hollowedhatter

[hollowedhatter]

shoutout to xerxes break my original blorbo <3 i have had a crush on this man for 10 years

[hollowedhatter]

@universestreasures​​ filling a report:

"Big Brother Xerxes!" Sharon calls out in the halls of Rainsworth House, smiling softy with a little box adorned with flowers and a ribbon in her arms. She then stops to present it to him. Inside was a bunch of his favorite expensive candies and bags of tea, along with a handwritten note from Sharon and her grandmother.

"Happy Birthday from grandmother and I. I hope you like it."

(For Break's Birthday )

❝ Ooooh, what’s this? ❞

Break raises his arms up, allowing gravity to pull his sleeves down so he can then take the box with his exposed hands rather than risk it slipping out of his grip due to his sleeves. He brings the box up to his ear, and with a single rocking of the contents inside his well attuned hearing spoiled most of the contents without even needing to look inside.

❝ Why thank you, my lady. I must be sure to extend my gratitude to Lady Sheryl as well for such a wonderful gift. ❞ Perhaps that had been why the Duchess had sent for him to join her later that evening for a drink and discussion among some welcome company. He’d have to admit he had forgotten what today’s date had been though. It truly was difficult to keep track of one’s own birthday when their body had stopped aging decades ago. But! A birthday was a great way to restock one’s stashes, especially in case Master Oscar decided to visit and clean Break’s closet of bottles once again. But that was neither here nor there.

After assessing the box of it’s contents Break returns his attention to Sharon, and offers her one of his more gentle expressions. One not many aside from Sharon often get to see. A simple smile that spoke volumes more than the man himself ever would.

❝ You do not need to hope, my lady. ❞

--........

Later that evening after a long day of well wishes and a few drinks Break had finally been able to return to his room. There Sharon’s gift was where he had left it, on the table surrounded by a sea of candy wrappers. He reached inside the box, but instead of another sweet he finds the slip of paper that had been at the bottom. From the feel of it Break knew straight away it had been a note paper from Lady Sheryl’s supply. The paper was thick, and smooth, and smelled of ink and perfume. 

Careful to not ruin the note, the Hatter runs a light finger across the surface, feeling where the pen had scratched the surface. Instantly he recognized the scrawl of the sophisticated yet rather girly handwriting and knew it to be Sharon’s. It was rather difficult to find the words hidden within the ink, so instead he closes his eye and works to decipher it from the impressions left along the surface. He did consider passing the note along to Reim and having him read it to him, but this was a letter from his ladies to him for his birthday, and he wasn’t about to share it!

❝ ...Maybe growing old isn’t too bad after all, Lady Shelly. ❞

[hollowedhatter]

universestreasures​: 「The Will of the Abyss」

The girl glad in pure white giggled as he picked her up, her child-like nature being on full display in that moment. It had been forever since she had been swung around like this, Cheshire never being able to replicate the actions of her beloved like the White Knight could. He was a suitable stand-in for the moment, giving her attention, gifts from above or anything else she ever so wished. And if she wasn’t having fun with him, she could simply re-write his strings to change him into something else. 

That was the beauty of having a puppet. The one who pulled the strings had complete power over everything about them, whether it’s their movements, their appearance, or spirit. This man was hers to play with as she liked, and with her handling his strings, he can finally fulfil the promise he made so long ago. He can finally grant her truest wishes that he had failed to grant in the past…

“Yes, that’s correct. That is my wish for you, to help me attain the happiness that was taken from me so long ago…All you need do is listen to your strings, the ones pulled by my will,…and let them guide you…Nothing more, nothing less…” Her eyes glow a pure white as she speaks, but soon fade as she finishes. The air around the room, which had an eerie feeling in the air, soon dissipates as her expression changes from a wicked grin to a beaming smile. Soft hands gently clasp his own, Alyss excitably moving to drag him towards the table in her room.

“I can’t wait to try everything you’ve brought, White Knight! Oh, yes! That reminds me! I have something for you as well! As you were gone for quite a while this time, I had much time to think in my boredom. And I’ve decided to give you a name! White Knight is simply what you are after all, but it is not a true name. All good puppets have real names, and since you’ve been a really good one so far, I think you’ve earned yours!” 

