#( SYLVAIN. » THREADS. )

[bourgeoning]

in  spite  of  relaxed  stance  ,  he  observes  the  dancers  with  divided  attention  .  "  we  have  a  similar  dance  at  court  .  "  head  tilted  to  the  side  ,  sylvain  leans  just  a  bit  closer  to  @monarhrh  @succiducus  @thenxghtwemxt  @thcrnedthrones  @whispcrings  next  to  him  ,  so  as  to  be  heard  over  lively  crowd  ,  music  ,  and  cheers  .  "  i  would  join  in  ,  but  i  fear  i  would  confuse  one  for  the  other  and  embarrass  myself  entirely  .  "  a  partial  truth  ,  as  court  dances  are  his  least  favorite  aspect  of  nobility  .  in  truth  ,  though  ,  the  names  tied  to  french  nobility  among  the  accused  are  at  the  forefront  of  his  mind  ;  what  that  might  mean  for  him  as  their  peer  .

[andessence]

@polarean // continued.

Moritz holds the bedpost fast in her clammy hands as she watches him think and make comforting overtures at her like one coos to a frightened, cornered animal. ‘It is not bad to be who you are.’ Her knuckles are white from her grip. Does he really believe that? Moritz has about a thousand reasons to hate who she is, all backed up by the ire of her schoolmasters, the disappointment of her parents, and the rejection of her home, and all of these without anyone ever having to know what she is now, dressing up like a girl alone in some boardinghouse room in the dead of night to admire her own reflection. The stupidity had been fault enough to make her see that being who she was could indeed be bad. ———— But no matter how resolutely she attempts to reconcile herself to this sour truth, a craving for acceptance keeps her hoping it could be otherwise. It makes her wish that, for all her protests, Sylvain won’t stop trying to comfort her.

Melchior had once made her see that this was the nature of girls — to fight off a good thing as long as they could, and eventually to be won over, in spite of themselves. That’s the best proof she has that she’s a girl, deep down; she can’t help fighting off the good things she most needs.

Sylvain is looking at her dress — (It was Mama’s dress, and heaven only knows what she thought when she noticed it was missing. Did she discover the theft right away, or only days, maybe weeks after her son flunked out of school and disappeared? Surely she would have been too embarrassed to mention it except to Moritz’s father ... if the two of them even spoke about Moritz anymore and had not disowned her, leaving her name a taboo in her childhood home.) — but Sylvain is looking at it and he is asking her something about it that she doesn’t understand. 

“How to...? Sorry.”

She does not step back out from behind the corner of the bed, but her weight shifts, and she leans out, the skirt rustling, as if she might come forward.

[txnichtgut-archive]

continued from here / @morifactory

of course it would leave her flustered. he thought it was kinda cute, perhaps a little amusing. iris hadn't changed these years, did she? it was perhaps only him to grow up and forget about his flirty nature. he didn't put it completely aside. it had become a very part of his being, but he didn't go around chasing girls anymore. after all---after all this was over---he'd have to take over his father and become the lord of his home. he had never been insanely proud about his family, especially the fact that his mum was chosen only to give birth to a male with a crest. still, his mum was still alive and he'd see to her safety.

"one day i will have to settle down with a woman that... hopefully falls in love with me." he pushed his hands against his waist. that was perhaps wishful thinking.

"if you mean i go around flirting like 5 years ago, i'll have to say no." a hand reached up to scratch his cheek before he sighed. "if you're asking if my flirting is meant entirely serious, then i also have to say no. what i had been saying though---that was indeed what i think about you. you're desirable in each aspect. i wish you'd see it that way, too."

[goldoanheart]

Yes, It is I Lady Lyndis... and Her Loyal Knight Kent?

When you break the news about the imposter lords to one of the villages, they naturally react in horror and shame for being deceived. However, something goes awry when the message is passed along to the village elders. A miscommunication down the line leads these leaders, half-blind and three-quarters-deaf, to believe that you are the “real Lyndis”. Whether you are or not, there is little you can do to convince them otherwise, and so they demand you make things right. [Grants +1 Authority]

mission board starter for @cavalry

Look, Kurth wanted the villagers to know the truth, that they were being deceived and all that, but he hadn’t expected them to instantly turn their gaze upon him as soon as they had heard the news. Sure, he was technically a king, but he had no idea how to deal with something like this! He only knew vaguely of Lady Lyn, from seeing her around the academy, but he had no idea what she was really like! How could they possibly ever expect him to be her?! And like, he was clearly too short too. Probably. To be fair, he had only ever seen her sitting down and from a distance.

Either way, he racks his brain, trying to think of anything he knew about her. Ladies had knights, right? Or at least ones who weren’t raised in sequestered castles knowing nothing about the world outside. He remembers maybe seeing her once with a ginger knight, though he can’t recall the man’s name, if he had ever known it all. Luckily for Kurth, he has one of those to make the act all that much more convincing. Even if it is Sylvain of all people.

He bows politely before the elder, who is clearly blind enough to not be able to tell that Kurth is not a woman, smiling tightly and putting on the best air of dignity he can manage. He gestures towards Sylvain, as a way of both urging him to come closer and as if he is introducing him. If he was to act as Kurth’s knight, then he couldn’t be standing so far away! A knight always seemed to be by their lord’s side. At least, that was what Kurth assumed it was like. He’d only ever had a bodyguard, Gareth, not a true knight.

“I promise you we will make this right my good sir. I am the Lady Lyndis, and this is Kent, my knight. Just tell us what you wish for us to do and we will happily aide you. I would hate to see you suffering from any harm my imposter caused you.” That had to do the trick! Hopefully...

Now he just had to keep this up for who knew how long.

[furysburn]

❝ you know, that moment before you die is such a gift. because you get to choose what goes through your head. what your last song will be. ❞ | ( TOVA & SYLVAIN ) | @barovkin

" Kind of a morbid topic to bring up during a war, don't you think? "

The castle was silent and it made the hairs on the back of Sylvain's neck stand on end. He aimed for funny, posing with his hand on his head trying to draw attention to the muscles that grew from training and play fights in the yard. He pushed up against the exhaustion and pain such a pose made those same muscles scream with;

" I don't know about any song in my head but I'll try to keep your name on my lips. How romantic is that, yours being my last words ? "

[mamoritxi]

"since  it  his  decision,  shouldn't  he  decide  like...  soon?"  sylvain  scratched  his  chin.  it  was  ludger's  life,  so  it  also  was  his  decision.  did  he  really  just  want  to  live  out  his  life  just  like  that?  it  was  sad,  but  sylvain  could  understand  such  a  decision.  he  also  once  wanted  nothing  more  than  to  disappear  off  the  face  of  the  planet...  but  he  didn't  want  that  for  ludger.  he  was  a  sweet,  dedicated,  hard  working,  smart  and  kind  boy.  he  deserved  so  much  better.  the  red  head  sighed  softly.  in  the  end  he  would  accept  ludger's  decision,  but  the  pain  would  still  remain,  probably.

"oh,  he  reads  such  books?  i  didn't  know."  sylvain  chuckled  softly.  no,  he  did  not  expect  that.  the  soldier  was  often  in  the  library,  but  mostly  to  discuss  strategies  and  past  events  with  his  comrades,  not  to  study  romance  novels,  though  he  had  gotten  a  glimpse  at  books  which  weren't  allowed  at  the  library  for  way  too  much  intimacy.  maybe  he  should  slip  ludger  one  to  make  his  intentions  clear...  sylvain  tapped  his  chin,  wondering  if  that  was  a  good  idea  or  if  ludger  would  run  away.

sylvain  tilted  his  head.  oh,  how  he  hated  balls.  "that's...  in  about  a  week.  guess...  i  will  stay  curious  then."  he  was  usually  the  one  rejecting  people,  even  if  they  spent  the  night  with  him,  but  if  ludger  really  made  his  move  on  someone  else.  the  redhead  couldn't  help  running  a  hand  through  his  hair,  nodding.  yes,  that  shit  would  be  awful.

"time  to  wait."

or  send  ludger  at  least  something  cute  meanwhile.

