silverworld

Current Location: House #27

Entry tags:

~ 25

[Action]

[It's about time for Gelda to check up on Regal again. His recovery's a slow one, but there's definitely been improvement since he was returned last week. A bowl of homemade soup in both hands and her journal clamped underneath her arm, she'll be heading up the stairs. Sadly, recent events have left Gelda a bit more distraught than she'd like to admit. Before she fully realizes what's going on, the journal slips out from underneath her arm and hits the stairs with a bang, leaving her so startled that the soup bowl soon follows its example and bounces all the way down to the first floor. Much to Gelda's displeasure, the journal is ready to record this mishap.]

[Accidental voice]

Ack!

[Bang, bang, bang, smash.]

... Oh honestly.

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[There's a bit of a sigh before she tears her gaze away from the mess at the bottom of the stairs. It's a good thing there's still more soup in the kitchen.]

I'm fine! I... dropped something down the stairs.

You aren't feeling ill, are you?

[He knows how stressed she's been lately, and caring for him on top of all that can only be adding to it. Really, he wishes she could stop worrying about him and get more rest. In fact, once she gets back to the room he'll probably insist on it.]

No, no. I... I'll be right back.

[She snatches her journal up from the ground and heads downstairs. Time to reassure a few people that nothing serious just happened and clean up that mess. Five minutes later, she'll be heading up the stairs again with a fresh bowl of soup, this time careful not to do anything stupid. Now, to just carefully place it on the nightstand...]

... There we go.

[Though his vision is still somewhat blurry, he reaches up a gentle hand to stroke her cheek as she sets the soup down, mentally cursing both himself for being so weak and the Malnosso for doing this to him.]

You should get some rest as well. You've gone above and beyond when it comes to taking care of me, but I worry that I will end up taking care of you if you keep pushing yourself like this.

[She closes her eyes, a somewhat helpless smile tugging at her lips. Truthfully, she wouldn't mind staying in bed for a few days, Regal by her side with delicious food... But there's work to be done and he's in no state to take care of her either way. Now that she's finished dinner, though, she has the time to take a breather. That's why she takes a seat on the bed beside him, placing a hand on his arm reassuringly.]

I'll be fine. You trust my judgment, don't you?

Of course, but I also know that judgment can be pushed aside in the face of more pressing matters.

[He knows all about your mommy tendencies, Gelda, and there's no doubt that those are out in full force now that two of her Keterbergies have been sent home. He doesn't mind being on the receiving end of them, but he also wants her to take some time for herself. He knows she needs to grieve, no matter how much she may be trying to be strong.]

[The sad thing is that those mummy tendencies are all over the place right now. She offered to do Miu's dishes, for crying out loud. Her logic is that so long as she keeps busy with small, mundane things, she won't be able to grieve but won't get too stressed out either. Not that she's a complete idiot, or anything. She's willing to buckle the moment it becomes too much anyway. For now, though, she'll play innocent.]

Such as?

Such as a housemate who is currently being a rather large lump in bed.

[It annoys him too, but there's little more he can do beyond joking about it right now.]

A rather handsome lump, at that.

[She has half a mind to just lie down next to him and doze off, but she promised to meet Guy at Good Spirits soon. Nephry was supposed to stop by after that for a visit, as well. Jeesh, Gelda sure has a full agenda. Though if all goes well, there'll still be plenty of time for dozing later.]

Why thank you.

[She may be getting her wish sooner than she expected, because Regal is going to take her arm and tug gently in an attempt to pull her down onto the bed with him. C'mon, she can rest for a few moments at least, right?]

[Oh, well... Maybe just for a few minutes. She'll allow Regal to tug her down onto the bed and cuddles up beside him. Don't think she's going to lie down underneath the blankets, though. She's getting up again soon enough.]

[He's not expecting her to stay long, but this is better than nothing, and even a brief rest should do her some good. One arm snakes around her to pull her close against him as he nuzzles her hair.]

How are you doing?

[He doesn't need to say more; the question is self-explanatory after Jade and Dist's disappearances. What he wants to know is how she's really holding up in the face of all this.]

[She'll give him the same answer she gave Nephry, though. It isn't absolute, but she has no idea how else to describe how she feels about all this.]

... I'm coping.

[It's like there's a constant weight pulling at her, but she hasn't suffered a breakdown yet. She's trying her best to just continue everyday life because it shouldn't be this tough. Even so, she reflexively buries her face into Regal's chest.]

Gelda...

[That's hardly the truth and he knows it. Anyone can see that "coping" means "stumbling around under a constant cloud of sorrow" no matter how hard she may try to hide it. Regal wishes he could get her to admit what a toll it's taking on her, yet at the same time he's well-aware that's the last thing she wants to do-- he knows she's trying to keep a cheerful face for the others from her world. But maybe here, just for a little while...]

[Oh, she doesn't just want to keep a cheerful face for others' sakes. She doesn't want others to fret over her, naturally, but it's for herself as well. After all, her former students were sent home, where they belong. It'd be selfish of her to want to keep them here, especially if their presence in Luceti does affect Auldrant. It was for the best and that's why she mustn't let it get to her.

Though that doesn't quite stop her fingers from digging into Regal's side at the thought of it. It's strangely comforting to just lie here like this. She'll stay for a bit, but eventually she's going out there again with a smile on her face.]

[If she won't say anything, he's not going to force her. As long as she knows that he's there for here, that's really all he can do right now. He will shift just slightly to pull her closer and press a kiss to her hair, however, but that's enough of that subject for now.]

I hope I haven't missed all of the flowers blooming while I was gone, though I can't exactly say I mind having missed the March weather. I much prefer the warmer temperatures we have now.

[As much as she trusts Regal, Gelda definitely appreciates the topic change. It's just so much easier to deal with small talk, right now. She takes a deep breath, steadying herself, before replying.]

I agree. Though my preference goes to snowy winter weather, March is nothing but cold snaps and rain.

Now that the weather is more favorable, I was thinking of starting our own garden in the front yard. There is more than enough space to have both flowers and vegetables, and the taste of home-grown vegetables is something that has to be experienced to understand-- nothing from the store can possibly compare. We could even put in a strawberry patch or two if you would like.

... That sounds nice. I'm afraid I don't have much experience with gardening, but I'm always willing to learn. If you're willing to teach me, of course.

I am willing to teach anyone who is willing to learn. Of course, it also depends on whether the conditions are favorable for growing a garden, but given the amount of wildflowers we had last year I doubt there will be a problem.

I wasn't aware you paid any particular attention to the wildflowers.

They are rather difficult to miss when they cover half of the front lawn.

That's true. And while I do enjoy wildflowers around my house, I'm sure a vegetable patch would be just as nice.

What kinds of vegetables would you like?

[Just stroking her back gently now.]

Mm, I doubt it matters too much. Knowing you, you could use any kind of vegetable to whip up a delicious dish.

[And once again, she can't help but wonder what she did to deserve such an amazing boyfriend. If he gets sent home before her, she likely will have a bit of a breakdown, regardless of how selfish it'd be.]