Dead dove, do not eat.

DYSFUNCTIONAL

Fluff's boring. Overdone. Forget that, let's play ships that affect everyone involved for the worse, not better.

How to Play
- Comment with your character's name, canon, info, and any preferences you find relevant.
- Reply to others.
- Respect boundaries, even when the internet barbies aren't.

01. YOU WOULDN'T WANT ME TO HAVE TO HURT YOU TOO... The object of your love/lust is resisting your advances, so it's time to take what you want.
02. JEALOUSY. It's jealousy to the extreme. You're going to make damn sure your lover knows how you feel about them seeing other people.
03. INCEST IS BEST. You know it's wrong, all kinds of sinful, but you can't resist the draw. If characters aren't related, then they are now! Or at least it feels very close to incest anyway.
04. YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET FAR. You love that person so much, you've made sure they can't get away - by physically tying them down or by some other emotional or mental means.
05. I'LL MAKE YOU HURT. You've set it up to make sure your lover catches you cheating or doing something else hurtful just for that reason. You want to make them suffer.
06. CHAINS AND WHIPS EXCITE ME. You're both taking sex to extremes.
07. BROKEN. Your lover has utterly broken you and you need them to know.
08. SECRECY. You're embarrassed by your lover, utterly embarrassed. If they weren't useful in some way (even if it's just in bed!), you wouldn't even be with them.
09. YOU'RE MY LAST CHOICE. You don't really love the person you're with, but they're all you could snatch up and it's no secret to either of you.
10. FORCED TOGETHER. You don' love each other, but you have no choice but to be together due to outside influences. Alternatively, you've been captured and are now being forced to make a sex video even if you don't want to.
11. WATCH HOW I DO IT. You were just forced to watch your lover have sex with someone else (willingly or not) or beaten and now you've got to deal with the aftermath.
12. IF YOU ONLY KNEW. You're not who your lover thinks or you've got a lot of deep dark secrets that, if they only knew, they'd hate you forever.
13. NOT WHO I WAS. Maybe your lover was replaced with a pod person or they're under brainwash or something, but you know they're not who they were.
14. LOVE POTION XXX. You couldn't resist it anymore. You needed your lover, so you've drugged them into loving and wanting you too.
15. THREATS. This person isn't with you willingly. They're only putting up with you because you've threatened them into doing so.
16. FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT.
17. NOT GOING TO SAVE YOU. Your lover is on the brink and you're just going to watch them fall. You don't care anymore.
18. HATE YOU. You need your lover to know how exactly much you hate them. You can't even touch them without your skin crawling.
19. BETRAYAL. You've betrayed your lover in some huge way and you don't care that they've found out.
20.YOUR CHOICE. choose or combine any of the choices on here or make up your own!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

[ The relief over Dimitri helping him up, never mind that of course that infinite politeness would demand no other answer besides acceptance, is immeasurable. But it's tempered when he can't read the prince's expression while they look at each other, and though he could lean in every bit as readily - he doesn't either. Claude doesn't move until Dimitri's forehead finds his and he closes his eyes and lets his hands rest of Dimitri's shoulders.

To listen and nothing more, he tells himself, but it doesn't vanquish the misgivings settling in his chest, one more coming to roost with each second of silence. It doesn't feel like when Dimitri holds him - if it did, wouldn't there not be a lance involved? Something about this situation feels like it's rapidly spiraling away from what limited understanding he possesses, with that all the more certain when the arm around him suddenly isn't there. He opens his eyes in time for the chill of metal to graze his face too temporarily. Dimitri pulls away, and leaves him standing his hands in the air in what could be a bad pantomime of stay away if someone happens to walk by now that the prince is no longer standing beneath them.

It doesn't occur to Claude he's sending out as many mixed signals himself as he drops his arms to his sides like the embrace never happened. That, maybe, he's played his own part in making this feel like more than the simple matter of walking back to the village it should be; if he hadn't spent so much time tearing each sentence said apart he might've noticed it was driving a wedge into everything before it clicks into place and his jaw sets. ]

You have to stay safe too.

