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+---- Thread: picnicking you (/showthread.php?tid=12620)
picnicking you - Sohalia - 03-13-2026
The day - at least so far - was sunny, though the perpetual mist surrounding the Barrows refused to burn off. After a quick stop at a coffee shop, a bakery, and the House of Midnight (for Soh to change into fresh clothes), the couple wandered towards the Barrows, searching for what Soh had deemed the perfect picnicking spot. She’d been to the Barrows before, and if she recalled correctly, there were nice spots intermingled with the graves and crypts… but unfortunately, she was having trouble remembering exactly where those nice spots were. Or maybe the fog was just making it difficult to traverse the terrain.
Soh had changed into a simple white t-shirt and a pair of shorts, opting for white tennis shoes to complete the look. She’d run a brush quickly through her hair and tied half back, leaving most of the length free to cascade down her back in gentle waves. Honestly, given that she’d showered without conditioner and slept on it wet, it looked better than it had any right to - and she thanked her lucky stars for that, given that she was on a date.
She carried a basket of food on one arm and the remnants of an iced coffee in her other hand. Given that she hadn’t eaten much of her eggs that morning, she was starving, so she hoped they found a nice spot soon.
They crested a small hill (which Soh hoped very much was not actually a crypt) and she paused, gazing out over the Barrows. This wasn’t a half-bad view, although she’d have preferred it if the mist would dissipate. [say]”What do you think?”[/say] she asked Zavien with a smile. [say]”Is this spot okay, or should we keep looking?”[/say]
RE: picnicking you - Zavien - 03-13-2026
Having dressed in a new t-shirt and jeans, Zavien felt like a new man. The day was still young, the affection between them slowly growing, and he was on a date. It still felt weird to think about. He hadn't been on a date in well over a year and he couldn't seem to decide what to do with himself. Despite how natural it felt with Soh, caution laced his every move, wondering if the spell might break as quickly as dawn had.
As they'd walked through New Haven, he'd found himself debating whether to reach for her hand. They'd done so much more, but there was something different about doing it in the privacy of his home and doing it for all the see. It felt like Koa could appear at any moment, catching them in the compromising position of their hands interlocked. People were always watching, and he worried about what they might say or what they might ask, whether he was ready to announce this fragile relationship to the world, or risk people finding out about it before he had a chance to tell them.
But Zavien had said he wouldn't live in fear, and he had promised to make this work. It wouldn't be easy - but then it wouldn't be life.
So he'd grabbed her hand in the street, taking a deep breath before letting the stiff hold soften to something casual and natural. Then they'd worked their way through the various shops and errands, gathering the pieces for their picnic and giving Soh a chance to change into something more fitting of the colder weather - Leafchange had arrived in full force. He didn't release her hand until their arms were both full of coffee and bags. While she carried the food, Zavien had the blankets.
When she paused atop the hill, he looked out to the misty landscape. It certainly had the elevation for a view, although he wondered if the mist would dissipate when the sun strengthened, curious what it might be obscuring. But there were small dottings of flowers and gourds to decorate the hillside, and he hadn't come for the view anyways.
Smiling to Soh, he nodded his head. [say]"I think this spot will work."[/say] With the decision made, Zavien set aside his own coffee to start assembling the blankets among the grass, similarly hoping it wasn't a disguised tomb.
RE: picnicking you - Sohalia - 03-13-2026
There was something of a risk in going out in public. There was still so much they hadn’t discussed - like were they keeping this between them at this early stage, or were they ready to share it with the world? Soh didn’t much like the idea of keeping Zavien like a dirty little secret, but then, it wasn’t her best friend who might care about them being together. So she took his lead as they walked through New Haven, and was pleasantly surprised when he grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers with hers as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Soh’s heart soared and her cheeks reddened, because even though this was perhaps the tamest thing they’d done together, it was also a clear sign for all the world to see: she was his, and he was ready to claim her as such.
By the time they made it to the Barrows and their little hill, it was mid morning, and yet the fog showed no signs of lifting. Still, through the haze, she could see little dots of flowers and gourds, and the outline of tombs and crypts in the distance. Not, perhaps, the most romantic setting, but given what they had to work with, it could be worse.
When the blankets were assembled, Soh set down her basket and began to arrange the food options. There were mini quiches, muffins, scones, and other pastries - far more than they would probably be able to eat in one sitting, but perhaps that was a purposeful thing on Soh’s part given how little Zavien had seemed to keep stocked at home. To drink, she’d selected water and a few types of juices - and, of course, they had their coffees. By the time it was all set out, it was looking like quite the spread, and Soh grinned as she regarded it all.
[say]”I guess I never told you what kinds of food I like,”[/say] she commented as she sat down on the blankets, arranging herself so that when Zavien joined her, they’d be close enough to touch.
