Sunsets and Cider (Raebeli)

[Tashe]

He didn't know when it had started, or how he hadn't noticed until now, but he knew exactly when he had realized it. Three days ago, in the midst of playing with Riaren in the infirmary, the councilman had looked up and spotted her flitting around teaching the apprentices. Everything seemed to click into place. The catalyst was unknown. Perhaps it had been the year they'd spent apart, or perhaps it was because of the barely four year old boy he'd been stacking blocks with... either way, the Councilman suddenly saw Raebeli in an entirely different light. Sure he'd always liked her... the Greenrider was a friend, a close one too because he'd continued to call her meadowlark from time to time after their very first conversation... but it wasn't until that very moment he realized... he liked her more than a friend. Which lead the poor man to quickly seal himself up in his office until the shift change, where he could scamper off and think about what the heck he had felt back there. A sleepless night, a day of keeping himself busy and a rash decision later he'd tacked a letter to her door. And got a surprisingly quick response, although it had felt almost agonizing to a uncharacteristically nervous.

So here he was, two days later and still about as nervous as a Weyrling on their first jump Between. He'd never... asked someone out on a date before. Actually, come to think of it, he'd never been on a real 'date'. It had always been a straight but spontaneous run around the bases. E'rro made a face. He didn't want that to happen... well if it happened it did, but he wasn't going to initiate. He just wanted... a date. "I'm insane. I've caught some sort of terrible disease that's made me act like a looby and soon I shall regress into some horrible blubbering fool." I find no madness in you. You Ermine, are just worried. E'rro grumbled something about madness and his dragon not being able to sense it cause he was mad too. Sitting down he pulled on his comfortable brown boots, tucking his black trousers into them. Standing up he looked in his mirror before turning to the quiet youngster who'd been sitting on his bed. "Do I look silly?"

The boy's green eyes flicked over him as he fidgeted with his mossy green shirt. "Nope. 'ro looks nice. Where you going?" Hearing that from Riaren settled most of his jumpy nerves, he crossed over and picked the young boy up. "Out with a ladyfriend, kiddo." "Like Teri?" The Brownrider chuckled. "Sorta. Alright lets get you back to M'ta... ah, ah, ah. No I can't take you with me. Maybe next time. Don't tell M'ta yet, I want to tell him. Promise?" The boy nodded and laid his head on E'rro's shoulder. It didn't take them long to traverse the corridors to his friend's Weyr, he handed the boy off with another rushed if not very vague explanation of why he can't go to dinner with them then scampered off before the other Brownrider could wheedle any information from him. He'd tell M'ta, eventually... just, he wanted to see if the evening worked out or crashed and burned in a spectacular fashion.

You'll be early. I don't care... waiting is making me antsy. Has Naura... Yes the cook has got it well in hand. Don't worry. More of his nerves chilled out. The walk from his living quarters to the appointed meeting tree gave him enough time to cast about him at least a semblance of his usual relaxed composure. It would have to do. Like Ismaroth said, he was early, which gave him a few minutes to spare. Lifting his two pinkie fingers to his mouth, he whistled a specific tune and waited for the response. He'd begun to think Thross was out of range when the large white male came sweeping down towards him. Offering his hand he caught the Razerclaw with a /much/ practiced motion (as the names implied, the birds talons were vicious), stroking the happy male he leaned against the tree to wait.

[Lotty]

Thankfully, the majority of ears open for the mindhealer's little chitter chatter belonged to men.... er well boys anyway, and they made for horrible gossip partners to squeal excitedly with. As this was, she was left relatively quiet about her impending rendezvous with the infamous brownrider of the infirmary; conversation was limited to Quixoth who, as her most faithful of companions, was going to listen whether she liked it or not. The enthusiastic bounce to her voice though, that was enough to tip off to Raebeli that her green was at least mildly interested as she carried on talking through the centuries old primping process of a girl readying herself for a date. Pinning up a slip of chocolate tresses, the woman turned away from her mirror to the couch where her dragon had laid, asking with some degree of naivete, "Do you think this looks ok?" She thumbed at the loose half sleeve of the rather oversized white blouse. It wasn't exactly easy to be fashionable when most of your wardrobe was left in the virtual vault created by the earthquake, but who had time to complain when you made it out with your life?

