Percy's tensed, waiting for things to take a turn for the worse, watching her with a wary sidelong gaze. She resents, though, and he breathes out, his shoulders sagging forward.
"Thank you." Honesty saves his life once more, it seems. However much he might regret the way this night has ended up, Vex'ahlia is nothing if not merciful in the face of the truth. He resolves here not to lie to her - or to minimize the lies he tells her, at least. He'll avoid everything he can't let her know, focus on the things he can, and hope she'll still be interested after a week or two out in the wild. "I, er - I think I've taken enough advantage of your friendship for one night. If you'll excuse me -"
He begins to stand up, his final pint still only half-drunk.
"Hm. It has been a long day." She doesn't make any attempt to stop him, but her demeanor doesn't turn more hostile either. As she says it, the truth in her statement sinks in. It has been long, with more ups and downs than most people have in a week.
She finds a little patience in that.
"We'll still be leaving in the morning, later rather than earlier, but we'll be out of here before noon if I have to strap the gnome to Trinket's back and carry him."
Which is to say, she still considers them a we, and until she hears otherwise, Percy is expected to come.
That's a relief to hear, the invitation clearly within the comment. Be up before midday shouldn't be difficult, even feeling the weariness in his bones. And then they'll leave all of Stilben behind, and he'll have ample opportunity to search for Ripley as he travels.
"Of course." He's about to go, but there is one other thing, and in a moment, it's written on his face. Mild embarrassment (that might linger forever), or possibly worry, makes him hesitate - and then it makes him grab his mug and down the rest of his beer in a courage-giving gulp. "Er. I hate to ask, especially when we're about to sleep rough for a while, but if there's any coin left tomorrow morning, and there might be time to find a replacement for...oh, all of this..."
Percy pulls at one of his filthy shirtsleeves.
"I will repay you, as soon as I'm able." More importantly, he'd gladly have her along to hold the purse strings, not least because he suspects she'll be able to make a better deal than he.
Vex huffs softly at the question, giving him a measure with quick glances of her eyes. Not that there's any new information to gather. She already got a fairly thorough sense of the size of him when she had her hands all over him.
"Well, you're too tall to borrow from Vax, and Grog and Scanlan are right out," she observes, stating the obvious. Percy is all long and slim, and likely was even before his stint in a cell.
"That seems reasonable enough. You will have to wake up before noon though."
He's smiling wider than he should, a return of that stupid open expression he'd work as they left the bathhouse. It's something important, evidence that he's with investing in, and he feels it through his whole body just then.
And then he realizes he must look like a fool, standing there and smiling down at her, and he tries to tame it back. "Of course. Thank you. Er - goodnight."
Better to make his escape now before he spoils things.
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pathography) wrote2004-12-29 06:14 pm
no subject
"Thank you." Honesty saves his life once more, it seems. However much he might regret the way this night has ended up, Vex'ahlia is nothing if not merciful in the face of the truth. He resolves here not to lie to her - or to minimize the lies he tells her, at least. He'll avoid everything he can't let her know, focus on the things he can, and hope she'll still be interested after a week or two out in the wild. "I, er - I think I've taken enough advantage of your friendship for one night. If you'll excuse me -"
He begins to stand up, his final pint still only half-drunk.
no subject
She finds a little patience in that.
"We'll still be leaving in the morning, later rather than earlier, but we'll be out of here before noon if I have to strap the gnome to Trinket's back and carry him."
Which is to say, she still considers them a we, and until she hears otherwise, Percy is expected to come.
no subject
"Of course." He's about to go, but there is one other thing, and in a moment, it's written on his face. Mild embarrassment (that might linger forever), or possibly worry, makes him hesitate - and then it makes him grab his mug and down the rest of his beer in a courage-giving gulp. "Er. I hate to ask, especially when we're about to sleep rough for a while, but if there's any coin left tomorrow morning, and there might be time to find a replacement for...oh, all of this..."
Percy pulls at one of his filthy shirtsleeves.
"I will repay you, as soon as I'm able." More importantly, he'd gladly have her along to hold the purse strings, not least because he suspects she'll be able to make a better deal than he.
no subject
"Well, you're too tall to borrow from Vax, and Grog and Scanlan are right out," she observes, stating the obvious. Percy is all long and slim, and likely was even before his stint in a cell.
"That seems reasonable enough. You will have to wake up before noon though."
no subject
And then he realizes he must look like a fool, standing there and smiling down at her, and he tries to tame it back. "Of course. Thank you. Er - goodnight."
Better to make his escape now before he spoils things.