[|Nier/ACIV: BF|] Things Worth Fighting For [|1-on-1 RP|]

The laugh was a quiet sound but at least it was a laugh. She was looking much better too, he had to admit. When he found her, she looked dead on her feet. The injury had cleared up nicely. Scar tissue would soon cover her arm but at least she was alive.

"At least she has something to be proud of," he said after her brief words.

Yonah didn't have much. Nier wanted to give her so much more but that wasn't easy. Her illness was taking it's toll on her body. They would have to work quickly and find some kind of cure.

For the most part, Nier ignored Weiss's comments. Spending so much time with the book, he'd learned that Weiss wasn't so bad. He simply had a way about him. After a little time spent, the banter was something of a relief to Nier.

"Ah, but if I wasn't heckling someone, it would not be normal," Weiss had countered, "Besides, it seems this brute has finally caught on."

Nier easily waved away the words. "You just don't like the fact that I can banter back," he pointed out lightly.

He glanced down at her when she spoke. Like Yonah had claimed, there was somewhat of a forlorn way about how she had spoken. In the few weeks he was gone, she'd mostly been supporting Yonah herself. No doubt she had little chance to clear her head.

"Has there been a lot on your mind?" he inquired, if only to test the waters on the subject. For all he knew, she might not want to talk about it at all.

---- [x] ----

Cerise found Hilary was acting a little stuffy today. There were days when she found that happened. He would concentrate on something else, sometimes for hours on end. She had learned not to ask about it. There were no answers that he would be willing to give. Just carefully picked words that annoyed her.

She offered a hum in response but nothing more. There was no need to drag that conversation any further. Aside from the hustle and bustle around the area, it was a little quiet between them.

Hilary seemed to take into deeper thoughts after she had spoken about the meeting. Short as it was, it had offered her some amount of hope that she could get some answers. For the moment, that was the most important thing to her.

Cerise felt it had to do with that weird copper ball. The mark and that thing had to be tied together somehow. It had seemingly appeared after she'd touched it. How could it not be tied together?

Those thoughts were interrupted when he did finally speak up again. If anything, he didn't have much to tend to through the day. That left some time to simply wander and take in the sights. Cerise hadn't gotten to see much of it throughout the few months she'd been here.

"Well don't look so broken up about it," she teased. Indeed, he looked a little stern on the idea that there was nothing of great importance to tend to.

Despite that bit of teasing, she was already making a bit off a bee line for a violinist and a crowd surrounding him. People danced and clapped along to the music. Honestly, Cerise couldn't understand how someone could just pass by so much without stopping for even a moment.

It was interesting to hear some bantering with a talking, magic book. Though Weiss was rather off-putting with his snobbish attitude a magical book was one of the more impressive things Reks had witnessed here, in this strange place. Reks still wasn’t sure how this had become normal to her, after only a handful of days speaking to both Nier and Weiss.

She shook her head, dismissing the thought. There would be plenty of time for brooding later. Nier was back and she’d be able to try to sort her thoughts out in the meantime. Taking care of Yonah could be a bit of handful sometimes, she’d found. Still, Reks wasn’t complaining, at least she had a place to stay and food to eat because of it.

Nier’s question drew her back from her thoughts and she blinked up at him for a moment. Should she say what was on her mind or not? It wasn’t like she knew him that well and yet he’d put enough trust in her, a stranger, to stay and watch over his daughter while he was away for long stretches of a time. It left her conflicted on the matter.

“I’ve been told I’m broody,” she said instead.

That was at least enough not to brush him off entirely. Sharing her worries and thoughts seemed like too much right now, at leas to Reks it did. For all she knew it was no big deal.

----[x]----

Sparing Cerise a quick glance, Hilary would say that she seemed pleased that he had no immediate plans that day. Perhaps she’d grown fond of his company or perhaps she did not like the idea that she might be rushed around because of it. Either possibility seemed likely.

All the same she was quick to try to tease him about his lack of plans. Hilary smiled, waving a dismissive hand in return.

“I am a busy man usually, the change of pace is… daunting,” he admitted.

Hilary blinked as Cerise’s pace picked up, making a beeline for the nearest musician on the street. A very small crowd was already gathered around the violinist, the sound of the violin heard over the sounds of the crowd. Already there was a bump in Cerise’s step before she’d even hopped to a stop alongside the rest of the small group.

A shake of the head followed this behavior though Hilary followed after all the same. If Cerise wanted to stop and listen there was no reason not to indulge this wish. At this rate he really needed to locate someone the Order could trust with Cerise’s safety who might also teach her how to play the violin. Doing so might be a little tricky, however. Not too many musicians joined with the Templars…

Hilary turned his gaze from the violinist to Cerise, studying the way her eyes seemed to light up. Such a simple thing like music was enough to brighten her whole expression, an almost childlike wonder in her eyes. Hilary chuckled, deciding that he quite liked the way Cerise looked so immensely happy.

In a way, it quite reminded him of another who’s passing was still quite sore in his heart.

Nier could hear Weiss scoff in something of amusement at her answer. For as long and drawn out it took for her to saw something, Nier expected as such. The book had a way with prodding people about the littlest of things.

Just as Nier had expected, Weiss took the opportunity to comment on that bit of information. Honestly, the book was becoming predictable.

"Yes, whoever told you that must have been far too blind to realize it sooner. Broodiness isn't becoming to many, you know."

