The Cafeteria, Brunnhold
Francoise grinned back at her, raising her filled-in eyebrows, then turned back to the stone-faced Hoxian on her other side. “No, Nixi,” she said, lips pressing into a pout. “I told you, it’s very important to me!”
The roar of the cafeteria drowned out most of the conversation outside of the immediate group of eighth formers; they sat huddled close together, chatting more-or-less companionably through the lunch hour. The cafeteria was a sea of green, students of different sizes and ages and nationalities all mingled together. For some, it was a distraction from the real purpose of the day; for others, it was a brief glimpse of freedom, an hour where they might put off the boredom of the afternoon of classes yet to come.
“Really?” Aletheia Palverton giggled, running her fingers through the edges of her blonde braid. “Oh, but everyone says Florne is so lovely in the winter! It snows, naturally, and – aren’t there ice sculpture competitions? I mean, that’s what everyone says.”
Niccolette shrugged again, shifting slightly in her chair. “Well, I say it is boring,” she grinned, wickedly, reaching forward to fiddle with her fork again. “There are much more interesting things in Vienda than ice sculptures!”
Aletheia giggled louder, with a little shriek thrown in for good measure.
“Well, I think,” Margaret Lumsden began, leaning forward intently, too pale brows pulling tightly together in the middle of her forehead.
“Nicco, would you pass the salt?” Marsden Holt called.
Niccolette picked the shaker up, and made as it to throw it across the table.
Marsden laughed, flinching back. “No, no, pass it!” He reached out, and wrapped his hand over Niccolette’s, raising an eyebrow at her. “Your aim’s terrible. Last time you almost hit me!”
“Well,” Niccolette said, grinning. She did not pull her hand away. “I did not, in the end.”
“No, but I think that was because you meant to!” Marsden grinned at her, a little broader.
Niccolette giggled and pulled her hand back, leaving the salt shaker in Marsden’s grasp, her fingers gently slipping away from his warm hands. “You shall be in Vienda as well, during the break?” She asked him, smiling slightly.
“Yeah,” Marsden’s eyes flicked over her, up and down, carefully. “Yeah, should be. You know, some of it.”
“Oh, how fun!” Aletheia said, cheerfully. “Oh, we should all hang out then, don’t you think?”
Niccolette shrugged again; she was smiling at Marsden, just a moment longer, before she looked back at Aletheia. “Yes, I suppose,” Niccolette said, casually. “We shall have to do some shopping, of course. I heard,” she leaned forward slightly.
Aletheia leaned forward as well, wide-eyed.
Margaret still sat, arms crossed firmly over her chest, her brow furrowed and her jaw clenched.
“I heard there is a new store,” Niccolette grinned. “Quite fashionable.”
“A new store?” Aletheia asked, low-voiced.
“Yes,” Niccolette bit her lip, and very carefully did not look at Marsden. “One I have been to in Florne, naturally. The proprietor, he has opened a place in Vienda. Francoise and I have already decided to go… perhaps you shall join us?”
“What do they sell?” Aletheia was almost breathless now, glowing pink with excitement.
Niccolette leaned forward and whispered into her ear.
Aletheia shrieked, her eyes wide, and began to giggle. “Nicco!” She hissed. “Nicco, that’s – that’s naughty!”
Niccolette sat back and laughed, grinning. “So you shall come?”
“I’ve heard of it!” Margaret blurted out. No one looked at her.
“Oh!” Aletheia giggled harder. “Oh! I don’t know, I really don’t.”
“What do they sell?” Marsden asked, grinning. His arms rested on the table, and he was leaning forward too.
Niccolette glanced at him, and giggled, turning back to Aletheia. “You must! We shall have too much fun, you will see.”
Aletheia giggled still harder, and then nodded, smiling brightly.
“Can I come?” Marsden asked. He was still looking at Niccolette. “Come on, Nicco. I’m sure I can – uh – carry your parcels.”
Margaret let out a loud, indignant humph, scooped her tray up, and stomped off from the table.
Niccolette let out something that on someone less delicate might have been a snort, her lips pressed together, her eyes dancing. “Oops,” she said, casually, tracing her fingers over the rim of her water glass.
“Oh,” Aletheia said, eyes widening. “Oh, no, do you think we should go apologize?” She glanced back over her shoulder, then back at Niccolette.
“I am sure she will come back,” Niccolette said, casually, smiling. “I would not worry.”
“I must prepare for class,” Nixi was far too Hoxian to raise his voice, but even his rhakor looked strained in the face of Francoise’s wide-eyed pout. He rose, carrying his tray, and left the table, and perhaps he seemed to hurry a little.
Francoise slid along the bench, sidling in close to Marsden. “Boyfriends,” she said, meaningfully, “are too much work!”
Niccolette grimaced, then pushed the feelings away. She giggled instead, finding the humor in it. “I thought you liked Nixi!”
“Well I did,” Francoise sighed. “But you have no idea how difficult it is to penetrate all that Hoxian…” she waved her hand in the air. “I think I’ll give him the lipstick test.”
Niccolette began to giggle. Marsden was grinning too, although Niccolette did not think it was Francoise’s comment that made him smile. Francoise was laughing as well, and Aletheia glanced between them, hurriedly, and then began to giggle as well, with a slight look of confusion on her face.