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SARN - GLAUSHIRE - COOKIE'S DAIRY - EARLY EVENING
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Narrator: After dinner, the trio of stoats and their guest head through town towards a sweet's shop, an old favorite of Maybelline's. She of course goes through the line first, followed by Francine. The two stake out a table and start on their rather large sundaes, still catching up and talking excitedly as Louma gets her order, and Maddock goes last, paying for the group.
Maddock is given his ice cream last, a simple vanilla cone. He walks towards Louma as she receives her order. Thus far, he's been a bit taciturn during dinner, which both May and Francine have seemed to just accept as normal, his conversation skills having been little more than idle pleasantries. But as Maybelline and Francine are distracted with sweets, he at last, somewhat unexpectedly, opens up to Louma, "The cone drips if you're not fast. I like to eat my ice cream outside. Would you please join me for a moment, Ms Louma?"
Louma is too busy staring at the big menu. While some of the shops in Respite have examples of multiple locales on their menus, none of them have the vast variety of options of here. On top of that, Louma's never had much craving for sweet foods. The amount of which she's eaten since dating Maybelline probably outstripping the previous 27 years of her life. Even just the ice cream menu takes her a bit of time to parse, eventually picking vanilla to move along. She looks to Maddock, slowing down to nod to him. "Hm? Of course, Maddock, I'd be glad to." She casts a look toward May and Francine before following after Maddock.
Maybelline: tilts her head as she see's Louma heading out, but gives her a thumbs up and a supportive nod.
Maddock leads Louma out towards a little patio off the back of the shop with a few umbrella's and tables set up. He licks at his ice cream, and hums, looking out through the decorative fence at the street as Louma comes alongside. "You two get along well."
Louma smiles, nodding confirmation as she finds a sunny spot to curl up, with just her torso (and so ice cream) in the shadow of an umbrella. "Very well, yes. Maybelline is wonderful, I do hope you're proud of her." She idly licks her ice cream, already fighting the drips.
Maddock nods. "Extremely so. She and her Sister both. But Maybelline has always been my little girl."
Louma nods, quietly enjoying her ice cream for a moment. "If I may, you and Francine did well raising her. Her determination and compassion are incredible."
Maddock chuckles. "You may. We tried our best, with the limited means we had. I believe the compassion comes from Francine. Perhaps the determination too. Hm."
Louma chuckles quietly, shaking her head a bit. "Her work ethic comes from you, then, from what I've heard."
Maddock smiles slightly. "I'll accept that." He takes a few moments to continue to eat his ice cream. "I suppose she's told you quite a bit about me, yes?"
Louma nods after a few moments. "Quite a bit, yes. She's very proud of you and your success. You've obviously worked very hard for it." She takes a few moments to enjoy her ice cream, glancing back to Maddock. "Was it Francine?"
Maddock chuckles. "Very perceptive. It was. She was worth all that hard work. I suppose that's something else I've tried to teach Maybelline. The easy way isn't always the right way."
Louma hums, the phrase bringing certain spear-related decisions to mind. "You're certainly correct there. But I know that meeting the right person can turn everything around for you. I was in... Well, a rut of sorts, and May giving me a chance brought me completely out of it. I feel I was on the verge of making decisions I'd regret without her."
Maddock turns to reappraise Louma silently, then nods. "Hm. Then I'm glad you found her. For both your sakes."
Louma smiles warmly at Maddock, nodding. "As am I." She enjoys her ice cream for a few seconds before asking him; "You seem to have some things you want to ask."
Maddock finishes the ice cream over the top of his cone, thinking a moment. "No. Not directly, at least. I leave that to Francine. She's a better judge of character than I am. I'm just trying to give you a sense of what my family means to me, so that you understand what I am going to offer you."
Louma blinks, tilting her head slightly. "Offer me?"
Maddock hums, "I started working at a little general store when I got it in my mind to leave the old business. I swept, I helped the customers, I did everything I could to ingratiate myself with them. I ended up working several jobs that year, because I wanted to prove myself to Francine. And to myself." He reaches back into his coat pocket and pulls out a small jewelry box, handing it to Louma. "It's not much, I know, but it meant the world to Francine and I. I think it would mean a great deal to Maybelline as well."
Louma pauses, staring at the box for a few moments before glancing in the direction they had come. The movement drops the remainder of her ice cream off the top of her cone onto the ground, but she doesn't seem to notice as she turns back to Maddock. "Is that what I think it is?"
Maddock chuckles softly. "That's entirely up to you, I suppose. I don't know what plans you may or may not have. I'm simply offering it. You don't have to accept, and I will understand. But Maybelline's my little girl, and it felt appropriate for her to have it. If... or when, you want to give it to her as I gave it to Francine."
Louma nods, realizing she's holding a basically empty cone, which she sets on the table, wiping her hands of ice cream. "When. No if, only when." She can barely fight the urge to grin before asking her clarifying question. "Doe this mean I have your blessing? Not that May would listen either way, if it's what she wanted."
Maddock nods. "I don't think I could tell her no even I felt any differently. I might wish to have more time to get to know you, but Francine already says she approves, and Maybelline's letters give away more than she likely thinks they do. So yes. You do."
Louma takes a breath, accepting the box from Maddock. She doesn't dare open the box, but it feels heavy as all hell in her grip. She closes her fingers around it, looking to Maddock with misty eyes. "Ye... -Hem- Yeah. Thank you. This means so much to me, Maddock. I... I'm going to hug you now. I just don't want you to panic." She leans forward as warned, hugging Maddock tightly as she continues fighting a more emotional response.
Maddock nods, he's not the most outwardly emotional guy, but he can accept a hug. He reaches a hand behind Louma's back to pat, only oofing slightly. "Mighty good hug you have there, Ms Louma. And thank you. Yes, thank you."
Louma chuckles, glad for the levity when she draw away and quickly wipes the corners of her eyes. She looks at the box again before stashing it away for the time being. She smiles warmly at Maddock, nodding again. "May seems to like my hugs as well."
Maddock hums, "I would imagine so. It's a strong hug." He glances down at the ground, "I seem to have spoiled your ice cream, however."
Louma looks to the ice cream, nodding slightly. "I'm not worried, sweet foods don't always agree with me. Thank you for the dessert though." She bows her head slightly, chuckling. "Shall we return to the other two, before they start to worry?"
Maddock nods. "Yes. Hm, I imagine they'd notice our absence eventually." He chuckles, stepping towards the door back inside the shop and opening it for Louma.
Louma bows slightly to Maddock before heading inside, smiling brightly but otherwise not letting on the incredible excitement and joy she's keeping in check. She'll find time to talk with May about it later in the day, for certain, as well as letting Maddock tell Francine when he feels it's right to.