S a l e t é I V

XL - Creux - Cinq

"Promise me that you'll be careful? If things feel even a little off, then don't go through with it. Come back safe."

Zisel had been ready with all of the words of encouragement that Cassia had been waiting for when the time came for them to head out the next day. 

In truth, Cassie doubted if there was anything that she could do or say to quell any of the worries that were now occupying her mind, the only thing capable of dispelling them being that safe return she was wishing them, but that didn't stop her from giving the young tailor a caring squeeze.

She wasn't sure of who the act comforted more - her or Zisel.

Time had become scrambled, its passage something that Cassie had trouble making sense of. During those hours between outings, things had often felt as if they had ground to a halt, or even like time had stopped altogether, that concept of hours and minutes being something that the underground didn't factor in coming to mind again. Then, when the time did finally arrive for them to set out, it often felt as if those hours had somehow gone by quickly, the adjustment capable of giving her mental whiplash.

That feeling was stronger this time, bolstered by the mission that they now had ahead of them.

"We'll be fine. We have to be, if we're gonna bring you a tonne of bottles." Cassie assured her as she stepped away from that hug, not entirely confident in her ability to make light of the situation like some of her older friends could.

"I'm serious." Zisel muttered, somehow smiling through her doubts.

"If you think things could go south, then promise me you'll get away."

"Zisel..."

"Promise me? Please?"

Whether or not she would have been able to convince Monet to step away during a difficult situation was something she couldn't gauge without experience. She could at least give her word that she would try, if it would prove capable of cutting down her friend's anxieties.

"I'll keep an eye on everyone." She replied, mustering up all of the resolve that she could, the faint glimmer of something fairer in what remained of Zisel's expression evidence that she had achieved her goal to some extent.

Klavdiya had said a few words too, stepping out of what had been a decidedly long period of silence following the debate they'd had earlier. None of them had really spoken all that much, the possibility of that tension returning stemming any conversations before they could last all that long, only now she sought to end that trend.

"Cassie?"

She'd turned to see Klavdiya relatively steady with her good leg and her cane, any discomfort that she may have been feeling not yet enough to truly render her encumbered. Zisel, who was still with her, offered her one of her gentle smiles, following the direction that her voice had come from in order to do so

"I'm sorry if I get angry, or upset, or... Anything like that. I don't - "

"Don't be silly." Zisel interrupted, doing so in only the calmest manner, her tone instantly softened. 

Quiet or not, it was enough to stop Klavdiya from going any further, the knowledge that her friends held no ill will towards her bringing her a visible, quiet appreciation. 

"You don't have to apologise for that. It's better if you get it all out, don't just sit there with it all bundled up inside you." The tailor explained, Cassia supporting her opinion completely and utterly, even when it didn't really resonate with the girl it had been aimed at.

"I know, but... You don't deserve to have me shouting, or getting stroppy, not when we're all dealing with the same things." Klavdiya replied, shame behind what she was now saying.