abraxaslogs | maybe i'm a mess

[ Some part of this feels hollow. It wasn't all that long ago there were five of them sitting around making plans to move to the very places on Sylvain's list as Claude walks next to the man in question silently, glancing up at a building occasionally as they walk to file this route away in his mind for later, and now there's only the three of them on this search. This isn't how those plans were supposed to go.

He's tired of thinking about that when that thought and all the others adjacent to it have been looping through his mind since it was clear Petra and then Marianne had simply disappeared. This is far from the first time he's had to keep moving when weighed down beneath something heavy - maybe it's that ability that makes it too easy to give a teasing scoff as he would on any other day when Sylvain peers at his paper like it'll offer clarification. Easy enough to slide right back behind putting up enough other emotions to conceal any others behind that front for the sake of not ruining what is a thoughtful idea. ]

I think I might even buy that, Gautier, if only this was the first time you've said so about something being just up ahead.

[ Easy enough to make that sound as light as ever even if it's an exaggeration and to flash Hilda a grin like they're in on this together even if Claude's the one orchestrating the teasing. On second thought, maybe it really is just that easy to feel a little lighter at the return of something familiar. Reaching over, he attempts to tug the list loose to read it for himself when Sylvain looks up to scan the area. Surely those couple months of being a courier after first arriving to Cadens will come in handy here with the mental map he'd made of the streets. ]

Any chance you know what the building looks like? That just might give us a little better luck. Hilda, have you been around here before?

[ Unsurprisingly, Hilda had cried when she realized that Petra and Marianne had both returned to Fodlan and their respective timelines. There was a myriad of reasons why (the unknown, the known, the noticeable absence of both of them, how she was left alone with two Big Idiots, that this is how Sylvain must have felt when Felix left - ), but the one that stands out to Hilda is how awful Claude must be feeling in particular in regards to Petra. Thinking about that, and how he's trying to act normal about all of this, feels like a dagger to her heart.

In an effort to not be consumed by her feelings or walk around with perpetually puffy, red eyes, Hilda had taken to spend more and more time outside of the apartment. It's a miracle that Sylvain is able to wrangle (although ambush feels more suited considering this was happening before noon) her at all. But when a claw-foot tub is at stake, she doesn't need much more convincing.

That doesn't mean she'll stop exaggerating her yawns though. Her tone matches Claude's as she finishes her languid yawn. ]

Maybe we wouldn't have been hopelessly lost if someone hadn't dragged us out before I could even finish my breakfast.

[ She scurries a little closer to Claude to get a peek at the list. The neighbourhood names sound familiar but in the end she shrugs, before providing something completely unhelpful. ]

I think I went on a date here once with a merchant or something. It was dark though so it's hard to tell. If this place is so hard to find now, how are we going to find it if we move in? And why aren't we just asking for directions again?

[ The sense of grief he's getting from both of them is almost overwhelming, and it's made it hard to maintain his own cheerful attitude in an attempt to counter it. Mostly because he just wanted to hug Hilda and... no, he probably just wanted to give Claude a hug, too. Because they both felt like the desperately needed one.

And for some reason, they weren't consoling each other in this, which he doesn't really understand, when he knows how close the two of them are. But that's been odd for a few weeks now, too, even though he hasn't been able to figure out why just yet. Something they're both playing close to their chests. He's not sure if something happened - or maybe something didn't happen? Either way, the feelings he'd been getting from both of them have just been weird for no discernible reason and that's just been downright frustrating. Especially now when it was just the three of them here.

But at least they're putting in a little effort to try, which is all he was hoping for when he'd absolutely ambushed them today and dragged them out together before they could sneak off to hermit on their own, as they'd both been doing over the past several days.

Letting Claude pluck the list from his fingers, he instead turns to survey their surroundings before his expression lights up and he points up the street. ]

There. I think it's that one. Let's go see?

[ From here, it's easy to make out what looks like a row of houses all connected together at one end of the upcoming street. ]

[ There's a believable enough laugh from Claude, one he doesn't even half feel, but it's good to see Hilda sass Sylvain over the hour of the morning. That's comforting in that it's the same as it ever was, and once the list is in his hands he tilts it towards her to let her scan it for any further clues about their destination. The streets are starting to look a little more recognizable to him to the point where when they approach the corner Sylvain mentioned, he realizes he's been to the cafe diagonally across from where they are several times before. The same goes for a few shops lined up with colorful items of all kinds on display in their windows, and he nudges Hilda lightly with his elbow to point them out to her. ]

Seems like it's got some good amenities around it much like the Inn does. That'll make getting settled in even easier.

