sranks | two dumbasses get voluntold into adopting a child

[Linhardt huffs a bit at that, but he really can't help but smile when his husband gets his hair nice and back into place. Despite his long and suffering sigh...]

And here I thought I had you beat for once...but yes, that would be quite wonderful.

[Linhardt's gladly gonna let Hubert take his hand, though, and he'll follow Hubert along easily as they go through the gardens. He's keeping his eyes peeled, though he's mostly looking towards the ground...]

That is a good point. Especially if she sees how silly I look, I imagine she wouldn't be able to stop laughing.

[Of course, Cassandra does start to see them from her perch on the tree she's picked out; there's a lot of leaves still left on this tree, and she can see them through the leaves easily. She does smile a bit at both of them, but she's not giving herself away quite yet! She wants to win, after all.

...Of course, the longer this goes on without finding her, the more Linhardt is actually starting to be both impressed and worried...]

Do you think she might be further into the gardens, Hubert? I haven't seen or heard any sign of her at all...

[...Yeah, this is starting to become worrying, she should have let her position slip by now, and it's not like Hubert's an easy man to fool. Usually he's exceptionally good at detecting anyone's presence... So either she has a natural gift for it, or she's not here.]

She must be. I hadn't anticipated her running so far in, but that's the only explanation there can be.

[Cassandra still doesn't giggle, but they are absolutely passing by right beneath her without noticing...]

[They are literally right up underneath that tree and they have still not thought to look up. Like, surely that child would not know how to climb a tree? Not even he knows how to climb a tree.

Either way, Linhardt will at least nod his head.]

Yes, that makes the most sense. I just hope she didn't get lost or anything like that...she couldn't have gone that far, could she?

[...Oh no, he's fretting.]

I gave her twenty seconds, it's unlike she could have gone much further than this...

[Though it did take him a little bit to find Linhardt...]

Perhaps she grew tired of waiting and wandered off? Perhaps we should split up.

[Linhardt isn't the only one fretting.]

Yes, that does seem like a valid hypothesis. We certainly didn't explain that one would be expected to stay in that one hiding spot...

[Yeah, this is. Getting worrying--Linhardt lets go of Hubert's hand and nods his head, and he's not sure what's going on with him but they need to find Cassandra quickly if she's decided to wander off. What if someone were to lead her away from the estate? What if she wandered off and ran into bandits? What if something happened to her?]

I'll take the side of the garden where I was hiding--can you search the other side, and perhaps question the servants? There are bound to be some out here, and if she's wandered somewhere, they likely would have found her.

Let's meet up back here when we find her, or if we simply can't.

[This isn't a game anymore, as far as Linhardt's concerned. They have to find their (daughter) charge before something happens.

...Even if all of their problems would be solved if they decided to look up, maybe, but you know.]

Edited (wording) 2019-10-28 18:22 (UTC)

Of course. I'll meet you back here in ten minutes.

[If they don't have any leads within ten minutes, then they'll have to search outside the estate. He doesn't think Cassandra would leave, but she might not be aware of how far she wandered, and she could have gotten lost—

With that, he sweeps further into the gardens to continue searching. He'll double back around to the servants before the ten minutes are up, because if he's having trouble finding her, then asking around is the next best option.

Cassandra thinks this is all part of the game, of course. She's doing a great job hiding! They can't find her at all! She does giggle a bit when they both part to keep looking for her. How long is it going to take for them to find her? Are all games of hide and seek this exciting?

Ten minutes later, Hubert is back in the same spot, pacing. He can't stay still at all and his hands are clasped tightly behind his back as he moves. When he spots Linhardt, he immediately starts speaking.]

None of the servants I questioned had seen her, and I couldn't find any trace of her further in. I take it you didn't find any sign of her either?

[His voice remains tight and controlled, but Linhardt knows him well enough by now to know that he's immensely worried.]

[Linhardt nods his head and he's rushing off. He's not usually one to run around if he doesn't have to, but he's very, very worried. He checks each and every hiding place he can find, all of the old worn down things that haven't been fixed along with the newer things that could have served as hiding spots. He even starts checking towards the edges of the estate, wondering if she's run around or done something silly.

He sees a few servants along the way, and he doesn't find any information from them either. He asks them if they've seen her and they tell him no, and he curses. They're probably going to have to check in town if Hubert's not back with her.

Linhardt comes running back, clearly out of breath when Hubert starts speaking up. He's not doing great, give him a second to catch his breath.]

