Welcome to Gaia! ::

There is, perhaps, just one thing.

He hesitates, and then forces himself to smile a bit.

Come by tomorrow afternoon...?

He....should have a working sample of her fragrance...

That, he assures her with a small (but at least genuine) chuff of laughter, is entirely up to her. The tension hanging in the air, if not lifted, at least seems to have been perforated by the change of subject.

If she wishes to surprise him, then he will need her approval of the scent, and then will need to properly bottle it and let it sit for two days before the perfume itself will be ready.

He had originally planned to finish its sample tonight, but his mind had ended up anywhere but fixating on visions of turbulent waters and sturdy rocks. So it will be his first order of business in the morning.

That he is still working with separately, he says, leaning forward a bit on his elbows. He had recalled what she'd said about the lotus perhaps being too sweet. He has been trying to find ways to temper it a bit.

He thinks if the right touch of musk were added to it, it could be pulled back into something more befitting of Setsushi's character. Perhaps the image of a lotus that has, many times, seen battle and known fear. A lotus that is still pure, yet is not.

....should that fail, he may simply forego florals and try something else.

The battle being metaphorical as well, he explains. Battle, for it, perhaps meaning being battered on the rocks and fighting the current.

....it is his hope it will translate well into the scent, at least. He will be sure to keep the two samples separate.

At the mention of tea, he is out of his seat, carrying the nearly-empty pot to the sink. He'll get it, he assures her gently, its no bother.

As he pours out the tiny amount of remaining tepid amber liquid and rinses the pot to refill it with fresh water, he finally thinks to inquire...

Had she and Setsushi tried the tablets that Lady Melody had introduced him to?

He does not blame her for being wary of the ice cream. Having a bowl of it a night after his arrival here remained the biggest mistake of his entire (Gaian) life. gonk

Perhaps it would be different with the tablets' help. He still has the majority of them in their box in the cupboard if she should want more of them.

As for taking a break....

Well, he hadn't thought that far ahead sweatdrop He would like to, at the very least, finish Setsushi's perfume, but after that his only priorities were making enough stock to comfortably open the shop with and perhaps looking at getting the house's living area properly furnished.

So, he concludes with a smile as he sets the water on the stove....he assumes as soon as the perfume is bottled and placed aside to set, he should be available.

Feelings of intrigue ping from him at the offer as he looks over his shoulder at her and the magazines.

That would be incredibly helpful, he says, turning to face her properly and return to the table, leaving the water to heat itself. ....he has not even known where to begin learning to read and write their language.