crestfallenfor | Aefenglom Inbox

What?

[He can feel the hurt more than he can hear it, even, and it tells him that Edelgard's comment - whether she meant it to or not, though he's not feeling especially charitable towards her - cut her far deeper than she wants to let on.

So she'll feel a flare of anger in return before he pushes it down and away, squeezing her a little tighter for a moment.]

That's nonsense. You're one of the best I know.

[High praise - not only is he from a noble family, so there has to be a certain standard kept with their clothing, but... well, he knows a lot of women. A lot of common women, many of whom are probably seamstresses, not that he cared to learn all that much about them.]

[The flare of anger followed by him holding her tighter feels...protective. Like he's defending her honor? Slowly she lifts her head to look up at him. Of course she's mainly just seeing chin but even that much is still him being mad because...

Because someone hurt her. The bond tells her that, clears away any confusion.

She honestly doesn't cry much. Not these days. Usually she's too scared to cry for fear of what the consequences would be. But she's feeling so safe and protected. And...and...

And valued.

Before she can stop herself, she's moved her arms up so she can wrap them around his neck to give him a hug as tears spill down her face. She doesn't know yet if she believes in herself enough for her to feel those words are true. But she wants to believe him. More than that she's so grateful to him for believing in her like this.]

[He's not sure what to expect next - he's not even really thinking about what she'll do next, mind already working a mile a minute to try and think of some way to make her feel better about her talents, to wipe away the hurt that was done to her, because...

Well, it's the least he can do - both as a bondmate and as a friend.

But before he settles on anything, her arms are around his neck and she's holding him tight and crying and his thoughts come to a halt.

It doesn't... feel like sad tears, at least, but it still has him a little lost for what to do.

He turns to his side, first, bringing her with him, so he can wrap both arms around her waist and curl a little more protectively around her.]

Hey... Bernie, it's alright...

[He doesn't know it but he's doing exactly the right thing. He's being there for her and he's protecting her. She keeps crying of course but he's still doing everything right. Because as he's sensed, he's not sad.

She's...happy.

Bernie ends up hiccuping a little after a couple minutes when she starts to calm down some, bringing a hand to rub at her eyes. She must look just awful. She's not great to look at on the best of days but now she's got tears all over her face and she's probably mussed up her hair.]

S-sorry. I ju-just was...so...so happy.

[It takes some effort but she hiccups it out finally.]

[He's not sure what else he can do - he doesn't want to just leave her, like he might with almost anyone else, but he can't just tell her to stop crying, because he doesn't want her to feel like it's bad that she is. So he just... stays.

And holds her, until she calms down somewhat, enough to talk at least, and so then he brings a hand between them to brush away any tears that might be left after she rubs at her eyes.]

Hey, it's alright. I don't mind.

[He's just. Concerned. Not annoyed.]

I must...must look stupid. I'm sorry. I don't...cry pretty. Like in stories.

[Which is largely her main frame of reference for crying outside of her own. Such is her life really.

His hand is so warm as it dries her face though. She's never had someone to dry her eyes. Because even when her uncle was alive, she remembers trying her best not to cry in front of him. To avoid worrying him.

She sniffs a little.]

Heh, I don't think many people cry pretty, Bernadetta.

[He's not sure if he does. Some people have told him he does, and others the opposite... it doesn't really matter in the end - he doesn't cry that much anymore, either.

What does matter right now is that she's starting to feel a little better, and... well, that neither of them are going to be getting back to sleep for the rest of the night.]

Hey, do you want to go to the fabric district this morning? We can go out for breakfast, and then you can get all you want for whatever projects you have in mind. My treat.

[Her eyes widen as she looks at him. He'd really want to do that? Go buy fabric with her? That's something she's always had to figure out how to do on her own and she knows she's been cheated a couple of times because of it. But to do shopping with someone...]

Can...can it be I make breakfast instead? Please!

[She wilts only a little bit though. Because for a change she actually feels not only safe asking the question but also like she will get a positive response for it.

