abraxaslogs | [ OPEN ] split tomorrow from today

Entry tags:

[ OPEN ] split tomorrow from today

Who: Claude and various
When: November + December
Where: Nocwich, Cadens, TBA
What: Catch all for both months
Warnings: None currently, will add/mark as needed

( Open and closed starters in the comments! Also good with prose or brackets and please feel free to wildcard into the open prompts with something else. If you'd prefer plotting first, you can find me at

indech, arboria#1862, or by PM at any time! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The sudden voice breaking the tranquil silence and her thoughts startles her, and Hilda turns to see Claude there. His presence pushes aside her thoughts of Waffenzahn for the time being. A smile returns to her face easily, chuckling at his compliment. Ignatz had a steel trap of a mind when it came to details but she liked to think that she did too when given the opportunity to sit down and think about it. ]

Now I know you're just trying to flatter me.

[ She steps to the side allowing space for Claude to move up beside her if he wanted to overlook the entrance gates with her. With her hands clasped in front of her she let the slight breeze brush against her cheeks and hair; if she closed her eyes it was like a carefree day during Harpstring Moon before the heat of the next month settled in. ]

If we were going to be here a while I wanted to make it as real as possible.

[ Hilda didn't know what Claude had experienced before her arrival so she could never have guessed that this version of their collective memories had been engulfed in flames. Ignorance played a hand there, but so had the grace and patience that she had for Claude. That being said her persistence and his elusiveness continued to dance around one another about other things - or maybe she simply hoped that he'd tell her whatever it was she wanted to know in time. But she knew better. Sometimes she had to apply some level of pressure to Claude in order for him to spill his secrets. ]

I haven't seen you here much.

[ There's a grin and a hmm that doubles as his response to both the flattery and making it as real as possible. It certainly is the latter; as he keeps walking he runs a hand along a gate, the wall, anything within reach. As always, the Horizon makes it feel every bit as real as the ground beneath his feet and all the stone which sounds exactly the same as when he walked through the real location. It's not much longer before he comes to a halt next to Hilda, eyes still roaming their surroundings a bit longer before his gaze settles upon her at what's a question without being one. Perceptive as always, he thinks to himself, and with a half-smile looks back out the nearest window. ]

That's just because I haven't seen you in the library very much. There's a lot of books to put back on the shelves in there, though I'd be happy if I could finish just one bookcase without distracting myself over which other books belong where.

[ Or, also known as a problem entirely of his own creation. Though he does mean it about recreating book after book and even if he'd started in his own domain first before wandering into the library here. But that doesn't answer what he hears as Hilda asking, and there's only so much stalling he can (or should) do, so he tucks his hands into his jacket pockets and shrugs. ]

A couple months ago, the Horizon started acting up. Either you ended up somewhere you didn't mean to go or somewhere that wasn't anywhere in someone else's domain, or domains themselves didn't look as they should. Garreg Mach was on fire some of the times I was here. [ This is said unconcerned, like this is something Totally Normal, even knowing Hilda has those same memories. One more shrug and Claude looks back to her again. ] Wasn't something I was very keen on reliving, really, so this is much nicer. Have you created your wyvern yet now that there's a place for them to stay?

[ Hilda raises a finger to her chin tapping it thoughtfully looking at Claude out of the corner of her eye. ]

You know, now that you mention it I did hear Sylvain say something about that earlier. [ There's only a brief pause for effect before she shrugs happily as if to imply that she had zero shame in admitting she hadn't been listening to him. ] But I checked out for the very reason that it was about the library. [ Her eyes are alight with amusement as she finally turns to face him. ] The offer is still on the table for my babysitting services if you need some help focusing.

[ The amusement quickly fades only to be replaced with concern that translates into an expression of knitted brows - something she realizes belatedly is happening more than she'd like. Hilda recognizes his unconcerned tone and the artful topic change; they've had this exact exchange before a number of times back home. She understands why he doesn't want to talk about it or linger because she's done the exact same thing in an attempt to keep spirits high. And Garreg Mach on fire? That's certainly something she hasn't wanted to relive or be reminded of either. It had taken months for her to stop having nightmares (in fact she still had them from time to time).

When Cladue's gaze turns back towards her expression is back in a somewhat neutral place but her eyes show concern, a reminder that she didn't ignore what he hadn't said. ]

No, not yet. I was thinking about it but I'm worried I'll give Waffle a snaggle tooth by accident. [ She stretches her arms skyward, trying to work out a phantom soreness in her shoulders. ] And besides that, it's so much work to build things in the Horizon! Who knew?

