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[ Everything he’s saying is sound. And “eight hundred years” of mentorship has given her sort of an instinctive reaction to paying attention to what he says so long as they aren’t bickering with one another. ]
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 — 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦, 𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦! 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 -
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𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦. 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳?
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 — 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦, 𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦! 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 -
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𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦. 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳?
Sylvain, we all fucked up at one point. Not all of that should be something you should –
[ Had her instinct not immediately been to lightly chide him for putting himself down like that, she might have been less surprised at the admission that follows. Or is it more like a declaration? Her protest immediately catches in her throat and she finds herself acutely aware of the way that she had drawn in a sharp breath that she hadn't let go of. Unable to look anywhere else even if she wanted to, she stares back at his amber gaze struck by the conviction of his words. Oh, she thinks, he means it.
There's a moment where she waits for the tidal wave of protests that her mind is so often ready to allow flood past her lips to come. In between running around so she didn't have to think and checking on others she had subconsciously been preparing herself for pre-determined outcomes. Had been steeling herself for inevitable heartbreak and for what it would take to move on. But none of those outcomes had been this.
Only in her silly, stupidest, coziest daydreams could she have thought Sylvain would be offering her his heart and hoping she'd do the same. It had never occurred to her that she'd ever be in this scenario. She should say something, shouldn't she? This is the part where she should say something meaningful and sincere.
Instead she pinches her arm and then his cheek in quick succession. Faintly she utters –]
I'm not dreaming. [ Cethlann's tits she isn't dreaming. And then time seems to speed up, her heart beating so rapidly she swears he can hear it. ] You – me? I, um, I had something for this. Can you – can you give me a second? I promise I’m coming back and I’m not running away I just —
[ After a moment of very clumsy untangling from his arms she rushes from the balcony and returns breathless moments later. Climbing back onto his lap and tugging him up with one hand, she clutches the box she had shoved out of sight earlier close to her heart. ]
Okay.
[ …Actually she might need another minute. ]
[ Had her instinct not immediately been to lightly chide him for putting himself down like that, she might have been less surprised at the admission that follows. Or is it more like a declaration? Her protest immediately catches in her throat and she finds herself acutely aware of the way that she had drawn in a sharp breath that she hadn't let go of. Unable to look anywhere else even if she wanted to, she stares back at his amber gaze struck by the conviction of his words. Oh, she thinks, he means it.
There's a moment where she waits for the tidal wave of protests that her mind is so often ready to allow flood past her lips to come. In between running around so she didn't have to think and checking on others she had subconsciously been preparing herself for pre-determined outcomes. Had been steeling herself for inevitable heartbreak and for what it would take to move on. But none of those outcomes had been this.
Only in her silly, stupidest, coziest daydreams could she have thought Sylvain would be offering her his heart and hoping she'd do the same. It had never occurred to her that she'd ever be in this scenario. She should say something, shouldn't she? This is the part where she should say something meaningful and sincere.
Instead she pinches her arm and then his cheek in quick succession. Faintly she utters –]
I'm not dreaming. [ Cethlann's tits she isn't dreaming. And then time seems to speed up, her heart beating so rapidly she swears he can hear it. ] You – me? I, um, I had something for this. Can you – can you give me a second? I promise I’m coming back and I’m not running away I just —
[ After a moment of very clumsy untangling from his arms she rushes from the balcony and returns breathless moments later. Climbing back onto his lap and tugging him up with one hand, she clutches the box she had shoved out of sight earlier close to her heart. ]
Okay.
[ …Actually she might need another minute. ]
Edited (I saw a typo don't look at me or the timestamp ) 2024-06-23 07:52 (UTC)
I would guess that any healing spells I know wouldn't help you guys regardless, there probably isn't an easy cure.
This reminds them of the cultist kidnapping?
This reminds them of the cultist kidnapping?
