#support: edain

[ignifilis]

Answered Prayers

> starter for: @ulirblood

As ever, he finds solace in the library.

This one is far more lively compared to Castle Velthomer’s; Azelle doesn’t mind the extra noise, content to simply be surrounded by the scent of leather and parchment. On occasion, he’ll lend a hand to the librarians, either re-shelving out of order books or dusting the seemingly endless stacks. 

Today, he carries a small pile of books in his arms, diligently searching for their correct home. A few students whisper nearby, trading research ideas for a class paper. Librarians wander about, constantly straightening up their domain. It brings a smile to his face. Seeing a library so loved makes him feel connected to this new continent. The love of books is a universal language. 

Azelle plucks a book from his stack, peering at the spine. He turns down the next aisle, hunting for the section on Adrestian history. Another step and he should be there— 

—“I’m so sorry!” He whisper-yells, clutching his books to his chest. This is not the first time he’s crashed into someone while absorbed with reading, nor will it be the last. 

“Please, pardon me…,” voice trails off. The long blonde hair is unmistakable; he clears his throat before speaking. “Lady Edain? What are you…how long have you been here?” 

[crestbound]

edain knew that patty was a little boy crazy, and that was alright. patty was a grown woman, and edain wasn't even her mother here, so it's not she could even try to control her like that.

in fact, she'd even thought it was cute at first. there was nothing wrong with patty crushing over a boy or two; but it's one man that she flirts with that gets her attention. sylvain, a student in the blue lions. she'd been a little wary at first, it was hard to gauge the man's genuinity in his attempts to woo her niece, but patty did look happy around him.

but then she'd seen him. again. and again. and again. with another woman. in fact, each time she'd seen him around the monastery he'd been with a different girl, flirting their ears off with terrible pick up lines. some would react rather favorably (in his mind, not hers) to the lines, and others would get angry and stomp off. she'd even seen him get slapped once.

if patty heard of this, it would be a disaster for her feelings. so now edain steps in, approaching the man on here own free time. she wouldn't let him play with patty's feelings any longer.

she'd give him a piece of her mind, alright. "excuse me, sylvain." she says with a loud voice, tone indicating anger if one actually payed attention enough. "could i speak to you in private, please?"

"Oh?"

It's certainly a tone that he can recognize, though it isn't often that he gets to hear it. Normally, if he's pissed off a mom, or a sister, or an aunt, or a friend, or... anyone even vaguely related, by blood or not, to whichever woman he'd scorned for the week, it's usually with a lot more anger. And something sharper... except that one time the grandmother had come at him with a slipper. Somehow, that'd been scarier than the rake.

In any case, the one approaching him definitely has the vibes of an older sister. Maybe a young aunt? He's not too sure. Either way, she's not only just on the side of quite displeased, but she's also gorgeous. Like, really, really gorgeous. Her hair? More radiant than the sun. Her eyes? Glimmering like the sea. Her skin? Fairest in all the land, he swears.

"Wow," Sylvain grins. "I can never refuse a beautiful woman... or at least, I wouldn't ever want to. But I'm kind of on my way to something right now..." And if he skips again, he's pretty damn sure he's going to get field duty... again. Ugh. "...So how about tomorrow? We can talk over tea—or food, if that's more your thing. I'd love to treat you."

[helswathed]

"care for a dance, sir lex?" edain smiles, a gleam of dancing light in her gaze that meets his. "it'll be just like old times—" a pause before she lets out a quiet and gentle laugh. "though we don't have to worry about being pushed together for marriage. i'd still like to dance with you again."

"Hey, I'm always willing to make room for one more."

A broad wink and a laugh followed his statement, though his cheerful expression was quickly tempered by uncertainty. It didn't seem entirely unlikely that Ayra wouldn't be quite as keen on such jokes. She seemed the possessive sort. Lex didn't mind that by any means (he found it rather exciting, actually), but it was an important factor to keep in mind when it came to the stupid things that he said.