The sounds of the dolls in the room could be heard, some being overrun with jealousy. They knew that only those beings that truly impressed Alyss, the ones she loved and cherished, were given names. It was what all the dolls in the room strove to be, but only a few of them so far had gotten one. That just showed how rare and special the privilege was. 

“Ken! You’ll be Ken the White Knight from today onward! I think it suits you well, don’t you agree?” After saying the name, she can once again feel the strings around him bend to her will to make it so. The strings around his soul were bound to her desires. Whatever she said would always become the truth to him, and that was something no one could ever change as long as they were spun around him. “Now, let’s see exactly what you brought me! I’m very much in the mood for some sweets before tea time!”

As she prepares to sit down, however, she is suddenly stopped by the sight of a puppet chain devouring everything in sight. It was not one of the usual ones that lined her shelves. Those puppets were good puppets, synced up with her will and heart. This one seems to have been another one of the ones the Abyss created, and clearly, it’s strings had been broken…

The other dolls in the room began to return to their shelves, even Cheshire seeming to back off as they could feel Alyss’ anger begin to grow. However, instead of an outburst like had been typical, the girl simply turns to look up at Ken. She stares at him for a moment, her eyes speaking volumes before one of them glares back at the fool still eating away.

“Say, Ken? Would you remind us of what happens to bad puppets who don’t listen to their strings? Who take what is not theirs? Who…make Alyss…unhappy?”

~

❝ Something for me? ❞  

The White Knight simply allows her to drag him by the sleeve towards the table she used for teatime, he’s light on his feet as they move along to assure there’s no resistance in following her smaller steps. He feels a bit bad to have left her for so long that she had enough time to prepare him a gift, but he doesn’t allow a frown. No, he continues to smile for her instead. Happy to be worthy of a gift from The Will of the Abyss. His ears are filled with all the odd sounds of dolls around them, but he’s not concerned about their feelings or opinions on the matter. This was about him and Alyss, and them alone. 

It was then she bestowed upon him a true name.

Something in him stops once his new name is said. It’s as if the cogs in the clock have stopped, causing the ticking to come to a halt. Even Emily seemed to slump on his shoulder just then, as if a switch had been turned off. Ken... The White Knight... Something about it felt off at first, but new sensations often were. The gears in his head had begun to turn once again, the strings of the Abyss winding him nice and tight and he’s ready once again to play before long. 

❝ Ken...Ken... ❞ The White Knight gives the name a few tries, as if tasting the word like it had been one of the candies he had brought back to the Abyss.  ❝ I must say... I’m rather fond of it. It is a gift from my lady, after all! I’ll be sure to treasure it-- ❞

As Ken waves over the dolls who had been carrying his gifts from the surface they are interrupted by the absolute ruckus of the berserk Chain. He could feel Alyss’ anger long before she looked up towards him. After all, the ground seemed to shift dangerously right under their feet as if to match her rage. 

Without so much as needing another word he produces a sword from the depths of his baggy sleeve, like a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat. He then takes a few steps away from Alyss, Cheshire, and the rest of the dolls in the room before taping the tip of the sword against the ground, the echo it caused enough to attract the attention of the Chain. It wasted no time in charging towards him. After all, he was an easy target! An old man who would surely make for a nice snack before moving along in it’s path of destruction.

❝ The price of disobedience is death, ❞ Ken starts, taking stance with his sword so it cuts away one of the Chain’s limbs as it closed in. Seems his power as a bane to Chains was still present even in his current form as a puppet himself, seeing how the limb had begun to fade from existence entirely once severed. ❝ And those who make Alyss unhappy... shall beg for it. For a swift end would be a far more forgiving then the punishment that comes with upsetting my lady. ❞

Blood had begun to paint the White Knight’s face as he continued to slice away at the Chain. A flash of white revealed his grin from under the spreading crimson stain, as more and more blood decorated his person. Only once the Chain was reduced to bloody mess on it’s last leg did Ken’s show come to a close. Perhaps with this the Chains would behave for a bit, lest they find themselves in Ken’s court where judgment fell upon them like the bloodied rain of the Chain he had just made an example of. ❝ Oh, how I’d love to take my time tearing naughty little puppets limb from limb but I’m afraid I’ll be late for tea if I indulge any further. ❞  

With a finishing blow all that remained of the convicted Chain was it’s blood, as it’s body had been erased with it’s death, leaving the sword stabbed into naught but a shallow red pool. Ken seemed to stumble a bit as he stepped back from it, but like an idled marionette his body remained standing. Despite the opponent being rather weak and insignificant, he had clearly overexerted himself. 

