<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/d/d8/RowanPF.jpg)  </div><strong>Rowan Riks</strong>(https://elliquiy.com/wiki/File:Rowan.pdf)<br/><strong>Tagging</strong>: Amanda, Florica, Corporal Will<br/><strong>Status</strong>: Lightly tipsified but in control<br/><strong>Rolls</strong>:<br/><br/>At the front door of the Inn, Rowan stands taking a deep breath of the evening's salty air, and places her hand on her flushed cheek.  She tilts her head reflexively at Florica's teasing message, gritting her teeth, and feels that flush in her skin warm even more furiously as she practically feels the words tickle her ear.<br/><br/>Having no concept of how the spell actually works, she hisses back a soft, defensive reply.  "The only<i>comfort</i>I need right now is a<i>cold bath</i>.  And a book."  She stares out at the sea beyond the buildings across the street, hears the cry of a distant ocean bird, the soft thrum of waves.  "And this view.  And..." her voice takes a softer tone, no longer the hushed whisper.  "Well.  Maybe a<i>little</i>--"<br/><br/>"Hey there" says the smooth, honey-thick voice of Corporal Stoutly, so close she could feel his presence, and she goes utterly board-stiff from eyelids to toes as she stares out at the street with utter horror, mouthing silently 'oh gods'.  "...sorry if you felt like you were put on the spot, or uncomfortable. Here... I can go back in if you want, but I wanted to make sure you were alright."<br/><br/>She remains rigid as a startled doe and darts her eyes back and forth across the street.  Maybe there's a brigand.  Maybe a monster.  Yes, a great big monster and she'll rush off to chase it.  And maybe it will kill her swiftly and end this mortification.<br/><br/>Turning on her heel in her best imitation of a ladylike gesture, Rowan dips to a half-curtsy and smiles broadly, laughing a little too much, all her teeth even and white as she gestures dismissively with her hands.  The moment takes a little too long to be utterly sincere.  "Oh, oh Corporal-- oh, you are<i>such</i>a gentleman, I swear it.  How absolutely thoughtful of you."  She takes the cup of water into her slender, dexterous fingers, the surface trembling and a bit splashing over the rim.  "Oh-oh, oops!  haha!"  She sips it, then drains it in a prolonged swallow, then holds the empty cup to her lips for the last trickle.  Oh, this town needs bigger cups.<br/><br/>"Thank you so, so much.  Always there to wet a girl's throat w--" she claps her lips shut.  "Always there with a gentlemanly hand when needed.  Such... oh, my.  So sorry!  I just needed a breath of fresh air, all the food and drink, you know, just..." she gestures in cyclical motions with her hands as if stirring some kind of sense from her babble.  "Just... so much<i>richer</i>than the fare we're used to... you know.  Berries, jerky.  Nuts, fruit.  Do you like nuts?  I love nuts.  I could go for some nuts.  I mean if I wasn't already full up.  I mean.  It doesn't take much to fill me, all this rich food.  And then you brought me this--" she lifts the cup, "and you made me overfull, and here I am" she wipes her lower lip where swallowing failed, "too much to swallow!  I mean, trickling out of my lips!  I mean, OH FUCK!"<br/><br/>She spikes the cup.  "You hungry?" she asks flatly.  "For food?  No?"  She grabs his waistcoat.  "Let's go."<br/><br/>At that she turns for the front door and, even if he resists, attempts to drag him out in the street towards the station and his modest home.<br/>