Okay! I'll do homework until you get back xD
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STATUS: Does this mean we can call you abmin now? 2 yrs ago
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Does this mean we can call you abmin now?
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300 word minimum is pretty standard for casual level and up in my experience
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Just discovered Dog TV. My pitbull and I have a new shared hobby.
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Barbenheimer 2023
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There's a panhandler who hangs out on the street corner by our dispensary every afternoon with a sign that just says "Green 4 Green?" and tbh, I respect my boy's confidence.
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Bio
Personal Profile
Name: Taylor
Pronouns: They/them
Age: Mid 20s
Relationship: Married (happily, I might add)
Time Zone: Arizona (we hate daylight savings, so it's MST year-round)
Writing History: I've been on a number of different roleplaying websites for over a decade and a half
Hobbies: Writing, fitness, driving/exploring, hiking, camping, traveling, tabletop games, anything NEW (I love trying things I've never done before)
Roleplayer Profile
Format: 1x1s only. Maybe I'll try a group RP again someday, but I've never had one last longer than a few months
Posting Speed: Depending on my schedule, I can usually post at least once per week
Favorite Genres: Modern, Historical, Romance, Action/Adventure, Horror/Dark, Fantasy, Slice of Life, Dystopian, can be convinced to write some Sci-Fi
Hard 'no's: Fandoms. Sorry, but I can't maintain interest in characters/worlds I didn't build with my partner
Template: Public threads or PMs. I prefer to keep all my RPs in one place, so no emails or G-docs or the like
Rating: Comfortable with 18+ content, but it's not a necessity and I prefer not to center a plot around explicit scenes
Level: Advanced. Will consistently provide around 400-700 words per post, but can occasionally leap to 2000+
Character preference: One main character, but large side casts are greatly enjoyed. Because I write long posts, I prefer not to double
Gender preference: Male. You'll be hard pressed to convince me to play a female that isn't a background character. It's just not my forte
Romantic Relationships: MxF or MxM (currently prefer MxM)
Character Images: Faceclaims or detailed descriptions only. I envision the characters like real people in my mind, so I can't take anime seriously
OOC chat: Yes please! I'm a total extrovert who loves to get to know the amazing minds behind my partners' characters
Most Recent Posts
With nothing left to do but go home, Crow made his way back to the ravine from Myrefall. Being tired and cold from the late night storm, it wasn’t the most pleasant walk of his life. In fact, the only good thing about it was the fact that there were no knights around to see him. He guessed they were all probably taking shelter until the last of the rain subsided, which was fortunate for him because it meant that he didn’t have to travel as carefully as he normally did.
After a while, he returned to the thieves’ hideout to find that the others had already weatherproofed their camp while he had been away. Their supplies had been put up, the fire pit had been covered, and the shelter had even been reinforced with extra animal skins. He was glad they had been so efficient. Now, all he had left to worry about was changing into dry clothes, and then he would have a warm and comfortable night.
He wasted no time in doing just that. After digging through a bag of clothes the thieves had stolen a while back, he found a shirt and pants that looked like they would fit him. He changed quickly and headed into the shelter to get out of the sprinkling rain before the new clothes got wet enough to chill his skin.
Inside, he made his way over to his bed mat, moving carefully to avoid waking up the others, and laid down for the night. As he reached to draw his blanket over himself, he noticed that there was a second one piled on top of the first, and he smiled to himself. Someone—he guessed it had probably been Rikki—had given him an extra blanket to keep warm during the storm. He closed his eyes, pulling both blankets up to his chin, and let out his breath in a content exhale as he drifted off to sleep.
--
The next morning, Crow woke up feeling stiff. He sat up slowly and stretched with a tired yawn. Between his long walk through the cold rain and the fact that his wounds were still healing, he supposed he was going to feel sore for a while. Regardless, he didn’t mind the discomfort too much, because the conversation that he’d had with Penelope the previous night was worth it. His heart beat a little quicker as he thought about everything that had happened between them during the storm. It wouldn’t be much longer before she gave him her answer.
