Halo was not unknown to him now, though he had avoided the Citadel out of consideration for Evie's desire for space and time. Halo was her home, and the last thing he wished was to disrespect her feelings by forcing the issue - even by accident - before she was ready. So though he had arrived on an early skyship, it had taken him longer to find the small restaurant in the unfamiliar city than he had anticipated.
It was just as well that he had extra time to search for it, then, because it meant that he stooped his tall frame to duck inside the door at the time she had chosen, rather than particularly early or late. The red of her hair was a beacon that he could never mistake, and once his emerald eyes lit upon it he began his slow, steady way towards the back to join her.
There was nothing flashy about his appearance beyond his unmistakable size today, though in deference to the snow he wore boots and his chest was notably hidden within a heavy wool sweater. His steel-silver hair was neatly braided back and his visible jewelry was confined to his grandfather's earring, his goddess's ring, and a bulge on his bicep beneath the sweater's sleeve that indicated his armlet.
He came as neither King nor demigod but simply as a man that Evie had once called friend, and he settled gingerly into the booth with the careful awkwardness of a man who was a bit larger than the furniture had been intended for. He gave his hostess a deep nod of greeting and curled his hands around the waiting coffee to absorb its warmth into his skin as his eyes returned to her face.
Searching.
"Thank you," he rumbled quietly before lifting the mug to his lips for a welcome sip of the hot drink. He let it linger on his tongue before he swallowed it, bitter and strong and fortifying, to pool with rising heat in his stomach. He lowered the mug just as slowly, his breath an exhalation of appreciation before he spoke again. "I have missed you." Simple words, hiding a far more complex tapestry of emotions that had accompanied him on his journey as he had considered the reason for her summons ranging from the best scenario to the worst before accepting that he could not truly prepare for any of them.
He could only listen, and accept the decision that she had made.
It was just as well that he had extra time to search for it, then, because it meant that he stooped his tall frame to duck inside the door at the time she had chosen, rather than particularly early or late. The red of her hair was a beacon that he could never mistake, and once his emerald eyes lit upon it he began his slow, steady way towards the back to join her.
There was nothing flashy about his appearance beyond his unmistakable size today, though in deference to the snow he wore boots and his chest was notably hidden within a heavy wool sweater. His steel-silver hair was neatly braided back and his visible jewelry was confined to his grandfather's earring, his goddess's ring, and a bulge on his bicep beneath the sweater's sleeve that indicated his armlet.
He came as neither King nor demigod but simply as a man that Evie had once called friend, and he settled gingerly into the booth with the careful awkwardness of a man who was a bit larger than the furniture had been intended for. He gave his hostess a deep nod of greeting and curled his hands around the waiting coffee to absorb its warmth into his skin as his eyes returned to her face.
Searching.
"Thank you," he rumbled quietly before lifting the mug to his lips for a welcome sip of the hot drink. He let it linger on his tongue before he swallowed it, bitter and strong and fortifying, to pool with rising heat in his stomach. He lowered the mug just as slowly, his breath an exhalation of appreciation before he spoke again. "I have missed you." Simple words, hiding a far more complex tapestry of emotions that had accompanied him on his journey as he had considered the reason for her summons ranging from the best scenario to the worst before accepting that he could not truly prepare for any of them.
He could only listen, and accept the decision that she had made.
