like vines we intertwined Who: Altair and Ari What: Tea & Gossip Where: Highcombe Estate, in the garden When: 4:00 this afternoon Rating: PG Status: Complete~
The garden was lovely this time of year. If not for the fact that Altair tended to burn like a lobster and freckle like a hyena upon spending an unfairly short amount of time in the sun, he would quite like to pass every moment of the day surrounded by flowers and grass. As it was, he could tolerate only short periods of daylight, clothed for the Ordalian desert and wearing the widest-brimmed hat he owned.
He never could quite resist taking tea outdoors, however. By 4:00 the weather was still quite warm, but the servants set up a table under the ample shade of the old willow tree, and the garden frequently got nice breezes which made the experience rather pleasant. When winter came, Altair would miss these quiet afternoons, surrounded by the colors of the flowers and the gentle rustling of the wind through the drooping boughs of the tree.
Wednesday afternoon, he was seated a bit early in anticipation of Ari's arrival. He sat with his elbows on the table, his chin resting on his folded hands, watching a furry bumblebee hum busily among the snapdragons. When he heard the gate, he transferred his gaze without changing his posture; and seeing that his guest had arrived, stood to greet her.