Too worked up to sit still any longer, he threw off his blanket and got up to go outside. In the camp, he saw that all three of his companions were sitting by the fire pit, eating dark bread that they had taken from the knights during their last raid. He walked over to join them, tearing off a part of a loaf for himself as he sat down next to Alistair.
“How did it go?” Simon asked curtly.
“Hm?” Crow blinked, looking up at him with an inquisitive frown.
“Your meeting,” Simon bit into his piece of bread. “What did the knight tell you this time?”
“Oh, right,” Crow popped some food into his mouth and chewed slowly, stalling for time as he tried to remember what Penelope had told him before the storm had happened. “She said the knights from our kingdom aren’t going to attack Younis again until they get another shipment of supplies for the war. Until then, we still have some time to recover.”
“Interesting,” Alistair smirked. “So you’re saying they won’t start another battle until they get new supplies?”
“I’m already way ahead of you,” Crow returned his look with a mischievous grin. “I want you all to keep a look out for incoming supply wagons for the next few weeks. If you find one…” he tore off another piece of bread in his hands. “Take everything.”
“You got it, boss,” Rikki exchanged an excited look with Alistair.
Crow laughed, finding their enthusiasm entertaining. Among the four of them, he was sure that Rikki and Alistair would be the most efficient at sabotaging the knights’ war supplies. They were the wildest and most unpredictable of the thieves, which made them a frightening pair when they worked together on heists. He had no doubts that they would be more than capable of cutting off the knights’ war supplies on their own.
“That’s all fine,” Simon spoke up again with a skeptical look. “But that won’t stop the Younisians from attacking first. If we only target the knights from our kingdom, we’re only dealing with half of the problem.”
“That’s why you and I will go to the Younisian battlefront and do the same to them,” Crow said simply. “We’ll make the trip in four or five days. By then, I should be feeling well enough to conduct a raid on their supplies without any trouble.”
Simon thought over his leader’s words and then nodded, “Alright. I don’t think this plan of yours will work in the long term, but I’m willing to try it and see what happens.”
“That’s all I’m asking,” Crow grinned at him. “As long as the Younisians don’t attack within the next week, we should be able to hold off the next battle for a while.”
--
After breakfast, Crow spent the rest of his morning pacing the length of the ravine as he took the time to think over his dilemma. Whether Penelope took him back or not, he needed to start seriously looking for a cure for his illness again. After all, the knight wasn’t the only one he was doing this for. The thieves he had committed to lead needed him too. He couldn’t just give up after he had been given a medicine to hide his symptoms. Even though he couldn’t feel the pain of the disease anymore, he couldn’t keep pretending like nothing was wrong. The spells of fatigue had begun. He was clearly getting worse.
He stopped by the edge of the river and bent down to pick up a flat rock, tossing it up and down in his hand as he continued to work through his thoughts. The herbalist in Myrefall had been a dead end, but that didn’t necessarily mean there was nothing out there that could heal him. He just wished he knew more about medicinal plants. The extent of his knowledge ran only as far as what was edible and what was poisonous, and even then, he didn’t know everything. He had only learned what Hazel Ansgot had had time to teach him.
Hazel. Crow blinked. Of course! Why didn’t I think of her before? His heart beat a little quicker in his chest as he started to gain hope again. Hazel was the most talented herbalist in the outer villages. If anyone could find the cure to his illness, it would be her. He just hoped he could find her, since, as the most talented herbalist, she was always traveling to different villages to heal the peasants who couldn’t afford to see a real physician.
I have to try. He tossed the rock in his hand into the air one more time before cocking his arm back and launching it into the river. Even if she’s not there, I can leave a message with Evelyn, so she’ll know I was looking for her.
Having come to a decision, he turned to head back to the camp so he could prepare to leave for Silverpool.