[ They've accumulated enough over their respective months here to have more than enough to move with along with what belongings Petra and Marianne have. Had, he reminds himself, and having to do that sends another pang of emotions he tamps right back down. Sylvain pointing out where they're going is a useful distraction and Claude lifts a hand to to shade his eyes against a sudden burst of sunlight when the sun comes out from behind a cloud. ]

Well, you're spared from navigation critique after all, Sylvain. For now, anyway. Let's go before we get ourselves turned around and end up walking around those same couple of blocks over and over again.

[ He'd meant 'spared' rather loosely and 'for now' as more like a few seconds, clearly. ]

[ Her question going unanswered means that there's a pointed look of annoyance at both boys. They could have stopped to ask any number of people but Sylvain was so convinced in his sense of direction that she had bottled up her doubt until now.

Even Hilda would be hard pressed to admit that the shops and life on the street is already pretty promising. For whatever reason one of the places they had gone to view had almost no signs of life - windows were shuttered, there was barely saw a soul out on the streets - it had given her the creeps and she had decided she didn't care what the apartment looked like. As they had wandered from apartment to apartment, the thought crossed Hilda mind about whether or not she should try and find something on her own. The idea made her balk; she had never lived alone before and after almost narrowly losing Claude and Sylvain, she's reluctant to leave their side even if she's trying to give them space.

The cute boutique with glittering accessories they pass by makes her thoughts wander but when she realizes she's being left behind she tears her gaze away, quickly trailing after them. She could come back and check it out later. ]

How did you hear about this place again?

Hmm, maybe I shouldn't give away my resources just yet.

[ Sylvain shoots Hilda a playful wink as he slows his steps, realizing she'd fallen behind. When she catches up, he wraps an arm around her shoulders and tucks her in between them.

Leading the way, he turns down the street of those rowhouses he'd been heading towards... and then continues to walk right past them without stopping. Instead, it's the tall brick factory and warehouse at the end of the street he stops at instead, tipping his head back to squint up at it with a faint grin. ]

Now I know it doesn't look like much from out here, but bear with me, I think this might work out better in our favor than you might expect.

[ Actually, he's expecting Hilda to object outright, but Claude might give him the opportunity to explain his thinking, at least. ]

[ The rowhouses were exactly what he was expecting. They remind him just a little bit of Derdriu's townhouses from a distance and even more so up close. All that's missing is a canal running nearby, and he's about to make exactly that comment before they don't stop. They keep walking.

He glances back at the rowhouses first in confusion, then across at Hilda with more confusion to see if she's also feeling lost, and then finally there's a squint aimed up at Sylvain. ]

Where exactly are you taking us, anyway?

[ Apparently everything Sylvain says is going to be answered with a question from one or both of them at any point in this conversation. Sure, he has the list in his hand, but that doesn't answer much since they're still going until they stop in front of a building he's not expecting. At first Claude just blinks at it but before he has time to wonder if Sylvain's playing a prank on them - that clear prelude to heading inside has him arching an eyebrow. ]

Alright, I'm listening. [ But: he's listening while also wrapping an arm around Hilda beneath Sylvain's just in case she really is about to abandon them for shopping. Clear curiosity for what's before them, wisely presented with no further details for some intrigue, has an actual smile starting to appear on his face. ] Unless this actually your version of a very elaborate hint that we're needing to find better jobs, in which case we're leaving you here.

[ Hilda allows herself to be drawn between the pair of them, instinctively looping her arms through their arms. She ignores the momentary tension that prods her spine up a little straighter at Claude's touch but that's a passing thought soon enough.

It's clear that she's caught off guard too when they don't stop in front of the townhouses; the clouds seem to part, shining idillic rays down on their ivy covered facades and neatly tended gardens. Never mind that she doesn't garden but that wasn't the point - it was all about the pretty little package that the townhouses offered. Her expression says it all and she doesn't bother to hide any of it: there's a spark of genuine excitement and interest that quickly fades into skepticism at the sight of the gigantic, looming warehouse. She meets Claude's gaze just as Sylvain asks for their trust without saying so explicitly. Her eyes swing back to Sylvain, a brow arched conveying more than any amount of words combined could.

