Spirits of the Earth

It was nice to smell the salty air, to feel the warm wind rolling off the water. Spending time by the coasts had practically become his religion. It was easy, relaxing, and offered a simple escape should he need to flee. But it was always the same, something he could be familiar with and come to expect: the tides would always be there, that boulder would always be right there, fish could always be found, warm sand was bountiful and the shades always that much more relieving to bask in.

Everything would have been perfect were it not for the fact that he couldn't have some grand palace right there on the beach. But one could always dream.

Today he was going to do the honorable thing and actually pay for the things he wanted, mostly because it just didn't suit his interests to get a bad reputation with the people of Cerenis. He had his eye out for a necklace of shells, but he wasn't sure what he wanted yet or if he wanted to commission something specific.

As he wandered about the market, though, he could see that the clouds overhead were about ready to ruin his afternoon of lighthearted shopping on the street. He hoped it held until he was able to return to the room he was currently calling home.

Her mind was a million miles away as she rushed through the market streets trying to remember where all the week's orders were headed. This time of year tended to be a busier one due to the fishing picking up and the end of winter signifying the beginning of celebration. In Cerenis, a feast was not complete without fish.

Riley had been working doubly hard to reel them in and then to deliver them. Her father could still not stand the chillness of the spring air nor the long walks required for heading into the heart of town and back again. It was therefore up to her as her father's daughter to do the heavy lifting while he tended their market stall and cleaned the fish.

'Now was it a left on Emerly or a right?' Looking up and down the street both ways, she really could not decide for sure which way Widow Mylene's house was. Riley huffed and readjusted her hold on the slippery packages of fish before heading down the left side of Emerly.

A single droplet of rainwater on her nose though, quickly had her turning back to the main street in hopes of getting under a roof before the rain started pelting. As much as she loved living by the sea, experience had taught her where there was one drop, a whole wave was sure to follow in no time at all.

Lucien continued to mull about for a while in relative peace, stopping every now and then to study something that caught his eye, but he had yet to find something he thought worthy of dropping any of his hard-earned coin on. After going on to another section of the market further down the street, though, he realized that the clouds were quickly bearing down upon the town and...further down the street he could see the blurriness he'd learned to associate with approaching rain.

Turning around and blindly running away from it, though, he ducked into the first empty stall he could find and then immediately whirled to watch the rain approaching as he backed as far under the small bit of shelter as he could. What a day ruined! But perhaps not, if the storm would pass soon.

She could feel the rain beginning to pelt down upon her back and heels as she ran further into the heart of town, trying to beat it before she got soaked. All Riley had to do was find a dry eave to wait it out and hopefully it would soon move further up-shore and just leave puddles for her to contend with on her way back to the widow's house.

'There!' Up ahead was the flowershop's empty stall. The old woman who ran it was only open twice a week and today was a Tuesday. Dashing ahead with her head down, Riley never saw the figure that quickly occupied her intended hideaway.

As such she was incredibly shocked when she hopped in only to look up and have the figure whip around to face her. A startled squeak fell from her lips as she nearly bobbled her precious cargo. "Forgive me, I didn't realize the stall was occupied today. I just came in from the rain. I'm sorry, if you give me a moment I can be on my way again. I won't bother you, further."

His eyes met movement and soon enough he was faced with a woman. As their eyes met, though, he realized she might have thought he owned the place at the mentioning of 'today.' Putting his hand up, he tried to correct the mix up with, "Ah, I'm not the owner. It's just that the rain..." He stepped a bit further in to allow her room once he realized she was carrying things.

"I'm just waiting for the rain to pass," he explained with a chuckle before looking past her at the drops falling into the street to begin forming little puddles here and there.  "Did your things get wet?" he asked as he gestured to the things she was holding, not wanting to pass the time in an awkward silence.

"Oh, I see," she stated with a chuckle, gratefully stepping further into the dry space while clutching her bundles close to her chest. "I didn't think you worked here but you never know. Edna certainly is getting up there in years. You could have just been a handsome nephew or something."

Biting her lip slightly while her brows shot up into her hairline, Riley stared down at her packages. The small bit of flirtation on her part had not gone unnoticed by her and was certainly out of character, but she tried to brush it off as she pretended to resettle her packages again.

Distractedly, she glanced up and responded "Pardon? Oh!" A look down again had her smiling softly. "I suppose they're fine. A bit of water won't hurt them. They started out wet to begin with anyway." The fisherwoman chuckled at her own joke before blushing and falling silent.

"What were you off to before the rain caught you?"

The way she spoke he knew she was at least acquainted with the real owner. He would have felt bad for coming in and being 'caught' like that if it weren't for the rain. He did flash her a quick, prideful smile, though, for the compliment.

He didn't understand her joke, though, and eyed the peculiar things as he ran a hand over his hair to feel how wet the rain had gotten it. "What I was... Oh. I've been trying to find something at the market, and with little success, I'm afraid," he offered with a shrug before gesturing to her things again.

"But I suppose you've gotten your shopping done for the day, huh?" he ventured, then chuckled, "And you almost made it, too."

His smile was infectious and equally returned. "Nay, today is selling day, tomorrow is buying. I shall make my purchases then and pray the rains stop so that I might not come home with soggy bread. There is nothing worse, I swear," Riley chuckled, her eyes crinkling in laughter.

"You're not from around here, are you? Perhaps if you tell me what you are looking for I can point you in the right direction. I know all the vendors and I would like to think I know where all the best deals are too."

Riley smiled up at him winsomely as she rested the parchment-wrapped fish on the stall's counter and began inspecting all the twine. The last thing she needed was for prize fish being spilled in the gutter for alley cats to feast upon instead of the high-paying client it was intended for.

He was surprised to hear that she was selling....whatever it was she had. He wondered if she was a courier or something, but he didn't want to pry. He made a face, though, at the thought of soggy bread, the thought of it worthless and waterlogged bringing both amusement and a sour look. "I'd believe that!"

But then she was asking about him, offering to help. If she knew the owner of this little stall he was confident in her claim to know the rest of the town's vendors as well. "Ah, you are kind to offer," he acknowledged with a nod toward the street and a smile.

"I'm looking for a necklace...or even a bracelet, I suppose. Of shells. Doesn't have to be all shells, but I just haven't been able to find anything that....grabs my attention. Who would you see about finding some pretty jewelry like that?" he asked, watching as she looked over the things she'd set out.

"Jewelry," she repeated somewhat standoffish. 'He has a lady then. Might have known, he certainly is attractive enough already to be married. I bet she's expecting too. Mad as a hat he's gone and he is hoping to appease her with that. He would do better than pretty shells but what do I know? I'm just a woman.'

Riley smiled to herself at the jealous direction her thoughts had turned before returning to the question at hand. "The best place to get shells is obviously down by the water. There are plenty of vendors in town but while cheap, it will hold up long enough for you to get out of town and then break. I suggest heading down to the water and taking a right on Trout Street. The house with the giant," she held up her hands to show how big she meant, "shark jaws over the doorway is Nikalo's. He makes the best stuff money can buy. But, he only does it on commission and tourists don't know about him. As long as you don't tell anyone, he doesn't care."

She shrugged nonchalantly. While Nikalo's habits were strange, even Riley would admit that, they were seen as normal for him among the townspeople and as such, she took them in stride. The fisherwoman really did not care to explain it all to this stranger who would probably not remember it all anyway.

Looking out of the stall, Riley was able to notice that the sky was beginning to lighten and the rainclouds to pass onward. "Rain is almost gone. You should be able to get that jewelry in no time at all, friend."

Lucien nodded as he listened to her advice and directions, oblivious to her thoughts about his request. He looked off in the direction he thought the street was and smiled gratefully once she was done. "I'll have to see if I can work something out with him, thank you," he offered, then chuckled, "Though I wish I were a better craftsman so that I could make it myself."

He stepped closer to her and pointed out towards the way he'd been walking before. "So it's that way, right? Just keep walking down?" he asked to clarify, having no idea the way the small, flat roof was bowing above under the weight of water to almost touch the top of his head.

Riley shrugged and smiled. "It's why we have craftsman in the first place. If everyone could make their own things there would be no business for anyone. And as odd as it may sound, I rather enjoy my job. It would kind of be a bit of a drag to have to do my job and everyone else's, you know?

"But that's probably enough talk out of me for your ears. You just head do-" with a low groaning and a sharp crack, the eaves of the stall gave way under the weight the growing puddle of water and fell inwards, dousing the pair in icy water and broken bits of wood.

The fisherwoman squealed, leaving her parcels as she attempted to escape the ice bath even as her white top became drenched and more revealing. Standing out of the collapsing stalls way, Riley began to laugh and laugh at the hilarity of the situation.

"Are you alright?" she wheezed between laughs, clutching her chest in pain from the lack of oxygen caused by her amusement.

The shock of suddenly becoming drenched in freezing water left him just standing there even as he watched her dance away and out into the street. And then she was laughing!

Looking down at himself, Lucien shuddered as wave after wave of cold registered to him. Cautiously stepping out of the pile of broken wood at his feet and picking a few pieces out of his hair, he stared out at the comically dwindling raindrops with a tight jaw.

"I think so," he sighed, chuckling at how she looked like she'd just stood out in the street through the entire shower and how he, in turn, must have looked with clothes and hair plastered to him.

Letting his arms go slack to sling off some of the water, though, he glanced to her parcels still on the counter. "Well, I really hope your things are...okay," he sighed. "I need to get changed into something dry. I'll try with Nikalo, though. Thank you for your help." Lucien offered her a smile as he appraised her one more time before turning to leave.

She smiled warmly to him as the stranger tried to settle himself and remove the errant wood pieces. All around her the raindrops began to fall with increasing slowness until the sky was clear and only a spattering of drops continued to fall. Down towards the beach the sun shone bright and clear while further up the land and towards town and home the sky darkened and the haze of rain could be seen falling in sheets.

"I am glad you're alright. I hope you have a good rest of your day, and a much drier on at that too," she giggled, waving slightly before his words about her packages made her freeze and run back to the leaning and waterlogged counter.

Her fish were drenched, one had escaped to the floor and was already being dragged off by a bold feline while the other four were beginning to show signs of sliding and sticking to their parchment wrappings.

Forgetting about the stranger, Riley went to work trying to salvage the remaining four fish even as the parcels squelch and slid about in her already soaked arms. She could feel the paper tearing and sticking to her blouse even as the smooth scales began to come off on her hands.

The woman hurried her steps back towards Emerly Lane and the widow who was expecting this delivery. 'Please don't be as bad as it feels. Please don't be as bad as it feels!' Yet no matter how much she begged, she knew the moment the woman's door opened. Riley was not getting any extra money from this transaction. Especially not with her mussed hair, drenched clothes that dripped mud on the woman's carpet, missing fish, and battered remaining fish. No this was certainly not an experience to brag about to future buyers.

Making his way back through the streets to the small inn with sloshing shoes, Lucien prayed he wouldn't be scolded for leaving puddles of water when he finally slipped inside. The room he was letting in a baker's house was, unfortunately, at the end of the hall. Tiptoeing his way down the hall, though, only allowed the puddles to pool noticeably as the water dripped from his pants. Making a note to himself that he'd have to clean it up later, Lucien dashed down the rest of the hall and quickly closed the door behind himself.

He hung his clothes up to dry by the fire after he changed into fresh ones. That, unfortunately, wouldn't be enough to distract others from the mess he'd made, so he immediately set out to mop up the rainwater before departing to the streets once more.

Going down the streets avoiding all of the little puddles along the way, he looked around for the jaws the woman had indicated. He found it at the end of the street by a dock and hurried his way to the door and hoped that the man would be at home. When he knocked he was not immediately greeted, but when he was it was by a man who looked entirely displeased to see him. Once Lucien stated his purpose, however, Nikalo seemed at least welcome to share his company and discuss the piece he wanted.

It didn't take nearly as long as he thought it might to convince him to make the piece, but it probably helped that he was paying in advance for the commission. Shaking on the deal and with a promise to return the following day, Lucien headed back outside to return to the bakery as the bright, orange sunset flooded a sky that was now clear with no trace of the earlier clouds.

Riley endured the client's disparaging comments and accusing glares during the whole transactions feeling quite ashamed of herself. She was quickly chased out of the woman's house with curses following on her heels that she just knew would reach her father's ears within the hour and most likely before she even made it back home.

Once she had exited the street and returned once more the city center, Riley allowed her pace to slow and her thoughts to wander. That had been her last delivery for the day so she did not need to be home quite so quickly and given how it had ended she was in no hurry to do so either.

Mentally counting the coins in her pocket she figured that she had enough to buy a fresh loaf of bread for her and her father to perhaps ease her having to tell him she had not only angered a client but most likely lost their business as well.

Picking up her feet and feeling a bit happier with the idea of surprising her father, the young fisherwoman practically skipped along to the bakery to see if she could snag one of the last sweetbreads before they ran out. The setting sun was a sure enough sign that if they were not out already, they would be very, very soon.

Making his way back through the still unfamiliar but slightly more recognizable streets, Lucien's thoughts were drawn back to the room he was letting from the bakers and the horribly sloppy mess he'd left in all through their home. Wincing at the thought, he hoped he would still be able to make it back to clean up without them noticing the water everywhere, though he doubted it. Knowing how kind the couple had been to him thus far, particularly the woman of the house, he suspected it had already been taken care of for him. Though a thief, he didn't like taking advantage of the kindness of others. It was something he was sure he'd have to find a way to repay them for if that was actually the case.

Oblivious to his surroundings for the most part, though, he made his way back to the shop at the front of the building and entered through that door. He was surprised to see that neither of them were there at the front, but he figured it would give him time to search for a mop in the kitchen. It was only separated from the front end by a half-wall, though, and Lucien was certainly tall enough to stand high above even with his head angled down.

She entered the bakery quickly and nearly forgot to let the door close gently without crashing in her haste to get a sweetbread. Riley knew how much the owners hated when young customers such as herself let it crash closed in the frame. Taking a moment to catch her breath, the fisherwoman paused to reach a hand into her change-purse and counted once more the few coins that rested within the worn leather.

