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You could stand to tell me more often.
[honestly with two layers of memories he's not entirely sure, all her sarcasm blurs together, as though he really knew her much outside of that reality other than playing a fun game (to him) of cat and mouse.]
Big how? Covering a couple of people, or blanketing an area? And through an element, or force?
I would never.
I'll let you know how it goes with Viktor. Let me know if you end up having questions about the ring?
I'll let you know how it goes with Viktor. Let me know if you end up having questions about the ring?
[ There's not far for her to fall into him considering she had been urging him to lie down. Hilda let's out a small sound of surprise all the same but it's quick to turn into a fond laugh as she nestles into the parts of him that feel like are made for her. ]
Well, my offer still stands.
[ Draping her arms loosely around his neck, her fingers curl into the air at the nape of his neck to play with them. There's a beat as she observes him as if looking for a physical sign of what this could be about – aside from the obvious. ]
You can't have just come to find me though for a cuddle. [ She twirls a strand of red hair around her finger. ] Is it about what happened to us?
Well, my offer still stands.
[ Draping her arms loosely around his neck, her fingers curl into the air at the nape of his neck to play with them. There's a beat as she observes him as if looking for a physical sign of what this could be about – aside from the obvious. ]
You can't have just come to find me though for a cuddle. [ She twirls a strand of red hair around her finger. ] Is it about what happened to us?
Why can't I have?
[ He arches an eyebrow at the ridiculousness of that proclamation. ]
I happen to love cuddling with you. Have I not made that clear yet?
[ His hands slide down her spine, soothing and comforting in turn, even as he searches her face, hovering above him. ]
A lot happened to us. You might want to be a bit more specific. Is it worrying you?
[ He arches an eyebrow at the ridiculousness of that proclamation. ]
I happen to love cuddling with you. Have I not made that clear yet?
[ His hands slide down her spine, soothing and comforting in turn, even as he searches her face, hovering above him. ]
A lot happened to us. You might want to be a bit more specific. Is it worrying you?
𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘣 𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺.
You have. I just have to be humble about my title as Best Cuddler in the Loft.
[ Because there were plenty of pets and humans to account for among those in the running to Best Cuddler. Jokes aside, they both know that there's more to this than that - even if they continue their dance around it.
Each of them it seemed was more concerned about ensuring that the other was okay before even beginning to address how it might make them feel. At least godhood hadn't gotten to their heads in that regard. But if there's anything she's learned, it's that sharing how she honestly feels with him is a quiet sign to him that he can do the same with her.
She hums, gaze settling on a place somewhere just behind his ear. ]
A little. I don't really believe that I could ever be a god or remotely that powerful so becoming too power hungry isn't what I'm worried about. It's other things - like how I experienced so much but still didn't feel like I got what I really wanted at the end of the day.
[ Her gaze turns back towards him. ]
Is it worrying you?
[ Because there were plenty of pets and humans to account for among those in the running to Best Cuddler. Jokes aside, they both know that there's more to this than that - even if they continue their dance around it.
Each of them it seemed was more concerned about ensuring that the other was okay before even beginning to address how it might make them feel. At least godhood hadn't gotten to their heads in that regard. But if there's anything she's learned, it's that sharing how she honestly feels with him is a quiet sign to him that he can do the same with her.
She hums, gaze settling on a place somewhere just behind his ear. ]
A little. I don't really believe that I could ever be a god or remotely that powerful so becoming too power hungry isn't what I'm worried about. It's other things - like how I experienced so much but still didn't feel like I got what I really wanted at the end of the day.
[ Her gaze turns back towards him. ]
Is it worrying you?
I don't think that's anything you have to be humble about.
[ She still has it, hands down, although the leosylphs are close behind. If she learns how to purr, she'll never have to worry about competition at all.
He falls quiet, letting her gather her thoughts, and listens intently when she finally answers. Even if there's a slight frown lingering on his lips at the answer itself. He reaches up, brushing her hair back off her face as he searches her expression. ]
And what was it you really wanted? What didn't you get?
[ He knows Claude wasn't really all that content with the life he'd lived either. Which made him feel a little bit guilty, because his experience had, by far and large, been so beyond anything he could have ever hoped for. Even with all the pain and heartbreak that had been involved at the start. ]
[ She still has it, hands down, although the leosylphs are close behind. If she learns how to purr, she'll never have to worry about competition at all.
