Chatter-
Smell of beer-
Sweat-
And laughter-
"Don't worry. it happens," said the elf.
Left to Flint, was an elf adventurer. And to his right, was another adventurer, the large burly man, Daryl.
At the counter, the three drank.
Flint only had half a glass since he couldn't afford to get drunk, and it was almost empty.
"Bedding your woman is a man's job. If you run from that, you're not a man," Came the drunken voice from his right. The guy was barely conscious-
The elf rolled her eyes. "Keep your opinions to yourself." She stared at Flint. "As I said, don't worry about it. everyone has their own pace. You'll be fine."
Earlier when they'd met, the elf, Kaylen, had offered a drink of an apology. And Flint accepted since he didn't have anything better.
Apology for what?
Daryl's rude behavior the other day.
Rude according to the Elf, not Daryl.
But despite that, he still agreed to pay anyway, only after getting an ear twisting action from the elf of course.
Flint wasn't used to drinking-
Or rather, he avoided it.
His father was an avid drinker and often got into heated debates with his mother, and he loathed that, vowing not to be a drunk.
So- even a few sips had left him… a little tipsy.
And that ended up being the straw helping him unwind.
He talked about how he ran from a girl because he couldn't commit and had something much, much important to do.
But no-
As he talked, that wasn't it.
He wasn't afraid to commit.
He was afraid, the girl wouldn't.
And he didn't want to go around searching for girls every single time he felt like-
Sigh-
And no, that wasn't it either.
It turned out to be something else-
Something that he had to do-
And that's why- he couldn't be with her right now. He couldn't enjoy the company of that woman and he couldn't be… happy….
Despite everything, the elf, Kaylen just encouraged him and… consoled him?
"Thanks."
"You're welcome… though if it was me-" She paused… "I'd have been a little sad. It's not often women come out of their way to you know."
Most of the men had just started drinking but some were already pretty drunk and were being carried back by their women.
Actually, some women were being carried by their men too.
Apparently, people loved drinking.
"Well, I wouldn't be too sure…" Flint had a hard time believing that about Amanda.
Whenever he thought about her…
He just…
Visioned a predator… and that big wide grin of hers…
Gulping-
Flint took the last sip.
"Well, thanks anyway. I feel much better." Flint stood up.
"No problem." The elf drank hers. "Pardon if I'm going out of my way but, I think it's better to not avoid her."
"Yeah…" It was one thing he was making her wait, but avoiding her altogether might not have been the best of ways to get around this.
"Though who'd have thought Amanda of all people would pick up such a youngster…" The elf giggled… stretching a bit-
Flint's cheeks reddened. "I don't recall mentioning…" He cleared his throat. "It's getting late so…" So, he just ran out.
While the elf giggled staring at her passed-out comrade.
***
Flint didn't go back to the academy.
Rather-
He went back to the guild.
He had a hunch she was still there.
If not-
He could always just drop by her hou… no, he didn't want to go to her place again. The next time he was going to be there, he was going to… have a good time.
As Flint closed in-
He noticed someone outside the guild. Someone hidden in a robe-
Like the first time he met her-
'Should have known…'
"Amanda-" Flint yelled from a distance.
Given that the woman was waiting for him outside the guild-
It sufficed to say, she might have been waiting for a good while longer-
So-
When Flint neared, she stared-
The sun had mostly gone down; evening.
Air- chilly-
Even so-
The woman- just stared at the man before her, not quite showing any emotions.
"I actually had classes at the academy and-" And he stopped. He could make excuses. Lots of excuses. Lots-
But-
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have run like that. And I'm sorry, I didn't say anything and just left you here, without even meaning to. I'm sorry, you had to wait all this time."
Amanda blinked twice. Confused? No, more like… surprised. Eyebrows rising a bit… lips curling; a little intrigued even.
"Wait all this time? I'm actually waiting for a business partner," Amanda said. "But I think he's a no-show. What say, we grab some dinner?"
"I'll have to get back to the academy soon, so… let's have a quick dinner?"
A grin. "Our first date then? You're okay with just moving forward, right?"
A pause-
No, Flint didn't really think about it-
It wasn't a pause for that reason.
Rather-
It was a pause as he stared at the woman- "You're sure? Like, you don't mind going out with me? I may not look like it but I'm very, very possessive… and…um… new to this."
"Well, how about this- you cheat on me, and I'll cheat on you. If you don't, I won't."
From what to… what?
Flint gulped but- "Well… um… that gives me a very good reason to not cheat and…" and what the hell?
From a proposed one-night stand, to a date, to now a method for not cheating and all that crap?
What the actual hell?
"Well, at least I won't have to pay you for teleporting now…" A weak smile.
"Actually, you'll have to pay me more… two kisses for a teleport." A wink and she swiftly moved closer, pressing her lips on Flint's-
Flint let her-
And-
They kissed…
Massive grins.