#clive really lowkey making the promise to come back

[aeikon]

🐝  *  ―  𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒. ( ACCEPTING. )

@coldwake said: "here, let me help you."

burdens 'pon burdens --- war threatening to tear asunder the only home he's ever known. and he has a FAMILY TO PROTECT, ones which he's quite sure have more power than he could ever imagine. so, he spent hours training until his palms bled and his wrists felt brittle with each swing of his sword. clive began to see every monster as a challenge; it was the only way he could ever be sure if there was improvement on his end. sometimes he'd manage to overcome a particular creature, others, he'd find himself sneaking back in through the courtyard. like tonight for instance.

he assumed that his dragging steps and hunched over form would go unnoticed like usual. suffering in silence is the ROSFIELD TRADITION and clive likes to keep his troubles and self-loathing to himself. that was the plan set in motion until he reached the balcony and began to rid himself of armor pieces. when he got to his vest, his body annoyingly betrays him from the pain setting in. blood has seeped through undershirt, shoulder gashed and swelling as each second ticked by. within the silence comes a pained cry, shuffling heels from a dark corner, and the whispered offer of help.

once jill steps into the candlelight, clive's expression changes from irritated to one of defeat. she's the only person who is allowed to see him at his weakest, to hold his closest worries and struggles. he can't begin to explain why jill makes him feel safe and at ease, but he'd never turn away from the kindness she always seem to offer. as her small hands come up to cautiously undo his vest, she scrunches her nose at the sight of his wound. before she can protest, clive is already placing a gloved hand over hers. "yeah, yeah... i'll be more careful next time." he murmurs, cheeky grin in tow. she squints in disbelief and clive lets out a laugh. "i'll TRY TO BE more careful. no promises, though."