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[ It's a good thing he normally wears substantial boots in the Horizon more often than not, but: the rest of what he's wearing is decidedly not meant for anything resembling winter. One wind gust bringing in a chill to match the snow - or possibly just his own dramatics over it being cold - is enough for that first shiver to be one too many. A blink later and he's wrapped in a substantial coat with a scarf and gloves to match.
Possibly an overreaction to a temperature he can admit isn't that bad, but it feels a bit more so after spending warmer days in the desert since its night chill hasn't hit winter levels yet. In either case, the layers give him a reason to take his time wandering down the path and with a curious glance or two at what might be beneath the snow, if anything, before he looks out to the frozen lake. A rather peaceful scene completed with the cabin he approaches.
But who opens the door isn't who he expect, and that's enough for Claude to stop in his tracks. Maybe this doesn't belong to who he'd thought and that was wishful thinking, but then the creature speaks. ]
Uh, [ is the very eloquent response he manages in his uncertainty since that certainly sounds like he's recognized even if the reverse isn't true, but a familiar voice speaks up soon after. His confusion is lessened, sort of, or at least enough to look away to who he does know. ]
Well, you know how the saying goes. I was in the mind neighborhood, or however that works, and saw something new. Curiosity practically demanded I come check it out. [ An answer that probably won't surprise Hilda, though he casts a glance back over one shoulder at the landscape behind him. ] Especially when it looks as familiar as this does compared to everything else in here that's not.
Possibly an overreaction to a temperature he can admit isn't that bad, but it feels a bit more so after spending warmer days in the desert since its night chill hasn't hit winter levels yet. In either case, the layers give him a reason to take his time wandering down the path and with a curious glance or two at what might be beneath the snow, if anything, before he looks out to the frozen lake. A rather peaceful scene completed with the cabin he approaches.
But who opens the door isn't who he expect, and that's enough for Claude to stop in his tracks. Maybe this doesn't belong to who he'd thought and that was wishful thinking, but then the creature speaks. ]
Uh, [ is the very eloquent response he manages in his uncertainty since that certainly sounds like he's recognized even if the reverse isn't true, but a familiar voice speaks up soon after. His confusion is lessened, sort of, or at least enough to look away to who he does know. ]
Well, you know how the saying goes. I was in the mind neighborhood, or however that works, and saw something new. Curiosity practically demanded I come check it out. [ An answer that probably won't surprise Hilda, though he casts a glance back over one shoulder at the landscape behind him. ] Especially when it looks as familiar as this does compared to everything else in here that's not.
[ Her lips curl at the typical Claude answer. ]
Right.
[ Claude's own bundled up outfit brings an amused crinkle of Hilda's eyes because really, it isn't even as cold as it could get. She had never lied about disliking the cold, but unlike Claude, she had grown up in a place with four seasons and more snow than Almyra likely ever did unless it was in the mountains of Fodlan's Throat. And also unlike Claude, she stands inside her toasty warm cottage. The fire blazes bright, the warmth from it emanating to every nook and cranny thanks to some help from Hilda's will.
Meanwhile Mogwry seems unimpressed by Claude's arrival and continues to stand in his place in the doorway like some sort of mini sential. Before Hilda has a chance to respond, the pipes up,You want me to let him in, kupo? The broom suddenly seems to crackle with some sort of mysterious electricity which doesn't go unnoticed by the domain owner. ]
Mogwry, we talked about the electric rod.
[ The moogle whips his head around, pompom bobbing adorably even though it's clear that he's baffled by this turn of events. Kupo, but you said that he -, Whatever Mogwry claims Hilda had said is muffled by her hand as she picks him up in her arms. The embarrassing interaction is met with a flush of her cheeks even as she holds on tight to her little guard moogle but she moves smoothly right past it like Mogwry had said nothing at all. ]
It's new. [ She pauses as annoyed kupo's! come from the moogle. ] The domain that is. I was going to make a meadow but then it kind of just...grew from there. I got Mogwry from a friend who left a couple of months ago.
[ There's another embarrassed pause. ]
Does it look okay?
Right.
[ Claude's own bundled up outfit brings an amused crinkle of Hilda's eyes because really, it isn't even as cold as it could get. She had never lied about disliking the cold, but unlike Claude, she had grown up in a place with four seasons and more snow than Almyra likely ever did unless it was in the mountains of Fodlan's Throat. And also unlike Claude, she stands inside her toasty warm cottage. The fire blazes bright, the warmth from it emanating to every nook and cranny thanks to some help from Hilda's will.
