#* ask responses.

"i need to take care of my hair more. it's becoming a monstrosity of it's own merit." he chuckled, looking up from his work once more. despite this statement, the thick curls have been more or less tamed into two long plaits, admittedly a not unsubstantial number of curls escape the confines, and even neatly plaited as their hair is, twigs and leaves and brambles have found their way to attach onto him.

"understanding the motivations of people is one of the hardest skills to learn and develop, i think." he remarked, with a small smile, thoughtful as he considers the other's words. they laugh softly, "and even more so when you remember many times the way people act isn't always what they truly mean, which is a whole different idea of how to understand people."

"i think you're beautiful." valar tells rixian, tilting his head for a moment, taking the rogue's looks in once more. yet the way in which valar says the word makes it easy to tell that there is a deeper appreciation than just simply beautiful. "are you aware of such truths about yourself?" a small smile, "i will be happy to remind you of them more often."

"you shine with a beauty that replaces the sun." valar said, scrunching his nose and putting an arm around her shoulders, "or, at least, a beauty that matches it in places that are not here." a kiss to her temple. yet, for all the joking, he did have a note of honesty to his comments.

valar is startled, and their eyes flick to the woman, brows furrowing. it's strange, hearing any such comments directed towards him. usually he would give such reassurances. a small smile, ducking their head in thanks, "i appreciate your kindness. i am aware of it, yes." even if he sometimes felt that worth from less than, what some might see as, positive sources.

"it--" valar makes a strangled sort noise of somewhere between amusement and exhaustion, "not a rock. it's a significant holy site that is currently being tended to." he looks at the stone block for a moment, "...and okay, maybe it is a rock. but it's more about the people than the rock, necessarily." the firbolg gestures to the priests behind them, all of whom are in deep focus, "this site is not an uncommon spot for attempted robberies and the priests cannot be disrupted at the moment."

meme. | accepting.

it turns to steam as soon as they splash it towards the other, but valar's shaking hands still hold the water skein tightly, like a lifeline, rooted in place like the towering trees around them as they take in the flaming figure that the child's water could not extinguish. "i---" she squeaks a half-finished phrase before it falters.