The breath was squeezed out of his chest a little when Falina surprised him with a hug, but he laughed it off, curling his arms around her shoulder and rocking her back and forth a couple of times. She did like the sneak-attack tactic, didn't she? Ah, well. It wasn't such a bad thing, to be kept on one's toes. Rhocanth dropped a kiss atop her head and let her go.
At her answer, he posed a thoughtful expression, one finger over his lips. "You don't say! A lute? What a lovely hobby. I would love to hear you play someday." He made for a slight pout for her at mention of flowers dying, nodding his head gravely. "Ah, indeed. It seems you've found the heart of the matter. How terribly tragic is a gift that dies so suddenly? I wonder if leaves die just the same once plucked? They are not the entire tree, not like flowers are to... well, flowers."
He grew silent again at the idea of her birthday, having thought it over for a moment or two. Well, fifteen wasn't so terribly young. Younger than he was, but not unseemly so for him to be seen about with her, and she was about to turn sixteen. Curiously, he tilted his head and asked, "Do you have any birthday plans? Or birthday wishes?"