There was enough but, just barely. That seemed to be how it was a lot lately. Things would be better though, if anything Riley was an optimist and she truly believed business would pick up again. It was just a matter of time.

Feeling more confident and desiring to push stormy thoughts behind her, the young woman strode further into the shop and over to the counter. She placed her hands on the counter and leaned her upper body over it to look left and right, yet did not see anyone inside. Believing she was alone and that the family was in the back, cleaning up or baking more, Riley scooped the customer bell and gave it a mighty shake to alert the building to her presence.

"Customer!"

By the time she'd come through the door he'd given up his search for the mop he was certain was hiding from him. He quickly dropped to his hands and knees as he rummaged through the cupboards for even a simple bucket and some rags. Lucien was looking in all the wrong places, though, because all he was finding was cookware, spices, and ingredients. None of it gave him enough of a kick to any of the small closets in the hall instead of their baking kitchen.

His curiosity quickly got the better of him, though. Before long he was pulling jars out from storage to sit there and look at labels on things that were very much not his to mess with, trying to guess what was in them as he recognized very few words of written language. Unaware that someone else was there, he sat there turning a small jar of honey over and over, watching the stuff inside ooze down to the bottom with each turn. Thoroughly distracted, the sounding of the bell scared him half to death.

Gasping, he dropped the jar and with a muffled crunch it cracked a bottom corner off and started oozing honey across the floor. Panicking, he shot up and tried to find something, anything, to hide his mistake. "Just a moment!" he called worriedly, gulping as he raced across the kitchen when his eye caught sight of the aprons hanging on a hook on the wall. He grabbed the first one he saw and ran back to the jar and the growing pool of honey and threw the apron down over it. It was something he was going to have to worry about until later.

Not hearing his hosts upstairs at all, though, he could only assume that they were out at the moment. Unsure what he should even do with the customer in their store, he figured he would just tell them that the owners were gone. Flustered, he made his way to the little half door that separated the kitchen from the storefront and was about to launch into an apology when he noticed the young woman from before.

"Oh!" he squeaked, genuinely surprised. "Hello again," he greeted, a slow smile creeping across his lips as he struggled with what he should tell her. "Did you need something, Miss?"

Riley winced slightly at the hurried sounds coming from the back, hoping she had not interrupted anything important. "Take your time," she called back, pulling her change purse for the umpteenth time and recounting the worn coins within it.

Preoccupied with the counting she had not noticed who was approaching until had heard the greeting. Her head shot up in surprise before an answering smile lifted her lips in joy. "Hello indeed," she replied, leaning against the counter with her side and one arm.

"I see the resemblance now," the fisherwoman claimed. "How could I ever mistake you as Edna's nephew when you are quite cleary the baker's grandson? What a fool I was! Forgive me for my mistake?" Riley asked playfully, dropping her chin into the palm of her hand.

Lucien was quick to attempt to smooth over his slightly frazzled look. He intently listened to her and tried so desperately not to look confused as she claimed to think he was related to the people he was he was staying with. He moved closer to her place against the counter and leaned both hands upon it, thinking about how he didn't want to own to anything and confuse her.

"You might be surprised of the things you may be mistaken about," he remarked kindly with a smile. "But, of course I can forgive you. No harm, no foul, right?" he chuckled. "So what brings you?" he asked, having all but forgotten that she was a customer.

The fisherwoman was greatly amused by their bantering. No longer under a deadline to get her precious cargo to a client, Riley allowed herself to once more appraise the handsome man before her. He certainly was something different. She particularly liked his curly hair, wondering privately what it would be like to run her fingers through its softness.

Blinking though to clear such steamy thoughts away, Riley cleared her throat and turned against the counter to copy the other man's posture. "Well I was hoping for a sweetbread if there are any left by now. Think you could help me out?"

"A sweetbread," he mused, knowing exactly how such a thing tasted but having no idea how the bakers here made them, or what they should look like. Looking down the counter distractedly, he wondered which of the neatly organized baskets contained the bread she was after. Slowly and nervously moving down the row, he asked, "And do you trust my judgment? Or did you want to choose one out? I think I see at least two."

Riley could not contain herself and giggled, covering her mouth to try and muffle it. He was walking in the completely wrong direction of where the sweetbreads were. While she had been jesting about his relation to the baker's family, she was beginning to truly believe he was not related to them. Although she could not be sure that he was not some new hired help.

Resolved to put him out of his misery she walked down the other length of the counter, before pointing to the last tiny loaf of sweetbread. "Actually, I'm really sorry to be a pain, but, might I have one of these instead?" She chewed on the corner of bottom lip, hoping that he would not think she was mocking him, as she truly meant no insult towards the handsome man behind the counter.

Looking up at her distractedly, he eyed the bread she was pointing at and hurried to accommodate her. Silently thanking her with his eyes for breaking his awkward bumbling, he nodded eagerly. "Not a pain at all, really," came his reply as he stopped and stared at the little loaf. He had no idea how things were done around here or even how much it was supposed to be.

Struggling to keep their interactions smooth, he reached out and plucked a small sheet of parchment off of the stack at the end of the counter. Using it to nab the bread, he wrapped it up as neatly as possible, taking painstaking effort to not crinkle the paper or smush the bread. Proudly holding out his "creation" to her, he gave another one of those easy, puppy-like smiles. "Here," he offered to her. "It's on me, don't worry about it."

"Oh I couldn't!" she declared, placing her hands over her sternum. "I have enough money, honest. Despite what you saw at the stall, I do make a good living. I can afford to pay it myself," Riley stated quite flustered. She hurried to open her change purse to prove herself, feeling embarrassed that he would think to give her charity.

In her rush to open the small leather ties though the purse fell from her hands upending and sending her painstakingly earned coins rolling and clinking in all directions across the wooden floor. "Oh how clumsy of me," she bemoaned, dropping to her knees to try and collect them all as fast as she could. Her face burned hotly with shame and humiliation. If he was interested in her before, he definitely would not be now.

'Such a fool Riley girl. Pull your head out of the surf and get back to work!'

Wincing as he heard the distinct clinking of coins, Lucien hurried around to the store side of the counter. Setting down the bread on the counter he immediately knelt to pluck up the remaining few coins that had been missed. Reaching out, he gently grabbed her wrist and tried to press them back into her hand. "I meant no offense, Miss," he apologized, saddened that she seemed to think he was offering to cover it for her out of guilt or thinking her poor.

She was exactly the kind of girl Lucien could never steal from; she was too good and honest. Her kindness and helpfulness were so genuine, yet her pride seemed to make her unwilling to accept a gift from him. Or perhaps, he thought, embarrassed for his earlier assumptions. She isn't keen on any attention from me. Perhaps she already has someone around here. She does talk about families a lot.

"If it bothers you that much, think of it as a thank you?" he tried offering again, a slight blush rising to his cheeks.

Her fingers closed around both the coins and his warm hand. "I take no offense," she replied softly, her pale cheeks flaming darkly with her shyness. It broke her heart to think that he was probably already tied to another woman. He was just too sweet and adorable.

"You have no need to thank me, sir. I haven't done anything to deserve it," came her modest reply. Reluctantly, Riley released his hand and rose to her feet. She smoothed her tunic down and fiddled with the coins in her hand while she tried to get her cheeks to cool.

Noticing the color to her face, Lucien thought she might be ashamed or embarrassed for their encounter. It saddened him to think he might have been too forward with her and was making her uncomfortable now. Slowly rising to his feet and averting his eyes for the fiery blush still upon his face, he returned to the other side of the counter to give her at least some semblance of space. "Forgive my being forward, miss," he apologized.

"I thought you very kind to give me advice and directions earlier," he admitted. "When you had no obligation to talk with me at all. I had hoped to repay that kindness."

"No, please don't ask my forgiveness. You've done nothing wrong. It is I who has insulted you and seem to continue to do so." Riley hung her head feeling herself blush more before looking up shyly. "Now I fear though I have dug myself quite the tidepool. To refuse further is to be an even greater ass and I would rather not make more of a fool of myself in front of someone I just met, or anyone for that matter. But, if I accept your very generous offer after the fact then I'm just greedy and an opportunist.

"You must think the worst of me," she stated, trying to play it all off with a weak chuckle. "I'm so sorry. This really isn't my day."

It disappointed him to see her looking sad and embarrassed. He'd thought this might have been an opportunity to thank her and show his appreciation, but now he just felt so unsure. It sounded like she was talking herself out of accepting it. Shrugging, he looked up at her with a sad smile. "I wouldn't think you were greedy at all. And...being an opportunist isn't necessarily bad. I'm one myself after all," he explained, trying to lighten the mood.

"But I wouldn't think anything ill of you for accepting my offer... It still stands. If you want to take it, of course, I don't mean to pressure you." He was shifting from foot to foot nervously, afraid she might think he had some ulterior motive in offering her something he thought was quite simple and inexpensive by his standards.

"My offer still stands. If...not today, then another day?"

She laughed softly, taking the graciously given opportunity to do so. "Ah from one opportunist to another then we have an understanding," she jested. "Without shame to either side then, I shall accept your request whole-heartedly and with much gratitude. You favor brightens my day, truly," she told him earnestly, at last pointing her money away.

Choosing to further lighten the mood, Riley winked. "If I had known that you were paying though I would have bought something a bit more expensive. I guess I'm not as most practiced an opportunist as I claim to be.

Happy now that she would not be leaving on awkward terms about it, Lucien chuckled as she accepted at last. He was surprised, though, if she were telling the truth, that such a simple thing might brighten her day. "Perhaps I can make more than one day a little brighter," was his response as he quietly nudged the package of bread closer to her. "It's certainly worth that smile."

Thoroughly pleased with their positive interaction now, Lucien relaxed and began leaning on the counter again as he listened to her. "All isn't lost," he assured her calmly. "Perhaps next time you can take advantage of a different offer with that in mind. And... I think it would be nice. To spend more time with you while I'm here," he admitted, a slight blush remaining upon his cheeks.

Riley blushed, batting her eyes and giggling like a child. "I think I would like that, if you wanted to try that is. More chances to take advantage of such offers though would mean you'd have to stick around. Think you can handle that in this stinky old city?"

She chuckled softly, taking the bread while shaking her head. "It was nice to see you again. Until our next run-in then, baker's grandson," the fisherwoman teased with a wink. A little wave was sent his way as she backed away towards the door.

"It wouldn't be any trouble. I've always loved the sea, and I think it would be worth my while," he answered lightheartedly. He caught himself staring at her again, his cheeks darkening as she backed away.

Raising his hand in a gentle wave, Lucien bowed his head to her. "Until next time," he promised, his raised hand nervously running through the fringe of his hair. He would stand there nervously until she left, unsure what to do with himself in the store. He hated the thought of returning to the mess he made, especially when he knew that there was another waiting for him in the hall. All that was certain was that he could count his blessings for the owners not being around at the moment.

Before he returned to his efforts in the kitchen, Lucien rummaged around to find a coin purse under the counter and dropped in enough coin to cover at least twice what he thought was a fair amount for the little loaf of bread he'd let her have. Satisfied now that he wouldn't forget about the odd addition to his bill, he wandered off to try and clean up before the bakers returned as he wondered just who the young woman was he kept running into. She certainly is kind. And humble. Very beautiful with those rosy cheeks, too, he thought to himself, unaware that he'd been giving off an equally hot color. If nothing else, he hoped he could talk her into his bed before he left town.

Once she exited view of the shop, Riley found allowed herself to lean against the side of a building and giggle incessantly. Her cheeks warmed with laughter and joy as she cradled the loaf of bread close to her heart, breathing in its sweet, doughy scent while remembering that of a rather sweet young man.

The fisherwoman regained enough control over her emotions to walk home easily but the smile that cracked her face from ear to ear could not be washed away. It was there to stay. Even when her father remarked upon it, she could do nothing but giggle and blush while slicing up their special treat over the the course of their evening meal.

When at last she laid her head to rest, feeling exhausted and bone tired from a hard day's work followed by preparations for the next day's market day, Riley dreamed. She slept with a softer smile lighting her face while seeing visions of pleasant conversations with a handsome stranger whom she managed to keep running into and she was happy.

Once he finally managed to clean up his messes and explain to the owners about the broken jar, Lucien was relieved that things seemed to fall together so easily. The bakers weren't upset with him and actually seemed relieved that he would admit to breaking something of theirs. He withheld his encounter with the young woman, but his offer to repay the additional damages was accepted. It was a small victory, if an odd one, but Lucien was happy.

And how could he not be happy? If all the women in town were like the anonymous girl he kept seeing he was going to have a difficult time leaving. Sure the town wasn't exactly picturesque, but it had character and the sight and smell of the sea couldn't be beat. There was something about the light-haired woman that fascinated him, though, beyond the physical. She was just so kind and helpful and exactly the type of person he tended to hurt in the end. Even knowing that, she still drew him in.

He spent the rest of his evening fussing over his clothes by the fire, trying to get every little thread of them dry again. Their few moments in the shop kept rising to the forefront, though, and he wondered about her more and more. Why did she think he was related to his hosts? He didn't think they looked similar at all, he was far too handsome for that. Had she seen someone like him before? Who was she anyway? It bothered him to not know all that he wanted to about her, but it only fueled his desire to see her again further. Not knowing when that would be was eating at him, though, even as he at last tried to rest. It seemed like he had so many things he would talk to her about if they met again that restless was a bit of an understatement. He didn't know why, but she stirred something in him. What exactly that was he wasn't sure of yet.

Dawn came earlier than Riley would have wanted it to and with it, work. She and her father bustled about with their usual fervor. The strongest coffee she could make and the last slices of their tiny loaf of sweetbread were offered up to her father in a silent tribute as it was a well-known fact how much of a mourning person the Bellerose patriarch, was not.

Yet, as she moved about, lifting barrels of fish and chasing away cats, the fisherwoman could not help thinking about and even hoping that she would see the cute stranger from the day before, again. His handsome charm had won her over through and through.

