A part of Ishiah had honestly expected to find her hut empty, but breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the steps approach. He knew that she was, as much as the peri himself ever had, trying to find ways to keep the days busy, trying to fill them to the brim with strenuous activities that stood a chance of providing her with dreamless nights. Ishiah never knew what was kinder. To never have a glimpse of home, even in dreams, or to allow himself that fleeting happiness before waking up to his life on the island, feeling ever isolated from home.

He defaulted to the former, having experienced full well the difficulties of chestnut curls only being a mind's brush away, but these days, he felt the distance just as heavily as the memories.

"...no," he replied, with a blink of surprise, and an attempt at a smile that didn't quite reach his lips. He peered around appraisingly, as though he'd forgotten to make the stop over in the first place (he had) to look at how she'd resettled. "It looks nice."

Pressing his hand to his lips directly after, his gaze fell down to Trixa as he paused. "Have any of your close friends ever gotten married?"