Imogen has already lost her love; she can't bear to part with her most cherished possessions as well.
On her belt hangs Pâté, opposite her coin purse. She strokes his back every time she thinks of Laudna, but soon changes course to his skull when the fur starts to fall out from her constant ministrations.
Sashimi stays in the portable hole with their home, too heavy and cumbersome for Imogen to carry regularly. Though she tried for a week.
In her thigh holster are Laudna's scissors. Imogen will never use them for combat, but she can't stand the thought of having them separated from her body. For as long as she knew Laudna, the woman never went out without them attached to her belt. Imogen will gladly give up the option of a dagger if it means keeping this small part of her love with her.
A long strand of red thread has been braided around her wrist, a newer reminder of how deeply and completely Laudna loved her. Though she'll never get to see her again, Imogen holds onto hope that the thread will be enough to remind her to wake up from every nightmare, both new and old.
On a chain around her neck, tucked under her yellow bandana, lies the ring Imogen gave her. The metal hurts her lightning-scarred hands, but even still Imogen finds herself playing with the ring when she can't find the will to choke back her tears. She never got to tell Laudna how much she loved her, how desperately she wanted to use this very ring to propose a new life together.
The ritual failed.
So Imogen fashions herself into an altar for her beloved, worshipping her in death in ways she never got the chance to in unlife.
"No!" Laudna shouts, inky tears trailing down her face, pacing the length of the room as her hands pull at her hair. She feels an artificial warmth attempt to wrap around her, but she quickly fights against the feeling and glares at the woman before her.
"You deliberately kept this from me, so don't you dare try to force me to calm down."
Imogen stares down at her feet in shame, the gnarlrock shattered on the floor between them. She takes a step forward, barely managing to hold her resolve.
"I didn't touch it," she argues weakly, her hands fidgeting at her sides.
Laudna whips around and for the first time in their relationship, Imogen is afraid. Instead of their usual warmth, Laudna's eyes hold only fury and pain, the intensity of which knocks the breathe out of Imogen and crushes her heart.
"It doesn't matter, Imogen!" In a flash, Laudna takes off her ring and displays it for her to see. "We promised no more rocks. You promised me. And yet you didn't bother to tell me about this, even though you've had it for days!"
Something bitter and dark twists in Imogen's chest, an acrid taste filling her mouth. "Yeah well, it's not like you kept your promise either."
Laudna's eyes widen in shock and betrayal. Before Imogen can take back her words, Laudna throws the ring at her, hitting her solidly in the shoulder, Imogen only just managing to catch it in her hands. A piece of Imogen's soul shatters when she realizes what she's said.
"No, wait, I didnt-"
"How dare you," Laudna growls out, her voice the deadliest Imogen has ever heard. She might as well have commanded Imogen to be silent with how her entire body freezes.
"I had no control over my body when that happened," Laudna snaps, her fists clenching and black ichor starting to drip from where her nails are piercing her skin. "You kept this rock, knowing what Delilah made me do!" She steps forward, her hands shaking at her side.
"You know very well that I was worried about what that rock was doing to you, but do you have any idea how it feels to know you didn't care enough about my safety to keep that fucking rock away from me?"
Imogen can only stare as Laudna takes another step forward, her shame and guilt and fear rooting her to the spot.
"You shattered the other rock, so why on earth would you keep this one? If it hadn't been for Orym, that," Laudna points at the pile of shards at Imogen's feet, "would have been just another way for Delilah to prove to me that I'm nothing more than a puppet!"
Imogen forces herself forward, her hand reaching out. "I'm sorry-"
Laudna swats her hand away and turns her back to Imogen, her shoulders shaking. Imogen takes another tentative step forward, desperation and rapidly growing anxiety clawing at her chest.
"She was right," Laudna whispers, the words tearing what remains of Imogen's heart to shreds.
"Laudna," Imogen pleads with a whisper, her eyes stinging with tears as she cradles the ring to her chest.
"I need some time, Imogen. Please," she begs, a sob escaping her lips. "I need to be alone right now."
"A-alright." With a deep breath, Imogen walks to the door, only turning back once her hand rests on the handle. Laudna remains where she was, her back turned and her shoulders hunched. Tears blur Imogen's vision as she fights to hold herself together enough to open the fucking door. As she leaves, Imogen sends out one final thought.
"Did you really love me then, or did you just love the support I could give you?"
