[A good guess! Leslie is indeed reading in bed, possibly for longer than she actually intended to be reading this particular one (a relatively elementary book about alchemy: she's still mired in the basics of universal magic, but she'd chased a thought wondering why it works relatively different to the other casting magic).
Her bed squeaks as she jumps slightly, not used to the watch enough to not be surprised by the buzz.]
Yes, I am awake. Did you need anything from me, Lady Edelgard?
[Hubert appears without warning in Leslie's room, heralded only by a dim purple flash and scream hardly a few minutes earlier. He ought not to teleport straight in like this, but under the circumstances, Hubert couldn't care less about what was proper.]
[He's not surprised to find the girl awake after all that noise. His gaze is sharp in the dark, figure illuminated so faintly by the moonlight, and something about his bearing brooks no argument as he shoves a scrap of paper in Leslie's hands.]
Go to this address. Now. Tell the faun there you are Lady Edelgard's ward and that I will collect you when you may return.
[And with those curt words and a spellcasting gesture, he's gone again in another flash, a dark wisp of mist left behind.]
[When she first heard the cut-off scream, she was taking her nightgown out and laying it on the bed. She planned to find a book in the personal library Edelgard has been putting together inside the house to read before she turned in for the night, but suddenly Cezar, the dog that she is petsitting, was barking and she herself spent the first minute unable to come to a decision about what to do, scurrying back and forth as her mind bounces from running to find one of the people of the house to hiding to getting a look at what is happening.]
[Whenever Edelgard has promised to protect her, the emperor has always sounded absolutely certain in her ability to do so. It's enough to make Leslie believe that, as long as she is able to stay inside this house, Lady Edelgard will save her eventually. So she has to focus first on making sure that whatever caused that scream can't get to her, and everything else will fall into place.
(Once again, she doesn't think of the watch as a way to contact someone in the middle of a potential crisis, as the technology is too new to her still.)]
[As Hubert appears, Leslie is in the middle of pushing her nightstand towards the door to barricade herself in her room, but she soon jolts and stands almost as if she's standing to attention. She opens her mouth to ask him what is going on, but the sight of his expression makes her hesitate, and then there is no room for questions.]
[It takes Leslie a couple of seconds to process what just happened, but after that, she is immediately moving. Hubert said to move now with such fervour that her only stop is to grab Cezar's leash to attach it to his collar, her voice quiet as she crouches next to him.]
Come, Cezar, we're going on a walk.
[Her magical connection to the darkness is severed and the shadows that followed her to this world are so much weaker than they once were, but they aren't entirely powerless. The shadows pouring out from under her bed take a slight detour to grab the nightclothes Leslie laid out on the bed, wrap them around her stuffed bunny, and bring the bundle to her feet. Mission accomplished, they zip into her regular shadow, faint as it might be in the moonlight. She won't be leaving alone.]
[Leslie tucks the wrinkled bundle under her arm, holds the end of Cezar's leash, and runs.]
Private, Text, 48 Hours after Hubert asks her to stay with Lorenz.
[It needs to be done. It must be explained, and now that the ordeal is over, it's time. Leslie has every right to know why she was suddenly uprooted just before bed-time, and knowing Hubert, likely not gently.]
Leslie.
I owe you an explanation for what has happened. I would appreciate it very much if you would open the window of the room you're staying in.
[There may in fact already be a patch of mist hovering closeby.]
Edited 2020-02-22 00:59 (UTC)
and yet this is the more comforting option for picking Leslie up
[Leslie has had probably the best 48 hours of Edelgard's housemates and bondmates, at least, low bar that it might be. While Lorenz knows that it's not his story to tell, he has likely reassured her that everyone will be okay and has helped Leslie fill in the days with things to distract her from the "you still can't go back to the house and I can't explain why" part. But it's still not an easy worry to set aside.
It's fortunate the watches are made of strong stuff, because Leslie drops hers when a message from Edelgard comes in. She doesn't know why Edelgard wants her to open a window, but she pulls it open before she even replies to the message.]
Itssd open/.
[The correction to her too quickly typed message comes a couple of seconds later.] It's open.
[The day after the dream of the mirror hall, Hubert was noticably more sedimentary. He wasn't bustling from one room to another carrying odds or ends or herding the cats away from his familiar or absent down in his lab. He spent most of the morning in the sitting room, writing or reading, or even just lost in thought.]
[When Edelgard's ward descends the stairs, he speaks. ]
Leslie.
If you can spare a moment, there is something I'd like to ask you.
