Grouse Thicket Dancing on our feet to an introspective beat

She watched, as his expression went from on of mirth to one guarded, and finally wistful. Her speech seemed to take effect, as he replied that he might like to hug her. She didn't quite know how she felt about that, but her posture relaxed from the proud stance she had held and a small smile flitted across her maw. She was about to reply when he spoke again, the words striking a chord. 
"you look beautiful, more than usual, when you're all proud and lecturing me like that."

The wraith had never been told that she was beautiful, never been flirted with like this before. Sure, she had had admirers in the past, and she knew it. None of them had drawn her interest, drawn it as Nico had...but the blunt proclamation of her beauty made her something she had never been for a long, long time. Flustered. Always in perfect control of her emotions, threats, attacks, cruelty; they bounced of her like she was made of stone. 

So then, in a brief moment, her defenses dropped. Her muzzle made a tiny "o" as she struggled for words, mind reeling at the oddness of this situation. But he continued speaking soon after, and after she had made the tiniest little squeak did she pull herself together, emotions reeled back in a bottled up carefully, though her lapse had been...alarming. He spoke of his King again, and after a brief pause, she said carefully, lest any emotion spill over again. "Loyalty is a thing that is gained over time, born from respect and closeness. Speak to this king perhaps, if you so seek to leave, tell him of your woes. Speak to him, if only to say goodbye, for fleeing in silence is no way to leave." Her tone was smooth and even, and her expression her normal one once again, not the brief, flustered fool she had been a moment ago. But the event, the simple words, had toppled her facade, if only for a moment, and she had a feeling that the other new it.