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~RP~

Looking around Lacey bit her lip slightly as her eyes ran over the many people at the harbor. It was always a busy place here and yet she'd gotten told to come here to deliver the loaf of bread to someone here.....the only trouble would be finding that person. Sighing slightly in a mild huff under her breath she headed into the crowd of people, all busy trying to load up the boats and what not. Not only were people rather irritable from having to do all the heavy labor, but they also weren't very forgiving to a girl who kept bumping into people as she evaded getting into the way of others. It's not like any of them bothered to stop and ask her if she needed something, either though. And with the colorful language she was getting anytime she apologized after bumping into someone, Lacey wasn't quite certain she wanted to ask.

Which is how she found herself ducking under a box that two men were lifting over their heads and climbing up on top of a barrel to try and see if maybe whoever she was looking for would stand out or something. A silly notion but still.....she was hopeful that it might work out that way. After all this was her last task of the day before she could run off to find Jasper and then they could walk home together. A childish sort of tradition that she'd been doing ever since he first got his job. Running off to the forge and walking home with him just because she could.

Eyes scanning over the heads of the many workers, Lacey let out a sigh of frustration before jumping off of the barrel and skirting along the edges of the crowd hoping that this way she would be less of a nuisance and maybe just by waiting near the harbor entrance she might just find the guy who'd ordered the bread to be delivered here. She'd just have to make sure it was the right guy before handing it over.....or else she would end up paying for it later.

Basile was in simple clothing, doing exactly the opposite of what his father wanted him to do. You see, he was supposed to be home for some fancy party, but decided that some fresh air by the sea would do him some good. Plus, he could always sneak back in later so his father and mother wouldn't even notice at first, he just needed to remember when to get back to wash-up and change. As he walked among the hustle and bustle, Basile was easily able to maneuver around the people there thanks to that fact that he's light on his feet. Always has been, which was something he's always been grateful about since its helped him pull some of his greatest pranks over the years. A smile crept onto his face at the fond memories.

Grabbing an apple right off the top of a basket overflowing with them, he quickly flicked a large coin into the man's hand, who wore an expression of confusion until he saw the money, which seemed to make him happy enough. Basile took a bite out of, savoring the sweet taste as it danced around on his taste buds. It was strange but Basile loved that crunch sound whenever he bit it an apple. One of those little joys in life.

As he ambled along at his own pace, Basile's feet let him down as he ended up bumping into someone, but he stayed fast on his feet since he was quite big, which left him to worry about this poor girl instead. "Sorry there, didn't see you at all," he apologized quickly, looking down to the person he managed to bump into. "Are you okay? You're not hurt are you?" His steel blue eyes were filled with worry, which shouldn't be a surprise because he wasn't a rude person, as long as people aren't rude to him.

Any natural person would've caught themselves when knocked off balance. Being the type of person Lacey was....well she held the package closer to her body and fell on her butt to avoid ruining the delivery. Getting knocked down was always a bit of a.......dizzying experience and so it took a moment before Lacey looked up and nodded at the guy. "You're most definitely not a sailor. Or if you work here at the harbor you haven't been working here very long." Laughing lightly, Lacey merely reached up for the hand at his side, the one without the apple and used it to pull herself up without really asking about it.

Once on her feet she adjusted the package in her arm so it was safely held and then shrugged her shoulders. Before offering a friendly smile, "It's nothing to fret about, people fall down all the time. If they don't get back up again....that's when you start to worry." Lacey didn't really think much of getting bumped around, not unless people were rude about it. And this guy apologized so all was good in her world. After all her package was still fine and she hadn't fallen off the dock.....that would've been quite tragic if she had seeing as she couldn't swim. Another reason she wanted to get this package delivered rather quickly.

"Hey, are you busy right now?" It wasn't odd for Lacey to ask other people for help and this guy didn't seem particularly busy at this moment. Just seemed to be eating an apple, and by the way he stood he was the kind of guy that didn't work too hard...if at all. He seemed to hold the stance of someone who had things pretty easy. Being the failure at reading people that she was.....Lacey's eyes overlooked the groomed way his hair was, the way his hands had been soft and hardly calloused, the way that even his clothing seemed a bit too clean although it was common....nope. She merely assumed he was a lucky guy that didn't have a hard life. "If you're not do you want to help me find a guy?"

Naturally Basile helped her to her feet, not caring that she didn't ask. He instead of trying to figure out how to tell her he wasn't a sailor, though his father owned a boat and he has been out at sea. Though he guessed sailors did much more than just that, not that he would ever know since it was below him. Nope he was destined to something great, but he hasn't a clue what that was, and he wasn't looking forward to working either. He led the pampered life, so why end it by getting a job? Though he was already engaged so that meant he would be getting a job soon enough, probably something boring too. Oh well, what could he do?