"The damage is reversible in theory," Julius says as he fiddles with his glove. "But treatment requires Ludger to undergo an unknown procedure for an ailment that's a twisted myth made real. I've considered asking Hanneman for help, however..." His desperate raving abruptly stops as Julius lets out the faintest of sighs. "I can't keep making decisions for him. These last years are his to live, not mine."

To think he almost let a secret slip so easily... Julius can curse himself for it later; moping about it invites questions he can't answer.

Onto pleasant matters, Sylvain's answer saved him from an untimely demise. Should anyone sweep Ludger off his feet in a moment of passion, his kind little brother wouldn't raise a fuss until after the deed is done. Ludger's sympathy is like a warm blanket on a chilly Pegasus Moon night: it only brings comfort to anyone under its embrace. But that blanket does have a protective older brother who'd happily die protecting it.

"You're not wrong, although there's an additional reason you might not guess," Alas, as a big brother, Julius knows Ludger's hobbies... including certain books he likes. "Ludger's always wanted to be the one who pulls someone in for a passionate kiss like the climax of a romance novel. But naturally that dream requires a lot of courage my brother's heart isn't equipped to handle yet."

And should Ludger somehow manage, his romance's tragic conclusion awaits upon Edelgard's signal. While he appreciated Sylvain's affinity for his brother, Julius doesn't envy the hidden walls within walls Sylvain has to climb for Ludger's hand.

"As for dating... my brother mentioned waiting for the Ethereal Moon's ball to make his move on 'someone'. On who, I can't say-- he just asked me not to wander off. But you should keep the date in mind. Just in case."

[furys-burn]

.Sylvain Gautier Tags

»💔—Sylvain Gautier |  MUSINGS. 

»💔—Sylvain Gautier |  THREADS. 

»💔—Sylvain Gautier |  ANSWERED. 

»💔—Sylvain Gautier |  GEN. 

»💔—Sylvain Gautier |  V: Getting angry doesn't solve anything (Canon)

»💔—Sylvain Gautier |  REL. | Lying in the bed I made (Dorothea) 

»💔—Sylvain Gautier |  REL. | In eyes once familiar (Dmitri)

[duck-newton]

Ned being in the Pine Guard is so funny and interesting to me because like

Duck and Aubrey are both inexplicably intertwined with Sylvain. The threads of fate have been pulling them toward Sylvain and the Pine Guard since they were born. Duck through Minerva, Aubrey through having the essence of Sylvain inside her. No matter how hard they tried to run from it, they were always going to end up there.

Meanwhile Ned accidentally met Bigfoot, and now he's here, too.

[txnichtgut-archive]

@ofstarsandskies°•*⁀➷ DOMESTIC INTIMACY PROMPTS | CLOSED

╰┈➤ ❝ [ [ HUG ] sender embraces receiver, burying their face in receiver’s chest / To Sylvain from Ludger C: ]  ❞

"hey lud---" sylvain was certainly caught off guard when ludger suddenly embraced him, even rubbing his cheek against his chest. "i don't have anything against cute young boys embracing me, certainly not---but what's the ocassion?" the last battle went fairly well, sylvain could handle himself in a fight. he may seem a little brainless at times, given his reputation, but sylvain understood battle tactics and strategies quite well. given his interest in history, he had even studied them closely, being able to understand formations with just a simple look.

nothing he'd boast about though. being a nerd certainly did not appeal to woman after all. "you also want a welcome back kiss?"

[gloriousncss]

Though young of face and sharp of mind, Tatiana remained level-headed and nearly stoic around the wounded, as to not alarm them. Often times, she would resort to sweet banter, grins, sultry smiles just to get them focused on her beauty rather than the very wound itself. Whatever got them to stop panicking, really, was her endgame, and she would use every advantage she could find. "Here, sit, let me look at it," she said smoothly as she took a seat on one of the infirmary beds, "I'll have to change your dressings so it's tighter... the yarrow will stop the bleeding so your arm can begin to heal."

believing  they're  alone  in  the  infirmary  ,  sylvain  starts  at  the  sound  of  another's  voice  ,  though  he  does  his  best  not  to  show  it  .  turning  their  back  to  the  supplies  they've  been  gathering  ,  they  face  the  newcomer  ,  relaxed  and  even - keeled  .  "  you  think  so  …  ?  "  head  canting  to  the  side  ,  they  examine  the  nick  on  their  forearm  anew  ,  noting  the  irritation  around  it  .  "    i  thought  aloe  and  a  different  dressing  would  do  .  but  you're  the  expert  ,  as  you  say  ,  and  i'm  open  to  advice  .  "

[intrepid-mystic-bindery]

Once upon a time, as a wee child, I dreamed of writing a book and getting it published, of seeing it on shelves and hearing of people's reactions and excitement for what I wrote.

One fanfiction in particular is near and dear to my heart, so when I got it into my head to bind one of my own fics, there was really only one clear choice: Green Sarabhas.

The first big decision was whether I'd do the series in four volumes or in one. Because I was making two copies, I opted for one volume because I really didn't want to make 8. 😅 The typesetting was a pain in the neck and the table of contents is four pages long, but we survived.

Shout out to @purplephloxpress for hosting me for a weekend and spending about twelve hours at their dining room table with me, lending me tools I didn't have and helping me troubleshoot such a large undertaking. 🥰 I still need to get one of these punching tools.

This is the first bind where I used book cloth, and it was a dream. I don't know if you can tell in the picture, but the book is sewn with four different colors of thread, one for each section of the fic. I contemplated doing four different colors in the end band too, but that was a step too far for me for this one. 😅

squiiiiiiiiiiish

I bought my own foil quill after playing with phlox's, so I did Claude, Sylvain, and Felix's Crests on the cover.

Now, here's the part I'm arguably most proud of and that made me cry for many different reasons: the dust jacket. I designed it in Canva, complete with end flap summaries and comments from the fics on the back, and printed it on poster board. I had to set my printer and computer to print a custom size paper and print on the non-glossy side of the poster board, but after much trial and error we got there. And when I say I cried, I am not kidding.

This fic was a labor of love, this bind is a piece of my soul, and I gave half of it to @astaraxion because we became friends due to this fic, so be sure to take care of it. 😉 I look forward to losing it together over the revisions and art that I did!

[throwaway-yandere]

Saudade (Yandere!Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd/Reader)

A/n: it has been 500 years since I turned off my brain and wrote something out of pure passion lmao dimitri my beloved <333

Unreliable Synopsis: Circumstances won't allow you to be around the crown prince of Faerghus' side, and it wasn't as if you want to be near him either after allying with House Gloucester. Besides, if there was one person you want from your past back, who else would it be other than your old womanizer best friend? (Cw: yandere themes, violence, war)

commissioned by: @poptartsthings (holy sht thank you for making my first commission to be dimitri fic aaAAHHHHH--)

“You should just send them your letter– say that you’re sorry.”

"Uhuh, but what if he doesn't remember me anymore, Raph?"

"Well," Raphael placed both his hands behind his head, lolling back as he reeled a fish in. "There’s just no way. Based on your stories, I think he’s in love with you, (Y/n). You can't just ignore him forever, ya know?"

You raised an eyebrow, "yes, I can. It's not like there are tons of situations where I need to interact with the crown prince."

"Okay, true... But maaaaaybe you can try eating lunch with him!" Raphael brushed against your shoulder "There's nothing that can get people to open up like a good meal together. Maybe you can steal a seat– oh, and sneak in his favorites on his plate too."

You chuckled softly, "I think that method only works on you, Raph."

"Nonsense!" He said, shaking his head earnestly. "It also works on my baby sister!"

You snorted.

Your housemates are endearing. Truthfully, you never would have expected that it's comfortable in the Golden Deer. Your heart desired to become a Blue Lions graduate like your parents, but familial circumstances or lack-there-of forbade any opportunity. Had life been easier on you, your dorm wall would've sported your family’s blue flag.

And not Gloucester’s.

Since your parents perished in what is now known as the “Tragedy of Duscur”, Count Gloucester assumed responsibility of being your legal guardian. Your parents had always thought of Lorenz’s father as a close ally. Plus, this arrangement was better than living up the frigid north with estranged minor noble relatives who gave you an even more colder shoulder.

