[Even Ryza herself was glad to not have any interruptions around here. Whenever it came to things that she liked or people she liked, she always loved to give them her undivided attention. Being all by herself with Troy in a place like this just added an extra layer of intimacy to this date of theirs. If she told Klaudia (her best friend) about this novel-like experience that she's been having... Ryza had to wonder how she'd respond! She knows that her friend had gotten marriage proposals directed at her, but she's turned them all down...
Whenever Troy takes a leap in, the alchemist lets out a little gasp at how perfect that dive of his was! Compared to herself, Ryza felt like Troy was far more well-trained from her perspective. As innocent as ever, she doesn't realize that he was checking her out underwater and giving him quite an eyeful at first. But that's when a little woman's intuition had tickled her brain for a moment: "Wait a sec... Am I being looked at again?"
It was more of an observation than a warning bell in her mind. And that thought made her heart skip again before she hears Troy's muffled voice from below her! Ah, she takes a moment to drip down to greet him and the oceanic view before them both. Slowly swimming over to him, Ryza takes in the new environment... The fishes swimming in groups, the sealife below them and the sunlight's reflection peering through the watery surface.]
It's really nice, huh? Moments like this are why I love adventuring so much. You only get one life, so you gotta see everything you can!
[Surprisingly existential coming from her... But that was a revelation that she's come to terms with along her adventures and growing up a bit. That said, she couldn't help and bring up a rather funny question.]
Say, Troy... It looks like you're good at diving, but have you ever ridden a dolphin?
[Her voice perks up in some excitement as she imagines him on one. She asks because dolphin riding was another one of her special skills!]
[ He asks, distracted from the clear waters and the sunlight that seeped through it. The view of the ocean beneath the waves always left him with a bittersweet feeling, both of awe and regret. But hearing Ryza's voice prevented his mind from being carried away by that current of emotion, staying afloat with gentle paddling of his feet and waddling of his hands ]
No, I never had. Don't think they like being ridden on, but you're welcome to surprise me.
[ He wonders if the dolphins here are as aggressive as the ones from his own world. Those dolphins are evil ]
[It's only for a moment, but the alchemist couldn't help and notice the look on his face. She decides not to point it out for now, but shelves it mentally for later. She hopes that this isn't bringing up any more sad memories considering his past... But she was more than determined to fill his head with some happier ones for sure.]
Really? Usually, they're really nice whenever they approach me! Sharks tend to be the scary ones... But nothing that a good punch to the nose can't handle.
[Perhaps it was because Ryza just had a pleasant aura! She was always pretty good with handling animals. Though she also knew how to handle the unfriendly ones. That being said, she reaches into her item bag once more to take out another whistle...
This was a different kind compared to the Spirit Beast's one. Ryza had made sure that this whistle worked under a different kind of frequency. Though it took some trial and error to get it just right. She takes a moment to blow it (with a few bubbles coming out to boot) before a pair of dolphins come swimming at them in the distance!
One of them will gently nudge Ryza by the cheek as she giggles and pets it. Meanwhile, the other one will curiously swim over to Troy with a tilt of the head.]
C'mon... They won't bite! All you have to do is show it a little friendliness just like with the Spirit Beast.
I think I'm gonna be imagining you punching shark noses from now on.
[ Among other things his healthy mind would no doubt come up with, but he still means what he said. Troy watches as dolphins seem to appear out of nowhere, immediately as Ryza called. Were they already nearby? Were they brought there by magic? Questions rolled in his mind as he floats within the gentle current, content in watching Ryza's aforementioned pleasant aura resonate with the dolphons. It wasn't until the other dolphin swim around him that Troy's attention leaves his partner.
He smiles at the dolphin, extending a gentle hand to touch at the side of its beak and lightly rub at its cheek like he's petting a dog. ]
How's that?
[ He laughs, comfortable in the presence of the dolphin. The sensation of the dolphin's skin is very new to him, making his smile brighter over the new experience. ]
They're adorable. You're lucky you get to call on them whenever you want.
[ Troy continues to rub the dolphin's cheek and head like he would a dog ]
Hmhmhm... I'm a veeeeery gentle lady unless you try me!
