Octavia sipped on her wine as she observed, at a distance, Karlach laughing with Dammon and Alfira. If you didn't know the barbarian, you could believe her life had always been breezy, adventuring with mates, drinking, and laughing. So light. Octavia saw how Dammon looked at the woman she desired and felt a tug of jealousy inside her stomach. She could not blame him. Karlach was too charming, and too damn good-looking for her own good. She saw the barbarian smile and laugh louder at something someone said, almost snorting beer in the process, and could not help to smile at the sight.

“You never struck me as a shy person, Tav” Shadowheart’s snarky voice brought the drow back way too subtly.

“I’m not… It's just… Look at how happy she is. She hasn't had a lot of opportunities to enjoy herself like this in the last… 10 years. I don't want to disturb her…”

“Gods. You are so sweet it disgusts me.” The half-elf said jokingly, offering Octavia a smile. “She likes you too. I see the way she looks at you and even though sometimes she seems to lust everything that moves, it is different. I can bet she won't be bothered if you try something.”

Octavia smiled and sipped a little more of her wine: “I know. I’m not scared or nervous. I told you, I’m really not shy… it's just… I genuinely want her to have all the fun she needs tonight.”

“You are way too nice for your own good, Octavia. Don't let Astarion hear you talking like that. He would never give you peace again.” The cleric said, filling up the sorcerer's cup with more wine.

Octavia laughed through her nose. “I'll be mindful of that, thank you!”

“I wouldn’t take too long to do something, though. You’re not the only one on the podium. The Blacksmith is rather charming, fixing her heart and all. Be quick, or you might miss your shot!” Shadowheart lifted her cup in a silent toast before leaving Octavia alone once more.

The drow observed the group still laughing together as Lae’zel sat among them, and Karlach cheerfully filled the githyanki’s cup with ale from her own, giving the other warrior a pat on the shoulder that could dismantle a bull. Lae'zel did not even flinch, but seemed confused about the social interactions, keeping to herself drinking or clicking her tongue in response to the tieflings' rattle. Soon Wyll joined them and weaved the group into some sort of tale, which quickly got Alfira to grab her lute and begin risking a few notes, turning the tale into music. Karlach stood up and grabbed everybody’s cups, walking towards the caskets of ale at the edge of the camp, still laughing over her shoulder. And then, Octavia saw when the tiefling locked eyes with her and detoured her path to a straight walk towards her.

“Hey, soldier!”

“Hey, gorgeous! Enjoying yourself?”

“Enjoying myself? Would you look at this!” She waved the half a dozen mugs on her hands “Would you look at this place! All these people - Happy! Because of us. It's nice to be somewhere where good is still possible! And with good potations too!” Karlach finished waving her hand full of mugs once more and spilling leftover beer into Octavia's dress. “Oh crap, sorry about that!”

“No worries!” Octavia waved the ale out of her clothes with prestidigitation “Come, let me help you out with those mugs…” The drow reached out and took a handful of mugs from her hands and they both walked to the caskets, a slight tension permeating the air around them. Octavia could feel the heat emanating from Karlach's body. There was a spring in her step and she hummed to herself with content.

They had begun filling the mugs when Karlach looked her in the eye once more and said. “What about you? What have you been up to tonight? Are you having fun?”

“Oh yes. Absolutely. I spoke to some people here and there. Got slightly embarrassed by Lae’zel’s bluntness. Had a chat with Halsin… and was just… happy to see everyone happy! We needed it so bad!”

“♥♥♥♥ yes! I’m celebrating my freedom! And our friendship! And these folks’ bright future besides! All I need now is a fire retardant lover to get lost til sunrise!”

In a split second Octavia felt many things. A tug in her stomach, an urge to search her mind for any fire retardant magic she could have possibly come in contact. She felt sorry her draconic magic was of the ice type, and did not grant her any fire resistance so she could reach out and touch the woman in front of her… And above all, she felt a surge of admiration for Karlach. That was a feeling she found herself constantly flooded with since they met. The woman had literally been kept as a slave to devils, lived in the hells, and still, she found in herself everything to be sweet, carry for others, and had such a bright outlook on life.

This time, Octavia could not contain herself, and she heard her voice asking: “How do you do this?” Karlach put the mugs on the makeshift table beside them and looked at the drow, confused.

“Hum?”

“Yeah! How do you do this?”

“Do what, Tav? Fill up these mugs? I'm afraid I'm not catching you!” Octavia laughed before continuing.

“No! This! This optimism and this… this thirst for life! This will to do good in the world. A world that has wronged you so badly! It amazes me. I find myself constantly full of admiration for you."

“Oh! Do you?” The tiefling seemed surprised and at the same time delighted. For a moment, she clearly did not know what to do.

“I do.” Octavia smiled and took a step closer to Karlach as she would have done flirting in the past, only to be reminded that the woman burned in fire and stopped herself from approaching more. “I catch myself observing you and honestly what's not to like? You are so open and sweet and caring… and at the same time, you are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ dangerous, you know? And don't even get me started on looks…”

Karlach smiled from ear to ear now, a large grin full of lust and hopefulness. She took a small step closer, the heat emanating from her intensely. The only thing preventing Octavia from burning right now was the ice magic in her veins. “What are you saying, Tav? Octavia?” She asked almost in a purr, facing down to look the shorter woman in the eyes.

“I think you know what I’m saying.” The drow woman stopped, savoring the effect it had caused on the barbarian. Flirting had always been a game Octavia enjoyed very much. Her eyes glazed over the tiefling’s lips, and the urge to just kiss the woman not caring if she would burn or not got stronger, but she contained herself. “But I can be more direct if you want. I like you, Karlach. A lot.”

And then, the butterflies came. Octavia was not strange to flirting and the seduction games, but she was new to caring so much about the receiving end of her advances. In the split second it took Karlach to respond, she felt nervous. Anxious. What if she had misread the situation? The nervousness and how much she cared about the answer made her uneasy.

But then, Karlach answered, almost in a relieved whisper. “I like you too. A lot. I’m sure you know that by now.”

Octavia could not help but let out a sigh of relief, surprising herself. That nervousness was not normal. Maybe it was the tadpole. She got herself grounded, returning to her usual more secure and charming demeanor.

“I thought I picked up on something, yes.” She smiled at Karlach. The heat from the proximity was almost unbearable now. “I really want to… explore our options together since… Well, touch is out of the table.”

“Touch! Gods, you know I want that more than ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ anything!” Octavia closed her eyes, the desir