Earl-- [Hilda he was going to just try and forget that it happened and not dwell on it.]
No, I did not.
[He turns a corner, and the familiar sight of the office finally comes into view.]
No, I did not.
[He turns a corner, and the familiar sight of the office finally comes into view.]
[ She's trying this new thing where she talks about things sometimes, okay Alucard? As her friend you should encourage her to practice good behaviour.
She spots the office as they round the corner and knows that the window to talk about this - and for him carrying her - is quickly coming to an end. ]
Oh. [ There's a brief pause. ] That's a good thing, right? Progress!
She spots the office as they round the corner and knows that the window to talk about this - and for him carrying her - is quickly coming to an end. ]
Oh. [ There's a brief pause. ] That's a good thing, right? Progress!
Yes, but that doesn't mean that a bad memory might flare up in the heat of the moment either.
[Alucard doesn't pick up the pace, which he thinks deserves an award. It means he's at least having the conversation.]
I don't want to rush anything just because it feels comfortable either. Whatever happens, having it be organic is probably wise.
[Alucard doesn't pick up the pace, which he thinks deserves an award. It means he's at least having the conversation.]
I don't want to rush anything just because it feels comfortable either. Whatever happens, having it be organic is probably wise.
[ She regards him a little longer before letting out a breathy laugh. ]
That's probably the smart thing to do. I didn't really do that when I was younger. I was just way too excited when I got to Garreg Mach and my brother wasn't there.
[ That isn't to say she had immediately gone and slept with the first person that showed the slightest interest in her. Rather, she had had her fill of flirting because even that had been hard pressed to do when every person within a ten-mile radius knew who she was and was terrified of her brother. ]
Were you with any before that happened?
That's probably the smart thing to do. I didn't really do that when I was younger. I was just way too excited when I got to Garreg Mach and my brother wasn't there.
[ That isn't to say she had immediately gone and slept with the first person that showed the slightest interest in her. Rather, she had had her fill of flirting because even that had been hard pressed to do when every person within a ten-mile radius knew who she was and was terrified of her brother. ]
Were you with any before that happened?
You got freedom for the first time. Why would you be thinking about limits on yourself in that moment?
[They're at the door now, and that means Hilda is going to back on her own little feets. Sorry Hilda.]
No. Just two crushes that got much more complicated in the aftermath. One of them was here for a time. We....made progress. Which was nice.
[They're at the door now, and that means Hilda is going to back on her own little feets. Sorry Hilda.]
No. Just two crushes that got much more complicated in the aftermath. One of them was here for a time. We....made progress. Which was nice.
I wasn't. And I had so much fun. [ There's a fondness as she thinks briefly about her time at the Academy. It inevitably leads her to think about her friends in the Golden Deer, the friends she had made in the other houses, and then of course, to Claude. ] But being a little cautious might have helped in some respects.
[ Her feet find the ground - albeit reluctantly - and she takes a moment adjusting her axe so that it won't be a bother as she walks the short way into the office. ]
A friend from home? [ That's what she can assume anyway if the feelings for his crushes had developed before this supposed aftermath. ] I'm sorry that they left, Alucard. But I'm glad that you got the time with them that you did. I think that's the one thing that Abraxas can at least give us - time to figure things out when they're less complicated.
[ ...As long as you know, they aren't being kidnapped. Or being taken to a political mediation disguised as an all expense paid vacation, or the other things that had happened to the Summoned before their arrival. ]
[ Her feet find the ground - albeit reluctantly - and she takes a moment adjusting her axe so that it won't be a bother as she walks the short way into the office. ]
A friend from home? [ That's what she can assume anyway if the feelings for his crushes had developed before this supposed aftermath. ] I'm sorry that they left, Alucard. But I'm glad that you got the time with them that you did. I think that's the one thing that Abraxas can at least give us - time to figure things out when they're less complicated.
[ ...As long as you know, they aren't being kidnapped. Or being taken to a political mediation disguised as an all expense paid vacation, or the other things that had happened to the Summoned before their arrival. ]
Better to have the fun, I suspect. [Alucard can only imagine how much just...more...Hilda might have been when first let upon the world without the structure of home life to keep her in check. It was probably a lot of personality all at once for everyone including herself.
He smiles faintly at the thought as he opens the door that leads up to the second floor offices, holding it for Hilda first.]
You'd have gotten along well with Sypha. And I don't think you're wrong about what this place offers. Being away from home offers the luxury of time and perspective that may be impossible to find at home. I know that was the case for myself.
He smiles faintly at the thought as he opens the door that leads up to the second floor offices, holding it for Hilda first.]
