RP:Weekend At The Warrior's

Summary: Lanara heads to Largakh's for the weekend and walks in to find a home-cooked meal, a triple-chocolate cake, and a distant playing violin. He had created the perfect date! The two have an evening filled with good conversation, delicious food, lots of laughs, and dancing. The conversation grows serious when Larz realizes that Lana is wearing his mother's pearl necklace, and for a moment, both of them struggle with their emotions. The 'L' word is nearly spoken, from both of their mouths, though they hold back, feeling that it isn't the right moment. The pair heads to bed, though Lana slips out before dawn, excited to begin her preparations for Easter.

Larz’s Shanty

The studio apartment is simple, you enter right into the kitchen, there is a closet to your immediate right and the small kitchen to the left, all hardwood floors kept surprisingly clean. The walls could use a paint job and the blinds on the one large window are dark and kept closed. It seems to have a clean odor which is a pleasant reprieve from the odd smells that apartment halls seem to have, you know, where it smells like someone’s cooking and everyone’s perfume or cigarette smoke all at once. In the living area seems to be one large couch which actually pulls out into a bed for the occupant and a bookshelf. On the back of the door are three sturdy hooks, one for a bow and it’s quiver of arrows, one for his leather holster which has his twin axes and dagger, the last for his patrolman jacket.

Largakh sent a letter to the Rolafir’s cabin to instruct Lanara to walk to his place as the sun goes down and make sure to bring one of her wolves for protection on the walk over, oh, and something nice under the cover of her cloak. The passed few days felt like forever, he also sent a thank you note for her thoughtfulness in preparing card night for him and the guys. Tonight he wanted to have another date, but made it incognito for her. He's not as good of a cook as she is, so he made baked breaded chicken (not deep fried) with sauteed string beans and savory chopped sweet potato for sides. A light spinach salad to begin and for dessert, a triple chocolate cake. He didn't have the pull down bed out and even put a bone on the old couch he used to use for a pull out bed to occupy one of Lanara’s wolves. Do wolves like to gnaw on bones? He puts his work boots near the couch too as if it were a ‘coincidence.’ A boot is a small price to pay for Lanaras safety. The place illuminates with candlelight and he even got out his black tablecloth to make his tiny table seem more fancy. He donned a simple finely knit sweater in a deep purple color and tan dress slacks with his hair smoothed back and that cologne of sandalwood mixed with vanilla. The table for two is set with candles, a bucket of ice for the champagne bottle and the first course of salad. Tonight seemed oddly quiet in the complex, but someone, somewhere was practicing a beautiful sounding violin. He felt his stomach turning, worried if she would make it okay, worried she won't like his poor choice in dinner date food. He tugs on the v cut of the sweater he wears as he was feeling warm now, maybe he should have just worn a short sleeve cotton blend shirt with a collar (polo). His hand nearly reached for the champagne, maybe a bit of this will calm his nerves, but then he heard footsteps near his door and his heart thumbs quicker with excitement. A grin with an eye roll as she knocks, “who is it?” Whatever her answer would be he would know it's her for he could hear the wolf growling already. “Use you're key! My hands are tied, but not literally!” Once she finally mustered the courage to get her key out and unlock his door to see him standing next to the tiny dining table to welcome her in, “hey beautiful. Ready for our incognito date?” His grin was crooked as usual, but also bright, as if just the right of her could cause his smile to break his face. “Let me take that for you,” he takes her cloak and hangs it next to his patrolman jacket before pulling her chair out for her and then taking a seat, himself. “Well… What do you think?” He was still worried she might hate this, but reminds cool on the outside.

