RP log ~ Thomas
In which Cecile talks with Thomas about her visit to Fred.
Ascending the stairs at an unusually quick pace, Cecile reached the top and rounded a corner, hurrying for the castle master's room. She knew she had not been visiting as often as she said she would, and it made her worry. Cecile knocked on his door and stood back, realizing she did not even know what to say first.
Thomas stifled a yawn, wondering who that could be. He wasn't expecting anyone that he knew of. He glanced around his room, making sure it looked clean. Other than a scatter of papers on his desk, all was in order. "Come in," he said.
"Thomas?" Cecile opened the door slightly and poked her head around the corner. "I'm sorry, did I interrupt you?"
"N-no, of course not." The young castle master blushed, trying in vain to flatten his unruly hair. "Y-you are always welcome to visit me, Cecile. W-would... would you like to come in?"
The girl nodded, mustering the energy to quell the shy feeling swelling up. Now was not the time to be shy. "I know you have been busy lately," she began, stepping into his room. "I was worried you were not eating well."
"Oh. Well, I do eat, don't worry about that." He fidgeted, wishing he knew how to help Cecile not worry so much about him. "I'm very grateful that... that you worry so about me, but I'm taking care of myself. I said I would."
"Yes, I know you said that...and I don't doubt you in the least! It's just...I mean..." she began rummaging through her skirt pockets, then produced a small wrapped cookie, her expression abashed. "I tried to make you sweet curry this time...but I burnt it. I didn't want to come empty handed."
"Cecile.." He turned red, taking the cookie from her. "You don't have to bring me anything! I appreciate the gesture, but just seeing you is enough for me. Though... I also wouldn't want this cookie to go to waste. Maybe we can share it?"
Her eyes started to shift away with embarrassment, but Cecile hastily brought her focus back and managed a small nod. "If that'd make you happy."
"It would," he said, unwrapping the cookie and breaking it in half, handing one of the pieces to Cecile. He bit into his own piece. "It's good," he commented. "You've been taking cooking lessons?"
Cecile fingered her half of the cookie before breaking it into a smaller piece to eat. "I did last summer, but since Granny Taki was away I had to stop lessons. That's why I burned your curry."
"That's all right," said Thomas. "Everything takes some practice. I'm sure you'll be a great cook some day, just like you're a great friend and a great castle guard."
She flushed, flattered. "I can try. Right now I haven't had much time to cook, and I think my biggest problem is that I cannot remain focused. Do you have that problem?"
"Well..." Thomas thought about it, munching on his cookie. "Sometimes my mind wanders when I'm working," he admitted. "That's why I allow myself breaks, so I can enjoy the day."
"Where do you go during your breaks? I don't get to see you often while on patrol, and-" she broke off in embarrassment, realizing her question sounded incredibly nosy.
Thomas didn't mind the question, if his smile was any indication. "I guess that depends. Sometimes I go by the lake, or up to the roof... and recently, I've been passing by the infirmary. It gives me the drive to keep going when I feel discouraged."
"The infirmary..." Cecile sighed, the image she had been upholding of high spirits and enthusiasm slipping to that of exhaustion and despair. "I'm so tired of the infirmary, Thomas. I want everyone well again. This is not natural."
Thomas's eyes dropped from her, staring instead at his hands. He could see the subject upset her, and wished he hadn't brought it up. "I don't like this either, but I'm doing all that I can. This... Blood Altar that controls Sir Fred is a thing I don't understand."
"I've stopped trying to understand it," she responded, her tone serious. "But there is one thing I understand, and perhaps I should have brought it to your attention sooner."
He blinked, raising his eyes to meet hers. "Something you understand..? What's that?"
"Thomas, before I knew what was going on, I still thought Sir Fred was himself, and I gave him a map for his birthday, since he gets lost frequently. ...It was a good map, full of details that some of the other residents are not even aware of. I don't like the thought of something like this altar monster having it, even if he doesn't know its potential."
Thomas didn't know what to say. He didn't feel angry with her, but this did explain how the altar had found a way into the infirmary. Who knew what else it could do with that map? "... Cecile, I hope you're not going to try recovering that map," he said quietly.
