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[ he knows this and he loves her. besides, he was that role for steve for so long he knows the important of it. and hilda just now gets to be that for him. does that mean he's accepted a long life full of the harshest roasting imaginable? most likely. good thing he can handle it.
to the happy whistle and clap of approval, sam will very dramatically take a bow. thank you, thank you, he'll be here [ insert the complicated nature of time in a place that may or may not exist outside of it ]. the punch, though light, has sam keeping with the dramatics and pulling back - his hand rubbing against said meatier part of his arm. ]
Hey! Steve has nothing to do with you doing something nice for me. You got yourself into that mess. There's nothing I could have done. [ a beat, and then a small smile. ] You'll be glad for it after a while.
to the happy whistle and clap of approval, sam will very dramatically take a bow. thank you, thank you, he'll be here [ insert the complicated nature of time in a place that may or may not exist outside of it ]. the punch, though light, has sam keeping with the dramatics and pulling back - his hand rubbing against said meatier part of his arm. ]
Hey! Steve has nothing to do with you doing something nice for me. You got yourself into that mess. There's nothing I could have done. [ a beat, and then a small smile. ] You'll be glad for it after a while.
[ She wouldn't dish it out if she didn't think he could handle it. Unsurprisingly, most people in her life seem to be cut from similar cloth and she wouldn't have it any other way. Meeting the Golden Deer in many ways had only solidified her desire to be around people that accepted her the way she was.
The dramatics are met with barely concealed delight as she lamely attempts to bite back the smile threatening to show. The entrance stairs they ascend will eventually give way to the marketplace. While normally bustling, the stands are quiet today, devoid of what would normally hustle and bustle of merchants.
There's a bit of a whine in her voice as she juts her lip out a little further. ]
You could have absolutely done something. I know you have no sway over Natasha but Steve listens to you, doesn't he? Did you know that he showed up at my apartment and carried me to the training grounds?
[ She attempts to make it sound like that's somehow the worst thing that's ever happened to her when the opposite is probably true. ]
The dramatics are met with barely concealed delight as she lamely attempts to bite back the smile threatening to show. The entrance stairs they ascend will eventually give way to the marketplace. While normally bustling, the stands are quiet today, devoid of what would normally hustle and bustle of merchants.
There's a bit of a whine in her voice as she juts her lip out a little further. ]
You could have absolutely done something. I know you have no sway over Natasha but Steve listens to you, doesn't he? Did you know that he showed up at my apartment and carried me to the training grounds?
[ She attempts to make it sound like that's somehow the worst thing that's ever happened to her when the opposite is probably true. ]
[ The afternoon sun's shining brightly as makes his way towards today's delivery destination which is a jeweler whose name only seems sort of familiar, and possibly only from past deliveries. It's nice weather and a chance to get a little exercise in plus see some sort of new sights: what more could he need? Certainly not the thought that it'd be better to have a certain someone on this trip, short as it might be, or that who comes to mind is someone he's still not on speaking terms with despite everything.
The plan is to drop off the package and go, but with no real plans for after this besides grabbing a late lunch at a cafe somewhere nearby before heading off to take advantage of some rare free time, it's easy enough for him to be roped into (or just outright accept) the jeweler's requests for help in moving some supplies around.
One crate turns into a couple and then the process of unpacking them. It's close to what he does for merchants like the one he'd brought this package from in the first place, and easy to lose track of time as he settles into the task. It's while he's looking along the shelves in the back of this surprisingly substantial storeroom for where he's supposed to place this particular box he hears a familiar voice and one he knows well which causes him to freeze in place. Now why everything about this place sounded familiar makes more sense.
A glance over his shoulder reveals he's more or less out of the immediate line of sight. With any luck, he can skirt around the outside of the room and leave without being noticed or called out for it by... well, anyone. That plan starts with him setting down what's in his hands as quietly as he can, and then it's just a matter of ducking behind the closest shelves when the door swings open with the intent to keep moving if it's possible. ]
The plan is to drop off the package and go, but with no real plans for after this besides grabbing a late lunch at a cafe somewhere nearby before heading off to take advantage of some rare free time, it's easy enough for him to be roped into (or just outright accept) the jeweler's requests for help in moving some supplies around.
One crate turns into a couple and then the process of unpacking them. It's close to what he does for merchants like the one he'd brought this package from in the first place, and easy to lose track of time as he settles into the task. It's while he's looking along the shelves in the back of this surprisingly substantial storeroom for where he's supposed to place this particular box he hears a familiar voice and one he knows well which causes him to freeze in place. Now why everything about this place sounded familiar makes more sense.
A glance over his shoulder reveals he's more or less out of the immediate line of sight. With any luck, he can skirt around the outside of the room and leave without being noticed or called out for it by... well, anyone. That plan starts with him setting down what's in his hands as quietly as he can, and then it's just a matter of ducking behind the closest shelves when the door swings open with the intent to keep moving if it's possible. ]
[ Ever since returning from the feywilds, Hilda had fallen back into old habits she had picked up since her fight with He Who Shall Not Be Named. She rarely sleeps at the loft anymore, not because she's conceding in any way to him and the silly lines they drawn over the floors separating his side from hers, but because she didn't want to stress Sylvain out more than they already had. There's something there about how they (because she refuses to be the only one at fault) could dispel the tension in other ways by talking to one another and apologizing, but Hilda has never been much of a fan of rationality when it didn't suit her. And apologizing for her spat with Claude? That didn't suit her at all.
Her return to the inn had been met with little fanfare. She didn't want it to. But Mags had begun to notice and ask questions, and it's shortly after that that Hilda quickly changed her tactics by making sleeping arrangements on the couch of her office in the Old Public Hall. As of late though, she didn't even make it back to the Old Public Hall or the inn. Instead, she had taken up residence in the attic of Cyprian's workshop and store. It wasn't ideal sleeping in a workshop, but Hilda felt safe there, tucked away in her little corner of the world without the thought of Sylvain, Claude, or anything really. No one else knew that she worked out of there, at least not explicitly. There's nothing embarrassing about Cyprian - quite the opposite in fact. Hilda's affection for the man had grown quickly and she appreciated his patience, understanding and enthusiasm. That doesn't mean, however, that she's ready to let everyone else know she's effectively taken up a pseudo-apprenticeship.
She's beginning to understand why Bernie had been so insistent on staying inside of her room. But, she tells herself that she still has a life outside the workshop. She hasn't become some hermit and has craftily divide her time between the four haunts so as not to raise suspicions. All of it had been going swimmingly - until Cyprian noticed and took it upon himself to inquire after it. ]
Didn't you just move into a nice new loft?
What's wrong with sleeping at the shop from time to time? I was just so wrapped up in my project that it just happened! You know how it is.
