Mooaar drabbles! Didn't think I'd be putting up more of these so soon, but ideas come when they come. Some of these? Actually can be pinpointed to specific places in the plot. And actually provide significant elaboration and insight (though nothing vital to enjoying the main fic).

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FTaBV Drabble Collection 2

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'I'm still not gonna leave my room til after the fireworks end.'

And he was true to his word. He'd gone straight to bed after helping Letha and Yuri lug that monster carcass into the upstairs hallway. When those bloodcurdling shrieks and subsequent shouts of wrath woke him up, he rolled over and piled his pillow and blankets over his head.

Chase was not fond enough of fire magic to go out there.

He walked on eggshells the rest of the day, hoping it wouldn't get out that he'd been involved. It nearly gave him a heart attack when he was in the main lobby and got a wink from a guildsman who'd told the receptionist he was there to pick up a pair of flare capes.

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She was doing it again.

Letha had her notebook out, the one she practiced that ancient writing in. When Estelle had first asked about it out of pure curiosity, the older girl had claimed she was just writing down stories she knew in order to keep in practice. Estelle didn't believe that anymore, or at least thought that there was more to it.

Because, like right now, there were times when Letha's pen would stop moving. And then she'd flip back to earlier pages in the book and read. And always, always she would have a distantly sad look in her eyes.

It might not help that much, but... The princess laid aside the book she had borrowed from Rita. Theories on concentrated aer's effect in medicine was fascinating, but it could wait for an hour or two.

"Hey, Letha?" The notebook snapped shut as the brown eyes were jolted back from whatever distant sight they'd been focused on. When they met Estelle's gaze they seemed...guilty. Frightened, even.

"Sorry, was thinking..." Letha mumbled sheepishly. Estelle couldn't help looking back down at the book in her lap and at how Letha's hands gripped each other, as if to prevent herself from protectively clutching the book. "Did you need me for something?"

I wanted to ask what was bothering you... But Letha's face was already the same as ever, ready to smile and make a joke about anything, just to make the others laugh. Or groan.

"Oh, it wasn't anything much," Estelle inwardly sighed at herself for letting her resolve weaken. "I was just wondering if you'd help me practice a bit more..." And maybe someday, during these lessons, Letha would tell her why that book and its contents were so painful to her.

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Stew might be good for dinner...

Yes, especially if they happened to have any pork with them. Wouldn't want the meat to spoil after all.

Judith was searching their bags to make sure she had the appropriate ingredients, or close substitutes, when she happened to notice Yuri. Yuri walking over towards Letha. With his sword, despite being in the safety of the campsite's scent created barrier.

Judith had long ago learned to listen to her intuition. Right then it was telling her that it wouldn't be the best idea to leave those two alone.

"Raven," she asked sweetly. "Do you think you could help me with dinner? I can't seem to find the ingredients I need."

"Anythin' fer you, Judith darlin'," the archer promised as he came over to try and win her favor. "Watcha makin' anyway?"

"I was thinking pork stew, but the pot's so heavy once it's full of water," she emphasized 'so heavy' with a tone that made it obvious what a real gentleman would do.

"No worries, my dear, for Raven the Great will take care of that!" And, with little extra prompting, Raven the Great agreed to all the other steps needed to cook their dinner. Just in time for Judith to step into the end of Yuri and Letha's conversation.

"Sparring? Sounds like fun."

"Weren't you making dinner?" And Yuri looked like he'd really wished she hadn't joined in, but didn't voice any actual objections.

"Raven was nice enough to help out a bit." Just as I'm helping out to keep a secret hidden. Perhaps one day Letha may even realize she needs to thank me.

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I have a bad habit.

Letha's eyebrows rose a bit as she gave a soft 'well duh' type of snort. Idly she picked a nugget of chocolate from the package Yuri had given her (the price for note telling a certain Knight Captain about a certain embarrassing admission). Placing it between her teeth, she held it in her mouth while turning the page. Dark chocolate, she hadn't expected that. And suspected it was a silent commentary on her 'black mail'.

Well, yeah, I have a lot of bad habits. But this an innocently wicked one I didn't even know I had til high school.

"Hmm..." A corner of the chocolate broke off as a canine tooth bit down, and she let it melt on her tongue.

Sometimes I would pack a HoHo in my school lunch, and by the time I got to the cafeteria it would be all battered. One of my friends pointed out my bad habit then. He said, "Stop eating that so seductively!" (I should mention he had a girlfriend at the time)

Letha paused, another chocolate caught in her teeth, and reread that line. Of all the words she might label herself with, she'd never even consider 'seductive'.

I'd been eating the chocolate covering piece by piece, and apparently it was something my male friends notice uncomfortably. And after that I realized I "play" with quite a few snacks. Without even thinking about it. I suppose that makes me a bit of a tease.

An eyebrow rose again. Then she drew the semi-sweet candy the rest of the way into her mouth, surreptitiously watching Yuri and Raven from the corner of her eye. Both men shifted in their seats and abruptly looked any where but at her.

With an amused giggle, followed by a slight sigh, Letha sealed the package of chocolates again and packed it away to save for later.

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Her fingers itched to paint. There was nothing as soothing as long brush strokes across a clean canvas, watching random shapes and colors taking on a recognizable shape. It was calming where having pieces of a story click together was exhilarating.

Letha groaned and dropped her forehead down to lie on the desk the inn furnished her room with. The next best solution was to rifle through the drawers until she found some loose sheets of paper and a stick of graphite.

Half an hour later the papers were blooming with gray and white flowers. Some were fanciful creations of the mind, while others were rough approximations of actual flowers. Letha was staring at a sketch she'd just completed of a pair of daffodils. Her hand hovered over the page for a moment, then lowered and wrote a quick line underneath.

Je t'aime, maman.

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First one: Poor Chase. Just wanted to write something quick with him in it.

Second one: Because Estelle is bound to notice something. She cares about the well being of others, especially when it comes to her friends. But she wouldn't be experienced enough to know what to do if it's not a physical wound and the person won't talk to her. But being polite and waiting for Letha to come to her to talk will only last so long...

Third one: Uh huh. Judith did that on purpose. I need more practice at her point of view, and the last two lines didn't feel quite right, but they were necessary to establish that she knew what she was doing. And Raven trying to flirt with her? Somehow harder than flirting/banter with Letha.

Fourth one: ...WAS BORED. HAD CHOCOLATE. PLOT BUNNY WAS SPAWNED. Funny, chocolate was one of those Easter bunnies. And, does everyone know what I'm talking about when I mention the HoHos? They're those hostess cakes? Kinda layered chocolate cake and cream filling rolled up and covered in more chocolate? Now I want one...

Fifth one: Some Mother's Day fluff. French line mean's "I love you, Mom."