houseplant.

          A TINY PEEP ESCAPES HER, shoulders tensing for a split second. For once she doesn’t scream. She wrings her wrists, fists tightly pressed to her chest. Wincing, it’s only a short moment of defensive curling. The flat cork bottom of the book gently rested atop her head assures her that this is not an attack. She’s not being punished. Tones coarse yet soft come as additional relief. He isn’t yelling at her for misplacing her item, or chasing her for making a mess outside of her room.

          ❝ I... Oh. ❞ Words so plainly leave her lips. She reaches up to carefully take the sketch pad from him, turning ever so slightly as she holds the book against her chest. It’s a feeble shield, but it works just as well. 

❝ Um... Th-thank you so much, Felix! I was looking everywhere for this! ❞ It’s not a lie, anyway. Her wandering out in the daylight would have been enough proof of that. 

Yet here he was, his words no more than a murmur to her ears ( deafened by paranoia, no doubt ). It’s not that Dimitri was mean. He was entirely welcoming of her when she joined the Blue Lion house! It’s just that... There was something about him, even when he was being kind. Bernadetta seemed to be someone who would scatter at her own shadow; but in this case, she couldn’t help but feel as though the prince’s shoulders were terribly heavy.

Now is the worst time to be letting her mind race. She’s completely ignoring the prince’s efforts in getting her to snap out of it. They have work to do! ❝ I... Oh! I’m so sorry! I wasn’t listening! Please don’t be angry! ❞

       it isn’t unusual to find him prowling around the monastery at night,  (  the solitude that came with nightfall was comforting, quiet  ——  )  though most of the time he stuck for heading straight to the training grounds then retiring to his room after a satisfactory amount of sets. however, tonight he’s wandered a bit further out  —  namely following the sounds of hungry yowls and playful mewls. shockingly enough do amber eyes fixate themselves upon the messy head of ragged purple hair that he knows well enough who it belongs to.

                    ❝  bernadetta, why are you out here at this hour?  ❞

       not that he could really give a damn as to what it is that she’s doing, but…he doesn’t often see anyone aside from himself out and about at this hour. of course, his inquiry seems to fall on deaf ears,  (  shocking, she’s always in her own little world it seems  ——  )  so he sighs before daring to approach closer to her. a few of the stray cats scatter in his presence  —  nothing too unusual for him  —  but when he hears her unholy shrieking…he groans. not even from the high pitched shrill itself. it’s the fact that he just watched her stab herself in a bout of her own terror that has his shaking his head in a mixture of amazement and…maybe a hint of pity.

        ❝  i come out to the grounds at this hour often to train.  ❞  his gaze shifts to her hand, lips tugging downwards slightly into a irritated grimace.  ❝  and that wouldn’t have just happened had you been listening and heard me the first time i called out to you.  ❞  what a clumsy girl…

          ❝ Ohhh! S-sorry — I’m sorry! ❞ STAMMERING, she’s at a loss for words. Nothing could excuse her bothersome presence! Let alone how unsightly she must be! She can’t even stand to look at herself. A prick to her palm is the least of her worries, and so she clenches her fist to keep the blood from getting on her current project. She’s had too much ruined by murky red blotches, time and time again. It’s almost second nature to her now. 

Rolling hoop and thread into excess fabric, Bernadetta rushes to collect her belongings. It’s a hobby better done in the privacy of her room, after all! She should know better! That, and maybe she really shouldn’t be gathering so many stray cats this close to certain facilities. 

Jumping to her feet, she’s timidly keeping her head lowered. She saw that grimace. Felix always has an angry look on his face, but... Oh! He probably hates her! She’d better make her retreat soon.

       ❝  Cheering for someone who will undoubtedly win is a waste of breath…  ❞  HE WON’T SAY IT,  but…her support is appreciated nonetheless. Silently.

tagged by: stole it from mYSELF this time tagging: all u sinners

bolded  is  ❛  yes  ❜   italics  is  ❛  conditional   ❜  or  ❛  partner-dependent  .  ❜   struck  through  is  ❛  wtf  is  wrong  with  all  of  you  .  ❜

yes i logged over here just so i could like this on felix dont @ me

       the way she freezes initially earns her a roll of his eyes paired with an annoyed click of his tongue. he still isn’t used to her constant apologizing and crying  —  actually, he’s not sure he’ll ever get used to it, as much as he may expect it. either way, her apologies weren’t necessary. while he may dominate the training grounds, there was something as equally thrilling as it was frustrating for him to get knocked on his ass  —  especially by an unexpected opponent such as bernadetta of all people.

        ❝  bernadetta  —  ❞  he attempts to interject, the panic in her voice grating on his nerves slightly, lips setting themselves into a firm line as his gaze settles itself on her face at long last. although…the terror in her eyes sets something off in the back of his mind,  —  some sort of instinct that he’d thought long forgotten  —  especially as she sinks to her knees on the verge of tears. he remembers the way she’d been fixated on the sword in his hands moments previous, so he’s careful as he slowly releases his grip, setting the training weapon aside carefully before turning his attention back to her.

        ❝  bernadetta!  ❞  his voice comes out a tad sharper  —  a bit louder  —  this time, his arms crossing over his chest. he isn’t good at comforting others, so he cannot offer her a hug or anything of that sort, but he can at least give her her damn space and try to talk to her.  ❝  will you quit freaking out? i’m not angry with you  —  if anything, i’m impressed.  ❞  he knows saying so probably doesn’t do anything to lift her mood, but he’s trying.  ❝  and i’m not going to hurt you, damnit. i’m not some kind of monster.  ❞  he sighs, unfolding his arms and hesitantly reaching his hand out to her  —  an offer to help her back to her feet.

                            ❝  c’mon…i think that’s enough for today.  ❞

          SHE COWERS, practically sniveling with her back against the pillar. She’s bothersome, unbearable — pathetic, really. Bernadetta knows this well. She’s so painfully aware of her own behavior that hearing herself cry grates her own nerves, only making matters worse. The overwhelming emotion and self depreciation that floods her scattered mind is enough to make her want to faint right then and there! How she’s lasted this long without losing consciousness is surprising enough.

          ❝ Y-you... You’re really not angry? ❞ The look on his face would say otherwise, as far as she’s concerned. She’s used to being told it’s fine, that she didn’t make someone angry — only for it to be the opposite. Of course, the girl has trouble believing him, flinching even as he carefully extends his hand to her. Maybe he isn’t a monster... maybe it’s just that irritated look of his that makes him so intimidating. 

DEEP BREATHS. If she can muster up a little bit of courage in her fragile heart, then maybe it’ll be okay. He isn’t trying to hurt her, even after she’d hurt him. It’s not a trick, right? Felix doesn’t seem like someone who relies on deception, he’s too blunt. One trembling hand reaches for his, eyes squeezed tight as if she’s anticipating the worst —- but nothing happens. With both hands, she takes hold of his and attempts to lift herself onto her feet...!