❝ Oh dear, oh dear, I’ve made quite the mess... But no matter, ❞ The ruddied man turns on his heel to see if Alyss had been pleased with his work. To see if he had made her happy. Perhaps looking for something more he could do if the execution had not been enough to rectify the situation. ❝ I don’t believe there will be any more disruptions before tea time! What would you like to try first? ❞ -

[hollowedhatter]

@universestreasures​​ filling a report:

"Ken ... " Alyss speaks to the White Knight as he just finished turning the page in the storybook he brought back here from the surface. It was a tale of a hero who was on a quest to save a tragic maiden from an internal prison. The story seemed to resonate with her, someone who feels like she's living that very story.

"Do you think ... the maiden will ever be saved from the prison? It has ... no escape. It has no warmth. It's always cold ... and lonely ... " Small tears form in her eyes that then drop on the storybook's pages. "I want her to be saved ... I want her to be able to see the sun again ... I want her to feel happy ... again."

❝ I suppose we could skip to the end and see the ending for ourselves, ❞ he gently closes the book though, tears and all, thinking it best to take a break for the moment. ❝ But that's no fun way to tell a story. ❞

The White Knight hands the book off to one of the dolls that had been lingering around them, having them put it away on one of the nearby bookshelves. He, the man now known to the girl in white as ‘Ken’, then proceeds to use one of his largely loose sleeves to wipe away at the rest of Alyss’ tears. 

❝ I do believe this tale will have a happy ending for the maiden, yes. The hero is going to great lengths to save her from the prison. It would be a shame if he failed. ❞ Besides... It was a story after all. Unlike in reality where the hero would more often then not be met with an unspeakable fate brought about by failure, leaving his loved ones to endure the aftermath of his mistakes. Putting that thought aside though, the White Knight then makes a mental note to check the end of the book later before their next storytime. He could always feed the book to Cheshire if it had a distasteful ending unsuitable for their little Alyss if that were the case though. 

❝ How about next time I go to the surface I bring you back a blank book? That way we can write our own stories with whatever endings you’d like! Doesn’t that sound like fun? ❞

[hollowedhatter]

universestreasures​:

Sharon had been in a melancholic mood all day.  In fact, she had been that way for the last several days, actually. Ever since returning from her outings with Oz and the others, a lot has been on the heiresses’ mind. Her eyes laid witness to so many horrific things, her heart finally understanding some truths she had not anticipated. These things would take their toll on anyone, but considering her position, she couldn’t afford to let them.

So, she did as she always did. She simply…smiled, smiled like the perfect and proper heir to the Rainsworth Dukedom that she supposedly was. Though, considering what happened during the outing, she doesn’t really feel like what she should be. It was embarrassing, beyond embarrassing for her to once again be so powerless without Break or someone else at her side to save her. 

She was a contractor. She was strong. She was smart. She was supposed to be perfect! She shouldn’t be…She shouldn’t be this…this…

Weak.

“Break…?” Sharon instantly snaps back to reality, having been lost in her thoughts for quite some time now. She had honestly forgotten she was supposed to be preparing for bed, and as he always did, Break was there to help with that process. And here he is gently touching her cheeks, shifting them to try and make a smile. The woman could tell he was trying to make her feel better, Break seeing beyond her mask, but…

“Well…Well…Well…maybe I don’t want to smile right now! Maybe I don’t deserve to!” The youngest Rainsworth cries out, her cheeks flushing pink as she could see tears she had been holding back all day begin to flow. Sharon breaks away from his hold, flopping her face into her nearby pillow on her bed instead. It was a childish action. She was aware of all that, but at this point, she didn’t care. She was seeking comfort, comfort after the tidal wave of emotions that had she been holding in just flood gating all at once. 

