[Byleth grunted, a brief show of his frustration, before he tried to... explain himself.]
When I say 'civilised people', I mean... those who grew up amongst society. In civilisation. Settlements.
[Basically those who weren't nomadic or lived in the woods like him.]
By 'weird', I mean... just weird. Why do some people think it's shameful to do or even admit to wanting, when it's a basic instinct like hunger or thirst? Why do people act like it's a big scandalous thing that shouldn't be talked about, and that it's a moral failing if you don't... adhere to invisible social rules about it?
I guess you could call it a cultural thing. Fódlan has one way of thinking about it, but even that can differ between nobles and commoners. The Church, or non-believers. And then other lands even in our world have other attitudes of their own, like Dagda, or Brigid. The same is true for other worlds, which are just as diverse.
And mixed in with all that, a lot of people don't question the values they were brought up with. So if they were taught it's scandalous and should be kept secret, then they'll do that here, too.
[Normally, Byleth would accept that quietly and resign himself to continuing to bumble clumsily into social faux pas regarding this topic, but drunk as he was, his tongue was loose enough for him to mutter:] Annoying.
But... it irritated me. This is why I dislike speaking to people. I always make some sort of faux pas because of... stupid unspoken rules about socialising that everyone assumes everyone else knows.
[A sigh.] Hayame's sensitive to certain things, and very proud.
[Jealous, even, as he's realising is likely the case here. It's not just a case of being prudish or scandalised about sex.]
With the two of you talking, I'm not surprised there was a miscommunication. Just... be patient with her, okay? She might have acted angry with you, but she tends to behave like that when she's embarrassed.
I can deal with angry people. I'm used to being yelled at. That's not what's bothering me.
[It was that Byleth was being reminded of how alien this place could be, with clashing cultures or expectations, and it made him, abruptly and intently, homesick. The alcohol probably wasn't helping. He had drank a lot, and fish euphoria could only carry him so far when this homesickness had been brewing for months. His high was starting nosedive into a rather morose tailspin.]
This wouldn't have happened if I were in Fódlan. The mercenaries would've understood what I'd've meant.
From Hayame's perspective, I'm sure she feels the same way. Most people here are human, or look and act like one, and she's the only jinba from her world and time. So when frustrations crop up, it's not like she can fall back on anyone from her world, who think exactly like she does.
[He's not trying to scold Byleth, exactly. Just make him think about it from another perspective.]
We're all doing the best we can with what we have, but anywhere you go, there are going to be people whose values clash with yours. Even mercs aren't all the same, right?
No... but it's easy to settle differences with them.
[They're fairly blunt, and the mercenaries Byleth was used to were under Jeralt's command. He rarely dealt with 'strange' mercenaries, Shez being the exception.]
They're all outsiders as well, so they don't expect people to be normal or follow their values.
But by wishing other people were more like your mercenaries, you'd be trying to fit people into preconceived notions of how you think they should act, too, and closing yourself off to other possibilities. [Just like how Fódlan closed itself off from everyone else...]
Everyone's different, and thinks differently. It might be messy, but you can learn a lot from that.
'My' mercenaries were fairly open-minded. I'm not wrong to want others to be more like that, instead of making snap decisions about me.
[But he was just digging his heels in to be sulky and contrary, it was clear. He'd come into this conversation already in a bad mood, and while Byleth was always willing to self-examine his failures and shortcomings to better himself, he was a lot brattier when he had chugged almost his weight in alcohol.]
I don't know how you do it, Claude. [But as bratty and grumpy as he was, he had to admit admiration for one thing:] Forget Seiros, you're the saint of Fódlan. Your patience is seemingly boundless.
Pfft, a saint, me? Honestly, if I had a church dedicated to my name, I'd make every day a feast day.
[But on a more serious note...] Really, I lose my cool sometimes, too. But it's easier to deal with someone being difficult or harsh if you don't let it rile you up. Why give them that kind of power over you when you can just laugh it off?
[Though many would assume Byleth did just that, with how impassive and uncaring he seemed whenever people insulted him or acted difficult. The truth was, while he was desensitised to people yelling at him, or saying crude or insulting things, sometimes it did get under his skin. He just... didn't show it.
Like with Leonie's outburst, insulting Jeralt's parenting while in the same breath calling Byleth heartless and cold. It had hurt, if only because it had caught him so off-guard from the unexpectedness of it, and the fact it came from an ally - no matter how temporary and professional their arrangement was. He still thought about it now, months later, which he knew was silly and stupid, but some things just stuck.]
I just find it admirable that you can do it consistently. I admit I grow... frustrated, but I don't know how to express it, so I say nothing, and people think I don't care, when I do. It's difficult to...
[Vague gesturing??? He'd just started talking, the alcohol making him open his mouth before he thought it through, and it made him flounder here.]
In Hayame's case, say something over the top and really lay it on thick. Like... [A pause while he thinks of the first thing to pop into his head,] "Hayame, stop making assumptions about me and being a big meanie! I wasn't trying to say that, and you're making me sad!"
