[She's listening to Lif, certainly, but she doesn't turn to look at him until his hand finds her shoulder. His words bear the weight of an oath - she couldn't miss them if she tried.]
I know.
[It's such a simple phrase, but it really is one she's aware of and honestly believes in whole-heartedly.]
If I didn't trust in that, I wouldn't have come all the way out here with on you. I would have insisted we bring Farkas or Njada; another shield-brother to watch our backs. I know you won't die on me, just as I won't die on you.
It was just... surprising, I suppose.
[The wounds they sustained during their sparring sessions beneath the sea were different. They were "dead" so those injuries hardly mattered. But here, where death is a very real threat... It was surprising, despite how stupid that sounds.]
I know you understand it, but I do wish I hadn't told you quite like this. Skjor deserves to have tales of his bravery and cunning told, not my regrets and sorrows.
[It's her attempt at lightening the mood a bit, though she does truly believe that.]
[Lif likewise listens to Aela as she speaks; he's pleased that she knows that he won't leave her so easily. That she trusts him enough for it to be just the two of them on this journey, despite the perils that this land brings.]
We have not had to worry, about such injuries possibly spelling our end in quite some time.
[...He doesn't let go of her shoulder, though; if anything, his grip tightens slightly. A little more assuring and grounding.
He should let go though, shouldn't he? He should. And yet, Lif doesn't; he's not sure why, but...he wants to linger. He wants to linger for just a little longer--]
...Tell me about him, sometime. It does not have to be right now; should your memories of him be entrenched in sorrow, allow that sorrow to pass. When the time should come, I would be honored to share in the tales of his cunning and bravery.
To hear of the tales that would do his memory justice.
[Lif at least seems willing to lighten the mood himself, and his gaze seems happy, if nothing else.]
[Lif always has been good at reading her moods. He presses when he's curious, and backs off when she needs him to. It's an ebb and flow like the ocean, and Lif meshes seamlessly with her. It's been like this since they met up again after their deaths, and she's pleased that it hasn't changed even now.]
I will, then. Those are stories my shield-brothers will want to help tell, I'm sure. We'll recount his tales soon, I'm sure.
[And Kodlak's too, and every shield-brother of theirs that has come before. Lif is one of them now, and he deserves to know their history as well as everyone else.]
Thank you.
[It's simple, and it feels like she should elaborate, but Aela's not even sure where to begin.]
...For everything.
[Too simple, but it gets the point across well enough. Lif has done more for her than she can ever truly express, and the fact that he hasn't let go of her shoulder isn't lost on her. Perhaps—
[It's times like these that he almost wishes that come of the things that had been done to him in the ocean had been kept; he can't quite smile the way he could before, but it's clear from his expression that he would be doing just that if he could.]
I am looking forward to it.
[But then she lets those simple words escape her. It makes his chest tighten again--he's not sure what with, but it's something almost nerve-wracking. It's strange, but not unwelcome, and yet it strengthens his resolve in some ways.
...He really should let go of her, shouldn't he, he's being improper and could give her the wrong idea--
(But what is the right idea, in these circumstances? Lif doesn't know.)]
...Of course, Aela. It is never any trouble; I am willing to do all I can for you.
[That feels forward. Too much so, really. Lif's grip softens on Aela's shoulder before attempting to withdraw entirely, and Lif finds his gaze going elsewhere while the blue parts of his face darken a touch. It's fine. Everything's fine.]
No. Come on, get your act together. Now isn't the time or the place, and Lif's been injured. Even if he's going with that where she thinks he's going with that, it'll have to wait until his injury's been healed.
Besides, Lif's hand withdraws, and Aela checks her disappointment with it because again, now really isn't the time. They can discuss this more later.]
Glad to hear it. The same goes for you as well.
[She shakes her head once that's out there and then gets to her feet.]
But for now, you're resting. I'll take first watch.
[She'll be up for longer than that to give Lif more time to rest, but she's not going to risk getting too tired standing on watch. That's just asking for an ambush, after all.]
[let's be honest. lif doesn't know where lif is going with that.
But never the less, Lif nods his head. He'll start to get up, then; the last thing he needs is for something to happen to him in such a state. He doesn't want to worry Aela, after all.]
Very well. Wake me up when it is my turn to take watch; I will see you then.