Meanwhile Mogwry seems unimpressed by Claude's arrival and continues to stand in his place in the doorway like some sort of mini sential. Before Hilda has a chance to respond, the pipes up,You want me to let him in, kupo? The broom suddenly seems to crackle with some sort of mysterious electricity which doesn't go unnoticed by the domain owner. ]
Mogwry, we talked about the electric rod.
[ The moogle whips his head around, pompom bobbing adorably even though it's clear that he's baffled by this turn of events. Kupo, but you said that he -, Whatever Mogwry claims Hilda had said is muffled by her hand as she picks him up in her arms. The embarrassing interaction is met with a flush of her cheeks even as she holds on tight to her little guard moogle but she moves smoothly right past it like Mogwry had said nothing at all. ]
It's new. [ She pauses as annoyed kupo's! come from the moogle. ] The domain that is. I was going to make a meadow but then it kind of just...grew from there. I got Mogwry from a friend who left a couple of months ago.
[ There's another embarrassed pause. ]
Does it look okay?
[ The electric rod - that gets a glance from Claude back to Mogwry momentarily when static rises in the air with the exact feeling he remembers from lightning spells being aimed his way in battle. This isn't battle, though the small creature's retort Hilda cuts out now does get both eyebrows raised from him. That aligns with the greeting he'd gotten mere moments ago and though she tries to muffle it to quite a number of protests, it's far from enough to make Claude forget about it.
Call it putting it on pause for a second since it's not as important as that question with a weighted pause before it he knows well. ]
That depends. Do you want the real answer or the teasing one?
[ Or, alternatively, Claude's just going to let this stand in for the latter since it doesn't come with any further explanation. It's a gentle tease at most considering he does plan to actually answer her - and with only well-deserved flattery there since the landscape is striking even when blanketed in winter.
Another wind gust reminds him of that very season and the resulting shiver when it brings a few snowflakes to pelt him in the face is only slightly exaggerated. Though he shifts his weight from one foot to another rather than making any approach, it's enough movement to have the broomstick crackling again which gets another raised eyebrow as he ducks down into the folds of his scarf for a moment until the breeze ends. ]
More importantly, do I get to come inside or am I going to be electrocuted first? Curious minds - [ Claude, who's also readying to conjure up another couple of layers for good measure - ] want to know.
Call it putting it on pause for a second since it's not as important as that question with a weighted pause before it he knows well. ]
That depends. Do you want the real answer or the teasing one?
[ Or, alternatively, Claude's just going to let this stand in for the latter since it doesn't come with any further explanation. It's a gentle tease at most considering he does plan to actually answer her - and with only well-deserved flattery there since the landscape is striking even when blanketed in winter.
Another wind gust reminds him of that very season and the resulting shiver when it brings a few snowflakes to pelt him in the face is only slightly exaggerated. Though he shifts his weight from one foot to another rather than making any approach, it's enough movement to have the broomstick crackling again which gets another raised eyebrow as he ducks down into the folds of his scarf for a moment until the breeze ends. ]
More importantly, do I get to come inside or am I going to be electrocuted first? Curious minds - [ Claude, who's also readying to conjure up another couple of layers for good measure - ] want to know.
[ Even though it's apparent that he's teasing her (he had said as much), Hilda's cheeks puff up automatically in response, dispelling most, if not all of her embarrassment in one fell swoop. One hand immediately goes to her hip. ]
I think that hinges on that teasing response.
[ But she catches Claude's slight shiver as a gust of wind rolls down from the Throat. Quickly she ushers him inside into the warmth and the bigger on the inside cottage. Slipping behind him she moves to close the door, staring out briefly at the sprawling, snowcapped rooftops of Goneril nestled into the mountainous terrain. Sometimes it's easy for her to forget that they aren't in Fodlan and that she can't just waltz right back into town and her family home only to be greeted with a spine crushing hug from Holst. She had considered making the town proper instead of just a visage that would never get closer no matter how closely you walked towards it - but had ended up shelving the idea for another day. It felt like too much work and she worried about not being able to do it justice.
With the door closed, the cold stays where it belongs and Hilda finally releases Mogwry with a look that clearly warns him he better be on his best behaviour. There's a moment where it looks like Mogwry is about to argue with her but after a moment he lets out a little huff before fluttering off upstairs broom and all. Hilda waits for him to turn the corner before turning back to Claude with an apologetic look on her face. ]
I'm sorry about Mogwry. He likes picking fights but we're working on it.
