“I’m not here to talk about that,” I interrupted firmly, both for Vernie’s benefit and my own. “I’m here to find out why you won’t talk to Relias.”
“Don’t have anything to say,” she replied defensively, turning away from me and pulling her blanket closer.
“So you don’t want to reconcile with him then? I should just give up?” I pressed.
“Vernie waved an arm lazily as if dismissing the topic. “...Yep. You’re excused from duty. Focus on all the other stuff going on.” Despite her flippant attitude, there was clearly more going on beneath the surface.
“In order to do that, I need to be able to talk to you both at the same time. I’m not going to play communication courier between you two,” I explained, circling until I faced her again and plopped down a few feet away. “And from what I can tell, it’s only you who doesn’t want to talk this out. He already told me he didn’t take what you said to him back then seriously.”
As the soul of immaturity, Vernie pulled her blanket over her head.
“Are you hoping I’ll give up?” I asked as I poked at her with my staff.
“Hey! You’ve picked up some nasty habits,” she complained indignantly, her voice muffled. “Just give me the customary chastising speech instead!”
“Nope.”
“You really have spent too much time with Nora,” she grumbled, finally poking her head out of the blanket.
“Why are you picking on her? Nora’s the best! Wait… are you… perhaps… jealous?” I let a smirk spread across my lips.
“I’m not jealous!” she yelled, jumping out of her bedroll. Perfect.
“That’s exactly the tone I’d expect from someone who was,” I countered, also standing as I firmly struck my staff on the ground.
Finally, she struck an iconic, finger-pointing pose. “Now you listen here, you—”
Knowing she was usually faster than I was, I cheated outrageously, concentrating my amity to sweep in and hug her before she reached for her daggers or pulled away. “I’ll let go if you want, but I thought this is what you needed the most right now.”
“What have I told you about acting recklessly like this?” She sighed as she eventually hugged me back. “You’re completely vulnerable again!”
!!!
Did she just... pinch me?!
