“So... You remember Ammond, right?” Selza asked Raemos as she sipped her beer. After a long night of hunting a child-attacking Notbjaovin, the two were taking a well-deserved break in the Lake Korafiel-side town. Commerce was returning to the pleasant little burg, aided by the Guardian presence and their efforts in cleaning up the place. It had been such a ruin when they had been sent there, but now things were really looking up. Especially if their hunt turned out to be the hardest mission this week.
All they had really needed to do was track the beast through the brush and pounce on it before it struck again. It was neat, clean, and easily dispatched, and the Notbjaovin had soon been sent on its way to the furriers for processing.
“Of course I remember Ammond.” said Raemos, amused. He was off duty and relaxedly drinking with his best friend and guildmate. He'd worked hard all week, and he was ready to bring down his stiff-necked attitude... if only for one night. “Of course I do.” he reiterated, “It'd be hard to forget a tush like that.” Ammond, a male Oblivionite, had been clingy, but he had also been easy on the eyes and fine in bed. Raemos also respected him for his value to the guild and his abilities, but he was – again - off duty now, and talking to his friend, and maybe he'd had a few. Maybe.
Selza normally appreciated that kind of comment, so he was surprised when she gave him an odd sort of look. “Yeah. Him... So... Ammond.” Raemos watched as she swirled her beer nervously. It was odd, and he tensed, warily – Selza was not one to be nervous at all, let alone lightly. “He kinda... well, he proposed.” she downed the beer abruptly.
Raemos blinked. “He what?”
“He proposed...” she said, swallowing, “Ring and everything.”
Raemos stared at her. “Oh... My.” he exclaimed, “And you... did you accept?!”
She lifted her hand out for him to inspect – there, on her ring finger, glittered a pale metal band. “Yes.” she said.
Raemos smiled. “Congratulations!” he said, taking her hand and squeezing it, “This is great news!”
“Yes.” she said. Raemos ordered another round – on him, he insisted. As their drinks were prepared, she turned to him, her face uncharacteristically anxious. “Are you okay with this, Rae? I mean... Yeah, is it all right with you? That he and I are engaged?”
Raemos laughed. “Of course, why shouldn't it be? After all, he and I aren't seeing each other anymore – he's been yours for months now, and...” he patted her shoulder, carefully avoiding her wings. “I'm honestly happy for the both of you.”
“Oh... good.” she said.
“When is it happening?” he asked.
“Oh, I... He just asked me, so I've got no idea.”
“Well.” said Raemos, standing up and bowing theatrically, “I'm sure I...” he caught a familiar face out of the corner of his eye, “Your brother and I” he corrected, grimacing, “Can plan something out.”
“Great... Thanks.” she said, smiling into her mug.
Later he would wonder why she didn't seem more enthusiastic, but by that point, he and her brother were wrapped up in plans for her wedding, and between that and his duties as a Guardian there was little time for speculation...
(567/300)
