𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝑻𝑯𝑼𝑵𝑲 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒 hitting ancient wood is enough to tear her gaze from the toe of her boot . had she any less of a carefully kept handle on her reactions to the druid , she might have even winced at the suddenness of it —- but she doesn't . instead , she offers only a small , tight - lipped smile as she steps over the threshold and into her space .
𝐊𝐄𝐘𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐒 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 . how had she managed to so thoroughly mark a rented room as her own ? from the scattered books to her more personal belongings , there is nowhere for vex to look where she isn't . even the way her scent wreathes around the ranger feels like an assault , but —- much like that coiling , wriggling feeling —- it isn't altogether unappealing .
❝ 𝐍𝐎 , 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐋 , ❞ she counters , refusing to unfold her arms even to wave off the other woman's concern . " i only wanted ... "
𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐒 , grappling for a moment with the notion that keyleth's uncertainty may very well be catching . what does she want ? to express her gratitude , surely , but that might have waited until morning . if so , then why is she here now ? the words stick in her throat , and she feels the tips of her ears grow warm beneath those too - green eyes .
❝ 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋 , 𝐈 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐈 —- i wanted to say ' thank you ' . "
𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐈𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐔𝐓 in the open , sitting in the space between them , a good bit of the tension she feels drains from her . muscles relax enough to allow her to lean , bracing her hip against the doorframe .
❝ 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐌𝐘𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅 ... and trinket , too , of course . "