Edited 2022-12-05 06:31 (UTC)

Are you sure that doesn't mean some naps ahead of you when I bore you into falling asleep thanks to all that time in the library?

[ A potential side effect of that babysitting, though this gets a grin from him both because of the babysitting and because it's a valid 'concern' in Claude's mind. Not that he's opposed to naps; and not that he's tried in the Horizon but maybe it'd be worth it if it was a way to shut his mind off for a bit. Or however that works.

That's less important than what's in front of them here and now, which is a monastery which looks like better times long before it was ever ablaze and from a time when they'd never known that was possible. Now the building here that they're standing in is edging closer to being complete with Hilda's deft work in adding the aerie. Now they can put better memories into it. He's just going to let the other topics slip right on away if Hilda will let him do as much. ]

If it helps, I don't think you'll create any bad teeth unless you focus on them. And that as weird as it feels you can... start over feels like a bleak term to use here but it's the best one. Correction's not much better but that's also an option, I suppose.

[ Claude's not really making this sound any better no matter what way he puts it, so he shakes his head to clear it away. That's not what he wants to focus on since (unsurprisingly) he's got another idea to go with that. ]

But if you really are worried about it, we could always try creating the old cranky wyvern from sky watch duty first. I'd imagine there's a way for both of us to do it, and then maybe it'll be less tiring, too?

Hey! [ The very on the nose teasing earns Claude a little punch in the arm along with a pout. There had been countless evenings when she had fallen asleep waiting for him to finish reading in the library or in his room. But at least there she could commandeer his bed and nap amongst piles of other books before they trotted off to dinner. More often than not they usually ended up missing dinner and had to scrounge through the kitchen for something to eat instead. ]

You never know, I could start reading or checking to make sure that you really still do remember the books from home.

[ Although the likelihood of her having even a fraction of the books Claude read was unlikely. Her pout doesn't linger, replaced with a mildly worried look that was directed at the thought of having to just 'start over'. Hilda knew that she wouldn't be creating a real wyvern, but she had seen Claude's when she had briefly visited his domain. The thought of starting over on a version of a living creature didn't feel right even though in practice it was no different than starting over on the aerie towers or a piece of jewelry or stitching on a dress or shirt. ]

I just want to do him justice. [ Her eyes lit up at his suggestion, thankful for the offer that came with it. She nods with a bit of a hopeful smile. ] We could. It wouldn't be the monastery without him, would it? [ In fact, he'd probably end up acting on his own accord and become their unofficial guard wyvern. Not that their domain needed it. ] How do we start?

[ The punch to his arm has him grabbing it in immediate feigned indignation as though he's been Seriously Wounded. He hasn't been, of course, but that's the other important part of the routine to her scolding he has to follow through with. One more thing he'd missed until being presented with it again.

Pretending to be injured isn't as important as puzzling through their next task, however, so Claude drops his hand away from his arm with some uncertainty. Actual uncertainty, since: ]

You know, I'm not actually sure how to start. [ File under things he should've thought of before suggesting it. But there has to be some way to do it based on everything else he's seen around the Horizon, so he's determined to figure it out. ] Given what everyone else has created around here, then surely a wyvern can't be that difficult for us to do. I created mine on the first time I was here back when I didn't know where I was or what I was doing.

[ And that's an important thought since it's probably the key to what they want to do now, so Claude hums and thinks it over while walking to the empty stall where said cantankerous wyvern resides back in the actual aerie at home. ]

I remember thinking about her and that it'd be nice if she was also here and then suddenly, there she was. So maybe if we both think about our grouchy friend, the same will come true this time as well.

I thought you were supposed to have all the answers!

[ It's an empty exclamation and meant to be more teasing than anything else. Building something in the Horizon had sounded so abstract when her friends had explained it to her. Even after she had done it several times, the knowledge that the possibilities were more or less limitless was something she still had some trouble grasping. Never mind that she chooses not to comment on the fact that everyone else was far more capable than she was.