But it's Hilda so of course she's going to say something. If she didn't that would surely raise alarm bells between the two of them. ]

You expect us to live in a warehouse? [ There's a bit of a silence that follows as she takes it all in. How many flights of stairs were they going to have to climb to get up there? This is already turning into a big no from her. She sniffs. ] There better be a really good reason because the townhouses back there were really cute, Sylvain.

[ So what if she can't afford one? She'd find a a way to get one if she really wanted to. ]

Edited 2023-05-10 09:14 (UTC)

[ Sylvain just gives a playful scoff at that, keeping his arm wrapped around Hilda's shoulders so she can't turn and stalk away from them both. ]

What jobs do you guys have again? [ It's said teasingly enough, because they all do plenty of work and most of that is in exchange for room and board now. Although he still thinks having their own place will be a nice change, even if it will be harder for all of them. ] And those townhouses are for buying, not for rent. I don't think any of us are ready for something like that yet. And my income definitely can't support it.

This place, though. [ He gestures at the warehouse before them. ] There's still business and factorywork carried out on the ground floor, but the upper floor is actually what the owner is renting out. There's already plumbing and everything set up there, and from what he told me, there's a nice kitchen already made up in there. He'd use the space himself when he worked late and didn't feel like trekking home. But that's been happening less now that he's a family man, so he's renting it out as living space for extra income instead.

Right now, other than the kitchen, it's one big open area that we can divide up however we want, into whatever sort of room we need. It can be as close and cozy as we want or as sprawling and spread out. He offered his own construction team, who he uses downstairs when they need to change things, to put in walls and bathrooms and anything else, wherever we want them, before we move in. But this way, I thought we could utilize what we want and what we need and still have room to add on, should people come and go. A space we can adjust into being whatever we need. It's still close enough to all the amenities to be convenient but gives us way more room to work with than most of the rentals in our price range. This way we could make a workshop for your new jewelry crafts, Hilda. A library for all Claude's books. The owner even said there's some rooftop space if we wanted to put a garden or something up there.

[ He knows this might be a hard sell, but maybe if he can help them see the possibilities they could make for themselves here, it might help. ]

[ Claude's sorely tempted to roll his eyes at the job comment but doesn't - mostly because he was asking for that response by bringing it up in the first place. The townhouses being ruled out makes sense considering buying something isn't something he's positive they want to do, though he resists the urge to look back over his shoulder (or rather, their collective shoulders with how they're standing) at them once more. The warehouse certainly is... not what he's expecting.

He'd promised, sort of, to listen and so he does at the explanation that Sylvain gives to two very skeptical Deer. There's a plan taking shape in his mind as the other man talks since this does make more and more sense as more details are added in - even if they've yet to see the inside. ]

So you're saying this is somewhat of a blank canvas?

[ If so, that's entirely intriguing as Claude moves his gaze from Sylvain back to the building hiding something just waiting to be customized on the interior. Or part of the interior, but that's enough. There's more questions about the logistics to be asked, he's sure, but the premise? It's worth getting excited about, and not just because he's taking the mention of a library as another promise.

He's also choosing to ignore the comment about people coming and going even if that's a given by how many times they've been through it now. ]

If you're going to give me the chance to build my own library, I'm certainly going to take it. [ The grin on his face is less forced this time around as he nudges Hilda with the arm he has around her. ] Just think about the kind of workshop we could build for you then, too. If we're talking about the upper floor then there's no limit to the natural light and let me tell you: as someone who was here for all of last summer, we're about to have a lot of it.

[ Abraxas continued to remind Hilda about the shelter and cushion that her life in Fodlan had provided her. It's been six months since her arrival and the rude awakening that she'd have to do some work if she expected to have any of the comforts she had at home continued to appear before her. It hadn't been enough to pull her naked and shivering into the middle of a desert, but to also have her work?