[ She can practically hear Claude's voice in less words because she's fairly positive they've had some version of this conversation when he falls asleep at his desk. Cyprian stares at her in a way that only a grandfather can and she feels her resolve begin to shrink. ]
Hilda -
[ His voice is nothing but concern, but the show of care flares the heat up in cheeks. ]
Don't you have a shop to mind? I promise you can try and convince me not to sleep in the workshop after I come back, okay?
[ When the door to the warehouse swings shut, a relieved - albeit sad - sigh flutters from her lips. Leaning against the door with her eyes to the rafters she takes a moment to collect herself, wondering not for the first time if she should just bite the bullet and find some place else to live. If Cyprian noticed then it only stands to reason that someone else at the Old Public Hall will eventually notice too. The thought alone truly feels like conceding however which her stubborn side absolutely refuses to entertain.
With one final exasperated sigh, she pushes herself off the door before moving towards the back of the room. Moping isn't going to help. The sooner she finds the box she had put away for safe keeping, the sooner she can get back to working. ]
Her return to the inn had been met with little fanfare. She didn't want it to. But Mags had begun to notice and ask questions, and it's shortly after that that Hilda quickly changed her tactics by making sleeping arrangements on the couch of her office in the Old Public Hall. As of late though, she didn't even make it back to the Old Public Hall or the inn. Instead, she had taken up residence in the attic of Cyprian's workshop and store. It wasn't ideal sleeping in a workshop, but Hilda felt safe there, tucked away in her little corner of the world without the thought of Sylvain, Claude, or anything really. No one else knew that she worked out of there, at least not explicitly. There's nothing embarrassing about Cyprian - quite the opposite in fact. Hilda's affection for the man had grown quickly and she appreciated his patience, understanding and enthusiasm. That doesn't mean, however, that she's ready to let everyone else know she's effectively taken up a pseudo-apprenticeship.
She's beginning to understand why Bernie had been so insistent on staying inside of her room. But, she tells herself that she still has a life outside the workshop. She hasn't become some hermit and has craftily divide her time between the four haunts so as not to raise suspicions. All of it had been going swimmingly - until Cyprian noticed and took it upon himself to inquire after it. ]
Didn't you just move into a nice new loft?
What's wrong with sleeping at the shop from time to time? I was just so wrapped up in my project that it just happened! You know how it is.
[ She can practically hear Claude's voice in less words because she's fairly positive they've had some version of this conversation when he falls asleep at his desk. Cyprian stares at her in a way that only a grandfather can and she feels her resolve begin to shrink. ]
Hilda -
[ His voice is nothing but concern, but the show of care flares the heat up in cheeks. ]
Don't you have a shop to mind? I promise you can try and convince me not to sleep in the workshop after I come back, okay?
[ When the door to the warehouse swings shut, a relieved - albeit sad - sigh flutters from her lips. Leaning against the door with her eyes to the rafters she takes a moment to collect herself, wondering not for the first time if she should just bite the bullet and find some place else to live. If Cyprian noticed then it only stands to reason that someone else at the Old Public Hall will eventually notice too. The thought alone truly feels like conceding however which her stubborn side absolutely refuses to entertain.
With one final exasperated sigh, she pushes herself off the door before moving towards the back of the room. Moping isn't going to help. The sooner she finds the box she had put away for safe keeping, the sooner she can get back to working. ]
Edited 2023-07-12 23:38 (UTC)
[ Years of stealth and training himself to move soundlessly through any room at any given time under any circumstances is certainly paying off here. Each footstep he takes doesn't rustle anything left on the ground as he avoids any spots which look like they might offer up any kind of noise which would betray his presence. The same goes for making sure he doesn't brush anything overhanging the edges of a shelf that could clatter to the ground if it's dislodged or rustle loud enough to not be mistaken for anything but someone moving it.
The plan's going well as the door's not all that far away, or so he thinks. Another benefit of getting closer to it means he can hear what's being said rather than just the timbre of the voice he knows and one he's only just learned. It's not like he plans to listen - not in that goal of getting out of here as soon as possible - but what's said sinks in anyway and Claude stops mid-stride.
Hilda's been staying here? That alone has him furrowing his brow with the creases caused by it only growing deeper when that deflection she offers sounds too familiar. It sounds a lot like being prodded away from his desk during the war or looking at contracts and letters after it in the never-ending aftermath where the candles had burned too low to be of help to him without him even noticing. But when Claude says something happens from time to time, he's really saying it happens regularly, and it's impossible to not wonder if Hilda means the same.
There's a sort of idle anxiety gnawing at the edges of his mind at the thought of that and what it means beyond her undeniable absence around the loft. Even if they aren't on speaking terms, it has plenty of space for them to all exist in it without any kind of further interventions than have already been taken - why had she felt the need to leave?
He's snapped out of those thoughts by the sound of the door shutting. Instinct has him biting the inside of his cheek to keep from sighing; a closed door will certainly make the soundless part of this rather difficult. At least by the time he slips through it, he tells himself as he waits for the sound of Hilda's footsteps to advance before he does himself in the opposite direction from where she's headed, he'll be that much closer to leaving. She'll never know he was here unless Cyprian mentions who'd been by.
Plans are all well and good until they don't work - just like the handle to the door doesn't turn and throws a twist into that supposed easy escape. There's a second where Claude blinks at it uncomprehendingly, offers another tug to see if that'll help (it doesn't), and then glances back over his shoulder again. Can't loiter here for long without substantially upping the risk of being caught, so he slips into the shadows beyond more shelves. Maybe there's another way out besides this one and if so, he needs to find it. ]
The plan's going well as the door's not all that far away, or so he thinks. Another benefit of getting closer to it means he can hear what's being said rather than just the timbre of the voice he knows and one he's only just learned. It's not like he plans to listen - not in that goal of getting out of here as soon as possible - but what's said sinks in anyway and Claude stops mid-stride.
Hilda's been staying here? That alone has him furrowing his brow with the creases caused by it only growing deeper when that deflection she offers sounds too familiar. It sounds a lot like being prodded away from his desk during the war or looking at contracts and letters after it in the never-ending aftermath where the candles had burned too low to be of help to him without him even noticing. But when Claude says something happens from time to time, he's really saying it happens regularly, and it's impossible to not wonder if Hilda means the same.
There's a sort of idle anxiety gnawing at the edges of his mind at the thought of that and what it means beyond her undeniable absence around the loft. Even if they aren't on speaking terms, it has plenty of space for them to all exist in it without any kind of further interventions than have already been taken - why had she felt the need to leave?
He's snapped out of those thoughts by the sound of the door shutting. Instinct has him biting the inside of his cheek to keep from sighing; a closed door will certainly make the soundless part of this rather difficult. At least by the time he slips through it, he tells himself as he waits for the sound of Hilda's footsteps to advance before he does himself in the opposite direction from where she's headed, he'll be that much closer to leaving. She'll never know he was here unless Cyprian mentions who'd been by.
