[ OPEN ] split tomorrow from today

[godshattering]

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! )

Comments

[theidlemaiden]

[ Laughter peals from her lips like a clear bell to join the chorus of Waffle and Adelheid's trilling as they streak towards the finish line.

Claude's voice carries across the wind, and Hilda breaks her steady gaze on the aerie for a brief moment to look at him. ]

We already made the wager, Claude! It doesn't work like that. Is answering three little questions that much scarier than cleaning our rooms for a month?

[ And despite that, Hilda would have probably tried a very similar move if she had been the one in the losing position. His attempt to distract her does in fact work though. The brief distraction and glance over her shoulder means that Waffle begins to lose some speed, once again giving up the lead so now they're neck and neck.

The looming maw of the aerie's window gets bigger and bigger. It's only so wide to let through one wyvern in at a time which means that their race has turned into a game of chicken. Hilda steels herself knowing full well that it will be simply a matter of nerve - or concession - between herself and Claude to see who wins. ]

i rolled dice for this one IT'S CLAUDE DESTRUCTION TIME

[godshattering]

Oh c'mon, why not make it more interesting and change things up at the last minute?

[ The literal last minute, and no comment on whether the questions are scarier than cleaning rooms. Given the choice he'd take the latter any day of the week, but: a promise is a promise and should Fate decide that is his fate? Nothing to do but accept it. That doesn't mean he's not going to have fun with it in the meantime while he can, while the wyverns are still doing their best to overtake one another and changing leads with each flap of their wings bringing that finish line closer and closer. Claude has no intention of surrendering - not even with that mile wide streak of fondness he has for Hilda that factors into so many other situations - but in the end it's Waffle who decides for them both.

With one great push he manages to cut in front of Adelheid enough that she rears back mid-air and leaves Claude reaching for a better grasp on the saddle in a feeling which is also far too lifelike. Their sputter means that Waffle slips ahead and through the aerie window while Claude's still processing what happens, and thankfully Adelheid returns to roost without needing any instructions.

Huh. Maybe he should stop making bets in Abraxas at this rate. ]

Hey, you did great, [ is quickly said to Adelheid when the wyvern seems to slouch in defeat, disappointment, or maybe both, and he quickly reaches to pat her neck reassuringly. ] It just wasn't our day this time around but we'll beat them another time, won't we?

[ Which just leaves looking Hilda's direction now with an intentionally flourishing (and annoying) half bow while still seated in the saddle to concede his loss and assuming Hilda will want to claim that reward right away. ]

Alright, Hilda. You've won your questions fair and square, so what'll they be?

SORRY CLAUDE THE DICE SAID WHAT THEY SAID!

[theidlemaiden]

[ Hilda doesn't know where Waffle gets his daring from. It could be that he's still young and plucky, or it could be that he's trying to impress her and fulfill her wish to win this particular bet. Playing chicken and pulling a somewhat risky maneuver definitely wasn't something that they had ever run drills for - but maybe they should be after this. Not that she wants to be flattened like a pancake against the wall of the aerie; if smells and sensations are real, being hurt is probably just as real too. It would really just be for these scenarios.

She lets out a cheer which is closely followed by Waffle's triumphant roar as he skitters into the aerie before quickly making room for Adelheid. Waffle nips playfully at his fellow wyvern, practically preening as Hilda slides off to throw her arms around his neck and press a kiss to him. ]

You did so good - who taught you to do something risky like that? [ Her scold isn't really that and Waffle seems to know it too, something akin to a cheeky look appearing in his eyes. Instead of acknowledging Claude first however, she rushes over to Adelheid to give her a big hug too. ] You too. We'll race the both of you again any time.

[ When she finally turns to face her friend, she taps a finger thoughtfully to her chin. But then, perhaps worryingly for Claude, the telltale look of her having him right where she wants him glimmers in her eyes. ]

I'm going to save them for another time. All that racing made me thirsty - what do you say to some tea?

THEY SURE DID and it's a wrap!

[godshattering]

[ Admiration for Waffle's move - admittedly a good one, even if it means he's lost - is on the tip of his tongue, but it's wiped away when Hilda turns that look on him. Oh no. He knows exactly what that look means, and the smile on his own face shifts to wariness in nearly the exact same moment. ]

You're really just gonna leave those questions hanging over me? That's just cruel!

[ Whining for the sake of being dramatic aside: Claude would absolutely do the same thing if the tables were turned. It's more fun that way to leave suspense in there, isn't it? That's his logic anyway, but it's not going to stop him from heaving a deeply weighted sigh now that it's been turned on him. As if he didn't agree to this. (As if he wouldn't do whatever Hilda asked, anyway.) ]

I see how it is. C'mon then, time for you to have some victory tea and for me to drown my sorrows in it.

[ That's too much seriousness to keep up for too long without grinning, which is exactly what he does while slinging an arm around Hilda's shoulders as they wander off in search of that tea. Maybe at Teach's old favorite gazebo, just for old times' sake. ]