Nier scoffed a little in response. At least Weiss was trying to keep things light hearted. His comment was not so much snappish as it was lightly sarcastic. If Reks minded, it didn't show on her face right away.

"I think she has a bit of a right to brood, Weiss," he told him. A bit of banter never hurt anyone.

"You think everyone has a right for anything they do. I've never met someone with such a bleeding heart, you know."

Nier shook his head again, a small smile tugging at his lips. At least after all this time, he and the strange book were getting along better. Likewise, Reks seemed to enjoy this kind of banter as well.

"I think you're boring her, Weiss. Best not rattle on too much longer," Nier finally ended lightly.

---- [x] ----

He at least smiled at her. She spared a small one back as he waved off her words. Cerise had figured that out a long time ago. He worked so much that it almost seemed like he liked working all the time. Hilary was out of sorts when he was idle.

"An idle mind is a dangerous thing," she joked in response.

For a moment, she didn't pay much mind other than what was in front of her. A man playing a violin and people around them listening. She loved the sound of violins. It was so hard to find a teacher in her time.

She glanced up a Hilary for a brief moment, noting a flash of something else on his expression. She'd seen it on occasion. A hard frown on his lips, looking rather lost, even if it was for a short time. Hilary never told her why. He merely brushed it off as nothing, quickly masking his previous expression.

Cerise had not missed it this time so she reached out, tugging at his coat sleeve. She'd rather not see that long face, much less not know what caused it. Hilary wasn't one to share his feelings, it seemed.

"Hey, stop looking sad," she prodded carefully, "Or I'll just have to make you dance, damn it. And you don't seem like the type."

Though she knew them for such a short time it didn’t surprise Reks that Weiss was so quick to reply and with such a comment to boot. Still, it was noticeably not nearly as scathing as his comments that first day they’d met. Reks briefly wondered why that was before shaking it away.

“I don’t know, I think I pull it off,” she joked.

From her spot on the ground Reks glanced between Weiss and Nier as they bantered about. It was a light-hearted thing, sounding far friendlier than one might expect from the book. She wasn’t sure how long it would be until the novelty of a speaking, floating book wore off yet she expected it would take quite some time. Not only that but if there were monsters and talking books, what else were there in this world?

As the two spoke, Reks shifted so she sat cross-legged and rested her elbows upon her knees. It really did feel nice to just kick back and sit down without much to worry about. As well behaved as Yonah was she was quite spirited and kept Reks busy when the young girl wasn’t in need of rest.

It wasn’t until Weiss huffed did Reks deign to speak up again. With a wave of her hand she said “oh, don’t mind me! I’m just enjoying the ‘show’.”

----[x]----

From what little he’d learned of her overtime it did not surprise him that Cerise might joke about like this. They were not mean-spirited in nature, rather they seemed more as if they were light prods given the moment. Perhaps his brooding as of late had been far more noticeable then Hilary had anticipated originally. Still, Rhona’s death weighed heavily on him and it was not something so easily forgotten.

All the same, he spoke up. “Yes, well, perhaps I’ve long since mastered the art of entertaining an idle mind with simple brooding.”

Hilary could still feel her gaze on him, perhaps studying him further. It seemed to become something that was common. If she were looking for something upon his countenance and demeanor Hilary could not guess as to what it might be. It seemed however that Cerise was not so easily deterred.

He blinked, glancing at her as she spoke again. The ‘threat’ to be pulled into some dance with her was an odd one, that was for sure. He allowed an amused scoff to escape him and followed with a wave of his hand.

“I would rather avoid such a spectacle.”

Reks seemed quiet and happy to observe. She wasn't the talkative sort, perhaps only wanting to see how things were hashed out. Nier didn't quite blame her. Weiss was often so fast with his comments that it was difficult to keep up.

"I promise it won't end with ripping out any pages," Nier replied, offering a chuckle.

"As if I would allow that to happen, you brute." Weiss replied, idly floating about, seemingly content where he was right now, "And I am not boring."

Nier shook his head lightly. It was amazing how childish Weiss could be sometimes. Of course, for all intents and purposes, perhaps it was simple banter there as well. Honestly, it was fun to watch.

"The show never really ends," Nier commented, "With the comments Weiss often shoots out, he keeps us all entertained."

Nearby, he could hear the book scoff as if offended. Weiss had certainly mellowed out however. He was not as snappish as he used to be. Perhaps he'd grown fond of all of them, even if it had taken some time.

---- [x] ----

Hilary had been quiet for a long time. It even seemed like it had taken a long moment to reply. What he said didn't give her much. He wasn't the sharing type, Cerise how found. That was a little frustrating at times.

There was something there. Sometimes, if she looked carefully enough, she could see a troubled, sad expression overcome his features. Why that was, she couldn't say.

"Maybe," she answered, waving her hand as if to push the response off. Her gaze fell onto the violinist briefly again before she continued, "Sometimes I wonder if it's more than simple brooding."

Whatever happened, Cerise figured that in time things might be hashed out. Already, she was aware that things with Hilary and these people he worked with were possibly shady. Why would he bring her to them, when he had no previous answers beforehand?

At least he could take something of a joke still, a light scoff leaving him. His response was simple yet again. That didn't so much surprise her. He could be a simple man, if he wanted to be.

"Well, we'll see," she teased in response. She almost spoke up again, wanted to say she didn't like seeing people she liked sad. Cerise quashed it as soon as the thought came.

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