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Post by opius on Jul 30, 2022 13:33:27 GMT -5
His brows went high as he glanced back at get her. "Goodness me- a family? That's moving pretty fast. Not really surprising, though..." He chuckled and looked ahead on their path. "I uh... Never really put thought into that kind of thing for myself."
As alastair cupped the back of his neck, he thought. "I didn't exactly grow up with fond ideals of family life. Rose- Aunt Rose, I guess- never had interest in men. Or women! For that matter- I don't judge or anything! But uh- y'know, there was no real framework to impress on me." He shook his head.
"... I never really felt the need to pursue anyone like that. I had a... Modest circle of friends back home, I had Rose, and I had good rapport with some of my Maesters." He looked skyward and rubbed his chin.
"... It's a little peculiar, I guess. I've never been approached about it- I mean, not surprising. Goofy looking weird little ginger kid who lives in the curiosity shop. But I never really... Minded either." He shrugged.
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 30, 2022 13:39:16 GMT -5
Konane blinked some, surprised, and yet not, that Alastair was... Not interested in these things. She was so used to boys being, well... Boys.
"No one has... Ever caught your fancy? Not even a little?"
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Post by opius on Jul 30, 2022 13:56:18 GMT -5
Alastair laughed. "Konane, I stole a cheap brass cup from that goliaths hoard... I don't really do fancy!" He slid his hands into his pockets, looking ahead. "I don't know- there's a lot of really interesting people we've met, and I'm... I guess I would have liked to have spent more time with them. Like Janika! Or Davrim. Or Gadget! But... I don't think they..." He pursed his lips.
"...I don't think they really... Set off that spark? I've been told there's supposed to be sparks and warm fuzzies, a magnetism that you can't really describe. Like, sure, there's people I miss! But..." He shrugged. "No one I've ever wanted to kiss."
He then paused and touched his lips, blinking. "Y'know... When Gadget kissed me... Gosh, I think that was my first kiss! Oh goodness- you don't think- I mean, gnomes are really affectionate people. I just brushed it off, but..." Alastair pontificated out loud, half muttering, half rambling about gnomish culture. It was a circuitous line of reasoning.
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 30, 2022 14:08:27 GMT -5
Sparks. Warm fuzzies. Magnetism. Alastair you fool. Konane felt her cheeks flush, and she looked away from him, his ramblings about gnomes not quite sinking in past his mention of that being his first kiss.
"Wh...... What if someone told you they liked you? What if someone... Came to you like that. You know, be upfront with their feelings." She swallowed some, her focus on the ground as they walked.
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Post by opius on Jul 30, 2022 14:32:42 GMT -5
He blinked and scratched his head. "Huh. Well..." He continued walking.
"I'd be flummoxed. Bewildered even. I'm not exactly prime mate material. Socially I've got no name or title, mathematically the only resources or wealth I can provide is debt, and aesthetically... Well, I'm awfully good looking. Compared to Alain." He let out a goose-like laugh.
"So, I suppose I'd tell them 'You're wrong," Alastair laughed. "And if they were serious, well..." He frowned. Then he shrugged. "...I suppose I'd have to figure out what to do with that knowledge."
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 30, 2022 14:53:21 GMT -5
Her heart was pounding. She hated this- anyone else she could look them in the eye, smirk, and tell them outright she wanted them. But this was different- Alastair was her friend, and a quickly becoming close one as they traveled together. She said he was like a brother she never had. But the whole... Saying what it felt like, the spark. She kept burying it.
The whole world but Alastair probably knew, if Taliesin was so quick to point it out.
She needed to talk to Emmett... But would that actually solve anything?
Konane took a deep sigh, looked to Alastair, and smiled. "You are endearing. Even if you don't think so."
Just... Be casual. Take a breath, bury it deeper. It'll... Go away. Maybe.
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Post by opius on Jul 30, 2022 15:08:05 GMT -5
Alastair chuckled and responded with an air of entirely manufactured bravado, chest held high. "Well thank you for saying so, I try my best." Before promptly deflating with a laugh. "You're pretty cute yourself. For a fox."
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 30, 2022 15:55:16 GMT -5
The first day they met, he called her endearing. She didn't know what it meant, but it was explained. Today, being called cute, it hit different. Konane raised a hand, and covered half her face, feeling her hot cheek. This was... Painful.
"So, am I your second kiss then?" She paused only a moment. "No one remembers their second kiss..."
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Post by opius on Jul 30, 2022 17:44:36 GMT -5
Alastair laughed and crinkled his nose. "Well I mean, if we're keeping score, I suppose you are! Gosh, I ought to start making a log book. I've become quite popular." Chuckling, he turned to watch her, coming to a stop on the path.
