𝔡𝔯𝔞𝔤𝔬𝔫𝔟𝔬𝔯𝔫𝔢

@enamohr: camilla & gretchen

Ah, she isn’t exactly surprised that she would be scolded. As Lady Blavatsky speaks, Gretchen sheepishly folds her hands behind her back.

“I… It’s not the guards fault, I’ve managed to make friends with people who have helped me slip in and out unnoticed. If I’m ever caught- I’ll bear that responsibility alone, I promise.”

As Gretchen wonders just how harshly Lady Camilla Blavatsky may lecture her, she catches that smile. It reminds her of the way Adelheid will gently chide her, and yet, there’s that amused grin and a glance from the corner of Adelheid’s eye. A signal of ‘I appreciate your mischief, but be more careful next time.’ As far as Gretchen understands adults must adhere to rules and structure to a degree, but really, don’t they all want to break from it once in awhile? She knows there are some that hate any deviation and despise surprises or a shift from the monotony of daily life, but there are some like her mother or Adelheid, that gently wink at her when no one is looking.

Gretchen couldn’t help but smile in response and release some of the tension in her shoulders. For a moment, she basks in the gentle warmth between them and thinks that Lady Blavatsky expression is so much richer when she smiles. Her brother’s teacher is certainly interesting.

“Poor Hans,” there’s a playful lilt in her voice “He always ends up with the tedious work.”

Gretchen pauses.

“I’ll let him study. I wouldn’t want to face the wrath of the High Advisor or my brother.”

She blinks before blooming into a brilliant grin.

“Really? You don’t mind? Even if I’m covered in dirt and horse hair from the stables-?”

Gretchen quickly follows and walks next to Lady Blavatsky.

She’s not sure if Hans and his teacher have already had talks over tea in a nice comfortable room, but Gretchen has already decided this might be something she won’t tell her brother. It will be a shared, little secret.

In spite of - or, perhaps, because of - her mild teasing, the surprise which crosses Camilla’s own face as the girl confesses to the guard’s … not negligence, per se, but certainly leniency is quite sincere — as is the concern which flickers ‘cross both her lips and her brow in the moment thereafter. A murmur of ‘ is that so—? ’ slips through her lips, pressed into a not-uncommon thin line: she knows there to be at least a handful of good-willed ( if surely a little naïve for it ) guards within the castle, so it wasn’t too out of the question for bright, charming little Gretchen to have swayed them. 

Be that as it may, the thought does not sit wholly well with her, if not for the girl’s own sake, than for the amiable guards’— ‘Tis a sad fact of the world, of ( at least ) Krakenburg that even such minor kindnesses could be perceived as dangerous treachery. 

Ah, but all’s the more reason to take their conversation somewhere altogether more private.

“ Now, child — do not forget who assigned him this ‘ tedious work ’, and for his betterment at that. ” The teacher’s complaint, though not yet severe, is genuine even so: if Hans were to speak so frankly in her presence ( perish the thought—! ), she would have to reprimand such impertinence accordingly … but his sister, just as well, ought not to forget her own place, even if she is no student herself. “ It is for the better that the two of you are not seen to share in your joy, besides, much though it pains me to say as much. ”

( In the end, however, she leaves her thought unfinished — unbecoming of her though it may be. There is no need for - no gain from - imparting her own quiet fears unto the girl. )

—It is then, as Gretchen bursts into her brilliant grin, that the lady Blavatsky pauses, stopping in her steps to glance at her company. Now that she does indeed mention it, there is an unmistakable unruliness to the young knight-in-training: one, actually, which rather gives her pause. Were she merely being polite, and not sincerely amiable, perhaps she would have rued her ready invitation …

But, gracious woman that she is, it is enough for her to make impromptu accommodations for the wild girl, even finding a small amusement in her softness before ushering her onwards once more.

