#I feel simultaneously like I got punched in the chest yet received the most gentle hug.

[maddymoreau]

Me after finishing a Visual Novel

[herstarburststories]

Quarantine Boredoom (Dick Grayson x Reader)

✾ A/N: It’s been a certain couple of months since I wrote smut/erotica, but here you go! Although, I think it’s better classified as silly porn aka Nightwing’s type? Anyway! Thanks to my friend for being my beta for this one.

✾ Request: hiya! i saw that your requests are open and then i had a mini asthma attack because i had come back from binge reading your masterlist oops,,,,that got me thinking,,,how funny would it be if reader has asthma and just has to use their puffer during sex? like could you imagine if that were to happen to dick or jason? i’d like to see that happen 👀 also your writing is absolutely amazing!!! keep up the good work!! 💕👌🏻🤠

✾ Disclaimer: fingering.

A purposefully loud huff escaped your lips when your body met Dick's couch. He looked away from the copy of Robin Hood in his hand to raise an eyebrow, but the only response he received was a dramatic sigh.

"(Y/N), are you okay?" Bludhaven's protector ultimately asked, placing his book on the desk to offer his girlfriend unrestricted attention.

"I’ve never been so bored in my life," you grunted, tilting your head in one of your best dramatic performances. "Quarantine isn’t as fun as it looks in the movies."

"I'm sure zombies will appear and we’ll convert to cannibalism soon, (Y/N). Don't worry," Dick replied, humor obvious in his tone. You rolled your eyes, huffing once more. "Also, it’s only been two days. You can't be that bored, right?"

"Easy for you to talk, Nightwing. You still go out on patrol every night. Something you shouldn't do, by the way." You changed the subject of conversation, returning to a topic which you and Dick widely disagreed. Fortunately, the acrobat had an idea of ​​how to entertain you and change the subject to something less likely to end up with him sleeping in the room he currently resided in.

"You know I can’t abandon my role, (Y/N). Especially at a time like this. I take the necessary precautions, like using my sticks instead of punching them in the face, don't worry." His patented wink was followed by the classic playful smile. Before you could rationalize the joke, he continued, "But I might have a hint of ​​how to get you rid of your boredom..."

The suggestive tone in his speech caught your interest instantaneously. "I would love to hear your idea, Dick Grayson."

Grayson's next words evaporated upon his lips, giving space to a malicious smirk as his body leaned over yours on the couch. His mouth easily found its home; your lips, into the slow, lazy beginnings of a kiss.

When you drink for the first time, it is easy to get drunk. Then, you start drinking on more occasions and your limit increases. Two glasses are needed when, a while ago, it would take just one. The organism gets used to it and needs more to achieve the sensation of the first time. With Dick, it always felt like the first time. It didn't matter if he had kissed you two minutes or two months ago; every single touch of him reached a new layer of everything good that someone could transfer to another person, like discovering a new exciting part of yourself.

His hand cupped your cheek, drawing you closer in. The world existed outside that apartment, each minute still had sixty seconds, and Dick Grayson was willing to spend all of them making your body reach a new level of highness for him, without even needing more doses of change to do so. Your heart felt like it was tied to his touch and his only. Dick's hand slowly fell down on the side of your face. His thumb pulled down your lower lip, a farewell present in the intense softness of the gesture.

You giggled, and Richard smiled at you. The playful fingers began their private journey in search of paradise itself on earth. More murmurous kisses were offered as bargain and readily accepted by you. It was a small distraction from the new heights your body was reaching.

Fingers from your chin to jaw, his tongue found yours and caressed it as if he were trained for it. Kissing him was like a dance, it always had been. Grayson's hand stopped on your neck for a moment, but there was no trace of pressure there. Dick just kept dancing, holding on; you wanted to wrap your legs around him, offer some comfort to your wet pussy, even if it was just pressing it against his erection, which was now hard against your leg, to make his self-control more difficult. Yet, you knew better than that. He would have already pulled your legs if that was the plan. His fingerprints on your chest indicated the antics the hero wanted to use.

