((Cont: http://www.lillegardisland.com/t412p15-christmas-shopping#8731. Would have joined the one that was already started with the Barmaid but this threads happening around lunchtime ^^; )

Leon entered the familiar tavern with Jami, selecting a table at the back corner by the emergency exit. It wasn't necessarily paranoia. Just a force of habit. If there were any other customers in the tavern, Leon hadn't noticed.

He took a seat on one of the chair facing the rest of the tavern and looked at Jami. "You know, chivalry is just another form of sexism." The topic seemed to come out of nowhere, but he was using this thread of logic to insist on paying for lunch.

Jami let Leon wait at the door while she walked in. Gosh was he really that annoying. The whole ladies first thing was so sexist. As Jami sat next to him she scoffed. "HAH! I totally agree. Yes it's cute sometimes, but you doing it, it gets old." Jami grinned at Leon. She was quite amused but her stomach wasn't.

The nosy being that she was, the Barabal Barmaid, otherwise known as Trudie, couldn't help but overhear the conversation as the two students entered her tavern. She was currently drying some glasses behind the bar, and she smiled to herself. The tavern was full of its normal lunch-time customers, which was not many. Winter was nearing its end, and with February just around the corner, there would be sea trout ready for catching.

Finishing the glass she was working on, the barmaid placed on the shelf and began walking over to the corner table where Leon and Jami sat as she dried her hands on her apron. Her unnaturally red lips parted in a huge smile. "Well, well, if it isn't my newest friends," she said, letting out a hardy laugh. "I knew you two would end up together after all." She winked at Jami. "But if you want my opinion, chivalry is nothing but the nicest thing. What's wrong with a guy saying he appreciates my beauty by holding open a door now 'n then, right?" She laughed again, reaching out to pat Jami on the shoulder as if they were in on the same delightful joke.

Leon laughed. "Only me? Why's that?" His look of amusement didn't fade as the barmaid approached. He didn't recall asking her opinion in the matter, but at the very least it seemed she'd take his side. As a means of both acknowledging the barmaid's arrival and to further tease Jami, Leon went off of Trudie's "opinion". His selective hearing hadn't included her first few statements, and he ignored them. "Yeah, what's wrong me showing that I appreciate your beauty, Tiger?" The actual sarcasm was only barely audible, but the extending smirk on his face spelled it out clear enough.

Jami raised a brow at Leon. "Isn't it obvious?" She had a sense of Leon's motives. The more she hung out with him, the more she had a feel for the reasons he did things, an example might be holding the door open for her. Then bringing it up. Even if there wasn't a reason, and he was just being nice, Jami still had to make sure he wasn't playing some sort of game.

As the barmaid came over Jami smiled at the woman and almost coughed when Leon and Jami's partnership was mentioned. As Leon went along with her Jami could dare fool the woman. "Oh really Leon? You were appreciating me? I thought this was a friendly lunch!" Her expression was amused though. She turned her attention to the Barmaid, "It's nice to see you."

Trudie raised her brows so high that a series of creviced wrinkles spread across her forehead. Her mouth opened into a tall oval. "OoooHoHo. That's what he told you now is it? I guess 'friendly lunch' is what the kids are calling dates these days." The barmaid pulled a rag from her pocket and quickly wiped down the table. "It's nice to see you too, honey. I wish the students made their way over here more often." She lowered her voice into an almost whisper. "These fishing men get kinda borin' if you know what I mean."

"Now, what'll you lovebirds be havin' then, hm? Today we have sea trout with a side of chips. Fried or grilled is up to you." Her mouth cracked into a smile.

Leon gave a shrug, his palms turning upwards. "Obvious? I must have missed something." He played at innocence. What ever could she be referring to? Though, if he had anything to gain from being chivalrous Jami, he certainly didn't know what it was. Most of the time his behavior was a spur of the moment decision. Right now, he assumed it was to get a reaction out of her. He was entertained by the turn the conversation seemed to be taking though.

He gave a chuckled and looked to the barmaid. "I didn't call it anything." He looked back at Jami. "This was your idea, Tiger." He gave another, more nonchalant, shrug. "Call it what you want though." Leon thought a moment. Well, it was no wonder the place was so empty even though it was lunchtime. What with the lack of any real menu. "Either. Surprise me." Whatever.

Jami shook her head, Leon was being so weird. "I'll have fried please." She wanted to talk to Leon alone, but she felt bad for rushing this woman away. She sent a smile in her direction of appology at her quick order.

Looking at Leon she she coughed a bit, "OK, I paying, it's offical. And Not a Date." Why couldn't to 'friends' of the oposite gender goto lunch? Did everyone have the intollerance of it? Was everyone always on a date!?