NOW we can return to Tiny's Tavern.

Once you arrive back at the tavern, you go back to your usual routine of contracting and relaxing. Though, you find yourself wishing for Miranda’s company a bit more than Delilah’s.

However, this change of interest doesn’t seem to affect Delilah that much, as she seems to encourage this. In fact, the first time you mentioned that you kind of liked Miranda, she started to talk about her likes and dislikes, helping you subtly in becoming an item.

At first, you felt a little bad since you thought Delilah and liked you, but perhaps that was for the best if this was the direction you were getting warped into.

October came and went. November did the same. And then December stepped in, bringing bitter cold and blankets of snow. New travelers ceased coming in, and then the entire town slowed into a state that could almost be described as hibernation…stores closed short, cliques met regularly, and the short days allowed parties to start early.

When the last of your contract list was finally written off as “partly completed,” you realized that you didn’t have anything going on in your local life here. So what was left to do with your time? Delilah’s encouragement had allowed you more or less to become better friends with her, but it felt a little dry with Miranda, despite your efforts with going “somewhere” with her. You wouldn’t say things were awkward between you and her after going to Highlight but felt like you did everything you could with her…

You go to the lobby and find Delilah lounging on one of the tables, drawing cartoon figures as a piece of scrap paper. It took her a moment to notice you, but she smiled at you and opened up with small talk when she did.

Delilah covered her drawing by curling her arm over the paper. And leaning into the table. “Soo…enjoying the snow?”

Outside, there was a little over a foot of it. The snow wasn’t terrible, you supposed. It was the wind that brought it that bothered you the most. A quick conversation about snow and wind unfolded and flat-lined in under 5 minutes. Silence fell over your table for a spell until Delilah perked up and asked you what you were going to do for the day.

You glanced through the window, shivering at the bleak sky as it sprinkled flakes of powdery snow. “I was hoping to hang out with Miranda, but I don’t suppose she came in today?”

Delilah shook her head, telling you she had actually come in. She leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms. Her drawings are finally for display. Rough sketches of faceless portraits with different hairstyles and characteristics were etched into the off-white fabric of the paper. You also saw faces, more cartoon-like in their designs, but still had realistic layouts.

When Delilah follows your gaze, she takes the paper and awkwardly laughs. “Don’t say anything. It's just a hobby.”

“It’s still good,” you compliment.

She shrugs. “I know, but…anytime anyone says anything about it, they shower me with ideas and concepts that fill my brain with daydreams. As if I need more of that...”

Delilah’s cheeks turn pink. She lays the paper out in front of you, and you take it, studying her sketches with a closer look. “They’re really good, Delilah.”

She blushed harder. “Thanks.”

Delilah watches you as her eyes glow. You meet her gaze and ask what she wants. She blinks and stammers, asking you what you’re going to do now.