Crocodile on the Sand Bank

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"Hardly. It just seems the nature of the business. All merchant lords I know have at least three wives. You're just the exception. Besides, there's a certain freedom without it, don't you agree?"

[GoblinFae]

"Of course! Why else do you think I am without one? You don't honestly believe that I am incapable of having a wife do you? I have had several offers over the years yet no contract has peaked my interest of yet. When you're a king among peasants there really is not much that can intrigue your interest I must say. But you must know as a foreigner and a merchant in your own right I suppose what is like dealing with the masses. Or do they just usually avoid you?" he asked with a quirk of his brows as the soup was removed and the next course was placed before them.

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Well, this topic was quickly becoming uncomfortable. Then again, everything about this arrangement was uncomfortable.
"I'm not exactly looking," was all she would answer before working at finishing her drink before even attempting to look at her plate.

[GoblinFae]

He looked up at her in genuine surprise, pausing in raising a bit of succulent crab to his lips. "Why ever not? Pretty woman like you should have a breeze acquiring one with enough money to support you over the years, especially if you continue your little profitable hobby to bring in some extra spending money. Would see quite advantageous for you if I do say so myself."

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Evelyn could have scoffed.
"Being married is highly overrated," she went on, cutting into her own crab meat as it parted open and released gentle puffs of sweet steam from it's middle.

[GoblinFae]

"And what praytell leads you to that conclusion my dear? I would think that marriage would greatly appeal to you. I'm sure you could any manner of man you wanted if you so much as gave him the time of day of course."

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At that, Evelyn raised one pointed brow.
"Though many women of the North cry and throw themselves over the prospect of being taken by a husband, I, myself, like the idea of not having myself so preoccupied with something so superfluous when I haven't even the desire for it, nor the consequences it pertains in regards to," she went on, with a wave of her wrist, "children."

[GoblinFae]

Emyr smirked and shook his head. "But my dear it would be you doing the taking in this case. But, are children such an awful thing? They can be so delightfully entertaining after all. Surely it is not your figure that concerns you!" he continued to protest with good humor.

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Evelyn stiffened.
"No, hardly, but if I were to consider children I want to be there as afigure in their life, not some maid, and this life styleI have chosen hardly allows for such freedoms. More or less, you could say I'm married to my profession." And she hastily drank after that reveal.

[GoblinFae]

"I would beg to differ on that opinion but perhaps my more heathen upbringing leaves me at a disadvantage for understanding your northern values. Forgive me if I have offended you. That was not my intention for inviting you here this evening."

A sip of his wine and he was quickly changing the subject. "Is the crab to your liking? I know you were looking forward to it."

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At such a response, she bristled.
"I never called you or any other Essryni heathen," she countered, and was quick to add, "And yes, the crab is just fine."

[GoblinFae]

"I never said you did," he replied, clearly amused. "But it is true all the same. It is something we sport with pride and honor." Emyr nodded his head, pleased with her response while he continued eating.

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Well! Clearly ruffled, she went silent and simply enjoyed the crab. It was good. She just wished her stomach wasn't trying to twist itself into a knot. That would definitely help it go down better.

[GoblinFae]

He continued his silence, clearly amused by her discomfort as he believed his attitude to be nothing but peaceful and gentile. If she wanted to dig herself into bigger and bigger holes then that was completely her prerogative. He would just keep stirring the pot for her as it were.

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The silence only caused her awkwardness to escalate, before eventually, she finished what she could of her crab and sighed as she leaned back some in her chair. Though her posture was still rigid, she eyed her evening's entertainer and so very much wanted to ask him, 'Why me?'
What sort of games was he playing here? She couldn't entirely believe his innocence here, though part o fher had to wonder if it was truly just to have her here to squirm. She knew it was not for his reputation, for clearly if the public knew, they might begin to look down upon him too. And while all of these thoughts were running through her head, she didnt' realize she was simply just staring at him.

[GoblinFae]

Emyr ate his meal happily, pretending for a while not to notice the way she stared at him. It was not an unusual for him to be stared at given his position without the community. He often found himself "on display" as it were and Emyr would be lying if he did not admit to enjoying it as well.

However, there was a particular brand of amusement all of its own that came from Evelyn succumbing to the same uninhibited staring. Instead of verbally drawing attention to her actions though, he opted for a subtler approach. Slowly placing his eating utensils down on his plate he moved to rest his chin in the palm of his hand, a brow raising and corner of his lips raising with his mirth as his eyes met hers in a quiet challenge.

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It took her a moment to realize he was smiling. And though caught off guard, she cleared her throat and looked elsewhere.
"It seems I finished my crab much quicker than I'dve imagined."

[GoblinFae]

"So it seems," he murmured back, his eyes darting down to her plate and back up to her face. "Would you care for more? I spare no expense when it comes to my whims." Without waiting for her answer, he sat up straight, snapping his fingers and motioning a slave over to refill her plate and his glass.

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Not sure she could eat more if she wanted, she had finished her drink and got some more. This meal would definitely require more drink! Though the crab smelled divine, she hesitated.

"You have strange whims,"s he told him, coolly. "Though I suppose who am I to judge?" And she lightly picked at her second plate of crab. She was Connlaothian, after all. So she did have some manners. Leaving half to remain, she dabbed her lips clean with a clothe and cleaned the grease from her fingers, too.

"So what other things do you simply get whims for?" she found herself asking, well before she realized the wording for that was in poor taste. Though perhaps it was just the alcohol.

[GoblinFae]

Emyr lifted his glass in a silent toast to her when she declared him strange before draining it in one go. "Many things my dear," he rumbled in a deep voice with a dark smirk. "I'm not sure you truly wish to know though. They might offend your prudish northern sensibilities. Can't have that now, can we? Goody-miss-two-shoes can't be sullied by us more baser beings."