"There's always a choice," Aolani replied cooly in response to him. She chose to dismiss his comment about how her work--her ambition--was foolish. War was more foolish. Both sides were losing; neither could best the other, and both sides suffered. Especially the citizens...
Now was not the time to dwell on such things.
A smile graced her features as Aolani continued her previous line of thought, "You could have not shown up, and I would have gone about business as usual. I didn't say you had to come, that was a choice you made on your own." The playful smile reached her eyes, which seemed to shine even in the low light of the evening. She was glad the man had come back, though. His company was nice, even if he was a gruff...whatever he was.
"Though honestly, I do hope you left. It'd be pretty sad if you just sat here and waited for me all day? Though a tiny part of me is flattered," the woman laughed, her eyes twinkling at the corners as she closed them briefly in her amusement.
Her laughter faded away, carried into the silent night air until all that remained was the babbling sound of water and the singing of crickets around them. She let herself breathe and just enjoy being, already feeling much lighter than she had upon arriving.
"If you did stay here, aren't you hungry? You'd be more than welcome to join me for a meal. I should probably eat something, myself. It was a long day..." She stretched again, arms raised above her head as she carried the stretch through het entire body. "It wouldn't be any trouble."
Now was not the time to dwell on such things.
A smile graced her features as Aolani continued her previous line of thought, "You could have not shown up, and I would have gone about business as usual. I didn't say you had to come, that was a choice you made on your own." The playful smile reached her eyes, which seemed to shine even in the low light of the evening. She was glad the man had come back, though. His company was nice, even if he was a gruff...whatever he was.
"Though honestly, I do hope you left. It'd be pretty sad if you just sat here and waited for me all day? Though a tiny part of me is flattered," the woman laughed, her eyes twinkling at the corners as she closed them briefly in her amusement.
Her laughter faded away, carried into the silent night air until all that remained was the babbling sound of water and the singing of crickets around them. She let herself breathe and just enjoy being, already feeling much lighter than she had upon arriving.
"If you did stay here, aren't you hungry? You'd be more than welcome to join me for a meal. I should probably eat something, myself. It was a long day..." She stretched again, arms raised above her head as she carried the stretch through het entire body. "It wouldn't be any trouble."
