Crumbs on the Table [Erchanhardt, Himiko]

Now that was certainly not the answer Erchanhardt had expected from a woman of her appearance and demeanor. She had seemed a bit more metropolitan than that, but he supposed that was a reminder to him that he ought not to make broad assumptions based on a few brief words.

"It would seem we share similar interests, then. What sort of books do you tend toward? I've not had time of late to do much of either, though I was somewhat recently able to spend a good while in the plains of North America. They are quite lovely, though the hunting there is a bit lacking."

On one hand, Erchanhardt did have to wonder if a girl of her demeanor would be particularly inclined toward hunting. He had always rather enjoyed it, though he had hardly been able to put together a proper hunting party in a good many centuries now. On the other hand... Well, he had only just thought to himself that making assumptions would be a bit rude, but between her preferences and her...features, he expected that she would likely respond in the affirmative.

Yes, that did seem to have been the answer he'd been expecting. A good survivalist, hm? That was rather impressive. Erchanhardt was, for a brief moment, vaguely confused by the mention of 'her Tenken,' though having spent enough time around other Shinigami and the like made it relatively easy for him to piece together what it meant through context.

"An impressive boast, to be sure, though it is rather worth being proud of. Tenken is your zanpakuto, I presume? I take it that its abilities prove helpful in the outdoors, then?"

He still didn't particularly understand the full mechanisms behind the zanpakuto, but at the very least, he did understand that each was to some degree or another quite unique. Was it considered poor etiquette to ask something like that? He realized he did not actually know.

"If that is considered a personal question, I do apologize. I am not fully versed on the ways of the Shinigami."

"Well, I will keep that in mind, then. Both regarding the question and regarding Tenken."

The followup, though, gave Erchanhardt a bit more pause, if only to actually consider the situation. After all, he'd already grossly misunderstood her wording once, so there was no particular concern this time around. Any assumption of some romantic connotation was a relic of his age, after all. Besides, while he did of course treasure Yugiri, it would likely be to his benefit to make other friends. The idea of becoming overly dependent on her for companionship was rather far from ideal.

"That does sound pleasant, yes. When are you available? I've nothing immediately pressing which needs my attention, though I ought to return home before the end of the month."

Judging from her brief slip of the tongue, it seemed that she would have preferred it to be as soon as possible. That was just as well, to be honest. Erchanhardt had heard that the game in this part of Italy was quite good during this season, so he was all too glad to put that to the test.

"Then shall we set off tomorrow? I will need to set a few affairs in order today, but apart from that, there is nothing which requires my immediate attention. Hopefully that is not too short of notice, yes?"

This was not exactly how he had envisioned meeting another new companion, but Erchanhardt had long since accepted that he tended not to meet many friends through normal social situations. He supposed it was just another symptom of these troubled times, though to make any friends at all was still quite a blessing.

"Ah, how long of a trip are you available for? I likely cannot stay out for more than two weeks, though I do not know if your duties would keep you from staying that long."

"Ah, that does work out well for us, then."

Erchanhardt briefly thought to ask about the report she had mentioned prior, though she had said that it was nearly finished. If that were the case, he supposed it made sense that she would not have anything immediately requiring her attention beyond that.

"I do hope it will be pleasant, yes. I have not spent any significant time in these parts for quite a long while, now, so it will be lovely to see how they have changed. And, of course, it is always exponentially more pleasant to camp with good company."

Finishing his own cup of coffee, Erchanhardt thought for a moment to simply pay the bill and be on his way to ready for tomorrow, but that did seem a bit rude, didn't it?

"Are you free for the evening? It would be good to discuss this outing further, I think, and become better acquainted. I've plans for dinner tonight, but it should be no trouble to have the reservation changed to be for two."