"I'm not a sailor," he said quickly. Basile quickly looked over himself, wondering if he looked like a sailor. Maybe it was because he was wearing plainclothes that she thought so? Nope, he looked better than half the guys there and certainly smelled better. Maybe it was because he was at a harbor and most people from the Upperclass rarely ventured there. Yeah that was probably it. Basile listened to this girl talk, giving her a once over before deciding that she was . . . different from most women he has encountered. In a good way, but sort of confusing as well. "Well as long as you're okay." He said this slowly as if he was unsure if she really was okay or not - when he bumped into her, did he jostle a few screws loose or was she normally like this?

A brow raised when he heard her ask a favor out of him. While he was nicer than most Nobles, doing work really wasn't his sort of thing. Then again, he probably owed her since he bumped into her. So he shrugged and nodded. "Alright, since I'm not doing anything." Basile smiled easily down at her. "So, who's the guy? A boyfriend you're trying to hunt down? Or just the owner of that package." He nodded at the package safely tucked away in her arms, figuring that there was something of importance in there if she was being so careful with it. "What does the guy look like?" Basile took another bite out of his apple as he waited for her to answer his questions.

"Nope. Definitely not a sailor. Haven't really worked a day in your life, have you, buddy-boy?" It wasn't said in a rude way or a condescending way like most people would've said it. Lacey said it like it was just an honest to goodness question, like how someone would ask where a person was heading. "And of course I'm okay. It's not like I'd tell you I was when I wasn't. Now back to you...." As she talked she started walking, since he had agreed to help her and she figured he would follow her. "I would assume you're not used to helping people. You have that air about you...." With her free hand she gestured to all of him making a little zig-zagging motion as she did it.

"And not a boyfriend, I'd much rather not have one of those to contend with, and it's just a customer. He's stocky. Balding. Blue eye....and one green. Big mustache." Of course when Lacey said stocky she meant muscular and rather buff. The kind of weathered old sailor guy that could most likely knock a guy out with a single punch. Not that she was intimidated. Lacey was a bit of an odd sort of girl. The kind of girl who went squealing at the sight of a spider, but was willing to square it up with even the most intimidating looking people. She was used to being odd so she could recognize the look from the guy with ease. That 'is she for real' sort of look that many people gave her. It was why she always hung around Jasper. He could put up with her seemingly endless energy. Other people......they couldn't.

It was natural for her to ask a lot of questions, to naturally always want to learn more and know more. So sitting there she almost shot off another question at him....before remembering what Jasper always reminded her. That sometimes she had to listen more than talk. Which was why she fell silent and waited for him to say something as her eyes scanned over the people they passed whilst walking along the dock. Her mind was a swirling whirlwind of questions wanting to know all that she could about him. It wouldn't be too hard to get the information....she just had to bump into him and then he'd be liking her enough to tell her anything she wanted to know. At least for a few minutes anyway. But....that wasn't right to use her power like that. So she merely kept that plan to herself.

"Not a single day," Basile admitted, almost sounding proud of the fact as he followed after this strange girl. Strange, but interesting. Her question didn't offend him because it took a lot more than that to offend, moreover it was true. He hasn't worked a day so why lie about it? He would be working soon enough, but for now he hardly has much experience in that area of life. "Name is Basile, by the way, but buddy-boy works too." He shrugged nonchalantly, not caring what she ended up calling him as long as it wasn't some rude term. "Back to me? Why not focus on you a little? I mean, I'm a simple guy, not much to know about me." Basile flashed her smile, his eyes saying there was much more to him than met the eye, but he liked to keep parts of himself . . . well to himself. "Ah, an air about me? That's good to know, but I do help people on occasion." And he left it at that.

"Oh, you don't want a boyfriend? Well that's a first. All my sister does all day long is gripe about how she doesn't have one. Not that it matters anyways." He shrugged again, taking another big bite out of his apple. As Basile chewed, he knew it never mattered if someone was to have a boyfriend or a girlfriend in this society seeing how parents made the final decision in the end. Basile was perfectly fine with this since it was all he knew, and he has never fallen in love with a girl before. That was why when his mother told him that he was to marry some girl he hardly knew, Basile simply shrugged in response. This guy does a lot of shrugging. Snapping himself back into reality, Basile glanced around as they walked, keeping an eye out for the man the girl described to him.

"Hmm is that him over there?" Basile squinted into the distance, but shook his head and continued on walking and looking around. "Oh wait, that's a woman, never mind." As they walked, Basile couldn't help but glance over at the girl every now and then, getting the feeling that she was full of questions - questions he probably wouldn't like to answer. It wasn't that he didn't like sharing, but just he didn't like it when someone knew more about him than he knew about them. So, if she wanted to know more, she would have to answer some of his questions in return. Yeah that was how it was going to work. Basile nodded internally, feeling very determined about the subject. "So, since you know I haven't worked a day in my life, what about you? Where do you work? Somehow I don't really seeing you as a sailor." He smiled down at her in a friendly way.