[This is said quite proudly! But Ryza's friends would've called her out on this big lie said to hype herself up. She was the opposite of ladylike in many ways. The more polite and gentle behavior was reserved for Klaudia... Given how the two of them were opposite ends of the scale, it was quite a blessing that the two of them became best friends. What she lacked in high class manners, she made up for in pure friendliness and stubborn energy to befriend people!
Seeing Troy gently pet the dolphin makes her smile wide. In her eyes, it was much easier to get along with people than fight them. And seeing animals, monsters and humans getting along made things even better!]
I know some people would want to take advantage of them for profit, but I don't wanna do that! I see them as friends helping me out whenever I'm in a big pinch.
[That said, Ryza gently pets the dolphin near her before she decides to hop on top of it and settles in. She holds onto the fin before she looks over to Troy.]
Alright... Just hop on its back and we'll go for a ride. My friends have ridden them before too, so they know how to move at a comfortable speed. [She'll wait for Troy to climb on himself.] Ready to go?
[ Troy nods. He had long since overcame his woes towards water, but having the presence of Ryza with him help whatever lingering feelings he had towards his memories. Troy wastes no time and gets on the dolphin, careful not to put his entire weight on its back.
He lets himself be carried by the dolphin, but as they pick up speed and without saying anything, Troy looks at Ryza with his hand stretched out. His smile is its usual warm way, thinking it just feels appropriate to journey on the backs of these sea creatures with their hands linked together. ]
[On the other hand, Ryza couldn't help and blush at his gesture. How should a girl interpret this? It was the little things like that where she could feel her maidenly heart tug on the inside. She wasn't used being courted like this! She was used to holding people's hands to pull them up a mountain, walking through a cave or as emotional support whenever the atmosphere was down...
But this felt different for the young alchemist. She knew that Troy could be quite silly and a little perverted, but still quite a gentlemen. That's why she hesitantly takes his hand into hers as her smaller fingertips awkwardly search their way into his bigger ones. Then before she knew it, she had managed to take his hand into his own for a tight grip.]
S-Sorry! [She's not sure why she's apologizing, but it just comes out.] My hand might feel rougher than your average girl. Since I work with a lot of tools and help out with my family's farm... It might have a few blisters here or there.
[Her hand did have signs of roughness, but no blisters to be found! Her mother and father taught her at an early age on how to take care of skin issues like that. If Ryza's friends were here to see her being so self-conscious, they would've thought that she was replaced by a transformation monster.]
[ He assures with a couple of squeezes of her hand, holding on to hers with a gentle firmness as they both glide through the water atop their dolphin mounts. He lets his attention linger on to her blushing face before he turns his attention to head with an eager smile, waiting for whatever adventure awaits them both. ]
The water is so clear...
[ Thankfully, industry has yet to ruin the pristine wild waters of this place yet. It's one of the things he doesn't want for the locals of this world, but the higher-ups of his faction would want to exploit so many of these untouched wonders. ]
Hehe... Thank you, Troy. I don't get compliments like that often!
[Returning the hand squeeze, Ryza couldn't help and feel a boost of confidence in that hearing that! Around him, she couldn't help and feel more like an attractive woman than one of the guys. Even she wanted some attention like that every once in a while.]
Isn't it? I think it's important that we preserve nature like this... But I wouldn't complain if we decided to take advantage of it for some hot springs~!
[She remembers a little incident where she accidently stumbled onto a geyser of hot water with her friends. It was a bit awkward for her, but it turned out to be a happy ending for everyone since they got to take a dip and the village thanked her for giving them a free tourist spot!
As they continue swimming through the waters, Ryza's eyes glitter with excitement as she notices the ruins before them.]
Troy, Troy! Look at that! Aren't the ruins down here so pretty? The entrance to the dungeon should be around here somewhere, so let's get a little lower.
[Right on cue, the dolphins are going to move down closer to where the ruins were at. Not too quickly as they knew that Ryza was the type of girl who wanted to take in environments like this. She was also keeping her eye out for anything like ingredients for her alchemy or treasure to take home.]