Plans are all well and good until they don't work - just like the handle to the door doesn't turn and throws a twist into that supposed easy escape. There's a second where Claude blinks at it uncomprehendingly, offers another tug to see if that'll help (it doesn't), and then glances back over his shoulder again. Can't loiter here for long without substantially upping the risk of being caught, so he slips into the shadows beyond more shelves. Maybe there's another way out besides this one and if so, he needs to find it. ]
[ There's no way for Hilda to know that there's someone else in the warehouse with her. Not only is she walking towards the back of the warehouse hugging the opposite wall, but she's so caught up in her own maelstrom of thoughts that she wouldn't have noticed any deliberately dampened footsteps or rustle of clothing anyway. And besides, Cyprian hadn't made any mention that there would be anyone else here; unbeknownst to her, he probably would have had it not been for the fact that he had been so hellbent on discovering why she had been sleeping in the dusty attic of his workshop. ...Which she still didn't have a good answer for but hopefully something better than, 'getting caught up in a project' would come to her.
The click of her heeled boots comes to an abrupt halt when she reaches the back of the warehouse. Seeing the various crates and their contents spread out on the floor immediately prompts an annoyed huff from her. ]
Ugh, what -
[ She's never going to find what she needs at this rate. As she sets about tiptoeing through the organized mess towards the shelves, she vehemently contemplates finding who did this and giving them a piece of her mind. Cyprian is still plenty strong but Hilda was of the opinion that his time is better spent actually crafting works of art. Clearly whoever he had hired to help repack the boxes had done an awful job of it and she'd tell him as much once she found what she needed. ]
The click of her heeled boots comes to an abrupt halt when she reaches the back of the warehouse. Seeing the various crates and their contents spread out on the floor immediately prompts an annoyed huff from her. ]
Ugh, what -
[ She's never going to find what she needs at this rate. As she sets about tiptoeing through the organized mess towards the shelves, she vehemently contemplates finding who did this and giving them a piece of her mind. Cyprian is still plenty strong but Hilda was of the opinion that his time is better spent actually crafting works of art. Clearly whoever he had hired to help repack the boxes had done an awful job of it and she'd tell him as much once she found what she needed. ]
Edited 2023-07-15 08:33 (UTC)
[ This isn't going well. Even though he knew Hilda was heading to the back where he'd abandoned his task in a hurry while intending to make up some excuse for why he was leaving suddenly, Claude's rapidly realizing that once again he's not left with many options of where to go next. It has him stopping behind the shelves where he's still out of sight to scan higher than ground level.
Hilda shows no signs of moving from where she is, so that leaves alternate routes out. There's a couple windows partway up the wall to let the light in, he notes, but they'll require a bit more to get up to them than a simple leave and scurry away. They're not out of the question; it'll just take a bit more planning than, say, walking out the impossibly locked door.
A few more steps bring him closer to the window nearest where he is and Claude studies it and the stacks of items around. Surely at least one of these boxes is sturdy enough to stack on another and have him stand on top of it. The only question which remains is how to do this without Hilda noticing.
He's focusing a bit too hard on the not noticing part since it means when he moves closer yet to consider those existing stacks and whether he really needs anything else at all, Claude forgets to stay out of the main sightlines of the open aisles between the storage, leaving himself in plain view. ]
Hilda shows no signs of moving from where she is, so that leaves alternate routes out. There's a couple windows partway up the wall to let the light in, he notes, but they'll require a bit more to get up to them than a simple leave and scurry away. They're not out of the question; it'll just take a bit more planning than, say, walking out the impossibly locked door.
A few more steps bring him closer to the window nearest where he is and Claude studies it and the stacks of items around. Surely at least one of these boxes is sturdy enough to stack on another and have him stand on top of it. The only question which remains is how to do this without Hilda noticing.
He's focusing a bit too hard on the not noticing part since it means when he moves closer yet to consider those existing stacks and whether he really needs anything else at all, Claude forgets to stay out of the main sightlines of the open aisles between the storage, leaving himself in plain view. ]
[ He's lucky that she's off kilter, thrown off by a surprise line of questioning that she hadn't been prepared for and left with a mess by someone who appeared to have a worse work ethic than her. Hilda knew that the box full of supplies she had stored here was somewhere and had they not been moved, she probably would have been able to locate what she needed in a heartbeat.
Her eyes scan the various boxes along the shelves to be met with what she already knows isn't there which means it has to be somewhere on the ground. The items she knows are in the box aren't laid out neatly on the floor which means they still had to be in one place. ...Unless whoever had done this had already moved them into a different box. Another frustrated sigh exits her mouth as she bends down to sift through the boxes on the ground.
Eventually her search is rewarded and her eyes light up when she spots the box. A quick check confirms that it's indeed hers with everything she had been looking for and she hefts it up, readying to leave. Striding towards the door, she does a double take when she realizes that there's a figure standing in one of the aisles. At first it doesn't register that it's Claude, but when that fact does settle in it brings her to a halt and her hackles start to raise.
Before she can help herself or come up with something remotely civil she calls out – ]
What was that about leaving each other alone?
Her eyes scan the various boxes along the shelves to be met with what she already knows isn't there which means it has to be somewhere on the ground. The items she knows are in the box aren't laid out neatly on the floor which means they still had to be in one place. ...Unless whoever had done this had already moved them into a different box. Another frustrated sigh exits her mouth as she bends down to sift through the boxes on the ground.
Eventually her search is rewarded and her eyes light up when she spots the box. A quick check confirms that it's indeed hers with everything she had been looking for and she hefts it up, readying to leave. Striding towards the door, she does a double take when she realizes that there's a figure standing in one of the aisles. At first it doesn't register that it's Claude, but when that fact does settle in it brings her to a halt and her hackles start to raise.
Before she can help herself or come up with something remotely civil she calls out – ]
What was that about leaving each other alone?
[ This is definitely possible. It's not worse than the time he'd scaled one of the monastery buildings near the beginning of the academy year and realized the roof was actually much higher than it'd seemed on the way up. That required some true stretches of creativity to get back down unnoticed, or simply not noticed by Seteth since Hubert sure had rolled his eyes. Then again, of course he'd been looking. That probably should've been a sign of things, in retrospect.
Hindsight's about to come into play again here when Claude has the realization too late that he's been under surveillance of a different kind. The sound of her voice being so much closer has him gritting his teeth. Of course this couldn't have just worked out in his favor. Of course now he's going to have to deal with this. ]
Still sticking to that since in case you hadn't noticed, I'm actively trying to get away from you.