Dick placed his lips on your neck, lavishing attention upon that spot as much as he wanted. You closed your eyes, unable to decide what you liked most: the bites and gentle suction on your neck or the tender fingers that were already on your stomach. Your hips moved of their own will, seeking the carnal solace you craved as you moaned softly. The former Robin laughed in pleasure at your neediness, moving away from his little branding job to look you in the eyes. He loved to watch you like this, spreading your legs for him while his hand found its way inside your pants.

And now, looking at you and feeling wetness in your panties, Dick decided to keep it a bit slow, as if to see how far you would go. After all, it had been three long weeks without sexual activity. Between his work of detective division vigilante and yours in full-time journalism, 24 hours weren't always enough, but in this moment, all he had to worry about was how needy for him you could get.

Grayson's digits circled your vulva, playing on the edges of its outer lips until he received an impatient sigh from you. He laughed, temporarily satisfied. You looked at him, ready to tell him to do what he knew how to do, but you were silenced by one of his fingers entering your vagina. You pressed your lips together and pushed hips towards him, a nonverbal way of saying that you wanted more. Dick, however, just moved his finger out of your reach. It caused you to open your eyes, stunned.

"Dick!" You were breathless, probably from the rush of sensations he had been — and was supposed to still be — making you experience.

"What?" There was false innocence in his voice that contradicted everything that was happening, especially when he took the finger that was inside you to his mouth and sucked, expression shifting into contentment. "You taste so good, baby. Imagine when you're coming for me."

"Richard John Grayson, if you don’t put— Fuck." The ensuing groan encompassed an ugly word. One of his fingers was still inside you while the other was pressed to your clitoris.

"How am I making you feel, huh?" he asked, despite knowing the answer as well as he knew your sweet spots. Adding another finger, Dick started looking for your G-spot, clitoris being well taken care of by his ring finger. Fuck, he was almost salivating by just thinking about eating you out, your taste, putting his tongue in the warm, wet place his fingers were, but for now, Grayson wanted to watch you enjoy yourself. It was in the way you bit your lip, whimpered for it and moved your hips to get more as if you didn't already have it all when it came to Dick Grayson. "Am I making you feel good?"

"I..." The weight on your chest worsened significantly, almost as if you had put a rock there. You mentally screamed at yourself. Fuck, out of all possible times, you had to be literally running out of breath while your pussy— Come on! The only good thing was that you knew your own body language well enough to quickly understand what was going on. "Dick, I can't breathe."

Dick, on the other hand, was too involved in taking you apart to reach the same conclusion as you.

"I’m making you breathless now?" Indigo eyes meet yours, full of lust. For a millisecond, you wondered if you could handle the random crisis, or if you could be confused about two different things with similar symptoms. That is until the shortness of breath had gotten worse. Fuck.

Well, the opposite of fuck now.

"No, Di— FUCK!" Feeling like the air wasn’t getting into your lungs and the fact that your boyfriend had just found a certain spot inside you while simultaneously rubbing your clitoris didn’t help you remember how to breathe. "I’m literally... My puffer!"

"Wh-- Oh my God, your inhaler!" Mentioning your little miraculous friend that wasn’t between his legs finally brought Detective Grayson's dormant instincts to the surface. He almost jumped away from you, hastily looking for the inhaler. "I'm sorry— I thought... Wait." The scene would be comical if you weren’t coughing in despair, gasping for air and yet simultaneously turned on. He found the puffer on the floor, beside the desk, and handed it to you. Relieved and mildly frustrated, you forced oxygen back into your body for a few moments. You forced yourself to calm down until the inhaler could be discarded next to Dick's book where it originally was.

You faced each other. What could be said? Sorry for forgetting how to breathe while you fingered me? Sorry for confusing your moans of "I can’t breathe’’ for "You’re making me breathless"? Can we agree never to use this expression again? So, I almost died, but am I still up for it? Is my cock still hard after your near-death experience?