"Focus on me....huh? Now you want to know where I work. I'm getting the feeling you're one of those people. The 'i'm-not-saying-nothing' people that don't talk until they know things first." Smirking slightly Lacey looked over her shoulder at him in an almost triumphant matter as if she had just won something. Or as if she had just beaten him in a game of cards or something. Turning back so she was looking forward as she walked she spoke to him over her shoulder, "If that's the way you play things, you'll find things highly off-kilter. I have no boundaries. Ask away and I'll tell you anything." She was still a little astonished by the way Basile seemed to flaunt the fact he hadn't worked a day in his life. Which lead to one conclusion. He was a noble. That meant that he was hiding from something by being here. Nobles didn't just come to the harbor unless they were hiding from their duties to society.

Although personally she was already filing away the information that she knew about him. That was the type of person Lacey was, the kind of girl who you mentioned your birthday to in passing, and even if she rarely spoke to you, she'd remember and wish you a happy birthday just to make things a little more special for you. Thoughtful was how her mother described her, too kind for her own good was what her father would say. That was just Lacey though, not to say she didn't have her fair share of faults. Plenty of those as well.....never knowing when to stop talking for one thing. "As for where I work, I'm an assistant at the bakery. I've been working there and helping out since I was 15. You have a sister, and I have a brother. His name is Jasper and he works as a blacksmith."

When she told him the little facts she spoke in short sentences, giving him the need to know about her brother only. After all she didn't have a right to go gossiping about her brother with a random noble. For all she knew this guy might just chuck her or her brother off into the royal guard if he knew too much about them. Best to keep quiet then. "And my name is Lacey." She could've gone on about the bakery....why she liked working there but he wouldn't understand and she doubted he wanted to hear about how she liked the smell of fresh baked bread or how she liked to see people smile and learn about their day when they came to buy stuff. "But why couldn't you see me as a sailor? I knew you weren't one by the way you talk, and the way you're dressed, and your hands. So tell me your proof of why I'm un-sailor-like." Stopping she turned to look up at him wanting to know his reasons behind his assumption with that same triumphant mischievous smirk on her face.

Basile was very surprised by this girl. No one has ever spoken to him like this before, which he sort of found amusing, though it made it hard for him to reply to her seeing how he wasn't used this sort of interaction, especially not with a girl. "No boundaries huh? Well that is good to know. Going to be honest here, never met a girl like you before, so bare with me as a I adjust to this." Somehow he got the feeling she wouldn't be offended by this, maybe she was used to this? Though that thought made him feel guilty about saying this in the first place. Shaking off the feeling, he wondered how she came to be this way, but wasn't sure if he really should ask. Obviously she must have grown up in a very different environment than him. 'Oh yeah, good work Einstein. How are you not an aspiring scientist like your brother?' He rolled his eyes at himself.

When she told him where she worked, Basile nodded his head, respecting her for being able to hold a job from starting at such a young age. When he was fifteen, the biggest thing he ever did on his own was learning how to bake a cake. And he even failed at that. No one liked the cake, and they ended up ordering something from the bakery, which was just how life was like for a guy like Basile. Fail once, don't bother trying again. Sighing softly, he shrugged. "I have a sister, and two brothers. The sister is seventeen, her name is Mariette, or just Marie. I call her midget because she's really short. One brother is nineteen - a year younger than me - and his name is Damien. He's the smart one in the family, and he works as an assistant in the Science Lab. And the other brother is only eight, his name is Zack." Talking about his family to this girl he just met was odd, but Basile has to admit, he sort of liked it. Normally all the Nobles already knew of each other that this sort of thing hardly ever happened.

"You keep bumping into everyone here. Even a sailor has a little more grace than that," he teased. Basile shrugged, stopping to look down at her when she stopped walking. "It took you a while though to figure it out. I don't think you noticed at first that I wasn't a sailor. Although, alright, I guess I can tell you my reasoning." Tossing the apple core over his shoulder and into the ocean, Basile began looking at Lacey closely, checking over her and even walking around her with a serious expression on his face as if he was really putting some effort into it. Finally, he stopped in front of her again as if he made up his mind. "Well first off, you smell much better than a sailor. You don't speak like one either. And if you were a sailor, you would probably have an easier time finding this guy you're looking for." He shrugged. "And you have this air about you that just doesn't say sailor to me. Oh, and when I bumped into you, you didn't swear your head off like most of these guys would." And as if to prove his point, a man bumped shoulders with Basile, and instead of apologizing, the guy shouted some colorful words before walking off. "See what I mean?"

