So open was her heart to the world and those in it, so willing to accept anything and everything with warmth and an eagerness to explore it with an equal readiness to understand what it was that others could see, it was almost surprising to think that the young woman did not hold a special place in her heart for religion. It was not because Ellie did not believe in a divine being, in an almighty responsible for the creation of all things both living and not. She was aware of the different gods and beliefs to perhaps the most minimal extent, but this was simply due to such things having never really played a part in her world. There was something deep within the huntress that has always thought everything happened for a reason, often wondering in those moments of peaceful silence - which, as it turns out, were frightfully rare here in the city - if it was nothing beyond fate or something so far above her own understanding of how the world and all which went unseen and yet hardly unfelt truly worked. Only briefly has she touched those strangely sensitive subjects that could ignite in another such strong feelings of passion and unwavering faith that it was hard for her not to become breathless, to be left amazed and in awe as they might dare to speak of the thing most sacred and cherished within themselves, spoken only fleetingly with others and what it was that they believed in, that she did not fully comprehend the depths of a love which could be forged between mortal and divine spirit. What she did know was that it was something so very precious, a source of strength and courage for many regardless of whether they placed their entire lives in the hands of one god or many, some even believing in spirits rather than deities who were the ones shaping the earth and all in it. Whatever someone believed in, respect should always be given, even under the circumstances that one being refused to be open towards another's faith or simply didn't wish to try and understand.

There were so many walks of life in this world, so many different cultures and traditions that, in a way, it reminded her somewhat of autumn leaves as they would change colors and free-fall from their place on the branch of a tree. Some would be red while others might lose their emerald hue only to shift in tons brilliant orange or yellow, and some would turn to a rustic copper or chocolate tone. Some only saw four colors, but what Ellie saw was more than that. Yes, these were the four colors, and yet it seemed so few ever saw the different shades of those colors. Some reds were as deep and rich as rubies while another light be a soft and pastel shade, perhaps even adorned with speckles of orange, yellow, or brown so that it wasn't simply red. She thought of the people in this world much like she did these leaves, seeing each one different from the last and given a sense of wonder whenever she would have the chance to see what it was that made each soul different from the ones she's met before. The same thing went for the different faiths coloring her world through the people who would walk into her life, however brief, each flickering and catching her ever-curious and wide-open heart. She knew only pieces of christianity and buddhism, read with wide-eyed fascination stories and articles of the spirits native americans believed were the reason behind the health of the year's crops or the happenings which occurred within their daily lives. She's watched documentaries of what religion was like long ago, her wonder only ever deepening as she sees how deeply ingrained religion was or how much they've changed as civilization grew and evolved, reaching over seas and mountains from of the most isolated or desolate of places. All the temples and churches, the many ways those followers would give praise of worship the beings they held close to their hearts as they did their families... the amazement never seemed to end for Ellie. She had so many questions, wanted to know if there really was an ultimate truth, and yet such a chance has always managed to elude her in the end. But, maybe, all that would come to change.

As she stands there with Ashton, the honey-blonde wonders how big of a part in her world he might become or if the man might become one at all. Was this the only time they would see one another, sharing in but a single day before going their separate ways and never finding one another again? It seemed nearly unimaginable, not finding him again despite the sheer vastness of Sacrosanct, and yet she knew that quite literally anything could happen. She was far from some sort of future-seer or fortune-teller, but such things would hardly stop the young woman from spending the afternoon with Ashton so long as he would have her. They had here and now, and there was no telling where things might go, but therein lies endless possibilities the huntress doesn't even dare to think of in this moment. The young woman could not deny that she was drawn to him as she often was to those her heart welcomed happily as friends or friends in the making, wanting to know more about the man and why it was that he was so wonderfully different from the large majority of the people that filtered through the bustling city streets. Where was it that his kindness came from? What brought him here? An endless sea of questions flickers through those eyes of early morning frost that can hardly help but be captivated by his own summer blues, not simply for their irrefutable softness and allure but rather because she knew them to be windows to the soul resting behind them, and when he returns her radiant smile she simply cannot stop how her heart soars then. Gosh, no one has ever smiled so warmly like that to me! As Ashton makes mention of those homemade bell peppers and Ellie's stomach almost growls from a hunger induced by the mere thought of that favorite dish she could eat for days upon days without growing tired of it, his next words given in reply to her bright remark has her glacier blue eyes widening in surprise."Oh my gosh, I would absolutely love to!", she says excitedly, her gaze glittering just in brightly as her sterling voice as her radiant smile hardly falters, not even bothering to ask or even wonder what his secret ingredient might be. If he wanted to share it, then he wouldn't have called it a secret, after all.

