RP:Bust - Impressive, Waist - Sculpted, Hips - Grabbable

Synopsis: What was a simple request for measurements from Hureig became something quite a bit more complicated for Thane Josleen. Her curiosity and loyalty to the Merchant has put her in the very strange position of helping him win Queen Hildegarde’s heart.

Middle of Town - Frostmaw Marketplace

Josleen lingered in Frostmaw for a couple days after the War Council. Frostmaw may well be the only city on the continent where she can walk the street without a disguise and be fairly certain no harm will come to her. In Cenril, she scuttles through the streets in a red curly wig and chunky glasses, masculine clothes and boots she would never wear. In Frostmaw, who would dare kidnap the Thane under the saurian eye of the dragon queen? Time to wear a dress, let loose her wavy golden brown hair, and do some shopping, for both herself and Kelovath. They’ve been cycling through the same 3 outfits for over a month now. The situation is getting dire. She comes through a rack of male leather jerkins.

Hureig had a momentous task he was set to, one that dwarfed even the rebuilding of the very Frostmaw market he know looked upon from his place near the entrance: finding the Queen's measurements. It was a thorny thing, a battlefield that would see him dead by any woman's hands he asked. All males knew there were just things you didn't ask about any woman: her age, her size, and where she wanted to eat. But it was the most important thing to him at the present time for he wanted nothing more than to gain the heart of the owner of the saurian eyes that watched over Josleen in a completely platonic and in no way salacious way. And lo! The one who would know the measurements and all manner of secrets about the monarch was rifling through a rack of jerkins. He was quick to make his way over to her, and he gave a little cough to get her attention before he greeted her properly. "Thane Josleen. I am so happy you decided to remain in Frostmaw for a bit longer."

Josleen turns to Hureig with a bright smile. “Hureig, a pleasure to see you in a more casual setting. It sure did get heated at the council, did it not?” Mostly Josleen got heated, but sure, we can diffuse responsibility here, why not. “And I can’t stress enough how happy I am that you were freed without further injury. Glad to be back, I take it?”

Hureig kept his mouth shut when she spoke about heat and merely nodded in agreement with her assessment. He had done well not to earn her forever grudge that evening, and he was certainly not going to do anything to earn it now! Not when her expertise in all things Queen was so desperately needed! "And I cannot stress the same. I worried day and night about whether you and my little human were safe. I did my best to keep the entire guard in the city to make sure none chased after you." It was a trip down a not so friendly memory lane, one that had him scratching at his wrists were manacles had once been. "I am happy to be back, yes, and I want you to know if there is anything you and Little Human need in hiding, please let me know. As I hope you would help me if need arose, and it has arose..." The hand that scratched his wrist found a newer, itchier home on the back of his neck. "Do you happen to know Queen Hildegarde's measurements? I am commissioning a gift for her, and I need to know her body measurements."

Josleen thanks Hureig again profusely for all his aid, past and future. She notes the way he grabs at his wrists and unthinkingly rubs at her own, for she too had been imprisoned in the past. When he mentions a gift, butterflies take nervous flight in her gut. A gift? Why? Is there some Frostmaw custom Josleen is forgetting? Oh gods, will she look like a buffoon if she is out of touch with the gift-giving occassion? She fakes it: “Oh! Indeed, a very special occasion,” she says, hoping Hureig in his response will illuminate more specifically what the occasion could possibly be, “What exactly are you commissioning? You know she doesn’t wear dresses, yes?” Her nose wrinkles as she laughs.

Hureig laughed along with Josleen's laugh. It was an awkward thing for him to be asking for such a thing with what his motives where. She was worried she was missing out some custom, and he was worried about getting his larger than human heat broken. What a fine pair they made. "Aye, I am not foolish enough to get her a dress. I am having Kreekitaka make a new gambeson for her, as well as an ornate suit of armor that will have depictions of the Frostmaw Civil War on it. It will be something she can wear to meetings and gatherings with her trusted and foreign dignitaries." He had earned that commission by fighting Kree to first blood, a battle he had lost despite having swallowed his Hulk empowering coin. But the crustacean had liked him enough to honor him a commission. "Truth be told, I am hoping this will be a proper gift to begin courtship. When I was trapped in Larket, I didn't think of freedom or revenge near as much as I thought about the Queen. I believe I am...what do the lowlanders say...smitten?"

