Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-25828117-20191026122532/@comment-7262318-20191027174957

Garran put his hands behind his head and tried to relax for a while. However, he was unable to relax for long before there was a knock on the door.

"Go away!" He barked. "It's occupied."

"It's a friend," came a Khajiit voice from behind the door. It slowly opened, due to the armor and clothes in the way, and she popped her head inside.

"Are you doing alright?" She asked.

"Not really," Garran said. "I'm not a big fan of this town and it ain't a big fan of me,"

"You and This One both," Shrava said, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. "This One heard the conversation with Lysilde from her room."

"You into eavesdropping now?" Garran asked.

"It is not eavesdropping if you speak loud enough for everyone to hear," Shrava said. "She figured you were upset, and you always help This One when she is upset."

"There ain't nothin' to talk about... pricks are gonna be pricks."

"Yes, they will... still, misery loves company, yes?"

"... Yeah, sure," Garran said. "You had any trouble yet?"

"No... This One is trying to stay away from them to the best of her abilities. Almost everyone here reeks of arrogance."

"Ain't that the truth," Garran muttered. Shrava took a seat by the side of the bath. "Pricks out there dumped a bottle of ale on my head. I guess they were hopin' I'd haul off and punch of them."

"You did not?"

"Nope."

"This One would have," Shrava said.

"No... no, you would'a just shot fire until they were dead."

"This it true," Shrava said, with a small laugh. "If you wanted, This One could. Nothing of substance would be lost."

Garran laughed. "Nah... save it for after we've gotten the puzzle."

The two of them shared a laugh over that. Shrava was amazed by how comfortable she had gotten with Garran over the last months together, the two of them had grown very close. They would be up much later than the others, sharing stories. Garran's stories were usually more pleasant and involved funny tales from his hunting trips or great woodland monsters that he slew. Shrava had a few stories to reveal, mostly consisting of her hunting a different variety of animal.

She very much enjoyed his company. His presence was a lift on her spirits. No matter the situation, his very down-to-earth rhetoric usuallly eased her mind. It was a pleasant to have someone care about you as Garran cared for her, and to care for someone in a likewise manner. She thought about how Baldr and Clodagh, two she had written off as lame-brained warrior types, and how they found peace in each others company. How Alvoran and Yenith, a nobleman of the city and the spirit of the forest, came together and found a piece of themself in the other one. How the Queen of Taneth's heart seemed to yearn for the man far below her own station. How..

"... Shrava?"

"Hmm?"

"You've been staring for a while,"

Shrava then realized her gaze had been focused on the wall for a minute, and she quickly shook herself out of it. "This... no, no... This One was just... thinking."

"About?"

"Nothing."

"Oh, come on... you can tell me," Garran said.

"She can also not."

"Oh c'mon, ain't I always an open book with you?" He said. "What's weighin' you down."

Shrava took a deep breath. "This One was just... thinking about you."

"Oh?"

"You're..." She mumbled, trying to put her thoughts into words. "Just... This One is very glad she met you. You... you put This One at peace."

"... I see..." Garran spoke, his pale face turning slightly red. "I, uh... I'm glad I met you, too..."

He scooted over closer to her. "You know, I won't lie to you. I thought you were one cold-hearted mean son-of-a-bitch when we first met."

"She is."

"Well... not entirely," He said. "After getting to know you, I think... I think there's a really good person in there. You know, someone who's... wanting to keep people safe and stop evil. You got dealt a bad hand and you're still trying to fight, you know?"

He smirked. "Also helps that you don't point out my looks all day."

Shrava chuckled slightly. "You're not that hideous... And if you were, This One still wouldn't mind."

He gently reached out for her hand and took hold of it. Shrava made no move to stop him. "... I, uh..." He started.

"... Would you..."

A long silence.

"... like to have what Baldr and Clodagh have?" Shrava finished the sentence.

"I..." Garran said. "... I think that's what I was going for."

"You think or you know?"

"... Yeah, I know..." He confirmed.

Shrava looked down at the two rough, calloused hands held together, a blank expression on her face. Then, she retracted her hands and stood up.

"... Where are you going?" Garran suddenly frowned.

"Nowhere," Shrava replied, as her robes dropped around her ankles. "Move over."