Imogen's heart breaks at the desperation in Laudna's voice. There's dread and fury mixed in with unending love, and she hates that the real answer is both. Now isn't the time to feel selfish or self-loathing, not when Laudna needs her.
"I loved you for who you were, Laudna. I loved your creepiness, I loved your little quirks, and I loved how honest you were with me no matter what." Imogen catches her breath, trying her best not to break into tears. Her hand tentatively reaches out for Laudna, lip twitching downward when the other woman flinches.
"You say you loved me then. Do you love me now?"
Imogen pauses for a moment, her soft gaze tracing over Laudna's face, cataloguing every feature before settling on her gorgeous brown eyes. "Always, honey. I'll love you no matter who you are. I know you're hurtin' right now, but even if you never get back to who you were, I'll still be here, lovin' you."
Laudna shakes her head, tears starting to pour from her eyes.
"What if you never really loved me then? What if you only love me now that I'm even more broken? What if you only love me because you think you can fix me?"
Imogen huffs out a laugh. "Darlin', I'm not the fixer here. I don't even know how to fix myself."
Laudna's eyes go wide, a flicker of true terror marring her delicate features. Imogen doesn't realize the error of her words until after Laudna starts spiraling.
"Imogen, my love for you could never be reduced to wanting to fix you, I swear I never even thought about fixing you! Because, darling, you're not broken! I'm so sorry if I ever made you think tha-"
Imogen abruptly hugs Laudna, her arms wrapping around slender shoulders and squeezing as tight as she dares. She waits a moment, taking deep breaths that she knows Laudna will mirror. After a few moments, she pulls back just enough to look at the woman before her.
"Laudna, honey. I know you didn't feel that way about me. And I'm sorry for implying that. I just," she looks down for a moment, licking her chapped lips. "We're both broken. Don't try to deny it."
Laudna's mouth snaps shit, her rebuttal quickly staved off. Imogen sighs and leans closer, her head resting on Laudna's shoulder and her face pressing into her neck.
"You're the artistic one, Laud. Can't we just try to make something beautiful out of our broken pieces? Would you trust me enough to know that I'll never try to make you something you're not?"
Imogen feels more than she hears Laudna shudder, a quiet sob wracking through her body. She shifts her arms, wrapping them around Laudna's waist and pulling the two of them even closer together. Imogen feels relief flood through her when Laudna squeezes her arms around her neck just as tightly.
"I will always trust you, Imogen Temult." Laudna presses a kiss to Imogen's head, her voice shaky and fragile. "I love you so much."
Imogen wants to press a kiss to Laudna's neck, to confess the words she's been holding in for far too long. But now isn't the time. Instead, Imogen smiles into Laudna's pulse.
Never, in all their time traveling, has Laudna used that tone of voice with her. Imogen feels a shiver travel up her spine, anxiety lighting a fire through her body. It’s a tone meant to intimidate, and Imogen has only ever heard it wielded against those who would dare to threaten her in Laudna's presence.
With a small nod, Imogen follows Laudna back to their room. She keeps herself a few steps behind the other woman, though she can’t help the slight disappointment she feels when Laudna doesn’t bother looking back to make sure she’s still following along.
They file into their room for the night, Laudna holding the door open and watching intently as Imogen enters first. Part of her feels like an animal being rounded up into her pen, what with the glint of caution she catches in Laudna’s dark eyes. Imogen doesn’t bother complaining or pointing it out, given how skittish she’s been since the ritual succeeded.
Laudna closes the door firmly behind her, standing eerily still as she studies Imogen. She purses her lips for a moment, her eyes narrowing in thought. It takes a great deal of effort for Imogen to keep out of Laudna’s mind, despite how it sets her teeth on edge. After a few minutes, Imogen decides that she’s too impatient for whatever conversation the older woman wants to have with her.
“Well?” Imogen cocks a hip, her arms crossing over her chest. “You wanted to talk, so get on with it.”
[Keep reading on AO3]
Laudna’s nose flares in frustration, her lips settling into a deep frown. She walks forward a few steps, her hands fiddling with her hair. It’s almost cute, but Imogen is too pent up to let that line of thinking continue. Instead, she lets her mind wander a bit, looking for the familiar invitation she’s been ignoring for the past week. Her heart sinks when it’s nowhere to be found. She sighs again, waiting for Laudna to say whatever’s been bothering her.
