"No, that's perfectly fine to me."

"Oh good. I make a point to get Blake and Jade to give me second opinions about every seafood place I think might be good, because I trust that their standards are higher than mine on the subject. We haven't found a Western Mistrali place that meets their standards yet. There was one in Mantle, but this isn't Mantle."

She squeezes Lilian's hand and watches both her and the scenery. There are a few other students on the airship, but they're far enough away that they're not listening in.

"What's your favorite flower?"

"Am I too predictable if I say lilies?" 

The side of her mouth quirks up. 

"More seriously, I like poppies. They're bright. Cheerful. They remind me there's good things in the world."

"Both good choices, and anyone who'd knock you for naming yourself after a favorite flower can fuck off. Am I a cliché for doing the reverse and saying orchids and dahlias?"

"I'm not sure I've ever seen a dahlia before. Orchids are a classic pick though, for all that they're quite delicate." 

"They're lovely, and they have a great display of them in the garden we're visiting, so you'll get to see them first-hand. As for orchids, they remind me of how delicate the flourishing of a life can be. I will admit, though, that I first picked them for the color." She gestures up at her hair with a grin.

"Awww. Of course." 

Lilian settles her hands in her lap. 

"It would be lovely to see your favorite flower. Something new."

"Ooh, I wonder how many new-to-you experiences I can find? That'll be fun."

"There's only been a dozen in the past week. It's like you're not even trying." 

She giggles and smiles. "Clearly I have to step up my game. Only a dozen new experiences, and most of them weren't even very datelike. What am I even doing?"

"Seriously though, thank you. December's the one who had the heart to heart, but, like... I exist as a whole separate person now thanks to you. That's something I can never really repay."

She blushes and smiles and looks down at her hands. "Just, y'know, had to be done. I couldn't really choose anything else, y'know?"

"Yeah. That's just the kind of person you are."

Eep. She blushes some more. "Gosh, all the praise. I'm gonna combust over here."

"I mean honestly, you spend weeks looking after a girl you hardly know in hospital and there are going to be consequences."

She blushes and grins. "I'm doomed, clearly. Brave Huntress trainee slain by compliments."

She shakes her head. "Seriously, though, you're worth it." And then she silences any attempt at return fire with a kiss.

Lilian kisses back, softly, unhurriedly. 

This feels so much better than with Jason.

After a soft, lingering kiss, she pulls back and just gazes softly at Lilian. Does she look a bit besotted? Yes. Does she care? No.

And then the airship lands.

Oh, phooey. 

Well, she has an entire date to spend together with Sable. She can't kiss her for all of it. 

She gets up from her seat and offers her hand. 

"Lead on," she says.

She takes Lilian's hand with a grin and leads the way out onto the airship terminal, which is bustling with a little bit of traffic: people getting in from extended trips, people returning from facilities just outside the walls, Huntsmen getting back from missions, and more.

They start walking toward the exit.

It's strange, being back in Vale with Sable. It feels a little like two worlds are colliding that shouldn't.

She squeezes Sable's hand, and follows.

She squeezes back, and keeps leading the way out onto the streets. It's a short walk, and the fall afternoon weather is pleasant enough. People meander about their daily lives. Sable smiles, watching them go by. There are bakeries, Dust shops, convenience stores, and more.

It's an unfamiliar part of town for her - she's never had a reason to fly anywhere before - but it's still Vale, and that matters.

She follows along and people-watches.

People sit at tables outside cafés, while others sweep the sidewalk in front of their stores. A couple kids — two Humans and a Faunus — run up to a comic book shop together.

"Even after two years, the contrast between Mantle and Vale still feels sharp to me."

"I've never been to Mantle before. I've just been stuck here. What was Mantle like, comparatively? Better? Worse?"