open post, vol. 2

[nostalgiabomb]

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( VOL. 1 )

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[nostalgiabomb]

[ He blinks at her when she reaches for the tankard – he had thought she had been pretty clear about how disgusting she found the stuff – but he releases his grip on it. ]

Knock yourself out. But just to be clear, just 'cause you've got some cider in you isn't gonna change the taste of this stuff.

I doubt you're gonna like it any more than you did before.

[jiuweihu]

But you said the point isn't the taste.

[ And she feels... a little floaty?

So more is better.

She draws the tankard over, sniffing it first, before lifting it for another tentative sip. Again, she wrinkles her nose as she swallows, licking the drops of ale from her lips. ]

Ugh.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He laughs a little at that completely expected response. ]

It's not about the taste, but you also have to build up immunity to the taste.

And it's a better idea to do it over time than try to brute force your way through it in one sitting. Because, again.

[ He gestures upward once more. ]

[jiuweihu]

[ Despite her evident displeasure, she still sips again at the ale, a second and third time, before she slides it back across the table. ]

Then that was me building immunity. You can keep it now.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He laughs again, a little warmer. ]

You know you don't have to do that, right? You can stick to cider.

[ This, as he's pulling the tankard closer to his side of the table. ]

You feelin' okay, though? Could you walk in a straight line if you had to?

[jiuweihu]

I feel fine.

[ A light statement, though she gestures a bit, wiggling her fingers at him. ]

A little... light?

[nostalgiabomb]

Probably a good place to cut you off, then.

[ And though her tankard is empty, he still reaches over to set it aside. More of a symbolic gesture than anything. ]

Maybe one of these days you can try getting drunk, but maybe not when we've got plans to meet with that alchemist at sun up.

[jiuweihu]

[ She doesn't seem about to protest, because he's being perfectly reasonable; she can at least concede that. ]

That seems fair.

[ She props her chin up on her palm, watching him quietly. ]

Do you like being drunk?

[nostalgiabomb]

Absolutely.

[ An easy enough answer, and one he offers brightly. ]

But there's a time and a place for it. And in a tiny town when we've got plans for the morning is neither the time nor the place.

[jiuweihu]

[ She hums in easy agreement. ]

You're definitely right.

[ At least he's responsible? ]

But I want to see what it's like, some other time.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He lifts his tankard as if in salute. ]

And if you and I do end up traveling together, I'm sure we can make that happen.

[jiuweihu]

[ Yan seems pleased by this concession, and she nods with a light smile. ]

I will probably hold you to that.

[ She glances at his tankard, then towards the stairs. ]

Should we go up?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He follows her gaze before draining the last of his ale. He sets it down heavily on the table before pushing back from it, the legs of his chair scraping lightly across the wooden floor. ]

Yeah. I guess we should try to get an early start.

Think you can manage the walk?

[jiuweihu]

Of course I can.

[ She pushes away from the table, getting to her feet, but as soon as she stands up, she blinks a few times, startled by the sudden lightheadedness. It's not terrible, and she doesn't feel completely off-balance, but it's strange. ]

... Huh.

[ She rests a hand on the chair as she steadies herself, like she's evaluating the sensation. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He waits patiently as she gets her bearings. Thankfully, she doesn't fall flat on her face (and he sends a quick word of gratitude to whatever gods are listening, because he's pretty sure that half-elven barkeep might descend upon him in a righteous fury).

When she seems steady enough, he offers her a quick, tight-lipped smile. ]

Yeah. We call that being tipsy.

Feel okay?

[jiuweihu]

I feel... [ She pauses, and then gives a small laugh. ] "Tipsy."

[ Which seems like a very accurate way to describe it, since it's like she might tip over – but not quite.

She manages to take a few steps from the table, finally getting her bearings. ]

I'm good.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He follows after her, and while he doesn't grab hold of her arm, he still at least reaches out a little cautiously, ready to catch her.

But there's something a little overly cautious about it, something clearly exaggerated. He's joking as much as he's genuinely keeping an eye out for her. ]

You're sure? 'Cause there's no shame in needing a piggyback ride.

[jiuweihu]

[ And now she feels like he's definitely messing with her. She looks over at him with a sly narrowing of her eyes, though she manages to contain her smile. ]

Maybe I do need a piggyback ride.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He flashes her a grin, then crouches down a little. ]

You wanna hop on?

[ Apparently he was not just bluffing. ]

[jiuweihu]

[ She's almost startled that he's following up on what she sort of started to assume was a bluff, but—

That's kind fo a challenge, and maybe it's the cider or just her nature, but she's more than willing to accept.

She shrugs, then steps around Peter, putting her hands on his shoulders. With a tiny hop, she hitches her legs up, winding herself around his broad back. ]

I'm not too heavy, am I?

[ She's willowy and arguably underfed, so she'd be sincerely shocked if he actually complained. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's not too surprised that she hops aboard. He lets out a quiet grunt as he hefts her up, arms tucking beneath her legs as he straightens. ]

I already carried you for the better part of two days. I think I can manage to get you up a flight of stairs.

[ Granted, she had been in her smaller fox form, at the time, but he's not wrong.

Still, he doesn't seem to struggle as he climbs the stairs up to their rooms. ]

[jiuweihu]

[ Yan also refrains from pointing out the differences in size from then to now, but he handles her with enough ease that she doesn't try to tease him for it. She rests her forehead on his shoulder as he carries her up, offering a quiet hum; she's enjoying the floating feeling, only made more intense when she's off the ground.

When they reach their landing, she's still wrapped around him without trying to drop down to the floor.

With a wide yawn, ]

That was a good dinner.

[ She doesn't really remember the last time she had a meal quite like that. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's not entirely surprised that she doesn't hop down, but when he hears her yawn, when he feels the way she slumps against him, he hitches her a little pointedly. ]

Hey, c'mon. I agreed to give you a ride, not for you to fall asleep on me.

[ Small as this place is, it's only a few steps before he reaches the first of the boarding house's four rooms. His room sits beside hers. ]

Got your key?

[jiuweihu]

[ She still doesn't stir when he gives her that little shake. ]

Mmhmm. In my pocket.

[ ... And still not hopping down. ]

Why— [ Another sleepy yawn. ] —did we get two rooms?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He lets out an almost incredulous sound, mostly at the question – though he is a little puzzled over why she's making no move to climb down. He turns a little, speaking over his shoulder. ]

What, don't you want some privacy? I mean, you've known me all of two days. Figured you'd want the chance for some alone time.