#Macedonian Dreamer;Catria

[companaich]

-- Misc Catria Headcanons

 - Catria’s favorite weather is overcast skies - she likes the humidity of the air while flying, and she’s surprisingly prone to sunburn so she appreciates that as well. 

 - Her three biggest pet peeves are slacking, lying and scratching. Seriously, do not scratch yourself while talking to her. 

 - She gets jealous incredibly easy, but manages to keep her emotions under control whenever it’s not just herself and her sisters. 

- Her pegasus is a male named Therin that she hand-reared from a foal! He’s incredibly loyal to Catria, and often seems to be mimicking Catria’s own personality at times with how stoic he can be off the battlefield. On occasion his stubborn and stoic nature has gotten him in trouble, ignoring wounds that would have been better responded to by retreating. He passes away a few weeks after Catria dies in her sleep, simply not waking up one morning in the stable. 

- Therin, to Catria’s mortification, seems to like Marth and frequently attempts to get the royal’s attention. Considering the only others he acts like that around are the other whitewings, Minerva and Maria, Catria fears that even her damn pegasus has caught onto her crush and even worse is trying to encourage it. Truthfully, however, Therin just thinks the prince ‘feels’ like a good person and trusts him despite being a relative stranger.

[caraidean]

Plotted starter for @jasperlion

She probably should have written, Catria mused. Then again they'd been quite busy for the last two years, her return rapidly escalating into being pulled into yet another conflict, and everything changed even before the war was over. Who was she now, she wondered?

She rested her hand against the side of the ship and stared at the ring for a few seconds. It felt so peculiar to reflect back on the person she was during her first time in Valentia, when she was just looking for her sister, back before she was queen-

She snapped out of it and stood up abruptly, letting out a shaky breath. Maybe Alm wouldn't take the sudden appearance of a half-dozen Archanean ships off his shoreline as something alarming. The presence of a friendly face should lessen the shock a little, at least, and was why she was the one who'd said she would come while her husband was so busy.

Also, she'd wanted the chance to thank him. She wasn't sure she could have pictured this - any of this - happening without that conversation she'd had with him years ago.

"I'm going to fly ahead." She informed the head of her guards calmly. She ignored the blustering protests as she walked past him towards her pegasus, slowly taking off her whitewing circlet and replacing it with her crown (gods, she hated this thing, it was so heavy) with a slight grimace. Therin took to the skies a few instants later, flying towards the Valentian shoreline and the waiting delegation with her heart in her mouth.

You know, if there's a misunderstanding, Leon likely could shoot you out of the air from this far. He was damned good.

Thankfully nothing happened, and she slowly circled her pegasus three times over the delegation on the beach. She could see Alm's figure, but no red hair? Truly? A shame, she'd been hoping to catch up with Celica as well. Hopefully later. She shrugged and came in for a landing, stopping a few feet away from them and hopping off Therin with a smile.

This must be damned confusing for him.

"Your grace. Archanea sends its regards." She said, unable to contain her smile at the look on his face. Hah, that's right, the message had just said the Queen was coming hadn't it? No wonder he looked as though someone had just hit him over the head. "I'm sorry I forgot to write. I've been somewhat busy."

She couldn’t help herself anymore, and let out a loud laugh. “You can’t be that surprised. Like I said, Catria the delivery girl, huh?”

[caraidean]

“This is the second time we’ve had to save her from being captured in the middle of a war.” Catria rolled her eyes at the question, letting out a slight laugh. “Outside of that, well...she has been fairly accident prone. Apparently she once trapped herself in the storage room of her shop for several hours before her husband found her. While she’s always shown a lot of promise, it’s had a tendency to be held back by things like that...and I don’t think her heart’s particularly in being a Pegasus Knight, either. She just...copied us.”

She shrugged a little, before letting out a brief bark of laughter at the name he offered. “Oh, gods - if you call it that she’s going to throw a fit. Please, just pretend it’s a mistake of the pen when you put it together on your letter - Queen Minerva would be quite amused, I think. Naga knows sometimes it felt more like she was protecting us than the other way around. Not that any good words will save us from her tongue upon arriving - which I’ll probably get the worst of.”

She frowned a little at that, her forehead creasing underneath her headband. “...yes, if Est is going back to her husband and Palla escorting her there once we cross the ocean...damn it, it is going to be my job to explain this mess, isn’t it? Catria the damned delivery girl strikes again.”