He falls quiet, letting her gather her thoughts, and listens intently when she finally answers. Even if there's a slight frown lingering on his lips at the answer itself. He reaches up, brushing her hair back off her face as he searches her expression. ]
And what was it you really wanted? What didn't you get?
[ He knows Claude wasn't really all that content with the life he'd lived either. Which made him feel a little bit guilty, because his experience had, by far and large, been so beyond anything he could have ever hoped for. Even with all the pain and heartbreak that had been involved at the start. ]
𝘞𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘦. 𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨.
[ Honestly from what she can remember from their interactions is that, despite the amount of sass and sarcasm that seemed to colour their relationship, there had also been respect there. At least on her part - she couldn't speak for him.
But if he were reaching out maybe he didn't find her a total annoyance. ]
𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳? 𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.
[ Honestly from what she can remember from their interactions is that, despite the amount of sass and sarcasm that seemed to colour their relationship, there had also been respect there. At least on her part - she couldn't speak for him.
But if he were reaching out maybe he didn't find her a total annoyance. ]
𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳? 𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.
[ Heat rises to her cheeks at the question.
What she wanted was part of the reason she had been putting off speaking to both Sylvain and Claude. They claimed that they were happy to indulge her selfishness, but the realizations she had come to about her wants outside of the dream and beyond into the future were likely things neither of them wanted. She didn't want to sound ungrateful for what she had had.
She arranges her face in a smile and there's sincerity there. ]
It's not that important. I got a lot of what I wanted anyway.
[ A hand comes to cup his cheek, brushing her thumb against his sun-kissed skin and the freckles that were beginning to peek through thanks to the summer sun. ]
Like time with the both of you. More time than I thought we'd ever get.
What she wanted was part of the reason she had been putting off speaking to both Sylvain and Claude. They claimed that they were happy to indulge her selfishness, but the realizations she had come to about her wants outside of the dream and beyond into the future were likely things neither of them wanted. She didn't want to sound ungrateful for what she had had.
She arranges her face in a smile and there's sincerity there. ]
It's not that important. I got a lot of what I wanted anyway.
[ A hand comes to cup his cheek, brushing her thumb against his sun-kissed skin and the freckles that were beginning to peek through thanks to the summer sun. ]
Like time with the both of you. More time than I thought we'd ever get.
[ He turns his head enough to press a kiss to her palm once more, linger there a moment as his warm amber gaze searches her face. ]
That was my favorite part, too. [ he confesses softly, a corner of his lips quirking upwards.
But he’s not letting her wriggle out of this conversation that easily. ]
It’s important if it’s worrying you so much.
That was my favorite part, too. [ he confesses softly, a corner of his lips quirking upwards.
But he’s not letting her wriggle out of this conversation that easily. ]
It’s important if it’s worrying you so much.
[ His soft confession makes her melt and she's quick to return a show of her own affection, pressing up slightly to kiss his nose before pressing the lightest of kisses to the corner of his mouth that had lifted.
There has always been comfort and safety there with him even in their lowest moments. Eight hundred years had only served to cement that feeling. And it's for that reason why she's reluctant to be the cause of discomfort, or potentially, ruining what they have. ]
But that's the thing – whatever I want isn't nearly as important as the both of you because you're both here with me now. And if that version of me didn't need it then I should be fine with it too.
[ That may be one of the few things she'd want to keep from their "time" as gods. A little furrow appears between her brows this time, voice quieting. ]
Besides, I don't know how much time we'll have here. And the thought of not being able to be with either of you...
There has always been comfort and safety there with him even in their lowest moments. Eight hundred years had only served to cement that feeling. And it's for that reason why she's reluctant to be the cause of discomfort, or potentially, ruining what they have. ]
But that's the thing – whatever I want isn't nearly as important as the both of you because you're both here with me now. And if that version of me didn't need it then I should be fine with it too.
[ That may be one of the few things she'd want to keep from their "time" as gods. A little furrow appears between her brows this time, voice quieting. ]
Besides, I don't know how much time we'll have here. And the thought of not being able to be with either of you...
Should be. [ he echoes her, his brow wrinkling slightly in return. ] But you're not.