Caught him off guard? Well she was used to that. Most people found Lacey to be a little much to handle right away. They just couldn't fathom how she worked and how she was willing to talk about anything under the sun, although her energy usually had a positive effect on people at the shop and they found her quirkiness, to be quaint. Unless they were farmers....Lacey was never very good at talking to them, because they were irritable and when she chattered they tended to get rather frustrated. Over time she'd learned which people to flutter on with and with people to hold back with. "Don't worry about it, I'm used to being one of a kind. I pride myself, on it just a bit." Flashing a sort of prideful 'I'm-brilliant' smile she winked at him before going back to looking around them for that guy. Since she'd turned her head she didn't catch the eye roll he'd directed towards himself. But rather she figured he was a little bit startled by her and her brazen ways. No doubt he'd never come across a girl like her in his lifetime before. No doubt his ladies were all prim and proper and actual ladies. Girls who'd never done anything silly like make castles out of mud or anything like that.

As they walked she found herself interested a bit in his family. She didn't know much about the nobles...having always tuned out a bit whenever her father would mention them. In Lacey's eyes...well she never expected to meet an actual noble so she'd never bothered to learn much about them. Although there wasn't a doubt in her mind that she'd probably killed at least a dozen rules of etiquette already. "Huh. Your family sounds interesting." She'd never met any scientists who were serious before. Of course she'd met Cornel.....it was hard not to meet him. He was always running about town...avoiding the lab. Which made Lacey curious yet again as to what Basile was avoiding. Obviously something unpleasant if he was here for an escape. In response to his teasing line, Lacey smirked, "Oi! Right rich line coming from the guy who bumped into me." Laughing it was obvious she was only teasing him back. Stopping as he walked around her, her head followed his movements and then when he stopped she found herself interested to hear what he had to say.

"Well, well, I applaud you for your reasonings. They are sound in judgement." Smiling she clapped her hands together in a genuine sort of applause, not being rude about it like some people. "And for your information. I never swear. My mother always told me it was un-lady like. What about you, Bucky-boy? Do you swear like a sailor when you waltz around town? Or do you keep a polished tongue?" She didn't wait long for a response though because at that moment she spotted the sailor and so without really saying anything except an "Ah-ha!" like someone who won a game of hide-and-seek she raced off, ducking under people and around people easily now that she had a goal. It didn't take long for the transaction and she returned to Basile within a few minutes before nodding at him, "Thanks for you help." She figured that now that the task was over he might head off to continue avoiding whatever he was avoiding.

Basile smiled when she ran off all of a sudden. He just stayed where he was, getting the feeling that she would eventually make her way back to him - he guessed she ran off because she spotted the guy she was looking for. While she was gone, Basile wondered if most girls on the outside were like this, or was it just her? Naturally he wouldn't knowing seeing how he rarely ventured off his family's estate unless something chased him off it. Normally he would stick around, not much of a runner from his problems, but sometimes it would get a little too overwhelming even for him. How funny, the life of a Noble was supposed to be so simple, what was he even complaining about? After all the boy hardly worked a day in his life, but there he was surrounded by people who have been working the second they were old enough to. He really needed to get his priorities straight. Yet, at the same time he could really care less. After all, his life was set and planned for him by his parents. What's the point in lifting a finger?

When Lacey returned, Basile smiled sheepishly. "I didn't really do much helping. You managed to find him on your own," he pointed out. Another shrug. He really wasn't good for anything was he? Should this dishearten him? Yeah it did, a little. Enough that he was considering to go back home for the silly party his parents were hosting, maybe he would be of some use there. There wouldn't be many people there since it was more of a small gathering than some huge debacle - simple and elegant. That was what his family was like or that was how they appeared in public. Simple but elegant. Though Basile wasn't simple and elegance wasn't his thing. Being out there by the ocean, breathing in the different smells, eating apples - that was more of his thing.

Oh who was he kidding? He was born into the pampered life, he was doomed to die pampered until his very last breath. That was it. "It's good to know that there are some ladies out here as well. Swearing isn't a very proper thing to do," he agreed. Basile wasn't much of a swearer himself, his mother would make him literally wash out his mouth with soap if one ever slipped out of his mouth. This got him into the habit of being very very careful with his words around anyone. "Ah no, don't swear when I go waltzing around. My tongue is very polished for your information." He smiled down at her in a friendly manner, finding it rather nice to her but difficult all the same. She was just so strange that it confused him to end, but at the same time Basile enjoyed her company. The energy she gave off certainly kept him on his toes.

Rolling her eyes, Lacey scoffed in a rather sarcastic and un-ladylike manner. "Of course you helped. Keeping me company, helping to make it so people wouldn't bump into me, plus you were looking, just lucky that I spotted him first." Shrugging her shoulders she didn't really think that he hadn't helped. He had. He just didn't realize it. "Anyway, I figure it was a helpful distraction." Pausing she crossed her arms behind her back, clasping her hands together as she walked for a few more steps before turning and looking at him with a quizzical expression. She didn't really expect him to be the swearing type but she was increasingly curious as to what he was avoiding. And while she'd held in her curiosity all this time she could no longer keep it all bottled up.

