The Kaufmann sisters are loud when they're excited and together. At the moment, they are hell-bent on bestowing a lifetime's worth of wisdom on love and sex upon Emerynne and Noemi. Noemi takes it in stride, listening in awe to all that the women have to say, but Emerynne believes she has a neck cramp from cringing every minute. Fortunately, the women have to be at the shop, like every day. So, they wind up their breakfast, get ready, and are finally about to leave.

Annika places a large, wicker hamper on the table. "We packed your picnic lunch!" she declares excitedly. "There's some zucchini-tomato sandwiches, the remaining breakfast pâtés, goji tea, chocolates, and tarts. I hope it's enough for you all."

"You can always buy some more snacks from the Marketplace," says Erika.

"Yes," Annika adds, "and, just... the usual things, don't do anything dangerous or stupid, no unprotected—"

"Mama!" Emerynne cuts her off. "Please. It's not going to get to that. Besides, I'm a responsible person."

"We know, darling. But you can never be too careful," Erika reasons. "People tend to forget things in the heat of the moment... or the throes of passion..." Although her tone is level, mischief weaves into her expression and mirth dances across her moue.

Noemi snickers, prompting Emerynne to shoot a glare at her. Huffing, Emerynne nods. "Alright, nothing dangerous or stupid," she promises, "and don't worry, I'll be extra-careful. Also, Noemi's got my back."

"Okay, wonderful!" Grabbing her bag from the chaise, Erika hustles to the door, dropping a kiss on Emerynne's head as she goes. "You guys have fun."

"Oh, yes. The important thing is to have fun." Annika follows, slinging one arm around Emerynne in a brief hug. "Good luck," she says, rushing after Erika.

When the door closes behind the Kaufmann sisters, Noemi turns to Emerynne. "I love your mom and your aunt," she tells her wistfully, "I wish my mom talked so freely about sex with me..."

"No, you don't," Emerynne retorts.

After they finish their breakfast, Noemi helps Emerynne clear the table and do the dishes. Then the two clean up and get ready for the picnic that Noemi planned. Armed with a blanket, a bag of warmer clothes in case it gets chilly, and her satchel of necessities, Emerynne plods after Noemi, contemplating all the ways in which Noemi's plan can go awry. A rather exuberant Noemi walks a few paces ahead, carrying the food basket hooked on one arm and her sleepover knapsack hanging on the other shoulder.

"I watched you scarf down three full pâtés, Emery," she shouts back at Emerynne. "Use those carbs and come along, will you?"

"I'm coming!" Emerynne grumbles.

They walk uphill until they reach the last few houses edging Hallstatt's uppermost outskirts. Noemi stops at a gate at the very end of the street. "Here we are," she announces.

Emerynne trots to catch up to her side, taking in the Frost Prince's kingdom beyond the wrought iron bars of the fence and gate. In the middle of a field of wild grasses and weeds, surrounded by short, stocky trees sits a cozy cottage. Next to it, a little to the side, is a glasshouse appearing absolutely stuffed by greenery. A gravel path snakes between the two buildings and further on to somewhere. Critters and insects cavort around, scurrying through the hedges and trees.

"Ready?" Noemi asks, pushing the gate open. Its well-oiled hinges are silent.

Nodding, Emerynne proceeds after her. Something sweetens the air as they near the house. Noemi rings the bell and steps back beside Emerynne. A few seconds later, the door swings in halfway and Matthias peers out from behind it. When he sees the girls, his snowy brows shoot up in surprise, but he does fully open the door.

Noemi greets him, her tone cheery, "hi, Matt." Matthias's hands sign something. Facing Emerynne, Noemi translates, "he wants to know what's up. He also said good morning."

"Oh. good morning," says Emerynne, offering him a smile, unsure of how to answer him.

"So, it's Sunday and it's pleasant," Noemi conveys brightly. "We're off to a picnic. You should come with us. We have vegan pâtés."

Even though Emerynne is taken aback by Noemi's direct manner, she manages not to show it, watching Matthias instead. His hands move with his answer. When he stops, Noemi says, "just up the hill from the viewing deck. You know, along that trekking trail..." 

"Please come. It'll be fun," Emerynne puts in, desperate to do her part. After all, Noemi is only here because Emerynne needs her help.

Matthias replies, to which Noemi responds, "sure. We'll wait outside."

Their exchange seemingly coming to an end, Matthias disappears inside the cottage. Noemi starts returning to the gate. Grabbing her by her arm, Emerynne pulls her back in step with herself, and fretfully questions, "what'd he say?"

Eyes twinkling, Noemi says, "he's coming, don't worry. He's just gonna change and get his pick-up."

A sigh of relief escapes Emerynne. "Okay, cool."

Noemi winks at her. "So far, so good, right?"

"Yeah."

While the girls wait on the road, Noemi gives Emerynne a lesson on flirting and transforming a companionship into something more intimate and romantic. "I can only help kickstart your friendship and from there on out, you're on your on," she says, "so you better turn all your charms on."

"Alright, calm down," Emerynne entreats, "please. I'm not gonna make any move right away. Let's just establish a friendship first. I have time. And who knows, the more we get familiar, my infatuation might simply... diffuse. We'd turn out good friends..."

