[ Hilda's lips curl, both in approval and amusement at how easily he rolls with the punches of her teasing. ]
Spoken like someone who's been around for longer than I have.
[ Okay that was the last comment she'll make about his age for the next little while. The server reappears dropping a warm cup of cider in front of her and she smiles appreciatively at them before curling her fingers around the warmth of the mug. Settling back in her seat to watch him examine her gift there's an air of a parent self-satisfied that her present was being received well. It alludes to the prickle of anxiousness that had clung to her as she had worked on the cards over the course of the last several months taking her time to sketch and paint each one.
The cards at the top of the deck are ones she recalls from their lesson in the Horizon: a cactus with a funny little expression, the faces of people that she didn't know but were oddly distinct, creatures that didn't exist here but ones that she knows existed in his, a Demonic Beast, a moogle, and the small woman that he'd described fondly as Tataru. She hums in thought. ]
Gold seems silly. I didn't make this to be paid and I wouldn't know what to charge. [ Her head tilts. ] So just a favour to be cashed in in the future?
[ Tempting as it is to make some remark about how Hilda should take care to listen to her elders, Thancred is now completely distracted by the deck of cards. They've clearly all been made with care, and the fact that each one was hand-drawn is even more impressive. Not that there would be any other way to go about it, but the fact that Hilda remembered what he showed her well enough to replicate something like a cactuar or even Tataru in her own style — well, it's impressive. ]
I had no idea I had befriended such a talented artist. [ At one point in his life perhaps that would have been little more than an empty flirtation, but his words are entirely genuine. He glances up at Hilda as she nurses her drink. ] If you had wanted more card ideas, you certainly could have asked me, though there is something to be said for being surprised with the finished product.
[ He studies each card in turn, understanding how much work must have gone into all of them. He handles them with care, his touch light as he doesn't want to damage them or even smear them with thumbprints. ]
It will have to be quite the favor. I can't imagine how long this all took you, and the fact that you did it for someone you'd met just the once...
[ He shakes his head, his expression mildly stunned. And touched. ]
[ The comment being left unsaid is probably for the best because he might be dismayed (but probably not at all surprised) to hear that she actually cared very little for elders who hadn't earned her respect. Age alone didn't mean anything as far as she's concerned.
But seeing as he didn't, he earns a little carefree shrug. ]
I could make more. It was a fun project. That and you can't play this game alone, I'm assuming.
[ And she seems to genuinely mean that despite her typical aversion to work. Then again, this isn't really something that would fall into Hilda's definition of the word. Projects that she started, ones that she has a vested interest in, are more of a hobby than anything else. And if it's a creative project? All the better.
The cards were all thick, matte cardstock. She had wanted something that would last since they were intended to be handled and the inks and paints she had used were also set with a protective layer so that they'd withstand the oils from whoever touched them. In short, she had put a lot of thought into it. As to why, well - ]
It'll just be a little favour. And as for saying something, anything more than thank you will just embarrass me. I really appreciate that you took the time to teach me something and that you didn't just pulverize Mogwry into a ball of fluff and fur when he was being so rude to you.
[ Her smile warms into something a little more genuine. ]
And I know what it's like to go without having something from home for so long.
[ A fun project, is it? If that's how she views it, then it makes sense that Hilda would even be willing to make another set for the purpose of playing and distributing the cards among a wider audience so that the game can spread throughout Thorne. Or at least his small area of Nott, as the case may be. Or he could play with Summoned from other territories here in Nocwich. ]
I suppose you could play alone, but it wouldn't be much fun.
[ He laughs at his own remark, but while it might be tempting to continue to shower her in praise and embarrass her, he thinks that would be rather rude given that she's gone to so much effort on his behalf. ]
Then thank you. Truly. It is a joy to have a taste of home, and I know that Himeka will be thrilled when I show her as well.
[ Though she has another thing coming if she thinks she's going to best him.
While he could make another remark at Mogwry's expense, it's what Hilda says next which grabs his interest. A favor is one thing, and he would give it gladly, but perhaps he could find some more appropriate way to repay her. ]
What are the things you miss from home then? [ He takes a sip of his drink, taking care to gather the cards together and set them to the side of the table so he doesn't risk spilling anything on them. ]
no subject
Spoken like someone who's been around for longer than I have.
[ Okay that was the last comment she'll make about his age for the next little while. The server reappears dropping a warm cup of cider in front of her and she smiles appreciatively at them before curling her fingers around the warmth of the mug. Settling back in her seat to watch him examine her gift there's an air of a parent self-satisfied that her present was being received well. It alludes to the prickle of anxiousness that had clung to her as she had worked on the cards over the course of the last several months taking her time to sketch and paint each one.
The cards at the top of the deck are ones she recalls from their lesson in the Horizon: a cactus with a funny little expression, the faces of people that she didn't know but were oddly distinct, creatures that didn't exist here but ones that she knows existed in his, a Demonic Beast, a moogle, and the small woman that he'd described fondly as Tataru. She hums in thought. ]
Gold seems silly. I didn't make this to be paid and I wouldn't know what to charge. [ Her head tilts. ] So just a favour to be cashed in in the future?
no subject
I had no idea I had befriended such a talented artist. [ At one point in his life perhaps that would have been little more than an empty flirtation, but his words are entirely genuine. He glances up at Hilda as she nurses her drink. ] If you had wanted more card ideas, you certainly could have asked me, though there is something to be said for being surprised with the finished product.
[ He studies each card in turn, understanding how much work must have gone into all of them. He handles them with care, his touch light as he doesn't want to damage them or even smear them with thumbprints. ]
It will have to be quite the favor. I can't imagine how long this all took you, and the fact that you did it for someone you'd met just the once...
[ He shakes his head, his expression mildly stunned. And touched. ]
I hardly know what to say.
no subject
But seeing as he didn't, he earns a little carefree shrug. ]
I could make more. It was a fun project. That and you can't play this game alone, I'm assuming.
[ And she seems to genuinely mean that despite her typical aversion to work. Then again, this isn't really something that would fall into Hilda's definition of the word. Projects that she started, ones that she has a vested interest in, are more of a hobby than anything else. And if it's a creative project? All the better.
The cards were all thick, matte cardstock. She had wanted something that would last since they were intended to be handled and the inks and paints she had used were also set with a protective layer so that they'd withstand the oils from whoever touched them. In short, she had put a lot of thought into it. As to why, well - ]
It'll just be a little favour. And as for saying something, anything more than thank you will just embarrass me. I really appreciate that you took the time to teach me something and that you didn't just pulverize Mogwry into a ball of fluff and fur when he was being so rude to you.
[ Her smile warms into something a little more genuine. ]
And I know what it's like to go without having something from home for so long.
no subject
I suppose you could play alone, but it wouldn't be much fun.
[ He laughs at his own remark, but while it might be tempting to continue to shower her in praise and embarrass her, he thinks that would be rather rude given that she's gone to so much effort on his behalf. ]
Then thank you. Truly. It is a joy to have a taste of home, and I know that Himeka will be thrilled when I show her as well.
[ Though she has another thing coming if she thinks she's going to best him.
While he could make another remark at Mogwry's expense, it's what Hilda says next which grabs his interest. A favor is one thing, and he would give it gladly, but perhaps he could find some more appropriate way to repay her. ]
What are the things you miss from home then? [ He takes a sip of his drink, taking care to gather the cards together and set them to the side of the table so he doesn't risk spilling anything on them. ]