Quixoth crooned softly, You look lovely as always... I am still not sure why you are so concerned... It was not as if the dragon had not thought this one out. For all of the advice that her rider gave others, it made it that much more rewarding when she could bestow some right back, You get covered in messes and smell of redwort in the sick place. That didn't deter the original note. Besides, no male is worth your time if he only cares about your appearance... Raebeli couldn't help but giggle at Qui's insistence. Such the little feminist she was sometimes, "But it does help. Dressing nice shows that you tried and therefore care."

You seem to care very much then... the little jade colored one twitched her tail back and forth as she gave Rae another look up and down. The woman by now had returned to her vanity as to paint her lips in a soft pink, Plus your skirt is pretty, but that touch will be for naught if you are late. There was a final clattering of bottles and hairbrushes against a mirrored tray, and the mindhealer floated away in airy steps to wish her farewells to the weyr's residents, "Ah but for girls, it is good to keep a date waiting just a little bit..." she knew the statement went against the green's better senses, but said it nonetheless with a gentle caress over Quixoth's eyeridge, followed by an even quicker peck of the lips. A shiny flash of pink rubbed off onto the near white hide in excess, Good luck Raelove, though you hardly need it. Passing through the door Rae waved, "Thank you dear," a glance was thrown Cap'n's way, "Be a good boy won't you?"

Passing through the halls there was a strange fear that she might get lost in this maze despite the few months that had passed since moving in, but the slight panic at least informed her that this was real. More than once she considered the thought that she had made much more of E'rro's letter than he even intended, and even in her preparations she paused on occasion to entertain the idea that she might actually have been getting dressed up to do nothing more than discuss some infirmary business with an esteemed colleague. Instinct or perhaps desire overrides all however, and she ultimately decided to take some joy in the idea of a date. As unexpected as it was, it most definitely was welcomed, since the sight of rekindled relationships alighting all around her took a toll on her romantic - if slightly lonely - heart. Childhood dreams were smashed just a little the older she got, but the mystery of E'rro's affinity for her pried open room to breathe that much more. In fact, as she weaved her way out into sight of that tree where the brownrider waited, she felt her heart try and flutter away just a bit.

Within speaking distance she approached, eyes quickly taking in the sight of the other, his new pet included, "My don't we look handsome..." it was a knee jerk reaction really, and she blushed upon processing how embarrassingly forward she must have sounded, saving herself by twisting the comment into a joke, "Such pretty white feathers.... E'rro you look quite smashing yourself..."

[Tashe]

Thross made a churring noise when his Human looked away from him, tilting his head before shifting to look at whatever it was. E'rro had heard someone approaching before he saw them, his training had their common place moments, listening to the rustle of movement until the person appeared. The councilman pushed off the tree as a smile touched his face. She showed up! Deep down he feared Raebeli would change her mind, the last year had changed him emotionally making him more open, but she didn't know that. She probably still remembered him as the aloof person he'd been. "If he could understand, I'm sure his ego would be brimming. This is my Razorclaw Thross. Thross, Raebeli. Friend." The male shifted and chirped, the friend command was one of the first he had learned and the one he remembered the best. This person wasn't to be hurt. "I'd let you pet him, but he prefers to see a person a few times before they touch him, otherwise he nips." Bouncing his hand twice he tossed the Razorclaw into the air, letting the bird fly to where ever he wanted, then met Raebeli half way.

"You look very nice." Flicking his hands together, he made a small orchid appear. It was one of the star shaped yellow ones, the flowers that had the thin red lines crossing like veins over their petals. It had been an afterthought, and it was one of the only pretty, non-poisonous flowers he'd managed to find in the time between both of their arrivals. E'rro showed it to her, made it disappear, then reappear when he reached up and tucked it in her hair. He hoped she didn't find the tricks silly, he wasn't very good at any flashier 'magic' than slight of hand, but still... He thought it was a nice touch? "I fear it doesn't do you justice." E'rro dropped his hand so that he could offer her his arm. "Shall we? The watch heights are a little ways away, I hope you don't mind." He waited for her to either accept his arm, or hand (which ever she preferred), before guiding their walk to one of the pre-cleared trails.

