A poor excuse for an argument

[greyerrant]

Who: Garviel Loken, Beatrice
Where: Bay View hotel
What: Dinner and arguments
When: Present, sunday night
Warnings: Possibly some smooching. Eating. Lots of arguments

Garviel scowls at the door to his room. Beatrice is late. Surely she hasn't ignore his invitation to dinner, not after the feast he laid out. An entire roast duck, several kinds of tea and various delicious sweets, as well as ice cream, all on a rather elaborate-looking tray that he'd spent an entire week's wages on requesting from the Bay View's staff.

He looks down at the various dinner forks arrayed before him after failing to melt the door with his scowl, and puzzles over what they are all for.

Comments

[golden_witch]

[What he doesn't realize is that Beatrice is very rarely on time...for anything. She's not being impolite, simply fashionable. But the promise of a nice dinner and good company may as well be a beacon for her to follow. After finding what she believes is the correct door, she'll give it a gentle rap.]

[greyerrant]

[ Garviel stands, and will open the door for Beatrice, nodding gravely. He doesn't mention her lateness, considering it to be further impoliteness to do so, but lets her in, pulling out a seat one-handed, then moves to his own place across from her, after closing the door. ]

Good evening.

[golden_witch]

[She'll completely ignore the gesture to make a bee-line to eye the table full of sweets. Oh, what a one-track mind.]

Haaa~! Is all of this for me or are you expecting others to join us?
Oh, there's so much here and it all looks just delightful!

[It's times like this that her childishness is glaringly evident.]

[greyerrant]

It was for you, of course. [ He pours her some tea, and himself some wine. ]

I undertook to find various fancies and trifles that I suspected you might like.

[golden_witch]

[She'll give him a radiant smile and, regaining her composure, will take the seat he set out for her. It was an awfully kind gesture to do all of this with her in mind. The least she could do was to be gracious about it.]

You didn't have to go through so much trouble just for me, you know. I'd have accepted the invitation with the promise of conversation. This is quite a nice perk, though.~

[greyerrant]

True, but I like you, and it costs little but money and some time to please you. I can afford to be unstinting with those, if it makes you smile.

[golden_witch]

I'm fond of you as well, you know.

[She'll take a slight sip of the tea before her. It was surprisingly good, she had to admit.]

I am by no means a simple creature, but if a smile is all you desire, you've more than earned it in this case.~

[greyerrant]

Then I am content, for the moment.

I know you have seen the murder footage, Beatrice. Tell me your thoughts on it.

[golden_witch]

[The question will nearly make her choke on another sip of tea.]

You certainly don't mince words, do you?

TO be perfectly honest with you, I'm bored with it.

If you're going to kill to shock others, there are far better ways to do it.

When I killed, I got results. I think this person is just bored, too.

[greyerrant]

.... [ Garviel doesn't seem particularly pleased by her answer. ]

Doesn't it seem at all morally repugnant to you?

[golden_witch]

You're mistaking me with someone who is moralistic.

The whole mess is troublesome. It's a waste.

To kill someone without taking credit? And when reviving is such a slow process? It's just...wasteful.

[greyerrant]

[ Garviel goes quiet again, and scowls. ]

Perhaps you should give thoughts to the moral aspect of what we're doing here.

[golden_witch]

Must I?

And while I'm enjoying my tea, even?

[greyerrant]

Why do you think I asked you to come here?

[golden_witch]

I mistakenly thought you wanted my company, not to convert me over tea.~

[greyerrant]

[ Garviel scowls and drinks wine. ]

Perhaps a bit of both.

[golden_witch]

Ah, well, let me clear one thing up.

I do not wish to mix business with pleasure. If you want to chat about politics or ask my opinion on something, I can gladly oblige.

But I am not joining your ranks. I will not be your comrade at arms. I am not a soldier.

I am a witch. A witch works for herself.

Perhaps one day when I am skilled with sword and Persona, I will go out to kill these shadows with you. And when I do, it will be because I wish it. Until then, I can offer you nothing.

Now then, if I am to go, I will bear you no ill will. Or I can stay and we can have a lovely dinner. The choice is yours.~

[greyerrant]

Just eat, then. [ Garviel goes silent and eats for some time without a word. ]

[golden_witch]

Is that an order or a request?

[Beatrice isn't good with silence. She'll take a bite or two of food before giving him a wry grin.]

Have I made you cross with me, now?

[greyerrant]

YOu always make me cross. But I can learn to tolerate it, I am a man of phlegmatic humor.

[golden_witch]

That sets me to wondering about you. Why do you tolerate someone whose very existence infuriates you?
Why do you choose to test yourself in this manner?
You seek out the one person who cares nothing for the things you hold dear when the majority of this place would gladly accept your views.

Not only this, but you invite me to your room with a lavish dinner and sweets you know I'll melt for.

My question is why.

[greyerrant]

Because you are worth convincing, or trying to. While the Astartes like myself are instruments of brutal persuasion, I have often felt that trying to make allies and friends through words is a better option, like the Iterators do.

[golden_witch]

It's not that I don't appreciate it. It just seems like a lot of work to be friendly.

You're saying you had no ulterior motives for inviting me here?

[greyerrant]

What ulterior motives would you suggest I have?

[golden_witch]

Perhaps you'll ply me with sweets and try to steal another kiss, hm~?

I don't know if I can trust you with my lips anymore.~

[Certainly she's teasing. She'll giggle and finish the tea before her.]