Rude of this world really, considering that they had been the ones who had summoned her. But, and at this her gaze drifts slowly between the two men who were her last ties to home, at least she'd had familiar faces to make the transition easier. She worries the bottom of her lip as she listens to Sylvain sell them on the possibility of this place becoming their new home for however long that may be. Their home. The thought makes her stumble and she feels something clench tight around her heart for a moment. The furrow in her brow can at least pass for deep enough thought instead of the beginnings of crippling doubt.

That's a thought for when she's alone. Claude's nudge jostles helps her recover and reminds her of what's in front of them. It's easier to focus on what's being presented to them which is, as Claude puts it, a blank canvas. As intimidating as that is, she can't deny that there's something of a thrill she gets thinking about it.

She is, and always will be, a tougher sell from Claude however in that respect. Ironically, she is chronically cautious about the things that mattered the most and new living quarters is apparently one of those things. Or maybe this is just her pickiness and stubborn nature rearing its head because the townhouses were just so pretty. ]

I don't need a whole workshop to myself. It's not like I'm going to get an anvil and turn into Jayce. [ She crosses her arms with a huff, although both of them may pick up that she's starting to warm, if only just, to the idea. ] I'd rather have a nice, big bathroom with a clawfoot tub. And a big comfy bed. [ Hilda rolls her eyes, heaving a sigh. ] Okay fine, show us the gross dusty warehouse before we change our minds.

[ Sylvain just casts her a knowing smirk and tugs her ponytail. ] The point is that you can have both those things. Come on, he said he'd leave the door unlocked for us. There's an entrance from the side here.

[ Sylvain leads the way around the side of the warehouse, following the directions the owner had given him and, sure enough, finds a large set of double doors that lead to a sturdy staircase heading up. Another set of doors await them at the top and, pushing these open, they step out into a massive open space that spreads the breadth and width of the warehouse.

Despite Hilda's concerns, the place is clean and airy up here. The rafters are high overhead and a good half of this space has high arching panes of glass in intricate metal domes to let in sunlight from above. Off to their right, it's easy to see the section that was portioned off for use as a kitchen and makeshift office for the owner, and Sylvain gives a low whistle as he goes to inspect what's already here for them to work with. ]

If their construction guys can build us rooms of this quality through the rest of the place, I might just be impressed. [ This might be even nicer than the one at the Inn, he thinks, as he goes to prod at the stove curiously. But after he glances around, he turns back around, gaze going to search for Claude and Hilda's reactions, shifting from one foot to another as he worries his lower lip. ]

Well? Thoughts?

[ Claude, for his part, is doing his best to (unsuccessfully) smother a smile at Hilda's hierarchy of house wishes as if there's a chance she's going to have to choose one out of everything. Sylvain has that handled, so he falls into step behind their leader while still studying the outside of the building and the grounds. Perhaps the inside is more promising than the outer grounds look without the benefit of hard work going on across it.

And as it turns out, the inside is in far better shape. More like rather nice shape, he has to admit when he stops in the middle of the space and turns in place slowly to scan everything in as much depth as possible. It takes more than one leisurely spin, but there's much to appreciate. This room hardly feels like the building they walked up to what with the ceiling stretching up into the rafters and the windows letting in enough light so it barely feels like they're inside at all. There's another smile carefully suppressed when Sylvain's first destination is the kitchen, though Claude himself goes to move to one end of the room by a glass-paned door which looks to lead out to some kind of terrace. He'll investigate that in a minute.

Now it's time to put those visions to work. It takes but a second for him to sketch where the space could be partitioned off into other smaller ones before walls even come into play. ]

This would be a nice sitting area thanks to this, [ with a point up at the ceiling above where a cache of windows all point towards each other to form a polygon of them meant to let as much light or night sky in as possible, and then next to a bank of windows lining the kitchen area in a small alcove, ] considering it comes with a view. And here would be a good spot if you wanted to grow, say, some herbs to put to use in the kitchen. The other side of it might be a good place for cabinets.

[ Claude might've been skeptical at first, but: there's near infinite possibilities here if they're truly allowed to customize it. Maybe that increase in enthusiasm will help Sylvain fidget a little less. A flash of a grin comes next first for the man in question and then their resident jeweler when he gestures to yet another well-lit area further out where a large workbench could fit with plenty of storage for everything to go with it. ]

Here's where your anvil can go, Hilda. Better yet, we won't put any walls around it so everyone can admire your work with a giant hammer.

