Trust me. [ His dry tone lingers as he frees her chin long enough to tweak a lock of her hair. Then he tugs her close again, wrapping her up in his arms once more. He rests his chin atop her head as he holds her. ] I’ve had nights end on much worse notes. That didn’t even make the top ten. There was no bloodshed, no angry relatives, no escaping out of a window. A little bit of extra laundry isn’t a hardship.
And besides. It isn’t up to you to decide where I get to spend my energy, because I definitely don’t see it as a waste. [ Where does she even get these ideas? He’s positive he’s never implied anything of the sort. ] I have more than enough focus to go around.
[ He reaches up to catch her hand in his, threading their fingers together. ] And oh, yeah. Just in case you forgot that part, too, you promised to make me an earring. And I’m holding you to that.
[ He's regaled her with stories of close calls, scaling out windows in the dead of night or just as dawn was breaking as someone came bursting through doors demanding to know what he was doing in bed with someone. It's never failed to delight her and it doesn't fail to draw the corners of her lips upwards now despite the conflicting feelings whirling inside of her.
And again, despite the doubt that stirs in her heart at his words, she allows herself to melt into his embrace. Instinctively she moves to wrap her arms around him - but before she can he's tangling their fingers together.
It's difficult to hide her bewilderment and confusion. ]
When did I say I was going to make you an earring? You already have one.
[ There's no arguing that that sounds like something she would have done. But her eyes dart once again to earring before peeling away uncomfortably. It's hard to feel second place when she had never been in the running to begin with, she tells herself.
Instead she focuses her gaze on their hands and the feeling of the senseless circles against her knuckles and the arm around her waist. She squeezes his hand letting out a tired exhale. ]
If anyone could make a piece of jewelry that would look good there, it would be you. But if it’s too difficult for you, you can always make one for the other ear. Or maybe up the curve of this one instead.
[ There's a non-commmital sound from her. It's partly a dismissal at his confidence in her jewelry making skills and partly towards this supposed promise she had made him. Had she agreed because she so desperately wanted to feel included? To feel wanted? Is it some kindness he's giving her because he feels pity towards her and that her temper tantrum as she is coming to think of it, had worked in some way, shape or form?
It's too much to think about this early (is it even early?) in the morning and when she can feel the hangover that she's undoubtedly going to have the rest of the day creeping at the edges of her mind. Weariness and an impending hangover aren't enough to stop her from feeling and sounding reticent despite her best efforts to sound like a less than chipper version of herself. ]
I guess if I promised, I don't really have a choice, do I?
[ When she makes it though hadn't been discussed as far as she's aware - otherwise he would have mentioned that too. And maybe she would some day when her heart didn't feel so heavy and aching as it did right now. Maybe some day when she didn't feel the creep of the jealous creature stroke its sharpened claws along the length of her spine reminding her that it was still there, ever present. ]
It won't be today though. I feel like I woke up with cotton balls in my mouth.
[ He bends to press a kiss to her brow once more, tucking her hair back off her face with an affectionate brush of his fingers. ]
I think I can do something about that. Why don’t you go get washed up and into something comfy. I’ll go make you some tea. I promise you’ll feel all better afterwards.
[ Hilda's eyes flutter closed for a moment as his warm lips kiss her forehead. There's other excuses on her lips about why she shouldn't linger longer than necessary. She's no longer familiar with Claude's schedule but she has to imagine that just because it's some nebulous part of the morning, he's probably somewhere which is probably the biggest reason she'd prefer to leave as quickly as possible.
But instead of saying anything along those lines she brings their hands closer together to brush her lips gently and quickly against his knuckles in silent agreement. ]
I won't stay too long. I have to meet Ioana in Aquila to pick up some packages.
[ That one at least isn't a lie. As she extracts herself from the bed, she tugs the sheet along with her to wrap around her body as she darts towards the bathroom. It's probably ridiculous and she's probably going to get laughed at - but after everything she had been through in the last 24 hours, she can't help it. Just before she closes the door she lingers in the doorway not turning to look at him. ]
Sylvain, I really don't deserve to be treated so kindly. But I appreciate it.
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And besides. It isn’t up to you to decide where I get to spend my energy, because I definitely don’t see it as a waste. [ Where does she even get these ideas? He’s positive he’s never implied anything of the sort. ] I have more than enough focus to go around.
[ He reaches up to catch her hand in his, threading their fingers together. ] And oh, yeah. Just in case you forgot that part, too, you promised to make me an earring. And I’m holding you to that.
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And again, despite the doubt that stirs in her heart at his words, she allows herself to melt into his embrace. Instinctively she moves to wrap her arms around him - but before she can he's tangling their fingers together.
It's difficult to hide her bewilderment and confusion. ]
When did I say I was going to make you an earring? You already have one.
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[ He answers around a hum, one arm wrapped around her waist. His other hand holds hers, his thumb rubbing absent circles against her knuckles. ]
You promised you were going to make me one just from you.
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Instead she focuses her gaze on their hands and the feeling of the senseless circles against her knuckles and the arm around her waist. She squeezes his hand letting out a tired exhale. ]
It probably won't look good beside that one.
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If anyone could make a piece of jewelry that would look good there, it would be you. But if it’s too difficult for you, you can always make one for the other ear. Or maybe up the curve of this one instead.
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It's too much to think about this early (is it even early?) in the morning and when she can feel the hangover that she's undoubtedly going to have the rest of the day creeping at the edges of her mind. Weariness and an impending hangover aren't enough to stop her from feeling and sounding reticent despite her best efforts to sound like a less than chipper version of herself. ]
I guess if I promised, I don't really have a choice, do I?
[ When she makes it though hadn't been discussed as far as she's aware - otherwise he would have mentioned that too. And maybe she would some day when her heart didn't feel so heavy and aching as it did right now. Maybe some day when she didn't feel the creep of the jealous creature stroke its sharpened claws along the length of her spine reminding her that it was still there, ever present. ]
It won't be today though. I feel like I woke up with cotton balls in my mouth.
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I think I can do something about that. Why don’t you go get washed up and into something comfy. I’ll go make you some tea. I promise you’ll feel all better afterwards.
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But instead of saying anything along those lines she brings their hands closer together to brush her lips gently and quickly against his knuckles in silent agreement. ]
I won't stay too long. I have to meet Ioana in Aquila to pick up some packages.
[ That one at least isn't a lie. As she extracts herself from the bed, she tugs the sheet along with her to wrap around her body as she darts towards the bathroom. It's probably ridiculous and she's probably going to get laughed at - but after everything she had been through in the last 24 hours, she can't help it. Just before she closes the door she lingers in the doorway not turning to look at him. ]
Sylvain, I really don't deserve to be treated so kindly. But I appreciate it.
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[ He watches her go with a faint smile lingering at the corner of his lips, his expression full of fondness. ]
But you’re welcome anyway. Now go on. I’ll have your tea ready for you when you’re finished.