armwriostle | peacockstop Overflow

[ 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.

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