c.h.i.l.d.h.o.o.d. {friends} -pipin-

[~echo~]

She looked sad. "I'm just not sure. Maybe. But I cannot tell you for sure."

[pipintan]

He frowned, and scuffled his hair with his hands, looking frustrated. "How can I choose then? Between my family and the couls-be relationship?"

[~echo~]

She sighed. "Just... do what you think you should do. I can't make your decision for you, however much you want me to."

[pipintan]

He let out a snort, crossing his hands over his chest and tipping the chair back. "I'm keen to spend more time with you, though it'll be hard to find a job here; if I even get one... Is it worth the risk?"

[~echo~]

"I know places that are looking for workers. A merchant needs an apprentice, there are a few shopkeepers that could use you."

[pipintan]

Bo let out a sigh, sounding defeated, before he set his chair straight and glanced over it to give her a small smile. "Alright, alright, you win," he said softly.

[~echo~]

"Are you going to stay?"

[pipintan]

He finally nodded, giving her a smile that looked almost like a grimace. "I'm beyond crazy, but yes. I am."

[~echo~]

She smiled. "Then you can stay for dinner," she said. "I'm making stew, with the venison I mentioned earlier."

[pipintan]

He sighed and tipped the chair back again. "Awesome, awesome," he murmured, a bit surprised at how easy she accepted this. He had already told Sven that he would not join them on the trip back... Was this such a good idea?

[~echo~]

She took the roasted venison out of the oven, cut off a few large pieces. These, she chopped fine and put in the pot of broth with the vegetables.

[pipintan]

As she cooked the vegetables, it gave him time to think. Yes, he felt that this was a good idea. A weird one, though good none the less. Bo suddenly jumped to his feet, knocking the chair out from under hi. "Alrighty then!" He declared suddenly, spinning around to face her. "I'll help out, I can't just let a lady do this alone," he said, taking a few bounds to get beside her.

[~echo~]

She jumped in fright. "Bo, you scared the daylights out of me! But you can help, sure." She pointed at a bowl of rising dough. "You can shape that into a loaf of bread then put it in the oven on that pan."

[pipintan]

"Gotta make sure I keep you on your toes, Lana," he replied, his usual smirk in place. He rolled up his sleeves and set to work on the dough, rolling it for a moment, before setting it into the oven.

[~echo~]

Meanwhile, Alanna was stirring the stew and adding various spices. "This should be finished in twenty minutes," she said. "So lets sit and talk."

[pipintan]

"You got it," he said wiping his forehead from the heat the oven was producing. He settled back in his chair, tilting it back again. "So, tell me, do you know of a place I could stay while I'm living here?"

[~echo~]

She nodded and came to join him. "Yes, next door. It is a small apartment, very small rent. The landlord is very nice."

[pipintan]

"Excellent! And as a plus, I'll be next door to you," he replied, giving her an unabashed wink.

[~echo~]

"Of course," she smiled. "You can come over for dinner every night, if you want."

[pipintan]

He clapped his hands together like a little child. "Oh, that sounds perfect!" He said, "so glad it worked out as well as it did."