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RESPITE BARRACKS - AFTERNOON
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Fiora has gotten up, stretching her legs a bit as she's been sticking close to the barracks, foregoing her usual runs in order to keep an eye on Erika and Cavro until someone figures out what to do about those doppel-whatevers. Probably best she not get involved... she really doubts she could punch something that looks like Erika anyways... and honestly despite the posturing, probably couldn't punch Cavro either. So for now, she's been making a nuisance of herself here. Still in full armor, minus her helmet, she finds a bit of open space to stretch.
Brunilda walks to the same open space from the other side, her gaze on the ground. The elephant is in her usual relatively light armor, though in some ways she looks more worn down than the thick leather on her. Her pace is slow and ponderous; she does not notice Fiora outright as she nearly drags her halberd behind, only a pride of a weapon passed down keeping her from doing so.
Fiora turns at the rather thunderous approach, recognizing it pretty instantly, Brunilda isn't a light step. She's half been avoiding her and half been hoping to have a talk, having vented a good deal of frustration into the carapaces of several giant insects. She waits a moment in silence to see if Brun will notice her before managing a quiet, "Um... hey."
Brunilda slowly looks up; her expression turning from tiredness and defeat to surprise to confusion to elation: "H-hey! Fiora!" She takes several hasty steps towards the giraffe: "I t-thought you were gone for good a-after what I did!"
Fiora blinks, managing an awkward chuckle. "Well, you'd figure by now you'd know I'm a stubborn giraffe. I don't exactly know when to leave... at least, not until everything's on fire." She glances away, "But uh, no. Not gone. Just... had to vent a bit. Wasn't anything you did..."
Brunilda slows down as she gets within arm's reach: "Y-you worried me a lot. B-but that's fine, I probably deserved it." She frowns with a sigh: "Definitely did. I'm... I'm sorry."
Fiora looks back at Brun and smiles, "I can't fault you for wanting what you want... still... I appreciate that. Thanks... and sorry for worrying you. I uh... I found Erika and Cavro lost out there... so it all worked out, honest."
Brunilda gives a small smile: "I heard someone found them... didn't think it'd be the person I missed myself." She steps closer and hesitates. "So, uh... it all worked out?"
Fiora chuckles, "Somehow, yeah. I mean... there's still those whatever they are taking their place? But I'm leaving that to you folks." She pauses, raising an eyebrow. "You.. missed me? I thought... err... hell, I don't know what I thought. I was trying not to."
Brunilda nods slowly, her eyes growing moist. She swallows: "Y-yeah. Missed you... t-thought..." She steps forward, grabbing Fiora into as tight a hug as she can muster without outright denting the giraffe into her armor.
Fiora oofs at the sudden hug, coughing out a laugh, "What is... unf... I can take the armor off you know!" She laughs, manging to get an arm free to hug Brun back. "But... thanks."
Brunilda lets go, blushing but the moist in her eyes is real: "T-thought I had seen the last of you. Because of what I said. Or wanted."
Fiora shakes her head as Brun lets go. Stepping around to give Brun a proper hug of her own. "Nah. Stubborn. I just... was frustrated cause I thought I found... something. But I... I'm sorta getting attached to this town, like I said before. I'm gonna be around, even if... you just want to be friends?" She gives another forced smile, uncertain what Brun wants anymore.
Brunilda looks aside for a moment at the word 'friends', then swallows and looks up: "Friends... or if I said I'd want to be more, just without that... that thing." She waves her hand a bit and sighs: "Did a lot of thinking, about what's actually important." She takes a breath and looks at Fiora: "I... I want to be with you. Be... yours."
Fiora cranes her neck back in surprise, but doesn't release her hug. "I... y-you do? You still do? Even when I'm..." She closes her eyes, bringing her head back down and draping her heck around the back of Brun's head. "That's what I thought I'd found in you. That's what I want too..."
Brunilda sniffs and holds the giraffe close: "I-I think I was wrong. I know I was wrong. What I thought was important... isn't." She reaches her trunk around Fiora's neck, only barely holding back tears at this point.
Fiora squeezes Brun gently. "I... thank you. I will do what I can to be... worthy of that. Worthy of you."
Brunilda swallows, then lets out a bit of a snorting laughter: "W-well, f-for one don't vanish on me again." She gives Fiora's shoulder a gentle punch to accentuate her point.
Fiora gives a mock grunt of pain at the punch, then laughs, slowly releaseing the hug. "Yeah, okay, fair. No running off axe in hand without at least telling you which direction I'm running, eh?"
Brunilda lets go as well and grins: "It's not fair if I can't bring my halberd to try and join you." The elephant is somewhere beyond relieved, she's elated and it feels like a mountain of worry has been lifted off her.
Fiora grins back. "Well, see, there's really no one in Respite who I'd rather have at my back. I can say that since Gareth's in Sarn." She leans in and whispers, "But even if he was here... I'd still say that and probably give him crap about it."
Brunilda smiles, swallowing. She holds out her hand to Fiora: "Friends? Partners ...and maybe more?"
Fiora takes Brun's arm, clasping her hand around the Brun's forearm. "Friends. Partners. And... as much as I can be, Brun."
Brunilda clasps her other hand on Fiora's, holding tight: "If we stick together, who can even dream of stopping us, right?"
