Dakota grinned at Dava as the other bear spoke, he could hear her obviously, but Ekon couldn't, he was being left out and he was pretty sure he didn't mind. Especially if it had to deal with explosions in his charge's room, or near vicinity.

Ekon was relieved to see that he was not the only one that looked... not uniform. Though he supposed that the other people in the palace were used to Anasuri's messy appearance every now ang again. A knight though... he highly doubted that walking around with paint on his hands was even legal. As elven knights were put under strict laws, and the absence of maturity was definitely in there somewhere.

Somehow, he didn't really care, not that he'd been a stick to the rules knight anyways. But it helped to know that Anasuri would not throw him into the prison for not being in pristine condition. "Then I suppose we should get away from your station, being near it may be only mildly dangerous, explosion and all. Furthermore, I feel as if remaining in the near vicinity may just be more stressful, it is not good to focus on such things all day. Even if you are doing it for a most just cause." The corners of Ekon's lips raised in a small smile, he truly did worry about Anasuri being locked up in her room all day working on her potions. Though he was pretty sure that had saved his ife.

Anasuri shrugged, "If you do not want to mention painting," She gestured toward the canvas in the back, "Then you can say that you were helping me with something - in case anyone asks." She thought it was silly that knights weren't allowed to do things for themselves. That is why she left Ekon alone as much as she could. She didn't want it to be like she was constantly watching over his shoulder.

"A just cause?" Anasuri shook her head, "The thing I'm working on is pretty selfish, actually." She wanted a potion that would allow her to breath underwater. There was an ingredient she wanted for a different potion - one that could enhance someone's magical abilities - that was rumored to be deep underwater in a nearby lake. Then again, Anasuri wasn't even sure if that would work, but it was worth a shot, and the only lead she had currently.

Ekon stopped himself from replying with a shrug, knowing that it could be seen as improper. "I'm sure that whatever you choose to spend your time doing is going to help the world in some small way." If Ekon wasn't a knight with responsibilities, he would have been giving Anasuri a simple smile.
Unfortunately he was, so he remained stoc with his facial expressions. "And thank you, I am allowed to paint, as that is the one hobby I was signed up for when I joined the academy. I just would rather not people seeing the mess it makes. It can be... troublesome." He spoke of the knight academy, with one of its many strict rules being the singular hobby knights were allowed. Many liked to cause problems with his lax on the rules, especially when it came to the mess painting could sometimes make.

Anasuri had no such laws holding her in place, although there were expectations and requirements of her. She upheld them in public view, but in the safety of her own chambers, Anasuri wanted to be able to let down her walls and be herself. It was difficult when there was a person following her everywhere.

"Well... The mess doesn't bother me at all, and if it bothers anyone else... well that is their problem. They can talk to me about it if they see any issues." Anasuri tried to calm down her frizzy hair by combing her fingers through it, but only made it worse. She sighed loudly, and dropped her hand, "Lets go to the kitchen."

Ekon was tempted to smile at the woman, he couldn't understand how someone could be so unbelievably easy-going. Granted, he was like that too but it was only because he hadn't been raised in the most strict place. He didn't understand how someone like Anasuri could be raised in such a demanding place and still be... human.

"Thank you m'lady, I truly appreciate that." His friend huffed in agreement beside him, the big bear able to express his thankfulness with a bear smile that Ekon was not allowed to wear.

Anasuri spun around on her heel, her shoes squeaking slightly, "Alrighty then! Let us venture down to the place of sweet treats."

She led the way through the halls - making sure to avoid the more public areas for Ekon's sake - and down into the kitchen. There seemed to be a collective sigh when Anasuri entered the room, and she gave the cooks a cheeky grin, "I've heard that there are some cinnamon pastries?" One of the older women finished packing up a basket and handed it to the princess, "We knew you'd be coming, Suri..." The elderly woman gave Anasuri a motherly kiss on the cheek, and wiped away some of the soot on her face with a handkerchief, "Dearie, please be careful. I know you-" The woman looked briefly at Ekon, "...are busy," she said vaguely, "But do take time to relax." Anasuri smiled softly, "Okay.... I'll try."

Ekon kept to himself, immediately becoming distant when confronted by the kitchen staff. Technically his 'closeness' to his charge was rather innapropriate but he hadn't wanted that in the first place. She'd saved his life, how was he not supposed to trust her a little more than normal?
Granted that made killing her a rather unpleasant task.

Ekon dragged his brain off that line of thoughts, trying to not remember the task he'd accepted only a mere month ago. Instead, he focused on keeping his hands out of view and his eyes forward.

The staff then shooed the knight and the princess out of the kitchen. Anasuri grinned and peaked inside of the basket, the wonderful, cinnimon smell escaping, "Madam Sheri tries to make these pastries as often as she can, since she knows I like them, and hers are always the best." Anasuri fished one out and held it out to Ekon, "Want one?"

Ekon looked at Anasuri in awe as she held out food. He was rendered speechless for a long moment, not fully comprehending what she was saying. Finally, he gathered himself and stuttered hasty words. "A-ah no I couldn't ever. That would be so h-highly rude of me. Y-you're royalty, you sh-shouldn't be offering your own food to a knight, much less me."
Ekon was considered beneath most knights due to his unconventional ways and lax on the rules. He knew his place though, and he knew that this was probably looked down upon.

Anasuri frowned, "Well why not? I think this is perfectly fine." She then sighed, "Another silly knight rule thing? Really, Ekon, I'm not much of a royal, and Madam Sheri has always given these to me with the impression that I should share them and not eat them all myself."

Anasuri rolled her eyes as they turned down the hallway to her room, trying one more time, "Please, have a pastry. There are too many for just me. If you must have an excuse, then just think of it as making sure the food is safe, or whatever, although I know it is."

Madam Sheri always made these pastries without the help of other cooks, and kept an eye on them. It was the one time where Anasuri knew her food wouldn't be poisoned.