[quote=@Viciousmarrow]
Before Al could get to answering her questions, the waiter came back over to their table. "What can I get you two for dinner?" he asked, patiently waiting for their orders. [color=6ecff6]"I think she decided on the frog legs and I... Hm... I'll have the Baked Camembert."[/color] Al responded. With a bow, the waiter went back to deliver their order. The blond's attention fell back onto Shizuka. As his indigo eyes lingered on her form, he realized how the candle light really made her stand out. 

[color=6ecff6]"My mother is Cajun, a uh... French descendant? She's from Lafayette, Louisiana, so she has a very funny accent. Dad thinks it's sexy though."[/color] Al joked, cracking a grin. [color=6ecff6]"I've only been to Louisiana once, but it's not really a pleasant place. It's very close to swampland so there's [i]tons[/i] of mosquitoes, and the water tastes like sewage. As for the food... Kinda spicy, but very good. The Cajuns eat frog legs pretty often, but the actual Americans don't. They think it's really strange. I guess, it's like... how some Americans see sushi as gross."[/color] he explained to her, trying to relate it to her own culture. 

As for his own nationality, Alban had to pause for a moment and think about it. He took another drink of wine, his glass now empty, before filling his cup up again and describing his heritage. [color=6ecff6]"I am actually a Japanese-American-French citizen. Meaning I was born in France to an American mother and a French father, who then moved to Japan and became Japanese citizens. So I could theoretically live in any of these countries without needing a visa or green card. It's... a little complex."[/color]

Al opened his mouth to ask Shizuka some questions about herself, but he was stopped by the sudden sound of a piano playing. In the corner of the room, a very elegant seeming, raven haired Frenchman was warming himself, gliding his across the keys. The man cleared his throat and gestured a long hand towards Al and the Japanese girl before him. "Pour le couple ici ce soir." (For the couple here tonight.) the performer said in solid French before beginning to play a very familiar [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HozMKWOWH_Y]song[/url]. Immediately, the blond turned scarlet and his nerves seemed shot for a split second. He hadn't expected that to happen at all. This hadn't meant to come off as a date, but the feeling in the air was definitely more romantic than what he envisioned.

The alcohol in his system helped him keep the conversation going. [color=6ecff6]"So, Shizuka, tell me more about yourself. What's your family like? What do you do other than work and go to school?"[/color] As he said that, he leaned in, all ears while the music danced in the background.
[/quote]

Shizuka listened intently as Alban described Lousiana.  [color=a187be]"You can get a lot of mosquitoes in the Japanese countryside,"[/color] Shizuka added, [color=a187be]"Probably because of all the rice fields."[/color]  When Alban mentioned how American's thought frog legs and sushi were gross, she replied, "I think it comes from a culture of plenty.  I think only civilizations that have truly suffered can really appreciate just how much of the natural world is edible, and how much of nature's bounty can be found in seemingly unlikely places.  I hope that doesn't sound weird."

After Alban described his 'nationality', Shizuka said, [color=a187be]"Having lived in three different countries sounds like quite the life experience.  I've only ever lived in Japan, and even then, just a small part of it.  Still, it's amazing how much our nation has to offer in spite of its small landmass."[/color]  But then the pianist approached and said something in French before playing a lovely tune.  Confused, Shizuka turned to Alban, [color=a187be]"What did he say?"[/color]  She was pretty happy to be immersed in a different culture, and awaited Alban's translation.

In response to Alban's question about herself, Shizuka said, [color=a187be]"Me? Oh, I'm not nearly as interesting.  I'm just an average person, I do what I'm supposed to... My parents live in a smaller town out in the country.  I'm an only child.  Other than work and school, I usually read, I spend a lot of time buying groceries and cooking for my roommate and myself.  I also recently picked up a new hobb..."[/color] Shizuka fell silent.  She wasn't sure if she wanted to talk about Wizardry: The Collective to a recent acquaintance.  She was afraid it would make her seem juvenile.  [color=a187be]"Wh-what about you?  What do you do for work?  What do you do for fun? Do you go to school?"[/color] SHizuka asked, turning it around.