» 96 [ through the snow ]

[wise_maiden]

[Action]

[It's late in the day, already after dark, and the evening has brought a familiar and somewhat bedraggled figure back to the Luceti grounds. Raine has been - slowly, though at times she seems to be dragging herself - making her way to the eastern part of the village from the general location of the Southern lake. She is so not properly

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[chikaidestroyer]

[Later in the evening, Albert finally arrives back at the house from wherever he had been the entire afternoon. He heads over to the fireplace to start a fire, crouching there as the room slowly warms up.]

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[wise_maiden]

[It'll probably take Albert some time, but should his gaze turn toward the opposite hallway at some point, he might notice something that seems out of place. Notably a door that was previously closed left ajar]

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[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert lights a candle and walks towards the hall to put away his notes, but pauses when he sees the door ajar. He frowns, cautiously pushing the door open to peer inside.]

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[wise_maiden]

[The room is almost quiet, but there is a certain damp robe laying draped over the desk chair, and the faint sound of breathing coming from the direction of the bed.]

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[chikaidestroyer]

[He raises a brow, glancing at the robe before sliding into the seat next to the bed. ...He hopes there aren't any books or notes there that he's sitting on.

Albert holds the candle up to look at the sleeping woman.]

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[wise_maiden]

[Raine has a few blankets spread about, so her body is mostly obscured in the attempt to keep the warmth in. It doesn't look like all of her sleep has been particularly peaceful, given the rumpled look to her. Her face is pale, and the knuckles on one of her exposed hands is white from where it clutches at the blanket.]

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[chikaidestroyer]

[He reaches out with his gloved hand and carefully touches Raine's hair. There really is no reason to wake her up, so he doesn't say anything.]

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[wise_maiden]

[Since his hand is gloved, he probably wouldn't be able to feel the slight dampness to her hair.

She remains asleep, though her hand shifts slightly in an attempt to bring the blanket closer after a few moments.]

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[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert puts the candle on the floor, settling in the chair. It's not like he has to go anywhere right away.]

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[wise_maiden]

[No need for rushing. She's been asleep for a while, so a natural process to waking up will come soon enough, perhaps within the next hour or so; changes in breathing, more shifting of blankets. One falls off, another drawn closer, as she trembles slightly.]

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[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert had managed to doze lightly in that hour, but he awoke when he heard Raine stir in bed. He reaches down to pick up the blanket, shaking it out before spreading it on top of Raine again.]

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[wise_maiden]

[Her eyes remain closed for the moment, her brain momentary hovering between awake and sleep. She murmurs his name, just barely above a cracked whisper.]

Al...bert?

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[chikaidestroyer]

[His eyes avert to her when he hears his name. Taking a moment to sit down again, Albert leans forward and whispers to her.]

Welcome back.

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[wise_maiden]

... mmm. [there is a slight pause between this and the rest of her response, as the whispered voice registers more fully, and her eyelashes flutter enough so that she can blink, slowly.]

... thank you.

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[chikaidestroyer]

[He nods, settling back to rest against the chair as he speaks again.]

How are you feeling?

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[wise_maiden]

[She's quiet for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts.]

I... cold, mostly, among other things.