❥ ic contact (driftfleet)

[princessia]

"Umm... h-hello! This is Elize Lutus. I'm sorry I can't get to you right now. Please leave a message."

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[serves]

[Is she sulking? She's sulking. Cullen scratches the back of his head before carefully sitting on the edge of her bed.]

Talk to me, Elize. There's no need to be upset.

[princessia]

[ Elize keeps staring at the wall. She briefly considers remaining silent, but winds up piping up. ]

What's there to talk about?

[serves]

You're unhappy. [With him, specifically.] What can I do to make it better?

[princessia]

I don't know.

[ Shrug! Her answer comes quickly, having not given it much thought. There might be something? She's being difficult... ]

[serves]

[He sighs, rubbing his forehead. She's not making this easy.]

Elize...

[princessia]

What?

[ Like she doesn't know what's the problem. She's being kind of a brat... ]

[serves]

Talk to me. Tell me what's wrong.

[princessia]

[ Another pause of silence before she finally speaks again. ]

You don't think I can protect myself, do you?

[serves]

You could be the most powerful mage in the world and I'd still want to protect you, Elize.

[princessia]

[ That manages to get her to slowly turn around on her side, although she's still not looking at him directly. ]

...why?

[ She sounds more awkward and shy now, none of the rudeness she'd been giving him recently. Back to her more bashful self. ]

[serves]

[Why? Cullen is quiet, though he reaches out to brush her hair off her cheek.

He thinks about what she murmured in her sleep.

Father.]

I care about you. You know that I do. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you. If I upset you, I apologize for that. But my first priority will always be your well-being.

[princessia]

I know.

[ He'll always protect her. She doesn't doubt any of it one bit. Being reminded of how much he cares in his words just makes it difficult for her to stay upset with him. ]

I just want to help too...

[serves]

I know. And I know you're capable of much more than drawing maps. But for now, that's how you can help best.

[princessia]

...fine. Then that's what I'll do.

[ She doesn't sound irritated, but she does continue to feel letdown by her task. Really though, she's trying to understand and accept what she can do for now. Even if she's disappointed by it.

He cares and she doesn't want to make it any more difficult for him. For the both of them. ]

I'm... sorry for worrying you.

[serves]

I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. [He truly will try to think of another way for her to help, but for now all he can do is lean down and press a kiss to her temple.]

You're much stronger and braver than I was at your age.

[princessia]

[ A pause. Elize blinks, surprised and confused at first by the kiss, unable to recall if she received similar parental affection in the past. But when she finally turns her gaze to look directly at him, it's with a smile, happy to be given his warmth and granting him silent forgiveness. ]

...Thank you for protecting me on the ship.

[serves]

[He smiles in return.]

You don't need to thank me for that. It's the least I can do for you.

[princessia]

[ Sitting up, she moves her legs to dangle off the edge of the bed. Done with sulking pitifully on her bed. ]

Um...

[ She looks up at him briefly, like she wants to say something else. But then she shyly looks back down at her feet. ]

[serves]

What is it, Elize?

[princessia]

[ She's quiet. Give her a moment and she'll start speaking again. She hasn't realized it herself yet, but she has been growing much better at using her own words. ]

I was thinking about my parents. I wonder if they cared about me, just as much as you do.

[serves]

[Cullen only takes a brief moment to respond, arm gently going around Elize's tiny shoulders.]

I have a hard time imagining anyone in their right mind not caring about you, especially your parents.

[princessia]

[ She leans against him a bit, frowning. ]

Then I wonder why they left me all alone with only Teepo...

[serves]

I wish I knew. [There are many things that could have happened, and none of them good.

He smooths back the hair that got mussed up by the bed.]

I won't leave you. I promise.

[princessia]

Good. I don't want you to go away.

[serves]

I won't. Even if you're angry at me, I won't go anywhere. I'll be here for you. [He's trying to be a little funny with that, smiling as he looks at her.]