Shaking his head, Ethan emerged from the large doors that led into the Great Hall. He was dressed nicely in khaki's and a dark blue button down. He was clean-shaven and had his hair slicked back into a tight ponytail. Though cool and collected in appearance, Ethan was far from feeling easy after the meeting he'd just had. Dark eyes traversed the room and landed on the only person who could have held his attention for more than a moment.

The Myobian's black hair was wild in spite of its short length. Sea water would do that. Maeve bopped on inside looking like she had rolled right off the beach in red and white flowered board shorts and a half-zipped gray hooded sweatshirt. There was a red bathing suit top visible underneath but by no means being flaunted. She had taken a seat at the bar and was in the process of cutting up a fresh papaya retrieved from the depths of her yellow backpack. She focused so intently on slicing the fruit in half to reveal the sticky seeds inside she missed Ethan's entrance. That was lucky--no one needed the rather accident-prone foreigner losing a finger at such a welcomed sight.

He would have left straight after the meeting, but after spotting Maeve Ethan was heading in her direction. "Hello there. Were you at the beach today?"

Having taken a chunk of the fleshy fruit straight off the knife and into her mouth Maeve was caught in the act of chewing when she realized Ethan was not only in front of her but asking her a question. Her mouth formed a small 'o' causing her cheeks to look more swollen for the fruit. ?China!? Managing to smile without choking...much. ?Howizit? Ja, I am beaching it. Jahi and I went to do the night swimmings even though it iz being the daylight iz living longer in these summered days.?

Chuckling, Ethan leaned on the bar beside her and waited for Maeve to finish chewing. Dark eyes looked her over quickly and he thoroughly enjoyed what he saw. She may have been more accustomed to the way Ethan looked at her these days but it still thrilled her and made her feel bashful at the same time. She held out a slice of the orange fruit to him and he took it. "Sounds like fun. I don't think I've ever gone swimming at night. Did you enjoy yourself?"

?Oh ja iz lekker! Just as long as it iz you are having the extra eyes and are to take care in the nighttimes. And I am kif at the swimmings as you are knowing it.? A bit of a preen there. ?You are spiffed with your threads, ja?? Tilting her head towards his outfit.

Ethan smiled down at Maeve. She looked young and was refreshing to happen across after such a terrible meeting. He glanced down at his clothes and ran a hand across his jaw, saddened when he was reminded it was smooth. "I was having a business meeting today. It just finished. I don't like dressing up," he confessed.

Ethan earned quite a sympathetic nod on that one. ?Oh ja, I am loathed for the dresses too, china. It iz a thing that can be putting me sorted out.? Mixing up the phrase. The cat eyes blinked up at him. True she couldn't read him with the ease she understood her animals but she was learning the meaning of his face. ?It iz you are full in the blood and light in the heart??

Ethan's shoulders sagged a moment. "I don't know what I am." Seconds later, he perked and smiled, pushing away from the bar to get a drink. He risked a bold move and let his fingers trail over the exposed skin of her neck as he passed en route to the cooler. She shivered a little at the touch. "I know I'm happy to see you." Dipping a hand into the cooler, he pulled out a bottle of Zeppa, quirked a brow and shrugged. "Do you want anything?"

Her eyes darted away for a moment before they found him again. ?Ja, I could be having a so-day if it does not mind you.? He turned and grabbed another bottle of Zeppa and brought it back to where Maeve was sitting. Uncapping the bottle, he held it out to her. ?What izit that weighs on you, Ethan?? She turned so she could face him and propped both elbows on the bar. She leaned forward and held her face between her closed hands watching him.

"I don't know. I think I'm just getting antsy. I've never stayed in one place for so long. Not.. well, I was in Yasuo for 4 years, but before that I was never in one place for more than a month or so. Now I have a business and a..." trailing off, he considered her for a moment and then looked around. "Can I ask you a question?"

