A Thousand Rainy Days

Talyssa watched him, her pale blue eyes deceptively calm as he spoke. As Quill's story unfurled so did his character, bit by bit. The shrug, the casually dismissive wave of his paw, the quiet acceptance in the face of adversity - they all painted a picture of a man more complex than she'd initially taken him for. A pang of empathy resonated within her. While she didn’t quite understand an upbringing with a fractured family, she could grasp the pain of that loss, the yearning for kinship. His words hung in the chilled air between them, and for a moment, Talyssa was lost in the depth of his gaze, intrigued and moved by his story.

"You're strong, Quill," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper but full of admiration. She accepted the flask from him with a small nod of thanks and took a long drink before handing it back. The sweet tanginess of berry wine danced on her tongue, and the residual warmth that followed the liquid down her throat was a pleasant sensation against the winter chill. "Surviving alone is no easy feat, especially after being displaced from family." Her expression turned thoughtful as she reflected on his words. The reality of his past was a stark contrast to the vibrant, carefree personality he displayed. It fascinated her in a way she hadn't expected, and a part of her wondered if this was how Quill felt when she'd recounted her own experiences.

"Do you ever regret it?" She asked him suddenly, her gaze meeting his with a solemn intensity. "Choosing the path of a wanderer over ... being apart of something bigger?"

The question lingered in the air, like the remnants of their breaths visible against the cold winter backdrop. The silence was comfortable, even appreciative of the gravity of her question. Talyssa's eyes held his, unflinching in their curiosity and need for understanding. It was odd, the feeling of him wiping the wine from her lip- she hadn't realized she had been holding her breath until it silently caught in her throat. But she remained still, entranced by the gesture. Without even realizing it had happened her own paw had moved to rest gently on Quill’s scarred paw - a gesture both innocent and intimate at the same time.

"Talyssa Carpathius"