Night 5, locked to Clarine

[reckless_but_loyal]

[ This has been difficult for Clarine, Hector knows that well. Soldier or no, she's clearly not used to death like this. He's... envious in a way. As Ostia's heir, he's well accustomed to defending himself from assassination attempts, and kill or be killed is a lesson he learned early. He wasn't allowed the softer upbringing she's had.

But he's not the kind of person who lets such things consume him. He is who he is and she is who she is. He's glad she hasn't faced the same trials he has and he wishes he could spare her the one she's going through now, or at least... that he was better at providing comfort. Anything he could think to say sounds trite or condescending.

But she has other friends who can provide that for her. He'll leave it to them. He'll take care of her in his own way. ]

Clarine. Let's find a river. Those gloves might be salvageable if we're fast enough.

[ Dang healers always wearing white it's like you're not expecting to murder anyone or something. ]

Comments

[unrulyprincess]

[God, Hector, they're back-line fighters!!!

But she follows him immediately, and is grateful he doesn't try to say anything else. After all...he was right about Gi-ne. When he told her she could follow him...he'd been right.

So she follows him now, quiet but with her chin up if nothing else, and nods. But despite her brave face, her voice does tremble. Even if she's fought, and even if she's grown a lot from the time she ran away from her manor, she was always a healer and then a mage--getting her hands dirty had never been part of the package...until now, anyway.]

R-right... [...] If not, it is...no great loss. They are not so well off, anymore.

[None of her clothing is, really. Once upon a time that would've devastated her, but lately she's found fun and new and improved things to be devastated about.]

[reckless_but_loyal]

[ Hector's clothes are much better off, thanks to his armor taking the brunt of the abuse, but that cape has definitely seen better days. At least it's still in good enough shape to make him easy to spot and follow through the jungle. ]

I thought a fine lady wasn't much without her gloves.

[unrulyprincess]

[Well, he's not wrong, and the response comes immediately off her tongue:]

A lady must wear gloves to be properly dressed while upon any outing--

[... not that this is a very good outing...]

... W-well... let us attempt to clean these, then... though I am afraid cleaning garments in streams is also not particularly ladylike.

[nor is CUTTING PEOPLES' THROATS admittedly.]

[reckless_but_loyal]

I don't think the lady of the mansion will lend us the use of her wash bin, so you'll have to make do.

[ A stream won't be too difficult to find, at least, they've probably come across a near enough one while wandering around the island on previous nights. He'll let her take care of the gloves herself, and he doesn't say anything, not just yet. He's observing her demeanor first. ]

[unrulyprincess]

[She crouches by the stream, slowly dipping the gloves into the water. It's cold, but at least that's different from the warmth of Gi-ne's blood. She wishes it was that easy to wash away the sensation.

But for now...

She scrubs, awkwardly and uncertainly, the movements of someone who has never really had to do so before. Everything is just a little absent, as if she's not all there at the moment.]

...Yes... we shall all have to make do here. [In everything. In survival, even.] Is that...not the case?

[reckless_but_loyal]

No, you're right. We have to make do with what we're given. But we learned a lot today. The tide of battle is turning in our favor.

[unrulyprincess]

Do you think so...?

[Well, if Hector thinks so, then...maybe it's true, even. She watches the blood color the water red, eyes fixed on that.]

I...truly believe that we may be able to win. I have always believed so. Perhaps now is our chance.

[reckless_but_loyal]

[ Hector crouches down next to her and nods firmly. ]

Today was an important victory. If our Foxes are wise enough, we'll be able to go on the offensive after this.

You'll be back with your parents soon enough, I promise you that.

[unrulyprincess]

... Thank you.

[It really does help to hear, despite everything. Everything will be okay.]

We shall definitely go on the offensive. I am...tired of being on the ropes.

[reckless_but_loyal]

I'm tired of being jerked around, too.

[ He's silent for a moment. She could probably use something to talk about that isn't this mad game, so.... ]

...There's something I want to ask you.

[unrulyprincess]

[That surprises her; she looks up from where she was washing her bloody gloves, tilting her head curiously.]

...Yes? What is it?

[reckless_but_loyal]

...My daughter. What's she like?

[unrulyprincess]

[...what a cute question.

Despite the wear of the day, and the struggles she's been through, Clarine's lips quirk into a smile.

She lifts the gloves from the water and leaves them on the ground to instead rest her hands on her laps.]

Ah...she is...

[How does one describe Lilina...? Granted, Clarine's not super close to her, but even so, she finds her...]

... Truthfully, I believe she is inspiring. Granted, she is not very good at being a lady--often, she appears to forget her own social class, and speaks with all sorts of vagabonds and rogues--it is as if she forgets her own social class at times...!

[Focus, Clarine.]

... But no matter the hardships, she continues to smile, and she keeps us all moving forward. I believe...that is how I would describe Lilina.

[reckless_but_loyal]

[ Sorry Clarine did you mean that stuff about forgetting her social class as a criticism, because Hector is grinning like an idiot at this that's his girl. ]

Hehe, I'd expect no less from a child of mine!

[ He's so proud, if he had a tail it'd be wagging a mile a minute. ]

[unrulyprincess]

[????]

W-well...! S-she should nonetheless occasionally think of propriety and her appearance...!

[HUFF... GOD HECTOR you're so much like a proud dad it hurts her. She knows how upset Lilina was when...

...well.]