[ It's leveled like an accusation though it shouldn't be if he'd believed what was said earlier. He still watches Dimitri, weighs whether the lance in the other's hands outweighs him. An equation he thinks he knows the answer to, and it's one he doesn't care for. Or should care less, considering how much and little time it's been, but too late for that even if he doesn't want to acknowledge it. ]

You promised me - [ but Claude wavers, decides what he was about to say would choke him in more ways than one, and switches to something else in search of an anchor to keep everything from slipping away - ] you said you'd show me Faerghus in winter. How am I supposed to go if you aren't there?

... that I did.

I haven't - won't - forget it. [ dimitri smiles, small and genuine. ] A knight of Faerghus doesn't go back on his word, and I am every bit one of the knights as I am a prince.

[ nevermind the fact that claude can go to faerghus whenever he wanted, wherever he wished to, and not need the prince to escort him around like its was part of his duties. but he remembered he'd promised it in so many words, and he intends to keep it: yes, something that's good for their future duties, something good to keep in mind when the three of them rule over each of their domains, but it was also a promise made from one to another.

(though he also recalls claude doesn't like the cold. silly of him, he thinks fondly. that he would remind him now, with his voice only lightly wavering, warms his heart.)

dimitri stares at the sky, letting the sun blind him as he squints in that pale blue. ]

And I ... want to be with you. [ he says it softly. like he were coming out of a dream. realizing he's moved too far forward on the board without minding his place, he murmurs, ] Someone has to keep you warm, after all.

[ He has never been so relieved to hear about Faerghus and what it demands of its knights.

Claude watches as that seems to flip switches in Dimitri somewhere, starting with that smile, and relaxes just a bit. A selfish manipulation on his part, sure; he feels no guilt about tugging on the strands of a promise to remind the prince to look at what's in front of him. Not at whatever it is that he doesn't have the words for explaining beyond a different set of rigid duties.

When Dimitri peers up at the sky he realizes his fingernails are digging into his palms from expectation of - well, not this. Claude's quick to shake his hands out away from any line of vision, determined to hide that tell he'd trained out of himself long ago. A sign about the stress he'd placed on himself here in being ready to bolt if the answer wasn't what he wanted to hear, but he doesn't want to dwell on that. ]

You're not gonna make Felix do it instead? [ Regarding keeping him warm, that is, and it's said very dryly to sound more like himself with sliding back into teasing. It's less complicated than anything else, in the face of admitting what he somewhat had by very deliberately bringing those promises to light, even as he takes a partial step forward to rest a hand tentatively on Dimitri's arm in an unasked question. ] That's good, because I'm still not convinced he isn't going to stab me with a sword at his earliest convenience or whenever he feels like it, which seems like most of the time. If I have to freeze, I'd rather not do it while wounded. Just so you know.

You know how he is. [ well, claude probably doesn't, but anyway - ] He worries a lot and it manifests in ... strange forms.

[ like being aggressive. or maybe he's just making excuses for his friend, whom he still cares for even if felix most days wants him dead. look, there's an understanding there.

he relaxes his stance with claude holding onto his arm, and the two of them walk carefully back to their camp. ] After the work - if you don't mind - I will come get you, in Garreg Mach. [ he pauses, and then adds, ] We should go somewhere, just to ... be together.

[ and talk, if that's what he wishes, but mostly he just wants to ... regain a sense of balance, between the two of them, and not let the two of them go back without something to look forward to, because he knows full well how lonely that is. ]

[ Claude halfway expected to walk back in silence, given Dimitri's general lack of words including that explanation about Felix that settles nothing. He's set it aside as another knot to untangle and is fitting together a timeline of the day's events when the prince speaks. At first he's tempted to smile at the unfailingly polite way of asking, as if Dimitri would be imposing somehow - but then Claude realizes that probably is the underlying message.

