Rewritten

The way that Badari reacted to her was rather telling. There was initial wariness to Seraphina's wandering eyes and a bashful tuck of her muzzle as she expressed gratitude in a softer voice. A chuckle rolled off her lips in a smooth dulcet tone and she tilted her head lightly to one side. “Has no one ever complimented your beauty, Badari?" She rolled her eyes with another shorter laugh and a shake of her head. “I suppose the nobles still don't know how to properly appreciate a woman..."

The ever stoic Lieutenant Tiamat did pleasantly surprise her by lifting her chin to return the flattery. Seraphina practically glowed beneath the weight of the other woman's gaze. She even hopped to her feet to prance in a circle, ensuring she showed off every inch left unseen. The instant surge of delight from even a cautious surveying of her form lingered as she seated herself once again. What Badari asked her next felt a bit of a double edged sword to her, a bittersweet topic of conversation.

“I've been...free." Seraphina decided on the word, nodding to herself and then glancing over at Badari again with a smile. Her expression grew curious then, a hint of mischief roaming across her face. “Tell me...what sort of rumors were started about me after my absolutely glorious fall from grace? I know there had to be at least some chatter in those groups of loose-lipped ladies."

There was a glimpse of a falter in her demeanor, the mention of the time that had past ruffling her feathers. “Forgive me of my absence." She murmured, meeting the flames of Badari's eyes with a genuine apologetic look. She took a pause, sighing before attempting to recover that playful air she had about her before. “I'm sure you missed seeing me from afar so terribly that it kept you up at night!" Sera teased, leaning back and lifting the backside of her paw to her forehead dramatically to mock the role of a damsel.

@Badari

“Has no one ever complimented your beauty, Badari?" Seraphina asked and Badari looked towards her. She shrugged her shoulders then shook her head, "no, not really." she said. She had been complimented on her battle skills and things like that but never her beauty. She didn't even think about the way she looked most of the time. "I suppose the nobles still don't know how to properly appreciate a woman..." she commented and Badari huffed a little laugh. "It's not like I have men knocking down my doors," she said, her tone playful.

The conversation switched to Seraphina shortly after and Badari merely shrugged again. "I actually wouldn't know much. I left to look for my sister right after the first war, I was gone for a few years." she admitted. So the latest gossip and rumors were lost on her. "I suppose I can find it in my heart to forgive you, I was gone too after all." she said withe a smile. She stood, then, and drew in a breath. "We should catch up sometime, but I have to head back soon," she said. Sadly she couldn't linger and chat all day long, much as she might like to do just that.

"Badari Tiamat speaking."

“It's not like I have men knocking down my doors."

Seraphina gave her a concerned look for a moment until she realized it was another serving of Badari's dry humor. Still, she wrinkled up her nose, finding the notion distasteful, rolling her eyes to accompany her aversion to the thought. “Well, I hope that's not something they think women find attractive. I suppose you can be thankful for that...but, you do know that men are not the only beholders of beauty, don't you?" She tilted her head to the side, her eyes brightening with curiosity. “So, no women either, I take it?" She practically purred, lifting a paw to rest it beneath her chin in a performative pose. “Does that makes me your first then, Badari? What an honor..." She continued to tease with a chuckle before lowering her paw once more and settling back into her seated position.

There was genuine relief that softened her features when she discovered that Badari didn't know much of anything. Then again, perhaps her family had kept it perfectly under wraps, convincing others that the presence of their youngest daughter was a figment to save face. Seraphina truly didn't know which she would prefer...the harsh slander or the blatant disregard for her existence. While the possibilities swirled around like a storm of chaos in her mind, she simply hummed to acknowledge the response. Badari continued to humor her playfulness and with that interaction alone, she felt seen.

The moment had ended far quicker than it had begun, the soldier reminding Seraphina that the world would never stop for her. She stood and gave a curt nod of agreement, her tail swishing behind her in a light wag. “Yes, we should...we're perfect strangers, after all, it seems. I'd love to get to know the woman beneath the armor." She smiled sweetly before throwing the ball back into Badari's court. “If you really mean it, pick the place and time. I'll be there."

@Badari

Badari couldn't shake the look of concern she'd drawn from Seraphina at her words and it caused a bit of confusion to cross her own features. But then she said something that Badari had not truly considered before and something that made her cheeks flush red, if not for the fur covering them Seraphina would surely have seen her blush. "Well, no. No women either." she admitted. She hadn't really thought of that before but then again she hadn't thought of any men in that way either. It had always been about work for her, and that was it. "I-I guess it does," she said, unable to hide her nerves. She swallowed the lump in her throat and tossed her old friend a shy smile.

As she tried to rid herself of her awkwardness, she switched gears as Sera suggested they meet up and get to know one another again. That sounded like fun and Badari found herself nodding her head before she replied "I know a little shop in Rionna we could visit, it's got all sorts of drinks and delicious food." she said before relaying its name to the other woman. "I have a day off in a couple of days and we can meet there around midday... I'll see you then," she said before bidding farewell and heading off. She was still thinking about Seraphina's comment as she disappeared into the crowed on the street that bordered the quiet road they'd been chatting upon.

exit badari

"Badari Tiamat speaking."