He has a feeling of envy as @Talisa ♔ speaks about her and Morrigan- the ease they live with each other. Eskel craves that, knowing the only one he was ever close to was Charax and their lives didn't often bring them together. No, their paws were set on different paths- forever around each other but not together. "I think that a relationship where you both bring out the best in each other, is a rare thing. A lucky thing to find." He admits, his words soft.

Yet, the conversation shifted to the Dieudonne, and Eskel listened intently- noting the name of Vermier, and that he now ruled the hollows- tying the pride to the Bluffs, making them more formidable. He is quiet for several moment, his expression contemplative, as he debates asking if Talisa has heard of his sister but does he risk her identity? Her anonymity?

He kneads the rocky shore, and sighs softly. "Have you ever met a lioness named Charax?" He asks, curious- maybe then he can choose how much to share with her later. But maybe she knows something about his sister.

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If she could tell the whole world that there is at least one individual out there that is equal parts to you, she would. In a heartbeat, no less. @Eskel was certainly no different and all she wanted, feelings or no, was to smother him in a large hug. We do, you're very right. That much had been obvious for a long time but it was also about their communication skills and the fact that they held onto each other while also letting go. When it came to him asking of a sister, she shook her head in silence. Feeling as though that was meant to be an important name to him and yet, she didn't have any of the answers that he was looking for. I've never heard or met a lioness of that name. If I do, of course, I'll be happy to pass the knowledge onto you. She liked to think that she was fairly good at tracking down folks that were greatly missed but, like most things, a lot of time had passed since she last had done anything of the sort. On to lighter things, however, that she couldn't get her mind passed. You're a catch, too, you know. She admits without hesitation and intends to charm him here. To let him know that he was just as lucky a find. Morrigan and I don't hide our activities and when we see something we want, we do what we can to get it. Talisa did feel a little embarrassed for saying these things out loud but it had been quite a long time since she had expressed her feelings for anyone other than her Greyflood wife. One thing she knew was that from an early age she had deigned never to keep her feelings private and that if she felt something for someone, she'd say something.

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Eskel had rarely thought about his own personal relations, but when he discussed others relationships, he wondered if he'd ever have the same. Or if he was to be the one stuck on the outside- constantly. At the same time, he did somewhat worry about having someone that close to him- with his specialties and what he did... would they ever be used against him?

He's lost in his own thoughts, that he misses everything until it comes back to his sister. "She's my sister... I... I've never told anyone here that she's here." He sighed. "I thought she was dead for so long, but then I found her here. She'd lived in Wolfbron for a while, but I haven't checked to see if she's there now." He shares. For some reason, he feels like he can share these things with Talisa- there is an ease there- a disarming ease with this female.

Her next words, make his eyes widen and a faint sort of blush creep across his clay colored cheeks. Eskel was a lousy flirt, though he did try sometimes- but he quickly searched for some sort of compliment... something to say back, but he's confused, and unsure- unwilling to offend her, and scared he'll say something wrong. He'd never wish to offend her, to be too forward- and yet, as silence creeps, he knows he must say something, and so he chuckles softly. "Quite the charmer, aren't you?" He says. But something about that sticks out, and he tilts his head, and he asks, "What is it you want?" He refers back to what she has said, his tone soft, gentle, and inquisitive- needing to understand, to clarify what she's implying or trying to say here.

@Talisa ♔

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In all the years she had lived, Talisa had never once considered that she was special by the means that others looked to her and shared personal things with. Pieces of information that were held so closely to someone's heart that they never shared it with anyone else except her. So the fact that @Eskel had never deemed it necessary to share that he had a sister, and given her name out, meant a lot to Talisa. It showed her even further that she and him shared a connection, even if it was small. Small or large, she could and would never ignore it. I.. wish I could give you the news you desire. She offers genuinely for she would love nothing more than to deliver good news rather than more uncertainty. Wolfbron wasn't exactly a solid ally by any means so it wasn't like she could go knocking without something stirring. Thankfully, his confusion about what she had said about him being a catch was something that she could pull from. A conversation that might ease the pain of not knowing about his sister and perhaps even bring him comfort. I have this... thing. I've had it since I was a child -- these feelings I get towards others. She began, chuffing gently with a tiny laugh. Sometimes these connections are miniscule and sometimes can be quite obvious, and sometimes they just sit on my thoughts. Talisa tried to meet his gaze, to try and understand what his initial reaction might be. Hoping that he might still find her charming, even if by just a friendship. I guess I have felt something towards you when we officially met in the crimson hideaway. When you were Rabbit and even now, as Eskel. She inhaled, looking away for a second before trying to find him again. It doesn't have to mean anything other than that we see each other but I wanted to express that I like you, Eskel. She did, whether it could be friendship or more but she would not be hurt if he did not feel the desire to reciprocate. Talisa just wanted to be honest and up front, seeing as she had never told a lie in her life.

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He could dwell on the missing status of his sister, dwell on the fact that... Talisa had no answers for him- not that he expected her too. He could dwell longer, yet... it seemed the pretty lioness, had a curve-ball for him. His ears shift forward, attentive as she speaks, listening to her words. Trying to decide what they mean, what they could mean... As her purple gaze meets his pink one, with a soft chuff of a laugh- his head tilts, trying to figure it out... What was she meaning here? A feeling about others... a feeling...