The last part, however, does finally draw that smile from him as he looks Dimitri's way when they reach the edge of camp. ]

I'd like that. [ He's about to say more but Hilda calls out and reluctantly he lets go of Dimitri's arm since there's other things to settle here. ] See you later, then?

[ Claude doesn't wait for a response before following the sound of Hilda's voice to find the Deer in a huddle looking various status of concerned and worried. The Flame Emperor, Hilda says, and the rest of the day seems to pass by in a blur with that to dwell on between the remaining efforts completed around the village before students are sent back to the monastery.

He gets the bath, clean clothes, and meal he'd hoped for; Claude plays his part in keeping the Deer from sinking into despair by still smiling to pull anyone disheartened back to themselves. While he's not one to eat his food and then dash to duck out on being social, today Claude makes an extra effort to stay around for longer until the majority of the house leaves to head back to their rooms.

Nothing to do then but sit in his own room with a book propped in his lap as he sits in his desk chair leaned back on two legs with boots propped up at the edge of it. There was an intention to read, at one point, but Claude mostly sits and looks at the same page without really reading it. There's a good chance he should go find Dimitri now before Hilda comes to sit in his room with him in the comfortable silence they keep, something he wouldn't mind at all if it wasn't for the day's events making his room feel slightly claustrophobic.

So it's a relief when there's a familiar set of footsteps approaching - since only one person on this end of the hall walks like they're wearing armor even if they aren't - and Claude snaps his book shut to stand and open the door before Dimitri can knock. ]

Took you long enough, I was starting to think I'd have to entertain myself tonight. [ Not inside, he's decided, as he slips out into the hallway and shuts the door behind him. ] Are you choosing where we're going, or am I?

[ the crushing reminder of the day's events will continue to haunt him as he is given a forced reprieve from his duties as house leader in order for him to rest. too much of a burden for one person, delicately dancing over the topic of duscur for anyone who knows him better. he feels, in general, like a failure at not being able to control himself. and each news that comes to him feels like a concession to madness. a flame emperor. i am my father's son. dimitri sits on the edge of his bed and has his head in his hands thinking of what it all means, allowing himself to be driven to misery by the very idea of what he has lost. the day is long, and punishing.

mercifully, he ends up falling asleep in his exhaustion, and briefly jolted into wakefulness by someone slamming their door in the hallway (felix, yelling at sylvain). dimitri winces, and looks at the clock, and curses himself for oversleeping. he could've done work; none of that transpired, and instead he fell asleep instead. how ridiculous.

work is clarifying. work is punishing, but it is also clarifying. it's no surprise that it's not until later he remembers that he's to meet claude; thankfully he had written it on his planner before falling asleep. shower and new clothes help make the man, until he was himself again and ready to put on a more familiar face: prince of faerghus. dimitri. he eases into the rough edges until he feels like himself.

dimitri thinks of what he's told him, and ponders where to take claude, before he finds himself outside his door. ]

My apologies.

[ they walk and talk, dimitri thoughtful as he says; ] There is a farmer's market downtown, I think it'd be interesting to go through it. I know Annette has briefly mentioned their selection of baked goods; I'm interested in their dried meat.

Other than that, I haven't got anything planned, [ he says honestly. ] If I'm being honest, I ended up napping most of the day after we returned. I didn't realize how tired I was.

Edited 2022-09-21 02:35 (UTC)

[ There's a running list Claude has of places to go in his mind at any given moment, but he's much more curious about what Dimitri might offer up as his own selection. It doesn't take long for the market to be mentioned and as they walk he sends a sideways glance the prince's direction that doesn't end with the inclusion of napping in there. He'll set aside the mention of sleeping for only a moment, because - ]

Dried meat? [ There's no hiding how amused this suggestion of a reason to go to a farmer's market has made him, even if Dimitri doesn't mean it as the only reason, but it's certainly more entertaining and he's going to run with that. ] I didn't know I was heading to the market with Ingrid today. That absolutely sounds like something she'd recommend.

