Date Night (while waiting to hear from Meva Kri)

Aleyn blushed slightly, occupying himself with his tea for a moment. "Oh well, maybe as a last resort," he said lightly, then glanced up at Vedran, smiling to show he wasn't serious. "I'd like that."

Vedran smiled back, blushing slightly himself. "We'd have to let the others know so they're not worrying... But lets see after dinner if we want to go out somewhere first, or skip to having an evening in."

He sat quietly for a moment, letting himself get lost in Aleyn's eyes and thinking about what the evening might have in store later. The men were shaken from this brief reverie when Stazia returned with a tray full of small dishes, off-loading them quietly and smiling to herself.

"There," she said, turning to Vedran after the table was laid and the men had had a moment to recover themselves. "Do you remember what everything is?"

The spread contained, as promised, a fair sampling of some of the tavern's best dishes, including a large portion of seasoned rice. There were little stuffed pastries, some dishes of nuts, a basket of steamed flatbreads with various sauces and dips, seasoned meats and stewed dished of vegetables. Vedran remembered most of them, listing them off and describing briefly to Aleyn any dishes he wasn't familiar with, and letting Stazia correct him as necessary.

"Aunty included some extras of the little fig rolls, because she thinks you liked them best, but I thought it was the stuffed leaves?"

"They're both excellent, thank you! How is your aunt these days, anyway?"

The girl shrugged. "She's old, and she doesn't like to leave the kitchen. She says it is warm, and there are lots of knives and not many people, and that's how she prefers it."

He grinned. "Well, please thank her for us, anyway."

"I will! Just let me know if you want any more tea, or anything else to drink." She smiled, slipping back to her post at the bar, leaving them alone once more.

"Wow, this looks delicious," Aleyn said, admiring the impressive spread. "It's interesting, because some of it reminds me of things my mother makes, but it's different too - the spices, the sauces, even what kinds of meats and vegetables they use. I never really realized just how much she must have had to adapt her tastes in food when she came to Highmark." He helped himself to an assortment of the varied dishes, including a generous scoop of the rice that seemed to be their house specialty. "I might be too full after this to do anything but fall into a food-induced stupor," he said with a smile that suggested he would find the energy somehow.

"Mmmhmm. You should have some more of the pepper sauce then. It has a reputation for helping people stay up. When they're sleepy." Vedran smirked, dipping a piece of bread in some himself.

Aleyn had to laugh at that. "Good thing it's also tasty, then," he said, having another scoopful. "So with the stuffed leaves, do you unroll them first, or just eat them like this?"

"Just like that. Though possibly dip them in yogurt first." Vedran demonstrated, handing the little bundle out to Aleyn with a smirk. "How's that for service. Dinner, your majesty."

Aleyn blushed, taking the offered treat and at the same time trying to adjust the gold circlet, which was ridiculously ornate for his usual level of style and grooming. "It's useful and everything, but I do feel a bit overdressed wearing a crown around in public," he said, embarrassed. "It would look nicer on you."

Vedran chuckled. "Well, that would certainly get me some looks around here, that's for sure."

Smiling, Aleyn plucked the crown off, mussing up his hair in the process, and deposited it, rather crookedly, on Vedran's head. "There," he said. "Beautiful."

Vedran adjusted the crown to an even more rakish angle, and leaned back in his chair. "Thank you. Its the gold - it goes so well with my hair. It's pretty with your eyes too though... but not as nice as that hat, mmph. That's what you need - an enchanted hat."

"I'll bear that in mind for next level," Aleyn chuckled, admiring Vedran's casual pose. "Or, I do have a birthday coming up..." he teased, taking another spoonful of the rice mixture.

"Mmm, I could buy you a hat, but I can't afford a magic hat, I'm afraid. I had some things for you back home... I didn't bring them though. I guess we'll see where we are on the day, and maybe I'll have to improvise. Or maybe we'll just have to make tonight count, just in case things go crazy, and if they don't we'll have two lovely evenings."

"I was just kidding," Aleyn hastened to add, reaching for Vedran's hand across the table. "You don't have to get me anything much... I'd rather have time with you over an expensive gift any day."

"I know..." He caught Aleyn's hand, turning it over, and the kissed the inside of his wrist. "I just wanted to try for something special."

"We'll make tonight special, then. I mean, it already is special, just being here with you, but we can make it more special, maybe," Aleyn babbled, not caring that he sounded head over heels, because he was, and it was okay that Vedran knew that. "After we finish here - or, you know, maybe not finish, there's still a ton of food, but we can see what we can do - then we can go somewhere, wherever you want, and then... well, I know it'll be special," he trailed off, smiling broadly.

He felt himself flush in the face of Aleyn's babbling, feeling that jitter of apprehension that he was undeserving of that affection, but Vedran squeezed his hand again and shook his head, smiling anyway. "You're adorable. Let's finish dinner, and then we can worry about... wherever I want."

Aleyn nodded, and looked down to survey the amount of food still left on the table. "I think I need to prioritize, to make sure I get some of everything. I have to have some more of that rice, and the lamb, and I didn't try those yet... I forget what they're called, those little rolls with the cheese and onion filling, they look great, and ... are these date-nut-honey things for dessert, or is there another course coming?" He looked a little apprehensive at the thought of still more food.

"Oh no, these are just the appetizers," he deadpanned, then smirked as Aleyn's eyes went even wider for a moment. "No, this is it. Although sometimes they have fruit flavoured shaved ice, but that's really better in the middle of the day. But we don't have to rush, we have all night..."

"Oh gods, Vedran," Aleyn sighed, smiling. "You make me want to rush, but I'll be patient. Food is an excellent way to pass the time, though," he added with a wink, letting his leg nudge gently between Vedran's under the table.