Lanara had received his thank you card and the letter, and held them to her chest, giddy with excitement. It had been two days since they had last seen each other, and she couldn’t wait to spend the weekend with her warrior. The day seems to drag on forever, and she tried on about ten different outfits, much to the amusement of Seldanna, who insisted on an impromptu fashion show. Theo had removed her stitches, loaned her a large duffel bag so she could bring some of her personal belongings for the weekend to Larz’s apartment, and he had given her a wink, while pointing to the strapless crimson dress, which gently hugged her curves, while flowing out at her hips, ending a few inches above her knees. “That one. My boy will love it.” He leaves the room as Lana slips back into that dress, as it was the third one she had tried on, and as she turns around for Seldanna to zip it up, their eyes meet in the mirror. They smile at each other, and the elf slips a strand of pearls around her neck, clasping it, and rubbing the witch’s shoulders. “Seldanna! I can’t borrow these! They are beautiful…” Reaching up, Lana fingers the pearls, before lifting her hands to undo the clasp, only to find that she’s gently restrained by the older woman. “No. You are beautiful, Lanara. And you deserve to wear something that mirrors your beauty. Now, hurry along! My boy is waiting for you, and there’s no time to bicker over jewelry.” She leaves the room, and Lana slips into black peep-toe heels, and shrugs a black cloak over her outfit, though she leaves the hood down, so as not to mess up her hair. It had taken her hours to have those loose curls fall just so, she reapplies any makeup that had rubbed off in the past hour, and spritzes some vanilla and lavender perfume on her throat, before exiting the guest room. Sigrid and Bjorn are in the kitchen, and Lana pauses, eyeing each of them, and reading the note again. “Hm… He said to only bring one wolf. And I’m not sure where Krystan ran off to… Um…” She regrettably chooses Bjorn, as he’s more of a lap dog than a direwolf, and would be less likely to chomp down on the half-orcs hand, though he was still menacing enough to deter any evil-doers, and he was more than capable of turning ugly, should such an event arise where she’d need his protection. In one hand she holds her duffel bag, which is bursting at the seams with various changes of clothing, some of her crafting tools, and some personal items, and in her other hand she cradles a small box of homemade cookies that she had baked this morning. Exchanging a brief goodbye with the elder elve’s, she leaves Sigrid behind to keep a close watch over them, and makes the walk to Gualon, to the shanty she’s come to know quite well. Walking down the hall, her heels make soft clicking sounds, though they are drowned out by the symphonic sound of a violin coming from one of the apartments. She smiles to herself, as fond memories of her time at the University surface in her mind. Lana is nervous as she knocks on the door, and Bjorn unleashes a low growl, wanting to be let in, and hoping that the violin would stop piercing his sensitive ears. She laughs, patting him on the head, and raising her voice, rolling her eyes. “It’s me! Your only. Llama! Let me in, Lard! My hands are full!” He claims that his hands are tied, and she scrunches her nose, exchanging a look with the impatient wolf, before she lowers her bag and begrudgingly unlocks the door. As she locks eyes with Larz, her lush lips curve into a silken smile, and she literally throws herself into his arms, hugging him tight, before she slips from her cloak and lets him hand it on a peg. She had missed him, immensely. And she merely stares at him for a minute, before she collects her bag and closes the door behind them. “You look handsome. Got a hot date?” He had dressed up, worn cologne, and he even slicked back his hair! There were candles lit, and even the table was decorated, and… Had he cooked?! Lana is impressed, and she senses the importance of this date, as her gaze trails to Bjorn, who happily runs past them and leaps onto the couch, the bone resting between his paws, as he begins to gnaw on it. “I… Larz… This is amazing… You did all of this… For me?” How was he so calm at a time like this, when her palms felt sweaty, and her cheeks were nearly as crimson as her dress? She can’t even find the right words to say, and for a minute it looks like she’s about to cry, though instead of saying anything, she closes the distance between them and pulls him in for a soft, lingering kiss. After a few moments of gently rubbing his biceps and kissing his soft lips, she pulls back and smiles sweetly. “Thank you. You are amazing. Honest. No one has ever done anything like this for me… I’m a lucky girl.”