For only a small moment, the huntress is surprised to have found a man that enjoyed cooking. She knew that Ludo loved to bake, his talents very much obvious through the delicious perfection of those cinnamon oatmeal cookies he would always make for her when she stopped by the bakery not far from where she and Ashton were. Ellie missed those delectable treats almost as much as she missed the Italian man who made them, the owner of the establishment hardly attempting to make them herself and yet the honey-blonde was almost certain that they would not taste quite the same should any of the others bakers make them. Would they be better? Just as good? Possibly! But, there was something about his oatmeal cinnamon cookies that made them super special to the huntress, and until he came back from wherever it was he has gone, she would wait patiently for the maker and his sweet treats. In the meantime, she was just as contented with the snickerdoodles as she was those special cookies. When Ashton nods in wordless response to her question only to give her yet another radiant smile unlike any Ellie has had the delight of receiving from another, he answers her question and her heart only grows fonder of the man as he speaks of who it was that taught him how to cook, and what a coincidence Ellie believed it to be!"Really? My mom was my cooking teacher, also! I still have her cookbook, I'd be more than happy to bring it over for you to explore if you'd like", she offers with not even the slightest trace of hesitancy. There were no words to describe just how precious that book was to her, those elegantly hand-written pages and recipes being one of the only things the young woman had left of the gentle woman she missed more than tears could ever show. Yet, she finds herself entirely willing to entrust those pages to Ashton, a fellow lover of those cooking adventures simply because that was how she was.

His next words cause her heart to come even closer to bursting with joy as he says that he would love for them to cook together one night, her innocent and pure intentions hardly even registering how it might sound so much like a date to those who might eavesdrop on the words shared between two almost-strangers quickly finding so many things in common with one another without any regard for those unexplored differences between them."Great! I don't start my fall semester for a couple more weeks, so I'm available any day between now and two weeks from now", she replies eagerly. The next step would not course be figuring out a date and time that worked best for the two of them, more specifically Ashton considering her own plans were few and far in between. All her friends were so busy lately, and while the very appeal of spending tomorrow night cooking with the man was terribly tempting, she didn't want to seem overly eager for fear of unsettling him. Yes, it was quickly becoming a struggle for the huntress to keep her increasing excitement and curiosities from rushing Ashton, but Ellie was just as determined to ensure his comfort around her as she was excited to be meeting someone so warm and kind. Despite her growing eagerness, the honey-blonde does not miss the interest that sparks to life in her companion as she mentions Adelaide and the bistro, his own query having her expression shift ever so briefly into one of subtle contemplation, a soft "hmmm" slipping between her lips then. Wasn't one of the cooks also going to college like Ellie? She was almost entirely certain Collin was."I believe one of the cooks is going to college as well, so I would say she would certainly appreciate having another to help!", she answers truthfully, her confidence that the French woman would hire him just a certain as it had been when she made the suggestion offering a remedy for his current status of unemployment.

There is a pleased expression, something almost akin to relief when she assures him that his apartment and all its modesty was hardly anything to be concerned about. Ellie never really cared too terribly much for material things, easily preferring what held sentimental value over anything like flashy jewelry or expensive clothing. In truth, she was simply ecstatic that he accepted her invitation at all, this much being almost blindingly apparent at her words which tumbled from her long before she could stop them, and yet he hardly seems put off by this slip in her mostly composed demeanor, and as quickly as the soft flush to her cheeks had appeared and that almost sheepish expression came, it vanished like morning mist beneath warm sunshine. In the end, she was just happy that he seemed open to spending time with her, even if it was only a trip to a quaint little coffee shop not far from here. She would live every second she was given in Ashton's company with an openness to whatever may come, hardly believing an unexpected trip to the café she'd already visited once today as anything short of an exciting adventure where something else equally surprising and wonderful could happen. Besides, she was about to be a part of his very first experience with fancier coffee! She would get to be a part of a first moment for the man, and the excitement she felt from the very bottom of her heart was indescribable. There was only ever one "first moment", and for Ellie, to share in something like that with another was just as wonderful as the new experience itself could be. She follows him happily, stepping into that place beside him â€" and this time paying better attention so as not to bump into someone else today â€" and as was in her nature, she can't help but allow for but a fraction of her curiosity to get the best of her. However, she is quick to also assure him that he doesn't have to share what he is not comfortable, and it is this expression of concern for him that brings a soft smile to his features. Ellie returns the warm and gentle gesture, dark lashes fluttering over glacier blue as she regards him fondly for a moment before delving into her own origins, so unafraid of what he might think.

