( closed )

[winces]

CHARACTERS: olivia and keats

DATE: backdated to january 30

WARNINGS: losers being losers

SUMMARY: in an attempt to appeal to the unaffiliated goblins' good sides, olivia is sent on a number of random tasks... keats is around because olivia shouldn't be allowed to do things herself tbh

[ three rabbits and eight sparrows. it wasn't too bad, all things considered. it's certainly more reasonable (and less questionable) than what the humans had requested for, a fair number of which olivia cannot, in good conscience, reiterate, no matter how much keats questions her about it. it's embarrassing, is all she gives him, and while it was certainly that, it was much more uncomfortable than anything else. but he doesn't really need to know that. nobody does. ]

I don't really have the supplies to make any rabbit traps, [ she explains as they venture further out into the woods, her tone and smile apologetic. she hadn't meant to waste quite so much of keats' time, after all... ] So I'll have to do it the harder way.

[ ??? what does that even mean. ]

Are you sure you don't want to go back...? You don't really have to accompany me anymore.

[ she'd asked him as a favor when confronting the goblins, after all. surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly) enough, they'd all been quite amiable. ]

Comments

[winces]

Yes, [ she answers in the same, quiet tone that he carries. hers is mildly hopeful, and after a moment she dares to peek one eye open... then the other.

upon seeing his unmarred skin, she lets out a breath of relief. in her chest, she can feel a flutter of pride. it seems to be getting easier each time she tries. ]

There you go — good as new.

[ she pauses for a moment, her expression clouding over somewhat. she's looking at him without really looking at him, lost on a thought that she allows to carry her away elsewhere. her hands are still on his cheeks but after a few, long moments...

her expression clears up once more, settling into something that's close to anxious. she bites her lip, and suddenly steps closer. the hands she'd had on his face shift around to cross behind his neck, arms drawing up over his shoulders in—

a hug. ]

[headlining]

[He briefly reaches up a hand to touch the now-healed skin. She's right. It's as good as new, like what just happened, well, never happened. He may not believe in magic, but that doesn't stop him from looking impressed with what she's just done.]

[He's about to speak up again, but she's suddenly moving closer, wrapping her arms around him, and...]

[Oh.]

[She's hugging him.]

[He's...honestly never been hugged before. Not as far as he recalls.]

[Keats just stands there for a few seconds, flabbergasted, before he finds his hands moving to rest gently on her upper back. It's an awkward motion, to be sure, but honestly, he's never had that much experience with hugs.]

...Thank you.

[winces]

[ he beats her to it. not so much the words of gratitude, but words in general. there had been an apology on the tip of her tongue, ready to spring out once their bodies relaxed a little more into the embrace. they took a bit too long, though, and in her stalling, he beats her to breaking the silence.

rather than dwell on a missed opportunity (which is a rarity in itself for her), she strives to push towards happier feelings. she gives him a firm squeeze in her arms. ]

...we're friends, right? It's the least I could do.

[headlining]

[and keats' heart grew three sizes that day]

[He just lets out a slight huff, smiling despite himself (and also he's smiling now because a part of him knows she can't see his face too well to catch a glimpse of how absolutely fond he looks for this brief moment). He pats her with a hand.]

And here you said you couldn't do anything. You rather proved yourself wrong, didn't you. I can't do a thing like that.

[winces]

[ what about his penis

nO I'M SORRY FORGIVE ME— ]

I don't know if that even counts, [ she says around a sigh. slowly, she draws away from the hug, but only so she can look back up at him. her arms still remain around his neck, still risen up on her tiptoes to make up for the height difference. ]

I never had that ability before... ALASTAIR gave it to me.

[headlining]

[GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER, WOW!!]

Did they now? [He's met another who said that ALASTAIR gave them magic, and although he had scoffed at it at the time, he's finding the practice is more common than he thought. His hands move back to his sides, though he makes no move to force her to get off of him.]

Still, that's nothing to sniff at. And just because you have abilities or not doesn't make you less worthless, either way.

[winces]

[ she just rolls her eyes a little, but it's clear she means nothing malicious with it. indeed, any sort of derision she might have is all directed towards her, if her heavy sigh is of any indication.

rocking back on her heels, her arms finally slip from his neck, but just as she's about to speak up again, likely to mention they should get on their way instead of wasting time trying to convince her she's actually good for something, the bushes nearby give a sudden, violent rustle. ]

—eep!

[ she squeaks in shock, hastily jumping behind keats while her hands come up to grip the back of his coat. WHO IS IT WHAT IS IT IS IT GOING TO EAT THEM????/ ]

[headlining]

Hm?

[He twists around as soon as he hears the sound, muscles tensing. A hand moves back to shield Olivia, his other hand clenching tight into a fist. He's completely ready to throw a good punch in the face of whatever it is-]

[And then, a rabbit pokes its head out of the bush, nose quivering.]

[...Oh.]

[Keats pauses, before a smirk crosses his face. He turns his head very slowly back, lowering his voice so only Olivia can hear.]

Would you look at that? Looks like a certain something you were looking for.

[winces]

[ she gasps sharply, and though she is no longer scared, she still doesn't make much of a move from behind him. her hands just fly up to her mouth, stifling her loud surprise. ]

Oh my gosh—! Mr. Keats, look! You drew one out!

[ bc, clearly, this is all your amazing doing you're so talented iyaaaan ]