[color=a36209]“Well,”[/color] he started. [color=a36209]“Like… [i]this[/i].”[/color]
	
	Caelum was glad that Magnolia seemed to be here in the moment with him, and less uncertain and anxious as she had arrived. Again, his heart went out to the fiddler, who seemed to be moving on to make more mischief and merriment elsewhere for now. The sudden serenade had been quite nice, but he was glad to be left here in the hush of the lagoon again.

	Left alone in the hush with her.

	[b]“Well…”[/b] she began. [b]“You truly are a wonderful artist.”[/b]

	She seemed to be growing more curious and possibly—[i]hopefully[/i]—more open to whatever this moment might become. What was once a quiet, distant admiration now had so much more possibility.

	Caelum refused to squander the opportunity.

	With Loke’s music still audible, Caelum let it steady him for what came next.

	[color=a36209]“Then,”[/color] he said softly, gingerly offering his current sketches to her. [color=a36209]“Perhaps you would like to look at my earlier sketch—it’s almost finished.”[/color]

	He allowed her to take whatever time she needed, calmly holding the papers.

	She was [i]so close now[/i].

	[color=a36209] “There’s another as well…”[/color] he started, a little more hesitant. [color=a36209]“I only started it just a bit ago…”[/color]

	He trailed off. His confidence was not waning… it was more like he wasn’t sure what to do with it.

	[color=a36209]“If you’re truly interested,”[/color] Caelum began anew. Hope burning brighter. [color=a36209]“You and Muricle are welcome to come inside. I have many more sketches that you could look at.”[/color]

	He paused, bashfully. 

	[color=a36209]“They are… [i]mostly[/i] different subjects.”[/color]

	Another slight breeze through the reeds, carrying the scent of the lagoon.