You'd have gotten along well with Sypha. And I don't think you're wrong about what this place offers. Being away from home offers the luxury of time and perspective that may be impossible to find at home. I know that was the case for myself.
do we want to try and wrap this soon before the event?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theidlemaiden
2023-08-19 07:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ Her lips twitch as she gives him a light laugh. ]
Younger me would definitely agree with you. So does current me.
[ Younger Hilda had definitely been more hell bent on having a good time and in the habit of not thinking twice about what that could possibly entail if someone got in her way. She wouldn't go as far as saying that she was recklessly careless with others feelings, but it fit in the uncomfortable way that it usually is when one reflects on their younger self once they've put some years between them. ]
Well if she was a friend of yours, I doin't have any doubt about that. I'd love to hear more about her and what you mean by gaining more perspective - maybe over dinner?
[ This is the other part of her that she's grown into over time. A younger Hilda's questions about others and those important to them had, in some respects, had been tinged with her needing to earn their good graces because you never knew when you needed their aid in doing a chore or work. ]
Younger me would definitely agree with you. So does current me.
[ Younger Hilda had definitely been more hell bent on having a good time and in the habit of not thinking twice about what that could possibly entail if someone got in her way. She wouldn't go as far as saying that she was recklessly careless with others feelings, but it fit in the uncomfortable way that it usually is when one reflects on their younger self once they've put some years between them. ]
Well if she was a friend of yours, I doin't have any doubt about that. I'd love to hear more about her and what you mean by gaining more perspective - maybe over dinner?
[ This is the other part of her that she's grown into over time. A younger Hilda's questions about others and those important to them had, in some respects, had been tinged with her needing to earn their good graces because you never knew when you needed their aid in doing a chore or work. ]
I think over dinner is the only available option. I've made a corn, tomato, and bell pepper salad that's waiting, and all that needs to be done is for me to quickly sear the steak to put on top of it.
[Dinner should be low lift and full of meat after such shenanigans, in Alucard's opinion. He's happy to make it all happen, and to enjoy the evening. If Jaskier pops in, he's welcome to at least steal some food.]
[Dinner should be low lift and full of meat after such shenanigans, in Alucard's opinion. He's happy to make it all happen, and to enjoy the evening. If Jaskier pops in, he's welcome to at least steal some food.]
[ He lets her pull him down for a kiss and he goes willingly, caging her in with his body as he presses her down and captures her mouth. Deep and slow and lazy, his tongue teasing against her lips. One hand comes to tangle in her long hair, fingers working lightly at her scalp a moment before he tugs her head back and grins down at her ruefully. ]
I’m still not going to do anything you might end up hating me for in the morning when you’re sober again.
I’m still not going to do anything you might end up hating me for in the morning when you’re sober again.
[ This is what she should have become drunk on, she thinks hazily when she feels his tongue asking for permission to enter and she grants it to him. The taste of him is so heady, so lovely that the loud voice that had been dissuading her from doing more of this can't properly break through the haze of content that she finds herself in. No wonder Claude enjoys kissing him, she thinks. No wonder he looks at Sylvain the way he does. There's more than just how he kisses of course. Sylvain is more than his body despite his determined dodging of that fact but that doesn't change the fact that he kisses so well that she could cry.
And while she doesn't cry right now (that would simply add to more of her despair in the morning when she wakes up to realize everything that has transpired this evening), she does whine when he pulls away. The whine is partly directed at the distance and then at his words. ]
I won't hate you. I just told you how I felt, didn't I?
And while she doesn't cry right now (that would simply add to more of her despair in the morning when she wakes up to realize everything that has transpired this evening), she does whine when he pulls away. The whine is partly directed at the distance and then at his words. ]
I won't hate you. I just told you how I felt, didn't I?
I'm going to remember it.
[ She seems determined to, as she bunches her hands into fists against his back. He can take that as her agreeing to his deal though. ]
Just like how I'm going to remember to ask you why you're wearing an earring all of a sudden. An earring I didn't make.
[ It's not clear if that's her way of saying that she wants to table the topic for the morning as well, but it is clear that she seems mildly annoyed at the last part. ]
[ She seems determined to, as she bunches her hands into fists against his back. He can take that as her agreeing to his deal though. ]
Just like how I'm going to remember to ask you why you're wearing an earring all of a sudden. An earring I didn't make.
[ It's not clear if that's her way of saying that she wants to table the topic for the morning as well, but it is clear that she seems mildly annoyed at the last part. ]
[ It takes the second time Claire finds herself in need of healing to stop and find herself inside a residence to catch her breath. There's the sticky residue of blood on her neck, but she's otherwise fine and isn't in any sort of headspace to contemplate magical healing having experienced it now for herself.
