Trying a Picnic Again (D4 MA)

[Davelyn Sand]

The blanket was set out by the bank of the river, food ready but still covered with a blanket to prevent pests. And it was unattended for the moment.

Nearby the thumping of hooves could be heard. He hadn't played with Qitam for a few days, and he was feeling a bit bad about that. So there they were, a bit further back from the banks, running around like a couple of children. Dav laughing with an innocent sense of joy as Qitam tagged him again, bumping his shoulder with his nose. The Dornishman spun on his heal, but Qitam had already broken away. His stallion companion turned to face him and paused as the warrior chased him down. Just as Davelyn was about to catch him the horse hopped, in a way more reminiscent of a dog than a horse, moving to the side and brayed, almost like he was mocking him in good fun. This went on a few more times before Qitam decided he wanted to be the one on the chase. Davelyn caught him around the neck, "Gotcha!"

He then took off in the direction of the picnic area to make sure the game didn't stray too far. Within seconds Qitam had made a circle around him cutting him off, then just cantered after him, which still meant that Dav had to run near full speed to avoid the inevitable tag. This time the stallion lightly body checked him with is chest, causing Davelyn to fall to the ground. The horse ran off a bit, but Davelyn didn't seem to be moving. Qitam came back slowly... inching his way in. He knew this trick and he had to draw the Dornishman off the ground to get the chase going again. As soon as he was close enough, the Dornishman jumped up with a playful shout. Qitam whinnied at that, and if horses could laugh that's probably what it sounded like. The chase continued...

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya had forsaken her usual riding dress today; she and Perlera had already been out riding, and, well, she wanted to look nice today, I do not need any betterr rreason than that, she tried to convince herself. As Perlera walked along the shore of the Cockleswent, Kaliya caught sight of Qitam, and frowned, what is he doing?

Slowing Perlera, she watched as the large, midnight stallion warily approached something on the ground, jumping slightly as Davelyn leapt up and the horse seemed to flee from the man. She drew Perlera to a halt now, still some distance away, watching.

[Davelyn Sand]

The horse was now taunting him as he ran in circles around the Dornish knight. As though he were playing with a child, Davelyn spoke out in a playful raised voice, his accent showing through, "I'm gonna get you. Hohoho, just you wait." Eventually Qitam let him in close again but then backpedaled at the last moment rearing out of the way as Dav dove for him, rolling to the ground. "Oh rreally?" he asked in an incredulous tone as he rose, dusting himself off as the horse brayed at him again.

And then he was back on the chase. He followed after Qitam, and moved with him, almost like a dance as the stallion was clearly taking it easy and matching the Dornishman until he wanted to be on the chase again. Which didn't take too long, as Davelyn was able to pounce on him after a second, catching him in yet another hug, laughing in joy at the fun he was having. He didn't let go for a few seconds this time, whispering to his friend, before he started running and being chased again.

Bringing it back around near the blanket once more he turned on Qitam and stood still with his arms out. The horse stopped in it's tracks and looked him over trying to figure out what he was going to do. Dav hopped to the left and Qitam followed, snorting a playful warning as if he were saying there was no escape. He hoped to the right and Qitam hopped to the right an an almost bucking motion, snorting again. Then Davelyn moved to the left once more, this time actually running, to which Qitam gave a quick chase before tagging him on the back with his nose. "Got me again!" he shouts to Qitam, with a beaming smile. The horse backs of a bit before bucking up and down in place playfully. "You'rre wearring me out Qitam!" And it's clear that he is a little, as Davelyn is definitely breathing harder from the playing.

[Kaliya Redding]

Stroking Perlera's neck, Kaliya found herself smiling as she watched the game. If she had been impressed by the connection the Dornishman shared with the stallion the last time they had gone out riding, it was a tiny thing compared to what she saw now, and it warmed her heart to see them playing together so innocently, so carefree.

But it made her heart ache as well, Davelyn had torn open the past five years, the years she had told herself were inconsequential, irrelevant. She envied him now the easy joy he shared with Qitam, and so she continued to watch, quietly, not wanting to interrupt.

[Davelyn Sand]

Panting a bit, the Dornishman persists and takes off in a sprint surprising Qitam a bit from the sound of the neigh. The horse turns and runs back a bit, then turns on Davelyn much the same as had been done to him. Stopping a few feet from Qitam, he watches closely. First the stallion rears a very small amount and then turns as though he's going to go left, which Dav follows. Then the same to the left again. Finally the pair go right but Dav catches him quickly this time, tagging him on the shoulder.

The horse starts nickering and walking towards him... almost in an intimidating fashion. But the heavy breathed laughter of Davelyn as he sprints away makes it clear there's no real danger. After letting him get a head start Qitam chases him down quickly and runs right next to him, slowing his pace to match. It seemed to have turned into something of a race. But the one advantage of a human over a horse... Dave stops and turns in an instant heading back to the blanket once more. Qitam has to make a wide turn to come around and catch up, but that's really not an issue for the courser.