Then you'll put her on the back hoof, and she'll be too busy huffing and puffing and being all confused to remember what you were even arguing about. Works like a charm.
Hah! Maybe not those exact words, no. It's better if you talk how you'd normally talk. She's a direct person, so she'll appreciate the kind of sincerity you have, even if it throws her off at first.
[Claude might have ability to laugh things off, but Byleth has his own strengths, too. Hopefully he can come to appreciate that.]
My way of talking tends to insult people more often than not...
[But, he had to admit, it's also worked well with the few 'friends' he's made here in Kenos. They were oddballs in their own right, though, so perhaps they just liked his awkwardly straight-forward way of speaking.
Hayame was really weird, so maybe it would work with her...]
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leicesters) wrote2022-12-06 08:26 pm
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When I say 'civilised people', I mean... those who grew up amongst society. In civilisation. Settlements.
[Basically those who weren't nomadic or lived in the woods like him.]
By 'weird', I mean... just weird. Why do some people think it's shameful to do or even admit to wanting, when it's a basic instinct like hunger or thirst? Why do people act like it's a big scandalous thing that shouldn't be talked about, and that it's a moral failing if you don't... adhere to invisible social rules about it?
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And mixed in with all that, a lot of people don't question the values they were brought up with. So if they were taught it's scandalous and should be kept secret, then they'll do that here, too.
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[He assumes so, since Hayame hasn't killed Claude or anything. Yet.]
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[Ah, he's giving off a pouty impression.]
But... it irritated me. This is why I dislike speaking to people. I always make some sort of faux pas because of... stupid unspoken rules about socialising that everyone assumes everyone else knows.
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[Jealous, even, as he's realising is likely the case here. It's not just a case of being prudish or scandalised about sex.]
With the two of you talking, I'm not surprised there was a miscommunication. Just... be patient with her, okay? She might have acted angry with you, but she tends to behave like that when she's embarrassed.
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[It was that Byleth was being reminded of how alien this place could be, with clashing cultures or expectations, and it made him, abruptly and intently, homesick. The alcohol probably wasn't helping. He had drank a lot, and fish euphoria could only carry him so far when this homesickness had been brewing for months. His high was starting nosedive into a rather morose tailspin.]
This wouldn't have happened if I were in Fódlan. The mercenaries would've understood what I'd've meant.
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[He's not trying to scold Byleth, exactly. Just make him think about it from another perspective.]
We're all doing the best we can with what we have, but anywhere you go, there are going to be people whose values clash with yours. Even mercs aren't all the same, right?
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[They're fairly blunt, and the mercenaries Byleth was used to were under Jeralt's command. He rarely dealt with 'strange' mercenaries, Shez being the exception.]
They're all outsiders as well, so they don't expect people to be normal or follow their values.
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Everyone's different, and thinks differently. It might be messy, but you can learn a lot from that.
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[But he was just digging his heels in to be sulky and contrary, it was clear. He'd come into this conversation already in a bad mood, and while Byleth was always willing to self-examine his failures and shortcomings to better himself, he was a lot brattier when he had chugged almost his weight in alcohol.]
I don't know how you do it, Claude. [But as bratty and grumpy as he was, he had to admit admiration for one thing:] Forget Seiros, you're the saint of Fódlan. Your patience is seemingly boundless.
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[But on a more serious note...] Really, I lose my cool sometimes, too. But it's easier to deal with someone being difficult or harsh if you don't let it rile you up. Why give them that kind of power over you when you can just laugh it off?
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[Though many would assume Byleth did just that, with how impassive and uncaring he seemed whenever people insulted him or acted difficult. The truth was, while he was desensitised to people yelling at him, or saying crude or insulting things, sometimes it did get under his skin. He just... didn't show it.
Like with Leonie's outburst, insulting Jeralt's parenting while in the same breath calling Byleth heartless and cold. It had hurt, if only because it had caught him so off-guard from the unexpectedness of it, and the fact it came from an ally - no matter how temporary and professional their arrangement was. He still thought about it now, months later, which he knew was silly and stupid, but some things just stuck.]
I just find it admirable that you can do it consistently. I admit I grow... frustrated, but I don't know how to express it, so I say nothing, and people think I don't care, when I do. It's difficult to...
[Vague gesturing??? He'd just started talking, the alcohol making him open his mouth before he thought it through, and it made him flounder here.]
Difficult to... laugh off.
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Then you'll put her on the back hoof, and she'll be too busy huffing and puffing and being all confused to remember what you were even arguing about. Works like a charm.
[hit her with the ol bamboozle!!]
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[Claude was the more diplomatic of them both, so clearly that was the right thing to say the next time he came into difficulty with her.]
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[Claude might have ability to laugh things off, but Byleth has his own strengths, too. Hopefully he can come to appreciate that.]
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[But, he had to admit, it's also worked well with the few 'friends' he's made here in Kenos. They were oddballs in their own right, though, so perhaps they just liked his awkwardly straight-forward way of speaking.
Hayame was really weird, so maybe it would work with her...]