Instead, she's reaching out to Hilda, then to everyone else in other factions she cares for. ]
𝐼 𝑤𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝐼 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔. 𝑆𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝐼 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒, 𝐻𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑎, 𝑏𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙.
Instead, she's reaching out to Hilda, then to everyone else in other factions she cares for. ]
𝐼 𝑤𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝐼 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔. 𝑆𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝐼 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒, 𝐻𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑎, 𝑏𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙.
[ Claire is incredibly lucky that these messages can't transmit videos of what the sender's state currently is because Hilda would be on the verge of rioting right now.
Hilda's own state is a little battered and a little bruised, but nothing that some healing magic can't take care of. She's surrounded by a plethora of parts and books and she's fairly certain she's going cross-eyed staring at everything as intently as she has been for the last however many hours.
The woman's words bring a wry smile to her lips. ]
𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦?
Hilda's own state is a little battered and a little bruised, but nothing that some healing magic can't take care of. She's surrounded by a plethora of parts and books and she's fairly certain she's going cross-eyed staring at everything as intently as she has been for the last however many hours.
The woman's words bring a wry smile to her lips. ]
𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦?
[LOL ]
𝐴 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑝, 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑡𝑠, 𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ?
[ She absolutely does not answer the question, attempting to smoothly dodge it so she doesn't have to lie. ]
𝐴 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑝, 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑡𝑠, 𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ?
[ She absolutely does not answer the question, attempting to smoothly dodge it so she doesn't have to lie. ]
[ She sees what you did there. Luckily she's going to try and keep this Light and Fun because while this isn't the kidnappings, this isn't exactly a party either. ]
𝘕𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 - 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦? 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦.
...𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?
𝘕𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 - 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦? 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦.
...𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?
[ The pout she gives him is so potent that it feels very much like she's never pouted this strongly in her life. People could wear whatever they wanted and she knew that. Not everything had to be made by her nor did she have a monopoly on what Sylvain did but her muddled drunk logic can't help but feel so deeply that this is somehow an affront.
She's already crossing her arms, a whine edging into her voice. Surprisingly her protest has less to do with the fact that she has a sneaking suspicion it has to do with Claude and far more to do with how she feels about Sylvain not asking her. ]
I know. But you could have asked me to make it for you. You didn't need to spend money on it! [ She goes quiet, eyes flitting from the earring to his face. ] Why green and gold?
She's already crossing her arms, a whine edging into her voice. Surprisingly her protest has less to do with the fact that she has a sneaking suspicion it has to do with Claude and far more to do with how she feels about Sylvain not asking her. ]
I know. But you could have asked me to make it for you. You didn't need to spend money on it! [ She goes quiet, eyes flitting from the earring to his face. ] Why green and gold?
[ Oh. This is. Awkward.
He makes a face, his nose scrunching up slightly before he leans in to kiss her again apologetically. ]
It was… sentimental. And technically I didn’t spend money on it, it was a gift. But if you would like to make me an additional one, I wouldn’t say no. I could put it in the other ear. Or maybe down the curve? What would look better?
He makes a face, his nose scrunching up slightly before he leans in to kiss her again apologetically. ]
It was… sentimental. And technically I didn’t spend money on it, it was a gift. But if you would like to make me an additional one, I wouldn’t say no. I could put it in the other ear. Or maybe down the curve? What would look better?
[ The pause before sentimental pulls at something in the back of her brain, like this is important. Like she should pay attention to this because maybe her hunch was right. He's playing to what will appease her and while it would normally be enough to distract her, the questioning of the earring has pulled everything into the forefront for her.
Hollowness begins to take root in her chest, eating away at the buoyancy from before, slowly bringing her back down to reality. She'd tell him she had feelings for him, but then she'd leave it at that, she thinks. This is an answer in and of itself. How could she possibly compare, how could there possibly be room for her when this feels like a decision that's already been made and solidified? That's just how life worked when it came to matters of the heart, didn't it? The difference now is that with the hollowness there's acceptance too.
Her arms stay crossed over her chest but instead of it being in protest, it looks like it's a shield as if this will somehow make her feel less small than she feels at that moment. ]
Is it for Claude?
Hollowness begins to take root in her chest, eating away at the buoyancy from before, slowly bringing her back down to reality. She'd tell him she had feelings for him, but then she'd leave it at that, she thinks. This is an answer in and of itself. How could she possibly compare, how could there possibly be room for her when this feels like a decision that's already been made and solidified? That's just how life worked when it came to matters of the heart, didn't it? The difference now is that with the hollowness there's acceptance too.
