[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210131/53a200cc81a754fbfea32363291eca9d.png[/img][/center][indent][indent][indent][color=gray][sub][right][color=92278f][b]Location:[/b][/color]The City of Thorinn, Aetheria[/right][/sub][/color]
[hr]Despite the caution and care with which Alja touched her, Seele still jumped like a startled cat, and could only be thankful that she’d already let go of Graves by then, or she might have accidentally headbutted him. It seemed her nerves were still a tad high from the ordeal, but she still found the energy to be embarrassed about it. 

“[color=92278f]Oh! Alja, sweetie,[/color]” she said, clearing her throat, smoothing out her robe, and generally just trying to avoid looking at her until she’d gotten her composure back. “[color=92278f]No no, you’re not late at all! In fact, it’s probably for the best that you’re here when you are—things might have gotten…difficult. I’ll fill you in, just one moment.[/color]”

She turned back to Graves, taking him gently by the shoulders. “[color=92278f]Why don’t you head inside for now, hun? We’ll join you in a bit. Unless you want some time to yourself.[/color]”

She left out that if he was gone too long she’d come hunting after him, figuring that was implied. 

That done, she led Alja away from the scene. With a girl her size, it was impossible to be [i]inconspicuous[/i], but they were at least out of the way, and with the guards’ business handled, things would hopefully be dying down soon. 

“[color=92278f]You might hear some excitable chatter around the Worg for a bit, but it’s really not as bad as all that. Graves and Siegfried had a disagreement over our plan to find the missing wayfarers. Things got a little heated, a little emotional, but we managed to get everything under control before it became a huge problem.[/color]” 

It wasn’t a [i]lie[/i] per se, but Seele still felt a little guilty sugaring things so much. What choice did she have, really? It wasn’t her place to lay Graves’ struggles out to others, even to his friends; besides, it seemed clear to her that Alja meant to speak with him later anyway. 

“[color=92278f]And that’s about it! What about you? How did your errands go? I can’t help but notice you’re alone—is everything alright?[/color]”[/indent][/indent][/indent]