"It must have been love at first sight," he told her, and Dora slowly nodded her head, quickly stuffing more food into her mouth in a desperate attempt to prevent herself from having to speak more than necessary. Her fork scraped softly against the plate, the motion giving her something to focus on.
Elder Bellini, however, showed no intention of ending the conversation there. A gleeful smile stretched across his face, brightening his almost grandfatherly features. "Since his parents died, this is the first time I've seen him so happy," he said warmly.
Dora froze mid-chew, lifting her head from the plate she had been focusing on far more than the conversation. She stared at him silently, her fingers curling lightly around her fork as she listened.
"...A child would make him feel more grounded, don't you think?" he added, still smiling, finally lowering his gaze to his own plate as he began to eat. His voice remained casual, as if he had simply mentioned the weather.
