armwriostle | peacockstop Overflow

[ the clinic has been overrun with patients, and staying there won't do any good when there's a shortage of space and staff anyway. it's not as if it's anything life-threatening (yet) — clorinde has had her fair share of colds, rare as they may be, and this is nothing more than a sore throat. if a sore throat also involved coughing up pink camellias.

but it's fine. it's more of a nuisance than anything. with most guests staying in the clinic or holed up in their rooms, the conservatory is much less busy than it was earlier, and clorinde finds herself in the orchard with wriothesley holding an orangeberry in her hands.

... what were they doing here again? she swallows down the dryness in the back of her throat, the tickle of petals forcing their way back up again. ah, yes— ]

If I recall, you have a few citrus blends of tea that you're fond of. [ see... she does pay attention despite not being a tea nerd. ] This one should compliment it well.

[Wriothesley is only marginally surprised when he runs into Clorinde again. With Neuvillette also appearing again and others confirming themselves getting lost with their sense of time being hours yet they were gone for months, he has grown more used to the strange happenings.

He was warned that time has no concept here.

If anything, Clorinde is probably more thrown off by the amount of time that has passed on top of Wriothesley's change in appearance. Some marks from the end of march linger on his body, still keeping his neck bandaged, and his hair is tied into a messy, long ponytail. He's still a little weary, but his energy has been much better after a week of just sex upon sex.

Honestly? Seeing Clorinde helps a lot with his frayed nerves. He'll take any familiarity he can.]

Oh? Memorizing my tastes in tea? I didn't realize you cared about that stuff. [His tone is light and teasing.]

[ bluntly, ]

I don't. [ which he already knows. but it goes without saying that she does care about him, however, which means she unfortunately will wind up caring about tea anyway. he knows this as well. ] You're just obvious with your preferences.

[ you know, as if that's all it is. in any case, she was thrown off, mostly by his change in appearance; the longer hair is difficult to ignore, but he wears it well. the marks do raise some concern, but she trusts that he would have gotten them looked at if they were serious. she hasn't asked about them, nor has she asked about his near-disheveled state that she has so rarely seen him in.

it seems that going outside (or as much "outside" as they can go while still in the confines of the resort) helps, at least a little. she digs her thumbs into the fruit, carefully pulling off the peel. ]

We can share one, if you'd like.

[He pretends to look offended, pressing a hand to his chest as though he finds her words insulting.] Obvious? Me? Are you sure you're talking about the right person?

[Honestly, she isn't wrong. He had a few blends he was partial to, but Wriothesley also tried every blend at least once and he isn't one to waste any sort of food item. Then again, Clorinde has dined with him enough to know the particulars about how he takes his tea, so this wasn't surprising in the least.

And the man is gracious about her familiarity to him since she doesn't question his more tired appearance.] How can I say no when you offer so sweetly? [He pats the spot next to him.]

[ in the time she has come to know wriothesley, she has been reminded time and again of the importance of patience. she knows, of course, in the context of hunting, of biding her time and waiting for the opportune moment. the same is applicable here: there is no pushing wriothesley for anything more than he isn't willing to give or divulge from the onset. he could talk circles around the best of them and clorinde does not presume to be an expert in the art of doublespeak, nor would she want to be. but it means that all he gets in return for his theatrics is a flat look.

trust is earned, not given. the time she had put in to cultivate it has, she thinks (she hopes), borne fruit. when it comes down to it, he knows she will always be there for him, just as she knows he will be there for her. and yet, here she is, cutting off the surge of petals under the guise of clearing her throat as she joins him. ]

Don't get too excited. [ her? sweet? hm. she splits the orangeberry down the middle, handing him one half of it. ]

[The expression really only serves to encourage him to continue being a brat, you know. Wriothesley loves to exasperate the other. It's all in good fun and it's easy to distract people of things when they're frustrated with him instead.

Though, she knows his tricks well, so the exasperating is honestly more honest of him just teasing her anyways.

Though, he does look at her curiously for a moment. Maybe it's only because he hasn't really seen her in months, but he can't help but feel like something is off. Maybe the paranoia and wariness of March still lingers strongly in his blood. He also trusted his instinct though. But...he also trusted Clorinde enough that if there was anything wrong, she'd say something about it.]

How can I not? It has been awhile since we've shared a meal together. At least from my point of view. [He takes it from her, his gaze softening.] It's nice to see you, is all.

[ she does indeed know his tricks well, and with it comes an unavoidable layer of fondness beneath that exasperation. he knows this too, of course. clorinde isn't someone who'd suffer the company of another if they truly did grate on her nerves. it's all part of there usual back and forth, really. ]

No. It's been some time for me as well. [ she's still not entirely sure she understands the flow of time here, or how the logistics work. she's taken to thinking of these little visits as a mini day off, of sorts. ] Things have been busy, as of late.

