"That may well have contributed, but I confess, I had been thinking about it before then," Dohalim admits with a soft laugh, taking his own teacup in hand. What had made him think this was the opportune moment? It's difficult to put it into words immediately, and in hindsight, it does seem quite foolish to have done so, but he knows where his heart had been.

"I suppose I felt that tea would be a time that was simply ours— without any responsibilities or onlookers to trouble ourselves with," he goes on to say, offering another smile over the rim of his cup before he pauses to take a measured sip. "Though I would not have you feel as though you cannot go where you wish... but I hope you do realize you would be dearly missed, should you leave for any length of time, even with the intent to return."