Before you Go

The Fernwood has been as popular establishment for Aya as any (though the baths at the TarRaCe did make a later strong showing). While Daechir is an excellent cook, he should not be required to sustain either or both of them for every hunger nor hankering. As well, it might be good for both of them to get out and about and attempt some semblance of normalcy. Perhaps one day she will feel confident in providing for him. For now, however... he only just returned to the living, so she refrains. Thus a meal at the Fernwood it is. A familiar, comfortable, and popular establishment with good to excellent fair.

It was clear from the smile that twinkled in Daed's eyes that he was enjoying the time out of the house. In truth he wasn't much of a homebody in most circumstances. So getting out and about was something that he's been looking forward to. The table they sat at was near the back, not a 'prime' location for seating, but it offered a full view of the dining area as well as the ability to see both exits. In other words, a prime location if one was more concerned with security than how nice the table was.

Daechir waits patiently for their food to arrive, a few fingers on the table, toying with the back of Aya's hand. "You look so serious Aya." His voice isn't chiding, just curious. "Is something on your mind?"

Aya, choose a tactically sound table? Suspicious and/or wary of everyone and/or everything? Only on days ending in 'Y,' which today does. She does make some effort to not appear so concerned; in fact, she is also pleased to be out of the house and moreso at Daed's own enjoyment. Of course, that does not make her lax, nor entirely relaxed.

She shifts her eyes from a door for the fourth time in nearly as many minutes to look to him. A breath is taken, then exhaled. "I am merely... concerned." A hesitant, tentative smile is given. "My apologies." She now pays more mind to his hand on hers and uses her other to give his a pat. "We really should..." she attempts to recall a phrase heard some time in the past, "...eat, drink, and be merry."

Daechir makes a a small amused noise and captures her hand with his fingertips. It'd be easy enough for her to pull away. He holds her lightly, as if he thinks she might try to escape him. "You do not seem to be in a mood for making merry." There's something a little wicked on his lips for a moment, a joke that he can't help but make. He arches one dark eyebrow at her and smiles even more widely as their food is finally brought.

He uses this opportunity to pour them both some wine, his eyes still twinkling with goodwill and the edge of his humor until the waitress leaves. "Do you think that it is that dangerous for me to be out of the house?"

Aya's smile, admittedly, was more forced than genuine. That is, until Daechir's hint in tone and curl of lip, whence her expression shifts to something more natural and true. She is quiet as the food arrives, taking note of the server and offering a polite nod in acknowledgement and thanks.

Her initial response to his inquiry is a slight shake of her head. "No... and yes." Her countenance furrows in annoyance briefly before she exhales a soft breath. "You are more than capable, and I mean no offense nor insult to imply otherwise. Yet, your ... absence is still fresh in mind. My worries may not be wholly justified, but they are present all the same."

"Absence." He chuckles at the word and his eyes crinkle around the edges. Daed is amused and it shows. "I understand. It is not as though I am myself unaware of that, but..." The mul'niessa man looks down at his food with an expression that is somewhat distant. More serious. "We can not live the whole of our lives in fear."

Aya's countenance furrows more at that notion, though it just as quickly shifts to firm. She nods. "No, we cannot. Such would not be a life. I had previously considered myself immune or an ally, not subject to it. Obviously, I was mistaken." Her hand turns with Daechir's to give his a squeeze before releasing it. It is only to retrieve her glass, not abandon him. "All the more reason to merry?" She lifts the glass in a gesture or possible toast.

The pair are seated together at a table near the rear of the Fernwood, with easy eyeliner to exits, most passersby, and even the waitstaff. It may not be the 'prime' seating area en vogue, but suit their purposes.

Daechir sits across from Aya, his own hand holding a wine glass now which he rises in salute to Aya. There's a soft warm smile on his lips that lights his red eyes. "Indeed." He smiles more widely at these words and lets his hand fall so that he can drink from his cup a small taste of the wine within. He seems to approve of the pairing with the food settles the cup down so that he can start in on the meal before him.

Aya imbibes a fair portion of the wine from her glass. Either she approves of it, seeks chemical aid in relaxing, earnestly believes in attempting to be merry, or some combination thereof. As he indulges in food, so does she, though her selective, even 'picky' manner might be seen as less so by others not in the know. After a bite or two, and as many more sips of wine (to cleanse the palate, of course!), she looks to him and inquires, with lifted brow, "What are your plans for the future, Daechir?" A general inquiry, but one free of topics and worries already present and known.

