"Perhaps for the best, then, that I give it to you directly."
Though he cannot say what her family's attendants would do with any degree of certainty, he thinks it's clear enough that she would rather not be chaperoned through such ventures. Understandable, of course— he knows full well that Noctis would have wanted the same. Sometimes, even Ignis himself is too much chaperone for the prince to bear, despite their close friendship.
He offers her a nod in response, taking a small, leather-bound notebook from his front pocket and producing a pen from within its front cover before he sets to writing, quickly putting together the list in question as they speak.
"A guest is a guest, regardless of their title— and as such, all guests are more than welcome to make themselves at home." He glances upwards then, offering a warm smile over the top of his notebook along with his offer.
Her smile in reply to his ability to humour her is considerably more restrained than she truly feels it. Without needing to go into much detail, he seems willing to go along with her wishes. Beyond that, she suspects he may understand a great deal more without her needing to grant details.
A subtle tip of her head and Perne takes him in, wondering if she can trust him so. He's made aware of her family. Of her presence. Of whatever may be going on that she's not yet privy to. Suppose he is only inclined to report after her to her attendants? She should hope not. What a shame for such a handsome face. And yet beauty is used to cover all sorts of ugliness.
She waits patiently, keeping her hands gently, demurely folded together, posture proper and ladylike. This is likely not the first time she's been so at the attention of another.
"That seems dangerous," she replies thoughtfully. "What if untoward sorts were to infiltrate your fair city? Do you not worry you could be showing kindness to an enemy?"
That earns a laugh in response, brief and polite, but should she look past his notebook, she'll see that his smile has pulled to one side as he writes, his amusement genuine.
"Should our well-documented enemies choose to make their way to Insomnia, they would be handled accordingly— and even so, there is a certain strategy to showing one's enemy kindness."
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer— a well-known saying for very good reason. He looks up at her again as he neatly pulls the list from his notebook, holding it out to her in offering.
"That said, you and your party come from Tenebrae— the close friendship between our kingdoms goes back generations. You can't mean to say that I ought to be wary of you."
He doesn't even have to say it for her to get it. Perne is equally familiar with the notion of friends and enemies, though perhaps one might not think so from her appearance. There's very little about an initial impression, or even a second and third, that would imply there's anything about Perne that would warrant that kind of thought process. To the objective eye, she imagines she must seem quite unsuspecting.
She huffs out a very quiet laugh, dropping her gaze when she feels that she's attempted to hold his for quite long enough. "Wariness of me," she parrots thoughtfully. "Perhaps a necessity should one have a particular dislike for dry wit and sarcasm. I do not think such things to be very threatening, and yet not everyone would agree." Her father, she means. To him, both of those are likely to be great disservices to their family representation.
"I think you may be safe, though, perhaps watch yourself just to be on the safe side."
He is also in possession of a wealth of dry wit and sarcasm himself, though this is hardly the time to put such inclinations on display. That, he tends to save for the few who have managed to become close to him despite his tireless efforts to be a consummate professional in all things.
"Those who are threatened by such are, perhaps, lacking in imagination— but I doubt you will find many who are averse to them here. However, I will remain vigilant, as you say." His smile remains, reserved but genuinely amused. She is clever, without a doubt— sharp, and he finds himself grateful for this chance meeting. He doubts their exchange would have been quite so open and telling had it been under the intended circumstances, with him in his role of chamberlain.
"Far be it from me to ignore advice so freely given."
For several long moments, Perne can only take him in as though she doesn't quite understand what he's getting at. Rather, it's more that she is attempting to parse truth from humour. Surely... he must be teasing. He manages to cut short any witty retort she may be inclined to volley back toward him and instead...
Perne manages to clear her throat, politely dipping her eyes. "Vigilance is sometimes a necessary trait. I have no reason to believe that you, or any of yours, would be lacking. That said, my knowledge on your fair city is not grand. After all, it is my first time here. Although I do feel my knowledge on the local patisserie has greatly increased. No doubt, with gratitude to you."
"I am truly glad to be of service, in that regard," he assures her, gesturing broadly to the pastry case near the front window. "Though there is no shortage of such establishments throughout Insomnia, you'll find none finer than this— your own feet guided you quite well."
He could easily remain within this very shop for hours, no doubt, were he the sort with that kind of time to spare, but even now, off-duty, he is not— and he imagines she may not be the sort, either. Someone so sharp is rarely idle.
"I'm afraid I have infringed on your time for long enough, though I have no doubt we will be seeing more of one another— I thank you once more for your earlier suggestion. Perhaps next time we meet, I can share the results."
She'd love to claim it was simply opportune timing, but the truth is that anything would have provided a good escape from whatever it is that her father's got up his sleeve. He's not even in Insomnia and she feels like his grasp is still hanging right above her. Honestly, cakes were the best things she could have run into. She would have found them eventually. If not by nose, then surely by eyes. Perne has very few complaints.
"Yes, we very well may," she agrees with a subtle dip of her chin. She eyes him for some moments before she politely drops her gaze. "I will be very interested to hear. If fortune is so kind as to bring us together once more. I pray that you go well. Thank you for your assistance, your guidance, and your kindness in hosting my family and me here. We will do our utmost to be as inconspicuous as possible."