[ He'd be delighted to hear about that story, or anything about Ryza in general. He already finds her so fascinating that he's hooked on everything about her, and it was only her pointing it out that distracted him to another wonderful sight. He nods and give her an okay sign, following her lead and still holding on to her hand. Troy follows the path made by the dolphins as they dive deeper, keeping his body straight as he weaves through the water and feeling the drag against his skin. ]
Let's get to it. I'll enter first. Gotta check if it's safe to come in.
[ He keeps his eyes peeled, noting some fine details in the surrounding area as his soldierly instincts fire up. He doesn't know what things Ryza would consider potential ingredients though, but he still tries to look for anything that stands out. From any strange aquatic plants or shiny rocks, but also for that entryway. He nods towards a pathway, leading to some stairs. ]
This place looks like it was above ground once. You know what happened to it?
[If Ryza were younger, she would've given a bratty "Hmph! I can handle myself!" reply. (And to this day, she's still kind of a brat!) But with age comes experience and she knew that she had a habit of rushing ahead and getting everyone into trouble sometimes. Even now, her curiosity can still get the best of her. Considering that Troy was a soldier, she respects his battle intuition better than most. She's fought against monsters, but she's never experienced a war upfront for herself. Plus this meant that Ryza could do what she did best and be a good support unit from the back!
There's a pause as she ponders on Troy's question. In moments like this, Ryza couldn't help and put her alchemy nerd cap on. Her master would've been proud of her analysis skills.]
Hmm... Most of this is pure speculation, but it's assumed that this used to be a civilization from the ancient past. Given how the construction of the buildings, it's possible that these ruins used to be a place of worship. [A beat.] But I dunno what kind of deity they worshiped or what kind of religion it was!
[But if there were answers, then you can bet that Ryza would want to find out. It's that hunger for knowledge and adventure's spirit that driven her to go above and beyond. Once they were near the pathway, she'll be hesitantly letting go of Troy's hand and hopping off of her dolphin.]
Alright then! It's time to show me some of those cool solider skills you've developed for me, Troy! [Reaching into her item bag, she'll be pulling out her trusty staff.] And while we're at it, I'll teach you how to gather ingredients. And before you know it, you'll be thinking like an alchemist!
[ Troy listens, but keeps the thought that occurred in his head to stay there. No matter how much he distances himself from it, the footsteps of gods always lead back to him.
Troy does what he said once he helps Ryza dismount from their dolphin companions. Troy takes his blade out, and casually keeps the spine resting on his forearm while he enters the threshold first. He gestures for her to follow when he determined it's clear, listening to her talk and remain an absolute nerd despite the creepy look of the abandoned temple. He lets his weapon rest on one of his shoulders.
Once in, he lets her take the lead with an "after you" gesture of his arm. But he stays behind close enough to make her feel protected. So much that he looks down, he can see the curve of her shoulder and the finer details of her hair. He knows he's much taller than her, and yet it's enlightening to be reminded when he's standing within an arm's length of her. ]
Y'know, I gotta confess, this is probably the most fun I had on a date in a while. Aha...
[ He smiles awkwardly away from her gaze. He can't see his own expression, but he knows he's blushing after hearing him confess that. ]
[As Troy gestures her to take the lead, Ryza walks along with an innocent hum. A much more serious explorer would've scolded her to take this more seriously! But the fact was that she was with Troy and felt genuinely safe with him around and her natural optimism had told her that everything was going to be fine. And little did she know, her presence was always good for lightening up dark and gloomy moods or people who needed a pick-me-up! She viewed herself as a normal farmer's daughter, but this might've been one of her superpowers.
Hearing Troy say something like that gets a giggle from the alchemist. Even if he was looking away from her, she notices how the tips of his ears were turning red. He seemed so rugged and tough, but it was refreshing to see that even he could get vulnerable and cute.]
Hehehe... I don't know about the other girls you've dated before, but I always like to go off the beaten path. It makes for so many interesting discoveries along the way!
[Deciding to be bold, she slows her pace to the point where they're walking side by side... Then she gently reaches out to take Troy's arm and curls it around her open one. She decides to press it against her ample chest. She feels herself blushing from this gesture too... Ryza does this for two reasons: 1) To make sure that he can feel her heart beating faster with all of these emotions rushing inside of her. And 2) She wants to be flirty in her own way too. Doing this was pretty fun... Rather comfortably, she rests her head against his shoulder.]