Fiora grins wide. "Now you're speaking my language."
Brunilda shrugs, grinning: "I don't know a lot of languages, but that one I'm pretty familiar with." She grasps Fiora's hand just slightly tighter, winking: "You just made a sparring partner for life."
Fiora actually blushes, tightening her grip in response. "I... so have you, Brun. Your fights are my fights."
Brunilda smiles, looking at Fiora in the eyes: "A-and... partner for life in that other meaning too. I-if you'll have me around."
Fiora reaches her other arm around Brun to hug her once again, still grasping her arm. "Does mean you gotta tolerate my stupid plate armor ass around too, you know?"
Brunilda gives a silly little grin: "If that means I get to see said ass once in a while without armor- er" She blushes, stammers and finally shrugs: "...w-well, yeah, that too."
Fiora dips her head a bit awkwardly. "I... I'll try my best on that end. I hope I really end up being what you want, Brun."
Brunilda shrugs, still blushing: "Honestly? I'm not sure what it is I exactly want, but... I'd be more than happy to find that out with you."
Fiora gives Brun a gentle punch to the shoulder from her gauntleted fist. "Well then first things first. You're helping me find out what Erika and Cavro want for lunch, and then we're going to get them lunch. And maybe we'll get some too, alright? I... I'm still new to this whole... lovin' folks bit... it's been awhile and... I'm trying me best. For Gareth, and for Erika... and I'll do my best for you too, okay?"
Brunilda smirks at the punch, lifting her shoulder slightly: "Sounds like a plan to me. And... well, it's not like I have much experience either. All I know is that I love you and want to stick with you."
Fiora nods, "Well, if the objective is to learn through screwing up, we're off to a good start... but let's do it. I did tell you in the bar that I wasn't lying when I said it, but... I love you too, Brun."
Brunilda picks up her halberd from the ground next to them where she had dropped it, then turns to smile at her partner: "Learning the hard way seems to be the way either of us approach, well, anything." She sighs, shaking her head: "This is definitely not the sanest thing, but I'm pretty sure love isn't in that category of things anyway."
Fiora shrugs, "No one ever accused me of being sane."
Brunilda chuckles, then steps back towards Fiora, leaning close: "We'll kick sanity's butt together, then."
Fiora smiles with only a hint of uncertainty as she puts an arm around Brun, letting the elephant stay close. "Definitely my language."
Brunilda smiles warmly as she stands right near Fiora, then hesitates. "I uh... well, I want to kiss you. But I'll ask first this time. Can I?"
Fiora shifts position and lowers her head closer to Brun. "Well if I'm forewarned about it, I'm less likely to put a hole in the Barrack wall and get your Captain all mad at me, so good call. That said... feel free~."
Brunilda nods slightly, then lifts her trunk in order to lean close to kiss Fiora, this time with no sudden surprises and four times the passion behind it.
Fiora leans into the kiss in response, giving her own fair share of passion, if not fueled by sexual desire, then definitely fueled by a romantic love she cannot deny.
Brunilda holds Fiora close for as much as their respective pieces of armor allow, for about as long as she is able, before letting go: "...y-yeah, d-definitely love you~." She leans close, closing her eyes for a moment.
Fiora chuckles, unable to disguise a bit of blush on her face as well, "Good, or that would have been pretty awkward. Love you too."
Brunilda gives a blushing grin as she looks up at Fiora: "More or less awkward than us actually hurting each other?" She pauses: "...probably more. Oh well."
Fiora puts a hand on her chest, thought still smiling, "Well, you did take my breath away once at least."
Brunilda freezes for a brief second before finding her smile: "...h-heh, suppose I did. Can't just anyone say that, right?"
Fiora laughs, "Not and with respect and love behind it, no."
Brunilda laughs as well, lifting her hand to where Fiora's is on her chest: "Still sorry, but... I guess that got us here, kinda?" She looks up and smiles with just a bit of a blush still.
Fiora smiles, "You shouldn't apologize for doing the right thing... and doing the hard thing because it's the right thing. It... it's something I kinda forget sometimes when the easy thing is just... to hit whatever disagrees with me."
Brunilda chuckles softly, letting go of Fiora's hand: "I just do what... feels right. What my gut tells me. I don't really stop to think much, but, well... that's also kind of why we're here, isn't it?"
Fiora: "Heh, me too... usually. And that's indeed why we're here now. So no regrets~."
Brunilda straightens up, cracking her neck: "Yup. Oof." She looks about the few scattered guards looking at them: "Oops. Think we've had an audience..."
Fiora smirks at the guards standing around them and makes a rude gesture. "They're just jealous."
Brunilda lets out a small laugh: "G-guess that's fair." She turns to Fiora: "Besides, we could beat them all on the 'grounds if needed."
Fiora nods, "I've done it before, for certain. C'mon, lets leave them to their gossip and go figure out lunch, hm?"
Brunilda smiles, holding her hand to Fiora: "Food sounds great. Food with you even better."
Fiora brings her hand up around Brun's and lowers them together, holding Brun's hand. "Then let's do it!"
Brunilda grins brightly: "Onto unknown! And lunch." She giggles at her own silly joke, but right now doesn't seem to have a care about it.