[ It's a question, and it isn't. But when she goes on to explain, he leans in and brushes a kiss against her lips. The tip of her nose. That little furrow between her brows, trying to smooth it away. ]
We never know how much time we have, sweetness. That's been true here, and home, anywhere we might have ended up together. No one knows that. Not even gods, I'd guess. Because I sure didn't when I was one. If that's what we actually were.
[ He taps the tip of her nose with a fingertip, light and affectionate. ] For what it's worth, I don't intend to go anywhere.
[ It's a question, and it isn't. But when she goes on to explain, he leans in and brushes a kiss against her lips. The tip of her nose. That little furrow between her brows, trying to smooth it away. ]
We never know how much time we have, sweetness. That's been true here, and home, anywhere we might have ended up together. No one knows that. Not even gods, I'd guess. Because I sure didn't when I was one. If that's what we actually were.
[ He taps the tip of her nose with a fingertip, light and affectionate. ] For what it's worth, I don't intend to go anywhere.
[ Even without the exhale, her words do plenty to make the feeling behind them clear. Something he understands or mostly does from their past conversations in where it comes from, and something which he understands why she feels that way even if it's a mismatch to his own thoughts. But this is also a topic that requires more thought than simply responding to say as much; that'd be dismissing what she's trying to tell him as he looks at her and waits to meet her gaze when her eyes open. It can wait. ]
My parents.
[ The answer doesn't take longer than a second for him to find considering it's true. There's much about his parents he's considered lately while trying (and failing) to avoid the ache of homesickness very much there when there's only so much sporadic letters can do over the years. But most of all, Claude finds himself considering their relationship more and more with the sort of contemplation distance and no longer being a child brings about.
And more than that - it ties into this, too, when he can loop it back to what it probably seems he's let go of for now. ]
They aren't perfect, but I've always thought they were perfect together. My mother has a temper which earned her the nickname 'demon queen' and it can be turned on anyone at any time. My grandfather told me once she'd been headstrong since she was a kid. And my father, he's always been tough. He had to be since he grew up with the same competition for the throne I'll face someday and had to prove himself. They both taught me to solve things myself or more accurately, to lean on only myself.
[ While speaking Claude lets his hand on her back trail up and down it slowly, sketching a pattern here or there with a fingertip while setting out all of those memories. They must feel like non sequiturs for them as gods, but the more he's thought about it, the more he's pulled apart some of what he'd done, the more similarities he'd seen beneath the distortions and even more so in where they'd led. ]
They frustrate each other all the time and sometimes my father's divided attention makes it worse. But they also love each other like something out of a book, [ maybe one book in particular he's not going to mention, ] and it's something I've always wanted, too, even if I spent years being afraid of it and more so when I realized it was in front of me instead of doing what I should have years ago.
My parents.
[ The answer doesn't take longer than a second for him to find considering it's true. There's much about his parents he's considered lately while trying (and failing) to avoid the ache of homesickness very much there when there's only so much sporadic letters can do over the years. But most of all, Claude finds himself considering their relationship more and more with the sort of contemplation distance and no longer being a child brings about.
And more than that - it ties into this, too, when he can loop it back to what it probably seems he's let go of for now. ]
They aren't perfect, but I've always thought they were perfect together. My mother has a temper which earned her the nickname 'demon queen' and it can be turned on anyone at any time. My grandfather told me once she'd been headstrong since she was a kid. And my father, he's always been tough. He had to be since he grew up with the same competition for the throne I'll face someday and had to prove himself. They both taught me to solve things myself or more accurately, to lean on only myself.
[ While speaking Claude lets his hand on her back trail up and down it slowly, sketching a pattern here or there with a fingertip while setting out all of those memories. They must feel like non sequiturs for them as gods, but the more he's thought about it, the more he's pulled apart some of what he'd done, the more similarities he'd seen beneath the distortions and even more so in where they'd led. ]
They frustrate each other all the time and sometimes my father's divided attention makes it worse. But they also love each other like something out of a book, [ maybe one book in particular he's not going to mention, ] and it's something I've always wanted, too, even if I spent years being afraid of it and more so when I realized it was in front of me instead of doing what I should have years ago.
Hilda? I saw someone say Cadens is under attack, are you okay?
𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘢! 𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯, 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺. 𝘞𝘦'𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘳. 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺? 𝘐𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘶𝘯𝘯?
The gods clearly know stuff is going down, they started going nuts here. The water turned red, there's a fog everywhere, these plants were shrieking in warning. We've been moved to a ritual site.
It doesn't appear that there is a direct threat to us right now, more a reaction to what's going on with you guys.
You all made it to the bunker?
It doesn't appear that there is a direct threat to us right now, more a reaction to what's going on with you guys.
You all made it to the bunker?
𝘈 𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦? 𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴?
[ Because aren't ritual sites for...you know. Rituals? She knows that she has little to worry about on paper when Julia is as powerful as she is (she doesn't have to see it in action to not take her friend's word for it), but that doesn't mean she'll stop worrying. ]
𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘴𝘰. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘐 - 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘢. 𝘈𝘸𝘧𝘶𝘭.
[ Because aren't ritual sites for...you know. Rituals? She knows that she has little to worry about on paper when Julia is as powerful as she is (she doesn't have to see it in action to not take her friend's word for it), but that doesn't mean she'll stop worrying. ]
𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘴𝘰. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘐 - 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘢. 𝘈𝘸𝘧𝘶𝘭.
[ The way the furrowed brows remain even in the face of a soft kiss that attempts to erase them is a sign that "should be" isn't quite convincing enough for her either. But the anxiety that she feels towards them definitely is enough.
All the same, hearing him promise her that he isn't going to leave - that he doesn't want to leave - helps some. But only some. ]
I know. I know that we don't know how much time we'll have and that you wouldn't leave on your own accord but I guess I -
[ Catching herself she gives her head another shake. Instead she lets another source of anxiety that had been plaguing her slip. ]
I'm just worried that those eight hundred years was enough for you to realize that you might not want to stay with me after all of that.
[ The number of lovers they had all taken over the course of eight hundred years wasn't exactly easy to forget. And while she knows it's a dream and none of it was real, the feelings that coil tightly in her chest try to make her think they are. She can't help but offer a depreciating laugh at her own expense. ]
Don't get me wrong, my god self was pretty but she was also all the ugliest parts of me.
All the same, hearing him promise her that he isn't going to leave - that he doesn't want to leave - helps some. But only some. ]
I know. I know that we don't know how much time we'll have and that you wouldn't leave on your own accord but I guess I -
[ Catching herself she gives her head another shake. Instead she lets another source of anxiety that had been plaguing her slip. ]
I'm just worried that those eight hundred years was enough for you to realize that you might not want to stay with me after all of that.
[ The number of lovers they had all taken over the course of eight hundred years wasn't exactly easy to forget. And while she knows it's a dream and none of it was real, the feelings that coil tightly in her chest try to make her think they are. She can't help but offer a depreciating laugh at her own expense. ]
Don't get me wrong, my god self was pretty but she was also all the ugliest parts of me.
[ Claude's admission has her gaze softening while stirring up a pang of homesickness for her own parents and Holst. ]
They sound like a lot of fun. [ And she means that, sincerely without a trace of sarcasm. ] ...I've always admired my parents' love too even if they drive me up the wall sometimes.
[ Their love story had been one she'd always pestered them to tell her growing up and they had always indulged her as they did with everything else in her life. ]
It was arranged but I think they were the lucky ones because they loved each other before that and still do. Despite the betrothal my father still courted her like they weren't and they still look at each other with so much affection like how I remember them when I was younger. But it's more than that. Father is the head of the House but he's always taken my mother's opinions and thoughts into consideration. Always.
[ It would be a stretch to say that they were largely why she believed in the things she did so strongly: Love, respect and trust in a marriage whether it was arranged or not. A happy household with children that are loved and would know that without a shadow of a doubt. Her parents had never neglected or rejected her even when it was clear that her Crest made her unremarkable. A part of her suspects that it's thanks to them and because of Holst's kind heart, that her brother had never treated her with anything but (smothering) love.
Caught her in her thoughts of home and her family it almost doesn't dawn on her what Claude says. She pushes back slightly, eyes searching his face. The moment on the rooftop of Cyprian's workshop suddenly comes to mind where she had completely misinterpreted what he'd said then. Hilda's mind seems to stutter. ]
What should you have done?