When Laudna still doesn’t speak, Imogen lets out an irritated huff.
“If you’re not gonna say anything, I’ll just see myself out.”
Faster than she thought possible, Laudna is suddenly in her space, a taloned hand resting on Imogen’s chest, ready to push her back should she continue. Imogen eyes the hand for a second before looking up at Laudna, eyebrow raised and a sneer threatening to pull at her lips.
Laudna doesn't back down, and instead pushes ever so slightly with her nails, the threat coming across loud and clear to Imogen. She lets out an aggravated sigh, closing her eyes and counting to ten before taking a deliberate step back, her arms coming back up to wrap around her stomach.
Thankfully, she doesn't have to wait any longer to find out what exactly Laudna wants to talk about.
"You've been avoiding me."
Imogen wants to rub at her eyes, already sensing an impending headache.
"No I haven't," she mutters, the lie tasting only a little less bitter the more she tells it. None of them get it, none of them understand why she needs to put some distance between herself and Laudna. It's better this way, if she-
"Yes you have!"
Imogen startles at the sudden intensity of Laudna's words, her heart skipping a beat at the fire lit in those once-familiar pools of darkness. It's been so long since Imogen looked directly into Laudna's eyes that she hadn't noticed they were now a deep brown instead of the black she was accustomed to.
"Ever since you brought me back to life, unlife, whatever-" Laudna starts pacing the room, "It's like there's a wall between us, one I had no part in building." She pulls at her hair, groaning in frustration when none of it comes free like it used to.
Imogen reaches a hand out before curling it back to her side, unsure of how to comfort her dearest friend, or even if she should. Laudna catches the movement and raises an accusatory hand, gesturing to Imogen.
“See? You won’t touch me, you won’t talk to me, and you won’t even look at me.”
Laudna’s voice cracks, the sound shattering what remains of Imogen’s heart. She clenches her first, finding relief in the bite of her nails into heated flesh. Imogen doesn’t dare reach out again, her resolve growing along with her irritation.
Imogen shakes her head with a huff. “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about, Laudna. I’ve just been busy since…”
She trails off, the words catching in her throat. There’s no use finishing the thought, since they both know what she’s referring to.
The look in Laudna’s eyes hardens, sending another bolt of anxiety through Imogen. Her eyes used to look at Imogen with soft warmth, sometimes bordering on a raging fire of devotion. To see this coldness directed towards her feels like she’s lost something precious. It doesn’t matter, though. Imogen just needs to survive this Gods awful conversation, and then she can go back to protecting her love from a distance.
“Since what, Imogen?”
The words are a challenge wrapped in silky frustration, Laudna’s voice the lowest it can go. At any other time, it would have lit a fire in Imogen’s belly. Tonight, all it does is douse her irritation in a bucket of ice water.
“You know,” she deflects, one hand coming up to gesture vaguely at Laudna as her eyes dart around the room. Her mind races as she tries to fight the rising panic and crushing guilt that threaten to drown her. She tries her best not to remember, but all she can see is the blade piercing through Laudna’s chest, black ichor pouring out and staining her favorite dress. A quick flick of her wrist and a quiet whisper brings her back to her body, the numbness allowing her to breathe again.
When she glances at Laudna again, the older woman has a look of disbelief and confusion smeared across her face, obviously disapproving of what Imogen has just done.
“You can’t even say that I died without,” Laudna gestures wildly with both hands, “ whatever that was .” Her hands come back to her chest, one of them fisting the fabric above her heart. “ I was the one who died, Imogen! Can’t you at least give me the courtesy of acknowledging my death?”
Despite the spell, rage and fury boil in Imogen’s blood. She feels the spark of electricity between her fingers, her hands clenching and gathering the static within her grasp. She nearly stomps up to Laudna, stopping within arm’s reach.
“You died, ” Imogen spits out, “because of me , Laudna!”
If possible, Laudna’s frown deepens even more. She lets out a disbelieving huff, shaking her head and shrugging her shoulders.
"So it's all about you, then?”
Imogen feels her stomach drop, the fight leaving her body immediately. She staggers backwards, as if physically struck by the words.
“You’ve been avoiding me this whole time, and for what? Because you think my death is your responsibility? You think I died for you, and yet you can’t even say that I did?” Laudna takes a step forward, a sudden chill falling over the entire room.