In truth, for first few minutes he honestly couldn't think of anything to say. The Brownrider's mind kept jumping back to work, something he didn't want to talk about. They had enough time during the day to speak of such things, it didn't need to spill into after hours. Simple... easy... "How was your day today? I hope you weren't too busy..." He'd feel bad if he'd taken her away from something important, but then again as Ismaroth told him, a little selfishness was okay once in a while. "And Quixoth, how is she?"

[Lotty]

Raebeli didn't think her expression could warm any further, but there was, she noticed, a touch of heat where the blood had rushed to her face. Nonetheless she waggled her fingers in a greeting to the razorclaw, nearly moving to pet the critter before she was advised not to. Habit she supposed it was, since touching Cap'n was so common place to her, but nonetheless she understood, "Oh... I see," she said dropping her hand a little and biting her lip as the bird bounced off of E'rro's arm and into the great blue yonder, "Cap'n can be that way sometimes... and I hear there are firelizards and mandyrs and what have you that are picky about being touched. I probably shouldn't be sticking my fingers where they can get bit..." Cue a sheepish look of innocence, she suddenly remembered that the brownrider wasn't the most receptive to touch person either.

But then, before she could drown herself in any sort of devastation over perceived social faux pas, the rider produced before her eyes a most lovely yellow orchid. It took just about everything for her not to squeal, but there was no way to confine the ohhhh and ahhh that factor that escaped. Impressed she was by his magic trick, but didn't dare ask him how he pulled it off, even as he performed a vanishing act with the flower seemingly re-materializing in her very hair. It was against the rules for magicians to give up their secrets anyway, so it would be a fruitless quest for truth. Instead she was going to bask in the mystery and in the flattery he served her as well, "Oh ho... why thank you..."

She linked her arm in his, finding herself to be incredibly speechless, which was a rarity to say the least. Perhaps it was because she took her analytical healer cap off and just enjoyed being a girl, or maybe it was because she was so confounded by the date already that her brain was broken. After all, she had never expected that E'rro of all people would present himself as so charming, at least not after assuming that she had been annoying him for all those turns that she followed around and questioned him in the old Sel infirmary. It seemed her assumption was just wrong. Just went to show that the mindhealer couldn't be right about everything, "It was nice enough. A good day away from the infirmary. I spent it arranging my room, since I hadn't a chance for such silly girly things since arriving." She fell into step, taking a glance around them before continuing, "Quixoth is good though... all kinds of curious about you. She was my adviser today. Demanding that I not be late to meeting you..... how is Ismaroth?"

[Tashe]

"Ahh, yes. You'll have to excuse the stark order in which the room were. The decision to offer assistance was... quick in the making." And it had indeed been. E'rro at first had been against the joining of the Weyrs, his own personal bias holding him back. Eventually he had given in, and even if he hadn't, the council would have probably out voted him anyway. Tucking his free hand into his pocket, he listened to Raebeli talk of her Dragon. "That's right, Ismaroth and I have never met Quixoth. I'd almost forgotten that. Ismaroth and I must come pay our respects sometime soon." The last Turn had been rough after all. "I had an adviser too but he's about fifty times smaller," He motioned to around his knee, "And a little more human than Quixoth." The Councilman smiled. "Riaren, the boy who I come to the infirmary with occasionally. For a four year old, he has some surprising insights... and Ismaroth is doing well. He is not terribly happy about the merger of the two Weyrs, he is still healing from our last encounter with the Sweeps." Breaking up scar tissue on a Brown's abdomen muscles wasn't the least painful thing in the world. "He is happy though, to be reunited with friends. Such as Dsoleth and Behruth." He supposed that his Dragon's feelings mimicked his own in a few but vital ways.