Largakh took in the sight of her, took her hand and gave her a little slow twirl as he whistled. “Very hot date, yes,” kissed her back in the same fashion, “I'm just glad you like it and I'm glad you made it here without incident.” Waiting for her to take a seat before pouring her some champagne with frozen strawberries for both of them. He holds up his glass for a toast, “I just wanted to show you my appreciation for you. I feel like the lucky one... To us.” He took her salad bowl and filled it while sighing, “you're telling me that no guy has ever tried cooking for you?” He looks unamused if her answer is ‘yes, correct’ and he sighs, “I'm sorry Lana. Let me make up for all you've been wronged by them. Even though my cooking is tolerable at best,” it was a couple of playful jabs and he grins that crooked way. “So, we have salad, then baked crispy chicken with sides of sauteed string beans and chopped savory sweet potato. Champagne and for dessert I went to a nice bakery and got the triple chocolate cake. The same bakery my grandparents used to take me to as a child when it was my birthday and it's one of my favorites… Well it's second only to some pie this wonderful elfess made for me, Theo and Seldanna a few days ago. His cheeks warm as he looks down to his champagne when he remembers the events after, “anyway. I just wanted to share more of my favorite things with you… And no, there are no rocks in the cake,” he winks before starting on his own salad. All the while talking of how he put this one criminal away who kept forgetting where he was or what he was doing. Placing his hand atop her free one resting in the table and his foot accidentally bumped her own, “whoops, my bad.” Once she was done he started to get her dinner plate ready while asking, “so, what trouble have you three gotten into?” He put a bowl together of some plain chicken and fresh boiled string beans to set it on the floor in the kitchen for Bjorn. He sits back down across from her and refills their glasses, “I hope they aren't embarrassing me with talks of asking when the wedding date is.” Once she clues him in on every little detail of her days spent at the Rolafir’s he was eating without taking his gaze from her as she had him entirely enthralled in every syllable that dropped from her perfect lips. “How is the healing coming along?” By the time she answers this in length he relaxed back in his chair and rubs his tummy, “I think I better let the meal settle before we dig into the cake,” which is has chilling in the larder. He downs the rest of hjs champagne and stands up, offering a hand down to her in order to guide her towards the living/bedroom. With the bed out of the way there was plenty of them to sort of dance in there, “I didn't get a slow dance with my Ro at that wedding.” He winks and pulls her in close so they may sway and slowly spin to the violin music drifting in. One hand around her back while the other holds into her hand as it was held against his chest. “How was the food?” A kiss placed slowly and softly on her forehead.

Lanara blushes as he whistled and called her a -very- hot date, though her smile seems to permanently remain on her pretty face, as she sits down and crosses her legs. The frozen strawberries are plopped into her glass of champagne, and their fingertips touch as she accepts the offered glass, giving it a dainty swirl as she inhales the intoxicating fragrance. “You even remembered the berries...To Us!” Clinking their glasses, she takes a long sip, the bubbles tingling on her tongue, as she laughs at his response. “Yes, really. No man has -ever- cooked for me. Well… There was one that tried to make me breakfast. Only he ‘forgot’ that I am -terrified- of snakes! I woke up, and this six foot long venomous serpent, was slapped down in front of me, and I kid you not, it was ALIVE! I wasn’t into the bravado of watching him break it’s back and cut off the head, after it had nearly dug its fangs into my face. So, I ran away… About two miles in fact. Screaming and crying and fighting off a panic attack. And when he found me, finally, and tried to calm me down… You won’t believe this, but I swear, it’s the truth! ANOTHER snake was slithering through the field! I despised Venturil! It’s safe to say that he never tried to cook for me again. That actually, was the last time I saw him.” Taking another sip of her champagne, she mulls over how wrong Eirik truly was for her, and shakes her head, forcing the lycan from her mind. He didn’t deserve her, in any capacity, and this man who she had known for six weeks had gone above and beyond, continuing to amaze her at every turn. Larz is going over the menu and she can’t help but hang on bated breath, waiting for each word that follows, as she loves to hear him talk. Normally, she’s the chatterbox, but tonight he seems a little nervous, and she finds this endearing. He’s so cute when he explains things, she thinks, before adding, “Oh! I bought some cookies, too. They are white chocolate with nuts and cranberries. But, -I- am having some of that chocolate cake, with or without rocks!” She winks, and as he arranges salad on each of