Finally near the blanket again Dav slows a bit before voluntarily falling to the ground, breathing heavily. He lets out a short whistle to admit his defeat and the stallion nudges his shoulder. He pats his head before taking it in his hands and pulling him down towards him and kissing him on the nose. The stallion then slowly and carefully lays down with him, resting his head on the man's chest. Davelyn lays there catching his breath, stroking his fingers through the mane of his friend. "You worre me out Qitam. You worre me out."

[Kaliya Redding]

No one would recognise the smile Kaliya wore, for she'd not worn it before. The endearing sight stirred a warm sense that swelled within her chest, it was unfamiliar and almost painful, but not unpleasant. She waited for a time, allowing the pair to rest, before nudging Perlera to a walk again, approaching slowly.

[Davelyn Sand]

Qitam was the first to notice an approach, looking in the direction of Kaliya and Perlera and letting out a short breath. Davelyn cranes his neck so that he can see who is coming and smiles at the pair. "Kaliya, Perlera!"

He pats Qitam on the side of the neck and the horse begins making it's way back to it's feet, Davelyn following along. "I apologize... I've gotten a bit of dirt on me. Qitam and I were playing a bit before you arrived." He looks to the horse after he is up.

"What do we do Qitam?" he says tapping him on the shoulder, which evokes a bow from the horse, lowering himself and then rising. Davelyn does the same.

[Kaliya Redding]

The other day she had ridden Ferris' Lily aside to left, so today she sat aside Perlera to the right. Turning the mare's head a little, Kaliya chuckled at the greeting, "a fine pairr of gentlemen, none could hope to match. Such excellent mannerrs, Perrlerra could stand to learrn a thing orr two."

She put out a hand so that Davelyn could help her down, anotherr rreason why I prreferr to rride prroperrly.

[Davelyn Sand]

He moves to her and helps her down, lifting her from Perlera with relative ease and setting her on the ground gently. He bows once again, this time taking her hand and kissing the back of it, before rising. "If I had more time with her, I'd certainly be happy to teach her how to bow like Qitam does. But I believe a curtsy may not be in the picture." He smiles pleasantly to her, before leading her to the table. "You look lovely as ever today Kaliya. I am glad we could meet for lunch today."

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya's dress, deep red with warm orange undertones, was clearly made in the style of Dorne, with hanging sleeves and a cleavage that plunged all the way to her navel. Beneath the main dress, a cache-cœur supported her bosom, a rich fabric with bold embroidery. The sleeves, hanging to her knees, with their armoured shoulders and draping cowl exposing her back, was actually a separate piece that could be removed to bare her shoulders. Despite its Dornish origins, it was warmer than most of her other dresses, and the overcast day lent a sort of fiery tone to the elegantly draping fabric.

"Thank you forr inviting me, this looks wonderrful."

[Davelyn Sand]

His smile is warm his eyes seem to actually appreciate her, not linger on her lewdly. "Please, sit and relax." He continues holding her hand to help her down onto the blanket.

Once she seems comfortable, he lifts the covered blanket to reveal the meal. "I brought honeyed chicken, plums, some mixed vegetables, and a bottle of Dornish red for us. I hope that this agrees with you. I also brought quince for Perlera. I know Qitam loves them and hoped she would too."

Everything about his movements, his looks, even his touch... they were all soft and caring as though the last thing he wanted in the world was to hurt her. But warm, as though there was no place in the world he would rather be than here.

[Kaliya Redding]

If someone had done all this for her five years ago, she would have been much less wary now; but no one had, so Kaliya settled herself on the blanket with a vague sense of waiting for the other shoe to drop. "I do not think Perrlerra has had quince since we left Dorrne. It would be just the to sway herr fickle hearrt." The Sand Steed nickered upon hearing her name, tossing her mane.

[Davelyn Sand]

"I'm glad to hear it," he says, taking up one of the handful of quinces he holds it out for Kaliya. "I'd love to hearr morre about yourr time back home," he says. It was noticeable, how his accent was now more present in his regular speech but not quite fully returned. It seemed to strengthen and fade as he spoke to Kaliya but it definitely was coming back to him naturally as they spent time together.

[Kaliya Redding]

The strengthening accent was not lost on Kaliya. One of the last few things she had of Dorne, she could suppress it somewhat by mimicking the person she was speaking to, and in all likelihood she could have learnt to speak like a native Marcher years ago, but it was part of who she saw herself as, and that was not something to let go of lightly. The fact that it seemed to have an enticing effect of people was an added bonus.

"What have I told you so farr? Perrla Baia is a little fishing town nearr Starrfall. Most of the men and women fish forr a living; it is not the wealthist of towns, but some of them, especially the youngerr smallfolk, dive forr pearrls. Therre is a silverrsmith in the village who makes the most stunning jewellery with pearrls, and motherr-of-pearrl, and abalone shell."

[Davelyn Sand]

"That sounds lovely Kaliya. I think I would like to visit therre someday if I get the chance," he says. "I've been to fishing villages a few times when I was youngerr and the food therre is always the best. A frresh catch is always amazing." He smiles thinking back to those few times, traveling with Aunt Avella.