As early morning became "respectable morning" as her mother had once called it, she kept peaking her head out of the fish stall hoping to catch a glimpse of a stranger in their humble city.

It was mid-morning by the time Lucien was up and dressed for the day. Thinking he was beginning to look scraggly, though, he took the additional time to shave his face clean before he swung his empty satchel over his shoulder and set out for the day. If nothing else, he desperately needed more food as he was emptying the pantry of his generous hosts far too quickly.

Heading out to the market, he was surprised to see how busy things had gotten already. He took his time, though, and browsed amongst the stalls with a bit more comfort than the previous day as he was beginning to recognize things. After picking out some fruits to bring back as well as a few spices he'd noticed were missing from the kitchen, the thief set out in search of a replacement container of honey.

He whipped his head this way and that when he heard a loud thud in the distance. Then, a couple of small barrels were rolling out into the street just ahead of him. Lucien hurried forward to keep them from becoming any true obstacles in the street with the intention of returning them to the stall owner he was sure would be missing them soon if they hadn't already noticed. Chasing after them, he struggled to get ahead. By the time he did, though, he attempted to stop them with his foot. Unfortunately, he'd underestimated their weight and the first barrel easily rolled up onto his feet as the second added insult to injury by shoving the front barrel into his shins with a resounding thud.

Howling in pain, Lucien scrambled to shove them off before he was knocked off balance. Dropping to his knees with his hands keeping the barrels from rolling forward, he hung his head in shame of the scene he thought he must be causing in the middle of the street. Bright red, he let his forehead drop against the barrel as he rested for a moment. He needed to catch his breath for a moment and wallow in his pain a bit before he would be certain he would even be able to stand.

Agam Bellerose had just sent his only child off make deliveries when a group of hooligans decided that it would be hilarious to send some of his fish barrels rolling down the main road on their way back to the sea. He did not have a chance to stop them and send them on their way though before they had a chance to send the second of his barrels careening through market crowd.

Shouting warnings and hobbling his way downhill as best as he could with a bad leg and generous girth, he was incredibly relieved to see them stop thanks to a kind-hearted stranger. Without so much as a greeting, he immediately righted the furthest barrel from the man and moved it out of the way.

"Sorry about that. Weren't hurt were ya? Damn kids makin' a mess of things again." Agam shook his head with a heavy huff, glaring at the aforementioned boys who had followed him down and were looking about rather guiltily. "Well get over here you rats," he growled. "Roll this one back on up to my stall!"

They scurried quickly to take the second barrel from the stranger and slowly began their way back uphill. "Agam Bellerrose, fishmonger," he offered, shoving his hand out in greeting towards the man.

Lucien groaned at the stinging in his feet but he immediately lifted his head at the sound of a voice nearby. Squinting up at him for the sun high in the sky, he nodded slowly. "I'm... I'll be fine. I hope nothing's damaged," he said, watching as the boys made quick work of the barrel he'd been resting on. Slowly standing, he winced at the pain but tried to smile at the shorter man.

Surprised at the hand in front of him, he reached out to shake the fisherman's hand. "Lucien Lindauer, sir," he greeted. "I'm a...visitor here." He wasn't quite sure what else to tell him, but he was just glad the burden of both barrels had been lifted. Breaking contact with the older man, he stepped around him to cautiously lay down the remaining barrel and start rolling it back up the street like the younger boys had done. "Where were they headed? I'll get this back to where it belongs for you," he offered.

"I can see that," he laughed. "You come in off one of those ships in port?" Agam bent down to help with rolling the barrel back to his stall. "Unfortunately all the way on the up at the top of the hill. You don't have to help though if you don't want to Lucien. You've been plenty of help already. No need to strain yourself for a stranger."

"I did, I did," he answered, hoping he would not ever need to admit to being a stowaway for his journey. Looking over at him, he offered a friendly smile before lifting his head to see just how far down they were now. It wasn't that bad, but he did worry for how badly he'd probably be hurting afterwards.

"It's no strain at all, sir. I'm used to this kind of work," he lied, chuckling as he worked to speed up the barrel with the hope of being finished as soon as possible.

Agam matched the younger man's speed all the while eying worriedly. "Used to or not, pulling a muscle is the last thing you need, lad. I doubt your captain would be all too pleased if you weren't shipshape in time to ship out." He assumed that Lucien was a sailor and not a passenger as he could not fathom the idea that anyone would want to come to Cerenis willingly.

His Captain? Lucien was confused about how he'd come to that sort of conclusion about him, but he didn't want to correct him either. "Oh, I'm fine, sir, really!" he insisted, forcing himself to smile through the pain. He worked hard, rolling that heavy barrel back up the hill to where it belonged.

Once he noticed similar-looking barrels by a stall he turned and rolled the barrel right up to them and quickly righted it. Leaning against the stall counter, Lucien wiped sweat from his brow as he tried to calm his breathing. Frankly, he was unaccustomed to manual labor. "Hah," he panted. "It's hot today, huh? I'm glad you didn't lose those barrels, sir." Slowly, he lifted his head and cracked a smile. "Did you need help with anything else while I'm here?" he offered.

"Me too, laddie! Me too," he laughed. "Why don't you sit tight for a moment and I can get you a cool drink. It's the least I can do after all your help. If you just mind the stall for a moment, I'll be right back. Just a minute I swear," he called as he toddled off into the crowd leaving the young man in charge of the stall.

Along the way though he ran into his daughter and let Riley know of what had come to pass and how he had left a kind-hearted stranger in charge of the fish stall. Hurrying her steps, Riley could not help how her heart skipped a few beats as she wondered whether or not it would be her own kind stranger who was waiting for her father's return.

She had to suppress some giggles as she came up from behind the stall and caught sight of an unmistakeable set of thick, dark curls and a strong back. Taking a chance that she was right, Riley sneaked up behind him, to throw her arms around his waist and give him a warm hug behind.

"Oh my long-lost brother," she cried, "how I've missed you!"

"Oh, no, that isn't necessary, really!" he insisted, but the man was already headed off and he had no idea where he was going. Smiling as he shook his head, he called, "All right," to him and circled around the counter so he could stand in the shade instead of out by the main street.

Several minutes passed while he waited, wondering exactly what he was getting as thanks as he stood there still trying to catch his breath and ease the smarting in his feet as he curled and uncurled his toes within his shoes. Thoroughly distracted and not expecting anyone to approach from the rear, Lucien gasped in surprise when he felt arms wrapping around him and the push of her hug that sent his arms sprawling across the counter he'd been leaning on.

Trying to wrap his head around the voice that he recognized, he peeked under his arm to look back at her and even without seeing her face properly he knew who it was. A blush immediately started spreading across his cheeks at the thought of being so close to her again. "Hello s-sister," he stumbled, very aware of the eyes upon them from passersby. Turning quickly, he wrapped his arms around her for a hug and squeezed gently before setting her at arm's length. "My, you get prettier and prettier every time I see you!" he told her warmly with a playful wink. "Have you been well? Keeping out of trouble?"

Riley giggled and blushed. She was delighted to see him play along although she had not expected a taste of her own medicine. His embrace was warm and sweet and left her wanting more. "Such a charmer. Been well, met a guy, Daddy squished him with a barrel of fish, nothing new," she chuckled, playing along.

"What about you? When you're ship get in? Have any adventures on the high seas? I'm all ears."

He nodded enthusiastically as she spoke, not quite realizing she was talking about him as he hadn't really made the connection between her and Agam yet. Not realizing she was talking about him, he didn't let her comments faze him. He was determined to keep winning her over and wasn't going to let her tease him with some distant man who, as far as he was concerned, posed no threat to him. "Oh, just the other day," he told her easily. "But I've been here and there since.

"I wouldn't say I've had adventures, dear sister, but I did get half my year's pay recently. The bastards finally decided they'd put me off for long enough," he chuckled. "I have learned a great deal more about sailing, though. Little ships. I can't run one of those giant operations on my own, of course. But... What a coincidence. I've met a girl recently. She's such a pretty little thing."

It was then that he finally realized just what they were talking about. He felt like such an ass for not being smooth about what they were talking about, but he didn't think it was exactly his fault because he was putting in a lot of effort just to play along with her. Blushing slightly, he cleared his throat before continuing to suggest, "We should...have dinner with them soon so everyone can have a chance to meet each other. If you're not too busy this week, of course. I know you're so very busy and can't drop everything for me, especially when I'll be around for a while yet."

"Did you, now?" she queried softly, continuing to hold his hands in her own and loving the weight and warmth that came from doing so. "Sounds like you've kept quite busy without me. Sounds like you didn't miss me at all, dear brother. How sad," Riley pouted slightly, sticking out her lower lips and looking downward forlornly.

"You'll just have to come to dinner and show her off to daddy and I, then. I'd like it a lot if you did," she continued softly, swinging their joined hands slightly with a tiny smile. "You'll come won't you? You promise?"

"Busy?" he repeated, blushing some as he gave her hands a gentle squeeze. "I did miss you. A lot. I swear." The thought of dinner, and with her father at that, was a bit scary, though. He wasn't going to lie.

"I will if that will make you happy, dear sister, of course. I promise. But... Well, wouldn't you like to have a chance to catch up on our own, too? It's been such a long time since we just sat on the beach together. We used to watch the sunset all the time, remember? Those were good times. Very...happy, wouldn't you say?" He grasped her hands cautiously as fond amusement danced in his eyes. He wondered, hopefully, if he could possibly wrangle a chance to spend more time with her with such an act.

"Aye they were, and can be again if what you're doing is inviting me on a walk down memory lane. You know how I love the sound of the waves and the seabirds. Perhaps if we're lucky we could even picnic out on the beach, that is if you promise not to try and throw me into the surf again. I still haven't forgiven you for that," Riley jested with a wink.

She leaned up closer to him, squeezing his hands back happily. The fisherwoman could not believe how lucky she was to have such a handsome stranger not only take interest in her but play along with her silly little game. The world outside the two of them was a blur to her and as such she never saw her father approaching slowly through the crowd and eying the pair with great interest.

"Would you be free tonight, or does little sister rate second best in big brother's plans?"

"I promise I won't throw you in," he chuckled. "At least not this time. I haven't seen you in so long. I would hate to to overshadow our reunion with something like that. But you'll just have to watch your back," he told her, half-joking though he wasn't quite sure if he could resist such an opportunity if his fortune with her held.

Not really realizing how close they were getting, Lucien leaned in towards her as well. He only kept what little space he felt was necessary with still knowing so little about her, but still he felt the occasional brush of their shirts together in the coastal breeze. "I always have time for you," he told her softly, offering that nervous but hopeful smile again as he brushed some hair away from her face and behind her ear with one hand. "Tonight would be perfect."

She giggled at having him touch her so sweetly. "Lucky me then," she whispered softly, afraid to ruin the mood between them. "It does sound perfect. I'll being the food and you can pick the spot." Riley smiled feeling giddy inside at making such plans with a boy. It was not just any boy either, it was a handsome stranger she had only met the day before. Yet, to her it could have been the king himself and she would not have been more excited and delighted at the idea of spending her sunset on the beach with him.

Gathering her courage she leaned up on her tippy-toes, moving slowly so as to not scare him away. She was moemnts away from pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek when a throat cleared very close by and sent her bouncing flat on to her feet again and scurrying off to Lucien's side.

"Daddy! I didn't see you there," she exclaimed, fixing her hair behind her ears and trying to lessen the flush in her cheeks.

"I noticed," he chuckled back, offering a wood mug of water towards Lucien. "For you my good friend. I did say I would back with a drink for you." Moving an arm out to scoop Riley into his side, he beamed. "I see you and Minnow already met. Know each other well?"

Delighted with how things were going, Lucien eagerly agreed. "Great! That'd be wonderful. It's a date, then." It really hadn't taken much for him to be entirely wrapped up in the idea of her. She was so sweet and playful. So far she really was everything he was looking for in a main squeeze while he was there. It never hurt to have someone around who seemed so fond of him, but she was the kind of woman that made it hard not to like her. And like the sailors she and her father seemed so fond of he was certain about uncertainty. He never knew where the wind might carry him next or how long he might be there. Commitment longer than a few weeks didn't seem likely, as he rarely even stayed in one place for even that long.

Lucien was so drawn to her, though. It felt like she looked at him with more than just admiration for a pretty face, but he couldn't quite pin it down. He recognized what she was doing, though, as she leaned in. With a twitch of a smirk upon his lips he leaned down the smallest bit to meet her before he was startled by her quick retreat. Confused, his head shot up just in time to notice the man he'd helped before standing there. Now able to identify him as her father, the thief paled a bit as he realized he'd just gotten so close with his daughter right there in public.

He seemed like he didn't really care about it, though, as he handed him the mug, so Lucien was hopeful that he might just let it slide. Taking the mug and gripping it with nervous hands, he took a step back to distance himself from the pair and didn't even look at the water let alone drink any of it. "Minnow?" he perked up, glancing to her. It was an odd name, for sure, but he wasn't going to complain now that he finally had some way of addressing her. "Ah, well... Only a little, sir," came his answer, unsure what he should be saying about her when he was right there in front of her.

"I'd say we're still getting to know each other, but we met yesterday. She was very helpful when I was very lost in the rain," he chuckled, trying to shrug off his nerves of being startled. And then he remembered the water. Raising it slightly in thanks, Lucien smiled as he took a long drink from it. "Thank you for that, sir."

Riley could not believe it. He had said date! She was going to be going on a real date. Her first one too! She just could not get over it. It was only her father's presence that kept her grounded in her girlish moment. The sound of her nickname created a bit of a wince that helped stave off her impending squees of joy while also further flaming her cheeks.

She could hear her father's voice buzzing her ears as her eyes focused intently on Lucien drinking. "Riley!" her father nearly shouted causing her to startle. "Sorry! What were you saying?"

The older man chuckled and shook his head. He knew a woman besought when he saw one. He just never thought it would be his own daughter quite so soon. Agam made a note to speak with her later about the matter once this Lucien fellow was gone.

