" it won't? and what will suffice for this winter? " she asked curiously, taking notice of the matter-of-fact tone his voice held. at his question, though, hers was completely forgotten and the blonde's cheeks flushed pink. " oh, many a times. " roselie admitted with a sigh. " i'm afraid i am a far cry from what my mother would consider a model daughter, one can only . . . fall ill so many times at a social before people start to whisper. "

she didn't notice when he stopped behind her, continuing to walk in front of him and grab onto the white-painted wrought iron handle of the greenhouse. before pulling it open, she turned to look behind — about to make another comment, before she noticed how far he was; and how he was looking at her. no one had ever looked at her like that before. gods, he made breaking her mother's rules so easy when he looked at her like that.

"no," he reaffirmed with a shake of his head as his face scrunched up as though he'd thought of something entirely unpleasant. but his tender smile returned only seconds later, and he continued to explain just why. "i do think this winter will bring us many storms, but those storms also bring the fun," he explained with a giddy smile as he relived what it had felt like in those fleeting moments of youth. "i once built an entire tower out of snow to defend." freddie told her as a proud grin stretched across his face.

freddie cocked his head to the side slightly as he considered exactly what her comment meant and why she'd said it in such a way. "fall ill?" he echoed softly. "you mean like swooning due to the heat?" he asked with a breathy, uncomfortable sort of laugh as he tried to brush the worst of his assumptions aside.

nothing felt like home, not really.

sitting in the corner of the tearoom, a sole figure occupying a table in a room full of vivacious chatter and jovial company. friends chatting with friends. she only had the headrests of the accompanying chairs to keep her company, until one of those familiar strangers fluttered in. yanyan smiled to freddie and shook her head, motioning with a hand for him to join her, should he wish to do so. "no, as you can see I am currently keeping the company of three useless chairs and the air around them." she softly chuckled, before adding, "you can sit here, if you want." she wasn't sure if he had friends at other tables and he merely required an extra chair or not.

he smiled and let out a little sigh of relief. "and here i was starting to think i would have to walk out in shame, shunned by the valley's elite," freddie explained dramatically with a chuckle as he moved to occupy the seat across from her.

"have you been here before today?" he asked curiously. "i've been meaning to come for some time, but it's just never worked out." though there was no one to blame for that except himself. there had been other opportunities to stop in, moments when the shop was far less crowded, but something else always seemed to come up. something—someone, who interested him far more than any tea could ever. "suppose i should ask what you have in here," freddie stated as he picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup. but in truth, he wasn't sure he'd even be able to tell the difference, no matter how bad he wanted to pretend he could.

" well, as a small child, yes! " she corrected, " i remember being very young, five i think, and playing in the snow with my cousin. " roselie smiled at the faint memory, " but after that, i spent all my time inside. it's not terrible, i love to sit in the window seat and watch the snow fall. " something she was certain she'd spend much time this winter doing as well.

roselie laughed at his playful scoff, " i wish my mother was like the others in the valley's society, perhaps then i would have played in the snow. " she held her hands behind her back, her steps light and cheerful despite the sour topic. roselie knew why he assumed it was as simple as an overbearing mother in society, but . . she wasn't quite ready to tell him the truth. he treated her normally, which was all she wanted sometimes.

he moved his head from side to side as he thought on what she said, thought on how it might feel to just sit inside all winter and simply watch the snow fall. and she was right, it was a beautiful sight to behold. still, there was nothing quite like watching it fall from outside. "hm, no," he finally told her with a firm shake of his head. "i don't think that will suffice for this winter," freddie informed her rather matter-of-factly.

"did you ever then?" he started, "embarrass her at a social event, i mean." freddie asked her with a sly smile and an all too charming look that he'd come to rely on heavily when probing for information he didn't exactly have any right to.

Heathon, always the sore thumb, sticking up out of place in every single setting of his life, was no more uncomfortable than usual in the pristine and polished tea-rooms. You may ask yourself "What the devil is that man here for?" and honestly, Heathon could ask himself the same question as Isabelline's wasn't exactly his usual watering hole. In fact, Heathon was sure he'd never been inside an establishment so proper and if he had to guess, he was sure the only reason they let him in was because there was no one big enough to stop him. My money is just as good as anyone else's, he had declared loudly after being shown to a table and now.. well he was much too embarrassed and ashamed at his theatrics to leave whilst the pot was still hot.

The fine bone white, and floral teacup felt fragile as dust is his rough hands. Like one wrong move could send the entire building into an avalanche of broken dishes, crumbling into pieces right in front of him. It was like walking a mental tightrope, careful not to upset the woman, emasculate the men, and not to make a further fool of himself. Thankfully his Mother, had been graceful enough and patient to show Heathon how to dine with the upper class, even if he wasn't very good at it.

Gingerly the teacup was placed back onto the table without a single spill or clatter and Heathon had to stifle a sigh of relief. Not like any of the tables around him could hear. His attention turned to the sound of a mans voice, and he was certain they had arrived to escort him out, thankfully it was someone much more agreeable. "Take my seat, my table, my coin. It's all free." Heathon smiled, relaxing at the sight of Freddie. It must have been weeks since he first met the other man at the inn. "Even better if you join me. There's plenty of this" he glances at the pot in disgust "--watered down.. leaves to go around."

he hadn't quite expected to be turned away, not by him, unless of course he had been set to meet someone else. but freddie figured his new friend had probably made about as many as he had by this point, and they could both use some company.

he smiled and grabbed the back of the chair across from heathon and took it. "this one will do just fine," he replied with a broad smile, and he made himself comfortable in the chair he couldn't quite help but feel was a tad too small for him. though it paled in comparison to how his companion faired with the furnishings he could only really describe as danity. "not a tea drinker, i should take it?" he questioned with a chuckle and arched brow, as if to silently ask how he came to find himself in the tea shop.

freddie fixed himself a cup as he took a quick glance around the shop, really taking in the decor and the patrons that filled the room for the first time. "what a pair we must appear as," he mused aloud with a thunderous laugh and no concern for who it might disturb. he brought the cup of tea to his lips and took a sip, pleasantly surprised to find it still hot enough to his liking.

"it's not so bad," he replied with the smallest of shrugs and a winsome smile. of course, it was no good if one wasn't prepared to be in it. but with the proper attire, there was no reason one couldn't have just as much fun outdoors in the winter as they could in the summer. "never?" he echoed in shock. "not even as a child to play?"