[Oh good, he had a second of doubt on if she'd take him seriously or go with the joke it was meant to be. Mostly. Boredom was a viscous affliction. He smiled a bit to himself as he read through her options.]
Oh please, lunch. May I take you out somewhere? Absolutely anywhere you'd like to go so long as I don't have to rearrange this shelf a third time.
Ah, that's it! Yes, half an hour in the lobby, it's not too far.
[Half an hour later, he will indeed be in the lobby waiting for her, the doctor's coat missing but his hair still up in it's red ribbon as per usual when he's working.
His smile brightens when he sees her and he offers his arm.]
My lady, so kind of you to make room for me in your schedule.
[As time goes on, the more Sasha actually looks forward to going to work in the mornings. It's tough, but rewarding, and she feels like she's actually making a difference somehow. It's not the path she'd thought her career would have ever gone, but it's been good. Anders has certainly made both the days and the prospect of her position wonderful. He never fails to make her smile, and Sasha will never complain if he does.
So as he smiles, Sasha can't help but share her own as she slips her arm through his and leans against him briefly.]
Good sir, it is I who should be thanking you. You may have saved me from permanently going cross-eyed at some of the donation manifests.
[She's a source of reliability and sanity and her smile is like a burst of sunshine, he wasn't even sure how to begin to tell her how much her company meant, but hopefully she knew a bit. Maybe he could make her something as a show of appreciation.
For now, he's happy to have her leaning against him as he leads them out towards their lunch.]
Maker, donation manifests? That's a horrid combination of numbers and diplomatic turns of phrases. I'm happy to have saved you. Any chance we can turn those papers into kindling or are they necessary?
[She feigns a rather dramatic 'oh! the humanity!' pose as they walk, resting the back of her free hand on her forehead.]
It was dreadful, Anders. Positively abhorrent. I truly feared myself going mad.
[The silly dramatics are dropped, and Sasha's all smiles as she looks over with a grin and a wink and squeezes his arm.]
And no, sadly. No kindling for that stack. Not yet, anyway. Perhaps midsummer we could have a proper bonfire in the evening. On the beach. Away from the city proper. [Ah, a bit of wishful thinking for Ms James.] Until then, they stay.
[He laughs for her antics, a warm if short thing that lingers in his expression while he watches her.]
You know, a bonfire on the beach doesn't sound so bad. I live close enough, we could also bring a proper bottle of something stiff to drink and make a real night of it. [He arched a brow, tone turned to temptation.]
We have a very plush guestroom as well as a futon in the study...plus a whole heard of animals: three cats, two puppies, and two magical wooden horses that live in the garden.
[Her eyes light up at the way Anders describes the very thing that Sasha's not overly sure she'd like to wait until warmer months for. She smiles over at him, giving his arm a gentle squeeze.]
A bonfire on the beach does sound amazing... Summer be damned, I think! But--oh... [The last part a breath of a whisper as her expression turns a bit skeptical, but nevertheless enchanted.] ...Magical wooden horses? Anders, if you're inviting me over for an evening or a weekend away, all you really needed to say was that you had puppies.
[He sighs, long suffering and over dramatic as the Pho place comes into view.]
No, not you too. I was fond of you and everything, but you're a dog person just like Hawke.
[His hand falls over hers on his arm and he gives it a squeeze to assure he's joking even as he continues on with his 'devastation.']
Yes, I suppose you could come over for a weekend and play with the puppies, if you must. Maybe we could host a small bonfire thing too and bring them with us. Patience would keep Cookie in line, at least.
[She laughs at Anders' faux dramatics, shaking her head at the silliness of it all.]
Well, they didn't exactly have Magical wooden horses when I was growing up--or, well, at all where I'm from, so I sort of had to make do with other creatures.
[It's such a nice, relaxing moment, and Sasha's probably feeling the best she has in a few days. The talk of that bonfire? Gets her head resting on his shoulder for a brief moment. Don't snuggle with your employer on a walk to lunch, Sasha. At least keep it brief.]
That would be lovely. If you're sure you'd have me for a weekend?
Sasha. [He says it with all the firm finality of someone very certain of the truth he's about to reveal.]
You are the epitome of a delight to be around. I am beyond sure.
[As they approach their destination, he only pulls away so he can open the door for her. once they've got their food and settled in more, he decides to shift the subject a bit.]
You're settling in now, right? I know you've got your friends here, obviously, but now I'm afraid you'll be having me checking in on you as well.
[Not just for the clothes or the job, but for anything else she might need as well. He wasn't very good at keeping friends, he might as well take care of the ones he had.]
[She smiles at the 'very serious, I mean it!' tone about her weekending, happy to squeeze his arm like she's known him for forever. Lord knows he's definitely seen enough of her--granted, through the thoughts of another, but that's the thing about Anders (and Hawke, too): They've been kinder than they could have been, and they both make it so easy just to sort of fall in love with them. Just a little.
Sasha's dark eyes study Anders for a moment at his query and his declaration that he's going to be minding after her, too, in some regard.]
