Interlude 1

Zayn stood in the kitchen as the staff were cleaning everything up to close for the night. The dishes were all cleaned, the perishable ingredients back in the icebox, the dry ingredients for the morning's first dishes already measured out and staged, and yet Zayn wandered looking for something to do, or maybe they were distracted.
 
"What's on your mind, kiddo?" A gruff voice inquired from behind the cleric.
 
This was Ceros, a middle-aged Dwarf. He had black hair braided just as neatly as his beard to keep it out of the way while he was working on the kitchen. Zayn turned around and blinked.
 
"Uh, yeah, but...it's nothing."
"Nothin' huh?" Ceros crossed his arms.
"Just some stuff I'm trying to figure out. I'll be okay. I promise."
"Alright...well, if you need anything. Anything at all. Don't hesitate alright?"
'Yessir."
"Good. I'll see you in the morning."
 
With that, Ceros gives Zayn a nod before leaving through the back door. Zayn bows their head, and continues their distracted "tasks." Their eyes keep finding the door that connected the clinic to the kitchens. They sigh, apron twisted in their hands.
 
A woman's voice softly calls from the counter beside them. The owner of this voice would be Abigail. A human woman in her 50s, "You're in love."
"I...I think I am." Zayn quietly answers, as if afraid to admit it. Because they ARE in love. But they can't find themselves to say it.
"First time falling in love?"
"...how did you know?"
"You know exactly where you are, but you still look lost. You probably feel lost too. I'll let you in on a secret; Where you are isn't where you want to be, but where you want to be isn't a Place. It's a Person." She nods in the direction of the door, "You love her, Zayn. I can see it in the way you smile when she walks by, and the way your head shoots up from the mixing bowl when you hear her laugh down the hall. And she loves you too, doesn't she?"
"She gave me flowers."
 
Abigail smiles at Zayn, and like a mother comforting a child, puts a reassuring hand on their shoulder. This was normal for her, she has already more or less adopted Zayn and the half-orc siblings; Baro and Vola. They look at her and give her a nervous smile in return.
 
"Oh, sweetheart..." Abigail starts, "You're scared out of your gods-damned mind, aren't you?"
Zayn manages a light laugh, "Just a little. You were right on the money; I've never been in love before, let alone with someone like her. I don't want to mess it up."
"You got a good head on your shoulders, hun. She fell in love with YOU and what you're doing. Keep doing that, and I doubt you'll mess it up. Besides, like Ceros said, if you need anything, you know we'd help you out in a heartbeat. Like dance lessons, for starters. It isn't a secret that she likes to dance, and I've see how you can move on your feet, it just...needs some work. We'll start tomorrow night, alright?"
"Y-yes ma'am... I appreciate that."
"Of course. Goodnight, Zayn."
"Goodnight, Abigail."
 
Abigail waves them goodbye and also leaves for the night, leaving Zayn by themselves in the kitchen. They continue to fidget with the apron in their hands, and start to pace around, unsure if they want to wander the halls and see if they can find her or if they want to just go home to their little cabin and stare up at the ceiling for a few hours. Their feet start taking them to the back door. Lying in bed and staring up at the ceiling tonight it is.