However, thread any less carefully around the Alliance, and you might find yourself under his conservatorship forever. You just have to thank the Blue Sea Star that you didn’t bore a crest lest you’d be engaged to Lorenz. Uncle Erwin is a wonderful father to him and he doesn’t treat you with malice either— but of course, he keeps an eye open to morally gray opportunities to exploit your title.

And that includes listing your name amongst the Golden Deers.

At first, you were hesitant in showing that you're an “outlier” in class, but it seems you fit the mold quite easily. Too easily. Not because you had been accustomed to their social norms, it is more like the fawns are oddballs themselves. The youngest was an enchantment waiting to explode, your largest was a total muscle-head, the house leader has a screw loose when it comes to strategic retreat and poisoning, and the rest are just as eccentric.

No one cares if you told them you have an affinity for theater here, and spoilers: they really did not give a damn. Except for maybe when Ignatz genuinely went "oh, that sounds wonderful, (Y/n)!" before the conversation digressed about Leonie's mismatched socks she bought on the market.

Oh, but Raphael and Claude did care when they found out that you might've had a long but faded friendship with at least four of the Blue Lions. Compared to Claude, you trust that Raphael comes from a good place whenever he brings them up. Since he and Ignatz were childhood friends who slowly grew apart, he has your best intentions whenever he suggests something that could reignite your relationship with either Sylvain, Felix, Ingrid, or Prince Dimitri.

Claude, on the other hand…

The house leader first emerged as a shadow, then he sat down and squeezed between you and Raphael, with his arm encircled around your waist. Claude's apparent lack of etiquette went unmentioned by either of you (you suspect Claude is part-Almyran), but you do intend to ignore him later like your "foster brother" does.

"Trading secrets about Prince Dimitri, are we? Won't ya invite poor me along in your little secret meeting?”

You sighed tiredly, "Claude–"

"I was just kidding. No need to give me that face," Claude raised his arms defensively. “My lips are sealed— I never heard a single word between you two, promise.”

The deers were a little leery of your prior association with the crown prince of Faerghus. Claude, who frequently pries into everyone's private affairs, persistently diverted your focus to the Lions. In fact, he once burned your favorite book to forcibly draw your attention to the library so that you'll share the same room with Dimitri. Talk about extremes, really.

But you did notice that there's something off about Claude this time.

“So what brings you here? There’s no way you’ve come here to fish.”

“Yeah, no…” He cringed. “I’d rather do the eating part.”

“Haha, you get it, Claude!” Raphael said before the two men shared a crisp high-five.

Ah, these fawns…

You sighed, “can we skip to the part where you explain why you’re sitting beside me right now?”

“Sure. Leonie wanted me to tell you that Lysithea told her that Lorenz was told by Prof—”

“Do you not know the meaning of “skip”, Riegan?”

“Nah, course I do,” Claude smirked. “It’s just fun to tease people who live in House Gloucester.”

“Sothis, have mercy.”

“As I was saying, Lorenz was told by Professor Byleth to tell you that Sylvain is now part of the Golden Deer.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“… What?”

There was no dramatic gasp. Nothing sensational or derogatory comment was elicited from impetuous lips. You simply blinked and said the words "what? as if it were a simple joke. Claude needn’t explain that those were facts. Based on how he approached with worry written on his face that he failed to hide from you, he wasn't jesting.

You're reluctant to speak with Sylvain. You last spoke to him in earnest four years ago. Don't get it twisted, you do want to get back in touch with that philanderer's good graces, but where would you even start?

Dear Sylvain, I’m sorry for ignoring your letters? Dear Sylvain, I’ll reimburse you for all the theater tickets you gifted before without my consent? Dear Sylvain, I’m a garbage best friend?

… Knowing him, he’d likely frame that letter with careful preservation while the ink from his heaps of love letters faded inside his shelf collection. If you were to send similar letters to the other two, Felix would train to become a mortal savant and burn the letter out of spite, and Ingrid would have simply torn them up.

“WOAH!!!”

Raphael's chest caught your attention for a brief moment, and you quickly avoided him, concerned that those wooden buttons will suddenly protrude into your eyes. Your housemate captured the fish without even feeling his buttons tear apart from his outfit.

Goddess Messenger.

That’s quite an expensive catch right there.

But it felt like an omen for something.

“… I’m heading back to my dorm room.”

“Want us to go with you?” Raphael offered, but he reeked of fish.

“No, I’ll head there alone.”

Claude tilted his head, “Sylvain is probably there, you know.”

“I know,” you nodded. “But I’m tired.”

“I just can’t run away from the lions anymore.”

You should’ve taken your words literally.

Instead, the phrase "I need to get over this, fast" resonated in your thoughts, and you bolted as soon as the impulse to settle everything fueled your anxiety. You should have cared if someone got in your way, but you didn't.

“Ngh—” you flinched, bumping into someone’s back. “Whoops— sorry about that—”

You froze as you looked up.

Great. Just your luck.

“… What is there to be forgiven, (Y/n)?”

And of course, he called you by your first name. Your arguments against Raphael were demonstrably false. A futile hoax. Why even try to imagine that he might have forgotten about you?

Dimitri smiled softly, his eyes crinkling in delight. You gulped shakily.

After all, how can the crown prince ever forget his first love?

Now that you took a good look, his hair was much shorter than how it used to be and he grew positively taller. It’s a haircut you took a while to get used to, especially since you recalled how his hair used to hover near his shoulder. Not that you didn’t know about any of this information already. It’s just that you had to reassess those facts after seeing him up close. Perhaps a bit too close for comfort.

If only your last memories with him were as pleasant as his face.

He wanted you as his consort, but you had nothing to offer him. No land, no worthy title befitting for a king’s spouse, and no true inheritance in your arsenal at age 15. But when one has less to lose, they become more introspective. While clinging to Sothis' statue and pleading for life, they gain wisdom. Unlike the prince, you were not naive to what could befall the kingdom if you were to marry him. Instead, you sought asylum by knocking on Uncle Erwin’s door with the few loyal servants to House (L/n) left, and he accepted your offer after days of consideration.

His name will be tarnished as a young traumatized prince who copes by spoiling a love unrequited. But most of all? The loss of his friends and family would’ve developed his separation anxiety towards you more if you stayed.

The prince was something of a doormat teenager. He begged and nearly cried when you had accidentally slipped out that you’ll be allying with House Gloucester– but stopped his outburst the moment you chewed him out with hurtful phrases. Dimitri clung onto you like an affectionate pup and if his childhood self could latch on for the rest of his life, he would in a heartbeat. Perhaps it was the side-effect of being his first friend. He had always been a genuinely kind person, but he was always so caught up in whatever happened in the past.

Was it rational or heartless to leave him and the rest of your companions behind? Likely both, if you were to ask El.

That doesn't mean you don't occasionally catch a glimpse of him at the officer's academy. It's hilarious how, after Dedue performed his duties as a vassal, Dimitri now had to cope with a situation that was identical to yours. A "protector" so dependent… it was as though you were watching the prince try on your shoes. Your “you don’t have to shield me every time we go to the training grounds” line became His Highness’ catchphrase towards his retainer. And you’re not sure what to feel about that.

Was it comedy or plain karma? Likely both, if you were to ask Claude.

“Good evening, Your Highness,” you bowed. There would’ve been more eyes on you inside the cafeteria if you hadn’t. Gossips of lese-majeste would’ve stirred even Lindhart awake. “Do you require something from me?”

Formal.

Too formal for him, but not formal enough for you.

Dimitri's brows wrinkled, and you briefly saw his lip tremble. His hands were behind his back, and one of them was discreetly and firmly gripping his wrist. That man had a pained, speechless expression on his face, and you don't hold him responsible when words fall short.

But when words do fail, you wished he could just stop talking whenever he feels overwhelmed.

“I…”

I miss you. So much.

You didn’t need to hear it to know what he wanted to say.

Princess Edelgard was right, Dimitri is wholly predictable.

He cleared his throat, ears turning red.

“It had been so long since we had last spoken, has it not?”

“It has.”

“Around 4 years, so I'd say.”

“Hmm. So it has,” you doubt he noticed how your words were curt and redundant, since he's too busy trying not to melt. “So it has.”

“Are you enjoying the Golden Deer house, s-so far?” Dimitri manufactured a smile. “I’ve heard you and Lorenz made for a wonderful tag team at the last House Tournament.”

