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 Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 10:42 pm
"Mm. I suppose," Kani muttered a bit halfheartedly, staring down into her mostly empty wine glass and sighing. It wasn't Morain's fault that she had misunderstood his intent, or whatever was going on between them. It was supposed to be a fun night of trying to drink and be merry, and she had ruined it all. She glanced towards the door, considering running out to get some fresh air, but inevitably decided against it. "Is it to your liking? Perhaps you should purchase some to bring to your brother. Or anyone else you would like to," Kani continued to say, wondering if there was someone else in his life he would consider more than a friend. "The barmaid could get us more."She didn't know what she was saying anymore. She didn't want to send him away. That was silly. But what did she want with this new development?
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 10:55 pm
(9/10) At least she was talking to him still. Although, the words came out bitter, so bitter he wondered if she was trying to hide a meaning within them. Who else would he bring wine to? He gazed at her, a bit confused, then hurriedly turned his head back to his food; he could explain himself, of course, but he didn't know how much the drink was affecting her. It wouldn't be the first time he'd turned away a drunk partner, who insisted they were fine to continue- only to be thanked profusely the next morning.
He'd talk to her in the morning, but until then - until then he just had to do as much damage control as he could. "It's tasty, but a little too strong." He lied. He liked alcohol, liked to get drunk, but he didn't want to risk making a move, and making things even worse tomorrow. "No philosophical debates from me tonight, I'm afraid. I think I'll enjoy the food instead, and a long night's sleep. What sort of meat do you think this is--"
De-escalation was a better plan. He hoped that Kani would be content with her glass of wine, eat her dinner, and let him guide her back to their room to rest.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 11:07 pm
"And here I was looking forward to seeing you debate under the stars. Shame," Kani said softly, feeling a bit guilty that Morain appeared to be tense around her. Maybe the best option for her was to go to bed and sleep off the funk she had found herself in. Another sigh spilled from her, fingers picking at a piece of nutloaf before sticking them into her mouth to lick at the sweetness there. She could try to relax more, sip some more wine, and then rest it off. That was the best plan after all. "Thank you for treating me to this." It would be rude not to thank him. He'd put up with her whiplash of a mood after all with no real reason as to why she had begun to act this way other than the wine. "You treat me very well. More than I deserve."
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 4:17 pm
(10/10) Morain made it a point to not watch her too intently. It didn't feel fair, to fixate on her fingers as they brought the sweet bread to her mouth, not after hurting her feelings so badly. He was tempted to explain himself here and now, just to wipe that sad look from her face - but he was, in the end, a huge coward and couldn't quite find the words. He shrank a bit in his seat, feeling scolded by her soft disappointed words, only to blink, surprised, when she quietly thanked him not a few moments later. It felt like whiplash, the unhappy grumblings shifting suddenly to gratefulness.
He hummed, lips twitching up in a weak smile, but then back into a frown when she continued. He set his hands on the table and turned to look at her again, brows furrowed. "That's not true. You - you deserve everything." He breathed the last word, hand twitching. He wanted to reach out and grasp at her hand again.
"Can we talk? Tomorrow? About - about things?"
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 6:39 pm
Kani felt the panic seizing her chest at his response, worried that this 'talk' would include him saying he was done traveling with her. It was an overly paranoid thought, but one that took hold in her mind all the same. She quietly stuffed more food into her mouth, hoping the act of chewing would allow her to think things over and not just be a convenient distraction from the words she wanted to say. Eventually she couldn't put it off any longer though, and slowly nodded as she went to stand. "Things. Yes. We can always talk," she said simply, not wanting to show just how worried she felt. Better to keep a cool head despite the nervous bounce of her leg causing Zoryn to huff.
"Whatever the things are, we'll talk."
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 7:42 pm
(11/20) A 'yes we'll talk' was better than her giving him the cold shoulder, so Morain relaxed, blind to the anxiety he'd dropped on her like a weight. He smiled, then reached for the food, tilting his head as she moved to stand. "Are you going to bed?" He asked, somewhat hopeful. Yes, she'd only had a glass of wine, but it was pretty potent. Drinking hadn't been a good idea, on his part - and it wasn't fun to be the only one drinking, so he recognized him stopping had sort of killed the entire mood, even before his rejection had.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 7:56 pm
"Perhaps it would be best. I don't wish to trouble you more," Kani admitted, feeling her legs wobble a bit in an attempt to keep her balance. Her hands gripped the edge of the table and she hoped Morain hadn't noticed how much one glass of wine had affected her. She wanted to show that she could keep up with him and be fun, but so far it had been a big failure on her part. The least she could do was try and make herself look like she could manage it. "Unless you plan to join me?" They shared a room after all, though she was unsure if he would want to after this entire ordeal. Part of her hoped he would still agree, but she didn't expect it.
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 8:03 pm
(12/20) "It's no trouble! It's been a long day, and a long trip, so--" Morain, too focused on his own conflicted feelings, didn't notice her wobbling just yet. He did, however, snap his head up at her words, immediately taking the suggestion to its lewdest conclusion, before logic caught up to him. She'd dropped her flirtatious tone, so - so he would stubbornly push such thoughts out of his head. 'She is drinking, that's completely out of line.' He mentally scolded himself.
Staying up might be better. It meant he could clear his head, right? But - he didn't like the idea of her alone in their-- HER-- room, not feeling well. "Are you asking me to tuck you in, Miss Kani?" He asked with a warm smile, doing his best to keep his words warm and sincere, so she didn't think he was mocking her.