~

Break feels the tears pool under his thumbs before Sharon pulls free from his pinches, as if her voice wasn’t an indicator enough to the oncoming upset. He follows her voice, the sound of her throwing herself into bed was apparent and he could just make out the basic shapes in the dim lamp light. This reminded him of times Sharon would do something similar in her younger years, and memories of the young lady muffling her tears in her pillows filled in the blanks his waning sight had made.

He follows the edge of Sharon’s bed with his hand and once he finds the spot not occupied by his lady he takes a seat there, leaning his cane against his now crossed legs. He doesn’t question Sharon’s accusations towards herself, that wasn’t his place. Nor does he urge her to smile regardless of her obvious troubles, it’s clear she needed to release all these pent up emotions she dutifully kept in check.

Sharon had seen Break through his worst and most vulnerable times. To be there during hers... He can only hope he could do a fraction for her what her mother once did for him. 

❝ This is no good, no good at all... ❞

❝ You saying that just now reminded me of myself back then. ❞

He drops a hand onto her head then, smoothing back down the hair that had gone awry from her dive into the pillows. Break closes his eye then, allowing the unfocused room around him to truly fade into darkness. It was here he could hear her best, an ever present force in the back of his mind and deep within his heart. Sometimes he wishes he could ask Shelly what to do, especially in situations like this. But the truth was she told him everything she needed to already. The rest was for him to figure out.

❝ You’re being far too hard on yourself, ❞ Break speaks as if reciting lines on a page. His voice was gentle, and quiet but resolute and stern all the same. Not his normal tone, no. But the words taste bittersweet on his tongue, still he can’t help but smile after saying them. ❝ That is something your mother, Shelly-sama, would say to me when I spoke like that. ❞

Surely, Break was no proper replacement for a mother and her encouraging words. But he attempts regardless. With a bit of a heavier hand he pats the top of her head, trying to urge her out from the pillow even if it was by annoying her now.  ❝ If we don’t deserve happiness, then I suggest we wish for it upon the other. How’s that sound? ❞ -

[hollowedhatter]

❝ ...... ❞  

The stark contrast of the girl in white against the darkness of the Abyss was nearly blinding. More than once since awakening in this world as the White Knight was he caught off guard by her resonating aura. He often found himself lost in that pure white, a moth to the flame, and all he could see was her.

--The Will of The Abyss...

The threads that had once entwined his body had since bound themselves directly to his soul, like this they didn’t interfere with movements, like this Alyss could play without the worry of breaking off his still needed arms or legs. How else would be wander between worlds to bring back surface delights to poor poor Alyss?

The girl in white hugs him upon his return, Amelia nearly falling from his shoulder from the small weight thrown against him. The nearby dolls freed his hands of the goodies they held; tins of candies, boxes of sweets, and a small bundle of roses, all to bring a smile to her face. With his hands now free he is able to whisk Alyss off her feet some, spin her around but once before placing her gently back down. In the corner, he could feel Cheshire’s eye on them. But it mattered not to him how the cat felt about him. Nothing mattered, save for Alyss. All that mattered was that she was happy. He’d do whatever he could to maintain that smile on her face.

❝ ...I have brought Alyss some treats-- treats as sweet as she. ❞ His head tips to the side, nudging Amelia who had begun to giggle on his shoulder after a small pause, but said nothing more. She was awfully quiet these days, but it was no matter to the man once known as ‘Hatter’. ❝ Leaving her side is difficult, but if it’s to bring a smile to my mistress’ face then I will do as she wishes, bring back all that she desires until she is truly happy. ❞  

He’s numb all over. Cotton filled his head, leaving no room for thoughts of his own. If his body ached he could no longer tell, the strings would keep him upright regardless. There was no room for doubts in his mind, or hesitation in his heart.

❝ Why not try some candy? I brought my favorites-- to see if maybe they could become yours as well? Until Alyss finds her favorite... until I find what makes her smile the most... to make you happy... I will...bring it all into the Abyss, if that’s what you wish of me. ❞ -

@hollowedhatter​ 

“He has come back! He has come back!”