Her own willingness to offer him a small piece of her past is rewarded as Ashton reveals where it was that he came from, the mere mention of his father's ranch and family warming her heart. Ever sensitive to the feelings of others, the huntress hardly misses the faintest flicker of melancholy that dances across his gaze, her own icy blue eyes softening tenderly. He didn't have to say that he missed them, she could tell just by his smooth tenor tones that he did. Without thinking, she reaches for him, resting her hand softly upon his arm."Your home sounds beautiful, Ashton. I can tell that you miss it. I would, too", she says softly, eyes suddenly shifting to her hand and that soft warmth creeping into freckled and fair-skinned cheeks as she allows for her hand to move away from him and encircle the plastic cup along with her other hand, her smile very nearly shy for a moment, almost apologetic in nature. She knew that not everyone appreciated the touch of another, but it was something she couldn't help, knowing that it always helped her when she felt sad. There was something about the simplest of reassuring touches, like letting someone know they were not alone in how they felt, that spoke more than words ever could."The first time I ever saw the ocean was when my brother, Lazarus, and I moved here to Sacrosanct. There wasn't any ocean or coastline in Elkgrove", she says thoughtfully as they turn around the corner, still able to easily see the memories of her home that had been more rested in the foothills than somewhere close to where land and sea collided. It is then that Ashton's forward strides stop in front of an apartment building, Ellie naturally following suit and walking up those stairs. He opens the door and gestures for her to walk through first, his words confirming his politeness and Ellie smiles sweetly to him."Why, thank you, kind sir", she says then, her sterling voice wielding a soft playfulness to them as she steps through, waiting for him to join her.

They walk over to where there are elevator doors, the man reaching for the "up" button, and as they wait she cannot keep her eyes from wandering over the walls decorated with pictures of landscapes, her thoughts drifting for only a moment to her blue-eyed blonde friend before the "ding" signals the arrival of their ride to the floors above. Again, he holds the door open and she smiles brightly before stepping through and waiting there for him. The doors close and he selects the button for the fourth floor."I can't remember the last time I rode in an elevator", she remarks truthfully then, never having lived in an apartment complex before, Hawthorne Village the closest thing to such a residence that the young woman has come to compared to this. The music plays from above them and she hums along with the tune, having always enjoyed instrumental music when given the opportunity, entirely curious to see what his apartment would look like. The elevator comes to a stop, those doors opening and in a pattern she was already recognizing, he gestures for her to walk through first and in turn she smiles, her own little habit of wordless thanks no matter how many times he might open doors for her. How amusing it would be if Lazlo did such things. It was an entertaining thought, imagining her ill-tempered brother with such manners, but the thought is gone as quickly as it had come when he moves ahead of her, guiding the honey-blonde down the hall of doors until they reach one marked "407". Ashton retrieves his keys then, unlocking the door and pushing it opened. On his invitation, she walks over the threshold with him just behind her, the light flicking on to illuminate the darkness and reveal to her a comfortably furnished living room. It was modest, but certainly had a very warm and cozy feel to it."It's very cozy here!", she remarks after a brief look around, turning to see him pulling the items for the grocery bags as he begins placing them in certain places within the cupboards.

She moves to stand there at the entrance, hands folded behind her back as she watches him for a moment."I wouldn't mind helping, though you might need to tell me where things belong", she says warmly, not wanting to seem rude or anything and yet certainly not wanting to try and start helping when he likely had a designated place for everything.