And I like this side of you. You're such a cool guy, but now I know that you can be reaaaally cute too! [She says 'cute' as if she's reaching over to poke his nose.] Don't be afraid to be vulnerable with me, okay? If you're ever tired, you can always rest your head on my lap.
[Ryza's legendary thighs weren't just for show now! Some have said that their warmth can even cure headaches.]
[ Her superpower is definitely working on him like a charm, as Troy's mind is distracted by her presence that a lot of the details of abandoned underwater temple became a blur in that moment. Her cute boast about herself as opposed to his previous dates along with the gesture that comes after, was bold move indeed - but a welcome one.
Succeeding in making him feel the thumping of her heart and making his own beat a little harder against his chest, Troy takes a moment to cherish this feeling as he listens to her confession. That poke of his nose made him "ahh" with amusement. ]
Noted, and likewise. Granted, my thighs are probably much harder than yours.
[ It's more muscle, after all. Superhuman muscle to boot, and something somebody once likened to metal fibers. His arm feels the same as she can no doubt feel. But at least his skin is still soft and smooth. ]
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Whenever Troy takes a leap in, the alchemist lets out a little gasp at how perfect that dive of his was! Compared to herself, Ryza felt like Troy was far more well-trained from her perspective. As innocent as ever, she doesn't realize that he was checking her out underwater and giving him quite an eyeful at first. But that's when a little woman's intuition had tickled her brain for a moment: "Wait a sec... Am I being looked at again?"
It was more of an observation than a warning bell in her mind. And that thought made her heart skip again before she hears Troy's muffled voice from below her! Ah, she takes a moment to drip down to greet him and the oceanic view before them both. Slowly swimming over to him, Ryza takes in the new environment... The fishes swimming in groups, the sealife below them and the sunlight's reflection peering through the watery surface.]
It's really nice, huh? Moments like this are why I love adventuring so much. You only get one life, so you gotta see everything you can!
[Surprisingly existential coming from her... But that was a revelation that she's come to terms with along her adventures and growing up a bit. That said, she couldn't help and bring up a rather funny question.]
Say, Troy... It looks like you're good at diving, but have you ever ridden a dolphin?
[Her voice perks up in some excitement as she imagines him on one. She asks because dolphin riding was another one of her special skills!]
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[ He asks, distracted from the clear waters and the sunlight that seeped through it. The view of the ocean beneath the waves always left him with a bittersweet feeling, both of awe and regret. But hearing Ryza's voice prevented his mind from being carried away by that current of emotion, staying afloat with gentle paddling of his feet and waddling of his hands ]
No, I never had. Don't think they like being ridden on, but you're welcome to surprise me.
[ He wonders if the dolphins here are as aggressive as the ones from his own world. Those dolphins are evil ]
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Really? Usually, they're really nice whenever they approach me! Sharks tend to be the scary ones... But nothing that a good punch to the nose can't handle.
[Perhaps it was because Ryza just had a pleasant aura! She was always pretty good with handling animals. Though she also knew how to handle the unfriendly ones. That being said, she reaches into her item bag once more to take out another whistle...
This was a different kind compared to the Spirit Beast's one. Ryza had made sure that this whistle worked under a different kind of frequency. Though it took some trial and error to get it just right. She takes a moment to blow it (with a few bubbles coming out to boot) before a pair of dolphins come swimming at them in the distance!
One of them will gently nudge Ryza by the cheek as she giggles and pets it. Meanwhile, the other one will curiously swim over to Troy with a tilt of the head.]
C'mon... They won't bite! All you have to do is show it a little friendliness just like with the Spirit Beast.
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[ Among other things his healthy mind would no doubt come up with, but he still means what he said. Troy watches as dolphins seem to appear out of nowhere, immediately as Ryza called. Were they already nearby? Were they brought there by magic? Questions rolled in his mind as he floats within the gentle current, content in watching Ryza's aforementioned pleasant aura resonate with the dolphons. It wasn't until the other dolphin swim around him that Troy's attention leaves his partner.