their plates and steps on her foot, she throws her head back and laughs. “Why are you so nervous? It’s just me, Lard. But it’s super adorable that you’re sweating over impressing me.” Eating salad, she listens about his day, and how he helped someone with some type of dementia, and she frowns, nodding in agreement. “That’s a tough decision. But you did the right thing, as he could have harmed himself or others.” There’s a pause as he puts together a bowl of plain chicken and string beans for Bjorn, who happily pads over, drops his bone at Lana’s feet for safekeeping, and gobbles it all up. The two begin to eat their dinner, as the wolf has the nerve to lift the bowl and sit beside Larz, as though waiting for a refill. The elf is giggling at the personality of the direwolf, though she tries her very best to ignore him as she answer the half-orcs questions. “Um. No, they haven’t mentioned marriage.” A long pause, as she hadn’t expected him to nonchalantly just throw that out there, the woman slightly caught off guard. “They do talk about you a ton, though. As if I’m not already crazy about you… I feel like Seldanna would have made a wonderful saleswoman!” Mimicking his grandmother, she lowers her fork, and motions to Larz. “Here we have a handsome man, half elf, and half orc. A unique specimen, indeed! Lana! Those type of men aren’t just wandering around Lithrydel, let me tell you! He’s intelligent, funny, generous, and protective. He’s great with kids, he has a big heart, and Lanara…” She pauses, for dramatic effect. “He looks at you as though you are the only woman in the world. You are precious to my boy, and I can see that he cares for you greatly. I hope you feel the same. But I can see it in your eyes, as well. I didn’t get this age by being ignorant, dear girl.” Laughing, she clears her throat and takes a bite of the sweet potato, before carrying on. “So… I love them. They are so amazing and I have the utmost adoration for all of you. Theo actually told me to wear this dress, he said you’d like it. And Seldanna loaned me these pretty pearls, I think they belonged to someone special, or maybe even to her… I felt funny wearing them, but she insisted. We make meals together, I do the animal care, and before bed each night, they tell me stories of their early years together, and their adventures in Sage. Theo even walks me to the guest room and gives me a kiss on the cheek before turning in for the night, like a perfect gentleman! They… They make me feel like I’m part of a family.” As she’s talking, the candlelight casts shadows on her face, while illuminating those chocolate hues, so they almost shine a vibrant shade of amber. “What was it like for you? Growing up with them? Were they stern? Carefree? Affectionate? Do you have any funny or memorable stories to share? I want to know all about you…” Reaching out to take his hand, she listens, gently rubbing the back of his hand as they lock gazes, and only when he asks about her health, does she speak, again, not wanting to interrupt. “I’m so much better! The stitches came out this morning, and I have to use this special salve to erase any scarring. Theo said I’ll be back to modeling bikinis in no time.” She chuckles and takes a sip of her champagne, not minding if she were to have a hairline scar, because her modeling days were long gone. They both finish their meal at about the same time, and Bjorn has started to whine, so Lana scrapes any leftover food on her plate into his bowl, while aiming to clean off the table, only to find that Larz is standing beside her chair, with his palm facing up. She meets his gaze, and places her hand into his, following him over towards the small living room, and as he asks her to dance, she feels herself melting, and she happily obliges. He pulls her in close, and their bodies slowly sway to the soothing melody of the violin, and she rests her head on his chest, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. She couldn’t possibly fall any more for this man than she already had, yet… Here she was, falling deeper into the abyss of love, and fearing that there was no return. For someone that had never had a serious relationship before, he knew all the right moves, just what to say, and he made her feel as though she were cherished. Lana realizes, again, that she’s in love, and as exciting as it is, she’s also scared, and she softly admits, “I don’t want to lose this, ever.” Please, don’t let these feelings of yours fade once the newness wears off. “I just want to stay in this moment, in your arms.” Forever. His lips tenderly press to her forehead, and she nuzzles against his chest, inhaling his sandalwood cologne, and she sighs. “Dinner was wonderful, and the chicken had such flavor! You really didn’t have to go through all of this trouble for us.” Bjorn is still licking his bowl, though his silver eyes look up at him for a moment, as he watches them dancing in the adjoining room. “I appreciate all you have done and continue to do for me, my warrior.” Lifting her head, she stands on her toes, and gently pulls him to her, so that she can place a tender ‘thank you’ kiss to his lips.

