CHULANE
He knew she was busy, swamped with managing the Grounders, he knew she had responsibilities that had her working day and night, knew there was so much he didn't know about her - that he wanted to know. But he also knew that constantly pushing oneself the way she was wont to do would lead to burnout - to a mental breakdown, to a physical breakdown, to a husk of the woman he had come to thoroughly enjoy the company of. He had seen burnout in people before - it was not something he wanted to see Kia go through, if he could help it.
So he had taken the time to set up a quiet dinner for them, to reserve a quiet corner so that they might have some semblance of privacy without being completely disconnected, to ensure that the Grounders would have their needs met by the barstaff - they weren't completely incapable of looking after themselves, either. He wanted to give her this night, this time, to just be, without guilt or remorse, without any strings attached (except perhaps his heartstrings, which hummed happily whenever his thoughts turned to the woman).
"Dinner." He confirms with a nod and a grin, more than happy to call it a date if she wanted to, squeezing her hand in return before he sat at the table. "And a chance to slow down, at least for a little while." He poured drinks after clarifying with a gesture which she would prefer poured. It was water, as normal, for him. He hoped she liked roast meats and root vegetables - while the food storage had been threatened from the destruction of the palace, they had salvaged enough, and every family had their own little backyard hobby farm - they possibly had to slaughter an extra animal than they initially planned to get through the season.
The recent events had only accelerated the man's desire to bring some of his farming knowledge to this land, to help ensure a reliable food source for the region going forward. But he didn't want to think on that tonight - tonight was for Kia. They were both exhausted, and yet he found this time he had secured for them energising him, enough at least that he could engage in conversation, learn more about her, share more about himself. Being with her felt so right, so natural - he was honestly dreading the time that she would return to the Hollowed Ground. But there was little point in worrying about something that was so far away into the future - if this introduction to the Deepfrost season was anything to go by, they had plenty of challenges yet to endure before he would have to worry about farewelling her (or…?)
"To a night spent with good company," he said, raising his drink to clink with hers across the table, hoping she would reciprocate.
So he had taken the time to set up a quiet dinner for them, to reserve a quiet corner so that they might have some semblance of privacy without being completely disconnected, to ensure that the Grounders would have their needs met by the barstaff - they weren't completely incapable of looking after themselves, either. He wanted to give her this night, this time, to just be, without guilt or remorse, without any strings attached (except perhaps his heartstrings, which hummed happily whenever his thoughts turned to the woman).
"Dinner." He confirms with a nod and a grin, more than happy to call it a date if she wanted to, squeezing her hand in return before he sat at the table. "And a chance to slow down, at least for a little while." He poured drinks after clarifying with a gesture which she would prefer poured. It was water, as normal, for him. He hoped she liked roast meats and root vegetables - while the food storage had been threatened from the destruction of the palace, they had salvaged enough, and every family had their own little backyard hobby farm - they possibly had to slaughter an extra animal than they initially planned to get through the season.
The recent events had only accelerated the man's desire to bring some of his farming knowledge to this land, to help ensure a reliable food source for the region going forward. But he didn't want to think on that tonight - tonight was for Kia. They were both exhausted, and yet he found this time he had secured for them energising him, enough at least that he could engage in conversation, learn more about her, share more about himself. Being with her felt so right, so natural - he was honestly dreading the time that she would return to the Hollowed Ground. But there was little point in worrying about something that was so far away into the future - if this introduction to the Deepfrost season was anything to go by, they had plenty of challenges yet to endure before he would have to worry about farewelling her (or…?)
"To a night spent with good company," he said, raising his drink to clink with hers across the table, hoping she would reciprocate.
it is better to know some of the questions
than all of the answers
than all of the answers