Imogen takes a half-step back, any response she may have had trapped in her chest with her rapidly beating heart.
“I’ll have you know, Otohan almost killed me earlier in that fight, but I chose to stay because I couldn't stand to see her slaughter our friends.” Laudna takes another step forward, drawing herself to her full height and pointing emphatically at her chest. “I chose to stay. And because of my choice , Otohan came after me.”
Another step, and Laudna is standing barely an inch away, her voice low and deadly. “I died because she killed me, Imogen. And I’d appreciate it if you could remember that.”
Something in Imogen breaks, and suddenly she can’t keep the tears or her words from escaping.
“You don’t get it ,” Imogen sobs, her hands finally, finally reaching out to clutch desperately at Laudna’s shirt. “She wouldn’t’ve killed you if I’d just-”
Laudna gently grabs at Imogen’s wrist, holding her there and forcing a stuttered breath to escape the younger woman. Gods, has she missed the coolness of Laudna’s skin. Though she doesn’t register it in the moment, later Imogen will realize Laudna’s skin is a touch warmer than it used to be.
“Just what, Imogen?” Laudna whispers down at her, her eyes begging for answers Imogen isn’t sure she knows how to give. She doesn’t have time to answer before Laudna is speaking again.
“She’d already killed Orym and Fearne.”
Imogen watches as a single black tear spills over and trails down Laudna’s face.
“But you aren’t avoiding them.”
Imogen immediately misses the coolness of Laudna’s body as the older woman wrenches herself away.
“Laudna-”
“You don’t look at them with fear.”
Imogen doesn’t feel like she can break anymore, but the devastation written clearly on Laudna’s face grinds her up into dust. She wants to reach out then, her own tears blurring the figure of her most favorite person in the entire world.
“Did you ever stop to consider my feelings in all of this?” Laudna sits heavily on the bed, arms wrapped around her hunched over form, as if trying to keep her shaking form from falling apart completely.
“She killed me,” Laudna whispers, eyes unfocused for a moment before finding Imogen’s across the room. “But it didn’t feel like I’d truly died until the moment you couldn’t stand to be near me.”
Imogen gasps, her hands covering her mouth in horror and excruciating guilt. “Laudna, I-”
Laudna raises a hand, quieting Imogen before she can figure out what to say, how to apologize for everything .
“I think I’d like to be alone now.”
Imogen’s entire body freezes up. She wants so desperately to throw herself at Laudna’s feet and beg for forgiveness, to open up and let her back in. If she were a braver woman, Imogen would tell Laudna about her feelings, about the complete and utter torture she felt in the days it took to bring her back.
But Imogen isn’t brave. Not anymore.
With a nod, Imogen leaves their room. She shuts the door soundly, resting her head against the wood as she takes a few seconds to just breathe. The music she thought she’d never get to hear again swells with a mournful tune, harmonizing with the heartbroken sobs on the other side of the door.
It’s better this way, Imogen tells herself.
She’s not surprised when this lie tastes more bitter than the rest.
They bury her bones in Gelvaan, next to the hut where Imogen first met the spooky witch who changed her life forever.
Imogen lays her beloved to rest with her rock hammer, the sole belonging Laudna kept from before. It was her father’s, she’d told her once. He used it to clear away rocks on their farm, though occasionally he would let Laudna borrow it to split open geodes. Imogen doesn’t feel right keeping it, so she places it carefully atop the relatively small wooden box, tears falling as she tries to send out a thought she knows will never be received.
Rest now, darlin'. You deserve to enjoy some peace and quiet.
Her friends follow suit, each placing something small in the grave, whispering parting words that Imogen tries her best not to hear. She doesn’t keep track of their gifts, preferring to stand away from the rest. Imogen shakes her head when FCG tries to give her their condolences, quietly stepping back when the others look at her with concern. She wraps her arms around her stomach, mentally pleading for them to leave her alone. One by one, they agree to keep their distance. Imogen knows none of them are happy about it.
Imogen's father helps her shovel dirt back into the hole, his face as stoic as she's ever seen it. It's his eyes that betray him— always have. He's got tears pooling in them, but he doesn't do more than offer Imogen a quick hug once they've finished the task.
Things are different now, even if some things have stayed the same.