Josleen ‘s eyes shine brightly at the mention of Kreekitaka. “Oh I simply adore Kreekitaka’s designs! I miss my Kreekitaka handbag. It’s at my home in Larket, if no one’s looted the place yet…” she murmurs then purses her lips, mind drifting momentarily before she returns to the matter at hand. She tunes back in at the term ‘courtship’ and is glad she isn’t sipping on a drink for she’d have sputtered it all over Hureig’s chest. “...Courtship? Oh, Hureig… oh, dear… You poor… Hureig...” she whines his name sympathetically. She whines a second time deep in her throat. “Oh dear, um. Whew. I don’t think… The Queen has… So in the past I have known her to date women…Which isn’t to say exclusively… but, I just… I don’t want you to get your hopes up then have them crushed.”

Hureig took Josleen's sledgehammer to his heart with grace and poise. The smile, the perpetual smile he always wore, didn't dim a bit. Optimism was his greatest gift,and it was pulled heavily from at the moment. "I trust you, Thane Josleen, and I will keep that in mind. But my heart will cannot undo its knots until I have at least attempted." His head bobbed one too many times for it to be a certain and sure nod. "I will be her loyal servant even if she breaks my heart. Now...back to her measurements...?"

Josleen rubs at her collarbone in her usual anxious tic as Hureig quotes from what must be the Frost Giant equivalent of Shakespeare. You know he’s a goner when he’s whipping out sonnets. “Hureig, if I hesitate to give you her measurements it is not because I think your gift poor, but because I worry that if I aid you in this I am taking you by the hand and leading you down a path of heartache. Not only has she in the past been with.. Well.. human women of a certain feminine look… but… also she is a Queen. She is bound to be suspicious of overtures for many men and women less dignified than you will surely play for her heart in a ploy to sit on a smaller throne alongside hers. Though I know your intentions pure, why enter the fray? Stand in the mud alongside those conmen?”

Hureig had an inkling the battle for Hildegarde's heart would have two fronts: The Queen and the Queen's dearest friend. But he had prepared for this, having had a long time in a lonely cell to think about it. He squared his shoulders, crossed his arms over his chest, opened his mouth to persuade Josleen that he is as worthy, true, and committed as any human woman that the Queen may have loved in the past. He was ready, and all that could come out was a sigh. "Thane Josleen, there are many things I can wrap my head around. I can look at figures, ledgers, promissory notes, and all kinds of scratched numbers and tell you exactly how a kingdom's heart beats. I can look into a mammoth's eye and know what it is thinking, and I can train it to become one of the greatest war mammoths of the land. But such a simple question as 'why?', I cannot answer. I just am...I just do."

Josleen relents with a long, long sigh. “Hureig…” She shakes her head this way and that in slow wide arcs. “You have been so loyal to Kelovath and I that there is no way I can refuse you such a simple request, despite my own judgment. I hope that in this matter your judgment is better than mine. Her measurements are…” Bust: impressive, waist: sculpted, hips: grabbable. “Please guard your heart even as you risk it. Good luck. I am sure Kreekitaka’s design will be stunning.”

Hureig bows low to Josleen, low for a giant's stature at least. He was beyond grateful for the measurements, but just by looking at him you could see there was more he wished to ask. "Thane Josleen, I do not want to impress upon your kindness anymore than I already have. But," there was always a but, and what a beautiful but it was to the lovesick frost giant. "You know the Queen better than most. Will you help me win her heart?"

Josleen doesn’t resist being tossed like celebratory confetti, but she herself looks grim at the prospect of Hureig being crushed by her lady-loving friend and Queen. The spin is a bit much and Josleen laughs it off nervously. With time and no fuel, that ember of gossip will snuff itself out. “I would love to return to something as normal as dinner with Kelo and friends.” She smiles stiffly at the notion that Kelovath is romantic. Not quite, he won her heart by risking his life for her, but that’s neither here nor there. Actually, Kelovath could take romance lessons from Hureig. The paladin would never think to commission a dress for Josleen. Hmm… “It was good seeing you, Hureig. I’ll tell Kelovath you said hello.”

Hureig was too happy to remain still for too long. He wished Josleen and fond farewell before he went twirling, dipping, jumping, thrusting...he was dancing in the street.