RP with howling_storm [COMPLETED]

[sternundmond]

The sun was beginning to set on another day at the castle.  The festival was still going strong, with games and food seemingly all around.  She took a long walk around the castle, quietly thankful that she was home - at least for a little while, anyway.

It had been a couple of days since she had last seen Clive - she hoped he was doing all right in

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[sternundmond]

Elza nodded. "It's why I fought so hard to come back. I...I don't care where else I may be, this place is home. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else but here." A couple of children holding balloons ran past the two of them, their laughter echoing off into the distant crowd.

[howling_storm]

Clive silently watched the children dart past, the balloons bobbing in the air behind them. When they had scarpered back into the crowd he turned to Elza again, his expression grave.

"It does seem pretty peaceful here," he admitted after a moment. He slowly ran his hand back over his head and then lowered it, conscious of the missing hood. "And safe too. Are you sure you want to leave this-"

He gestured to the booths and stalls and the throng of festival revellers. "- behind, to go south to Vinay del Zexay?"

[sternundmond]

Elza nodded. "I...I need answers. And I have to go out and get them. But I know that whatever answers I do get, I have to come back here. There are...people...there's someone important to me here. He needs me." She thought about the day before when she was in Mathiu's arms and how much it was nice to be needed, and not just for her sharpshooting skills. She missed him horribly while she was gone, and upon her return she was thankful that he understood what she was going through. It was because of his support that she was confident in her ability to go to Vinay del Zexay.

"We don't have to leave right away, though...since there's the festival here, I did want to spend some time enjoying that." She looked over at the cheesecake booth and noticed that they still had a few pieces left. "Here, if you can manage it, would you mind coming to the cheesecake booth with me?"

[howling_storm]

Clive's expression had darkened a little when she had mentioned the man important to her. He knew just whom she was talking about; that had been one of the things he'd thought long and hard about while resting at the inn. It wasn't something he was willing to accept yet, but he hadn't said a word and had maintained his peace on the subject while she had spoken.

Now, however, he startled. "The cheesecake booth?" echoed Clive, glancing over in the direction she had. He spotted the last pieces of cake right away and soon found himself wondering if perhaps, after all these years, Elza had always had something of a secret sweet tooth.

He pushed off the fountain and climbed to his feet. "Yeah, sure," he said, brushing off his trousers. He turned back towards her and ventured another rare, hesitant smile. "You're still hungry...?"

[sternundmond]

Elza nodded and smiled back. "It's hard to eat well when you're on the run all the time. Besides, this castle has better food than anyplace else I've ever been. That, and they were giving out such small slices - I'm sure another one won't hurt." She walked with him slowly, keeping in mind that his leg might still be healing up. Finally they came to the cheesecake booth and she saw another small slice with strawberry sauce on it. "You might not be that into cheesecake but from the looks of it, there's plenty of other things to eat." She paid for it and started walking down the long row of booths offering more food and games to play.

"So when do you intend on leaving for Vinay del Zexay?"