(hope u didnt get this twice lmao)
"Hey, Rhajat..."
Normally Claude would think nothing of approaching an ally about a concern of his, but the threat of real curses and hex getting sent hid way forced him to change his approach. He still doesn't know Rhajat all that well... so he approaches her like a scarier, gloomier Lysithea. "I got you these. Think of it as a peace treaty. Or an offering, if that's what you're into." He gives her an award-winning smile as he hands over a stack of sugar-glazed gingerbread cookies.
"And I'm still wearing that charm you gave me." One thumb hooks under his shirt and pulls out the necklace Rhajat gave him earlier. "But when I asked Mitama about what you cursed me with, she said that you didn't curse me at all, but that you were trying to be friendly."
Claude gives some time to let the news of his realization sit in, sighing as he rubs the back of his head. "So... that's how I'll view your gift. But I have to tell you that there's definitely better ways of befriending people than throwing curses at them, or pretending to in any case. I think it's making your life harder than it needs to be. Think about it. I could have just taken off your charm, thought worse of you, and gotten myself crushed by a boulder somewhere because I didn't have your protection. Then where would we be?
"So... Why don't we start over?" Hesitation, then Claude offers his hand to her. "I think we started off on the wrong foot when we first met. You're a close friend of Mitama's, so it'd be a shame if we couldn't at least be on good terms with each other."
MITAMA IS NOT NEAR CLAUDE when he comes to speak to her. she supposes that it is the reason behind the anxiety in her throat. the reason why she immediately takes a step back for every one claude takes towards her. not of fright or concern — rhajat could have easily struck him down with a spell the moment he entered the classroom — but maybe of confusion. brown eyes stay stuck on the item in his hand, arched brows and a grimace shadowed over her features. the reaction to the cookies is immediate but she realizes the fault of it only after she holds her hands out to take them from him.
she does not like sugar, not does she enjoy cookies. at the very least, it is the idea that counts. mitama would be upset if she immediately turned away an offering, so rhajat nods slowly and awkwardly holds the stack of gingerbread cookies. she does not whisper thanks. ( the smile he gives her is what makes her frown threaten to return. ) claude speaks once again and the mention of the charm pulls rhajat’s gaze up instantly. there is a sigh of relief that slips from her lips at the sight of the necklace. she tempts the instinct of reaching for it to see if any rip has worn into the string. the gem itself doesn’t seem lacking in its aura.
“ oh... ” is her only response. rhajat glances away; at the case in her hand, the desk near her hip, the ground, anywhere that is not claude. “ i... the... ” it is not embarrassing, nor is it disappointing but there is some emotion that flushes her face slightly and pushes a grimace on her lips. silence hangs in the air and rhajat almost takes it as the implication of claude telling her to leave, that the conversation has ended. rejection is a silly little thing, one that she is used to — that is why surprise takes to her expression when claude speaks.
the stack of cookies lie heavy in her hand, desperation to end this discussion setting in the slump of her shoulders. rhajat keeps her gaze aimed at the case in her grip instead of the house leader that insists that friendship can come in easier forms. it would be fruitless to object that she does not want friends; indeed, the small group of friends she has is well enough to last her all of her waking life.
“ then you would have died. ” rhajat interrupts, blunt yet confused at the question. if the charm had been taken off then no, claude would not have died instantly, but whatever pain fate had set him for the night would have reached him. she realizes that her reaction is wrong only moments later.
rhajat bites back another retort when claude holds a hand out. she does not like touching people, or being near people, so she is unsure of what makes her take his hand. her gloves save her half of the distaste of contact, fortunately. ( she can guess that somewhere above, the fates are amused of her struggling. ) finally, after a beat of silence, she says, “ i will have you know that i want to make my life harder. if i can’t bear it, then no one else can. ”
a pause. “ the charm. i need to check its spell soon so now that we are on good terms, i won’t have to steal it from you as you sleep. ” proper response? maybe not, she wouldn’t know. “ and i... do not eat cookies... but thank you, i guess. ” and with that, she pulls her hand back, moving it to continue holding up the stack of treats. she will probably hand them over to a friend if the first one does not go down her throat well.
remembrance brings up a memory and silently, rhajat adds: “ and i suppose now is a good time to apologize for... cursing your classmates. no, i won’t swear to not do it again. this is just so i can stop feeling bad about making mitama upset. ”















