O-Of course! We can talk as much as you want. About anything you want.
[ Strohl addresses Will's embarrassment over not having his shoes on with a stroke of genius: by neatly removing his own. It's the sort of considerate gesture that Will has not received in many long years, and it makes the young elda's stomach (or is that his heart?) flip as his guest — his landlord's son — so easily and casually makes himself at home in his little home.
The warmth from their handshake seems to linger on Will's palms. The olive skin stretched over his cheeks has now turned a vivid pink.
He's... He's so nice. ...What did he say his name was, again? ]
I'll open it now, then. If you don't mind.
[ Will takes the gift box over to his singular small table, the selfsame one which Strohl will have to take a seat at, given that the cabin has been furnished with nothing more than this table, a few chairs, and the bed in which Will sleeps. The box isn't the sort that is particularly finicky to open — one pull of the decorative ribbon holding the lid to its container, and Will can see the spread of delicious gifts within. His eyes widen even further, though that already seemed impossible given the way his eyes are naturally large as saucers. Delight twinkles in his eyes as he takes in the pastries, the jam. ]
Oh... This is wonderful! You shouldn't have!
[ It's a considerate gift, though. After paying for rent in advance, Will didn't have much in the way of savings, and hasn't bought anything from the local stores in a while; he has simply eaten whatever he could forage from the fields and forests around his farm. Berries, roots, little mushrooms. Between this and his fruitless endeavors in the city, he hasn't had real food in a long time. He's hungry...
And Strohl may have just earned +500 friendship points all at once... Not fair! Isn't he supposed to be limited to only one gift a day? ]
[ Strohl has followed Will into the cabin, taking in its interior along the way, but he doesn't sit down at the table yet, standing beside it instead to watch Will open his gift box. It's hard not to do it expectantly, full of anticipation, as if Will is a gift box being unwrapped himself. Again, a smile spreads across Strohl's lips, elated now, as soon as Will's features brighten with delight. ]
I'm glad you like it. Hopefully you'll think it all tastes as good as it looks. You're going to need your strength, handling your farm!
[ And it doesn't look like Will has much to work with in his cabin... That's worrying. Is he even getting enough to eat? It's no good if he's pushing himself to clean everything up by himself first. It must be lonely up here, besides.
Maybe he's used to all of it, as an elda, which is worrying, too. ]
If you've the time, you could have lunch or dinner with us now and then. What kind of food do you like?
[ There's plenty to talk about, but they might as well start with that, especially if Will isn't against the invitation. To be fair, having meals with his landlord's family could be too strange an idea, so Strohl wouldn't mind just joining Will somewhere every so often, either. ]
[ The offer is almost too generous. Will's imagination might be getting ahead of himself; he somehow imagines himself sitting down for dinner with the Haliaetus family, Strohl's stately father and beautiful mother seated across from him at a table which for some reason must be graced with a gingham tablecloth...
...It's a tempting mental image, but he shakes his head to rid himself of the thought. He doesn't belong there! Not in such a nice place! ]
I couldn't! I've only met your father once, and I don't want to impose. I'm just trying to — to make a quiet living out here. I don't mean to bother anyone or... I mean, I couldn't trouble you.
[ Well, that explains why Will hasn't been to see anyone in town yet, if he thinks of his presence as bothering people. It's not hard to think of how his being an elda would have shaped this worldview — though being a shy and unassuming elda doesn't stop him from bustling about his kitchen to fetch some extraordinarily simple, plain plates and knives (to help spread the jam). ]
Would you like to eat some of this together, though? It's all so beautiful, and you... [ You're beautiful too, he almost says, but that's not an entirely logical way to finish that sentence. ] You seem like you might be a little hungry. At this time of day.
[ Covered up his little stumble well enough!
It's true that his kitchen shelves are bare, but if it means he can keep Strohl with him a little while longer, Will doesn't mind using up some of the gorgeous bread and cheese he's just been gifted. ]
[ Right, inviting Will over for lunch or dinner might be too much, at least when they've just met. Strohl tells himself to be more careful, stop overwhelming Will with every other sentence out of his mouth. He wants to apologize and assure Will that he's not imposing on anyone, but he thinks better of that, too. Chances are, it's only going to make matters worse, at this rate...
He moves to pull out the chairs for the two of them to take a seat once Will has set the table. ]
Honestly, you'd be doing me a favor. Just like you are now.
[ It's said with a chuckle as Strohl finally sits down, tilting his head at the spread that was meant for Will's use. Well, not that Will isn't using his gifts as he pleases by choosing to share them with a guest, who is actually a little hungry at this time of day.
Still watching Will with interest, Strohl opts for a change of subject, something that should let Will talk about himself without having to feel self-conscious. ]
A quiet living... You're in the right place for that here. How are you finding it so far?
