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𝘖𝘩, 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘬.

[ Jaskier immediately comes to mind. ]

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘐𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 - 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵.

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺? 𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘢𝘥𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴?

[ If he hadn't been busy waiting for her reaction to what else was said - and wasn't still pondering how to go about standing up - Claude might've launched right back into more grumbling about Holst. All for show, that is; though he certainly hadn't known what to make of Holst at first, he'd become an invaluable ally and a friend, as much as their positions had allowed for. That was a thought Claude hadn't allowed him to dwell on too much since there'd only be so far that'd go before that duel Hilda had always mentioned offhand would have to happen to take her anywhere far away.

But all of that is far away by virtue of being here, and in the present is Hilda sputtering in a way which absolutely and immediately makes him laugh. ]

Oh, I didn't? Huh, I must've misremembered. [ A supposed innocent bit of confusion he barely gets out between laughter even as it's calming down though the grin Claude offers her is shameless and unrepentant for pulling out that one. ] We needed more of an army at one point in the war, so I brought Nader to meet Holst to make it easier to get those forces... well, past the Locket. They were a little unsure of each other at first but it only took a few drinks before they were adopting each other. Rest assured you had much the same reaction upon finding out then as you do now.

[ The smile he gives her now is all fondness despite the fluster of that particular time and now where she's looking at him, and after debating about his next (physical) move Claude pushes himself up to kneeling with one skate against the ice how it should be. Now it's just a matter of bracing himself to stand from here. Probably. ]

I suppose now's the time to mention you also know Nader as Nardel, my supposed retainer for House Riegan. I needed someone there I could trust after my grandfather died, and so he came.

[ Hilda knew that Claude was more than capable of drawing his own conclusions of people including her brother and often wondered what they'd make of one another once they actually met. All of her moaning and groaning that usually categorized her relationship with Holst probably hadn't had too much weight in the grand scheme of things, but she doubted that Claude had forgotten about them.

She understood to some degree that some of her complaints were unfair; Holst was trying to be a good brother and show that he cared for her in the way he thought was right. She knew how lucky she was to have him him and their parents. Holst's overbearing nature was merely the only hardship she'd had to latch onto in her otherwise cushy life. All of that is to say - she can't help but wonder what it'd be like to see Holst and Claude at a dinner with one another without the pretense of war or politics. Probably just as strange as it would have been to see Nader and Holst seated at a table together. ]

Wait a minute. Adopting?

[ She can't even begin to question it because honestly? That checks out. In her mind's eye she can practically see Holst getting louder and louder as he drank, throwing his arm around the infamous Almyran that she now knows to be Nardel. Er, Nader. It's weird for sure. But not entirely a bad thing.

Hilda lets out another huff of exasperation even as she holds out her hands for Claude to steady himself if need be. ]

Ugh. That's all it took? Men are so weird! Let me guess, I wasn't there for that dinner either? Why didn't you invite me?! I would have loved to see that.

There is truly no need to pressure our friends to use their influence for something as minor as a wedding. Not with the Horizon being perfectly suited for the event.

Thank you -- I will be certain to come to you with any questions. All I know is that while it need not be a small wedding, both Clive and I would want something simple.

It fits wonderfully. You did a beautiful job with it, Hilda, thank you.

𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺? 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 "𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘳" 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭! 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩.

[ "We" is pretty presumptuous but the offer to help is already out there on the table so - ]

𝘖𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐'𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 - 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴.

[ Sure, he's supposed to be standing up but that'll have to wait for a minute when Hilda's reaction demands more laughter and demands it immediately without question. It's so similar to what he remembers of her reaction then after Lorenz started a conversation which led into (some of) his hopes and aspirations, though he hadn't committed those words to memory in the midst of everything else. This will more than do now. ]

What, and spoil all of my surprises for the day we found ourselves somehow pulled into another world? As if I'd ever let that happen!

[ As if he'd planned for anything about here either, but it feels easier to joke about that than the realities of home. There's no denying that he could've told her - could have invited her along as Hilda's pointed out, and so Claude doesn't bother to attempt it or even circling around it. He's eying her hands as he debates grabbing hold again but decides against it (for now) to give himself a silent countdown to stand up.