[ It helps to not be facing her where she can't see his expression and where it gives him a few seconds to wrangle it back into something aloof to match the utterly bored tone he'd spoken with before he glances over his shoulder vaguely in her direction. Whatever Hilda's doing isn't his concern, so then his gaze goes right back to the window while he's still calculating. Probably going to need more boxes than just two, but they shouldn't be that hard to balance. Maybe if one falls it'll add some momentum into the jumping part. ]
Would've been easier in the first place if you'd propped the door open on your way in.
[ He's not going to bother to clarify since he's occupied casting another glance around for crate number one. Hilda can connect the dots and go verify the state of the door on her own. ]
Hindsight's about to come into play again here when Claude has the realization too late that he's been under surveillance of a different kind. The sound of her voice being so much closer has him gritting his teeth. Of course this couldn't have just worked out in his favor. Of course now he's going to have to deal with this. ]
Still sticking to that since in case you hadn't noticed, I'm actively trying to get away from you.
[ It helps to not be facing her where she can't see his expression and where it gives him a few seconds to wrangle it back into something aloof to match the utterly bored tone he'd spoken with before he glances over his shoulder vaguely in her direction. Whatever Hilda's doing isn't his concern, so then his gaze goes right back to the window while he's still calculating. Probably going to need more boxes than just two, but they shouldn't be that hard to balance. Maybe if one falls it'll add some momentum into the jumping part. ]
Would've been easier in the first place if you'd propped the door open on your way in.
[ He's not going to bother to clarify since he's occupied casting another glance around for crate number one. Hilda can connect the dots and go verify the state of the door on her own. ]
[ it's possible she simply attracts these kinds of people, but that's not a bad thing. sam likes spending his time with those people. he likes being those people. it's probably why he was so quickly attracted to hilda, too.
they continue through a quiet, empty marketplace. sam takes note of all that he sees around them, curious as to why it is so quiet, but the conversation is where his attention remains. ]
Steve? Listen to me? Hilda, girl, I can suggest things to Steve all I want, but I would not say he listens to me. Not where this sorta stuff is concerned. [ and okay, maybe that's not entirely true. what steve and sam have is complicated, but also not at all. sam knows that where it matters, when it matters, they listen to each other. trust in each other one hundred percent. that's not applicable here, exactly, but that's fine.
and now sam is laughing, because of course he is. the mental image of hilda being picked up and thrown over steve's shoulder is too good. ] Yeah, that sounds like him. Good luck with that.
they continue through a quiet, empty marketplace. sam takes note of all that he sees around them, curious as to why it is so quiet, but the conversation is where his attention remains. ]
Steve? Listen to me? Hilda, girl, I can suggest things to Steve all I want, but I would not say he listens to me. Not where this sorta stuff is concerned. [ and okay, maybe that's not entirely true. what steve and sam have is complicated, but also not at all. sam knows that where it matters, when it matters, they listen to each other. trust in each other one hundred percent. that's not applicable here, exactly, but that's fine.
and now sam is laughing, because of course he is. the mental image of hilda being picked up and thrown over steve's shoulder is too good. ] Yeah, that sounds like him. Good luck with that.
[ It doesn't even occur to her to think that he's out of place here or that he's staring not at shelves, but at a window high above either of them. Her annoyance towards him and avoidance of him act like blinders, giving her a singular focal point which is how much she doesn't want to be anywhere near him. Everything else she would normally pick up on are afterthoughts.
His bored tone succeeds in irritating her, but it's momentary when she processes what exactly he's implying. At first she thinks this is some childish joke. He had been known to make things difficult for himself before at the expense of a laugh or a bet. But there's nothing funny about being potentially trapped in here with her - sentiments she shares. ]
What do you mean it would have been easier?
[ Incredulously she stomps towards the door and gives the handle a gigantic tug with one to absolutely no avail. And even though it didn't work the first time she tries again in disbelief. Hilda's jaw tightens out of rising irritation but it also doubles as a vice against the noise of frustration that threatens to spill. This couldn't be happening to her. There's absolutely no way this was happening.
Suddenly his keen observation of the boxes makes so much sense. She whirls around striding back towards him but not coming any closer than she had been before. ]
Why are we locked in? And don't you dare imply that this is somehow my fault again either.
His bored tone succeeds in irritating her, but it's momentary when she processes what exactly he's implying. At first she thinks this is some childish joke. He had been known to make things difficult for himself before at the expense of a laugh or a bet. But there's nothing funny about being potentially trapped in here with her - sentiments she shares. ]
What do you mean it would have been easier?
[ Incredulously she stomps towards the door and gives the handle a gigantic tug with one to absolutely no avail. And even though it didn't work the first time she tries again in disbelief. Hilda's jaw tightens out of rising irritation but it also doubles as a vice against the noise of frustration that threatens to spill. This couldn't be happening to her. There's absolutely no way this was happening.
Suddenly his keen observation of the boxes makes so much sense. She whirls around striding back towards him but not coming any closer than she had been before. ]
Why are we locked in? And don't you dare imply that this is somehow my fault again either.
[ That's good that she leaves because it gives him a second to consider something else besides ignoring her. Also a chance to walk up to a couple of crates and nudge them with the tip of his boot like that'll tell him all about their strength when it comes to standing on them, but - it's a start. It's better than going back to tug on the door some more since that's really the only backup plan he has at the moment until some others make themselves apparent, and Hilda's already on it.
Nothing left to do then but pick it up and place it beneath where the window is above, and then reality provides another hard fact: they're going to need a lot more crates and boxes than a couple. Now that this one's up against the wall, it turns out to not be nearly as tall as he'd thought while looking at them from afar. Unfortunate, but at least there's plenty of others to work with still.
There's probably a metaphor in there for how this whole situation is going when Hilda returns to ask him a question which has him sending a skeptical glance her way. ]
Well, if I had to guess, it's probably because there's a lock on the door.
[ It's not quite the lighthearted tone they would've used once upon a time while pointing out the obvious to each other for entertainment's sake and in hope of laughter, but this is the best he can do. That and go get another crate since he meant it about leaving, since he'll leave being concerned about the door to Hilda. ]
And it happens to be an extra effective lock at that. I take it this hasn't happened when you've been here before?
[ As for what before consists of, there's probably no point in expanding on what it means when Hilda's the one who's been here. Often, from the sound of it, and as he'd meant to imply. Why pretend otherwise when even Cyprian's noticed? ]
Nothing left to do then but pick it up and place it beneath where the window is above, and then reality provides another hard fact: they're going to need a lot more crates and boxes than a couple. Now that this one's up against the wall, it turns out to not be nearly as tall as he'd thought while looking at them from afar. Unfortunate, but at least there's plenty of others to work with still.
There's probably a metaphor in there for how this whole situation is going when Hilda returns to ask him a question which has him sending a skeptical glance her way. ]
Well, if I had to guess, it's probably because there's a lock on the door.