No...No, I couldn't find a trace of her. None of the servants I questioned had seen hide or hair of her either. She really musn't be on the estate, then...

[And that's worrying. That's really worrying, because they can't lose her, they just can't--

Cassandra watches this with rapt attention, though. This is so exciting! They can't find her at all, and she's going to win! This is the best game ever, as far as she's concerned.]

Very well. We'll have to head into town. We can have the servants continue to search the estate. With any luck we'll find someone who has seen her, or at least learn if there has been any suspicious activity in the area lately.

[Not that he wants to believe someone simply stole off with Cassandra, but it's a possibility he can't rule out.]

She hasn't been gone long, we can still find her. [And then, almost more to himself:] We will. I promise we will.

[Hmm. Is this really part of the game? It's kind of weird to see them so worked up like this... Cassandra shifts a little from her perch on the tree branch, causing a slight shuffle in the leaves.

Hubert's gaze immediately goes up, eyes narrowing, but it's impossible to make out anything from down here. There are just enough leaves that it could be concealing a bird or a squirrel or something, but... Hmm.]

Yes...yes, that would be incredibly prudent. We'll find her and then we can get her back home, safe and sound. And she will be, I...

[Linhardt takes a breath to try to calm his nerves, but he's definitely worrying about her. He's only known her for a day but he can't just let something happen to her, he can't--

But then he hears that noise from above, and his own gaze darts up to the tree in question and he tries to see if he can make anything out...maybe it's just a squirrel, but...

Just as Linhardt's about to look to Hubert, Cassandra makes another noise. The longer she looks at this and the worried looks on their faces, the longer she more she doesn't think this is part of the game. The sound is a little more forceful this time.]

...Hubert, you don't think that she could have...

[...Linhardt is having the sudden realization that he has never climbed a tree before. If she's up there, how are they going to get her down??? Hubert should know how to climb, right...?]

[Hubert isn't one to get his hopes up, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel a surge of relief at the second sound.]

Cassandra? Are you up there?

[Given the sounds, he certainly does believe it's not an animal, but even so... Well, she doesn't respond any so with a sigh, Hubert moves to remove his cape.]

Hold this.

[He hands it off to Linhardt before approaching the tree. There's no real way to make it look dignified, but Hubert does know how to climb trees and he scales up it easily and effectively.]

...There you are.

[The relief is obvious in his voice and Cassandra grins at him. "You found me!"]

Let's get you down. Do you think you can climb down on your own?

["Um..."

It gets a soft laugh out of him (that's still too relieved) and he's quick to grab her around the waist and carry her back down. It isn't far to go for him, given his height, and he'd prefer not to deal with her falling and potentially breaking a bone.

Once they're back on the ground, he kneels before her, checking her over for any injuries or anything of the sort while she giggles a bit.]

You do need to be careful, Cassandra. [He's satisfied that she's not hurt, but he does move to pluck some stray twigs from her hair.] We were worried you had gotten lost. If we can't find you, we'll be very worried.

[Linhardt can't help but feel some hope at the second noise, and he'll gladly take Hubert's cape when he passes it to Linhardt. Thank goodness he knows how to climb a tree...Linhardt would have been willing to catch her if needed, but if they can get her down without any risk of an injury to her, that's all the better.

Linhardt more than happily breathes a sigh of relief at her little voice being heard. By the time the two of them are down from the tree, Linhardt's joining them easily and helping brush off any leaves that may have gotten caught on her dress or the like, and he nods his head in agreement with Hubert.]

Yes, exactly. If we can't find you, then we'll have to search outside of the estate...and we really would not like you to do that without one or both of us with you. If we can't find you, then we have to assume the worst.

[Cassandra looks at them both after they both say their pieces, mulling that over before nodding her head. "I was having so much fun playing. I didn't know."

...Oh no. Linhardt winds up going to pat her on the head a bit.]

It's alright, Cassandra. You do know now, don't you?

Yes, it isn't your fault.

[Her expression brightens a bit at that, clearly pleased that she's not being chastised. She certainly doesn't mind them fussing over her, though once the leaves are gone and her hair is free of twigs, she holds out her hands for both of them.

Hubert doesn't need to think about it, he takes her hand immediately.]

I must admit that I wasn't expecting you to conceal yourself so well. Perhaps you do take after—

[That's about when it hits him like an axe to the face that saying "you take after me" is a bit of a weird statement for a kid they're supposed to look after for the next eight years. It's not like she's related to him. The momentary lapse in common sense gets him to go bright red and he clears his throat and looks away.]

...Anyway, it's getting close to lunchtime. Would you like to go back inside?