[ What she shares about her own parents in return gets a smile from him as he listens. It sounds like a fairy tale in its own way - especially so in Fodlan where arranged marriages that are far less happier are common as he'd observed in the nobility. Almyra wasn't exempt from that either with its own court forever angling to find any way ahead. That not being the case for their parents meant them the lucky ones - and the two of them by extension for getting to have that.
And the truth of that, in what he's both said and hasn't yet, is what makes him all the more certain now after so much uncertainty. Years is the true measurement to be used for that truth he long attempted to bury as if that could somehow ever put it out of mind. As if doing so would help him find the right moment for it to be said, but instead all it did was make him believe he should keep waiting.
The time was those afternoons where they'd skipped class to find sunny spots to nap in or at meals where he'd taken a dessert just to place it quietly on her own meal tray while she was distracted. It was on nights when lost in endless plans and strategies she'd roused him from whatever desk he was hunched over to make sure he'd gotten something resembling rest, and the other nights where he'd scattered kisses across her skin just like tonight. When he'd opened his eyes to find her still there at the side of a hospital bed in Nocwich, and when fear of saying too much might push her away in the wake of their broken hearts kept him silent though now he realizes it risked only breaking them even more.
If waiting taught him any lesson it was this and everything else Claude thinks of now: that there would be no perfect moment to speak them, but that speaking them would make the moment so. ]
I should have told you sooner that I loved you. [ And then but a second later, since he remembers well the trouble past tense caused before when it seemed so clear to him as it was, ] That I love you, Hilda. That when I fell in love with you it never ended, no matter what words I find to say it at any other time. I meant what I told you before, except that let me tell you the complete version of it now. I love you for who you are and that'll never change.
And the truth of that, in what he's both said and hasn't yet, is what makes him all the more certain now after so much uncertainty. Years is the true measurement to be used for that truth he long attempted to bury as if that could somehow ever put it out of mind. As if doing so would help him find the right moment for it to be said, but instead all it did was make him believe he should keep waiting.
The time was those afternoons where they'd skipped class to find sunny spots to nap in or at meals where he'd taken a dessert just to place it quietly on her own meal tray while she was distracted. It was on nights when lost in endless plans and strategies she'd roused him from whatever desk he was hunched over to make sure he'd gotten something resembling rest, and the other nights where he'd scattered kisses across her skin just like tonight. When he'd opened his eyes to find her still there at the side of a hospital bed in Nocwich, and when fear of saying too much might push her away in the wake of their broken hearts kept him silent though now he realizes it risked only breaking them even more.
If waiting taught him any lesson it was this and everything else Claude thinks of now: that there would be no perfect moment to speak them, but that speaking them would make the moment so. ]
I should have told you sooner that I loved you. [ And then but a second later, since he remembers well the trouble past tense caused before when it seemed so clear to him as it was, ] That I love you, Hilda. That when I fell in love with you it never ended, no matter what words I find to say it at any other time. I meant what I told you before, except that let me tell you the complete version of it now. I love you for who you are and that'll never change.
[ Sylvain hadn't been sure what reaction he'd been expecting from her in response to his unexpected confession but... he can safely say it had not been this.
He's rubbing his reddening cheek (from her pinch) as he watches her dash off and then back, flustered and out of breath, and officially starts worrying that maybe he should have planned this better. Especially since her first reaction had been to pinch them both before realizing she wasn't dreaming.
Not that he's really surprised by that reaction, either. He supposes he's fortunate she hadn't just laughed in his face.
Still, he sits up and eases her onto her lap when she climbs atop him once more, clutching something to her chest and he swallows, trying not to be worried about whatever was happening here. ]
....Okay...?
He's rubbing his reddening cheek (from her pinch) as he watches her dash off and then back, flustered and out of breath, and officially starts worrying that maybe he should have planned this better. Especially since her first reaction had been to pinch them both before realizing she wasn't dreaming.
Not that he's really surprised by that reaction, either. He supposes he's fortunate she hadn't just laughed in his face.
Still, he sits up and eases her onto her lap when she climbs atop him once more, clutching something to her chest and he swallows, trying not to be worried about whatever was happening here. ]
....Okay...?
𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘚𝘺𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘍𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥.
...𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘺𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦, 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭. 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰.
...𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘺𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦, 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭. 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰.
[ For so long she could only hope that she'd have a love as true as her parents. As a young girl she believed that if she wished it hard enough maybe it could happen. Maybe she could have her own earth-shaking love that she so envied when she saw it in those around her. And if that fell short, which was becoming more of a reality than she'd like to admit as of late, maybe she'd end up with someone kind that she could grow to adore in a different way.
Isn't that what had made the dream that much sweeter and so unbelievably out of reach for her? Godhood and powers beyond her wildest imagination had paled in comparison to finding a love that had become the root of her. That imagined future had been a taste of something beyond what she could have hoped and still wanted to hold onto here – except there hadn't been a guarantee that Claude would want it here or in Fodlan if it came to pass that their timelines did align. And that fear had been what had been ruminating in her mind since they'd crawled out of that stupid crater. What would happen if the heart that hers resonated with, the heart that she called home, the heart whose heart had grown alongside hers didn't want her anymore? Because she'd read somewhere once that the reasons people fall in love with one another can sometimes be the very reasons they fall out of it. What would happen if he stopped choosing her?
Faintly - ]
You what?
[ It's a stupid question, all things considered. He'd left little room for interpretation this time. Not fell. Fallen and still is. Not loved. Love. Embarrassment floods her, heat flaring in her cheeks as the realization dawns on her that this isn't some bizarre dream of hers from before or during their fake future. Suddenly she can't bear to be looked at so earnestly when it becomes apparent to her that he'd looked at her that way for a very, very long time.
Quickly she grabs the nearest pillow, jamming it between their faces. ]
Claude - you can't just say things like that!
Isn't that what had made the dream that much sweeter and so unbelievably out of reach for her? Godhood and powers beyond her wildest imagination had paled in comparison to finding a love that had become the root of her. That imagined future had been a taste of something beyond what she could have hoped and still wanted to hold onto here – except there hadn't been a guarantee that Claude would want it here or in Fodlan if it came to pass that their timelines did align. And that fear had been what had been ruminating in her mind since they'd crawled out of that stupid crater. What would happen if the heart that hers resonated with, the heart that she called home, the heart whose heart had grown alongside hers didn't want her anymore? Because she'd read somewhere once that the reasons people fall in love with one another can sometimes be the very reasons they fall out of it. What would happen if he stopped choosing her?
Faintly - ]
You what?
[ It's a stupid question, all things considered. He'd left little room for interpretation this time. Not fell. Fallen and still is. Not loved. Love. Embarrassment floods her, heat flaring in her cheeks as the realization dawns on her that this isn't some bizarre dream of hers from before or during their fake future. Suddenly she can't bear to be looked at so earnestly when it becomes apparent to her that he'd looked at her that way for a very, very long time.
Quickly she grabs the nearest pillow, jamming it between their faces. ]
Claude - you can't just say things like that!
[ For all the anxiety he'd kept to himself over what this moment might look like, how it might feel to outright say what he's hidden in actions as a whisper of three important words, it all disappears now. What's left is peace even as Hilda looks at him with something in her face he can't quite interpret. There's the feeling that he should know given he's learned so many of her expressions by now, but - what it is eludes him until suddenly a pillow meets his face.
At that he has to laugh even if it's muffled to let her protest ring out loud and clear, but it doesn't dissuade him as much as she might've hoped it would. ]
Are you saying I shouldn't look at you while saying them?
[ That makeshift barrier's swatted away playfully to let the words not get lost while it's pushed up somewhere over their heads against the headboard as Claude links his fingers through hers after. A familiar grasp for more than just here, though it's certainly very familiar to now when he uses their hands to very loosely pin hers back against the pillow beneath her head. All the better to swing a leg over her hips to hover above her with an entirely shameless grin. Shameless especially since they both know she could move him aside with one hand quicker than he can blink, but useful until that happens. ]
That's fair enough. I can think up plenty of other ways to get my point across.
