askdusty:
Can I pet him.
For a good few moments she simply stared, unblinking, unable to wrap her head around the question he’d asked. So completely in the opposite direction of what she’d expected – threats, screams, terror, she’d been ready for. Part of her dared hope for simple agreement, whether out of understanding or fear. But this…
Finally she broke down into laughter, doubling over, helpless. Only after recovering, still giving little chuckles between inhales, did she try to answer.
“If – if you like, of course. He won’t hurt you.”
Doht, confused by his mistresses’ odd behavior, circled from her side back to J’hasi and tilted his head as though asking him for an answer. Dust gave a long sigh, dragging a hand down her face as she sat.
“… He’s very gentle, really. Unless I tell him not to be, of course.” A little, lopsided smile. She stroked along his flank, feeling the smoothness, coolness of his strange hide. Finally, the kettle whistled – she moved to stand, going still as a realization struck.
“… You still haven’t promised.” All humour drained from her expression once more, lips going tight. “J’hasi. I need you to promise me – you will not tell a soul.”
The Khajiit smiled a little once given permission, seeming more at ease now that Dust was laughing rather than looking so cornered, so afraid. He stroked the hound’s muzzle, back over his head and around his ears. His own ears twitched once the kettle started to whistle louder, almost not catching what the Breton said afterwards. He swallowed, breaking eye contact and focusing on Doht’s smooth neck.
“Well…at the College, lots of people, lots of mages have some sort of familiar or summon. I don’t see anything unusual with yours.” he said, eyes glancing up at the lass’ briefly. Doht’s skin felt chiller than expected, and he wondered again if the hound was undead. Smelled strange, like undeath, but also like something familiar… It was hard to focus on what it was exactly, with all the scents of herbs and whatnot in the shop.
“I promise I won’t tell anyone about him.” the Khajiit stated seriously, meeting Dust’s eyes when he said it. He rubbed his knuckles against the side of Doht’s neck, careful to not scratch him with his claws. While Dust said he had been summoned to protect them, he wasn’t all that sure how fragile that skin was. It was an odd, but neat texture though.
vvardenfellcat 