Our Future

Mid-day at The TarRaCe-

Warm sun and a breeze, both, stream in through the open-air design. Not too warm, not too chill, not to bright; even for those with less than the greatest fondness for sunlight. For Aya, these are all pleasant secondary notes, as she enters with one for whom she -does- hold the greatest fondness. The location is almost entirely irrelevant. Almost. That it is not a bleak room in some temple, a bland rented place to rest, or other locations not to be mentioned is very significant.

Daechir enters at Aya's side, his arm wrapped comfortably around and entwined with her hand. If one didn't know him well, it'd be easy to miss the cautious gaze that he gives the area as his eyes adjust to the interior lighting. Seeing nothing amiss however, he allows himself to relax and he even leads the way inside toward a table more in the back with a good view of the rest of the establishment.

Aya's eyes skim the interior briefly as they move. While the establishment is familiar and comfortable, it is the patronage that varies... and is the least trusted. Her hand held and his held in return, yet it is he who leads them towards a table. "Any thoughts on what to drink?"

Daechir pulls out a chair for Aya politely, offering her a seat before he sits down himself. "Too early for anything stronger than tea I think." He says gently. Though in truth he hasn't had anything alcoholic since his return. He waves for a waitress and settles back in his seat somewhat, trying to relax. "You in the mood for anything in particular?"

Aya is, of course, perfectly capable of seating herself. Nor is this some required display of protocol or decorum for his g- Aya promptly murders that thread of thought. She gives a nod and smile at his courtesy as she sits and settles. "I am in the mood for your company," she answers with ease before considering a moment. "Tea is fine as well."

Daechir laughs gently. "You've my company Aya." He says in a smooth and comforting manner. He waits for the waitress and orders the tea. Once they are alone again he offers his hand to Aya. "It's nice to be out and about with you."

Aya's lips curl into a smile at his laugh and comment; a gentle, full expression that is earnest and natural. His hand receives a light squeeze. "It is, and long overdue for both of us." Her smile then fades as she recalls and recounts, "So much time separated... or confined by caution..."

Realizing the turn, she pauses to exhale a breath and some of the smile returns, if more subdued. "All the more reason to enjoy the day and, I hope, intend for many more like it in the future."

Aya is right of course, they've spent so much time in the Temple that being out almost feels unnatural. Their few excursions outside have been brief and tentative until now. "We've plenty of time to make up for what we've lost." He offers gently. There's so much unsaid between them.

Aya nods, another light squeeze given in emphasis. Agreement. Assurance. "I intend to make use of every moment to do just that. So much has happened, it is-" Her words pause as the server arrives with their drinks. Aya offers thanks, then looks to Daed questioningly when they are asked if they need anything else at the moment.

Daechir needs nothing further, and with Aya herself declining he shakes his own head and allows the waitress to leave them alone. He pours the tea out, for Aya and then for himself, red eyes taking in the warm red-brown color of the tea. "Frustrating?" He offers the word to finish off her thought. "Too much?" His dark fingers wrap around the colorless porcelain.

"No." The word is quick and firm as Ayatakes up her own cup. Her eyes are focused upon him, even if his are aimed at his tea. There is a pause as she collects the words to follow. "That is, yes... some of it was frustrating. It is a second chance. For you, for myself. Even more, -you- made it a second chance for -us-. I won't ignore that. I won't squander it."

Now she glances briefly to her tea and back to him. "We have both changed a great deal. It is as if we must learn, have had to learn, one another all anew. That is not too much...?" The last is one part statement and one part inquiry.

Daechir watches his tea. "Some days are frustrating, and there are days that feel like they are an unbearable burden." He admits this gently enough, softly, as his red eyes rise to meet hers. "But then I see you and the frustration fades. The hardships become manageable. I know that this - all of this must be difficult for you, but you have been here for me every step of the way."

Aya's eyes widen and the questioning look from before abruptly shifts to surprise, immediately followed by something far softer. "And I will be here for every step to come, Daed. Whatever the difficulties, they pale in comparison to you." So he is not the only one gaining strength and drive from the other. "We will meet the challenges, and overcome them, together."

She lifts her cup to take a sip before a familiar half-smile sprouts. "Starting with our first date out in recent history."

Daechir laughs softly, a sound echoed by the twinkling of bells. "I feel like I should apologize for the condition of this particular date. A cup of tea is hardly worthy of such a name." He offers her a similar half-smile in return.

Aya takes a moment to relish that sound. Before the past minutes, when was the last time she heard him laugh so? A lifetime ago, it seems. "The tea is more than adequate," and she takes another sip as if to prove it. "Your company and conversation are all that is required to entertain and impress me." She returns her cup to the table before adding, ".. though a light meal and a leisurely soak would not be declined."