Hilda quickly turns on her heel to follow after Claude to the empty stall. The slight breeze that flowed through the large arches coupled with the sound of their boots against the stone only emphasized the emptiness of the aerie. It urged her to figure this out and fill it with life again - even if it was with a cranky wyvern who didn't seem to like anyone except Seteth. ]

You make it sound so easy. [ She lets out a weary sigh staring at the stall trying to conjure the image of the veteran wyvern. ] But I guess if we're doing it together it'll be half the effort. [ And half the effort is her next favourite kind after no effort. She gazes up towards Claude. ] Ready when you are!

Hey, I still have plenty of answers! Just not on this particular topic.

[ With a laugh, but - at least it's not something in reality? There's much about the Horizon Claude's yet to adapt to or to wrap his mind around himself, but unlike those other things he might not know? There's not exactly a library he can turn to with research to page through. Sure, there's the equivalent of asking other Summoned those questions but since they seem to be the only few who know what wyverns are, actually asking seems like more trouble than it's worth. It's not the important part anyway, since when Hilda says she's ready Claude nods to let that topic go. For now. ]

Alright, let's see here.

[ Mumbled partially to himself and somewhat for Hilda's benefit as he looks at the waiting stall before them. This shouldn't be that hard, should it? With everything else here from memory - even things he hasn't seen in years - this can't be that different.

With one last shrug like this is no big deal, Claude closes his eyes to think. The wyvern in question isn't hard to pull forth in all his snapping glory of being forever bothered by what must have seemed like a never ending line of students ready to get some flying lessons in. There's also the other important details: the notch in one horn from some mishap long before the two of them were students, sharp teeth, scars from a long life among the scales. All crucial details to include in what they're both remembering to bring it to relative life.

After a bit, there's a rush of wind in front of them which almost feels like the flap of a wyvern's wings - especially a disgruntled wyvern that would be staring them down for intruding and maybe ready to hiss to get the point across - but as curious as he is? He can't bring himself to open his eyes yet. ]

Did it work?

[ Drawing the wyvern to mind isn't difficult; she'd had her fingers almost snapped off the first time she'd entered the aerie after all. You didn't forget something like that. Buri seemed older than the attendants let on; the leather-like quality of his wings sometimes seemed paper thin in the light but his sinewy muscles were strong and his scales were toughened over the course of plenty of battles fought. The way his scales formed under his chin gave him the appearance of a beard which only perpetuated the running joke that he felt a kindred spirit to Setheth.

At that moment she begins to feel an odd tug of something swirl beneath their feet. Somehow getting the feeling that Claude was taking care of the physical aspects of the older wyvern, Hilda focused on subtler features.

The grumpiness was a given, as was the tendency for him to snap if you got too close without a show of respect first. But there was also the glint of daring stubbornness in his gaze. There was a sense of steadfastness and reliability to those at the monastery that could only have been established over years of living there. And underneath all of that, the notion that if you gained his trust it would never waver.

Suddenly there's a beat of wings followed by a warm huff that is all but burped in their faces and Hilda wrinkles her nose at the smell: raw meat. ]

Ugh...it smells like it. [ Her daringness forces her to open one eye before the other is quickly snapped open. There, standing in front of them in all his annoyed glory is Buri. A delighted cheer flutters from her lips and she immediately reaches for Cladue's arm to give it a quick shake. ] Claude, we did it!

[ The breath gets an immediate grimace from Claude since even if it's something he's used to? Wyvern breath still isn't the greatest. That it's raw meat is still more pleasant than fish which was what some of the other wyverns preferred as a treat now and then from his memories, so it could be worse. The shake to his arm is convincing enough to open his eyes, and sure enough: There's Buri in all of his quarrelsome scaly self glaring back at them. ]

Would you look at that. [ Nothing short of a marvel in his voice as he reaches one hand up meaning to scratch beneath the wyvern's chin and promptly gets a small hiss of declination in response which Claude has to laugh at. ] Well then, he's certainly all here in fine form. Maybe we should post a warning for anyone visiting since I'm sure he'll be happy to greet them in his own special way otherwise.

[ Which begs the question: do they have to start over in gaining Buri's trust? Is that how any of this works? It hadn't been needed for his wyvern but he'd been the only one in charge of that; if he'd accidentally dropped too many argumentative wyvern memories in there then maybe he's responsible for it. All the more reason for Claude to conjure up one of the buckets used to feed the aerie's residents complete with those preferred snacks inside of it which immediately gets one very curious gaze on the both of them. ]

At least he's consistent. You know how many buckets like this I had to bring in until he stopped trying to take my arm off? Too many, that's for sure.

