27.Feb.12, 03:26 PM
The wave of embarrassment gradually receded, leaving Tal feeling exposed but not too bad. What was it about these quiet, standoffish smartasses that drew him in so? He became instantly attached to Erisi, and here he was making friends with yet another who, by his own admission, rarely made friends with people of Talian's sort. Tal was too lonely not to take delight in it, though in the back of his mind he was still waiting on the other shoe to drop. This sort of thing just didn't happen to him. Was it cliche to think of it as 'too good to be true'?
He squinted at Valerian for a moment, trying to regain his dignity from his awkward little comment as well as discern his own meaning. He admitted to himself that maybe he had been flirting. He didn't think so, but after his encounters (plural! for shame) with Erisi, it had to be considered. The healer was openly aware of his poor control over his emotions.
Either way, Valerian wasn't angry, so Tal decided to move on.
"It was good advice," he said pleasantly. He found himself again intimidated by Valerian's quiet poise. It was the good kind of intimidation, if such a thing made sense. Before he could make any further comment, Valerian had his hand. He squeezed it on instinct. "Oh..." he said, looking at Valerian with bewilderment and a hint of gratitude, shocked at how calmly and completely the harper was inviting him in to his life. It was touching, but he also wasn't sure what to do. "I tend to agree...the herbs are a bad thing," he said sheepishly, turning his head away but continuing to squeeze the offered hand until Valerian initiated release.
"You've been very good to me. Thank you. If I can ever return the favor, please don't hesitate to ask..."
He squinted at Valerian for a moment, trying to regain his dignity from his awkward little comment as well as discern his own meaning. He admitted to himself that maybe he had been flirting. He didn't think so, but after his encounters (plural! for shame) with Erisi, it had to be considered. The healer was openly aware of his poor control over his emotions.
Either way, Valerian wasn't angry, so Tal decided to move on.
"It was good advice," he said pleasantly. He found himself again intimidated by Valerian's quiet poise. It was the good kind of intimidation, if such a thing made sense. Before he could make any further comment, Valerian had his hand. He squeezed it on instinct. "Oh..." he said, looking at Valerian with bewilderment and a hint of gratitude, shocked at how calmly and completely the harper was inviting him in to his life. It was touching, but he also wasn't sure what to do. "I tend to agree...the herbs are a bad thing," he said sheepishly, turning his head away but continuing to squeeze the offered hand until Valerian initiated release.
"You've been very good to me. Thank you. If I can ever return the favor, please don't hesitate to ask..."