[ He'd already made an enemy of Rocket, wrongly accused Thancred of bullying him, and was now apparently trying to provoke Claude. But without the small creature in her arms, she suddenly finds herself uncertain about what to do with her hands. ]
Did you want tea? Is that weird in the Horizon? [ She rocks back and forth on her heels, finally settling on clasping her hands behind her back, ready to turn in any given direction based on Claude's answer. ] We can go sit in the living room unless you want a tour, but it'll be a short one.
I think that hinges on that teasing response.
[ But she catches Claude's slight shiver as a gust of wind rolls down from the Throat. Quickly she ushers him inside into the warmth and the bigger on the inside cottage. Slipping behind him she moves to close the door, staring out briefly at the sprawling, snowcapped rooftops of Goneril nestled into the mountainous terrain. Sometimes it's easy for her to forget that they aren't in Fodlan and that she can't just waltz right back into town and her family home only to be greeted with a spine crushing hug from Holst. She had considered making the town proper instead of just a visage that would never get closer no matter how closely you walked towards it - but had ended up shelving the idea for another day. It felt like too much work and she worried about not being able to do it justice.
With the door closed, the cold stays where it belongs and Hilda finally releases Mogwry with a look that clearly warns him he better be on his best behaviour. There's a moment where it looks like Mogwry is about to argue with her but after a moment he lets out a little huff before fluttering off upstairs broom and all. Hilda waits for him to turn the corner before turning back to Claude with an apologetic look on her face. ]
I'm sorry about Mogwry. He likes picking fights but we're working on it.
[ He'd already made an enemy of Rocket, wrongly accused Thancred of bullying him, and was now apparently trying to provoke Claude. But without the small creature in her arms, she suddenly finds herself uncertain about what to do with her hands. ]
Did you want tea? Is that weird in the Horizon? [ She rocks back and forth on her heels, finally settling on clasping her hands behind her back, ready to turn in any given direction based on Claude's answer. ] We can go sit in the living room unless you want a tour, but it'll be a short one.
[ There's nothing but a grin from Claude at her answer verbal and otherwise to that, especially so when it means he still gets to come inside anyway. The warmth inside is much appreciated even if he's still getting the occasional glare from the small being on which he still has many questions even if he thinks he can guess the answers. Or some of them, anyway, when it comes to the varying levels of hostility not merely from being muffled alone.
Hilda gives him one, kind of, by way of mentioning that Mogwry - a name which has him glancing up towards where Mogwry disappeared to the upper level in what Claude's willing to bet is absolutely a form of sulking - likes to pick fights. That summation gets a snort from him that's not quite laughter but is definitely amused. ]
I never would've guessed. [ He is wisely going to keep any other thoughts on that to himself in favor of shrugging now that his hands are no longer jammed in his coat pockets to keep them from becoming (nowhere near) numb. ] And if tea's weird in the Horizon then I suppose I've weirded out plenty of people what with offering it just about every chance I've gotten. Besides, if we're going to be here on a snowy day then it's only fitting, isn't it?
[ All with the sort of breeziness meant to add some calm to the situation considering Claude's not missed the way Hilda's fidgeting, and probably not over Mogwry's behavior. He'd been looking out a nearby window at the mountains outside with more appreciation without any cold wind bothering him, but he turns to shoot a smile her direction. ]
I'll let you choose if you want to do the tour or not. Where's this - [ with a small wave of his hand to encompass the cottage and the outdoors here but also wherever it is in reality - ] at?
Hilda gives him one, kind of, by way of mentioning that Mogwry - a name which has him glancing up towards where Mogwry disappeared to the upper level in what Claude's willing to bet is absolutely a form of sulking - likes to pick fights. That summation gets a snort from him that's not quite laughter but is definitely amused. ]
I never would've guessed. [ He is wisely going to keep any other thoughts on that to himself in favor of shrugging now that his hands are no longer jammed in his coat pockets to keep them from becoming (nowhere near) numb. ] And if tea's weird in the Horizon then I suppose I've weirded out plenty of people what with offering it just about every chance I've gotten. Besides, if we're going to be here on a snowy day then it's only fitting, isn't it?