Noemi seems like she has a counterargument ready, but by then, a black Volkswagen pick-up trundles out of the gates and onto the road. Emerynne and Noemi unload all their luggage into the loading deck, then go around to the passenger's side. Noemi near about shoves Emerynne in first, clambering in after. Sandwiched between Noemi and Matthias, Emerynne keeps her eyes trained straight ahead, unwilling to look at Noemi's comical and cheeky expressions, unable to look at Matthias fearing she'll end up shamelessly staring.

Given how small the town is, they reach their destination in five minutes. Matthias pulls into a parking space in the lot of the Hallstatt Skydeck. They pile out and gather the things from the deck. Like the chivalrous, kind person that he is, Matthias offers to carry the picnic basket, and Emerynne obliges. From there, the three continue on foot to a trekking route popular amongst tourists and townsfolk alike. The trail leads to the gently sloping side of the mountain, covered in clusters of edelweiss and fuzzy meadowgrass. A few more groups are also there picnicking, but the place is spacious enough still. Noemi picks a spot away from the others, closer to the edge, and spreads the blanket out.

As they all settle down, Emerynne tries to make conversation. "So, Matthias... what would you be doing if you hadn't come with us?"

Matthias signs, Noemi interprets. "Gardening. Or painting. Or cleaning his house."

"Sorry we disrupted your plans for a productive day," says Emerynne.

Lips canting up at the corners, Matthias shrugs and signs again. Noemi pauses amidst emptying the hamper, supplying, "he says this is better. He needed a change and it's far too pleasant to be cooped up indoors."

"Well, you could still be productive. I brought my sketchbook and watercolors if you wanna paint," suggests Emerynne.

Matthias visibly brightens, his fair visage alive in new light, his grin broadening, his eyes sparkling; Emerynne's heart is flippant in her chest. Reaching into her satchel, she brings out her art materials and sets them down in the space between them. Matthias immediately picks up her sketchbook and opens it to the first page, studying the painting of a koi pond. "That's from a Japanese garden in Vienna," Emerynne explains. "It's stunning in life, so you'll find many paintings of it in here."

He flips through her sketchbook, occasionally pausing at a painting and looking at her searchingly, which she then tells him about. While he is engrossed, Emerynne takes the chance to study him more closely. For the umpteenth time since she first saw him, she is hit by how beautiful he is. His skin has a tender translucence to it, his veins and capillaries stand out like green-violet cracks through ice. The sun catches his faded flaxen mane, each strand is a thread of silk spun from those very sunbeams. His brows, his eyelashes are crystal-white. Everything about him has an otherworldly allure, from his pale blue irises, to the prominent bump on his nose, and the pleasant line of his mouth. They're all things that make her soul flutter.

Emerynne would have continued her observation of Matthias, however, Noemi thrusts a plate right in her face. "Pass it on," she instructs. "I'll serve yours."

Matthias keeps her sketchbook down on the blanket. Taking the plate from Emerynne, he makes a sign that she remembers from before – thank you. Noemi passes another plate to Emerynne and serves one for herself. The three eat in silence, save for a quick signage exchanged between Noemi and Matthias. Though Emerynne wants to know what it was about, she doesn't want to insert herself in their conversation so gracelessly. After the meal, they enjoy a cup of goji tea each. Following his first sip, Matthias imitates the Italian caricature of a chef's kiss.

"Oh, yeah," concurs Noemi, licking pâté crumbs off her fingertips, "this is pretty damn delicious." To Emerynne, she says, "you know, you should invite Matthias to dinner at your house someday."

Emerynne gasps, which proves to be disastrous. Her mouthful of tea goes down the wrong path in her throat. Coughing and sputtering, she dips her head to hide the tea that comes streaming out of her nose. Someone is rubbing the place between her shoulder blades, a tissue is handed to her. Hastily cleaning herself up, Emerynne straightens. "I'm fine," she says. "I'm okay. A bee flew into my face and surprised me."

"You sure you're okay?" queries Noemi, concern writ in her creased brows.

Emerynne, having noticed that it is Matthias rubbing her back, responds only when Noemi shakes her shoulder. "Yeah! I'm good," she insists, promptly shifting the topic, "about dinner, you should all come over one night. Just lemme know in advance." Mentally, she curses Noemi for pressing the buttons to her malfunctions.

Nevertheless, things become calm soon enough, much to Emerynne's relief; Noemi sits back and claims the last sandwich, Matthias's comforting back-rub ceases and he reverts his focus to going through the sketchbook's pages. Conversation is rare and mild, the three choosing to relax and revel in the quiet sounds of the mountains instead. At some point, Emerynne and Matthias engage in croquis, drawing the other picknickers and hikers around, whereas Noemi lies down for a catnap.

Without Noemi to translate, Matthias takes up writing once more. His hands are elegant and his arms are sinewy – all carved from white marble by some cosmic sculptor, their beauty is acute to Emerynne. They share a few laughs on puns and wonky figure-drawings. And the sound of his laughter – the soft and breathy lilt, the huskiness of it – owns her heart. Every laugh from him sends her soul skipping through her body all over again. It's a laugh that makes one smile, or prompts one to laugh along...

Only true elation makes one's soul dance like so.