Tal gave Koa a shaky grin that was more than half grimace as he got his land legs back, but thanks to the dragoon he was able to keep his balance so he only had to lean on Alys a little while the adrenaline shakes worked themselves out. For a moment his attention was only for his partner as she caught his face in gentle hands and his eyes caught in hers, falling in as she held him up. "'m fine," he assured her quietly, the grimace melting away into a brief but true smile, her touch easing the anxiety from him.
A few moments later and they parted, the courier calmer and breathing easier as he snorted at Koa's understatement. "Y'can say that again! An' spiked sounds like just my speed right about now," he agreed ruefully on the heels of Alys's agreement. He watched her take the jar out with a sudden, indrawn breath and then held it as she collected the water. Not out of nervousness but out of anticipation, and when she returned his grin split wide enough to rival the Flowerbirth sun.
"Yeah, I understand. Here--" he made sure to fold her hands around the Compass. "Keep this. Y'can use it t'catch up with us quick once... once y'talk t'Mort an'... an' we're all t'gether again." There was a desperate, hungry hope in his eyes that he couldn't quite hide as he squeezed her hands around the talisman. He leaned forward to press a quick, soft kiss for luck on her lips and then released her, clearing his throat as he remembered Koa was there, too. "Ah, right. Let's, uh, get th'ol' girl airborne an' see if she needs' adjustin' after that..." he mumbled, blushing lightly from this ears to the back of his neck, gesturing back to the Peregrine.
The flight back to the Bodega wasn't slow, but it wasn't quick enough for Tal. He couldn't wait to get docked and safe so that Alys - and Sascha, Mort willing - could rejoin them.
~Fin
A few moments later and they parted, the courier calmer and breathing easier as he snorted at Koa's understatement. "Y'can say that again! An' spiked sounds like just my speed right about now," he agreed ruefully on the heels of Alys's agreement. He watched her take the jar out with a sudden, indrawn breath and then held it as she collected the water. Not out of nervousness but out of anticipation, and when she returned his grin split wide enough to rival the Flowerbirth sun.
"Yeah, I understand. Here--" he made sure to fold her hands around the Compass. "Keep this. Y'can use it t'catch up with us quick once... once y'talk t'Mort an'... an' we're all t'gether again." There was a desperate, hungry hope in his eyes that he couldn't quite hide as he squeezed her hands around the talisman. He leaned forward to press a quick, soft kiss for luck on her lips and then released her, clearing his throat as he remembered Koa was there, too. "Ah, right. Let's, uh, get th'ol' girl airborne an' see if she needs' adjustin' after that..." he mumbled, blushing lightly from this ears to the back of his neck, gesturing back to the Peregrine.
The flight back to the Bodega wasn't slow, but it wasn't quick enough for Tal. He couldn't wait to get docked and safe so that Alys - and Sascha, Mort willing - could rejoin them.
~Fin
