Boreal was happy to be leaned back into, a quiet rumble of contentment vibrating her barrel chest and creating an undercurrent of sound beneath Maea's words. It was one that Tal had learned to tune out a long time ago so he could hear what other people were saying, though, and as Maea spoke he winced and shifted so he could rub at the back of his neck uncomfortably. "Well... I know somethin' 'bout that," he agreed quietly, almost under his breath as she made her litany of past losses and mistakes. But he drew a deeper breath and offered her a quirked grin; it was a little forced under the weight of the topic, but he made a game attempt at it anyways. "An' hey, y'never apologize t'me, so you're definitely gettin' better about it!"
Her return 'punch' was as gentle as a dandelion puff and he nodded in satisfaction as he leaned into the 'hit' without flinching. It was a silent acceptance of the silent offer; maybe not today, but someday when he needed a shoulder she might find a mess of a courier on her doorstep when she least expected it.
Maea fell back and Boreal huffed out a misty breath of her own in surprise. She pushed to her feet and turned around to stick her blunt muzzle in the Ancient's face, helpfully snorfling her to make sure she was alright while Tal tried to ineffectually push her big head away, his grin turning easier and more natural. "Yeah, an' some silver - oof, move y'big lug, she's fine! - linin's are bigger'n others!"
Her return 'punch' was as gentle as a dandelion puff and he nodded in satisfaction as he leaned into the 'hit' without flinching. It was a silent acceptance of the silent offer; maybe not today, but someday when he needed a shoulder she might find a mess of a courier on her doorstep when she least expected it.
Maea fell back and Boreal huffed out a misty breath of her own in surprise. She pushed to her feet and turned around to stick her blunt muzzle in the Ancient's face, helpfully snorfling her to make sure she was alright while Tal tried to ineffectually push her big head away, his grin turning easier and more natural. "Yeah, an' some silver - oof, move y'big lug, she's fine! - linin's are bigger'n others!"