"Not sure if Ayra is, though, so uh, maybe forget I said that, yeah?" Lex added hastily with a smaller, more nervous chuckle. Maybe he should just move onto the dancing part. He offered a deep bow to Edain, deeper perhaps than was necessary-- everything had to be some kind of a joke with him. As he straightened back up, a hand was offered Edain's way, rough and calloused, but able to be gentle enough when the time called for it.

"And maybe giving you one of my roses would look a bit too much like pushing us into some stupid arrangement again, so let's just stick to the dance."

[contempenitent]

LEAN — edain hadn't been trying to fall asleep against him, but she had been pushing herself too much and spreading herself far too thin. sat next to mauvier with a needle and unfinished embroidery in her hand, her movements slow to nothing, needle pinched between her fingers falling still as her lashes flutter shut. subconsciously, edain leans against the warm body next to her, head dipping against mauvier’s shoulder for support.

It's still a novel thing, spending his free time with someone else, sharing a hobby. Not worrying about whether what he was doing was productive or sufficiently penitent.

Mauvier and Edain have made pleasant conversation during the lull of midday, and for a time, have enjoyed an amicable silence. It is nice, not always needing to worry about filling the air with empty words. He continues his knitting, just practicing with little woven squares. One day, they could be potholders, or a quilt...

There's a bit of a shuffle beside him, then a slight weight against hs shoulder. Edain has nodded off beside him; perhaps it's no surprise. The tiredness beneath her bright eyes had been obvious; she sounds like an awfully busy lady.

Mauvier pauses his work, setting it beside him with a fond little smile. Gently, he reaches for the needle in Edain's fingers, taking it in his own. "Lady Edain," he calls softly, "it is okay if you need to rest. If I am able to provide that comfort for you...I have nowhere else to be."

[fletching-scar]

[ instruct ] — "absolutely not." edain huffs, placing her hands on her hips as she pointedly stands in front of him before he can lift himself off his designated cot in the infirmary. "i just healed you. nothing good will come out of going right back to normal like nothing happened right away." her gaze narrows down at him. "you are going to rest here for the next few hours. i'll make it the whole day if you try to get up like that again."

His head pounds. He's tacky with sweat, he's bone-chilled and bone-weary and bone-aching.

All he wants is quiet. Privacy, and dim, and a goddamn drink.

But the lady--blueblooded lady, from the sterling straightness of her spine--she won't have it.

She's a silver dagger, elegant, and yet she scolds like any... any decent mother in the world.

Shinon... bites his lip, settles his ramshackle body back against the thin mattress.

He huffs, stares daggers back at her. These ones, though, aren't silver. Good solid workaday iron.

"I respect that," he mutters, as though he hates himself for it. "Wake me up when my sentence is done."

[laslow]

 dressed — (in the infirmary, perhaps)

Loud & Deafening Silence

The old Laslow--Inigo, rather--would have scoffed at the idea of being on bed rest for an entire day. Back then, he couldn't let silly things like a sprained ankle slow him down. Sure, fighting was an absolute pain, but he turned out just fine! (Truly a miracle.)

Now, as he lets one of the infirmary staff carefully wrap his right ankle in bandages, he appreciates the opportunity to relax. The nurse finishes with a tug that makes him wince, then lightly pats the top of his foot before bustling off.

Laslow sighs, sending strands of pink hair fluttering. Two minutes in and he's already bored. Maybe he could ask for tea, or that book everyone's been talking about--

A slight whimper of pain catches his attention. Laslow glances to his left, surprise crossing his features upon seeing Edain. Stark white bandages wrap around her left arm. He looks her over, somewhat satisfied to see she's otherwise uninjured.

Her academy jacket rests half on, half off, those bulky bandages clearly giving her some trouble. "Afternoon, Edain! Here, let me help." Laslow swings his legs over the side of his cot and stands, balancing all his weight on his left leg. He leaves his right foot bent and hovering a few inches off the ground.

Two quick hops and he's at her side, gentle hands guiding her injured arm through the sleeve of her jacket. "Much better! Too cold for you in here, eh?" He hobbles back to his bed, plopping down with a sigh. "What brings you in here today? I have to say, I am grateful to have such lovely company."