?Ja, of course you can be, china, it does not mind me.?

Ethan inched closer, wanting to keep the conversation private, but as a friend of theirs was lingering close-by, he uncapped his Zeppa and smiled at her. Dark eyes flicked back to Maeve. "I'll ask you tomorrow. Remind me. Can we have lunch together?"

Maeve greeted Eva, who was getting herself a drink behind the bar. She smiled to Eva though her skin was turning a little red from the proximity. She tipped her head back just enough to look up at him. ?Ja, but izit being a thing that begs a hap of food for the speaking?? Finding it curious he had to wait until lunch to ask her something.

Not having his scruffy beard to hide red cheeks, Ethan worked hard to keep himself collected. A boyish grin stretched across his face. "No, we don't need food, but I wanted to give you some privacy. I was.." he cleared his throat. Eva had politely excused herself to give them some privacy and he was grateful. This was hardly romantic, but finding the nerve to ask her had come so suddenly, he didn't know when the courage would return. Ethan leaned back in to face Maeve. "I was wondering if you would be my Isingani." Cue swallowing the lump in his throat.

?Oh.? Sounding confused at first because she was stuck on why he had thought that required lunch until the word sunk in. ?Oh!? She said, sounding quite definitely surprised. Maeve shrugged her shoulders a little not to show indifference but because she did that when she felt nervous. She didn't look up at him. ?Isingani...? she whispered, like the word had new wonder. ?You are sure you should be wanting me??

Without thinking about what she was doing her idle hand went to fidget with the button at the wrist of his sleeve.

He hadn't meant to, but he laughed at her uneasiness. It was cute to him. Dipping his head, he quieted the chuckle and looked up into her eyes. "I'd have to say that I'm very, very sure."

When she looked up at him it took her a moment to realize the sound she heard was her own little gasp. She was holding her breath. Maeve wondered if maybe her heart had leapt up into her throat and gotten stuck there. Wouldn't that be just terrible, to choke on her own heart then in that moment! She forced herself to resume breathing without coughing. ?Ja, iz a name I could be holding.? Quietly spoken when she finally remembered she needed to answer his question.

A triumphant smile emerged and Ethan struggled to remain seated. Like so many times before, the urge to kiss her was almost overwhelming. "Is it what you want? You're not just saying that because you don't want to hurt my feelings?" It was an honest question, one that stemmed from knowing Maeve could often do things to make others happy despite her own feelings.

?Oh!? Articulate as ever. She shook her head and reached over to grab hold of both his arms close to his shoulders as if to physically set him straight. ?No, no, Ethan! It iznot a thing to be saying as if it were nothing more than being air. I would be a skelm to be so light with the words.? Realizing what she was doing she opened her hands suddenly with a sheepish smile as she let him go.

Ethan was rather proud of himself for not stealing a kiss when she reached for his arms. "Good," he said quietly, watching her closely. "Do you...still want to have lunch tomorrow?" He swallowed the lump in his throat. "A date? At the refuge by the elephants."

Her tongue might have very well been swallowed. She could only nod but her face seemed incapable of not smiling at the moment. She stole another sheepish look at the group of girls Eva had joined as if it were written all over her.

The excitement was going to kill him if he didn't do something, so Ethan slipped his hand into hers. It was still as thrilling as the first time they'd done it. "You want to walk home now? I.. kind of want to talk in private. You don't mind if we leave now?" Trying to mask his enthusiasm had failed; he sounded like a high school boy asking a girl out on a first date.

She wiggled her fingers around having yet to grow bored with that act. Easily excitable as she was, Ethan's enthusiasm was contagious. ?Oh ja! I skeem that iz being a rocking idea, Ethan! We can be on the move!? He better hold on tightly to that branded hand. Maeve wasn't kidding about being on the move as she bopped towards the exit with a smile for her friends. Grinning, Ethan was hot on her heels.

The group of girls got a wink before he and Maeve disappeared.