[ All fondly, since 1) he's considering this yet another Faerghan thing based on zero other evidence than his own cobbled together guesses, and 2) because he'll never turn down a chance to tease the other even in passing, and possibly more so now as it also represents a turn back to normality or something like it. There's also the unsaid third reason which is that Claude can be found enjoy any dried meat-adjacent offerings from the dining hall right along side those from Faerghus. ]

You could've kept sleeping, Dimitri. [ Now his tone edges back a bit towards seriousness considering he's familiar now with both of their respective insomnia habits. Convenient at times, what with not having to spend all of that time alone like he had been, but not at the risk of Dimitri sacrificing a chance for rest. ] I mean it! That'd be about the only reason I'd forgive you for leaving me all by my lonesome, just so you know.

But, [ with a theatrical pause to match that proclamation, as if he's weighing something out in his mind instead of exercising a flair for the dramatic and subjecting Dimitri to it yet again, ] dried meat works too.

Ingrid has good ideas where food is concerned.

[ too many of them, which she's happily shared with him, and he paid attention well because he wanted to try something new with claude, wanted to try something new with her, with his friends, just to remind himself there are things worth getting up for when he's too mired in the concept of revenge. and lately, it's been getting rather ... difficult.

dimitri shakes his head. ] I can sleep later. Or at least try to. I intend to keep my word.

[ that faerghan sense of duty, it can be so useful sometimes.

right outside of the monastery gates, as they make their way downtown, dimitri brushes his hand and takes it in his own. he misses this, and seeking out claude's warmth like the way plants reach out for the sun seemed like the only viable option for him right now. ] And we can share the food while we're at it. I'm sure it'll be delightful.

[ Claude just gives Dimitri a look which says he has Doubts about both sleeping later and trying to, though the keeping his word part - that he believes. The rest might be more like abstract definitions of either one. Something he's equally guilty of, which is why he'll stick to teasing Dimitri to avoid being called out for it himself. ]

What, you weren't going to share before mentioning it? That's not very knightly of you. [ Sounding like that's a sincere scolding is a real challenge, what with Dimitri's hand finding his right before. Despite the general orneriness, it takes all of a second for him to link his fingers through the other's in what's rapidly becoming normal even in the light of today. Possibly even more so because of it. ] I'm sure there's enough dried meat around to make up for it, and--

[ Dimitri's spared the terrible joke he was about to make when more and more stands come into view, and that takes precedence over anything else when it takes a mere second for Claude to drag the prince using their linked hands towards one in particular that's caught his eye. After their last trip through a market in which he'd failed to find anything for Dimitri (besides cheese) it's stuck in his mind ever since.

Much like the evasion ring hasn't left his finger, but it's something else Claude has in mind as he peers at the table of gloves before them. A definite escalation in gifts - one that princes who are etiquette experts like the one he's standing next to will notice - and not necessarily one he can pull off right here and now considering what he has in mind. ]

Your birthday is soon, isn't it? You'll have to let me know what you want to do for it. And, [ with a pointed look as he glances up from a pair of gray gloves, ] 'nothing' or any variation of sidestepping it is not an acceptable answer, if you're going to try saying so.

Ah ... well, I'm fine with whatever you deem appropriate.

[ that's not a 'nothing'! that's not a 'no'! but also, dimitri just doesn't want to know what he ought to ask for for his birthday. he doesn't think much of it. and he's fine getting gifts from friends. ]

Usually my friends and I just go out for dinner ... and that's probably going to happen again this time.

[ dimitri checks out a stall selling some knitwear, and hums lightly at the thick scarf that they're selling. ] That'll be good for you, since the cold is coming soon. But it probably needs some wool lining on it, so the wind doesn't get in.

