bakerstreet | Old timey

Old timey

Proper COURTSHIP

You can't deny you're interested in this person romantically, but normal, modern "dating" is not on the table. Whether you call a more classical or classical fantasy time period home or you're simply a sucker for the traditional, a courtship is what the two of you are about to enter!

Comment with your character, preferences, etc. You can OU, AU, what have you.
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Depending on what culture, era, and style of courtship you think would be interesting to play out, there are many different guidelines and traditions. Feel free to get inspired!
Is it an arranged courtship, or did everyone involved enter because they wanted to and it was their idea? That's up to you. You're also welcome to play this as the obvious shippy, bromantic, awkward, or something else entirely.

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( Hello! Just wanted to slide an interest check here, and see if you were interested in a thread with this guy. I was thinking potentially a Fate based AU with Edelgard as a mage, or a 3Hopes AU for Kiritsugu if you'd prefer. Lmk what you think, and I can pitch up a starter accordingly. :> )

( i will admit that i'm not very familiar at all with the fate/ canon, though i'm certainly open to a thread regardless! a 3hopes au may be easier for that reason. )

[I'm not very knowledge about FE in general but I've really enjoyed what I've seen of many of the characters. I'm open to AUing Alice as best as I can into canon or going on some fantasy AU instead if you like.]

( if it helps i'm canon blind on pumpkin scissors as well but i'm more than willing to work with either au, a quick thing to mention is he's royalty but he's quite harsh on himself actually too over things he did. )

[No worries, friend. I'd be more shocked if you knew Pumpkin Scissors, haha.

Alice is extremely hard on herself as well, I figured they would have that in common at least. She has a very self-sacrificing view on what noblesse oblige means. She's not royalty in canon but considered part of the nobility, hailing from a family with a long military history and all about upholding that herself.

How about a nice generic fantasy AU then? I'm more than happy to bang up the starter!]

Edited 2024-01-16 06:16 (UTC)

( you actually aren't wrong that he would relate heavily to her on that, with his own view on noblesse oblige and his own wish to uphold what he believes is justice not just as a noble but as himself too.

of course! i'd love that just fine too! )

[Alice was skilled in a great many things -- tactics, swordplay, negotiations. If asked she could readily demonstration the difference between offensive and defensive maneuvers, could repeat specifics about wars stretching past and present and spoke frequently enough of her ideals on the aftermath of said wars. She knew her family's place amongst the nobility and through her military efforts sought to represent them as a daughter they could be proud of.

Courtship was not one of the things she was skilled at. Most socialization wasn't either, not in a casual way. She was more at home in uniforms than she was in gowns, even if she still held a straight enough proper posture now that she was in one. Her sisters are somewhere mingling somewhere or other, having left the pair alone as they had planned to do hours earlier. When Alice hadn't seemed to understand the need for 'alone time' in courtship Sophice had mumbled something about, "That poor man."

Alice is awkward from the start. She's not embarrassed or shy, not trying to play coy or any number of other things that might make her seem more charming in some way. Instead she starts off with an apology, ill-timed perhaps but something she seems to need to say.]

I apologize. I'm not very good at this.

[Blunt maybe but clearly not meanly meant. "This" could many any myriad of things -- courtship, socializing in general, doing much else beyond military work. It was all equally true after all. She had grown up so isolated, just her and her grandfather among stacks of books and war stories being told and retold.]

(Awkwardness, he knew awkwardness. He even is quite awkward, in just about how he stands and moves no matter being used to such things. As a man of nobility and royalty, Dimitri was often times subjected to this. Dressed up in a suit that accentuates his form and everything of black and blue, his hair tied up to show his eye patch in a quite messy ponytail but that was just minor details of the matter about his appearance. Of the Blaiddyd, Dimitri stands as the proud remaining son of them who was supposed to be like his father before him finding love; but that was not easy for him nor would it ever be.

For a moment he did notice that her family had intentionally been setting them up. Likely as a thought that it would do them best. His friends had done similar with Sylvain muttering quietly to Dimitri that he can do this and things would go well enough. To chin up given that he can't just hide away in a quiet corner from everything and everyone as a man of his stature. A pity he hadn't realized that everyone else knew of his harsh life up until then.

Of suffering and of him plainly and firmly believing that he ought to just accept that he would be alone. That a sinner like him would deserve that much only for her apology to catch his attention. It was enough to cause him to actually relax more, no, he has a small idea on what she means by that. Too easily if he were honest more.)

No, you needn't apologize, even if I am used to these things, I honestly found I preferred something less....stuffy for lack of a better term.

