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Cattleya's mood couldn't be much better, all considering. Things have been improving for her sisters, and in the case of her little sister by leaps and bounds. Louise's status as a Void mage, and her contracting with someone who appears to be empathetic enough to draw out the best in her has done nothing but boost the girl's confidence and let her smile in a way that the middle sister has never seen before. A pure, joyous smile, completely unburdened by expectations and troubles.
Eleanor appears to be getting over her failed marriage rather well, all considering. The eldest daughter's interests appear to have rapidly shifted to Blake, and for reasons that Cattleya isn't completely certain of. The elusive mage is someone who is perfectly capable of keeping up with her big sister mentally, so there's the peer factor. He's also an invaluable resource and repository of knowledge both mundane and arcane, and her big sister most likely wants to capitalize on that as much as she possibly can.
The middle daughter watches her big sister fuss around with different possible outfits, and intervenes when her choices start to seem a touch outlandish or would clash in some unpleasant way. The fact that Eleanor is even receptive to critique is something of note, not to mention how much effort she's putting into this to start with. Both are a touch out of the ordinary, and it's behavior she's only seen once before.
"Big sister, I'm fairly certain I saw something that would work better the next rack over." Cattleya points to a coat that caught her eye earlier while also keeping an eye out for any potential hats that could work. "Also, while I am happy to see you so enthusiastic, your actions earlier were a little... how to put it?"
Eleanor blushes brightly in response. "I... I know. It was overboard. I'm not even sure why I'm taking my frustrations out on him like that."
Cattleya's eyes widen when she hears that. "That's what that was? Goodness, I thought you were recreating a scene from one of your favorite novels!"
The eldest daughter sputters as she tries to form a coherent response. "That's not it!" She responds sharply before toning her voice back down. "Assuming I even do like him that way, it's far too early to do such things."
Cattleya nods as she waits. "I am happy to see you getting along with him like that, however."
Eleanor sighs as she grabs the coat that was pointed out. "He's been quite the gentleman so far, for someone who has no idea what they're doing. He has little handle on our social norms, and only adheres to them insofar as it's necessary to do so." The eldest daughter's face also returns its normal color. "It's both refreshing and infuriating."
"Which presses some rather impressive buttons I didn't even know you had~" Cattleya's voice is all but sing-song as she makes that little note.
"Oh, shut up." Eleanor closes her eyes and looks away, despite having a faint blush. "Anyway, Louise is doing rather well, I notice."
"Don't think you're escaping the subject, big sister~" Cattleya teases before allowing her sister to save face. "And yes, Louise is exceptionally happy lately."
"I just wish she holds a different element. What she has will bring her nothing but trouble." Eleanor's overall tone and body language softens somewhat once she starts talking about her sister. "While I don't like her partner, he's at least well-equipped to deal with what's to come."
"Indeed. Mr. Aoi seems rather reliable, if not silly." Cattleya nods in agreement. "Though yes, I worry too. Both about our little sister, and about her partner."
Eleanor frowns and raises an eyebrow at that. "Worried? About that bastard?"
"Well, he does mean a lot to little Louise." The middle sister points out. "It makes sense that I would worry about him too."
"Fine, I'll concede that point. Though what in the world could make you worry about someone like that?" Asks the eldest.
"Mr. Aoi is a desperate individual. Louise told me about her contract and what happened during it." States the middle sister as she recalls what Louise told her. "'You give my life meaning' isn't something someone just says, Eleanor. The two may have known each other for a little while, but nowhere near long enough for either to consider the other an integral part of their life."
Eleanor reaches for a rather dapper hat that catches her eye as she mulls that over in her mind. "What do you think about that?"
"Considering everything Louise told me, I think I may know why Aoi and Blake are such troublesome individuals." Cattleya states as she considers the hat in conjunction with everything else. "I think they threw themselves into Halkeginia's troubles purely because they're looking for some purpose to dedicate themselves to."
"I thought one of the two mentioned something like that before." Eleanor says, crossing her arms as she does. "Though it makes sense. They could do anything with the power they hold, but they're willing to help. Neither are even asking for compensation of any sort. ...It's a little unnerving to think about it."
"Big sister, I know it's a little awkward but I'd like you to ask Mr. Blake about it when you go shopping with him." The middle daughter seems concerned about more than one thing, and it's something her big sister picks up on easily.
"I'll see about it." The eldest sister looks to her younger sister as she tries on the hat herself. "Meanwhile, I think I do have one more thing to inquire about when I talk with him."
"What's that?" Asks Cattleya curiously.
"Your illness. That despicable, chronic illness that saps away at your life, that Tristian's best water mages can't cure you of. Blake has shown that he's skilled in a great many regards, perhaps he'll even be able to help with this." Eleanor states with conviction.
Cattleya looks down at the ground before coughing lightly. She immediately grabs a phial, opens it, and downs it in one go.
Eleanor narrows her eyes in response. "You have been pushing yourself too hard lately."
"...I'm sorry, Eleanor. I like being able to spend time with my sisters like this." Cattleya admits sheepishly. "I have these potions to help though!"
"Those are stopgaps, Cattleya. If you're burning through them too quickly it means you'll be even more restricted than you already are when you finally run out." Eleanor starts tapping her foot in annoyance. "And don't think for a second that I don't care about you just as much as you care about me. I won't see you die before I do, and I will go to any length to make sure that doesn't happen."