"But that is yourr'e hometown. I want to know about you. What was yourr life like? What did you do forr fun? Was Kaliya an adventurrous girrl, exploring the beaches and town?"

[Kaliya Redding]

"Oh, I rripped morre than my sharre of gowns picking blueberries, and plucking chitons and mussels. Though, you should have seen my parrents the day my favourrite drress was stolen," Kaliya laughed, warm and easy. "I had been picking blueberries, and it was one of those just incrrediably hot days, and I was sticky with berry juice. Therre was this one tidal pool, it was shaded by an overrhang and neverr got baked by the hot sun."

"So I took off my drress, like I had done a thousand times, and went paddling in the seawaterr to wash my face and hands, and chase the little fish that get trrapped therre." There is an animation to Kaliya as she recounts the memory, so far removed from the careful and considered mask she usually wore. "When I was done teasing the starrfish and anenomes, I got out of the waterr and my drress is gone, and I have to walk home in nothing but my slip, absolutely terrfied what fatherr was going to say."

[Davelyn Sand]

His smile is one of genuine entertainment at her story. This... this is what he wanted. To finally be able to sit down with her and talk comfortably. For that defensive air to melt away. To share with her. He doesn't only want the good memories, but for right now he wants her to enjoy this time. For her to understand that if he got nothing else from her than pleasant chats it would be enough for him. He wanted more with her, certainly, but he could be happy with this alone.

"I hope he wasn't too hard on you. You had already lost your favorite dress after all." Taking some of the honeyed chicken apart and putting it on a little wooden plate he'd brought, he offered it to her. Blueberries? I'll have to remember that.

[Kaliya Redding]

Taking some chicken, "oh, it was frrightening, his face went redder than the sun on a Marrtell bannerr. And I thought motherr would faint dead away at the horrorr. I had to spend the week taking extrra lessons from Septa Marrise on looking afterr my things and how imprroperr it was forr a young lady to walk about in only herr underrgarrments."

Kaliya took a sip of the Dornish wine, "I did get me drress back. The parrents of the boy who took it caught him with it, marched him rright up to the estate. And I thought I was afrraid of papa," she looked at Davelyn with an expression somewhere between embarrassment and guardedness, "but surrely you did not invite me herre to hearr me talk the entirre time.

[Davelyn Sand]

"Well, I wouldn't mind sharing some of my own if you would like to hear them," he offers. It would seem his devious motivation was to have a pleasant meal.

He draws a knife from his waist then picks up a plum, and in a relatively smooth motion slices all the way around it's equator. With a twist, half of it pulls away revealing the pit. He offers half to Kaliya.

And all while that is going on he speaks, not paying too much attention to his hands. "But, to be honest what I wanted was just to spend some time relaxing in fine company."

[Kaliya Redding]

Her first instinct, as she reached for the plum half, was to purr something suggestive. That is how men rrelax, is it not? she thought defensively, feeling that first, lazy throb of arousal in her loins. For once, however, she ignores it, curious to see what Davelyn will do if given the lead.

Kaliya bit into the plum, and made a sudden, surprised sound as the juice ran down her chin, her hand flying to her face before it could drip onto her dress.

[Davelyn Sand]

As the juice squirts from her bite and she reacts to it, he does the same, quickly grabbing a cloth and moving to help. When the danger of staining seems to pass, he chuckles, "I honestly didn't expect the plums up here to be as juicy as they are. They're still no match for a good plum from Dorne though. It didn't get on your dress anywhere, did it?"

[Kaliya Redding]

Kaliya inspected her skirt, "no, it seems to have surrvived." She wiped her chin and took another bite, more carefully this time, "did you everr just sit in a rrock pool, eating plums and papaya and letting the salt water worry about whether or not you got yourr hands sticky?"

[Davelyn Sand]

"I'm glad it's safe," he says with a nod, removing the pit from his half. He takes a careful bite and smiles at the sweetness.

"Well, not in a rock pool. But in the baths after training, Sir Thaudrey and I would have food and drink. He'd tell stories of when he was a squire and about his career as a knight. I'd listen in wonder at it all. But not quite the same as being outside on a beautiful day, and I was usually a bit sore after too."

[Kaliya Redding]

"Sorre is the best way to take a bath," she observed, "afterr a long day and you'rre worrn out, soaking it all away in a hot bath is wonderrful. Not as wonderrful as being eight and eating fresh-picked frruits in yourr underrthings with yourr hair full of salt sprray, but wonderrful nonetheless."

[Davelyn Sand]

"That it is," he agrees. "I would definitely like to experrience that one day. I've been to the ocean my fairr numberr of times, but neverr a naturral pool of sea waterr like that. Perrhaps one day we might be able to sharre some plums in a rrock pool. Until then, on blankets with lunch." Smiling, he finishes off the last of the plum before taking a sip of wine and a bite of chicken. "Did you everr learrn to dive for pearrls yourrself? Even just forr fun? I was neverr a verry strrong swimmerr myself." He seems curious at that.