Bullshit.

He didn’t just “hear” about it.

You saw him cheer for you giddily in that tournament.

There is nothing he can conceal from you. If he were as cunning as Claude, it might take you some time to discover who was responsible for leaving sloppy, "anonymous" love letters inside your dorm. There were also petals tucked inside. Pink camellias, a sign of longing.

“It’s a feat not worthy of your praise, your Highness.”

Seriously, you don’t want to hear him flatter you anymore.

“Simply untrue,” he shook his head earnestly. “I’ve also heard that—… Y… You are fond of Raphael. As a friend— of course. It’s relieving to know that you have many companions from different walks of life— which is to say, I approve of whoever you talk to, but—”

You’re not deaf. You noticed how much his words were about your relations with others. There’s no other interpretation to this other than jealousy.

Still, his face was red. He must be too caught up in the joy of talking to you that he didn’t care for how envious his words sounded. You laughed curtly. You want to remind him the reason why you left, but you can’t explain a thing despite desperately wanting to, just like him.  

Dimitri wants you back, so much so that he's stuttering in every sentence.

But you didn’t reply to his ramblings. Save for the cafeteria hall’s chatter, it was silent. You’ve long accepted in your heart that your family is dead and you ought to coast forward. 

And there’s no future where you will cut through a path beside Dimitri. 

Besides, House (L/n) had histories of trading tactics with Leicester, and you cannot discount how people refer to your blood as sheeple with its loyalty. It’s a double-edged sword, one you’d utilize well if you close your eyes right now and ignored the heartbreak and yearning in his eyes.

And so, you closed your eyes.

“My apologies, I’m in a hurry so I’m afraid I have to get going. Farewell, Your Highness.”

Dimitri's eyes widened, trying to reach for your arm.

“(Y/n), please wait–”

But you were already gone.

“Hey there, (N/n)!”

It was only when you heard a familiar voice did you open your eyes again.

An attractive and familiar young man lazily leaned on one hand on your door, completely blocking your dorm room. “Are you gonna talk to me now, or are you just going to ignore me for the rest of the school year?”

He’s here.

You steeled yourself.

“Gautier…” You exhaled.

“Oof, “Gautier”, they said,” he frowned. “Not a single “I miss you, Sylvain”? No “gosh, sorry I didn’t talk to you for so long, I was just too shy to admit that I was wrong!”?”

You chuckled nervously.

“Perceptive as ever, I see.” But you weren’t wrong. Becoming a Golden Deer was the right path for you.

“Not perceptive, but hopeful really,” Sylvain shrugged. “Based on that reply, I’m glad my wishful thinking was spot on. You do miss me.”

“I do, but I now just realized I’m not prepared for this conversation,” you said, surprised by your upfront and composed anxiety. That talk with Dimitri seriously drained all the energy you garnered earlier. “Can we do this later?”

“No can do. I shall allow you passage if thee speaks from the heart,” he teased with his signature ladykiller grin. “Go on, say it~”

You sighed, burlesquely exasperated.

The two of you adore theater, so talks like these were commonplace. He’d mask his flaws when confessing sins in this manner, but you prefer to hear his real justifications. In any case, this is just another conquest for him to gad off and hunt some girls in another house— and your new professor is undoubtedly a sight to behold.

“Oh, Sylvain, mine dear friend, thou art missed for nearly half a decade, but mine fear did not condone myself to reach out.”

Like two birds of a feather, you also similarly mask your sentimentality.

Funny how you can easily say you miss Sylvain, but not Dimitri.

Sylvain smiled. Genuinely, this time.

“Good.”

The resolution was surprisingly fast. You were willing to bet you both anticipated a serious confrontation– a meeting that feels like a long-awaited class reunion after a war or so. But no.

The two of you are still flawed yet perceptive idiots after 4 years of not talking.

You both laughed in unison.

What were you worrying about anyway? You knew that at this point if Sylvain was angry at you for leaving, he should have grown tired of that emotion.

His primary grudge had always been the crest system, not you.

You should've had this talk earlier, he's the only one in the Blue Lions you were sure won't blame a crestless noble like you for those circumstances.

“Now move, Gautier.”

He stepped aside smugly.

…

You opened your mouth in surprised indignation.

“Why does my room look clean?”

“I had Mercedes help me clean it up the moment I took a look inside. Seriously, I can’t believe you managed to live in a complete pigsty—”

“It’s like you want to sour our reestablished friendship in under 5 minutes, Sylvie.”

“...”

“What? Too old to be called Sylvie nowadays?”

“No, keep calling me that,”

Sylvain never stopped smiling.

“Oh, and by the way? I miss you too, (N/n).”

“… There you are.”

As soon as Sylvain left the hall to your dorm, he was greeted by the sight of the crown prince lingering in front of the stairways. Unlike Sylvain, he was not leaning on anything while waiting. The prince stood straight, dignified.

Then again, Sylvain knew his royal motivations lie in jealousy— and that’s far from “dignified.”

Sylvain can tell from his stiff stance that Claude was particularly touchy-feely earlier, which was exactly why he requested Lorenz to relay the message instead rather than the house leader. His Highness must’ve seen how close you sat beside Raphael and then Claude. The Golden Deer's leader knew Dimitri was obsessed with you— he probably intended to provoke him for the upcoming Battle of Eagle and Lion. It didn't help that Dimitri had his eyes on you, always. If not him, then Dedue.

Not that Claude's scheme will work. Dimitri was satisfied just to see you smile, even when it pains him to acknowledge that it wasn’t for him or because of him.

Sylvain is an exception to that rule.

Dimitri had a cold glint in his azure eyes, but his gaze all but glared at Sylvain. He had a smidgen of control, for now. But it’s not long until what Sylvain had prophesied about the crown prince quipping a remark or two about staying away from you will occur.

“Waiting for me to explain my random decision, I’m guessing?”

“Oh, I simply liked standing here but sure, Sylvain! I’d dearly love to know the rational thought behind switching houses out of the blue. It is not as if Felix and Ingrid were worried about you,” Dimitri generously gave his princely smile.

Sometimes, Sylvain forgets it was physically possible for someone so austere with himself like Dimitri to say something laced with malicious sarcasm. But Sylvain knew Dimitri stood there because he was still worried about his friend, even when he pretends to be unbothered.

Like bread and butter, Dimitri and forced positivism complement each other disastrously well. The Blue Lions often caught him murmuring things like "I'm delighted (Y/n) is making new friends" or "I hope Claude continues to treat them well" despite having a glum expression on his face, obviously bottling up his envy. Felix finds it as easy as breathing to call him out on this behavior: "Why bother stalking them when you can't handle the envy you feel when they hugged Lorenz or held hands with Marianne? ”

His Highness never answered that question. He thinks had kept his feral thoughts at bay most of the time and will continue to do so.

Still… Raphael, Claude, and then Sylvain… Dimitri can’t catch a break.

Why do all these men keep approaching you?

Will you never recognize the perpetual anguish that befall him the moment you didn't reach for his hand and took Count Gloucester's that day? Have you no sympathy for the man that promised your protection— for the boy you trained and sneaked out when you thought the king wasn't looking? Whenever he wakes up the following morning without you, do you not experience the same emptiness and loneliness that he does?

Was it because he is a "troubled prince" nowadays?

Was it because he couldn't taste anything anymore?

Why did you eat saghert and cream with Ignatz instead of him at the cafeteria?

Why did these men have to ruin the one taste he can recall?

He lies awake every night to the sound of phantom screams from fallen soldiers, friends, and family against his hand-covered ears.

But you were his solace. His “God/dess”.

And just like with the Goddess Sothis, he lacked the means to grasp your hand...

If only his cold hands could wring those men's necks as well...

“... Do you really want to know, Your Highness?”

It took Dimitri a while before he snapped out of his trance. His voice dipped low, his breathing uneasy, and his eyes lacked focus.

Sylvain looked at him with pity Dimitri wished you spared him instead.

“Yes,” he exhaled. “It shall help our friends put their minds at ease.”

“Well, well, you're sure it's not because you'll miss me?”

“Sylvain.”