[ given the aftermath of everything that's happened, the return to order and normalcy takes time. but, she supposes she should be thankful for this as well, being able to spend time with him doing nothing more than enjoying a nice view and shared fruit. she pulls off a segment of the orangeberry, popping it in her mouth. the flavor is interesting, but pleasant. ]

You know, you can always call for me if you wanted to see me.

Apparently so... [His mouth quirks in a smile, but there's something sad that lingers in his eyes.] Neuvillette has told me that the prophecy has come to pass and I imagine that Fontaine is moving forward from such an event.

[A rebuilding that he is apparently there for, yet here he is.] For me, it has yet to come though. I only know as much as what I've been told and, well, the last time we saw each other for me was four months or so. I'm afraid that I think that I won't be able to call for you whenever I fancy to. [And there is loneliness in his tone. It's new to some extent. Wriothesley is no stranger to company, but he feels it this time. The people whom he had grown accustomed to seeing and all the work he had put in and built from the ground up was practically gone. Furina had come and gone, a situation he doesn't know how to assess, and there is the worry that Neuvillette will too.

That Clorinde is also a temporary resident whom he'll not see soon after the next month comes in. He has to enjoy the moment as he can.

Wriothesley carefully eats some of the fruit given to him.] I'll take advantage of your company in the meantime though. Hopefully you didn't have any plans to jump into any heated orgies or run off with some attractive Casanova anytime soon.

[ even if wriothesley was told, she knows it's not the same for him. given the state of affairs from his perspective as he has last remembered it, this was something he would need to reconcile on his own. it wouldn't matter if she tried to reassure him, it wouldn't be same as him seeing and experiencing it himself. much like herself, he isn't someone who does well with idle hands for long; she wonders, at times, how he still manages to hold on to himself in a place so determined to let go of their inhibitions to the point of forgetting who they are. ]

Did you think me to be so shallow? [ her tone is dry, but the undercurrent of amusement remains, sweetened by the nectar of the fruit that lingers on her tongue. ] Most of the men here leave much to be desired.

[ but she considers his words, and the ache of loneliness beneath; the smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. she turns towards him, leaning in to meet his gaze. ]

... In the time we've known each other, I've always answered your call. [ and perhaps, in the end, it's silly to promise this. but she has always kept her word to him; to those she has come to care for. ] And I will continue to do so.

I would never think of such a thing about you. It is not that I think you to be shallow but I think that you are someone deserving to live such a whirlwind romance. [He laughs a little in response. His tone is no less teasing.] Oh? I think there are many people here that are desirable enough. I did not realize you were so hard to get, yet would lay with me.

[We do a little self deprecation. It's for fun though. For fun. A joke.]

Hah... [Ever so serious. He usually is good with rolling with the punches, but it does off kilter him a bit. He rubs the back of his bandaged neck sheepishly.] No need to get so deep like that. It's nothing so serious. This place. [He says that, but Clorinde had not seen the mental state he had been during March. And he's glad for it.

He's not flustered, you're flustered.]

[ why wouldn't i, is the first thought that crosses her mind with an ease that would surprise her if the answer hadn't been known to her for a while now. why wouldn't she here — a foreign place with foreign faces, his being the only one that she knows and trusts. wriothesley claims it isn't so deep and serious, but she's certain even he isn't immune to the effects of solitude.

something wells up within her and she has just enough time to turn her head, covering her mouth as her body shudders from the force of a series of violent, heaving coughs. pink petals slip past her fingers, tinged with blood as she attempts to breathe in between, barely catching herself with her free hand when she pitches forward. her vision spins, then dims, before blacking out entirely. ]

[The only time he has had to react any quicker than him launching himself forward to catch Clorinde is possibly when he was faced with certain death when the Primordial Sea had broken through the seal underneath the Fortress.

His arm reaches out before she can fall forward, fruit and the atmosphere completely foreign.] Clorinde?!

[He only takes a glance at the bloodied petals before he's already moving to lifting her up in his arms. There is a hurried firmness in his movement, yet he cradles the duelist's body against his chest with such a fierce and gentle protectiveness as he whisks her away quickly.

Wriothesley doesn't care about the faces that he walks passed, only thinking about the infirmary for his destination. For her.]

