"A cat," Rhiane confirmed. Luke wasn't truly engaged in conversation but she seized the opportunity to converse on something that wasn't controversial. They already had enough arguments to last the rest of the week and this was a docile enough subject that she felt confident in continuing without raising ire. Sooner or later the princess elect hoped she could find common ground with her fiance. While it was true that neither of them could affect the inevitability of their marriage after the public announcement, they could at least make their arrangement easier if neither found the other's presence grating. The first step towards that was an air of congeniality fostered by discussion on more mundane topics- although that was increasingly hard to find given their dispositions.

"We couldn't afford a pet but there has always been a feral cat colony in the area. One of them still comes by the house. Always liked animals," she remarked somewhat absently, "because of how honest they are. The feral that swings by the farm would crawl in my lap one day and sneer at me the next for no apparent reason. I can't trust Dad or Gerald to keep a water bowl for it filled, so I hope Sebby remembers once he moves in. He was always dependable." Despite calling the cat tempestuous and criticizing its hot and cold reactions to her, there was an undeniable fondness in her voice for the feline.

Despite her apparent inclination to have a pet, which she compared herself to much to the crown prince's chagrin, she did not ask for one. The princess elect had noticeably not asked for [i]anything[/i] tangible that could be given to her. It was true one of her major motivations for entering and winning the contest was the sizeable stipend for her family, but she had no discernible desire for wealth herself. There had been multiple junctures where another might have requested if not demanded material possessions: gowns for her wardrobe, luxurious soaps for her bath, expensive jewelry to compliment her attire, artwork for her bedchambers, or even specific food at their lunch. The most interest she had shown was selecting certain garments from the already composed closet to wear. All that Rhiane had were things given to her and to date the one that she had expressed the most excitement over was the thoughtful gift of cannolis in the restaurant. Silly though it might be to Luke she valued not the price but the sentiment behind the offering. She had expected nothing of the fellow patron yet he knew her, remembered her interview, and had sent her a trifle without desire of reciprocation.

Rhiane was curious as to why Luke excused himself on the way out of the suite but elected not to interrogate him. Instead of barraging him with questions she kept toying with shifting her weight such that when he emerged, leading her to a hovercraft, she had struck a balance that left her only minimally leaning on the man for support. Though the pain was subsiding with the medication she was still happy to be seated.

"I think it would be odd if I [i]wasn't [/i] a daredevil given the circumstances," she replied casually as she stared out a window. The princess elect was not trying to be impolite but rather was perpetually mystified by the sights allowed by the palace and air travel. Her eyes traversed over the landscape in open wonder and a few times she lifted out of her seat just slightly to watch the ground whirl by in a flash. "I'd take you up on the offer of cliff diving but..." Rhiane hesitated and sighed, falling back against the upholstered support. There would be ridicule following her next admission she was certain.

"I've never seen the sea. A farmer's idea of a vacation is sitting in the house during winter when there isn't anything to plow, seed, or harvest until spring. Never had the funds for travel even a couple hours away much less anything more. Only trips I ever took were to suppliers- no sightseeing." Looking away and swallowing hard she continued to the tantalizing morsel for mockery. "I don't know how to swim. Didn't have the time, like most things, and the people with river access aren't friendly, not that the current is really conducive to swimming. Can't say I'd be much fun to cliff dive with." Rhiane was embarrassed. While she would welcome swim lessons she could not imagine it would be encouraged when her schedule would be full of either appearances, interviews, charitable events, or learning how she ought to properly perform at her role of princess. Were she even able to find the time a teacher would be more challenging. Her first favor from the queen would not be the hiring of a swim instructor.