Gretchen | @ghostpining

Were Camilla yet in that same position she once was, knowing the two siblings ( or, in any case, knowing Gretchen ) through only tales shared with her - on occasion - by the self-serious brother, she would yet scarcely believe the two are, indeed, siblings. To see one side-by-side with the other, yes, their physical resemblance to one another is laid bare, no matter the differences in their two apparent temperaments ...

But, of course, the lady Blavatsky knows well that shared blood may be only a single facet of what makes siblings ' siblings '.

All of this to say, even now, the mage-tutor finds herself yet in some disbelief that Hans, her ever-dutiful student, and Gretchen, an altogether whimsical and impulsive girl, once shared the same childhood. Their affection for one another is plain to see, if not quite so radiant in Hans's words as in Gretchen's, but they make for a curious pair when considered apart from one another: he, furrowed brows and ink-stained hands and lips pursed in concentration; she, knuckles grazed and calloused hands and smile indelible.

At some point, even amidst her eternally-busy schedule, Camilla had stopped concerning herself ( as much, anyway ) with quite how the girl managed to find her way to Krakenburg, and would idly wonder instead quite how twins could differ so. Not that such a puzzle worried her in any capacity — only ...

Well, it's always a small surprise, isn't it? How informally the sister greets her, when the brother bows his head so.

" ' We meet again ' indeed. In fact, if you would permit me to say as much, I find myself somehow troubled by what freedoms you seem to have been allowed, or else how negligent the guards have been to let you slip past ... "

Anybody not familiar with Lady Blavatsky's manner - Gretchen, perhaps, included - could well misinterpret her crossed-arms and gently-lilting voice as a cruel tease: the prelude to sincere reprimand, no matter her mercy in comparison to her peers. Indeed, there is something faintly chilling in the way she carries herself down the short flight of steps to her charge's study-room, rather gliding than pacing ... But there is a capacity for a moment's mischief within her yet, and when the two meet, the façade copied from a mother long-past slips, wilfully, between her fingers.

She smiles — well and truly, but elegantly still, much as she has appearances to maintain before even a girl little better than a vassal.

" I do not doubt you know your brother better than I ever could, young Gretchen: so, then, must you know he has his reasons. The presence of both of you - and many like you - here is sorely dependent on the High Advisor's fragile good will, and it would ill behove you to be seen twittering secretively to one another ... or, with the greatest of respect to yourself, he simply wishes not to bore you with news of his diction exercises. Nohrian incantations are never kind to novices, alas.

" Ah, but we are ladies, not gossiping maids. "

In all that she says, however, there is nothing dismissive — quite the contrary, in fact. Wary of prying eyes and ears though Camilla herself must be, her position nevertheless affords her a certain freedom to act on her own whims. With as little as a slight toss of her head, she beckons the young woman to follow, a glimmer in her eyes and a hum on her lips.

The sharpness of Raine’s eyes soften, now adverting her gaze from the woman named ‘Eida’. That’s settled it, but she’ll keeps her slight curiosity to herself. They’ve perhaps been there once or twice, but that was long ago and Raine had been smaller then. Her gaze meets with Laurent, who takes in the information quietly, expression neutral as their client relays the information to them. Before Laurent has a chance to interject, to perhaps say, I understand–– Lars opens his mouth again.

“Oooh, Notre Sagesse! Damn it’s been awhile since we’ve been there!” Lars grins wolfishly, his tail swishing behind him in excitement. “ ….Was ‘fore the war, yeah, Laurent? Ya know, before Ma––” 

Disappeared? It’s been a long time since they last stepped through there, Raine had been young, Lars just adopted, with Laurent keeping an eye on both of them. They managed to avoid a majority of the war, remaining in neutral areas and keeping low to not arouse suspicion given their mixed heritage.

“Mm, that’s right…” Laurent replies melancholically, abruptly cutting her brother off before he could overshare. Turning back toward their client, Laurent studies Camilla now, “Thank you, I believe that’ll be fine for now.” 

