They have shared many dinners together. The other dinners didn’t involve marriage proposals, however. That makes this particular one already incredibly different. Not unlike Dohalim, Kisara doubts she’ll be able to put it from her mind. There’s a lot to consider. What would Migal think? She wishes she could ask him. Seek his approval, which is silly because at this point, she shouldn’t need that anymore. And she doesn’t.
For all of the closeness she has with Shionne and Rinwell, she doesn’t feel she can go to them either. Lagill seems… probably not a possibility either. Tensions remain between them, though Kisara would still perceive her as a friendly face. Maybe just not friendly enough to discuss marriage proposals with. She may be on her own for this one.
“A little, yes,” Kisara agrees, still smiling in that bashful way. “You don’t think our dinners before were honest?”
Maybe he just means all of the dinners they’ve had where things went unspoken? Positive and negative feelings alike… Perhaps Dohalim has a point.
He bows his head slightly in deference, a boyish smile pulling at his lips, making him appear younger than his years for a moment— a side of him few people ever had the chance to see, but has long given up feeling the need to present himself as stiffly put together around Kisara as he once had.
"Not to say they were intentionally duplicitous, but I imagine we both kept a great deal to ourselves. I certainly kept my own feelings veiled, to an extent— if your surprise at my proposal is anything to go by."
Never mind the fact that there were plenty of other factors that made the proposal itself startling, but the fact remains that he knows he could afford to be more open with his feelings— and he should be. Kisara deserves that and more.
"They were dinners between friends, but I have long seen you as much more than that, Kisara."
How many times has she sat down for a meal with him, keeping many things to herself? Plenty, Kisara thinks. Likely for a multitude of reasons. Never the right time. Never the right situation. The complicated history between them making it a little difficult to be as honest with him as once she had been. Time had softened that somewhat, but there was no doubting that it remained, of all things, not an easy piece of proverbial land to traverse.
She has to wonder if she's ever noticed his feelings for her. She's inclined to think not. If she's ever thought it was possible, then it was likely quickly pushed aside. What business has a Renan lord ever had with a Dahnan? Well, it's what she would have thought before. Even if they're technically the same, Kisara continues to wonder why the interest would be there at all.
Maybe... they've always simply been drawn to one another.
Her smile is, as it has been so much on this particular exchange, sheepish. Perhaps a touch uncertain and wary, though less of him and more of herself.
"I... don't really know what to say," she begins, a small laugh making its way into her voice. "I wasn't exactly expecting this today. Or... ever, actually. I'm not sure there's anything I could have done to be prepared for it. I guess that might not matter so much now, though. Sounds like we have at least one dinner in the future. And it... probably won't be a dinner between friends."
Because of all the things that they are, friends is a bit of an understatement. Maybe for longer than she's been willing to admit or acknowledge. Choosing not to see the truth, however, does not mean truth does not exist.
“I am hoping for far more than just the one, but in the interest of fairness, I will temper my expectations and focus on the one before us,” he responds with a mirthful quirk to his smile, a gentle tease that surfaces only on rare occasions, in the most trusted of company. Many in Viscinct know him to be a serious man, with most more likely to speak of his artistic sensibilities than they are his sense of humor, but even with all that has transpired between them, he finds it easier to be relaxed in Kisara’s presence, to adopt a playfulness that he never would have dared when he was still Lord and felt confined by his role.
“I look forward to it,” he goes on, “But I have long looked forward to the enjoyment of your company. There is no need to worry over what to say— I only hope you will forgive me this dreadful fumble. It would be a shame if it were to spoil our tea— as we both have our share of responsibilities, I feel we are at least due that bit of respite before we return to them.”
He gestures broadly at the table between them with an open palm.
“That said, I am glad to have made a momentary fool of myself if it meant getting such things out in the open. I hope it will give you something to laugh about, as well as consider?”
Matter-of-factly asking someone to marry you over tea was, he realizes in retrospect, rather comical from a certain angle.
Yes, naturally. The implication of a proposal does sort of point towards the way that they are very likely to see other dinners together. They have to start somewhere, however. The sooner Kisara stops looking at him as the lord she served and more as the former lord, still sort of leader to their people, who would like it if she stopped serving him and more lead with him, the better. Old habits, however, certainly die hard.
"You didn't spoil the tea," she manages to reply, shaking her head, and offering him an apologetic and reassuring look.
Tapping fingertips against her teacup, she still feels a little winded by the conversation and the weight of it. If one of them has spoiled their tea, it's probably her, in truth, though it would have been as equally a strange reaction to just accept his proposal, which a part of her has thought he made in haste. If he's had these feelings for as long as it seems he's had, then it wouldn't be hasty at all. Maybe just a matter of reaching the threshold for patience.
One can't know something if it's not said, after all.
Loosing a sigh, she continues. "I don't know that I'm going to laugh about it, but the considering part is already at the top of my to-do. Seems a fair way to spend my free time today." Provided she's willing to let herself have any free time after all that's been said and done. "Maybe we'll both laugh about it in the near future. I wonder what made you think over teatime was the opportune moment. Maybe my talk of wanting to leave and find myself."
Maybe he really was concerned she might leave and just not come back.
"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."
"That's fair," Kisara begins thoughtfully. When thinking about it like that, it makes more sense. It's highly unlikely that having a tea together would leave them in the company of others. Maybe they don't have many moments where they can steal away together. It seems one or both of them tend to find themselves in the public eye. It would have been a very complicated situation if he'd asked her such a thing in front of others.
Kisara can't promise she would have handled it as maturely as she'd like to.