[ The tug of her ponytail is met with a 'tsk' that is more reactive than annoyed as she swats his hand away before taking up the rear behind them.

With this place being on top of a working warehouse, she half expects to hear the noise from below drift upwards. It isn't as if she expects pure silence when she's in her living quarters; in fact she had become accustomed to some level of it after the Academy and then living above the Sarstina's tavern for months now. But the chatter and laughter of students, and sometime raucous singing in the tavern is entirely different from that of machinery.

Surprisingly whatever noise there is is muffled and they're left with the sounds of only their shoes against the floor along with their voices filling the space. Faintly she wonders if there's enchantments lining the walls to dampen the noise, but that's for a mind much smarter than hers.

Acoustics and earlier reluctance aside, the wheels in Hilda's own mind begin to turn as she surveys the space available to them. Something akin to excitement bubbles in her chest. In her mind's eye she can see Sylvain working away happily in the kitchen, can practically smell the tea, cakes, whatever he felt like making filling the air. She could also see Claude tending to the herbs and plants that would undoubtedly fill the walls - some to eat, some with other questionable and side-eye inducing purposes, but all growing happily under his care regardless. They could probably put those plants elsewhere, preferably far from the kitchen.

The thought prompts the slightest curve of her lips can be seen before she turns to the view that the alcove provides. They could easily turn this into something livable, she thinks. Not only that, they could turn it into something warm, a safe space for any of their friends that might end up here in Abraxas. And by then, if that does come to pass, whatever awful feeling that has taken root in her heart will be a thing of the past.

It doesn't escape her that when she thinks 'theirs', she doesn't see herself as part of the equation, at least not in the long term. But she's already steeled her heart from the trip up earlier. Now isn't the time or place. The hopeful nervousness in Sylvain's voice and Claude's bright grin means she has a role to play here. When she turns around she gives Claude an aggravated look. ]

I'm not getting an anvil! [ Expect maybe she'd get little one. She pauses, dramatically looking between the pair of them before the corner of her lip twitches. ] How big of a space are we thinking for the library? Maybe we could put that over there by the seating room where we could host people? And I'm asking because if we get enough bookshelves, there better not be any more books in someone's bed. Or on the floor. Or on the kitchen tables, or -

[ Really, you can stop her any time because she's probably going to keep going, which is to say that she's clearly coming around to it. ]

[ Sylvain just starts laughing, actually, hands propped on his hips as he wanders back over in the direction that they were both inspecting. Shooting Claude a smirk, he drapes an arm about Hilda's shoulders and leans into her a little, dark eyes bright with laughter. ]

I wouldn't hold your breath. I suspect we're going to have two libraries. The actual one, and whatever room Claude claims as a bedroom. Maybe we should just make sure they're not far apart, so we don't have so far to carry them all back when the shelves start looking empty?

[ His gaze scans the interior of the huge loft, bright and eager, because he can see just as many possibilities in here as they can, and it's even better shape than he hoped, from the owner's description. It was going to take some work, but the fact that they could make it suit their needs... that was the most tempting prospect of it all. ]

Hey, I do know how to put books away!

[ Complaining feels right here even if Claude's never once demonstrated this ability in their apartment aside from placing them into stacks. Stacks which may or may not be on his bed - and several other locations - at some points as very helpfully (and accurately) pointed out, and that much he can't refute. Why not run with it instead? ]

All I'm hearing out of this is that both of you want to give me even more space to fill up with books, and I'm not going to argue that. Sounds like a benefit to me, really, and in that case? [ One sweeping gesture to the longest wall in the room, and then immediately with a wide grin - ] I'm claiming this whole wall for bookshelves so there's plenty of space. That's fair, right?

And just so you don't think it's all for me, that many shelves means everyone gets a few. Some for Hilda's books for the crafting she's doing, of course, and something else important as if I didn't notice the kitchen investigation: the stash of cookbooks Sylvain's about to accumulate that you and I get to benefit from.

[ This last addendum is said while walking back over to where they're standing and with a nudge to Hilda's arm as said benefactors and like Sylvain's not going to protest being assigned as the resident chef. ]

[ She shoots a shocked look up at Sylvain even though the hint of laughter is bright in her own eyes as she leans into him in turn. She knows a gang up on Claude when she sees it - but that doesn't mean that she's willing to accidentally agree to a ~~real~~ hypothetical scenario. ]

Wait, who said anything about we? If they're in his room, I won't be the one responsible for cleaning them up.