A hot wave of shame rose up her face. "Had it been the real Sir Fred, I would not need to. But that is partly the reason why I want to speak with him. I feel wholly responsible and...it makes it difficult to focus when I think of what else he might be able to do. I just want this entire ordeal over with."
"I won't let you do that," Thomas said to her, his hands clenching into fists. "If that altar can take down people like Luca and Landis..." He stopped there; he didn't even want to think of Cecile putting herself in danger like that.
"I'm not going to fight him," she responded, fighting to keep her voice steady. "Everyone is acting like I am, but I only wish to speak with him. If...if he will not return my map, I will not push him to do so. Luca and Sir Landis were foolish. I won't let that happen to me."
Usually Thomas had such faith in Cecile that he would okay just about anything she chose to do. But this... even if she was just to talk, it seemed too dangerous to him. "It's too risky. He might... hurt you."
"He had his chance to hurt me a hundred times over, and has not yet. What...what can I do that will make you feel better?" She wondered what she could do to make herself feel better as well, but the thought of parting on a negative note with Thomas made put her stomach in more knots than thinking about speaking with Fred.
Thomas was tempted to say "Don't go" but he had the feeling she was going to whether he wanted her to or not. Knowing the altar hadn't hurt her yet didn't make him feel any better; worse, it made him wonder if that thing was just plotting something terrible for Cecile in the future. "I don't know," he said with a sigh. "I don't want you to do this, but... I won't stop you if you feel you have to."
"If I had another way to regain the map, I would. Every time I speak with that thing, it hurts my memory of Sir Fred. I'm just so tired..." Cecile trailed off and put her head in her hands, giving up all attempts to appear strong.
Thomas put his arms around the girl. "You do what you must, Cecile," he murmured. "But you must promise to run away if it looks like he'll hurt you."
"Run away...I like the phrase 'retreat' better. It sounds nicer," she sighed, the faint scent of ink on his coat comforting.
"Retreat, then," Thomas corrected with a soft chuckle. He pressed his nose lightly into her hair. "Just promise me you won't let him touch you. I will feel much better knowing you'll stay away from danger."
Cecile closed her eyes for a moment, feeling more at ease than she had the entire week. "He shall not lay a hand on me. I won't allow him to."
"Good." Thomas held the girl closer, nuzzling her. He hoped he wasn't being possessive or overprotective of Cecile. He decided he had a good reason to worry; after all the altar did, one couldn't be too careful.
"Thomas...? Ahm..." she looked up for a moment, then changed her mind and looked away, bright red.
He pulled away from Cecile a little, worrying that he had overstepped a boundary. "Y-yes?"
She shook her head. "Never mind. It's silly."
"I could do with a few silly things," he said with a chuckle. "With all the seriousness. Please, tell me what you wanted to say."
"I-I had wanted...I wanted you to kiss me...like last time. It was different... I don't know how. Oh, you're going to think I'm so foolish," Cecile blushed, stumbling over her words.
Thomas grinned, feeling relieved that she would ask that of him. "I don't think it's foolish at all." He didn't know what she meant about last time being different, but was happy to kiss her anyway. He tilted her chin up, placing a gentle kiss on her lips, hoping that was what she wanted.
She tossed her arms around his neck, feeling silly for worrying, and returned the kiss with surprising enthusiasm. It had been a trying past few days, but the anxiety had melted away over the course of the conversation.
It was probably not the right thing to do, but Thomas laughed at the girl's enthusiasm. He didn't mind it of course. "Gosh... y-you didn't have to ask for that," he said with an embarrassed grin.
"Last time you said I was not experienced," she stated, drawing back. "And if I am to practice, I cannot possibly practice with anyone else." Cecile paused reluctantly. "But I probably should be returning to my post now."
"Inexperience isn't a bad thing," he assured her, now feeling guilty he had said such a thing before. "I... wish I was, so we could learn together. But you know, you don't have to... I mean, I like you just as you are." He fidgeted awkwardly. "S-so... don't worry about that... okay?"
She nodded and stood. "I'm not quite sure what you mean by that, but I want to try my best at everything I do, regardless of what it is."