“Okay, fine, I’ll tell you,” Sylvain dreamily gazed up at the sky and boldly proclaimed:

“The new professor was hot.”

“Sylvain!—”

“Calm down, Your Highness! That was just a joke.”

Unlikely.

“I joined because (Y/n) is there.”

Dimitri froze.

The meaning behind those words could either be tolerable or impermissible enough to make the prince push Sylvain to the training grounds without remorse.

Sylvain’s not going to try and suddenly woo you now, will he?

You did grow more gorgeous after four years after all…

But Sylvain can't have you— Dimitri might just lose it. Out of everyone on campus, he refuses to let an adamant skirt-chaser take you.

“… Elaborate.”

“Elaborate? What’s there to elaborate?” Sylvain crossed his arms behind his back, now back to his laissez-faire attitude in life. He cackled to himself, absolutely unrepentant. “Is it bad that I want to reunite with an old friend? You know, before they were your friend, they were mine. Don’t forget that we’re both older than you, Dimitri.”

Multiple considerations led to why Sylvain chose to frolic with the deers rather than squander the school year at the lion’s den. One of these includes avoiding Ingrid’s nagging— he can’t be bothered having a pegasus pecking around while he galavants with (unfortunate) women.

But most of it boiled down to reunite with the one platonic relationship he missed.

Sylvain became Dimitri’s ally through you. Had you not approached Sylvain and Dimitri during one of King Lambert’s birthday celebrations, they wouldn’t have initiated a friendship through a children’s version of a bergamot tea party away from drunken nobility. More opportunities to befriend the prince would’ve likely presented themselves through Ingrid and Felix, but that memory of tiny cups and tea-stained shoes was special because it had you.

Because you were smart and kind enough to drag Sylvain out of his older brother’s schemes of public humiliation under the guise of being “invited” to an audience with royalty.

You were more of a sibling than Miklan ever was.

“By two years,” Dimitri stressed. “You’re only older than me by two years.”

“Your point? Doesn’t change the fact that compared to most students this year, we’re one of the older ones.”

He bit his bottom lip.

Age was one of Dimitri’s insecurities. It cannot be helped— if he were only older, people would’ve listened to his testimony for the people of Duscur more seriously— if he were only older, he would’ve had control over his uncle—

Dimitri’s knuckles grew white underneath his gloves.

If he were only older, then maybe you would’ve stayed by his side.

“What a lark. Are you attempting to compete on who had a better relationship with (Y/n)?”

“No, Your Highness, YOU are.”

Dimitri’s eyes widened. He hadn’t realized that those pointed words he spoke aimed towards himself like a misthrown javelin.

"Let’s be honest, Your Highness. I’m saying this as a friend, but you could be a bit tone-deaf and insufferable around them,” Sylvain deadpanned. “You had some serious attachment issues and you never listen when they tell you to stop with all those creepy comments about protecting them forever.”

“Is… Is that so?”

Dimitri muttered to himself while looking at his shoes, sounding almost broken. He had doubts, but Sylvain’s words practically cemented that you’d be unwilling to spend time with him again.

“Besides, if this were a competition, you lost the moment I waited at their dorm.”

The prince’s head snapped back up like a confused puppy.

“Why is that?”

What a horrible thing to ask.

“Because (Y/n) just told me that they missed me,” Sylvain smirked.

“And if you were there, you could’ve heard them call me Sylvie too, just like the good old days.”

Since that talk with Sylvain, Dimitri wanted to make you as lonely as him.

Oh, how he badly wanted to whisk you away from that house– oh just how much he wished he could force you to wear his cape– to wear the color of the lions.

But none of that matters now.

You look prettier when doused in splattered red.

The soil sipped the blood that drained from Ignatz's head. It reminded you of the time you asked the painter if he could use blood as a dye. If he were to watch this scene, he would've waxed poetic about how he will be simply returning his life to the earth, but the beauty of death is lost on you. The gravity of war weighed far more than the theatrics of what-he-would've-spoken.

It’s been five years since the war started.

You had lost your voice two years ago the moment Dimitri kidnapped you on your expedition to Garreg Mach— you’ve mistaken him for a bandit and in a blind rage, he dealt a massive blow to your neck. Dimitri didn’t mind that you had lost your ability to speak he seemed to relish that you’re similarly deformed. He romanticized both your disabilities often. A “God/dess” who couldn’t speak and a “boar” who couldn’t quite see. What a royal pair indeed…

You can’t say your prayers now, but you hoped thinking about praying for Ignatz was enough…

Ignatz should've turned 22 this year. Based on the way he last behaved, he didn't seem prepared for this war and had been misplaced by Professor Byleth.

You’ll never be able to eat saghert and cream with him again.

You can't remember what tactic you used in this battle. Was it Felix who was assigned to stick ten feet away from you who had slain Ignatz? Or was it Ingrid who rode her pegasus to stab the sniper in a suicidal fashion?

This entire battle is a blur. You can no longer stand straight and aim your sword reluctantly toward anyone.

Why can't everything go back to how it was before? Why can't you just fish at the Great Bridge of Myrddin with Uncle Erwin again?

You wobbled down the grass as a wyvern obstructed your view with its proud albino scales cruising the sky. Claude sits atop, his face stony through a nearly unrecognizable expression of placid anger. His emerald eyes inevitably met yours.

You didn't stand with your sword supporting you, and he didn't draw his bow either. Instead, before leaving to find the bright red target everyone called an "Emperor", Claude mouthed words that only you two could understand. You uttered nothing in response. Even if Claude were to succeed, his scheme would be futile.

Sylvain can’t save you from Dimitri.

Like a fairytale, it begins and ends with the crown prince. It always had.

But if Dimitri was the protagonist of this story, then pray tell, what does that make you?

A damsel in distress?

The king's court jester?

All you ever wanted was for House (L/n) to survive, to preserve your family name and dwindling territory against House Charon. You desired the opportunity to emulate your father. A fearless front-liner and a skilled tactician.

However, you have not taken any real action to end this war. You moved like a weak infantry, unable to maintain balance on one leg or call out for upcoming danger.

You just can’t run away from the lions anymore.

"Get up."

You couldn't move, mortified.

His Highness is back.

"I said GET UP!!!"

His iron-like hands yanked your hair up, and you felt some of it weeded out by his sheer brute force. You wept immediately but held back tears. Despite your commitment to keeping your composure, he had torn away what little hold you had left on what you call "stability." Your knees shook as his tall figure began to drag you away. Each step felt more jagged than the last. Your heart beat erratically as you worried about toppling down– and when you inevitably did, he was there to pick you up.

For Dimitri, this situation was advantageous. Most Golden Deers are here, which meant he had opportunities to route them all. He had already stabbed Ignatz, incessantly. Each draw of his lance— each crack of the artist’s glasses and bones— rejuvenated whatever youth war had stolen from him. The future king of lions couldn’t stop grinning maniacally as his eyes lay upon a deer’s corpse. It was as if his sense of taste was coming back. All of his soldiers and classmates were too terrified to stop his senseless slaughter. If Gustave did not scold him about the oncoming army, he would’ve continued damaging the corpse senselessly.

But it’s only a matter of time until he shoots for the leader of the herd as well.

He still hasn’t forgiven him for using his beloved against him back at the Battle of the Eagle and Lion. This was the perfect opportunity for revenge. Once they’re out of the picture, then it’s only Edelgard left who he had to worry about— but until then, he’ll have to take the deers’ lives for stealing his beloved away.

Shame that Lorenz had yet to be found.

"Tch. Fool."

He cradled you like a bride but gripped your jaw like a hostage. Dimitri's current appearance is much too different from what he used to be. Sweat and blood had greased up his unruly hair, and the blue cloak that was slung over his shoulders was much dirtier.

"I command you to eat."

It was almost sweet. Almost kind when his voice softened for just a millisecond. Almost touching how his one eye gazed upon your sunken features with disdain.

But your appreciation for it all vanished the moment he robbed something from Ignatz's corpse.

"Eat."

He shoved onto you Ignatz's last bloody loaf of bread. It was hard, yet soaked.

Your throat couldn't express how terrified you were upon holding it.

"Gone deaf as well, have we?"

He pushed the bread closer to your chest, effectively crushing it against you. Dimitri breathed against your ear.

