Flea and Marina

[Teirney Lannister]

"Huh?" Marina gaped in a very unladylike manner, utterly lost by his attempted explanation.

[The Stranger]

"I guess I'm asking.. if you thought about... you know, someone to provide for you, when you grow up... like a husband."

[Teirney Lannister]

Marina's hands jerked back into her lap in horror, sending her wine flying so that a red stains mottled her dress with rapidly swelling circles. "Oh no," she moaned miserably, trying to clean the sopping mess with anything that was at hand. Her cheeks her a deeper scarlet than her drenched clothes.

[The Stranger]

Flea's eyes widen and he franticlly pulled back, "not, "He coughed violently, " I mean, not with me.... err, necessarily, I just, you know, someone suitable, I ask... Um.. as a friend, is all, rather than out of.. um.. ill-intention."

[Teirney Lannister]

"Of course, I did not think you meant anything else," she amended, lying through her teeth. "Uh, I haven't given that matter much thought either." She dabbed furiously as she spoke. "When the situation arises, I suppose I will deal with it then." She sighed internally, relieved that she had gotten through that in one piece.

[The Stranger]

Flea, crestfallen, poked at his rather limp carrot with a sad face.

"Well, Many successful people do not marry until late. Lord Varner and Lady Falgrave both married late, and did very well." He sort of mumbled until there is a knock on the door.

"Sorry Ser," says the voice of one of the Sellswords, "You said to let you know when it was third watch."

"Thank you." Flea said, "I suppose I should get you home now."

[Teirney Lannister]

Marina was so acutely focused on her discomfort and the tragic look upon Flea's gaunt face that she nearly jumped out of her skin at the knock. "They did," she agreed slowly as the sympathy struggled futilely to manifest upon her features.

Giving her dress one last blot, she mustered to courage to look up from her lap. “Yes, I think so. I wouldn’t want Alyssa to get worried,” she added with a bold roll of her eyes. As if that was ever going to happen. “Thank you for the dinner, Flea. I was lovely.”

[The Stranger]

"Yes. Well, it was my pleasure...Any time, and all that. Um.. Shall we?" He stood, and offered the young lady his arm in his best approximation of chivalry.

[Teirney Lannister]

Marina was certain her face was the color of Aerie's blood bay, but she reached forward timidly and took his arm, avoiding his eyes. Avoiding the eyes of all beyond the door, however, would be a different story.

[The Stranger]

They walk outside the door, and for the most part they are ignored, with the residents too deeply in their cups or conversations to give much interest to two teens.

Flea walks with Marina through the streets to the doorstep of the Falgrave home.

"Well... I suppose this is good night then." he says rubbing his left foot with his right, while staring at the ground.

[Teirney Lannister]

Marina was tempted to writhe in embassassment right along with Flea, but instead she gave him a polite peck on the cheek. "Good night, Flea." The door clicked shut behind her.

[The Stranger]

Flea looked at the door for a long moment, than walked away.