Claude von Riegan (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
leicesters) wrote2022-12-06 08:26 pm
leicesters) wrote2022-12-06 08:26 pm
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[Byleth's still not quite used to intentionally reaching out via Communion, having only really accepted Communion requests thus far. But not long after the debate had ended regarding Manon and what their approach should be, Byleth gave Claude the mental equivalent of a very tentative 'hey, you busy?' poke.]
[Claude's not so much busy as distracted by being deep in thought, so there's a slight delay before he realises he's being nudged at all, which catches him off guard. What surprises him even more is who is doing the nudging.]
Oh-- Byleth? Is that you?
Oh-- Byleth? Is that you?
Yes. It's me.
[Despite Byleth being the one to reach out, however, he lapsed into a silence long enough that it was almost awkward. In truth, Byleth was trying to think on how to word his invitation.]
...come and have cake with me.
[Nailed it.]
[Despite Byleth being the one to reach out, however, he lapsed into a silence long enough that it was almost awkward. In truth, Byleth was trying to think on how to word his invitation.]
...come and have cake with me.
[Nailed it.]
[The invitation is so abrupt that bafflement just leaks through the connection.]
Uh, okay, are you hungry? [It's Byleth, so of course he won't turn him down.] I can definitely go for cake. Where do you want to meet?
Uh, okay, are you hungry? [It's Byleth, so of course he won't turn him down.] I can definitely go for cake. Where do you want to meet?
[Maybe he didn't nail it. Well, either way, Claude had accepted so Byleth rolled with it.]
Let's go to that place you took me to before. I haven't tried everything on the menu there.
[Wait... this wasn't for Byleth's benefit, it was for Claude's.]
Unless there is somewhere else you wish to go? I want to treat you, so it's your choice.
Let's go to that place you took me to before. I haven't tried everything on the menu there.
[Wait... this wasn't for Byleth's benefit, it was for Claude's.]
Unless there is somewhere else you wish to go? I want to treat you, so it's your choice.
Hah! And here I thought you were going to milk me as a meal ticket for all I'm worth.
[He's just teasing... probably.]
That place is a fave of mine, so I'll happily meet you there.
[He's just teasing... probably.]
That place is a fave of mine, so I'll happily meet you there.
Very well. I'll see you there, Claude.
[At least he gave some semblance of a farewell before cutting the Communion this time.
He immediately made his way to that café and got there in good time, knowing the route like the back of his hand. After Claude had introduced him to it, Byleth found it to be one of his favourite spots within Springstar, enjoying its quiet, peaceful atmosphere and trying all the strange, unknown food on the menu. It was a pretty big and diverse menu, and he was taking his time with it.
It looked like he was the first to arrive as well, so he decided to wait for Claude in the courtyard outside of the cafe, watching the water ripple and the floating flowers swirl in the star-shaped fountain with his typical thousand yard "wii shop music is playing in my head" stare.]
[At least he gave some semblance of a farewell before cutting the Communion this time.
He immediately made his way to that café and got there in good time, knowing the route like the back of his hand. After Claude had introduced him to it, Byleth found it to be one of his favourite spots within Springstar, enjoying its quiet, peaceful atmosphere and trying all the strange, unknown food on the menu. It was a pretty big and diverse menu, and he was taking his time with it.
It looked like he was the first to arrive as well, so he decided to wait for Claude in the courtyard outside of the cafe, watching the water ripple and the floating flowers swirl in the star-shaped fountain with his typical thousand yard "wii shop music is playing in my head" stare.]
[For all that the latest communion left a thousand thoughts buzzing around in his head like irritated wasps, Byleth's invitation is a welcome interruption for Claude. He'd hoped, before, that the teahouse would prove a good little hideaway for Byleth, and now he's pleased to hear that seems to be the case, if he wants to make another trip together.
When Claude arrives in the courtyard, he doesn't announce his arrival right away, just... leaning on the wall with one shoulder and crossing his arms, a fond smile on his face as he watches Byleth gaze into the water. He looks like he's in an almost meditative state, it's almost a shame to interrupt, but after a few moments more, he speaks up in a soft voice.]
Heya. Want a few more minutes out here before we go inside?
When Claude arrives in the courtyard, he doesn't announce his arrival right away, just... leaning on the wall with one shoulder and crossing his arms, a fond smile on his face as he watches Byleth gaze into the water. He looks like he's in an almost meditative state, it's almost a shame to interrupt, but after a few moments more, he speaks up in a soft voice.]
Heya. Want a few more minutes out here before we go inside?
[Byleth returned from wherever his thoughts had taken him, looking up to see Claude watching him with a fond expression. Was it really that nice watching Byleth zone out in the middle of a courtyard? Well, whatever made Claude happy...]