[ Hilda's glee only seems to make Buri glower (could wyvern's glower? If they didn't, Buri was a wyvern ahead of his time) even more but she pays him little mind as she follows Claude's lead. A bucket appears in one hand and a skewer in the other so she can feed it to the wyvern without actually having to touch raw meat. ]

You mean those 'Beware of Dog' signs up around Cadens? [ She can't help but laugh at the thought. ] Making one might be kind of funny. We could even hang it at the entrance hall. [ If they did she'd add a tiny little drawing of an angry looking Buri as a finishing touch. ] But maybe that's overkill.

[ As she goes to skewer a particularly chunky piece of meat, Hilda pauses. It's partially in response to Claude's question but also the low growl that emits from Buri's throat. It's not really an aggressive one - he hasn't snapped yet or bared his teeth. The older wyvern could simply smell its next meal inches from his mouth. ] Wait - you can't get hurt in here, can you? As funny as it was watching you worm your way into Buri's heart, I don't exactly have the ability to grow you a new arm.

Maybe we should hang them at every entrance so someone's adequately warned before they get in here. Or leave buckets like these as a little added bribery since snacks tend to work on just about everyone.

[ Claude included, of course. Buri's reaction to being menaced with said treats that aren't in his reach (yet) gets a grin from him, though that grin freezes on his face at Hilda's follow up question. Where to start in answering that. For a moment he's in a labyrinth holding an axe that doesn't belong to him, and then he blinks and he's back watching Buri's impatience getting the better of him and snag what's on the skewer Claude's holding out.

In reality probably only a couple of seconds go by, but that's still too long to let that question hang out there. ]

Are you saying you wouldn't even try to create a new arm for me? That hurts, Hilda. [ Claude looks pained while saying this, as if he's well and truly hurt by the very notion, though he busies himself with finding another chunk of meat. ] I guess I'll do my best to keep my arm attached where it belongs since you can get hurt in here. On the plus side you can just leave the Horizon and come back to get rid of it, so that's a benefit over, say, stubbing your toe while walking somewhere around Cadens and just having to suffer through it.

[ Because it's totally a minor injury he's avoiding talking about. Nothing to see here. ]

[ Her nose wrinkles at the thought of (imaginary) buckets of meat placed around the Garreg Mach. That was the downside to the realism in the Horizon, she supposed: everything felt real which meant real - and sometimes unpleasant - smells. ]

This place might not be the real monastery, but there's no way I'm letting you leave buckets of raw meat everywhere!

[ That and she highly doubted that Sylvain, Felix, or Petra would be enthusiastic about it either. The thought of Felix chewing Claude out for it meant that she'd probably be on the receiving end of it too simply by association and for using the aerie the most out of the rest of them. Although if she thought about it, leaving something smelly in the training ground out of sight from Felix would probably be funny. She'd mention it to Claude later when she wasn't scolding him for quite literally the exact same idea.

The skewer of meat she's holding stops inches from Buri's toothy maw, eliciting an angry huff. His jaw had snapped expecting her to feed him but had been met with air. Instead of giving into the wvyern's growl, she ignores him for a moment longer to scrutinize Claude. There had been something in his smile that made her pause - she just couldn't put her finger on what it was. She knew his smiles and that one meant that she had struck a chord with her question.

After a moment she holds the skewer back out, rewarding Buri for the minor inconvenience of having to wait several more seconds to be fed. ]

We'll just make a lot of signs instead. Some really big ones with, "Warning: Angry Wyvern. Possibility of losing a limb: High." I'd like to avoid reattaching anyone's arm. It sounds like a lot of work. Not to mention messy. [ Also never mind that she couldn't string together a healing spell without feeling faint herself.

Casting a sidelong glance at Claude, her voice sounds as air and light as ever. ] So you stubbed your toe, huh?

Oh c'mon, I didn't say we wouldn't put lids on the buckets after putting them all around. They'll be totally fine then and not even noticeable.

[ There's a struggle to not laugh as he says this because he's well aware of what utter nonsense it is, but if there's a chance it'll make Hilda laugh rather than scold him? Well worth it. If only he could apply that to what he just knows is Hilda's careful noting of whatever that small glitch he'd had was. Or rather: he absolutely knows she's seen something he let slip when he didn't mean to, considering there's no reason to explain everything that the Horizon might have happen to it. There's no reason to think it'll happen again, so why mention it?

