Fresh from the medic's tent, Noire crept her way to the mess hall, set on reaching it without any fuss. However, luck was not on her side. As she peered around a final bend, a friendly arm slung itself across her shoulders. Holding back a gasp, she jumped slightly at the sudden touch.

"Ho Noire! Good to see you up and moving!" Owain's overly enthusiastic greeting was unexpected, and she offered a weak smile in reply. But before she could ask him to let her go, Severa brushed by, yanking Owain away with her.

"Gawds, can't you see you're bothering her?" Tugging the loudly complaining swordsman after her, she offered Noire a smile as she passed. Noire raised a hand gratefully, and joined the rest of the children as they gathered at the mess.

They scattered into groups, the Justice Cabal commandeering one corner while the others occupied the seats around them. Looking for a quieter area, Noire scanned the tables and decided that Brady and Gerome would be the calmest.

Picking up something to eat, she joined the two, Brady giving her a small nod and Gerome the slightest tilt of his head. Sliding into the bench opposite of them, she picked at her food, listening to the small explosions of conversation erupting from the other side of the room.

Fidgeting, she considered talking to her tablemates before Brady broke in. "So how's the wound treating ya? I think I patched ya up pretty well."

"Oh, yes. I'm feeling much better now, thank you." She ran a hand over the arm that had taken a hit, wind magic that had left a large red gash against her otherwise unmarred skin.

Brady ran a look over her forearm, half considering to ask to check the cut once more. He was about to ask when Severa and Owain started a shouting match, neither willing to back down. Sighing, he got up to break them up before an actual fight ensued, which would mean more healing for him.

Left with Gerome, Noire glanced at the masked rider, whose expression was unreadable under his mask. Unsure if she should strike a conversation, she poked at a pile of potatoes on her plate, moving the mash from one end to the other.

"No appetite?"

Surprised that the other had spoken first, she almost dropped her fork. "Not much. Just got discharged, so I guess I'm building it back up right now." A gap of silence fell, and convinced that the conversation would end at that, she returned to her food, idly taking small bites from it now and then.

Gerome cleared his throat, slightly adjusting his mask. "You have my thanks."

Blinking, Noire tilted her head. "Me?"

Meeting her eyes, he nodded. "For taking out that mage. You distracted him. But I wasn't quick enough to finish him off before he got to you." Gesturing to her bandaged arm, he offered an unworded apology.

Shaking her head, Noire smiled. "Don't mention it. We're all here to look out for each other, right?"

Gerome seemed about to argue, before he settled for a grunt. The two returned to their own devices, finding peace in each other's company.

AN: Feel free to send in more characters! I think updates will be faster if I have something to work off instead of me just antagonizing over an rng.

Guest: I did a quick search and it looks like there's almost nothing tagged with Gerome and Noire. I hope this was somewhat acceptable?