If you'd like. It's peaceful here, and after that communion, I feel that peace is what we both need right now.
[He turned to face him more fully.]
I hope you're not exhausting yourself too much, Claude.
If you'd like. It's peaceful here, and after that communion, I feel that peace is what we both need right now.
[He turned to face him more fully.]
I hope you're not exhausting yourself too much, Claude.
[His smile becomes markedly more feigned as he pushes off the wall and lets out a snort.]
Nah, I'm far from exhausted. If anything, I'm raring to go. [A little too much, with all those thoughts buzzing around in his head, but still.] So there's no need to worry about me. How are you holding up?
Nah, I'm far from exhausted. If anything, I'm raring to go. [A little too much, with all those thoughts buzzing around in his head, but still.] So there's no need to worry about me. How are you holding up?
[Byleth considered him for a moment.]
I'll answer that question honestly, if you promise to be honest in return.
[he looked away, half-shifting to stare up at the teahouse they stood outside of.]
I asked you to come here, because I was concerned about you. When I was overwhelmed and tired, you reached out with kindness and took me here. So, I wanted to do that. For you.
[...the words weren't coming out as smoothly as they sounded in his head. He hoped Claude understood his feelings regardless. He turned back to him.]
I don't want this teahouse to be where we pretend we're fine to one another. Do you... understand what I mean?
I'll answer that question honestly, if you promise to be honest in return.
[he looked away, half-shifting to stare up at the teahouse they stood outside of.]
I asked you to come here, because I was concerned about you. When I was overwhelmed and tired, you reached out with kindness and took me here. So, I wanted to do that. For you.
[...the words weren't coming out as smoothly as they sounded in his head. He hoped Claude understood his feelings regardless. He turned back to him.]
I don't want this teahouse to be where we pretend we're fine to one another. Do you... understand what I mean?
[Claude just blinks at him for a second, thrown off completely by that. He hadn't expected Byleth to... well, catch on so quickly, much less challenge him on it. Professor or not, he has just the same amount of insight that made him so perceptive of others' needs and how to nurture them, even if he perhaps hasn't realised that for himself.
He rubs the back of his neck and looks abashed.]
Yeah, I get it. It's not like I'm trying to deceive you for the fun of it. I just... With everything going on, it's important to keep up everyone's morale. You know?
[Meridian's already plagued by infighting, or calls for war. He can't allow himself to get dragged down with it.]
He rubs the back of his neck and looks abashed.]
Yeah, I get it. It's not like I'm trying to deceive you for the fun of it. I just... With everything going on, it's important to keep up everyone's morale. You know?
[Meridian's already plagued by infighting, or calls for war. He can't allow himself to get dragged down with it.]
I know.
[Byleth understood. Claude was very kind, and preferred the least violent path to achieve his goals - at least, that was his assessment of observing him during the last two group Communions. Claude wanted to compromise, he wanted everyone to be friends, he wanted there to be a happy ending.
It was nice. Byleth liked it, even if his own pragmatism told him happy endings were rare.]
Everyone is stressed over the Manon Dilemma- [Yes, he's given it a name.] -and there's a chance it'll cause someone to act rashly at the worst time. I know you want everything to go smoothly, and so put forth a strong façade, but it shouldn't be at the detriment of your own health.
[Byleth paused briefly, unsure if he was navigating this conversation correctly or not. He didn't want to assume too much about Claude, since they didn't really know each other beyond friendly acquaintances - on Byleth's end, at least. Claude knew him far better, and as disconcerting as that was sometimes... it made things easier too, if Claude was able to understand what Byleth was trying to say, however clumsily.]
So... this is where you can be honest, and vent, if you'd like. Or we can rate cake. That's what I've been doing when coming here on my own. It's nice. So far everything is either a nine or a ten.
[Byleth understood. Claude was very kind, and preferred the least violent path to achieve his goals - at least, that was his assessment of observing him during the last two group Communions. Claude wanted to compromise, he wanted everyone to be friends, he wanted there to be a happy ending.
It was nice. Byleth liked it, even if his own pragmatism told him happy endings were rare.]
Everyone is stressed over the Manon Dilemma- [Yes, he's given it a name.] -and there's a chance it'll cause someone to act rashly at the worst time. I know you want everything to go smoothly, and so put forth a strong façade, but it shouldn't be at the detriment of your own health.
[Byleth paused briefly, unsure if he was navigating this conversation correctly or not. He didn't want to assume too much about Claude, since they didn't really know each other beyond friendly acquaintances - on Byleth's end, at least. Claude knew him far better, and as disconcerting as that was sometimes... it made things easier too, if Claude was able to understand what Byleth was trying to say, however clumsily.]