[Leslie wishes her memory of that particular dream wasn't so good. She wakes up that morning so visibly upset that even Princess actually deigns to sit with her. After she's calmed down enough that Princess has decided her job as cat is done and hops down, she gets dressed and goes down for breakfast, but she returns to her room for a while, reading through a book on architecture she picked up for her personal project on building a wall around the Outer City and taking notes. It's not exactly relaxing, but it does help her to get her mind off of it and makes her feel like she's accomplishing something, which has its own benefits.
She's calmed down quite a bit when she leaves the room and comes down. When Hubert makes his request, she looks curious, but nods.]
Yes, of course.
[Which she might say even if she couldn't, but she hasn't actually made any plans for the afternoon and has nowhere to be. So she walks into the sitting room in his line of sight -- and, assuming there's a chair in said line of sight, will sit down there (she'd stand otherwise).]
What is it, M --
["Marquis Vestra, you've been found guilty of crimes of the highest treason." She falters slightly as the words re-emerge in her memory, but soon recovers.]
He wouldn't waste time asking Leslie if she was sure about this. It was ultimately the girl's decision, and she wouldn't be subjecting herself to such stress if she wasn't determined to do something about it.
It was actually doing that something that had Hubert at a loss. Although he has sympathy aplenty, his skill with empathy was decidedly lacking, as was his experience resolving trauma.
The tall candle sat on the other side of the long table in Hubert's lab, unlit.
"I want to reiterate that you are under no pressure to be here, Leslie. If you wish to stop for the day for any reason, I will not be disappointed."
He glanced down at the girl, his expression characteristically neutral. It softens, subtly. "And I must stress you have a say in how we proceed. If you wish to try something differently, I will facilitate it. If you think of anything I can do to make your path easier, inform me. Do you understand?"
Leslie was late coming down to breakfast that morning. There was a little dread about starting this -- it'll be useful, but it's also going to hurt -- and it took longer to get into a state where she could make the calming breathing exercises work.
But now that she's here, she's glad he's not asking her if she's sure. She knows she'd say yes, but she doesn't want to have to think about that decision again. She doesn't think an unlit candle has seemed quite as intimidating to her for a long time.
She looks away from the candle when Hubert speaks and when she sees that small softening -- she's learned to pay close attention to subtle changes in adults' expressions, even if she's not so good at interpreting the more positive ones -- she's surprised, blinking rapidly for a moment. But that doesn't last long before she figuratively shakes it off, not thinking it's worth looking into too far, and she takes a few seconds to carefully consider what Hubert said.
"I understand." She fiddles her fingers in her lap. "I don't know if I know enough to make any good suggestions, but I'll ask if I don't understand why we're doing something. And don't worry." Her hands still as she clasps them firmly. "I want to be here."
Despite what some of her body language might suggest.
[It's been over a month since the mirror hall dream, and Kurumi hasn't contacted anyone since (sans those who reached out to her first). She's sure some of her friends are worried about her, so she'll try to rectify that now.
It's in the late hour, early for Kurumi, when Leslie watch buzzes to signal a new message.]
[Leslie hasn't been exactly the most social after the dream, either. She doesn't know whether it's better to contact someone after an experience like that or to give them space. She's worried that she might have chosen the latter not because it was the right answer, but because it was the easy answer.
Leslie has become more careful about keeping a good sleep schedule lately after being told that missing sleep can stunt growth, but living with a vampire in a house with no windows in the bedrooms has lead her to shift cycle later on both ends, so she's still awake when her watch buzzes.]
Yes Im' still free,
[It's possible that Leslie might have answered too quickly when she saw the message was from "shovelmaiden," resulting in the misaligned punctuation and combining the answers to the two questions ("I'm still up" and "I'm free").
There's a slight hesitation before the next response to give Leslie time to die of embarrassment for a moment and then reply much more carefully.]
[Charmed by the gift, Lorenz quickly sent out a reply:]
Dearest Leslie,
Thank you kindly for your well wishes and your gift. I had not divulged this information to many people, as I did not wish to make a big to-do about the date, but your thoughts and your gift are much appreciated.
The tea set is absolutely lovely, and it warms my heart to see another remember the kittens. They are in good homes, but they will always be special to me.
I will cherish this set, Leslie. Additionally, I would be honored to share tea with you using it one day.
Thank you, my friend. I am very glad that we have crossed paths during our time here.
[Leslie loves receiving mail and, unlike most messages over the watches, this one is formatted in a way she thinks was common in her world. (She’s yet to receive a letter in her world, so she’s not certain.]
