If it was trouble I wouldn't have offered. See you soon.
[ More effort than necessary simply isn't her style after all. Thought for those that she cares for she'll do most anything.
Hilda makes quick work tidying up her work space so that she won't receive a curt message from Viktor later before she's on her way. There's little that can be done about her clothing without being impossibly late but she does at least ensure that her hair is tidy, her makeup in place and there's no stray smudges of grease or soot on her face. Of course the tea takes a little bit longer than anticipated, but she arrives, a large thermos and a blanket in her bag.
If there are nerves that dance beneath the surface of her skin she doesn't seem to show it as she greets Ciri with a bright smile and a teasing tone. ]
[ Ciri's sitting on a bench in the university park while she waits, unbothered by the delay. She has her sketchbook against the arm of the bench, one knee up with her heel on the edge of the seat. There are some idle doodles of birds on the page, a slightly misshapen squirrel with an extra-long tail.
When Hilda approaches, Ciri looks up with a smile. The 'stranger' line turns it into a pout. ]
[ Seeing the pout on Ciri's face on prompts Hilda's smile to widen further to show that it wasn't really said with any truth to it. It is impossible to ignore the fact that they had all changed in some way after everything that had happened to them, but she'd like to think that the core of who they were hadn't. ]
Long enough.
[ The teasing chide is as much aimed at herself as it is at Ciri. It took two to tango after all. At least, hypothetically speaking.
Her answer to the question may surprise Ciri considering how much Hilda has made it known that she enjoys lazing around. ]
I'd be happy to walk. I've been sitting down most of the day to be honest working on my project. Who would have thought that'd be exhausting? [ She tings the thermos sitting slung by her hip. ] The tea will stay warm anyway.
Sure. That sounds nice. [ Ciri smiles back, and reaches for the thermos to examine it. ]
One of Viktor's? [ She'd commissioned something similar as a gift to Geralt to keep water (or whatever he wanted to put in there) cold when he was out in the desert, but the shape of this is definitely more suited to Hilda's tastes, not the large, practical canteen she'd gotten. ]
[ Hilda slips it over her head in order to hand it over to Ciri so she can take a closer look. ]
Naturally.
[ This sort of thing wasn't her forte. Then again, most things outside of the realm of jewelry were. Speaking of things outside of her perceived skills -
Ciri's question prompts a little bit of a groan from her that has a pained expression following it. ]
Funnily enough, it's for Geralt. [ Realizing that it sounds like it could be a surprise or a secret she's quick to add on - ] But he knows about it. He asked if I could help recreate the sword from the dream. The one that you asked me to make. Which probably makes it even more intimidating in hindsight.
[ Ciri's eyes widen slightly when she glances back over at Hilda. ]
...the sword?
[ Of course she remembers. The fact Geralt had asked Hilda for it is a squeeze of affection in her chest, a strange sort of nostalgia for something that never happened. Something that could have been. A reality that can change, that can be shaped to be what they want.
[ She's clearly still being woefully dramatic about it as her mind slips back to the forge and the workshop with her strewn about failures and prototypes. ]
I appreciate the vote of confidence. [ For Ciri's sake however she tries to offer her an appreciative, if disbelieving smile. ] But I'm not exactly a goddess anymore with infinite powers to just create whatever I want.
[ In typical fashion she shakes off the dreariness. ]
But what about you? How have you been? You have a new housemate?
None of us ever were. [ Ciri reminds her gently, her smile waning into something a little sad, tinged with nostalgia that feels so out of place. As though she's reminding them both. ]
There's still a lot I'm--
Processing, perhaps, is the word. I assume we all are.
[ The question isn't one she expected. Ciri blinks, distracted from the subject momentarily. Ah. Yes. ]
That's right. His name is John.
[ Another, more heartfelt smile. ]
Geralt's taken a liking to him. He's a sweet man. You should meet him sometime.
[ The tinge of nostalgia and sadness doesn't go unnoticed. And though Hilda perhaps can relate in a small way, it is ultimately a future that she has decided she doesn't want for many other various reasons. To be a God, to live forever even if it is alongside those that she holds dear, isn't something that she's certain she wants if it means being burdened with other things.
She nods however in understanding. Processing is a good word though it denotes feeling more deeply about what had happened to them more than Hilda would like to admit that she does.
The name and the location that John had come from suddenly clicks. John, is, after all, a rather common name. ]
Oh, John! He's a friend of Claire's. I didn't realize that he knew Geralt. I can't believe that he made it out of Thorne without anything happening.
[ Lots to think about still, months later -- or not think about, as it were, quietly compartmentalizing in their own way. She'd be lying if she said there weren't some things she missed. The freedom, most of all. The power. And she had helped people. Perhaps someday she still could.
There are other parts of their false time in that false world that linger in her mind, memories with people who are very real. Memories that are real in their own way, too.
There are things they still do need to talk about.
But for now, she only nods. ]
Yes, that's the one. I don't know Claire very well, though I remember they come from the same sphere.