"So....." Trailing off a bit she elongated the word letting him know she was changing subjects. "What brings you here to the harbor? You're obviously not just down here for hoots and memories. You are most definitely avoiding something. No one comes down to the harbor unless they're going somewhere, have something to do, really like to swim, or their avoiding something. Based on the facts I have to go with the latter. So what's so bad that you're hiding from it?" Lacey paused furrowing her brow in confusion. She really hadn't the slightest idea what would be bad enough that he would come to the harbor to avoid it. Then again she wasn't a fan of the harbor all that much, on account of the fact that if she slipped and fell into the water she would drown.

After a second she realized that she might sound a bit rude. "Oh and uhhh I'm not like 'oh you're a noble your life is so great why would you want to avoid it' complaining. I just was curious. I'm sure you've got a lot of your own problems to deal with. Wait.....are you avoiding a marriage interview? I know Cornel always tries to get out of his. Though I 'spect that has more to do with the fact that he doesn't want to be tied down than it does with the actual girls. Then again I could be wrong completely and maybe you're just bored with whatever it is you Nobles do. I can see that. I 'pose you would get bored up there doing the same things. 'Specially if you didn't work. Then you'd have nothing interesting...." And Lacey continued to ramble, speculating all sorts of things and the only way she'd stop would be if she was told to stop or if she was forced to by something covering her mouth.

Basile didn't say anything right away when she told him that he had been helpful after all. He doubted it, but he simply shrugged in response, not wanting to argue about it. If she wanted to believe that then she could, Basile would keep his doubts to himself as he always does, and just smirk as if he knew all along that he helped out. He needed to keep up the appearance that he knew what he was doing, it was the one thing he was really good at, seeing how was trained from his youth to do so. Maybe it wasn't a great thing but it worked, and it has fooled many people over the years. Maybe it was his own superpower, though both his sister and brother could keep up appearances as well. It was part of being a Delacroix.

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Basile shrugged at Lacey's question, not offended by what she was saying but more unwilling to talk about why he was there. He wasn't surprised she figure out he was a Noble, after all he stuck out like a sore thumb, and she already figured out that he hasn't worked a day in his life. Though Basile was surprised - or maybe he shouldn't be too surprised - that she wasn't outright mocking him about having problems as a Noble. Most people would just tell him to suck it up because there couldn't possibly be anything wrong with the life of Noble. Everyone has problems, but they were all . . . different.

With a sigh, Basile shrugged yet again, though he laughed at the mention of a marriage interview. "Oh no, I've already met the girl I'm to marry. I'm not running away from that. My parents picked someone who they believe is right for me and would benefit the family, and I respect their wishes." As he spoke, Basile's tone wasn't mocking in the least. In fact he sounded as if he truly put all his faith in parents' decision. Sure he wasn't head over heels for this girl he was to marry, but at the same time he didn't really care; it had been chosen for him, so he let it be so. "Maybe I came here to swim. I am a great swimmer." He grinned down at her, hands still in his pockets. That was true, Basile loved to swim and he was rather good at it. Though, he chuckled softly and shook his head. Putting his hands up as if surrendering to her, he said, "You caught me. I'm avoiding something. But as to what it is, that's not really important. Just family stuff."

At the mention him knowing who he was going to marry? Well that shut Lacey up real effectively. "You've met her? You've met her. You've met her!" Her excitement rose with each time she repeated the phrase and looking around she grabbed his arm before pulling him off towards some crates and sitting down on one she tugged on his arm lightly wanting him to sit down too. Oh yes. Lacey was a romantic girl at heart. Sure she would marry whomever her parents chose for her but she also was the type of girl who when she heard something wonderful like someone having already met their intended? Well she got a bit up in the clouds about things. That was just her though. Her personality seemed almost lighter than air. She was always bouncing in joy, moving from one lovely topic to the next and right now well this topic was utterly amazing.

"Tell me about her. Is she pretty? Oh I bet she's really pretty. Tell me all about her. What are some things you have in common? What drives you crazy about her? What are your favorite aspects to her?" Lacey's eyes were wide like search lights, her smile bright as though charged with electricity. She couldn't help herself. No she didn't have fanciful ideas that she would marry out of love. But she knew that if she knew or had met the person she was going to marry. Well she'd know everything there was to know about them. She'd want them to be so in tune to one another they would be able to answer any question asked about the other. And maybe they wouldn't be soul mates or in love but they would love eachother. They would on some sort of level love and respect the other.

Lacey had never heard about Jasper having a marriage interview so if he knew whom he was marrying. She didn't have a big idea on that. This was the first time she'd come across someone who knew whom they were marrying. "And if you came here to swim you'd have been in the water, Barnaby-boy." Smirking she shrugged her shoulders in an almost 'sorry but you can't win against me' sort of way. Although internally she was a bit jealous that he knew how to swim. Not only that but that he was a good swimmer. Oh what she would've gave up to be able to swim.......it seemed like a useless habit though. It wasn't as she swam everyday. Or was around water very often. So maybe it wasn't that big a deal she didn't know how. Although sitting on the crates near the edge of the dock? Made it seem like a good idea to know how. Looking at him she smiled waiting eagerly for him to tell her all he knew about this girl he was going to marry.