My dear friend Sir Lorenz,
I am glad that you liked the tea set. I was fortunate enough to hear of your birthday from Lady Edelgard. Since she did not receive notice of some form of celebration, I realized that you were not interested in a party, but it is good that it was not presumptuous of me to give a gift.
I can imagine that the fond memories will remain after they have parted ways, though I do not have that kind of experience to be certain. If you ever wish to visit Princess, she has been less reclusive than before and she may remember you enough to not keep her distance quite so much from you.
I would be delighted to have tea with you, as always.
I am grateful to be friends with such a kind and thoughtful individual as you.
[The second they open the door to the cafe one of the kittens manages to slip between their legs onto the street behind them. Normally they would've been able to snatch it immediately but, as a witch, they're just a little slower.]
Ah...little one...
[Enkidu's eyes flash from the kitten darting over the street to the people inside the cafe. There aren't many but they recognize one face. It is that little girl they have seen here a couple of times.]
Little girl. One of the kittens got out. Will you help me retrieve it?
[Leslie is quite firmly of the opinion that, while she is not an adult, she is also Definitely Not A Child. She has let some things go that toe the line of calling her a child, like someone calling her little Leslie. But “little girl” feels like a step past that line.]
I’m not a little girl. I’m probably already thirteen years old.
[Many people would think that 13 years old still counts as a little girl. Certainly, given how short she still is, it’s a description that is physically entirely accurate.
And then her brain catches up with the rest of the sentence.]
One of the kittens got out?! When did this happen?
If you are reading this, then I have presumably returned home to Fodlan in advance of your return to your home. I have prepared for this eventuality, and I did not wish to leave things unsaid or unspoken between us. I have no doubt that I will have arranged for your continued care and financial stability. I'm sure you'll have no trouble with that, and with taking care of Ferdie and Heidi.
Business aside, there are a few parting things that I would wish to say to you.
The first, most important, and most pressing is that I am proud of you. You have grown immensely in the time that we have had together, both physically and mentally, and I was beyond pleased with your progress every time that I spoke with you. You came to this world as a seedling, and you have grown into a fine young sapling, one that I have no doubt will become a mighty oak when you return to your world.
The second is that I hope that you continue your studies, and to work hard. Never stop moving forward, and never stop looking to a new dawn. You can have whatever you want, and the entire world is within your grasp if you keep reaching. You have more talent, ambition, and drive than I did at your age, and I managed to change my world, so I have no doubt that you can change yours.
The final thing, something I hope that you have understood for a while now, is that I consider you to be a blessing. You are without a doubt the best thing to happen to me in Aefenglom. You are the child I will never have myself, a bundle of questions and joys that has grown to mean the world to me, and someone who I treasure. Should you find yourself asked for a surname during the remainder of your time in the city, and feel comfortable claiming the title, I would be pleased if you would call yourself Leslie von Hresvelg.
I hope that you have understood just how important you are to me, and that I have been able to show that with my actions, but I know well the value of words.
So, please know that even though I am gone, I love you. I will always continue to do so. I pray that my actions and words continue to resonate with you, and spur you to new heights.
[He couldn't have missed it. That quietly violent sudden absence of something, that immediate sense of loss carving out a hollow... somewhere. The Bonds were always odd, a sixth sense his body never knew how to properly process, and the improper dissolution of one from an individual falling back through the Mirrors was just as odd in ways Hubert couldn't describe.]
[It hurt, but not actually. He was whole, but something was horribly missing. Regardless of the disarray it left him in, the feeling (or lack thereof) only meant one thing, and after a too-long moment to gather himself, Hubert set his cup down and stood to wander upstairs.]
[Edelgard had told him when she wrote the letter. He'd have to sort out her council matters and her investments, but that could come later. For now...]
[Another breath to steady himself against that phantom pain of something missing from his soul, and Hubert steadily knocks thrice at Leslie's door.]
[For Leslie, whose bonds with the people of the household are entirely non-magical, today is nothing but an ordinary day so far.]
[Before the knock on the door, she was studying a book that Byleth had assigned to her (mathematics is one of the few subjects that Leslie is a little behind what might be expected for her age, but that can be chalked up to being several years behind that expectation before Aefenglom). Her somewhat finicky white kitten -- now a cat, really -- is settled on a book that Leslie may have been reading earlier before it had been claimed for kittybutt.]
[At the sound of the knock, she sets down the pen she's been using to take notes on some parchment.]
I'm coming! [Her voice is much more upbeat than anything else in this house right now.]
[She doesn't waste any time hopping down from her chair and scampering over to open the door. Seeing Hubert there, she initially smiles.]
