#// (no need to match length btw i yap a lot in first posts frfr)

[knighteclipsed]

Many of those he has felled began with words—hostility, fear, blissful unawareness; others, with weapons drawn, already in the midst of the battlefield; perhaps an ambush.

Though his many years as a soldier (and then a general) had given Valter plenty of experience, he did not expect his partner for this mission to begin by sniffing him.

“ Thank you for your marvelous opinion, ” the knight deadpans. “ Might I instead take on the stench of roses or lilies? ”

It wasn’t a heartfelt suggestion—in truth, he couldn’t care less. Whatever he smelled like, he was certain she could adjust; after all, she seemed to possess quite the incredible nose.

Perhaps it was an unreasonable conjecture; but it was her inclination towards smells—her ears and tail. Fódlan had already displayed to him various new breeds of monster; it was not too far a stretch to find a new breed of sentient creature as well. Human-like.

So it actually didn’t bother him much to be told that he ‘smelled’—after all, to one with a sensitive nose, everything would be exacerbated. (Even the faintest scents could be traced.) With the proper training, that could even be an asset on this mission:

(Which is to say: she reminded him, in a way, of a bloodhound, and he intended to use her as such.)

The townsfolk were well behind them now, leaving only the ghosts of their noises and scents behind them. The darkest operations of the human race always took place in the darkest corners—moonlit shadows, deep, forbidden libraries, the crypt of an ancient evil. Perhaps an alleyway wasn’t so on the nose of intent, but it was suitable for both everyday slights and coordinated crimes. (Crimes such as weapon-smuggling.)

Surely, she knew the scent of steel?

“ Yes, I would agree, ” the knight inclines, following the other’s snout. He’d had his own reasons for deducing this as their best next course of action (and he was going to say such regardless of her own decision), but it was always most pleasant to be on the same page in interactions. (Well, save for when the aim of the exchange was deception—alas.) “ Depending on how complex these back ways end up being, we could find them easily or with a bit more effort. ”

“ Keep your eyes open for secret passageways as well, ” he notes, his eyes looking upon the flanking buildings with that very intention. “ Buildings that seem smaller inside than out as well. They can be hidden anywhere you may not think to otherwise check. ”

*Points at You* Stinky

Reason +1