Dahlia, as it happens, is also a regular. She's an odd bird for an aristocrat, spending more of her time at the library reading mountains of books or the bar shooting whiskey than anywhere else. But she and Martin were fast friends, and so it's not uncommon for her to bring some of her books here for a cup of tea to read with.
Today is one such day, and seeing Ragatha makes her do a triple take.
The first time is while she's ordering, noticing a newcomer, an unfamiliar face.
The second time is on her way to her seat. Oh. A rag doll. How unique.
The third time is at her table. It's deeper. Piercing. Those dark shark's eyes seeing something beyond her.
Unceremoniously, Dahlia rises, her chair scooting on the floor, and abandons her bag and her books. They'll be fine--- as a Prince, Dahlia effectively has eyes in the back of her head. She takes her tea cup, and approaches Ragatha's table. "Good afternoon," she says, wearing a debutante's smile. "I noticed you were new. I'm part of the founding family, so I like to try to meet everyone. May I join you?"
Ragatha notices her once, as she enters, and then tries her very best to be polite and not linger on the nicely dressed stranger as she goes about her business. It would be rude to be too curious, right?
She doesn't even look up until the figure is clear beside her table (the scrape of a chair could be anything!) and surprise flashes across her features for a split second before she gets that sociable face on. "Oh, good afternoon! Yes, of course, it's— nice to meet you. The founding family, you said?"
"Right--- the Leeds family. I'm sure you've seen a dozen things named for us, and the massive mausoleum in the center of Fall's Promise." Not to mention her more demonic history besides...
There'll be time for that later. Dahlia offers a handshake--- long, lithe, pale fingers and carefully manicured nails. "I'm Dahlia."
"Right, yes, of course!" Oh, she definitely should've caught that. Anyway, that thought's gone just as quickly as it comes to be replaced with the common anxiety about her ridiculous hands, but she takes Dahlia's hand with the plush digits and shakes anyway. "I'm Ragatha. I arrived— well, I suppose it's been over a month, now!"
"I'm surprised we haven't run into each other earlier!" Dahlia doesn't remark on Ragatha's hands, even if the touch comes with---- some kind of spark. Like a synapse forming, train cars linking. Not oppressive. Not a trap. A moment of connection. Dahlia takes her seat across from Ragatha. "It's a pleasure. If you have questions about the island, I'm happy to get you up to speed. If you've been here for a month, then--- I'm sure you've had some experiences by now. I know it's a lot."
Ragatha doesn't jump, but it'd be impossible to miss the way her single eye flicks toward her hand after the contact releases, trying to understand just what that feeling was. Not— bad, which is something. Usually she wouldn't be so sure of something like that immediately.
"It— definitely can be. I arrived right before the, ah, lie about being outside the barrier? Since then it's at least been quiet."
Well. In terms of the town as a whole, anyway. People in her life are making most of the noise on their own.
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thethirteenthchild
Re: blackwood brews
Date: 2026-05-06 02:28 am (UTC)Today is one such day, and seeing Ragatha makes her do a triple take.
The first time is while she's ordering, noticing a newcomer, an unfamiliar face.
The second time is on her way to her seat. Oh. A rag doll. How unique.
The third time is at her table. It's deeper. Piercing. Those dark shark's eyes seeing something beyond her.
Unceremoniously, Dahlia rises, her chair scooting on the floor, and abandons her bag and her books. They'll be fine--- as a Prince, Dahlia effectively has eyes in the back of her head. She takes her tea cup, and approaches Ragatha's table. "Good afternoon," she says, wearing a debutante's smile. "I noticed you were new. I'm part of the founding family, so I like to try to meet everyone. May I join you?"
It's a lie, but it works.
no subject
Date: 2026-05-06 02:43 am (UTC)Ragatha notices her once, as she enters, and then tries her very best to be polite and not linger on the nicely dressed stranger as she goes about her business. It would be rude to be too curious, right?
She doesn't even look up until the figure is clear beside her table (the scrape of a chair could be anything!) and surprise flashes across her features for a split second before she gets that sociable face on. "Oh, good afternoon! Yes, of course, it's— nice to meet you. The founding family, you said?"
no subject
Date: 2026-05-06 02:51 am (UTC)There'll be time for that later. Dahlia offers a handshake--- long, lithe, pale fingers and carefully manicured nails. "I'm Dahlia."
no subject
Date: 2026-05-06 03:07 am (UTC)"Right, yes, of course!" Oh, she definitely should've caught that. Anyway, that thought's gone just as quickly as it comes to be replaced with the common anxiety about her ridiculous hands, but she takes Dahlia's hand with the plush digits and shakes anyway. "I'm Ragatha. I arrived— well, I suppose it's been over a month, now!"
no subject
Date: 2026-05-06 03:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-05-06 03:23 am (UTC)Ragatha doesn't jump, but it'd be impossible to miss the way her single eye flicks toward her hand after the contact releases, trying to understand just what that feeling was. Not— bad, which is something. Usually she wouldn't be so sure of something like that immediately.
"It— definitely can be. I arrived right before the, ah, lie about being outside the barrier? Since then it's at least been quiet."
Well. In terms of the town as a whole, anyway. People in her life are making most of the noise on their own.