Hello, Marquis Vestra. What -- [It's at this point that Leslie notices that Hubert looks more dour than usual. Her smile fades a little as her expression moves to worry.] -- is it?
I've been informed that both Byleth and Edelgard have gone back through the mirrors. I thought it best to write a note and see how you were faring.
If you ever need anything of me, please do not hesitate to ask. In light of their absence, which I am sure you feel very keenly, I will do whatever I can to assist you.
[ while a precise planner in military matters or in devising a perfect day out, byleth often tends to breeze from moment to moment on the smaller, interpersonal things. even things like this, with weight.
she made no precise plans to inform anyone of its presence, or what it was meant for. angular script marks it as being meant for the possibility of her disappearance, but otherwise, it sits among her personal effects and papers with no fanfare, awaiting whatever eventual effort someone might make to sort through her things. another letter sits beside it, addressed to edelgard in the event of a similar contingency, which will ideally remain sealed. ]
Leslie,
In the event that you're reading this, then you know what happened.
I'm not skilled at expressing my emotions. I try, but I say the wrong thing, or I react too strongly, or not strongly enough. In Aefenglom, especially, it has been... difficult, with many of the people I care for. I fear that I may have, at times, given you the wrong impression as well.
So, instead, I write. Here, it's simpler.
I've seen much less of your growth than El or Hubert have. But in the time I've known you, you've proven to be truly remarkable. You've deserved so much more than you received, before coming here. I'm proud of you, and I wish you all the best.
El and I likely won't have children of our own, but we have loved you as our daughter. I hope that I haven't failed to demonstrate that.
And so, I have one final lesson for you, little eagle.
Never allow anyone to make you any less than you are. Be brave, be bold and bright. Be as loud and take up as much space as you wish, carve out a space for yourself if necessary. Be who you are, who you wish to be, and hold fast to those who stay with you anyway. No one can make it in the world alone, but you are no one's but your own.
Your future is bright, I'm sure of it. I know you can make your own way.
With love, Byleth Eisner
modranicht gift! (pt. 1 because this is just a work bonus)
[When Leslie comes in to collect her pay before the upcoming holiday (during which the café will be closed for the employees to take a break and spend time with their loved ones), she will find there is a small box included with their hard-earned cunes. The box itself is gold, tied with a thin blue ribbon and a tag with their name neatly written upon it that they may or may not recognize as Ozymandias’ handwriting. Inside, they shall find a gold bracelet with a single charm attached to it. Said charm is a very miniature version of the sphinx kittens that roam about, carefully crafted so that these tiny replicas bear the same seemingly endless galaxy within their little forms.]
[A note is included with the payment.]
Dearest Leslie,
The charm attached to this bracelet has been enchanted to allow for the summoning of one the sphinx kittens for a short period of time once you have activated the spell. I thought a loyal companion while you are still attempting to master the spell would serve well as motivation to continue your hard work.
But not right now. I want you to spend this time enjoying the holiday and making happy memories with those you have here. That is what is most important.
Love, Ozymandias
[Should Leslie decide to activate the enchantment, the kitten will manage to hang around about 2-3 days.]
[Frankly, Ozymandias believes Leslie to be deserving of a mountain's worth of presents. But he knows such a gesture would likely overwhelm the poor girl, and so, he demonstrates some restraint in one of those incredibly rare moments where he finds the middle gear.]
[It is possible that the first gift may be a bit patronizing in the sense that it is most certainly a toy, but Ozymandias does not think she will mind it overly much. The first package contains a sphinx kitten plush. Although it's not possible to truly represent the cosmos that make up their form, the crushed velvet that makes up its little body can at least give the illusion of the varying depths of blue if one so chooses.]
[The next is a garment box containing a well-tailored dress that is a little too big for her to fit in properly now. This is not, however, a mistake. Rather, it is an unspoken hope and optimism that she will continue to grow and before long should fit into it quite well.]
[The last box is a finely crafted senet board and pieces. The board itself is crafted from fine wood with each square carefully etched and painted. On the side of the board is a cartouche of Leslie's name. She will no doubt detect the mana used to imbue it with an enchantment: only she or someone she has given permission may open the compartment. The compartment is meant for storing the pieces (one player's made from white quartz stone and the other from black obsidian) and throwing sticks needed for the game, but there is certainly room in there for Leslie to store smaller, precious items if she so desired.]
[This gift is left for Leslie at the Purramid Cafe before it closes, since for some reason breaking into Leslie's house to leave it somewhere as a surprise seemed a bit rude and possibly hazardous, given who else lives there.