"I SAID: EAT.”

Your tears and Ignatz's blood salted your food.

The bread tasted just like the ones Raphael's family had in their inn.

Ignatz… He probably got this from Raphael… Which means he's in Gronder as well…

You sobbed as you took a feeble bite.

Please… Please be safe, Raphael.

Dimitri saw your struggle. He saw your continued concern for those who were after his life and yours. Why do you spare sympathy for the bodies that got in the way between you and him? They did not warrant those tears. The weak must fall— even he too will join them someday.

And so, Dimitri closed his eye.

You’ve gone fragile in his arms, and that was not spoken in a romantic sense. He had fractured your right leg enough to make you use your sword as a cane, yet he insists on dragging you in combat. Time and time again, he forces you to witness what he is capable of and more till you’re unable to write complaints.

Dimitri wanted to reassure you that you’re on the right side of history.

That you can cut a path beside him— you just weren’t trying hard enough before.

And it was a challenge the prince can’t easily scale. You never showed your appreciation for longer than a minute. When he learned how to dance begrudgingly with El after she had poisoned him with thoughts that he could use her teachings someday to dance with you— you dared to ask Sylvain out during the White Heron Cup. When he tried to give you a more fancy dagger as well during El’s parting, you admired Sylvain’s coincidental parcel of theater tickets and tea leaves instead.

Sylvain, Sylvain, Sylvain—

It was always Sylvain.

His entire body shook from laughter. You shriveled in fear as his voice echoed throughout the battlefield.

The beast put you down underneath a tree's shade that he deemed as safe.

… and kissed your forehead.

“I can see him approaching us.”

Dimitri cooed mockingly.

“Shall I decapitate and mount that filthy rat's head on a silver plate?”

You didn’t need to hear him utter his name to know he was referring to Sylvain. It was tempting to challenge him on how he could say such a thing about someone who had once been a friend, but that inquiry wouldn't help. Dimitri cupped your face and wiped your tears away with his rough and heavy hands. You flinch so easily nowadays.

How adorable.

Five years ago, you won't move a muscle whenever he kissed your forehead good night.

Five years ago, he worried about accidentally waking you up and exposing himself for breaking into your dorm so often just to drop his unhinged love letters.

Five years ago, watching you rest allowed moments of respite.

However, it didn’t invigorate him as much as your tears did now.

“Fret not, my fellow monster, I shall fetch it for you,”

He tightened his grip on his areadbhar, scanning the right field. The lance's crest stone glowed, and there was no looking back after that.

You’re here now, and he will NEVER let you leave. He won’t have a repeat of what had occurred when Count Gloucester was present around nine years ago or so. He’ll protect you this time, and it no longer mattered to him if he were a corpse or a monster in your eyes. It mattered not that he no longer slept. He intends to keep you alive and by his side, just like what he had promised in his childhood.

You can't even begin to imagine how much being away from you ruined him.

He had reached the point where he will kill everyone that tried to touch you, and he won’t have someone else do it, too.

Was this love or obsession? Likely both, if you were to ask Lady Rhea.

But what does Rhea know about Dimitri’s mental state anyways? She’s been missing for years now, she might as well be dead to you.

Without thinking, you grabbed his cloak. He patted your head but his eyes were locked on the cavalry unit from afar, and the dark and sinister smirk on his face solidified your fears.

Sylvain approached faster, and you did your best not to cry.

If he dares to fight Dimitri in the state he is now, then he might as well be a dead man walking too.

You wished you didn’t have to join the Golden Deer house— you wished Sylvain didn’t follow suit— and you wish you didn’t leave Sylvain behind. You did not doubt that if it hadn’t been for you, Dimitri would have concentrated only on Edelgard and joined forces with Claude to eliminate her. It would have given this historical period a more coordinated scheme. History won’t have to remember you as the catalyst that made things worse.

"(N/n)!"

You heard Sylvain yell from behind Dimitri, which only made your heart ache more.

It's been years since you last heard his voice again.

Dimitri took your warm hands and brushed his cheek against it, no matter how obvious it was that your eyes yearned for someone else’s touch.

He looked at you with such a soft gaze that you nearly forgot the monster he had become.

“Once we hang his head on our bedroom wall, you have no right to complain about missing “Sylvie” ever again, my beloved.”

[luckydicekirby]

would love any director's commentary you may have on The Only True Thing if slightly older fics are on the table here bc lowkey it changed my brain chemistry forever. I read it on a whim like four years ago at 1 in the morning and ever since then I've been hooked on making all my fav pairings miserable for no reason. this sounds like sarcasm but I'm being completely sincere the schadenfreude is exquisite

okay first of all I’m SO glad to hear this because making your favs miserable is I think one of the most rewarding activities on this earth so I’m really glad I could help share that joy. thanks also to sylvain for just making it so easy. anyway, here’s some assorted thoughts, hopefully some of which are edifying!

(the only true thing for reference for anyone playing along at home.)

this fic affectionately named the darkling au due to this tweet which I feel like I should put in a hall of fame someday. anyway this entire thread showcases the origin of this fic which was me catie and lily bullying each other on twitter about sylvix, a pastime left behind in 2019 which i really miss.

the thing that really first made me Crazy Cuckoo about sylvain is his B support with Byleth--I'm obsessed with that moment where he very coldly threatens to kill you and then laughs it off, and that was pretty much the jumping off point for Sylvain's characterization in this au--what if he was like that all the time? answer: it would be bad, but also pretty sexy!

One thing I miss about writing for fe3h is the hero’s relics were sooo nice as like. shortcut symbolism. the lance of ruin comes preloaded for you! It’s familial cycles of violence! Easy! and there's a mechanic for it breaking ALSO preloaded into the game mechanics! I wrote like three versions of the ending and the lance getting busted moved around a bit--it originally happened a little earlier.

For a while when I was still femblempilled I was idly thinking about two sequels to this—a sylvain pov sequel about the war, which would have been fun but also Yikes, and then epistolary dorothea/ingrid ideological divorce fic. sorry to dorothea and ingrid who really get the short end of the stick in this universe.

oh there's a playlist. I can’t claim to have put a ton of thought into it it’s just all my fav bad ya boyfriend songs <3 actually dead girl walking reprise is like. yeah that's the fic.

ANYWAY. I feel like a lot of my commentary on this has been washed away by the sea (the passage of time) so a few extras. I apparently wrote like 400 words of sylvain POV of the training yard scene also? Last edited September 26th 2019, here you go:

Felix has always been smaller him, ever since they were kids. Still is these days, to Sylvain’s delight. He wondered about it plenty, these past two years--maybe Felix had a growth spurt. Maybe he caught up to Dimitri. Maybe Sylvain would meet him at the monastery and they’d see eye to eye. Of course they don’t. Felix is a head shorter than him, and he’ll never see things the way Sylvain does. Still. Sylvain thought about it. He’s had a lot of time to think about Felix since the last time he saw him, since Felix ran away. Still a crybaby at heart, no matter how sure he was he’d grown out of it. Not much has changed, Sylvain figures. Felix might have everyone else fooled with that delightfully sharp-edged exterior of his--a pretty decent feint, Sylvian should know--but Felix can’t hide from him. Sylvain sees him down to the bone. The two of them are a matched set: liars at heart.  Like right now. Felix is trying so hard not to cry, his back to the wall of the training yard, his grip tight around the wood of his training sword like he’s actually going to use it. Sylvain hopes he will. He hasn’t gotten to see Felix fight yet, really fight. He bets he’s gotten better. He bets he’s elegant and controlled—maybe less so with Sylvain, and wouldn’t that be nice? That’s how it goes sometimes, when Sylvain dreams about their last day together. Felix’s sword at his throat, biting and cold, ending all this before it began. It would have saved everyone a lot of trouble. Sylvain wouldn’t have had to spend such an awfully long time missing him.  He bets Felix could make him hurt. Nothing seems to do that anymore, except for thoughts of Felix, the ones he can never stop worrying at like a bruise.  Sylvain doesn’t want much these days, and maybe that’s why it’s so hard: he wants Felix in a way that aches, delirious and unstoppable. It doesn’t matter so much how. Felix is welcome to cut him open or kiss him quiet or anything in between. As long as he never stops looking at Sylvain like he is now, hateful and just on the edge of tears, so clearly focused on nothing else. As long as Sylvain can have that, the rest doesn’t matter.  That’s love, Sylvain figures; the cheerful facade he gives the girls is nothing. He forgets about a new one every week. But Felix? He’ll be dead someday, and Felix will still have a grip on his heart, as tight as he’s holding his sword and just as dangerous.