[ well, apparently he's more preoccupied with gifting something for claude. his birthday reminded him of the changing of the seasons, and now here they were. ]

[ Though he'd gone back to contemplating the gloves, Dimitri immediately gets yet another look sent his way after speaking, this time an eyeroll of fond exasperation. ]

Hey, I just said you can't do that. That's the same thing as saying nothing in different words! You don't have to answer now, but you do have to think about it and come up with something else. [ Also said with a light tug on the other's hand to drive that point home, though Claude follows it with a dramatic sigh mere seconds later. ] Otherwise I can't guarantee you'll like what whatever it is I end up deeming. What if I decide the entire academy should sing happy birthday to you once an hour or whenever you walk into a room? That's plenty appropriate.

[ He won't - probably - but Claude will absolutely keep that around as his threat for should Dimitri not decide on something, anything at all besides dinner with friends in what sounds like always happens. Which is fine, truthfully, but it's also not what he had in mind.

Fortunately for the prince, the matter of the scarf is distracting and even more so when it's noted yet another layer should be added to make it more effective, and Claude stares first at the substantial scarf in question and then at Dimitri. ]

Are you serious about it needing a lining? [ But that's not Dimitri's teasing face, so Claude narrows his eyes when something else critical to know occurs to him. ] Wait. Are you talking about for Faerghus cold or for here?

It's not the same. [ a mild protest from the prince, who is very amused. ] That's not 'nothing' at all.

But I really don't know what to ask for. [ dimitri looks thoughtful, making a face and shaking his head at the suggestion that everyone sing happy birthday to him in every room he walks in. can claude do that? possibly. he's charismatic enough and he knows a few classmates who are going to be enthusiastic enough to participate. ]

I'll think about it. It'll take time.

[ dimitri takes the scarf in his hands. it's heavy and the yarn is a nice, forest green colour. a bit darker than claude's eyes. he wraps it around his neck. ] Mmm, well, it's not a bad idea to consider scarves with linings regardless. There are some with button fastenings so you can take it off if it's too warm.

[ so: yes. he'll remove it from claude, a slight smile on his face because he looks too funny swaddled in it. adorable, really. ]

It is the same. You just made it sound very princely instead of saying 'nothing' outright. Which is very nice and all, but you have plenty of time to decide on something.

[ If Dimitri thinks time will dissuade Claude from reminding about this should an answer not present itself prior to said birthday, he's got another thing coming. But the scarf is more distracting, as is the prince kindly layering it on him in a demonstration. ]

Dimitri. You're not answering about which winter you're talking about, and I have to tell you that's not reassuring.

[ So Claude says while bringing his hands up to rest on Dimitri's wrists, fingers curled around them to keep the other's hands in place while he sets his best concerned expression in place. It's not that much of a stretch since the more layers which get mentioned, the more he's wondering if he owns enough layers for Faerghus. All the more reason to turn this into yet another way to tease Dimitri since in the wake of everything, it's too nice to see even a partial smile now. Even if it's over winter instructions. ]

Maybe I should use this winter to get ready for Faerghus, hm? Learn to be cold and all that, scarves or not. Especially now that I know how warm you are so I can on you to not let me completely freeze, right?

[ Here's a demonstration to go with that even if it's not particularly chilly now as he brushes the fingers of one hand against Dimitri's neck, there and gone in an instant to not push decorum too far. It'll get the point across. ]

Maybe I just want to see you cozy.

[ which is not even a 'maybe', he actually would like to see him cozy because he looks cute drowning in knitwear. but he's not going to tell him that.

but the fingers at the back of his neck make him flush slightly, smiling at the light gesture. and so dimitri returns it with a hand around his waist, but with his fingers slowly touching the curve down his hip to lead his attention to the other scarves that the seller has before he lets go of claude. ]

You shouldn't be so casual about the cold. At the very least, having a warm collection of knitwear will allow you to see how much of it you can tolerate in Garreg Mach, in preparation for Faerghus.

More importantly, my birthday is in the dead of winter. [ he beams at him. ] And I expect you to be outside with me to enjoy the elements.

