WC: 407
Niernan was actually embarrassed, modestly downplaying his talent. He certainly didn't strike her as shy, especially compared to her, but it was charming to see he was actually insecure about something. "It really is wonderful," she added encouragingly. "Flowers only last a season at the longest, but with this, you could keep them with you forever. I envy that." Her gaze lingered on the charcoal sketch, imagining the contour lines and simple strokes as a full color image. Winter would be so much more bearable with these paper flowers to decorate the indoors, reminding her of seasons past. Perhaps she would ask him to draw some of her favorite flowers so that she could hang them on her bare walls... but then again, without windows, her home was too dark for displaying artwork. Still, she envied his talent; it was not something she had any aptitude for. She would have to content herself with her knowledge of the local flora, something Nier didn't seem to mind listening to.
As Coli voiced her concern, Nier laughed, his sudden mirth making her jump. He reassured her that he wasn't worried about his companion, just amused by the predicament. She quickly smoothed her fur down, pondering the insight he gave her. Drugs she knew very little about (wasn't that something Ezra had mentioned to her recently?), but she had a brief brush with alcohol several summers ago. It was her turn to be embarrassed. Coli blushed beneath her pale-furred cheeks when she recalled the effects a bottle of wine had drawn out in her -- not only had she become far more talkative, unable to keep any secret at all, but it had roused a strange stirring in her that led to her first kiss that night. Hopefully Ciaran wasn't in that sort of mood, because she didn't know of any other cats in the area for him to seek out. "So it's like he's drunk?" she asked slowly, edging closer into the garden to peek at the drooling feline. "Should we... move him away from the plant, or will he snap out of it...?" The cat certainly did seem happy, less aloof than he had appeared previously. The corner of her mouth twitched, teasing out a lopsided smile. "He doesn't look very dignified now... Nier, you should sketch him like this." Blue eyes peeked back at the taller Stormbringer, eager to see what he thought of the playful idea.