[ Like first by leaning down to kiss her cheek made all the warmer by the flush bright enough to be seen even in the dimly lit room, for a start. More follow from there in an unplanned constellation across her face. Next is down her neck to complete the path he'd began along one shoulder earlier but now on the opposite one while he continues on with words between each bit of affection imprinted along her collarbone and lower where he'll continue on his meandering path until interrupted. ]
The same ways from before still meaning all the same things. Even if I'm not looking at you, I still love you.
At that he has to laugh even if it's muffled to let her protest ring out loud and clear, but it doesn't dissuade him as much as she might've hoped it would. ]
Are you saying I shouldn't look at you while saying them?
[ That makeshift barrier's swatted away playfully to let the words not get lost while it's pushed up somewhere over their heads against the headboard as Claude links his fingers through hers after. A familiar grasp for more than just here, though it's certainly very familiar to now when he uses their hands to very loosely pin hers back against the pillow beneath her head. All the better to swing a leg over her hips to hover above her with an entirely shameless grin. Shameless especially since they both know she could move him aside with one hand quicker than he can blink, but useful until that happens. ]
That's fair enough. I can think up plenty of other ways to get my point across.
[ Like first by leaning down to kiss her cheek made all the warmer by the flush bright enough to be seen even in the dimly lit room, for a start. More follow from there in an unplanned constellation across her face. Next is down her neck to complete the path he'd began along one shoulder earlier but now on the opposite one while he continues on with words between each bit of affection imprinted along her collarbone and lower where he'll continue on his meandering path until interrupted. ]
The same ways from before still meaning all the same things. Even if I'm not looking at you, I still love you.
[ Another beat of silence follows as she tries to catch her breath even though she hadn't really run that far. Maybe her body is trying to give her space to breathe and time to collect her racing thoughts. To form the feelings she had tried to confine into a small corner of her heart until, like flowers they had bloomed, bursting from the small place she'd tried to keep them in so they wouldn't interfere with whatever transpired between Sylvain and Claude. But flowers weren't meant to be confined to the darkness. They needed sunlight to grow and they needed care and attention to thrive.
In spite of her best efforts to pretend that they didn't exist, her feelings had grown all on their own. They had arrived unannounced. But had they really? All the times she had looked for him in a crowd, how she had committed his footsteps to memory comes to mind. What about all of the times they had been apart and how she wanted nothing more than to run back and tell him even the most mundane things about her day? And then there was the way she can't begin to express how stupid she feels when he smiles and it's like her breaths are being stolen in that moment, or how the way their fingers threading together feels more intimate than anything they'd ever done. He had quietly coloured the way she saw the world without even trying, making her think about what he would do in a situation and how she wanted to be better for him. Stronger for him. Worthy of a love like his as if she could somehow compare the others that occupied his heart. She hadn't known what to call her silly, fragile feelings. But she knew now. ]
I know it's hard for you to think that you're deserving of love because you think you're imperfect in some way. But you've always been brilliant to me just being you. Not your Crest, not whoever it is your father hopes you'll be or what you think people need you to be. Just you. And to have gotten to know you has been the most precious gift anyone could have given me - I want more of your time. I want to know more about you. I want stay by your side and adore all the pieces that you don't think are deserving of it so that you can see yourself the same way I see you.
[ Her hand moves, shifting the box in her hand so that he can see it better. Just before she cracks it open however she blurts out - ]
Just so you don't freak out, this isn't a ring. I'm not proposing.
[ Today seemed to be a day for prefaces. If he had noticed the earring she'd made for him had disappeared, it's because she'd melted it down and made it anew. What had been a single alexandrite stud, had been transformed into an ear climber: three stones sparkle and glint in the light. A brilliant yellow tourmaline, a deep red ruby, and a pink sapphire. She lets out the nervous breath she had been holding in as a tentative, shy smile blossoms. ]
I love you too, Sylvain. In all the ways there is to love you.
