A hand - small but strong - found his and squeezed, and some of the embarrassment lifted from Tal's shoulders. He folded his fingers around his partner's and squeezed back before he stole his glance at her. Seeing the shy look on her face, he caught his breath and time seemed to stand still around them as she tucked a tress back behind one ear. It was, he had noticed long ago, a very cute ear, and his own smile widened with relief as she agreed to his offer.
"Well... Um. Th'whole thing about not havin' flowers growin' up..." he started, hemming and hawing a little. His thumb rubbed a gentle line along the side of Alys's hand, his usual twitchiness calmed down to that one small, soothing motion. "... I kinda like... th'really big an' bright ones," he admitted, as if it was something he wasn't sure if he should be embarrassed about or not. "Sunflowers, an' hollyhocks, an' gladioluses..." There was a mighty huff from the grass nearby and his grin widened with more confidence. "An snapdragons, o'course!" He finally popped the grape he'd been playing with in his mouth, looking relieved to have the confession off his chest. "I bet I can pick up some bulbs an' stuff next time I'm in Torchline!"
"Well... Um. Th'whole thing about not havin' flowers growin' up..." he started, hemming and hawing a little. His thumb rubbed a gentle line along the side of Alys's hand, his usual twitchiness calmed down to that one small, soothing motion. "... I kinda like... th'really big an' bright ones," he admitted, as if it was something he wasn't sure if he should be embarrassed about or not. "Sunflowers, an' hollyhocks, an' gladioluses..." There was a mighty huff from the grass nearby and his grin widened with more confidence. "An snapdragons, o'course!" He finally popped the grape he'd been playing with in his mouth, looking relieved to have the confession off his chest. "I bet I can pick up some bulbs an' stuff next time I'm in Torchline!"