and what exists of the sylvain POV sequel I never wrote:

Felix looks like shit. Of course he’s also beautiful. He’s radiant, for all that his hair’s a mess and his face is drawn and he’s got the kind of dark circles that only come from weeks and weeks of exhaustion. He’s Felix, right? He can’t be anything else. “You look like shit,” Sylvain tells him, because honesty is what Felix thinks he wants from him. He hasn’t seen Felix in six moons, but that probably hasn’t changed. “What are you doing here?” Felix asks. His horse stamps her feet and shakes her head, moving uneasily under him. Felix has never been a good rider. It’s clear he doesn’t appreciate his mare, and she doesn’t appreciate him. Sylvain wonders how long Felix has been making his way across Faerghus like this. He wonders if he stole the horse. It’s awful not to know. “Looking for you,” Sylvain says. “They say you’re searching for the king.” Felix never could stop himself from chasing ghosts. Sylvain hates that about him. It’s just as unfair as everything else: it’s the only reason Sylvain is still here, after all.  “I am. And you should be defending Gautier territory.” “Got a message from your father,” Sylvain lies. He slides off his horse, patting her flank. Felix, clumsily, does the same. “He wants you to come home.” That part’s probably true.  Felix scoffs. “My old man can send all the messages he wants. I’m going to find the boar.” He means it. Sylvain can see that he means it, in the flinty look in his eyes, the fold of his arms, the jut of his chin as he looks up at Sylvain. It’s the saddest thing Sylvain’s ever seen, and he’s seen a lot of shit. “Felix,” he says. He reaches out. He can never help it, not when Felix is like this, not when he believes. Felix doesn’t flinch from Sylvain’s hand on his cheek anymore. “Sweetheart. You know he’s dead.” “Don’t call me that,” Felix says. But when he swings himself back in the saddle and Sylvain does the same, he doesn’t tell Sylvain not to follow. That’s more than good enough. 

[crevassier]

Sylvain skipped many of his lessons, including training and other time allotted for practice and study, which by how had only contributed to his already less than stellar reputation. In his eyes however, that wasn’t exactly a problem, if anything closer to the opposite, more than anything. The more they think he’s a low effort piece of nothing, the better.

Not to say it didn’t hurt. 

But he’d rather ignore a wound and live in a peace only he could understand than to find a way to patch it up only to risk cutting an entire limb off. Some pains are better off being lived with until they blended with normalcy.

Yet that didn’t mean he skipped every single lesson or class work- in the end Sylvain was very aware of his current responsibilities and he’d walk within the limits he could push, but the mission he had been assigned to for the time being was one only a fool would’ve skipped. Sadly no girls were included in the matter, but perhaps it was something even better. Something that wouldn’t look at him with opportunistic eyes and feign hurt at getting toyed with, something that wouldn’t see him as an easy win lottery ticket. Something cute, soft, and tiny that would provide him with more glee than most people could and ask for almost nothing save for the basics for survival and love in return.

Puppies.

Wolf puppies- but puppies nonetheless.

“If every lesson included training puppies, I’d be the top student of the Blue Lions in no time!” Sylvain commended with a carefree smile as one of the staff tasked with the wolves handed him some last pieces of ‘equipment’, that being tools to clean the kennel stall and some toys. “I’m gonna have a buddy for this too, right? I hope it’s a cute girl, this would count as a date! Girls love men caring for baby animals!”

With one final…eyeroll and mildly annoyed glance, the staff member left and Sylvain sat down in one of the stall corners, smiling as soon as a couple of the furballs went over to smell and lick him. It truly was the perfect lesson. Indeed, if only his tasks were something like this…though he was quick to return on his act as soon as he heard steps approaching where he was. Heavy yet not brute, a cadence that by now he had memorized. Looking up with a puppy in his arms, Sylvain met his father’s gaze.

“Father! Hey…look, this is a mission I was assigned to, ok? I’m not slacking off, you can check with the staff…” The boy had already begun his defense before looking down and spotting…something in Matthias’. Hands. A kit similar to the one he had received, though with some extra dog toys. A moment passed, in silence.

“...wait, you’re not going to be my partner for this, are you? It’s fine if you are! But I just…didn’t expect…” The nervous smile in his face was hard to shake off, even with the young wolves trying to lick his cheek or nibble and pull at his uniform.

matthias double wielding as wolf nanny and sylvain nanny

closed starter for @cielenruine (+1 riding)

[cynical-gamer-media]

The Blue Lions are without question the least closest House in FE3H (long thread)

The Blue Lions are without question the least closest House in FE3H. The writing of AM does questionable choices to the BL as it focuses solely on Dimitri that it neglects how the Blue Lions feel about him, the world they live in, and their relationships with each other.

🦁🔵If we look at the Blue Lions with Blue Lions Supports to A:

Dimitri: 5/7

Felix: 5/7

Dedue: 5/7

Sylvain: 3/7

Ashe: 4/7

Ingrid: 5/7

Mercedes: 6/7

Annette: 5/7

🦅🔴If we look at the Black Eagles with Black Eagles Supports to A:

Edelgard: 6/7

Dorothea: 6/7

Petra: 5/7

Bernadetta: 5/7

Hubert: 5/7

Ferdinand: 5/7

Caspar: 5/7

Linhardt: 5/7

🦌🟡If we look at the Golden Deer with Golden Deer Supports to A:

Claude: 5/7

Lorenz: 5/7

Ignatz: 5/7

Raphael: 5/7

Lysithea: 4/7

Marianne: 5/7

Hilda: 5/7

Leonie: 4/7

It's an interesting mix of Supports! The Blue Lions is the only House with someone having 3 A Supports with someone from the same House (Sylvain). Black Eagles is the only House to have no less than 5 A Supports with someone from the same House.

The Faerghus Four feels like a group barely held together, on the verge of collapsing. They are only together because of the 'good ol' days', but friendship circles end. People change, and wish to mingle with others.

Sylvain & Felix would never stick with Dimitri during his time of madness: they have shown to criticise Faerghus society (see it as a ticking time bomb) & people being yes men (and are open about it), so why are they yes-manning for Dimitri?

Felix criticises Dimitri time and again, and has criticised senseless massacres and blind obedience (his C Support with Dedue), so why is he following Dimitri without challenging him? Felix would have been kicked out by Dimitri if he didn't choose to leave.

Whilst Ingrid does say that Felix wishes to get strong to protect his friends (their A Support) that doesn't mean he will follow Dimitri. If anything he would be even more vocal about his disapproval. Dimitri doesn't care about his men (at that time), so why should he?

Sylvain is quite critical of Faerghus and Dimitri's rule (even in CF as a Black Eagle); he would never blindly follow anyone. He would have left so to ensure Faerghus (or at least Gautier) are kept together during a time when the future king abandoned them.

Dimitri does describe Sylvain as loyal to his friends, but their Support only gets up to B. Sylvain mostly refers to him as 'Your Highness'. Their friendship is strained, or has even ended.

Ingrid doesn't seem to know Sylvain beyond the facade. Contrast that with Dedue, who even after the C Support with Sylvain starts to see him for who he truly is/beyond his facade.

Outside Dimitri the only Faerghus Four member that Dedue would get along with is Sylvain. Sylvain sees him as a person and believes what happened to Duscur was unacceptable. Dedue is simply around Felix & Ingrid because Dimitri is friends with them.

Sylvain doesn't feel comfortable with people getting too close to him (hence only having 3 A Supports), thus showcasing he isn't close to his House--the Blue Lions.

The Blue Lions being the least closest House could have been compelling, if the writers dwelled into it. But because everything revolves around Dimitri the Blue Lions feel like they're just there to play as yes-men to uplift Dimitri.

The Black Eagles & Golden Deer feel tight-knit because of their relationship to their Lords (Edelgard & Claude), how they view the world around them, and their relationships with each other. They're not afraid to tease or challenge their Lords, and they all grow together.