A flash of white at the corner of his eye cause him to stop and look, with a smile he pointed as Thross and Echo swooped by. "Look, they must be on their way to their familial nests." E'rro began moving again, happy to switch touchy topics to one that was more enjoyable. "You see, Razorclaws live in colonies. And each colony has genetic markings, so normally you can tell colonies apart just by looking at them. Thross, Echo, and all of the Razorclaws you see with people in Burimyu... er, Selenitas belong to the same family. Brown, white and silvery grey are their marking traits." The Brownrider glanced at Raebeli, hoping he wasn't boring her with his chatter. "But I suppose the most interesting thing about them, is that they bond to people. Not in the same way as, lets say a firelizard does, but I know where Thross is and he knows where I am. Its very light. We speculate that the families have strong social bonds because of that ability."

He picked a leaf as they walked, twirling it between his thumb and forefinger as if the spinning motion would distract time. Carrying a conversation was hard when you were trying your darnedest to not look like a fool. "So..." He started then stopped, the thought slipping away from him. Quickly he scrambled to find anything to fill in the blanks, ending up half way blurting something out. "I'm glad you decided to um... join me this evening. Even with your note, a little part of me thought you might not come." He flicked the leaf into the foliage. "We've not seen each other for more than a Turn and the combination of Weyrs has been hectic... I must have thought you'd think me silly for asking."

[Lotty]

Snorting she immediately dismissed E'rro's concerns of the rooms, "Its not a big deal really," she began, "it was much more important that you guys came and saved us you know..." the woman gave her companion a sly look, playfulness leaking into the sing-song lilt of her voice, "because I'm sure you realize, had you all not, then we definitely would not be on our little walk right now." Raebeli took this as an opportunity to lean into the brownrider, daring him to think of the possibility that he very well could have been stuck in a half staffed infirmary without anyone other than the other exiles. Maybe it was a show of arrogance on her part, but she could hardly see the advantages to a big empty weyr without the warmth of friends.

"Anyway, I'm sure that Quixoth would appreciate that. She does enjoy the company..." trailing off she listened to the healer talk about Riaren, the poor little boy that had been left orphaned after Meira's unfortunate end. She supposed however that orphan wasn't the most apt term, since the kid was hardly abandoned when he was doted on and watched with special interest by just about everyone from the weyr, but nonetheless, "That's cute! The mysterious and dashing councilman of lore getting tips from a little boy..." her eyes fluttered, "I think its rather adorable honestly." She saved him any further embarrassment by directing her sights to the line of razorclaws passing. Interesting notion... the ideas he was throwing at her with the bonded and such.

"Makes sense.... I take it you guys have watched them for some time... are there other little colonies around?" She knew a thing or two about sitting around and watching people or in this case animals. After all she used to always have her eye on E'rro, if only to try and figure him out.

And then a lull hit the conversation as they naturally were wont to do. While the moment of quiet didn't bother her any, she couldn't exactly speak for him, and she glanced over to notice the man twirling the leaf in his fingers in a moment of near reservation before flooring her with what he said next. It immediately inspired a little laugh from the woman and yes, one of her more endearing snorts to go with it, "Well I did think you silly, not for asking but how you asked," she tightened her grip just a little lest he think that she might have been rejecting him, which couldn't be further from the truth, "I'm glad that I came too, I wouldn't imagine leaving you hanging, unless I had a really really really super duper important reason. But yeah, I think you are a bit of a goof for being so formal...'E'rro of Ismaroth'..." she mimicked the sign off, attempting to deepen her voice into a lower register. The result was questionable, "Luckily I like goofs."

[Tashe]

E'rro, confined to walking, took to running a hand through his rather shaggy hair awkwardly when she mentioned liking goofs. "I'll let you in on a little secret. When I get nervous, I go formal like. " His hand dropped to the back of his neck. "Its a throwback, I suppose, to my Benden days." The Brownrider shrugged, then smiled. ""I've never really asked someone out on a... date before. So I'm happy that only something really, really, really, super duper important would have prevented you from coming." Turning, he picked out a path and lead the way down it, noting as the ground began to incline slightly. "And sort of. The next nearest colony is a few miles away. They have territorial boundaries." Reaching up, he moved a low hanging vine to the side so it wouldn't slap him in the face as he passed by it. He spoke of a few simple things like how the weather around Burimyu was pretty different than the climate around Old Selenitas. How they even got snow in the winter. Tried to entertain Raebeli with various facts about the thinning jungle around them, even stopping a few times to show her a pretty plant or interesting creature. All the while leading the way closer to the watch heights, he wanted to make it there before the sun set.