[ it's a tall ask, but that's the perils of having a jock boyfriend. ]

[ The touch is distracting, every bit as Dimitri likely intended (or maybe hadn't, Claude's still working on figuring out where exactly the other means it and is sometimes too sincere for his own good), but. It's immediately wiped out by this proclamation of being outside to enjoy the elements to where the mildly aghast look he gives Dimitri is equally split between Claude's own brand of melodrama and genuine concern. ]

I'm still unclear on whether you mean here or in Faerghus. And I have a feeling - one I'd be willing to bet on - that one of those places is significantly less cold than the other. Does that even count as getting ready for it then?

[ Is it ridiculous to still be fishing for Dimitri to say Faerghus outright? Yes, considering it's crystal clear which the prince means by now. But will that prevent Claude from aiming for that anyway? Absolutely not. Besides, he did make that promise about visiting someday. Dimitri has a point about being prepared so Claude eyes the scarves he's supposed to be looking at, but he does it decidedly askance. ]

In that case, I want twelve scarves. Forget about one for each season, I want one for each month. [ And he's not saying to to convince Dimitri to buy them, not really; just more for entertainment as he shifts to looking thoughtful. ] That should do it. Then while you're sweating to death in summer like you were at the beach because you still never stopped training, I'll still have some extra layers to wrap up in.

[ Maybe, if he's lucky, he'll earn another smile if nothing else. It did generate some ideas for gifts for Dimitri if the prince never provides those suggestions, but for now he trails a couple fingertips down the other's nearest arm before taking his hand to tug him off in search of other things. ]

C'mon, you can think over what that many scarves will look like while we go find you that dried meat.

If you can get used to the cold weather of one region, you can do it with both - I have faith in your ability to survive such hardships. [ this sounds so ridiculous, and dimitri is well aware of it; he smiles as he says it loftily. ]

.... if you show up in twelve scarves altogether, you will look like a dust bunny. [ he gives this plenty of serious thought. ]

Perhaps I will call you that from now on: 'Dust bunny'.

[ sure, they can go get dried meat, but he just came up with a cute nickname, and so he's Really Pleased with himself, since claude's usually the one who comes up with clever ones for different people. ]

Dust bunny. [ Claude repeats this and means to send an askance look Dimitri's way, but. Difficult to do that when the prince looks thrilled to have come up with it in the first place, and it's the fondness that comes with the sight which has him blunting the edges of his response. A bit. ]

I have to say I'm concerned about what kind of dust bunnies you have rolling around the castle in Fhirdiad if I'll look like one. But, [ while holding up a finger on his free hand for emphasis, ] I'm pretty sure you finally just confirmed I'm really going to need to wear all those scarves at once, so I knew I was right after all.

[ Never mind that Dimitri's put it to him in peak princeliness terms by saying he can overcome this hardship; that was probably also important confirmation even if he was being teased. Claude's still counting it.

He'd rather focus on this because as they wander through the village market, it's too easy to let his thoughts drift back to Remire again with what it'd once been before the day's events. And the absolute last thing he wants is for Dimitri to do any dwelling on that either, so he squeezes the prince's hand to get his attention. ]

I'm still counting on you, specifically, to keep me warm. Don't think you get to dodge that just because of winter in different regions, or whatever else.

[ it doesn't even occur to him that it's not even the best nickname, nor is it a cute one, but he's pleased with himself anyway. and while they're on their way to eat some very good meat, it's also important to have drinks they can enjoy together.

so dimitri takes his hand, and drags him along when he sees a stall selling mulled wine and ciders, which he thinks would be rather nice to drink while eating. with how sweet they were, it'd almost count as a dessert. ]

Of course I'll keep you warm. [ a slight smile. ] It's not like I'd task another person to do it for me. That'd present a conflict.

[ a conflict no-one else would want to be part of, certainly. anyway, the mulled wine stall - ] Let's get some drinks first, before anything else.