Honestly, Basile shouldn't be surprised by Lacey's reaction what he said, but when she suddenly grabbed his arm and tugged over to some crates, he was definitely caught off guard. Actually he was surprised she hadn't tugged his arm right off with how quickly she had done it, but he was grateful she hadn't been able to. He doubted his wife-to-be would like it if he returned home with just one arm. His mother would surely have had a heart attack. What was he even thinking about now?

Taking a seat on the crate, Basile chuckled as Lacey fired off each question, not speaking until she finished. Though as she questioned him, Basile was trying to keep in how to respond to them in the first place. After all, he only just met the woman he was to marry, and he got the feeling she wasn't too happy about the arranged part of the marriage, or was she unhappy to be marrying him? Basile wasn't sure. All he knew was that he wasn't complaining, and not just because he has to do whatever his mother told him to do.

The girl was absolutely beautiful, Basile really couldn't have asked for any better. "She's gorgeous," was the first thing he said. There was a sparkle in Basile's blue eyes, because let's be honest, he did like the idea of love and hoped that one day he would find it. He just hoped it was with the girl his mother set him up with. Though it was improbable that they would fall in love with each other, Basile wished that he would grow to love her and she would do the same in return. Wishful thinking, yes, but oh well. "Although, I have to admit I don't know too much about her as we only found out not too long ago we are arranged to be together. But I'm hoping to learn more about her."

It was the truth, Basile has yet to learn more about his wife-to-be, which was the point of the intimate party his parents were holding back in their estate. He probably should get going so he would be on time for that, though at the same time Basile wasn't sure if he should go, seeing how he doubted that Esme, the girl he was engaged to, would cared if he showed up at all. Deciding to change topics, Basile laughed and shrugged. "Okay, okay you caught me, I didn't come here to swim. But now that I think about it, maybe a swim would be nice and refreshing," he chuckled.

It would be an utter lie to say she wasn't a bit disappointed. I mean yes she was glad that when he spoke of his betrothed being pretty his eyes seemed to light up with something...but still. He didn't know anything else about her? What kind of guy was this? I mean he knew she was pretty. Big Whoop! "You know if someone ever asks you to tell them what you like about someone else. Never say 'she's pretty' or 'he's handsome'. You say those things and people will tell you that you should write a book 'how to offend people with 5 syllables or less'." Not that Lacey was being overly critical. The guy had just met the girl after all. But still......then you lead with that. Not lead with 'she's gorgeous'.

At least he was hoping to learn more about her, which was why Lacey did smile at him and nod. "I hope she's good for you. I hope you find many things that you love about one another and I hope you grow to love eachother." Why wish him all this all right now? Well she doubted she would ever see him again. After all he was a Noble and she doubted she'd ever just happen across him again like she had today. As for his mentioning of swimming? Well that made Lacey have to force her smile a bit, the color draining from her face a tad bit.

"Ah yes, a swim. You should go do that. I...." Looking at her wrist....where watch should have been, but wasn't she shook her head and smiled, "I have to be going." Tucking her wrists behind her back she nodded and stood, "My brother. He'll be getting done soon and yeah...." Trailing off she suddenly gave a short wave before heading off down the dock throwing over her shoulder a, "Bye Buddy-boy! Hope you have fun at your party!" Why party? Well what else would a noble be avoiding if not a party?

Dawson took little to no breaks in between rush hours. Usually when and if the market ever died down during the day that's what he considered a break. He only worked so often because they needed the money with Olivia not pulling her own damned weight. Today though he had actually closed up his shop of wonders for a walk. Maybe it was well deserved, maybe it wasn't but the point was he needed it. The boy walked along, taking in the scents with vague eyes, slowly moving along. Lingering from one thing to the next though he didn't find anything to extremely interesting. Rubbing a hand through his light curly mass of hair he finally came to a stop. He really just needed a day off with Ace, even if it be him watching as he crafted another mastermind sword, it didn't matter. Dawson was never visually tense though so despite any reckless thoughts he remained completely calm on the outside, hands hanging at his sides. One thing he could admit, the air was fresh and cold, much less so than the streets of town square.

Anthony needed a break from his squabbling mess of a family. His father was once again nagging him about making a decision - well, it wasn't really a decision in his father's mind. Anthony's father was a bit obsessed with Anthony going into the family business at the tailor shop.

Anthony wouldn't have cared either way - he didn't hate tailoring and he didn't love tailoring - but there was his power to consider. If Anthony accepted the family business, he would have to give up his power of speech empowerment. Forever. He couldn't imagine ever doing that. His other option was joining the Royal Guard. That didn't sound to appealing either.