[ if she were conscious, she'd likely be more surprised by his reaction, maybe; by the careful way with which he holds her in his arms. this sort of gentle urgency is foreign to her, having been deprived of it while growing up and even now, as an adult. perhaps it's a good thing, then, that she's unaware, completely still in his arms as he takes them to the infirmary.

the first nurse who spots them takes one look at clorinde before ushering them into the last remaining room, having just been vacated by the previous patient. she quickly explains the hanahaki illness to wriothesley and takes clorinde's pulse before informing him that she's fine, just fatigued. she hands him a box of condoms and a bottle of water, making sure they stay hydrated before leaving.

clorinde is slow to stir at first, blinking beneath the harsh florescent lights as she takes stock of her surroundings. her throat is sore, but otherwise feels nothing else out of the ordinary, her eyes eventually finding him. ]

Wriothesley—?

[If he had not already been here for a couple of months, he would be skeptical of what the nurse explains to him. Isn't it a little ludicrous anyways? But he takes in the information explained to him and can only wait for Clorinde to come to.

He has his fingers entwined with the woman's hand when she comes to. How long has he been holding her hand?

Don't worry about it.

He starts a little as soon as he feels her move and hears her speak.] Hey. You fainted. Did you know you were sick this entire time?

[ now that she's awake, more things come to awareness: the firm bed beneath her, the sterile scent of the infirmary; the warm of his hand against hers. she looks down to see their fingers entwined, his broader hand covering hers, and lets them remain. ]

I'd assumed it was just a new strain of a cold. I didn't think it was that bad. [ not that she's ever had experience with coughing up flowers. she squeezes his hand lightly, looking back up at him. ] ... I'm sorry.

[ for worrying him. for not telling him earlier. ]

I- [He shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair with his free hand.] It's not something you have to apologize. It scared me, you know. Someone as strong as you suddenly collapsing like that.

[He's not one to assume the worst, but he didn't know what to assume.]

Hey, do you wanna go somewhere else? I can't say the atmosphere is great. [His smile turns a little sheepish.] The nurse told me the cure, but I think I'd prefer somewhere that feels more private and less...sterile.

It's not typically a habit of mine.

[ she closes her eyes, taking a deep breath before moving to sit up. she moves slowly in an effort to let herself adjust, bringing her legs over to sit on the side of the bed closest to him. she can count the amount of times she'd fainted in her life on one hand; the idea of becoming so vulnerable, so weak, doesn't sit well with her. while she loathes the fact that he had to see her in such a state, she's glad it was him and not someone else. ]

Yes. That might be best.

I would hope not.

[His gaze stays on her carefully, watching for any signs of discomfort or pain. He sighs a little bit and moves to his feet.] Please endure a little longer then. [He knows that she might protest what he's about to do, but he thinks it'll be easier and quicker.

Wriothesley carefully tucks one arm under her legs and the other on her back before lifting her up into his arms.] Let's go then.

[ her first instinct is to insist that she's fine and that she's well enough to at least make it to her room. but she remembers the expression on his face when she came to, the warmth of his hand entwined with hers, and she thinks better of it. instead, she wraps one arm around his shoulders, studying his face briefly before leaning her head against his chest. ]

... All right.

[ it prickles at her, this vulnerability. but she wrestles it down, closing her eyes and letting him take her where he wants to go. ]

[Wriothesley is nothing if not protective. He carries her close to his chest as he leaves the Broken Wing and starts to walk down the many glamorous hallways towards Mating Seasons. In normal circumstances, he would just take her back to his room or hers, but he doesn't know the status of her room to trust it and he could acknowledge that his room is not the most comfortable with what amenities he has at his rank.

Mating Seasons should have proper space for them to be comfortable and be given the privacy they want.

It's how they end up there in a nice room. It wasn't lavish, but it was comfortable and spacious. Exactly what he was expecting. Wriothesley carefully places her down on the bed and takes a seat next to her.] How are you feeling?

[ she doesn't open her eyes until they reach mating seasons, fully placing her trust in him to find a place more suitable to rest in. the lights of the gilded hallways are bright enough to prick at her beneath her eyelids and she turns her face into his chest without really thinking about it, seeking even just a moment's relief.

she looks more tired when they reach the room, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand after coughing up a few more petals. she lowers herself down on the bed, sighing once her back hits the mattress. ]

Like I could use a nap. [ a poor attempt at a joke; she never takes naps. ] Thank you... for taking care of me.

Clorinde? Needing a nap? Next you'll tell me that Neuvillette is taking a vacation longer than a day. [Wriothesley happily quips back. It relieves the tension just a bit to get that back and forth in.

The lingering scent of florals and the petals is still too present for neither of them to forget what's happening.]

You can take a nap after, but I'm afraid you'll have to stay awake a little longer for now. [Well, technically she could sleep, but he doubts she'd feel comfortable doing that. Especially as Wriothesley braces a hand on the mattress to lean over her from where he's seated.] Let's deal with your illness, shall we? You don't have to thank me because you would have cared for me in return if our roles were reversed.

peacockstop Overflow

tdm 3; hanahaki + sex pollen

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