Aftermath, Partner to LupineBridge

Joe stretched, having been watching the light of the setting sun play across her hair. He was only vaguely aware of how long he’d been standing there, while Serci picked berries from the plant with her quick, careful hands. He should be helping, but Joe knew himself. He knew how clumsy he was, how often he’d wrecked a plant almost irreparably, in the few times Serci could even get him to touch the things. No, it was all he could do to watch her in her element. He wanted desperately, of all things, to ask her for a race. He got close, though. It would be worth not playing along and getting her more upset with him to see her sprinting through the forest in all her perfection.

And she was upset, wasn’t she? He had known her for long enough to know when she was upset, and when she was trying to hide it. She always did that. She knew he knew, but even still. Joe supposed it was just a game women play. Perhaps he should perform a study on the mental behaviors of genders within the human, elven, dwarven, a- Joe shaked his head, trying to get back to the present situation. How was he going to figure out just what was wrong without just yelling the question? This may be difficult. Ah, well. Never one to run from a challenge, Joe began trying to formulate a plan.

“Ah, well,” she was talking again. Joe’s ears actually twitched in anticipation. “Found a seed, though.” She stood, self-consciously wiping her hands on the back of her pants. Joe grinned under the helmet. He’d asked her why she’d done it once, and had come to the conclusion that she had no idea she did it every time she touched dirt, or plants, or a felled animal. She did it quite a lot, and Joe found it adorable every time. Part of him was regretting his choice in fields of study. If he hadn’t gone for golemancy, he could’ve studied how the mind works. He would be able to get right down to what was bothering the poor woman, and fix it, or at least address it properly. Though, Joe thought, if he hadn’t gone for golemancy, they wouldn’t be in this situation to start with. Damn.

His ears twitched. This phenomenon must be studied. Oh! It happened when she talked. She was saying something. Pay attention, Joe told himself, in that odd trance state he found himself in, when he got to thinking almost anything at all. He snapped out of it. He remembered Serci had called it his genius meditation, and almost sank back into it, but every ounce of brainpower he had was focused on her words, now. Talking was good, talking gave insight into problems.

“Deeper into the forest, or back?” Serci was watching him thoughtfully. Some sarcastic part of him almost said gee, shall I explore an interesting forest with my Serci, or go muddle about in some town? but was reined in before the rogue thought could cause any major damage. Besides, going deeper into the forest meant more time alone with Serci, something he had needed for… ages, years? Joe didn’t remember.
“Deeper, perhaps?” he said it hopefully, knowing she would come up with some excuse to go back to town. If they got back to town, she might wander off before he woke up, and he’d have to find her all over again. She was probably sick, the poor thing. No, he’d figure this out and save her. They were walking, him cautiously, trying very hard not to run into something or trip, and make a fool of himself. Serci was mostly at ease, and graceful at always. There was something about her usually smooth movements. Something he saw in some of the simpler golems and people that are afraid. Afraid? Was there something in the forest that Serci would be afraid of? Is that why she’s so tense, here? No, she would say something. What would she be afraid of that couldn’t be mentioned to him? Oh. Joe paused a moment, shoulders slumped. But, why? He resumed following her, trying to ponder his way through this. Well, if that was it, it wasn’t some odd mental problem and he could ask her.
“Careful,” he only halfway heard her.

“Why?” Joe looked to her, head tilted, the helmet muffled the crack in his voice. He didn’t even realize it sounded like he was asking her why he should be careful until she shot the goblin. Good shot, too. Probably would’ve stabbed him in the leg if Serci wasn’t as good as she was. By the time Joe even realized what had just happened, she was already inspecting a mushroom patch. “You’re quite good at this.” She looked up at him quickly, blushing ever so slightly. Joe almost giggled. She was complimented, and being Serci, changed the subject.
“This is called Redfoot. None I can salvage, though,” she was pointing at the mushrooms, and Joe dutifully listened, even if his mind was a million miles away from mushrooms, of all things, at present. She actually frowned. Had she noticed? “No.. I was entrusted to protect something.” Joe frowned. He had an idea of what it was, but if she was going to play dumb, well.

“The forest?” he tilted his head and glanced about. It was an impressive forest, but still just a forest to Joe. She stared at him for a long moment, and everything went silent.

“Namely, this,” she took a spear from a bag that was most certainly not large enough to hold it, and held it out to Joe. It was a very magic spear, but to Joe, who could barely look at such weapons without cutting his own limbs off, just a spear. Maybe she would be happy with him, if he learned to use such things, and was able to wield the spear in her protection? She was testing him, that must be it! First things first, Joe needed to learn to use weapons besides his own machinations. Serci might teach him, or expect him to learn on his own. Bother. “I failed, in part of its protection. Or succeeded, I guess.”

Serci was talking about him, he just knew it. How could he have thought she meant the blasted spear. Well, at least she knew she succeeded, right? Maybe he could least impress her with the spear. She shivered. Maybe he should’ve gotten them a room at an inn. She was cold and it was his fault and she was expecting him to talk.
“Well, you seem to wield it well,” if there was one thing Joe had learned, was that eventually, complimenting Serci paid off.