Wisp's boring little life suddenly felt so cacophonous. There was always so much going on; someone fighting, one of the kids bitching that they wanted downstairs, Jaskier singing, her whelps kneading at her stomach for a drink, Sarge as chaotically unpredictable as ever, Lyra yelling, and it wasn't all a sound thing. There was always commotion about the inn now, and some days, Wisp missed the quiet little broken down cabin in the woods that she and Auberon had once haunted together.
But she liked seeing Mal doing his rounds, and Taloka bringing in some fresh spoils, and the heads of the kids popping through the bannisters to watch the bustle of below. Even Maggie lurking around making googly eyes at anything she thought she could make a penny off of had started to grow on Wisp from afar; she seemed sweet, really, and the spirit wondered what sort of unfortunate business urged such things of her once that she thought it was necessary now. Naya was a cute, spicy little thing, one Wisp thought she could come to enjoy as much as she heard everyone else yelling curses as she stole from them --or they realized she'd stolen from them, as it may be. How much did she have others didn't even know about, Wisp sometimes wondered with glee. She was happy to leave scraps of food and shiny baubles for the little mink to enjoy as if paying off a brownie, knowing it was more beneficial to give others what they wanted than fighting against a storm-whipped tide. The good favor of others --fae or not-- was always a good place to be.

Wisp thrived in it. She'd always been meant for the hustle-and-bustle of busy life, but she'd been drawn into the whirlwind of it in a way she'd never been experienced to before. She watched, she listened, she observed: she'd seen these sort of merry little bunches before, battling problem after problem, growing stronger or breaking apart. She'd guided some, punished others, observed many, but this was a life she'd never dipped her toe into properly.

She was merry with her own kind, and she could party, but she just didn't know how to be more than a spectacle. Didn't know how to turn off her advice-giving, put her job aside. She didn't know how to make friends. She didn't know how to not be... awkward.

Yet, somehow, she was married. Wisp smiled at Sarge as he came into the room, and as he smiled back and swept to her side, she was glad for the reminder. She'd grown fond of the fat toe, grumpiness and loyalty alike, wasn't sure what she'd do without him not to mention the precious bundles tucked within the nest. Figuring out how to exist in this new life was still foreign and strange, but she was trying so, so hard.
But here he came, assuaging doubts he didn't know she suffered the weight of. Her smile turned bashful, ears heating and chin tucking demurely to her chest as if she could hide in the fluff of her own mane (nearly). She didn't have time to fish for an answer, he simply kissed her cheek and started talking. He wanted to... slip away? Nothing crazy, he assured her, just a moment alone. She hesitated, thought to at least ask a question, but the sparkle in his eye told her not to bother. Her own gaze lit with mischief, and her lips curled higher upon one cheek. Still, as if he sensed her misgivings, he tacked on that someone would be watching the kids.
She really only trusted Mal and perhaps Naya to do so, but more than that, she trusted Sarge to be as picky as her, to protect them.

When he stepped aside, she carefully pulled herself from the nest and nuzzled into his side.

"Klingt nach einem Angebot, das ich nicht ablehnen kann, Liebling. Gehen Sie voran." ( Sounds like an offer I can't refuse, love. Lead the way. )

Ye've never, she assured him readily, smiling softly. Their relationship from the beginning had its ups and downs, but she'd never felt he was remiss in any duty or fell short of any goal. He simply was, and Wisp had never been unhappy with that.

She shot a giddy smile at Mal as they passed him -thank god- and followed Sarge with a skip in her step. They only moved further down the hall, but her excitement trembled through her like a flame flickering in the wind. He opened the door for her and Wisp cooed, tail wagging as she went in and squinted as if she might see the culmination of his efforts sooner.
He'd fashioned a bed for them, prepared dinner and drinks; just a quiet, peaceful night in what had become their crazy life.
Her heart fluttered in her chest, uneasy, unsure how to reciprocate when she wanted to dearly to.

She gulped a breath, eyes shining with joy.

Nobody's ever done anythin’ like this for me.

Perhaps that's exactly why she'd married him. She was sharing a lot of firsts with her husband, and she was thankful he'd opened the door into this new life even if she didn't know how to handle it.

And he was worried it wasn't enough. She just shook her head, a humorless laugh rumbling in her throat.

It's perfect. Yer perfect, Sarge.

Just them, a good meal, a few drinks, and a comfortable nest. Wisp purred a sound of her delight, moving to arch herself into his chest as he laid in the bed, overwhelmed with the warmth of the moment.
She peppered his face with kisses, sitting in front of him and leaning into his taller frame.