[ All with the sort of breeziness meant to add some calm to the situation considering Claude's not missed the way Hilda's fidgeting, and probably not over Mogwry's behavior. He'd been looking out a nearby window at the mountains outside with more appreciation without any cold wind bothering him, but he turns to shoot a smile her direction. ]
I'll let you choose if you want to do the tour or not. Where's this - [ with a small wave of his hand to encompass the cottage and the outdoors here but also wherever it is in reality - ] at?
[ Left at Hilda's home is a colorful set of heels that he made for her. They have the level of heel that he knows she prefers to wear. He also got a bottle of her favorite alcoholic beverage, whatever it is.]
This is not a design for anyone else but you. Thank you for being my work partner, here's to our business ventures!
-Jesper
This is not a design for anyone else but you. Thank you for being my work partner, here's to our business ventures!
-Jesper
[ Thinking that Claude's dismissal of Mogwry's attitude is where it will end would be silly of her to believe. The man before her had a mind as sharp as a trap and remembered everything and he'd definitely remember a comment like Mogwry's with that much attitude laced behind it. He'd bring it up again. She was counting on that.
But in another display of Typical Claude moves, he moves on and she tells herself to do the same. Quietly she curses herself for asking a silly question; she'd offered tea plenty of times before in the Horizon too but she hadn't known what else to say, so taken aback by his appearance at her front door. While she had come here to escape and think, she hadn't planned on thinking about the thing Mogwry had been alluding to and she isn't about to let this surprise appearance by Claude be the reason she starts again. She's tired of the heaviness in her heart and slipping into a melancholy when she found herself alone.
Her lips quirk a little higher, a teasing lilt to her voice. ]
Well if you're talking about here - it's the living room. [ The slight rocking motion stops but her fidgeting continues behind her back, fiddling with the hems of her sleeves. ] But if you're talking about here - [ At this she motions around them. ] it's just some field in Goneril. Holst used to take me when I felt like I was getting restless. You'd like it a lot more in the spring and summer. The wildflowers stretch on for days.
[ She pauses, casting a glance around the cozy interior with its fairy lights strung up along the windows, casting everything in warmth and light. ]
There was nothing like this cottage though. There were some places for hikers to stay if they were going long distances so they could have a place to rest for the night that wasn't outside but [ She pulls a face. It goes without saying that she'd never done it. ] I've never been in one. I thought...it might be nice to have a place like this someday. If I ever go home.
[ Her gaze settles on the large bay window looking out towards Goneril. The word "home" sticks in her throat and there's a moment where she isn't certain if she'll be able to swallow it - but she does in the end. ]
Maybe I can convince Holst to buy me one and fix it up.
But in another display of Typical Claude moves, he moves on and she tells herself to do the same. Quietly she curses herself for asking a silly question; she'd offered tea plenty of times before in the Horizon too but she hadn't known what else to say, so taken aback by his appearance at her front door. While she had come here to escape and think, she hadn't planned on thinking about the thing Mogwry had been alluding to and she isn't about to let this surprise appearance by Claude be the reason she starts again. She's tired of the heaviness in her heart and slipping into a melancholy when she found herself alone.
Her lips quirk a little higher, a teasing lilt to her voice. ]
Well if you're talking about here - it's the living room. [ The slight rocking motion stops but her fidgeting continues behind her back, fiddling with the hems of her sleeves. ] But if you're talking about here - [ At this she motions around them. ] it's just some field in Goneril. Holst used to take me when I felt like I was getting restless. You'd like it a lot more in the spring and summer. The wildflowers stretch on for days.
[ She pauses, casting a glance around the cozy interior with its fairy lights strung up along the windows, casting everything in warmth and light. ]
There was nothing like this cottage though. There were some places for hikers to stay if they were going long distances so they could have a place to rest for the night that wasn't outside but [ She pulls a face. It goes without saying that she'd never done it. ] I've never been in one. I thought...it might be nice to have a place like this someday. If I ever go home.
[ Her gaze settles on the large bay window looking out towards Goneril. The word "home" sticks in her throat and there's a moment where she isn't certain if she'll be able to swallow it - but she does in the end. ]
Maybe I can convince Holst to buy me one and fix it up.
[ Yes, his message includes the @. Please don't question it. ]
@Hilda, are you going to be in Nocwich in the next few days? I have something for you for you.
[ The "something" in question is actually two, small, almost perfect wild pearls. ]
@Hilda, are you going to be in Nocwich in the next few days? I have something for you for you.