It's a small pillow, embroidered with a simple geometric pattern with a few clumsily done seams. It's small because it has some of Kaede's down feathers in it and she's only one Chimera. It's very, very soft, as soft as Kaede's feathers are, and always seems faintly warm until its enchantment dims. But the Chimeric spell component holds fast to the slightest spell, so recharging it won't be a challenge at all for Leslie.]
A care package! A less strong blend of coffee for her to try, as well as a bottle of a special sweetened cream blend to mix with it, to make it even more friendly to such a young tongue. There's candies, sweets, and a book... one Ursula wrote herself, actually. It contains a comprehensive guide on all of the combat magic she'd been teaching her so far, as well as tips for more advanced techniques. Finally, a charm marked with Ursa Major, within it a cosmic-mana fueled protection enchantment. A note;
"A merry holiday, to my student. Thank you for allowing me to be your teacher."
[One might think that Leslie is safe from a sweater given that she is a sweet girl, but this is a false assumption. Akko still sends Leslie a seasonal sweater, though this one is handmade compared to the rest of the sweaters she's distributed.]
[On the upside though, Leslie gets a large sampling of treats! There are sugar cookies (somewhat poorly frosted, but still!) and chocolate chip cookies (that are maybe a little more on the salty side) and some fudge! There's also some truffles though Akko did not make those and instead bought them from a local chocolate shop in the city. Still, she's here to sponsor Leslie's sugar high for the holidays.]
[On the day of the holiday, a plate of homemade cookies and a sample of herbal tea mysteriously appears on her doorstep. The wrapping is decorated with a fresh lily flower (actually a Fae magic product, designed to fade away from existence in a few hours) and a ribbon. The attached handwritten note reads as follows:]
Happy Modranicht! Let’s have another great year here in Aefenglom!
[ She doesn’t remember ever getting a message from Geralt over the watches before, but fortunately he is also of the “my username is extremely obvious” brand. ]
Hello Mr. Geralt!
[ There’s a brief pause between messages, because transitioning between her cheerful exclamation mark of hearing from someone she likes to the topic at hand takes shifting some mental gears. ]
I’m being careful. I haven’t been outside alone since I saw someone almost getting kidnapped when I was returning from buying groceries. I wish I could help, but I think I would only get in the way.
Are you being careful, too? Maybe not in the same way, but in a way that’s still safe?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Text to Action in time
Are you still awake, Leslie?
[She can see the light underneath the door. Perhaps the girl is reading.]
no subject
Her bed squeaks as she jumps slightly, not used to the watch enough to not be surprised by the buzz.]
Yes, I am awake.
Did you need anything from me, Lady Edelgard?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
Mid Feoveuer
[He's not surprised to find the girl awake after all that noise. His gaze is sharp in the dark, figure illuminated so faintly by the moonlight, and something about his bearing brooks no argument as he shoves a scrap of paper in Leslie's hands.]
Go to this address. Now. Tell the faun there you are Lady Edelgard's ward and that I will collect you when you may return.
[And with those curt words and a spellcasting gesture, he's gone again in another flash, a dark wisp of mist left behind.]
no subject
[Whenever Edelgard has promised to protect her, the emperor has always sounded absolutely certain in her ability to do so. It's enough to make Leslie believe that, as long as she is able to stay inside this house, Lady Edelgard will save her eventually. So she has to focus first on making sure that whatever caused that scream can't get to her, and everything else will fall into place.
(Once again, she doesn't think of the watch as a way to contact someone in the middle of a potential crisis, as the technology is too new to her still.)]
[As Hubert appears, Leslie is in the middle of pushing her nightstand towards the door to barricade herself in her room, but she soon jolts and stands almost as if she's standing to attention. She opens her mouth to ask him what is going on, but the sight of his expression makes her hesitate, and then there is no room for questions.]
[It takes Leslie a couple of seconds to process what just happened, but after that, she is immediately moving. Hubert said to move now with such fervour that her only stop is to grab Cezar's leash to attach it to his collar, her voice quiet as she crouches next to him.]
Come, Cezar, we're going on a walk.
[Her magical connection to the darkness is severed and the shadows that followed her to this world are so much weaker than they once were, but they aren't entirely powerless. The shadows pouring out from under her bed take a slight detour to grab the nightclothes Leslie laid out on the bed, wrap them around her stuffed bunny, and bring the bundle to her feet. Mission accomplished, they zip into her regular shadow, faint as it might be in the moonlight. She won't be leaving alone.]
[Leslie tucks the wrinkled bundle under her arm, holds the end of Cezar's leash, and runs.]
Private, Text, 48 Hours after Hubert asks her to stay with Lorenz.