"Look, we're almost there." E'rro paused at the bottom of the path to glance at Rukbat. The trail itself was thin, though it was possible for two people to walk abreast, it was a tight squeeze. Motioning with his hand for the Greenrider to go first, he waited until she started moving to follow her. He couldn't help but watch her, not like his surroundings held any sort of interest for him, he'd walked this way hundreds of times. It was then he realized he'd never really, truly looked at her. Yeah he could practically tell you how many freckles she had on her face or her hair or eye color, since they'd worked together for such a long time, but about other aspects... he was not so well versed. Catching up to her so he could walk right behind her shoulder, E'rro occasionally snuck glances just to make sure she wasn't tiring of his company.

When they reached the top of the heights, he waved to the Bluerider who had the evening watch. The rider raised a hand in greeting then flashed him a hand signal, before the bluepair took off to settle on another tier of stone. Giving the couple a sense of privacy without ditching his duty. "Over here." Taking Rae's hand he pulled her gently over to a place where the floor met a cliff face, it was also where two baskets (one small and one bigger) and a folded blanket rested. "I hope you like picnics. I thought we could have dinner out here, it has a great view of Rukbat setting." Realizing he still had her hand in his, the Brownrider gave it a small squeeze before letting it go so he could unfold the blanket. Which turned out to be two blankets, he hadn't planned on the second one... but he could guess what it was for. Naura had thought of something he hadn't. If they stayed out there until night, it would provide some warmth if they got cold. Putting that one aside, he set the other blanket up for them to sit on. "Would you like to help set the 'table'?" He smiled, pulling the larger basket onto the blanket beside him.

[Lotty]

Formal when nervous? As easily as she could try and give him some scholarly answer as to why he did that or how to cure it, she was much more content with thinking nothing of it at all. Besides, really, how cute was that? Going into formalities was much better than her condition where she would light up her cheeks with a rosy red and a hopelessly persistent set of giggles. People only thought that meant she was a little bit off her rocker. Luckily enough however, Raebeli was not the type to have such anxiety very easily... or rather she didn't have to engage in many activities that sent her into jitters. As long as she was in the infirmary, she was very much within her own environment.

Speaking of the environment..

She took a gander around, spotting the various little flowers and plants that E'rro began to point out along the way. It was of course to her, like their own personal trip through a botanical garden, and tried her best not to reach forward and try to figuratively and literally stop to smell the roses. Instead she shifted her walk - proper since the trail had pulled too narrow to huddle up side to side - as not to linger behind and gave one last good look at the vivid purple orchids and the sights of many colored darters flapping about from branch to branch. In dainty little steps she, upon the brownrider's motions, moved forward ahead of him to boldly go up the thin trail to the heights. She didn't really know what to expect, and of course kept walking, stepping up and over tree roots that had grown out into the dirt path, thanking the heavens she wore a sturdy pair of shoes, and assuming that the sight would just present itself and she would know.

Pushing with one hand she freed a verdant tree limb from blocking her vision before stepping out into the clearing and catching the sights with an, "Oh wow..." Really she shouldn't be so surprised by panoramic views anymore. She after all could ride a dragon, it wasn't like she had never seen the world from up high, but still. The vast scenery was always so much more impressive on one's own two feet. It had a way of making a person feel small. But in a good way she supposed.... Tagging along with her hand in his, she came upon the blankets and baskets, somehow containing herself from an excited sounding 'eep' noise when his gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. As he went to set up, Raebeli stood awkwardly for a moment, deciding exactly how she could help the process along when she noticed the second blanket and grinned before deciding to keep even the most innocent comments to herself.

