One man and his dog - Christophe (open tag)

[christophe]

Christophe had to agree that the cake as magnifique. The hot chocolate didn’t hurt either and he settled back to enjoy both, as well as Lissa’s more than pleasant company. All in all the evening had turned out perfectly. Far better than he’d ever believed it would when he’d left home in something of a low mood. Renard’s heavy head rested on the French boy’s left foot and he slid a small piece of cake down to the Husky who snaffled it immediately. No more than that, though, as he knew chocolate wasn’t that great for dogs. And besides, he wanted the pup to remain lean and healthy!

“I have only been here a couple of weeks,” he replied. “There is so much I need to learn about the culture here. It’s similar to that in Vancouver I admit but nothing like Paris.” An understatement for sure! “As for my favourite thing... That’s tricky... I have done so much but... I think I can cut it down to just the two... I work part time at the aquarium and that has to be a highlight for me. My passion is the sea... Orcas,” he added. “I am lucky to be able to work with the orcas at the attraction. And then only this weekend I was fortunate enough to be allowed to take part in some Native American activities. I spent last night at a reservation not all that far from here. Those people are amazing!” A twin-sided experience as the not so great part was how Sarissa had used him. Still, hopefully she would now know she wouldn’t get away with that sort of thing again.

He frowned slightly when he saw a couple of men... maybe in their early twenties... staring at Lissa. Christophe leaned across the table. “I think that when we are done here I should walk you home,” he hissed. “You are being watched closely and I don’t like the way they are talking together.” Who could blame them for that, though? She looked amazing! Perhaps he was being over-cautious? Even over-protective... but he would never forgive himself if anything happened to her!

[Vasilisa Remington]

"I like the aquarmine myself, but I am partial to the dolphins and sharks" Lissa said with a smile. "I love dolphins cause of their grace and beauty. And sharks because they are not wek and can take care of themselve, full predator all the way. I would actually like to go swimming with the sharks one day, I think that would be very cool" she said finishing off her hot chocolate first and eating some more of the cake. "I have heard of the reserveration I have never been there. I am half italian and lets just say our rituals include food, and laughter, and love" she said with a laugh. "As you can tell I like food"she said honestly. "I eat anything and everything. I mean I have even tried snails not my food of choice" she grinned. "Tasted a bit salty and gooey and way to crunchy." Lissa was not some demure girl she loved sports, food, and having fun, and liked to look hot doing it.

She glanced over and rolled her eyes. "Ugh those jerk offs they seem to always be here when I am. I have become immune to their staring. But hey I like it now" she smiled. "It means a cute guy who I had a fantastic time with gets to walk me home. Which I hope that this won't be last time we hang out" she and glanced over at him. "Which here you go" she grabbed a napkin and wrote down her number and passed it to him. "Here you go my cell phone number, the number that you can reach me at the most." When she had her fill she let him have the rest of it. "You ready to go?" she asked him when the plate was empty.

[christophe]

Half Italian? Christophe smiled in appreciation. Italy had always been a firm favourite of his and that would certainly explain Lissa’s sultry beauty. “Snails?” Christophe shuddered. “Ugh... I hate those things. Almost as bad as frogs’ legs! And it is said the French cuisine ranks among the best in the world? Those people clearly haven’t tried to eat snails and frogs’ legs!”

When Lissa accepted his offer to walk her home Christophe silently thanked the two men for their unwanted attention. Without it he had a feeling he would have struggled to find a plausible reason to accompany her back to where she lived. And an added bonus was the phone number that was passed across. “I would like to see you again too,” he admitted. “But yes, I think I’ve finished here. Renard will be asleep if we stay here much longer. This is the most exercise he;’s had since we left Canada!”

The pair of young men watched closely as Lissa, Christophe and Renard left the cafe. They trailed outside after them and continued to stare until they’d vanished from sight. Christophe knew they were under scrutiny but adamantly refused to look back at them. Ignore them and they might just give up... Thankfully they did and Lissa was escorted home without further incident.

“Thank you,” he said when they reached her front door. “I expected to spend my evening with just Renard for company. Instead you managed to transform tedium into adventure of the most pleasant kind.”

(tag for a wrap - or wrapped?)