After a while, he returned to the thieves’ hideout to find that the others had already weatherproofed their camp while he had been away. Their supplies had been put up, the fire pit had been covered, and the shelter had even been reinforced with extra animal skins. He was glad they had been so efficient. Now, all he had left to worry about was changing into dry clothes, and then he would have a warm and comfortable night.
He wasted no time in doing just that. After digging through a bag of clothes the thieves had stolen a while back, he found a shirt and pants that looked like they would fit him. He changed quickly and headed into the shelter to get out of the sprinkling rain before the new clothes got wet enough to chill his skin.
Inside, he made his way over to his bed mat, moving carefully to avoid waking up the others, and laid down for the night. As he reached to draw his blanket over himself, he noticed that there was a second one piled on top of the first, and he smiled to himself. Someone—he guessed it had probably been Rikki—had given him an extra blanket to keep warm during the storm. He closed his eyes, pulling both blankets up to his chin, and let out his breath in a content exhale as he drifted off to sleep.
--
The next morning, Crow woke up feeling stiff. He sat up slowly and stretched with a tired yawn. Between his long walk through the cold rain and the fact that his wounds were still healing, he supposed he was going to feel sore for a while. Regardless, he didn’t mind the discomfort too much, because the conversation that he’d had with Penelope the previous night was worth it. His heart beat a little quicker as he thought about everything that had happened between them during the storm. It wouldn’t be much longer before she gave him her answer.
Too worked up to sit still any longer, he threw off his blanket and got up to go outside. In the camp, he saw that all three of his companions were sitting by the fire pit, eating dark bread that they had taken from the knights during their last raid. He walked over to join them, tearing off a part of a loaf for himself as he sat down next to Alistair.
“How did it go?” Simon asked curtly.
“Hm?” Crow blinked, looking up at him with an inquisitive frown.
“Your meeting,” Simon bit into his piece of bread. “What did the knight tell you this time?”
“Oh, right,” Crow popped some food into his mouth and chewed slowly, stalling for time as he tried to remember what Penelope had told him before the storm had happened. “She said the knights from our kingdom aren’t going to attack Younis again until they get another shipment of supplies for the war. Until then, we still have some time to recover.”
“Interesting,” Alistair smirked. “So you’re saying they won’t start another battle until they get new supplies?”
“I’m already way ahead of you,” Crow returned his look with a mischievous grin. “I want you all to keep a look out for incoming supply wagons for the next few weeks. If you find one…” he tore off another piece of bread in his hands. “Take everything.”
“You got it, boss,” Rikki exchanged an excited look with Alistair.
Crow laughed, finding their enthusiasm entertaining. Among the four of them, he was sure that Rikki and Alistair would be the most efficient at sabotaging the knights’ war supplies. They were the wildest and most unpredictable of the thieves, which made them a frightening pair when they worked together on heists. He had no doubts that they would be more than capable of cutting off the knights’ war supplies on their own.
“That’s all fine,” Simon spoke up again with a skeptical look. “But that won’t stop the Younisians from attacking first. If we only target the knights from our kingdom, we’re only dealing with half of the problem.”
“That’s why you and I will go to the Younisian battlefront and do the same to them,” Crow said simply. “We’ll make the trip in four or five days. By then, I should be feeling well enough to conduct a raid on their supplies without any trouble.”
Simon thought over his leader’s words and then nodded, “Alright. I don’t think this plan of yours will work in the long term, but I’m willing to try it and see what happens.”
“That’s all I’m asking,” Crow grinned at him. “As long as the Younisians don’t attack within the next week, we should be able to hold off the next battle for a while.”
--
After breakfast, Crow spent the rest of his morning pacing the length of the ravine as he took the time to think over his dilemma. Whether Penelope took him back or not, he needed to start seriously looking for a cure for his illness again. After all, the knight wasn’t the only one he was doing this for. The thieves he had committed to lead needed him too. He couldn’t just give up after he had been given a medicine to hide his symptoms. Even though he couldn’t feel the pain of the disease anymore, he couldn’t keep pretending like nothing was wrong. The spells of fatigue had begun. He was clearly getting worse.
