Mount Apikuni a lonely lover's charm

Viggo let out a quiet chuckle at Kipling's response to his query. “So you’re a clever one,” he observed, amused by this notion. Viggo thought himself suave, even if he would never admit such a thing out loud. He had been following Ptarmigan because she was goofy and laughed at his jokes. If some other girl had caught his eye first, he would have gladly followed her instead. For now, though, Viggo was content to flirt with whatever ladies he pleased. He and Ptarmigan were by no means betrothed, and while he would not turn away further advances from her, he also did not push her hard or come on too strong to her.

In fact, he acted just the same as he was with Kipling right now. “Well, Kip—if I may call you that—do you intend to settle down in this neck of the woods?” That part of Viggo's life was up to Ptarmigan. He planned to let her do the thinking and the exploring while he sat back and had his way with whatever lady would allow him to.