[A playful piece depicting a scene of two of my characters that are part of a roleplay I have with my friend. I used this as a description experiment along with a fun thing to see how these two characters play off each other. Alex is she/her; Cenwynn is she/her.]

Cenwynn x Alex

The sun sat perched high in the afternoon sky as Alex approached the restaurant of choice. Near the heart of the city, bustling with activity and spilling the smells of roasted vegetables and seared pork onto the street, the building stood built of brick, with a dark wood door inlaid with glass serving as the front entrance. Alex paused before it and took a steadying breath. She ran her fingers across her warm grey sweater and smoothed her red scarf down across her chest, her skin the color of a sepia sunset just before a storm. She peered at her reflection in the glass and smoothed out the makeup beneath her eyes of burnt amber. With a thick swallow, she grabbed the iron handle of the door, and stepped inside.

It was not overly busy at lunch, a relaxed roll of conversation spilling into her ears paired with the clinking of glasses and the taste of charred chicken resting upon her lips. The waitress, standing before her behind a small desk, smiled.

“Do you have a reservation?” she asked, her light voice spinning into the air. Alex rubbed her left arm, glanced around, and spotted someone looking up from a glass of wine. Their eyes met. The woman in question smiled.

“Ah, yes, she’s just over there,” Alex said, her voice holding more nerves and anxiety that she expected. Get yourself together. You’re not some sappy teenager, Alex. 

The waitress nodded and gestured for Alex to go in. Alex turned, dropped her gaze to her feet to walk across the polished wood floors, and sat down at the table near a window.

“Hey, Cenwynn,” Alex said, glancing over at the woman. “You already started drinking? Without me?” 

Cenwynn smirked. Her hair, the golden color of sun-kissed sand, sat in perfect curls upon her shoulders. Makeup upon skin so warm and familiar it reminded Alex of her time in Death Valley, amongst the sand and pale earth, highlighted the woman’s eyes, which looked to be full of still-burning embers from a bonfire beneath summer stars. 

Alex looked away, down to her menu, and picked up as she cleared her throat. Her heart beat in her ears and she worried her hands might begin to shake. 

The clink of glass made her glance up to see Cenwynn pouring her some wine. Without her gaze on Alex, the woman managed to see Wynn wore a long, black shawl printed with flowers, and a loose scarf around her neck as well. Cenwynn spared a look at her, smiled, and offered Alex the wine.

“It’s a nice place, isn’t it?” she asked.

“Ah. Yes.” Alex took the wine, and her fingers brushed Cenwynn’s. Her heart climbed into her throat and she had to grip her drink tightly to not accidentally drop it. She took a sip and looked out the window.

“For having been a prostitute before, you sure are nervous,” Cenwynn said, a little too loudly. A few people nearby glanced over at them, and Alex paused before looking at the woman across from her. She smiled.

“You’re horrid,” she said.

“I know,” Cenwynn purred. “I didn’t realize how bad you had it, Alex.”

Alex rolled her eyes and set her glass down, the taste of pomegranate and alcohol warming her chest. “How long have you been out of the business, and you’re still out there trying to get clients?” She looked down at her menu.

Cenwynn laughed, the sound flighty. “It’s not my fault you were too naive, Alex.”

“I am not naive,” Alex insisted, shooting her date a look. “Just because I thought you were too pretty to be serious about anything doesn’t mean I was naive.” 

“Mhmm. I asked if you wanted to pop cherries with me, Alex.”

“I’m not a virgin, need I remind you.” 

“We’ve not had sex,” Cenwynn insisted. “It’d be our first time together.” 

Heat rose to Alex’s cheeks and she waved Cenwynn off. “I’ve been out of the dating game for a while, Wynn, but I’m pretty sure that’s talk for date three.” 

Cenwynn opened her mouth to respond, but a waitress approached. “Can I get an appetizer started for you two?” 

Cenwynn hummed. “How about the meat and cheese platter?” she asked, looking to Alex.

“That sounds nice,” Alex said with a nod. 

“Wonderful, I’ll be back with that in just a few minutes,” the woman said with a smile. She slipped away.

“I think she came over to make you be quiet,” Alex said, regarding her menu again.

Cenwynn gasped. “Now that’s just rude, Alex,” she said with mock offense. “And to be so rude to someone you think is so pretty–”

Alex groaned. “Forget my mom told you that.”

“I don’t think I will,” she chimed. “It was quiet sweet of her to explain your feelings. You’re bad at that, you know.”

“I am not bad at that,” Alex protested. “You hardly know me.”

“I know you get nervous because I’m so pretty.”

Alex flushed. “I’m fairly certain I hate you, Cenwynn.” 

Cenwynn laughed. “And now you’re lying to a pretty woman? The scandal.” 

Alex focused on the page in front of her, pursing her lips to keep from smiling or laughing or in any way encouraging Cenwynn. 

“Was your trip nice, though?” she asked after a few seconds. “To visit your mom?” 

“It was,” Alex relented. “Her kids are sweet. I’m like an aunt to them, and they’re always funny when I’m around. I’m honestly surprised they like me so much.” 

“Why wouldn’t they?” She arched a brow. “Are her kids not your siblings?”

“Oh. Yeah, I guess I haven’t explained why I have two different moms.” 

“No, you haven’t.”

“It’s… sort of heavy,” Alex warned, setting her menu aside.

Cenwynn offered a soft, welcoming smile. “That’s okay.”

“I ran away when I was young. A lot of reasons why, but I ended up leaving. My dad died after I left and my mom left us before all that. Gwen sort of took me in when I was nineteen, and eventually I sort of moved up here to be with Dr. Moon, who also officially adopted me. So I sort of have two foster moms.” 

“That must’ve been hard. Being on your own for so long before Gwen came around.’ Cenwynn took a sip of her wine. 

“It wasn’t easy, no. I managed all right, but… I mean, it was nice to have a home and a bed and people who cared about me. I didn’t really like it at first, of course, but… it was good.” Alex gestured to Wynn’s menu. “Did you choose what you want?”

“I did. Did you see something you liked?”

“I thought I’d get the roasted duck breast,” Alex said. “Sounds good.”

“Oh, a prostitute with a high-society taste buds.” Cenwynn smiled. “I’m getting the halibut. We can share, if you’d like.”

“Sure.”

“How long were you on your own?”

“A few years.” Alex shrugged and rubbed her left forearm. Sometimes, now and then, it still felt sore. Sometimes, when she thought back to that time, to the fear, to the pain and agony inflicted upon her body, she felt her bone throb, where years and years and years ago it once was broken. It resided as a phantom and nothing more, she knew that. And so did the woman who hurt her. So did the woman that led the violent gang Alex once found herself tangled up with.

“Is your arm okay?” 

The question brought Alex back to the present. She pulled her hand away quickly. “Oh. Yeah, it’s fine.”

Cenwynn reached her hand across the table. “We don’t have to talk about that. It’s much for a first date, right?” 

Alex hesitated, then set her hand in Cenwynn’s. The woman’s calloused fingers from working in her garden scraped pleasantly against Alex’s flesh. “Okay,” she breathed. “Thank you, Cenwynn.”

“Sure, Alex. What about I tell you what I’m growing in my garden next year?” 

Alex smiled. “Okay.” 

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