the help she could get?
Maybe not, but if that was the case, he needed it explained to him. Some kind of honor thing maybe? He knew the rules for that, but if it was an emotion at all, he was lacking that one too. That and shame. He could fake it, and understood when he should be feeling that kind of thing, but he just didn't. It was biological. No guilt either. Fear existed, but he was coming to think that it was a weaker thing in him than others.
Shaking his head a little to clear it, he turned and slowly reached out, letting his hand rest on Trice's arm gently. It was funny, but Tor positively glared at him for a moment, even if he was only trying to get her attention.
"We should get together soon. Perhaps with Petra?" The words weren't loaded with anything except a normal, basically friendly, invitation, but everyone else smiled, as if he were hitting on the woman. That was silly, since if he was going to be doing that with anyone right now, it would be Heather . After all, she had the raw size that would be needed to challenge his trauma. If he did that however, Prince Alphonse would beat him up. He'd said so at least. Timon wasn't certain that he really meant it, or what the boundaries would be that caused that to happen, but he knew the man could do it. That he was a superior fighter was clear in every move he made. Tim thought he might be faster, so if it was going to happen, he was planning to flee for his life. Or at least his hide's sake.
The reaction from the girl was fantastically strange and overdone. So much so he had to fight to keep a happy expression on his face.
"I'd love too! Maybe we could all get together tomorrow evening? You're going to be in Montblanc? Is that alright with you Heather? I know that things are a bit tense, but having visitors now can only help smooth things over..." She touched the Countess on the arm too, which got her to swallow, almost as if it were a trick or something of that nature.
Like she was inviting in an army to attack?
"That would be fine. I don't have much staff left. My household was hit hard, before I could manage to find a single healing amulet for sale. It took a good portion of the annual budget for it. Worth it, I just wish I could have gotten it earlier. Still, if you don't mind me waiting on you personally, I'd appreciate the guests." She looked worried then, and glanced at Ali.
"Right. Expect guests. We'll each bring a dish and do it school style. Is that where you're going to be, Tim? Living with Heather?" She actually pushed her chest forward a bit, and tilted her hips a little, aroused by the idea. Or at least whatever she thought would be going on.
Timon let his head come up, almost like a tick.
"For a few weeks, if she'll have me. I set up a house near hers, I'll have Petra in to play chaperone, so that Heather's good name won't be smeared over it." It made a certain amount of sense to him, but there was a gentle chuckle from behind that sounded familiar.
Count Lairdgren.
"Won't that just taint Miss Ward's good name instead? I've actually heard a few whispers to that end already, that you two are bending some age of consent laws. No one is blaming either one of you however, so I think you'll survive it." The man glanced at Tor, measuring him with his eyes again, as if to see if he was growing visibly as they talked.
Sticking out his tongue, Tor sighed.
"They aren't doing anything like that at all. I can read it in his field. Perfectly chaste and proper." Looking around he hunched a bit and went wide eyed, it was a playful thing his brother did at times, to show he was joking. "We should keep that quiet, or we'll ruin Tim's reputation as a ladies' man."
That got sage looking nods all the way around, and got Trice to move her shoulder next to his and hold his hand gently.
"Don't worry, I know lots of things we can do that are perfectly legal, and still enough fun to be worth trying out. Tomorrow? About seven in the evening, or did you want to do