“The White Knight has come back with treats for Alyss!”

“Oh what has he brought? I want to see! I want to see!”

The voices of her dolls echoed about her room, mirroring Alyss’ very thoughts as the red-eyed man returned to the depths of the Abyss with new things from the surface. Cheshire was sulking in the corner, still recovering from the wounds that very man had inflicted upon him in that battle in his homeland. Though, the girl could care less about that failure at the moment. All she was focused on was the human puppet and the cute little doll on his shoulder, Alyss having transformed both of them into a companion to grant her company and amusement while she waited for her beloved to return to her. It was a simple task for the Will of the Abyss.

Though, she also definitely planned on using him to perhaps speed up Jack’s return. After all, unlike herself, he could go to the surface and act out her will. Plus, he was friends with Jack’s little alter ego, the one who housed his soul, after all. That connection certainly could be useful, but right now, she simply wants to enjoy herself. She deserves it after being trapped here for ages and suffering all alone, right?

“I’ve been waiting for you, White Knight. I’ve been waiting for you to come back with gifts from above, which I see you have brought me. Thank you.” She smiles before childishly running to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He was so warm and bright, a rare feeling deep down in the coldness of the Abyss. He was what she needed to save herself from such isolation. And now that she had him in the grasp of her puppet strings, she wasn’t going to let him go. She never let any of her dolls go. They were to remain with her forever, as they always should.

“I knew you wouldn’t let me down. You’re always going to make me happy, right? That’s the White Knight’s job, is it not? To make Alyss happy and protect her forever? To always make sure her smile never fades?” She can hear the strings around his soul twist and turn, molding her words into his very being to make them his truth. Oh, why didn’t she think of doing this sooner? Human puppets were so much fun than Chain ones, after all!

~

[hollowedhatter]

「 @universestreasures​ 」

He’s browsing the stalls, looking for something worthy of bringing back with him to the Abyss for his mistress. He’s brought back all sort of goodies so far, but the smile he’d manage to carve into her face never lasted long. She’d soon forget about the flowers and the chocolates, dropping everything when it came time for tea or time to play. 

Suddenly something new catches his eye; a book with gold embellishments who’s gleam alone was enough for him to take notice. He picks it up and looks it over. A storybook of sorts, he gathers from prying the book open with only one hand, as if he’s done so a thousand times before. He ponders for a moment, trying to decide if this would make a worthy enough gift for Alyss. It’d surely give them something new to do; perhaps reading her a story would allow her to escape the depths of the Abyss through the pages of a story from the surface.

The White Knight shrugs to himself, ultimately deciding to purchase the book with the coins he had on hand. If Alyss didn’t like it, he’d simply get rid of it for her.

That’s when he notices someone standing in his way. Which was odd... No one has ever bothered him when he surfaced before. The girl standing before him was rather young looking, and seemed rather beyond herself at the sight of him. He smooths his hair down with a sleeved hand, making sure his hollowed eye-socket wasn’t scaring the youth. He knew how gruesome a sight he could be if not presented properly, perhaps that was the reason for the way her widened eyes seemed locked onto him.

If she spoke to him, he surely missed it. He’s too focused on the single thought on his mind: --I really must be on my way back to the Abyss...

❝ Hm? What was that, little girl? Are you lost? Oh dear, oh dear... I’m afraid I cannot help you there, my mistress is waiting for me so I really must be going. ❞

And thus he spins on his heel in an overly eccentric attempt to sidestep the girl. While years on the surface could translate into mere minutes in the Abyss, every moment he wasn’t by her side had meant she would grow lonely without him. That cat alone was awful company, see? So the White Knight couldn’t leave them for long. The Abyss was calling him back, so it was time to go! -

[hollowedhatter]

universestreasures​:

“I understand the terms perfectly, Break.” She speaks, grabbing the sword and getting into position as he asked. How could she forget when they were so important? Sharon knew there was no room for error here. One wrong move and she would be cut off from training in this art for good. You would think as an adult she wouldn’t have be restricted in this way. She already knew how to wield a firearm just fine, and made a contract with a Chain. She was capable, wasn’t she?