[ As he was, who he is, and whoever he chooses to be. ]
In spite of her best efforts to pretend that they didn't exist, her feelings had grown all on their own. They had arrived unannounced. But had they really? All the times she had looked for him in a crowd, how she had committed his footsteps to memory comes to mind. What about all of the times they had been apart and how she wanted nothing more than to run back and tell him even the most mundane things about her day? And then there was the way she can't begin to express how stupid she feels when he smiles and it's like her breaths are being stolen in that moment, or how the way their fingers threading together feels more intimate than anything they'd ever done. He had quietly coloured the way she saw the world without even trying, making her think about what he would do in a situation and how she wanted to be better for him. Stronger for him. Worthy of a love like his as if she could somehow compare the others that occupied his heart. She hadn't known what to call her silly, fragile feelings. But she knew now. ]
I know it's hard for you to think that you're deserving of love because you think you're imperfect in some way. But you've always been brilliant to me just being you. Not your Crest, not whoever it is your father hopes you'll be or what you think people need you to be. Just you. And to have gotten to know you has been the most precious gift anyone could have given me - I want more of your time. I want to know more about you. I want stay by your side and adore all the pieces that you don't think are deserving of it so that you can see yourself the same way I see you.
[ Her hand moves, shifting the box in her hand so that he can see it better. Just before she cracks it open however she blurts out - ]
Just so you don't freak out, this isn't a ring. I'm not proposing.
[ Today seemed to be a day for prefaces. If he had noticed the earring she'd made for him had disappeared, it's because she'd melted it down and made it anew. What had been a single alexandrite stud, had been transformed into an ear climber: three stones sparkle and glint in the light. A brilliant yellow tourmaline, a deep red ruby, and a pink sapphire. She lets out the nervous breath she had been holding in as a tentative, shy smile blossoms. ]
I love you too, Sylvain. In all the ways there is to love you.
[ As he was, who he is, and whoever he chooses to be. ]
Edited (i saw a typo my god) 2024-06-24 01:51 (UTC)
Shit. This Sidwell guy is a monster, setting that off on an area that's already barely survived it.
No, I get it. Triggers can't be controlled. As someone who has a lot, the best you can do is try to ground them in the now and be there for them.
No, I get it. Triggers can't be controlled. As someone who has a lot, the best you can do is try to ground them in the now and be there for them.
That’s exactly what I’m saying — hey!
[ When her foolproof pillow plan (okay, not foolproof but it was the best plan she’d had at the time short of just bolting from the bed into the night) is quickly dismantled by the Master Tactician she can’t help but stare in abject, embarrassed horror as he flips her onto her back. His grip is light, all pretense that she could easily break from if she so wished. But she finds her body sluggish as her mind continues to reel from the words that she knows pour from her very being every time she was near him.
For a moment her breath is lodged in her throat, pulsing under the places where his lips meet her skin. Why did those words have such a chokehold on her when she knows she’s said as much in other ways? Every fleeting touch, every pester and bicker, every prank and joke, every adoring look that she gave him when she didn’t think he was looking all add up to one resounding truth: she is awash in her love of him.
The look on her face says it all.
It shouldn't be embarrassing - but it is for some bizarre, strange reason. For some reason she feels laid bare. Her eyes shut as she groans in what would sound like mock despair to someone who didn't know her as well as Claude. Except it is real. Her words drip in embarrassment as she casts her gaze heavenwards as if that would somehow make it less so. ]
You're trying to kill me! The least you could have done was give me a little warning.
[ When her foolproof pillow plan (okay, not foolproof but it was the best plan she’d had at the time short of just bolting from the bed into the night) is quickly dismantled by the Master Tactician she can’t help but stare in abject, embarrassed horror as he flips her onto her back. His grip is light, all pretense that she could easily break from if she so wished. But she finds her body sluggish as her mind continues to reel from the words that she knows pour from her very being every time she was near him.
For a moment her breath is lodged in her throat, pulsing under the places where his lips meet her skin. Why did those words have such a chokehold on her when she knows she’s said as much in other ways? Every fleeting touch, every pester and bicker, every prank and joke, every adoring look that she gave him when she didn’t think he was looking all add up to one resounding truth: she is awash in her love of him.