With that logic he finds faultless in mind, it's what has Claude groaning like she's touched upon some deeply raw nerve over the toe stubbing incidents. ]

Yes, and your lack of sympathy for my struggles is noted, thank you very much. Some of the roads here are rough if you're not paying attention to where you're walking, which I most certainly didn't do after arriving here when I was too busy looking at everything. I nearly even fell on my face a couple times and that would've been a real shame to recover from.

[ As Buri chows down on what Hilda's offered, Claude decides to take advantage of the wyvern's distraction to reach a hand forward to pet the scales along his neck. There's a growl that seems more automatic than anything and Claude hushes him which earns a glare. Not enough to dissuade him from abandoning his mission of getting Buri to adjust to attention once again even with attempting to remind himself that none of this is real. Sometimes the illusions in here feel far too much like it and now's one of those times as he glances back over his shoulder at the empty stalls around this one. ]

You know, if we want anyone else to visit without these bribery buckets, we should probably bring one of Buri's old friends to live here, too.

[ Hilda rolls her eyes - both at the buckets of meat and then at the theatrics over his supposed stubbed toe.

Not that she can really chastise too much. She and Claude may as well have been two sides of the same coin; they both had a secret love and penchant for being dramatic whether it served them or not. If the tables were turned she would have been the one acting incredibly hurt that Claude wasn't babying her and sympathizing with her stubbed toe. But the difference here was that Hilda was certain he was trying to hide something from her. If there was one thing she was quickly learning in Abraxas however, it was that if Claude didn't tell her, she might be able to find people who would.

None of that betrays on her face as she gives him a sympathetic pat on the arm and giving him her best, over the top, doe-eyed look. ]

Your face? That's your best feature after your hair. Tell you what, I'll give Sylvain a real stern talking to and he can even out the pathways for you so that doesn't happen again.

[ She can't help but giggle silently when Buri sounds off a warning growl at Claude attempting to touch him. That doesn't do anything to deter her either and sure enough her own attempt is met with a similar reaction which she ignores. Her hand traces a scarred over section on his cheek. ]

Who wouldn't want to feed raw meat to a grumpy old wyvern? [ Buri's eyes flicker towards her as he continues to chew nosily. ] Which one did you have in mind? [ Her voice turns teasing as she watches for Buri's reaction. It's not like she expects him to understand but who knows. Maybe he would. ] Maybe his girlfriend?

[ Buri had been easier than she had anticipated, but she still wasn't sure if she was ready to take on recreating her own wyvern just yet. ]

Trust me, I know. It'd be a shame if I damaged my roguishly beautiful face all over a loose brick or two.

[ Said with great gravitas as though some calamity was narrowly avoided and like it's not more theatrics with a different spin to them now just to play up Hilda's offer to have Sylvain repave the entirety of Cadens with his own two hands. Not a bad offer, actually. Still better to go along with that than deal with anything else he's intentionally glossing over despite being well aware Hilda can sense some of it (or a lot of it) these days.

It's not enough to make him share this voluntarily - for now - so he breaks out into a grin fully at Buri's expense now that the wyvern is doing his best to look like he doesn't enjoy this attention every much as his real life counterpart would do the same. ]

The answer to that is no one. Even if our friend here lacks some of the usual social charms, he has plenty of others to make up for that. It'd be hard for anyone to not be won over by him even at his grouchiest.

[ Claude might also be biased what with being enamored with every wyvern he's ever come across, but if it's brought up he'll brush that aside too. What he doesn't totally expect is for Hilda to offer to create another wyvern that isn't her own and that has him pausing with a hand on Buri to send a sideways glance her direction. ]

Sure, that could always work. Or I was thinking he might like to be friends with your wyvern again, too. [ Now he appraises Hilda beneath the smile he turns on her, curious enough to prod around as he's wont to do. ] Maybe another one's in order first, though. Buri's girlfriend isn't a bad choice at all. You wanna try together again or give this one a shot on your own?

[ Or Claude could always do it himself as a third option, but he'll let Hilda choose her preference. ]

All of Cadens would go into mourning. I might even shed a tear or two for you until we got you all patched up.

[ There was no way Sylvain would ever pave the entirety of Cadens with his own two hands but the thought was funny and that's all that really mattered to her in the end.