[ It's not quite the lighthearted tone they would've used once upon a time while pointing out the obvious to each other for entertainment's sake and in hope of laughter, but this is the best he can do. That and go get another crate since he meant it about leaving, since he'll leave being concerned about the door to Hilda. ]
And it happens to be an extra effective lock at that. I take it this hasn't happened when you've been here before?
[ As for what before consists of, there's probably no point in expanding on what it means when Hilda's the one who's been here. Often, from the sound of it, and as he'd meant to imply. Why pretend otherwise when even Cyprian's noticed? ]
[ Mock realization forms on her face, like what Claude had said about the lock is the most brilliant reason known to man. Her voice is laced with simpering, over the top adoration usually reserved for when she absolutely didn't mean what she was saying. ]
No, really? A lock? Claude, you're so brilliant I never would have thought about that.
[ She may have missed the memo where they should really be trying to make the most out of an awful situation but his skeptical glance grates on her nerves.
It's obvious what he's trying to do with the boxes now that one is propped up against the wall. The crates are thankfully sturdy and full of mostly durable things but she's certainly not going to lift a finger to help him especially when a familiar prickling feeling begins to crawl across her skin at his subtle indication that he'd overheard her conversation with Cyprian.
Why should she feel uncomfortable though? He didn't want to look at her nevermind talk to her. The more time out of the loft - out of his space with Sylvain - the better. And honestly, it isn't his business anyway that she's resorted to sleeping in several different locations to deflect attention. ]
Of course it hasn't happened before. If it had, I'd probably be able to figure out how to get out of here.
[ He isn't going to get more than that from her it seems. The workshop is also a little too far from the warehouse for them to call for help. And even if it were closer, the telltale sounds of a hammer meeting an anvil have begun to fill the air. There's no way that Cyprian would hear them over that. ]
Why are you here? Hopefully it isn't to make Cyprian's life difficult by leaving a mess all over his warehouse.
No, really? A lock? Claude, you're so brilliant I never would have thought about that.
[ She may have missed the memo where they should really be trying to make the most out of an awful situation but his skeptical glance grates on her nerves.
It's obvious what he's trying to do with the boxes now that one is propped up against the wall. The crates are thankfully sturdy and full of mostly durable things but she's certainly not going to lift a finger to help him especially when a familiar prickling feeling begins to crawl across her skin at his subtle indication that he'd overheard her conversation with Cyprian.
Why should she feel uncomfortable though? He didn't want to look at her nevermind talk to her. The more time out of the loft - out of his space with Sylvain - the better. And honestly, it isn't his business anyway that she's resorted to sleeping in several different locations to deflect attention. ]
Of course it hasn't happened before. If it had, I'd probably be able to figure out how to get out of here.
[ He isn't going to get more than that from her it seems. The workshop is also a little too far from the warehouse for them to call for help. And even if it were closer, the telltale sounds of a hammer meeting an anvil have begun to fill the air. There's no way that Cyprian would hear them over that. ]
Why are you here? Hopefully it isn't to make Cyprian's life difficult by leaving a mess all over his warehouse.
[ He's just not going to respond to that, he decides, even if for a millisecond he almost wants to smile over her immediate comeback and the tone over pointing out the obviously existing lock. That's just an old habit or an instant reflex from years of doing so refusing to not resurface. If things were normal it'd mean something, but it surely doesn't now.
At the confirmation it hasn't happened on any of her trips (or longer) here before, Claude opts not to say anything to that either. That's also as good as Hilda confirming what Cyprian had said - and what she'd said - are as good as true and not any kind of exaggeration like he'd wondered at first. It's not that he's setting that train of thought completely aside, but more that he's placed it on the metaphorical backburner to keep turning it over while his focus goes elsewhere. Since they apparently have something like unlimited time in this warehouse, it can wait until later.
He sets the second crate down on top of the first, spends a second looking at it, then changes his mind and moves it to the ground next to the original one. Better to create a sturdier base to stand on, and it's not like they're lacking more around to use. Maybe he'll volunteer to come back and help put things away later - after making sure the door works first. ]
I had a delivery to make and then stuck around because Cyprian asked.
[ That's good enough since she's not asking out of genuine curiosity anyway, he's positive. Comments about any mess also get ignored considering the only reason there is one is because he'd tried to leave before any of this happened. Instead he turns to look at her more directly this time. ]
Are you going to do anything to help get us out of here or not?
At the confirmation it hasn't happened on any of her trips (or longer) here before, Claude opts not to say anything to that either. That's also as good as Hilda confirming what Cyprian had said - and what she'd said - are as good as true and not any kind of exaggeration like he'd wondered at first. It's not that he's setting that train of thought completely aside, but more that he's placed it on the metaphorical backburner to keep turning it over while his focus goes elsewhere. Since they apparently have something like unlimited time in this warehouse, it can wait until later.
He sets the second crate down on top of the first, spends a second looking at it, then changes his mind and moves it to the ground next to the original one. Better to create a sturdier base to stand on, and it's not like they're lacking more around to use. Maybe he'll volunteer to come back and help put things away later - after making sure the door works first. ]
I had a delivery to make and then stuck around because Cyprian asked.
[ That's good enough since she's not asking out of genuine curiosity anyway, he's positive. Comments about any mess also get ignored considering the only reason there is one is because he'd tried to leave before any of this happened. Instead he turns to look at her more directly this time. ]
Are you going to do anything to help get us out of here or not?
[ She's had to train herself out the habit of being curious about Claude, a difficult thing considering she's been curious about for years now. And while it's easy for her to claim she doesn't waste any of her energy on him anymore, that couldn't have been further from the truth.
Their deliberate distance has fooled her into thinking she's actually made some steps towards that. Except there are idle moments where her mind will wander to him and what he's doing. Or worse, when she's working on something she'll absently wonder what kind of input he'd give or what he'd think about it. It's moments like that when she's especially grateful for a place to hammer away on a piece of metal as if the act itself will also stamp out any thought of the man with green eyes.
Unfortunately her tools of choice are nowhere in sight and she has to remind herself it isn't productive or well adjusted to do that to boxes. She blinks several times at his question before dryly asking – ]
That seems counterproductive to leaving you alone, doesn't it? You're plenty capable without me helping you drag boxes around.
[ But she doesn't want to be here anymore than he does, and the alternative of wasting away in the warehouse isn't her idea of a good time. Begrudgingly she sets down her box before wandering over. Hilda can see his intention but she squints before tugging away one of the crates he's set down. ]
Not this one. Cyprian hasn't had a chance to break this one down yet; the wood isn't holding up anymore.
Their deliberate distance has fooled her into thinking she's actually made some steps towards that. Except there are idle moments where her mind will wander to him and what he's doing. Or worse, when she's working on something she'll absently wonder what kind of input he'd give or what he'd think about it. It's moments like that when she's especially grateful for a place to hammer away on a piece of metal as if the act itself will also stamp out any thought of the man with green eyes.