The Black Eagles & Golden Deer feel integral to Edelgard & Claude; without their friends they would not be here or have grown. Whereas with the Blue Lions they don't challenge Dimitri or help him grow: he becomes better because Rodrigue saved him and Byleth gave a pep-talk.

You could take out the Blue Lions during Dimitri's moment of madness and nothing would have changed. (If Byleth & Rodrgiue are out then there is a change).

The Blue Lions being the least closest House could have been compelling if the writers emphasised that/shown more interactions between the Lions and show some challenge Dimitri (not just being yes-men).

[pandp-author]

Fire Emblem: Three Houses, recruitment overhaul. Route availability.

Recently, I did a thread on Twitter explaining the changes I would've made regarding the recruitment of the students in Three Houses, which could be boiled down to drastically limiting the number of students that can be recruited out of houses, and making the recruitment of some students a more involved process.

This was done for three reasons:

To keep characters in characters. Something that often goes undermined is the fact that the vast majority of students are nobles. With responsibilities. They can't just up and leave. And for other characters, they WOULDN'T up and leave. I honestly think it would strengthen the narrative of each route if only certain units were available in them, with the biggest beneficiaries of such change being Silver Snow and Verdant Wind.

To encourage the player to use different units.

It's fun.

Starting with the Black Eagles, they all canonically have two paths they can go down to: Silver Snow and crimson flower.

Edelgard: cf.

Hubert: cf.

Ferdinand: SS and cf.

Lindhardt: Universal Recruitment* (UR)

Caspar: UR.

Bernadetta: SS and cf.

Dorothea: UR.

Petra: SS and cf.

Edelgard and Hubert are exclusive to crimson flower, obviously. Ferdinand, Bernadetta and Petra can only go one of two paths. Caspar and Dorothea are universal recruitments, meaning they can go to all four routes. Linhardt is UR as well, but you need to have recruited Caspar beforehand, and they need to have reached their B support rank as well. Failure recruit any of them in part 1 means they will appear as enemies in their respective maps and die.

Dorothea, as a commoner, has nothing holding her to the black eagles, let alone Adrestia, and so her leaving is easy to justify. Caspar is a noble, but unlike Ferdinand he doesn't put as much importance to his position, especially given how he won't inherit anything as a second son. Not only that, given Caspar's strong sense of justice, it's easy to imagine him siding against Edelgard after it is revealed that she's been behind nigh everything that happen in White Clouds. Linhardt also doesn't put much importance to his status as a noble, but he also doesn't care much about going out of his way to switch sides, hence why you need Caspar to recruit him.

The situation with Ferdinand, Bernadetta and Petra is more complicated, as they're now locked into the Black Eagles routes. For Ferdinand is a straightforward case of him being a noble and can't just up and leave, added to the fact that he takes his duty very seriously so he wouldn't in most cases. Bernadetta may not put much stack on her role as a noble, but she's still one. Her social anxiety prevents her from transferring to another house and it's not difficult to imagine her fighting in the war because she was dragged into it. For Petra, I wanted to lock her into the BL routes to highlight her grim situation. Petra is a political hostage, and her people are being used to keep her in line. Silver Snow is the only way for her to set herself and her people free, otherwise she'll remain under the Empire's thumb, or will die for her oppressors. The fact that Silver Snow is the only way for Petra, Ferdinand and Bernadetta to defy the empire adds to its uniqueness, now, which it arguably needs more than the other routes in order to differentiate it from Verdant Wind, and the same principle applies to Verdant Wind as well.

This does mean that Petra loses her support with Claude, but I'll address that in another post.

Onto the Blue Lions:

Dimitri: AM.

Dedue: AM.

Felix: UR.

Ashe: UR.

Sylvain: AM.

Mercedes: AM, SS and VW.

Annette: AM, SS* and VW*

Ingrid: AM.

Once again, Dimitri and Dedue remain exclusive to Azure Moon, but this time, I've decided to make Sylvain and Ingrid exclusive to the route as well. Ingrid is probably the easiest to justify, I'm kind of impressive she wasn't exclusive to begin with. But I think it's not that hard to see Sylvain as exclusive to AM as well, given his loyalty to Dimitri and his duty as a noble (Side note, but Sylvain and Ingrid being exclusive to AM would actually give the let's ignore Dedue Faerghus Four legitimacy given how they now always stay by Dimitri's side, rather than leaving him for the fisheyes professor, doubly so for Sylvain, given that all Byleth needs is being female)

Felix being universal fits his character, even though I would make a point in highlighting how he's abandoning his nation for what amounts to a temper tantrum. Ashe is fine as he is, and I like that you have to re-recruit him in SS and VW. I do have to wonder why he appears in the final map of cf as an enemy if unrecruited when he's forced into the empire side in the other routes... Mercedes is recruitable in VW but has no desire to going back to the Empire. The only way for her to join the Black Eagles is in Silver Snow, where Byleth chooses to side against Edelgard. Mercedes is the new Hilda now. Finally Annette. Much like Linhardt with Caspar, Annette needs Mercedes in order to be recruited, meaning Annette is also locked out of cf (Annette is also the new Hilda, now). They need to have reached their C support (and I honestly would also lock their B support to Part 2)

Much like their Black Eagles counterparts, Mercedes isn't a noble with responsibilities tying her to her current nation (only painful memories keeping her away from her original one) Felix puts his own feelings above her duty as a noble like Caspar (only unlike Caspar, this is explicitly a bad thing) Annette needs a strong reason to want to leave her home. Ashe's circumstances are unique.

Now, the only way to save Ingrid and Sylvain is to join the Blue Lions, because otherwise they'll follow their king to their untimely deaths in SS and VW, and they, alongside Mercedes and Annette, will die defending their homeland from the imperial invasion of Adrestia.

Mercedes also loses her support with Jeritza. And Sylvain and Ingrid lose their support with Bernadetta. Ingrid also loses her support with Claude.

Finally, the Golden Deer:

Claude: VW.

Lorenz: VW, SS and AM*.

Raphael: UR.

Ignatz: UR.

Lysithea: VW.

Marianne: VW.

Hilda: VW.

Leonie: VW, SS and AM.

Claude is self explanatory, but I decided to expand the VW exclusivity to Lysithea, Marianne, and Hilda. Once again, they're nobles, they can't just up and leave. In Lysithea and Hilda's case, they wouldn't want to leave. All Lysithea cares about is helping her parents and she would not leave them behind. Hilda will want to stay by Claude and her brother's side. Marianne may not put as much importance to her noble status, but she wouldn't be swayed to join another side either, much like Bernadetta.

Much like Ashe, Lorenz has unique circumstances at play. He's a noble that couldn't and wouldn't leave his homeland, but that doesn't stop Byleth from supporting him in part 1 and, come part 2 of SS and AM, Byleth can officially recruit Lorenz to her cause.

And finally, the commoners: Raphael, Ignatz and Leonie. With nothing hard tying them to the Alliance, they can be recruited to the other two houses. The only difference is that, unlike her fellow deer, Leonie will not join you if you choose to side with Edelgard, because that would be siding with the people who murdered Jeralt. Unlike Mercedes, however, there is no reason for her not to join the BE right away, so after joining you, Leonie may leave you come the last chapter of White Clouds, as Flayn has.

This means that Marianne tragically loses her support with Dimitri, which is one of the best ones of the entire game. She, alongside with Hilda, loses her support with Ferdinand, too. Lysithea loses her support with Edelgard and loses her role in Ferdinand's paralogue as well. Leonie is the only Golden Deer Girl to not lose her support with Sylvain.

(Damn, the Deer suffered heavy losses here, lol)

The only way to save Lysithea from dying in Gronder is to choose the Golden Deer house. This is also the only way for Lysithea to get justice from the empire and TWSitD after what they did to her family.

I'm not changing the recruitment of the faculty members, they're fine as they are.

Same with the Ashen Wolves, though it I wanted to make it a little strict, then I'd make it that you need to recruit Yuri first to recruit the rest of the Wolves, otherwise you'll lose them forever.

My next post will talk about the support chains these changes will bring about.

Expect heavy favoritism towards Raphael.