She knew she was partially at fault for dodging topics that neither of them wanted to talk about. There was no denying she was excellent at pretending things away especially as of late, but she wasn't certain if it would eventually catch up to them resulting in some kind of consequence. Hilda hoped it would never come to that.

Why couldn't they just stay joking and laughing the rest of their lives?

At the suggestion about the wyvern not in the room (Waffle, not Buri) her gaze drifts to Claude's for a brief moment. There was the push to her pull. It was a natural nudge of the topic away from Claude and back to Hilda or rather, Hilda-adjacent, but she would let it slide. A part of her was annoyed at herself for being so hesitant about recreating Waffle. Buri had come out just fine, hadn't he? But the little voice in her head worried in the way it had for the last two decades of her life. Claude had helped her with it. It had been Claude's efforts not hers. ]

Are you sure you don't want to do it? [ She gives him a cheeky smile. ] If I remember correctly, she did like you a lot more than anyone else at the academy. But I guess if you really needed someone else to do it with you I could because I'm such a good friend.

[ There's a hum from him, a short note which says he might be considering Hilda's offer ("offer") to do this himself. Claude's still considering her while she talks with an easy smile of his own on his face that she meets with her own. ]

If you're saying it's because I charmed her with my utterly delightful ways, you'd be absolutely right. That was my first goal back then, befriending all of them. [ He pauses again to look thoughtful, this time with it mostly not being an act while recalling memories which feel like they were in a completely different life between the war and being here in Abraxas now. ] That was a great plan, honestly, so no wonder sky watch always went so well for us.

[ Now Claude's absolutely patting himself on the back for Hilda's entertainment given that he's absolutely inflating his own ego as part of that, and the grin appearing on his face afterwards says as much. But - he thinks he hears the request in there well enough, so with one last pat to Buri's neck for now (and a tiny growl to match it as Buri's further commentary) he steps back and walks to the stall that's waiting.

There's another few moments where he considers what he remembers of Adelheid as he shuts his eyes: her stature and long wingspan, lighter brown scales compared to Buri's, and a missing toe from scrappier, younger days. Then there's that she would trill happily to anyone coming to say hello, was particularly fond of snacks, and could find an instant friend in anyone offering to scratch her chin. And, maybe most importantly of all that he remembers at the last second: her love of expressing happiness through headbutting and forgetting people aren't as sturdy as wyverns.

Which is why he lets out an oof when there's a familiar weight bumped solidly against his chest, and Claude opens his eyes with a grin to see Adelheid herself peering back at him. ]

Hello again, my friend. You've missed us both, have you?

So that's what it was. We were starting to think that you preferred wyverns over the rest of us. Not a great way to make a first impression, by the way. Lorenz was ready to throw a fit at one point. [ She's teasing, but somewhere wrapped in there is a gentle reminder to him that his friends were always looking out for him. Granted, they hadn't quite been friends then; they had been trying to figure one another out, all against a backdrop of learning about warfare. And maybe at that point, it had also been self serving to care about the future head of the Riegan house - but that had thankfully changed over time too.

She can't deny however that Claude's persistence with the wyverns had certainly helped, especially since she had been so reluctant to get onto a wyvern in the first place. Her first ride hadn't gone particularly well resulting in almost getting bucked off while they were in the air. Her thighs had been bruised for weeks after that and she had resolutely refused to get back on and probably wouldn't have had it not been for Byleth and Cladue's encouragement.

Her teasing fades from her lips as Claude begins to work. Up until this moment she realizes that she hasn't seen anyone create something in the Horizon yet. If she was being honest, she thought it would probably be relatively underwhelming. After all she had just closed her eyes and thought really hard until she had felt a tug of something materialize. And sure, Claude did close his eyes, but there was more. There was the slight tug of the wind in his hair, the faint sparkle of something being weaved and pulled from his memories. A nebulous form began building itself before her eyes and as much as she wanted to watch that, her eyes stayed trained on Claude. Like many other things he did, Hilda thought it looked effortless.

If she didn't know what magic was, had never experienced it, she would have been a full believer after this. Another delighted laugh leaves her mouth as she steps forward to meet Adelheid with a soft headbutt to the forehead. Buri is quick to vie for his girlfriend's attention though and Hilda steps back with a chuckle. ]

He looks so much happier now. Imagine being jealous of a wyvern in love.

