Hope and Topaz || Lunch
May. 8th, 2025 11:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsHope takes Topaz to lunch at a Totally Normal Place.
"This might be a little bit out there." Hope admitted quietly as they approached the elegantly appointed stairs. "But I do think it is a nice change of pace for our usual venues as well as a potential location of interest for my business..."
"And the food is good." She finally added.
Topaz looked around, noting the entirely male staff as they walked around... in butler uniforms. She turned her focus to Hope, eyebrow raised. "You're lucky I forgot to eat this morning."
"It is very different... and it might be a little bit out of your comfort zone. You might just have to go with the flow a bit." Hope murmured as one of the men in butler attire approached them, greeting them with a formal, yet enthusiastic "Welcome home, milady!" and asked if he could guide them to their table. She accepted with a gracious nod and followed the man as he guided them to a delicate table and chair, covered in crisp white linen.
"Thank you." She said quietly as he pulled out her chair for her, grinning mischievously as one of his colleagues did the same for Topaz.
Topaz knew how to play nice, of course. She smiled politely and thanked the man as she took her seat, ordered tea. But she was definitely side-eyeing Hope the entire time.
"Just think of it as brushing up your undercover skills or something." The mischievous smile stayed on Hope's face as handed her a menu. "Are you thinking of a traditional afternoon tea or would you like something more substantial?"
Topaz rolled her eyes, but she was smiling as she took the menu. "Substantial. We're here, might as well make the time worth it."
"Substantial it is. I have to admit, I am kind of in the mood for fish and seafood, if you don't mind." Hope quickly scanned through the menu, her eyes quickly catching on the fish platter with a fresh salad, a few kinds of smoked fish, shrimps and crab salad. "The fish platter looks interesting..."
"Fish works for me," Topaz agreed, scanning down to the dish Hope was looking over. "Well the shrimp would certainly be all yours. The crab salad sounds pretty good, though."
"You love crab, but hate shrimp... that is something I will never be able to follow." Hope gave a tiny disappointed shake of her head. "And look, it is not even the big ones... you know... with the beady little eyes."
"I don't judge you for your food tastes." It would have been easy to take her seriously if not for the faintest smile on her lips.
Hope delicately rolled her eyes. "Fine, as long as you do not end up attempting to steal them. Would you prefer toast or fresh French bread with it? I could go for the last one myself... And after we order I have to admit I am quite curious about what you have been doing lately. Pinning you down for this little outing has been remarkably hard."
They placed their orders and handed their menus back before Topaz addressed Hope's second question. "A lot of work, mostly. Travel. Nothing all that thrilling, to be honest."
"Only you could describe the kind of travel that you did as 'nothing all that thrilling'. Even if it was for work." Hope gently kidded. "Which locales did you happen to grace with your presence recently? I seem to remember you mentioning Europe, but I am not entirely sure."
"A little bit of Europe, a lot of England." Topaz sighed. "And don't get me wrong I'll take any excuse to go back, but just once I'd like it to be a vacation and not an emergency."
"Would there be no opportunity to take a few days off so you can explore at your leisure?" Hope inquired, tilting her head a little. "I have some beautiful places in France to recommend if you want to explore something different. And you did not get to see much of it when we were there. Or is there simply too much work?" That was something Hope was very well acquainted with.
"I'm sure Marie-Ange would be thrilled if I actually asked to use some vacation time. Especially in France."
"You mean after she is done falling from her chair?" A small grin flitted over Hope's face at the mental image. "I would say go for it. You do not have a Sue to drag away from time to time."
"Alas, I only have a cat. And she'd rather I stay home." Topaz sipped her tea. "How are things with Sue?"
"Things have been good, though we are both pretty swamped. Especially with things picking up at my business and me actually getting an assistant." Hope grinned. "Though we are hoping to get away a few days sooner than later."
"Anywhere in particular you're looking to go?"
"This might be a little bit out there." Hope admitted quietly as they approached the elegantly appointed stairs. "But I do think it is a nice change of pace for our usual venues as well as a potential location of interest for my business..."
"And the food is good." She finally added.
Topaz looked around, noting the entirely male staff as they walked around... in butler uniforms. She turned her focus to Hope, eyebrow raised. "You're lucky I forgot to eat this morning."
"It is very different... and it might be a little bit out of your comfort zone. You might just have to go with the flow a bit." Hope murmured as one of the men in butler attire approached them, greeting them with a formal, yet enthusiastic "Welcome home, milady!" and asked if he could guide them to their table. She accepted with a gracious nod and followed the man as he guided them to a delicate table and chair, covered in crisp white linen.
"Thank you." She said quietly as he pulled out her chair for her, grinning mischievously as one of his colleagues did the same for Topaz.
Topaz knew how to play nice, of course. She smiled politely and thanked the man as she took her seat, ordered tea. But she was definitely side-eyeing Hope the entire time.
"Just think of it as brushing up your undercover skills or something." The mischievous smile stayed on Hope's face as handed her a menu. "Are you thinking of a traditional afternoon tea or would you like something more substantial?"
Topaz rolled her eyes, but she was smiling as she took the menu. "Substantial. We're here, might as well make the time worth it."
"Substantial it is. I have to admit, I am kind of in the mood for fish and seafood, if you don't mind." Hope quickly scanned through the menu, her eyes quickly catching on the fish platter with a fresh salad, a few kinds of smoked fish, shrimps and crab salad. "The fish platter looks interesting..."
"Fish works for me," Topaz agreed, scanning down to the dish Hope was looking over. "Well the shrimp would certainly be all yours. The crab salad sounds pretty good, though."
"You love crab, but hate shrimp... that is something I will never be able to follow." Hope gave a tiny disappointed shake of her head. "And look, it is not even the big ones... you know... with the beady little eyes."
"I don't judge you for your food tastes." It would have been easy to take her seriously if not for the faintest smile on her lips.
Hope delicately rolled her eyes. "Fine, as long as you do not end up attempting to steal them. Would you prefer toast or fresh French bread with it? I could go for the last one myself... And after we order I have to admit I am quite curious about what you have been doing lately. Pinning you down for this little outing has been remarkably hard."
They placed their orders and handed their menus back before Topaz addressed Hope's second question. "A lot of work, mostly. Travel. Nothing all that thrilling, to be honest."
"Only you could describe the kind of travel that you did as 'nothing all that thrilling'. Even if it was for work." Hope gently kidded. "Which locales did you happen to grace with your presence recently? I seem to remember you mentioning Europe, but I am not entirely sure."
"A little bit of Europe, a lot of England." Topaz sighed. "And don't get me wrong I'll take any excuse to go back, but just once I'd like it to be a vacation and not an emergency."
"Would there be no opportunity to take a few days off so you can explore at your leisure?" Hope inquired, tilting her head a little. "I have some beautiful places in France to recommend if you want to explore something different. And you did not get to see much of it when we were there. Or is there simply too much work?" That was something Hope was very well acquainted with.
"I'm sure Marie-Ange would be thrilled if I actually asked to use some vacation time. Especially in France."
"You mean after she is done falling from her chair?" A small grin flitted over Hope's face at the mental image. "I would say go for it. You do not have a Sue to drag away from time to time."
"Alas, I only have a cat. And she'd rather I stay home." Topaz sipped her tea. "How are things with Sue?"
"Things have been good, though we are both pretty swamped. Especially with things picking up at my business and me actually getting an assistant." Hope grinned. "Though we are hoping to get away a few days sooner than later."
"Anywhere in particular you're looking to go?"
