[ Hilda immediately following the lead he'd tossed out there is enough that Claude lets out another inaudible breath in something not quite a sigh of relief but pretty damn close to it. He doesn't believe it was really Ignatz, then considers that maybe he should've said Raphael instead before dismissing that when it's hard to imagine Raphael being lectured about anything instead of just cheerfully agreeing to it.
Not that it matters; it's not difficult to see that even as they keep up some chatter in a pretend return to normalcy and as though Fodlan hadn't followed them in here in somehow far worse ways than whatever else has already been accounted for. Sylvain doesn't really relax beyond what Claude thinks is a veneer of it, and he gives up on pretending like he's doing work to simply stay crouched with his elbows on his knees and to watch as the other man picks up one crystal and then another. Sylvain's not really there, that much he can see, but the fact that he's halfway pretending like he is is honestly more worrisome than anything else.
Which is why he keeps his gaze trained on him even as Sylvain stands up and pretends to want to keep going even if it'd mean sacrificing himself to the potential for more memories to come to light. Claude doesn't have the heart to do anything else but - ]
Actually, I was thinking of checking out those magma pools, springs, whatever they are back by where we're staying after this since I haven't been yet.
[ A lie, but it rolls out as seamlessly as any other ones Claude offers if not on the hollow side as he stands up. It's as cheerful as he can force out when someone they care about is so obviously hurting right here and now to the point where he won't even look back at either one of them. A small part of Claude bitterly detests going along with this, but it's the hand he feels like he has to play. ]
Hilda, weren't you saying there's some special spa thing that goes with it someone was going to offer? I could use a good scrub to get rid of being in here and I think we've earned a little enjoyment.
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Not that it matters; it's not difficult to see that even as they keep up some chatter in a pretend return to normalcy and as though Fodlan hadn't followed them in here in somehow far worse ways than whatever else has already been accounted for. Sylvain doesn't really relax beyond what Claude thinks is a veneer of it, and he gives up on pretending like he's doing work to simply stay crouched with his elbows on his knees and to watch as the other man picks up one crystal and then another. Sylvain's not really there, that much he can see, but the fact that he's halfway pretending like he is is honestly more worrisome than anything else.
Which is why he keeps his gaze trained on him even as Sylvain stands up and pretends to want to keep going even if it'd mean sacrificing himself to the potential for more memories to come to light. Claude doesn't have the heart to do anything else but - ]
Actually, I was thinking of checking out those magma pools, springs, whatever they are back by where we're staying after this since I haven't been yet.
[ A lie, but it rolls out as seamlessly as any other ones Claude offers if not on the hollow side as he stands up. It's as cheerful as he can force out when someone they care about is so obviously hurting right here and now to the point where he won't even look back at either one of them. A small part of Claude bitterly detests going along with this, but it's the hand he feels like he has to play. ]
Hilda, weren't you saying there's some special spa thing that goes with it someone was going to offer? I could use a good scrub to get rid of being in here and I think we've earned a little enjoyment.