[If Cassandra notices the slip (or cares), she doesn't say anything. Instead she nods. "I'm hungry!"]

[Linhardt doesn't need to either; he'll gladly take her hand and smile down at her. He certainly isn't angry or anything, but he is so glad she's okay. She's here, she's safe with them, and that's what matters.

...Though Linhardt's look does go over at Hubert when he starts talking again, and he can absolutely finish that thought that Hubert was about to give voice to. It's certainly not a lie, really, that her skills with concealing are a reminder of Hubert's own skills. But he can...kind of understand where that would be embarrassing and bites his tongue from replying in agreement.

Of course, the smile comes back easily when lunch is brought up--and Linhardt winds up chuckling easily when she responds that she's hungry.]

I imagine all of that hiding has worked up an appetite. Let us go have lunch together, then. I'm sure they'll have something lovely prepared for us today...if I remember correctly, some of them should be back from the local market, so there should be some lovely things, especially from the bakery...

["Bakery?" Cassandra asks, and Linhardt looks to her with a smile as she starts to encourage them walk them back inside. Linhardt chuckles.]

Yes. The bakery is where any of our sweets and bread and the like come from...

["Sweets..." ...Yeah, Cassandra likes the sound of that, and Linhardt's glad she understands the truly important things in life. Hubert, we may need a responsible adult here. "Can we have those for lunch?"]

[Thankfully, Linhardt doesn't say anything about it. He wouldn't be surprised if his husband decides to tease him a bit later, but for now he's able to resettle and walk with Cassandra and Linhardt back in the direction of the dining hall.

Of course, Linhardt brings up sweets and it's a struggle not to roll his eyes.]

You may have one sweet after you've eaten your meal. Children - and adults - [a pointed look in Linhardt's direction] cannot live on sweets alone. If you eat too many of them, you'll get sick.

["You will?"]

Yes. It's terrible, and you'd hate it. So you must be careful never to eat too many sweets at once.

[oh my god]

[Oh, he probably will, there's no doubt about that. But for now Linhardt gives Hubert a bit of a Look as he lectures both him and Cassandra on eating too many sweets. How rude! He's got a stomach that's practically made of sugar, he's not about to tolerate that slander!!]

Yes, yes, it is true that if one does not moderate their sweet intake that they can get sick. One can only tolerate so much sugar at once. But come now, there's no need to limit her to simply one, love. That's simply excessive.

[Cassandra looks between the both of them and just. Kind of watches this disaster unfold? Who does she believe???]

If she likes them, she should be able to enjoy them within reason.

[Hubert's eyebrows arch at that, looking somewhere between exasperated and amused.]

I'm not certain you should be the one to judge "within reason" for an amount of sweets.

[It's teasing, though.]

I say only one because she will undoubtedly want more after dinner. It wouldn't do to allow her a ton of sweets after every meal.

[Well okay sure, call him out right then and there Hubert, good lord this man has a family??? Linhardt's cheeks wind up going pink and he looks away briefly, groaning the slightest bit. He came out here to have a good time, Hubert, come on!! Even if it is teasing!!]

...I suppose that much is rather fair, yes.

[Let's just get inside before he dies further, okay--]

If she can have one after every meal, that is far more reasonable. I imagine there will be much to try, after all, and it will certainly sate your curiosity.

[Cassandra nods her head, but...well, she is curious about something so she looks to Hubert.

"Does he eat more sweets than he should?"

--CHILD. Linhardt sputters a bit when Cassandra asks that, without even a hint of tact. Hubert please don't embarrass him further, he's practically begging??]

Precisely. It's important to set some limits in place.

[Of course he's willing to make exceptions, and as long as it isn't a frequent thing he can turn a blind eye to a couple of extra sweets here and there, but if they're to raise this child to fight, then she shouldn't be spoiled.

And then Cassandra asks that damning question and Hubert's look goes positively devious.]

He's gotten much better about it over the years.

[He then leans down, cupping his free hand near his mouth as if sharing a secret with her. His voice is certainly loud enough for Linhardt to hear, of course.]

He used to be terrible about it, however. Sometimes he would only eat sweets for dinner with the professor.

[Oh dear gods why are you two turning on him like this?? This is unfair??? Linhardt knows his husband is just teasing him, and he watches as Hubert shares that little secret with her all too easily. Cassandra is absolutely giggling and Linhardt's dignity is going slowly down the drain, but he's not that upset about it.

It's just embarrassing okay!!]

