Manning Thorsen believes in (othala) wrote in repose,
Re: Wainright Manor: Iris M/Manning T/Misha B/Damian W
There were several things that Manning did notice beyond their appearance and manner of speech -- Damian's efficiency and Misha's southern charm. One, that Damian was staring at the boy across from him, which he might not have known was staring but was, and led Manning to believe they were still in that phase of their relationship where the rest of the world looked dim when one's beloved was not in one's gaze. Two, that if this was unusual, Misha didn't seem to think it was. Damian was also very specific where Manning was not. Seasons he could remember, but dates? He still had to put the kids birthdays in his phone so he wouldn't forget.
"Do you enjoy it?" He asked about Misha's schooling, and also thanked the staff that brought out the food before his gaze drifted to Iris. His foot remained against her ankle before he turned to Damian beside him. The way Misha said that --
"You made this?" He asked, more curious than disbelieving.
The fare was different than what he was used to, even different from what he'd grown up with. (And had Damian looked him up, there would have been very little on him prior to college, except for the proof that he had been home schooled in Norway.) Yet, it wasn't entirely unknown to him, and some of the ingredients -- like the one in the salata baladi -- were easy to recognize. He too reached for the flatbread and paused when Iris did. There didn't seem to be something wrong with the food, but perhaps it was something else. More nerves? His head tilted a little in silent question, and in the event that it was nerves, he winked at her to let her know it was okay.