The pressure it takes for Winter to notice and actually feel pain is tremendous, by now - it comes part and parcel with the whole Precure thing. Which means for her to wince, as she does, means Lily's grip is likely strong enough to snap wood. She's tougher than that at this point, but she definitely recognizes she's not the only one worked up over all this. And that, combined with Molly's aunt backing down somewhat, is enough for some of Winter's tension to bleed off, letting herself rest back on her heels for a second.
A hand comes up to rest on Lily's, before she does break something, as Winter shakes her head gently. "I don't ask for your trust, or your faith. Not after all this. Not yet. I hope to earn it someday, but... right now, it's more important to me that Molly is comfortable." She catches herself before she inadvertently puts herself down further, glancing to Molly again for a moment. "This is my whole world, now, and I take it a little seriously. For a number of reasons, I have a vested interest in your niece's safety, and part of that is making sure she's happy and healthy at home. Because when something happens, there won't be time to find an ice cream shop that hasn't burned to the ground and reassure her over a milkshake." Which might be her own sensibilities talking, but it's the principle of the thing. She's also smart enough not to mention that some of those sensibilities come from the whole reincarnated-best-friend thing.
Winter spends a second pondering what else she wants to say, but for the moment, she just lets herself stop wanting to hurt something. "Thank you for giving us the chance to help keep her safe," she continues. For the first time in several minutes, she manages a real smile, let alone that it's directed at Helen. "It is my sincere hope that nothing will happen, but if it does, I'll keep an eye on her." Not that she has enough eyes to keep track of everyone she's said that for, but she's got enough friends to help cover the blind spots. It'll be fine... probably. At least, it will be if Molly can be sensible and not run into battle valiantly. "I'm trusting her to keep an eye out for herself," she adds aloud with a sidelong glance, "but I think it'll work out okay."
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A hand comes up to rest on Lily's, before she does break something, as Winter shakes her head gently. "I don't ask for your trust, or your faith. Not after all this. Not yet. I hope to earn it someday, but... right now, it's more important to me that Molly is comfortable." She catches herself before she inadvertently puts herself down further, glancing to Molly again for a moment. "This is my whole world, now, and I take it a little seriously. For a number of reasons, I have a vested interest in your niece's safety, and part of that is making sure she's happy and healthy at home. Because when something happens, there won't be time to find an ice cream shop that hasn't burned to the ground and reassure her over a milkshake." Which might be her own sensibilities talking, but it's the principle of the thing. She's also smart enough not to mention that some of those sensibilities come from the whole reincarnated-best-friend thing.
Winter spends a second pondering what else she wants to say, but for the moment, she just lets herself stop wanting to hurt something. "Thank you for giving us the chance to help keep her safe," she continues. For the first time in several minutes, she manages a real smile, let alone that it's directed at Helen. "It is my sincere hope that nothing will happen, but if it does, I'll keep an eye on her." Not that she has enough eyes to keep track of everyone she's said that for, but she's got enough friends to help cover the blind spots. It'll be fine... probably. At least, it will be if Molly can be sensible and not run into battle valiantly. "I'm trusting her to keep an eye out for herself," she adds aloud with a sidelong glance, "but I think it'll work out okay."