[ Said like she was ever responsible for cleaning any of Claude's books up wherever they may have landed. Or like she'll ever be responsible for them even if they might belong to her some day.

Leaning into Sylvain is somewhat short-lived as she shifts her weight back into Claude for the briefest of moments. Mischievous glee sparks in her expression as her lips curl. ]

I do remember someone banning us from the kitchen. It'd be a real shame to let a lovely kitchen like this go to waste. I'd be happy to buy you some books if it means you'll feed us, Sylvain. I might even put one of those books away if I really like the dish.

[ Sylvain just folds his arms over his chest and regards them both with amusement as they try to wheedle their way into "convincing" him of all this.

Joke's on them. He's already feeling possessive of the very nice kitchen. And he's well aware of the alternative if he doesn't claim it as his domain.

Which is what has him poking a finger lightly into Claude's chest with a smirk. ]

I've tasted your attempts at cooking, Your Dukishness. Trust me, never having to repeat that experience will not be a hardship. And Hilda, love, I know very well you'd spend more time trying to delegate every step of it to someone else that we'd probably starve before a meal is ever finished. So I'm not going to argue and you're both lucky I paid such close attention to Mercy and Ashe and Dedue when they had kitchen duty.

[ There's an immediate swat to that finger prodding him and a scowl to go with it over the title. Even if it's not really a title, but it's close enough to activate the frown going with it. He's willing to admit his kitchen skills are all kinds of questionable, but at least he'd never made anyone ill from his cooking shifts. ]

Sheesh, you make it sound like I'm in the same league as Flayn when it comes to cooking. Which I'm not, thank you very much.

[ There's a feigned level of haughtiness in there only for as long as it takes to get those sentences out since it feels appropriate with the title appearance, but that's about all the protest Claude's going to put into not having to cook. Meals have been a nice benefit of living at the inn, so if Sylvain's going to take over that? That certainly works out well for all of them.

Which is why he's immediately going to lean over to Hilda again and speak in a stage whisper as if Sylvain's not right there and able to hear everything. ]

Maybe we'd better spread out the buying of those cookbook to make sure there's a way we can keep bribing him into cooking for both of us. Or maybe we can ask the construction crew to upgrade the kitchen a bit more and add some other features to help out.

[ There's another ulterior motive in there just like when he'd semi-planned out a workshop for Hilda aloud a bit ago: it's making sure both of them get what they want out of the space even if there's parts they might not outright ask for themselves. ]

Edited 2023-05-17 03:02 (UTC)

[ For what it was worth, Hilda did know how to cook. Her dislike lay in the actual preparation of the food and whether or not the person eating it would actually like it. Oh right. And she hated standing over a hot stove. Much like Claude, her thinking was in the same vein. Sylvain's cooking wasn't bad and he paid attention to what they liked eating so she certainly wasn't going to complain if he was going to do most of it.

Her eyes stay delightfully trained on Sylvain even as she stage whispers right back to Claude. ]

I think a cookbook every month should work right? That way he can have time to work through the different recipes.

[ She clears her throat then, returning to a normal volume. ]

Hey Sylvain, if we were going to improve the kitchen, what kind of things would you want to see?

I'm not going through a cookbook a month, even for you two.

[ He rolls his eyes at them, since their play at subtlety wasn't even a little convincing, even if there is still a smile fighting to break free around the corner of his lips. He clearly doesn't mind either way. Luckily for them, he actually really does enjoy cooking. And even the concept of keeping house for family - at least when it's appreciated, anyway. He's so used to keeping his own space tidy that it had been easy to extend that in their Inn quarters. He doesn't see that changing much here.

Then again, he doesn't mind that much, either. He doesn't have a whole lot of other responsibilities on his plate right now, so why not?

But instead of dwelling on that, he lets his hands rest on Hilda's shoulders and gives her a nudge towards the large glass-paned doors he can see from here, intent on distraction before they come up with ridiculous ideas for the kitchen. ]

Let's go take a look at the terrace. I bet we could put a garden in out here. You know, besides the plants we're using for cooking. Or that Claude's plotting people's untimely demises with.