They sound like a lot of fun. [ And she means that, sincerely without a trace of sarcasm. ] ...I've always admired my parents' love too even if they drive me up the wall sometimes.
[ Their love story had been one she'd always pestered them to tell her growing up and they had always indulged her as they did with everything else in her life. ]
It was arranged but I think they were the lucky ones because they loved each other before that and still do. Despite the betrothal my father still courted her like they weren't and they still look at each other with so much affection like how I remember them when I was younger. But it's more than that. Father is the head of the House but he's always taken my mother's opinions and thoughts into consideration. Always.
[ It would be a stretch to say that they were largely why she believed in the things she did so strongly: Love, respect and trust in a marriage whether it was arranged or not. A happy household with children that are loved and would know that without a shadow of a doubt. Her parents had never neglected or rejected her even when it was clear that her Crest made her unremarkable. A part of her suspects that it's thanks to them and because of Holst's kind heart, that her brother had never treated her with anything but (smothering) love.
Caught her in her thoughts of home and her family it almost doesn't dawn on her what Claude says. She pushes back slightly, eyes searching his face. The moment on the rooftop of Cyprian's workshop suddenly comes to mind where she had completely misinterpreted what he'd said then. Hilda's mind seems to stutter. ]
What should you have done?
I don't know, we'll have to deal with it if it does, but my guess is we're very well protected here. The gods really do favor Solvunn.
I'm so sorry. That must be terrifying. I can't believe someone would murder their own family and then infect hundreds of other people. It's nuts.
I'm so sorry. That must be terrifying. I can't believe someone would murder their own family and then infect hundreds of other people. It's nuts.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘌𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩.
[ If all of the Summoned didn't have some sort of watchful eye over them after that, she'd riot. Well. Not really. But you get the idea. ]
𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳.
[ If all of the Summoned didn't have some sort of watchful eye over them after that, she'd riot. Well. Not really. But you get the idea. ]
𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳.
[he's always charming! no he's not
respect is a complicated thing for Lucifer but he does just like having other people to talk tinkering with. it's like a collaborative puzzle.]
respect is a complicated thing for Lucifer but he does just like having other people to talk tinkering with. it's like a collaborative puzzle.]
Small is relative. In my experience, which may just be the way I chose to enchant things from what I've learned of Academic Magic and not solid fact, there are multiple factors to always consider. Activation method, element and its potential addition effects, duration, radius, usage. Focus on tweaking a few of those before the rest. Tweak too many things and layering the spellwork could go wrong in unexpected ways.
Wind isn't something I've worked with before so that could be interesting, but I think it might be less of a risk than lightning. Mobile shields I find always come with the problem of keeping the radius for multiple people and not accidentally harming those inside. A repelling force would be nice for projectiles.
[ He blinks at her for a moment before giving a soft, incredulous laugh. ]
Hilda. I'm impressed you managed to put up with me for 800 days, let along 800 years. I never expected anyone to... to actually want to keep me around. The fact that you and Claude continue to do so, despite how epically I've fucked this up a few times... [ He shakes his head, giving another laugh, softer this time. ] I haven't had enough. I'm not sure there is an enough.
[ His hand comes to cup at her cheek, tipping her face towards him so he can hold her gaze. So she can see the seriousness in his expression. The earnestness. ]
I love you, Hilda Goneril. And those are words I never thought I'd say to anyone, let alone mean them. Our time together hasn't diminished that at all. If anything, it's only made it grow. And that includes all the pretty parts and the ugly parts and everything in between. It's still you. And that's all I want. All of it.
Hilda. I'm impressed you managed to put up with me for 800 days, let along 800 years. I never expected anyone to... to actually want to keep me around. The fact that you and Claude continue to do so, despite how epically I've fucked this up a few times... [ He shakes his head, giving another laugh, softer this time. ] I haven't had enough. I'm not sure there is an enough.
[ His hand comes to cup at her cheek, tipping her face towards him so he can hold her gaze. So she can see the seriousness in his expression. The earnestness. ]
I love you, Hilda Goneril. And those are words I never thought I'd say to anyone, let alone mean them. Our time together hasn't diminished that at all. If anything, it's only made it grow. And that includes all the pretty parts and the ugly parts and everything in between. It's still you. And that's all I want. All of it.
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