Sneaking out in the middle of the night to see someone, huh? Ballsy, but I respect it.
[ He makes a bit of a show of rubbing at his chin and looking at Haru. Seeming to weigh his options. He knows what a certain singer would push him to do, and he can't help but want to tease Haru juuust a bit. ]
Well... my lips are sealed when it comes to your dad, obviously. And I suppose I can keep from squealing to Astralin before you're ready. But on two conditions. [ He holds up a finger. ]
One, you let me walk you there. Better safe than sorry, and someone should know where you're at if Astralin doesn't.
Two, you give me all the details about your crush as we walk. [ Cloud is, of course, a gossip hound. He likes Haru enough that he won't use this for evil... probably. ]
Don't worry. Just think of me as... a bodyguard. [ ...Huh, a bodyguard? It's certainly not outside his skillset, having to make trips out of town means having to defend yourself, but the way it came to his lips made it feel almost like he was used to it more than deliveries. Huh.
...Shake it off, Cloud. As he thinks a bit. Juri, Juri... ]
...Well to do, red hair, real noble's noble kind of girl? [ He means it as a compliment, really. ]
Can't say I know her well, but I know her by reputation, at least. I can certainly make some guesses as to why you need to keep this little meeting on a need-to-know basis.
[ He gives a soft little snort of a laugh. ] That said, I'm sure you get to see a different side of her entirely, huh?
[She appreciates it all the same. She’s been sneaking around for a while now. Whether it be to meet Juri or to keep Astralin apprised of her situation.
Not very many people are safe in her sort of situation. So she doesn’t take Cloud’s offer for granted. ]
My Father forbade me from making friends with the rival company’s daughter, he would lose his mind should he know I’ve fallen for her.
[ So that’s, the gist of it really. ]
She’s so gentle, so loving. I couldn’t imagine anyone else could compare.
Be a real mess for both companies, huh? Well, you've got my sympathies, at least.
[ He's then quiet for a moment as Haru gushes about Juri, he can't help the ghost of a smile that haunts his face as they walk the quiet Aldrip streets after-hours. ]
She's gentle? Huh. Didn't strike me as the type. Guess a girl like her needs to let her walls down around someone, though.
[ It's a brusque way of looking at it, but the way Cloud is smiling about it, it sounds like he's enjoying the talk more than anything. ]
So what's the itinerary for these little rendezvous? Just sitting in the dark, chatting, enjoying each other's company? No midnight dates yet?
[ He's got to tease a little. But only a little. ]
[ It really is more annoying than anything else. She sighs. Walking alongside Cloud. ]
It took a while, really. She’s gentle, and firm when she needs to be. It’s expected of ladies like us to know when to put our walls up and when to be ourselves.
[She blushes, Cloud never misses a beat, does he?! ]
You'd think he'd figure out by now you're your own woman. That's what you're thinking, right? [ He snorts, softly. ] Trust me, I get it. Independence is addictive. Once you've gotten a taste of it, it's hard to want to go back. [ He says it with fondness and, well, why shouldn't he? He's always hopping on Zachariah to go fetch this, that, or the other thing from outside town. In many ways Cloud marches to the beat of his own drum. ]
[ ...That said, he does scratch his head and look away a bit as she talks about Juri. Again, the smile unbidden creeps up to his lips. Gentle, and firm when she needs to be, huh? Certainly sounds like someone Cloud count mention... ]
... Take it at your own pace. Not like I'm doing much better than you are in that regard. [ He gives a sheepish half-smile. ] Would be kind of embarrassing to push you to go faster than you're comfortable with when I'm taking the slow path, myself.
It’s what I’m thinking, of course. How could I not? My father just wants as much control as he can get.
[Haru has so many solutions in mind, most of them pretty rash in the big scheme of things.
She’s glad she has Cloud to talk to about this right now. She’s not sure she would have thought to tell him. It’s hard to know who she can trust.]
The slow path isn’t too bad, is it? I’d had half a mind to jump to desperate measures. Seeing my situation is growing more and more complicated. But now that I say it out loud…the more I realize how silly it is.
Yeah, the slow path isn't all that bad. [ He tries to keep a small smile off his face, but nothing doing. Talking about this with Haru is a surprise, but it's honestly refreshing — he doesn't really get many opportunities to actually talk about, well, his current love life. And she's a good listener all on her own. ] Stop to smell the roses while you can, and all that.
You'll know when to take that jump, I bet — not saying you'll get to take the slow path forever. I don't think anyone does, but... you probably have more time than you think. Hard to see that when you're still in school.
[ I mean, look at him, 21 and taking life slow. Nice and steady and uncomplicated. ]
Besides, it's not like your dad is trying to puppet you around or anything, right? Not gonna say it isn't rough, but if he's not doing that it hasn't come to a breaking point — yet.
[ Is it a little cynical for Cloud to assume it will? Probably a little, but if there's one thing that changes life paths, it's romance. That much he can confirm. ]
I like how you make it sound so simple. I wish it could always be that simple. "Stop to smell the roses", yet somehow I feel like I should rush into things when I don't really want to.
Believe me, this whole secret thing has been..interesting.
[ She doesn't want to confirm his worst fears, but. ]
My Father is trying to see me engaged to one of his business partner's sons. Every day it seems more likely that it will come to pass.
[ Cloud stops for a second, more than a little dumbfounded. Guess this is just what high society had to deal with, but Haru was younger than him. Arranging a marriage before she's even out of school... ]
...What an asshole. No offense. [ He's not going to mince his words in this case. ] I didn't realize things were that bad.