[ It's a relief that Strohl accepts the offer swiftly. Will knows he shouldn't feel quite so nervous, not when Strohl has been such a pleasant guest and has thus far shown no signs of either running away or spitting at him in disgust, but he finds himself seized by a slightly irrational desire to keep the handsome clemar in his humble cabin for as long as possible. Nervous, and not quite showing it, Will flashes the young man an unintentionally dazzling smile as he begins setting the table for their meal. He only has plain brown plates and simple cutlery, but it will do. ]
It's wonderful out here.
[ He says it in a soft, worshipful tone that suggests he means it. Serenely, as he places things on the table in front of Strohl, Will elaborates: ]
I used to live in a little town in the forest like this one. But it burned down long ago, when I was a boy. [ He does not elaborate on the reason it was burned down, but it seems possible that Strohl knows enough about the elda to guess. ] After that happened, I moved out to the city for a while, but... it wasn't such a good place to live, for someone like me. So I wanted to go somewhere that felt... natural and free again.
[ He gazes with a smile out at the window, but then... blanches slightly when he realizes that there are still boulders and fallen trees out in the field. Ahhh, those need to be cleared...! ]
The farm is still a bit of a mess, but I'm working on it! I'll pull things together one step at a time!
[ It's good to see Will smile; Strohl finds that he rather likes watching the boy light up with that sort of radiant elation. He tries not to gawk at him like an idiot, but an echo of Will's remark passes through his mind: it's all so beautiful. He's not thinking about the table, although there is something charming to the way Will sets it, but the look in Will's striking eyes. The curve of his lips. Will's murmured answer, making Euchronia Village the most wonderful place in the world.
Strohl's own smile fades, though, as Will shares bits and pieces of his life before moving here. On the one hand, it's pretty amazing that Will can still smile like this and find joy in things, but on the other, it's such an awful thought that he's gone through so much just because he's an elda. The fire that burned down his forest home can't have been an accident... It'd be naive to think that it was. And it's not too hard to guess at the reasons why Will didn't feel welcome in the city, nor to realize just how long he must have been out there on his own.
Unconsciously, Strohl's hands curl into fists until he catches himself. He laces his fingers together on his side of the table while he can't trust himself to say anything straightaway, dismayed.
But Will likes it in the village. He'll hopefully have plenty more wonderful, peaceful days here. ]
...You know, I actually thought to myself that the farm's looking a lot better already, thanks to you. It'll be all the way there in no time, but the important thing is that you're settling in.
[ Sitting back, Strohl rubs at the back of his neck again. ]
Maybe I could show you around town a little whenever you'd like a breather?
[ Blissfully oblivious, Will doesn't pick up on how the somber tale of his past struggles seems to get Strohl a little down; he's only concentrating on spreading some cheese over a loaf of bread, his knifework a little unsteady but meticulous. ]
Would you really? I'd be ever so grateful if you did.
[ With small, slim fingers, he sets one loaf of bread aside to cut another. This time, he coats it in a thin layer of glistening jam. ]
But only if I wouldn't be imposing on you. I'm sure you have lots of other very important things to do, as the son of the Count...
[ Then he puts his utensils down, dusting his fingers of crumbs very delicately, and shifts the plate over on the table. ]
Here you go.
[ He turns the plate over to Strohl — ah? Seems like he's gone ahead and fixed Strohl's plate for him. One slice of bread with cheese, the other with jam. Was it necessary? Of course not, but there's something about the solemnity of the young clemar at his humble dining table that makes Will just sort of want to do things for him. Dote on him a little, perhaps... ]
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no subject
[ Strohl addresses Will's embarrassment over not having his shoes on with a stroke of genius: by neatly removing his own. It's the sort of considerate gesture that Will has not received in many long years, and it makes the young elda's stomach (or is that his heart?) flip as his guest — his landlord's son — so easily and casually makes himself at home in his little home.
The warmth from their handshake seems to linger on Will's palms. The olive skin stretched over his cheeks has now turned a vivid pink.
He's... He's so nice. ...What did he say his name was, again? ]
I'll open it now, then. If you don't mind.
[ Will takes the gift box over to his singular small table, the selfsame one which Strohl will have to take a seat at, given that the cabin has been furnished with nothing more than this table, a few chairs, and the bed in which Will sleeps. The box isn't the sort that is particularly finicky to open — one pull of the decorative ribbon holding the lid to its container, and Will can see the spread of delicious gifts within. His eyes widen even further, though that already seemed impossible given the way his eyes are naturally large as saucers. Delight twinkles in his eyes as he takes in the pastries, the jam. ]
Oh... This is wonderful! You shouldn't have!
[ It's a considerate gift, though. After paying for rent in advance, Will didn't have much in the way of savings, and hasn't bought anything from the local stores in a while; he has simply eaten whatever he could forage from the fields and forests around his farm. Berries, roots, little mushrooms. Between this and his fruitless endeavors in the city, he hasn't had real food in a long time. He's hungry...
