Udinov Cabin (Dev #102)

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

"Or maybe it's something else," he said with a shrug.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

'Anything is possible,' she answered. 'Obviously, because you're here.'

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

He smiled at her. "And you're here too."

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

She blushed. 'I'm not so amazing,' she protested.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

'Of course you are. You are the strongest person I know. And that's pretty amazing. You mean everything to me.'

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

She blushed heavily at his compliment. 'Do you really mean that? That I mean that much?' she asked.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

He nodded. 'You give me purpose.'

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Her blush brightened and she covered her face so that he didn't see it. She hated how much she blushed sometimes, and this was one of those times.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

He smiled at her, wondering if he should just come out and ask.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

She took a few seconds to compose herself before shyly smiling up at him again, still unable to say anything.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

"Do you want to stay for dinner? I'll cook you real food," he said, hoping to save her from some of her shyness.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

'Oh you don't have to,' she signed, not wanting to make him go to all that trouble. 'But it sounds nice.'

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

'I want you to stay,' he said. 'The least I can do is feed you.'

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

She smiled a bit. 'Then thank you. I'll stay for dinner."

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

He smiled at her. 'Any preference?'

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

She shook her head, still smiling. 'No, anything is fine. I don't mind.'

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

He nodded and got up. Luckily for her, everything in his fridge was fresh.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Hannah looked over to her puppies, making sure they were still alright. It was all she could do right now, since she wasn't sure if he would actually want help cooking or anything.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

Rex trotted after him and sat patiently while Dev put some things together. He had a cook book on the counter that he'd purchased from the bookstore earlier that day.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Cassie came over to Hannah and the young woman picked the dog up to set in her lap. She stroked the puppy gently while watching how Rex was so attentive to everything Dev did.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

In no time, the kitchen smelled of mild curry and fresh cut vegetables. He had to admit that even he found it appetizing. He smiled down at the puppy and looked over at Hannah. 'What made you decide to get two?'

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

She smiled sheepishly. 'I couldn't decide. It's too hard. Plus Lupe had really bonded with Rex and I with Cassie. It was important that neither of us left unhappy.'

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

'So Lupe likes this little guy then?' Dev asked her. It was apparent Cassie was attached to Hannah.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Hannah nodded. 'And I think Rex looks up to him, which is very good. Not to mention that it seems he likes you too.'

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

Dev grinned. 'You think so?'
He loomed down at the little guy and plated the chicken for Hannah and himself, with the exception that his was raw and turning green. However the curry covered it so Hannah wouldn't have to see it.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Hannah smiled at them both together. When she noticed the plates Dev had made, she looked a bit surprised. 'Can you really eat with me?' she asked, remembering he had to eat....weird stuff, to put it gently.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

He nodded and set them on the bar for them to sit together before signing 'They're the same, almost. This one is mine," he told her.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

'Oh, so they are different then,' she replied. She briefly wondered what he'd done to his, but then decided she probably didn't want to know. So she only signed a thank you politely.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

"Just a little bit. You're welcome," he said, passing her a fork.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

She smiled and took the fork before looking over the food. She could smell something off, but she was sure that was his so it was okay. Once she was sure he was settled, she took a bite of her chicken.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

Dev down beside her. 'It's not too spicy, is it? I didn't know if you liked it spicy.'

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Hannah shook her head. One plus of signing was that she didn't have to worry about speaking with her mouth full. 'No, it's perfectly fine. I like it a lot.'

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

'Great,' he signed. 'I had it once back in Modulon. There was a grand meeting for His Majesty and all the noble guests with lots of food. So much that there was tons left. The servants had their own quiet little party.' His smile faded as he continued. 'Then someone found out that the royal food was stolen by the help and many people got lashings for it. Luckily no one was hanged or beheaded, that time.'

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Hannah winced when Dev explained what happened. She forgot, every once in a while, that he came from that place. Overall, she had mixed feelings for it. The trip had been fun at times....but horrible at times too. Literally the only good thing that had come of it was Dev. 'Are you glad to not be there anymore?' she asked, but wasn't sure if it was the right way to ask. Still, it was out.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

He was quiet for a moment, pushing his fork through the curry on his plate. Dev nodded. "Definitely. It was my job to stay with the princesses. Besides I couldn't stay there after I met you."

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Hannah blushed a little. 'Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm glad you left too,' she said. 'I like having you around. And I missed you while you-" She paused, not sure how to phrase it. He'd been dead, after all. 'While you were gone.'

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

'It's good to hear you say that,' Dev told her.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Hannah smiled at him. 'I'm glad you think so,' she said simply, not wanting to elaborate and get him to start thinking about what she meant.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

'It was hard before I came here. Mostly because I didn't have anyone my age in the position I was to call a friend,' He told her.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

'Were you a lot younger?' she asked, assuming that was the case. She couldn't imagine there were guards younger than he'd been when they first met.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

'When I started. But I moved up the chain of command quickly for my age,' Dev told her.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Hannah only nodded. 'Well you are really smart, so I'm not surprised.'

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

'Smart? I don't really know,' he said honestly. 'What makes you think so?'

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

'You are,' she insisted. 'Well you're smarter than me anyway, and you always have been.'

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

He smiled slightly. 'If you say so. I'm just experienced. But not in everything.'
It was true that he had quite a bit going for him. After all, he had nearly memorized an entire signing guide over night just to help her.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

'It's not just experience,' she replied. 'It's your determination, and that's just another admirable thing about you.'

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

He smiled at her. 'Thanks.'

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

She gave him a smile back before starting to eat again, but she couldn't even come close to finishing. She was barely halfway finished before she couldn't eat anymore.

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

"I made too much, didn't I?" Dev asked her.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Hannah hesitated before nodding. 'I guess. I'm sorry, I can't eat more.'