(Like if he wasn't putting that abnormal strength of his to use, he liked reading just like her. Genuinely he preferred helping others too even if it meant that he would suffer more even as he fidgets just a little in turn.)

Don't tell anyone, but I actually often times considered sneaking out of these events and just finding something else to do. Like heading out to the fields even if my clothes would get dirty or the training grounds if there's any.

(A beat.)

A-at least in the latter case because I do find some manner of joy in sparring.

Edited 2024-01-16 21:38 (UTC)

[That seems to do the trick for Alice. Just as her apology made him relax Dimitri's own confidential confession makes her posture slack just a touch.]

As do I. The ability to hone one's skills and see them grow ... I think calling it a source of joy is very apt. I haven't often sparred outside of school but it was certainly an incredible experience.

[Of course what she thought of as 'incredible' was often times not so much for her partners. She's all of five foot and a noble lady at that, no one ever quite expected her to come at them the way she did.

Her hands fold into her lap as she smiles a little.]

Dirt on clothing washes out in the end. Does being out in the field bring you equal joy as well?

(Good. Finding something for common ground is more helpful, he didn't like to leave things tense and awkward. As surprising as it is, he felt far more comfortable whenever the conversation itself is loose and flowing; reminders of titles was never his thing even as he finds himself smiling. His strength can be quite the frightening factor but he would do his best were it to happen to not necessarily hurt her too much though he knows not to judge people by just their looks alone.

After all, Felix still can catch him off guard though it did cause that eye of his to light up. It's not every day that he does get to speak about these things with someone that felt similarly, especially someone of nobility.)

Heh, if we do try to then I'll try not to let my strength cause too many problems.

(He rather not let it be that difficult, even if some might be more surprised he was willing to spar with a lady of nobility. Though he has a small feeling Ingrid would be annoyed by those around them who look down upon women who take up the sword and more once he mulls over her question.

She's not wrong, it did help put him more at ease. He could clear his head and simply take in the sights down to a much needed walk if he were able to have it; it can however cause problems were anyone to realize he was missing. Especially since he had dealt with his fair share of lectures from that.)

It can, often times I prefer it more to politics and the like. If it's a fight then I'll do what I must, if it's fieldwork or a simple walk then I enjoy it a lot.

Your strength wouldn't cause problems in sparring. It would be something I would need to be prepared for, yes, but not something to be ignored or seen diminished. It is a part of you after all and what you would bring to any fight.

[The way she says it so matter of factly almost makes it seem like she underestimates it. His strength isn't precisely a secret however so one can't say she's ignorant of it.

Alice turns a look to the rest of the room. They're not precisely in private, more tucked away in a corner and shuffled together through a combination of her family and his friends. No one seems to be paying them much mind though she she turns his way soon after.]

Would you like to go on a walk then?

[Surely that's allowed in this whole courtship thing her sisters seem so bent on, isn't it?]

That is true. I only apologize ahead of time were anything to happen, although if I have to replace anything then I can as well.

(He won't of course stop her from that. Though, he did take note that the two of them were being ignored just enough that they genuinely could find something better to do. Enough of it to just take their minds off this sort of attempt to push them together even if Dimitri would admit to himself at most that he would love to spend more time with her. Courting like this never was his thing entirely, especially since it was not like he can dance or flirt that well.

With her question, he did laugh a little. Might as well then. He wasn't minding the idea of them just sneaking away though he has a small feeling Sylvain might assume they did something. Likely believing it to be some manner of misdeed that would be out of character for Dimitri enough that it's unlikely. Regardless, he did offer to her his hand to allow her to stay near if she wishes no matter how rough and scarred they are.)

I'd love to, actually.

(Not the most conventional of courting, but he never was completely by the book as of late.)

[The laugh is refreshing honestly. When Sophice and Elise had talked her into this she had thought it would be desperately awkward at the very least. It seemed though they at least had more in common than not.

She pauses only briefly at the offer of his hand and then takes it up. She's at least gently bred enough to understand the gesture as a polite one. Her own hand small as it is is well calloused from handling weapons so often, a display she's rather proud of really.

Once they do reach a door to the outside she breathes out a relieved sigh and then laughs gently herself.]

I'm glad you don't have more of an interest in dancing. My sister Elise says I'm all left feet.

[Until one puts a sword in her hand anyhow. Then she can be graceful.]

