A lunchtime date (EA closed Qasims home)

[Raya]

"Why is it sad? All live, and all die, even those who think they can cheat die eventually. Rather than be sad that they died, be happy that you were part of their lives, and they were part of yours. To be sad or upset when you die feels to me...how you say, like you think they did not do enough when alive? I miss them, but I am happy they lived a life where they found love, got married, had a family. It is good yes?"

Raya looked thoughtful at the question.

"Life is a story, and mine is still in chapter one. I have seen much in the world, I have faced some dangers. I've also had an adventure saving Soraya from kidnappers. I do not have anything I aim for in life because life is not to be planned out, it is to be lived. One step after another, be it on sand, on solid ground, through water or in the air. I do not know what is waiting for me and I do not want to know. I want to find out as I write the pages in my own story."

[Qasim al-Basiri]

He usually just smiles or chuckles at Raya's odd answers to questions but this is one of the first times he looks genuinely surprised "That is a beautiful way of thinking Raya. It is of course in human nature to die but so many spend their loves either pretending it won't happen or trying to make it not happen. To see someone treat it so casually, it is...extremely interesting."

He takes another bite thinking for a moment before chuckling "I can see why she loves you. Your worldview is a very exciting one." He said with some warmth

[Raya]

"It is just the Ra'Shari way, it does not seem unusual or odd to me" Raya said with a small shrug, picking up a fork to eat "what is the way you look at life and death sidi?."

There was a small smile though at the last comment.

"I do not know if it is me Sayyeda Soraya loves, but she is dear to me."

[Qasim al-Basiri]

Qasim paused a bit in thought "I suppose I fit more into the first camp I mentioned. Maybe I do not pretend it is not coming but I certainly don't think about it. If I lose someone close to me I am sad because I will miss them and I suppose I am still afraid of death because I have not done the things I want to do yet. As you said about yourself I am only on the first chapter."

He did tilt his head a little at her statement "Why do you think it is not you?" He asks curiously.

[Raya]

"It is understanding to be scared of death, but it is not something you can hide from yes? Delay maybe, hide from no" Raya shook her head "either way maybe not lunch topic yes? Am sorry for making it awkward."

She went quiet for a short while at the question, thinking.

"Am not sure the best way to say it. When was younger, my mother told me story of her great-great grandmother. She was very kind woman like me, but with the Ra'shari way part of her how you say...character? How she is. There was Dahabi man who found her attractive, and was drawn by her ways. They married, and the man left his life and became Ra'shari. Man ended up hating his wife because he realised it was not her he loved, it was how she was so different, so...exotic? It drew him in because he only knew Dahabi way, and Ra'shari way of being felt better than his life."

Raya frowned.

"Am worried Sayyeda Soraya is same way. She is treated badly by her people, everyone uses her like pretty doll to put out for attention then put away when not needed. Raya show her that she doesn't pay attention to this, that she would not care if Sayyeda wore nothing or wore a hundred layers. Sex or no sex. Pretty face with makeup or nothing. Because to Raya beauty is not beauty if it is only skin. It is inside where it is beauty, and I am worried that being made to feel...how you say, like a real person? Is what she is liking."

[Qasim al-Basiri]

He reached a hand out to touch hers briefly "You made nothing awkward Raya." He said in a genuine tone "I don't mind talking about real things, even if they are heavy, much better for getting to know someone."

"As for Sora I see why you might fear this but I wonder if it is so bad for someone to love another because they treat them well? It is partly because of who you are yes? Because you see the beauty of her heart and do not just treat her like a flower in a vase. You treat her as a real person, you appreciate her for who she is. Is this worldview, one where you find the beauty of people in who they are, is this not part of what makes Raya, Raya?" He grinned slightly

"And other than that you still sell yourself short. It has only been a short time I have known you and we have lacked adventures and one on one time like this. Even so I dare say I have grown rather fond of you in that short time Raya, you are smart, caring, and you see people for who they are rather than what they are. Those can be very rare traits to all find in one person. Yes you are breath takingly beautiful and talented but who you are outside all that is an incredible person." He spoke warmly

[Raya]

Raya listened, picking up her glass of water and not drinking it but looking at it as she she thought on his words.

"I am...I am not understanding you sidi Qasim. You speak as if it is a good thing for someone to love a how you say...a view they have of you, not love you for you. To me that is sounding like the worst form of love possible, because it is not real love. It is loving a vision is it not? What if it is like what happened to my great-great grandmother, and she is finding that it is just being with Ra'Shari not being with me?"

She shook her head.

"I am not understanding how you can say it is good. Maybe I just do not understand...all of this."

[Qasim al-Basiri]

Qasim thought for a moment "perhaps we are missing eachother yes? Let me make it simpler."

"Is the way someone treats others part of who they are?"

[Raya]

"Yes. Wait, no. Wait..."

Raya frowned more.

"Is this a situation where it could be both? I am thinking that it could be both, people who are mean can be nice to people they are liking yes? But for the most part it is part of who they are I am thinking. What does sidi think?"

[Qasim al-Basiri]

"I think it can be both people can be niceties some and mean t others. But I'm focusing a bit deeper than that. The way you treat others, the way you see beauty in who they are. Is this not part of what makes Raya, Raya?" He asks lacing his fingers together and resting elbows on the table and his ching atop his interlocked hands.