He smiles at the dolphin, extending a gentle hand to touch at the side of its beak and lightly rub at its cheek like he's petting a dog. ]
How's that?
[ He laughs, comfortable in the presence of the dolphin. The sensation of the dolphin's skin is very new to him, making his smile brighter over the new experience. ]
They're adorable. You're lucky you get to call on them whenever you want.
[ Troy continues to rub the dolphin's cheek and head like he would a dog ]
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[This is said quite proudly! But Ryza's friends would've called her out on this big lie said to hype herself up. She was the opposite of ladylike in many ways. The more polite and gentle behavior was reserved for Klaudia... Given how the two of them were opposite ends of the scale, it was quite a blessing that the two of them became best friends. What she lacked in high class manners, she made up for in pure friendliness and stubborn energy to befriend people!
Seeing Troy gently pet the dolphin makes her smile wide. In her eyes, it was much easier to get along with people than fight them. And seeing animals, monsters and humans getting along made things even better!]
I know some people would want to take advantage of them for profit, but I don't wanna do that! I see them as friends helping me out whenever I'm in a big pinch.
[That said, Ryza gently pets the dolphin near her before she decides to hop on top of it and settles in. She holds onto the fin before she looks over to Troy.]
Alright... Just hop on its back and we'll go for a ride. My friends have ridden them before too, so they know how to move at a comfortable speed. [She'll wait for Troy to climb on himself.] Ready to go?
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[ Troy nods. He had long since overcame his woes towards water, but having the presence of Ryza with him help whatever lingering feelings he had towards his memories. Troy wastes no time and gets on the dolphin, careful not to put his entire weight on its back.
He lets himself be carried by the dolphin, but as they pick up speed and without saying anything, Troy looks at Ryza with his hand stretched out. His smile is its usual warm way, thinking it just feels appropriate to journey on the backs of these sea creatures with their hands linked together. ]
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[On the other hand, Ryza couldn't help and blush at his gesture. How should a girl interpret this? It was the little things like that where she could feel her maidenly heart tug on the inside. She wasn't used being courted like this! She was used to holding people's hands to pull them up a mountain, walking through a cave or as emotional support whenever the atmosphere was down...
But this felt different for the young alchemist. She knew that Troy could be quite silly and a little perverted, but still quite a gentlemen. That's why she hesitantly takes his hand into hers as her smaller fingertips awkwardly search their way into his bigger ones. Then before she knew it, she had managed to take his hand into his own for a tight grip.]
S-Sorry! [She's not sure why she's apologizing, but it just comes out.] My hand might feel rougher than your average girl. Since I work with a lot of tools and help out with my family's farm... It might have a few blisters here or there.
[Her hand did have signs of roughness, but no blisters to be found! Her mother and father taught her at an early age on how to take care of skin issues like that. If Ryza's friends were here to see her being so self-conscious, they would've thought that she was replaced by a transformation monster.]
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[ He assures with a couple of squeezes of her hand, holding on to hers with a gentle firmness as they both glide through the water atop their dolphin mounts. He lets his attention linger on to her blushing face before he turns his attention to head with an eager smile, waiting for whatever adventure awaits them both. ]
The water is so clear...
[ Thankfully, industry has yet to ruin the pristine wild waters of this place yet. It's one of the things he doesn't want for the locals of this world, but the higher-ups of his faction would want to exploit so many of these untouched wonders. ]
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[Returning the hand squeeze, Ryza couldn't help and feel a boost of confidence in that hearing that! Around him, she couldn't help and feel more like an attractive woman than one of the guys. Even she wanted some attention like that every once in a while.]
Isn't it? I think it's important that we preserve nature like this... But I wouldn't complain if we decided to take advantage of it for some hot springs~!
[She remembers a little incident where she accidently stumbled onto a geyser of hot water with her friends. It was a bit awkward for her, but it turned out to be a happy ending for everyone since they got to take a dip and the village thanked her for giving them a free tourist spot!
As they continue swimming through the waters, Ryza's eyes glitter with excitement as she notices the ruins before them.]