Tapping her fingers against the side of her teacup, her smile grows just a touch. Dearly missed, even with the intent to return. Has she truly become so important to him? It's touching. Having spent her life in Menancia, Kisara can't imagine being anywhere else. Maybe in some ways she's become very accustomed to having Dohalim in her life as well. She may no longer be blinded by the past, but it doesn't make him any less important to her.
"You could always just come with me. Although I know how you feel about fishing. You'd probably enjoy the orphanage more."
“I do not have your talent or any particular desire to improve my skill with fishing, it’s true, but I quite enjoy watching you fish,” Dohalim reasons, disinclined to dismiss the idea out of hand. It would be refreshing, in fact, to have an opportunity to step away from Autelina Palace once more— his work here was now as one among many who cared about Menancia’s future, but after they and their companions had traveled far and wide, it feels a bit more stifling than it used to.
“I’ve also yet to see the orphanage with my own eyes, and I would be glad to see the fruits of your labors for myself, as well as offer any aid as I can.” If she had meant the offer in jest, she’ll find that he’s actually considering it quite seriously. “I’ve no doubt the council can spare me for a number of days, with things delegated properly.”
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no subject
For all of the closeness she has with Shionne and Rinwell, she doesn’t feel she can go to them either. Lagill seems… probably not a possibility either. Tensions remain between them, though Kisara would still perceive her as a friendly face. Maybe just not friendly enough to discuss marriage proposals with. She may be on her own for this one.
“A little, yes,” Kisara agrees, still smiling in that bashful way. “You don’t think our dinners before were honest?”
Maybe he just means all of the dinners they’ve had where things went unspoken? Positive and negative feelings alike… Perhaps Dohalim has a point.
no subject
"Not to say they were intentionally duplicitous, but I imagine we both kept a great deal to ourselves. I certainly kept my own feelings veiled, to an extent— if your surprise at my proposal is anything to go by."
Never mind the fact that there were plenty of other factors that made the proposal itself startling, but the fact remains that he knows he could afford to be more open with his feelings— and he should be. Kisara deserves that and more.
"They were dinners between friends, but I have long seen you as much more than that, Kisara."
no subject
She has to wonder if she's ever noticed his feelings for her. She's inclined to think not. If she's ever thought it was possible, then it was likely quickly pushed aside. What business has a Renan lord ever had with a Dahnan? Well, it's what she would have thought before. Even if they're technically the same, Kisara continues to wonder why the interest would be there at all.
Maybe... they've always simply been drawn to one another.
Her smile is, as it has been so much on this particular exchange, sheepish. Perhaps a touch uncertain and wary, though less of him and more of herself.
"I... don't really know what to say," she begins, a small laugh making its way into her voice. "I wasn't exactly expecting this today. Or... ever, actually. I'm not sure there's anything I could have done to be prepared for it. I guess that might not matter so much now, though. Sounds like we have at least one dinner in the future. And it... probably won't be a dinner between friends."
Because of all the things that they are, friends is a bit of an understatement. Maybe for longer than she's been willing to admit or acknowledge. Choosing not to see the truth, however, does not mean truth does not exist.
no subject
“I look forward to it,” he goes on, “But I have long looked forward to the enjoyment of your company. There is no need to worry over what to say— I only hope you will forgive me this dreadful fumble. It would be a shame if it were to spoil our tea— as we both have our share of responsibilities, I feel we are at least due that bit of respite before we return to them.”
He gestures broadly at the table between them with an open palm.
“That said, I am glad to have made a momentary fool of myself if it meant getting such things out in the open. I hope it will give you something to laugh about, as well as consider?”
Matter-of-factly asking someone to marry you over tea was, he realizes in retrospect, rather comical from a certain angle.
no subject
Yes, naturally. The implication of a proposal does sort of point towards the way that they are very likely to see other dinners together. They have to start somewhere, however. The sooner Kisara stops looking at him as the lord she served and more as the former lord, still sort of leader to their people, who would like it if she stopped serving him and more lead with him, the better. Old habits, however, certainly die hard.
"You didn't spoil the tea," she manages to reply, shaking her head, and offering him an apologetic and reassuring look.
Tapping fingertips against her teacup, she still feels a little winded by the conversation and the weight of it. If one of them has spoiled their tea, it's probably her, in truth, though it would have been as equally a strange reaction to just accept his proposal, which a part of her has thought he made in haste. If he's had these feelings for as long as it seems he's had, then it wouldn't be hasty at all. Maybe just a matter of reaching the threshold for patience.
One can't know something if it's not said, after all.
Loosing a sigh, she continues. "I don't know that I'm going to laugh about it, but the considering part is already at the top of my to-do. Seems a fair way to spend my free time today." Provided she's willing to let herself have any free time after all that's been said and done. "Maybe we'll both laugh about it in the near future. I wonder what made you think over teatime was the opportune moment. Maybe my talk of wanting to leave and find myself."
Maybe he really was concerned she might leave and just not come back.
no subject
"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."
no subject
Kisara can't promise she would have handled it as maturely as she'd like to.
Tapping her fingers against the side of her teacup, her smile grows just a touch. Dearly missed, even with the intent to return. Has she truly become so important to him? It's touching. Having spent her life in Menancia, Kisara can't imagine being anywhere else. Maybe in some ways she's become very accustomed to having Dohalim in her life as well. She may no longer be blinded by the past, but it doesn't make him any less important to her.
"You could always just come with me. Although I know how you feel about fishing. You'd probably enjoy the orphanage more."
no subject
“I’ve also yet to see the orphanage with my own eyes, and I would be glad to see the fruits of your labors for myself, as well as offer any aid as I can.” If she had meant the offer in jest, she’ll find that he’s actually considering it quite seriously. “I’ve no doubt the council can spare me for a number of days, with things delegated properly.”