Leslie.
I owe you an explanation for what has happened. I would appreciate it very much if you would open the window of the room you're staying in.
[There may in fact already be a patch of mist hovering closeby.]
and yet this is the more comforting option for picking Leslie up
It's fortunate the watches are made of strong stuff, because Leslie drops hers when a message from Edelgard comes in. She doesn't know why Edelgard wants her to open a window, but she pulls it open before she even replies to the message.]
Itssd open/.
[The correction to her too quickly typed message comes a couple of seconds later.] It's open.
It's this or Hubert...
Hubert sets such a low bar for success when it comes to comfort.
truth
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
this was not where the tag was going to go when I started writing it.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
that moment when you realize you took a character from a canon point before she got hugged
Oh no.
(no subject)
(no subject)
Noon, after the memshare event
[When Edelgard's ward descends the stairs, he speaks. ]
Leslie.
If you can spare a moment, there is something I'd like to ask you.
no subject
She's calmed down quite a bit when she leaves the room and comes down. When Hubert makes his request, she looks curious, but nods.]
Yes, of course.
[Which she might say even if she couldn't, but she hasn't actually made any plans for the afternoon and has nowhere to be. So she walks into the sitting room in his line of sight -- and, assuming there's a chair in said line of sight, will sit down there (she'd stand otherwise).]
What is it, M --
["Marquis Vestra, you've been found guilty of crimes of the highest treason." She falters slightly as the words re-emerge in her memory, but soon recovers.]
-- Marquis Vestra?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
May 1st-ish
It was actually doing that something that had Hubert at a loss. Although he has sympathy aplenty, his skill with empathy was decidedly lacking, as was his experience resolving trauma.
The tall candle sat on the other side of the long table in Hubert's lab, unlit.
"I want to reiterate that you are under no pressure to be here, Leslie. If you wish to stop for the day for any reason, I will not be disappointed."
He glanced down at the girl, his expression characteristically neutral. It softens, subtly. "And I must stress you have a say in how we proceed. If you wish to try something differently, I will facilitate it. If you think of anything I can do to make your path easier, inform me. Do you understand?"
mayday mayday
But now that she's here, she's glad he's not asking her if she's sure. She knows she'd say yes, but she doesn't want to have to think about that decision again. She doesn't think an unlit candle has seemed quite as intimidating to her for a long time.
She looks away from the candle when Hubert speaks and when she sees that small softening -- she's learned to pay close attention to subtle changes in adults' expressions, even if she's not so good at interpreting the more positive ones -- she's surprised, blinking rapidly for a moment. But that doesn't last long before she figuratively shakes it off, not thinking it's worth looking into too far, and she takes a few seconds to carefully consider what Hubert said.
"I understand." She fiddles her fingers in her lap. "I don't know if I know enough to make any good suggestions, but I'll ask if I don't understand why we're doing something. And don't worry." Her hands still as she clasps them firmly. "I want to be here."
Despite what some of her body language might suggest.
Re: mayday mayday
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
backdated to 6/3
It's in the late hour, early for Kurumi, when Leslie watch buzzes to signal a new message.]
hey leslie are you still up?
sorry we haven't talked much but are you free
no subject
Leslie has become more careful about keeping a good sleep schedule lately after being told that missing sleep can stunt growth, but living with a vampire in a house with no windows in the bedrooms has lead her to shift cycle later on both ends, so she's still awake when her watch buzzes.]
Yes Im' still free,
[It's possible that Leslie might have answered too quickly when she saw the message was from "shovelmaiden," resulting in the misaligned punctuation and combining the answers to the two questions ("I'm still up" and "I'm free").
There's a slight hesitation before the next response to give Leslie time to die of embarrassment for a moment and then reply much more carefully.]
Are you okay?
(no subject)
(no subject)
Text, backdated to the beginning of the month
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
text | follow up from birthday package
Dearest Leslie,
Thank you kindly for your well wishes and your gift. I had not divulged this information to many people, as I did not wish to make a big to-do about the date, but your thoughts and your gift are much appreciated.
The tea set is absolutely lovely, and it warms my heart to see another remember the kittens. They are in good homes, but they will always be special to me.
I will cherish this set, Leslie. Additionally, I would be honored to share tea with you using it one day.
Thank you, my friend. I am very glad that we have crossed paths during our time here.
- Lorenz Hellman Gloucester.
no subject
My dear friend Sir Lorenz,
I am glad that you liked the tea set. I was fortunate enough to hear of your birthday from Lady Edelgard. Since she did not receive notice of some form of celebration, I realized that you were not interested in a party, but it is good that it was not presumptuous of me to give a gift.