So Anthony wandered down to the harbor. He watched the ships pull in and out, and listened to the boat hands yelling to each other. It was strangely soothing, the scent of the cool breeze and the giant ships that bobbed on the water and the feeling of being removed from the chaos around him. Anthony came to a stop a little ways away from a guy around his age and just stared at the boats.

Dawson, ears like a hawk, heard footfalls from afar. He didn't move for a second before letting the curiosity get to him and looked down the dock. Hey he knew that guy. Anthony, a fellow merchant, Dawson waited until he was closer before calling out to him. "Hey Anthony, streets still crazy as hell?" He asked, having come from the market he was sure that they were. Unless he'd lost track of him and rush hour was coming to an end, in that case maybe he should get back, when you grab the stragglers you tend to get some good extra money. Ah jeepers, even outside his stand he was thinking in tactic. Gee he practically lived at that place. The guy didn't really complain he just realized that its all he seemed capable of talking about. Whoever he was to marry in the future better be able to put up with him, or at least find it cute. Hey a man could hope. Dawson walked over to the guy, meeting halfway as he was already walking in his general direction.

Anthony looked over when he heard his name called. The guy was walking over to him. It took Anthony a few seconds to pull the guy's name out of his jumbled mind. It was Dawson, whose family owned the shop of wonders. Another moment passed as Anthony processed Dawson's question. "Yeah, crazy," he replied. He walked towards Dawson so that they were a comfortable speaking distance away from each other. "Sometimes you just need some peace, you know?" Anthony let himself imply that he was talking about peace from the hectic streets of the town square, but he was really thinking about his family and their obnoxious expectations of him. Well, his father, mostly. Anthony wondered if his family had noticed he had left. He hadn't told anyone where he was going.

Dawson shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, well off with just about anyone he talked too. Being him he wasn't required to lapse into awkward silences. "I guess, I don't really get out from the set up in the market," he said. "If be surprised if people even recognized me when I wasn't offering them something to take home." He said, light laughter settling in his eyes. In all honesty he didn't have many friends because of it, not that he felt unaccepted, but still. He wiped his hands across his trousers as a bad habit. "Besides, I kind consider the noise home -- I guess you like getting out though, huh?" He rose his eyebrows, face smooth and rather blank.

Anthony laughed when Dawson laughed. It was almost an automatic reaction for him - to laugh when those around him laugh. He wondered what it would feel like to be entirely identified by your business, as Dawson seemed to be getting at. Was it possible that this was true of Anthony as well? Anthony was known for being able to sell almost anyone anything, with a lot of thanks to his power.

His power. Which brought him back to the decision he was supposed to be contemplating. "Yeah. Recently, I've been getting out more often," Anthkny replied thoughtfully in response to Dawson's latest question. "It is soothing. Seems like lately there's been an increase of chaos in my life."

Dawson didn't say anything for a long few seconds, he could see it in Anthony's eyes that he was getting out for a reason. He whipped over all the main reasons people liked to be at ease aside from it feels nice. He doubted it had to do with the market considering he said 'life' not anything else. So resorting to family issues Dawson rose his eyebrows a tad, "Yeah? Something up at home?" He wondered aloud, tone smooth and calm. This is a good reason he always felt at home at the market, he was always calm anyway, it simply seemed to work for him. Customers didn't like an angry, aggravated merchant now did they? Olivia should learn that. Dawson thought briefly while awaiting his response.

Anthony had to respect Dawson's collectedness, not only as a merchant, but in regular conversation as well. That was the gift of the merchants, he supposed, to be able to always be calm and smooth. Anthony made a face. "Yeah. Decisions. Royal guard. Family business." It wasn't really a secret that Anthony had a power, but he didn't know how much Dawson knew about Anthony's father wanting him to inherit the tailoring business. Anthony wondered if he should have said that, anyway. Dawson didn't have a power, as far as he knew. As a general rule, Anthony had found that powerless people didn't understand the thought processes of those with powers.

To be fair Dawson would never be able to perfectly understand having any sort of power or what came with it in the long run, how it affected you and how your family reacted to it, his family was relatively powerless. But he was someone who didn't feel like he had to, sure it might be nice, but there's no point because he can't. So he just rolled with it, nodding his head though he couldn't relate. Nothing but the shop was in his future. Olivia might take on the Royal Guard but that's the only tie he had even coming close to it. "Yeah well I wish I could say I get it," he shrugged his shoulders, eyes looking slightly apologetic. Only a bit though. "But I don't have those problems. Sorry though, you look pretty torn." He observed subtly.

"It's fine." Anthony shrugged nonchalantly. It had been too much to expect that a person without a power might understand his troubles. He wondered if he would ever find anyone who he could confide in. Someone who had a power, and who was in a similar situation. Someone probably outside of the merchant class, because most of the people in his own class unnerved Anthony with their smooth talking and perpetual calmness. Not that Anthony was any different from them when he was in full-on salesman mode.. I'm a hypocrite, he told himself for his thoughts. "Thanks for trying," Anthony added to Dawson, feeling like he needed to say more than just two words.

