[ P ] good lady knight

Argent considered telling her of his plans to take her to the lake, but held his tongue. Why not make it a surprise? There was a lot of joy to be found in a new experience when not knowing what to expect. I have something in mind, he replied vaguely, smile turning uncharacteristically playful. It seemed that being around Merrin was bringing out a lighter side to the normally grumpy man. He was even comfortable enough with her to share his condition. Something that normally grieved him to speak of and brought him shame. The tension in his body had melted away once he realised that his reaction had worried her. He didn’t want her to be afraid of asking about him. Quite the opposite, he wanted her to know more.

He regretted invading her space when she flinched away and he inwardly cursed himself. Bloody idiot, the thought came in the fleeting moment before muzzle touched muzzle and their gazes met. Argent held his breath, fearing that if he made a sudden movement she might retreat and he’d never see her again. The blood rushed to his head, setting his features on fire. Or was that the scorching sun? All he knew was that he was uncomfortably hot under his shaggy arctic coat. S-Sorry, he muttered apologetically and shifted his weight between his paws awkwardly waiting for a reprimand.

”Alright then, let’s be off,”

Her words broke the awkward silence and he was happy to be moving again. At least she wasn’t angry with him. I’ll tell you if it gets too much, he promised, knowing that if he started panting his ribs would flare with pain and he would have to stop regardless. It’d help if I didn’t have all this fur, he grumbled, but there was humour in his silver gaze.

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Her dear friend's flustered apology stabbed at her heart and she shook he head, murmuring softly, "Don't be" If anything, she did not wish for Argent to believe he'd done anything wrong. He had his injuries and she had hers...even if they were not of the physical nature.

She was relieved that they could muddle through the awkward atmosphere and see themselves to their duties so quickly afterwards. Merrin went from one side of the town to the other, checking in on every household. Most of the citizens found themselves ways of comfort and whatever they did request she noted so that they could pass the information along to the other soldiers about before moving along.

Her last stop had been the house of a widow she had assisted before when a child had fallen ill. She was pleased to see the children were as lively as they could be given the circumstances and the mother was faring well with the resources the Imperial Army provided.

Overall, the town of Rionna had proved to be well off and as she bid farewell to the family, she rejoined Argent. "All is well here, thank goodness. How are you feeling? I know I've made you walk quite a bit." Merrin herself was left panting even after trying her best to take her time.

@Argent

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The softly murmured don't be was all the reassurance Argent needed to know that his clumsy attempt at reassurance hadn't blown up in his face. He had precious few friends as it was, not being the most approachable fellow. Merrin was quickly becoming someone very important to him and he didn't want to ruin that with his awkwardness. He didn't know the reason behind Merrin's aversion to touch, but neither did he need to. All he needed to know was not to do it again without her permission.

As they walked through the city he tried not to scowl too much. The crowds made him uncomfortable and he felt the familiar tugging at his brow before he stopped himself. He was not a people person despite his desire to help them. Argent let Merrin do the talking while he hung back like a grumpy gargoyle outside. He gave his best smile to the child and the widow, but she still managed to look offended or was that his imagination? It was unbearably hot and the weight of his thick fur was suffocating him. He scratched at his neck furiously, only stopping when Merrin returned to his side.

His tongue poked out from between his lips and he let out a weary sigh. It hung loose from his mouth and his sides squeezed painfully against his ribs in an effort to take in more air. I'm glad. I think they liked you. The mum and the kid, he said, voice soft as he paused between pants. He couldn't help, but admire the way she cared about the people she had adopted as her own. Too hot, he answered honestly and winced as his ribs flexed. Shall we find some shade? he asked, eager to get out of the sun and collapse into a sleepy lump.

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Merrin gifted him a smile in response to his comment on the family she'd just paid a visit to. She looked over her shoulder back at the household, but when she returned her gaze on Argent, her smile dropped. She looked him over, noticing he was clearly not handling the heat well and she should have seen it coming with his thick, arctic coat.

He winced and she took tentative steps towards him, wanting to assist him if he would allow it. "Oh, Argent, forgive me! We probably should have stopped halfway. Oh, dear..." Merrin did her best to swallow the guilt down, focusing first on finding the retired Captain some relief.

She peered around them, trying to calculate the shortest route back where they came from. "If we head down this way a bit, there should be a water station that the other soldiers are manning. We can get you a drink and then there should be some shade close by." She stood closer to him, gesturing for him to lean on her as he needed to while they moved through the streets. "Do you think you can make it there? Goodness, you really didn't have to follow me the whole way, you know..."

@Argent

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The characteristic frown wrinkled his brow as his discomfort grew. He hadn't expected the heat to bother him like it had. It felt like he was wearing the world's hottest and heaviest blanket that could not be removed. Merrin was obviously concerned, he had tried to be helpful, but in the end he ended up making her worry. He let out a gruff sigh of frustration and shook his head. No it's not your fault. I'm fine, really. I can handle it, he insisted. Stopping half way would have felt like a failure. As a captain he had patrolled Riona several times a day. A bit of sun would not hold him back now.

Merrin suggested they head off to get some water and find some shade. It sounded like an oasis in a desert to the thirsty veteran. Embarrassment flushed through him when Merrin pointed out that he needn't have followed her the whole way. She should be helping other people, not a stubborn fool like him. Maybe not... he muttered sullenly and sighed again. I can make it, he added after a moment of brooding silence.

I didn't mean to make you worry, he mumbled, looking over at her guiltily. I'll be good after a bit of rest, he promised her, worried that she might not rely on him as much because of his current state. It was hardly a good look for him.

