Alternative Interrupting
The camp had quieted down, the fire reduced to glowing embers as most of the party had retreated to their tents. The night was still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the faint chirping of crickets. Solana sat by the dying fire, her greatsword resting beside her as she gazed into the glowing coals, lost in thought. The warmth of the night’s laughter lingered, but the weight of their mission pressed softly at the edges of her mind.
Out of the shadows, a familiar figure stumbled into view. Sera, her cheeks flushed and her grin lopsided, made her way toward Solana with the kind of unsteady determination only a tipsy elf could muster. “Oi, Dragonborn,” she called softly, her voice carrying a playful lilt. “What’re you doin’ all broody out here, eh?”
Before Solana could respond, Sera tripped over a stray log and landed unceremoniously in Solana’s lap. Solana blinked, startled, but quickly steadied her with a hand on her shoulder. “Sera,” she said, her voice a mix of amusement and exasperation, “are you alright?”
“Never better,” Sera replied, her grin widening as she leaned back slightly, her weight pressing comfortably against Solana. “Though I think I’ve found the best seat in camp. Nice and cold.”
Solana chuckled softly, shaking her head. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“Mm, but you like it,” Sera teased, her tone turning flirtatious as she tilted her head to look up at Solana. “Admit it, Dragonborn. You’d miss me if I wasn’t around to keep things interesting.”
Solana’s lips quirked into a small smile, her gaze meeting Sera’s. “I suppose I would,” she admitted, her voice softer now. “You do have a way of making everything... brighter.”
Sera’s grin softened into something more genuine, her sharp eyes searching Solana’s face. “You’re not so bad yourself, you know. All that shouting and sword-swinging—it’s bloody impressive. And you’re not half bad to look at, either.”
Solana felt a faint warmth rise to her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. The space between them seemed to shrink, the world around them fading into the quiet crackle of the fire and the soft hum of the night. Sera’s gaze flicked to Solana’s lips, and for a moment, it seemed as though the distance between them might disappear entirely.
“Oi!” Krem’s voice cut through the stillness, startling them both. He stood a few paces away, his arms crossed and a smirk plastered across his face. “If you two are gonna get all cozy, maybe take it to a tent, yeah? Some of us are trying to sleep.”
Sera groaned, burying her face in Solana’s shoulder. “Bloody Krem,” she muttered, though there was no real malice in her tone. “Always ruining the fun.”
Solana laughed softly, her hand brushing against Sera’s back in a comforting gesture. “Come on,” she said, her voice warm. “Let’s get you to bed before you cause any more trouble.”
Sera sighed dramatically but allowed Solana to help her up, her grin returning as she leaned on the Dragonborn for support. “Fine, but only because you’re the one helping me. Don’t think this means I’m going to behave tomorrow.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Solana replied, her smile lingering as they made their way toward the tents.
Behind them, Krem chuckled to himself, shaking his head as he returned to his own tent. “Those two,” he muttered, amused. “Maker help us all.”
Alternatively
The camp had gone quiet, the fire reduced to faintly glowing embers as most of the party retreated to their tents. Solana remained by the fire, staring into the coals, her greatsword resting beside her. The laughter from earlier still lingered in her thoughts, but the night had taken on a stillness that carried with it an odd sense of calm.
Sera, however, was very much not calm—or coordinated. She emerged from the shadows, her steps light but a touch unsteady. “Oi, Dragonborn,” she called softly, a cheeky lilt to her voice. “What’re you doin’, sitting here all serious? The night’s not over.”
Solana glanced up, smirking. “I could say the same for you. What are you doing still awake?”
Sera shrugged, dropping herself onto the log beside Solana in a way that could only be described as a controlled flop. “Couldn’t sleep. ‘Sides, the stars are too bright to waste, yeah?” Her grin was lopsided, and her eyes gleamed with mischief. “Thought I’d check if you’re brooding. You’re good at that.”
“Not brooding,” Solana said with a quiet laugh. “Just... thinking.”
“Thinking’s just brooding with more steps,” Sera replied, scooting closer. Her tone turned softer, more playful. “So, what are you thinkin’ about? Maybe me?”
Solana’s cheeks warmed slightly, but her smirk deepened. “Maybe.”
Sera grinned wider, leaning forward just a bit. “Just maybe? I’ll have to work on that.”
The space between them grew smaller, the firelight catching the angles of their faces. Solana’s heart raced slightly as Sera’s gaze flicked downward, her voice softening again. “You’re not half bad to look at, Dragonborn. You know that, yeah?”
“You’re not too bad yourself,” Solana replied, her tone lighter but steady. Her hand twitched slightly, as if caught between holding still or moving closer.
The moment stretched, and it seemed as if the tension might break in an entirely different way—until a loud, booming voice shattered the quiet.
“Well, well, well,” Bull called from the shadows, his laugh rumbling across the camp. “What’s this then? Do I need to get the Inquisition’s wedding planner?”
The two broke apart almost instantly, Solana rubbing the back of her neck as Sera groaned, tossing her head back dramatically. “Oh, piss off, Bull!” she shouted, though her cheeks were visibly red.
Bull stepped closer, a massive grin plastered across his face. “What? Don’t let me stop you two. Just thought I’d point out there’s plenty of room in the tents for... private conversations.”
Sera groaned again, hopping up from the log. “Ruin everything, why don’t you?” she muttered, though there was no real heat in her tone. She turned to Solana, her grin slipping back onto her face. “Don’t think you’re getting out of this, though. I’m not done teasing you yet.”
Solana chuckled softly, watching Sera saunter off toward the tents before turning her gaze to Bull. “You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?”
“Not a chance,” Bull replied, his grin still wide. “Come on, Shouts. You can’t expect me to miss a moment like that.”
“Remind me to repay the favor someday,” Solana said dryly, though her smirk gave away her amusement. She stood, stretching slightly before nodding toward her tent. “Goodnight, Bull.”
“Goodnight, lovebirds,” he replied with a wink, his laughter following her as she disappeared into her tent.