Ascending the stairs at an unusually quick pace, Cecile reached the top and rounded a corner, hurrying for the castle master's room. She knew she had not been visiting as often as she said she would, and it made her worry. Cecile knocked on his door and stood back, realizing she did not even know what to say first.
Thomas stifled a yawn, wondering who that could be. He wasn't expecting anyone that he knew of. He glanced around his room, making sure it looked clean. Other than a scatter of papers on his desk, all was in order. "Come in," he said.
"Thomas?" Cecile opened the door slightly and poked her head around the corner. "I'm sorry, did I interrupt you?"
"N-no, of course not." The young castle master blushed, trying in vain to flatten his unruly hair. "Y-you are always welcome to visit me, Cecile. W-would... would you like to come in?"
The girl nodded, mustering the energy to quell the shy feeling swelling up. Now was not the time to be shy. "I know you have been busy lately," she began, stepping into his room. "I was worried you were not eating well."
"Oh. Well, I do eat, don't worry about that." He fidgeted, wishing he knew how to help Cecile not worry so much about him. "I'm very grateful that... that you worry so about me, but I'm taking care of myself. I said I would."
"Yes, I know you said that...and I don't doubt you in the least! It's just...I mean..." she began rummaging through her skirt pockets, then produced a small wrapped cookie, her expression abashed. "I tried to make you sweet curry this time...but I burnt it. I didn't want to come empty handed."
"Cecile.." He turned red, taking the cookie from her. "You don't have to bring me anything! I appreciate the gesture, but just seeing you is enough for me. Though... I also wouldn't want this cookie to go to waste. Maybe we can share it?"
Her eyes started to shift away with embarrassment, but Cecile hastily brought her focus back and managed a small nod. "If that'd make you happy."
"It would," he said, unwrapping the cookie and breaking it in half, handing one of the pieces to Cecile. He bit into his own piece. "It's good," he commented. "You've been taking cooking lessons?"
Cecile fingered her half of the cookie before breaking it into a smaller piece to eat. "I did last summer, but since Granny Taki was away I had to stop lessons. That's why I burned your curry."
"That's all right," said Thomas. "Everything takes some practice. I'm sure you'll be a great cook some day, just like you're a great friend and a great castle guard."
She flushed, flattered. "I can try. Right now I haven't had much time to cook, and I think my biggest problem is that I cannot remain focused. Do you have that problem?"
"Well..." Thomas thought about it, munching on his cookie. "Sometimes my mind wanders when I'm working," he admitted. "That's why I allow myself breaks, so I can enjoy the day."
"Where do you go during your breaks? I don't get to see you often while on patrol, and-" she broke off in embarrassment, realizing her question sounded incredibly nosy.
Thomas didn't mind the question, if his smile was any indication. "I guess that depends. Sometimes I go by the lake, or up to the roof... and recently, I've been passing by the infirmary. It gives me the drive to keep going when I feel discouraged."
"The infirmary..." Cecile sighed, the image she had been upholding of high spirits and enthusiasm slipping to that of exhaustion and despair. "I'm so tired of the infirmary, Thomas. I want everyone well again. This is not natural."
Thomas's eyes dropped from her, staring instead at his hands. He could see the subject upset her, and wished he hadn't brought it up. "I don't like this either, but I'm doing all that I can. This... Blood Altar that controls Sir Fred is a thing I don't understand."
"I've stopped trying to understand it," she responded, her tone serious. "But there is one thing I understand, and perhaps I should have brought it to your attention sooner."
He blinked, raising his eyes to meet hers. "Something you understand..? What's that?"
"Thomas, before I knew what was going on, I still thought Sir Fred was himself, and I gave him a map for his birthday, since he gets lost frequently. ...It was a good map, full of details that some of the other residents are not even aware of. I don't like the thought of something like this altar monster having it, even if he doesn't know its potential."
Thomas didn't know what to say. He didn't feel angry with her, but this did explain how the altar had found a way into the infirmary. Who knew what else it could do with that map? "... Cecile, I hope you're not going to try recovering that map," he said quietly.