Troy, Troy! Look at that! Aren't the ruins down here so pretty? The entrance to the dungeon should be around here somewhere, so let's get a little lower.
[Right on cue, the dolphins are going to move down closer to where the ruins were at. Not too quickly as they knew that Ryza was the type of girl who wanted to take in environments like this. She was also keeping her eye out for anything like ingredients for her alchemy or treasure to take home.]
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Let's get to it. I'll enter first. Gotta check if it's safe to come in.
[ He keeps his eyes peeled, noting some fine details in the surrounding area as his soldierly instincts fire up. He doesn't know what things Ryza would consider potential ingredients though, but he still tries to look for anything that stands out. From any strange aquatic plants or shiny rocks, but also for that entryway. He nods towards a pathway, leading to some stairs. ]
This place looks like it was above ground once. You know what happened to it?
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There's a pause as she ponders on Troy's question. In moments like this, Ryza couldn't help and put her alchemy nerd cap on. Her master would've been proud of her analysis skills.]
Hmm... Most of this is pure speculation, but it's assumed that this used to be a civilization from the ancient past. Given how the construction of the buildings, it's possible that these ruins used to be a place of worship. [A beat.] But I dunno what kind of deity they worshiped or what kind of religion it was!
[But if there were answers, then you can bet that Ryza would want to find out. It's that hunger for knowledge and adventure's spirit that driven her to go above and beyond. Once they were near the pathway, she'll be hesitantly letting go of Troy's hand and hopping off of her dolphin.]
Alright then! It's time to show me some of those cool solider skills you've developed for me, Troy! [Reaching into her item bag, she'll be pulling out her trusty staff.] And while we're at it, I'll teach you how to gather ingredients. And before you know it, you'll be thinking like an alchemist!
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Troy does what he said once he helps Ryza dismount from their dolphin companions. Troy takes his blade out, and casually keeps the spine resting on his forearm while he enters the threshold first. He gestures for her to follow when he determined it's clear, listening to her talk and remain an absolute nerd despite the creepy look of the abandoned temple. He lets his weapon rest on one of his shoulders.
Once in, he lets her take the lead with an "after you" gesture of his arm. But he stays behind close enough to make her feel protected. So much that he looks down, he can see the curve of her shoulder and the finer details of her hair. He knows he's much taller than her, and yet it's enlightening to be reminded when he's standing within an arm's length of her. ]
Y'know, I gotta confess, this is probably the most fun I had on a date in a while. Aha...
[ He smiles awkwardly away from her gaze. He can't see his own expression, but he knows he's blushing after hearing him confess that. ]
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Hearing Troy say something like that gets a giggle from the alchemist. Even if he was looking away from her, she notices how the tips of his ears were turning red. He seemed so rugged and tough, but it was refreshing to see that even he could get vulnerable and cute.]
Hehehe... I don't know about the other girls you've dated before, but I always like to go off the beaten path. It makes for so many interesting discoveries along the way!
[Deciding to be bold, she slows her pace to the point where they're walking side by side... Then she gently reaches out to take Troy's arm and curls it around her open one. She decides to press it against her ample chest. She feels herself blushing from this gesture too... Ryza does this for two reasons: 1) To make sure that he can feel her heart beating faster with all of these emotions rushing inside of her. And 2) She wants to be flirty in her own way too. Doing this was pretty fun... Rather comfortably, she rests her head against his shoulder.]
And I like this side of you. You're such a cool guy, but now I know that you can be reaaaally cute too! [She says 'cute' as if she's reaching over to poke his nose.] Don't be afraid to be vulnerable with me, okay? If you're ever tired, you can always rest your head on my lap.
[Ryza's legendary thighs weren't just for show now! Some have said that their warmth can even cure headaches.]
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Succeeding in making him feel the thumping of her heart and making his own beat a little harder against his chest, Troy takes a moment to cherish this feeling as he listens to her confession. That poke of his nose made him "ahh" with amusement. ]
Noted, and likewise. Granted, my thighs are probably much harder than yours.
[ It's more muscle, after all. Superhuman muscle to boot, and something somebody once likened to metal fibers. His arm feels the same as she can no doubt feel. But at least his skin is still soft and smooth. ]