It's mostly successful; he's upright, even if it comes with more than a few wobbles back and forth until he finds his center of gravity once more. Lying on the ground was helpful for not having to worry about that. ]

But I did mean adopting. It's a whole thing in Almyran culture when it comes to warriors who respect each other and despite their initial differences, it ended up that way. But now that I think about it, [ with a smile which points to impending mischief and more than a little glee over it, ] that means your number of older brothers doubles, doesn't it? It's only a matter of time before Nader figures out that out, and I can promise you he's no less overbearing than Holst.

[ Adoption could be meant figuratively - she didn't know. And that's what she assumes he means because why else would someone adopt a full grown man like Holst? Unless your Nader the Undefeated apparently. The truth of the matter dawns on her just as Claude speaks it into existence. To say that she's utterly horrified by the reality that she could potentially return to if they ever left Abraxas is an understatement. Aghast, her mouth drops open forming a perfect little 'o'.

It took a certain sort of personality to get along with Holst. When it came to matters of business and politics, he was incredibly serious but level-headed - a far cry from the ridiculous side that he had when he was with her. He could be just as dramatic as she could be if not worse because all of his dramatics were out of genuine concern for her. And worse still, he could easily rope personalities like his into it too. Case in point Balthus who was both an instigator and a partner in crime to Holst's big brother schemes.

Claude's gleeful mischief is met with a little noise of indignation. Just as he manages to right himself, she pushes lightly on his chest, sending him sliding backwards as she skates after him. ]

You better not have given them any ideas! I can't believe that you said that. I can barely handle Holst some days - how am I supposed to handle two of him?! You better take responsibility, Claude von Riegan!

Edited (last one i swear ) 2024-02-15 00:56 (UTC)

If he didn't tell you himself, he's a terrible liar -- I can see why he'd leap at the chance to have someone else ask for it. There's no harm done, and the surprise was worth any confusion.

You needn't trouble yourself, Hilda. You've already done so much for me.

𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥. 𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵. 𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘺! 𝘈 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥.

He loved acting when we were younger, recreating scenes from his favorite novels with his uncle and myself for the enjoyment of his younger brother. It's only a shame he never got... better at it, with time. I think he would have enjoyed an actor's life. But for the sake of both of us, thank you for your ability to pull it off.

If you're certain--

𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦.

[ In other words, the bar has been set low. ]

𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯! 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭?

[ Muscle memory from many a time of teasing Hilda has him ready for that push he feels coming instinctively before it happens in time to grab onto her hands as they land on his chest to keep them there. Though it of course manages to also push him back a bit across the ice since the skates don't offer much in the way of bracing himself, it also has him laughing loudly again between that and her outburst with the latter being the very thing he was counting on happening, too. ]

As if Holst didn't give him plenty of ideas on his own! I hardly had to do anything but sit and watch as the two of them dove deep into all kinds of plans. Nader's enthusiasm knows no bounds, you know.

[ Something he's every bit as guilty of and has admitted to here what with not bothering to stop any of it either, and Claude's chuckling still even as another thought occurs to him. That push and the subsequent moving of his skates to find his balance again had unlocked something missing in the skating motions he was attempting, and it's while now using Hilda for balance he tries it again. With success: the motion propels them backwards in something considerably clumsier than her seamless skating from earlier, but they do move backwards slowly as he's found a way to keep them going that way that's somehow easier than going forwards.

And it does have the benefit of keeping her close again as Claude shifts his grip to link their fingers together like he's really the one leading on this unsteady path, and he lets mirth fade away into affection again as he looks at her. ]

You know, Nader was also there when my mother left Fodlan with my father. Maybe Holst won't be so reluctant to let you visit now that he knows someone else there who'll have - [ with the next part said in a fairly good impression of Holst thanks to that time spent together during the war - ] your best interests in mind.

[ When she finds herself propelled right alongside him she lets out a noise of mild indignation that quickly turns into laughter thanks to Claude's infectious sound. Even if she had remained annoyed, she's still conscious that he's unsteady on his feet. So while part of her attention is focused on making sure that they don't go toppling onto the ice together, some of that caution seems to ebb away when it becomes apparent that Claude is slowly getting the hang of skating backwards. Hilda can't hide the amusement that flickers across her features as a thought flits through her mind: leave it to Claude to get the hang of skating backwards before he mastered going forward first.