A job’s a job after all, she shares a look between her siblings who seem raring to go. 

“I believe we’re in agreement to assist,” Laurent’s gaze narrows to the others, “…We can accompany you as far as you need us then, Miss Eida.” There’s a beat, as they cant their head to the side. “….Shall we leave today? We’ll unfortunately have to travel on foot for a large length of the journey but––”

“Can’t we like….” Lars starts, Raine shoots a look at him, unamused but with resignation, he does air quotes in the air with his hands, “….’Borrow’ a Pegasus or Wyvern?”

“Lars we can’t steal those.” Raine chides, wagging a finger at her dumb brother. “…Ya don’t even know how to ride one and you’re heavy.” 

“I didn’t say to steal ‘em– wait, hey I’m not––” Lars protests, but is cut off before he can embarrass them further. 

Laurent sheepishly chuckles, now walking between the two and places a firm hand onto their shoulders. The touch alone silenced them both, with Raine looking away with a huff.  “Despite their little spats, my siblings and I will reassure to keep you safe during this journey, my sister with her arrows, my brother with his claws and myself with magic should it be necessary.” 

Raine looks back to their client, giving a acknowledging nod, while Lars smiles at the woman sheepishly. 

“ You have travelled there before, then. ”

The woman now presenting herself as ‘ Eida ’ - on little more than a whim - gives no impression of concern for Laurent’s apparently-hasty interruption. She notes it, indeed, conscientious as she is in observing all that she can of her three companions-to-be— It is simply that as assuredly as she had informed them that her business ( beyond that which expressly concerned their contract ) was her own, so, too, will she not care to pry — to seek out answers to questions she has no right to even ask, let alone see fulfilled. She is not wholly without sympathy, whatever it is that seems to pain the trio’s leader so; it is only best that she keep her own heart hardened, and her own sentiments close to her chest. 

Then, once this journey is over and done with, perhaps she will be truly able to leave behind all that she was, and emerge with a new life. 

“ … We will leave early tomorrow morning, if that suits you well. In the meantime, you are free to do as you wish. I will make the appropriate preparations of gathering supplies enough to last us until it is prudent to stop again, finding three horses between the four of us… ” She raises her head then, deliberately rousing herself from her half-minded listing of tasks to now look pointedly towards Lars. “ Please appreciate that it would be unwise, if not outright foolish to ... commandeer even a single wyvern, much less multiple. They are not creatures who can so easily brought to heel to whoever fancies themselves one — and, quite beside that, Nohr is already not as apathetic to lawlessness it was. 

“ —Suffice it to say, I shall pay for your food and board for tonight. ” Camilla pauses then: her brow quivers, her lips twists into a frown, as though already anticipating regret for what she is to say … but, ultimately, she reasons a meal shared among comrades, even by contract, means nothing. She allows her manner to soften, if only slightly. 

No matter the amount of trust the court gives him for his young mind, he’s known from the beginning he’ll be using them as much as they’ll be using him. Asutsuo doesn’t particularly care about the future of Nohr– already jaded about the hope for the future. The same goes for Hoshido as well, because at the end of the day he’s been acting in his own interests. The current set of politics he could do without, as long as he can get information for his research.

“A reliable chaperone, eh?” Asutsuo wryly smiles, now leaning against the top of his gloved hands. His head canted to the side as he takes this fierce woman in, idly he thinks, he likes her guts. He would take her over the handful of dried up elderly men who they must deal with on the daily, who seek out praise from that hulking, aging husk glued to the throne. “Ha ha, I could say the same for myself. Those senile old fools– a small handful can be quite a nuisance to deal with; they love to keep those with grand ideas close at hand, to steal from them. So it’d be best if we were together.”  

Whether or not she gains amusement from his hearsay is up to Camilla. Asutsuo cares little for the mindless dogs at the so-called King’s beck and call. Young blood like himself, like Prince Leo– like Princess Elise– and the numerous well meaning souls told to come and offer their lives for Nohr only to be transformed into wretched beasts.

