gaucherie

You ever just.. have something you like so much that you hide it away to keep it safe--- but then you forget where you hid it so now it's even out of your hands.

" Well you sure could have fooled me! Bad enough that Cynthia nearly knocked over Brady while doing something reckless--- "

She groans, shuffling her steps to adjust the bluenette on her back into a more comfortable spot. Truly at times like these, the mercenary hates being short compared to the rest of the Shepherds. Severa never expected to receive help (which she did not ask for but did appreciate whether she'd say it aloud or not)- so imagine her confusion when she went to dodge an incoming attack from a swordmaster only to see the crown princess bolt in out of nowhere to not only take the hit on the down-swing- catching the princess in the leg- but to wipe out the foe in a single swipe of Falchion.

It probably wasn't as bad an injury as Severa was making it out to be, but she was not about to be indebted to anyone- Lucina least of all. How the brunette managed to convince the princess to let Severa carry her back at all was a mystery- figured Lucina probably agreed just to pacify her for the moment, which it did indeed.

✧ |  The sigh he hears is a good indicator of his plan going smoothly.  Noticing the small similarities the mercenary has to her mother almost urges him to speak up.  She would probably scold him if he mentions that out loud.  Best to not tease her too much.

       Reflet can’t help a chuckle this time, amused by the implication.

❝ I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not…  But a familial bond does feel nice, doesn’t it ? ❞  Somehow, that struck a certain sadness into his heart.  A certain kind of wish he knows he shouldn’t be impatient for.  He can’t dwell on that either, not when there is something more important at hand.

❝ Yes, really. ❞  He gently lets go, already going for the vulnerary he had from within his pocket.  ❝ Just in case you need assistance when I’m not around…  I know you want to do everything on your own, but asking for help isn’t so bad sometimes. ❞

   Maybe it was trick of the sun, but she could have sworn she seen something flash across his face at his words of family. Did.. did he yearn for those related to him by blood to come back from the future, as the rest of the army’s children had done? Wish for family that wasn’t out to destroy the world? Reflet is human, so the brunette wouldn’t put it passed him to desire it.

   Perhaps the Shephards was that family- but maybe just not enough, or in the right way. She gets it, barely having her own family before both her parents were taken from her at a relatively young age. She gets it all too well. Then she says ( without even noticing ):

   “ Honestly.... you’d probably know more about those type of bonds than I would,                                                                                              so you tell me. ”

   Severa almost laughs as the white haired lad pulls a vulnerary out of his pocket- like he knew that she’d give in and, by proxy, need it. How typical. But in a way that confidence is needed in a era like this. Then he speaks of depending on others and that stops the chuckle from ever emerging. When you live through what she has, there’s almost nothing to do but depend on yourself for almost everything. Well- not entirely true. The surviving children of the Shepherds did have each other; though some more reliant than others and some more independent than the rest.

   “ I know you probably shouldn’t hear this from me, of all people,                                        but you could benefit a lot by asking for help as well.

It feels so strange to be leaving a group you've come to know so personally... well, again. Just because you do it twice, doesn't mean that the third time will hurt any less. One can say it may even be worse after having to do it over and over again, with no one place to stay settled and to call 'home'. But the idea was to go back to what they once did call 'home', even if it technically wasn't theirs' to start. They'd have to start the search at some point- why not now that their "job" was finished-- The girl had grown up so much in such a small time.. a little nostalgic to see a young princess have to take the weight of the world onto her own shoulders and save it from disaster.. Truly, fate plays in wicked and mysterious ways.

" You sure are optimistic about us reuniting.. I must say, it is refreshing to hear you sound that way after everything.

Or maybe it's just being overly hopeful, but what do I know."

Perhaps she should say more-- give a bigger congratulations? That would almost feel in poor taste, but Corrin had handled all of it astonishingly well. Didn't Anankos know how brilliant their daughter would become? Why send for help from another world ( universe, place in time, dimension- who knows! ) when the snow haired lass wouldn't need it from any of the three that got called? Mayhaps the princess simply needed the strength and experience they acquired from fighting in two wars previous. Selena may not have had a child of her own ( due to her stong belief that they shouldn't be bringing in new life during a war- deeprealms or not ) but she did have some sort of familial bond watching her throughout the years.. Gods, listen to her, age really must be catching up on the redhead! Without realizing it, Selena already took a hold of the princess' wrist. Ah- well, might as well go along with it.

" While, I too wish to see you again to see how much further you can grow into your new life- I'm afraid that it won't happen..

I don't know if I can say why I know that to be the case.. or, perhaps you already have an idea why I cannot say.

    " I feel like I have to-                   I know as part of the Knights of Favonius, you all can get pretty busy,                                                           especially with so few of you.

                      This isn't exactly a small task that I'm asking of you, you know? "

    Though she almost feels guilty for even asking for a "favor" from someone who barely knows her, but after briefly mentioning it to Zhongli (who in turn asked the Honorary Knight's opinion- while keeping her name out of the equation- and agreed) the man strongly insisted the lass go seek out Mondstadt's lead alchemist and see what could be done- if at all. Doesn't hurt to try, right? Hopefully things will go in a positive direction- even if slowly.

   " Can you promise me that what happens stays between us..                                                  unless absolutely necessary? "

    They likely have heard or seen worse and weirder tales in his field of work, but to be safe- a brief warning is probably for the best. As the slowly trudge through the cold winds of Dragonspine (why all the way out here the redhead will never know but hey it provides a bit of privacy so she’ll take it), she halts her steps.

   She sighs, possibly fond and possibly annoyed. The gesture is appreciated no doubt- though the brunette did feel like it was under control in her own hands- but guess that wasn't entirely true as she came out with a scrape on her arm from one of the crates she was carrying slipping from her grasp. The box stayed in tact- thank Naga-that would have been more embarrassing if she ruined their supplies by trying to take too many boxes at once, but we all know Severa's too stubborn at the best and worst of times.

   " Friends, huh?

                          Even if we are, that doesn't mean that I need you                         on my heels checking in on me every few hours,                            acting like a parent checking in on a new-born.

                                                       I told you I was fine.                          I made a mistake, and I'll handle the consequences.

    Sigh. It feels like it’s been a  decade  since she’d last seen her sweetheart--- uh,, huh. Yeah, that’s a thing. Taken a while for it to settle in that this is ( in fact ) a thing... Well then.. With little-to-no regard of if he was doing anything of importance, she not-so-subtly presses herself against him ( leaving zero space between them ) --totally not snuggling into his shoulder with quiet huffs.

   I might keep Severa/Sevan-Selena/Selwyn up and try to revive her/him as a muse, because she is my fucking gIRL and I love her. But I’m not sure at this point in time. So far nothing is hitting me(or too hard at least) to make me be-rid my baby girl, but only time will really tell.