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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - AFTERNOON
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Louma had accompanied May to the marketplace for a quick lunch date before the stoat went back to her important work at the generator, leaving Louma alone near the crowded market after she'd reassured May she was alright. She knows she's in need of time out of the house, getting antsy, and expecting to head to the clinic within a few days to get the all-clear to slither back to her desk. Knowing Plume would likely be busy this time of day, Louma's opted to burn an hour or two at the Minnow, making her way directly from the door to the bar, sliding a couple stools out of the way of her coiling tail.
Baldwin is currently enjoying his day off with a drink at the counter. His arm is still in a sling, the wound on his shoulder healing quite nicely even if it's still quite painful to move more than a little bit. The sound of stools being moved aside draws his attention, and he glances around, only to smile and raise his glass in greeting. "Oh, afternoon, Louma. Glad to see you're up and about!"
Louma orders herself a quarter glass of red wine before hearing her name, looking around to find Baldwin. She waves on spotting him, ending her destruction of the order of stools to slither over to his spot instead. "Good afternoon, Baldwin. Doing well enough to visit the tavern, I see?"
Baldwin chuckles and gives the sling a slight bobble, the movement sending the slightest of jolts through his shoulder. "It's just a bum arm, really. A couple more weeks or so, and I should be back to normal. I've just been taking light duties in the mean time." He tilts his head curiously, "How about you? You seem to be recovering pretty well."
Louma glances at her tail, her uncovered scars looking tender from moving around, but otherwise not bothering her terribly. "Ah... Despite the number, nothing too sensitive was hurt." She looks back to Baldwin, bowing her head to him. "Thank you again, for being there to rescue me."
Baldwin smiles. "I'm glad my team and I were able to do what we could to help get you home, Louma. Honestly, though, I don't think any of us were expecting to run into each other like that, so... maybe you and the other captains just trained us well?"
Louma chuckles, shrugging. "Not sure that kind of luck can be trained, but all of you did very well." She settles her tail around her, nodding to the barkeep when her wine arrives. "But let's hope I'm wrong, and the rescue get such a benefit."
Baldwin hums, nodding along. "Well, they only took folks along who are capable in a fight and not injured. The folks that are still here in town are either relatively new, have no experience in combat, or are injured from before. So even if the rescue doesn't have luck, they've got the skill."
Louma nods, smiling at him. "I know, but wishing for a little more luck won't hurt anybody. How have your other affairs been?" She's certainly acting friendlier with Baldwin than before her capture, as if not having to put on a facade of proper command attitude every day has left her without that automatic instinct.
Baldwin shrugs as best as he can. "About as good as can be, really. Other than my arm being out of commission for a bit, I can do just about everything else as well as before." He grins, "My eyes are still as sharp as ever."
Louma chuckles quietly, nodding. "That's good, it would be hard to replace you. The forms alone..."
Baldwin puts on a bit of a voice that makes it pretty obvious he's joking. He seems to have cottoned on to Louma's more relaxed attitude, and is more than happy to roll with it. "Ohh, I don't know, Louma... I've been thinking about honing some other skills, and I might need more time to do that, you know? This guard business really takes up a lot of the day, after all."
Louma smiles and nods, giving a little shrug before she takes a sip from her wine. "I'm returning to my office in a couple days. I'll make sure drawing up your resignation papers is the first thing I do~"
Baldwin chuckles as he takes a sip of his own drink. "I would be ever so grateful, Louma. Though, I'm glad to hear you're recovered enough to get back behind the desk again." He smiles as he sets his glass back on the counter and taps for a refill, "I can't imagine being idle at home was any fun."
Louma shakes her head, though she gives pause. "Normally no, but thankfully I wasn't alone the whole time."
Baldwin smirks. "Ahh, so your partner was able to keep things interesting, then~? Good to hear. Would have been good for us to rescue you only for you to die of boredom at home waiting to recover."
Louma slips through a bashful smile, blushing, then clearing her throat and straightening up a bit. "Yes, you're right about that. A little companionship really does make a difference." Seems talking about her personal life to other guards still raises a flag for Louma. "I can hardly believe I'd ever say it, but I look forward to the desk and quill again."
Baldwin hums as he eases back from the overt teasing. "Mmh, maybe just a little too much excitement in a short length of time, I'd believe it. I'd love to get back to just... you know, boring patrols and chasing wild animals away from town again for a good while."
Louma nods, finishing the relatively small amount of wine off. "We'll get there."
Baldwin nods and smiles. "That we will. We just need to wait for the rescue team to come back victorious."
Louma settles in place next to Baldwin, easing the next hour and some of conversation away from the current situation, despite the underlying worry bringing the topic up in spots of their conversation. A little revealing on the Captain's part for how anxious she's feeling about the rescue effort.