"I asked you my little fish if you wanted to lend your new friend Lucien there a hand and point him in the right direction to where he was going. I seem to have deterred him and you know how confusing these streets can be some times."

"Of course! I mean, that is would you like some assistance, Lucien?"

Riley? Was it Riley or Minnow he should call her by? Lucien blushed, honestly having no idea how he would broach the subject with her when he next got her alone. Observing the interactions between father and daughter, the young man hurriedly drank his water before setting the empty mug on the counter of their stall.

He nodded eagerly, thankful that someone was finally speaking to him directly. "S-sure!" he answered nervously, speaking slowly as he struggled to find his words. "It's been a while since I was last in Cerenis... Things are coming back, but I would appreciate the help, Ri-Min....Riley."

Stepping back out into the street, he waved to Agam and nodded his head to him in thanks. "Thank you, Bellerose. You are very kind and I feel much better now." Letting his eyes wander to Riley, he cleared his throat and adjusted his bag restlessly.

"Agam, Lucien. Just call me Agam. No need for last names here. You were a big help to me today. Couldn't thank you enough if I tried. Now then," he began, turning to address Riley. "I do believe little Minnow that our new friend Lucien has somewhere to be. Wouldn't do to hold him any longer given the time he has already taken to help us, now would it?"

"Of course not daddy," she giggled, reaching out to place a hand on Lucien's arm to lead him away. "Come friend, allow me to set you off in the right direction. I know this town like the back of my hand!"

Lucien flushed slightly for the correction, worried that that was far too informal a way to call the fisherman by, especially when Lucian knew his daughter and intended to know her even better. "Of course..., Agam." It felt like he was cheating the system by meeting such a nonchalant parent. In all his years he'd never had to meet a parent in this situation, let alone talk with them. But, like his daughter, Agam was very kind and understanding. He could see where she got it from.

Confused again by the use of "Minnow" Lucien decided to just give up on guessing and ask her in private what she preferred him to call her by now that their names were out. Grateful that they were finally leaving, Lucien walked with her at a quick clip with his long legs, very eager to move out of the area and out of sight of her father.

"I'm sorry about that," he offered her tensely. "I hope I haven't gotten you into any sort of trouble." Slowly to a normal pace, he was intent on milking this as long as he could, just walking the markets with her. "I didn't realize that was your father when I helped him," he admitted, smiling nervously. 

"Don't be," Riley replied letting her hand slide down from Lucien's arm and into his own. "I'm not in any trouble I can't handle. My father is a very understanding man. But, of course I'm sure my brother knows that," she jested offering a playful wink.

She stopped though, moving to stand in his path so that she could look up at him. "Did you mean it before, what you said? Would it be perfect?"

'Would you really want to spend time with me?'

"Because, I would like it, if we did..." Her smile was warm and soft as she gazed up at him with eyes that were opened wide to reveal her heart for all to see, for him to see.

He held onto her hand loosely, unused to active, public displays of affection like that. His shoulders relaxed, though, as he felt relieved to hear that her father was understanding. At least in her own opinion. "Right, I must have forgotten," he teased back before she stopped, his eyes following her as she stopped and moved in front of him to block his way.

Smiling down at her, he stopped and, after a quick glance behind himself, nodded. "Yes, I meant it all. I thought it might be nice to get to know you better, just spend some time with you... But I'm glad you would, it makes the asking less daunting," he admitted with a chuckle.

Noticing the way she was looking at him, Lucien offered a lazy smile as he gently squeezed her hand. "Would you still like to tonight?" he asked nervously. "Or...maybe a different time?"

The young fisherwoman blushed and chuckled softly, disbelieving her luck. She had always been a bit of a tomboy asisde from her gentle and forgiving nature. The fact that someone and a stranger at that, would be interested in her so quickly was like a dream to her. She feared finding out that it all been and dreaded if it was true, the act of waking up.

Feeling a bit hesitant now about things moving too fast she gave his hand a squeeze and offered an apology. "I think I may have spoken a bit too soon when I agreed to tonight. Perhaps though you would be agreeable to meeting another night? I promise not to make you wait a fortnight, lest it be your wish," Riley giggled softly, unknowing of the way her blush heated the column of her throat and down beneath the collar of her tunic.

Lucien was surprised at gentle backpedalling after the show she'd just put on. Looking at her now, though, he wondered if she regretted it with the way she blushed. His smile turned apologetic as he slowly released her hand from his grasp. "Of course, whatever you're comfortable with," he agreed. "I don't wish to make you uncomfortable.

"So long as I'm still in the city I would be happy to meet with you for something like we mentioned... or anything you wish. It could be strictly platonic instead, if you wanted," he added, not wanting her to feel pressured, though he was quite sure he would get what he wanted no matter what she agreed to initially.

"I wouldn't mind waiting a fortnight or longer, either," he chuckled. "If that was your wish."

Riley smiled softly yet warmly up at her companion. I would like that, getting to know you if that's alright with you. We seem to do an awful lot of bumping into each other not to do at least that. I mean you never know, I might finally figure out who you belong to," she jested offering him a playful wink.

"No need to decide now though. In fact I think it best you give it some thought. To spend time with a girl like me means a world of teasing. Not even the fisherboys around here are willing to put up with that. But uh, I guess the real question is whether sailorboys are any different."

She gave him an impish smile and another wink before moving to blend in with the crowd. "Bump into you later, maybe!" her voice rang out as she headed back to her father's fishstall, cheeks flaming from her flirting.

"Whatever suits your fancy," he assured her, amused that she thought he would have to do with a lot of teasing to even get to know her, as if they had not had such a relationship already. "I'd like to think sailors are made of tougher stuff than your fisherboys," he teased, though he had to admit to himself that he was quite surprised she was so eager to leave him. He wouldn't let it faze him, though.

"Anytime...Ri-Minnow," he called, saluting her as he turned to head back down the street and about his own business and resume his honey-hunting now that matters between them were settled up. He was certain he would be seeing her quite soon.

It made her smile, though he could not see it, to think that he thought himself tougher than fishermen. Riley chuckled to herself, loving the small bit of rivalry and pride she had seen him jest about crop up, as it was something she was familiar with and grown up around.

All the way back to her father's stall she was in a giggly state. Even their crabby baker neighbor who always complained that the fish made his his breads taste bad, commented on her extra chipper mood. She only smiled and offered to sell him some fish, much to his disgust, before moving on.

The rest of her day was spent much in the same manner with her practically mooning after Lucien, dreaming of what it would be like to be courted by him on the beach with the waves rolling in and out. She imagined a great deal of laughter and good time overall. She simply could not wait until their next meeting, whenever that might be.

Lucien spent the next several days anxious. He wanted to give her space and time, as she'd asked for, but it was difficult to not be impatient and eager. Still, the idea of waiting gave him a different sort of excitement he'd rarely experienced before. She was now more a coveted thing he could not yet have instead of a conquest to woo, bed, and leave for greener pastures all in a single day.

So, praying she would not come around his current landlord's shop to torture him with her presence, the thief spent his time loafing around relaxing or down at the beach or docks to just people-watch. The quiet time was much-deserved, he thought, and dammit he was going to enjoy it whether this new girl wanted to see him or not.

He gave it some thought and he wondered how she might contact him once she was ready to talk. Surely she might come looking for him, but what if he was restless? What if he finally bored of this town and wanted to move on to the next? It was certainly a possibility, but he also did not want to leave them with loose ends to tie up. It was this he reflected on as he watched men working on the boats and docks from his perch on water-smoothed rocks.

She was a firm believer in fate and that was meant to be would be. Therefore when she would meet again with her handsome stranger would only come about when it was meant to and there was nothing she could do to hurry it along or worry over it. Life continued onward and there was work to be done, food to be delivered, and best of all in her opinion, fish to be caught.

Her long hair tied back in a long plait down her back, bangs and stray bits whipping about with the wind, and a fishing pole in hand, Riley could not be happier. She loved the salty seaspray on her face and the waves crashing into her legs as she waited for the near-shore dwelling fish to take a bite of her bait.

Uncaring of who heard and unaware how close Lucien was she belted sailor's songs while walking back up the beach, three fish on a line over her shoulder, her pants rolled up to her knees and her feet bare as the sand clung stubbornly to her damp legs.

"...Now whiskey is the life of man
Always was since the world began
Now whiskey gave me a broken nose
And whiskey made me pawn me clothes..."

It was the sound he noticed first, the music. A small turn of his hand had the wind shifting to carry the sound his way instead of away from him. Glancing to the side he could see her now, the unmistakable woman walking in his general direction. He chuckled under his breath as he noticed the fish tails slapping at her back once he was able to see her better. Lucien waited in silence for her to draw even closer before he climbed down from his perch to confidently approach her.

"What a beautiful voice! All this time I never knew you could sing," he said playfully. "But I guess I shouldn't bother you right now if you're working," he admitted, gesturing to the fish.

Riley froze solid in her tracks, completely horrified to realize she had been overheard and by of all people, her new admirer. "I didn't realize anyone else was here to hear." She adjusted the still slightly flopping fish on her shoulder as she gave him a quick once-over. "How have you been?"

"Well I can assure you, you have nothing to be ashamed of," he insisted, waving his hand both in gesture and to return the wind to it's original flow as he stepped up to speak with her from a more appropriate proximity.

"I've been well. I was curious if I'd see you again before I left town, but I see I had nothing to worry about." Lucien gave her a quick once over, still pleased with what he saw of the young fisher. "Water's still treating you well, I see," he teased.

"You're leaving?" Riley exclaimed before hurrying to regain her composure, and hide her surprise and disappointment. "Aye the sea has been good to us today. She has been feeling quite generous thankfully. Hopefully it will continue being her whim," she said instead as one of the larger fish attempted to fling itself off the hook it was still caught on. Riley stalled, unsure if she should resume walking or find some way to continue their conversation. Shyly to buy time she cast a glance over her shoulder at the fish and attempted once more to adjust them. "I won't bother you if you're busy I suppose..."

He waved off her concerns about his schedule, it was a vacation after all but she didn't need to know that. It wouldn't do him any good to give her false information if he ended up speaking to her again in the future.

"I couldn't possibly be as busy as you there," he chuckled, gesturing at the squirmy fish. "Could I help you get those back to your shop?" Lucien offered, though he hoped she would take him up on it as he stepped a bit closer with hopes to make it a little awkward for her to say no.

Riley offered him a shy half-smile. "I've got them, thanks. I would hate to ruin your clothes with fish scales and seawater." She realized half a heartbeat after she had said that though that he might not have been making the offer solely to help. "However," she tried a bit bolder, "you are welcome to walk me home if you are not busy and I am truly not keeping you."

He kept his expression warm even when she rejected his offer, he was realizing quite quickly how difficult it was probably going to be to keep her attention. The fact that she was willing to accept his company, though, was promising. "I would love to, but I hope you aren't saying no just for the sake of my clothes. I'm quite capable of helping if you'd like to take it easy for even a small part of your day," he offered again, circling around to fall in beside her.

"They're very nice clothes though," she complimented, eyeing him up and down from the corner of her eye appreciatively. "Besides if you carried it for me then I would feel useless and out of place. This way at least I have a purpose to serve. Honestly, your company is enough for me if you're content with that."

He'd certainly caught the way she'd been looking at him, but he knew it probably wouldn't benefit him to point it out that he'd noticed. "If that's what you want then who am I to argue?" he shrugged, shooting her a side smile that probably seemed a bit too innocent. "I'm more than content. I actually wasn't sure if you'd ever want to see me again," Lucien admitted. "Thought that was your nice way of trying to shrug a poor fellow off the chase."

Riley's eyes widened in obvious surprise in worry. "No!" she cried hastily, struggling to compose herself once more before repeating more softly, "no, definitely not. I'm very sorry I gave you that impression. That certainly was not my intention. I enjoy your company very much," she informed him blushing all the way up to her ears. The young woman sighed and looked away, hoping to hide her obvious discomfort and embarrassment.

"Nice weather isn't it today?" she kicked herself mentally as she grasped at straws to draw the attention away from herself.

He noted the way she blushed and fumbled over herself. Truthfully, he wasn't entirely sure if she was just trying to be polite or if she really did enjoy his company. She seemed incredibly uncomfortable with the whole situation and he hoped he wasn't making it worse.

Lucien could only chuckle under his breath for the way she tried to change topics on him, but he was merciful for the moment and followed her lead with it. "Very nice weather," he humored her, tilting his head back to look up at the sky for a moment. "Much better than the day we met, huh?" he shook his head, smiling as he remembered the awful rain that had herded them together in the first place. "I was hoping your opinion of me might have improved since then."

"Why would it need approving? Did you do something inexcusable that I am failing to remember?" Riley giggled. "Would you even admit to it now that I've mentioned I've forgotten? Mmm now that I think is the really question here. Can tell you a lot about man, don't you think?" She gently bumped into him with her shoulder.

"I'd like to think that I would," he told her, though he knew it would probably be the opposite. "But nothing has happened, I can assure you that.

"Would you like to make good on your promise to me?" he teased.

She eyed him speculatively from the corner of her eye, a playful turn peeking out from the corner of her lips. "Think do you?" Riley chuckled and shook her head, ceasing most of her silly antics even as her gaze turned more flirtatious. "And which promise would that be, sir for I seem to recall a great deal of banter had between us already?"

He didn't let her dissuade him. Instead, he smirked slyly as he remembered the last time they'd met and the way she'd seemed bashful even then. "I recall we arranged an outing together but didn't decide on when. If you're still willing we should probably do so before it's too late, don't you think? Or was I mistaken about your interest?" he teased.

"Ah yes," she recalled with a deep blush. "Well," Riley stalled, tucking her hair behind her ear, "I suppose we could provided I don't have any other pressing business and my father approves of course. It would be mighty irresponsible of me if I abandoned my responsibilities for a bit of play. We wouldn't want that now."

"I suppose not," he snorted, still thinking the idea of a proper woman needing her father's permission ridiculous. There were plenty willing to abandon responsibility to be with him, but he couldn't say Riley didn't hold appeal to him despite that. "I hope you have some time, then. Would be a shame if I couldn't see you ever again," he teased her lightheartedly. "Should I stop by your stall some other time, then?"

