All of Tal's smug internal monologue was hidden behind a grin as he joined Sah on the trip to the kitchen. The girls' greetings were interrupted by a little brother just asking to be tackled and licked, and as Lilly took off one way Boreal headed the other without any need for prompting as she attempted to help her bestie out with a pincer movement to catch Pad between them in one of the back rooms.
Tal winced at the sound of claws on wood, then took another sip of the excellent booze. "You're welcome," he said instead, grin turning wicked. "Since I did most o' th'work on 'em this year. But I'll let her know her lessons are goin' well!" Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth as he offered the cookie box again to the belated birthday boy, but before he could respond a dragon's roar interrupted him.
'Fuckin' hail, I wish they'd just stay home like everyone else on LongNight," he growled, shoulders tense. He'd flinched at the noise but with deft experience had avoided spilling even a drop of his drink. "So, uh. How's the Academy goin'?" As smooth changes in subject it wasn't great, but by Tal's standards it was downright suave.
Tal winced at the sound of claws on wood, then took another sip of the excellent booze. "You're welcome," he said instead, grin turning wicked. "Since I did most o' th'work on 'em this year. But I'll let her know her lessons are goin' well!" Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth as he offered the cookie box again to the belated birthday boy, but before he could respond a dragon's roar interrupted him.
'Fuckin' hail, I wish they'd just stay home like everyone else on LongNight," he growled, shoulders tense. He'd flinched at the noise but with deft experience had avoided spilling even a drop of his drink. "So, uh. How's the Academy goin'?" As smooth changes in subject it wasn't great, but by Tal's standards it was downright suave.
