[ The mention of it sounding suspiciously like one of Sylvain's lines gets him to crack a wider smile, because it does. Claude doesn't really have a comeback to that teasing accusation either when being able to be here needling her patience yet again is something he's still marveling over. It's been far too long, and though most of his aches are purely physical this is a constant one running deeper that's now being soothed again. Because unlike those separations before, there weren't even letters to pen back and forth with their one source of communication here frayed. Or so he hopes that's all it was, but he's determined to not let that seep into the here and now.
He opens his mouth to say something else he's still figuring out, but then Hilda leans down and curiosity has him propping himself up on an elbow to try to follow her motion. The answer's clear enough both from the kit in her hands he doesn't immediately recognize but what Hilda says next clarifies everything. It's too difficult to resist a grin of his own in response to hers, so Claude doesn't even try. ]
A manicure might be a crucial part of being in Nocwich, you know. That first weekend it was open I went and got one for the experience, and all I could think about the whole time was how much you would've enjoyed it. [ When he starts that thought, Claude means to joke about how obviously this will make it a habit, but then the rest of it just goes right ahead and slips out of his mouth. Hm. ] You would've been proud, but probably not about the part where I let the paint flake all off.
[ This is - not what he meant to talk about. He should probably let Hilda get on with the tools in her hands, maybe start by letting go of her hand still in his to make that happen. But when his gaze flickers up to her face from where it'd dropped in what's supposed to be a glance, instead Claude studies her for a few seconds. No, the manicure can wait if she'll let it and he squeezes her hand in his lightly. ]
Hey. When's the last time you got some rest?
[ It's not the biggest bed the inn likely has but this one's still more than enough to fit two people in it. Some part of it is a selfish ask on his part, he knows, because he also wants her closer even with worry she hasn't taken a break for who knows how long taking precedence here, because when would she have had the time? The answer to that is a while ago if he had to guess; all the more reason he shifts back to create more space next to him. ]
I know it's not much, but I do have this very nice bed I can offer. I promise that my cuticles will still, in fact, be tragic in a little while from now.
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He opens his mouth to say something else he's still figuring out, but then Hilda leans down and curiosity has him propping himself up on an elbow to try to follow her motion. The answer's clear enough both from the kit in her hands he doesn't immediately recognize but what Hilda says next clarifies everything. It's too difficult to resist a grin of his own in response to hers, so Claude doesn't even try. ]
A manicure might be a crucial part of being in Nocwich, you know. That first weekend it was open I went and got one for the experience, and all I could think about the whole time was how much you would've enjoyed it. [ When he starts that thought, Claude means to joke about how obviously this will make it a habit, but then the rest of it just goes right ahead and slips out of his mouth. Hm. ] You would've been proud, but probably not about the part where I let the paint flake all off.
[ This is - not what he meant to talk about. He should probably let Hilda get on with the tools in her hands, maybe start by letting go of her hand still in his to make that happen. But when his gaze flickers up to her face from where it'd dropped in what's supposed to be a glance, instead Claude studies her for a few seconds. No, the manicure can wait if she'll let it and he squeezes her hand in his lightly. ]
Hey. When's the last time you got some rest?
[ It's not the biggest bed the inn likely has but this one's still more than enough to fit two people in it. Some part of it is a selfish ask on his part, he knows, because he also wants her closer even with worry she hasn't taken a break for who knows how long taking precedence here, because when would she have had the time? The answer to that is a while ago if he had to guess; all the more reason he shifts back to create more space next to him. ]
I know it's not much, but I do have this very nice bed I can offer. I promise that my cuticles will still, in fact, be tragic in a little while from now.