The look on her face says it all.
It shouldn't be embarrassing - but it is for some bizarre, strange reason. For some reason she feels laid bare. Her eyes shut as she groans in what would sound like mock despair to someone who didn't know her as well as Claude. Except it is real. Her words drip in embarrassment as she casts her gaze heavenwards as if that would somehow make it less so. ]
You're trying to kill me! The least you could have done was give me a little warning.
𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬. 𝘈 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺.
𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘺. [ There’s a pause between messages. ] 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸? 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤.
𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘺. [ There’s a pause between messages. ] 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸? 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤.
They say he's like a military guy so he probably wants the war.
Are they not the type to talk it through? Because sometimes that helps. I would also accept things like hugs and affection as ways to make them feel better, it's worked on me.
Are they not the type to talk it through? Because sometimes that helps. I would also accept things like hugs and affection as ways to make them feel better, it's worked on me.
Mmmm, nope. No. That's not what I'm suggesting.
[except he kind of is isn't he????]
𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.
[ HE HE HE. ]
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘰, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? ♡( ◡‿◡ )
[ She did tell Dan Heng she'd only use the emoji powers for good and what better good is there than teasing the literal devilwhich doesn't technically exist in Fodlan but details.
[ HE HE HE. ]
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘰, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? ♡( ◡‿◡ )
[ She did tell Dan Heng she'd only use the emoji powers for good and what better good is there than teasing the literal devil
[perhaps she's a witch
that would explain some things]
that would explain some things]
I'm merely intrigued by what I could learn from working with a different element than the one I've leaned into.
You're convenient.
[ She'll accept that conclusion. But only if she gets to be a pretty witch. ]
𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵.
（✿ ͡◕ ᴗ◕)つ━━✫・*。𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦.
𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵.
（✿ ͡◕ ᴗ◕)つ━━✫・*。𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦.
𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺. 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴-𝘏𝘪𝘴-𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯.
𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰.
[ She realizes how that sounds though. ]
𝘞𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐'𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴.
𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰.
[ She realizes how that sounds though. ]
𝘞𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐'𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴.
Alright, fine, yes, we can collaborate.
[which is still not saying he wants to and more like he's ceding to her]
[ He thought he'd been prepared for whatever was going to come out of her mouth, but that only lasts as long as it takes for the words to actually start. And then he finds him struggling with the urge to squirm under the weight of her gaze. The feeling of being seen. For all the attention he'd always had around him, so few of those eyes had ever seen him.
She was different. Oh, maybe she hadn't been so much back in their days at the Academy, but here... everything has been different since they've come here. Been afforded opportunities they never would have had back in Fodlan. For all the troubles being in Abraxas had brought them, he could never bring himself to regret even a moment. Not when it had given him so much more than he'd ever imagined possible.
Even if he eyes that little box a little dubiously, because they both know what that looks like, and he's not sure how he feels about that. So her preface gets a short, aborted bark of laughter from him, because he might have freaked out, if his brain had been left to spiral there without her interrupting it.
And then he's too busy staring at the item within to worry about any of that.
He'd noted his earring was missing, of course he had. It was among his most precious possessions and he'd mourned it, thinking he'd somehow lost it when being dragged to the Singularity or back. He'd had it, before that strange far future, but he couldn't find it when he got back, and he'd assumed the worst. But now this...
He reaches out to brush his fingers over its smooth, delicate surface, marveling at the beauty of it. ]
This... it's us?
She was different. Oh, maybe she hadn't been so much back in their days at the Academy, but here... everything has been different since they've come here. Been afforded opportunities they never would have had back in Fodlan. For all the troubles being in Abraxas had brought them, he could never bring himself to regret even a moment. Not when it had given him so much more than he'd ever imagined possible.
Even if he eyes that little box a little dubiously, because they both know what that looks like, and he's not sure how he feels about that. So her preface gets a short, aborted bark of laughter from him, because he might have freaked out, if his brain had been left to spiral there without her interrupting it.