He stopped by the edge of the river and bent down to pick up a flat rock, tossing it up and down in his hand as he continued to work through his thoughts. The herbalist in Myrefall had been a dead end, but that didn’t necessarily mean there was nothing out there that could heal him. He just wished he knew more about medicinal plants. The extent of his knowledge ran only as far as what was edible and what was poisonous, and even then, he didn’t know everything. He had only learned what Hazel Ansgot had had time to teach him.
Hazel. Crow blinked. Of course! Why didn’t I think of her before? His heart beat a little quicker in his chest as he started to gain hope again. Hazel was the most talented herbalist in the outer villages. If anyone could find the cure to his illness, it would be her. He just hoped he could find her, since, as the most talented herbalist, she was always traveling to different villages to heal the peasants who couldn’t afford to see a real physician.
I have to try. He tossed the rock in his hand into the air one more time before cocking his arm back and launching it into the river. Even if she’s not there, I can leave a message with Evelyn, so she’ll know I was looking for her.
Having come to a decision, he turned to head back to the camp so he could prepare to leave for Silverpool.
Okay!
Sounds like those will all be really interesting ^^
I can't wait
Sounds like those will all be really interesting ^^
I can't wait
As Penelope agreed that they could meet at the house instead of the tavern, Crow let out his breath in relief. He hadn’t been sure how she would take his request, since this location was a bit farther away for both of them than the tavern was, and the house wasn’t in the best condition, so it wasn’t overly welcoming or comfortable. He was glad she was willing to accommodate him in spite of those things. It would be nice to have the privacy when she would inevitably either take him back or confirm that she was going to hold onto the life she already had for herself.
“Three days it is,” Crow nodded when she gave him a time. They hadn’t even left for their camps yet, but he already felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement for day to come. In just three days, he would know for sure whether he and Penelope would get together again or not. The anticipation sent his heart racing.
Until then, I have a lot to do, he thought, lowering his gaze to his lap. He wasn’t just looking for a cure for himself anymore; he was doing it for Penelope too. After all, he didn’t want her to sacrifice everything for him if he wasn’t going to get better. It wouldn’t be fair of him to ask her to do that.
Crow turned to Penelope once more as she thanked him. “Of course,” he smiled. “This is a big decision, and you shouldn’t have to make it on the spot.” Glancing out the window once more, he noticed it had been a while since he last heard any thunder, and the rain had slowed to a steady drizzle.
“Seems like we should start heading back, huh?” he mused, standing up from the bed and moving to gather his cloak from the floor. While he was up, he grabbed Penelope’s cloak as well and handed it to her. Putting on his own, he tried to ignore the chill of the still soaked fabric that hung from his shoulders.
Once he was ready to go, Crow put out the lantern and set it back on the dusty table where he had found it. He stepped over to the front door and pulled it open, glancing back at Penelope one more time, “I’ll see you in three days.”
“Three days it is,” Crow nodded when she gave him a time. They hadn’t even left for their camps yet, but he already felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement for day to come. In just three days, he would know for sure whether he and Penelope would get together again or not. The anticipation sent his heart racing.
Until then, I have a lot to do, he thought, lowering his gaze to his lap. He wasn’t just looking for a cure for himself anymore; he was doing it for Penelope too. After all, he didn’t want her to sacrifice everything for him if he wasn’t going to get better. It wouldn’t be fair of him to ask her to do that.
Crow turned to Penelope once more as she thanked him. “Of course,” he smiled. “This is a big decision, and you shouldn’t have to make it on the spot.” Glancing out the window once more, he noticed it had been a while since he last heard any thunder, and the rain had slowed to a steady drizzle.
“Seems like we should start heading back, huh?” he mused, standing up from the bed and moving to gather his cloak from the floor. While he was up, he grabbed Penelope’s cloak as well and handed it to her. Putting on his own, he tried to ignore the chill of the still soaked fabric that hung from his shoulders.