By the time he threads their fingers together most of her light annoyance gives way to a groan. The worst part about all of this is that she knows that Claude is absolutely correct in what he says. Holst's stupid brain could come up with as many brilliant ideas as it could dumb things. And with him knowing Nader better than her she can only assume that he's telling the truth about his Holst-like enthusiasm.

It's probably for the best that Claude nips her lamenting in the bud with a terrifyingly accurate impression of her big brother. She blinks several times in shock before bursting out into laughter again. ]

I think you're underestimating just how much he wants to keep me in Goneril. Just because he sent me to the Academy, didn't mean he was happy about it. And a new brother doesn't mean he's not going to try and come along himself.

[ And privately, if she was going to visit Almyra, she didn't want her first time to be with Holst acting like a hover wyvern the entire time. With a little push, she swings gently around him so that she's the one skating backwards now. Lacing their fingers together she can't help but laugh. ]

Are you sure you aren't just trying to avoid asking him if I can go and visit yourself?

[ The blinking feels like prize enough at that bewildered surprise clear on her face, and her laughter feels even more so when the grin reappears on his face post-Holst impression as she skates around again to redirect them a different direction. Considering his ability to skate is incredibly tenuous at best - not to mention managing to be upright is something he's considering an accomplishment enough on its own - he's more than content to let her lead.

And that gives him more metaphorical space, of course, to consider what it is Hilda's telling him about Holst wanting her to stay in Goneril. It's something he's heard before and sends an echo back to when he'd brought up the idea of her meeting his parents in what feels like such a long time ago now even if the offer still stands to this day. Hilda had mentioned Holst being an obstacle, and, well. That is not something Claude doubts even if he still has yet to figure out a way around it.

Which starts, of course, with putting on a look of absolute(ly fake) shock. ]

Are you saying you're not going to help me out with that all? I'm heartbroken!

[ He's no such thing, but that doesn't stop him from tugging on her hands as if to bring her a little closer again. There's any number of things he could say here in terms of convincing Holst, and he certainly things about saying all of them while spinning yet another thread bemoaning this cruel fate Hilda's left him to - but. Claude thinks better of it when there's maybe a chance of those protests edging a bit too much towards something real.

And that won't do, and especially so when he still has something else far more real to offer. ]

Now that just makes my next plan of following even further in my father's footsteps of whisking you away by wyvern in the middle of the night for a grand adventure sound even better. I'm sure that'd immediately endear me to Holst if he suddenly finds you missing and not even in Fodlan on top of that.

[ Teasingly she bats back - ]

If you can win a war, I'm sure navigating Hoslt Goneril won't be a problem for you.

[ The ice skating lesson isn't enough to subconsciously make her forget that there's a reason she had been in the Horizon in the first place. Nor is it enough to forget about Claude's offer to let her meet his parents some day if they ever returned home. There's still so much newness to this new chapter of their relationship that she had nudged the door closed on what it could mean beyond that. It doesn't escape her if they had been in Fodlan, such an offer might imply other things. But that thought too had been shoved behind the door not to be thought about now, or even in the short term.

Getting her hopes up was the worst thing that could happen here. And all she wants is to soak in as much of this - the cold air biting at their cheeks, the warmth of his hands in hers - as possible because a part of her still thinks this might not last. And a run-in with a certain blonde in Nocwich certainly hadn't helped matters.

Thankfully Claude's grand, hypothetical proposal is enough to push that last thought back a little further into her mind. In fact, it's enough to make her eyes glint with the telltale sign of amusement. ]

Now hold on, what kind of adventure did you have in mind? The middle of the night is when I get my best sleeping done, you know.

[ Hilda has a point, or more like several wrapped up into one about how Holst shouldn't be any kind of obstacle. And yet - it's impossible to not think again of the Nether and how it'd felt like Hilda had moved away from something he'd dared to ask as plainly as he could manage with so many unknowns.

Ones it occurs to him he could probably look for the answers to now when there's far less hanging in the same balance they'd held them to for years before now. With steps forward to move past that, and surely that would lead to other clarifications. If he'd ask, of course. That would be the first step, but it'd be less lighthearted than supposedly theoretical discussions of nighttime departures. ]

Oh, c'mon. It also happens to be the best time for absconding into the unknown. I might be speaking from experience there.

