Thread: Unlikely Saviors [-:Haru|Luana:-]

Tika's snarky grin turned into a smile. She clicked her glass with his and took a drink of the apple whiskey. It was sweet but burned as it went down. Such a good burn. She felt warm right to her toes. The drinks were wel earned. It had been a rough day. Though it struck her suddenly that she hadn't even know Kion for a full day yet. A strange thought. It felt like an eternity. She looked back up at him and the smirk returned. No problem, she said as she took another sip of her whiskey. Can't have my fluffums all squinched up. Tika laughed quietly, remembering how he had had to curl himself into a ball in the other cabin. This new cabin was far better. Then again... she mused, resting her chin on her first. Looked awfully adorable all curled up. Said that already though. Wouldn't even think ya were a big, strong biggin. She looked over at him with a small smirk before her eyes drifted. Once more she stared at the crowd of biggins who gave Kion a wide berth. A'course people'll judge right away. Figure yer some big scary thing. Maybe it was the whiskey talking. It didn't take much for a gnome with their small size. Gnomish drinks were far weaker than human ones. Not much better though. Figured ya were some big, dumb cat. So...guess...I'm tryin' t'say....sorry and...thanks. Lettin' little me tag along. This time her smile was almost shy, not quite but almost. Kion downed the stout and then ordered an apple whiskey like Tika's. The smile she gave him, and then once more calling him 'my fluffums', had the pneumafera feeling warm in all the right ways. As she called him adorable he knew she wasn't meaning it in the way he hoped and yet he allowed his mind to entertain those ideas, and the somewhat shy smile she gave him only helped fuel those wishful thoughts. He tried to push them out of his mind, and yet they persisted. Your very welcome, Little One. Though we have not known one another very long, I cannot envision this endeavor without your lovely presence. The honor is mine. he told her, and took another drink. I do have to wonder just what the Eye wants with this blade, and what sorts of powers it might contain. he mused. I am sure that it is awfully important, and if things so far are any indication, we'll meet opposition all along the way, trying to stop us, or wrest the blade away from us. Just keep healing me up and I will keep you safe. he told her. Her own comments had brought what she would now recognize as a smile. I suppose I can be big and scary when I want to be, and if anyone tries to hurt my Little One, well, they've earned that much. he told her, and laid one massive hand on her shoulder for the briefest of moments. It was a hand that, should he desire, could grasp her skull and crush it. yet he would never do such a thing. In fact, his claws were retracted and his fingers were gentle and warm. So what do you think those two down in the engine room were trying to accomplish? I still don't understand just what their goal was, do you? he asked, changing the subject and trying to push his lewd thoughts from his mind. He wasn't wrong. It was likely they would face a great deal of opposition. All the more reason she was glad he allowed her to tag along. Though her concern of contribution wasn't entirely eased by his statements. She never needed anyone to keep her safe. All her years she had fended for herself. Slunk in and out of tricky situations. It was only recently had had gotten into more trouble than she was used to. Foolish really, getting involved with things concerning The Eye. Bunch of weird Biggins. Still she was happy to tag along with Kion. Even if he could have done this quest alone. Tika sagged a little under the weight of his massive hand. It was warm and soft, the fur lightly brushing her neck and sending little shivers down her spine. She smiled and patted his hand, her own roughly the size of his palm. It was a sweet sentiment and she was a little fond of his own pet name for her. His little one. Despite her independent streak it was nice to have someone to care. She could hardly deny that she enjoyed it to some extent. Dunno, she said before taking another drink of the sweet and burning whiskey. Sabotage if I were a gambler. Know for it Gnomes are. Steal designs, inventions, make sure the thief pays. Usually keep our secrets and creations. Sometimes sell 'em t'biggins. Tika knocked back the rest of her drink and let out a contented sigh. Hey! What's say we take our drinks an' go on deck? Hear the sun set's real pretty way up here. Tika raised her little hand for another round. He was already ahead of her by one but she wasn't about to race him. Probably end up stone dead before he even got drunk. It was news to Kion that gnomes would be so destructive, stealing designs and destroying other's things for ransom. It seemed kind of petty. But each race had their own ways, and who was Kion to judge? However when she posited the idea of going out and up on deck, he smiled. Sure thing! he said, and without waiting for her permission he lifted her and hoisted her to one broad shoulder, letting her sit there, her little feet dangling down by his chest and he kept a hand on her thigh, the large palm big enough to cover that soft expanse, to keep her steady as he headed out of the galley area and toward one of the higher observation decks. They passed the other gnome and half-orc in a corridor, a shared nod as they avoided one another, and Kion moved up to what was dubbed C Deck. There were two others that were higher, but the lion stopped at this one first, the huge hardwood floored area surrounded by steel railing and a transparent barricade roughly five feet tall to prevent folks from doing something stupid and tumbling over the side. From her perch, Tika was completely over the barrier, but Kion held her tight. What would you like to see? he asked her. Tika gave a little squeak as Kion suddenly booted her up. She wobbled a moment on his large should but steadied herself. The massive, warm hand on her thigh helped a great deal. Once settled she giggled quietly, drink still in hand. Her face felt pleasantly warm. She ducked down as they left and headed up to one of the lower observation decks. Her eyes went wide as they passed Catty and her half-orc friend. She honestly didn't think to see them again. The small nods were shared as they went on as if nothing had happened. Up on deck the fresh air was invigorating. She stiffened some as Kion approached the railings and barricade. For a moment she was just a little concerned being over the barrier. Yet the warm, comforting presence of Kion's hand calmed her. He wouldn't let her tumble over the edge. Sun set I suppose, she said with a tiny shrug. It was indeed beautiful. Mountains in the far distance, the city is Skali just a dot on the river. Tika wrapped an arm around the back of Kion's head, leaning over just a little. Sure is pretty huh? She smiled some. It was a little before the sun would dip to the horizon but the sky was ablaze in reds, pinks, and oranges. Tika rested her chin atop Kion's head as she stared out across what seemed like the whole world. Miss traveling. Spent too much time in th'city. Besides the money, pretty glad I met' cha and we're traveling. Not much for settling down. Suppose you're the same, eh?