Captain Blake's Home Archive

She heard, and she sat up slightly, taking a breath and lifting her hands and shoulders in a shrug, a not so happy look on her face. She sniffled that icky cold sniffle, then would be able to hear a soft "Harumph," as she huddled in the blankets both tiredly and stubbornly. It was almost comical. But she didn't stay mad at him, he hadn't meant to make the situation weird like that. She waved him over.

It would be several days before Camilla was well again, and that was plenty of time for Jun to be filled in on the details, which would indicate why Jun had hurt Camilla's feelings a little. Jun would be told about how Camilla didn't even remember how she got to the ruins, that she was very sick the whole pregnancy and not in her right mind, and how she didn't even know her own name by the time the boys were born and it had stayed that way for the first months of her stay... So any relationship that had begun, had been in the works when she didn't know anything about herself. She would also learn that the relationship had come at great cost, Camilla already felt guilty and had punished herself quite enough for it... But the fact of the matter is, she had been told to presume her husband dead. Camilla would tell Jun of her suspicions that all of this had something to do with the gems and the scepter.

Hopefully by the end of the week, Jun would figure out that it wasn't a bad thing to have to stay there... Sure, it could get a little boring because there wasn't much in the way of action, but Blake took care of his household very well, as did his mother and siblings.

She had already forgiven him, so he was doing it all for nothing... Though she was amused. Neither he nor Jun had meant to hurt her feelings, they both knew they'd put their feet in their mouths... All had been forgiven. Camilla stayed in bed until she was well enough to get up and move around. She'd stayed silent for a few days while her throat healed, but mostly slept.

The last day, she lounged in the garden for some fresh air, dressed in a simple white gown which was her usual preference, hair loose. She was too tired to do her archery, but too restless to laze in bed anymore. The boys were laying on a blanket near her, both burbling happily and freed of their swaddling, so their legs and arms were flailing.

A basket of food sat nearby, at the ready for her and whoever may see fit to join her.

"Aye," she said, her voice a little hoarser than normal still with the lingering effects of the illness. "I cannot cook but campfire fare, and even then... Tis not desirable. I brought some fruit, bread, cheese, and cold beef. I may ask your mother to try to teach me, as she is a goddess in the kitchen." She gestured to the basket, but was in no hurry to eat yet.

She stopped speaking and watched him with the boys, loved how he made them burble some more. They were old enough now that they could shakily lift their heads. She was constantly in awe at her miracles, and that Blake had stepped in even though he needn't have. A gentle smile touched her lips as she watched on.

"You'd better." She murmured, "I wish to hear it from the rooftops, but I shall settle for a whisper in the garden." Her hand lifted to his cheek as she crinkled her eyes and grinned at her dashing Captain. A soft chuckle was given, and she said, "I love you too, Devrin Blake, captain of my heart." And that was that. Obviously she would let him say it, she still wanted to hear it.

After they shared that tender moment and the children were content, she lay back in the grass, reached into the basket, and grabbed for the grapes she'd packed. She plucked one off and eyed him with amusement as she popped one into her mouth, then offered to pop one into his mouth. If he accepted, she'd toss the grape playfully toward his face. She was off the mark... on purpose.

After a couple of weeks, Jun indeed had adapted to her temporary new home. Her sparring lessons were coming along nicely, and she was getting new cooking tips from Blake's mother every day. Still, Jun's feelings of inadequacy had started to plague her again ever since Camilla had informed her that, perhaps, this whole thing could have been avoided if they had in fact managed to retrieve the scepter. Now she began to wonder... What happened to Jill? Was she part of Zephidel's plan all along? Was the gem stolen from her while she was on route to her civilization? Was the story of her dying civilization even true?

***

WOOSH!

She and Cohen are exchanging notes on magic in the kitchen. For all her knowledge Jun knew very little about anything that didn't involve the elements. Charms and transfiguration were somewhat beyond her. But Cohen was helping to remedy that.

