abraxaslogs | maybe i'm a mess

[ Lifting the cup to her nose with an eye roll, she takes a deeper inhale.

How many times had she spent doing this sort of thing with Lorenz and Ferdinand? The thought of the two nobles, one that, as far as she's aware is still alive and well, and the other standing by the side of someone she didn't see eye to eye with, forms an odd lump in her throat. This is the sort of thing they would have loved, she thinks, even if the thought of the three men in the room together would have resulted in bickering and eye rolls.

But thanks to vigorous "tea training" she had gone through, she picks up the notes of the blend after a beat. Just to be sure though she takes a small sip, letting the taste of it cover her tongue. ]

Spearmint? There's something bright in there too - some kind of a citrusy element maybe?

Edited 2023-05-19 19:30 (UTC)

[ To be fair, Sylvain is pretty sure the three of them had been the biggest tea snobs at the Academy. Had they been able to stand each other's company for any longer than fifteen seconds at a time, maybe they could have bonded over that.

...Nah, Sylvain's pretty sure they would still be insufferable.

Still propped on the edge of the counter, he casts her a grin. ]

You're pretty good at that. I used lemongrass for the citrus. And sweetened it with a little honey, for good measure - it softened it a little, I think. I'm still trying to perfect the blend measurements, though. It was way too lemon-y when I first started.

[ A glance is cast her way, as if silently questioning what she thought and what he might need to add - or lessen - to make it better. ]

Well I was Lorenz's housemate. And how else do you think I got him to skip chores with me when we were assigned to doing them together?

[ She is, as always somewhat dismissive of her own skills and abilities. But then again, she's always given credit where credit is due; had she not spent the time she had with Lorenz and Ferdie, it's incredibly likely that she would have just thrown a random guess to the wind to humor Sylvain.

Sort off like how she is now. There's an antsy feeling in her chest, the sort that signals to her she's uncomfortable and doesn't want to spend too much time in a situation unless she has to. Which is silly because it's not like Claude is about to come bursting into the loft. Or at least, she hopes not. ]

You could try a little more honey. Or maybe some honeysuckle if you didn't want to have it get too sweet. But I think it's almost there, Sylvain! [ The teacup meets the saucer with a gentle 'clink'. ] Is this a new business venture I'm getting a preview to?

And here I thought you conned him into doing both yours shares instead.

[ He's teasing her with an impish grin as he straightens and starts putting together sandwiches for them. But her question gets a bit of a scoff from him as he shoots her a wry look. ]

Business venture? Me? Please, we both know that's a terrible idea. No, it's just a hobby. Claire got me thinking about it, in the Horizon. She recreated bergamot tea there, although apparently they call it something differently in her world. Named after the guy who invented it there, I guess?

Anyway, it got me missing some of the flavors we used to have and had me wondering if I could duplicate some of them with the plants native to here. Some I'm going to have to look for in Nocwich, though. Or maybe see if I can purchase some from the other Factions somehow.

[ Her eyes glitter mischievously even though her lips form a perfect 'o' of feigned shock. ]

Sylvain, I don't con people! [ There's a pause like she's trying to stop the curl of her lips as if Sylvain's impish grin is infectious. ] I just wait for them to notice that I need help and that I couldn't possibly do that work on my own. Lorenz was just always kind enough to offer it and I didn't want to make him do anything that went against his moral code.

[ She leans forward, resting her chin lightly on her hands pleased to hear that he's met Claire. Her eyes blink innocently at him as if they hadn't had a similar conversation in the past about her own endeavors with her accessories. ]

Why couldn't it be a business though? You have more brains for it than I do. And I think there's a market for it not just here but in the rest of the territories too. It could easily be something small to start with. Like a small-batch, exclusive club so that it generates some excitement for everyone else who isn't in it.

[ After all, nothing drummed up hype like scarcity did. ]

Edited 2023-05-21 23:35 (UTC)

[ He just wags a finger at her with a smirk. ] Still a con. You're just the world's cutest conman. Conwoman? Whatever. Yuri's got nothing on you.

[ He lets her babble about potential business opportunities even if that, frankly, sounds terrifying and overwhelming to him. And way too much work. Which is hilarious, since it's coming from her of all people. It gives him something to listen to as he finishes putting the little sandwiches together and then slides a plate across to her. ]

Do you have any idea how many supplies it would take, even to prepare enough tea for a small circle of clients? Still an insane amount. I don't even know if I can recreate that many blends yet.

Excuse me? [ Her eyebrow arches, mischief gone in the blink of an eye. Careful now, Sylvain. She does have a butter knife within reach. ] You take that back. I'm not a conwoman!

[ The irony of this moment isn't lost on her. But just because she's allergic to work doesn't mean that she doesn't want her friends to thrive and have hobbies while they're here. Not to say that Sylvain doesn't have hobbies, but she'd just to be pleased to know that he's found a passion for what he enjoys doing - especially if it means she'll get to benefit somehow. ]

But the fact that you know that means you've thought about it, right? You don't have to sell them yet, I'm just saying you can start seeding the idea with people. Starting a tea club would be fun and you can start testing the blends with other people too. Then you can branch into business once you've got the hang of it.