"I love picnics..." she replied. The last one she had been on was with Dmitri and that was all the way back when Quixoth was still a weyrling. Frankly she was long overdue for one. Stepping onto the blanket and crouching down to sit, she immediately went for the smaller basket, opening up a flap to begin setting out the spread that could be found within. Honestly as it was, she wasn't paying all that much attention to what she had in hand at any moment or where exactly she was settling it on the blanket, instead tilting her head ever so lightly as to catch glances of her companion, "Who made all this food? Don't tell me you have other secret abilities? Pernese Champion chef?" He was full of surprises so who knew?

[Tashe]

"Oh didn't you know? Apart from being a Healer I was trained by a master cook who taught me all of her secrets." He began to chuckle as he took a covered glow out of the bigger basket and set it down near the edge of the blanket. "Alas, no. I can boil water, add dried soup rations to that water and roast meat over a fire. But that is pretty much the extent of my cooking abilities." Reaching over he nicked a napkin and a plate from the blanket and handed them to Raebeli. "The real culprit for this food is Nora, Wherhandler Nautic's mother. Lets just say, I missed the Selenitas cooks when we were exiles. We had 'mae but she was only one woman." After handing her a cup and silverware, he looked down and began pointing at the foods. "Now lets see... that looks like wherrie with tubers, fish with white grain, greens with berries and..." He picked up a bowl and inspected it. "I'm not sure what this is, but, I bet its good. And I think..." He put it down before looking in the big basket, "Ah. Here." The Brownrider pulled out two small bottles. "Looks like wine and juice. Which would you like?"

He poured for her when she chose, then poured a glass of wine for himself. E'rro also waited for Raebeli to pick what she wanted to eat before he served himself. Pushing a bit of Wherrie around on his plate before eating it, the Rider shifted to a more comfortable position. "So... I know Raebeli the Mindhealer. But who I've got an unfortunate lack of knowledge, is the Raebeli outside of the Infirmary." Brown eyes traveled from his plate to her face with a smile. "And it wouldn't be fair if I end up asking all the question, so how about this. What if you asked two questions, then I ask two and then repeat? At least until Rukbat starts setting."

[Lotty]

Rae was still impressed that E'rro even knew how to mix up a package of dried soup. Little did he know how horribly bad she was at all things cooking related. Hopefully that wouldn't be a deal breaker for him, because she was going to be sure to let him know right away how horrible she was at this whole fire plus water thing, "I'm going to be greedy and say its a small blessing that we kept most of our cooks after the invasion. If our occupiers thought that I could fend for myself then we would have all been in trouble. I've caught water on fire before," seriously though, and she doubted she would ever live that down despite follow up attempts to better herself. There was for instance that sketchy looking pasta she made. The cheesy macaroni thing didn't look good in the least, but wouldn't you know it, it was at very least edible.

"Nautic is a sweetheart though, and I can't help but think then that everything from his mother must be good," she took the plate and silverware then and scanned the spread around her. Picking out the greens and berries first, she glanced up to consider the question of what to drink. Wine or juice? Well, she wasn't the biggest drinker in the world, but then she couldn't reject wine if it was offered to her. It was an awfully nice dinner after all and it just seemed appropriate. After a moment she decided, "I'll take some wine thank you..." it wasn't like she would make a fool of herself right? There certainly wasn't enough in one bottle for the two of them to get anything but a bit of a rosy face. Right?

Right?

She was just going to have to take her chances since the words have already been said. Turning now to finagle some fish and grains onto her plate, visibly stopped and lit up with the proposal of playing twenty questions. Oh my! What a fantastic idea! With her eyebrows arched high into clear excitement the woman replied, "I think that's marvelous! Do I get to start then?" How tricky, she wasn't sure what to ask exactly... at least what she could ask that didn't come off completely cliche. It was then with some muted struggle that she asked, "So then, who else have you ever taken out for sunset picnics? You just seem so good at it..." it was a tease more than a genuine question and with the flutter of her lashes added, "I'm just giving you a hard time, you don't have to answer that one," nor was she entirely sure she wanted to know. It would be awkward if he suddenly managed to run down a long list of others.

"What do you do for fun outside of the infirmary then? Well when you get the chance. It's awfully busy being in charge of that and a wing..."