Relvin had wept when he saw Imogen, battered and bruised with lightning scars reaching up to her shoulders. He clung to her, his thoughts a mess of guilt and relief and love. The concern took her by surprise, especially when he noticed the box she held close to her chest. Laudna’s body didn’t survive the failed ritual, leaving behind her clothes, personal effects, and bones. Imogen didn’t look at her father while she told him, but his soft voice gave away the empathy he had for her. He didn’t push, but his heart broke for his daughter. He may not have understood Imogen, but he understood the love she felt for Laudna. He’d had that same love for Liliana.
Imogen is still angry with him, angry that he never told her about her mother, that he knew she was alive, that he knew what Imogen was going through. It takes a long night of drinking and talking before Imogen realizes that Liliana left them both. Her father couldn't handle the heartbreak, so he locked away his memories and built a wall between them when Imogen's power started manifesting. She can still fault him for being distant, but she understands better now.
Her friends stay with them in their home, cramming into the den while Imogen takes refuge in her old room. Chetney and FCG take glee in exploring all the knick-knacks Relvin has collected, while Fearne and Ashton sit quietly as they pass a flask back and forth. Orym keeps guard outside her door, though she wishes he wouldn't.
She's not upset that Orym and Fearne came back.
But sometimes, she's angry that Laudna didn't.
Not for the first time, her eyes fill with tears as her breathing starts to come out uneven. She knows Orym can hear her, and part of her wants him to. The pain and loss and fury overtake her, a miniature hurricane erupting within the small space. She grabs a pillow and screams into it, tearing at the cloth until she’s surrounded in feathers. Another cry escapes her lips and she forces herself to sit down and breathe, willing the storm away as she clamps down on her emotions. Her breathing takes a bit to get under control, but eventually she’s able to hold her breaths for a handful of seconds without feeling like she’ll die if she doesn’t let it out. Imogen looks around her, taking in the rather childish carnage of her latest emotional outbreak. She fists the pillow case, pulling the two halves apart completely. It doesn’t make her feel better, but at least all she destroyed was a pillow and not an entire street.
With a deep sigh, Imogen lets herself fall across the bed, not bothering to move into a more comfortable position. Her feet nearly touch the floor, and her head almost hangs over the other side. She knows she should actually try to sleep, but how can she when Laudna isn’t there to chase away the nightmares? Another shuddering breath forces its way out as she remembers their nightly rituals.
Laudna would always wait for Imogen to get into bed first, insisting that she choose which side she wanted that night (nevermind the fact that Imogen always slept furthest away from any window). While Imogen moisturized her arms and applied some healing salve onto her hands, Laudna would take the time to massage out the tension accruing in her shoulders. Sometimes, when Laudna was having a particularly bad night, she would let Imogen brush out her hair, carefully detangling the long strands and lulling the older woman to sleep. Other times, Imogen would fall asleep to Laudna embroidering their clothes and humming some tune she didn’t recognize. It had taken time to build up these rituals, and Imogen almost laughs at the memory of their first few nights traveling together.
Imogen wasn’t used to sleeping on the hard ground, even with the cushion of a bedroll. Laudna wasn’t used to comfort or warmth, and would curl into a tight ball from years of always anticipating danger. They both took a few weeks to shuck off their old sleep habits, and months more to form their new ones. Imogen lets out a sob as she remembers the feeling of Laudna’s arm resting across her waist, her unnaturally cool skin soothing the heat radiating off Imogen’s back.
She's gone.
As much as she tries, Imogen can't stifle her sobs. Rather than anger or hurt, all she feels is a deep hollowness in her chest. She takes refuge under her covers, finally laying down properly in her bed. That hollow feeling starts to grow and expand, consuming her entire being. Imogen doesn't bother trying to fight it.
Laudna’s gone, and she's never coming back.
As she lays in her childhood bed, clutching at Pâté and Sashimi, Imogen lets herself grieve.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/?
Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Laudna/Imogen Temult, Imogen Temult/Original Female Character
Characters: Laudna (Critical Role), Imogen Temult, Ashton Greymoore, Orym (Critical Role), Chetney Pock O'Pea, Fearne Calloway, Fresh Cut Grass (Critical Role), Original Female Character(s), Pâté de Rolo
Additional Tags: Angst with a Happy Ending, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Denial of Feelings, Feelings Realization, it takes a while though, Tags to be added, Canon up to episode 38
Series: Part 2 of Stumbling My Way To You
Summary:
It's not like Laudna has any right to be upset. Imogen is a beautiful young woman, and has always drawn the attention of onlookers. Why shouldn't she explore the dating pool?