For the second time in the evening, words were passed over to make room for another way of communication. The two of you burst out laughing, loud and scandalous. What the fuck just happened? A few good minutes later and you looked at Dick with a smile, your hand full of sin located on his thigh.

"We still got plenty of time. You know, quarantine perks."

Noises of 'you are unbelievable' from him were drowned out by a few more giggles, which soon gave way to corny moans. Perhaps the last two options were the right things to say.

[blooms-of-ice]

RP Log: Lin invites Barengar over to meet Wyda!

( @lettersnorth​ @autochthonousone )

Barengar Requingris had been somewhat surprised. It was everyday that he received a missive from Aislinn asking that he come visit so that she could introduce a friend of hers to him. Needless to say we wasn't about to let a request from her go unanswered. So he found himself leave so that he could make the trip to Heartwood headquarters for an evening. It was fortunate that it wasn't too far of a jaunt from Ishgard. It left more time for actual time spent with dear friends. So -- as he entered the building -- he heard the subtle murmur of chatter from below and made his way downstairs. He peered around the corner as he made it to the bottom. "Aislinn. Y-ou down h-ere?"

Aislinn North "...so here's the thing. Zorah and I were ready to sneak quietly by but that wasn't good enough. He had to jump out and yell at half a dozen pirates, all with loaded weapons." she shook her head. "/That's/ why he ended up all shot up. Something's not right with him. The Raen has a death wish." she paused as she heard Ren's voice. Looking up, a smile flashed briefly across her face as she hopped to her feet. He had made it. "Over here." she motioned to Barengar with a certain degree of excitement.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn was eager to meet Barengar, having been told about the man by Aislinn for several months now. This made her a bit more scatterbrained than usual. Whatever Aislinn was talking about, Wyda wasn’t quite listening, although she did a good job of /appearing/ to be. Lots of nods and ‘you don’t say’ and ‘oh wow, interesting.’

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn - The moment he made it past the corner, Wyda got up from her seat, a wide smile already set on her face. The sudden motion sent the stool clattering. “It’s the man of the hour! Welcome to Heartwood!”

Aislinn North saw the stool begin it's downward journey and neatly sidestepped out of its way as though it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Aislinn North once it hit the floor and stopped, she merely bent down and set it back to rights again.

Barengar Requingris offered a subtle smile of his own upon sighting the two women. One decidedly familiar and the other vaguely so. He dipped his head forward in a firm nod and his customary grunt in way of greeting. "It's good t-o see y-ou." He offered to Aislinn before blinking and turning his gaze to Wyda's exuberance. "I ... ah ... " He cleared his throat before letting out a low chuckle. "Thank y-ou. Aiswyda, aye?"

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn nods once, and pats herself on the chest. “Yup, that’s me! It’s great to have an opportunity to meet you proper. Only so much could be said on your wedding day.”

Aislinn North Glanced between the two. "Aye, Barengar this is my good friend, Aiswyda. Aiswyda, this is Barengar, practically, nearly, might as well be family." she said by way of introduction.

Barengar Requingris glances back over to Aislinn and gives another subtle smile, dipping his head forward slightly. "Aye. Family in ev-ery way tha-t it matters." He glances back to Aiswyda. "An-d it's good t-o meet anyone tha-t Aislinn calls friend. They're a friend in kind as far as I'm concerned."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn gave Ren a good, long look. “Ah, yes. I can see the resemblance.”

Barengar Requingris blinks at Aiswyda.

Aislinn North a small smile of amusement danced around her lips.

Aislinn North shook her head. "You know, most people don't." she quipped.

Barengar Requingris blinks again, looking over to  Aislinn now. He just stares for a moment .. and then lets out a low and easy laugh.

Aislinn North motioned Barengar further into the lounge. "Come in. Can I get you a drink?" she did her best to look him over surreptitiously. He appeared to be in good health, which was a relief to her. "How's Ishgard?"

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “You both have that same, kind look in your eyes!” Wyda noted. She nodded to Lin’s statement, the idea of drinks always welcome in her book. “Right. Why don’t we all settle down somewhere? Would be rude to have our guest stand by the stairs...Unless you feel the need to run at all times.”