She talks more, and he nods encouragingly, even as his mind struggles to keep up. She felt something towards him, like... a friendship- right? He is baffled confused, trying to make his boyish mind catch up on the matters of the heart where they lack much knowledge. He is quiet, considering, @Talisa ♔- letting the guard he normally keeps fall away as he considers her openly.

"I.... am... confused." He admits, with a soft chuckle. She had a wife, did she not- what was she wanting from him? She liked him, there seemed to be emphasis on that... but he was confused. Of course, he wasn't blind to her beauty, the charm she had- the feelings of peace she brought out of him... no, he wasn't blind to that. "When you say like..?" He trailed off, musing aloud, because he truly was lost.

@Talisa ♔

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In all honesty, Talisa has never had to individually point out exactly what she meant when she said she liked someone. It had always been a rather obvious thing and so being asked to clarify made her curious if it truly was one-sided. Well, more one-sided than she had originally believed. Not that she expected @Eskel to feel the same way, not at all, but it was a surprise to need further words. So she gave a few seconds of silence as she mulled away how to accurately expression things in perhaps less words. Was that what he needed? Less words or had she simply explained it terribly? I'm saying that I wouldn't mind having you as a mate. Was that better? She did not wish to outright use the word "love" as it (for most) had a very significant bell that often made them RUN and that was not what she wanted him to do.

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His mind is frazzled, as he tries to figure out what she could mean. He was glad he was likable, because he really liked Talisa and enjoyed spending time with her. But what did she mean?

Oh.

Oh shit.

His eyes widened, and he stared at her for a moment confused... "You... you have a wife?" He questioned. "I'm not.... I'm not saying no, but how does that work?" He asks, confused, and trying to figure that out. Would he ever say no to anything Talisa asked of him? No, she was the balm to his tired soul. A peaceful creature he couldn't walk away from.

"No one's ever... no one has ever considered me like this." He admits softly. Then again, the idea of taking a female from his father was forbidden but Amaryllis was... not his home. His heart is hammering away in his chest, like a blacksmith ironing out a sword. He'd been envious of those with these close relationships, but it was always out of reach. He was always at a distance to everyone else.

@Talisa ♔

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I do, yes.. she answered with a laugh seeing as how he had clearly pointed out the obvious. Morrigan was a wife that she treasured fully and without expectations. They were yin and yang, one better version of the other in some way. Morrigan was justice and chaos, and she was peace and love for all. The two of them together were unstoppable souls and that was part of why she was intent on making the best of this life. Well.. you could choose to only be my mate or you could also be Morrigan's as well. There was also the matter of Eyvindr but that has not yet happened on this timeline, hehe. Talisa would not force him to be anything more than what @Eskel wanted to be. She might be sad that he had the opportunity to decline and could take it, but at the end of the day she wanted him to be happy.

As she always did, and because she could sense that there was some nervousness or uncertainty, Talisa attempted to reach her paw forward to sit gently atop of his massive dark paws. Perhaps... because you were always meant to find me. Believing in fate and destiny was part of her duty as a cleric because she knew (without solid, verbal proof) that Maua had sent Morrigan to her specifically. That out of the entire world that had come crawling into Amaryllis, it was the Greyflood warrior that was her true beginning. That Maua had willed it so.

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He considers all the things that @Talisa ♔ has said, what she has said of Morrigan, and he is quiet, a more tender expression replacing the confused one. "I would be honored, Talisa." He rumbled quietly. He did not know what the future would bring, would Morrigan even like him? Well, he'd have to meet her. But dedicating himself to this female... well, he couldn't think of a better thing to do- Talisa was... like a beacon of peace, and she soothed him.

As Talisa's paw came to rest on his larger one, he aimed to meet her gaze. "Perhaps." He agreed. Perhaps he had to endure his entire life, just for this moment of peace- to appreciate it. "I'd like to believe that's true." A soft, solemn acceptance, a silent promise- a desire to protect, and defend the beautiful lioness that offered him the thing he had sought for so long: peace.

"I don't know what this looks like, how this works- but I'm yours as long as you want me." He pledged.

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There was a growing burst of soothing energy that was beginning to grow from the inside out. All it took were a few simple words to leave her heart feeling exceptionally more full and certainly larger as he spoke that he would be honored to be a part of her life. To be honored to be her mate and she his. Talisa wished she could express to @Eskel that it was easy to be her mate. Perhaps several years ago that would've been easy but in today's time, it meant a lot more than just ease and comfort. Truthfully, just be you. Though, she did feel a nagging part of her telling her to stand up for one thing that she did want.

Talisa had always been a relatively free-flow person who never asked her loved ones for much. She had never chosen to be selfish or turn folks away from the things that they wanted to do, see or have but there was one thing. A single thing that she had learned over time that had changed her and she was not a good woman when it wasn't met. Little did he know that peace was technically not in his cards. With her alone? Absolutely! But peace did not surround her and her family. Not anymore. All I ask for is your commitment to a life together. The rest of it we can figure out together and help each other along the way. Being together would not be easy, she knew this from over four years with Morrigan, but so long as they communicated with each other and shared their expectations then things would work.

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