I'm doing all right. I love working at Haven with you. I'm glad that Tim, Jon, and Martin are in the city, so that has been nice. Granted, my living with Tim is going to be interesting. He's definitely a fan of getting his 'kicks', shall we say, and the flat isn't always a calm place to be in the evenings.
[And that's being kind. David was out most of the time with work, and he was pretty quiet most of the time, anyway. Sasha sighs softly before leaning in for a spoonful of her lunch, humming in approval.]
Tim's agreed to at least go do whatever it is in a hotel room on various nights, and I've asked for him to pay for a few nights for me on my own. It's been a very long time since I've had roommates of any sort, so...
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Oh please, lunch. May I take you out somewhere?
Absolutely anywhere you'd like to go so long as I don't have to rearrange this shelf a third time.
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Thought I would have to call Hawke and then sort that shelf myself. ;)
Lunch would be lovely!
What are you feeling? I'm truly up for anything.
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Hawke introduced me to spicy noodles at one point, I think that sounds lovely. Fu? fuh? Fugh? Something like that.
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I knew you weren't that much of a sadist.
Ah! Pho is the proper spelling, but yes!
That sounds absolutely delicious.
Meet you in half an hour?
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Yes, half an hour in the lobby, it's not too far.
[Half an hour later, he will indeed be in the lobby waiting for her, the doctor's coat missing but his hair still up in it's red ribbon as per usual when he's working.
His smile brightens when he sees her and he offers his arm.]
My lady, so kind of you to make room for me in your schedule.
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So as he smiles, Sasha can't help but share her own as she slips her arm through his and leans against him briefly.]
Good sir, it is I who should be thanking you. You may have saved me from permanently going cross-eyed at some of the donation manifests.
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For now, he's happy to have her leaning against him as he leads them out towards their lunch.]
Maker, donation manifests? That's a horrid combination of numbers and diplomatic turns of phrases. I'm happy to have saved you. Any chance we can turn those papers into kindling or are they necessary?
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It was dreadful, Anders. Positively abhorrent. I truly feared myself going mad.
[The silly dramatics are dropped, and Sasha's all smiles as she looks over with a grin and a wink and squeezes his arm.]
And no, sadly. No kindling for that stack. Not yet, anyway. Perhaps midsummer we could have a proper bonfire in the evening. On the beach. Away from the city proper. [Ah, a bit of wishful thinking for Ms James.] Until then, they stay.
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You know, a bonfire on the beach doesn't sound so bad. I live close enough, we could also bring a proper bottle of something stiff to drink and make a real night of it. [He arched a brow, tone turned to temptation.]
We have a very plush guestroom as well as a futon in the study...plus a whole heard of animals: three cats, two puppies, and two magical wooden horses that live in the garden.
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A bonfire on the beach does sound amazing... Summer be damned, I think! But--oh... [The last part a breath of a whisper as her expression turns a bit skeptical, but nevertheless enchanted.] ...Magical wooden horses? Anders, if you're inviting me over for an evening or a weekend away, all you really needed to say was that you had puppies.
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No, not you too. I was fond of you and everything, but you're a dog person just like Hawke.
[His hand falls over hers on his arm and he gives it a squeeze to assure he's joking even as he continues on with his 'devastation.']
Yes, I suppose you could come over for a weekend and play with the puppies, if you must. Maybe we could host a small bonfire thing too and bring them with us. Patience would keep Cookie in line, at least.
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Well, they didn't exactly have Magical wooden horses when I was growing up--or, well, at all where I'm from, so I sort of had to make do with other creatures.
[It's such a nice, relaxing moment, and Sasha's probably feeling the best she has in a few days. The talk of that bonfire? Gets her head resting on his shoulder for a brief moment. Don't snuggle with your employer on a walk to lunch, Sasha. At least keep it brief.]
That would be lovely. If you're sure you'd have me for a weekend?
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You are the epitome of a delight to be around. I am beyond sure.
[As they approach their destination, he only pulls away so he can open the door for her. once they've got their food and settled in more, he decides to shift the subject a bit.]
You're settling in now, right? I know you've got your friends here, obviously, but now I'm afraid you'll be having me checking in on you as well.
[Not just for the clothes or the job, but for anything else she might need as well. He wasn't very good at keeping friends, he might as well take care of the ones he had.]
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Sasha's dark eyes study Anders for a moment at his query and his declaration that he's going to be minding after her, too, in some regard.]
I'm doing all right. I love working at Haven with you. I'm glad that Tim, Jon, and Martin are in the city, so that has been nice. Granted, my living with Tim is going to be interesting. He's definitely a fan of getting his 'kicks', shall we say, and the flat isn't always a calm place to be in the evenings.
[And that's being kind. David was out most of the time with work, and he was pretty quiet most of the time, anyway. Sasha sighs softly before leaning in for a spoonful of her lunch, humming in approval.]
Tim's agreed to at least go do whatever it is in a hotel room on various nights, and I've asked for him to pay for a few nights for me on my own. It's been a very long time since I've had roommates of any sort, so...
[She shrugs.]