[ The "something" in question is actually two, small, almost perfect wild pearls. ]
[ She's gonna question it. ]
𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦? 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘺𝘦𝘴.
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘭? 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦. @?
@@@@@?
𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦? 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘺𝘦𝘴.
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘭? 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦. @?
@@@@@?
[ Her immediate comeback about the location, narrowing down a rather broad question to the specifics of right here, gets laughter from him. Well. That's certainly on him for choosing that way of phrasing it, and it's with a smile Claude looks back out the window to take in what's out there again. This time through the lens of Hilda's explanation and though it's his own imagination filling in everything else between the details she supplies, he thinks he could almost imagine it. Or maybe there's an overlay of something else coming to mind, especially when it comes to the mention of home. ]
Sounds a lot like the prairies in Almyra. Some of them seemed to change almost every day with the different flowers that'd bloom and more so after it rained or the temperatures changed. After I learned to ride wyverns I liked to explore wherever I could, and those fields and the steppes were among my favorites.
[ Hilda says it'd be nice to have if she went home, and here he is thinking as much about taking her to see the places he grew up with. Home is a far way away for both of them at the moment even as they stand here in an approximation of hers, and Claude turns over the idea of changing his own domain. It'd be one way to show her, though he's careful to wipe away any wistfulness before turning a smile back to her. ]
You should do it. Not just because I think Holst would be more than pleased and also right there helping to fix it up every step of the way before you even finished the sentence, but it's good to have a place of your own to go to. I imagine the lake out there is even nicer in summertime, too.
[ Not that it's not a nice sight from here - though he appreciates it more thanks to being inside, truthfully, unless there's something else about it Hilda knows he doesn't. ]
Sounds a lot like the prairies in Almyra. Some of them seemed to change almost every day with the different flowers that'd bloom and more so after it rained or the temperatures changed. After I learned to ride wyverns I liked to explore wherever I could, and those fields and the steppes were among my favorites.
[ Hilda says it'd be nice to have if she went home, and here he is thinking as much about taking her to see the places he grew up with. Home is a far way away for both of them at the moment even as they stand here in an approximation of hers, and Claude turns over the idea of changing his own domain. It'd be one way to show her, though he's careful to wipe away any wistfulness before turning a smile back to her. ]
You should do it. Not just because I think Holst would be more than pleased and also right there helping to fix it up every step of the way before you even finished the sentence, but it's good to have a place of your own to go to. I imagine the lake out there is even nicer in summertime, too.
[ Not that it's not a nice sight from here - though he appreciates it more thanks to being inside, truthfully, unless there's something else about it Hilda knows he doesn't. ]
𝘖𝘩, 𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦! 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬. 𝘚𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 @ 𝘕𝘰𝘤𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘩?
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘐 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘵?
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘐 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘵?
You could.
It was actually co-opted from a planet's accounting systems prior to digitization; originally it meant "at a rate of," before being shortened to just "at" and used in message protocols. Once the character became standardized on keyboards and then spread through interplanetary travel and communication, other uses also became established.
[ God. he is SUCh a fucking nerd. ]
Your hint is that it is shiny.
It was actually co-opted from a planet's accounting systems prior to digitization; originally it meant "at a rate of," before being shortened to just "at" and used in message protocols. Once the character became standardized on keyboards and then spread through interplanetary travel and communication, other uses also became established.
[ God. he is SUCh a fucking nerd. ]
Your hint is that it is shiny.
[ Sometime mid-month, Hilda will find left on her bed two large wrapped packages and an envelope. The first wrapped box holds an ornate tea set, the cups of which form a heart with the liquid inside when filled. Accompanying it are two large tins of freshly blended tea leaves, one a mimicry of Albinean Berry Blend and the other a familiar Rose Petal Blend.
The second box contains a large charmed picnic basket, designed to keep the food inside fresh for a length of time. Inside of it, she'll find an array of freshly-baked and decorated treats, all for her. (There's a definite theme running here)
Finally, the envelope holds a pair of tickets to one of the exclusive spas in Aquila and a reservation card for one of the nicer restaurants there, to be filled out at and cashed in at her leisure. Underneath is a short note in Sylvain's familiar handwriting. ]
I wasn't sure what to get you for this festival season, since obviously jewelry and/or clothes are straight out. Flowers never last very long and also we already have too many of those on the terrace anyway. Have to hope this will suffice and that you enjoy your treats. I tried to find ones as sweet as you.
