A Picnic and A Tour

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 4th July 2006

Characters: Daigoro, Cinale
Description: Daigoro takes Cinale to see their new home...
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 12, day 27 of Turn 3

Cinale

"I know that's you out there hovering by the door, Daigoro," Cinale grinned. "You can come in, hon."

"Actually, I was hoping that would come out." The Hallsecond's eyes sparkled with impish enthusiasm.

"Come out? Why, are you plotting something?"

Daigoro shrugged. "Aren't I always? Come on. There's something I want to show you."

She took his hand, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek. "Where are we going?"

"For a boat ride," he said, failing miserably at looking nonchalant.

A brow rose, and a slow grin began to spread across her lips. "A boat ride, huh?"

"Uh huh. With a little picnic to be had at the end of it," he said, holding up a bag of sandwiches he had gotten from the Hold's cook.

"If those are her crispy avian sandwiches, I'm sold," she chuckled, sliding an arm through his. "I really do need to swap recipes with the woman... She knows so much!"

"I see. It's the _sandwiches_ you are agreeing to, is it?" Daigoro tried to give her a look of dejection, but he knew he was not a very good liar.

She grinned at him. "Well...they _are_ good sandwiches."

~*~

Daigoro reached out to help Cinale onto the dock while the boat held the craft steady. "Careful now," he cautioned.

"Maybe I should learn how to swim now that we live so close to a river,"
Cinale murmured as she held on to him fast, trying not to look like she was in a hurry to get onto safe, dry land.

"You don't know how to swim?" Daigoro asked surprised. "That's something we will certainly have to remedy. Soon."

"You would teach me?"

"Of course, my love. I won't have you be in danger when there is so much traveling to be done along the river. Now, come along this way," he said, taking her hand in his and guiding her along an old path. Once it had been rather clearly cut into the ground. It had become overgrown over the turns, but there was evidence of feet kicking away the weeds and grass once more as the area came back to life with activity.

Cinale looked around her, a smile spreading across her lips. "I think I know where we're going."

"Do you, now?" the Hallsecond asked innocently. "I think we're going to have a picnic."

"And where are we having it, hon? What do you call this place?" She spun around on the ball of her foot, gesturing around her.

Daigoro caught her hand in his to steady her. "I like to call it the Amber Hills Vintner Hall, though I suppose that is not the official name yet."

Grinning, she threw her arms around his neck. "Oh no? And what's the official name then, my love?" she teased, touching her nose to his.

"I have no idea," he laughed. "It was an old abandoned technicians complex, but they have one closer to the Hold now. But this is going to be our new home."

She smiled as she looked around. It really was situated beautifully here.
"I don't suppose you'd like to give me a tour, would you?"

"I _suppose_ I could," he grinned. Daigoro was glad that this was something the two of them could share together. The rest of the Hall residents hadn't been shown the new location as it was still being repaired, but he could excuse it as her being head cook she needed to see what was being done to the kitchens. The real reason was that he knew this was going to be the spot where they started their new lives together.
He wanted the first time she saw it to be something just the two of them shared.

"Well, then lead the way, hon!" Cinale turned her bright eyes to the path ahead of them. The Hall was really were rather close to the river... Their children would have to learn how to swim too. Her hand tightened slightly around his at the thought of him playing with their son and daughter in the shallows, teaching them how to swim as well as telling them little mysteries of the watery world...

"All right. Now there are five buildings, and beyond those there are some cots. I still haven't asked Fielton if we could have a cot rather than a suite, but I will," he assured her. That over there is the main building," he said, pointing to he largest of the five structures.

"I'd certainly like a cot. You don't think he'd refuse, do you?"

"I'm not sure. I think it will depend on if he would have room or not.
After all, if we have a cot, then perhaps it would mean every Hallsecond after us would inherit it. We'll have to see what he says, my love. But really, what does it matter if its a cot or a suite. It will be ours, right?"

"Right," she smiled, her expression then turning a little thoughtful. "You know...perhaps it might be easier if we lived in a suite first--before we have children."

"Perhaps. It certainly is something to think about," he nodded. "But I think we can move straight into the Hall after we are married."

She brushed her cheek against his shoulder. "I wonder how big the kitchens are..." she murmured, her tone wistful.

"Well, let's go look," he grinned, reaching down to take her hand. "I want to show you _everything_, including the kitchens."

"Are they bigger than Amethyst Cliff's?"

"No," he said with a shake of his head. "But I do want you to look at it and see if its _too_ small for our needs. If it is, perhaps I can talk to Fielton about enlarging it. If you need more shelves, more pantry space, whatever you need. Now is the time to do it, before people move in."

She nodded. "I'll be sure to look it all over carefully."

"But first, we lunch. I was thinking over there, under that tree. Just wait, soon it will be covered in blossoming flowers," he smiled.

"Oh, love...what a gorgeous sight it will be then! What color blossoms?"
she asked as she slowly knelt near the base of the trunk, spreading out her skirts and looking up at him expectantly, a smile crossing her lips.

"White. Or pink." **Perhaps yellow?** The Hallsecond actually wasn't good with trees. He was more knowledgeable about vines... "But it will be beautiful no matter the color," he assured her.

"Of course it will," she chuckled. "Now come on down here, love."

He sat down gracelessly on the grass beside her, cradling the basket of goodies in his lap. "Here you go. Lunch is served, and you didn't even have to serve it."

She leaned over to kiss his cheek. "It's nice to take a break from it all, Daigoro. Thank you for bringing me out here today."

"It's my pleasure, my love," he murmured as he turned to give her a proper kiss.

Last updated on the July 5th 2006

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A Picnic and A Tour