Tal was no less used to being alone than Alys and it had never been a hardship to him before. Now, though... remembering those seasons of traveling around with Alys on the Peregrine made his heart tug painfully in his chest whenever he had to board the little skyboat to head off on his route without her. She had her own business to run, of course, and her own life that was separate from his... but he never felt as whole as he did when they were together.
And if he'd been trying to find ways to court her properly now that they were together, well, it was only because she deserved it!
"Oh, good! I wasn't gonna be able to finish it all by myself," he teased, feeling her laughter run through him like liquid sunlight. His grin was big and shy and utterly besotted as he brushed a kiss to the nose he had just nuzzled and then reluctantly loosened his embrace. It was only so that he could take her hand and lead her to the picnic blanket and pillows so they could settle in comfort while he unpacked the small bottle of sweet, sparkling wine and removed the top layer of covered bowls - a couple of cheeses, crackers, and autumn fruits to nibble on. It hadn't all come naturally to the awkward courier, but he'd been reading some books(!!) and doing a bit of research onto how to make a partner feel appreciated, and he was doing his best to bring it all together tonight.
"I guess I never asked what you're favorite flowers actually are," he admitted sheepishly. "I just kinda hoped you'd like roses... but is there some other kind you'd like next time?"
And if he'd been trying to find ways to court her properly now that they were together, well, it was only because she deserved it!
"Oh, good! I wasn't gonna be able to finish it all by myself," he teased, feeling her laughter run through him like liquid sunlight. His grin was big and shy and utterly besotted as he brushed a kiss to the nose he had just nuzzled and then reluctantly loosened his embrace. It was only so that he could take her hand and lead her to the picnic blanket and pillows so they could settle in comfort while he unpacked the small bottle of sweet, sparkling wine and removed the top layer of covered bowls - a couple of cheeses, crackers, and autumn fruits to nibble on. It hadn't all come naturally to the awkward courier, but he'd been reading some books(!!) and doing a bit of research onto how to make a partner feel appreciated, and he was doing his best to bring it all together tonight.
"I guess I never asked what you're favorite flowers actually are," he admitted sheepishly. "I just kinda hoped you'd like roses... but is there some other kind you'd like next time?"
