Nate's enthusiasm was enough to wash the fear and regret right out of her; his wide grin was immediately met with a grin of her own. He chatted happily about what he had managed to steal from the kitchens, and the sheer volume of the food was enough to make her pale brows climb - how had he managed to take this much food while escaping notice? The Mistress of the Kitchens had a sharp eye and a sharper tongue. Impressive, she thought, looking at the collection of cheese, meat, and pastries. He sat cross-legged on his bed, left plenty of space for her, and began chatting away while she dug through his basket.
In the end, she took a heavy block of cheese, some of the astonishingly good chicken, and a pastry. Rhiale eyed the bed for a moment, her dinner clutched to her chest, and wondered if it would be appropriate to sit beside him. She preferred the floor, whenever she could be in the floor, but bending to the will of Lorraine's Tower had been easy enough when she reminded herself that she was meeting toh.
He's not shy about it, she thought, flicking her gaze from the bed to his grinning features. She was fairly certain that was how flirting was done here, but it was still so... Strange. It was not necessarily bad, all brash and bold and in the open, but she did not know how to behave in return. She settled her weight on the bed tentatively, as though the flimsy frame might crack beneath their combined weight. The wood creaked in protest and she chuckled beneath her breath. "These beds aren't meant for two," she said dryly, and cast Nate a surreptitious gaze. Is that how it's done?
"I, ah, yes," she said finally, remembering what he asked. "I went to the rest of my classes and tried to pretend I had not been nearly flayed alive in the Gardens," laughter coloring her voice. "But I will admit, my notes were very bad. I couldn't pay attention. I was too busy..." her cheeks burned with embarrassment: how did the Wetlanders live, so forward and open all of their lives, hearts and desires laid bare? Rhiale cleared her throat, then ate a little more cheese.
"I enjoyed our afternoon," she said finally. "And I apologize. I don't... I don't know how it's done here." It was an awkward admission. Rhiale distracted herself with another bite of cheese. She disliked any sort of incompetency, but eager Nate seemed as though he would not mind bringing her along. She did not neglect to note that he was not wearing his restrictive and obstructive coat, and though she had already seen him naked, the way his chest hair peeked through his unbuttoned shirt was fascinating.
In the end, she took a heavy block of cheese, some of the astonishingly good chicken, and a pastry. Rhiale eyed the bed for a moment, her dinner clutched to her chest, and wondered if it would be appropriate to sit beside him. She preferred the floor, whenever she could be in the floor, but bending to the will of Lorraine's Tower had been easy enough when she reminded herself that she was meeting toh.
He's not shy about it, she thought, flicking her gaze from the bed to his grinning features. She was fairly certain that was how flirting was done here, but it was still so... Strange. It was not necessarily bad, all brash and bold and in the open, but she did not know how to behave in return. She settled her weight on the bed tentatively, as though the flimsy frame might crack beneath their combined weight. The wood creaked in protest and she chuckled beneath her breath. "These beds aren't meant for two," she said dryly, and cast Nate a surreptitious gaze. Is that how it's done?
"I, ah, yes," she said finally, remembering what he asked. "I went to the rest of my classes and tried to pretend I had not been nearly flayed alive in the Gardens," laughter coloring her voice. "But I will admit, my notes were very bad. I couldn't pay attention. I was too busy..." her cheeks burned with embarrassment: how did the Wetlanders live, so forward and open all of their lives, hearts and desires laid bare? Rhiale cleared her throat, then ate a little more cheese.
"I enjoyed our afternoon," she said finally. "And I apologize. I don't... I don't know how it's done here." It was an awkward admission. Rhiale distracted herself with another bite of cheese. She disliked any sort of incompetency, but eager Nate seemed as though he would not mind bringing her along. She did not neglect to note that he was not wearing his restrictive and obstructive coat, and though she had already seen him naked, the way his chest hair peeked through his unbuttoned shirt was fascinating.