I can see why you seem pressed for time, then. I don't suppose talking to him about this has worked out any — or you wouldn't be doing this in the first place.
[ He's trying to come up with a solution now. Unfortunately, family dynamics are something he doesn't have... well, the strongest grasp of. Let alone high society family dynamics. ]
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expiationlogs2024-03-09 08:37 am
no subject
[ He makes a bit of a show of rubbing at his chin and looking at Haru. Seeming to weigh his options. He knows what a certain singer would push him to do, and he can't help but want to tease Haru juuust a bit. ]
Well... my lips are sealed when it comes to your dad, obviously. And I suppose I can keep from squealing to Astralin before you're ready. But on two conditions. [ He holds up a finger. ]
One, you let me walk you there. Better safe than sorry, and someone should know where you're at if Astralin doesn't.
Two, you give me all the details about your crush as we walk. [ Cloud is, of course, a gossip hound. He likes Haru enough that he won't use this for evil... probably. ]
That seem like a fair price?
no subject
[She was pretty much ready to go into convincing mode, but she feels a rush of relief when the actual conditions are laid out.
So she can trust him after all.
She does feel a little bad that she didn’t tell Astralin about the outing yet, but he would definitely hear of it soon.]
Those conditions are fair. I can work with those.
[She nods her head in the direction of town rose gardens. Because this place has always had that, right?! ]
When we get there, I should only be there for a short while. I promise, and then I’ll go straight home.
…your second condition, my crush. She’s pretty well known in the town too. Do you know Juri?
no subject
...Shake it off, Cloud. As he thinks a bit. Juri, Juri... ]
...Well to do, red hair, real noble's noble kind of girl? [ He means it as a compliment, really. ]
Can't say I know her well, but I know her by reputation, at least. I can certainly make some guesses as to why you need to keep this little meeting on a need-to-know basis.
[ He gives a soft little snort of a laugh. ] That said, I'm sure you get to see a different side of her entirely, huh?
no subject
[She appreciates it all the same. She’s been sneaking around for a while now. Whether it be to meet Juri or to keep Astralin apprised of her situation.
Not very many people are safe in her sort of situation. So she doesn’t take Cloud’s offer for granted. ]
My Father forbade me from making friends with the rival company’s daughter, he would lose his mind should he know I’ve fallen for her.
[ So that’s, the gist of it really. ]
She’s so gentle, so loving. I couldn’t imagine anyone else could compare.
no subject
[ He's then quiet for a moment as Haru gushes about Juri, he can't help the ghost of a smile that haunts his face as they walk the quiet Aldrip streets after-hours. ]
She's gentle? Huh. Didn't strike me as the type. Guess a girl like her needs to let her walls down around someone, though.
[ It's a brusque way of looking at it, but the way Cloud is smiling about it, it sounds like he's enjoying the talk more than anything. ]
So what's the itinerary for these little rendezvous? Just sitting in the dark, chatting, enjoying each other's company? No midnight dates yet?
[ He's got to tease a little. But only a little. ]
no subject
[ It really is more annoying than anything else. She sighs. Walking alongside Cloud. ]
It took a while, really. She’s gentle, and firm when she needs to be. It’s expected of ladies like us to know when to put our walls up and when to be ourselves.
[She blushes, Cloud never misses a beat, does he?! ]
No dates, yet…we’re working up to it!
no subject
[ ...That said, he does scratch his head and look away a bit as she talks about Juri. Again, the smile unbidden creeps up to his lips. Gentle, and firm when she needs to be, huh? Certainly sounds like someone Cloud count mention... ]
... Take it at your own pace. Not like I'm doing much better than you are in that regard. [ He gives a sheepish half-smile. ] Would be kind of embarrassing to push you to go faster than you're comfortable with when I'm taking the slow path, myself.
no subject
[Haru has so many solutions in mind, most of them pretty rash in the big scheme of things.
She’s glad she has Cloud to talk to about this right now. She’s not sure she would have thought to tell him. It’s hard to know who she can trust.]
The slow path isn’t too bad, is it? I’d had half a mind to jump to desperate measures. Seeing my situation is growing more and more complicated. But now that I say it out loud…the more I realize how silly it is.
no subject
You'll know when to take that jump, I bet — not saying you'll get to take the slow path forever. I don't think anyone does, but... you probably have more time than you think. Hard to see that when you're still in school.
[ I mean, look at him, 21 and taking life slow. Nice and steady and uncomplicated. ]
Besides, it's not like your dad is trying to puppet you around or anything, right? Not gonna say it isn't rough, but if he's not doing that it hasn't come to a breaking point — yet.
[ Is it a little cynical for Cloud to assume it will? Probably a little, but if there's one thing that changes life paths, it's romance. That much he can confirm. ]
no subject
Believe me, this whole secret thing has been..interesting.
[ She doesn't want to confirm his worst fears, but. ]
My Father is trying to see me engaged to one of his business partner's sons. Every day it seems more likely that it will come to pass.
[ HARU REALLY IS IN A TOUGH SPOT. ]
no subject
[ Cloud stops for a second, more than a little dumbfounded. Guess this is just what high society had to deal with, but Haru was younger than him. Arranging a marriage before she's even out of school... ]
...What an asshole. No offense. [ He's not going to mince his words in this case. ] I didn't realize things were that bad.
I can see why you seem pressed for time, then. I don't suppose talking to him about this has worked out any — or you wouldn't be doing this in the first place.
[ He's trying to come up with a solution now. Unfortunately, family dynamics are something he doesn't have... well, the strongest grasp of. Let alone high society family dynamics. ]