The library was often deserted at this hour... well, aside from Claude himself being holed up within its ancient walls, poring through tomes on past battles and the history of Fodlan with a notebook cracked beneath his hand as he jotted down various situations and tactics that were commonly employed by the Kingdom and Empire alongside more than his handful of ideas on how to get around them. Of course, he was well aware of the fact that the Empire could always change its ways, and kept an open mind when mulling over the battles that may come. While his childhood had been far from luxurious, it had very much taught him how to survive, as well as how to read others. Edelgard had known both himself and the fallen prince rather well during the days they had spent at the Academy together, so it was safe to assume she might very well attempt to use his own knowledge against him and naturally, he had planned for that as well. He was nothing if not prepared for everything - well, everything short of Vivian’s voice echoing through the empty library, tearing his gaze away from the hefty pile of notes and books he had collected to glance up at her from where he sat. He somehow had a feeling he knew what was coming next when most of the chairs had been dragged out of the library earlier that day to make up for the ones that hadn’t survived the five-year absence of students for a war meeting.
“Oh?” Curiosity lingered in his voice, but it was mostly feigned. She had a few options to choose from, whether it be the table, the actual book he was reading, or the collection of notes stacked up beside his chair so high it nearly touched the polished wood of the somewhat dusty table, but knowing her, there was really only one place she would actively choose when weighed against all of the other slightly mundane options that were available to her. And he’s not surprised when she plops herself down on his lap with little hesitance, causing his hand to reach out for the stack of notes to keep the motion from blowing them all over the room. A sigh escaped his lips as he lifted his hand to pat her head. Even with her seated upon his lap, he was nearly taller than her. “What am I going to do with you?” His words held no bite, no ire, nor any intention of doing anything to remove her, though he imagined his legs were probably considerably more uncomfortable than the floor or table. On the bright side, at least the daggers he had a habit of carrying on his person were currently stowed away in his boots rather than his belt. That might have been awkward to explain otherwise.
“Shouldn’t you be resting? It’s well past midnight.” Truth be told, he didn’t actually know the exact time, for he had lost track after he had become absorbed in one book he had been reading, but he could guess based on the meager ray of moonlight that slipped in through the thick curtains of the library windows and the lack of light within these walls, even with the small handful of candle he had positioned about the text so he could still make out the words in the darkness that covered the room. He supposed everyone’s sleeping habits had been tossed to the wind when the war had picked up, but it would have been better if they still managed to get at least a little rest, for it would make them more alert when they were forced to fight again come morning. The same could be said for himself, of course, but his sleeping habits had always been terrible and he could recall the professor chiding him on more than one occasion when he was caught studying at three in the morning or lurking about the campus.
“Not that I’m complaining, of course.” He tacked on a bright smile, allowing his hand to fall from where it had been resting upon her head to wrap easily around her waist to loosely embrace her. Leaning his head down slightly, his lips tease at the nape of her jaw for a moment as if he might kiss her before he blows hot air against her skin and leans back, a laugh rattling in his throat. All right, so maybe that was just a bit too cruel. When the laughter fades into little more than the slight rumbling of his chest, he leans forward once against to actually settle a brief kiss upon her cheek.
Admittedly, Vivian couldn’t sleep; then again, that was nothing unusual in the grand scheme of things. Just like usual, she found herself tossing and turning throughout the night with her body burning with intense, molten desire. Even after it temporarily abated, however, she still couldn’t help feeling empty inside while irksome thoughts plummeted through her mind, like whether or not Dimitri hated her for abandoning the kingdom, how Malrixia was faring in her absence, and what her dead father must think now that she turned her back against the prince she once loved dearly. In the end, thinking about all those things made her head hurt so bad, she eventually kicked back the sweat drenched sheets, accompanied by a forlorn sigh. The next thing she knew, Vivian dressed herself before shakily traipsing her way to Garreg Mach Monastery’s latrine, where she washed her filthy hands over and over again with the old lavender scented soap until the skin there nearly turned red. Later on, when she finally reached Claude’s dormitory room, she DISCOVERS he wasn’t occupying it, causing her to wander towards where she was certain she’ll find him - the library. Ultimately, she was right, for that was the place Vivian soon uncovered him studying; nevertheless, she wasn’t about to have it, causing her to drop herself unceremoniously onto his lap.
The moment she feels his hand running through dark midnight tresses, on the other hand, a noise akin to a soft, satisfied purr emits past her fastened lips. “ Absolutely nothing, I hope, ” came Vivian’s eventual murmur once she was done reveling in his touch. Little by little, she proceeds to shake her head. “ Resting is for chumps; besides, it’s currently ‘Loving Claudish Hours’ and I have suffered enough from boyfriend withdrawal symptoms to last a single lifetime, ” Vivian states. At this point, it became rather clear she made up both of those things on the spot and was just being melodramatic for the sake of being melodramatic; either way, there was no denying the fact she acted similarly to a cat.
“ ...You weren’t in your room, so I came looking for you, “ Vivian then brings herself to add in a hushed whisper, only to lean her head further back against his chest and shift around so her buttocks rested more comfortably along his legs. With his breath drawing nearer, she manages to turn, expecting a kiss; at the same time, it doesn’t come and Vivian was left gasping, once Claude blows hot air onto her MOUTH. Sure enough, she pouts. “ You’re so mean, Claudish! What the heck? ” Those indignant words were subsequently accentuated by a childish huff, yet despite this, she couldn’t bring herself to punch him. After Claude leans over to plant a merciful smooch onto her cheek, though, Vivian visibly relaxes, allowing her face to become tinted a brighter magenta hue.
“ That’s better... ” she admits. “ But I’ll only forgive you if you give me three more kisses! ” No sooner did she declare this, Vivian proceeds to close her eyes and pucker up her lips at him quite expectantly; needless to say, Claude had another thing coming, should he think he can get away from teasing her that easily. As if to further indicate this, she makes loud, exaggerated smacking noises with her mouth and pauses, before prying open her GAZE just a teens-y little crack to squint towards him... no doubt trying to ensure he will do what she demanded.
@moon-caught / continued from here ;;