RE: picnicking you - Zavien - 03-13-2026
The spread was quite impressive. He almost wondered if Erika's spirit had inhabited them as they'd shopped, insisting that they needed more until it was enough to feed ten couples - and then some. At least they weren't without options. It would also give them plenty of sustenance to stay as long as they wanted without growing hungry, and insatiable dragons didn't eat it all. If they wanted, they could stay on the hillside until nightfall.
Zavien joined Soh on the blanket, his arm brushing her casually as he adjusted. His feet laid straight out in front of him while he lounged back, going so far as to prop on an elbow and grin up at her. [say]"You didn't."[/say] His eyes skimmed the display of foods. [say]"Should I guess which is your favorite?"[/say] Or would he be forced to hope that he didn't accidently eat it first?
RE: picnicking you - Sohalia - 03-13-2026
If Zavien suggested staying out here until nightfall, Soh certainly wasn’t going to complain. They clearly had enough food to last, and it was all comprised of items that wouldn’t go bad if they sat out for too long. Glancing from the food to Zavien, she openly admired him as he lounged, still marveling at the fact that he liked her. One of these days, she was going to have to ask him what had changed, and when - and if it had taken him as much by surprise as it had her.
Leaning back on her hands, Soh hummed thoughtfully. A gentle breeze wafted through, catching in her golden hair and tugging at where she’d tied it halfway back. [say]”Go ahead,”[/say] she said after a moment, grinning down at him. Why not make it a game and have a little fun with it? Fortunately, she truly wasn’t a picky eater, and there was plenty here to satisfy her between the quiches and the muffins and the scones.
RE: picnicking you - Zavien - 03-13-2026
Happy to play a game - even if there isn't a prize - Zavien leaned closer to inspect the options. [say]"Hmm... okay, let's see."[/say] He glanced up at her, back to the food, and up again, eyes playfully scrutinizing as he thought aloud. [say]"You picked chocolate ice cream, so I'm leaning towards something with chocolate in it..."[/say]
His head tilted, golden hair catching what little sunlight peeked through the mist. [say]"Could be a muffin, but..."[/say] Zavien pursed his lips, giving a doubtful shake of his head as he lifted his finger to drift over the options. He stole a glance at Soh, gauging for a reaction in her grey eyes. [say]"I'm going to guess... this one."[/say] His finger stopped, hovering over a chocolate croissant, smiling expectantly at her.
RE: picnicking you - Sohalia - 03-13-2026
Zavien’s reasoning was sound; Soh did love chocolate, and she had a bit of a sweet tooth. She watched, amused, as he looked between her and the food and back again. Something flickered in her eyes at the mention of muffins - truthfully, she could take or leave them - and he seemed to reconsider, eventually settling on a chocolate croissant.
[say]”Mm, so close,”[/say] she said. [say]”If I had to pick a favorite from what we have available, I’d pick the chocolate chip scone. But I do love a good chocolate croissant. I’m definitely a sweets for breakfast kind of person.”[/say]
Studying the spread, and glancing back to Zavien, Soh hummed thoughtfully. [say]”For you… given that eggs were one of the only things in your house this morning, I’d hazard a guess that you like them. But are they your favorite? “[/say] she mused. He’d also suggested the bakeries that they’d stopped at, which suggested that maybe a pastry… [say]”You picked orange ice cream, so maybe something with fruit… blueberry muffin?”[/say] she guessed at last, glancing curiously down at where he lay sprawled on the blanket.
RE: picnicking you - Zavien - 03-13-2026
He sighed dramatically at his failure, arm dropping to his side while he threw his head back like she'd wounded him. [say]"I was so close. Scone."[/say] His head shook back and forth, smirking as he pretended to beat himself up over the misstep. Perhaps he hadn't expected them to be so similar.
Zavien watched her closely, as if he could see her thought process if he looked close enough, impressed with the glimpse he saw. [say]"That was some good reasoning. You'd make quite the detective."[/say] But then he tsked his tongue disappointedly, his eyes showing mock hurt at her similar failure. [say]"You almost had it, but my favorite is..."[/say] he plucked a piece from the pile to show her as he said, [say]"also a scone."[/say] Grinning, he took a bite, humming his approval of the bright flavoring while he spoke around the mouthful to specify, [say]"A lemon blueberry scone."[/say] He raised a teasing eyebrow, offering Soh a bite of his pastry in case she wanted to see how great it was for herself.
