Welcome to Gaia! ::

The main hall itself was another cavern nestled inside the island and while he could have guided Arsinoe through there first he took the more direct route via another connecting bridge. This one passed over a babbling stream before giving way to a path that lead up through the brush. It let them out on a lookout point where a bungalow had been built, parts of it attaching to the stone structure that it likely lead into.

The view from the wooden deck was incredible; high enough to feel as though one was sitting on top of the world while still low enough to hear the waves as they washed up on the shore below. "Please feel free to make yourself comfortable."

"This is home." The smile could be heard clearly in his voice, the sound just as warm as the daylight shining down through the clouds. The serenity of the island was infectious and he always felt the most at peace when he was here... When he was home.

He gave the other man his space as he moved towards the table, uncovering the small plate of biscuits before lifting the lid on the tea pot to take a sniff. His smile broadened into a grin, gently setting the lid back down. They'd sent a blend that he'd picked up during his trip to Arsinoe. Thoughtful. They always were down in the kitchens.

"This is the best place on the entire island to watch the rain fall when there's a storm."

"They can be dangerous, when there's not enough warning and one sneaks up on us by surprise. Most of them are mapped and charted for certain times of year. It's... Hard to explain how weather works here." It was hard to explain a number of things about a mystical island floating free in space, harder to imagine the kind of power it might have taken at one point to will a place like this into being.

His eyes rose to meet Arsinoe's as the other man drew closer, attempting to read the other man. There were times when he wasn't entirely certain if his friend were asking questions as Arsinoe or Jinyue. "Are we still talking about the weather?"

His hand remained steady as he lifted the pot, tipping it to slowly pour its contents into one of the two cups sitting on the table. "Because if we're not, I would like to reassure you that the attraction has nothing to do with the power, and if we are.... Well, sometimes."

"Well, we were talking about the weather and sometimes there's something to be said for the crackle of static and the thrum of thunder in a powerful storm." He nudged the filled cup towards the senshi as he settled before moving on to fill his own.

"I hope you don't mind that there wasn't any pomp and circumstance for your arrival." A soft smile touched his lips as he looked to the other man before settling into a seat himself. "It might be a little bit selfish, but I was hoping to have more of your time to myself, as opposed to sharing you with everyone right away."

"The kitchen must have thought you would appreciate a taste of home as well. I wasn't expecting them to send up the blend that I brought back from my trip to Arsinoe." In truth, he hadn't thought that there was much of it left as he'd asked for it in the evenings he spent on his own often during the first week back on his Wonder. It meant someone had either inquired about importing more, or he'd brought back more than he'd thought.

"I'll show you to where you'll be staying before dinner so you can change and settle in. We generally all gather for meals in the hall, but if you'd like to rest this evening I can arrange for dinner to be brought to your room."

"Of course," he nodded as he brought his cup up to his lips to take a small sip, "I wouldn't want you to feel like you have to make that choice now, I just wanted to let you know that it was an option. They're rather used to me spending my first night back in my room after I've been traveling. The trip here can take a lot out of you." He always felt much better after a quiet evening and a night's rest, at the very least.

"They might be disappointed if you miss dinner tomorrow, though," he teased.

"You'll have to wait until tomorrow night to find out, won't you?" A soft smirk touched his lips as he watched the other man. It was easy to settle back in his chair and relax in the other man's presence, sometimes not realizing just how much time he spent in motion until he took a moment to himself. Being around Arsinoe-- Jinyue-- made him want to take time and relax.

"Is there anything that's happened since your last letter? Tell me about your trip."

"They would have found themselves incredibly bored here, I'm afraid. Or incredibly infuriated by the passageways and paths." The island was small and peaceful, the population generally no more than the number of people who had been at Castle Ebonwing during his first visit. The presences of additional guards and an entourage would have been more likely to make acolyte's anxious than it would have been to deter any mischief.

"I wouldn't want either of you to feel the need to be anything but yourself here, and I am glad that she stepped in to make sure that happened. You're safe here. I wouldn't let anything happen to you-- Or your cousin."