Sitting there wreathed in the scents of soot, flowers and tobacco, Wisp could close her eyes and picture them; sitting on a quiet porch, looking out over a pretty yard of vibrant blooms, each with a cup of coffee in their hands and a pipe hanging from the side of his lips. The kids, running around the yard chasing the milking goat, squeals of laughter ringing in her ears as they tried to saddle it. A quiet cabin on the edge of the woods, smoke pouring from the chimney.
Just a peaceful little family. Happy. Unbothered.

Wisp wanted it so bad she thought it was something she could give up everything for.

His words were sweet, grounding, reminded her what she was fighting so hard for. Some days, she wished she were just a normal girl living an average life; a simple farm girl that could give her soldier the peace he deserved. No job, no obsessive need to fix everything around her, just… ease. A home to lay his head where he wasn't chased by ghosts and an unending life she felt she'd forced upon him by staying. She resisted the urge to ask if he'd choose that life, if he would change things if given the chance.
But it was a soft, loving moment borne of their love, and she wouldn't ruin it with her doubts now. She sunk into his touch, warm to the core, and banished such thoughts. They had no place here, now, in this space of their adoration.

Ye show it how ye can, an ah appreciate all you do fer me. Fer the wee ones. Ye know none o' us would've gotten this far without ye.

She bared her teeth in a grin as his tone turned playful, batting her eyes at him with passionate spite. As he reached for the berries, she ran her teeth through the fur along his neck.

Ah think ah could be convinced tae let supper slide tae th’ nights second activity, she teased in a whisper, or third, whenever we get there.

But first… the booze.

Whatever she expected, it wasn't for Sarge to pull her into a sloppy, passionate, berry-sweet kiss that shared it between them. Wisp leaned into it with a soft groan, fire sparking in her gut as her tongue brushed his and the sour tang of the drink warmed her. She was breathless when he pulled away.

He cleaned her, and after a brief crane of her neck upwards, she moved to clean him. It was as sensual as the kiss, and she relished in the way their fur mingled, how his mouth felt against her neck, how wildly she already wanted him.

And he thought she was exceptional?

Nae as extraordinary as you, she moaned quietly back, tail wagging.

Per'aps ye need tae learn how t'burn with me, she teased on, voice soft but urging. There were no reasons for him to be gentle with her now, and she wasn't going to let him think for a moment he would tease her with promises of roughness and not deliver. Not when she felt like she was searing, herself.

Then his teeth brushed her jaw, and she melted into him. Round and round, all night? Win-win for both of them. Certainly no rush, though she hoped Mal didn't mind watching their nest as late as Sarge seemed to be promising her.

Ah hope tha's ah promise, 'cause tha' sure sounds like winnin' tae me.

This time, when he dipped his head for more berries, she was ready; straightening enough to meet his kiss this time, happy to repeat the sensual delivery as many times as he wanted. She was small, and it didn't take terribly much for a girl who hadn't drank properly in a long time, but she was already drunk on the heady scent of her husband and the honeyed air. She enjoyed the kiss, but she enjoyed teasing where she could reach be it with teeth or tongue, gentle but firm, needy but patient.
She could feel the warmth of the alcohol spreading from her stomach, and a wetness forming between her legs became obvious as the scent of her -their- arousal saturated the air.

She didn't feel like fire. She felt like electric.

Wisp stretched out beside him and scooted to her stomach but instead of settling there for a cuddle, rolling onto her back so she was looking up into his eyes, head draped over his paws unless he moved otherwise. She put a paw on his chest to stroke idly up and down.
Yeah. She liked seeing him properly, admiring his umber features, the rare softness in his face.

Demonstrate. Cheeky bugger. Wisp batted her eyes his way again, deciding she could be cheeky, too. That's what he loved about her, right? Their banter, their quiet affection and gentle touches meant to tempt. She lived for the passion alight within them, and it was hard to imagine she'd lived so long, so many lives, without knowing the sort of happiness Sarge offered her day after day.

Ah'll show you, round and round, allllll night," she parroted his own words back at him, offering a sly twist of her lips, Sure sounds like we're both winnin' tonight, aye.""

Fuck, was that roguish grin so handsome. Was it the berries he was clearing from his lips, or was he imagining the taste of her? She watched him through a slitted gaze, daring him to disagree, waiting for him to give in and ravish her. She wanted to see what he had planned for this part of the night, or if he was just winging it as hard as she was and the wine-makeout-sesh was just the ice breaker to whatever their wildest dreams could cook up.
Both prospects made her tingle.

No part of her worried about being hurt. Frankly, she loved that he dwarfed her in height, and for the first time in her many lives decided being tiny wasn't so bad a thing. Now that she was fully healed, he had no reason to hold back, either.
She didn't want him to.

Another kiss, another warm rush of berries, another layer to the lust. She moaned into the kiss, hooking her arms around his neck gently to pull him into it even closer.
She was already breathless, but this one left her panting gently.