Yes, I would. I suppose I could be perhaps a little excessive with my sweet consumption back in the day. They are simply so very good, after all.

[...]

However, if you want to know about a truly bad habit, perhaps I should tell you about how many cups of coffee Hubert drinks on a daily basis...?

[This means war. And Linhardt has a perfectly teasing smirk on his face.]

Edited (wording...) 2019-10-28 23:51 (UTC)

[...In hindsight, maybe he shouldn't have given Linhardt all the reason to make a lesson out of his coffee-drinking habits...

"What's coffee?" Cassandra asks, tugging on Linhardt's hand a bit.]

A terrible beverage that you shall never have the misfortune of trying.

[...Is this because Hubert wants to keep the coffee all to himself or is he being sarcastic... Either way he looks really damn amused.]

Well, you see, coffee is--

[Hubert manages to interrupt Linhardt before he can begin explaining, causing him to look over at Hubert with a raised brow. Well, he knew Hubert was possessive of his coffee--about as much as Mother, come to think of it, it's likely why they both have separate supplies--but Linhardt winds up snickering something terrible.]

Oh, it's not so terrible. It's an incredibly bitter drink, however, and certainly not for the faint of heart. But Hubert? Why, it's utterly rare to see him without a cup of coffee in hand...I wager that's all he ever drinks.

[...]

That, and it would stunt your growth if you tried it. You want to grow up as tall as us, don't you?

[Cassandra looks between them, eyes widening. "I could grow that tall?"

...Okay, Linhardt's at least trying to be nice and keep her away from the coffee, but he had to @ Hubert first okay.]

[called right the fuck out...]

It's true, you could. Can you imagine how tall I would be if I didn't drink so much coffee? I drink it as a way to limit my power.

[HE SAYS, WITH A STRAIGHT FACE...

Cassandra is absolutely fascinated by this, however. "I want to be that tall!" And then she pulls her hands away from both of them and stops, holding up her arms and waiting patiently for one of them to pick her up.

Hubert glances at Linhardt, curiously. Do you want to take this one, or...?]

[...Okay, Linhardt is trying really hard to corpse here, Hubert this is one of the many reasons he loves you. They're gonna mess up this child so bad, but Cassandra seems none the wiser and that's good!

...And then she lets go of their hands and he pauses a bit when Cassandra says that much. He still hasn't had the chance to change at all, but she wants to see the world through their perspective? That's so much effort...he doesn't know if he really could or wants to pick her up, but...

...Well, it takes a few seconds, but let him just scoop her up and get her up to their height, making sure she's supported.]

Up you go, then. How does it feel to see the world through our eyes?

[Cassandra practically beams at them both, nodding her head vigorously. "I like it! This is so much fun!"

Linhardt grins a little, his look going soft as hell and perhaps genuinely happy that he took the chance. This honestly isn't too bad, he's finding...]

I'm very pleased to hear that. We should come upon the dining hall soon, but until then? You're free to stay up here. As long as it makes you happy.

[Oh, he figured Linhardt would get a kick out of that. This is a dangerous power they've been given, the Goddess really shouldn't have trusted people with a sense of humor this terrible with a child who knows nothing about the world...

But then Linhardt scoops her up and Hubert's expression quickly goes soft too. It's really nice to see them like this... Honestly, it feels a bit like their wedding, when he couldn't stop smiling because nothing in the world could ever make him happier.

Strange that he'd find himself feeling even remotely similar now.]

Don't expect to be carried everywhere, however. You will still have to walk.

[Cassandra pouts at that. "But I like being up here!"]

[This is absolutely a dangerous amount of power, and poor Cassandra doesn't deserve to get her worldview tainted like this. She's so pure? She doesn't deserve this, and yet, this is what happens when the Goddess trusts two idiots with a child.

Linhardt does chuckle at Hubert and Cassandra, though--he has to admit he doesn't actually mind holding onto her like this. They're almost at the dining hall, at any rate, so he will have to let go soon...]

You'll be up here in due time, you know. You might even grow taller than the both of us. I wouldn't lose heart in that just yet.

[Cassandra pouts a bit at that. "But I like being up here now..."

Oh, girl...well, they're finally in the dining hall now, and Linhardt...honestly was going to put her down when they got in, but he finds that he can't right now. She's just too darn adorable??]

I know you do, but think of it as something to look forward to. Life simply is enjoyable when you have something to wake up to tomorrow, and new things to see...I'd say we know that better than anyone. [Linhardt's look goes to Hubert as he says that.] Wouldn't you agree, Hubert?

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