RE: picnicking you - Sohalia - 03-13-2026
Soh’s lips twitched at Zavien’s dramatics, but she’d never had much of a poker face, and it wasn’t long before a smile split her face as she laughed. Then she reached out and patted his arm in mock consolation. [say]”It’s alright, you still have lunch and dinner and snacks and desserts to guess,”[/say] she said with a wink. [say]”Plenty of time for you to get one right.”[/say]
And then it was her turn to fail. Zavien had been closer to her favorite than she was to his, but she took the loss as gracefully as she could. [say]”A good choice,”[/say] she said seriously, gladly taking a bite from the offered pastry and then humming her approval of the bright flavoring. [say]”So good. Scones are just… the perfect breakfast food. Quick and easy to grab and go, and they taste amazing whether you have time to sit down and eat or not. And there are so many flavors!”[/say]
RE: picnicking you - Zavien - 03-13-2026
His theatrical skills had been practiced and honed by only the best of teachers: kids. It's why a smile was never far from his features, the dramatics loud and exaggerated for optimal laughter and childish giggles. He'd found that it often worked on adults as well as kids, although the younger generation had an easier time finding that belly laughter that felt like sunlight captured in a bottle.
Chuckling at her consoling, Zavien leaned into the slim hope she'd given me. [say]"You're right. There are so many more opportunities. I have to get at least one right."[/say] Ignoring the fact that the other meals weren't laid out on their blanket to narrow the options.
His eyes watched her take a bite of the scone, more invested in the shape of her lips than whether she liked the pastry. But he still nodded along, smiling at the way she exuded enthusiasm. It was adorable, and in that moment, he would have agreed with anything she said. [say]"I couldn't agree more."[/say]
He took another bite of the lemon blueberry scone, flashing her a charming smile before starting again. [say]"Lunch... Can I get a hint?"[/say]
RE: picnicking you - Sohalia - 03-13-2026
Unlike Zavien, Soh hadn’t spent much time around kids. As an only child, and then as a sheltered orphan thereafter, there hadn’t been much opportunity for her to do so. Her humor, then, was not quite as dramatic or theatrical, but rather honed by her friends over time. Still, there was a childish part of her that so enjoyed laughter and joy that it was not difficult to make her giggle - especially not when she was so relaxed, and her guard was down, and the person making her laugh was someone she cared for.
So if she was a little enthusiastic about her breakfast selection, it was only because she was well and truly living in the moment rather than worrying about what might come after.
Lunch, though, was a different matter entirely. There were days that she skipped it, and more often than not, her lunch, when she ate one, was simply comprised of leftovers from the night before. [say]”Hmm, that’s a tough one,”[/say] she said. [say]”Lunch is probably the most forgettable meal, in my opinion.”[/say] Thinking hard, she settled on her favorite. [say]”A hint… umm, sandwiches?”[/say] There, at least that narrowed it down… to some degree.
RE: picnicking you - Zavien - 03-13-2026
Zavien gaped at Soh's answer, trying not to be personally offended by her opinion. [say]"The most forgettable meal? It's the best opportunity to take a breather in the middle of the day! You get to break up the hard work with a hearty meal while chatting with friends or coworkers."[/say] Some of his best conversations had been over lunch.
But that was beside the point. He had a guess to win, and Zavien lifted his gaze to the misty skies as he gave it deep thought. [say]"Sandwiches..."[/say] Tuna seemed like a long shot, and Soh didn't strike him as the meatball sub kind of person. Something simpler... He looked sideways at her, puckering his lips as he guessed, [say]"Maybe turkey? With pickles? Or avocado?"[/say]
RE: picnicking you - Sohalia - 03-13-2026
Soh pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at Zavien’s outrage. [say]”Okay, okay,”[/say] she said, raising her hands in placating defeat. [say]”I guess I never thought about it that way. I always saw it as an interruption when I was working on something. But maybe I just needed a different perspective.”[/say]
Smiling, she watched as he seemed to give the matter a moment of deep thought. To her surprise, he was close again, despite having very little information to go on. [say]”You’re not wrong about the turkey,”[/say] she said with a smile. [say]”Although I’m not big on pickles. My favorite lunch is probably a monte cristo.”[/say] Turkey, ham and cheese, fried in batter and served dusted with powdered sugar and a side of jam… just thinking about it made her hungry, so she grabbed her own scone and took a bite.
[say]”What about you?”[/say] she asked when she’d swallowed. [say]”Can I get a hint?”[/say]
RE: picnicking you - Zavien - 03-13-2026
When she smartly decided to retract her statement, Zavien narrowed his eyes in mock threat, his hand raised to point an accusing finger at her. [say]"I'm going to make you love lunches."[/say] Even if he had to personally be at every one. Maybe he'd bring her favorite sandwich to sweeten the deal - if he could figure out what it was.
He blinked, confusion clear on his face as he tried to process her words, scone midway to his mouth. [say]"A - what?"[/say] Surely, she'd made that up. But at least he'd been pretty close and he shrugged his shoulders to dismiss any arguments as he said, [say]"I'm going to count that as a win because I've never heard of it."[/say] Which meant he never would have been able to guess it anyways.
As for his favorite, Zavien took a bite of scone to consider. When he swallowed, he gave her a bright smile, curious to see if she'd be able to figure it out based on the hint he gave. [say]"It pairs well with a side of fries."[/say]