Largakh had grinned widely when she talked of spending time with his family and he was glad she was getting along with them famously. His eyes dropped to the pearls she pointed out and he recognizes them, but he’s a bit hesitant for he didn’t want her to be creeped out. He starts off with, “don’t take this the wrong way… My grandparents are not expecting you to replace their daughter, but they’ve made their way of life in remembrance to my late mother.” It was difficult for him and by now she would pick up on the signs, the tense jaw, a glance away, “they used to live in this big house nearer to the center of the elven camps, they had money to throw around, so they did. No matter how much they spent on my mother she always could be found back in nature, barefoot and sunkissed with an old flowy dress on. She got them to remember the more important things in life and they are still eternally thankful she came to be in their lives, but when she had turned of-age my grandmother handed that necklace down to her - she really thought nothing of it. Seldanna has many pieces of fine jewelry and for some reason Vestele loved those,” he pointed to the necklace. “It was the only material item she cherished because the gift came from a place of love and sacrifice and Seldanna couldn’t bring herself to lay Vestele to rest in them. She’s worn them on occasion, herself… She didn’t give you those out of expectation, she gave them to you out of love and acceptance, but also a sign to me that she wants you to be the one I pop the question to,” a softer grin returns to his lips, “sometime in the future.” He tries to lighten the mood with the clearing of his throat and a playful, “joke’s on her, we already are married with four adopted hobbit children.” A soft chuckle as they continued to sway to the music, “they were great once I mellowed out around the age of ten. They are the ones that taught me patience, to rise above the discrimination I faced. There was one day,” a start to a chuckle, “I came home with this awful black eye and when theo handed me a cut of cold steak meat from the ice box I tried to gnaw into it.” He was chuckling again, “I didn’t realize he meant to have me put it on my eye!” The laughter died down, “they both taught me to cook, but Theo was the one who was expert at it. Seldanna taught me how to use a bow, being a priestess and all. Theo taught me Sylvan which I am sure tested his patience for once and they never struck me, always supportive and affectionate until I got too tall and too old.” A grin at his jest before she pulls him in for a kiss and he stops, the whole world stops as it does when this happens, his breathing slowed, his heart picked up a beat and there were happy explosions in his mind. The kiss breaks all too soon and he takes a seat on the old couch while pulling her with him so she may sit with him or on his lap. “Well, it won’t be stopping here,” his gaze locks to her own and he almost goes to say something, but he’s afraid… Which is new to him. Is she really over her ex? Will I freak her out by blurting out that he loves her too soon? He’s struggling with really not wanting to mess up their weekend and good time with the heaviness this word carries because he’s never felt it before and she has. He definitely wants to be the first to say it though. Now he realizes he’s just looking at her in that way he does while not saying anything like an idiot so he thinks up something, anything, quick! Brain, come on! “You used your key! I’m proud of you,” his grin was that of humor. “What do you want to do tomorrow? I’ve got to hunt for the orphanage tomorrow, but you don’t have to come along with that. Would you want to read to the kids while I hunt?”

