He walked through the woods, noticing the way the ground was worn by everyone that came before him. When he reached the orphanage he thought it greeted him with a mild shrug of its shoulders.

Why was he here today, this time?

Tag didn't know much about the world. That is, he knew what a certain slice of it was like. In Rhydin the world was rough and many could relate to being war torn, orphaned or alone. Or, perhaps like him, disowned. The part of him that was hurt was not unique or beautiful. It was everyday. Behind his black eyes was a light that had endured and was something else entirely.

It was something he saw in Penelope the time he had seen her.

When she looked at him it was with a quiet, isolated way that he had surrounded himself with for many years. Tag had tried to pay penance for years that way and it never had the grief lifted off his shoulders. Her way, setting herself aside from the children, spoke the way victims do when saying they deserved to be raped. A man stealing bread that was about to go stale loses his hand for the rest of his life. Tag didn't think that anyone deserved to go down the long road he had, especially such a small and tender girl.

When the fireflies just started lighting up at the edge cause the sun was heavy he knocked on the door for Ro. He didn't know what he expected, but he thought he could join the orphans for dinner. Penelope could never be that other in his life if she hated him. He expected the awkwardness of getting to know one another but surely after several visits they would know if there was affection or if they were just being polite.

These days, he wanted more than to relate to people politely.

He was glad it was her, he knew her. Had it been someone else to answer the door he would have stood there, out of sorts without knowing how to explain himself. Either they would be patient with his reaction or they'd shut the door on a potential weird man at the door of an orphanage. Ro knew him to some degree so he felt he could be more of himself without feeling strained about it.

His reply was quite sincere, then, when he said, "Yes, it is lovely to see you as well."

Her indication was followed and after he stepped in he shrugged off his thin jacket and folded it over one of his arms. He was cleaned up from work at Maranya's stables so he looked clean and casual. No dirt under his fingernails, no shine like he'd taste of salt.

"I was hoping I might be coming around dinner time, actually." He found Ro easier to talk to each time he did, "I hope little Penelope isn't cranky from just waking up."

Tag started up the stairs with her. In the back of his mind he felt he should have brought something, like a potted plant or some candy, if he was going to assume to be a dinner guest. But he was already there, empty handed, so the thought was shoved out of his mind. His eyebrows lowered and while they were in the remaining moments without Penelope he inquired, softly.

"Do you think she takes to me?" His eyes told her he wanted her to tell him honestly.

Though a good girl, Penelope did have a few bad habits. One of them was staring, and Ro could attest to this, considering it was often Ro that corrected her on it.

So it was a pair of big gray eyes with feathery little lashes had been watching the exchange intently, in fact, those bigs eyes took to peering between, around, beneath, and about the side of the arms that handled her. Dinner was all but forgotten, simply because that man was back, Tag. Penelope remembered him for all the little reasons any child might remember someone; his smile was nice, his eyes were like daddy's, he had dark hair like mommy had, he liked to be quiet too, like her. The list was endless really. It's often such small things that turn into the core pieces of any attachment.

With her way cleared, Penny was openly staring now, but there was a show of that infamous shyness once she realized it was her that was being talked about. Children, despite what some adults may think, are actually very perceptive little creatures. Their minds work in simpler terms, albeit at times more abstract ones, but that never takes away from their sense of sharpness. Like a sponge, they absorb and digest all. Given the girl's good health save for her little leftover cough from the fire and small displays of intelligence, it was obvious she was well taken care of even before she came into Ro's care.

Watching as Tag approached, Penny's fingers and toes curled in a bit; a nervous habit. She didn't fuss or squirm too much though, but she did give a despairing look to the beaten looking stuffed bear on the floor where it'd been left, as though he'd get up and comfort her. He wasn't allowed at the table, and it was only recently this rule had been set into place, if only to get the girl to eat more and stop stuffing her peas into bear's open foot seam when no one was looking.

Giving up on bear, Penny returned her eyes back to Tag with a small, small smile.

Had the child not a pair of socks on her tiny toes, Tag would no doubt have seen them curl; that little nervous habit again, but at least this time it was only her feet. He'd given her a bit of something to focus on, however, a safe question that struck her curiosity and snuck her attention elsewhere. From the way her eyes bounced about the table, and the manner in which her little hands pressed down onto the edges of her booster seat to lean out even farther for a better look, it was obvious she too, hadn't been informed on what was for dinner. Then again, she had been napping late.

Those soft eyes turned sharp for a moment, narrowing with concentration as she began to pick out familiar forms here and there on the platters and bowls being set to the table. The thought that Tag could see the food too, and probably have an easier time of it too, hadn't crossed the little girl's mind. She'd been given a question, and she felt the want to answer it for what simple bits of pride it awarded her.

White lumps pitted with little pools of gold, shiny-skinned meat; so far so good. Penny's face hadn't contorted yet, that meant she enjoyed the menu thus far.

Cuts of bright orange with those little green skins on the outside, their insides shiny with that sweet sauce. Fluffy, still warm puffs of bread. She had their menu, at least until dessert.

Leaning back down securely in her seat was when she began to loose her steam a bit, however. Now she had to actually answer, but the need to do so arrived just around the same time those white lumps with their pools of gold did.

"Mashed 'tatoes." She said with a sweet, honest try at a smile. Pointing towards the big bowl, Penny's eyes softened again, and her trust in him dove another degree deeper. Tag was an adult, the one sitting nearest to her at that, which meant he safe enough to ask for food. She waited just enough time to see the approval in his eyes before she continued, however.

"... and corn squash. Chi-" She paused, there were two syllables here. "...chicken. And cooky's yummy rolls." Yup, there was that small well of pride again; it was lighting up her whole face now. Then again, that could have been in part to a meal she didn't find anything wrong with.