(Day of the Switch)
Location: Downtown San Francisco, California, on Earth
Ally liked to push the buttons on everything in Friend Ben's carriage. Of course, it was more fun when he was there because he made a big fuss, and his face got red. Ally noticed how Friend Ben acted more and more like Cal each time she Switched with Vivian. And Friend Ben was definitely not the way Vivian described him in her journal. Well, maybe he is reliable. I will concede that point to you, Vivian.
She and Cal were probably going back to the palace. Ally sighed. I bet he forgot to pick up my book. I swear, if it is sold to someone else before I get back, Cal is going to be thrown to the vine serpents crawling all over his…
Ally's thoughts were interrupted when someone knocked on the glass of her car window. She tried to ignore the man, but he rapped again and bent down. She raised her arms to gesture that she didn't know anything helpful, but he insisted, "Vivian? I can't believe I ran into you here. I was just going to call you. Do you have a moment now?"
It figures. It is one of Vivian's people. This is why I always stay in her elevated tiny home with the cold closet.
Ally cleared her throat and decided to try her best Vivian impression. Ben insisted she practice not "mess up Viv's life." He and Vivian even made some videos (or, as Ally referred to them, "a sound mirror of other people doing things").
Glasses of the sun, a goofy smile, inappropriately friendly with men, and manly. Got it.
Ben had always opened the carriage door for her, but Ally had seen Ben locate a handle and open the door when he left, so she looked for it on her side. The man stepped back, just missing the impact of the door as she opened it instead of lowering the window. She swung both of her legs out of the door together like a proper lady and held out her hand for him to take.
Wait. More manly. More friendly.
"Ha ha ha," she laughed awkwardly. "I am able to step out of this thing on my own. That was in jest. You know that I am a very friendly person, yes?"
Ally arranged her face into a smile and put her hand on the man's chest. She couldn't help but blush and look down as it was so against her own nature, but she was glad that he had a well-defined chest like a Barklar in Eldoria. And this is surely what Vivian would do to a friend like Ben in the video.
The man put his hand over hers, holding it in place against his chest. "I see that." Ally froze as he reached for her face. She held her breath as he lifted her head gently by her chin. "And your blushing is also adorable."
Ally stared at the man. He seemed neat and pleasant to her eyes. His hair was almost black, and his eyes were a striking blue—a very rare mutation on Aethelgard. And he was also inappropriately friendly.
Is this Vivian's lover? I am surprised that, in this, she has… not bad taste. I cannot just ask him if he is her lover, because Vivian would already know. Great time for Friend Ben to leave. What would Vivian do with a possible lover? Ah!
"There is a place quite close with good tea and desserts." Ally moved to his side and hooked her arms through his in preparation to be escorted by the man. "Would you like to take me?"
"Sure, I know it well," the man replied as if questioning the reasoning. "And I suppose it is more pleasant than talking in a parking garage." He once again covered one of her hands with his. "Shall we, then?"
Still distracted by his closeness (and pleasant scent), her "Vivian-smile" faded, and she nodded demurely. She looked back at the door of Ben's car, which the man closed for her.
Friend Ben would want me to act as Vivian. I hope they are both happy. And I hope Cal makes Vivian attend a boring ball to make us even.
Ally hadn't navigated Vivian's world on her own because Ben took care of everything she needed. So, she let the man lead her to the cafe across from the parking garage, knowing that if the man was dangerous, she could access a bit of her magic in her own defense.
"I have to say, Vivian, you surprised me today. And that doesn't happen often to me. You're almost like a different person."
Because I am. But you are not supposed to notice. How might I fix this?
"You must bring this side out of me?" Ally was trying really, really hard for Vivian and Ben. Maybe I can try some new food from Friend Ben's cold closet as a reward for doing this.
"I admit it would make me glad to hear I have such an impact on you." The man had a confident smile and seemed to be amused at some thought as they entered the cafe. He chose seating away from the windows and asked her what she wanted. When she asked for tea, he insisted that he knew of the best flavor. She agreed on the condition that she would also get a lemon tart to go with it.
The drinks were ready quickly, but the lemon tart was delayed. The man brought their drinks to their seats and placed Ally's tea at the perfect angle in the perfect orientation. She had to admit that she was impressed by someone with such manners for tea. However, she was still not accustomed to his touching.
The man sat across from her and gestured that she should drink first.
"You are surprisingly polite with adequate etiquette," Vivian said, attempting a compliment.
"Thank you, Vivian. I am honored that you think so." He studied her face closely and asked, "Is it still too bright in here? I tried to keep us away from the windows for you."
"Anywhere is fine. I am not bothered by the light."