Aislinn North tilted her head. "Not Ren."

Barengar Requingris has certainly kept to the advice given to him. He was keeping his activity low. At least as low as he could. There still was the occasional pulse of aether from him but it wasn't anything beyond what had already been observed and he'd been keeping to the breathing exercises. It helped. He looked to Aislinn and nodded. "A porter if y-ou h-ave one around." He answered lowly to the first question. There's a slight look of amusement at Aiswyda’s observation regarding the eyes, his head shaking slightly before he answers the second of Aislinn's questions. "Cold an-d full o-f folk tha-t think they're more importan-t than they are." He grumbled slightly before offering up a single chuckle. "Bu-t it's well."

Aislinn North nodded. "Porter. Got it. Wyda?" she asked as she moved behind the bar. She shot Barengar a look of humor. The way he put it didn't make it sound 'well' to her. "Imagine that's mostly on account of Ellie. How's she doing?"

Barengar Requingris: "Hale an-d healthy. Good spirits too. Though it's gettin-g a bit hard f-or h-er t-o work as h-ard as she's used to." He laughs quietly, shaking his head. "Which was, admittedly, too much."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “If there’s any rum left, that’s what I’ll have.” She takes the corner seat by the bar...just in case Ren wants to stretch his legs and sit on the far right. Tall people problems. “Ooh, Ishgardian high society?  Now that’s something I know next to nothing about.”

Aislinn North rummaged behind the bar for a pint glass. Finding one, she set it on the bar and then lifted herself up on her toes in order to read the draught taps. "Hmm. You and me both." she murmured a bit distractedly. Finding the porter, she 'ahha'd' and poured the highlander a glass and passed it his way. "But, Ren here's a knight of the realm." she said with a smile the belied the pride she had for him in rising so high.

Aislinn North dipped under the bar and popped back up  with a bottle of dark rum and a glass. She poured the Seawolf two fingers worth, neat. And left the bottle on the bar. For herself, she found a decent whiskey and did the same.

Barengar Requingris reaches his head out to slide the glass the rest of the way toward him. His head shaking with a gentle amusement as Aislinn brings up his knighthood. A notion that he'd only recently become used to. "Suppose tha-t's true, aye."

Barengar Requingris: "Though I tend t-o leave all th-e ... "high society-ing" t-o Ellie." He wrinkles his nose slightly before laughing and taking a drink.

Aislinn North slid a good-natured glance to Aiswyda. "He's still won't let me call him Ser Ren, though."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn gratefully takes her glass with a nod. “If he’s a knight, then that’s what he is though, right? Ser Ren.”

Barengar Requingris rewards AIslinn with a flat look. Look what you've done now, Lin. He lets out a low laugh all the same before taking a drink and shaking his head. "Maybe when I'm in Ishgard." He conceded. "Bu-t h-ere?" He glances between the two women with a subtle smile. "Jus-t Ren."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn senses Ren isn’t used to what she imagines Ishgardian society to be (stuffy, fancy, very... cold?). That said, she can recognize what Aislinn is playing at. The sort of good-natured jabs that only old friends can make.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: "Ser Just Ren."

Barengar Requingris blinks.

Aislinn North let go a huff of laughter in reply to his look. She slid her glass to an empty seat and came around the bar. She pressed her lips together at Wyda's response in an effort to keep back another laugh.

Barengar Requingris is frozen half-way from a sip as he slowly turns his attention to Wyda. Did she just ... he can't help but laugh at the sheer audacity. He finally takes his sip, murmuring into the cup. "I'm out numbered."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn doesn’t bother holding herself back. Seeing Ren’s reaction, she lets out a bark of a laugh and heartily pats him on the shoulder. “Hah! Just pulling your chain. But yeah.” In a lower voice now. “You're on our turf now, hehe.”

Aislinn North shook her head, taking pity on him. He did, after all, come all this way because she asked. "Alright. Supposing 'Ren' has worked so far." she said, taking a sip of her drink.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn hasn’t tasted her drink yet. Blasphemy! She quickly corrects that.