(She shudders at the thought of Imogen being intimate with Maria, blocking out the swell of emotion that burns in her belly and leaves a sour taste in her mouth.)
OR
Imogen goes on a date, and Laudna has to pick up the pieces of her heart.
"You can still be the best broken thing you can be, though."
Laudna can't get the words out of her head, nor can she swallow down the bitterness that lingers in the back of her throat.
For so much of her existence, Laudna has been wrong. There's a difference, she thinks, between the two. Her bones break frequently, and her body doesn't work the way it used to. But she's not broken, not in the way Ashton is. Whatever snapped when she was hung from the tree has since healed, and over the years she has come to accept and even like her new existence.
No, what's broken is her soul. At least Ashton still has that intact.
Laudna can't help the slight resentment she feels for the earth genasi, however much she tries to remind herself that this is just one of the ways they show they care. But how can she just ignore the assumptions they made about her own trauma?
Of course she hides her shit! She doesn't want Imogen to hear all her darker thoughts and memories, nor does she trust anyone to really understand what she's been through. Ashton may be broken, but he's beautiful too. His shattered form still passes for humanoid, and it doesn't stop him from engaging with society. But Laudna is wrong, and before Imogen she was constantly on the run from people who could immediately tell something wasn't quite right with her.
So yes, she's hiding. As much as she can, really. It's getting harder and harder to keep Delilah in check, to remind herself that the bitch always lies to get her way. She's terrified of being alone again, of being betrayed by the first people to make her feel like a person again since before she was killed. Laudna has done horrible things to FCG and Imogen, and she often wonders where the line is between her and Delilah. She doesn't feel worthy of forgiveness, but she also doesn't feel worthy of concern. How nice of Ashton to worry, but what good does it do?
She is wrong and broken and barely more than a salvaged puppet anxiously waiting for her mistress to pull whatever strings necessary to ruin her unlife. No matter what she does, her past and her trauma trail closely behind, waiting for the perfect moment to shatter whatever semblance of normalcy she has built for herself. Nothing can last, but especially not where she's concerned.
Her time with this group has always been limited. She is only useful to them from a distance, and the one time she managed to exert sizeable damage was against a friend! After the whole debacle with the Shade Mother, Laudna already felt useless and unnecessary. If she opens up about Delilah, then she might as well pack her bags and await the inevitable end to her brief excursion into the land of the living. What else could possibly happen? She's a liability and a risk to their goals. Maybe they'll even kill her once she reveals just how vulnerable and out of control she is.
It doesn't matter, Laudna chastises herself. They have more important issues at hand. Despite it all, Ashton is right. Even if she's not broken in the way they are, she can still try to be her best without giving in to Delilah.
Imogen's been standing at the desk for only five minutes, yet the receptionist has managed to compliment her no less than three times already. While she appreciates flattery as much as the next woman, her heart has only ever skipped for Laudna's praise and kind words. She doesn't mind the flirting, but every moment stuck distracting the human woman is a moment she would rather spend next to her favorite person in the entire world. Really, the only reason she’s still here is to distract so the rest of the group can get into the back office where the supposed Ruidium files are. If they can get those documents to what remains of the Grim Verity, then they might solve another piece of this Ruidus mystery, hopefully without injury.
(Imogen tries not to think about how terrified she is of Laudna getting hurt again when she's not there to protect her.)
They need the information inside, and to get said information with the least amount of issue. Imogen is their best chance at achieving both of their goals.
"I really enjoy talking to you," the woman— Maria— says, twirling a strand of long brown hair round her fingers.
Imogen gives her what she hopes is a charming smile, skimming her thoughts before responding. There's genuine interest, the kind that makes Imogen's skin crawl. While she knows she's half-way decent when it comes to looks, she's never felt flattered by the raunchy thoughts she catches from people who are attracted to her. It's not real, and she knows she'll never live up to their fantasies. Still, the rest of the group is taking too long and it would probably solve a number of their problems if Imogen can find a consistent way to distract the woman.
"I enjoy talkin' to you too, hun." Imogen leans over the desk, doing her best to look shy with interest. It's not hard when she pretends the woman in front of her is Laudna. Maybe that’s why she asks her next question. "Would you like to get dinner with me some time?"
