You smile to yourself as you held the jacket while going through the forest towards a certain grumpy mountain man. What is the reason for this visit? Well, Yesterday while it raised you were sitting in the window thinking when Muriel crosses your mind and how he puts up with you and your crazy stunts.

You had gone to the market the next morning and made him a "thank you" basket. And now you had made the journey to Muriel's hut, you stood outside the door nervously. You contemplated whether or not you should leave the bag on the doorstep— To late!

The door swung open and Muriel stopped in mid-step when he noticed you standing there. A sudden blush crept onto your face now that you realized you had to give it to him yourself. "Hey?" He asked as he stared at you. "Hi!" You said in a panic your voice was louder and more high pitched making Muriel falter a little in surprise. You bit your lip with a nervous smile, "that was loud Sorry..." you whispered.

"Are you okay?" Muriel asked with an eyebrow raised, You nod holding up the basket. Inside the basket had a few of Muriel's favorite foods including a wrapped freshly made smoked eel. In the basket also had a bottle of Black Mead some bitter and sweet candies sprinkled in all topped with a stuffed wolf in the middle. The basket had Forget-me-nots decorating it.

Muriel blushes softly as his gaze went to the side— anywhere but the basket or you. "What's this for?" He asked. "Ah! Well, you see it's a thank you basket." You said with a smile as you handed it to him but he didn't take it. "Thank you for what?" He asked as he looked at you again. "well you helped me— us with the whole Lucio thing and put up with me when I know you probably would have preferred to be at home. So I guess it's more of a 'Sorry for having to take care of me' rather than a thank you basket." you said. You felt the blush creel onto your face as you spoke.

Muriel grabbed the basket and set it down in his hut. "Don't be sorry, I didn't mind." he said simply, "but I didn't think you liked me." You replied rather quickly and freely, it kinda caught Muriel off guard. "When did I say that?" He asked as he thought momentarily, he didn't actually say that to you, did he? No.

"I just... Well, I thought... you never seem really happy to see me— in fact, you seem like you just want me away from you." You blabbed softly.

Shit! That's what Muriel thought when you finished speaking. The whole time he was trying to hide it, trying to deny it just like he had done before she had died. He was pulled from his frantic thoughts by you talking again. "Look you don't have to lie to make me feel better— or maybe you were just gonna tell me the truth. Anyway, just know I'm didn't mean to make you not like me, in fact, I actually like you a lot." You said as you played with the hem of your shirt.

"like me...?" he asked softly. "yeah..." you whispered softly before clearing your throat and standing straight again. "Any-who! I just came to give you the basket, I should get out of your hair now-" you began to step away but he grabbed the hem of your shirt to stop you.

You turned to look at him, you realized his cheeks were painted with a bright red you could tell he wanted to say something. Muriel wanted to say so many things, everything in his mind was screaming to make some big declaration of love. "I don't dislike you..." is all he could manage to say, he wanted to facepalm because if how stupidly simple and shallow he admitted his feelings towards you.

You smiled brightly, "Really! You like me!!" You exclaimed excitedly, Muriel stared at you for a minute 'Maybe they did understand what I meant.' he thought as he nodded silently. "do you think we could be friends? If that's not too much!" You said hesitantly.

Okay maybe they didn't understand, but at least they don't think he hates them.

He smiled at that as he released your shirt, "yeah." He replied, he expected your normal happy dance but he didn't expect you to hug him much less as tightly as you did. "Yay!!! I can't wait! We're gonna be the best Friends!" You said as you pulled back. "I have to go open the shop— but I'll come over tomorrow!" You said as you jumped up and down— what Muriel would call you're happy dance.

He couldn't help the smile the crept onto his face as he waved while you left. He turned and went back into his hut and sat on the bed he had, his mind kept going over the conversation until he heard Inannas whine.

He looked up to see her sitting in front of him offering him the stuffed wolf from the basket. He grabbed it and stared at it a moment before he flopped back on his bed and hugged it tightly. "Friends...." he whispered happily to himself. He couldn't help how absolutely happy he is inside.
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Wholesome Muriel was requested by peytonk1364