sranks | we are the cursed we came from fire and ice

[Felix doesn't respond verbally, but he does nod briefly after a moment. It was wonderful, but that was then. It doesn't matter what things were like in the past, what matters is here and now.

He realizes he's being entirely too harsh with the blade and clicks his tongue against his teeth before setting it aside. He's not going to risk adding more cracks or worse, breaking the blade. It's stupid how easily his emotions get the better of him, especially about something so pointless.]

That's all in the past, though. I've got more important things to focus on now.

...So you do.

[Camilla's look wanders over to Felix, wondering if she said too much. She studies how hard he's being on the blade and forces herself look back over to her own, setting it aside and picking out another to work on.

Maybe it'd be better to get off of this subject.]

...At any rate, I really do hope that you will be able to find the strength that you seek. And we shall all be here to help you hone it. We would be remiss not to, truly.

[It's definitely a bit of a sideways way to say she's looking forward to helping him get stronger, but it's there.]

And the Leicester Alliance's specialty is bows, you know. Have you been training with them while I've been gone?

[camilla oh my god]

Yeah. I know.

[The subject change gets a laugh out of him. It's short and sharp, but not very loud.]

I'd be lying if I said I transferred without thinking about how the Golden Deer house could help me with my marksmanship. I've improved considerably since I started with a bow. No thanks to Claude, of course.

[in this house we drag claude]

[we absolutely drag claude

...though we drag him slightly less since he saved lorenz's life]

Really now? You'll have to show me how that's going, then. I imagine Seteth still won't allow me on a wyvern for a while yet, but I would rather like to see such things in action.

Who know? Perhaps you'll actually manage to land a hit.

[That's slightly competitive. It's...nice, at the least, to get some pep back in her.]

Tch.

[It isn't an annoyed sound at all, though he's doing his best to pretend he's annoyed. The twitch at the corner of his mouth is probably enough of an indication that he's holding back a smirk.]

With all the extra practice I'll be getting, I'll take you out before you have a chance to get near me.

[Camilla's look darts over to Felix briefly and she sees that half-smirk he seems to be restraining--it's adorable that he thinks he'll be able to beat her.]

Oh, truly? I'd quite like to see that. I'll just have to destroy you utterly before you get the chance to fire off even one little arrow~

You make it sound like it'll be that easy. Watch yourself, I won't hold back.

[The smirk is openly visible for a moment before he realizes and tries to temper it back into something a bit more restrained.]

I'll be around whenever you want to spar, even if it's nothing too serious.

[She'll probably have to build back up to it, after all...]

I know you won't. But it shall be quite fun.

[Camilla smirks a bit in kind, though her expression settles a bit after.]

Then I'll gladly seek you out. It...may be some time before I can battle at my full strength, but I assure you, I'm not holding back when we spar. It's...

[Camilla's mind briefly wanders back to that month, that hideous, awful month before forcing her eyes shut and simply breathing to calm herself. She's safe here. She's safe.]

...It's simply going to take some time. That is all.

[Camilla looks down to the sword she's working on and shakes her head a bit, thankful she didn't crack it further. It's fine, she's fine, she's not exhausted or anything it's fine.]

But until then, I'm certain that keeping myself sharp will only be a benefit, so...thank you.

[Felix looks up when she hesitates, watching as she shuts her eyes and breathes. He doesn't have any idea what she's been through, but he can only imagine how horrific it was. She doesn't want to relive it. She doesn't want to think about it either.]

...Yeah. If it gets to be too much, you can tell me to back off.

[It's not something he'd offer anyone. But he offers it to her now, because he really doesn't know how to handle this, and maybe throwing herself into training isn't what will help Camilla the most right now.

He lets out a sigh and picks up the sword again to get back to work.]

I'm bad at this. I don't know what to say or do. But if you need a distraction, I'll always be here. That much I can do for you.

[It has a hard edge to it, though it isn't angry. Frustrated, perhaps, but only with himself. Even so, he doubts anyone really knows how to help Camilla right now; this isn't something a bunch of kids should know how to handle.

But still... he wishes there was more he could do for her.]

[Oh, that's...Camilla's not sure how to respond at first, and that's a little obvious given how she looks at Felix with a bit of shock. She's never known him to hold back, but to offer that to her is...]

...You're not bad at this at all, Felix. I want to assure you of that much. I'm simply a touch scattered right now, and I don't think even I know a way towards getting better.

[He's doing pretty well at distracting her, but she can tell how frustrated he is. It doesn't feel fair to expect him to have answers for all of this, and she won't, but--]

You're doing more than enough, by teaching me this much. And I truly can't thank you enough for offering so much to me when I am in such a state; to hold back if needed, to spar whenever I would like...

...I truly can't thank you enough for simply being here, Felix.

[That's honest. Camilla knows damn well that this is hard for him, and she wouldn't expect anyone to have a proper answer for how to move forward. But they're both doing their best, and that's all Camilla can ask.]

[He exhales softly, then finally looks at her properly.]

You're welcome. I want to do what I can for you.

[It's honest, though colored by that mild annoyance he can never really seem to get out of his tone.]

So... whatever you need. Let me know.

[There are things that other people will be able to help her with, but he trusts that she knows what he can do for her. So if there's anything she needs that he can provide, he'll offer it, without any hesitation.]

I don't know how long it'll take, but that doesn't matter to me. I'm not going anywhere.

[...You know, there's much she expects to come out of Felix's mouth but that. That is not it? The idea that he wants to do what he can for her, that he's not going anywhere, it's...well, she's pretty sure her mind's dwelling on it more than needed, and even if Camilla's expression looks composed, she's actually just a bit flushed and pointedly focusing on the blade.

It's fine? All of this is incredibly fine, she even looks happy with that but it's...nice to hear that. It's nice. That's all it is.]

...Thank you. That means much to me, that you aren't going anywhere and that you're willing to do such things for me.

[This blade is really fascinating right now.]

Do let me know if there is anything more I can do for you, as well.

[...Right, well, he's looking back at his blade, though he's careful not to be too hard on it.]

Yeah. I'll let you know.

[Because the last thing he wants to do is treat her like she can't help him right now. He figures she'll appreciate being treated as she always would. Maybe he's wrong, but that's what makes the most sense to him.]

But don't worry too much about me. I'm doing just fine, now that...

[you're back.]

...Never mind.

[Gods above this is all just fine and dandy, now isn't it. Camilla does make the mistake of looking over after he talks, and...]

Now that...what?

[...She's not sure if it was a mistake to ask him to elaborate but here she is, making that mistake.]

Tch.

[This time it is openly annoyed, though that's probably off-set a little by just how red he is.]

Now that you're back.

[The words are gruff, almost gritted out from between clenched teeth, like they have to be physically pulled from him in order to happen.]

Don't— Don't say anything.

[He knows how embarrassing this is, okay!!]

[...This was a mistake for both of them! Okay!

Well, Camilla is going to turn back away so she can pretend she just wasn't staring, nope, no staring here. Camilla is at least trying to hide just how pleased (and embarrassed) those words make her, but despite her elegant expression she is. Pink. In the cheeks.

...Well, at least the visible ones, she's thankful for her hairstyle some days.]

...O-of course. I won't say a word.

[Well, failed step one. She wasn't expecting to get punched in the feelings, okay!! Leave her alone!!]

[mmmngh]

Good enough, I guess.

[Even though you failed step one!!! It's fine, now we can both die of embarrassment here, no big deal.]

we are the cursed we came from fire and ice

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