Welcome to Gaia! ::

A date night, of sorts, wasn't really something Amarantha did. Especially not blind dates. Actually she didn't think dating was something she should be doing at this time when things were still slowly working themselves out since the conversation with a stranger (not that Caelian was a stranger anymore) up on a rooftop at night.

And yet here she was, with several people suggesting it might be good for her. Not necessarily to go looking for a date but perhaps she could find a new friend. Someone else to add to a list of people she could get to know and maybe help build more of a safety net for herself. Not that she was planning on telling anyone anything of that sort so soon into meeting them.

She was surprised to find she'd been paired with another lady but how could she turn down a fan of books? Reading buddies were always a welcome.

Dressed nicely for the occasion, strappy heels and boot cut jeans with a nice top (much to the dismay of her grandmother who thought she should wear a dress), Amarantha tucked a bit of hair behind an ear as she looked around for signs of her "date". Seeing someone who seemed to match the note on the card she, rather nervously, made her way to the table as fingers toyed with the phoenix pendant she wore.

"Hi, are you Christabelle?"

"Oh, thank you. It was a gift from my mother years ago."

So used to the pendant, and how much of a worry charm it seemed to be for her, she often forgot it was there beyond the scope of "something she never left home without". She also wasn't quite used to anyone else paying it much attention either. Which was, perhaps, why she'd offered unasked information concerning it when she wasn't much for being so open about herself.

Something she was attempting to change but knew she likely never would work out.

"No apologies needed, I understand the feeling quite well." Considering her own family had signed her up for this as well. At least Dongmei seemed to have the sense to tell her in enough time to figure a proper outfit. Not that Christa was dressed horribly.

Finally realizing that the woman before her had her hand out, Amarantha nervously (and quite embarrassedly) moved to take her hand and give it a shake. Which hopefully wasn't too tight or sweaty or any other horrible combination it very likely was. God she was terrible at this, maybe she should have stayed in.

"I don't think you're disappointing at all. You seem very comfortable in yourself and what you like and there's nothing wrong with that." Sure she was moderately dressed and had been busy reading a book instead of milling about otherwise but she knew exactly what she liked and was about. A confidence Amarantha was sure she'd never have.

"Plus I have yet to meet another lover of books who managed to disappoint me in anyway."