"But... Joking aside, thanks. For taking the time, I mean." He scratched behind his head. "...We don't get many opportunities to really get to know eachother all that much. I mean, yeah, you know I'm a tinkerer and Sae's a skilled tactician and you- well, you're just... a brilliant, brilliant magician. But y'know, under all that. The stuff that makes us tick? Hobbies and preferences from when life was a little more... normal?" He rolled his shoulders and shrugged.
"We all got thrown together back in Donal's Crossing, and sure- we mesh well! But reaching out to know me under the surface is... really, it's really quite thoughtful. Sweet, even. So... thank you."
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 30, 2022 17:51:08 GMT -5
He stopped, and she turned to stop with him, hand still covering half her face, but cupping her cheek now. She did want to get to know him better, he was right about that. But was she... trying to hint at something? She was hoping he'd just come out and ask her, so she could get it over with, but it wasn't.
He really was the smartest, dumbest person she knew.
"Well, your stories interest me... you... interest me. Since walking along the wall in Skyhammer, when you told me about Liore. Then, when you shared Alain's letter... how hurt you were. You're... a person, with thoughts, feelings, dreams. I have friends at home but... none of them... are like you."
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Post by opius on Jul 30, 2022 17:55:37 GMT -5
He nodded some, still cupping the back of his neck. "Oh. Well.. Yeah, I mean, we're definitely closer than when we started- I definitely trust you. I mean, I shared that, we've cried, laughed..." He let out a bit of a laugh, voice cracking as he thought back. "And skyhammer, I mean... I really wanted to just share something cool, and I'm so, so glad you trusted me enough to share. You could have pounded me after that, but you rolled with it. You've grown! And when things are better, and you go back to..."
And then he paused. A frown touched his face as he looked her over, a dawning realization hitting him. "Oh... Oh I'm quite foolish aren't I... I had no idea that you felt like this..."
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 30, 2022 17:59:46 GMT -5
Konane just stood there, in silence. No... no she pushed too hard- what did she say? Did he just say...? Her thoughts raced, and she couldn't speak, feeling like a wild animal caught in the act- no- trapped in a corner. She felt her face get hot, and her other hand came to cover the other side of her face, fingers sliding over her eyes, and she just... smothered her face into her hands.
"..."
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Post by opius on Jul 30, 2022 18:09:25 GMT -5
As she wrapped herself up, she felt his presence on her. Arms outstretched, bundled up in a coat, Alastair reached around and pulled her into a tight hug. He squeezed, even, as he moved to rest his chin on her shoulder. "...Gosh, you're so alone out here. I mean, we all are, but you didn't ask for any of this... You must be terrified that we're going to all drift apart once this is over." He squeezed her again.
"Listen, I'm... not going anywhere any time soon. I don't plan on moving off and finding a wife- or a husband, i dont judge-, or settling down back in Liore. Not without you guys. You're all special to me, and if I can help it, I want you keep you by my side for good. Whether it's... in Liore, or out there elsewhere. Seeing the world, or finding some big cottage to call our own." He pulled away to look at her.
"I'm not going to... just disappear. I know friends drift sometimes and acquaintances just fade into the aether out of the blue- but you're special. What we've got, all of us, is special. And I hold it very near and dear to my heart. I wouldn't do anything to put that at risk- whether it's pursuing some life as a smith or..." He gestured with his hand, glancing away. "Doing something incredibly stupid during combat. We'll live to see the end of this whole... invasion thing. And then we'll solve the other problems we're facing, and then we're going to continue being friends. Cause we are!"
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Post by CautionCat on Jul 30, 2022 18:16:44 GMT -5
The fear and embarrassment faded, only replaced with heartbreak and confusion. How was he this stupid? Why did it make her like him even more?
But he wasn't wrong. She feared that, too. Drifting. The part of her that knew they were friends flared up, and pushed away those invasive thoughts of him being a love interest. She lowered her hands, eyes wide.
"We... are friends." She paused, smiled, and wrapped her arms around him. "I would... enjoy it greatly to stay with you. I may not be able to... make things, but I will make you something you will enjoy eating."
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Post by opius on Jul 30, 2022 18:21:34 GMT -5
"And I'd love to keep hanging around if you'll let me." He squeezed her one more time and let her go. "You're great company. You don't just want me around to pick my brain- I mean, you do pick my brain, but there's no.. sniping. No competition there. We're in two different lanes, and you and I just get along. It's nice." He smiled a little wider, cast a glance away. "And... I don't know, try lots of things. When it comes to destresssing, I mean. I'll certainly keep trying your food, even if it's different and odd it's a nice kind of different and odd. But if you want to take a crack at making things, I'd be happy to pull you into me and Sae's craft corner." He shrugged. "Or I can watch you make salves. Or learn to cook something different, if you'd like to have me."
He laughed. "Gosh, I'm sorry I didn't... touch base with you sooner. You look so stressed out now... No wonder you were hugging everyone- that brush in the mines must have rattled you..."
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