I was partnered up with the lovely and talented @yonderlyforsooth
For the first annual @satinaliagiftexchange. Here’s Beardy and Fuzzhead, getting wasted as the events of Trespasser are just kicking off. Tau seems like a fun kind of gal, and a super cool Adaar Wallbanger. There aren’t enough of those!
There wasn’t time to have his face ready. Or even a greeting beyond a grunt of impact. Six stone of sharp elbows and grubby plaidweave was in his lap in a moment, barely avoiding his tankard on the table.
“Beardy you big sack of arse, how come you didn’t find me first?!”
Sera was filthy. She smelled of soot and acrid herbs.
“Whatever that is all over you - it’s not poisonous is it? To me?” He wiped at her grey chin with the edge of his sleeve.
A knot of Divine Victoria’s pages and apprentices in the corner looked over and hunched together tighter, giving him sneaky glances.
Sera’s nose wrinkled, freckles standing out under the coat of dirt. “’course not. As long as you don’t lick it, you’re fine.”
“Licking it is the last thing on my mind.”
“So you’ve been to see your Laaaaaady first? Missed her?” Sera slid off his lap, taking a swallow of his ale. “Licked stuff plenty, didja? Been a while. That little string of skin under your tongue gets so frigging sore!”
Thom could feel his ears burning. Not for the first time since riding into the Winter Palace, he wished he hadn’t cut his hair. Wanting to look halfway presentable for Tau meant he didn’t have enough hair to hide under.
Sera’s giggle was worth it though.
“Oh, Sera.” His hands itched to hug her or…something. “I’ve missed you so.”
Her eyes squinted up and got glassy. She shrugged, grin vanished, and downed the rest of his drink. “Yeah, well,” she mumbled into the tankard with a belch. “You too. Or wha’ever.”
A long pause, then, while he pretended not to see the Orlesians staring at him, and pretended not to understand words like ‘traitor’ in their tongue. Sera’s ears twitched as she sat up straight, one hand going to her waist.
It was sticky when he got hold of it. Clammy with sweat and Maker-knows what else. Under cover of the warped table, Thom squeezed her bony fingers until she winced.
“Come on, Beardy,” Sera hissed. Her hand in his twisted, looking for an out. “They’re just beggin’ for it. Right in the pie hole.”
“I love you, too, Fuzzhead.”
“Ick!” Her mop of hair bounced with her hurry to slide away from him - off the bench and toward the taps in the far corner. “Drinks. Lots more drinks, if you’re gonna get all-” Sera’s soot-stained hands stirred the air between them, looking for the right word. “Gooshy.”