Dawson tilted his head, he had talked to people with powers before but it never really bothered him. They seemed off sometimes, not all the time of course, everyone was different in the way they acted, but still. If anything he treated them like anyone else he'd treat, pretty normal. "If you wanted to talk about it I guess I'm a pretty good listener." He finally suggested, lifting his shoulders was a small bit of curiosity in his eyes. Seriously he would listen to anyone, he talked when he needed. In all honesty he was being serious, his hands laying against his sides, eyebrows slightly risen.

"Alright," Anthony said, "I'll spill." He was glad Dawson was willing to listen, even if the other boy wouldn't totally understand. "So, I have this power. Speech empowerment. It's very useful, actually, and it's just as much a part of me as my nose or my feet or my heart. Only, my family doesn't understand because they're, um, powerless." Here Anthony paused for breath. He glanced at Dawson to see if he was bored, then continued. "My dad wants be to inherit the family business, the tailor shop. Well, I guess you know that we run the tailor shop. And I'm sure you also know the law that no one can use their powers over the age of nineteen, unless they're in the Royal Guard. So, basically, I have to choose between the family business, which my entire family wants me to inherit, and my power. And if I choose one I need to leave the other behind."

I would kill to have that power. Dawson thought to himself, unable to help it, he didn't even have to hear what it was - it sounded to obvious. Though he was very gifted in terms of his job and reeling people in he couldn't help to figure thatAnthony had good business. Inwardly shaking his head he told himself that business didn't matter right now, he wasn't behind the counter. So he listened, looking out at the water calmly as he listened. "If I were in your situation I would ... Well I'd keep the power. Ya said it was part of you right? Ya can't just go chopping off a finger and expect it not to hurt." He lifted his shoulders as if it were simple. "I mean .... What do you think you should do?"

"It's more complicated that that." Anthony sighed. "Yeah, my power is a part of me, but so is my family, and so is the part of me that desperately wants to please my family. Also, joining the Royal Guard is not exactly what I want to do with my life." He shrugged his shoulders helplessly. "So, what do I think I should do? Honestly, I have no idea. And I have one month to make a decision." Anthony wondered what life would be like without his power. What would running the shop be like? He would have to get used to making sales without his power. One of Anthony's worst fears was that he actually wasn't such a good persuasive speaker. That without his power he was a horrible salesman.

Dawson rose his eyebrows in thought at the lapping blue water, "Hm." He puffed, but didn't say anything. Not for a long minute that is, thinking it over. "It's not exactly my place to tell you to do something, but I think you should hold onto your power." He said finally, looking over in Anthony's direction. It felt pretty obvious to him, he understood pleasing the family, most people did, but ... "It's something special about you, I mean anyone can just hop into the family business, but you would be giving up a gif'." He explained somberly, shrugging his shoulders. "I feel like I I had a gift like that I'd wanna keep it close to me. As for your family," he looked away again. "Make 'em understand."

Could I do that? Anthony wondered. Could I make them understand? If he used his power, the answer was probably yes. But Anthony would feel horrible using his power against family. He would have to convince them fairly and squarely using nothing but his own mind and his own voice. Anthony straightened his back. "I think I can do that," he said to Dawson. "I'll make them understand. They don't have powers. They don't know what it feels like," he continued, more to himself than to the other boy. He imagined the scene - his mother's worried expression, his sister's bored one, and his father's mouth set into one straight, disappointed line. Anthony shook the image out of his head.

Dawson shrugged his shoulders. "I don't have powers either, I'm just a regular jo'." He said plainly, it didn't bother him so why should it matter? "If they can't understand that power of yours than make them understand what it means to you instead. You wouldn't be the first that doesn't want in on the family business." He said clinically, knowing because the first person that made her way into his mind happened to be his sister. Stubborn Olivia Seaver. Dawson looked over at the guy and then flickered his gaze to the sky. "'Eh, I gotta head back and open the shop, but call me if you need any more pep talks. Cool?" He said in the midst of backing away, as if waiting for consent.

"Yeah. Of course." Anthony nodded. He was still deep in thought about his family. "And, Dawson?" he added as the other boy was backing away, "Thank you so much for listening to me moan and gripe about my problems. It means more than you probably think. I'm really grateful." Anthony smiled his most heartfelt smile. The talk had really helped him a lot.

Dawson shook his head, giving a chuckle. He rose two fingers to his forehead and saluted the other merchant. "I deal with all kinds of customers all the time, I told you I was a good listener." He said with ease. "See ya 'round." He said, waving a hand as a last goodbye. Finally he turned on his heels and walked off at a casual stride.

Anthony watched him go, still smiling slightly. When Dawson was almost out of sight, Anthny turned and went at a slow jog in the other direction. I know what I have to do now.