[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/xRyC3Nv.png[/img][/center]
[quote][b][color=6091e0]Location:[/color][/b] The Deacon Arms Tavern.
[b][color=6091e0]Interacting with:[/color][/b] Berserker of Red [@MeteorD]; the Masters of Red.
[b][color=6091e0]Magical energy:[/color][/b] 147 out of 180.[/quote]
As Berserker's hand came down on her shoulder, Sonja flinched a little. It wasn't that she was scared, but more that it didn't occur to her exactly how big his hands were. 
[color=fff200][b]"A-anyway,[/b][/color] Berserker continued, [color=fff200][b]"...the point is, tonight you acted like someone I would work under! Durin' that entire time, you could have told me to go wild and take out Saber, but that could've risked the life of those you were bringin' away from the fight, yeah? No matter what anyone else says, you were truly GOLDEN."[/b][/color] Initially, Sonja didn't have a response to the words: the whole 'golden' gimmick was still a little out of place for her, although not in a bad way - it was charming, in its own right. [color=fff200][b]"From that moment onwards, you became not my Master, but my General in this war. Or would you prefer Commander? Aaah, there are so many 'Cool' names to use!"[/b][/color] As the words properly sunk in, she didn't fluster or smile - but instead, she grew more firm in her resolve. With her confidence lifted, she more strongly shifted back into her public persona, feeling reassured in the war. Was he just being kind? It was hard to tell, but in the pits of her mind, she made an oath to trust him: to rely on him and become a commander, to never fear what he might be doing but instead always focus on the path ahead. It was her duty, after all: to both her family and to her servant. 

[color=fff200][b]"Well, we can think about that some other time!"[/b][/color] The words brought her out of her deep thought, prompting her back to reality. 
[b][color=6091e0]"Right,"[/color][/b] she responded firmly, with confidence: [b][color=6091e0]"Leave the strategy to me. I'll be relying on you for the battle, Berserker."[/color][/b] She offered him a resolute smile, in some regard inspired by the exchange. The doubt in her gut was fading. 

As she stood up to leave, trailing behind Berserker as she slid out of the booth, Sonja found herself confronted by an odd question. 
[color=fff200][b]"Oh, and could ya lend me a cig and a lighter?"[/b][/color] Berserker asked. In her mind, the cogs abruptly stopped turning. H-Huh? 
[b][color=6091e0]"O-Oh, you smoke?"[/color][/b] she asked, reaching into her coat to simply offer him the whole packet. [b][color=6091e0]"Here, the lighter's inside. Just bring it back up with you. If I'm not in bed when you get up there, I'm probably just in the shower in something, so don't wait up for me."[/color][/b] It didn't even occur to her if he intended to "sleep" or not, but she mentioned it anyway, just following on from her train of thought. [b][color=6091e0]"And don't feel like you have to sleep on the floor if it's only the one bed. I can deal with sharing if it'll keep you up to pace."[/color][/b] She spoke the words without a hint of hesitation, as if she didn't think a whole lot of sharing a bed in the first place; or at least, her public persona didn't. 

With that, she started her way towards the stairs with a vague wave over her shoulder. 
[b][color=6091e0]"See you soon, Berserker... goodnight, everyone."[/color][/b] She finished with a yawn as she rounded about the staircase.