Her arms stay crossed over her chest but instead of it being in protest, it looks like it's a shield as if this will somehow make her feel less small than she feels at that moment. ]
Is it for Claude?
[ Chuckling softly despite herself, she lets out a soft breath, content that Hilda's safe for now. ]
𝑂𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒. 𝐼'𝑣𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛.
[ The'll both always do what they're best at, no matter what the stakes. ]
𝑂𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒. 𝐼'𝑣𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛.
[ The'll both always do what they're best at, no matter what the stakes. ]
𝘖𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦.
𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦? 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘯.
𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦? 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘯.
[ He mentally winces at that, because he can feel that sudden distance now opening up between them. But he has no idea how he could have evaded this one, short of not wearing his earring. Which wasn’t going to be an option.
So he cups her face in her hands, holding her in place as he meets her gaze with a firm look, frown lingering on his lips as he searches her expression. ]
Whatever you’re thinking, stop. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t like that look in your eyes. Or that I put it there. Yes, it’s for Claude. [ He wasn’t going to lie to her about it. He’d promised not to. ] It was a memento of our first date. He wanted to get me something to make up for my birthday and I chose this while we were at the beach a few weeks back.
So he cups her face in her hands, holding her in place as he meets her gaze with a firm look, frown lingering on his lips as he searches her expression. ]
Whatever you’re thinking, stop. I don’t know what it is, but I don’t like that look in your eyes. Or that I put it there. Yes, it’s for Claude. [ He wasn’t going to lie to her about it. He’d promised not to. ] It was a memento of our first date. He wanted to get me something to make up for my birthday and I chose this while we were at the beach a few weeks back.
[ When he cups her face whatever uncertain expression she has on her face turns into a defensive pout. He's not a mind reader. How would he know? ]
I'm not thinking anything.
[ The answer makes her heart sink in a way that it's been sinking ever since she had gotten wind of this new found affection between them. But this time, plummeting despair doesn't follow. After everything that had happened, it had no where else to go. It simply became heavier and heavier, making her remember part of the reason why she had been drinking in the first place. Hadn't she said that she wouldn't be so stubborn though? That she wouldn't be so greedy? Something else emerges from the sinking feeling in her heart: a bittersweet happiness that he and Claude had allowed themselves to open up to one another as much as they had is a good thing. It bodes well. And while she is glad, a greedy jealous heart doesn't change overnight.
Maybe with time, she thinks, with some level of grace that she doesn't possess, she won't feel the bitter sadness that coats her tongue. They didn't have to keep being kind to her like this, offering to wear something just because she was around. Sadness is inevitable in an ending. Maybe that's what the last several months have been culminating into and her body had known it was in some state of mourning all along. Her mind was just catching up to it now. As she brushes away Sylvain's hand, an understanding smile flutters to her face but it doesn't reach her eyes. ]
Good. I'm glad he made it up to you. And it's sweet that you're wearing it.
[ And she means it. There's genuineness to it. But that doesn't dispel the lingering sadness that had permeated her bones. Her gaze lingers on the earring and then his face ever so briefly before she lets out a yawn, stretching like a cat. ]
I guess if that's the case then I won't be too upset that you're wearing something I didn't make.
I'm not thinking anything.
[ The answer makes her heart sink in a way that it's been sinking ever since she had gotten wind of this new found affection between them. But this time, plummeting despair doesn't follow. After everything that had happened, it had no where else to go. It simply became heavier and heavier, making her remember part of the reason why she had been drinking in the first place. Hadn't she said that she wouldn't be so stubborn though? That she wouldn't be so greedy? Something else emerges from the sinking feeling in her heart: a bittersweet happiness that he and Claude had allowed themselves to open up to one another as much as they had is a good thing. It bodes well. And while she is glad, a greedy jealous heart doesn't change overnight.
Maybe with time, she thinks, with some level of grace that she doesn't possess, she won't feel the bitter sadness that coats her tongue. They didn't have to keep being kind to her like this, offering to wear something just because she was around. Sadness is inevitable in an ending. Maybe that's what the last several months have been culminating into and her body had known it was in some state of mourning all along. Her mind was just catching up to it now. As she brushes away Sylvain's hand, an understanding smile flutters to her face but it doesn't reach her eyes. ]
Good. I'm glad he made it up to you. And it's sweet that you're wearing it.
[ And she means it. There's genuineness to it. But that doesn't dispel the lingering sadness that had permeated her bones. Her gaze lingers on the earring and then his face ever so briefly before she lets out a yawn, stretching like a cat. ]
I guess if that's the case then I won't be too upset that you're wearing something I didn't make.
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