S a l e t é I V

XLIV - Vœux - Un

Two days had passed since Cassia had huddled around the fire in the warehouse with her friends.

She'd ended up chasing some housekeeping duties after all, making sure that the space around their source of light was free of ash and other scraps of burned matter, whilst also giving Uliana's shrine the dusting down that it deserved. 

She'd also gone on a short venture with Monet during some downtime in order to secure a new barrel that they could use to contain their main flame - a task that was long overdue - the replacement they'd found a flaking, yet intact red model that was heavier in nature. It had taken some heaving to get it home, but they'd gotten it back together.

She'd been staying closer to Monet's side during the outings they were together for. They'd toned things down again for the sake of safety, only moving in pairs until they could be sure that Sabre hadn't tried to enact any kind of search for them. 

Their already cautious efforts had become increasingly careful, even the off chance that an officer might have been able to see them enough cause for them to alter their routes.

Cassia had accompanied her on the first day, whilst Klavdiya had served as her partner on the second. Regardless of who had gone with her, Monet had given a clear instruction that Cassie knew she wasn't going to back down on regardless of what reasoning they tried to use in its wake.

"You can stay at the factory, and I will accompany the boys, or Connie. Conserve your strength, I'll be fine."

Cassia hadn't actually made much of an attempt to argue against her wishes, everything she'd told them still fresh in her mind. As such, she chose to abide by them, almost as if it was the respectful thing to do.

They'd had some genuine success, albeit in a limited capacity; the first day had yielded one bottle, the glass vessel having been discovered by Monet amongst the discarded belongings of someone on the fringes of the Red District, whilst Chief had found a another on the second day, the prize one that he had borrowed from a stand outside a store situated on the sloping road that had once led to the complex. 

Monet had served as a distraction alongside Captain, whilst the factory leader made use of his remaining fingers to apply a little discount to the "transaction".

Cassia didn't feel great about it, but they didn't have much of a choice.

Of course, half of bottle one had gone straight to a deeply excited looking Taya, the hype that had overtaken her as she'd received it making the waiting and the risks involved worthwhile, though not before Klavdiya had been the recipient of the first half. Such a decision hadn't come without some talking back.

"No, you have it."

"Klavdiya..."

"Seriously! You need it more, you're quicker than I am. If Monet needs someone to go with her for something important all of a sudden, it's gotta be you."

Klavdiya had always struck Cassia as quite nimble with her cane, all things considered, much like another girl she'd known who had been adept at using crutches. There was no angst or sorrow about her as she made her case for turning it down.

"It's not about that for me though, it's about knowing you've had a drink. Monet won't have one until we've all gotten some each, and Zisel is just going to argue, so please? Please have it? For me?" She'd tried to reason, Klavdiya not budging in the slightest. 

"Cassie, you need to stay strong."

"So do you. Like I said, knowing that you're okay will make me tougher too."

"That's not gonna help you keep your actual strength up though!"

"I don't care, just drink it. I'm not having it. I don't care how stubborn you are."