[OPEN] I don't like to think ahead

[frontlinetitties]

Who: Gideon and YOU!
When: April
Where: Cadens & Horizon
What: Post-event catch-all for April!
Warnings: TBD, I'll update as needed, but probably some trauma related to recent in-game events







((OOC: both closed starters and some open prompts will go below! Hit me up at brightflowers or PM if you want me to write you a starter, or feel free to tag into an open prompt/wildcard me! I'm good with brackets or prose so pick your poison and I'll follow your lead!))

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[theidlemaiden]

With Sylvain and Claude back in the safety of their shared room in the Sarstina, Hilda's days are no longer tied to the hospital and the temporary role of caregiver that she had slotted herself into. Normally she revels in free time, actively seeks it out in an effort to avoid work. But today she finds herself a little lost to the wind, as if the carefree days she spent before this ordeal had never happened and all she knows is how to fill it with relentless busyness.

It's disgraceful really, not to mention out of character. An unfamiliar restlessness courses through her veins and while the kneejerk reaction is to fuss over her friends that are home but still on the mend, the sight of them forms an even stranger knot in her stomach. Now that Marianne is here with a far steadier hand than she when comes to healing, Hilda forces herself to the baths instead. Because when push came to shove, choosing to turn her restlessness on herself had always been a soothing balm for whatever else ailed her, even temporarily.

With her basket of her various soaps, shampoos and conditioners in hand she slips into the baths. People mill about, each relaxing or lost to their own thoughts. For a moment she wonders if she should have dragged Marianne or Petra along to stave off her own thoughts but then notices a familiar shock of hair. Relief prickles across her skin and she floats over with a grin and her little basket in tow. "Gideon, welcome back!"

[frontlinetitties]

Gideon's expression immediately brightens as she looks up at the sound of her name and spots Hilda approaching. Relaxation and recuperation are all very well, but it's in the still moments that her thoughts tend to go dark and ugly. It's when she has nothing to focus on that her time in the pit rises unbidden in her mind, the full horror of it threatening to bear down on her now that it's actually over. She came here with the intension of spending time alone yet in the vicinity of others, thinking that would be enough. It's a small surprise, then, to find she's grateful for the interruption.

"Yo, Strawberry Shortcake!" she slants the other woman a grin, pushes herself up to sit a little straighter in the water, "fuck, it's good to see you."

They don't know each other well perhaps, but the sentiment is genuine; the memory of sharing desserts and playfully flirting is a good one, and Emperor knows she needs more good memories to focus on right now.

[theidlemaiden]

"Strawberry Shortcake?" If Hilda hadn't been beaming before, she certainly is now. Before arriving in Abraxas, she hadn't know about the existence of the dessert. When she had figured out what went into it it was a wonder someone hadn't invented it in Fodlan yet. It wasn't as if they didn't have the ingredients for it. It's unsurprising then that it had quickly become one of her favourite desserts. The fact Gideon had chosen it as her nickname in the moment warms her cheeks.

Finally arriving in front of her she puts on a pout for show. "That's not fair! I don't have a cute nickname for you." She has half a mind to reach out for a hug but then realizes belatedly that they'd both naked. Nakedness is hardly a problem for her, but years of learning about decorum still had her giving some pause to stop and think. Instead she reaches out for Giddeon's hand instead. "I'm so glad that you're okay."

[frontlinetitties]

Ah, now there's a reaction! Gideon's grin spreads all the broader knowing she's hit on a good one. It's a dessert she has, of course, only discovered since settling in Cadens, but it's sweet and good and cheerful so obviously it fits. Hilda reaches for her hand and Gideon is swift to take it, calloused fingers curling around the other woman's and giving them a squeeze. Then, ever-hungry for even the most basic contact, her own brain goes fuck it and she's pulling Hilda in close for a fierce hug. Perhaps shared-bath nudity is something she's only become used to since coming to Abraxas, but decorum never has been her strong suit.

"Yeeeaaaah, it felt pretty touch and go there for a minute. But I am okay," she says, releasing Hilda after just a moment and swiping a hand back through her mop of wet hair. Only slightly embarrassed by her sudden outburst of affection, "And hey, you've got time to think of one. Although honestly I'm happy enough with Gideon."

She's been called a lot of things in her life, few of them pleasant. Only more recently by her name with any real consistency.

[theidlemaiden]

Hilda certainly hadn't been expecting a naked hug in the bath. There's a noise of surprise and her eyes blow open wide as she's embraced in Gideon's arms. Is she upset about it though? Not in the least. She's quick to return the hug. The steam from the baths has already brought about a pretty flush to her cheeks, but the heat rises up the back of her neck all the same as she pulls back.

She notes the embarrassment but she also notes the quick gloss over what she had gone through. Not that Hilda would have expected her to launch right into it; no one she knew wanted to recount it and for good reason. It worries her all the same, but she doesn't let it show giving her an earnest grin instead. "Well if you're happy with Gideon, I'm not going to mess with a good thing. Besides, it suits you." That won't stop her from trying to think of a fitting one though. "Biceps" comes to mind immediately, but that seems silly.

