"Oh... yeah?" There was a complicated expression on Tal's face when he saw Maea's expression amidst the butterflies. Jealousy spasmed there, brief and sharp, before he shoved it down with the long practice of someone chronically ill swallowing a bitter pill they took all too often. He looked away, up to the Leafchange sun and the blue sky, and let its warmth wash over his brown skin, as powerless to call magic from his soul as he'd always been. At least Maea had an Ancient's spells to call on, even if they weren't as limitless as an Abandoned's potential arsenal.
It was with an effort that he kept his envy bottled up tight, but as the fiery butterflies faded it became easier. He was used to being around Ru and Sah and Alys, and mostly repressing that unpleasant side of himself. It was only that Maea had called attention to it that had let the beast slip its leash this time, and Tal did his best to make sure it didn't ruin the perfectly nice day and the almost normal conversation they were managing to have in spite of the awkwardness in the Atheneum.
"Mmm. I mean... it's not really how that works, y'know? It's not... not just about helpin' me on it. If you're not okay with a shrine here, it doesn't matter who wants t'build it, right?" He gave an awkward shrug, his grin slipping a bit and turning crooked. "It's not really consent if y'feel like you're obligated t'say 'yes.' So... long as y'give me an answer one o' these days, even if it's 'no,' I figure we can keep on keepin' on th'way we've been."
He whistled to his dragon, who had been happily paddling about in the water, and she splashed her way over to him with bright eyes and a curious guhwrrrf? as he scratched at her horns to keep her from shaking herself dry all over him. "Hey, girl. Think y'can find someone t'help Maea out?" he crooned to her with a conspiratorial wink.
It was with an effort that he kept his envy bottled up tight, but as the fiery butterflies faded it became easier. He was used to being around Ru and Sah and Alys, and mostly repressing that unpleasant side of himself. It was only that Maea had called attention to it that had let the beast slip its leash this time, and Tal did his best to make sure it didn't ruin the perfectly nice day and the almost normal conversation they were managing to have in spite of the awkwardness in the Atheneum.
"Mmm. I mean... it's not really how that works, y'know? It's not... not just about helpin' me on it. If you're not okay with a shrine here, it doesn't matter who wants t'build it, right?" He gave an awkward shrug, his grin slipping a bit and turning crooked. "It's not really consent if y'feel like you're obligated t'say 'yes.' So... long as y'give me an answer one o' these days, even if it's 'no,' I figure we can keep on keepin' on th'way we've been."
He whistled to his dragon, who had been happily paddling about in the water, and she splashed her way over to him with bright eyes and a curious guhwrrrf? as he scratched at her horns to keep her from shaking herself dry all over him. "Hey, girl. Think y'can find someone t'help Maea out?" he crooned to her with a conspiratorial wink.