Cattleya feels a sense of burning in her gut, though it at least has nothing to do with her illness. "I am sorry..."
"Then you can make good on that apology by heading back to bed and resting." Eleanor's expression softens once she gets most of her annoyance out of her system. "Let's pay for this, and I'll bring up your illness with Blake as soon as possible."
-
As much as Blake feels awkward in his new outfit, he has to admit that Eleanor at least knows how to find something his size. It's easily a comfortable as his usual outfit as well, which actually gives him some measure of confidence in terms of shopping for more clothes. It's enough to let him agree to let Eleanor drag him along, though even he can tell something's on her mind.
"Blake, Cattleya reminded me of something I had been meaning to ask you. Just what was it that you did before taking the burden of the Brimiric nations on your shoulders?" Asks Eleanor a bit more sharply than she had really intended.
"...I take it Aoi mentioned something somewhere along the line then." Blake replies before shaking his head. "Perhaps it was me. Either way, Aoi and I existed primarily to repair and adjust the Earth to Halk gate system our creator developed, and we did so inside of a month or two. After that? We stopped having a purpose, as it were."
"So you decided to throw yourselves into as many problems as possible until something stuck?" Asks the eldest daughter as she pulls Blake along.
The steampunk mage seems somewhat embarrassed about that. "More or less. At first we were fine with it, but after a while it started to eat away at us both. Neither of had jobs or anything, families to be with, or even basic human needs to consider. We're free of all of that."
Eleanor grumbles a little, though she stops soon enough. After all, it's not like anything about their situation was deliberate. "I guess I could understand where you're coming from. Though you don't even need to eat or drink? I've seen you do both."
"We don't need to, but Aoi and both enjoy food and drink enough to consume it in regular intervals. It also helps convince people that we're flesh and blood beings as well." Blake pauses for a moment before continuing. "Well, moreso than our bodies already indicate."
The eldest daughter rubs her forehead with her free hand as she pulls open a shop door and walks in. "You two are just plain hopeless."
"We really are." Blake admits in an amused tone. "I do have to thank you for indulging me so far, as an aside."
Eleanor blushes lightly again in response. "Well, someone has to help keep an eye out for you. I understand that you have family to help, but I keep getting the feeling that you're someone I can't leave be."
"You're starting to sound like Aoi now." Blake gives a wry smile as he starts picking out pants.
"Believe me when I say that similarity is little more than a coincidence. Unlike you two I'm not desperate enough to almost be begged to be taken advantage of." Eleanor states in a somewhat annoyed tone. "...And though I say that, I do have one personal request."
"Go on." States Blake.
"It's Cattleya. I'm sure you must have picked up something off about her." Eleanor crosses her arms and has a slightly worried edge to her voice. "She's been ill nearly all her life, and that illness has all but taken her life away from her. She has to be seen by water mages regularly in order to keep it under control, and has to down potions regularly when they're not on hand. She's..." Eleanor shifts her eyes to the side as she trails off.
"I'm sure this is going to sound remarkably similar to what I've already all but accused you of, but she's desperate in her own way too. She wants to be able to live her life with her sisters, but can't without putting strain on herself. She can't stop herself, and the more she overworks herself, the worse her condition gets." Eleanor sighs as she tries to stabilize her breath. "We don't even know what it is she has, Blake. All of the best water mages we can possibly hire can't pin down what it is."
The eldest daughter seems distinctly uncomfortable with how she's having to act, but manages to shelve it for the time being. "If possible, I request that you also do what you can for Cattleya. She'll drive herself into the ground sooner or later, and one of these days we'll have to leave her there."
Blake nods in response. "I'll see what I can do. I do have a decent understanding of human physiology, and Earth is far more developed in some ways as far as medicine is concerned."
Eleanor breathes out in relief. "Thank you. Now, as for outfits, you're going to need at least one cape."
"A cape?" Asks Blake quizzically.
"Yes. A cape is a status symbol of nobility, and since you can use magic, you qualify." Eleanor explains while looking through the selection. "It'll help keep you from standing out too much."
"...But capes have almost zero practical function." Blake provides as a counterpoint.
"It's not about practicality, it's about blending in." Eleanor frowns as she pokes Blake's chest. "You're almost there, but it still needs that little flourish to make people pay you no mind."
"Well, if it's flourish you're looking for, I can provide that myself." Blake states simply before chanting under his breath for a few seconds. Moments later, a cape materializes behind him, gradually draping down behind him clear to his ankles. The earthen-colored cloak has a black flame motif adorning it, and a silvery clasp with the alchemical symbols for earth and fire printed on it.
"Now you're just showing off." The eldest daughter all but pouts, while the steampunk mage looks rather pleased with himself. "...Wait, you have a dedicated cape spell?"
Blake looks to the side while looking somewhat embarrassed. "I created one on the spot, actually."
Eleanor looks completely and utterly disbelieving, then promptly smacks the steampunk mage on the head slightly. "You hypocrite! That's even less practical than an actual cape!"
"If I have to add an impractical aspect to my outfit, I'm going to do it wholeheartedly, not in half-measures." Blake adds defensively.
"That had better apply to every aspect of your life." Eleanor's eyes narrow as she grumbles under her breath again. "Alright, you still need at least one more coat."
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