"Why?" she queried, looking at him quizzically. "Is your ship leaving again soon? I mean you're always more than welcome to visit our fish-stall. It is not as if we could stop if we wanted to anyway. It is in the public market after all." Riley giggled at the silliness of the idea. "However, if you have no other plans and if my father can afford to allow me to take off for the rest of the day then....well..." The young woman smirked playfully. "I suppose we'll just have to figure out the rest from there if all goes well."

Lucien merely shrugged, though he was personally delighted that she seemed eager to spend time with him after a bit of prompting. "Just never know when I might be called away is all, but I might stop by more often if my company wouldn't be a nuisance. I'm very interested in what your father has to say, though, if that means you would like to spend some time with me." Truthfully he didn't care what her father wanted, he only cared about what he wanted and whether or not she was on board with it. For now, though, he would humor her desires for approval, since it obviously seemed important to her. "Should I let you discuss that with him privately, then?" he guessed, already preparing to put a bit of distance between them if she wanted her privacy.

"I don't see why your company would be," she replied impishly. "You're not thinking of causing trouble now are you?" Riley was oblivious to Lucien's verbal maneuvering and thoughts. In her mind he was just a sweet foreigner who happened to show an interest in the somewhat awkward and tomboyish girl that most of the local boys would rather tease and ignore than pay any attention to.

"Up to you. Father's answer won't change whether you're there or not," the young woman offered as she bounced her way ahead of him without waiting to see what he would do. The fish were carefully placed in a barrel to be taken care of by her father who greeted her warmly if a bit critically. Words were hastily exchanged before Riley was sent on her way with a swat to her rump and a warning to be back before the sun set.

Lucien chose to follow her but kept a respectful distance once she was with her father. Sunset was an early deadline to him, but he would attempt to manage it for her sake. "All set?" he asked, feigning nervousness but knowing entirely that she'd gotten the request approved.

Instead of answering, Riley boldly linked her arm through her companion's and leaned into his side, a sly smile lighting up her features. "Shall we? Unless of course you've gone and changed your mind on me."

He was surprised by her forwardness but Lucien was happy for her comfort with him. It seemed promising, at the least. "Of course! No, I haven't yet," he teased, chuckling softly as he turned to lead her away. "Show me the town, would you? All your favorite little hideouts. Surely there must be some, hm? I haven't had much of a chance to explore too much on my own," he lied. "And I'm sure you know it well, right?"

"Whatever have you been doing with all your time then?" she gasped in playful surprise. "It seems you have not been very productive." Riley tugged at his arm to pull him along quickly towards one of the market's alleys. "Come on! There's much to show you to make up for lost time." Her face lit up with excitement and her voice trilled with barely contained laughter. "This way!"

Lucien feigned a look of stunned bashfulness at her accusation but happily hurried along with her. "Well I can't really say I'm a very productive man on my own, Riley. Very lazy, I would rather lounge about, honestly," he chuckled, happy to at least be able to tell her that truthfully. "Do you have a favorite place here? Did you grow up here too or move here?"

She gave his hand a squeeze and playfully tsk'd at him. "I've lived here all my life and I can't say I can imagine it any other way. The sea is just so beautiful and wonderful don't you think?" Riley practically skipped as she led him along through several twists and turns in the alleys of the market until they returned to a rockier part of the beach. "It's not far from here. When I was a child I used to come here all the time pretending to be on some grand quest or another," she giggled. "The caves here are amazing if you're brave enough to enter."

He took mental note of her answers, not surprised at all that she'd grown up in Cerenis. His gait was steady, but he had no trouble keeping up as she bounced along. "Did you?" he chuckled, shaking his head as he could certainly see her going off on some adventure by herself. "Why is it I have to be brave to enter? Cowards not welcome? Scary beasts in there?"

"They say that only those with a pure heart may enter without fear and all else beware. There are demons within that'll eat the very heart out of a grown man should they feel provoked and hungry enough or so I was always told. There were some thieves that once used the caves to store their treasures but their greed became too great and the guardians that once kept them safe turned on them for their sin. To this day the gave still glitters with their gold although their treasure trove has yet to be found in all its entirety." Riley smiled broadly, uncaring that her story-telling rambled in parts for she was nearly out of breath from her own excitement. "Do you think yourself brave enough to explore? You never know after all, maybe we'll run into one of the sirens of the deep!"

"Oh my, that is a terrible fate," he snickered, finding her passion endearing. "I think I'll be safe enough, brave enough if you'll promise to stay by my side, Riley." Lucien was just as intrigued by the possibility of finding some long-forgotten treasures, but that sort of exploring would have to be done on his own time.

"If we find such a creature, though... Well, no promises about my courage," he teased, finally giving her hand a squeeze as if to signal so.

Riley snorted, rolling her eyes lightly as she used her free hand to lightly punch him in the shoulder. "I've met little boys half your size with more heart than you," she teased, nudging her shoulder against his playfully before tugging him inside. "You'll just have to see for yourself though if we find such a creature. I can't say I ever did but then again, perhaps my heart was just too pure." She stuck out her tongue slightly, feeling so free and childlike as she skipped about, easily weaving her way around the wet rocks within the cave and deeper into the darkness. In her youth she had been there many times and knew the way by heart even without a lantern to guide her.

"Perhaps so, you've found yourself stuck with a cowardly rascal today I'm afraid," he jested right back, sticking out his tongue briefly for what little more he could see of her in the dimming light. "No siren would dare bother a saint when there are men weak of heart all around." A dull thunk silenced him as he clipped his head against a portion of low-hanging ceiling. A grumpy grumble and hiss accompanied a quickly raised hand to soothe it, but he was quickly at Riley's side once more.

"What a shame." The thunk instantly had her turning though and reaching out for him until her hands could rest on his shoulders. "Oh I am so sorry! I should have remembered you don't know the way as I do. Are you alright? Should we leave? Where are you hurt?" Riley reached a hand up to rest gently on his head as if to find the bump in the dark and make it better. "I'm so sorry."

A sharp hiss escaped him as he gingerly touched a hand to the spot. He felt no blood but he didn't trust his clumsy hand as he felt around more. He definitely smelled it. It took him more than a few moments to realize he'd bitten his cheek in the process. "I'm fine! I'm fine, Riley, don't worry. Just a tiny bump. On my head. Right here." He tapped it gently, fumbling to not touch her too much as their hands brushed as he tried to ignore the dull throbbing for her. "Don't apologize, I should have been...watching where I was going," he chuckled, knowing he was nearly blind in the dark anyway.

"I'm fine, though, really. I want to keep going, if that's alright with you."

She scoffed slightly and shook her head. "Yes because you could definitely do that in the dark. I'm so sorry really. Try and stay close and I'll promise to mostly not let you trip over anything or bop your head again." Riley took his hand and gave it an apologetic squeeze before leading him at a much slower pace through the winding cave tunnels.

The young woman soon stopped as she reached her desired destination and turned to face him. "Now close your eyes 'les you be tempted by all that which glitters in the dark," she giggled, waiting for him to obey as she took his other hand in hers.

With a numbness still tickling at his scalp Lucien followed her blindly. He was slightly impressed that she even managed to navigate in such darkness. No amount of blinking helped him and he could barely see a few feet in front of himself. Once she'd stopped, though, he stopped quickly as well. He didn't need any more clumsy fumbling around to not impress her with anyway.

"You think me so weak of mind?" he teased. He closed his eyes, though, giving her hand a squeeze to assure himself she wouldn't run off and leave him there to find his own way out. "What's there to hide? It's already so dark," he complained with a sigh.

Riley smiled though she knew he could not see it but otherwise held her tongue. Carefully and slowly she walked backwards until a faint glow began to light her way. She continued to lead him until they stood in the center of the now massive cavern. With a gentle squeeze of his hands, she looked up at him in anticipation and with a nervous smile.

"Alright," came a whisper, "open your eyes." The walls, ceiling and floor of the area glowed faintly a blue-green that winked and shimmered like fairy lights in the dark. They were enough to create some light but nowhere near as bright as a proper lantern. Riley had always found them enchanting though as they caused shadows to dance in the most delightful way. Even the areas where water had flooded still shimmered with the same lights, illuminating the rare, shy fish that swam peacefully by.

It was difficult to listen to her simple instruction of keeping his eyes closed, but Lucien made an effort to not disappoint her over such a simple thing.

He stumbled here and there as he was led along, the lack of eyesight making it difficult for him to balance. At her prompting, though, he peeked an eye open a bit and opened both entirely once he was satisfied he wouldn't be blinded by anything terribly bright. "What....is all that?" he asked, immediately entranced by the colorful glow and sparkling water about the cavern. "Magic?" he asked dumbly, genuinely stunned for he had never seen such a phenomenon before.

She watched his wonder and awe with pride and mirth. It was exactly the reaction she was hoping for when she decided to bring him down into the dark. "Something like that I suppose," Riley whispered back, still not wanting to break the beauty of the moment. "As children we thought they were fairies or even the pirates gold turned to blue dust." With his gaze distracted by the lights, she found herself feeling bold and mischievous. Impulsively while still holding his hands, Riley leaned in to kiss his cheek under the glow of the almost romantic glow.

Lucien listened to her explanation as he remained distracted by all the jumping movement and practically dancing lights. "Fairies? Pirates, huh?" he chuckled under his breath. "Seems likely. I mean just look at it! It's so shiny and it must be coming from somewhere don't you-" He'd turned back to discuss with her in his excitement but hadn't realized how close Riley was.

When he turned his head it was their lips that connected instead of her intended, more chaste lips-to-cheek peck. Startled by the abrupt contact, Lucien thought it had been intentional, if a bit sudden. He was thankful for the dim glow around them because his neck burned with embarrassment that she'd caught him up and he'd been unable to make the first move towards more affectionate times with her.

Still, he was happy for it and hummed pleasantly as he gave her hands a squeeze, hoping she would not shy away from him after making such a bold move. He tilted his head slightly for less nose-bumping and leaned in to kiss her properly, thinking that that had been what she'd wanted from him.

He kept it brief, not wanting to crowd her too much with a "first" moment. When they separated he could not help the slightly prideful smirk that wouldn't leave his face. He wanted to ask what that had meant for her but he found himself staying quiet instead, worried to ruin the "moment" as he saw it.

Her intended surprise, chaste kiss completely backfired as fate decided it was the perfect moment for him to turn and face her. Lips met lips in such a way that caused Riley to gasp softly and freeze in place. Her own hands curled and squeezed back in pleasure while her ears flamed red from embarrassment. She felt so conflicted but was forever grateful that Lucien had proven to not be an animal, willing to pounce at the first chance he was given. Riley sighed when he at last pulled away, letting her head bow slightly to hide the smile she was sure was splitting her face in two.

"Come, there's more things to see this way!" She urged him onward with a tug to one of their still connected hands while the other immediately released his. "I hope you can swim though because I'm sure we'll both get a bit wet where we're headed. If you thought this was beautiful, then you'll love what's next." The young woman felt it was best to ignore the kiss had happened for the moment so that her heart could slow its terrifying beat before it abandoned her altogether.

The lack of a reaction from her was surprising and distracted him enough that he stumbled forward from her tugging. "Oh... Alright, sure," he answered, his mind racing as to why she didn't even acknowledge that anything had happened. Perhaps she regretted it or hadn't intended for it to happen at all, which was a bit disheartening to imagine.

Still, he didn't plan on giving up his pursuit of her over such a small rejection. "I can swim fine. Probably not as well as you, but I probably won't sink," he told her, trying to keep the mood light and his voice free of disappointment as much as possible. The last thing he wanted was for her to catch on that he seemed to want her more than she wanted him. "Is it something I need to see for myself? What could be more beautiful than all those lights?" he wondered, looking back over his shoulder to see the dimming light as he followed her away from them.

"Good, because I'd hate to lose you to a siren," she teased with a wink. The glow of the lights was less in the tunnels they were headed through but some were still present just more infrequently. Water ran down the walls of the cave in a steady flow that then ran across the tunnel floor to drain away where they could not see.

Riley smiled at his interest in what she had to share with him and easily squeezed his hand happily. "I think it's best if you just see. If I tried to explain I would just ruin the experience for you I think. Would hate to disappoint you like that."

"I don't think you'd disappoint me. Not all surprises are pleasant," he reminded her, giving her hand a squeeze back when he noticed her doing the same. It was a good sign about her feelings about him, in his opinion. Lucien followed her obediently through the darkening tunnels, but it was apparent very soon that there was another light beyond.

It was muted at first, but once he'd rounded the last corner of a passage with her he found himself staring out at a wide expanse of water with a beautiful glow pulsing beneath. The cavern was alight with all manner of colors he had no idea how to even begin to describe. The walls sparkled with the reflected light off thousands of scales from the calm schools of fish wandering peacefully below. They were creatures without predators and did not view the pair as any sort of threat, but more than that Lucien was shocked at the sheer size and the rainbow of colors amongst the peaceful giants.

"Those aren't your sirens, are they?" he whispered, as if fearful of disturbing them from above the surface. "What is all this?" he asked with pure wonder, never having seen such an odd phenomenon in all his days.

Riley smiled broadly as she gazed out at the lake with him. She leaned into his side gently but in such a way that it could not be mistaken for an accident. "Not sirens, I promise. Come closer and see. There are many stories of what they are and are not. Perhaps later if you want I'll tell you a few. What do know is they are gentle and curious. They are also horrible eating."

Pulling him forward gently to the very edge of the lake, she let go of his hand in order to dip her fingertips into the water. Ripples formed where she touched and in no time at all the fish came towards her, breaching the water to mouth at her fingers and nuzzling her palm as if they were dogs looking to be petted and handed a bone.

He relaxed a bit to know that he had nothing to fear of them. He definitely noticed the way she leaned into him, but the feeling was fleeting as her attention turned to the giant fish below. His eyes went wide at the way they mouthed at her and for a moment he reached to pull her back, but it was clear they weren't trying to eat her as he had feared so he relaxed and crouched down instead to look at them.