It feels...really good!]

Hm? Of course~

[He'd thought it might be nice for someone else to wait on her for once, but if she wants to cook, then who is he to tell her no? He does know she enjoys cooking, and she's good at it, so...

Well, he'd be an idiot to turn her down, too.]

I'll look forward to it.

[Her face lights up of course. Because cooking is something that she's always been confident with. Out of all the stuff she questions, she doesn't question that. Cooking? You bet she can do that much.]

I'll make one of your favorites!

[That's when she gets an idea. Of course it makes her shy again but she's feeling emboldened now.]

Can I also make you a new shirt? Or something? With the fabric we get?

Well...

[He has to tease her, just a little bit - she won't feel any malice from him, even if he's pretending like he's considering her offer pretty hard. As if he'll say no.

Quite the opposite.]

I was going to ask you to make me a new outfit, but if you just want to make a shirt, I suppose that's alright.

Oh! I can do that! I don't mind! I...

[Thank goodness for the bond. It really helps settle her faster in these situations because she can feel when she's being gently teased. Sure it doesn't help outside her bonds but that's a work in progress.

And so she huffs, puffing her cheeks a little.]

You're teasing me!

[There it is. They're settling back to something like normal, and with his hand already between them, he pokes her cheek gently when she puffs up. Cute...]

I am, I'm sorry.

[But only a little sorry.]

But if you really wouldn't mind, I'd love to take you up on it.

Maybe...maybe I won't now. Bully.

[She's totally trying to tease him back. It's not something she's very skilled at. BUT SHE IS TRYING HER BEST.]

...so there.

[Yep. That'll sell it for sure.]

Aww... well, in that case I'll just have to get something not as nice from someone else...

[He's pouting(?) now... Totally going along with her teasing, as if he really thinks she'll follow through.]

What a shame...

[Okay, she's just bad at this altogether. Probably because she's too nice a person or maybe because she's just too honest a person.]

I'll make it. I promise.

[But she puts on her best pout! At least she thinks it is. (She's doing better than she thinks.)]

But you're still a bully!

[She's definitely too nice and too honest to go toe to toe with him on... well, anything like this.

Still, when she relents, he reaches up to ruffle her hair, being careful to not touch her antennae this time, at least.]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[Her pout is... surprisingly effective, though.]

I know I'm a bully, I'm sorry.

[The ruffle is nice and she tucks herself into him again. He's safe and warm. Plus he's so open to this that she can't help but want to sink into it a bit.]

I forgive you. I guess.

[She's not actually upset. Really.]

[He's very much open to this - affection is nice, after all, especially with people he knows and trusts. So of course he'll let her sink into it - they both need the chance to recover and gather their wits back after the things they'd shared.]

You guess? How else can I make it up to you?

[He knows she isn't actually upset, but he'll pretend like he thinks she is, for fun.]

Umm...

[Someone hasn't thought that far ahead. But she's trying now!

...where's Dorothea when she needs her for advice on these situations.]

...A surprise? But a nice one.

[Ball is too scary. Throwing it back in his court.]

[Ah. Cute. But yeah, he can handle this, this is squarely in his wheelhouse.]

Alright. A nice surprise. I'll think really hard about what to do, so look forward to it.

[Relief washes over her immediately. Oh thank the Goddess. Now she doesn't have to fret over that.

But she smiles a little against his chest.]

Sylvain? Thank you. For helping me feel better.

[No fretting, only good feelings, now.

He does hold her a little closer when she smiles, though. Just because.]

Mmhm. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?

I guess...a bad one.

[She takes in a deep breath, relaxing as she feels all that emotional drain kicking in.]

But you're really great. Especially for the Bernie Bear.

Mmhm...

[That emotional drain sure is something... but he's not especially eager to go back to sleep, either, so sooner or later they'll have to get up, get breakfast, tea to shake off the tiredness, at least for the day.

Hopefully nightmares wouldn't come again that night, but that might be too much to hope for.]

I'm not so sure about that... Though thanks for letting me try.

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