I can imagine that the fond memories will remain after they have parted ways, though I do not have that kind of experience to be certain. If you ever wish to visit Princess, she has been less reclusive than before and she may remember you enough to not keep her distance quite so much from you.
I would be delighted to have tea with you, as always.
I am grateful to be friends with such a kind and thoughtful individual as you.
~ Leslie
(no subject)
(no subject)
[action - At Ozy's cat cafe]
Ah...little one...
[Enkidu's eyes flash from the kitten darting over the street to the people inside the cafe. There aren't many but they recognize one face. It is that little girl they have seen here a couple of times.]
Little girl. One of the kittens got out. Will you help me retrieve it?
no subject
I’m not a little girl. I’m probably already thirteen years old.
[Many people would think that 13 years old still counts as a little girl. Certainly, given how short she still is, it’s a description that is physically entirely accurate.
And then her brain catches up with the rest of the sentence.]
One of the kittens got out?! When did this happen?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
a friend introduced me to genshin impact and i have an addictive personality. now I’m back.
i feel u
text.
been a while. how's it going?
in the end I failed to resist the joke
What is the "it" you're asking about?
leslie omg.....
I try not to overdo how much leslie does not know about normal interactions BUT IT’S FUN
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
Apologies for disappearing! No worries if you’d rather do something more recent than this.
that's okay! nw at all
<3
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
Letter left in Edelgard's Desk, addressed to Leslie.
If you are reading this, then I have presumably returned home to Fodlan in advance of your return to your home. I have prepared for this eventuality, and I did not wish to leave things unsaid or unspoken between us. I have no doubt that I will have arranged for your continued care and financial stability. I'm sure you'll have no trouble with that, and with taking care of Ferdie and Heidi.
Business aside, there are a few parting things that I would wish to say to you.
The first, most important, and most pressing is that I am proud of you. You have grown immensely in the time that we have had together, both physically and mentally, and I was beyond pleased with your progress every time that I spoke with you. You came to this world as a seedling, and you have grown into a fine young sapling, one that I have no doubt will become a mighty oak when you return to your world.
The second is that I hope that you continue your studies, and to work hard. Never stop moving forward, and never stop looking to a new dawn. You can have whatever you want, and the entire world is within your grasp if you keep reaching. You have more talent, ambition, and drive than I did at your age, and I managed to change my world, so I have no doubt that you can change yours.
The final thing, something I hope that you have understood for a while now, is that I consider you to be a blessing. You are without a doubt the best thing to happen to me in Aefenglom. You are the child I will never have myself, a bundle of questions and joys that has grown to mean the world to me, and someone who I treasure. Should you find yourself asked for a surname during the remainder of your time in the city, and feel comfortable claiming the title, I would be pleased if you would call yourself Leslie von Hresvelg.
I hope that you have understood just how important you are to me, and that I have been able to show that with my actions, but I know well the value of words.
So, please know that even though I am gone, I love you. I will always continue to do so. I pray that my actions and words continue to resonate with you, and spur you to new heights.
Grow well, Leslie.
Love,
Edelgard von Hresvelg
You know what and when
[It hurt, but not actually. He was whole, but something was horribly missing. Regardless of the disarray it left him in, the feeling (or lack thereof) only meant one thing, and after a too-long moment to gather himself, Hubert set his cup down and stood to wander upstairs.]
[Edelgard had told him when she wrote the letter. He'd have to sort out her council matters and her investments, but that could come later. For now...]
[Another breath to steady himself against that phantom pain of something missing from his soul, and Hubert steadily knocks thrice at Leslie's door.]
screams
[Before the knock on the door, she was studying a book that Byleth had assigned to her (mathematics is one of the few subjects that Leslie is a little behind what might be expected for her age, but that can be chalked up to being several years behind that expectation before Aefenglom). Her somewhat finicky white kitten -- now a cat, really -- is settled on a book that Leslie may have been reading earlier before it had been claimed for kittybutt.]
[At the sound of the knock, she sets down the pen she's been using to take notes on some parchment.]
I'm coming! [Her voice is much more upbeat than anything else in this house right now.]
[She doesn't waste any time hopping down from her chair and scampering over to open the door. Seeing Hubert there, she initially smiles.]
Hello, Marquis Vestra. What -- [It's at this point that Leslie notices that Hubert looks more dour than usual. Her smile fades a little as her expression moves to worry.] -- is it?
also screams
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
text;
I've been informed that both Byleth and Edelgard have gone back through the mirrors. I thought it best to write a note and see how you were faring.
