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[without-a-thorn.insanejournal.com]

Who: Will Scarlet and Eleanor of Aquitaine
Where: A fancy bar, and then... who knows ;)
When: Sunday night
What: letting off steam and prowling a little
Warnings: A little bit of the good times
Notes: Reposted as a favour, originally posted by Will Scarlet and Eleanor of Aquitaine



Will Scarlet waved a hand at the barman for a second glass, and then rested his chin on his fist. It was a rather slow day, really. Robin was working late and Will hadn't quite felt like helping since it seemed to be a regular job, not the fun kind, so he'd gone out for a drink and to survey the local talent. The bar was maybe a bit posher than he'd usually go to, but he felt like someplace where the lights were actually on. He didn't want another surprise awakening with the less attractive barmaid.

And yet, everyone here seemed to be with someone. The girls in groups seemed pretty tight knit, and he didn't feel like challenging any of the groups with guys attached. He'd already been turned down by the pair of sisters also sitting at the bar, and damn, cos that could have been fun. He wondered by the British accent and boyish good looks weren't working for him today. He was even wearing slacks and not jeans tonight! Had he lost his touch?

As his drink arrived he pouted a bit to himself and poked at the foam with a finger, then glanced around one more time as he sucked the liquid off it. There was someone tall, blonde and very classy coming in the door, and Will appraised her quickly then looked away. He did not want to be caught staring. That would ruin all the fun.

The case had been coming along very well, and apart from a few personnel hiccups, things were running much more smoothly at the firm. Eleanor figured she could enjoy a night out before going back to work on Monday. So she'd put on a nice dress and curled the ends of her hair, intending to go out and enjoy herself.

She found a seat at the bar next to a rather attractive younger man, and immortal to boot. She held up a hand to the bartender and ordered a vodka martini, sipping it slowly as she looked around the room. Perhaps tonight would turn out better than she'd thought.

Will mentally and subtly checked himself to make sure he didn't have a stray drip on his shirt or anything in his teeth. She was looking around the room, and he glanced up in time to catch her eye for a moment and gave her a casual nod of greeting. Well, wait. She was immortal? Well that was infinitely more fun. At least they'd have something to talk about. He sipped his Guinness and leaned on one elbow, turning towards her slightly. "You by yourself too?"

Eleanor turned to face him, one eyebrow raised ever so slightly, an amused smile on her lips. She felt like she should remember him from somewhere, but she couldn't place where. Then again, that wasn't all that important right now. She was just out to have a good time.

"I'm afraid so," she replied. "That seems to be the case lately."

Will gave a nod and a shrug of shared understanding. She might be a little older than the 20-something sisters who had denied him, but she was more than their match in elegance, beauty and poise. He approved very much. "I think the rough weather is keeping people in. Makes things a bit slow. You're brave to venture out alone on a night like this."

"That's probably true, the weather really is terrible" she agreed. "But I simply could not stay cooped up in my house any longer. If I had to look at any more legal documents, my eyes would most likely end up permanently crossed. Which would not be a good look for me, I don't think."

She sipped her drink. "So what brings you out in such conditions?"

"Boredom." Will smirked a little. "Come on, even with crossed eyes you'd be a vision. Ha ha. No, but really, I was bored. I got tired of staring at the four walls of my friend's flat and ventured forth instead. Just a bit of rain, right?" He grinned rakishly. "Types like us, we've seen worse."

She had to laugh at that. "Would I now? Would that be 20/20?" She hadn't had the occasion to play this game in quite a while, and she found she was rather enjoying herself.

"Exactly," she agreed. "We certainly have, and I have the feeling we'll see worse in the future, as well."

"Ahh, the future. Something I do my best not to consider too closely." Will shrugged a shoulder. "Not so much 20/20 as 36-26-36..." He gave her a wink. "I'm Will, by the way. By what can I call you?"

"I like to plan ahead, but not too far ahead," she countered. "It has helped me out before, and old habits die hard."

She laughed again, a bright sound. "Well aren't you quite the charmer," she said. "Lovely to meet you will. I am Eleanor." She pronounced her name the French way, Aliénor.

"Ooh, French. Avez-vous parler le langage de l'amour aussi?" Will replied, a smirk trying not to be too visible. If she liked his charm so far, he could definitely turn it up. He liked the way she laughed. "Old habits certainly are hard to break."

"J'ai parlé du français et Poitevin depuis très longtemps," she replied. She knew this was how the game was played, even if she hadn't done it for a while. Will was charming and handsome, and though she may have been a Queen, she certainly wasn't a nun.

"They are, especially the advantageous ones," she agreed. "And speaking a language few understand is helpful, especially when you wish to discuss how much improvement they need and they are still in the room."

Will laughed. "I don't think I know Poitevin. You're right though, it's a handy trick!" He grinned mischievously, liking her style. "My French is a little antique, though. When I learned it, all boys of noble birth had to learn it for their education. Not that my family was hugely wealthy, but noble enough to employ someone to teach me French. And a bit of Latin. And a smattering of German." He shrugged faux-modestly.

"It is my native tongue, we spoke it at Aquitaine all the time," she replied. "And it is, though it does draw a confused stare every now and again."

"That sounds about right, it was much the same in my time," she continued. "My father also made sure his daughters were educated as well, and I have always been grateful for that, it's been very beneficial in my long life."

"French, Latin, and German, quite the Renaissance man," she said, with an appreciative smile.

"Pre-Renaissance," Will said, wagging a finger lightly, then he leaned in close to speak quietly to her, and also get a whiff of her intoxicating perfume. "Since we're both immortal types, you might as well know. I am Will Scarlet, of the infamous Merry Men." He leaned back again to guage her reaction and take a gulp of his drink.