[ He's so not taking it back, even as he smirks at her and taps his chin thoughtfully. ]

I definitely remember being conned into toting stacks of books to the library way more often than I ever would have otherwise.

[ She'd really latched onto this tea idea, though, hadn't she? He listens to her argument for the idea before giving a little shrug, unwilling to commit to that amount of work when he wasn't even sure yet he'd be able to duplicate enough teas to make it interesting. It still felt way too early to be thinking about anything like that. ]

I'll keep it in mind, but I have to figure out how to even make them first, so that'd be a long way off.

I think we're remembering that a little differently. You don't have to discount your kindness, Sylvain.

[ Maybe by definition it was a bit of a con, but she had apologized for him being scolded that one time, hadn't she? And besides if he didn't want to keep bringing them back for her then he had been well within his right to say no.

Hilda knows she's done enough convincing for today. Satisfied with what she's done she gives him a reassuring, bright smile. ]

Well, when you do, you'll be ready with ideas. I'll even let you take all the credit for it if you use it.

[ And then onto the next thing because her stomach is more important than any niggling voice in the back of her mind that there has to be more to this than trying tea. It's a little too convenient that Sylvain had told the construction crew to leave for an extended lunch, but maybe she's reading into it.

She reaches for a sandwich and before long she's sighing contentedly. ]

These are just like home, Sylvain! I lied maybe you can just become a house husband instead of becoming a tea mogul.

Edited 2023-05-23 01:26 (UTC)

[ He could no more walk away from a mess like that than she could something shiny. Besides. Even if he’d known it was a con, it had felt nice to be useful somewhere at least, even if he’d known it hadn’t been personal and she likely would have used anyone to get it done for her. That… hadn’t been a particularly good point of his life, at the time.

Not that he likes to dwell on that even now. He gratefully lets the topic of tea drop in favor of biting into his own sandwich, but he’s already chuckling when hilda gives a sigh of satisfaction. He’ll take that as a win, then.

Even if he’s so going to tease her for dubbing him a house husband. He gives a shocked gasp, hand clutched over his chest. ]

At least get me a pretty ring before you consign me to the kitchens, Hilda!

[ It's hard to make Hilda flustered, particularly when it comes to joking about marriage. Of course she had meant it as a joke, because why would she consider marrying him let alone anyone else? Sure she was at a prime marrying age but the number of people she'd consider marrying is a rather small pool but, then again, she isn't oblivious to the fact that her family would likely have plans for their second child and only daughter.

That doesn't stop her from immediately blushing at the mock gasp. And to make matters worse, she doesn't know why. After all, it's not like she likes him or anything. She splutters just before she takes a sip of her tea. ]

Let's not get too ahead of ourselves. If you become a house husband, who's going to work? Not me.

[ Oh no. He forgot how adorable she looked when she blushed. She did it rarely enough that it was easy to have forgotten but it leaves him blinking at her for a moment, drinking in the sight.

But she manages to sputter out a comeback and he just grins at her cheekily, taking delight in the fact that he’d actually managed to fluster her. ]

Well, one of us is gonna have to, darling, you can’t have it both ways. Although I suppose we could always instate Claude as our sugar daddy.

Can't I?

[ She gives him a bit of a side eye from over the rim of her cup. When Hilda had a will she usually got her way, and she certainly didn't intend to work if she went home. Everything she had done to this point had been enough for her.

Something skirts to a halt in her mind when he mentions Claude being their sugar daddy. Thankful she's mid-sip and has that as a respite to compose herself. When she speaks again her tone is light and airy like it always does. Like nothing is amiss. ]

I thought my days as having Claude as my sugar daddy were numbered. Unless you're willing to share.

[ He just blinks at her for a moment before arching an eyebrow. ]

I've got no problem with sharing. Do you?

[ Hadn't they already been doing that, sorta? He doesn't know what's going on with her and Claude, but he'd known there was something going on between Claude and Petra, as well. It's not like he expected to be the only one Claude flirted with. Especially not with how close Claude and Hilda had always been. So the idea of sharing isn't all that new to him.

Then again, he's been sharing Jesper for months now and that's been great. But it's not like he and Claude have discussed it, either. ]

[ Hilda halts at his question, blinking at Sylvain several times as the heat along the back of her neck begins to creep upwards. This was another instance when she had definitely meant it as a joke but for some reason she feels like she's inadvertently walked them in a completely different direction.

Was he also still joking? Or was he being serious? Jesper and his multiple relationships immediately comes to mind and she realizes belatedly that Sylvain must be fine with it. As for Claude, well when she had told him about her shared kiss with Sylvain he hadn't batted an eyelash. She had thought at the time that that had more to do with their mostly shared philosophy that a kiss was nothing more than what you made of it. And that kiss with Sylvain hadn't had any feelings attached to it. Right?

But, a quiet voice reminds her, just because they're fine with having multiple partners, doesn't mean that they'd consider her as one of those. Claude certainly didn't.