[ There's a grin at the mention of Lorenz being ready to throw a fit, since honestly - and something they both know, which is why he leaves it unsaid - is that that described Lorenz so frequently in those days. Less so in current times from what he remembers, though there's never a time in which Claude feels the chance of a lecture, haranguing, or something otherwise punctuated by Scoffs™ is zero. Or was, since maybe he should be thinking about that in past tense.

That's not something he cares to do, however, since it skirts too close to thinking about the realities of being here and the amount of time between the both of them. The latter is something Claude would rather not think about at all even if life in Abraxas lately seems determined to remind him of it more than ever.

Far better to step out of the way of Adelheid and Buri's reunion like they'd truly been parted to watch with a smile. ]

Aww, Hilda. If you're that jealous then you know there's a way to fix that. You too could have your very own reunion in just mere moments from now!

[ For good measure, he throws an arm loosely around her shoulders while turning them both to a stall waiting for yet another occupant. ]

I wish I could say it'll get less intimidating the longer you think about it, but. Would I ever lie to you? [ Wait. Don't answer that. Moving right along - ] My real point in there is I know you can do it, especially since you created the entire aerie around us right now. That takes way more effort, if you ask me.

[ She can’t stop herself from laughing as she’s pulled into his side as they face Waffle’s empty stall. His tone had a similar quality as merchants who boasted about their wares in an attempt to make a sale. ]

Claude, I don’t want to fall in love with a wyvern. Although if Waffle is the only person aside from Hoslt who loves me then maybe it isn’t so bad.

[ An eyebrow arches briefly at what she knows is meant to be a rhetorical question. They both knew that he lied. It wasn’t meant to be malicious and she knew that — Claude, at least as well as she knew him — didn’t have a malicious bone in his body. He just liked his secrets because she supposed it formed a layer around whatever it was he was trying to protect. But because it’s rhetorical she lets her mildly judging look pass between them without saying much of anything else. ]

The aerie definitely took a lot of effort. I had to take the longest nap afterwards. [ Despite none of this being real, she contemplates the stall and Waffle’s saddle hanging there. If she even remotely wants this to be a place of reprieve it won't be without Waffenzahn. It's silly and childish in many ways, but she didn't think Claude would judge her for it. ] If I mess it up somehow, you can’t laugh or tell anyone, okay?

[ With or without Claude’s confirmation Hilda closes her eyes, drawing on the memories of her wyvern. Waffenzahn had been a relatively young thing when she had been introduced to him; he was rambunctious, mischievous and full of energy to the point where he had almost flung her from the saddle once. Despite her shocked anger Hilda had been as quick to forgive when he sensed he had done something wrong and given her the biggest doe eyes she had ever seen on a creature.

He wasn’t as lithe and long as Adelheid, but he was stocky and strong under some of the young wyvern pudge he had yet to lose. His dislike of men had been apparent early on, but they had gotten to a point where men he was acquainted with were met with a certain air of disdain that rivaled even Lorenz’s scoff. For all his sass and wyvern-esque scoffing though, Waffenzahn adored Hilda, taking on the demeanor of a dog that was reunited with its owner any time she appeared in the aerie.

Just as she’s about to ask if she’s done it, she feels a force knock her backwards from Claude’s reach. And there Waffenzahn is, absolutely overjoyed to see her and pointedly putting himself between her and Claude. Her surprise overrides any triumph she might feel and she gazes up at her wyvern and his pink bows around his horns in all his glory in wonder. ]

I did it.

We could always take a nap after this too. There's probably a corner of the Horizon with nice weather somewhere even if it's not in the monastery proper.

[ That's not really Hilda's point and Claude knows that quite well. Even the demonstrations of what could be done hadn't helped his own particular anxiety about creating things upon those subsequent visits into the Horizon where he'd shaped those creations further and the worry of whether they'd turn out right. Most of those were plants or rooms, and both are things Claude can admit hold infinitely less stress than a wyvern. Or multiple wyverns. Or one particular wyvern.

So he offers Hilda a slight smile but no verbal confirmation as it goes without saying (he assumes, anyway) there won't be a word of this spoken to anyone. Anyone besides the two of them since there might be some light teasing from him if something somehow goes sideways, but Claude also honestly can't picture that happening. It's not something he's preparing for even as he steps back to let Hilda have her personal space back for Waffenzahn.