"I see. Then, may I ask why you're still wearing sunglasses?"
Ally reached up to the sunglasses to confirm they were still there.
"Yes. I like to wear them with this outfit. They look nice together." Nice excuse, if I dare say so. I am doing well at playing Vivian.
"Yes. They do suit you; however, it is a bit rude to hide your eyes when speaking with someone." The man leaned forward to remove her sunglasses as she leaned away from him. Unfortunately, his reach was longer than she anticipated, and he successfully removed them. Feeling exposed and worried about her eye color being different from Vivian's green ones, Ally closed her eyes and looked down to keep them hidden.
The man's breath suddenly hitched as he looked at Ally's behavior. In a quiet voice, he asked, "Vivian? Is someone hurting you? Are you looking for protection?"
Ally couldn't help but scoff at the idea of needing someone else to protect her. Friend Ben is enough of a hassle.
She let out her breath and prepared to explain as much when the lemon tart arrived at the table. With it, a familiar voice said, "Vivian, I believe this is yours."Ben set the tart in front of Ally and pulled up a chair to sit next to her with his own coffee cup to drink. Ben was clearly holding back a big lecture Ally would have to hear later. But, at the moment, she concentrated on the dessert and tea in front of her.
Ben held out a hand to the man, "Hello. I'm Ben. Ben Orwell. And you are?"
The man looked at Ally, waiting for some sort of explanation or introduction, but Ally just shoved a big piece of the tart into her mouth like a squirrel. He flashed a wry smile. "Ahh… Ben Orwell. It's nice to put a face to the name." The man shook Ben's hand in response. "We've talked before, but this is the first time we've met. I'm Alex Greyson. I own that building over there where your law firm is. And this one we're in now… and a few others."
Ben looked at Ally again, one syllable away from that lecture—she could just feel it. Cal gets the same look when she does something he doesn't like. Ally purposefully avoided looking at either man and continued to enjoy her tart as if it were the last tart ever made in the world.
Ben turned back to Alex. "Oh, yes, I recognize the name." He paused as he got his business card from his wallet. "I wasn't aware you were acquainted with Vivian," Ben said in almost a question.
Alex took Ben's card but offered nothing in return. "Vivian has been helping me with a fire that broke out in one of my buildings. I wanted to ask her some questions about it." Alex regarded Ally carefully, who looked like a guilty child that did something she knew she shouldn't have. Alex sized up the interaction between the two and let a grin touch his lips, then grabbed his tea and leaned back in his seat as if taking in the whole room. "But, I had no idea she was so… interesting."
Ben saw the sunglasses on the table and handed them to Ally to wear without looking at Ally. "Yes, today is her day off, so we met for drinks last night. I'm afraid she drank a little too much." Then he looked straight at Ally and said, "She must feel quite embarrassed."
Alex watched the exchange. "Oh, are you two together?"
"No." Ben and Ally responded in unison. Alex smiled and chuckled softly.
Having placed her sunglasses back on her face, Ally felt it was a good time to play Vivian and try to get out of the awkward situation. She cleared her throat and sat up stiffly with her best posture."Fr… Ben and I have known one another since childhood."
Ben saw Alex narrow his eyes and then smiled again. "I understand." He turned back to Ally and said, "I apologize for bothering you on your day off, Vivian." He then peered at Ben and continued with, "I was just surprised when she rushed off with you after our dinner at the Ember & Vine. But then today, Vivian warmly put her hands on me and asked me to leave with her. How could I refuse?"
Ben choked on his coffee and tried to suppress the coughing unsuccessfully. Alex offered some napkins nonchalantly, clearly amused.
Vivian took Ben's cough as an opportunity to salvage the conversation. "Yes. I am inappropriately friendly and somewhat manly."
Ben stood abruptly and grabbed Ally's hand to pull her out of her chair. "I'm afraid Viv has not quite recovered, yet. So I apologize, but I promised to get her home safely. Feel free to contact her during her office hours or through me if it is urgent." Ben now had Ally turned toward the exit. He put some money on the table and explained, "For that tart."
Alex nodded in affirmation and watched Ben usher Vivian to the exit. He called out, "I look forward to our next encounter, Vivian."
Ally turned her head back toward Alex and started to respond, but Ben yanked her arm and crossed the street in the shortest route possible. As he watched Ben continue to drag her along, he leaned forward and put his elbow on the table.
Alex's hand went to his chin. I don't know who that was, but that was definitely not Vivian. Alex released a long breath as if resigned. Curious, indeed.I am not going to be able to help myself, am I? I can't resist a good puzzle.
Behind Alex's hand was a mischievous grin.