If you ever need anything of me, please do not hesitate to ask. In light of their absence, which I am sure you feel very keenly, I will do whatever I can to assist you.
I remain your friend,
Saber
another letter, left in byleth's desk
she made no precise plans to inform anyone of its presence, or what it was meant for. angular script marks it as being meant for the possibility of her disappearance, but otherwise, it sits among her personal effects and papers with no fanfare, awaiting whatever eventual effort someone might make to sort through her things. another letter sits beside it, addressed to edelgard in the event of a similar contingency, which will ideally remain sealed. ]
Leslie,
In the event that you're reading this, then you know what happened.
I'm not skilled at expressing my emotions. I try, but I say the wrong thing, or I react too strongly, or not strongly enough. In Aefenglom, especially, it has been... difficult, with many of the people I care for. I fear that I may have, at times, given you the wrong impression as well.
So, instead, I write. Here, it's simpler.
I've seen much less of your growth than El or Hubert have. But in the time I've known you, you've proven to be truly remarkable. You've deserved so much more than you received, before coming here. I'm proud of you, and I wish you all the best.
El and I likely won't have children of our own, but we have loved you as our daughter. I hope that I haven't failed to demonstrate that.
And so, I have one final lesson for you, little eagle.
Never allow anyone to make you any less than you are. Be brave, be bold and bright. Be as loud and take up as much space as you wish, carve out a space for yourself if necessary. Be who you are, who you wish to be, and hold fast to those who stay with you anyway. No one can make it in the world alone, but you are no one's but your own.
Your future is bright, I'm sure of it. I know you can make your own way.
With love,
Byleth Eisner
modranicht gift! (pt. 1 because this is just a work bonus)
[A note is included with the payment.]
Dearest Leslie,
The charm attached to this bracelet has been enchanted to allow for the summoning of one the sphinx kittens for a short period of time once you have activated the spell. I thought a loyal companion while you are still attempting to master the spell would serve well as motivation to continue your hard work.
But not right now. I want you to spend this time enjoying the holiday and making happy memories with those you have here. That is what is most important.
Love,
Ozymandias
[Should Leslie decide to activate the enchantment, the kitten will manage to hang around about 2-3 days.]
pt. 2: here spoil this baby on purpose
[It is possible that the first gift may be a bit patronizing in the sense that it is most certainly a toy, but Ozymandias does not think she will mind it overly much. The first package contains a sphinx kitten plush. Although it's not possible to truly represent the cosmos that make up their form, the crushed velvet that makes up its little body can at least give the illusion of the varying depths of blue if one so chooses.]
[The next is a garment box containing a well-tailored dress that is a little too big for her to fit in properly now. This is not, however, a mistake. Rather, it is an unspoken hope and optimism that she will continue to grow and before long should fit into it quite well.]
[The last box is a finely crafted senet board and pieces. The board itself is crafted from fine wood with each square carefully etched and painted. On the side of the board is a cartouche of Leslie's name. She will no doubt detect the mana used to imbue it with an enchantment: only she or someone she has given permission may open the compartment. The compartment is meant for storing the pieces (one player's made from white quartz stone and the other from black obsidian) and throwing sticks needed for the game, but there is certainly room in there for Leslie to store smaller, precious items if she so desired.]
Modranicht Gift
It's a small pillow, embroidered with a simple geometric pattern with a few clumsily done seams. It's small because it has some of Kaede's down feathers in it and she's only one Chimera. It's very, very soft, as soft as Kaede's feathers are, and always seems faintly warm until its enchantment dims. But the Chimeric spell component holds fast to the slightest spell, so recharging it won't be a challenge at all for Leslie.]
modranicht
modranicht gift!
[On the upside though, Leslie gets a large sampling of treats! There are sugar cookies (somewhat poorly frosted, but still!) and chocolate chip cookies (that are maybe a little more on the salty side) and some fudge! There's also some truffles though Akko did not make those and instead bought them from a local chocolate shop in the city. Still, she's here to sponsor Leslie's sugar high for the holidays.]
Modranicht gift
Happy Modranicht! Let’s have another great year here in Aefenglom!
M⚜️
text; un: geralt
no subject
Hello Mr. Geralt!
[ There’s a brief pause between messages, because transitioning between her cheerful exclamation mark of hearing from someone she likes to the topic at hand takes shifting some mental gears. ]
I’m being careful. I haven’t been outside alone since I saw someone almost getting kidnapped when I was returning from buying groceries. I wish I could help, but I think I would only get in the way.
Are you being careful, too? Maybe not in the same way, but in a way that’s still safe?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)