#anyways. he still won't speak a bad word abt Astrid

[demenior]

Belated wip Wednesday:

Fealty Eadwulf and Jester are just so 🥺💕 to me:

“Do you feel safe with me? I want you to feel safe with me.”

Eadwulf’s brows furrow into his trademark scowl, “keeping you safe is my job.”

“No, you take care of Fjord. Who takes care of you?”

Eadwulf scowls at the floor. Jester wonders if he heard her. Then, he glances up, realizes she’s still watching him, and stares at the floor. His scowl breaks.

“…you did. With the pirates.”

“And the healing,” she adds. It strikes her that she’s never hesitated to use her healing magic on him. The rest of the Nein always teased her about being reluctant to waste spells, but it’s never crossed her mind to not heal Eadwulf. The only person she does that to is Fjord.

Eadwulf nods silently.

“Did Astrid take care of you?”

The furrow in his brows is back, but it’s not for his usual scowl.

“Our methods are different.”

“How?”

Eadwulf glances at the blankets strung up over their heads, “not so much coddling.”

Jester stifles a giggle at the thought of Astrid and the other Scourgers making blanket forts. It’s like putting a funny hat on a lion. “No blanket forts?”

Eadwulf’s face relaxes to the point it may even be called a smile, “no.”

“And you took care of her?”

Eadwulf shrugs, “she is the Master. That is my job.”

“I think your Master is supposed to take care of you. Or else what good are they?”

Eadwulf’s shoulders come up, “Trent trained us well. We’re not soft. We don’t need pampering. Don’t mistake me for human.”

“You keep saying that.”