Barengar Requingris takes well enough to the clap on the shoulder, an amused expression upon his features as he dips his head toward Aiswyda in silent concession before looking back over to Aislinn with a simultaneously mirthful and grateful smile. "We can reassess 'Ser Ren' once 'Ren' stops workin-g." He offered, grunting. Coarse as it might sound, it was good natured and friendly.

Aislinn North tilted her head in concession, a twitch at the corner of her mouth compromising her expression. "Fair enough."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn is happy that Ren is rolling with the punches. And while she’s got ten thousand questions buzzing in her brain (what your favorite food? Color? How do you like your eggs?), she figures that Aislinn probably has her own need of Ren’s time. She holds back the floodgates for now.

(Aislinn North) ((ahahaha! I kinda want to see that!)) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) LOL just rapid fire 0-context questions! Quick!! Does Ren put his left boot on first, or his right? xD )) (Barengar Requingris) (( Oh no!! He'll never be able to keep up! )) (Aislinn North) ((ooo...cake or pie? That's always a good one)) (Barengar Requingris) (( Pie!!! )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) is this Ren's pref or yours? :D )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) because this is a hard choice for me.......cake is so good.....so is pie )) (Aislinn North) ((It definitely depends on the day)) (Barengar Requingris) (( Pie is ... definitely mine! But I also contend that cheesecake is a pie, so ... your mileage may vary! )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) fdklsf cheesecake is a pie?!? )) (Barengar Requingris) (( I mean ... it has a crust!! LIke a pie!! )) (Barengar Requingris) (( And it's more like a filling!! )) (Barengar Requingris) (( But I'm a dangerous radical in this regard. )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) fkldsjf but it has cake in its name!! but I feel like I get your reasoning )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) it's not like other cakes...... )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) cheesepie )) (Barengar Requingris) (( A pie is a pie ... by any other name ... )) (Aislinn North) ((Isn't cheesepie a totally different thing?)) (Barengar Requingris) (( I ... oh no ... is it?! )) (Barengar Requingris) (( I think some folk put cheese on apple pie?? )) (Aislinn North) ((That's awesome and I recommend it)) (Barengar Requingris) (( Well now I have to!! )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) I can attest cheese + apple is an A+ combo )) (Barengar Requingris) (( I've been living a life of deprivation, apparently! )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) I have never heard of cheesepie though. My god, it looks incredible )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) It also kinda looks like just a bunch of humus in the shape of a pie slice. I'm flip flopping between hunger and confusion )) (Aislinn North) ((It also confuses me. I mean, it's /almost/ cheesecake. I'd try it.))

Barengar Requingris leans forward to take another drink from his porter as he glances over each shoulder to his company. "I don't think tha-t I asked. How are y-ou both doin-g? Well, I h-ope."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn instead finishes her drink with the very clear intention of getting a wee bit tipsy. As soon as it's emptied, she finds the rum bottle left on the bar and irresponsibly fills her glass. "Hm, you want the long answer or the short answer to that?"

Aislinn North settled in, shifting in her seat and getting comfortable. At his question, she studiously does not look Wyda's way, keeping her face a study in mildness.

Barengar Requingris tilts his head to the side slightly as his attention is draw Wyda's way. "Ah ... I suppose whichever y-eur more inclined t-o answer wi-th. I'm no-t th-e sort t-o pry."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn shrugs her shoulders. “Well enough. We went on a picnic recently, actually!” The Seawolf leaves out the part where she slept in jail for god knows how long. Weird topic to bring up to a new friend. Maybe if she’s feeling bold after a few more glasses..

Barengar Requingris bobs his head to the side slightly. He didn't precisely understand what the *long* version of that story was but he -- as he said -- wasn't about to pry. It sounded nice enough. "A picnic?" He glances between the two. "T-o somewhere in particular?"

Aislinn North now safely glanced their way, a measure of a smile at the memory. "Well, we ended up near the Drydocks. We were in search of a box Wyda had buried awhile back. Only, she couldn't quite remember where. So we were all there to help jog her memory. Found it too, in the end." she said by way of explanation.