Unfortunately her tools of choice are nowhere in sight and she has to remind herself it isn't productive or well adjusted to do that to boxes. She blinks several times at his question before dryly asking – ]
That seems counterproductive to leaving you alone, doesn't it? You're plenty capable without me helping you drag boxes around.
[ But she doesn't want to be here anymore than he does, and the alternative of wasting away in the warehouse isn't her idea of a good time. Begrudgingly she sets down her box before wandering over. Hilda can see his intention but she squints before tugging away one of the crates he's set down. ]
Not this one. Cyprian hasn't had a chance to break this one down yet; the wood isn't holding up anymore.
[ He'd meant it about helping, even if it was phrased blunter than he might've done at any other point in time, but Claude also doesn't wait before going to retrieve yet another something to stack on the growing makeshift quasi-staircase. There's a second where he has to press his lips together in a line again to restrain from saying something somewhere on the spectrum of unkind as an immediate reaction. It won't help anything, especially if they can't actually get out of here and have to be trapped together for even longer since this already feels like an eternity.
On top of that, finding himself reaching for his temper around her over and over is proving to be exhausting on so many levels both noticeable and not. As much as he doesn't want to stay barely on just this side of nice, the alternative's worse. For everyone. Claude inhales and lets it out in a soundless sigh to shake off any defensiveness. ]
Good news. The sooner you help me stack up things so we can get outta here, the sooner we can go right back to being not in the same room. Or even the same building, apparently.
[ Impassivity's the key there in keeping it from growing too pointed since what's said is merely a proven fact at this point as far as he's concerned. He returns from a couple feet away just in time to see her drag one of the stacked items away, resulting in a raised eyebrow from him until she explains. Upon a closer look out of curiosity - now that it's not interrupted by finding something to say back to her like before - he can see the subtle splits in the wood he'd missed. That would've been deeply unfortunate to find out when any farther above the ground. ]
Alright. [ Before setting the one in his hands down, Claude holds it out for her inspection. ] Is this one any better? It came from the same area.
On top of that, finding himself reaching for his temper around her over and over is proving to be exhausting on so many levels both noticeable and not. As much as he doesn't want to stay barely on just this side of nice, the alternative's worse. For everyone. Claude inhales and lets it out in a soundless sigh to shake off any defensiveness. ]
Good news. The sooner you help me stack up things so we can get outta here, the sooner we can go right back to being not in the same room. Or even the same building, apparently.
[ Impassivity's the key there in keeping it from growing too pointed since what's said is merely a proven fact at this point as far as he's concerned. He returns from a couple feet away just in time to see her drag one of the stacked items away, resulting in a raised eyebrow from him until she explains. Upon a closer look out of curiosity - now that it's not interrupted by finding something to say back to her like before - he can see the subtle splits in the wood he'd missed. That would've been deeply unfortunate to find out when any farther above the ground. ]
Alright. [ Before setting the one in his hands down, Claude holds it out for her inspection. ] Is this one any better? It came from the same area.
[ The added advantage of her hair falling like a curtain across her face means that Claude doesn't see the mild surprise that appears on his face at his not-so-subtle call out in a very short amount of time. ]
It's rude to eavesdrop you know.
[ It's said lightly enough to try and match his impassive tone, but there's a restrained sharpness to Hilda's that she's clearly tried to dampen. There's more she could say but it'll only lead to a dead end and she knows it.
With the faulty box out of the way, Hilda locates a different crate nearby that's a little bigger than the one she had put away. When she whirls around to hold it out to him however he's already got another in hand. ]
That should be fine. We can stack this one below it.
It's rude to eavesdrop you know.
[ It's said lightly enough to try and match his impassive tone, but there's a restrained sharpness to Hilda's that she's clearly tried to dampen. There's more she could say but it'll only lead to a dead end and she knows it.
With the faulty box out of the way, Hilda locates a different crate nearby that's a little bigger than the one she had put away. When she whirls around to hold it out to him however he's already got another in hand. ]
That should be fine. We can stack this one below it.
[ The chiding pushes buttons he doesn't care for, and it almost brings forth yet another reaction he doesn't want. That instinct to be defensive even if it's hidden in flippancy surfaces again considering, Claude thinks, it was hardly eavesdropping all because she didn't know he was there, but it's not worth it. Saying so won't do anything but give a chance for it to escalate, and it seems nudging open a metaphorical door to talk about something which has obviously been going on is equally pointless.
He's not sure what he expected, so he spends a couple seconds staring at the shelves in pretend appraisal for something to do that isn't looking at Hilda and to reign in his frustration. There's only so many things he can invent to say about their task before being at risk of cycling through them, and right now he's not compelled to try finding more. But then again: no one ever said talking was required for stacking things when a clear enough end goal doesn't require any coordination. If they're lucky, it'll go by faster without pausing to say anything.
Wordlessly Claude sets the box in his hands down to take the one she's holding out to set it into place, and then scoops up the other he'd brought over to set it on top. One literal step closer to getting out of here. ]
He's not sure what he expected, so he spends a couple seconds staring at the shelves in pretend appraisal for something to do that isn't looking at Hilda and to reign in his frustration. There's only so many things he can invent to say about their task before being at risk of cycling through them, and right now he's not compelled to try finding more. But then again: no one ever said talking was required for stacking things when a clear enough end goal doesn't require any coordination. If they're lucky, it'll go by faster without pausing to say anything.
Wordlessly Claude sets the box in his hands down to take the one she's holding out to set it into place, and then scoops up the other he'd brought over to set it on top. One literal step closer to getting out of here. ]
[ They could argue about the schematics of what constitutes eavesdropping all day (just because you didn't know someone was there didn't mean they couldn't be overhearing or eavesdropping on conversations being had), but there's considerably less childish rage inside her compared to what she felt in the maze. It probably helps that there's no Fey wine in her body.
Truthfully her propensity for that childish anger is near empty. There's little for her to reach for in order to continue spurring her bratty tendencies. She's never gone this long being angry at someone, has never had to avoid someone she cared deeply for as she had for Claude for this long. If she thinks long and hard about it, she can't recall a time when she's gotten into a fight that lasted this long.
It's easy to get lost in thought about what that means when they're working in a tense silence. One of her favourite romance books had once said that love bordered on the edge of hate. That it takes just as much energy to love someone as it is to hate that same person. But that's a ridiculous notion because she didn't love him. And sure, she's angry with him but she doesn't hate him. Love turned to hate would make this all the more tragic and there's nothing in her life that reads like one of her romance novels.