It wasn't an easy journey for him, but he's here now. Geralt seems relieved.
[ It's not too surprising Hilda didn't know, considering Geralt's lack of communication most of the time. ]
[ Hilda isn't terribly surprised that it's only now that she's discovering news of a runaway Summoned. Had it been a bigger incident it probably would have caused some waves amongst the territories and their respective governing bodies. And since it hadn't - considering the parties involved - that was probably for the best.
Even if she experiences no joy in discovering that John probably hadn't had an easy escape.
How Ciri phrases her father's reaction is telling in its own way. Quickly she casts a sidelong glance at her, a smile creeping at the corners of her own mouth. ]
I'm glad someone that he cares about is safe. It's hard to be separated from people that you care about. Especially here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ More effort than necessary simply isn't her style after all. Thought for those that she cares for she'll do most anything.
Hilda makes quick work tidying up her work space so that she won't receive a curt message from Viktor later before she's on her way. There's little that can be done about her clothing without being impossibly late but she does at least ensure that her hair is tidy, her makeup in place and there's no stray smudges of grease or soot on her face. Of course the tea takes a little bit longer than anticipated, but she arrives, a large thermos and a blanket in her bag.
If there are nerves that dance beneath the surface of her skin she doesn't seem to show it as she greets Ciri with a bright smile and a teasing tone. ]
Hi stranger - long time no see.
no subject
When Hilda approaches, Ciri looks up with a smile. The 'stranger' line turns it into a pout. ]
Aw, come now. It hasn't been that long.
[ She lets her leg down, making room. ]
You want to sit, or go for a walk?
no subject
Long enough.
[ The teasing chide is as much aimed at herself as it is at Ciri. It took two to tango after all. At least, hypothetically speaking.
Her answer to the question may surprise Ciri considering how much Hilda has made it known that she enjoys lazing around. ]
I'd be happy to walk. I've been sitting down most of the day to be honest working on my project. Who would have thought that'd be exhausting? [ She tings the thermos sitting slung by her hip. ] The tea will stay warm anyway.
no subject
One of Viktor's? [ She'd commissioned something similar as a gift to Geralt to keep water (or whatever he wanted to put in there) cold when he was out in the desert, but the shape of this is definitely more suited to Hilda's tastes, not the large, practical canteen she'd gotten. ]
What project have you been working on lately?
no subject
Naturally.
[ This sort of thing wasn't her forte. Then again, most things outside of the realm of jewelry were. Speaking of things outside of her perceived skills -
Ciri's question prompts a little bit of a groan from her that has a pained expression following it. ]
Funnily enough, it's for Geralt. [ Realizing that it sounds like it could be a surprise or a secret she's quick to add on - ] But he knows about it. He asked if I could help recreate the sword from the dream. The one that you asked me to make. Which probably makes it even more intimidating in hindsight.
no subject
...the sword?
[ Of course she remembers. The fact Geralt had asked Hilda for it is a squeeze of affection in her chest, a strange sort of nostalgia for something that never happened. Something that could have been. A reality that can change, that can be shaped to be what they want.
Is that why Geralt asked? ]
I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job, Hilda.
covers the timestamp
[ She's clearly still being woefully dramatic about it as her mind slips back to the forge and the workshop with her strewn about failures and prototypes. ]
I appreciate the vote of confidence. [ For Ciri's sake however she tries to offer her an appreciative, if disbelieving smile. ] But I'm not exactly a goddess anymore with infinite powers to just create whatever I want.
[ In typical fashion she shakes off the dreariness. ]
But what about you? How have you been? You have a new housemate?
shh
There's still a lot I'm--
Processing, perhaps, is the word. I assume we all are.
[ The question isn't one she expected. Ciri blinks, distracted from the subject momentarily. Ah. Yes. ]
That's right. His name is John.
[ Another, more heartfelt smile. ]
Geralt's taken a liking to him. He's a sweet man. You should meet him sometime.
no subject
She nods however in understanding. Processing is a good word though it denotes feeling more deeply about what had happened to them more than Hilda would like to admit that she does.
The name and the location that John had come from suddenly clicks. John, is, after all, a rather common name. ]
Oh, John! He's a friend of Claire's. I didn't realize that he knew Geralt. I can't believe that he made it out of Thorne without anything happening.
no subject
There are other parts of their false time in that false world that linger in her mind, memories with people who are very real. Memories that are real in their own way, too.
There are things they still do need to talk about.
But for now, she only nods. ]
Yes, that's the one. I don't know Claire very well, though I remember they come from the same sphere.
It wasn't an easy journey for him, but he's here now. Geralt seems relieved.
[ It's not too surprising Hilda didn't know, considering Geralt's lack of communication most of the time. ]
no subject
Even if she experiences no joy in discovering that John probably hadn't had an easy escape.
How Ciri phrases her father's reaction is telling in its own way. Quickly she casts a sidelong glance at her, a smile creeping at the corners of her own mouth. ]
I'm glad someone that he cares about is safe. It's hard to be separated from people that you care about. Especially here.