{ CLOSED } If I just breathe

[aceso]

WHO: Christine and her closest friends
WHAT: A birthday picnic.
WHEN: Bloomingtide 13th
WHERE: the foothills of the Vimmarks, an hour NW of Kirkwall

As with most things, Christine overplans for her picnic. She studies maps and speaks with the locals about the safest areas outside Kirkwall and finds that heading towards the foothills of the mountains around mid-morning is probably her safest bet. She invites those nearest and dearest to her to join her for a birthday celebration, though it's by no means fancy. There will be plenty of food, drink, and activities to be had, but the part she's most excited about is just leaving Kirkwall. To breathe fresh air and see some greenery again. The brief respite she had for Aleron and Bethany's wedding made her crave this outing all the more.

On the day, they load up their mounts with the supplies and head out. The trip only takes around an hour and the path is well kept, so when she spots the large maple tree and stream cutting through that a local told her about, she knows they've reached the picnic spot. It's a wide, mostly flat field that starts to rise towards the north. To the east at the end of the field, it rises more sharply, the hills dotted with heavy stones. To the west is the path they've veered off, the large tree, and the stream that keeps going west under a short wooden bridge. And to the south is the view. Green hills descend before them, and while there's a hint of Kirkwall's Hightown within sight, what they can see beyond is the shimmer of sunlight on the Waking Sea. Now it's time to set out the blankets, let the mounts graze and lap water from the stream, and relax. Oh, and release the hounds, cats, and fox. Some of them brought their pets.

Comments

[aceso]

Oh, dear. This didn't go as planned. Christine is far too used to the teasing banter she and Sam have with one another. She should have known better than to try it on someone so polite and serious.

"Aleron, please, be at ease," she says, placing a hand on his arm to hopefully calm him. "I know you meant well. I was simply making a joke, but I should not have expected you to play along. I truly love it and thank you for your thoughtfulness." There; that should reassure him.

[lifeofendurance]

Ah but look at what Christine has done! Managed to get the ever stoic Seeker to not only flush red but start stammering in his fluster. It's such a rarity, it's worth enjoying at least in part.

Her reassurance helps him to reign it back in, fleeting moment of panic fading away and he lets out a soft sigh of relief. "I'm so pleased. I'm just wretched at being social. Mother and my sisters have all but forbidden me to entertain or attend parties without one of them or an acceptable chaperone present." Bethany now being an acceptable chaperone, or in Ravonild's turn of phrase 'he's your problem now.'

The relief gives way to another faint smile though. "I'll work on my sense of humor."

[aceso]

She would enjoy it more if he wasn't uncomfortable. While she does like to tease, she's far from malicious and she wants him to be relaxed here.

Her eyebrow quirks up and she can't help but ask, "Is that not a good thing? You have far less pressure on you to be social all on your own."