When to release the Void [Attn: Bella/Gareth]

[Roan]

Neither Ria nor Gareth were high maintenance when it came to getting ready, be it for work in the morning, or, as it turned out, for a night on the town. It had been months since she and her husband opted to take a meal outside of the Tower, much less spend the evening outside of its walls. The idea of literally letting her hair down and relaxing in the company of her husband while sharing a good meal together was more than just a little exciting for the Gaidar.

Sitting still when anticipation was building was always difficult for Ria, though finding the Void helped immensely. Tonight, though, was not about taking refuge in the Void, thus she found herself pacing as she waited for her husband to finish getting changed. He had done her the courtesy of not peeking, so she extended him the same courtesy. When he stepped out, Ria couldn’t help but smirk as she looked her husband up and down. Still as ruggedly handsome as the first day we met she thought to herself.

“Outshined, I am not so certain, love. I can imagine there will be a fair number of ladies and lasses who turn their heads as you walk past,” Ria replied as she closed the distance between them, slid her arms around him as she pushed up on her toes to kiss him. It was. . .hard not to let the kiss linger too long or allow it to distract them from their evening objective, but she somehow managed, “Shall we?”

[Bella]

He was naturally kind enough to lean down and not make her stretch too much to reach his lips. He returned the kiss in kind, and had an equal amount of trouble not letting it go longer than would work for their plans. He forced himself away as she did and smiled his usual crooked smile when she asked. "Let's," he agreed, if feeling a touch reluctant suddenly to leave their rooms.

Forcing himself back, he shifted his body toward the door and then offered his hand to her. Perhaps offering his arm would have been more mannerly and gallant, but to offer his hand was more intimate and affectionate. Gallant could be saved for other things.

Gareth walked them to the door, pausing once to lift her hand and kiss the back of it before turning the door handle. Opening it, he let her proceed him out into the hallway and then through the corridors. At this hour of the evening, it was not quite the dead quiet of the middle of the night but it was not busy either. Everyone was about their own business already, leaving them a quiet path out onto Tower grounds.

"I was thinking the Band of Brothers," he offered. There were other establishments now raised in Hama Valon, but the Band of Brothers maintained its nostalgic allure for the elder members of the Grey Tower.

[Roan]

Nights like this were far too few, Riahana decided as Gareth kissed the back of her hand. She felt perhaps twenty years younger, and about as giddy as she had when she and Gareth first started seeing each other. It seemed a lifetime ago, and given they now had twins who were pretty much adults (albeit young ones) themselves. In some ways, it was a lifetime ago, but it was time Riahana wouldn't trade for anything.

As they made their way from the Ajah hall onto the Tower grounds, Ria was pleased to find it a mild Spring evening. Twilight was just starting to descend, and a few stars began to appear in the evening sky. All in all, it would be a pleasant walk into town. Sliding her arm through Gareth's, Ria smiled warmly, "The Band of Brothers would be wonderful. I've been once since we've returned to the Tower,which is not nearly often enough, and perhaps points to the fact that I need to make a bit more time in my schedule to socialize. . .not just with my handsome husband, but perhaps some of our friends, as well."

Balancing duty with down time was tricky, especially given the level of responsibility Ria had as Mistress of Arms. She doubted it would even compare to what her Memma must have to wrestle with as Amyrlin Seat. Not for the first time, Riahana wondered how the Matriarch of her family was handling it all. It is likely driving her stir crazy, Ria thought to herself.

[Bella]

As they walked out into the twilight air, Gareth couldn't help certainly more male aspects of his mind that considered just seguing from their current path and going to find some quiet corner in the gardens, make the most of that dress... Still, they had a course and he knew if they diverted now, they would likely not get back on it.

There was always the walk back, after all.

"I think that sounds like quite the good idea, my wife," he said easily in reply, not letting free any hint of admission at his deeper and less lofty considerations. "I will be holding you to that, now that you've said it." He offered her a sidelong, crooked smile with a teasing light in his pale eyes. "I'm sure there are others who will be pleased to know that you have surfaced from the Yards' offices."

[Roan]

Riahana returned Gareth's crooked smile with a smirk of her own, "Please do hold me to that promise, love. Gairar and Mistress of Arms I may be, but I still have a playful side that likes to come out now and again. Perhaps not in front of the learning ranks. . .I have a reputation to maintain, but other than that?" Her smirk grew and she wiggled her brows, "If I do not, for some unforeseen reason, live up to that promise, you have my permission to do what you must to make sure I do." How he took the comment was entirely up to him, and knowing her husband as she did, she had a few ideas where his imagination might take him.

The mild evening and a light breeze on the night air made it one of those moments where it was hard not to be grateful for the life she had. Ria was not quite so forward as some Saldaean women tended to be, though her reserved nature served her well over the years. She sometimes wondered if she and Gareth would have managed to find each other if she would have had to compete with the more aggressive advances some of her fellow Saldaean women were known for.