Lanara watches as his gaze trails from her face to her throat, and takes in the sight of the pearls around her neck, and she can almost feel the tension in the room. She had not known they had belonged to his mother, or that they were -that- important to Seldanna, so her eyes widen slightly when she hears that his own mother couldn’t even be put to her rest with the jewelry. “I’m sorry.” There are no other words that she can offer, and she feels awkward wearing them, but if she were to take them off, it would make Larz feel bad, as well. She feels trapped, and she’s mentally cursing herself for letting his grandmother talk her into borrowing them for the weekend. Vestele reminds her a little of herself, and her sister, and she smiles faintly as he reminisces about the memories that had passed down to him about his mother. Kuruni, her own mother, loved the outdoors, and was a true flower child. She relaxes, swaying in his arms and she rests her head on his chest as he mentions marriage, which causes her head to snap back up, and her eyes to focus on his expression. So, he was marriage minded? She honestly wasn’t sure how orcs did things, when it came to matters of the heart, although her own heart is now beating wildly. She had almost crossed that line, and it was all she wanted, at one time. Now? Well, they’d have to have a long talk about what he expected of her, before she’d accept such a thing, and it would be much further down the road. Eirik had wanted to keep her locked in a castle, make her a queen of that sandy hellhole, riddled with snakes, in Venturil. Lana wanted a commitment, but she didn’t want to be ‘kept’ or used as a trophy. She looks as though she’s about to change the subject, or maybe ask him a question, when he states they’re already wed with four adopted children. She laughs, the joke breaking the tension, and shakes her head. “Hey! You were about to medicate the wrong child! You can’t even get their genders correct!” A pause, as the laughter dies down. “I’m glad that Seldanna approves of me, if we are to ever take that step. I could see them as in-laws. They are amazing.” As he talks about his upbringing with Theo and Seldanna she can’t help but grin, imagining his struggling with learning to speak Sylvan, which she is fluent in, and of course his bow hunting skills, though she’d bet he excelled at that! And… He did what with a frozen steak?! The elf cracks up, unable to stifle a giggle, as she pinches his biceps, giving him a teasing grin. “Oh? So… You’ve progressed from rocks to frozen steak, huh? I mean, I’d like to say this surprises me, but…” She’s laughing, and neither of them have realized that the violin stopped playing moments ago, though they continue to sway to the silence, as Bjorn gnaws on the bone in the background. They kiss, and it’s like the first time, full of butterflies and electricity, and it ends all too soon, so soon in fact that her eyes are filled with daggers. She pulls him back for another quick kiss, and then obliges by going to sit down at his side, leaning into him close, and they lock gazes. He’s staring at her, and she’s panicking, as he’s not speaking, or kissing her, or playing with her hair. He’s just… Staring. Those expressive chocolate eyes fully bore into his tuscan hues, and she half-smiles, getting lost in those beautiful sunsets, completely isolating this moment in time. His shanty, the wolf, the smells and sounds, it all disappears until it’s just the two of them, and her heart races, as she falls deeper in love with this man. But she won’t say it, because he’d think he’s just a rebound. And he would never say it back, as she has all this baggage, and it’s so soon. For a moment, her full lips part, as though she’s about to say those three words with reckless abandon, and deal with any consequences later, but she sighs, and looks away, instead. Larz seems to be struggling to say something, too, and she wraps her arms around her middle, suddenly self-conscious, as he’s staring a few moments longer than she had. It was the necklace! He didn’t want it on her, as it reminded him of his mother and Seldanna, and they had only been together for, what, six weeks? Swallowing, she stands up and walks over to the kitchen area, beginning to clean up the remains from their dinner, and once that is complete, she lifts her hands to unclasp the pearls from around her neck. The expensive necklace is placed on an end table, and she steps out of her heels as he is talking about their plans for tomorrow. “Oh. Um… Actually. Why don’t we go fishing, instead of hunting? I haven’t been in -forever- and that way you don’t have to kill another helpless boar! Or you can hunt and I’ll read to the little ones. I’m fine with either! But Sunday is a high holiday for me… And as I haven’t received word back from my sister yet… I’ll be spending Ostara without Taly. So. I’m going to arrange an egg hunt for you!” She feigns a smile, and nods as he mentions the door. “Yeah. Go me! It only took me, what, a week? I told you I’d catch on!” Lana walks over to Bjorn and teasingly tries to steal his bone, earning her a growl, though his tail is thumping against the floor. Without meeting Larz’s gaze, she clears her throat, while taunting the direwolf. “I’m sorry, Larz… I shouldn’t have borrowed the pearls. I didn’t know they were so important. I… I honestly wore them because Seldanna said they made me look so pretty and I wanted to look perfect for our date. Nothing more.” A moment of silence follows, before she shyly meets his gaze, hoping she’d hadn’t made him angry or upset.

