Briar, despite the cadence with which he attempted to hold himself, was still a child; and childish at heart, most especially. He was still in his most formative years, moreso with the slowed growth of his elven genes compared to his human peers (for his lifespan was multiplicatively longer) - a young teen by normal standards, but even more youthful from elvish ones. This is why the perk to his ears was obvious with Mimi's suggestion, his little face caught off guard and dropping his jaw just enough to trigger a sparkling in his eyes. He looked over, at Alistair, then back at Mimi, then at his hands and back to Alistair again -- "M-May I, mister Alistair? You look ... u-uhm ... mighty soft, you do," he mumbled, shy, eager. "If'n ... you don't mind, of course, sir." Ever formal, yet bashfully wanting all the same.
"I think it's really - er - respectable, to try so many things, miss Mimi," he proffered back to her in response to her list of attempts at various interests, many of which he himself hadn't tried. "Even if you don't think you'd like them or be good at them. Especially all the creative types! Those all have really different approaches, don't they? I've always liked plants, and I know I'll always like plants, but I'm still learnin' to ... spread out? a little bit. I've done some volunteer work by the sea for the marine life around here, and that's been real nice, but every day I'm still kinda -- well, I'm still ... there's still lots out there, and I don't know when or how I'm gonna give everythin' it's fair shake, you know? Ahahaha...," He slows, rubbing the back of his neck with a nervous smile. Catches himself rambling and apologizes to her for going on and on.
He'd instead bring his knees up with her artwork still balanced on them, hugging them close with one arm and leafing through respectfully with the other. He lost himself in the vivid strokes and colors, musing a quiet smile. "Rare flowers, you say, miss'm? Well, I might just have to see about that myself. Do they ever swing by here, you think? That could be a real fun little adventure."
He'd grin, brightening up from his light embarrassment. "I don't know if I could ever draw like you, miss Mimi, but that's really good advice, still, I-I think. You're right! Skills, like all things, are cultivated. Like, say, if you did ever wanna give gardening another try, you'd have an easier time from your first go around. And maybe I could try sketchin' something, one of these days. Hehe."
He'd look back at her, a gentle warmth in the appreciation of his gaze and a laugh undercurrent to his mirth. She was such a comfortable conversational partner - he thought it easy to settle and talk to her, sharing their various thoughts in something of a ping-pong game where two shy, more extroverted and perspective types could meet on common ground. His interest in her work was genuine, and his affable smile just as so.