Once he was ready to go, Crow put out the lantern and set it back on the dusty table where he had found it. He stepped over to the front door and pulled it open, glancing back at Penelope one more time, “I’ll see you in three days.”
Eyy good job! xD
Finally home, so I got my reply up.
So I was thinking we shouldn't time skip to their next meeting, because there will probably be some important things happening
For one, I'm planning to have Crow travel to Silverpool to look for Hazel
Their interactions are gonna be interesting x)
Finally home, so I got my reply up.
So I was thinking we shouldn't time skip to their next meeting, because there will probably be some important things happening
For one, I'm planning to have Crow travel to Silverpool to look for Hazel
Their interactions are gonna be interesting x)
Crow leaned his head against Penelope’s, enjoying their momentary closeness as she rested against his shoulder. Though the storm had kept them both out late and he was still cold from the water that soaked his clothes, he was glad it had happened. Without the poor weather, they would have gone back to their separate camps and he may never have found out that the knight was reconsidering being with him. Even if it led to nothing, he was glad to have learned that she still loved him.
“I know you will,” he smiled as she went on to tell him that she would continue to help him as well. “And I appreciate everything you’re doing. The information you’ve been giving me has helped us save more villagers than we ever have before. I can’t thank you enough for that.” He leaned in a little closer to her, so their arms brushed against each other. It felt good to be so close to her again, and he relished the moment. He wanted to hold onto it, that way, even if Penelope chose not to be with him, he would still have the memory of right now—sitting with her in the house where he had grown up.
As she pointed out that the storm was easing up, he glanced up at the cracked ceiling and listened to the sound of the rain. “Looks like it,” he agreed with a nod. “We can probably return to our camps well before the sun comes up.” Turning back to the knight, he pulled away from her slightly in order to meet her gaze. “When do you want to meet again?” he asked. “I think you should decide, since you know better than I do how much time you’ll need to think about everything we talked about.”
Another thought came to him, and he shifted his weight, “Also… would it be too much to meet here next time instead of at the tavern? I’d rather not risk having anyone overhear such a personal conversation.” That, and he enjoyed being able to share his old home with someone else. Whether she chose him or not, he wanted her to see and know that part of his life. He felt warmth creep up his neck at the thought and held her gaze as he waited for an answer.
“I know you will,” he smiled as she went on to tell him that she would continue to help him as well. “And I appreciate everything you’re doing. The information you’ve been giving me has helped us save more villagers than we ever have before. I can’t thank you enough for that.” He leaned in a little closer to her, so their arms brushed against each other. It felt good to be so close to her again, and he relished the moment. He wanted to hold onto it, that way, even if Penelope chose not to be with him, he would still have the memory of right now—sitting with her in the house where he had grown up.
As she pointed out that the storm was easing up, he glanced up at the cracked ceiling and listened to the sound of the rain. “Looks like it,” he agreed with a nod. “We can probably return to our camps well before the sun comes up.” Turning back to the knight, he pulled away from her slightly in order to meet her gaze. “When do you want to meet again?” he asked. “I think you should decide, since you know better than I do how much time you’ll need to think about everything we talked about.”
Another thought came to him, and he shifted his weight, “Also… would it be too much to meet here next time instead of at the tavern? I’d rather not risk having anyone overhear such a personal conversation.” That, and he enjoyed being able to share his old home with someone else. Whether she chose him or not, he wanted her to see and know that part of his life. He felt warmth creep up his neck at the thought and held her gaze as he waited for an answer.
Sorry, I crashed last night ^^;
I'll be around all day today after about 12 though!
I'll be around all day today after about 12 though!
Crow let out his breath in a soft sigh after he finished speaking. Holding himself back from the chance to be with Penelope again was one of the hardest decisions he had ever made. However, he knew he had done the right thing. If he had taken her offer, he may have been taking advantage of what seemed to be an impulsive desire on her part. It would have been selfish to do something that would ruin her life without giving her the opportunity to think about the consequences of what she was asking, so she could back out if it was too much after all.