Not enough space as it turns out, since when the wyvern in question appears and immediately pushes his face in to create more space Claude can't do anything but laugh. ]

Now there's something beyond familiar. I think if Waffle could just casually push me right on outta here he absolutely would. I'd better start bringing extra snacks to win him over all over again along with the other two. Or - maybe more than the other two.

[ In Hilda’s mind, any hard work should definitely be rewarded with something. Food was always nice, a pretty little trinket or something she could use to make herself a trinket – even better. But a nap definitely ranked up there with the number of things she wouldn’t mind getting in return for something she probably hadn’t enjoyed doing.

There had been plenty of days when they had done exactly what Claude had described. There was no particular pattern to which they sought out midday cat naps either. Whether it was after a particularly gruelling training session, a lecture that got a little stale, or a belly full of food – a nap was a great addition to any event.

Her surprised stupor is broken as her wyvern’s wet tongue draws a long streak across her cheek, eliciting a strangled “gross” that instantly morphs into a laugh. Gently, less of a reprimand and more of an affectionate hello, she boops Waffenzahn’s snoot who only throws his head back in glee knowing this dance well as he obediently moves backwards so she can get up.

When she’s upright, Hilda immediately moves to wrap her arms around Waffle’s neck, giving him an affectionate nuzzle, before lightly scolding Claude. ]

Hey! He’d never do that, he doesn’t have a malicious bone in his body. [ There’s nothing but mirth and lightness to her now though that the daunting task is complete, almost as if her worries had never held water in the first place. She glances back towards Waffle who gives her an affectionate chirp of agreement to her next statement. ] But snacks couldn’t hurt – he’s just like me in that way. [ Her next breath betrays the wonder she still feels at how not only real Waffle is but how she had done it. ] Have you tried flying in the Horizon? How far can we go?

[ Too easy to tease, as always, and Hilda's scolding merely gets yet another wide grin from him while Waffenzahn soaks up the attention. He has half a mind to go pick up the bucket of snacks they've brought with them - assuming Buri hasn't managed to eat all of it himself while their backs were metaphorically and literally turned - but Hilda's question gives him some pause. ]

No, I haven't. Mostly because my wyvern is - [ with a couple gestures meant to indicate roughly her small size and shape currently due to being present here as her much younger self than her current age either one of them would remember from present day - ] and I've never tried to bring in an adult wyvern. Well, until now, when someone just so happened to twist my arm into doing it.

[ Complete with a heavy sigh, like he's really been put upon here and as if that's actually how things happened. Only for a second or two, though, because then Claude's walking away. Not far; just back to Adelheid's stall where she'd perked up at the mention of flying and to open the door to let her out into the aerie proper. (Buri, on the other hand, is nowhere to be seen and possibly taking up the nap suggestion even if it was meant for the two humans.) ]

I'm willing to give it a shot, though. I've seen some others riding around on... things from home, I suppose would be the easiest way to sum it up. There seems to be a sky here so hopefully it'll be like the real thing.

[ Something which has clear excitement creeping into Claude's voice just like it might before some kind of scheme from back in the day. This one benefits them both, at least. ]

[ Claude’s exaggeration and complete retelling of the situation is met with a roll of her eyes but that’s short lived too as Waffle nudges her, deciding that she’s spent far too much time already preoccupied on Claude as opposed to him. She presses a light feathery kiss to his nose before turning her attention back to Claude. ]

Yeah, but can’t you, you know – [ She motions with her hands, moving them away from one another to indicate growth. Hilda isn’t certain if that’s actually how it works, but Claude had said as much when she had worried about giving Waffle a snaggle tooth. ] if you wanted her to be smaller again, couldn’t you do that?

[ It’s neither here nor there though when Claude seems to be on the same wavelength she is and they have two wyverns more than eager to spread their wings. Well. One. But that was on brand for Buri.

With the doors to the aerie open, Waffenzahn seems to get the idea too. The fresh air rouses him as he begins to stretch and crane his neck, restlessness appearing in the flutter of his wings. There’s a pep in Hilda’s step as she quickly rushes for his harness and saddle. Claude’s excitement is infectious, urging her to get out into the vast blue sky as quickly as they can. In a matter of minutes he’s equipped and ready to go, muscle memory taking over like she’s done this hundreds of times. When she’s done she turns to Adelheid’s stall to help Claude with the remaining straps and ties for her.

Curiosity sparks in her tone and gaze. ]

Things like what exactly? Pegasi?

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