Barengar Requingris tilts his head curiously again. A missing box? This definitely sounds like a smaller part of a bigger story. So he nodded. "Tha-t ... sounds like a nice place f-or a picnic." He offers with a quiet laugh, taking a drink. "I h-ope tha-t all was well wi-th the box?"

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “I buried the box awhile ago, mind you,” Wyda added. “Lin found it stuck underneath a bunch of blackberry roots. But! We had a picnic before that, and one of our mates brought pie.” She smiled at the memory. Potlucks...are objectively the best. This is FACT.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Do you go picnicking in Coerthas? Or would that go by another word...”

Aislinn North took a swallow of her drink. "A bloody miserable time?" she offered. Aislinn would never grow to like the cold or snow.

Barengar Requingris nodded his head slowly as the box was explained a bit further. Though his nose wrinkled at the question regarding Coerthas and picnics. "Ah ... " He couldn't keep himself from letting out a single laugh. "Aye. Lots o-f picnics inside." Is that even a picnic?

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn is interested by the idea of indoor picnics. "Wow, I've never done one of those. We should have our next picnic inside too." Wyda is completely genuine, braincells already working hard on the logistics of such an event.

Barengar Requingris can only laugh at the sincerity of the expression. Who was he to say that you couldn't have a picnic indoors? Picnic was a state of mind, after all. "Jus-t pull up next t-o a fire an-d eat w-ith y-eur h-ands."

Aislinn North not at all dissuaded or surprised by Wyda's train of thought, she had known the Seawolf long enough by now, she glanced up towards the ceiling and the floors above. "There is the indoor garden upstairs. Suppose that would work just as well too."

Aislinn North: "Really not a bad idea when it gets cold outside."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Ooh, yes...A bit of fire, a bit of finger food, and have it in the garden upstairs...Everything’s shaping up! Ren, you and your wife would be welcome to come by too!”

(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) during potluck q/a: ok who's bringing the fire for our indoor picnic )) (Barengar Requingris) (( I nominate Aislinn! )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) that's a safe bet :D )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) ren brings the 'cheesepie' )) (Aislinn North) ((You can definitely put her down for fire XD)) (Aislinn North) ((Wyda can cover the rum)) (Barengar Requingris) (( Barengar, arriving to the potluck with a wheel of cheese: "Cheesepie.")) (Aislinn North) ((Change of plan. Ellie can bring the cheesepie)) (Barengar Requingris) (( *laughs!* )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) LOL )) (Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) A picnic of just fire, a wheel of cheese, and rum. All indoors. this is the sort of irresponsible fun I live for, both OOC and ICly xD ))

Barengar Requingris: "An-d it's definitely always cold in Coerthas..." He grumbled quietly before glancing over in Wyda's direction. He lets out a quiet laugh. "Indoor picnics are -- probably -- h-er favorite sort o-f picnics. So th-e invitation is appreciated."

Aislinn North corner of her mouth curled up in a warm smile as she took another drink, glad that Aiswyda and Barengar seemed to be hitting it off.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn dutifully saves the idea for later. “Hah, keep an eye out for a letter then! I can hardly wait.” And this is truth. The time for partying is always now.

Aislinn North nodded to Ren, letting him know Wyda was indeed, serious.

Barengar Requingris lets out a quiet laugh as he glances to Aislinn just as she gives the confirming nod, bobbing his head to the side. "I'll keep lookin-g forward t-o it." He offered with a low chuckle. He pauses for a moment to take a drink from his glass. "H-ave y-ou been at the mercenary life long?" He asks Aiswyda with low rumble.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “I think so?” A terrible answer, all around. She gives a pleading look towards Aislinn, like a student seeking hints from a teacher during a pop quiz. Except there's really no reason to /not/ know the answer to such a question. “A year maybe?”

Aislinn North nodded, jumping in to help Wyda without another thought. "I think that sounds right. You signed up only a short time before me, aye? Only been one Starlight here." an odd way to track time, but an efficient way for her to tell how long she's been in a place.

