@hannahcbrown Come get your girl - she's been wandering around my head, being adorable. (I doubt I'll ever write this out properly, but it's enough to have the bones out for now I think.)
I had a dream last night where Lecrinn turned up in Cheydinhal, and she was either expected or Garrus had asked her to come. Garrus wanted her to come to the castle, but was being puckishly cagey about why - out of character, but not enough for her to be worried.
So he takes her into the kitchens, and in addition to the usual dunmer woman who's the head cook, there's a cobalt blue dunmer who looks very similar to the cook.
Garrus calls out, "Ser Omellian," and the dunmer turns. His eyes light on Lecrinn and he grins, saying, "Is this her?"
After Garrus introducss Lecrinn, Talis says, "I would shake your hand in the cyrod style, but, ah-" he's up to his elbows in flour. Instead he gives a bow and says, "warm seas under warm skies, muthsera."*
Talis then presents them with a selection of pastries and some hot drink and says they're to taste test them for him, with a wink to Garrus. They take the tray and Garrus steers them to a small table.
Garrus explains that Ser Omelian is a Big Deal in the Imperial City and when the Count heard he was here, convinced him to provide dessert for dinner tonight. Garrus chuckles, saying, "He's come a long way from making mud pies and calling it chocolate."
Lecrinn asks then if they know each other?
Yes, they grew up together, Garrus says, as much as a mer and a human can grow together**. He urges her to try the pastries - ser Omelian's reputation is well deserved.
So she does - and they're some of the most delectable things she's ever tasted! She does that "eyes rolls so far back in one's head that one's eyes close" thing, and when she opened them again, she finds Garrus looking at her with intense fondness.
There are blushes, and fluttering lashes, and sips of tea taken to hide them.
They continue eating. A little pot of clotted cream*** has been provided with one of the pastries, and Garrus has managed to get this on his cheek. Lecrinn giggles, and wipes it off in a tender gesture.
In the background, Talis' mother notices the two lovebirds, and starts to sing something soft and sweet in dunmeris as she cooks. Talis joins in on the harmony, and offers Garrus a wink in the time he can spare to look away from Lecrinn.
I'm usually terrible at romance, but this was just too cute not to share. Clearly my subconscious knows better than I do 😉️🧡️
(* I know this isn't quite right, but I can't remember the correct phrase - it's one of the things that the NPCs in Morrowind say to you if you're of high renown, same way they say "wealth beyond measure, outlander)¹
(** how do mers age in TES? Is this accurate? Who knows!)
(*** I don't care if it's not lore friendly - clotted cream is the most delectable cream in existence. This is a hill I will die on)²
(¹ Edit: I found the phrase it should be "Under sun and sky, outlander. We greet you warmly." Eh I was close)
(² Turns out that clotted cream made from sheep or goats milk (which Cyrodiil seems to have most of) is called ashta. Everyday's a learning day...)