I'm so glad they had this good meet-cute so we can ruin it with awkwardness at their next meeting
He nods firmly, offering her a courtly bow in response even as she drops her gaze. Off-duty or otherwise, he is always and ever prepared to act as a representative of the Citadel and the royal family.
"I hope your stay in Insomnia is a pleasant one. I look forward to welcoming you to the Citadel proper, when the time comes." Though he doubts he'll be in charge of her party's care directly, being head of the prince's own household puts him in a position to be kept apprised of matters. Drawing back up to his full height, he nods his thanks to the gentleman behind the counter before angling towards the door.
"Until then, do enjoy the sights. The city has a great deal to offer natives and visitors alike. For now, I must take my leave."
With that, he departs, though not without offering her another polite smile on his way out.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Though he cannot say what her family's attendants would do with any degree of certainty, he thinks it's clear enough that she would rather not be chaperoned through such ventures. Understandable, of course— he knows full well that Noctis would have wanted the same. Sometimes, even Ignis himself is too much chaperone for the prince to bear, despite their close friendship.
He offers her a nod in response, taking a small, leather-bound notebook from his front pocket and producing a pen from within its front cover before he sets to writing, quickly putting together the list in question as they speak.
"A guest is a guest, regardless of their title— and as such, all guests are more than welcome to make themselves at home." He glances upwards then, offering a warm smile over the top of his notebook along with his offer.
no subject
A subtle tip of her head and Perne takes him in, wondering if she can trust him so. He's made aware of her family. Of her presence. Of whatever may be going on that she's not yet privy to. Suppose he is only inclined to report after her to her attendants? She should hope not. What a shame for such a handsome face. And yet beauty is used to cover all sorts of ugliness.
She waits patiently, keeping her hands gently, demurely folded together, posture proper and ladylike. This is likely not the first time she's been so at the attention of another.
"That seems dangerous," she replies thoughtfully. "What if untoward sorts were to infiltrate your fair city? Do you not worry you could be showing kindness to an enemy?"
no subject
"Should our well-documented enemies choose to make their way to Insomnia, they would be handled accordingly— and even so, there is a certain strategy to showing one's enemy kindness."
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer— a well-known saying for very good reason. He looks up at her again as he neatly pulls the list from his notebook, holding it out to her in offering.
"That said, you and your party come from Tenebrae— the close friendship between our kingdoms goes back generations. You can't mean to say that I ought to be wary of you."
no subject
She huffs out a very quiet laugh, dropping her gaze when she feels that she's attempted to hold his for quite long enough. "Wariness of me," she parrots thoughtfully. "Perhaps a necessity should one have a particular dislike for dry wit and sarcasm. I do not think such things to be very threatening, and yet not everyone would agree." Her father, she means. To him, both of those are likely to be great disservices to their family representation.
"I think you may be safe, though, perhaps watch yourself just to be on the safe side."
no subject
He is also in possession of a wealth of dry wit and sarcasm himself, though this is hardly the time to put such inclinations on display. That, he tends to save for the few who have managed to become close to him despite his tireless efforts to be a consummate professional in all things.
"Those who are threatened by such are, perhaps, lacking in imagination— but I doubt you will find many who are averse to them here. However, I will remain vigilant, as you say." His smile remains, reserved but genuinely amused. She is clever, without a doubt— sharp, and he finds himself grateful for this chance meeting. He doubts their exchange would have been quite so open and telling had it been under the intended circumstances, with him in his role of chamberlain.
"Far be it from me to ignore advice so freely given."
no subject
Fond... of both?
For several long moments, Perne can only take him in as though she doesn't quite understand what he's getting at. Rather, it's more that she is attempting to parse truth from humour. Surely... he must be teasing. He manages to cut short any witty retort she may be inclined to volley back toward him and instead...
Perne manages to clear her throat, politely dipping her eyes. "Vigilance is sometimes a necessary trait. I have no reason to believe that you, or any of yours, would be lacking. That said, my knowledge on your fair city is not grand. After all, it is my first time here. Although I do feel my knowledge on the local patisserie has greatly increased. No doubt, with gratitude to you."
no subject
He could easily remain within this very shop for hours, no doubt, were he the sort with that kind of time to spare, but even now, off-duty, he is not— and he imagines she may not be the sort, either. Someone so sharp is rarely idle.
"I'm afraid I have infringed on your time for long enough, though I have no doubt we will be seeing more of one another— I thank you once more for your earlier suggestion. Perhaps next time we meet, I can share the results."
no subject
"Yes, we very well may," she agrees with a subtle dip of her chin. She eyes him for some moments before she politely drops her gaze. "I will be very interested to hear. If fortune is so kind as to bring us together once more. I pray that you go well. Thank you for your assistance, your guidance, and your kindness in hosting my family and me here. We will do our utmost to be as inconspicuous as possible."
I'm so glad they had this good meet-cute so we can ruin it with awkwardness at their next meeting
"I hope your stay in Insomnia is a pleasant one. I look forward to welcoming you to the Citadel proper, when the time comes." Though he doubts he'll be in charge of her party's care directly, being head of the prince's own household puts him in a position to be kept apprised of matters. Drawing back up to his full height, he nods his thanks to the gentleman behind the counter before angling towards the door.
"Until then, do enjoy the sights. The city has a great deal to offer natives and visitors alike. For now, I must take my leave."
With that, he departs, though not without offering her another polite smile on his way out.