Let me know when you'd like to take a trip to Aquila. I'm looking forward to some time together. Even if you will probably make me take another bath in mud.
~ Sylvain
The second box contains a large charmed picnic basket, designed to keep the food inside fresh for a length of time. Inside of it, she'll find an array of freshly-baked and decorated treats, all for her. (There's a definite theme running here)
Finally, the envelope holds a pair of tickets to one of the exclusive spas in Aquila and a reservation card for one of the nicer restaurants there, to be filled out at and cashed in at her leisure. Underneath is a short note in Sylvain's familiar handwriting. ]
I wasn't sure what to get you for this festival season, since obviously jewelry and/or clothes are straight out. Flowers never last very long and also we already have too many of those on the terrace anyway. Have to hope this will suffice and that you enjoy your treats. I tried to find ones as sweet as you.
Let me know when you'd like to take a trip to Aquila. I'm looking forward to some time together. Even if you will probably make me take another bath in mud.
~ Sylvain
Edited 2023-12-17 20:42 (UTC)
[ So...all of that explanation went in one ear and out the other. Fucking Nerd. ]
𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 "𝘢𝘵"?
𝘖𝘩𝘩𝘩, 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘺! 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘨 - 𝘸𝘦'𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦.
𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 "𝘢𝘵"?
𝘖𝘩𝘩𝘩, 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘺! 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘨 - 𝘸𝘦'𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦.
I'd like to see it someday.
[ The wistful thought comes unbidden before she can stop herself, so caught up in this recounting of a piece of Claude's childhood that she had never been privy to. The heat of embarrassment rises to her cheeks once more when she realizes what she's let that thought slip. Why that is, she can't say. It's not like she was overstepping any boundaries. Not when he had already implied as much given everything they had gone through until this point. Quickly she follows up with - ]
Once you're not busy winning the throne that is. I'm sure that will take some time.
[ Would they ever return back to Fodlan? There have been too many times as of late where she'll drift to sleep wondering if she'll wake up the next morning not here, but back on Gronder Field about to step into the fog to fight old friends and classmates. Or worse. She wakes to find Sylvain and Claude gone, leaving her here alone. The former has plagued her since their kidnapping and it had never left. The thought makes her heart clench but she artfully presses it back down like the thought had never occurred to her in the first place.
Instead she offers him a cheeky smile. ]
That's the plan! I'll lay out the design, buy all the furniture and paint, and Holst can do all the heavy lifting.
[ As for the lake... ]
It's glacier water so it's freezing even in the summer. [ Involuntarily she shivers at the thought of summers past where she had been pulled in by Holst or the times when her feet grazed the cool surface in an attempt to cool herself down without jumping right in. ] You'd hate it. It isn't that bad right now either though. It's thick enough to skate on.
[ The wistful thought comes unbidden before she can stop herself, so caught up in this recounting of a piece of Claude's childhood that she had never been privy to. The heat of embarrassment rises to her cheeks once more when she realizes what she's let that thought slip. Why that is, she can't say. It's not like she was overstepping any boundaries. Not when he had already implied as much given everything they had gone through until this point. Quickly she follows up with - ]
Once you're not busy winning the throne that is. I'm sure that will take some time.
[ Would they ever return back to Fodlan? There have been too many times as of late where she'll drift to sleep wondering if she'll wake up the next morning not here, but back on Gronder Field about to step into the fog to fight old friends and classmates. Or worse. She wakes to find Sylvain and Claude gone, leaving her here alone. The former has plagued her since their kidnapping and it had never left. The thought makes her heart clench but she artfully presses it back down like the thought had never occurred to her in the first place.
Instead she offers him a cheeky smile. ]
That's the plan! I'll lay out the design, buy all the furniture and paint, and Holst can do all the heavy lifting.
[ As for the lake... ]
It's glacier water so it's freezing even in the summer. [ Involuntarily she shivers at the thought of summers past where she had been pulled in by Holst or the times when her feet grazed the cool surface in an attempt to cool herself down without jumping right in. ] You'd hate it. It isn't that bad right now either though. It's thick enough to skate on.
Yes, or make faces. Like so:
@_@
[ That was the point he was trying to make there. Definitely. ]
It isn't a lot, but I hope you will appreciate them.
Tell me when you are available, and I will come find you.
@_@
[ That was the point he was trying to make there. Definitely. ]
It isn't a lot, but I hope you will appreciate them.