Catria‌

“The missives would be a good idea. While they have no real say in how Altea or Macedon perform their internal affairs, they will still intervene in any outside contact - but they are both fair people, I assure you. Emperor Hardin in particular is undoubtedly fair and understanding, I would not fear whatever his response is.”

Catria vaguely explained her own understanding of Archanea’s political dynamic, aware that she was far from the best person. Perhaps he could speak to Palla about it, she should be able to take him in the right direction a little easier. She was just a courier, most of the peacetime. “The escort is appreciated as well. As I said…when it comes to my sister, it’s better safe than sorry.“ 

She let a spark in her eyes flicker for a moment, chuckling a little as she pictured Est’s face on realizing that Catria - the serious one of the three - had finally pulled a rib on her after ten years of avoiding them. And she’d used a King to help set it up. 

”…mentioning us is not necessary.“ Catria wondered if she managed to hold herself back, or if Alm was just too polite to mention that he’d seen the look on her face. She clicked her tongue, shaking her head after a moment with a smile. "Although it would be appreciated. I imagine Queen Minerva is just about ready to scream at us — we were meant to return almost a year and a half ago. She gets so riled up when it comes to concern for her friends, after all.”

Okay, so it was definitely different than what he had in mind at first. It definitely sounded like a different system altogether than he’d seen just yet, which made it all the more interesting, if a little odd. There was likely a lot to learn from them, however, if Emperor Hardin was a fair man despite his position over other nations in Archanea. 

Gods, he really owed Catria a debt now, vague explanation or not. “Right!” So, outside contact. Trade negotiations and such would probably have to be talked about with the Emperor and Empress at first, then! “I trust your word about Emperor Hardin. I just have to make sure to start off on the right foot.” And not put his foot in his mouth while he was at it.

Still… something nagged at him that he had to ask now, since Catria had brought it up twice, even if the second seemed a little like a teasing jest. With a quirked half-smile, he turned the idea over in his head a couple of times before finally giving it voice. “I hate to ask, but does Est just… get in trouble a lot?” He didn’t mind the escort, it’d give him more time to sort out thoughts he doubted he’d be able to process the moment he was sat down for political talks, but, come on. It couldn’t have been that bad. Could it? … Never underestimate anyone’s talent for disaster, he supposed.

And then a thought struck him, and he merely sighed and shrugged… with a dramatic aplomb and a small quirk of the lips. “I guess it should just be called an Estcort.” Hehehe. Estcort.

And, perhaps, Catria says it’s not necessary, but it certainly sounds like it, especially when it came to Queen Minerva. Not that he could blame her, if his own friends were due back that long ago, he’d be worried sick too. “Well, hopefully a good word in will take some edge from the scolding, although I can’t imagine it’d stop it from happening.”  … Might as well just sneak good word in with the King of Altea while he was at it, but he’d keep that to himself. “On that note, though, think something should be sent ahead of your arrival? Just to make sure folks back in Archanea know you three are alright.”

[caraidean]

Plotted Starter for @exalted--zealotry​

“...I must admit, it’s nice to know that the line lasts so long.” 

Catria always felt strange when around those from Chrom’s time period, and though this man was dead by the majority of those adventures she felt the same around him. Save for the gradual, creeping sense of anxiety she got from speaking to him...like she was waiting for her descendant to say something and make the other shoe drop. 

“The healers said that Marth and I likely wouldn’t have another child after our Austeste. So knowing it is mostly a direct line of succession is something of a relief, I suppose.” She chuckled almost sadly as she looked away for a moment. Her daughter was precious to her, but she’d always wanted a large family...perhaps if she talked to more descendants of hers she could feel like she had one. 

“I’ve heard surprisingly little about you from your son.” She said, hesitantly as fingers drummed against the armor on her shoulders. “What did you accomplish to be brought here as the rest of us were?”

[caraidean]

Commissioned from fairyarmour on twitter!

[caraidean]

“...we don’t talk about our father.”

[caraidean]

Randomized One-Liners (Open)

@awaitedking

“If you could please make that pigtailed pegasus knight who works for you stop following me around and constantly talking about what I’ve done in the past it would be greatly appreciated. The hero worship is getting incredibly awkward.”

[caraidean]

@estrellaxpolar plotted out a shippy starter

She should have known she wouldn't get over him just by being far away. Maybe she'd started to, but then that blasted conversation with Alm before she'd left...all it had done was remind her how much she had cared in the first place, and now she was having a hard time keeping it professional. Her mouth was dry, the letter pressed between the fingers of her right hand as she stepped forwards and tried to address him formally, the last visitor on the day of the court.

