abraxaslogs | maybe i'm a mess

No, I...

[ He stops, still trying to wrap his head around the fact that they'd know something like that. That they'd still remember it after they hadn't been at the Academy together for over five years now. He's mostly just shocked that they'd ever known what it was in the first place.

It's not that he'd kept it secret - Dimitri and Felix and Ingrid usually got him something for his birthday each year. And the Professor had treated him to an afternoon tea with his favorite treats. But outside those people? He's not sure anyone had ever bothered.

The fact that both Claude and Hilda seemed to know precisely when it was - and seemed more surprised at his surprise over it - was a strange thing to wrap his head around.

But he just shakes his head, pushing his surprise away before they read too deeply into it. Or more deeply, because he recognizes that expression on Claude's face all too well. ]

No, I didn't have any plans. [ He hadn't even intended to bring it up. He adds, with a roll of his eyes at Hilda and briefly sticking out his tongue as he tries to lighten the moment, teasing her. ] And I haven't been banned from the spa. In fact, they like me a lot there, believe it or not. It would be fun, if we all went together.

[ There's still something about Sylvain's reaction which doesn't sit right with him. It's more than surprise about them knowing the date, he's fairly certain - even more so when that sentence starts and stops and Claude can practically see the unseen shift happening. What it means, however, is lost on him; something better left to be thought about later considering he also recognizes the transition back to lighter things. ]

Hey, lucky us. We get a space in Sylvain's busy schedule all to ourselves to make sure the day's as festive as possible.

[ With a grin to Hilda, mostly to make it clear that by plans he means for all of them even if it'd been implied otherwise in what she's said. He's pretty sure, even though he's not sure on why that wouldn't be the case. Maybe mentioning it outright will make it extra clear. ]

I've only been to a couple of the smaller spas, but there's some far fancier ones we can see if Sylvain will be kicked out of, [ with a smirk to Sylvain for good measure, ] though I'd rather you get to enjoy them. At length, too, because why go for just one or two things when we can go for a bunch?

[ Now he's regretting not taking one of the brochures home on the last visit so they could do some more specific planning. But: given how good they are at thinking on their collective feet, he's sure they'll find plenty to do. ]

[ Hilda casts another confused glance at Claude, clearly not understanding what it is about what they've said is causing Sylvain's brain to stutter. Maybe it was a surprise that she remembered given the outward impression she put on for people? That seemed unlikely considering it was Sylvain who knew her better than that by now. The truth is she's always had a penchant for dates, particularly birthdays for the sole reason that she enjoyed showering people with gifts.

Claude had noticed something was off though which was enough to make her think that there was something else there. She's unlikely to forget this happened, but she's also just as likely not to breech the subject when she's already under the impression that there's a wall between them that she can't see. Surely Claude will talk about it with him, right? That's not her place.

She attempts to shake it off, catching Claude's grin in the process which prompts one of her own. ]

I think I know just the place. Someone treated me to a facial there once so that should fit the bill nicely.

[ It's a long, boring story about one of the local werewolves hoping to win her affections - not that interesting in hindsight particularly because nothing had come from it. ]

We can make a whole day out of it! That sounds like fun, right, Sylvain? Especially because Claude is offering to pay for most of it. But I guess I could pitch in a little too.

Did he offer that? [ Sylvain sounds amused at that assumption, tugging on her hair. ] You two aren't going to conveniently forget to bring any money with you again, are you? Because I doubt they'll be as patient with it as that poor cafe worker.

[ He's teasing, a bemused glance cast sideways at Claude, since the other man had been trolling them that night. ] But it does sound like fun. I haven't really tried any of them out, beyond the one I stopped at our first weekend in Nocwich. I'll leave figuring out what we're doing and where to you two. That is really not my area of expertise.

Hey, I don't remember saying that. [ He grins as he reaches out to tug on what strands of Hilda's hair he can reach by stretching across from his corner of the counter, though notably: he's also not saying no to it as an idea. ] Anywhere you've been is somewhere I'm happy to go considering I know that means we'll be in for the best there, as we should be. Especially for a whole day like Hilda said! We'll be as relaxed as ever afterwards.

[ Relatively; there's some things that even spending that much time at the spa can't clear away. That's nothing he wants to bring up, nor is he going to confirm or deny forgetting ("forgetting") a way to pay this time around.

Instead he hums thoughtfully, though Claude pauses to narrow his eyes in mock suspicion at Sylvain next. ]

Wait a minute. All these weekends and you haven't been back since? [ He immediately sends another Look in Hilda's direction, this one implying some possible mischief. ] Well, in that case, and if you're handing over complete control over this experience for you - don't mind if we do.

Hey! [ There's a word of protest as not one, but both of them tug on locks of her hair. Her hands swat playfully at the pair of them and giving Sylvain a gentle hip bump. Claude is just lucky he's on the other side of the counter. A fake pout paints her face. ] I said I'd offer to pay too!

[ The night of the gala is a hazy, soft glow but she fully recalls almost not being able to pay for anything at the bakery because she had left her purse behind. For what it's worth she had gone back the next morning before they left for Cadens to drop off a huge tip so she felt absolved in her behaviour. To say she's determined not to let that happen this time around is an understatement.

At the sight of the Look from Claude, Hilda skitters around to the other side of the counter to his side, looping her arm through his and shooting Sylvain an eerily similar expression to the one on Claude's face. ]

Everyone starts off as a spa beginner. Luckily you've got us! You'll be in good hands, we promise.

[ Sylvain just gives them both a suspicious look, because he doesn't trust those matching expressions at all. ]

Uh-huh. I'm totally reassured right now. I'm not going to have any regrets about this at all, I'm sure.

[ Yes, that sarcasm is thick enough to cut with a knife. Luckily, there's still fond humor in his gaze as he shakes his head at both of them. ]

Okay, okay, I will trust in your spa mastery. But we're not going anywhere until we get the house unpacked. So get out of my kitchen so I can finish. [ And he makes a shooing motion with an impish grin to wave them out of his way. ]

You should be and shouldn't, in that order. We happen to be very adept at plans.

[ Plans of both the good and questionable varieties, of course. Whether some of those lean into what some might consider bad isn't something he's going to confirm, since he tends to think all of their plans are rather genius ones. Claude's quick to wind his arm back through Hilda's since they're a Team. Happy future birthday, Sylvain!

He's still going to scoff that that dismissal to get out of the kitchen like they've been seriously wounded in the process. ]

Hear that, Hilda? Now he's bossing us around. I think that means we just need to really look for something to reassure him in what's to come.

[ He sounds all kinds of offended to go with that, but Claude's also grinning as he steps back from the counter to pull Hilda with him. ]

Let's go find a home for your anvil that's somewhere that won't make Sylvain yell at us about organizing things. [ But, in a whisper that's basically full volume he adds, ] We can just set it back in the kitchen later.

maybe i'm a mess

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