[Tashe]

When the mention of catching water on fire came up, E'rro moved his leg so that his resting arm would block some of his amused smile from his date. "I didn't know that was possible. Perhaps you should have been awarded something like... achieving the improbable metal." Putting a fork through some wherrie, he dipped it in the salad sauce before taking a bite. E'rro literally took a moment to savor the taste. After an entire turn living on stolen foods and simple diets, one learned to never take for granted seasoned cooking again. "Mmm, well, I can't say I know Nautic well. Didn't have much to do with him before the take over. But Nora, I know. If the Handler is anything like his mother I'm sure 'sweetheart' is probably the correct verbage for him." This of course was said between bites of wherrie.

Putting his plate down so he could take a sip of his wine the Brownrider was glad to see that Raebeli was up for his little game. Farnath only knows it would have been awkward if she hadn't, though, she was a Mindhealer who used to try and weasel things from his past when they were younger... so the agreement wasn't totally a surprise in the making. Settling himself so that he was half laying on the blanket, E'rro swirled the contents of his cup as he thought about the first question, smiling slightly from the memory. "Well... one. Enlara, I suppose, though it was more like I took her food since young folk cant leave Benden once you're there." He paused and took a sip before continuing. "Other than that its been skip the picnics and straight to dessert." She'd catch his meaning.

On to her second question. "Life outside the infirmary? Is there such a thing?" He laughed. "Lets see...when I manage to squeeze a few candle marks to myself during the weekday... I enjoy reading, chess, hiking... spending time with Riaren... hmm... bothering my friends if they're not to busy to be bothered and... napping. Ah yes, napping. Preferably by a fire if its cold or by blossom lake if its warm." He used his fingers to tick the activities off as he said them. E'rro put down his glass so he could prod around on his plate for more food. After a few bites he wiped his mouth and glanced at the Greenrider. "Hmm. Favorite type of candy and why, and what do you like to do outside of your own infirmary -and riding- duties? "

[Lotty]

Raebeli began digging into her food, though not without some trouble. Rice was always tricky, and this now marked the 100th or so time she wondered why people didn't just use their hands to eat the stuff. The little grains just kept rolling off of her fork to the point where her plate that was once perfectly divided into individual side dishes mixed together into a big glob. But hey, it didn't matter too much right? She was still eating it, and it was all going to go to the same place... washed down by the sips of wine she was taking. Sips that were turning into more liberal gulps on account of how good it was. Faintly, already, she felt a tinge of heat on her cheeks, though if it was from the wine or just her company in general was yet to be decided.

With a bit of surprise she listened to him explain that he had taken this Enlara on a picnic before as well. It was oddly comforting to say the least to hear him answer her question despite the fact that she really was just prying and he hadn't a real reason to expose this particular part of himself. Maybe it was just a resounding show of trust and honest or something. Especially when he threw out that little bit of innuendo that even Raebeli couldn't miss, and thanks to the wine, she openly responded to it, throwing a hand up to cover her face as she laughed with bursts of uncontrollable snorts. She saw what he did there with the straight to dessert thing, and she limp wristedly swatted at the air between them, "Oh E'rro, putting your hand right into the cookie jar? You naughty boy..." It was a bit more forward of a comment than usual but... when in Rome.

Calming herself down by way of taking another bite or two of food, she listened to the man's list of favorite activities and nodding in confirmation of the wonder of naps, "Naps in hammocks are good too.." a silly comment that just kind of sat by itself, abandoned in favor of answering the questions posed to herself. They weren't ones that required much thought on her behalf and she was happy to blurt out, "Caramels. The sugary little rock candies you can get on a stick are good too. But I like the caramels because they melt in your mouth," she paused, took a drink and continued, "As for things I like to do... welllllll. I like to collect stuff. Knick-knacks. I go to gathers a lot and haggle just because I know I can. I also like making crafty stuff. I guess it goes with collecting useless things though... but yeah I can knit a little bit. Things like potholders for the kitchens. It's the least I can do because I can't cook at all. Oh and I guess like you I like hiking, but I never have anywhere real to go, so I guess its more like wandering."

Which could get a person in trouble in a place like this, but she didn't seem too concerned, "Alright, my turn again. First, what is your favorite season? Second, if you were stranded on a desert island, and could only take three things with you... what would you take.... and saying you would take Ismaroth with you so that you can escape doesn't count."