He looked up at Penelope again, feeling a bit surprised as she went on to say that she hadn’t just started to feel this way about him that night. It wasn’t just because he had comforted her in the storm; she had been in love with him since the day they parted. His mind reeled at the new information, and he had to force his emotions into check. Just because she had always felt the same way for him that he did for her didn’t mean that it was the best decision for them to get back together. It still remained true that she needed to consider everything she would lose if she chose him. She had to decide what was most important to her.
When she finished talking, Crow didn’t respond right away. Not sure what to say, he let a brief silence fall between them as he took a moment to gather his thoughts. Ever since they had reunited on that first night about a month ago, he had thought she had moved on from him completely. To learn that his first impression had been wrong, and that she was still in love with him was a lot to take in, especially since he still didn’t know if it meant he could have her again.
Even if she comes back in a few days and says she chooses me, can I really take her back? He frowned as he thought about something else that might stand in between them.
His illness had already started to progress again to the next phase that the herbalist had described. With no cure in sight, he didn’t know how much longer he had before it took his life. Was it really fair to let Penelope give up her entire life for him, when he might only be around for a few more years? The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that it wasn’t right to take her away from everything she knew just so he could have her for a little while longer.
He blinked, realizing he was starting to give up on finding a cure for his sickness. No, he thought determinedly. I’m not done yet. Between now and the next time we meet, I’m going to keep looking.
Feeling a bit more resolve from his decision, he looked to Penelope again to answer her. “Thank you for telling me,” he smiled at her appreciatively. “I just want you to know that when you come back to give me that answer, I’ll be content with your decision… whatever it may be.” He shifted to sit a little closer to her and leaned over to press a gentle kiss to her cheek. “You need to do what you think is best for you,” he went on quietly. “But no matter what you choose, I’ll always be there for you in any way I can.”
He looked up at Penelope again, feeling a bit surprised as she went on to say that she hadn’t just started to feel this way about him that night. It wasn’t just because he had comforted her in the storm; she had been in love with him since the day they parted. His mind reeled at the new information, and he had to force his emotions into check. Just because she had always felt the same way for him that he did for her didn’t mean that it was the best decision for them to get back together. It still remained true that she needed to consider everything she would lose if she chose him. She had to decide what was most important to her.
When she finished talking, Crow didn’t respond right away. Not sure what to say, he let a brief silence fall between them as he took a moment to gather his thoughts. Ever since they had reunited on that first night about a month ago, he had thought she had moved on from him completely. To learn that his first impression had been wrong, and that she was still in love with him was a lot to take in, especially since he still didn’t know if it meant he could have her again.
Even if she comes back in a few days and says she chooses me, can I really take her back? He frowned as he thought about something else that might stand in between them.
His illness had already started to progress again to the next phase that the herbalist had described. With no cure in sight, he didn’t know how much longer he had before it took his life. Was it really fair to let Penelope give up her entire life for him, when he might only be around for a few more years? The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that it wasn’t right to take her away from everything she knew just so he could have her for a little while longer.
He blinked, realizing he was starting to give up on finding a cure for his sickness. No, he thought determinedly. I’m not done yet. Between now and the next time we meet, I’m going to keep looking.
Feeling a bit more resolve from his decision, he looked to Penelope again to answer her. “Thank you for telling me,” he smiled at her appreciatively. “I just want you to know that when you come back to give me that answer, I’ll be content with your decision… whatever it may be.” He shifted to sit a little closer to her and leaned over to press a gentle kiss to her cheek. “You need to do what you think is best for you,” he went on quietly. “But no matter what you choose, I’ll always be there for you in any way I can.”
It was actually really great. All the in-laws got along ^^
Crow has matured a bit lol
Crow has matured a bit lol
What did she just say?
Crow stared at Penelope in unbridled surprise. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. The sound of her words replayed over and over in his mind, and his heart began to race with excitement. It wasn’t his imagination. She was having second thoughts about her decision to leave him. A dozen different thoughts ran through his mind: Did she still love him after all? What had changed to make her reconsider being with him? Why was she bringing this up now? The barrage of questions was overwhelming, but above it all was a singular feeling of joy at the fact that she still wanted to be with him.