No future diplomatic conflicts over who gets to keep me warm, then? I suppose that's a relief. [ Nonchalantly, and since Dimitri's phrased this in his usual princely way Claude's going to play right along with it in direct opposition to willingly letting himself be dragged along to wherever they're headed. ] I'd hate to think of causing unrest in Faerghus or elsewhere all because I didn't want to freeze.

[ The same goes for now, really, though Dimitri's even thought of that ahead of time as soon becomes apparent with their next stop. There's a grin flashed the prince's direction before Claude slides the coins forward to pay for a cup for each of them. ]

For that, you can be in charge of the meat selection when we get there.

[ Soon enough, though he passes a cup Dimitri's way first before taking his own with a nod to the seller. The wine's heavily spiced and warm enough to take what little chill in the air there is away when he takes a sip while they continue walking. ]

Speaking of your birthday or just things near it this time. I hear there's a ball coming up, mostly because Hilda's reminded me of it more times than I can count but that's not the important part. Now that I know you can dance, you'd better plan on saving at least one of them for me.

Thank you for the treat. I'll make sure to pick something tasty for both of us later.

... I do remember the ball, [ dimitri says thoughtfully as he takes a sip of his spiced wine. ] I think it was Annette and Mercedes who alerted me first about it.

That being said, I'd really rather not stay there. [ a deep sigh. ] I'm not above using the Lions to create a diversion so I can disappear from the party. Sylvain, for one, is very good at doing that.

[ he tilts the cup slightly in a gesture of a small toast between them. ] I can meet you right outside, instead - perhaps in the Tower, if you're so brave.

[ is that too forward? if they hide in the gardens or the greenhouse someone's bound to find them, and they'll definitely get a scolding both considering they're both the heads of their own houses. but in the tower? he doubts anyone's going to disturb them there, and besides .... ]

Edited 2022-12-19 02:24 (UTC)

Not sticking around it for long, huh. I think there'll be a lot of disappointed people then, but I'm sure Sylvain will take care of them.

[ Possibly all of them, all things considered, since Claude's willing to believe Dimitri's right about diversions caused at the hands of a certain redhead and with other Lions likely ready to support them. Or, well, some of them. Not that he minds himself considering he's already listed ways to slip out of what'll be another terribly boring ball, and that's before the whole having to behave thing in there.

But. Now Claude's absolutely going to widen his eyes in the same way he's seen Lorenz do a million times over anything offending one of his many sensibilities, and as though Dimitri's said something deeply scandalous. ]

Why, Your Princeliness. Was that a dare to break academy rules under the guise of bravery? [ If he had a free hand right now, it'd be placed against his chest for the full effect of faux shock. He'll settle for meeting Dimitri's cup in that cheers instead. ] Lucky for you I've been known to bend a rule a time or two before.

And, even more importantly than that? [ A short pause, as if Dimitri's not already listening, and because none of this is a 'no' - ] Whether the doors to the tower are still locked or not won't be a problem, as I might have experience picking said locks. But only maybe.

Do you, actually? And you would brazenly say this to me, someone who is often a participant to the knights' watch? Why, Claude, how cheeky of you.

[ dimitri gives it a thought, as if questioning himself as to whether or not he is seriously considering throwing him to the wolves. (he's not.) ] Obviously the only solution is for you to display your skills. I wonder if this is why Seteth is always grumbling about library books disappearing under his watch ... perhaps I've stumbled on a solution to his problems.

[ but he's grinning, either way. he's not considering it deeply, he's more or less impressed that claude has such skills - he wonders where he'd learned it from. it seemed like something he shouldn't be surprised is something that claude knows, but all the same ... ]

What would you wish for, in the tower? [ just out of curiousity ... if it's something he'd like to share. ]

Edited 2023-01-20 02:00 (UTC)

Nah, it's more like Seteth is the one to make those library books disappear.

[ Claude says it breezily enough because while he'll admit to having several books stacked around his room - mostly because Dimitri's seen them with his own eyes, so what's the point in denying that - really he just wants to slide that point about Seteth in there. Not that he really expects Dimitri to do anything with it, nor is he particularly concerned about whether any of this makes it back to Seteth. The man in question had, in fact, been rather displeased when Claude had said (muttered) as much to his face.