A beat later a bell-like laugh flutters from her lips. ]

Sylvain, I'm kidding. He's all yours. He's only got a finite amount of money to go around here after all.

[ He narrows his gaze at her for a moment, head tipping to the side in curious speculation. ]

But not finite affection. And I know for a fact that's not all mine.

[ He's seen them together these past months. The expressions that would flicker across their faces, the looks that softened in their gazes. The smiles exchanged. True, that was a little tense right now - which he was still trying to figure out - but he knew he hadn't imagined the rest of it.

The recent gala alone should be proof of that, shouldn't it? That night had been... perfect. Yes, they'd all been a little tipsy but. It had still felt right.

So he's not sure why she's suddenly trying to laugh it off now. ]

Edited 2023-05-23 04:17 (UTC)

No, you're right it was for Petra too.

[ Despite being caught off guard earlier she doesn't miss a beat now. And it isn't said with bitterness or anything that could be remotely considered jealous. She seems to droop, as if it had taken all her energy to keep the lingering sadness about the departure of their friends off of her.

The pieces fall into place and she wonders if this is what he'd meant all along with the fuss over tea, the lunch, and the solitude. ]

[ When her whole form slumps at that response, he pushes away from the counter, coming around it until he could wrap his arms around her from behind, tugging her back against his chest. He brushes a kiss against the top of her head, wishing he could make this hurt less for them both somehow. ]

I miss her, too. [ His voice is quiet, the words murmured against her hair. But he doesn't pull away just yet. ] But Petra's not the only one, either. And before you try to distract me with Mari, I know she was important to him, too - and to you, and if I could have kept them both here just for the sheer factor of not having you two miss them so much and be hurting like this, I'd do it in a heartbeat. [ Whether that was selfish or not. He'd never claimed to not be a selfish person, after all. ]

I know you're both grieving the loss. What I don't get is why the two of you are avoiding each other now when you both need each other the most.

[ The awful thing is, is that as selfish and greedy as she can be, the grief she feels has little to do with her and more to do with Claude. Yes, she and Petra had been growing closer to one another and making up for time they would not have had otherwise at home. And of course she was upset that Marianne had been sent home just as quickly as she had arrived. But neither of those two things equated to what Claude must have been feeling.

A part of her doesn't feel deserving of Sylvain's comfort. Not when she hasn't lost as dearly as Claude has. That doesn't stop her from raising her hands to clasp at Sylvain's arms as she leans her head back against his chest. She purposefully doesn't let the silence stretch on too long as she lets out a small sigh. ]

I'm not avoiding him. [ It's not as quite airtight of a lie as she's like, but it's what she's given him. ] I've just been really busy. [ There's a brief pause before continuing. ] Alucard asked if I would join the team managing the Old Public Hall and I have to give him an answer soon.

[ He's fairly certain that's not the truth - or at least, not the full truth. Oh, not the excuse, he knows she's been working with Alucard, but he has a feeling that has very little to do with why she's made herself so scarce, now of all times.

But he follows the thread, tugging on it, just to see where it takes him. ]

Do you know what you're going to tell him?

[ It's partially the truth. Not that she's started any actual work related to the management of the Old Public Hall yet, but she's certainly been keeping busy in an attempt to not think too hard about it.

What she does offer up is completely the truth however. ]

Not yet. I keep going back and forth about whether or not I should. It's a lot of work. [ Read: Responsibility. ] And I've never done something like that before either. I mean it's his and Jaskier's first real project. Talk about daunting.

[ His arms tighten for a moment in a faint squeeze, staying wrapped around her from behind as he listens to her explanation. ]

Just because you've never done it before doesn't mean you can't. Do you want to try?

[ Because he feels like that's the more important argument here. ]

[ Yes. ]

No. I don't know.

[ Anxiety prickles along her arm and skins like little spider bites at the thought. Volunteering to help out and actually committing to something were two entirely different things. ]

I guess it's better than working at the Sarstina. There'll be way less heavy lifting for one. And the hours won't be as long either.

Edited 2023-05-24 20:59 (UTC)

[ That 'no' didn't sound convincing in the least. Although he can feel that thinking about it is making her... nervous? He's still struggling to memorize - and translate - the things he feels from her, especially when she feels it strongly.

While she's not as hard to read as Claude, she's not exactly easy, either. And he's been getting a whole host of conflicting feelings from her recently. ]

What would he have you doing?

Running the day to day operations I guess. It'll also have to do with being in contact with the various acting guilds, making sure that actors and singers have a place to perform and that it all runs smoothly.

[ She had barely asked Alucard for details, paralyzed by anxiety and shocked that he had even considered asking her at all. In hindsight, she realizes that she should have but she makes a note to reach out to him later about it. ]

I'm sure there's other things too. Like making sure the books are kept in check and that costumes and accessories are kept in good condition. He did say it would mostly be delegating and working together with the other committee members but...

[ Her voice trails off seemingly overwhelmed with the sheer amount that she would still be counted on to do. ]

It still sounds like a lot of work now that I've laid it out like that, huh?

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