We Could Play Pirates.

He found himself chuckling along with her, the sound rippling through the otherwise silent space around them. Her humor was infectious, and Aresenn found it a welcome distraction from the weight of his memories. “Street rats, drunks and prostitutes, you say?” he echoed her words with a teasing glint in his eyes. “Doesn’t sound like it could get much better than that.” Absinth's friendly nudging brought a genuine half-smirk to his face for the first time since returning to his birth packlands. For a moment, he could almost forget the ever-present ghost of his past.

“How unlucky indeed,” he agreed, his sparkling eyes meeting hers with a mischievous glint. A playful smirk danced on his lips as he lightly pushed back against her shoulder, their bodies swaying in perfect rhythm. The tranquil setting surrounding them seemed to amplify the unspoken electricity between them. "But perhaps it's not all bad," he mused, his words hanging in the air like a tantalizing invitation. Their synchronized heartbeats seemed to punctuate the moment, creating an intimate symphony amidst the otherwise quiet atmosphere.

Their eyes remained locked for a beat longer than necessary, and Aresenn felt an inexplicable stirring deep within him. Something he hadn't experienced in a while - a longing, a spark of desire. Memories tried to surface, but he pushed them away, choosing to focus on the woman standing before him instead. Absinth was unlike anyone he had ever met - her spirit blazed like fire, drawing him in with its irresistible intensity. He couldn't help but feel drawn to her, despite his best efforts to keep his distance. She effortlessly manipulated him, her words like a delicate dance pulling at his strings. And he was happy to be her puppet, willingly opening himself up for her to explore. He couldn't resist her, his every thought and emotion laid bare for her to see. It was a skill he could never possess. Perhaps it was all just a figment of his imagination, but in this moment, with her by his side, it didn't matter. The way she gazed into his eyes, the way her touch ignited a fire within him- he would willingly be her open book for as long as she would have it.

"Aresenn Praetor"