There's a small creak of the door at the front of the tavern as the door opens to allow entry of a young man no more than ten and perhaps younger if tall for his age. He looks around the room, spies the two mul's in the back and begins to make his way toward them hurriedly.

Daechir is about to answer, when the door opens and he realizes immediately that the boy is headed toward them. He recognizes by the boy's clothes that he's probably a street urchin of some variation. He carries a small scroll in one hand with purpose and Daed assesses that he's probably acting as a messenger. "Mmmm seems that we have company." He says instead, waiting for the boy to join them, and blinking in surprise when the boy offers the scroll to Aya.

Aya has a perfect vantage point of all this, yet is looking to Daechir. So it is not until his gaze shifts that hers follows. The scroll and the boy's implied purpose it not fully noticed and comprehended until he all but arrives and offers it. After a slight blink, her brows lift, though she does not verbally state the 'For me?' She does have acquaintances, contacts, and so forth, many of whom tend to take advantage of the anonymity provided by couriers. "Thank you." A hand extends to receive the offered item.

The boy offers Aya the scroll and then waits around patiently. Seeming to expect some reply or perhaps payment.

Daed waits a moment while Aya looks at the scroll before offering the boy a few coins for his diligence. A small smile is offered as well, and the boy tucks the coins away before turning and starting back the way that he came. "Anything of interest?" Daed offers, politely curious. He's not about to pry into her private affairs, but if it's something that she wants to talk about, he's interested.

Aya is familiar with the process and that the messenger might wait for a tip. She likely had every intention of doing so following a brief skim of the material. Brevity is foregone as she continues to stare at the page. It must be lengthy, riveting, or both? The courier is forgotten, along with all else until Daechir inquires of it. Even then, he can see her eyes skim over the words one last time before she re-furls the scroll.

Only then does she turn to him to give a slight nod, her expression rather flat, possibly with effort. "A reminder to redouble my efforts on the unresolved matter, and that my concerns were not so misplaced." She has not tucked it away, nor extended it to him, perhaps still considering one or the other.

"Your concerns?" Daed's eyes flicker to the paper and then to Aya. "About me?" He isn't certain, so he waits for Aya's reply to his words.

Aya is not going to lie. She is done with even half-truths, especially to him. After a moment, she extends the scroll to him in offering. It is perhaps easier for him to read and interpret them himself as for her to explain. As an added benefit, once her hand is empty, she can promptly fetch her glass to drink more wine. 'More' being the remainder in the glass.

Daechir accepts the scroll, and takes a moment before actually reading the contents. Though the message is not long, it takes him several long minutes of staring for the words to really sink in. There's a brief flash of fury in his eyes, a raw emotion that lashes out with enough force to set fire to the paper if not for the fact that his gaze can not in fact do that. Then with a soft sigh he rolls the paper up again. "That... Is quite enough of that."

He looks at Aya and his gaze is a firm thing. "She is trying to scare us. If she could do more, it would be done." He is coolly confidant, as if he was not talking about a threat against his own life.

It takes little to turn Aya's concern and shock into ire; far less than Daechir's flash of expression and the words that follow. "It is enough." An agreement? Admission of it's effect. She pauses and takes a breath while absorbing some of that confidence. Hers has been remarkably fractured as of late and slower to mend.

"You are correct," she now states firmly. "There will not be another. I will end her before then; remove any possible threat that might exist." Another slight pause before she adds, "As you said before, we cannot live in fear."

Settling himself, Daechir reaches out for her hand. "I am regretful that such a message should find us while we are trying to have a night out, but I would prefer it not ruin our evening if possible. Are you still up for dinner, or would you prefer to return home?"

An excellent question, and one that was already running through her thoughts.. if not so simply expressed as his words. Her hand aids his in meeting the two. "No. We came to enjoy ourselves, we should do so. If instilling fear or worry is her only power now, we will deny her that. It is our choice whether to be afraid or not." It is clear that her concern is not wholly lifted, but Daechir is right; if the threat was able or truly wished to cause harm, they would have done so.

-End