A Confused Cronk

Lady Elizabeth’s French Manor - Lorem’s Workshop

JP = Lorem & mdmanosfan

Cronk chuckled as Lorem helped removing the netting. He was about to allow his lack of self-confidence chest him from talking to Lorem. Perhaps the contraption was fate.

“Pretty Flower make traps,” Cronk acknowledged. He remembered that he had suggested it because he dreamed of himself helping Lorem with the traps. And, here he was. It wasn’t intentional, but in a way, Cronk was helping her.

The levity of the moment brought Cronk a sense of courage. He knew that he needed to talk with Lorem. Cronk couldn’t allow all the mixed feelings continue. Cautiously, Cronk decided to talk.

“Cronk came to talk with Pretty Flower,” he began. “Cronk confused.”

Lorem looked up at Cronk while she was trying to pull the baseplate and metallic box from out of the ground. She was really doing quite a good job using her legs and not her back. Tenaciously she pried it out. “Confused?”

She let the equipment down for a moment and wiped her hands on her dress without even a second thought. “And it is something I can help with you think?”

Cronk was amazed at Lorem’s work ethic. She demonstrated strength for her size as well.

Cronk rubbed his chin as buttterflies began to flutter inside his stomach. Suddenly Cronk realized that not only had he had breakfast yet, but he had missed dinner last night. However, Cronk realized the butterflies had more to do with what he was trying to say.

He took a deep breath, then slowly spoke. “Cronk never feel this way,” he paused, as he sat before the beautiful gnome. His head was downward, but his eyes gazed upward to peer at her. “Cronk like Pretty Flower. Pretty Flower pretty and smart.”

Cronk was still taller than Lorem, even while sitting. Yet it was nice not having to lean backwards to hold the continuing conversation. Her mind was curiously trying to figure out what type of question she was going to get asked. She was expecting it to be mechanical in nature. What she received was the furtherest thing from her expectation and it took her by surprise.

Lorem blushed from the direct compliments said with such conviction and bass in the voice. How to take apart an engine and put it together would have been easy. Matters dealing with relationships were not usually pitched to her.

“Thank you Cronk, that is very kind of you to say.” She smiled and replied sincerely. Perhaps Cronk was just getting started and hadn’t actually gotten to whatever it was that was confusing him.

“…and how can I help you?” She tilted her head like one might see a puppy dog do. It added to the cuteness. She was hoping it would shift into something more in her wheelhouse.

Cronk took another deep breath. He inhaled so much of the Ode de Fluer that it had caused Cronk to cough in a short spasm.

“Cronk really like Pretty Flower.” He scratched the top of his head, trying not to open where it had scabbed over. “Cronk mean…Cronk really really like Pretty Flower.”

Cronk held his chin as he thought for a moment. Then asked, “Cronk ask Pretty Flower father? Pretty Flower father allow Cronk court Pretty Flower?”

He was trying to do the right thing. This was totally different than he and Quinn having a night of celebration on the town. Although Cronk had showed a sense of respect to those ladies, he hadn’t felt the way he did with Pretty Flower. This was different. It was something that was foreign to the orc.