Heartfelt discussions (Evie POV)

Evie settles herself on the couch, opening a book. The house is tidy, and now she can relax with her favorite activity. She smiles to herself as she mentally corrects that thought. Her favorite activity when Kael is gone.

Just thinking of him fills her with a warm glow. Evie sighs, thinking of how lucky she is, to have found him. Yes, technically she’s still a ****, but…she hardly feels like one. The stories she heard…even here, where slaves are relatively well treated, they’re still slaves. And the stories she heard of other places, like Gabby’s homeland? They terrified her.

But Kael…she calls him ‘master’, but it’s a term of endearment, not subservience. And he truly treats her as an equal. Ria too, though their relationship has only just begun. Still, Evie can see a bond forming between her and the spirited redhead.

As she sits, contemplating her future and her relationships, she’s surprised by Gabby sitting down beside her. The curvaceous holstaur is wearing one of the new outfits, and it fits her much better, though it hardly hides her eye catching figure. Evie isn’t ashamed of her figure by any means, but there are times she’s a bit jealous of curvier women.

Looking up at Gabby, Evie notices that the usually cheerful and boisterous woman seems pensive. Even without her magical powers, Evie is very much an empathetic person, and immediately she can tell that something’s bothering her. After a moment, she reaches over ant touches Gabby’s arm.

“What’s wrong?”

Gabby blinks, seemingly surprised. “Oh! N-nothing. Just…thinking.”

Evie smiles kindly. “Anything I can do to help?”

Gabby chews on her lower lip as she thinks for a moment. “No. Maybe. I don’t know. I just…okay, so something happened, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

Evie sets aside her book, folding her hands in her lap. “Maybe if you tell me about it, we can puzzle it out together.”

Gabby looks a bit nervous, which is odd. “I suppose…so, you know Kael took me to get some clothes today?”

Evie nods. “Of course. He did the same for me when I arrived here.”

Gabby takes a deep breath. “So, it was going fine for a while, but…”

Evie listens as Gabby explains everything that happened at the shop. Gabby blushes deeply when she describes falling down on top of Kael, and there’s something in the way she describes it that speaks to the problems she’s having.

“When I felt his hands on me I…it was like a bolt of lightning. Staring into his eyes, I almost kissed him. I haven’t felt anything like that since…well, since my time with Erin.”

Evie nods. “The prize fighter, right?”

Gabby nods. “Yeah. I never even really admitted it, even to myself, but I really liked him. No, it was more than that. But…since then, I’ve never really felt anything. I’ll flirt and show off, but it’s kinda meaningless. It’s just my body, who cares, right?”

Evie frowns slightly, considering. “You used the flirting as a shield, basically?”

“Yeah. But after I looked into Kael’s eyes, I couldn’t…it didn’t seem right to act like that. It felt like being a tease was wrong.”

Evie smiles. “You like him.”

Gabby nods, wringing her hands together. “I…yeah, I do. But I barely know him. How can that happen?”

Evie giggles softly. “He seems to have that effect. He has this reputation as a horrifying fighter, but in person, he’s the gentlest, sweetest person I’ve ever met.”

Gabby sighs. “I don’t know what to do, Evie.”

Evie pats Gabby’s thigh. “Why didn’t you kiss him?”

Gabby shrugs. “I prolly would have, but we got interrupted.”

“Well, next time you get a chance, follow through with it!”

Gabby shakes her head. “But…he’s yours! Well, you and Miss Ria’s, anyway.”

Evie laughs. “There’s definitely room for one more. And I’ve seen how he looks at you. Besides, I’d bet that miss Ria wouldn’t mind having some time with you as well!”

Gabby blushes. “She’s very pretty, but…we’ll, I’ve never been with a woman before…”

Evie smiles. “Me either, although apparently that’s going to change soon!”

Gabby looks at the giggling little elf in surprise. “You mean…?”

“Mmhmm!”

Gabby blushes even more. “Oh! Okay…wow. Still, though…”

Evie looks up at Gabby, sensing there’s something deeper. “What’s the real problem, Gabby? I can tell this is just surface level stuff.”

Gabby sighs, looking towards the window. She’s quiet for a moment, seemingly gathering her thoughts. When she looks back to Evie, her eyes are sad and full of worry.

“After they took me from Erin, I was…sad. For a long while. I promised myself I’d never let myself feel that way again. How can I be sure it won’t happen again? I can’t let myself care, if it all might be taken away again…”

Evie reaches out and takes Gabby’s hand, looking up at the worried woman’s eyes. “I understand. But how much worse is it to never open your heart for fear of hurt? If there’s anyone who deserves the chance, it’s Kael. And you deserve the chance at being truly happy. Nothing is without risk, but the alternative is just emptiness.”

Gabby is quiet again, simply looking at Evie for a while. Then, slowly, a smile spreads across her face. With a glad cry, she scoops Evie up into a hug, practically smothering the little elf with her breasts. After a moment, she releases Evie, and both of them laugh, with Gabby wiping away a tear.

“Okay. Okay. So…I guess I'm doing this. You’re right, Evie. So…what now?”

Evie laughs again. “Well, that’s up to you. Kael is certainly not going to make the first move! When you think the time is right, just go for it. I promise, he’ll be okay with it!”

Gabby laughs as well. “Great plan. Seriously, though, thank you, Evie.”

Evie smiles. “Thank me after you’ve kissed him. Then you’ll know I'm right!”