[ 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.
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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.
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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.
[ Some of the tension ebbs out of her when Peter agrees, and she nods against his shoulder as he carries her to the next door. Almost reluctantly, she starts loosening her grip on him so she can slide to the floor. ]
[ He bends down a little to help ease the transition from his back to the floor, and when he's sure she isn't in danger of falling, he slips his hand inside of his coat to reach for an inner pocket. ]
I've got it.
[ He retrieves the key, unlocking the door and letting Yan step in first.
Peter had been up here earlier to drop off his belongings before dinner, which means the modest furnishings of the room don't surprise him. Then again, a small town like this, he wasn't expecting much to begin with. Still, it's reasonably cozy, if small, sporting a bed, a small table and chair – both currently occupied by his belongings – and a washstand. The lamp on the table is already lit, filling the room with warm, flickering light.
[ Yan looks around the small room quietly, taking note of the little bed, the chair, though she glances back at Peter when he speaks. She frowns, shaking her head. ]
I don't need that much space. You should have the bed.
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[ A light statement, though she gestures a bit, wiggling her fingers at him. ]
A little... light?
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[ 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.
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That seems fair.
[ She props her chin up on her palm, watching him quietly. ]
Do you like being drunk?
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[ 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.
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You're definitely right.
[ At least he's responsible? ]
But I want to see what it's like, some other time.
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And if you and I do end up traveling together, I'm sure we can make that happen.
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I will probably hold you to that.
[ She glances at his tankard, then towards the stairs. ]
Should we go up?
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Yeah. I guess we should try to get an early start.
Think you can manage the walk?
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[ 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. ]
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When she seems steady enough, he offers her a quick, tight-lipped smile. ]
Yeah. We call that being tipsy.
Feel okay?
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[ 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.
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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.
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Maybe I do need a piggyback ride.
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You wanna hop on?
[ Apparently he was not just bluffing. ]
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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. ]
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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. ]
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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. ]
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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?
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Mmhmm. In my pocket.
[ ... And still not hopping down. ]
Why— [ Another sleepy yawn. ] —did we get two rooms?
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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.
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I still have the rune on my foot. I don't— [ A flicker of hesitation. ] I don't want to be alone like this.
[ What if she sleeps too heavily? What if someone shows up in the middle of the night and she doesn't sense them first?
In her own room, she'd probably just end up sleeping under the bed, for fear of being too exposed. ]
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After a moment of hesitation, he starts heading to the next door. ]
Guess you'll have to bunk with me tonight, then.
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Key?
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I've got it.
[ He retrieves the key, unlocking the door and letting Yan step in first.
Peter had been up here earlier to drop off his belongings before dinner, which means the modest furnishings of the room don't surprise him. Then again, a small town like this, he wasn't expecting much to begin with. Still, it's reasonably cozy, if small, sporting a bed, a small table and chair – both currently occupied by his belongings – and a washstand. The lamp on the table is already lit, filling the room with warm, flickering light.
He starts shrugging out of his coat. ]
Take the bed.
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I don't need that much space. You should have the bed.
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