He was perfectly delightful, I promise. He's a nice young man and a good conversationalist. He had plenty of kind things to say about you.
[ Claire smiles at Hilda, hiding the small sadness of knowing what happens to her. She's known, from Hilda's own mouth, but hearing it from another felt like an awful confirmation. It makes her feel more protective, though she knows everyone is quite capable of taking care of themselves. Still, she worries. ]
I can't imagine it would be trouble, only a bit of a puzzle. There's something called grafting that I can try, but it isn't a guaranteed solution. It may not work, but at least we'll know rather quickly based on the size of what grows from the seed.
[ It will take quite a bit of trial and error, but the nice thing is she can practice in the Horizon. ]
How soon would you like to be able to give him this?
Claude is very good with his words so I'm not surprised that he was perfectly pleasant.
[ There's little point in denying that and there's some fondness to her tone further pushing the discomfort down. But fondness quickly turns into mild embarrassment. Instead of a flush though she huffs. ]
He better have. We're supposed to be really good friends.
[ Supposed to be — said like she's joking, but there's a small, bitter part of her that might actually not be. She doesn't dwell on it though, moving past it onto Claire's solution and question. ]
I guess it depends on how long you think the grafting will take. His birthday is what people here call June so we have some time.
Does grafting have something to do with putting a piece of a plant on another?
[ Claire has learned so much about this trio, and it makes her warm to know they've managed to hold onto one another here in Abraxas. ]
I think if I can prod along the plant and it's only miniature we just might eke it out. But yes, you graft the plants you want to one another, and then you keep repeating the process until you get the result you want. Do I have until the end of June at least?
[ This one of the most daunting, non-serious tasks she's undertaken, but she's determined. ]
[ Would she still be warmed to know that there's some level of trouble brewing? Or that Hilda was trying to desperately put a temporary, awful patch over something she thought she had done wrong?
Maybe that's why she's trying so hard to make a seemingly impossible present, possible. It's perhaps the reason behind her sounding so hopeful and chipper. ]
That should be plenty of time since his birthday is at the beginning of July - but you're the expert here! And if there's anything I can do to repay you, just let me know. Now I just have to figure out a present for Sylvain. Why do their birthdays have to be practically a month apart?
[ Hilda shoots Claire a look that clearly says that she absolutely will be repaying her even if she turns blue in the face trying to do it. Never underestimate her willpower when it comes to repaying or gifting someone something. ]
He like horses; he spends a lot of time with them in the stables in Cadens working there. But he enjoys cooking and puzzle games like chess. [ She hums. ] I can't really make him anything to do with those things though. And I'm not about to buy him a horse.
when u go all caps u gotta check for typos i'm so mad lmao
[ It'll be a battle of wills then; Claire would never think of needing to be repaid, and Hilda is already making a necklace for her. So really, Claire is already repaying Hilda. ]
I'm unfortunately not crafty enough in the way that would mean making a nice chessboard and pieces. You could offer to cook with him though, anything he might like? Or ask someone else who enjoys cooking if they might be willing to teach Sylvain how to make a dish from their home.
[ Claire likes brainstorming ideas like this, but she never got to do it enough when it was for fun. Her scheming always surrounded politics and wars. ]
[ Sounds like they're going to be stuck forever in a loop of repaying each other back then.
Claire's ideas are sound - and she really likes it in fact. But her response comes almost immediately with no hesitation or second thought. ]
He's banned Claude and I from being in a kitchen with him so I think us not cooking will be more of a gift. [ Her eyes light up however at her other suggestion. ]
Getting him some cooking lessons might be fun though! I think he'd really like that. And that'd be way easier than trying to get chess pieces to move on their own. You're so smart, Claire!
[ Claire can't help but laugh at the comment about being banned from the kitchen. ]
I don't know about so smart, but I do try. You're a very creative and thoughtful young woman, Hilda, you would have come up with something, I've no doubt about that.