With the other two boxes in place, Hilda goes in search of another. The ones along the bottom of the surrounding shelves are too heavy, filled with materials that would take more effort to take out than it was worth. Then she spots one, a box on the upper shelves that looks like it could fit perfectly...if only she were several feet taller. It could easily be solved by getting the ladder not mention safer to retrieve it too. Instead she casts the briefest glance over her shoulder towards Claude before pointing to the box in question and breaking the silence. ]
Can you reach that one?
Truthfully her propensity for that childish anger is near empty. There's little for her to reach for in order to continue spurring her bratty tendencies. She's never gone this long being angry at someone, has never had to avoid someone she cared deeply for as she had for Claude for this long. If she thinks long and hard about it, she can't recall a time when she's gotten into a fight that lasted this long.
It's easy to get lost in thought about what that means when they're working in a tense silence. One of her favourite romance books had once said that love bordered on the edge of hate. That it takes just as much energy to love someone as it is to hate that same person. But that's a ridiculous notion because she didn't love him. And sure, she's angry with him but she doesn't hate him. Love turned to hate would make this all the more tragic and there's nothing in her life that reads like one of her romance novels.
With the other two boxes in place, Hilda goes in search of another. The ones along the bottom of the surrounding shelves are too heavy, filled with materials that would take more effort to take out than it was worth. Then she spots one, a box on the upper shelves that looks like it could fit perfectly...if only she were several feet taller. It could easily be solved by getting the ladder not mention safer to retrieve it too. Instead she casts the briefest glance over her shoulder towards Claude before pointing to the box in question and breaking the silence. ]
Can you reach that one?
[ Truthfully the marketplace is never this quiet. There's always the sounds of idle chatter, laughter, the occasional call of a merchant hawking their imaginary wares.
If asked, Hilda wouldn't have a useful answer as to why because she wouldn't know what to say apart from the fact that she simply had no clue. Maybe it's because her own mental state hadn't been very jovial as of late and it's easier to focus on the things that brought her joy - like the wyverns. As if sensing her arrival, a familiar screech echoes from the direction they're heading towards. ]
You mean he's done this before?
[ She's positively appalled, but it's mostly aimed at the fact that Sam is laughing at her. Commence the whining and pouting. ]
What happened to being on my side? I'm just a tiny little thing, Steve shouldn't be picking me up and carrying me to a training session that I don't want any part of. What happened to what I want?
If asked, Hilda wouldn't have a useful answer as to why because she wouldn't know what to say apart from the fact that she simply had no clue. Maybe it's because her own mental state hadn't been very jovial as of late and it's easier to focus on the things that brought her joy - like the wyverns. As if sensing her arrival, a familiar screech echoes from the direction they're heading towards. ]
You mean he's done this before?
[ She's positively appalled, but it's mostly aimed at the fact that Sam is laughing at her. Commence the whining and pouting. ]
What happened to being on my side? I'm just a tiny little thing, Steve shouldn't be picking me up and carrying me to a training session that I don't want any part of. What happened to what I want?
[ Silence, even despite being the one to bring it on, is something he discovers he still dislikes. This isn't a comfortable one like the many they've sat together in over the years; it's anything but. It's too much of a chance for half-started and mostly abandoned thoughts to keep whirling around his mind without any resolution for them while they work even though he's told himself his only focus should be getting out of here.
If only it was that easy. Instead it leaves more time to think about how things could be different even as he makes no attempts to change that. When she speaks he looks over for long enough to see what she wants as he then follows where her hand is pointing. ]
Sure.
[ It's a ways up there, but nothing that's not doable even if he's curious about why this box specifically. That'd require asking and rather than that, Claude places one foot on the lowest shelf to test how sturdy it is. Fairly so, given that it doesn't shift even when he places more weight on it. That's all he needs to climb up it before testing the next one in the same way, and then he's much closer to grabbing it.
Being up quite a bit higher than the floor requires wrapping an arm around the support beam since he's not trying to go crashing to the floor, and Claude stretches out his other hand to tug the box closer for a better grip on it. Whatever contents are in it seem to weigh less than the container - which is good news for him as he pulls it off the shelf before peering below since this would go faster with help. ]
Think you can climb up a shelf to grab this? Just one of them.
If only it was that easy. Instead it leaves more time to think about how things could be different even as he makes no attempts to change that. When she speaks he looks over for long enough to see what she wants as he then follows where her hand is pointing. ]
Sure.
[ It's a ways up there, but nothing that's not doable even if he's curious about why this box specifically. That'd require asking and rather than that, Claude places one foot on the lowest shelf to test how sturdy it is. Fairly so, given that it doesn't shift even when he places more weight on it. That's all he needs to climb up it before testing the next one in the same way, and then he's much closer to grabbing it.
Being up quite a bit higher than the floor requires wrapping an arm around the support beam since he's not trying to go crashing to the floor, and Claude stretches out his other hand to tug the box closer for a better grip on it. Whatever contents are in it seem to weigh less than the container - which is good news for him as he pulls it off the shelf before peering below since this would go faster with help. ]
Think you can climb up a shelf to grab this? Just one of them.
[ She hated dislikes silence as much as he did. It was part of the reason she chattered on as much as she did, much to Setheth's exasperation. So when her question isn't met with an icy silence, some part of her is relieved. But then again, why would it have gone unanswered? They're trying to work together so they can continue to avoid each other the way they have been for weeks. The thought brings about a pang in her chest, one that she doesn't expect to feel but is unfortunately a feeling that she's become used to over the last several weeks.
As Hilda watches him scale the shelf, there's some opportunity for her to tease him about not wearing high enough boots or being taller. In times past she might have even suggested she just climb up onto his shoulders so that they could reach the box - but they could barely stomach being in the same room, never mind any actual physical contact.
Reluctant silence meets Claude's question however. Whether or not they're on good terms, what will never change is Hilda's reluctance to exert more physical exertion than necessary. Habit has her ready to whine about it but she bites her tongue before nodding and doing as asked.
In the act of reaching for the box, her fingers brush ever so briefly against his and she takes in a sharp intake of breath. It's no more than a second if that, but that's all it takes to feel a jolt. Annoyance flares at how ridiculous she's being and she's quick to brush it off, adjusting her hold to properly grab a hold of the box. ]
Got it. We'll probably just need one more after this.
As Hilda watches him scale the shelf, there's some opportunity for her to tease him about not wearing high enough boots or being taller. In times past she might have even suggested she just climb up onto his shoulders so that they could reach the box - but they could barely stomach being in the same room, never mind any actual physical contact.
Reluctant silence meets Claude's question however. Whether or not they're on good terms, what will never change is Hilda's reluctance to exert more physical exertion than necessary. Habit has her ready to whine about it but she bites her tongue before nodding and doing as asked.