"Amazing," he stated with simple awe, cautiously reaching a hand to offer to the fish as well. He was rewarded with ample splashing and tickling kisses as they searched his palm for food, a sensation that seemed endless as they reached further and further up his arm. "Stop that," he laughed, patting the nearest gently before withdrawing his hand slowly. "We should have brought them something, hm? Perhaps a reason to come back.

"Have they been here since you discovered this place?" he wondered.

She giggled at the fish's and Lucien's antics. "For as long as I can remember they have been here although I am sure they have been here much longer than that even. Not many people know about this chamber though as it is very deep within. As children most of played in the cavern of fairy lights but not much further than that did we venture if we were brave enough to enter at all that is. Do you like it then?"

"Of course! I love it!" he laughed, lifting his head to stare out across the lake again. He smiled appreciatively for the simple beauty of it, impressed that such a place existed and even more so that she knew of it. "It's beautiful. I had no idea something like this could even exist... Does this place hold any other secrets?" he wondered as he cautiously rejoined their hands, only partially teasing as he was genuinely curious.

"I wouldn't be surprised to learn it did though these two places have always been my favorite. There were some other interesting ones when I was smaller but I can no longer navigate those narrow passages. I'm sure too that had our parents known we were venturing into these caverns we all would have had our hides tanned for it. It can be quite dangerous in here. But then when you find this," Riley swept her hand out to motion at the lake, "how could you resist?"

She blushed slightly and could not hide her smile as he took her hand back into his own. It was a sweet gesture in her mind and made her feel warm inside. "Would you care for a swim? It's actually quite fun from what I remember. I'd understand if you wouldn't though."

He noticed her smile and even without words he felt reassured in the potential for her feelings. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and chuckled for her skepticism. "Of course it can be fun! Perhaps not when you are using water to flee but... I don't think I will need to run from you or these fish," Lucien chuckled.

Even though he enjoyed being connected with her it didn't seem practical for all of their clothes to be soaked. "Let me get these off," he said, not waiting for an answer as he let go of her hand so he could take off his shoes and set them aside. After a moment's pause and a curious but not entirely apologetic glance her way he also chose to forgo his top, slipping it over his head to set atop the shoes. "I don't dare remove anything else without your permission," he teased her, smirking proudly for he felt comfortable in his own skin and was quite confident in the appearance of his body, especially in the glow of the cave.

While he removed his boots, Riley undid her braid, having learned in her youth that it was too much of a temptation for the fish not to try and swallow if it was kept bound together. Her own boots were still at home and her feet bare. She refrained from removing her own articles of clothing. His comment did make her giggle though.

"It is not me I would be concerned with but them. I would hate to give them the temptation of food when there most certainly isn't any." She smirked softly as she observed his bare chest in appreciation before she winked and swan-dived into the lake, the fish splashing and following to brush along her as she was lost from view in a flurry of foam and glittering scales.

He certainly hadn't thought of it but it cut the cheeky smirk from lips pretty quickly at the realization of what she was imply. "Definitely not," he agreed, watching her dive and disappear in among the fish. Instead of diving he merely scooted himself off the edge to lower himself into the water. Uncertain of where she intended to surface Lucien merely followed along the surface with the school of fish swarming her.

Riley, who had grown up being able to swim almost before being able to walk, swam easily through and around the fish until she was behind Lucien. Her years of practice left her able to hold her breath for long periods of time, so that once he paused she was able to break the surface without gasping for air like a fish out of water.

It was perfect as it provided her with the opportunity to surprise him. Her arms came around across his shoulders and neck as she practically pounced on his back. "Gotcha," she giggled into his ear moments before she planted a kiss upon his cheek. Her chin rested on his shoulder lightly as she leaned into him.

Once the school started to break apart Lucien realized that she was no longer among them. He paused, treading water as he looked around for her further out. He had not thought to check behind himself and truly was surprised to have arms wrapped around him and the gentle weight of her leaning against his back. "How did you do that?" he chuckled, though he was quickly silenced by the kiss to his cheek. There was no mistaking that that had been intentional.

Lucien cleared his throat, raising one hand to hold her arm gently. "You're quite a fish, aren't you?" he praised, turning his head to peek at her out of the corner of his eye. "You want a ride around?" he teased.

"Daddy doesn't call me Minnow for nothing," she laughed aloud while hugging him close. Riley slid from his back to swim around to face him while still keeping close to him. "Unnecessary. If we did that then I couldn't see your face as you marvel in all this. Much more fun then looking at the back of your head as handsome as that may be." She smiled brightly up at him feeling so at peace and right in the moment as the fish swam lazily about the lake, casting sparkling reflections across their faces and the stone walls.

"Well at least I can keep you entertained with that," Lucien laughed, his smile warm as he admired her openly, the light of the lake casting shadows wonderfully across her face. She was so happy and carefree, delighting in the simple pleasure of showing him a hidden beauty. Lucien was frankly in awe of her of her still, wishing so much that they could be closer without making their swim a little awkward.

"Is is safe down there, then?" he asked, tilting his head to look down at the bottom where their friendly school had wandered. "How deep is it? Truthfully I haven't done any diving in quite some time."

She smiled and shook her head. "I've never had any trouble in all the years I've swam here. I can't say how deep it is though. When we were children we used to see who could swim the deepest but then we were much younger and not very good at holding our breath for very long. I do know the deeper you go the darker it gets. Why? Feeling adventurous?"

"Always adventurous," he teased, leaning in close with the intent to kiss her yet again but stopping himself before their lips could touch. Realizing what he'd done Lucien was quick to try and brush it off as intentional as he took her hand beneath the water and instead tried to swim just past her as he stared down into the depths.

"Hopefully you can drag me out if I drown," he chuckled before releasing her hand and letting himself sink. Once he was beneath the surface he turned to dive straight down, his eyes struggling to see the further he went, though he tried to let the glow above guide him as much as possible. He was startled by the return of the curious fish, the creatures mouthing him with an almost uncomfortable familiarity, affectionate as they were.

Even they quickly grew bored of him, though, leaving the thief to explore the depths, only needing to surface for air a handful of times as he made a lazy circle to take in the beauty of the hidden lake. He was simply amazed by the sights, certain he would love to make it his own home if it would have been possible. Occasionally, Lucien snuck looks at Riley's silhouette in the water. It really was not like him to be chaste but with her he felt the need to refrain from being a beast for her benefit. He was sure it would only make any prospects with her awkward if he manhandled the fisherwoman, her sense of propriety already seemed to be established with the way she cared for curfews and a "proper" courtship.

Her heart raced and her lashes fluttered as he leaned into her as if to kiss her. But, when instead he pulled away to swim, Riley found herself frozen in place. Her fingers traced her lips where his own should have been. She felt herself becoming self-conscious. Was she not attractive enough? Did she do something wrong? Did she smell repulsive? Had her playful boldness been too much for him and this was his way of showing that while he enjoyed her company that was all he wanted?

Feeling rather forlorn, Riley watched him swim a bit from her place in the water before tiring of staying in one place. She took to following him on the surface just in case he found himself in a spot of trouble. However, after their lack of perfect kiss she found she had lost her interest for the time being in swimming around below with him as he explored. Instead she worked on taking the time to compose herself for when he decided to surface long enough to rejoin her. The last thing she needed was the added embarrassment of him asking what was wrong and bringing further attention to her plight.

It certainly was a beautiful sight but some of the magic was lost without her at his side. Lucien turned over to swim while facing the surface, watching her as he swam along lazily. He wondered why she did not join him. Once he grew tired of holding his breath he allowed himself to surface near her, paddling to her quietly. "Riley? Tired of diving?" he guessed, reaching out to pull her closer by her waist.

She tried to smile but could not help but feel like it was a bit forced. "Just though you'd enjoy the exploring on your own without me showing off is all," she replied with a slight shrug. Riley squeaked slightly as he pulled her close. Her hands moved instinctively between them before coming to rest on his shoulders. After the previous failed kiss she simply did not know what to make of the situation. Shyly she kept her gaze lowered to where her hands were. "Did you get tired if your exploring then?"

"Not exactly, just bored of exploring without you. You're fun, you know. Aaaand you make this place even more pretty with your very presence," he told her confidently, thinking her reaction was purely of shyness. Lucien pulled her even closer for it so they touched chest to chest, though he had a bit of trouble treading smoothly like that.

"Is something wrong? Not feeling well?" he guessed, letting one hand snake up to cup her cheek when he notice how she seemed to keep her gaze averted. "Should I take you home?"

"Thank you," she replied blushing slightly. "You flatter too much though." His touch made her blush more and her eyes lifted to meet his. Riley did not answer right away as her eyes watched his face, trying to read the emotions there but coming up blank. He was sweet and genuine, a sincere man but was there more? Did he feel for her as she felt for him? She just did not know.

In a soft voice with her eyes still meeting him she spoke, "You confuse me." For a moment her eyes dropped to his lips before popping back up again. "I don't know what you want from me."

When suddenly he found their eyes were meeting once again Lucien shut his mouth and searched her own silently. He was worried about her sudden fall from playfulness but he also could not deny how such a connection made him feel.

His cheeks took on a light color as he cleared his throat, unwilling to look away lest she see him as timid. "Confuse you?" It was surprising to him that she thought such a thing, uncertain of where it had come from. Her unexpected directness, though, certainly threw him off. "Want from you? I... I hoped to spend as much time together as possible. I enjoy your company and I was hoping that you might be interested in more than a companion if you felt the same about me. Eventually. That is for you to decide, Riley, of course," he assured her with a gentle, yet nervous smile.

Lucien hated showing a lady his cards but when she asked so directly there was really no way around being blunt. "Perhaps if you find you enjoy my company just as much we can pursue that. See where it goes, see what could....blossom from those kinds of feelings?" he suggested.

"Oh," she intoned with wide-eyes and darker cheeks. "Oh," Riley repeated, unable to keep the smile from her face as she looked down between them. "I...I think I like that idea," she whispered while feeling as if a barrel of fish had taken resident in her stomach, flopping and fluttering all about in sudden surprise. "I thought you didn't like me," the young woman admitted nervously, still unable to look him in the eye. "Like that I mean."

"Well what gave you that idea?" he laughed, the sound something he immediately regretted as he was not truly amused. "And here I thought I was doing so well," he teased her, leaning forward to kiss her forehead.

"You're a beautiful, kind, and fairly adventurous young woman. Any man who doesn't see that or appreciate it is a fool, but I suppose I'm quite lucky they don't or you would be happily settled with someone else, huh?" He could tell she was anxious by the way she wouldn't look at him anymore. It took everything he had to not mention it or play off of it, but the thief was fairly confident he had her firmly hooked.

"I'm a woman of the sea," she told him softly, "most around here are boys too afraid of the likes of me and the rest...well they're certainly not as lovely to be around as you." Riley blushed at her own boldness but she hoped to continue to show him how she felt for him. He was sweet and kind and it seemed he was as equally as adventurous as she was. His light kiss gave her some more confidence even if it was not the kiss she was looking for. It certainly was a start. Riley slid her arms up from where they rested against his chest to around the back of his neck, pulling herself completely against him in the process. "I suppose I just worried you were like all the rest."

The continued reminders of his lead against the locals in her eyes was a boost to his confidence, proud that he was already so much better to her. "Well I'm pleased you think me so lovely," he snickered, though his eyes went a bit wide as she pulled herself flush against him. He was certain he could not hide the way it made him a bit flustered to be able to almost feel her body as if there were no clothes between them at all.

"I would hate to be too afraid of you to ever speak my mind openly. The cowards," he teased, not really understanding how the local boys could pass up such an adorable gem. He supposed it was all for the better if he managed to get her for himself and bed her soon if he was lucky. "I must say, it makes us sound quite right for each other, Riley. We make a nice pair, don't you think?"

She looked up at him with a mischievous smirk. "That is still to be decided," she whispered close to his face. "After all it's no good counting your fish before you pull up the net. You never know what might slip through your fingers."

Riley knew in that moment that she wanted nothing more than to kiss him. She wanted to tangle her fingers in his wet hair and kiss him until her lungs burned for air and even then she still would want to keep kissing him.

Instead, she leaned back some to see his face more fully. "Did you want to swim and explore some more? I don't want to keep you if there is more you want. That would be rather cruel of me after all don't you think?"

"Indeed," Lucien agreed distractedly, trying to hide his disappointment that she would not agree to such a thing yet. Perhaps she was just toying with him. He didn't truly know the circumstances of why she found herself unwanted by the men of the small city, but he realized then that it could just as easily be that she played with the hearts of men as anything else.

"Kind of you to think of me, Riley, but there is always more that I want," he teased, smiling easily enough despite how shot down he was feeling. He shrugged easily enough and slowly slid his hands away from their hold around her waist. It wouldn't do to act too comfortably if she did not return such feelings quite yet.

"If swimming is what you would recommend then swimming we shall do," he responded playfully, nodding at the school of fish making their rounds now that they were calmed from greeting their visitors. "Shall we follow them?"

Riley internally groaned. He still had no kissed her. That was twice now it had seemed perfect and that he would and just when she was about to have her happily ever after he had pulled away and rejected her. The man truly was a massive question mark for her. He would wax poetic about how much he wanted her but then never do anything about it. She would kiss him and be close to him and still he did not take the opportunity that he was given.

'Perhaps he's just as scared of me as all the rest,' she lamented painfully. 'I really am just a monster woman no one wants.' Riley nodded her head while trying to smile even as she felt her heart sinking down into the soles of her bare feet. 'He doesn't like me the way I like him does he? I asked and he gave the only answer he felt he could without hurting me yet his actions are so clear. I'm not good enough.'

Her throat locked up painfully while she squeezed her hands into tiny fists under the water. "Race you down," she murmured before diving below the surface, letting the lake soak up her tears where he would never know. She swam with strong strokes without truly paying attention to what she was doing. It was only as the fish came up to greet her that she paused to watch them swim around them and bump up against them.