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The motherly instincts she'd never had the chance to use properly came forth and she stayed close to him, her lilac eyes flickered over him as they walked. Merrin understood the old Captain held a sense of pride in his image and she had no desire to damage his reputation. She bit back anything else she might've thought to say, noticing he wasn't taking to her worrying over him very well.

Walking side by side with Argent, she blinked over at him as he mumbled, the guilt plainly written on his face. He claimed that rest was all he needed and so she simply nodded and they continued on silently until they made it to the water station. Merrin thought of waiting for him to get his fill first, but didn't want to seem too overbearing and so she lapped up her share while keeping an eye on the silvered male.

She lifted her head, her salmon tongue swiping over her maw to collect any stray droplets as she looked to Argent. What could she say to ease his mind? "Thank you, Argent." She finally piped up, glancing sideways as she took a breath and continued. "I do appreciate you coming with me today. I do enjoy your company, very much so."


@Argent

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He began to relax once they got closer to the watering station. Merrin’s close presence was a comfort despite his pride telling him otherwise. That she hadn’t left him to return to her duties shouldn’t have surprised him, but it did. Argent knew her enough that she wouldn’t do something like that so he dismissed those thoughts with a frown. He wasn’t used to someone caring so much and he was a little scared of how much he needed it. Since retirement he had led a reclusive life at least until he began training with Kvothe and now Merrin was finding a place for herself in his heart.

Thank you, Argent, Her voice broke him from his reverie and he lifted his head from lapping at the water. Droplets beaded the shaggy tufts of his chin, surprise touching his masked features. A relieved smile curled the edges of his lips and he nodded his head. Maybe he hadn’t caused her too much trouble after all. Her next words were enough to make him blush and duck his head slightly. It was what he wanted to hear. Me too, he admitted softly, still smiling despite his obvious bashfulness.

Merrin? Argent lifted his head, glancing over at her expectantly. Argent is my family name. You can call me Luciel…if you like, he offered, giving her the opportunity to become closer to him. His first name wasn’t something he shared often, but he trusted Merrin enough to allow her this intimate detail. Argent had been his identity in the army for many years. It was a name he was proud to bear and still claimed as his true self, but he wasn’t always a soldier. Sometimes he was just a man called Luciel.

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Merrin was relieved to see she'd managed to conjure a smile out of him again, even though he ducked his head afterwards. She chuckled softly at his bashful nature, glad to see the heat hadn't affected him too horribly. Taking a few steps away from the water provided to allow room for someone else to quench their thirst, she looked over towards a tree with a small overhang of leaves to provide shade beneath it. She was about to propose they rest there when her ears flicked at the sound of her name.

"Hm?" She turned back to face Argent, resting a sincere gaze upon him only to be left pleasantly surprised by what he revealed. "Luciel?" She repeated his name slowly, her smile widening as lavender orbs took him in as though she were seeing him for the first time. By the way his tone, she could tell that he was purposefully letting her into tidbits he might not normally tell someone, just the same as he had done with sharing about his injury. He trusted her. Simply knowing that warmed her heart.

She dipped her front half in a deep flourish of a bow and when she rose once more, there was a playful twinkle in her eyes. "It's an absolute pleasure to meet you, Luciel..." She moved over to his side with a joyful bounce in her step and looked up into his starlit eyes, ready to lead him to the shade just a few pawsteps away. "Shall we?"


@Argent

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Hearing his name upon her lips made him flush again, but the sensation was more pleasant than flustering. He liked it. He liked it a lot when she said his name. The smile that formed was big enough to make his muzzle wrinkle. Argent couldn’t remember smiling so much, not since he was a lad. There was a sparkle in his normally stormy gaze and a slight goofy toothiness to the smiles he displayed. A laugh bubbled up inside of him when she bowed and playfully expressed that it was a pleasure to meet him. It was not the usually restrained gruff chuckle that escaped him, this one came straight from his belly. It was a rumbling husky laugh that vibrated through him. It continued until his sides began to squeeze his ribs and the pain forced him to relax. It didn’t silence his smile however, he wore it proudly, refusing to let his good mood leave him. The pleasure is all mine, Merrin, he replied, inclining his head to her. He meant his words sincerely despite the playful way in which he spoke.

Let’s, he agreed, letting her lead the way to the shaded spot beneath the tree. Now that he had water in his belly he felt more comfortable. Beneath the tree and out of the sun the heat that his fur had absorbed like a sponge began to cool and he let out a relieved sigh. He curled up, making himself comfortable and laid his head upon the thick cushion of his very fluffy tail. It’s pretty comfy… y’know if you want to lay down too, he cleared his throat, patting his tail with a forepaw. Room for another weary head.

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Merrin padded up to the tree, the instant relief of the shade drawing a sigh past her lips. She moved to one side to allow Argent...or now, Luciel...to find a comfortable spot. She was glad to see he was staying to feel better after hydrating and having a place to rest his paws.

Her gaze lingered as he curled himself up, making himself comfortable, her lilac orbs glimmering with a mixture of caring and admiration. Luciel... She let his true name roam around in her mind and she smiled to herself to get to know a deeper part of him. When he spoke to her she blinked, realizing she'd simply been staring at him from where she was standing.

Lightly blushing beneath her fur, she followed his gesture where he patted on his tail that billowed over with a magnitude of flowing fur that was reminiscent of a storm cloud. "Ah, yes, that would be quite nice actually." She moved towards him on tentative paws, slightly hesitant to invade his space, yet he had been the one to offer.

Attempting to silence the doubts pressing within her skull, she lowered herself slowly, her earth-toned fur intermingling with the contrasting ivory of his. Merrin delicately let her chin rest atop his tail, careful not to bump noses with him even though they were but a few breaths apart. She peered up at him and gifted him a soft smile. "Thank you, Luciel."

@Argent

table by Yahtzee-Penguiduck [da], click for attributions