WOOSH!

Or at least trying to. Jun was desperately trying to turn a dinner fork into a spoon. Every attempt caused a swirl of sparkling blue mana to appear around her. With each try Cohen cheered her on. "Yah, you got it! Just picture the spoon in your mind!"

WOOSH! ... At this point Jun was just staring at the object, somewhat cross-eyed and dumbfounded. The object in question was no longer a fork... but it wasn't a spoon either.



"This... this deserves a name. What should we name this?" Jun said this with a hint of irritation and apathy in her voice. Cohen stared at it too, although he was in a much better mood. "How about... a foon?" Jun scratched her head. "Foon? Hmm... how about a spork?" Cohen scratched his head too. "Hmm... Nah that's kind of dumb." Jun nodded. "Yah... I like foon..." Cohen shrugged. Then he cracked a smile. "Jun, you're really bad at this!"

Jun shook her head. He wasn't wrong. She place the object on the counter and folded her arms with indignation. "Yah well, at least I didn't accidentally teleport myself on the roof."

Cohen took offense to this. "HEY! I'm getting better! Watch!" Jun's eyebrows shot up into her hair when he suddenly disappeared in a bright flash. "Hey wait- Uh... Cohen?" Jun turned around to look behind her. He wasn't there. "Cohen? Damn it where did he go this time?" She began to check every space she thought Cohen could fit, including the space under the sink and the pantry.

***

Just as Blake and Camilla were having their romantic moment, there would be a bright flash of light, and Cohen would appear in the middle of the garden. "Ugh... Not again..." He swung around to see the courting couple lying in the grass together, throwing grapes at each other. "Oh... Hi guys... Umm... I... I should go back inside before Jun gets mad at me..." He waved them off and ran back inside the house.

Blake lets out a little exclamation when Cohen appears. Between him and Jun he was going to have a heart attack. The two of them had been feeding each others love of magic for weeks now. Each new spell the learned involved a trail and error process with results ranging from inconvenient, to terrifying. He aims a kick at his brother as the boy leaves causing Cohen to stumble just a bit. Blake grins at him and the young mage scowls. The captain then turns back to Camilla in time to catch the second grape. The third is a little of target, but he manages to catch in his hand as it bounces off his face. He grins at her and laughs.

"My turn!"

He lobes the grape back at her aiming for her mouth.

She looked back and forth between the two younger folk before glancing at Blake. Hopefully, she and he would share the same thought... For in the next instance? Camilla would get a slightly evil grin catching the corners of her lips. and she would chuck a bunch of grapes with deadly accuracy, if Jun didn't pay attention, toward the younger woman's face.

Jun would obviously not be the only one this happened to, Cohen would get the same treatment. The grapes would pelt some faces. If the splatting happened, Camilla would fall over laughing... And it would be an odd but lovely sound coming from a woman who hardly ever laughed... It was genuine, relaxed and happy laughter.

Viddik's face is doing something odd. If it is possible for a smile to still look angry that would be the best description. He is amused by the antics, yet it is like his face doesn't know how to express it. It quickly fades though and his habitual scowl returns. He nods at Blake then turns to Jun. His words are crisp and have just a little too much bark to be polite.

"Jun of the Celadin. You are free to leave or stay as you see fit. I argued against it, but you were vouched for by Professor Echoes. I don't know what you did or will do to impress him, but don't make us regret this decision. Good day to you all."

His duty discharged Viddik turns on his heel and leaves.

Camilla listened to what was said, and couldn't help feeling a little put out because Jun could go anywhere she wanted freely, while she must be monitored at all times because of her station. Getting lost in her thoughts, she did nothing when grapes hit her face. She was bummed, her smile and laughter died because it was a sobering thought...

Her appetite left in an instant, and she grabbed for a piece of cloth to wipe her face clean of grape juice, then she excused herself for a moment and pushed herself up with as much dignity she could muster, and she walked to another part of the garden to try and calm herself down.