[Tashe]

He shrugged with a small smile and took a moment to eat more of his food after asking his questions. Putting down his almost cleared plate to pick up his glass E'rro carefully swirled his wine as he listened to Raebeli. He filed the information on the candy away, hoping that he'd get the chance to use it later. The councilman took a sip of his wine. "Well then, I'll have to show you a few of the trails around here." Picking up a small vegetable he rolled it between his fingers as he thought. "Winter... at least at Burimyu. Its snows here. But back at old selenitas it was spring, because it wasn't as cold as winter or as hot as the summer." E'rro popped the vegetable into his mouth, giving him time to think about the next question.

"No Isma huh? Well lets see. It'd have to be a knife, flint, and... hmm..." What would be the third thing? "And a small pot. Small round pots are just as good for digging as they are for cooking." Grinning, he sat up and glanced at Rukbat noticing it was quickly sinking. Putting his empty plate in the larger basket, he cleared the other plates that were practically cleaned of food and moved the ones that still had food on them so he could sit right next to the Greenrider. Pulling the towel of the glowlight he folded it and draped it over the bigger basket. "Look Rukbat's going to set soon." Settling down so his back rested against the rock, E'rro pulled the knee farthest from Rae up so he could rest the corresponding arm on it.

"Sunsets or Sunrises? And... If you could have one wish, what would it be?"

[Lotty]

Sunset indeed, and after the initial flush of nerves that came with the brown rider edging closer to her, Raebeli couldn't help but do her part to squish in closer too. She rather liked to warmth of another person after all, and after pushing aside her own dinner plate took the liberty of leaning into him as close as she could in good conscience. Her hands for their part found rather innocent places to rest, on of them picking a spot near his lowered knee and the other resting in her own lap, fingers still curled around the stem of an emptying wine glass. Settling, she pondered her answer before she replied, "Sunsets... you get to see the stars come out," there was a demure smile before she craned her neck to get a good look at E'rro, "of course it also helps that I am sharing a sunset with a certain somebody..."

Now for a wish. She could go for something like world peace, but that seemed smarmy, not to mention a waste of a perfectly good opportunity. Oh she was pretty sure she had the perfect one up her sleeve, and the fact that she was drinking may just have bolstered her enough to actually ask for it. After another spared second of watching her date's face be drenched in the rosy light of the setting sun, she brought her teasing hum to an end saying, "I wish... for a kiss," just a little one at least. Certainly she didn't need to be wowed, the guy already had managed to make a flower appear out of thin air.

[Tashe]

Lifting his arm as Raebeli snuggled closer, the Brownrider let it settle along her shoulders allowing her maneuver how ever she wanted to get comfortable. He watched the sky as his companion answered the first question, a smile filtering across his face when she implied he was that certain someone. "I enjoy them too, though, the secret optimist I am likes sunrise better... Because even the blackest night must end in dawn." Rukbat had touched the rim of the horizon and was now steadily sinking lower, washing them and the world in pinks and oranges. The white clouds now looked like an artists paint pallet, blazing with the reflections of the star's light. He was aware of the Greenrider staring at him, though he chose not to return her gaze, not all the little butterflies had flown away though most had a long time ago. E'rro was happy as they were, sitting there against the mountain. He was glad she was enjoying herself, and his company.

But, remember those butterflies? Yeah, about half of them returned when she revealed exactly what she'd wish for. Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to ask for wine as the drink companion to their dinner, even if it went well with the fish. He certainly hadn't been expecting to give her a kiss till the very end of the date at the least, if at all. Though, honestly, a part of him didn't not want to grant that wish. It took him a few seconds to gather himself before he shifted to see the Greenrider a little better. Hooking the side of a finger from his free hand under her chin, he leaned in a little closer. "I think I can manage that." E'rro gave a small, but cheeky half smile and closed the distance between their lips. Although a good part of his body was whining at him not to. 3 one thousands later, he pulled away slowly, glancing into her eyes as he drew back.

He hoped she really had wanted him to kiss her, and it hadn't been a failed judgment on his part...