[ "Another" friend... Does this imply... she is also a friend...
You know, most people were not really this nice to her, at all, or ever. If they were, it was an obligation. Nier does this just because he wants to and because it's in his nature, and without her saying anything, he may have just referred to her as a friend. ]
I suppose if you have the energy to fuss over my sheets, you must be healing well from our expedition.
[ Locking the door behind her, she puts her hands on her hips and tilts her head. Despite her body language, the smile playing at her lips is relaxed— fond, even. ]
[ this is second nature to him, though — household chores were instinctual, no different from breathing or eating or sleeping. his hands itched for them, and there'd been little fulfillment in doing them for himself. so it was better this way, truthfully. he's already left her bed, and now he's wordlessly picking up her clothing, folding each and every article without a second thought. ]
[ It's a familiar sight, admittedly. Watching someone else pick up her room, taking things and putting them away neatly. Perhaps that's what compels her to throw clothing on the floor, to leave sheets out, despite not being the sort of person to do that, usually. Perhaps it's stress. She's quiet for a moment, watching him. He poses his question, and she still waits until she's run through this multiple times in her head. ]
I wanted to check on you, hence my asking to visit you. I had been quite surprised when you asked to visit, in kind, but... [ Well, it's quieter out here, and she likes that. ]
It would have been hard to talk in my apartment. And I like it better out here.
[ the whole “living with two people who happen to have an absurd level of romantic tension” thing makes matters difficult, yeah. the question, however, he does not expect. ]
Mm...not really. [ that’s a lie, of course. something was always on his mind. ]
[ They'd been bonded for a short amount of time. She'd read up on the after effects of a lost bond that morning, after a short nap. She'd come home to sheets left to hang for a week, to clothing tossed on the floor as she packed, to books and paper and pens left out. Bottles, too, empty and planned for use that she isn't quite confident enough to act out yet. All of these things are a result of the coven, where she'd dug her nose into a book and read about phantom bonds and whatnot; it hadn't come, she thinks. Still, a part of her thinks that she knows him a little better now, perhaps more than either of them want to admit. ]
I like it better out here, too.
[ She has to look for an apartment tomorrow, she thinks, but she'll keep the cabin and spend as much time here possible. ]
I had told you of my intentions through my message, and while I do not believe that you hadn't read it, I thought perhaps you had more on your mind at the moment to make you forget that.
[ She straightens her back, leaning against the door. The smile's gone, but there's still a gentle lean to her voice— it makes her feel younger, truthfully. ]
[ the words are not spoken harshly, but there is a firmness there that’s characteristic of him. even in all of his gentleness, he was a battle hardened warrior no less. ]
I was waiting for you. [ he isn’t quite lying, either. ] You have a gift, but it seems like there’s something else you wanted to talk about too.
[ If she had been more inclined to argue, she would. As it is, she waits a moment, as if curious he might say more. He doesn't, so she wanders over to the shabby desk that she had pushed against a window. Opening a drawer, she retrieves a book bound with black leather. ]
I had intended this to be a gift for Valentine's Day. [ She holds the book out to him. If he takes it, he will discover the parchment within is blank, but of high quality. ] The book is nothing remarkable. I was saving up for leather working tools so you might customize it if you wish. [ But, uh, she might have splurged on a decent pillow instead. Sorry. ]
As for the ink pot and quill...
[ Even if he doesn't take the book, Zelda plucks the mentioned items off the desk. They're both new, and have the faintest spark of magic in them. ]
...Forgive me. I had tried to enchant them so they'd write down anything you dictate. Unfortunately, I think the inkpot has ended up... Bottomless? [ A beat. ] It is a project I'd like to return to, if you'll allow me, but I wanted to thank you for everything you have done for me.
[ when she offers him the journal he takes it into his hands, the scent of leather strong and robust; his fingers smooth over the cover, trailing along the binding afterwards. he doesn’t respond — not at first. the feeling of pages beneath his fingertips makes him nostalgic. there’s a male voice, one brimming with pomp and prestige, crowing in his ears.
when he smiles, something sad swims in blues of his eyes. but softly do the words come: ]
Thank you. [ there’s a nod of the head. ] I’ll put it to good use. [ and he means that. even if the pages he’d be writing in weren’t that of the great grimoire weiss’, it was a better replacement than most. ]
...You don’t need to thank me. [ nier adds. ] We’re friends. It’s natural that I would look out for you.
[ She may have been kept to Hyrule as much as possible, but she is not so emotionally numb that she cannot pick up on the tone and inflection in his voice. She is worried for a moment, that he doesn't like it. Such anxieties are swept away when the sincerity pours into his tone.
And he calls her a friend. Her ears burn with a blush— embarrassing as it is, she takes it to mean they've come a long way from their first meeting. ]
...There is not much I need to do, but many things I wish to do. This is one of them. [ It would take him for granted if she did not thank him. ] Of course, it is not finished... Once it is, you'll have more notes than you know what to do with.
[ Okay, she did that. She gave someone a gift she worked on by herself. For the first time. Her ears are burning. ]
[ even if that happiness came with a somber sort of nostalgia, it was happiness nonetheless. nier shuts the journal, slipping it into his rucksack for safekeeping. ]
...I have a gift for you, too. [ he grows a bit sheepish. ] But I’m still working on it. Sorry.
[ Ah, that catches her off guard. She isn't sure if acting surprised or happy about the prospect would be odd or not. Zelda is conflicted for a moment, before deciding to be honest with herself.