“I’ve been meaning to journey away myself,” Asutsuo chuckles, now standing from his chair, undertones of mirth can be heard in his voice. “Even a dungeon dweller alike I needs to breath in the air and roam outside this castle’s walls.” 

“So, how soon do you intend to take off, hm, Lady Blavatsky? I don’t have much of a schedule, which is fortunate in itself.”

The serving Lady Blavatsky of Yakurinsk is not a woman of great pride. Whether Mother before her had been one, she could not say; certainly, however, Aunt Marya was sure to instil the virtues of prudence and temperate self-confidence in both herself and Cousin Nastasya … Camilla knows, then, to take the appropriate amount of compliment from the younger mage’s words — however coated in like-minded contempt for their fellows they may be.

“ I am quite aware you only jest, Master Faust, ” ( and for what dry humour - make no mistake - she herself has, she at least spares him a fleeting, grimly-sympathetic smile ) “ but I implore you to regard this expedition with due solemnity at that time. ”

… As she shifts her weight from one foot to the other then, as though preparing to take her leave, she watches him in a spell of silence once more: only for the briefest of times, keen to catch any immediate reaction he may have. The humble noblewoman truly does not dare to presume more than she already has; she should not especially want to do so, either, as unsettled as she was in glimpsing at what she already has … And yet she cannot help but feel as though it is not mere pragmatism which brings her to him now.

“ I shall write to you no less than a week in advance of when I plan to depart. ” She is quiet for a moment, a finger put to her lower lip in deeper thought, “ —Naturally, I shall have to request the days’ leave, as well as weave an appropriate story in lieu of my true aims … ” Camilla scowls gently then: even amidst a court of professional liars, to create a tapestry of untruths - however small, and however much she believes it to be for the ultimate good of Nohr - gives her no pleasure. “ It may also be wise to find something of a local guide closer to the Woods-land, and perhaps enlisting the help of a second, equally-unassuming colleague before we even depart … ”

HAPPY CAM IS SO PRECIOUS IM-

ONLY ADELHEID MADE THIS POSSIBLE ...

@sternzwillinge

She had never before been welcomed home.

More properly, perhaps it was simply that Camilla had never before felt she had a ‘ home ’ to return to — to think that she would be welcomed warmly in doing so, then, was a dream even further from her reach. ‘ That place ’ ( its name long forgotten to her, or else left behind with the girl she had been in its empty halls ) had been only the shell of a home, where she would indeed spend her fearful days, and where she would lay her head to sleep in her nights … A ‘ dwelling ’, yes, and nothing more, even for all the luxuries and conveniences afforded to her as her mother’s daughter. 

She thinks nothing of such solemn things as she is embraced by Adelheid’s gentle smile, made only all the softer by the light of dawn. Even so, she cannot keep the bud of some rare, quite ineffable feeling from blooming within her. 

“ T—Teacher … ! ” Where once she might have flinched, shrunk away from even a tender touch so close to her stolen eye, the young woman stirs now for no reason worse than embarrassment: the kind universal, it might be said, to the self-assured young before their unfalteringly-doting guardians, loath as they are to have their adventures in independent cooed over as though they were yet children. Whether for her bashfulness, or simply for the brisk chill of the autumn’s early morn, her cheeks glow a humbled pink as she calms herself, “ I’m not that tall, am I? For as much as I travelled, I can’t say I know how tall a girl my age is meant to be … ”

Even as a young woman, she delights in playing along a little, remarking only briefly to herself that she - too - sees the passage of time between them as she now looks down at her mentor. Camilla laughs, so delicately that it soon disappears in a slight breeze … but as she takes Adelheid’s hand, as she takes hers, she gives it a firm squeeze— assuring herself, yes, that all is well that ends well.