There was a pleasant little flutter in her belly. She wouldn't have minded a trek to work on her own as she had, but the companionship would make such trips all the better. "...Then I won't turn down your offer. Thank you, Gadriel. That's very sweet of you."

You're welcome to enjoy your optimized nutrition.

But Madhuri fell quiet. She stepped around the counter and gestured to the couch. "...Have a seat. Take a load off."

She doesn't care if you make the damned thing creak. It came with the house and she wanted to replace it anyway. But with the height difference mitigated, she could step in and get a better look at his face.

"... As a bard, I enjoy stories. I think scars are stories written on the person, reminders of what they've survived. And you've been through a lot, haven't you...?"