And then he's too busy staring at the item within to worry about any of that.
He'd noted his earring was missing, of course he had. It was among his most precious possessions and he'd mourned it, thinking he'd somehow lost it when being dragged to the Singularity or back. He'd had it, before that strange far future, but he couldn't find it when he got back, and he'd assumed the worst. But now this...
He reaches out to brush his fingers over its smooth, delicate surface, marveling at the beauty of it. ]
This... it's us?
[ Ceding might as well be admitting it so it's a win in her books.
If her message sounds a little smug it's because it is. But also, she learned from the best. ]
𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘠𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘕𝘰𝘤𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐'𝘮 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘏𝘺𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦.
If her message sounds a little smug it's because it is. But also, she learned from the best. ]
𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘠𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘕𝘰𝘤𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐'𝘮 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘏𝘺𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦.
I get it. When I was going through some shit, talking to me was such a minefield that people started to give up, and I didn't blame them. Except for my best friend Quentin, because I always did the same for him when he was going through dark times. It's not easy when there's no way to just fix things. But really the best thing Q did for me when I was messed up was holding my hand and telling me he still loved me. Feeling that support couldn't fix the problem, but it did make it less lonely.
[ It doesn't feel worth it to go into how inadequate she feels on a normal day when it comes to being anything but a pretty face. But she and Julia had stuck through a lot through the dream to the point where Hilda knew that the woman had probably learned about it in their early years of godhood so maybe she didn't need to. ]
𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺. 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦.
[ And that's another spiral that she'd rather not go into right now either. ]
𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨? 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴. 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘦'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘶𝘱.
𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺. 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦.
[ And that's another spiral that she'd rather not go into right now either. ]
𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨? 𝘈𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴. 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘦'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘶𝘱.
[ Even though he’d just told her that he loved her minutes before, a part of her can’t help but worry a little all the same as she watches him. Her heart is practically beating out of her chest making her feel like she’s run a marathon when the only thing she’s doing is sitting still telling a man that her younger self would have never imagined in a million years believed that she could love romantically.
She had been thinking about the time that she’d told him she thought he was shallow and that she loved him but not in the way that he often tossed it around with women at Garreg Mach as of late. It’s true that she hadn’t loved him then; couldn’t even have contemplated that being a possibility. But hadn’t they both been wearing masks of their own? Hadn’t they both needed time to grow up a little?
There was something beautiful in being able to grow apart before coming back to grow together. That story hadn’t ever been told in the books she read. But maybe, they could write their own.
When he finally does speak she nods, earnest. Nervous. ]
Do you like it? I should have told you that I was taking the other earring but I wanted it to be a surprise.
[ The colour in her cheeks deepens. ]
I wanted to give it to you as a part of your birthday present but I wasn’t sure if it would be too much or you’d think that it was silly or too flashy. [ And she was certain that Claude would be able to provide a better birthday gift anyway. ] But it was important to me that you know how much you mean to Claude and I. That even if we're not with you, you'll have a physical reminder of it.
She had been thinking about the time that she’d told him she thought he was shallow and that she loved him but not in the way that he often tossed it around with women at Garreg Mach as of late. It’s true that she hadn’t loved him then; couldn’t even have contemplated that being a possibility. But hadn’t they both been wearing masks of their own? Hadn’t they both needed time to grow up a little?
There was something beautiful in being able to grow apart before coming back to grow together. That story hadn’t ever been told in the books she read. But maybe, they could write their own.
When he finally does speak she nods, earnest. Nervous. ]
Do you like it? I should have told you that I was taking the other earring but I wanted it to be a surprise.
[ The colour in her cheeks deepens. ]
I wanted to give it to you as a part of your birthday present but I wasn’t sure if it would be too much or you’d think that it was silly or too flashy. [ And she was certain that Claude would be able to provide a better birthday gift anyway. ] But it was important to me that you know how much you mean to Claude and I. That even if we're not with you, you'll have a physical reminder of it.
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