Oblivious to her fears, Lucien regretted giving her up almost immediately. He studied her guiltily and had almost worked up the courage to pull her back in when she dove. He called for her to wait but he already knew it was too late for that. The thief waited a moment, having no real intention of racing her as he scowled at the beautiful light dancing upon the cavern walls, envying their simplicity.

When he finally went down he was slow as anything, taking in the view of her down by the fish until he was upon them. He unfortunately did not have the strength she had and knew he would need to surface sooner rather than later. Still, he swam close and clasped her shoulder gently once he'd arrived, leaning in press a kiss to her temple in silent apology before reaching out with his other hand to offer to the playful fish. They mouthed him gently but didn't try to swallow his arm at least, though he was certain they could if they'd tried.

He turned his gaze up towards the surface, cursing his poor endurance as he tried to remain calm and make his breath last a bit longer to stay down with her. He watched as the fish, losing interest in them as "newcomers" again, moved as one to resume their circling about the lake. He nodded towards them and looked between them and Riley's face, hopeful she would follow him as he swam out to tail them lazily.

She turned at his touch, bowing her head in acknowledgement before moving to the side and out of his way as the fish greeted him for a bit. Riley watched him calmly as he swam about, trailing behind him at her own leisurely pace before boring and deciding to gain his attention. She swam up beneath him, accidentally bumping chests with him in the process as she signaled her intent to surface for air. Once she felt he understood her intent, the young woman began ascent in an undulating in very fluid motion as if she were a fish herself or even a mermaid.

Thankfully she was the one to make the first move, though he startled slightly at the sudden closeness of her body again. The moment was enough for him to know exactly what certain parts of her felt like, if only briefly, but he was relieved she was going up at last.

He tipped his head back to watch her for a bit, awestruck by the way she moved and even more so by the way her clothing left very little to the imagination even in the dimmer light of the depths. It was the slight burning that started in his chest that finally kicked him to follow after her, the man swimming not nearly as gracefully as she did.

After gulping in a few breaths he cracked a stupid, toothy grin, oblivious that he'd offended her. "I don't think I'd ever get tired of watching you, you really do swim so beautifully. Seems so natural," he praised, chancing a hand reaching for one of her own. "Are you tired?" he guessed, continuing his playfulness. "I'm sorry I don't speak fish, wasn't quite sure what you were doing."

Once she surfaced, Riley breathed easily, waiting for Lucien to join her as she slowly tread water, her hands trailing back and forth through the water as she did. "Thank you," she replied quietly, preparing to dive back down when he asked some more questions. With a smile and a shake of her head she explained her want for air and was far from tired. Missing the hand reaching for her own she gave him a wink. "See you down below!" Taking a deep breath, Riley allowed herself to sink gently while watching the surface and Lucien become further and further away.

Lucien was relieved that they might continue to extend their afternoon, the man genuinely eager for more opportunities to spend time with her. "Below? Again?" he sputtered, watched her go as his hand was only barely out of reach of her before she'd all but disappeared.

He caught his breath a bit more before going under again, not very graceful as he dove after her. Once he'd reached her he floated close enough to take up her hand again, determined to have some sort of connection between them as he openly looked her over again, his eyes lingering in a few places they probably shouldn't have as he appreciated the unique view of the female body.

Riley smiled and accepted his hand in hers, just floating along lazily. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze before reaching for his other one and pulling him down closer to herself so that he was not drifting away on her. In the silence of the lake where everything outside was muted and the sound of her heartbeat was amplified she found herself focusing more on her sense of sight. With the view she had it would have been hard not to.

Warm, brown eyes that always seemed to be laughing, curly black hair that floated about him like a dark halo, and a well-muscled chest that just begged to be admired. He really was attractive and in Riley's mind aside from the lack of a kiss issue, he had been making her first real courting experience quite lovely. Her face lit up as she thought about it and she smiled warmly at him while giving his hands another squeeze.

Pleased that she accepted him he tried to remain close, occasionally fluttering his legs to keep steady and not stray too far. When Riley caught his other hand he gave her a small nod of appreciation, his lips seemingly stuck in a ridiculous, happy smile he'd been unaware of.

He noticed that she was looking but didn't have a clue what opinions she might be drawing in the silence. The light pressure upon his hand was pleasant enough as well. He brought her hand closer so he could plant a brief kiss to her knuckles before guiding it lower so she might feel his pounding heart within his chest.

It was an odd position of vulnerability that he normally would not share with a woman, but Riley was already very special to him. He saw more in her than any other he'd ever known and knew he was spoiled to receive her attentions at all.

After a few moments he raised the same hand to gain her attention, curling a finger slightly in a teasing come-hither even though he was the one intending to go to her. Lucien caressed up along her shoulder and neck before letting his hand settle with his fingers nestled in her hair. He glanced from her eyes to her lips and back a few times in a silent question of permission. It was his only warning and signal to her before he descended upon her to join their lips once more. He was slow at first, wishing desperately he could drag it out gently, but several factors quickly turned him towards the flaring passion in his belly as he pulled them closer to touch along their bodies once more as his lips became more demanding of her, desperate for validation that he was what she wanted.

She splayed her fingers across his chest, feeling the heart beating firmly within as well as the muscles much closer at hand. His sweet and gentle gestures caused her to smile shyly back. However, Riley did not have long to consider his actions before he was pulling her close to him and at last giving her the kiss she had been hoping for. It caused her to gasp slightly, air bubbles tickling her nose as her eyes fluttered closed as she released his hand to wrap her arms around his neck. Riley's true first kiss was unlike anything she had ever imagined. In the silence of the lake she could hear her own heartbeat race ahead like a stone skipping across the surface. She briefly wondered if he could hear it too but those thoughts were quickly forgotten as she allowed herself to just be in the moment. It was just so magical. Not even the burning in her lungs demanding air made her wish to stop.

It was therefore a welcome relief to find them bobbing at the surface, having floated up while otherwise distracted. Breathing heavily with the widest smile on her face, Riley searched his face, hoping to ascertain how he felt about it. She hoped he was not disappointed because of her own inexperience. Shyly she leaned forward, offering him a chaste peck, her eyes solely focused on his own.

Lucien was genuinely surprised that she accepted, that she didn't pull away or seem upset by his sudden actions. The moment was blissful, for what it was, his heart hammering loudly as it threatened to leap from his chest.

He'd been unaware of their floating, too focused on the moment and letting her see that he was serious. The sudden lack of silence startled him slightly, but he was happy for a quick moment to catch his breath.

Despite her grin the thought still crossed his mind that she might have just been polite to spare his feelings. The small peck of a kiss, though, was what sealed it in his mind. He slipped a hand to the small of her back to pull her flush against himself. Tilting his head slightly to look over his shoulder and make sure he was going the right way Lucien made to swim backwards with her towards where they'd left their things before.

Once he was sure he was going straight he leaned close to press a quick kiss to her wet hair. "Thank you," he spoke softly, unable to keep from smiling. "I'm sorry that was so sudden, I shouldn't have chased you down like that," he apologized, though truly he was not sorry in the least for what he'd done. In fact, he was quite proud of himself for having secured a kiss.

"No, thank you," she whispered breathlessly. "It was...heavenly," Riley cooed, staring up at him all doe-eyed and flushed. As he swam them back to the shore, she relaxed against him gently, her head resting on his shoulder and her arms still around his neck. Still feeling very much in the moment and unwilling to let that feeling go, the young woman began to pepper feather kisses on his shoulder and neck.

She did not dare do more though in case he found her too bold and crass. Riley knew what she was up to was improper but she found she truly was enjoying kissing him and being in his arms. He was warm and strong and handsome. Had the other girls seen him Riley knew they would be jealous of her. Best of all though, was that he seemed to truly enjoy being around her just as much as she enjoyed being around him and to her, that was all that mattered.

Lucien couldn't help but crack a proud smile for her praises. Such high compliments were rare and he cast a mischievous look her way once he'd heard them. He wondered, privately, if she might have had other things on her mind now that he'd piqued her interest.

The extra kisses were a start, at least. The thief hummed in acknowledgement, though as much as he wanted to stop and give her more he knew it would eventually be unpleasant if they were both freezing and waterlogged. "That feels nice," he praised her gently, cautious of drawing too much attention to her chosen activity. "Have I left you starved for affection?" he wondered, a playful look of guilt upon his face as he looked her way for a moment. "There must be some private stretch of the shore we could find. Lay out in the sun a bit," Lucien suggested, though he did not know how little daylight actually remained after their long afternoon in the caves.

She blushed at his praise and teasing, burying her face in his neck to hide. Riley was sure he could feel the flush of her cheeks and her smile against his skin. "If there is time it would be nice to watch the sunset together before it gets dark," she agreed shyly. "That is if I haven't scared you off already." When he reached the shore, she still was reluctant to let go as if afraid he would drift away from her. Riley allowed her head to just rest against him for a few moments more, hopeful he would allow her that at the very least.

"Scared me off? Quite the opposite, Riley," he chuckled, finding her sudden shyness enjoyably humbling for her from her usual harsh playfulness. He supposed she was finally getting repaid for being such a tease to him for days and weeks on end. "I intend to spend as much time with you as you'll allow me," Lucien told her confidently, pulling her flush against him with one arm as they finally reached the shore to pull them both up by his other.

He sat out of the water to catch his breath a bit after pulling her up to his lap, loosening his hold on her only slightly in case she did not yet want to lose it but leaving her enough room that she could be rid of him if she wished. He was suddenly very painfully aware of the cold air upon wet skin as he shivered slightly, something he was muttering a soft apology for his inability to control. "We should get back outside," he reminded her gently, though he was in no hurry as they only had a few things to collect and a short journey back up to the beach.

Riley blushed more, finding his words cute and his closeness comforting as he pulled her against him and out of the water. "Especially before you turn into an icicle," she teased, running her hands soothingly up and down his back in an attempt to warm him. "If there's time perhaps we can even watch part of the sunset together. Well at least if you don't think that silly," the young woman added, muttering the last part quietly as if afraid of being rejected and called childish.

It wasn't exactly what he'd been expecting her to ask for but he was not against her continued suggestion so long as he could remain at her side. Lucien couldn't help but wonder if sunset was a word she was using in place of some other, though. "If the lady wants a sunset then she will have a sunset," he agreed, giving her a gentle pat before releasing her to stand and gather his belongs.

"Could you lead the way? I'd hate to pass out on you if I get lost and bump my head," he teased.

"Of course," she giggled, blushing in excitement. Riley did not allow him to be parted from her for long though. As soon as he had his belongings in hand again, she was by his side, shoulder bumping against shoulder and her smaller hand slipping into his larger one with a warm squeeze. "You're too sweet to me," she whispered, gently tugging him along back towards the cavern of glowing lights and then out to the mouth of the cave.

Her eagerness to stay near was encouraging at least and he held her hand without shame as she guided him away from their little haven. The thief only smiled for her compliments. It was good that she gave them freely but that did not mean he needed to overspend his own.

Lucien bowed his head to press a quick kiss to her hair once they were out and on the beach once more. Thankfully the sunset was not quite finished and he swung their joined hands a bit as he headed off to lead her now instead towards a more private section of sand a bit further from the noise of port. He was thrilled but not anxious. Their day could have hardly gone more perfectly in his eyes and he personally thought she seemed quite smitten with him. "I know I haven't returned you to your father just yet, but would it be too bold of me to ask if you'd spend another day with me sometime soon, Riley?"

Riley followed as he led her further from the docks and home to a quiet part of the beach that few ventured to. His question made her giggle and returned the playful glint back to her warm eyes. "I would not consider it too bold if you were to ask such a thing," she replied cheekily. She squeezed his hand, wishing to cuddle up to him instead but too fearful to be so presumptuous and greedy for the affections of someone she did not know as well as she probably should.

He couldn't hide the smirk curling his lips. He was very proud of his work and had he any privacy he would have celebrated her receptiveness. "Ah, that's good. Very good, then," Lucien chuckled, leading her quite a ways further before he would speak again. He settled down to sit in the sand, getting comfortable but remaining upright so that he might dry a bit by what sunlight remained.

"Then I suppose I'd have to ask you properly? Can I spend another day with you soon?"

She sat beside him, leaning lightly into his side but with her gaze out over the red and pink water. It tickled and warmed her inside to know that he wanted to spend more time with her, that he enjoyed her company and courting her. "You can," Riley replied with a smile that threatened to split her face in half with its size. She squeezed his hand in hers and allowed her head to fall to the side to rest upon his warm shoulder. "Thank you for this afternoon. It's been lovely."

Lucien peeked looks at her out of the corner of his eye as he tried to hide the immense pride welling in his chest over her continued affections and closeness. He felt confident that she wanted him from how quickly she'd agreed. He gave her hand a warm squeeze, his thumb lifting to rub along the back of her hand as he stared out at the water and changing sky with her. "I'm glad you finally agreed, I was sure it could be nice.

"I only regret that I must return you to your father soon," he told her honestly, tilting his head slightly to look her way again, though more openly this time. He studied how she looked with her head upon his shoulder. Truly, he felt very much at peace with her like that. In a way it felt familiar and like she just...belonged there.

"If I could have my way I'd spend more than just another day. Maybe just a few more," he teased. Lucien didn't want to tell her how refreshing she was from the rest of his life, how different she was compared to other women he saw. He didn't want to say how he'd grown a little more than fond of the playful fisher woman or that he regretted that he had plans on leaving her peaceful hometown soon, if only temporarily.

"Only a few?" she questioned, hoping she did not sound overly eager or disappointed as she asked it without thinking. "Well perhaps it is best to take it one day at a time then I suppose. Who knows, perhaps today was just a fluke, or was a it a flounder?" She giggled at her pun, burying her face in his shoulder to hide her own embarrassment. Once she calmed though, she realized that it was quite possible he would be leaving again soon as he was not from their area. "Will you be leaving soon though? Sailors never stay for very long," Riley stated wistfully with a sigh. "It must be nice traveling about and seeing new places."