In the act of reaching for the box, her fingers brush ever so briefly against his and she takes in a sharp intake of breath. It's no more than a second if that, but that's all it takes to feel a jolt. Annoyance flares at how ridiculous she's being and she's quick to brush it off, adjusting her hold to properly grab a hold of the box. ]
Got it. We'll probably just need one more after this.
[ He doesn't say anything while waiting - just waits to see what she'll do or whether he's really going to have to climb down while juggling this box filled with who knows what. There's a rattle of something from inside it as he shifts it again, and again he wants to know what's inside, but what matters more is if it'll be something they can stand on as Hilda's predicted.
She moves to assist and he keeps a neutral expression throughout as if there's nothing to be interested in. Claude's about to look away, like there's anything to even look at except more storage from a different height, but before he can Hilda's fingers brush his. He has to swallow hard and unnoticeably as possible when that action not only brings a pleasant spark but longing and whispers to grab her hand with it. Like it's that simple. Like he even has that option, and like it's not a habit he wishes would disappear, among other untrue things he tells himself.
Instead the box changes from his possession to hers and Claude nods in response despite wanting to also raise an eyebrow over needing only one more box to make it out. That seems too pessimistic even while dealing with echoes of this almost being like something they would've planned together in the past because it's no more than that: echoes. Claude glances back up and grabs the box next to the one she'd pointed out to bring with him. That he moves one shelf below where he is by way of climbing down, then repeats that to a shelf that'll be within his reach and leaps down to the ground from there.
Nothing to do but bring it over to stack along with the other crate and survey it again before looking to her. ]
If you climb up there, I can give you a boost up to the window.
[ Probably. It should be close enough for her to get a grip on the ledge and climb up so they can see where to go from there if nothing else. ]
She moves to assist and he keeps a neutral expression throughout as if there's nothing to be interested in. Claude's about to look away, like there's anything to even look at except more storage from a different height, but before he can Hilda's fingers brush his. He has to swallow hard and unnoticeably as possible when that action not only brings a pleasant spark but longing and whispers to grab her hand with it. Like it's that simple. Like he even has that option, and like it's not a habit he wishes would disappear, among other untrue things he tells himself.
Instead the box changes from his possession to hers and Claude nods in response despite wanting to also raise an eyebrow over needing only one more box to make it out. That seems too pessimistic even while dealing with echoes of this almost being like something they would've planned together in the past because it's no more than that: echoes. Claude glances back up and grabs the box next to the one she'd pointed out to bring with him. That he moves one shelf below where he is by way of climbing down, then repeats that to a shelf that'll be within his reach and leaps down to the ground from there.
Nothing to do but bring it over to stack along with the other crate and survey it again before looking to her. ]
If you climb up there, I can give you a boost up to the window.
[ Probably. It should be close enough for her to get a grip on the ledge and climb up so they can see where to go from there if nothing else. ]
[ Being below Claude and having a box in her field of view means she misses any reaction he might have when their hands brush against one another. She knows him too well to know that something like that wouldn't go unnoticed, and because of that she immediately stomps on her curiosity in an attempt to quash the urge to wonder what his reaction had been. Better to assume that he didn't care, she reminds herself. If she didn't, the dangerous sliver of hope that she'd always held onto would always remain lingering in the depths of her heart.
She makes quick work arranging the box on top of the others. It only occurs to her belatedly to check what's inside because truthfully, she had no idea; she had only been going off the size. As Claude busies himself with the other box, she carefully cracks the lid open and her eyes widen. A familiar, polished jewelry box sits nestled in packing material. Alongside it sits another cardboard box and she doesn't have to open it to know what's inside. It's an unfinished project, one that she had started before their fight and completely forgotten about over the course of their fight.
Claude's approaching footsteps signal he's near and she hurriedly shuts the box with a definite thud before he can see. It's not very subtle and she can't help but wince. He'd normally ask - she would in his place - but she's banking on their mutual frostiness to stave off any potential questions. Before glancing towards him she tries to rearrange her expression into something neutral as he busies himself with the last box.
Unfortunately instead of neutral, her expression ends up looking a little more skeptical than anything else. ]
You aren't going to complain about how heavy I am are you?
She makes quick work arranging the box on top of the others. It only occurs to her belatedly to check what's inside because truthfully, she had no idea; she had only been going off the size. As Claude busies himself with the other box, she carefully cracks the lid open and her eyes widen. A familiar, polished jewelry box sits nestled in packing material. Alongside it sits another cardboard box and she doesn't have to open it to know what's inside. It's an unfinished project, one that she had started before their fight and completely forgotten about over the course of their fight.
Claude's approaching footsteps signal he's near and she hurriedly shuts the box with a definite thud before he can see. It's not very subtle and she can't help but wince. He'd normally ask - she would in his place - but she's banking on their mutual frostiness to stave off any potential questions. Before glancing towards him she tries to rearrange her expression into something neutral as he busies himself with the last box.
Unfortunately instead of neutral, her expression ends up looking a little more skeptical than anything else. ]
You aren't going to complain about how heavy I am are you?
[ There's a sort of telltale rustle as he approaches and the vague sensation of something being slammed shut, but for once Claude doesn't bother to look. It doesn't matter whether he's curious, he reminds himself yet again with another sort of dull ache, since the only thing to focus on is leaving. If Hilda wanted him to know whatever it was, she'd say something.
She doesn't - not about that as he sets down what's in his hands and takes a second to contemplate it. It's true, that might've been something he would've gone for - were they on speaking terms, if it would be taken as a joke like he'd meant whatever response given. Something he can't say he'd mean now, especially when the flat look he gives her in return vacillates somewhere between amusement and unimpressed in equal measure. ]
So I can end up on the floor again? Sure, let me get right on that.
[ If she's going to procrastinate, Claude's not going to wait. Resisting the urgh to sigh or roll his eyes since that'd be even less productive than allowing himself one (1) remark without any bite behind it and only something far more worn out, he takes a step onto the first crate. It's sturdy, so up he goes one more and then another to peer up at the window again. They'll probably be close enough, so nothing to do but look back at Hilda with an eyebrow raised next. ]
She doesn't - not about that as he sets down what's in his hands and takes a second to contemplate it. It's true, that might've been something he would've gone for - were they on speaking terms, if it would be taken as a joke like he'd meant whatever response given. Something he can't say he'd mean now, especially when the flat look he gives her in return vacillates somewhere between amusement and unimpressed in equal measure. ]
So I can end up on the floor again? Sure, let me get right on that.
[ If she's going to procrastinate, Claude's not going to wait. Resisting the urgh to sigh or roll his eyes since that'd be even less productive than allowing himself one (1) remark without any bite behind it and only something far more worn out, he takes a step onto the first crate. It's sturdy, so up he goes one more and then another to peer up at the window again. They'll probably be close enough, so nothing to do but look back at Hilda with an eyebrow raised next. ]
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