He desperately longed to tell her that it mattered and that he still loved her. After all, she was everything he ever wanted. However, as he tried to bring himself to speak, he found that his tongue was tied. If she had asked him the same question a few weeks ago, his answer would have been an instant yes, but now he wasn’t sure what to say.
He still wanted to be with her just as much as before, but after seeing the life she had built for herself among the knights, he couldn’t just take that away from her in good conscience. Two years ago, she would have sacrificed a lot by choosing him, but now there was even more at stake. She had a good job, a good reputation, even a good suitor. It wouldn’t have been right for him to get in the way of everything she had worked so hard to achieve.
“Penelope…” Crow said gently, reaching to take her hand in his. “I still love you more than you could know. But… are you really sure that’s what you want? Nothing has changed. If you choose me, you’ll be giving up everything you have and everything you know.” He held her gaze seriously as he went on, “I want you to really think about this. If you get back together with me, you won’t be able to keep your job, your reputation will be ruined, and your family may even disown you.
“Right now, you have a good life. You’ve worked hard for it, and you’ve earned everything you’ve achieved for yourself. You even have another suitor whom, if you marry, you won’t have to sacrifice a single thing. Are you really willing to give all of that up for a thief?” He lowered his gaze to hide the pain in his eyes from her. The words were difficult to say, but he knew they needed to be said.
“I don’t want you to answer me right now,” he continued softly. “With this storm going on, I don’t think you’re in your right mind, but I also believe this isn’t a decision you should make without considering all of the consequences. Take a few days to really think about this. Think about everything you’d be giving up, and if you’re really willing to do it, because I’m not going to be the man who ruins your life. I love you too much to let that happen.”
Crow stared at Penelope in unbridled surprise. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. The sound of her words replayed over and over in his mind, and his heart began to race with excitement. It wasn’t his imagination. She was having second thoughts about her decision to leave him. A dozen different thoughts ran through his mind: Did she still love him after all? What had changed to make her reconsider being with him? Why was she bringing this up now? The barrage of questions was overwhelming, but above it all was a singular feeling of joy at the fact that she still wanted to be with him.
He desperately longed to tell her that it mattered and that he still loved her. After all, she was everything he ever wanted. However, as he tried to bring himself to speak, he found that his tongue was tied. If she had asked him the same question a few weeks ago, his answer would have been an instant yes, but now he wasn’t sure what to say.
He still wanted to be with her just as much as before, but after seeing the life she had built for herself among the knights, he couldn’t just take that away from her in good conscience. Two years ago, she would have sacrificed a lot by choosing him, but now there was even more at stake. She had a good job, a good reputation, even a good suitor. It wouldn’t have been right for him to get in the way of everything she had worked so hard to achieve.
“Penelope…” Crow said gently, reaching to take her hand in his. “I still love you more than you could know. But… are you really sure that’s what you want? Nothing has changed. If you choose me, you’ll be giving up everything you have and everything you know.” He held her gaze seriously as he went on, “I want you to really think about this. If you get back together with me, you won’t be able to keep your job, your reputation will be ruined, and your family may even disown you.
“Right now, you have a good life. You’ve worked hard for it, and you’ve earned everything you’ve achieved for yourself. You even have another suitor whom, if you marry, you won’t have to sacrifice a single thing. Are you really willing to give all of that up for a thief?” He lowered his gaze to hide the pain in his eyes from her. The words were difficult to say, but he knew they needed to be said.
“I don’t want you to answer me right now,” he continued softly. “With this storm going on, I don’t think you’re in your right mind, but I also believe this isn’t a decision you should make without considering all of the consequences. Take a few days to really think about this. Think about everything you’d be giving up, and if you’re really willing to do it, because I’m not going to be the man who ruins your life. I love you too much to let that happen.”
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