They passed a pair of Accepted who were returning to the Tower, perhaps after spending time at Mar a'Mael. It amazed Ria how young some of the learning ranks looked, but then she realized her own daughter was about their age. It was hard not to feel old when she considered how long ago it was when she signed the Warder Yards Roster. In many ways, those were simpler times, but again, she would not trade what she now had for what once was.

[Bella]

As they walked, the pair fell into companionable silence. The Yellow Asha'man enjoyed the quiet, he enjoyed the temperate weather, and he enjoyed having his wife by his side.

Together, they made their way out of the Tower grounds proper and were headed into Hama Valon. The crowds steadily grew thicker as they reached the city, although it was never too much of a press. They were able to walk along the street at their same pace without too much interference or delay, onward to the Band of Brothers.

Gareth opened the door when they reached the inn, but he let his wife proceed him. Even while out and about, he observed their bond-mate protocol. He followed her just a moment later, but had only gotten a few steps in before his name caught his attention. It wasn't Riahana who had said it and he turned to find the source.

"Thea," he said, with some surprise.

"A pleasant surprise," the other Yellow said with a serene smile. "I was just on my way out."

Gareth nodded slowly. He didn't think she ever left the Tower, as she certainly seemed to be in the Infirmary all of the time. "I won't impede you," he said, not eager to spend much time talking to any woman he wasn't married to.

Thea smiled and nodded, eyes flickering to Ria with a small nod, before she swept past them and to the door.

[Roan]

Riahana had worn the fancloak for the better part of twenty years, and the habits of a Warder were hard to break. Some might say Warders were forever paranoid, and thought the worse of their fellow man, but the truth of it was one could never be too careful. In those moments when you let your guard down, some flaming fool of an idiot would decide to take advantage, leaving you with a mess that diligence could have avoided. Simply put, it was better to be on guard, than not, and Riahana was always on guard, even when wearing a dress and on a date night with her husband.

When the Warder heard Gareth's name, she turned to look at the speaker, and was surprised to see Thea Sedai as she stepped over to the Asha'man. Ria offered the woman a small, but warm smile as Thea nodded to her before leaving the Band of Brothers. With everything else seemingly in order, the Gaidar took her place by her husband's side, "It is good to see that Thea Sedai has a social side, given how you've mentioned it seems she never leaves the Infirmary."

Sliding her hand back into Gareth's, Riahana nodded towards the back corner, "There is one table left in the common room, though if we wanted a more. . .private table, I am sure the inn-keep might be willing to arrange it for us." She couldn't help the very slight smirk as she looked up to Gareth.

[Bella]

Gareth simply nodded to his wife's comment about his Yellow Sister, but said nothing else and spared her no further thought. This was not a night to be truly social, after all. He was here to focus on one person alone, and only both with others so far as necessary to make it through the night. Aside from the random encounter, his plan was well on its way.

"I don't know the Band of Brothers has many private tables," he said with a chuckle. "For now, I don't mind being nearer to the dance floor, in case we should wish to take a turn. What say you?"

[Roan]

Riahana turned slightly to face her husband, offering him a broad smirk, “Gareth Tomosan, you surprise me. I do not think either of us have been dancing since. . .well certainly since we’ve returned to the Tower. I say being nearer the dance floor is a fine idea, and I would be honored to take a turn with you if the chance presents itself.”

Her husband was making it all too easy to feel closer to twenty five than the forty years or so she currently wore. Granted, she looked young for her age, and most would put her at the twenty five she currently felt. Ria was not a vain woman, and didn’t have a rigorous beauty routine that others of her gender and age might adhere to. Being a Gaidar didn’t really afford itself to a glamorous lifestyle, which was part of its appeal.

Fortunately, the corner table Ria mentioned happened to be very near the dance floor, and it was still available. It was busy in the Band of Brothers, but not so busy as to feel overcrowded, so it didn’t take much effort to claim the empty table as theirs. Gareth, ever the gentleman, held Ria’s chair out for her as she took her seat, and she gave him a cheeky smile, “A woman could certainly get used to this.”

[Bella]

Gareth escorted his lady to the table and pulled her chair out, pushing it in gently as she sat. He smiled and leaned down near her ear. "I would certainly hope so," he rumbled for her ears before straightening up and moving to the other chair. It was a small table with just two seats, but he shifted his to be a little nearer to hers.

"I think perhaps we should dedicate our evening to figure out other, and even more inventive ways, to lure you out of the office," he teased. "And, in all honesty, me out of the infirmary. I don't know if it's just me, but it feels like people are getting themselves injured and sick more often than they did when I was a Dedicated or young Asha'man."