<span style="font-size: 15px">"When we were kids, my father would speak to us exclusively in French. He wanted us to learn the language so we could communicate with our grandparents They spoke English, but they didn't prefer it, so we spoke French to appease them. It did help when we visited the countryside, though. The farther you get from Paris, the less likely people are to speak English, so I guess it wasn't a complete waste. I read somewhere that being bilingual changes your brain; it alters the way you process information. I don't know how true that is, though."<br/>
<br/>
When Blue squeezed Eivind's hand, Eivind squeezed back, and the young man felt himself grow light and airy as their fingers stayed woven together.<br/>
<br/>
Eivind picked his brain about art, and Blue shrugged his shoulders and shook his head slowly, unsure of where to begin. "I don't remember not being an artist," Blue said, biting his lower lip as he delved inside of his own mind, searching for the catalyst which lead to Blue's love of artistic expression. "When I was little, I used to draw with whatever I could get my hands on. Pens, pencils, crayons, permanent markers, much to my parents' chagrin. Ketchup, one time, on the walls. They weren't too happy with that one. As I grew older, it transformed from just something I liked to do to something I <i>had</i> to do, whether I wanted it or not. Drawing and painting became a compulsion. Oftentimes, it was the only way I knew how to say something when my words failed me. If I had an idea in my mind, I could draw it better than I could ever describe it. If I wanted to tell someone how I felt, creating a picture was more effective than showering them with word vomit. Even knowing two languages, sometimes it's impossible to find the words to accurate convey the all the emotions swirling inside of me at any given moment. But I can always draw a picture."<br/>
<br/>
Blue took another sip of water as his lover probed at him again, but he certainly didn't mind. He laughed at the question, almost choking on his beverage and coughing momentarily before collecting himself. "I don't think you would have liked me very much," Blue replied gently, pushing his glass away. "I was awful. Very moody. I cried all the time unless I had something to distract me. I'm sure there were a few times my parents wanted to just 'accidentally' push me down the stairs and be done with me, I was just a little brat. Not much better when I was a teenager, either. Still moody, but then I had this cock that wanted to be satisfied all the time. Raging hormones and all that. I used to look at gay porn and jack off like crazy. Straight porn, too, actually. If you had met me when I was fifteen, I think I would have driven you crazy. No way you would have wanted me to be your mate." Blue smiled at his self-deprecation, but he truly did have to wonder what Eivind would have thought of him if they had found one another years before. Would the pull still have been as strong? It was genetic, wasn't it? So Eivind would have felt it regardless? It was impossible to say, and even if it wasn't, it didn't matter. Eivind had found him and they were here together, now, very different individuals from the idiots they once were.<br/>
<br/>
When the server returned, he poured a small taste of the Bordeaux wine into Blue's glass, allowing the young man to taste it before filling each male's glass respectively and leaving the bottle at the table. When he asked if they had decided, Eivind seemed a little lost, and Blue couldn't help but grin at his wolf.<br/>
<br/>
<i>"Nous allons commencer par le thon et le crabe, s'il vous plaît," </i>Blue said, staring down at the menu, analyzing it carefully until he found what made his mouth water the most.<br/>
<br/>
<i>"Savez-vous ce que vous souhaitez pour le dîner, monsieur?"</i><br/>
<br/>
Blue paused before answering. Eivind seemed so unsure about everything, but he could see the wolf was attempting his best to give off some semblance of civility. It melted Blue's heart to witness Eivind try engage in an experience so foreign to him. He couldn't imagine the wolf had ever before taken a love interest out on a fancy date before, but he was doing well, regardless. Instead of musing over the menu and wasting time, Blue decided he would order for both of them and hope Eivind didn't mind. He figured as long as his wolf was getting something bloody in his mouth, he'd be satisfied. <i>"Oui. Je vais avoir le filet mignon, il aura le ribeye. </i>Rare for both."<br/>
<br/>
<i>"Des côtés, monsieur?"</i><br/>
<br/>
<i>"Pour les côtés, pouvons-nous avoir les épinards? Nous aimerions également les macaronis au fromage et au homard."</i><br/>
<br/>
<i>"Oui, monsieur."</i><br/>
<br/>
<i>"Prenez votre temps, si possible. C'est notre première date. Nous serions très reconnaissants si nous pouvions l'apprécier à notre rythme."</i><br/>
<br/>
<i>"Je comprends, monsieur."</i><br/>
<br/>
<div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
<button class="bbCodeSpoiler-button button--longText button" data-xf-click="toggle" data-xf-init="tooltip" title="Click to reveal or hide spoiler" type="button"><span class="button-text">
<span>Spoiler: <span class="bbCodeSpoiler-button-title">Translation</span></span>
</span></button>
<div class="bbCodeSpoiler-content">
<div class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--spoiler">
<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">"We will have the tuna and the crab, please."<br/>
<br/>
"Do you know what you would like for dinner, sir?"<br/>
<br/>
"Yes. I will have the filet mignon, he will have the ribeye. Rare for both."<br/>
<br/>
"The sides, sir?"<br/>
<br/>
"For the sides, can we have the spinach? We will also like the lobster macaroni and cheese."<br/>
<br/>
"Yes, sir."<br/>
<br/>
"Take your time, if possible. This is our first date. We would be very grateful if we could enjoy it at our own pace."<br/>
<br/>
"I understand, sir."</div>
</div>
</div>
</div><br/>
When the server departed, Blue watched with curious eyes as he disappeared toward the kitchen. "I hope he got all that," he mumbled quietly. The boy must have been rather good at his job to remember all that without having to write anything down, but he was sure this was the type of restaurant that didn't hire absentminded high school students to wait on tables. Everyone on the menu was expensive, <i>quite</i> expensive, and in order to maintain an air of luxury, Christner's servers had to be the best. Blue accepted this without much deliberation, preferring to focus on the handsome man in front of him. It was certainly for the better.<br/>
<br/>
"No," he replied quickly, shaking his head and reaching for his glass of red wine. "Not that they were aware of, anyway. There was one time my ex and I went to a movie and when we were leaving the theater, we ran into my parents. At the time, they didn't know I was gay. The guy I was dating was older. Younger than you are, but maybe like seven years or something older than I am. He was this big guy, thick and muscular, you know? Tattoos, ripped jeans, whole bad boy persona going on. My dad had decided to take my mom out on a date, so they walked in right when my ex and I were leaving, and I had to write it off like he was just a friend. I could tell my dad was suspicious, because he was obviously older, but they didn't question it too much. Thankfully it was one of the few times my ex decided to not run his mouth.<br/>
<br/>
"Do you think if your dad was still alive, he'd approve of me? From what you've told me, it doesn't seem like he would be the biggest fan. A male human mate is probably the exact opposite of what he'd want for you, you being an alpha and all." Blue shifted in his seat as he sipped his wine, his fingers delicately handling the crystal glass. Although he felt guilty for thinking it, he was almost glad that his parents were the only ones they would have to contend with. The little information Eivind had provided made his father sound like a hard ass, someone who had high expectations and wasn't forgiving when his son deviated from his predestined path. Blue could only imagine how much Eivind's father would have hated him, thinking he was driving his son away from everything he was born to do. Had Eivind not given up on his alpha life long ago, Blue might have agreed with him.</span>