(Hand in hand, they walk together. He's slow about pushing the door open to not draw too much attention though it seems fine. They were okay. He does seem to not mind both of them were proud of how far they've gotten with their training; his own with a lance however instead of a sword like her whenever the outside air causes him to feel relief more. Fresh air, it was much better than the atmosphere of them surrounded by nobles and trying their hardest to seem 'normal' enough.

He has more scars than just his hands but he was not going to show them so soon. Not even as he did at her comment realize they have another thing in common. His dancing was not the greatest. Dimitri was terrible at it outside of Edelgard's assistance in teaching him to a degree just so he could look alright enough without some manner of issues coming from it.

At least not him stepping on feet unintentionally this time, even if he isn't the most graceful of men unless it's his own footwork with his spear. Similar to her more though he didn't know that at the time.)

I can't dance that well either, actually. It's funny how I'm the one expected to dance at these events and yet I'm prone to avoiding it for my own sanity.

(Might as well joke at his own expense, right?)

It's well meant I'm sure. You are very well-know after all and people whether at parties or in the battlefield often look to those in charge to be lead.

[She gives his hand a friendly squeeze now, a show of sympathy.]

I'm only lucky in that the lady is rarely the one leading.

[And that's also her downfall. In the "dance" of a fight it's rarely two people working together the way one does with a dance.]

That is true, as a leader I do what I must to ensure that those under me are alive and well regardless of what happens. As a dancer however....well....there's much to be desired.

(Still, he did squeeze her hand back in return with reminders to himself to not put too much strength into it. He rather not do something unintentionally here as he starts to wonder just about if he could ever improve at that. Maybe not right now or any time soon, but he did feel more comfortable not going near the idea of dancing if he could help it.

There wasn't much he can do about it but he did quite truthfully feel as if he has a kindred spirit here. What, given they both are of similar backgrounds and interests. It was still nice.)

Heh, if we do wind up eventually dancing I'll at least apologize for not being the most graceful.

(And maybe later if they were to spar, he knows he'd enjoy that too.)

Gracefulness in dancing is subjective, so my sisters tell me.

[No. No it's not, Alice. Grace is definitely not subjective, it's just your sisters trying to get you to dance.]

We could always spar instead though. I'm sure people wouldn't mind a demonstration of your skills in a fight or in a dance.

[Then she gives a hum, glancing over to him and peering upward.]

I don't imagine our heights will make dancing too difficult either.

[What about the sparring, Alice? Apparently she thinks she can overcome that no problem?]

Somehow I feel like I missed something, since my step-sister would laugh at my missteps and correct them over it gently.

(Yes, he will in fact admit that Edelgard found it funny. As for why, that will remain a mystery even as he thinks over her words, well she wasn't wrong. They would likely all find the sight of them sparring together as being the bigger surprise. Because of course Dimitri would not do such a thing in a conventional means, though that's something best left to himself even as he keeps his eye on her.

It isn't that he's underestimating her as well either. He is curious, were they to go this far then it would be a nice change of pace. Though he finds that he might genuinely enjoy the chance to do really anything with her and not just for them to fight one another. Relating to someone even in things such as a lack of skill as a dancer and quite truly not enjoying the stiff atmosphere of the higher class despite them both being nobility was already enough to help.)

Ah? I see. I don't think either would be difficult, though I am not sure if they'd want to watch us like this....maybe another time were we to spar?

(Because of course he'd like to keep seeing her.)

Although I also feel like if we were surrounded by nobility more often that both of us might go insane.

(Was that a joke, Dimitri? Even if he sounds so serious about it.)

[Mmh. Alice tilts her head some, expression sheepish.]

... I admit, I'm not very skilled at most social interactions. Including the nobility. The standards are quite different from what is expected of the common individual.

[Raising a hand to rub at the back of her neck she admits:]

I was actually aiming at military service. The cavalry is a tradition within my family. My father has been somewhat amenable to the idea.

[As parents often do though within the nobility they would rather a daughter marry well than go into the military. She can't fault him for that given she'd grown up chiefly with her grandfather and her opportunities to socialize were limited.]

[AUs, canon and crosscanon welcome. Feel free to go more fantasy if you like!]

[AUs, canon and crosscanon welcome. Fantasy is encouraged and welcomed.]

[ if you are comfortable with it? not sure what age you are playing her but that is a thing in consideration ]

[Sure, lay it on me. In Return to Labyrinth she's a ripe old 28! I'm open to fiddling with her age though if need be.]

[ info. tldr; actress from the 1880's who has gone to painstaking, immoral lengths to get where she is and will go even further to stay ahead. ota for shipping and gen. ]