None of that is as interesting as watching Dimitri go through his own motions of thinking it over, and it's hard to not grin right back or to let that grin grow wider at the mention of wishes. ]

Nice try, but you don't get to know that unless you're planning on swapping it for finally telling me a birthday gift idea. Or better yet, if you're gonna formally ask me to the tower instead of just hinting around it.

[ This is Claude's idea of bargaining with the bonus of sidestepping what Dimitri's asking. His actual answer to that: not something he feels like getting into in the middle of a market, even if he thinks Dimitri would understand what his wishes might mean if he said them aloud. Maybe he'd understand them better than he could've hoped for just mere months ago. Possibly even more in the face of Remire and its aftermath.

While the prince ponders that, he'll tug on the other's hand to take him down another aisle. ]

Of course, turning me in to Seteth for yet another lecture is another option, but I think I'd rather show you how to break into somewhere instead.

[ dimitri frowns at those words, simply saying, ] You know that he has a duty to represent the church and safeguard literary works. I don't agree with it, but I understand why he has to do it.

[ because he doesn't doubt that seteth does his work diligently, though he'd be hard-pressed to speak on it at length as to what extent he actually does his work.

in any case, wishes. birthday gift idea. dimitri wants to be petulant because he really doesn't want anything. the birthday gift idea is more stressful, because he feels claude ought to just ... show up and make merry with him. and so on. he doesn't have any particular thing he's hankering for, he has five billion things he also wants to ask claude.

so, he'll take what he thinks is the easier route: ] I am asking you to go to the tower with me.

[ that's good? he's serious about it, as well, so there's no reason why he ought not to offer it. so.

anyway, he walks with him as he is taken to another aisle. ]

Edited 2023-02-19 14:20 (UTC)

[ There's an entirely unsubtle side eye sent Dimitri's way at what feels like a defense of Seteth's safeguarding of the library's contents. Safeguard being one word for it, of course, though Claude's not surprised at the response from the prince. One doesn't come from somewhere labeled a holy kingdom by the Church in question without said understanding even if it's with disagreement. Still - Seteth, the Church, anything tangentially related all falls under things he's not interested in talking about now. Maybe some other time, if there's ever better timing.

His thoughts on the church quickly lose all importance when, with all that princely solemnity, Dimitri does take him up on something he'd much rather talk about. ]

Not even a 'please' to go with that so you must really mean it, huh. [ Paired with putting his best thinking expression on as they keep walking, though the effect is rather ruined by struggling to keep away that grin from earlier. ] I suppose when you put it that way, I accept.

[ More like whatever level there is above accepting that's instant agreement, really. But acceptance also comes with lacing his fingers through Dimitri's to link their hands together a little bit more, as if there was ever any doubt the answer would be otherwise despite the nonchalant phrasing and the teasing. The aisle they're in proves to be nothing particularly eye catching at first and Claude nearly steers them to another one, but then: turns out it borders the stands with dried meat promised so he pulls Dimitri there next.

And when it's not just one or two kinds or seasonings but a variety of them, time to turn back to the prince. ]

Alright, I chose everything with cheese last time, so you're in charge of this one. What'll it be that we're trying today?

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Dead dove, do not eat.

DYSFUNCTIONAL

i'm still laughing about that notif bc i knew dimitri was gonna go Challenge Accepted

he's just a menace

they're the spiderman meme of pointing at each other when it comes to being menaces tbh

truly

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IM ALIVE just ... le tired

you're fine!! it's been A Week for me so i'm there with you tbh

I'M STILL ALIVE!!!

same i am... crawling through things... but here!

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crawls slowly as the holidays eat me alive, merry crimbo

BIG SAME merry crimbo indeed

i'm around, i just moved jobs + places im busy! and slower than usual :(

no worries!! take all the time you need <3

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