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[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-15 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[all that byleth does at the returning jabs is smile, never uttering a word. dimitri speaks the truth that he has grown much stronger, but she has also seen him when he fights and has been able to see the errors that leave him open and vulnerable.]

[she, too, takes a sword from the rack and puts down the items on her person that would otherwise detract from her movements.]


Yes, let's see.

[these are the words she offers him before they begin their training. she takes a moment to give him a few pointers on his stance, on his hold of the sword, and the general movements he implements when swinging the blade. soon enough it is time for them to spar, and although a lot more challenging than five years ago, it sure looks like...]

[...dimitri is with his back on the ground, the training sword's tip at his throat, and byleth's boot on his chest.]

[she breathes heavily from the exertion, looking down at him with a sly, little smile.]


Do you concede defeat?
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[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-15 05:08 pm (UTC)(link)
You got distracted.

[she offers with a smile as she pulls the sword away from biting at his neck. taking a step back, she offers her hand to help get him back on his feet. his concurrent reactions towards the situation are not something she puts too much stock on, halfway familiar with how defeat can make one feel like they cannot look their opponent in the eye.]

[pride was a friend of hers when she was younger, thinking she could take on her father with ease.]


Your stance did improve significantly, though.

[up he goes, and byleth pats him at the back in an effort to remove the dirt there. pride she no longer needed, when her heart was filled with things that took more import now, like her students.]

I look forward to the day when I will learn from you.
Edited 2019-11-15 17:09 (UTC)
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[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-15 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[byleth waits for dimitri, ready to ask him if he's up for another round of sparring, but finds instead that he's asked her a question of a situation she had barely considered since waking up and gathering everyone back at the monastery. they have been through a lot of twists and turns during this way, it's at this point—undeniable the fact that the war will come to an end, perhaps sooner than expected.]

[it gives her pause, and while the consideration that they may all part ways puts a heavy stone in her stomach and makes her feel nervous.]


We will see an end to it.

[it's what comfort she can bring, to herself and to others, but her words are somewhat tight. she nods, however, urging him to continue.]

What do you wish to know?
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[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-15 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[she knows what dimitri asks, and she hates to see the somber look his expression takes on, like he's being haunted by whatever answer he expects to get. it's true that her life was nothing but that of a nomad, a mercenary questing for riches and fights. now, however, it's different—so much different, even if she cannot pinpoint what exactly has changed to make her breathe so uneasily about any idea that would force her to change from her current path.]

[she considers, then, the to-be king, and sighs softly.]


I don't think I can.

[is what she ultimately resolves her answer to be. there is much that she has learned about herself. about sothis. about what her role will be in the church of seiros. seteth does remind her constantly of it and how her fate is intrinsically bound to it.]

[byleth's answer seems to be lacking something, however, like a real want for it. perhaps like it's something imposed on her and she sees no other path out of this obligation.]
Edited 2019-11-15 18:27 (UTC)
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1/2

[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-15 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[—!]

[dimitri rephrases and byleth finds herself stumbling back in prepared, cautious answers. much as she knows others care for her, her opinion was sought after because of her expertise and power. little has there ever been much consideration for her own thoughts on a more personal scope.]

[and dimitri speaks in such a way that makes it seem easy and more than perfectly fine for her opinion to be unlike what is expected.]
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[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-15 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I—

[she doesn't find her voice, and after a paused moment she speaks up again.]

I want to be with everyone. I don't want to lose this.

['this' — this feeling of home, of familiarity, of friends. of being wanted and respected, but most of all, loved. selfish as her wishes may be, these are truly her own.]
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[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-15 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[she nods at his words, at his understanding of the circumstances they'll both be in. she won't be the only one who will lose this feeling of community, stationed at the monastery as they are. there is, however, a flicker of recognition when dimitri starts speaking more—personally.]

[her eyes widen momentarily, the memory of the goddess tower, five years ago, resurfacing for her as well.]


With you.

[she repeats... to clarify. then byleth blinks once, twice—and she looks up at him.]

I have long pants.

[for the cold, she means. and although the answer seems rather devoid of any indication of, well, any relevance to the offer imposed, it does speak of her willingness and enthusiasm towards the idea.]
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[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-15 07:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I have long pants in my room.

[she clarifies without putting much stock on the question, or how much of a dumbass dimitri really is. ah, her star pupil. byleth does, at least, try to clarify with an easy hand motion.]

For the cold.

Do you wish to see them?

[this is the kind of twist this conversation isn't expected to take, but truth be told, the invitation has her feeling a little lightheaded and a lot relieved. who would say no to the king of fhirdiad if he made a decision about things now?]
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[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-15 07:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[byleth already sets a brisk pace towards the dormitories, stopping only when dimitri questions her again for clarification. the look she gives him is somewhat puzzled, as if it's somehow crazy that it's not clear enough that she wishes to go with him? must she really spell it out?]

[a flush enraptures her cheeks as she nods.]


I want to go with you, Dimitri.

[in case she needs to clarify the whole 'you' being singular you, not plural you...]

[and she turns again, hurrying over towards the dormitories yet again.]
Edited 2019-11-15 19:53 (UTC)
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[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-15 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
That way you will know that I am more than ready for the cold.

[she skips up the two steps which lead up to her dormitory. many of these rooms are no longer in use, their previous occupants no longer part of the militia that runs in the monastery. regardless of the fact, byleth swings the doors open to her room and heads inside, fetching through her draws to pick out and unfold what would be ... pants.]

[turning around, she presents them to him, fitting in black.]


I have more of these, too. Laundry day will not be a problem.
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[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-15 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[she does realize that, but she also figures that long pants would be a start, separate from her usual combination of shorts and boots. it is only after dimitri's approval that she folds the pants back and sets them aside on the table, before considering his advice.]

What would you recommend?

[a tilt of her head follows, because while she has her own ideas, why not hear from someone with actual experience on the matter?]
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[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-15 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Hm.

[she pauses in consideration, nodding at his words. pants, gloves, and a cloak. she wonders where she can get any of the latter two that would be good enough for withstanding that kind of inclement weather while they remain in the warmer lands of fodlan.]

I will have to make sure I get all those items you've recommended, then. [—although] I doubt I can find a cloak like yours. It's specially tailored, isn't it?
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[personal profile] heartburn 2019-11-16 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
Match.

[she repeats quietly, curiously, mostly to herself. she doesn't mind dimitri stepping inside; the invitation was always there, and his presence is now a source of comfort, now that the worst of storms have passed and he has returned to what his former self was like, despite the skeletons clutching tight onto the cloak that drags after him.]

[byleth likes the idea, too. of matching.]


You won't get cold? [questioning this momentarily, she takes a step forward towards him. a hand on his shoulder presses down onto the gray and black fur.] I think it's a bit too big for me. [a raise of her eyebrows.] Just a bit, though.

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