Nice try, but you don't get to avoid Hilda's question so easily by throwing out talking about a garden and plants. Who do you think we are?

[ Claude's including Hilda in this protest because that wasn't even a good sidestep and they are Determined. Plus, not answering the question only makes him more curious about 1) why that's happening and 2) what the answer would be. All the better to prod Sylvain a little bit more in the process while he's at it since he's not letting it go without something more specific for too long.

He's going to trail along with them anyway as Sylvain leads a path to the terrace and Claude's busy eying the walls (or lack thereof) inside for future possibilities of what they could ask for if the owner's willing to cooperate with them. Indoor plans and the number of cookbooks Sylvain's going to get whether he actually wants them can wait, because the outdoor space? ]

Wow.

[ That sums it up, right? It's impressively sized and far bigger than he'd thought it would be, especially because it'll have space for a garden and then... seemingly just about anything they might want to have out here. Claude spends a second turning in place just like he did when they'd arrived, then shoots a grin back at the both of them. ]

I think we just found the biggest selling point of this place considering we wouldn't have to climb onto a roof just to enjoy the outdoors for a bit anymore. [ And with a point towards the end closest to the doors they'd just walked through, ] Here wouldn't be a bad sitting area or to have another dining table set up out here to enjoy it whether Sylvain complains about melting or not.

[ Hilda doesn't have a particular inclination towards gardening. Watering plants? Sure. Easy enough. But the act of getting dirt under her nails or the prospect of finding bugs or bugs crawling on her? No thank you. The beauty and possibilities of the terrace isn't lost on her though. The sun is beginning to peek through the clouds outside and the warmth of the concrete radiates from beneath them.

She stretches her arms up into the air like a cat stretching in the sun. ]

While Sylvain thinks about the answer to my question - what do we think about a setting up a little pergola that you can grow some climbing ivy on. That should take care of some of the sun.

Or [ She smiles sweetly over her shoulder towards the red head. ] I could get Sylvain another sunhat. We want to protect that handsome face of his, don't we? Nothing throws a wrench in romance like a sunburn.

[ They were much easier to distract when they were drunk. Maybe he should have taken them wine tasting before they went apartment hunting.

But instead of answering anything about the kitchen, he gives a quiet, dramatic gasp at that smile Hilda shoots him over her shoulder. Dipping down just enough that he can wrap his arms around her waist from behind, he lifts and spins her without warning, smirk playing at the corner of his lips. ]

Are you telling me you're going to stop loving my face if I turn into a lobster? How cruel, Hilda.

[ But he drops an exaggerated kiss on one of her cheeks before setting her back on her feet, his grin impish as he glances around the terrace area. ]

I like both those ideas. A big pergola here with some sort of ivy or climbing plant - or maybe even grapevines? - growing over it for shade. I bet we could fit a little seating area and a dining corner under one if we stretched it between these two walls.

[ There's a grin on his face as he watches Sylvain spin Hilda around before kissing her cheek; it's an easy sort of affection to both watch and receive as he's learned when it comes to the latter, and seeing it here is no exception to appreciating it. Sylvain's still not answering that question, though, which really is just inviting the opportunity for Claude and Hilda to figure something out without his input.

Not right now, at least, since he's back to appraising the space to see if the area can really fit both of those things. It might be a little on the tight side based on the furniture he's picturing which surely is something easily customized. At the same time it sends his mind down a different path as he looks to the other end of the terrace again and then back to this one - but not exactly at eyesight level like before. ]

A pergola would be nice. Same for the grapevines if someone's offering to make wine out of them. [ A joint hobby for all of them, possibly, though Claude sounds more than a little distracted as he steps forward more into the center of the area. ] What if, and hear me out on this, we keep this end with the dining setup and still have the pergola and grow something on it, flowers or otherwise, and then -

[ Now he holds both hands palms out in front of him towards more empty space before moving his arms out like he's clearing something away to let this picture take its place. ]

What if we asked about them building the sitting area as something lofted with enough room underneath for storage or more garden area? It doesn't have to be like a full other floor, maybe just enough for a small staircase up to it unless we really want it to be higher, but then we could have more of a view of what's around for whatever scenery that might provide. Another pergola can go on that too, but you'd better still get him the hat, Hilda. Wouldn't want to take any chances here.

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