Tonnerre - Manor of the Wicked [Gauche&Yeager]

[Yeager]

[They manage to get out of the woods without mishap, crossing the lawn and coming through the front door of the manor. Yeager shuts the umbrella and exchanges a few words with Droite, who is quite excited to see her sister and blurts something out about Gauche getting all worked up over something stupid. Not wanting Gauche to be too embarrassed to tell him anything, Yeager asks Droite to start dinner for him, and as soon as she is gone, he gives Gauche a serious look.]

Is something the matter? Usually you are not the type to wander into dangerous places. I would expect that irresponsible behavior from your sister, not you.

[Flynn//Gauche]

No, I'm fine. [speaks quietly, feeling guilty as she attempts to fabricate an excuse] I was careless. Droite was... teasing me for being a bookworm and I got upset, so I went for a walk to cool off.

[She is hesitant to say more. She is very bad at lying to Yeager, very bad. But speaking ill of Kaufman is not a good idea; that will get her in trouble. So she avoids the topic instead.] ...Shall I go wash for dinner? [winces as the storm rages outside and lights up the dim foyer]

[Yeager]

[Not buying that at all. Considering that he spends his days dealing with clients who try to lie and cheat and steal, he has no difficulty telling when one of his own daughters is making things up.]

You know as well as I do that you would not get so upset over something so little. I would like to know what is wrong.

[Flynn//Gauche]

[Bites the inside of her cheek, she knew she wouldn't get away with it. But still, speaking ill of his clients or other guild mebers is bad. She has gotten in trouble for pranking them with Droite, why wouldn't she get in trouble for insulting one?]

It isn't important... I am being silly. Droite is right. [Still avoiding his eyes, she could never lie looking in his face. Must avoid, must avoid]

[Yeager]

[Touches her shoulder tenderly, knowing he's not going to get anything out of her if she sees him as at all threatening.]

If it is upsetting you, it is important. I don't want you to be sad.

[Flynn//Gauche]

It's noth--[Stops as her shoulder is touched. Dammit. That did it. She looks up, staring at him for a moment before her eyes begin to water.] Je déteste cette femme!

[Her fists clench as she speaks, forgetting the storm for a few moments. She really does not like Kaufman. No, she is too friendly with her father compared to other people and that is not good. Not at all. At least, not in her book.]

You were with her again today... She was so close to you and... touching you. I don't like it. [frowns, voice growing slightly higher. Probably due to her prior fear from the storm, but the emotional distress is not helping to calm her. It just isn't her day.]

[Yeager]

[It takes a moment for Yeager to figure out who Gauche is talking about.]

Oh, Kaufman? [chuckles] Are you afraid she's going to hurt me or get me in trouble? There's nothing she can do to me. She can antagonize me all she wants, but she has no real power or proof to use against me.

[Flynn//Gauche]

That doesn't matter. You would break out of jail even if she did--or pay your way out. That isn't the problem! [sounds almost distressed, why isn't he getting it?] She is a terrible person. She is too close to you... She's too casual. Too friendly. She isn't like the other people you do business with. Elle va vous emporter...

[When she finished, her shoulders slump, defeated. She is expecting to be scolded for saying those things, but hoping that maybe he'll say he won't ever talk to her again. That would be nice.]

[Yeager]

[Oh. Ohhhh.]

You mean to say you are worried that--[laughs, then shakes his head, smiling] No. There is nothing there between us. Even if there were, it would be bad for business for me to pursue it. She's my competitor, after all.

You don't have to worry about any other person getting in the way of our family, liebchen.

[Flynn//Gauche]

[Feels slightly stupid now that he's said that. Her shoulders slump and she looks down, ashamed of her actions. She is supposed to be the responsible and level-headed one; not childish and accusatory.]

Do... you promise? [Looks up, meeting his eyes with a desperate look she tries to hide] Promise that you will never leave us...? Bitte. [Takes a step forward, hesitantly reaching out.]

[Yeager]

[Inwardly melts]

I will never abandon you two. Even if something were to happen to me, I would make sure you had everything you needed. Don't ever doubt that.

[Pulls her into a tight hug] Ich liebe dich.

[Flynn//Gauche]

[Looks up, her tone completely serious] Nothing will happen to you. Nobody or anything will ever harm you. Droite and I will protect you. Forever...

[Returns the hug, happily nuzzling against his chest] Ich liebe duch auch, Vati.

[Feeling calmer, she looks up, still clinging to Yeager. It suddenly occurs to her that they are both fairly wet. That's right, it's raining. She clings tighter as she tries to urge him toward the stairs.]

...You need to change. You're going to get sick.

[Yeager]

And I will work to protect you and Droite as well. That way we will all be as safe as possible, ja?

[amused] You need to change too. You're more wet than I am. [goes for the stairs slowly, not wanting to disrupt the clinging]

[Flynn//Gauche]

[Nods as they go up the stairs, shifting her clinging to Yeager's arm instead of his waist. She doesn't want to make them fall down the stairs. That would hurt. A lot.]

I'll be fine... I don't get sick that easily. [Stops when they reach her door, looking uneasy. A quick glance out the window tells here there is still lightning. Not good.] The storm might cause the lights to stop working. Just in case, could you... wait outside the door? Droite and I don't have any portable lights in our room.

[Yeager]

[Aww. Yeager nods, knowing she's fully capable of summoning small amounts of light on her own.]

Certainly. [shrugs off his wet jacket and leans back casually against the wall next to the door]