[ It'd been the easiest way to vanish without too many questions, or at least ones he wouldn't have to answer himself considering - he wouldn't be there. There'd only be his parents and what few letters they'd sent back and forth over the years, and all of the unsent ones too like the one on his desk in Derdriu letting them know he'd be returning soon. That's a familiar enough wistfulness that it's easy to let it subside the same as he does when thinking about home and how long it's been.

But with the thought of home, and Holst, and everything else that inviting Hilda would bring with it gets eclipsed by, say, a threat more prominent being that it's here and not where they were brought from. ]

Though maybe rather than fearing Holst from afar, I should be more afraid of Mogwry and whatever he was going to do to electrocute me. I'm fully expecting him to try again when we get back, you know.

Oh? Does that mean you've swept me away already?

[ As teasing as she says it, it occurs to Hilda that as wide and sweeping as they tend to jokingly speak about future what-if's that may or may not ever come to pass, that he could be serious about it. Maybe some version of herself would have happily gone along with him without second thought or hesitation because what had her heart yearned for if not grand adventure? Would she still? This version of her that had painted her in shades of caution by Abraxas?

Such thoughts would only serve to be counterproductive to her resolve not to go down that route.

Claude's comment about Mogwry however only serves to drag her mind right back. Try as she might to fold the way her expression hardens into an exasperated sigh at the thought of her newly acquired guard moogle, it's wishful thinking considering who she's trying to hide it from. ]

I don't even know where he got that idea. [ The sound of their skates cut clean against the ice as they near their first loop round. ] I was only venting to him because of something that happened the other day. And that definitely didn't involve telling him to electrocute you.

I think you win any and all prizes for sweeping someone away since you've done that to me quite literally today.

[ It's a horrible joke and the grin on his face says Claude's quite Proud of it for being that awful. But it's fitting for literally being dragged across the ice - quite voluntarily at that - and it's another none too subtle attempt to fish for a smile, a laugh, or even a roll of her eyes. Some things never change from how they've always been.

The same can be said for Claude noticing the expression shifting across her face just enough for him to pick it up in pieces. What's underneath it still isn't clear to him though it seems to be more than just Mogwry's antics alone. But - it does also feel like a confirmation of sorts that it is tied to him somehow even if electrocuting him was all the moogle's doing since the cause behind it came from somewhere. Didn't it? ]

I suppose he gets full marks for creativity then. [ Dryly, and something to contemplate for a second as he moves their hands to attempt spinning Hilda in a slow circle in place like they're on a dance floor rather than ice. It's not the best misdirection he's ever done, but it's enough to offer Hilda her own second to think before he continues in that same lightly teasing tone as an opening to a different branch of the conversation if she'd like to take it. ] Do I get to know what it is that happened?

[ The joke is predictably awful, earning him a little nose wrinkle but a spark of bright laughter all the same. ]

I'm not so sure that sweeping is the word I'd use for it.

[ She motions cheekily behind them where the very visible if you look hard enough remnants of a body being dragged across the surface remain. They could skate in circles all day long about semantics but that would detract from the question that Claude so rightly asked.

In hindsight, she should have known that admitting what she did was going to result in a question about it. That doesn't stop her from briefly shutting her eyes as Claude begins to spin her wondering for the umpteenth time what she was doing. There's been space between their fight, their subsequent apology and a whole new dynamic to their relationship that has been introduced since - but her insecurities, jealousy, and tentative approach to their relationship with Sylvain, are still tender.

It doesn't escape her that Claude is offering her both an out and room to talk more about what had happened. It's tempting to take the offered out. Dismiss her unpleasant feelings and pretend them away like she's always had because the last time she let them get the best of her, it had almost ruined one of the most precious things in her life. But they've lived through bottling feelings down and that alternative hadn't gone well either.

When she returns to his side, a cloud of breath precedes her answer. ]

...You just have to promise not to be upset with me, okay?

