"I'm sorry I have been so distant lately," Daalton apologised, casting a shy glance sideways at Elisora. He had on a smart sweater, a charcoal grey, and tan pants. His coat, large and warm, was draped over her shoulders as they walked, blocking her from the cold. His arms swung lightly by his side, and she could tell from the twitching in his hands he wanted to hold one of hers. The smell of freshly baked bread permeated the air, and Daalton looked up to see the pale blue sign of the Half-Moon Bakery, a slight smile on his lips. It was the perfect place to pause.
"I have been so busy with work, and with writing Dr. Jalali that I have somehow managed to neglect the best thing I have going for me," he said, this time meeting her gaze full on. It seemed strange that the icy glare he usually had could be replaced by a look as tender and warm as the one he offered her, but it was there. Finally, he reached out and grabbed a pale hand, smiling lightly.
"Would you like a moon-cake? They smell so wonderful, and the freshly baked ones should be a relief on a day like today," he mused, leading her inside the warm shop. The woman behind the counter looked tired, but Daalton barely noticed. He only watched Elise, gently guiding her to the counter as he peered around for the source of the smell.
"Afternoon. What can I get for ya?" The woman asked pleasantly. As haggard and tired as she looked, she sounded worse. Daalton looked at her, directly, and smiled.
"Hello, young lady," he started. She looked surprised, since she was obviously older than he was, but smiled nonetheless. "I'd like a half-dozen moon-cakes, the fresher, the better, please."
Please. It wasn't usually in Daalton's wheelhouse to ask for things, let alone politely, but here, with Elise, he had to be polite. The woman looked behind her, then back to Daalton and then Elisora.
"Be about a few minutes onna fresh batch. Care ta wait?" She asked, to which Daalton nodded with a smile, somehow wolfish and meek simultaneously.
"Of course. I'm sure they are well worth the wait," he affirmed, turning back to Elise and leading her slightly away from the counter.
Looking at her, she was beautiful. She was intelligent, attractive, kind... How she wasn't yet married had baffled him. Perhaps it was him. He realized he wasn't easy to deal with, and certainly not for the amount of time she'd dealt with him, but... No, it couldn't be him. Perhaps she only had eyes for him. All the better.
"I think Dr. Jalali is going to ask me to help with her work. She is studying the passive mind, hoping to discover the truth behind the condition. Elise, this could be a breakthrough for science everywhere, and I believe she is going to ask me to participate." His eyes were shining, his interest evident. If he could convince Elise that the research was purely medical, she would be behind it. She might even... No, he couldn't get ahead of himself.
"This could be huge for me, for... us." His voice was soft as his eyes sparkled, and he smiled and squeezed her hand.
"But enough about me, my dear, I have not heard enough about how things have been going for you," he said, prompting her to share. Another smile lit his lips. His work had been consuming him, it was time for them to reacquaint with each other, even though they saw each other often. This was the day for the question.