Largakh watches as she shrinks away in more ways than one and he felt he missed his chance. Watching her stand up, move from him and slip herself out of her shoes and out of the burden he just placed on her. He thought he had succeeded in describing the type of person his mother used to be, he never knew her and only heard stories and that Lanara would be only flattered at how his grandparents were to taken with her. He refocuses, places his gaze only on her own as his mind turned on how he can fix this? Should he fix this? I mean, if she wasn’t ready for a gift with such a heavy burden, should he force it? He stands after a moment and when she wasn’t looking he picked up the necklace and her shoes to make it appear he was just placing her shoes next to his own at the door, but what he was really doing was placing the pearls in her bag which was still by the door as well and he made sure to place it in a barely used side pocket. Later, when she was sleeping he would write out one of those cute little notes for her to find later and place it with the pearls - it will read: “I often find myself wondering how different my life would be if Vestele lived, but now I cannot imagine my life without you. -Larz <3” For now he stood back up, successfully placing the pearls back in her possession without being pushy about it and getting out the desert, “where are those cookies you brought?” He asks before she changed the subject to an egg hunt, he gets a big grin, “that sound fun. What do you say we just go purchase a big easter dinner for the orphans and bring the egg hunt to them? I promise I’ll participate.” They were side by side in the tiny kitchen, her cleaning up and him making more of a mess as he got two plates out and forks, but once she got the cookies for him he took two out and stuck them in the cake to stand up - giving a gourmet look to it. “Perfect,” then she’s joking about the whole ‘key’ situation and he chuckles shortly while she plays with the wolf. He turns and leans against his kitchen counter to watch her give attention to Bjorn with a grin on his face, still steadily falling for her. Then she’s apologizing and he would wait till she was through with teasing the wolf, for he didn’t want to interfere, and pulled her in close again. Tilting his chin down to his chest to look down into those large beautiful brown eyes, “no, don’t apologize. They mean more to my grandparents than they do to me because I never knew my mother. Seldanna was right and you do look perfect for our date, but I think you look perfect always,” he kisses the top of her forehead sweetly while gently caressing a hand through her hair. “Lanara, I have many feelings about you, some of them deep and strong, but I would never want you to feel pressured or burdened by anything, by me, by Theo, by Seldanna. I am here for you and so are they, they love you and… I want you to be ready -when- we get there.” Not IF they get there, WHEN. He plants a slow, loving kiss on her lips before saying, “now… Ready for desert?” He would release her before turning away to get their cookie decorated chocolate pieces of cake and place them on the table. Pulling her seat out for her before taking his own and enjoying the rest of his night with her, unburdened while living in the moment.