There's a tilt of her head, as she scrutinizes her Gideon a moment. She'd brought no welcome back gift for her — cake isn't exactly a bath house necessity — but she does have something else. "Have you washed your hair yet? I can help if you want."

[frontlinetitties]

Honestly? She thinks the name suits her, too. She doesn't say this, nor does she mention that it's the only thing her mother had left her with and even that had been after the woman was already dead. Her reverent spirit had called it out three times, she'd been told (Gideon! Gideon! Gideon!) before fleeing for the River, and hard and cold though this second-hand knowledge may seem, she likes to think of it. Likes to think that - for a brief moment in time - she was the very centre of someone else's world.

These thoughts don't linger in her mind for long though; not when there's the heat of the water against her skin, and a cute girl flushed delightfully pink sharing the space with her. Instead she stares back as Hilda tilts her head, eyes moving over her assessingly-- and when she finally speaks, Gideon blinks in mild surprise.

"Huh? My hair?" she says, somewhat stupidly. Has to remind herself to get a fucking grip before she continues, "nah, I haven't. So like, knock yourself out I guess?"

Who knew this was a thing people did for each other?

[theidlemaiden]

With the way Hilda reacts (eyes lighting up, a little wiggle of excitement), you'd think that Gideon was the one who had asked her to wash her hair instead of the other way around. Washing someone's hair never fails to bring about a quiet joy for her.

Hilda loved washing her own hair – being able to extend that joy to someone else was the easiest way she could think to show her care for someone else. It wasn’t as if washing your hair was a strenuous task but why not have someone, or in this case Gideon, feel pampered even in a small way? She motions for Gideon to turn around as she slides up behind her, lathering some of the shampoo she’s brought with her in her hands before working it into her scalp.

Gideon’s earlier statement that she was okay is hard for Hilda to simply accept at face value and it still sits on her mind. The last thing she wants is to brush it off, especially after knowing what everyone had gone through, but she isn’t sure that she can so easily pry like she had with Sylvain and Claude. She figures though, after lapsing into a moment of silence, what’s the harm? They were friends, and she was worried. At worst Gideon could tell her she didn’t want to talk about it and Hilda would leave it at that.

“How have you been doing though? Really?”

[frontlinetitties]

Gideon turns with uncharacteristic obedience, sinks a little lower into the heated waters before just...waiting. Bathing is a relatively new pleasure after years of using a sonic, and while she's never entirely convinced that soaking in water is enough to get clean, it feels better. Fucking luxurious, actually.

This, though...seems quietly intimate in a way she isn't sure how to explain. The sort of casual shared experience that she has no real frame of reference for. She hides her burgeoning self-consciousness beneath a quick laugh, trusts that Hilda isn't planning to just dump water abruptly over her head. When uncertain, fall back on bravado!

"Oh yeah, pretty good. I moved to a new apartment and it's like...big, you know? Or it feels big anyway, just for me. And I've been hitting the training grounds, gotta get right back to building muscle again after...you know," there's a subtle edge to the last two words despite herself, though. Like she's brushed against something hard and cold before drawing quickly away again.

[theidlemaiden]

Hilda hums in response to the bravado. Making assumptions is something she tries to avoid, but it's hard when she knows so many people who have pulled a move similar to the one that Gideon is attempting to make. The question is, does she want to try and poke holes in said bravado? Because sometimes, acting like nothing is wrong is unfortunately the only thing you can do in the moment.

She can't say she blames Gideon either; Hilda knows that she'd try to do the same if she were in her position. Applying more pressure to Gideon's scalp, Hilda takes the moment to really give her a proper scalp massage while formulating her own answer, completely ignorant to the intimacy of the situation and focused entirely on the edge she had caught in Gideon's voice. When she finally does chirp up, her own voice has some levity to make up for the edge.

"A new apartment? That's exciting! We were actually thinking about trying to find a new place soon; it's getting a little crowded in the Sarstina and there's only so many people you cram into a bed, you know?" Hilda continues to prattle, "Any chance I could get a tour once you're settled? And in between your training of course. We don't want those biceps to feel neglected."

[frontlinetitties]

The other girl's hands in her hair feel good, help soften some of the residual tension she's been finding it hard to rid herself of. Fuck if it isn't just good in general, to be around people in an everyday setting, away from the hollow horror of encroaching death. She knows she's meant to be hot shit. Sometimes though, she finds herself feeling like a sheltered girl who's been thrown in at the deep end.

She settles herself against the feeling of Hilda's fingers against her scalp, and the soothing pressure of the water around them. Focuses down on the bright prattle of the other girl's voice. This is okay. She's okay. They're all more or less okay, now.

"I dunno, that kiiiinda sounds like you've got a good thing going. How many people are you cramming in your bed, exactly?" she says, and there's a return of the usual slant to her voice, "but yeah, I'll give you the tour. It's the kinda place just begging for guests to come over."