And Strohl may have just earned +500 friendship points all at once... Not fair! Isn't he supposed to be limited to only one gift a day?]no subject
I'm glad you like it. Hopefully you'll think it all tastes as good as it looks. You're going to need your strength, handling your farm!
[ And it doesn't look like Will has much to work with in his cabin... That's worrying. Is he even getting enough to eat? It's no good if he's pushing himself to clean everything up by himself first. It must be lonely up here, besides.
Maybe he's used to all of it, as an elda, which is worrying, too. ]
If you've the time, you could have lunch or dinner with us now and then. What kind of food do you like?
[ There's plenty to talk about, but they might as well start with that, especially if Will isn't against the invitation. To be fair, having meals with his landlord's family could be too strange an idea, so Strohl wouldn't mind just joining Will somewhere every so often, either. ]
no subject
...It's a tempting mental image, but he shakes his head to rid himself of the thought. He doesn't belong there! Not in such a nice place! ]
I couldn't! I've only met your father once, and I don't want to impose. I'm just trying to — to make a quiet living out here. I don't mean to bother anyone or... I mean, I couldn't trouble you.
[ Well, that explains why Will hasn't been to see anyone in town yet, if he thinks of his presence as bothering people. It's not hard to think of how his being an elda would have shaped this worldview — though being a shy and unassuming elda doesn't stop him from bustling about his kitchen to fetch some extraordinarily simple, plain plates and knives (to help spread the jam). ]
Would you like to eat some of this together, though? It's all so beautiful, and you... [ You're beautiful too, he almost says, but that's not an entirely logical way to finish that sentence. ] You seem like you might be a little hungry. At this time of day.
[ Covered up his little stumble well enough!
It's true that his kitchen shelves are bare, but if it means he can keep Strohl with him a little while longer, Will doesn't mind using up some of the gorgeous bread and cheese he's just been gifted. ]
no subject
He moves to pull out the chairs for the two of them to take a seat once Will has set the table. ]
Honestly, you'd be doing me a favor. Just like you are now.
[ It's said with a chuckle as Strohl finally sits down, tilting his head at the spread that was meant for Will's use. Well, not that Will isn't using his gifts as he pleases by choosing to share them with a guest, who is actually a little hungry at this time of day.
Still watching Will with interest, Strohl opts for a change of subject, something that should let Will talk about himself without having to feel self-conscious. ]
A quiet living... You're in the right place for that here. How are you finding it so far?
no subject
It's wonderful out here.
[ He says it in a soft, worshipful tone that suggests he means it. Serenely, as he places things on the table in front of Strohl, Will elaborates: ]
I used to live in a little town in the forest like this one. But it burned down long ago, when I was a boy. [ He does not elaborate on the reason it was burned down, but it seems possible that Strohl knows enough about the elda to guess. ] After that happened, I moved out to the city for a while, but... it wasn't such a good place to live, for someone like me. So I wanted to go somewhere that felt... natural and free again.
[ He gazes with a smile out at the window, but then... blanches slightly when he realizes that there are still boulders and fallen trees out in the field. Ahhh, those need to be cleared...! ]
The farm is still a bit of a mess, but I'm working on it! I'll pull things together one step at a time!
no subject
Strohl's own smile fades, though, as Will shares bits and pieces of his life before moving here. On the one hand, it's pretty amazing that Will can still smile like this and find joy in things, but on the other, it's such an awful thought that he's gone through so much just because he's an elda. The fire that burned down his forest home can't have been an accident... It'd be naive to think that it was. And it's not too hard to guess at the reasons why Will didn't feel welcome in the city, nor to realize just how long he must have been out there on his own.
Unconsciously, Strohl's hands curl into fists until he catches himself. He laces his fingers together on his side of the table while he can't trust himself to say anything straightaway, dismayed.
But Will likes it in the village. He'll hopefully have plenty more wonderful, peaceful days here. ]
...You know, I actually thought to myself that the farm's looking a lot better already, thanks to you. It'll be all the way there in no time, but the important thing is that you're settling in.
[ Sitting back, Strohl rubs at the back of his neck again. ]
Maybe I could show you around town a little whenever you'd like a breather?
no subject
Would you really? I'd be ever so grateful if you did.
[ With small, slim fingers, he sets one loaf of bread aside to cut another. This time, he coats it in a thin layer of glistening jam. ]
But only if I wouldn't be imposing on you. I'm sure you have lots of other very important things to do, as the son of the Count...
[ Then he puts his utensils down, dusting his fingers of crumbs very delicately, and shifts the plate over on the table. ]
Here you go.
[ He turns the plate over to Strohl — ah? Seems like he's gone ahead and fixed Strohl's plate for him. One slice of bread with cheese, the other with jam. Was it necessary? Of course not, but there's something about the solemnity of the young clemar at his humble dining table that makes Will just sort of want to do things for him. Dote on him a little, perhaps... ]