[ Sweeping absolutely isn't the word for it. Claude knows this without even looking at the tracks that definitely aren't just from their skates and from all of a few minutes ago, but the combination laugh-internal groan it gets from Hilda makes it worth it when that warms him as much as his approximately seventy clothing layers.

The smile on his face grows to a grin because of it, one of all fondness as they twirl (mostly) in place with something not quite as seamless as all those dances they'd had together. Something still close to him as much as this, though he catches a flash of Hilda's expression as she goes and nearly pauses. Instead it's relegated to an internal pause as his own expression stays as even as ever in the time she's turned away and then also when she's back facing him again.

Though he hadn't really thought he'd get an answer right away - not when he's every bit as much averse to voicing them the first time he's asked something, if not twenty times as much so - what she prefaces it with is enough to get him to pause completely now. They come to a slow halt as he lets the momentum fade out to slow them to it and he studies her face curiously. Those words are ever so slightly ominous in how they're said when it doesn't seem like this will lead to some of their usual silliness. It doesn't take him longer than a second to find his own answer. ]

Okay, I promise.

[ As he runs gloved thumbs over the backs of her hands in his, the look on his face is still set to something neutral even as a flicker of concern goes through it. But he means it; with whatever she's about to tell him and no matter what it is, if it's something she's reluctant to - chastising her for choosing to share isn't anything he wants to do. ]

[ A part of her almost wishes that they'd keep skating if only because it would provide a nice distraction for her, to lighten what probably isn't a big deal (it really isn't that serious, but is that her old habit of pretending things away rearing its head?) into something anecdotal that they can just laugh about right after. Avoidance is a dance she's always known, particularly when it comes to Claude. It's a dance that they have to unlearn.

So the urge to continue moving, doing anything that will help distract is quashed in favour of being truthful about her less than attractive feelings. To her credit she does attempt to sound even keeled throughout her account of the interaction that resulted in Claude being threatened by a creature that barely came up to his knees. Embarrassment and shame are quick to creep into her voice much like the way heat rushes into her cheeks. ]

I ran into Dion in Nocwich. And he mentioned that you two met on some rooftop, indulged in Nocwich's "musical inclinations" and a meal. I know it probably was just you being kind to a new Summoned but when I got the feeling that you left him with some sort of impression, I guess my mind got away from me.

[ Her gaze drops to their skates towards the end, unable to bear the way heat prickles uncomfortably at the back of her neck like pins and needles. A little breath of annoyance aimed at herself and her inability to trust someone that she said she would escapes her. ]

I got jealous. Again. Over nothing! And I didn't want to say anything to you or Sylvain because it's so stupid of me to react that way and not trust you. I didn't want to cause trouble so I wasn't going to say anything about it.

[ There's other things left unsaid there - that she didn't want him to think less of her or second guess whatever it was they were trying to make work. She didn't want him to leave again. Rehashing all of that in her mind sends more prickles of anxiety down her spine though and they go unsaid. Helplessly she gestures towards the quaint cottage with its warm light. ]

...I just didn't account for a protective moogle. [ Her lips lift humourlessly in a self-deprecating way. ] But that's why I'm not that tactician out of the two of us.

Hiiii it's Julia.

So I was like, you don't have any girlfriends to gossip with, but then I was like, Hilda could be! And I want to gossip with SOMEONE so I pick you Pikachu. (Long story.)

I'm in a relationship with the Doctor now and I'm really excited about it so I had to yell at someone.

[ Oh, Julia. She has so many questions about what a Pikachu is but she's right because that is the least pressing of matters right now. It's completely overshadowed by the fact that her friend is dating someone!!!

Sure hope her roommates are fine with her letting out another ear splitting squeal of delight. ]

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵!? 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳? 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳?

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨! 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯?! 𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦? 𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦? 𝘖𝘩, 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘶𝘯𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯.

Yes with the Doctor! I've been all floaty about it in Solvunn with no one to talk to.

We've been flirting for a while, it started to take an "is this like FLIRTING flirting?" turn a few months ago and then we danced and almost kissed in Ikorr before all the drama happened. And he asked to hang out to talk about that and we confessed to all the things! IDK it's still new and there's a lot of reasons we were both like 'this is a bad idea' but WHATEVER.

𝘖𝘩 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨? 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘯!

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘳. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩? 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭!

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