Tell me when you are available, and I will come find you.
Edited (damn you casual html) 2023-12-19 06:00 (UTC)
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵?! 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦! @ _ @ 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦? @𝘵@? @𝘰@?
[ Oh, right he had asked about something else, hadn't he? ]
𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘤𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘴? 𝘐 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦.
[ Oh, right he had asked about something else, hadn't he? ]
𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘤𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘴? 𝘐 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰, 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦.
Edited 2023-12-19 06:32 (UTC)
( The package that arrives for Hilda is small, wrapped in cloth and tied in twine. Inside she'll find a small fragment of intricately carved bone hung from a string as a charm, and a note written in a careful hand. )
Hilda,
I couldn't find something in Solvunn that would suit what I assume is your style -- forgive the rustic nature of the charm, and feel free to hide it on your person. The spell carved into it is 'Shield' -- should you be attacked, simply say 'macte virtute' and a magical barrier will spring up around you, lasting at most a minute, and protecting you from the triggering attack and any other until it is broken or your concentration wavers.
May it help you if you should ever find yourself in over your head,
- Haelva
[the package arrives via courier to hilda's place of residence. it is wrapped plainly, tied with blue-dyed twine and a sprig of bloomed iris. an engraved hatchet is in the package, along with a note written in an elegant script:]
For one who blends beauty and strength without equal.
-Diana
For one who blends beauty and strength without equal.
-Diana
[ Claude catches that wistfulness and it's nearly enough to make him pause. But he's done that so much lately, hasn't he? Is it worth questioning (to himself) whether Hilda means that because they're currently here in Abraxas where home - either of their homes - are so distant, or because this is an invitation he should offer yet again, and one that will be weighted with that throne she mentions?
Hilda doesn't need yet another reminder of home, he decides. Not when they're standing right here in the very vision of hers, and not when they've already looped around the topic in different memories shared. He lets it go, finding it far easier to slip on a matching smile as they'd done so many times over so many other topics, and this one in agreement that there's no doubt Holst will be in charge of... anything requiring labor, if Claude had to guess. As Holst would prefer it just as much as Hilda, he's certain. But in response to that shiver, there's also a matching wrinkle of his nose to glacial temperatures. ]
I remember a trip to the mountains when I was a kid and seeing snow there. There were lots of streams around and they looked sort of like the ones I was used to, so I immediately went to play in one and was, ah, surprised. I can't imagine a whole lake of it feels much better than that did. How difficult is it to skate on?
[ Is there a way to ask this casually where it doesn't immediately betray that he doesn't know what he'd be doing if they attempted such a thing? No, there isn't. But that's not going to stop Claude from asking it anyway even as more snow starts to fall, as if he's asking about something as simple as the weather. He has a feeling there's only one expert in skating here, and definitely knows it's not him. ]
Hilda doesn't need yet another reminder of home, he decides. Not when they're standing right here in the very vision of hers, and not when they've already looped around the topic in different memories shared. He lets it go, finding it far easier to slip on a matching smile as they'd done so many times over so many other topics, and this one in agreement that there's no doubt Holst will be in charge of... anything requiring labor, if Claude had to guess. As Holst would prefer it just as much as Hilda, he's certain. But in response to that shiver, there's also a matching wrinkle of his nose to glacial temperatures. ]
I remember a trip to the mountains when I was a kid and seeing snow there. There were lots of streams around and they looked sort of like the ones I was used to, so I immediately went to play in one and was, ah, surprised. I can't imagine a whole lake of it feels much better than that did. How difficult is it to skate on?
[ Is there a way to ask this casually where it doesn't immediately betray that he doesn't know what he'd be doing if they attempted such a thing? No, there isn't. But that's not going to stop Claude from asking it anyway even as more snow starts to fall, as if he's asking about something as simple as the weather. He has a feeling there's only one expert in skating here, and definitely knows it's not him. ]
^_^
𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦? 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 ^_^ 𝘴𝘰 ^_^ 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 ^_^ 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳 ^_^
[ Hilda unfortunately is not one of those readers and is fully convinced he's making the ^_^ face while he's writing it. ]
𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵! 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰.
𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦? 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 ^_^ 𝘴𝘰 ^_^ 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 ^_^ 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳 ^_^
[ Hilda unfortunately is not one of those readers and is fully convinced he's making the ^_^ face while he's writing it. ]
𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵! 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰.
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