The man at her side smiles and it holds a hint of the old him in it that smile. A hint of his old mischievous self, the one that was a gentleman yes, but one with a at times wicked sense of humor. "I think that could easily be accommodated. What would you like to eat?"

Hints of the familiar man of the past are heartening; mischievous smiles maybe moreso. Aya hmms softly in thought, finally pulling her eyes from him to glance towards the kitchen as she considers. "I heard that their specialties are various cooked monstrosities..." she turns back to Daed, "but I would prefer something simple. A platter of cheese and fruit? Something tidy and ... casual. I would not want to interrupt your company with shoveling of utensils or a faceful of crumbs."

"That sounds perfect." That mischievousness hasn't faded, and he slides his hand over the table toward her. Offering it to her. Daed turns his attention away only long enough to catch the eye of the waitress once again. While they wait, he lets his thumb play over Aya's hand. "Normally, if this was a real first date, I would be asking you about your family and learning about your likes and dislikes... Should I play the part and ask you anyway?" He seems generally amused.

Aya's right brow arches lightly at the lingering look of mischief as her interest is further piqued. Her lips curl languidly in both amusement and indulgence of the offering, her acceptance, and his subsequent thumb-caress. Until they flatten for just a moment. "This is for us in the here and now. Family that is not relevant is, well, not relevant." Her soft smile then returns. "Otherwise, ask whatever you wish."

Daechir shakes his head minutely, and as the waitress approaches he allows Aya to order their tray of cheese and fruit and for the waitress to leave before turning the whole of his attention on Aya. "Have you ever considered... Adding to your family?" Not the expected question perhaps.

Aya makes the request for a tray of cheeses, cut fruit, and an assortment of baked treats. A shared buffet of appetizing bits for their choosing, as it were. She then turns back to Daechir and his follow-up question. Not expected, indeed, as it causes her to blink. After a brief pause, she admits, "For all purposes, I was a family of one when I arrived here. Since then, Aryia has joined, and you are the closest to family aside from her. I can't say that I had considered any of that in advance... Do you ask with any particular aspect in mind?"

The mul'niessan man laughs at her answer, the bells twinkling in the background and though he'd laughed before it hadn't totally transformed his face quite like this one does. Finally he lets the laughter fade. "I meant children Aya. Have you ever considered building... a family."

The sight, now, of his laughing as it transforms Daechir's entire face brings a brightness to Aya's eyes; she does not even attempt to recall whether or when she had witnessed this delight before. At the same time, his explanation brings a flush to her cheeks. "No, I had not considered children." Now that the question is posed, however...

Her cup is clasped again, and now she regards her tea; a blank brown canvas for her thoughts to form over. "Now, many of the reasons it was not a consideration are no longer true. I am not utterly opposed, but nor would it be solely my decision. Even so..." Now her eyes return to Daechir. "I know nothing of raising children other than how I was, and I would not pass that on."

"I know precisely what you mean." Daed says with a comforting smile. "My raising is not something that I would wish to pass down to a child either. Yet I can not deny that I have found myself thinking of the future a great deal lately. Thinking that..."

He trails off for a moment, his eyes falling to his own cup. "One thing my grandmother always wanted from me was children. To pass on her family name to. Of course she wanted a full-blooded grandchild, and not a mutt like me. For a very long time I resolved that I didn't want children. I didn't want to pass on that name. Didn't want to pass on that history."

He sighs. "Now, with this new weight in my life, I think that it might be worse of me. What kind of father would I make?" He looks at their hands, joined as they are. "But the part of me that sees the future wonders if; in time... There might be a place in our lives for a child with your smile. After all, if I can love you, if I can give my heart to you... Perhaps we might together be able to overcome what we were taught and make a life together."

Aya is wholly without words for a long moment. Many of their reasons, or past reasons, against align, and she had her suspicions that his family would make him all the more less inclined. Then again, it was just noted that irrelevant family was irrelevant, and this was about THEM. Her hands finally give his a squeeze. "Daechir.." she begins, to draw his eyes up from their hands.

"There is no challenge we cannot overcome together. That would include children." She states this with the certainty of hope more than fact. After a pause, her intensity lightens. "Besides... If any of them had your laugh, the effort would be more than justified."

Daechir lifts their joined hands, kissing her knuckles with his lips gently. He doesn't even seem to notice much when their food is brought, preferring to give his all to the woman in his sights. It's a marked improvement from his usual hypervigilance. "It's just a thought for now, but one that I thought worth sharing. I want my future full of you Aya. Your happiness, your smile. We deserve it."

Aya's hands are his; already taken by him and free to be led wherever he desires. Much, if not all, of the rest of her is no different. "All of your thoughts are worth sharing, Daed," she assures him, "and I prefer you did so. Yes, we have earned this." She only barely notices the arrival of the food and server in her peripheral vision and gives only the barest side-nod of acknowledgement.

-End