"It is nice, but the distance painfully reminds us of all we hold dear while we're away," he told her pointedly, eyeing her carefully as he purposefully spoke no more solid words of being a sailor. "I leave soon, maybe four or five more days. Enough time to say a proper farewell, I think."

The thief carefully freed his hand from her grasp and lifted his arm to drape around her shoulders and pull her in closer for a half-hug. "Would you allow me to bring you a gift from my journeys?" he asked.

Riley turned her head to look up at him in surprise. "You'd want to come back then? Even after you leave you'd want to come back and see me? Really?" She tried not to get her hopes up but the thought truly shocked her that he would like her enough to want that. Part of her worried that it was just a case of when he would be passing through he would enjoy her company before he was at the next port and with the next woman but she fought to stamp those thoughts out and envision something a bit more sweet and romantic.

"Well," she sighed, trying to calm herself, "after four or five days as you said we shall see. Maybe by then you won't be wanting to give a fisherman's daughter gifts."

"Should I not want to come back?" he teased, chuckling under his breath as he shook his head. This Riley was strange. He had no idea whether that meant she was surprised or simply did not wish him to return.

"What does that have to do with accepting a gift?" he asked, seeing no point in beating around it and going for bluntness instead. "Unless fisherman's daughters aren't supposed to like gifts from men like me."

"A good point, who are men like you?" she teased in a counter-argument to his own question. Riley peeked up at him though feeling extremely curious to know more about him. In her rapid infatuation she had missed out on asking questions and knowing more and with her heart so close to being in his hands to break or take, she knew she would need assess things later before she regretted her star-eyed crush on him. "What if I'm not supposed to accept gifts from strange sailor men who pop in and out of existence with no nevermind." She giggled even as she pressed more comfortably against his side. "I bet you use that line on lots of girls anyway."

"Well why not accept them?" he asked in mock surprise, secretly a little anxious that she seemed curious about his life. He supposed that was normal enough, though. She wanted to know what she was getting herself into, or at least what he would allow her to think she was getting herself into.

"I don't use anything on anyone, Riley. I'm just me. A simple man with a simple life and simple dreams," Lucien finally told her, pile of lies that it was. Away from Cerenis he'd lived a very lavish life of excess everywhere he'd gone. He took anything he wanted and did everything on his own terms, yet the girl from a fish stall still managed to capture his special attention.

She smiled softly, ignoring his question even as a comforting warmth spread through her body. Riley raised her head to look up at him, her lashes fluttering ever so gently even as her heart beat frantically within her chest. "I like simple," she murmured, truthfully meaning it unlike other girls who might still secretly want riches and knights in shining armor. All Riley had ever wanted was simple. Simple love. Simple life. Simple, everyday, no fishbones about it, everything. As she looked up at it, she knew that even more than simple she would love to have simple with someone like him.

Lucien smiled some for that, truly believing her and finding it quite endearing. Somehow with her it was nice that she didn't seem to expect anything of him, didn't even know of his stolen fortune. He assumed she probably had no hint of him having any money at all aside from their encounter regarding the jeweler.

"I think we'll get along nicely, then," he told her genuinely, leaning his shoulder against hers and bending to press a quick kiss to her cheek. "Shall we get you home?"

"I suppose we must," Riley agreed, glancing towards the nearly completely dark horizon. She was reluctant to stand and leave but knew she had to if she was to make it home in time. The fisherwoman interlaced her fingers with his though, reluctant to be parted in their final moments of the evening together. "Have you enjoyed your afternoon today? Is it everything you hoped for?"

"And more," he agreed, chuckling knowingly as he scooped up his shirt and gave her hand a gentle tug. He didn't really care if he accompanied her half-naked through the town.

While he certainly hoped for a good deal more he hadn't really been sure before if he might earn any of her sweet kisses or affections. Now that he had he felt all the more confident in his pursuit of her. Swinging their hands gently, he walked along with her at a fairly sedate pace. While the grey area of sunset and night was certainly upon them he truly was in no personal rush to be rid of her.

Riley giggled and gave his hand a warm squeeze as she continued to keep close so that their sides pressed as close as possible while they walked. "Then that's all that matters," she replied softly, leading him through the quiet streets of the city center. With the sun setting and the sky darkening, most everyone else had returned home for their evening meals and bed so that they could begin their days anew bright and early the next morning.

The fisherwoman's own house was the furthest from the center of time and the sea. It was impractical given her family's occupation but her mother had always disliked the smell of the docks and was scared of the vast and powerful ocean so Riley's father built their humble home so that his blushing bride would be at ease.

"I hope you don't mind the walk," she finally piped up as they began heading further to the outskirts. "That is if you didn't want to continue you could leave me here. I would understand. I know I don't really live near town."

Lucien was a little surprised how long the walk was but definitely not put off by it. "Nonsense," he teased, squeezing her hand briefly and tilting his head to give her a playful smile. "I didn't come this far to leave you with no escort the rest of the way."

"I only hope it isn't too late for your father's standard," he admitted, wincing slightly. It would be a bad impression to leave if he considered them late. He really did need as much in his favor as possible to keep seeing her again. He could only see any attempts to convince such an honest girl to sneak out with him going poorly.

"Well we could always hurry for extra good measure, nay? It would not be the first time I've ever raced the sun home." Riley laughed then in memory. "But then again perhaps such activities are not very proper for those who have long since matured past childhood." She did not let go of his hand for a second though, far too happy to hear he wished to continue onward with her to care much for what people would think if they saw them. Her mood was too bright to be spoiled then by anyone or anything.

"I must admit it isn't maturity that keeps me from it but selfishness," he chuckled, squeezing her hand lightly and tilting his head to shoot her a quick wink. "I much prefer present company thank you very much."

Lucien made no move to hurry them along, content with their leisurely pace even if it might earn him a bit of trouble later. He could only hope her father was kind enough to see past the time to notice he was bringing his daughter back at all. The thief thought that was a good enough deed on its own, even if he had entrusted her to his care, however temporary. He was still a stranger to her family even if he had shown a bit of kindness and capability.

"How far from town do you live exactly?" he asked, the words coming slowly as he looked around them, the buildings becoming scarcer the longer they walked.

She quirked a brow at him curiously. "Selfishness? What selfishness is in such a task? I'm afraid I don't quite understand that one." Riley walked closer to him so that their shoulders bumped and brushed as they moved along. She found that she liked the extra closeness that gave them in addition their joined hands.

"We live on the outskirts," the young woman told him shyly as if feeling a bit embarrassment at not being more centrally located. "I know it's rather odd for the fishmongers to not be right on the water but," she smiled a bit wistfully, "mother hated the smell of fish and the sea so father built a house as far as he could just for her. I'm sorry for the extra walk but we're nearly there. You can always turn back though if you truly wish. I promise not to take offense."

Lucien shrugged casually, enjoying the closeness and making no move to separate them. "I just meant that I'd rather have you to myself," he offered with a knowing chuckle, nodding as she explained the distance.

"That's nice, I can understand that. Fish has a very...powerful scent. I simply don't know the area well, it isn't too far," he tried to assure her, offering a small smile and nudge.

"And there's no rush, I enjoy my time with you. Could take all night if you'd like," he teased, immediately regretting his forwardness with her and hoping she hadn't exactly caught onto it.

"Well," she giggled, "we can't actually take all night as I'll be in a great deal of trouble with my father for being late. We're already skirting that now as it is and I would hate for him to forbid we see each other again." Riley blushed but was unable to stay her toothy grin. "I quite enjoy spending my time with you. I would be disappointed to lose that."

He couldn't help but crack a smirk to hear that she did want to spend time with him. Perhaps he hadn't been reading into her too much at all if she didn't want to be separated. "As would I. Let's hurry then? So we don't squander his good faith in us."

The last thing he needed was an angry father watching him too closely with his daughter.

"Let's!" she said with the broadest of smiles before leading him the rest of the way in a skipping fashion to her home. Riley's father was waiting in the doorway, arms crossed and boot tapping. "Cutting the line a wee bit close there, Minnow. Are you hopping to become bait?"

Riley let go of Lucien's hand in favor of greeting her father and giving him a hug and a quick peck to the cheek. "Father you know fish love to dance or the sparkle of the sun. I couldn't squander a moment of it."

The old man chuckled and shook his head before waving his daughter's friend closer. "Come along young man. Don't think you'll escape dinner either. Sun's a-settin' and there's dishes that need placing on the table," he beckoned before bowing indoors and leaving a giggling Riley in his wake. "I suppose that means you're invited to dinner. I hope you like fish," she laughed.

A tiny ball of tension settled in his throat as he spotted her father at what he could only assume was their house. For some reason the idea of being scolded for keeping Riley out late particularly bothered him. He didn't want her to have any reason to dislike him when he fully intended on hanging around her while he was in town.

But suddenly he was being invited in like an old friend. It seemed the old man trusted him more than he'd thought, but he wasn't sure if that was actually a good thing. He wasn't quite ready to let his guard down.

"Uh s-sure! I can help with that. I think," Lucien fumbled, wincing for his mistake but hurrying inside with a quick smile and wink for Riley before her father changed his mind. As he cleared the doorway, though, he was struck by how small it was, in his eyes.

He turned his head one way then the other, a little startled that it was a home. That two people shared. Shaking his head and offering them a grateful smile, he hoped they would be none-the-wiser to his quick judgment. "Smells wonderful," he praised, taking a dramatic whiff of the food cooking over the fire as he stepped closer to the table.

"I take instruction well, sir. Just say the word and consider it done," he offered Agam, still trying a little too hard to blend in as a sailor on leave. He didn't want to rifle through their cupboards without knowing where to expect their dinnerware.

Agam nodded in acceptance of the younger man's words before turning back to the flames so that the fish would not burn. Riley meanwhile pulled down the dishes and pressed in against Lucien's side to whisper conspiratorially to him. "Come help me set the table. I think he might actually like you."

She winked as she all but twirled about the small room as she pulled up an extra chair and went about finding all the extra little fixings for the table. Bread was set out and sliced beside small bowls of butter and salt, precious commodities that Riley felt her father would not mind her bringing out for their guest. "Would you like something to drink, Lucien?"

"Oh really?" But Lucien couldn't keep the self-satisfied grin from his face as he picked up what dishes were left and carefully set them out in front of each place at the table. Trying to show some care, he took the time to straighten them out and align everything neatly.

"Some wine would be nice if you have it. But anything you have is fine, I'm not picky," he insisted with a grateful smile for her offer of hospitality. "Is there anything else I can do to help?"

"Wine it is then," she replied cheerily before nudging him into a seat. "You've done plenty. Dinner should be ready any moment by the smell of it." Riley whisked herself off again to get cups and drinks for the table, generously pouring Lucien a glassful before giving some to herself and her father.

Agam was not far behind her placing the still steaming and quite hot food on the table and taking his seat at the head of the table. Riley then sat herself across from Lucien, a shy smile lighting up her features every time she looked at the man. The old man then reached both hands out to the other two. Riley followed suit placing her hand in her fathers and offering her other across the table to Lucien. "Prayers," she whispered to him by way of explanation.

Lucien sat at the table setting with her offered glass, taking a small sip as the others sat and humming softly in appreciation. It was good wine, not bitter as he'd feared it might be.

Naturally he looked at each of them in mild puzzlement for the offered hands but gingerly took them and nodded his head instead of scoffing at her explanation. He had no desire to insult their religion even if he was not a devout follower. Instead of joining them in prayer, though, he just stared at the the steaming fish on the table looking so delicious and enticing and barely out of reach.

Riley smiled and squeezed his hand reassuringly once he had placed it within her own. She would not admit it out loud but she loved the feel of his hand in hers. It was softer than hers, with less callouses on the palms making her wish her own hands were more delicate and silky smooth. As her father began saying their prayer of thanks to the sea gods for their food and fortune.

"And thank you," she quickly added before her father could finish, "for bringing us a guest, delivered safely to shore." Her eyes brightened, as she quickly glanced up to his face before blushing and ending the prayer. "In your names we pray, so may it be." Riley squeezed his hand one last time before letting go and picking up the plate of fish to hold it out to him. "As our guest please take food first. We do not stand on much ceremony here but we don't go hungry and there is more than enough for all of us."

He looked up once their prayers had been spoken, smiling guiltily and thinking she'd caught him looking at the fish in those moments. "Well I'm honored, thank you," Lucien murmured, reaching to obediently pluck a piece of fish from the plate to place down on his own.

Before he would dig in to his dinner, though, he eyed Agam and Riley expectantly until both had food on their plates. In the meantime he sipped at his wine again, savoring it even though it wasn't the finest he'd ever had. It was still the finest he'd had in a long while.

"Thank you for the invitation. It's been a while since I've had a proper home cooked meal at the table," Lucien directed towards her father with a knowing smile. At least it hadn't exactly been a lie.

The young woman continued to sneak glances when she could, her cheeks warm and and her smiles plentiful. Riley was blind to much else outside of watching Lucien. She had not even noticed him eyeing the fish earlier. She was simply too focused on the fact that he was there having dinner with her family and it was all so utterly homey. Riley had yet to touch her food even with all her self-made distraction.

"Our table is always open to wayward souls in need of a warm meal," Agam answered, his voice low and gruff as he carefully chewed his bread. "The sea is a fickle home. I am glad to offer you this small comfort. Eat, though!" the large man ordered, nodding at Lucien's plate.

"And you too, Riley. Don't think I haven't noticed you pushing your food around instead of eating it."

"I'm eating!" The woman blushed and bowed her head before taking several hearty bites to prove her point. "See!"

He shot Agam an indulgent little smile, eyeing Riley sidelong to be certain she'd at least taken some food onto her plate before he allowed himself to dig in. A quiet chuckle bubbled up his chest as he watched the interaction between father and daughter, his own bites starting slow and cautious before growing more fervent with an appreciative groan.

"Gods. Agam this is delicious," he declared, eyes bright with genuine appreciation before turning on Riley with a playful glint. He reached closer to her plate even though he still had plenty on his own, hovering his fork and ready to strike to spear away a bit of her fish if she only hesitated and gave him the opportunity. "Riley by all means let me help! You aren't hungry after all, hm?"