Then again, if she was so capable, she wouldn’t have been seeking to learn swordplay in the first place. It wasn’t like it was interesting to her or anything. Rather, it was necessary to learn how. Her recent experiences had made Sharon come to terms with her own powerlessness, and that had been hard to deal with. Learning in secret was one of the only ways she could see to try and help herself feel better after she had time to fully process everything and not bottle it up, putting her feelings into hard work to change her situation rather than sulk. 

That would be the childish thing to do, and Sharon Rainsworth was no child. That’s what she set out to prove to everyone around her, especially to him.

“Prepare yourself!” Just like she had been practicing, she ensures her blade is gripped in her hand before moving to charge right for him. Sharon had taken notice of Break’s own techniques over the years, doing her best to implement them. Books regarding the subject were also something she had taken the time to read, even doing sure to hide the cover and play it off as her reading another one of her favorite romance novels. 

She then moves her sword to strike him in an array of slashes, knowing very well he’ll block them with ease. Her technique is decent, more so her stance, but the attack pattern is a bit too reckless and unrefined. That’s what she is hoping to improve with this training, to become just as eloquent a swordsmen as the big brother figure she admired oh so much and wanted to help more than anything in this world.

~

Break offer’s Sharon one last playful smile before his expression fell into something more neutral. He didn’t want her to think he’d toy with her when she had been trying so hard on her own already. No, he’d take this quite seriously as well. The fruits of this experience could very well save Sharon’s life in the future, as well as his own. So they must make the most of this opportunity.

Sharon charged him with little hesitation, and Break prepared to parry at her suggestion. If she had little confidence in her abilities thus far it was surely difficult to tell for anyone but Break himself. His vision unfocused and the first blow landed a bit harder than he’d like to admit, but he recovered in time for the continuing onslaught. 

Now that they were close enough to clash he could better see her attacks. He takes mental notes of each strike she makes, and makes the split-second decisions to either dodge or block based on his observations. There was little pattern to be found. Somehow the randomness of it made her difficult to follow-- 

Perhaps it was due to how hard he was focusing on her, but he noticed he could hear her blade swings, and felt the air shift with each slash. Based on these details Break just manages to catch Sharon’s sword on his own, and rather than push it away he stands his ground, creating an impasse. He took this moment to say something.

❝ Are you certain you haven’t taken lessons in secret, my lady? ❞ Break took notice to several factors in just this small exchange of theirs. Sharon’s grip on her weapon was nearly perfect, if it hadn’t been she’d have been disarmed by now. And she surely lacked experience, but hidden within her messy attacks were legitimate examples of proper swordplay that would have been easy to miss if one wasn’t an expert themselves. It was almost as if she was taking the diagrams and methods from the books she had been reading and translating them directly into practice. 

The former knight could work with that.

Suddenly, he twists his wrist to change the position of their blades so his rested atop Sharon’s now. He then swiftly pins both their swords into the ground between them, stepping on the back of blades to keep them there. Ensuring this small pause continued as he drops his gaze, his hair obscuring his face from view for the moment.

❝ Truthfully... I’m not fond of this. ❞ Break admits quietly, as the reality of the situation began to weigh on his mind. The young lady Sharon knew how to wield a sword. And Break could tell from the very beginning that her form had been a carbon copy of his own. It was why he had been able to predict that first strike without seeing it very well. ❝ ...The thought of you getting hurt again is unbearable. But the inevitability of you being unprepared for the worst due to my negligence is nearly unforgivable. ❞

He mutters an apology, but not to Sharon, or even Sheryl. He apologizes to Shelly under his breath for being so stubborn with her daughter. It shouldn’t have taken such drastic measures to make this happen. Shelly always had a way of making him go through with things he didn’t like, but Break had always found himself better off because of that insistence of hers. Things should be no different simply because Shelly was not there to make them happen herself.

Break picks himself back up then, unsheathing his sword from the packed down dirt to relinquish control of Sharon’s sword back to her. He seems far more collected now, and is ready to continue.

