crestfallenfor | Aefenglom Inbox

[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.

Well, it's kind of up to me right? To figure out what's good for me? So if I think you're good for me then it's true.

[She's really just trying to encourage him rather than stand up for herself and her feelings. Because she thinks he might need that more than she does. After all this bond is a two way street so it's not like she's unaware that he can be so similar to her in how he looks down on himself.]

Other...otherwise you're saying you don't trust me!

[Logic!]

[That's... not quite true - he knew firsthand that some decisions that he believed were "good for him"... weren't... but. Well. He's not going to crush her like that. Not when she's standing up for herself.

Even if he thought she was wrong.]

Of course I trust you, Bernadetta.

[He's right of course. It's not how it works. She can tell he's humoring her. It does make her smile before she screws up her face into a scolding frown and then...

Pokes his nose!]

N-no. If you don't agree then...then you should say so. I...

[Okay. She can do this. Sylvain makes her believe in herself. At least enough to really want to ask for what she is now.]

I can't get stronger if you just humor me.

[She can't move past her traumas if he does that.]

Alright, alright.

[But hmm... how to put this...? It's a delicate issue, after all, and they'd just settled back into lighter banter...]

I don't disagree with you, but... It's more nuanced than that, you know? Regardless... you standing up for yourself isn't at all bad.

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