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It was harder than one would think to find a tea room in Destiny City. It was harder than that even to find a place that was actually a place that Eilian would patronize without having to be sanitized from head to toe before going home, that knew how to also make a proper cup of tea. Eventually however the violet-haired young Welshwoman had found a proper little home in one of the more proper historical housing districts of the city that hosted a tea out of the front room every day at 4pm. Eilian, being the person that she was, was ten minutes early.

Exquisite care had been taken with hair so recently cut, in a perfectly tailored dress the color of fresh strawberries that was unfortunately two seasons out of style, legs crossed at the ankles like a lady. Everything her mother had ever poured into her head about being 'classy' was streaming through Eilian's head while she lightly reviewed what had become an increasingly sparse schedule as the months passed. Classes, practice, patrol. There was no social time for what friends did she have left in the city? Why go shopping when you never truly left your home? Her school had a uniform, as always, so why did she need to look in fashion?

Meeting Avery on the flight back from London had been the first spark of interest (and shame) that she'd been a shut-in for the last year or so. So many things had happened that hadn't been a part of that secret underworld that Sailor Albali walked through, so many things that Eilian had even forgot had existed. Namely she'd forgotten that she was a fan of a British girl group that Avery Hollister was a part of. It seemed like a million years ago that she'd been backstage at the concert, enthused to be that close to the music.

Lately, it seemed that all of her music was falling flat. So here she was, stirring her tea, and trying to pay as much attention to Eilian as to Albali. Perhaps if she could give attention to both of her lives it would be harder for Ares to say no next time they saw each other.

Bless European heritage! It made Eilian, someone usually reluctant to be touched in casual physical contact, generally alright with the light brush of skin against skin that was the traditional greeting in their part of the world. She didn't stiffen the way other casual contact tended to make her do, didn't make a face, simply returned the greeting with her own glossed lips and a smile. "Oh no, had you been late you'd see me steaming more than the kettle. I've been told they can see it coming out of my ears after ten minutes." A polite snort dismissed anyone who found issue with her demands for punctuality, focusing instead on Avery. Truly she was a woman of class who valued being on time, knew what she wanted out of life, and was by all reports taking over the world. What was there to not admire?

Remembering that they were in a tea room, that there was a purpose to the outing, Eilian recovered enough to indicate the menu lying across the delicate china plate. "I was waiting to order until you arrived. I hear they have a fantastic strawberry pu-erh that I've been wanting to try if that's to your liking?" Tea was one of those things that was a little tricky: no two people seemed to be able to agree on their favorite kind! You had those that could drink earl grey straight black with nothing in at all, some people who refused to drink anything but floral teas, and then there were those heathens who resisted the allure of tea entirely.

They were usually Americans. Poor, unfortunate souls.

Flipping her own menu over to the back where all of the petit fours and cakes were listed, wicked delight glinted in her usually cool eyes. "I am, however, going to order at least three pieces of cake. I am celebrating a victory in getting you to come to tea with me!" Knowing next to nothing about Avery and her femme preferences, the statement was unintentionally loaded. "Congratulations, by the way, on your appointment to the City Council. I found your arguments fantastically practical when compared to your opponents." Was Eilian trying to make a friend or pick up a date?! It was oddly assertive but then, that was the kind of young woman the Welsh expatriate was in social situations.