#teykul

He arrives at Hunter's Gathering, nervous, because this is all so new. He's not usually so willing to leave HQ, especially not to go out to places so close to the yavä. But he trusts Okul, and if Okul says they have to meet here, then they have to meet here.

Okul doesn't say anything once Teylan finds them — message spoken without the need for words — and instead lets Teylan make the first move. Accept Okul's offer, or turn it, them, down.

Their silence is strange to Teylan, but perhaps being so close to the yavä makes them nervous too. He does notice that they aren't wearing their usual attire, but this looks nice on them too. Nice, it's an understatement, Teylan isn't good with the whole complimenting thing. He is good at filling silence though, especially around someone he's so comfortable with: starts to talk about how the yavä is thicker than he'd imagined, how Tamtey was kind enough to drop him off but he'll need Okul's help to return to HQ, once they're finished here— actually, what are they doing here? He explains that he left his tech back at HQ, didn't think to bring anything unless you count his radio, which he can use to call Priya or Tamtey and ask them to bring something down if necessary, but otherwise it's just him and the tools he has on his person. Oh, and a rations pack from HQ, which Okul may not like now that Teylan thinks about it, but he doesn't mind the packs. Okul's more than welcome to try some, if they'd like.

And the more Okul listens, the quicker they realise that Teylan doesn't know why they're here, why Okul is draped in tawtsngal. Teylan's nose scrunches, sniffs, picks up on the sweet aroma of tawtsngal as he approaches Okul. He doesn't seem to mind — draws closer to Okul than he usually would have the courage to, in fact — but it's clear he doesn't understand the significance of this beyond Okul looking and smelling good.

They should've realised sooner, really. Okul's a decent guide, but there's still so much left for Teylan to learn about Pandora, especially its plant life. They were so preoccupied with doing this the 'proper' way, got so caught up in the fun of making a new headpiece and loincloth, that approaching this the 'Teylan' way hadn't even occurred to them.

So they tell Teylan directly: that this, all of this, is them asking Teylan to be their mate.

Teylan falls silent. Flushes a deep purple. Fidgets with his hands, then his cap, gives a shaky "oh. oh that's... Nice" because he isn't all too good with words and feelings, or wording feelings. Okul is gentle, understanding. A little disappointed that this didn't go to plan, but equally thrilled with the unpredictability Teylan brings.

They rescind the offer, to which Teylan quickly tries to comfort Okul, says he just needs some time to think, process, but Okul assures him that they aren't hurt. And this isn't a rejection, either. This just isn't the time, place or manner in which Teylan should be presented such an offer. They'd like to retry in the future, and while that brings Teylan some amount of comfort, he's still nervous over the thought of this offer coming back. Of this offer being there in the first place, for him. He does like Okul, of course, but becoming mates... That is a lot.

That's a future conversation, Okul says. Nothing to concern themselves with now. Not until Teylan's ready.