>>5920998>>5921013>19 for SociabilityThere is a long, pregnant pause between the three of you. Nobody east, nobody speaks, and nobody dares look away. The awkwardness grows, until finally, Costella breaks it, laughing out loud, a wonderful and full-bodied, yet still quite feminine laugh.
“I’m sorry, it’s just… I pictured all of us at the, like, altar… And Tips… Haaa,… Tips looked the best in the dress!”
“H-hey,” you say.
Izzy’s mouth quirks up on the corner slightly at that, and she nods in approval, obviously picturing it herself...
“HEY!” you hiss, actually getting annoyed now…
>20 for Sense MotiveThere's something else, too. As the tension leaves Izzy's body, there's something else in her eye: the gleam of some secret victory, which you recognize as alarmingly-similar to that which you caught in passing as she prepared, over a year ago, to subvert the <Rite> and transform all three of you...
You'd be more concerned, except that Costella’s hand grasps your own and squeezes it tight. And… yes, you see her squeezing Izzy’s with her other one, and unsociable Izirina Henzler returning the gesture.
“Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out,” Costella says firmly. “I mean, like, we totally WOULD, right? I’m m-marrying the two biggest brainiacs I know!”
“Brainiac…?” you frown.
“The three of us,” Izzy agrees eagerly, “against the world.”
“The world?” you balk. “I mean…”
You stop short.
“Did you just PROPOSE to us?” you ask dumbly.
“Izzy started it!” Costella protests, pulling her hands back. “B-but… Well, sort of, kind of, like… Maybe?”
You can’t help it: you smile two. At that moment, it does sincerely feel like the three of you could take on anything and anyone—even the whole world.
(But for now, perhaps, a ‘dragonborn antipaladin’ would be a good start…)