She offers him a bright smile, lacing hers fingers together in front of her. ]
[ she looks better when she smiles, he realizes. without thinking, he reciprocates the gesture — his may not be as bright or as big, but the sentiment is all the same. ]
I’ll try not to let you down. [ there’s a brief pause. ] Is that all for tonight, then?
[ The answer is no. She wants to ask if he's done okay, and how he's adjusting and if he needs any healing from his sympathy pains because of her own foolishness. Maybe if he hadn't returned her smile, she would have asked.
As it is, someone who doesn't smile often if at all in her presence called her a friend and smiled at her— a person she was sure resented her just a bit. He thanked her and said she did well and...
There is really no denying she's bright red and happy. She's momentarily grateful they aren't bonded at the moment: How embarrassing it would be to know he can feel this. She nods. She wants to hide her face when the opportunity arises but Zelda settles for looking to the floorboards. ]
...Without you, I would have had a much more difficult time on the expedition, Nier. I wanted to show my gratitude tonight but I will be in touch.
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You know, most people were not really this nice to her, at all, or ever. If they were, it was an obligation. Nier does this just because he wants to and because it's in his nature, and without her saying anything, he may have just referred to her as a friend. ]
I suppose if you have the energy to fuss over my sheets, you must be healing well from our expedition.
[ Locking the door behind her, she puts her hands on her hips and tilts her head. Despite her body language, the smile playing at her lips is relaxed— fond, even. ]
Are you?
no subject
[ this is second nature to him, though — household chores were instinctual, no different from breathing or eating or sleeping. his hands itched for them, and there'd been little fulfillment in doing them for himself. so it was better this way, truthfully. he's already left her bed, and now he's wordlessly picking up her clothing, folding each and every article without a second thought. ]
Is everything alright?
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I wanted to check on you, hence my asking to visit you. I had been quite surprised when you asked to visit, in kind, but... [ Well, it's quieter out here, and she likes that. ]
Has anything been on your mind, Nier?
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[ the whole “living with two people who happen to have an absurd level of romantic tension” thing makes matters difficult, yeah. the question, however, he does not expect. ]
Mm...not really. [ that’s a lie, of course. something was always on his mind. ]
Why’d you ask?
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I like it better out here, too.
[ She has to look for an apartment tomorrow, she thinks, but she'll keep the cabin and spend as much time here possible. ]
I had told you of my intentions through my message, and while I do not believe that you hadn't read it, I thought perhaps you had more on your mind at the moment to make you forget that.
[ She straightens her back, leaning against the door. The smile's gone, but there's still a gentle lean to her voice— it makes her feel younger, truthfully. ]
no subject
[ the words are not spoken harshly, but there is a firmness there that’s characteristic of him. even in all of his gentleness, he was a battle hardened warrior no less. ]
I was waiting for you. [ he isn’t quite lying, either. ] You have a gift, but it seems like there’s something else you wanted to talk about too.
no subject
I had intended this to be a gift for Valentine's Day. [ She holds the book out to him. If he takes it, he will discover the parchment within is blank, but of high quality. ] The book is nothing remarkable. I was saving up for leather working tools so you might customize it if you wish. [ But, uh, she might have splurged on a decent pillow instead. Sorry. ]
As for the ink pot and quill...
[ Even if he doesn't take the book, Zelda plucks the mentioned items off the desk. They're both new, and have the faintest spark of magic in them. ]
...Forgive me. I had tried to enchant them so they'd write down anything you dictate. Unfortunately, I think the inkpot has ended up... Bottomless? [ A beat. ] It is a project I'd like to return to, if you'll allow me, but I wanted to thank you for everything you have done for me.
no subject
when he smiles, something sad swims in blues of his eyes. but softly do the words come: ]
Thank you. [ there’s a nod of the head. ] I’ll put it to good use. [ and he means that. even if the pages he’d be writing in weren’t that of the great grimoire weiss’, it was a better replacement than most. ]
...You don’t need to thank me. [ nier adds. ] We’re friends. It’s natural that I would look out for you.
no subject
And he calls her a friend. Her ears burn with a blush— embarrassing as it is, she takes it to mean they've come a long way from their first meeting. ]
...There is not much I need to do, but many things I wish to do. This is one of them. [ It would take him for granted if she did not thank him. ] Of course, it is not finished... Once it is, you'll have more notes than you know what to do with.
[ Okay, she did that. She gave someone a gift she worked on by herself. For the first time. Her ears are burning. ]
no subject
[ even if that happiness came with a somber sort of nostalgia, it was happiness nonetheless. nier shuts the journal, slipping it into his rucksack for safekeeping. ]
...I have a gift for you, too. [ he grows a bit sheepish. ] But I’m still working on it. Sorry.
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She offers him a bright smile, lacing hers fingers together in front of her. ]
I look forward to it... Nier.
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I’ll try not to let you down. [ there’s a brief pause. ] Is that all for tonight, then?
no subject
As it is, someone who doesn't smile often if at all in her presence called her a friend and smiled at her— a person she was sure resented her just a bit. He thanked her and said she did well and...
There is really no denying she's bright red and happy. She's momentarily grateful they aren't bonded at the moment: How embarrassing it would be to know he can feel this. She nods. She wants to hide her face when the opportunity arises but Zelda settles for looking to the floorboards. ]
...Without you, I would have had a much more difficult time on the expedition, Nier. I wanted to show my gratitude tonight but I will be in touch.
[ A beat. ]
Visit when you can, won't you?