Not sure where this will go but it will be close to the beginning. Here we go:
Regal Altara sat in his cozy living room. He was lounging comfortably in a leather armchair. Alice, a long-time friend of his, sat directly across from him cross-legged on his sofa. Candlelight and two dimly lit lamps provided the right atmosphere for a relaxing read.
Alice was quietly enjoying a romance novel (they were popular among Zealonian females it seemed) and Regal was nose deep into an archaeological book published by one of his peers in Zeal, the continent's capital.
"Can you believe this?" Regal snarled. "Dalton actually gets published with theories like these! He doesn't deserve any credibility at all! I bet he couldn't even shed light on anything worthwhile in the field even if he used elite flame magic." Alice wasn't interested in archaeology like Regal was. He knew that. He also knew that she would feign some interest in support of him despite how dry she found it.
"Dalton again?" Alice said with a sigh. "Regal, let it go. Why do you need to have a pissing contest with the man? That is, unless, you're compensating for something..." The teasing was deliberate and expected though Regal was surprised that she was being even more sassy than she usually was. Regal and Alice were close and had a relationship akin to being brother and sister. The comment was meant to be comical and held no sexual conotations, despite its reference to his genetalia.
Regal ran a hand through his raven-black hair. "Of course not! The man just gets on my nerves."
"Then why don't you read something a little less dry for once! If you want I can run home and fetch you a romance novel," she said in a tone that told him she was all too pleased with how this teasing was going. In a sad way he would rather read a trash romance novel than put up with his trash Dalton book, although he would never admit that to her.
Regal got up and poured himself another glass of wine from the nearby table holding a decanter of red wine and some glasses. He turned his head towards her and then motioned to the wine bottle with it. She shook her head in response.
"How's your novel? Any better?" he asked, taking a gulp of wine when he was done speaking.
"A little cliche but good nonetheless."
"Well at least one of us is having a satisfying read," he said dryly.
Regal saw Alice glance at the wall. "It's getting late," she said as she shifted into an upright position.
"What? Already?" Regal asked, unable to hide his surprise. Normally Alice stayed over later than this.
"Yeah, mom wants my help with something she's preparing for tomorrow."
"Ah, all right. Well, as always, I enjoyed having you over. I'll be working in the ruin this week. Drop by if you've got nothing better to do."
"Okay, I'll do that," she replied in a chipper tone.
"Here, I'll walk you out," Regal said, motioning towards the door with his hands. It wouldn't be dangerous and Alice lived two houses down from him, but it was common courteousy to see a lady off when she was leaving. He saw her out, went back into the living room, downed his wine, poured another glass for himself to sip on, cursed Dalton, and sank into the armchair with book in hand before drifting off to sleep in the same chair.