Barengar Requingris followed Wyda's gaze to Aislinn, his brow rising slightly in question. That was ... weird. Though he lets it be and simply gives a slow nod of his head. "A-bout th-e same as y-ou then." He observes, speaking to Aislinn. He looks back to Wyda. "It was an amusing thing. Jus-t as I was leavin-g th-e business." He chuckles quietly before looking back to Aislinn again. "It's good tha-t y-ou h-ave such solid comrades."

Aislinn North leaned forward on the bar so she could look at Wyda. "He made it look so easy, mercenary life." she explained to her friend. Flicking her gaze back to Ren, she gave a lopsided smile, a dimple appearing in one cheek. "It is. They've kept me in one piece, that's for certain."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn is always grateful to have Lin as backup, whether it was to answer questions she rightfully should know the answer to, or catching chairs, or literally saving her life in combat. “It can get tough, but we’re a good crew of people. And if anything bad happens, there’s nothing G’lewra can’t patch up.”

Aislinn North raised her glass before taking a drink. "Nymeia's Blood, that's true. We're lucky we have a medic like her on board. Some of us more than others."

Barengar Requingris bobbed his head forward in concurrence, a slight smile upon his lips. "Hells know tha-t I benefitted f-rom th-e same when I f-irst started. I owe a lot t-o Bastion." He wrinkled his nose slightly. "Jus-t don't tell h-im I said that." He grunted and took a sip from his glass, glancing over to Aiswyda. "Tha-t's wha-t it's all abou-t afterall. Bein-g in a comp-any."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn smiled, and raised her glass. “Aye, aye! No truer words have been spoken.”

Barengar Requingris lifts his glass in turn, grunting a solid chuckle.

Aislinn North tipped her head up to eye Barengar questioningly. "Do you ever miss it?" she asked. It was a question she had pondered but never found the time to ask.

Barengar Requingris glances back to Aislinn. "Mercin-g?" He asks.

Aislinn North simply nodded

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn attentively leans forward.

Barengar Requingris draws in a slow breath, leaning forward onto the counter as he considers the question. "I'd be lyin-g if I said I never missed parts o-f it." He offered without hesitation. "Both bein-g in a comp-any an-d bein-g freelance. Each ha-d their draws." He glances down at the meager remnants within his glass, swirling them slightly as he held the rim with his fingers. "Freedom. Excitement. A chance t-o put m-y ability t-o the test." He stops the swirling, briefly setting the glass down and letting the liquid come to a gradual stop. "Bu-t ... I don't regret leavin-g. Even if I miss it sometimes. It was ... simpler. In a lot of ways." A small smile touches his lips. "Bu-t complex isn't always bad."

Aislinn North eyes fell to his near empty glass and she rose to pour him another as she considered his words, letting them roll around inside her head. "It does have its ups and downs. I like that every day you never know what might end up on the job board. But aye, complex isn't bad. Not if that's where life takes you."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn listens thoughtfully, idle hands winding a lock of hair around a finger. Freedom, excitement. And on the flip side, loss and danger. Adventuring was by no means the perfect pastime, but then again...what was? She nods, agreeing with Ren’s words. “We just make do with what we got. Strive for more. And the way I see it, nothing truly ends. It all sticks with you for as long as you can remember.”

Aislinn North nodded along in agreement with Wyda as she passed Ren another porter.

Barengar Requingris dips his head toward Aislinn and then glances over to Wyda and does the same. A slight smile pulls upon his lips. "Aye." He murmured lowly, thoughtfully. "Jus-t changed it all out f-or a whole different kind o-f excitement in a way." He dips his head gratefully toward Aislinn as she refills the glass. "An-d, aye. Y-eur righ-t. It doesn't really go away. Not when y-ou remember."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “...that said, if you’re ever in need of an escape, you know where to find us. To get a fix of some adventuring proper.” Wyda whistles innocently.