He stood, pushing his half-full wine goblet away.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 8:12 pm
Kani looked at the half-full wine and tilted her head, surprised at how much was still left in the goblet. Perhaps the wine hadn't been to his liking after all despite what she'd thought before. Kani wandered over to Morain's side, leaning up against him and sliding an arm around his waist to keep herself upright. Even in her wobbly state she could tell there was something not quite right about his demeanor, but there was no way to bring it up naturally. "It's our room, Morain. You can tuck us both in. I promise not to be untoward to you." She was trying to be reassuring. That was what she was telling herself. Not because she was trying to get closer to him despite him saying they were simply friends.
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 8:21 pm
(13/20) Oh. Oh, she- she needed help? Morain was frozen for a moment, but then hurriedly draped his arm around her shoulders. This was to help her, of course. Absolutely. Resolute, he guided her away from the table and towards the hallway that led to their rooms, smiling softly to himself. Now that they were moving, he finally noticed just how off-balance she was... and cruel though it may be, it did reassure him that he'd made the right decision, to dig in his heels.
"I'm not worried about that, darling." He responded, very briefly moving his hand to lightly touch the top of her head. Then he unlocked their door with the key they'd been given, and led her to the bed, tugging down the sheets that had been made while they were out, exploring the town. Once she was settled, he knelt and carefully unclasped her sandals, before she had the chance to drunkenly swing her legs onto the bed with them on. From there, it wasn't far to fold out the blankets that made his spot on the floor, sitting to do the same with his own sandals and jewelry. "Sweet dreams, Kani."
Come morning, Morain rose early - an unusual feat for him. He was tempted to venture out to get water for Kani, or - maybe just to hide from this conversation. Instead, he pretended to comb his hair, while watching Kani sleep - hoping she wouldn't find it TOO unsettling, when she woke.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 8:31 pm
Kani awoke with a start, pressing her palms to her eyes in an attempt to shield her from the light. Drinking had been....an experience? Her thoughts of the night returning to her, she let out a soft groan of mortification. She'd been embarrassing she was certain. She wouldn't be surprised if Morain went and left her right then and there. And the talk. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good. Nothing good came when people said they needed to talk. Kani cautiously lifted her hands from her eyes, still squinting against the early light invading the room. She turned her head and couldn't help the easy smile that found its way to her face as she noticed Morain looking at her. "Good morning, dear," she muttered, shifting on the bed to better look at him. "Rest well?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 8:37 pm
(14/20) There was no way of missing Kani waking up. She startled, jolting, and Morain should have had time to tilt his head away, to look away from her and give her her privacy. But he didn't. He watched as she grimaced, hiding her face in her hands. He heard the little noise of upset she made, likely as memories trickled back to her; and sure enough, he hadn't managed to turn away before those pretty eyes turned towards him, catching him in the act.
He expected her to look unhappy, or embarrassed. Instead, the sweet smile that lit up her face made him relax, smoothing the stress from him easily. If anything, it only made him more determined to have this talk.
"Better than you, I think." He said, moving to pack his ivory comb away again. His hair was down, loose for once, though he hadn't bothered to change out of his robes from the day before. He stood and moved to the bed, pausing for a moment before he sat on the edge of it, smiling at her. "I'm sorry if I took the fun out of last night. I just- didn't really trust myself drunk, you see."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 8:50 pm
Kani chuckled and slowly sat up, fingers reaching out to gently twirl around some of the loose strands of hair resting against his back. She admired him in this disheveled state, enjoying the not so put together look of him. He always appeared perfect, and the last time she'd seen him somewhat ruffled was when she'd barged into his tent in a panic. Being able to view him like this now felt intimate. "Why didn't you trust yourself? Waxing poetics at the moon too much for one night?" she teased, sighing softly. "So this conversation. Is it negative? So I can prepare."
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 9:05 pm
(15/20) Goddess, her laugh was pretty. SHE was pretty. He felt powerful when she looked at him so intently; which was good, because he was becoming way too accustomed to being nervous and worried. He had to tilt his head to look at her hand, where her graceful fingers played with his hair, and it made his pulse go haywire, so much so he had to smooth his hands against his lap to try and keep them from shaking.
So, when she sighed he blinked and lifted his face towards her again, eyes going round in surprise. "Negative? I - well, I hope not!" Bad? What bad thing could she think he was going to say?!
"I... ah- well. I suppose when I drink it is... harder to resist seeking company, if you... understand what I mean." He felt like a scoundrel to say it. Once, he'd been shameless in his ways, but he worried now what Kani would think of his gallivanting ways. "And I didn't... want to - what I mean, Kani, is I see you as -" He trailed off with a pained sigh, dragging a hand over his face. "This is hard to say."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2023 9:20 pm
Kani looked at him curiously, eyebrows raising as she listened to his explanation. So he wanted to....bed others? While drunk? The thought irked her, but that was silly of course. Morain was allowed to do what he wanted. She wouldn't stop him from that even if she was perturbed by it. "You do not see me in such a way, so it would be awkward, correct? I understand." Her fingers continued to twirl in his hair, eyes focused on his back instead of his face. "You don't have to worry about saying more if it is too difficult."It was the best she could think to say without voicing her own thoughts. Kani didn't think she wanted to do that. Not when Morain seemed uncomfortable.
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