A hot wave of shame rose up her face. "Had it been the real Sir Fred, I would not need to. But that is partly the reason why I want to speak with him. I feel wholly responsible and...it makes it difficult to focus when I think of what else he might be able to do. I just want this entire ordeal over with."
"I won't let you do that," Thomas said to her, his hands clenching into fists. "If that altar can take down people like Luca and Landis..." He stopped there; he didn't even want to think of Cecile putting herself in danger like that.
"I'm not going to fight him," she responded, fighting to keep her voice steady. "Everyone is acting like I am, but I only wish to speak with him. If...if he will not return my map, I will not push him to do so. Luca and Sir Landis were foolish. I won't let that happen to me."
Usually Thomas had such faith in Cecile that he would okay just about anything she chose to do. But this... even if she was just to talk, it seemed too dangerous to him. "It's too risky. He might... hurt you."
"He had his chance to hurt me a hundred times over, and has not yet. What...what can I do that will make you feel better?" She wondered what she could do to make herself feel better as well, but the thought of parting on a negative note with Thomas made put her stomach in more knots than thinking about speaking with Fred.
Thomas was tempted to say "Don't go" but he had the feeling she was going to whether he wanted her to or not. Knowing the altar hadn't hurt her yet didn't make him feel any better; worse, it made him wonder if that thing was just plotting something terrible for Cecile in the future. "I don't know," he said with a sigh. "I don't want you to do this, but... I won't stop you if you feel you have to."
"If I had another way to regain the map, I would. Every time I speak with that thing, it hurts my memory of Sir Fred. I'm just so tired..." Cecile trailed off and put her head in her hands, giving up all attempts to appear strong.
Thomas put his arms around the girl. "You do what you must, Cecile," he murmured. "But you must promise to run away if it looks like he'll hurt you."
"Run away...I like the phrase 'retreat' better. It sounds nicer," she sighed, the faint scent of ink on his coat comforting.
"Retreat, then," Thomas corrected with a soft chuckle. He pressed his nose lightly into her hair. "Just promise me you won't let him touch you. I will feel much better knowing you'll stay away from danger."
Cecile closed her eyes for a moment, feeling more at ease than she had the entire week. "He shall not lay a hand on me. I won't allow him to."
"Good." Thomas held the girl closer, nuzzling her. He hoped he wasn't being possessive or overprotective of Cecile. He decided he had a good reason to worry; after all the altar did, one couldn't be too careful.
"Thomas...? Ahm..." she looked up for a moment, then changed her mind and looked away, bright red.
He pulled away from Cecile a little, worrying that he had overstepped a boundary. "Y-yes?"
She shook her head. "Never mind. It's silly."
"I could do with a few silly things," he said with a chuckle. "With all the seriousness. Please, tell me what you wanted to say."
"I-I had wanted...I wanted you to kiss me...like last time. It was different... I don't know how. Oh, you're going to think I'm so foolish," Cecile blushed, stumbling over her words.
Thomas grinned, feeling relieved that she would ask that of him. "I don't think it's foolish at all." He didn't know what she meant about last time being different, but was happy to kiss her anyway. He tilted her chin up, placing a gentle kiss on her lips, hoping that was what she wanted.
She tossed her arms around his neck, feeling silly for worrying, and returned the kiss with surprising enthusiasm. It had been a trying past few days, but the anxiety had melted away over the course of the conversation.
It was probably not the right thing to do, but Thomas laughed at the girl's enthusiasm. He didn't mind it of course. "Gosh... y-you didn't have to ask for that," he said with an embarrassed grin.
"Last time you said I was not experienced," she stated, drawing back. "And if I am to practice, I cannot possibly practice with anyone else." Cecile paused reluctantly. "But I probably should be returning to my post now."
"Inexperience isn't a bad thing," he assured her, now feeling guilty he had said such a thing before. "I... wish I was, so we could learn together. But you know, you don't have to... I mean, I like you just as you are." He fidgeted awkwardly. "S-so... don't worry about that... okay?"
She nodded and stood. "I'm not quite sure what you mean by that, but I want to try my best at everything I do, regardless of what it is."