazel nodded she understood, she didn't feel bad that she mis-translated, because she was trying her best to get to grips with the language. At least she was making an attempt unlike some of the other people of Nottingham who were rude and surly. "Yes that's how we'd say it." She confirmed for him. Javier's grammar and command of the english language was very good and she wasn't really surprised considering he was a noble, but it was never easy learning a foreign language.

Where he led she followed, trying to absorp as much knowledge as possible. Again the runaway tried to copy what he said to the best of her ability. And in her opinion she did slightly better than her first attempts, but she hadn't quite grasped the accent as yet. "Oh really?" Hazel smirked seeing the grin on his face. "Well Sir Javier, como esta?" She tried her best to get it exasctly right, she wasn't overly sure how she'd done but no one could accuse her of not trying, it was now her mission to have the basics of the language. Just hoping that Javier would have the patience with her to teach her and persevere with her.

[donjavier]

Enjoying the time he was spending with Hazel, Javier almost felt like skipping - of course, it would be totally socially incorrect for him to do so, but it was the first time for a long time he’d felt so care free, and here was a definite spring to his step. He smiled at Hazel as she repeated the words he said, trying not to laugh at her accent - it would have been totally hypocritical of him to do so, his own accent when speaking English was sill distinctly Spanish, and he knew learning a foreign language was hard, he didn’t want to put his new pupil off. He nodded in thanks when she confirmed his English - at least now he knew he could use it instead of encatanda if he wanted to, and not look like a fool.

Javier was glad to see Hazel hadn’t taken his comment about social status to heart. He was notoriously bad at making light of difficult situations and ending up offending people, although he’d tried to keep this in check around his fellow nobles. Few of them even had a sense of humour, let alone one like his. And it was nice to see Hazel smile, even if it was one of a woman with a cunning plan - in fact, he might even prefer it like that. He laughed sincerely at her question, which was defiantly her best attempt at all the things he’d said so far. “¿Yo? Siento tan feliz como los dios en el cielo. Cuando se está andando con una muchacha tan bella como tú, ¿como se puede sentir algo diferente?” He smiled wickedly again, knowing it was totally unfair of him to real of so much Spanish to someone who barely new the language - but it was her own fault for provoking him. He just hoped she’d see the amusing side of this comment, too.

[hazel]

Hazel looked blankly as he began talking and then carried on and on. Then when he finished and smiled at her she burst out giggling. "I guess I should have seen that coming shouldn't I?" It was all light hearted, he hadn't been malicious to her, and she wasn't about to start being nasty to him either. "Can you tell me what that means please, Javier?" Hazel was taking a risk calling his name without the proper title, but it was the risks she took at times. The guy seemed nice enough to her, and perhaps friendly enough to let her get away with first name basis.

It was nice to have company like this, in which to share laughter and knowledge. There wasn't much Hazel could teach him, he kew english so that was a non runner. But maybe jut her company, treating him like a human would be enough. There were so many wicked and evil people now in Nottingham that it was hard to find friendship. The guard, Mason, was a prime example of the prejudices now in this world. The hope was that Javier didn't hold the same hatred for lower classes and for women.

[donjavier]

Javier was relieved when Hazel started laughing, it looked like she had a much better idea of a joke than most of the people he had to associate with. He was momentarily stumped when she said how she should have seen it coming, he presumed it was an English turn of phrase, but it didn’t take much work to decipher the meaning. He’d have to bear that one in mind ad see if he could find somewhere to drop it into conversation. It was always useful to know certain expressions, not just so you could use them yourself, but so that you knew what was going on when someone around you used one. He’d been so confused when he first heard someone say “raining cats and dogs” and would rather not have a repeat performance of what had happened then.

When Hazel called him by just his name, without the title, he felt a little shiver of delight go through him. There’d only been one other person who’d done that when they shouldn’t, and Hazel was proving to be more and more like her by the second. It was almost enough to make Javier take the peasant girl in his arms and lavish kisses upon her right there and then, but he refrained, for decorum’s sake. “Por supuesto” He replied, using a word she already knew “I said I felt as happy as the gods above, because when one is with a beauty such as yourself, how could they feel anything else?” He offered her another little bow and a wink, before continuing along the path they were taking, feeling, as he’d said, thoroughly content.

[hazel]

Hazel was relieved when he didn't take exception to her using informalities. It was a risk and sometimes not at all appreciated and could end up with some form of punishment or other. The situation and whether or not you could be informal had to be weighed up carefully, and also the personality of the person you were talking to. The runaway felt like she could be more relaxed around Javier, she was unsure why, but she got the feeling it was safe and he wouldn't mind all that much.

"You really said that?" She smiled at him, not used to comments and compliments as kind and so thought out. It made her blush which she tried to hide for the sake of virtue. No one had ever called her a beauty to her face. "Thank you kind sir." She lifted her head. "How would I say thank you in Spanish." The brunette felt the need to repay his kind words in his own mother tongue. Even if it was just those two words, it'd make her feel better. Nooding she smiled as he winked and bowed at her. Javier was the gentleman and chivilrous, and these days it wasn't a common thing to find. Since being alone with him, Hazel had been unable to stop smiling and had also completely lost track of where they were, but that wasn't at the forefront of her mind given present company.

[donjavier]

Javier wasn’t quite sure how to feel about Hazels response to his deluge of complements. On the one hand, he was delighted that he had that effect on her, and felt his chest puff out a bit in pride, but on the other he couldn’t help but think of a certain other person who wouldn’t have acted nearly so coyly. The blush on Hazels cheek’s almost made him blush in return, suddenly realising how he’d forgotten himself and coming back to reality with somewhat of a crash.

Hazel wasn’t Issie. He knew that, he’d known that when he started talking to the peasant girl, but somehow it had been so easy to almost convince himself that she was. They were so similar, acted almost the exact same way, it had almost been as if Issie had never left. Javi felt a knot of guilt begin to form in his stomach - was he just talking to Hazel because of those similarities? Was he not appreciating her for who she was, rather than who he wanted her to be.

He smiled at her thanks, but it had lost some of the lustre it had before - he was still feeling guilty in the wake of his realisation, but he didn’t want Hazel to notice. Whatever she’d think had happened, it wouldn’t be good. “Gracias is ‘thank you’” Using the same flirty, conversational tone he had before “Muchas gracias would be that you very much, and if you really want to thank me” He left a pause, allowing his smile to become cheeky “it would be ‘muchisimas gracias’” another little wink, and maybe she’d never notice anything was amiss.

[hazel]

There was a note in change in Javier. But Hazel thought it was her forwardness. It had to be her, she was marring his name just by being with him. It didn't make him much of a noble to be caught with a mere peasant. Times like this made her hate the fact she left her noble standing. People didn't want to know of or about her and that frustrated her no end. however, if she was to reveal her standing everyone would be her friend. Too little too late.

"It's been so kind of you to teach me this little spanish. But I must take my leave." If anything she was doing it for his sake. Not wanting to slur his name, which he seemed to be more concerned about. And in truth Hazel wouldn't blame him. "This has been fun. I hope we meet again." Stopping she was going to head the way she came. "Have a good day. Farewell." Waving and a little bow she left him there. Feeling bad for him and hating herself even more than nromal as she walked quickly back into Nottingham and hopefully back to Nettlestone unscathed.