Lanara is literally rolling around on the floor with Bjorn, playfully growling back at the massive direwolf, as he rough-houses with the elf, and though his expression is something fierce and those growls are a little too aggressive, his tail steadily wags from side to side. He loved Lanara, and he would never intentionally hurt her, though as his teeth delve a little too into her arm during one of his playful bites, the elf hisses, and pushes him in the chest. “Bjorn! Down.” She then leans forward and nips him on the ear, a rather sensitive spot for canines, and he instantly submits and drops to his belly. A soft whine follows, as he nudges her arm, as though aiming to inspect where he had played a little too rough, and Lana looks at the arm, seeing the redness, though he didn’t break the skin. As she’s having a moment with Bjorn, she hears Larz moving her shoes over near his own, and she cracks a smile at his neatness. “I’m sorry. I should have placed them by the door.” Lana was rather organized, and she mentally scolds herself for not being more thoughtful of his personal space, and unbeknownst to her, he’s slipping the pearls into her possession. “That’s a great idea! We can have dinner with the kids. And maybe I’ll do some face painting and we can dye eggs with them… But I have a little something special planned for you!” She’s excited, as the four major holidays that she grew up celebrating had meant the world to her, and she is hopeful that he’ll find joy in the plotting that she carefully had been doing over the span of three days. She’d have to tire him out tonight, so that she could slip away unnoticed, only to return before dawn and wake him up so they could watch the sunrise and begin their celebration of Ostara. Of course Larz would know -nothing- about her little scheming, or that she had his landlord wrapped around her finger so that she could carry out her extensive plans. The half-orc would merely be sleeping soundly, unaware that his only was up to anything, although he may be a bit peeved at being woken so early on a Sunday. Still, she had to head back to the Rolafir’s tmrw night and she wanted to use the most of their time together wisely, and Ostara only came once a year. Bjorn gives up on nudging Lana, and lowers those sad puppy eyes, as he retreats to his designated couch, taking up the bone again. Larz, meanwhile, has returned and pulls her in close, and she clings to his form, grateful that he had accepted her apology as she hadn’t meant to offend him in any way. He thought she looked perfect? “Aw… Thank you. This was outfit number two… I, uh, may have tried on about ten or so, before Theo came in and ended my fashion show with Seldanna. He said this one was the winner.” Her cheeks are turning red as she admits that she literally played dress up all day, to impress him. Though she doesn’t reveal that she burned the first two batches of cookies, as her mind was thinking about, well, Larz, and she had lost track of time. His fingers are trailing through her long locks, and she tilts her head to gaze into his entrancing eyes, a slow smile easing across her lips, as he states that he had strong feelings for her, and that he doesn’t want her to feel pressured, -when- they get there, wherever that is, as she’s feeling pretty ‘here’ right now. “I didn’t feel pressured by borrowing the necklace, I just was worried that it hurt your feelings. I love Seldanna and Theo, and I have -strong- feelings for you, too. But I hold back from, uh, saying too much… Because, I don’t want to scare you away or in case your feelings aren’t quite where mine are at, and that would just be so awful. I know this is your first relationship, so I’m trying not to be too difficult. And you know that I’ve been hurt before, so you’re trying to be patient and understanding. Overall… I think we’re kicking ass at this serious relationship handling thing.” She grins, giving his middle a gentle squeeze. “I’m okay with whatever pace you want to set, Larz. I’m not going anywhere.” Leaning in, she cups his cheek and places a long, tender kiss to his lips, deepening it for a moment, as though pouring her heart into his lips, both of them just living in the moment. She feels his grip releasing her, all too soon, and she steps back to let him retrieve their dessert, which is now a slice of triple chocolate cake, with white chocolate chip cranberry cookies, and it looks delicious. “Oh my gosh, you’re killing me. I haven’t worked out in like… A week. And Theo said I can’t return to dancing for another week, at least. Do you know how much I’m going to have to exercise to burn off these calories? Well… I’m sure it’s worth it…” Smirking, she dips her fork into the cake, and he’d see the softening of her expression, knowing that this combination of baked goods was a real winner, as Lana looks like she’d tasting a bite of heaven. The couple would spend the rest of their night polishing off the decadent cake and sharing stories of their youth, all while stealing kisses in-between their laughs and discussions. Eventually, they retire for the evening, cuddled up in Larz’s bed, and an hour before dawn, Lana would kiss him on the cheek, and slip from his apartment, a key in her hand, for her return. The witch was up to something!