Imprints in Stone [AU]

[NPCs]

"Mmmh?" the merikos drow asks a touch drowsily. He's more skilled (for now) and agile than his new friend, but Carver has a degree of endurance he can't match so after their day of hunting together, he's pretty wiped. Idly stroking Silence's back, he tilts his head slightly towards the human so he can just see his face.

[Carver Amell]

Carver has never been good with words. So it takes him a moment to figure out how to begin, what to say.

"...you ever have a girlfriend?"

[NPCs]

Jassinth hesitates a moment. "...of sorts," he hedges. "Nothing... serious."

[Carver Amell]

"Do you... I kinda thought... well, maybe you'd know... when you love someone, I was told you stop wanting to look at anyone else, you know? Like, nobody else seems half as pretty, you know? So if, if a guy still wants... something else... does that mean he should dump his girlfriend?"

[NPCs]

"That... is not what I have seen," he replies slowly. "Lady Maeve is non-mortal, of course, but she often times has a dozen lovers each year, most of whom she cares for deeply. Several of the druids also practice group-based mating. I know for sure that, personally, I did not stop look at others when I briefly dated."

[Carver Amell]

"What if he wants something... that his girlfriend can't do? Or, or something totally different than her? I mean, don't guys usually have a type?"

[NPCs]

Given the range of forms that has caught my eye... "Well, consider food. Most people have a favorite food, a favorite kind of food. But sometimes you want something different. I like berry pie. One of my very first memories was being sick after eating three whole pies when I as six. But every once in a while, I just have a yen for apple pie." 

[Carver Amell]

"What if you suddenly just wanted, I don't know. Like a good thick hamburger?"

[NPCs]

"Well, given my blood- and system- I would have to decide if the, ah, trouble later that night would be worth satisfying that craving," the merikos drow says slowly. This... is an interesting conversation. 

[Carver Amell]

"Huh," says Carver, as if Jassinth has said something profound. Is it worth satisfying the craving? Would it be worth saying something, knowing it would hurt Merrill? no, probably not. So. That's the answer. I'm not defective, maybe, probably, but I should keep it to myself anyway.

"Thanks, Jass. You're great."

[NPCs]

"Of course," Jass says, rather bemused by the entire exchange. "I am... glad I could help?" He hesitates, then confesses, "you... you have likely realized there are not many our age around, and most of them are villagers." Which means they there's always just a little bit of distance, due to both lifestyle and prestige. "I have... not ever had a friend such as yourself."

[Carver Amell]

"You could come with me, when I leave," he offers. "Come visit Nyra, meet my sister and my dad."

[NPCs]

"To Nyra? A city? That's..." Jassinth falters. "Not much different than you coming here, huh? I don't know.. that... I will think on it?"

[Carver Amell]

"I'll give you my address. We can at least write letters, yeah?" 

[NPCs]

"That I can certainly do," Jass says with a laugh. "And perhaps if not yet, then sometime  in the future. Someday, I shall be given the duty and honor of taking on long patrols. It would not be... out of place to do so in the direction of Nyra."