Aislinn North looked swiftly at Wyda, unable to keep the look of alarm from her face. "Ah...just. Not at the moment." she felt the need to say, as if Ren didn't already know he couldn't be putting himself in harm's way and fighting.

Barengar Requingris lifts his brow slightly as he slowly turns his attention over to Aiswyda as she makes her nonchalant offer. He just stared in her direction for a moment before letting out a steady and pleasant chuckle. "I can't deny tha-t bein-g a temptin-g offer." He pauses looking back to Aislinn as a single corner of his mouth tugs back into an amused smile. "Righ-t. Doctor's orders." A slight sigh came after it as he took a drink. It was hard being patient.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn looks between the two, a lightbulb lighting up above her head. “Ah, right! Not saying you should go out and make things worse...? And I wouldn’t want to explain to your wife why you came back from your ‘night out’ bloodied and battered.”

Barengar Requingris emits a single laugh at that. "Ah ... I'd definitely get an earful t-o be sure. Though it'd likely be somethin-g along th-e lines o-f 'Why didn't y-ou bring me?'."

Aislinn North nodded solemnly, reaching for her glass. "As it should be."

Aislinn North shook her head. "But also, again. 'Not at the moment' applies to her as well."

Barengar Requingris looks back to Aislinn and gives a much wider smile at that. At least for him. "Y-ou won't get any arguments f-rom me on tha-t front."

Aislinn North glanced at Wyda with a smile of her own. "Ren here is going to be a father in a few short moons."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Ooh, she sounds fun! Let’s bring her along!” Wyda corrects herself on Aislinn’s answers. “Ahem. Right, the responsible thing to do is to not bring her along.” She doesn’t know the reason why, but she’s not going to risk it.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn and now...she knows the reason! “WHAT. Wow! That’s crazy! How exciting!”

Barengar Requingris glances over at Wyda as she does the quick verbal about-face. An amused expression crossing his features. Though it softens slightly as Aislinn reveals the impending fatherhood. He prepares his reprisal. "An-d Aislinn a godmother." He added, giving a firm nod.

Aislinn North: "I've been recalling as many sordid stories about our youth so I'll be prepared to tell them all about all the trouble their father got into."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn sheds a single tear. She’s so proud of Lin. Perfect godmother material.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Be prepared...when the baby comes, it’ll be nothing but sleepless nights for you. A formidable challenge to be sure.”

Barengar Requingris barks a single laugh at that, shaking his head. "Already lookin-g to undermine m-y authority." He smiling, of course. The man positively beside himself with happiness over the fact. He pauses a moment, dipping his head toward Wyda. "An-d it's goin-g t-o be all the more o-f a challenge wi-th three." He glances down at his cup for a moment. "A blessin-g tha-t Ellie's family is as excited as we are."

Aislinn North shook her head. "They're going to outnumber you."

Aislinn North ever the strategist, she knew those odds did not fall in his favor.

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “By the Twelve...I suppose I should be saying, by the three!” Wyda shakes her head in disbelief. “All the more joy! But Lins right, you have to be careful.”

Barengar Requingris laughs and bobs his head slightly to the side, conceding to both of their warnings. "If our childhood taught me anythin-g, Aislinn." He glances back over to Aislinn with a slight smile. "It's tha-t three's trouble."

Aislinn North He was treated to a flash of a wide smile and a bubble of laughter. "At the very least, you're forewarned, which is forearmed. Should help you to stay at least one step ahead of them for awhile."

Barengar Requingris felt his own smile widen slightly at that. "Aye. Though ... y-ou can expect me t-o call f-or back-up." He pauses and looks over to Aiswyda. "An-d y-ou should bring Aiswyda as well."

Aiswyda Nuthalwyn beams at Ren. “AH yes! I’d love to see the rascals! Show ‘em how to climb trees and...hm, when do kids learn to walk...” Wyda is counting someone else's eggs before they hatch.

Aislinn North took a moment to weigh the joy of seeing three children run circles around Ren against stepping in and mercifully helping him out. She slowly nodded. "I think that's part of my duties as godmother."