[ There's a flush at the compliment that she doesn't quite take to heart. She smiles bashfully all the same though, flattered that Claire thinks highly enough of her to say things like that even if they aren't necessarily true. ]
Maybe, but he might have thrown the next hat I gave him away. [ As annoyed as she had been at the time, annoying Sylvain had been the real purpose of that particular gift and it had served its purpose. ] I'll tell you all about it later though. I don't want to waste more of your time when we have a lesson to do!
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no subject
[ Claire smiles at Hilda, hiding the small sadness of knowing what happens to her. She's known, from Hilda's own mouth, but hearing it from another felt like an awful confirmation. It makes her feel more protective, though she knows everyone is quite capable of taking care of themselves. Still, she worries. ]
I can't imagine it would be trouble, only a bit of a puzzle. There's something called grafting that I can try, but it isn't a guaranteed solution. It may not work, but at least we'll know rather quickly based on the size of what grows from the seed.
[ It will take quite a bit of trial and error, but the nice thing is she can practice in the Horizon. ]
How soon would you like to be able to give him this?
no subject
[ There's little point in denying that and there's some fondness to her tone further pushing the discomfort down. But fondness quickly turns into mild embarrassment. Instead of a flush though she huffs. ]
He better have. We're supposed to be really good friends.
[ Supposed to be — said like she's joking, but there's a small, bitter part of her that might actually not be. She doesn't dwell on it though, moving past it onto Claire's solution and question. ]
I guess it depends on how long you think the grafting will take. His birthday is what people here call June so we have some time.
Does grafting have something to do with putting a piece of a plant on another?
no subject
I think if I can prod along the plant and it's only miniature we just might eke it out. But yes, you graft the plants you want to one another, and then you keep repeating the process until you get the result you want. Do I have until the end of June at least?
[ This one of the most daunting, non-serious tasks she's undertaken, but she's determined. ]
no subject
Maybe that's why she's trying so hard to make a seemingly impossible present, possible. It's perhaps the reason behind her sounding so hopeful and chipper. ]
That should be plenty of time since his birthday is at the beginning of July - but you're the expert here! And if there's anything I can do to repay you, just let me know. Now I just have to figure out a present for Sylvain. Why do their birthdays have to be practically a month apart?
no subject
But for now, Claire is pleased that she may be onto something. ]
Repay me? Please, there's no need for that. What does Sylvain enjoy doing, perhaps I can help you brainstorm.
no subject
He like horses; he spends a lot of time with them in the stables in Cadens working there. But he enjoys cooking and puzzle games like chess. [ She hums. ] I can't really make him anything to do with those things though. And I'm not about to buy him a horse.
when u go all caps u gotta check for typos i'm so mad lmao
I'm unfortunately not crafty enough in the way that would mean making a nice chessboard and pieces. You could offer to cook with him though, anything he might like? Or ask someone else who enjoys cooking if they might be willing to teach Sylvain how to make a dish from their home.
[ Claire likes brainstorming ideas like this, but she never got to do it enough when it was for fun. Her scheming always surrounded politics and wars. ]
i saw nothing
Claire's ideas are sound - and she really likes it in fact. But her response comes almost immediately with no hesitation or second thought. ]
He's banned Claude and I from being in a kitchen with him so I think us not cooking will be more of a gift. [ Her eyes light up however at her other suggestion. ]
Getting him some cooking lessons might be fun though! I think he'd really like that. And that'd be way easier than trying to get chess pieces to move on their own. You're so smart, Claire!
no subject
I don't know about so smart, but I do try. You're a very creative and thoughtful young woman, Hilda, you would have come up with something, I've no doubt about that.
fin!
Maybe, but he might have thrown the next hat I gave him away. [ As annoyed as she had been at the time, annoying Sylvain had been the real purpose of that particular gift and it had served its purpose. ] I'll tell you all about it later though. I don't want to waste more of your time when we have a lesson to do!
[ There's a pause and a sweet giggle. ]
What were we going to do again?