❝ That concludes the offensive portion of your examination! We’ll now switch gears and proceed with the evaluation of your defenses. ❞ Sharon had some idea of what she was doing, while at the same time having no idea how to string the moves together in a cohesive manner. She had the knowledge but no experience to implement any of it properly. But that would come naturally with time and practice. But attacking was only half the battle... Break needed to test her ability to defend herself now. He noted more than a few times where she had left herself open to retaliation during part one, but if that was due to her mind being purely on the offence was yet to be seen. ❝ And remember... Not a single scratch! Then we might truly begin to spare for real. And I do hope you make it out unscathed. You see; Reim and Raven don’t make for very good practice partners... Thanks to them I’ve grown quite rusty for my age. ❞ 

[hollowedhatter]

「 @universestreasures​ 」  

❝ I’m sure this goes without saying... but I still feel the need to remind you of the terms of this arrangement, ojou-sama. ❞  

Break speaks all the while placing his cane aside, in favor of taking up two practice swords. He checks the weight of both with a few swings each, before offering one of which to Sharon. He had promised Sheryl to teach the young Rainsworth heir the art of swordplay, hence why they were here today. Standing opposite of one another rather than side by side.

In recent; Sharon had seemed to have been taking it upon herself to practice the sword in the cover of night to avoid the attention of the everyone in the mansion, including her grandmother and even Break himself. And while Break had thought her spirit to the craft was all well and good he was still uncomfortable with the thought of Sharon wielding a blade without proper training. A memory of a young Sharon cutting herself while cooking once came to mind then, and Break vowed to never have her spill needless blood again if he could help it.

But alas... Sharon was no small child as much as he often treated her as such. She could very well wield a gun already. Knowing how to handle a sword should be of no consequence either. Think... Break began to ask himself; What if he was to collapse in the field? He rather Sharon know how to take up his sword and defend herself if the need ever arose. Even a small possibility was a possibility nonetheless. 

He readied himself, gesturing Sharon to do the same. First he needed to evaluate how much Sharon had learned on her own before settling on a training regime for the two. Who knows? Perhaps he’d benefit from this as well. His sight was only going to worsen... If it wasn’t against Sharon he’d have to teach himself how to read his opponent in a far less forgiving matchup than this.

❝ If you’re to sustain injury, no matter how small, the training stops post-haste. It makes no difference to me if it’s but a bruise or a scratch. I promised Sherly-sama as much. Now... take position and attempt to strike me. ❞

[hollowedhatter]

「 @universestreasures​​ 」

Break reaches out to poke and prod at Sharon's face. He's seen her face countless times over the years with the Rainsworth family, but translating his memory of the sight into touch had been an odd sort of transition. But not one he couldn't get used to. The valet prided himself in growing accustom to his ever-changing circumstances. He only needed a few more days... But he feared he didn't have that long to adjust. He didn't wish for Sharon to see him struggle, to add another worry among the many the young heiress endured daily. But he couldn't hide it from her forever. She was a grown lady now... That much he's learning to accept. She didn't deserve to be kept in the same darkness that he found himself in now.

Suddenly, he pinches her cheek, tugging ever so slightly to make a joke of his actions. 

❝ I don't need to see your face to know you're frowning, ojou-sama. ❞

And thus, Break thumbs at her face, hoping to have molded her expression into something of a lady-like smile. He opens his eye, not really expecting to see anything of substance. It wasn’t too long ago he’d have been able to still recognize people and objects from this close, but it seems that ability escaped him by now as well. But... it's enough to know that on the other side of this personal darkness of his was Sharon and the warm light that enveloped her person.

❝ The Sharon I see when I close my eyes is always smiling. ❞

❛ Smile! Smile! ❜ Encouraged a smaller voice. On his left shoulder, Emily seemed to mimic the way Break tipped his head to the side. As if observing Sharon’s expression for change in Break’s stead. They were clearly waiting to feel her smile, as if it would radiate in a way that even Break would be able to recognize without the sight of it. And in that sense... Sharon would allow him to continue to see the light that escaped him more and more each day. -

[hollowedhatter]

.//tag dump #1

[hollowedhatter]

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