Silvertip Mountain pine and lavender

"oh?" merrick's cunning cyclops'-stare fixed itself to the very essence of the taggerung's face, as if he could force something beyond the amiable demeanour. in every creature there was a heartstring to be tripped. merrick need only find this in his companion and pluck it 
out
"you said you would stay for a while to hear my stories." merrick turned his gaze away. "does this mean you will leave in the spring when i have become too distracted to tell them for a while?" warm, conversational, suggestive, interested: the bearwitch enjoyed his discourses, and sought once more to gently pry the corners of the taggerung up for investigation.