The sound of buzzing and low-level chatter assaulted her ears as she walked in. Always the same. Lan was usually in the corner inking someone with their meaningful wish. She snuck a look at who it was today. Was it the hippie from last week? She'd wanted something truly bizarre in elephants. The biker with the daschund? Not this time. A tall woman in a sports bra and long linen paisley print skirt was lying there while Lan did his magic. He was stretched over her torso, inking intently. The woman didn't make a sound, just practised a series of deep breathing. Moiraine could see delicate designs on her upper chest and shoulders already, wondered if he had done them as well. It looked in the same style. As she watched them, he stopped for a minute and they both stretched. He saw her and waved, the sight of him making her feel happier already. She approached her friend with his takeaway coffee and he drunk deeply, sighing with relief as the caffeine hit.

The woman adjusted her head under her arms and they resumed. She smiled up at Moiraine. She seemed calm and relaxed. Moiraine liked the look of her, the enviable composure, the watchful dark eyes. She had irrepressible dimples set in golden mahogany skin.

'Don't mind me, I sometimes creep on Lan's work' she said.

'Are you two…?' The woman gestured.

Lan laughed.

'Best friends since sixth form. We were the emos at the back of the classroom.'

The woman laughed.

'Sounds like fun.'

'We took our apprenticeships in the same college and that was that. She's stuck with me for life' he grinned.

'Flatmates?'

'For my sins' said Moiraine lightly. She didn't understand the phrase asuch but she'd heard people using it and she used it as a tool to blend in. She was terrible at small talk.

'Who hogs the milk?'

'Nobody, we have no milk. Lactose intolerant and picky' he pointed to him and then his flatmate.

'Early to rise?'

'Both of us. That's boring. But I'd always appreciate half an hour extra if it's going.'

'Favourite colour?'

He answered grey, she answered blue.

'And you?' Moiraine asked.

'I like blue. But right now I'm more obsessed with a shimmery champagne colour.'

They both looked at her scarf on the chair thrown on top of her shirt. Shimmery champagne. The shade made her glow. Very girly, not Moraine's style at all. Lan raised his eyebrows and got back to work but couldn't help observing that Moiraine was lingering a little more than she usually did.

'You guys can chat while I work. But don't make her laugh or you'll jog me.'

Moiraine thought that was easy enough. She was not known for making people laugh. She was staid and solemn. She looked at the other woman. She was sure she'd seen her somewhere before.

'Is smiling allowed?' Asked the woman teasingly.

'Go on then. But not too much.'

The woman's name was Siuan and they were surprised to find that she was the new mayor of the city. Now Moiraine remembered where she'd seen her face, in a recent article about eco friendly something or other. In the blurb she introduced herself and Moiraine had remembered that she had listed fishing as a hobby.

'Do you cook the fish you catch?' She blurted out.

Lan looked at her in confusion.

'In that article it said you liked fishing…'

Lan rolled his eyes and she could see what he was thinking. She had never been smooth on the dating scene and had sometimes found it too awkward to carry on a conversation. Siuan grinned.

'Of course. I can't promote eco friendly anything without proving it. I buy from the local fishmonger usually but if I do catch something, it's for my dinner.'

A beep emerged from Moiraine's rucksack and she checked her phone. A reminder for work.

'I've got to go.'

She walked away abruptly, thought better of it, wheeled around and tried to be normal.

'Will you be back again?' She chanced asking.

'Got my next session next Monday, first thing in the morning. Perhaps you'd like to bring me a coffee as well if you're joining? I'll give you the cash. That would be great.'

'Coffee? Would be great?'

'And company.'

Moiraine stared at her for a minute.

'Yours, your company' muttered Lan. 'She's talking about you.'

'Oh! Alright, see you next Monday.'

She strode out as Lan clicked his tongue and shook his head.

'Is she always like this?' Asked Siuan.

'Yes. She's a wonderful person but lacks social skills somewhat. I love her dearly and would save her from a whirlpool, a burning building or a vicious chihuahua. She needs a helping hand sometimes with society though.'

'So you'd die for this awkward human being?'

'If necessary, yes.'

'How are you not dating?' Mused Siuan.

'I'm not her type' he grinned.

Siuan wondered aloud at what Moiraine's type was. Lan grinned again.

'It's not easy finding the answer to that. It's the only thing she hasn't shared with me yet. But if you get an answer out of her, you're more her type than anyone I reckon.'

He observed that Siuan looked delighted.

'I shall look forward to that' she said.

Lan focused on the next pattern, thoughts whirring. He couldn't wait to tell Moiraine that she had a date next week. A second date, no less. Finally.