[His gaze softens a bit as he looks back to her, before making his way back to his tent. Sure, it'll probably take him a bit to sleep--that, and he's an incredibly light sleeper--but he will attempt to make sure that he rests. Anything less would worry her.
(Though his brain certainly isn't going to shut off, as his thoughts drift to Aela and likely keep him awake for longer than intended as he tries and fails to sort himself out. It's fine.)]
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no subject
I know.
[It's such a simple phrase, but it really is one she's aware of and honestly believes in whole-heartedly.]
If I didn't trust in that, I wouldn't have come all the way out here with on you. I would have insisted we bring Farkas or Njada; another shield-brother to watch our backs. I know you won't die on me, just as I won't die on you.
It was just... surprising, I suppose.
[The wounds they sustained during their sparring sessions beneath the sea were different. They were "dead" so those injuries hardly mattered. But here, where death is a very real threat... It was surprising, despite how stupid that sounds.]
I know you understand it, but I do wish I hadn't told you quite like this. Skjor deserves to have tales of his bravery and cunning told, not my regrets and sorrows.
[It's her attempt at lightening the mood a bit, though she does truly believe that.]
no subject
We have not had to worry, about such injuries possibly spelling our end in quite some time.
[...He doesn't let go of her shoulder, though; if anything, his grip tightens slightly. A little more assuring and grounding.
He should let go though, shouldn't he? He should. And yet, Lif doesn't; he's not sure why, but...he wants to linger. He wants to linger for just a little longer--]
...Tell me about him, sometime. It does not have to be right now; should your memories of him be entrenched in sorrow, allow that sorrow to pass. When the time should come, I would be honored to share in the tales of his cunning and bravery.
To hear of the tales that would do his memory justice.
[Lif at least seems willing to lighten the mood himself, and his gaze seems happy, if nothing else.]
no subject
I will, then. Those are stories my shield-brothers will want to help tell, I'm sure. We'll recount his tales soon, I'm sure.
[And Kodlak's too, and every shield-brother of theirs that has come before. Lif is one of them now, and he deserves to know their history as well as everyone else.]
Thank you.
[It's simple, and it feels like she should elaborate, but Aela's not even sure where to begin.]
...For everything.
[Too simple, but it gets the point across well enough. Lif has done more for her than she can ever truly express, and the fact that he hasn't let go of her shoulder isn't lost on her. Perhaps—
Hah, no need to get ahead of herself.]
no subject
I am looking forward to it.
[But then she lets those simple words escape her. It makes his chest tighten again--he's not sure what with, but it's something almost nerve-wracking. It's strange, but not unwelcome, and yet it strengthens his resolve in some ways.
...He really should let go of her, shouldn't he, he's being improper and could give her the wrong idea--
(But what is the right idea, in these circumstances? Lif doesn't know.)]
...Of course, Aela. It is never any trouble; I am willing to do all I can for you.
[That feels forward. Too much so, really. Lif's grip softens on Aela's shoulder before attempting to withdraw entirely, and Lif finds his gaze going elsewhere while the blue parts of his face darken a touch. It's fine. Everything's fine.]
no subject
No. Come on, get your act together. Now isn't the time or the place, and Lif's been injured. Even if he's going with that where she thinks he's going with that, it'll have to wait until his injury's been healed.
Besides, Lif's hand withdraws, and Aela checks her disappointment with it because again, now really isn't the time. They can discuss this more later.]
Glad to hear it. The same goes for you as well.
[She shakes her head once that's out there and then gets to her feet.]
But for now, you're resting. I'll take first watch.
[She'll be up for longer than that to give Lif more time to rest, but she's not going to risk getting too tired standing on watch. That's just asking for an ambush, after all.]
no subject
But never the less, Lif nods his head. He'll start to get up, then; the last thing he needs is for something to happen to him in such a state. He doesn't want to worry Aela, after all.]
Very well. Wake me up when it is my turn to take watch; I will see you then.
[His gaze softens a bit as he looks back to her, before making his way back to his tent. Sure, it'll probably take him a bit to sleep--that, and he's an incredibly light sleeper--but he will attempt to make sure that he rests. Anything less would worry her.
(Though his brain certainly isn't going to shut off, as his thoughts drift to Aela and likely keep him awake for longer than intended as he tries and fails to sort himself out. It's fine.)]