So... this is where you can be honest, and vent, if you'd like. Or we can rate cake. That's what I've been doing when coming here on my own. It's nice. So far everything is either a nine or a ten.
Cake ratings? Well, who am I to deny you?
[Claude laughs, which is at least a little more genuine than before, and leads the way inside, continuing as he goes.]
Honestly, I appreciate it, but I really am tougher than I look. Trying to herd Leicester during wartime, where no one would agree on anything... Now that was a real challenge. [He takes a seat, over at the same spot they'd picked before.] I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on how things are going, if you have any insights, though.
[Claude laughs, which is at least a little more genuine than before, and leads the way inside, continuing as he goes.]
Honestly, I appreciate it, but I really am tougher than I look. Trying to herd Leicester during wartime, where no one would agree on anything... Now that was a real challenge. [He takes a seat, over at the same spot they'd picked before.] I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on how things are going, if you have any insights, though.
[Byleth sat down across from Claude and picked up the menu, but didn't look at it quite yet, since he felt Claude's question deserved his undivided attention.]
...my thoughts...
[Excuse the pause. Byleth.exe is trying to process his feelings on the matter into something vaguely coherent.]
If we're to be honest, then... the situation regarding Manon makes me uneasy. It feels like a trap to me, that we're being set up as part of some convoluted scheme that'll bite us further down the road. Whether it is Zenith's, Meridian's, or a third party's, I cannot say.
[He set the menu down.]
That may be my own stress causing me to feel unduly paranoid, though. It's not based on any evidence, only gut feeling. [...] There's a lot about this situation I dislike. Additionally, I spoke to Yima during the Communion, and that conversation was... frustrating, for many reasons.
...my thoughts...
[Excuse the pause. Byleth.exe is trying to process his feelings on the matter into something vaguely coherent.]
If we're to be honest, then... the situation regarding Manon makes me uneasy. It feels like a trap to me, that we're being set up as part of some convoluted scheme that'll bite us further down the road. Whether it is Zenith's, Meridian's, or a third party's, I cannot say.
[He set the menu down.]
That may be my own stress causing me to feel unduly paranoid, though. It's not based on any evidence, only gut feeling. [...] There's a lot about this situation I dislike. Additionally, I spoke to Yima during the Communion, and that conversation was... frustrating, for many reasons.
[Claude can't disagree with Byleth's assessment of the situation, but he's also not too worried about it... At least not yet. He's intrigued at the mention of Yima, though, propping his chin on his hand and leaning forward a little as he listens.]
Oh, I had a chat with her too. It was pretty illuminating, actually. [But not at all frustrating, if his nonchalance is anything to go by.] What'd you talk about?
Oh, I had a chat with her too. It was pretty illuminating, actually. [But not at all frustrating, if his nonchalance is anything to go by.] What'd you talk about?
Why she insists on cooperation when conflict is inevitable.
[Byleth picked up the menu again, idly scanning it.]
It seemed disingenuous to me, as the race for the Oracles will inevitably set Zenith and Meridian on opposite sides. The Manon Dilemma, as well, does not reflect her public desire for peace: Zenith and Meridian likely frequently assassinate each other's members. They're our opponents, not our allies. I don't understand the logic.
[........well, he said he'd be honest, so...]
And then she... said something that made me lose my temper, so I cut the conversation short. In all, it was a disatisfying conversation.
[Byleth picked up the menu again, idly scanning it.]
It seemed disingenuous to me, as the race for the Oracles will inevitably set Zenith and Meridian on opposite sides. The Manon Dilemma, as well, does not reflect her public desire for peace: Zenith and Meridian likely frequently assassinate each other's members. They're our opponents, not our allies. I don't understand the logic.
[........well, he said he'd be honest, so...]
And then she... said something that made me lose my temper, so I cut the conversation short. In all, it was a disatisfying conversation.
[ There's a tentative brush from Dimitri; this still feels a little odd. ]
Claude? Do you have time for a quick discussion?
Claude? Do you have time for a quick discussion?
[Surprise registers, but it's soon replaced by warmth.]
Sure I do, Your Dimitriness. What's up?
Sure I do, Your Dimitriness. What's up?
I've been offered command of a unit of Springstar's military by General Zaman. It's... a little overwhelming. But I think it's a good thing.
Oh, congrats! Sounds like Mr Tribune must really have faith in you.
I suppose so! And it's something I'm familiar with as well. Have you heard anything more about what's coming next? With Alenroux, I mean.
I haven't. I imagine that's being kept hush-hush intentionally, given everything else going on right now.
Why? Do you know something?
Why? Do you know something?
I do, actually. Although I'd have to ask you not to speak of it to anyone for the time being...
Hey, if anyone can keep a secret, it's me. So, what do you know?
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