For once Boreal didn't try to cover Sah in slobbery kisses, settling for resting her chin on his head as she continued her soft, reassuring rumbling in counterpoint to the conversation that began to flow again. Tal risked a glance away from the hunter as he seemed to ease a little so he could flash Lilly a fond little smile at her kisses, shifting his attention to scratching under her chin and trying to ignore the betraying flush that darkened his brown skin.
His smile widened a little, becoming a crooked grin at Sah's answering honesty, though he pretended the expression was mostly for the wolf. His other hand remained firmly in his friend's, however, and he didn't attempt to retrieve it. On the contrary his fingers flexed subconsciously, giving Sah's a light squeeze at the admission. After all their years of rivalry and arguing and hiding behind booze and LongNight it was a little surreal to be saying what they actually meant, but it was a little bit of a relief, too.
Not that he expected anything to really change between them after this. Just because they were saying the silent parts to each other for once, it didn't alter how fun their rivalry could be. Sah was like the little brother he'd never had but always kind of wanted in his house full of sisters, and he could love the infuriating, loyal, reliable mage and still want to push his face into the snow sometimes.
"Sol's gettin' old enough, she might strike out on her own soon," Tal warned him ruefully."She's been workin' hard in that Adventurin' Guild. But there's no rush. Alys an' I have t'build our house an' shops first. Once we've got that sorted y'can come visit. An' who knows what weird shit'll come up in Longheat?" He did his best to put all his reassurance into his words and voice, and into the hand rubbing Lilly's chin.
His smile widened a little, becoming a crooked grin at Sah's answering honesty, though he pretended the expression was mostly for the wolf. His other hand remained firmly in his friend's, however, and he didn't attempt to retrieve it. On the contrary his fingers flexed subconsciously, giving Sah's a light squeeze at the admission. After all their years of rivalry and arguing and hiding behind booze and LongNight it was a little surreal to be saying what they actually meant, but it was a little bit of a relief, too.
Not that he expected anything to really change between them after this. Just because they were saying the silent parts to each other for once, it didn't alter how fun their rivalry could be. Sah was like the little brother he'd never had but always kind of wanted in his house full of sisters, and he could love the infuriating, loyal, reliable mage and still want to push his face into the snow sometimes.
"Sol's gettin' old enough, she might strike out on her own soon," Tal warned him ruefully."She's been workin' hard in that Adventurin' Guild. But there's no rush. Alys an' I have t'build our house an' shops first. Once we've got that sorted y'can come visit. An' who knows what weird shit'll come up in Longheat?" He did his best to put all his reassurance into his words and voice, and into the hand rubbing Lilly's chin.