That's what she was. A messenger. Reliable Catria, dependable Catria, Catria the damned delivery girl and occasional hero. It wasn't the worst life she could be living, but if she could just be a little more brave and a lot more selfish - then maybe her life couldn't...

She thought back to Valentia again, back to the devotion she'd seen between Alm and Celica, the quiet defeat in her one brief encounter with Faye, the banter between so many others who had taken the plunge no matter the danger waiting for them. So she opened her mouth, the same boring speech she'd given dozens of times to other governors and rulers following her return from the other continent leaving it as she stepped forwards and reached out to pass him the letter-

Their fingers touched, and she looked up into his eyes. She paused, hesitating, keeping her grip on the letter for a moment longer before saying something so quiet she wasn't sure if he had heard her. "...afterwards...I would tell you more of it. Alone."

She didn't hear a reply, but she did seem to see a slight nod. She smiled back at him and stepped away, for a brief moment wondering if she should do something she'd seen Mae do a few times to tease Boey - then deciding against it. Swaying her hips so much in front of the entire damn court would do nothing but start a few rumors, and likely wouldn't catch his eyes anyway.

Well. Maybe a little wouldn't hurt once she was past the crowd and about to leave the room, although she couldn't tell if he was paying attention or not. So she waited outside, for court to break for the day before sighing and stepping back inside the room - walking up to him and smiling.

Suddenly, she felt very nervous. More nervous than she had been in a long while.

"I'm glad you heard me." She hesitated, glancing around the room for a few moments before giving a resolute nod. "I'm glad you stayed, too. I...missed you. And I've got some things to say that I realized after my time there, although perhaps that needs to wait until after we've cleared the air a bit."

[caraidean]

Parting Words

Participant(s): Catria, Alm ( @jasperlion)

Words: 4,403

Type: Support Conversation

Summary: Catria shares a few words with Alm before leaving Valentia for home that turn out to have a greater impact on her life than she could have expected.

Notes: Indirectly starts the Catria/Marth AU

The caravans were almost loaded for the move, as far as Alm could see, double-checking the roster for those who would leave for Zofia and those who would stay behind in Rigel until things were taken care of proper. It had been but a scant few weeks since Duma’s defeat, but there was no time to rest. Wheels would have to be set in motion for the reparations of the kingdoms as well as their eventual unification and he felt, frankly, pretty darn swamped. He was sure his childhood friend felt the same, but that was neither here nor there.

Eyes roved onto the names of three whom were listed as neither, with a note by Celica that they would be departing back to their homeland soon enough, and so where they’d be headed now would be entirely their choice. Brows rose as he wondered where exactly they had come from, a thoughtful hum leaving his throat. Looking around him once again, it was lucky coincidence that he spotted one of them, the middle sister, pretty nearby.

He had some time.

Rolling up the parchment pieces he had been reading over, he strapped them onto his belt and jogged over to Catria, offering a mild wave with his left hand as he approached.

“Hey—, uh. Salutations, Catria.” Inwardly, he smacked himself upside the head for being so informal, he really had to work on talking the part he was supposed to play now. Clair would have his head for mouthing off like the commoner he was raised as. “Have you and your sisters decided where to go next? I hear you’re pretty far from home.”

Well, the same could be said for himself, but at least he was still in the same landmass! “And, well, if you don’t mind… where are you guys from, exactly?” The question was sheepish, and it took all of his willpower not to rub the back of his head or do anything else of the sort.

Gods, but this was going to be a very long and complicated discussion when she got back to Macedon. She already knew what the plan was - that she would be heading straight to Minerva to give her report, while Palla escorted Est back to her husband and shop in Altea before heading back to reunite with her. Which meant that she’d get the burden of explaining where she’d been for the last two years with very limited letters being sent back to their ruler in the occasional snippets of time when they’d been near a port.

Well, a functioning port not torn apart by wars, at least. Which had gotten increasingly rare towards the end, even as the war grew more and more insane. The fact that this made two evil and insane dragon-gods she’d helped face down made her snort a little as she fastened the saddlebag, glancing up at Alm as he approached and finishing her train of thought.

Maybe we could request that the Whitewings motto be something along the lines of ‘helping to kill dragons since Arch 605 / Valentia 399

“We’ll stop by the capital for a few days, say our goodbyes and resupply. Likely collect a few official missives from Celica and yourself once the coronations are over, in case you want to open communications with Queen Minerva or King Marth.” She said lightly, standing up and addressing him formally. When she realized exactly how poorly he’d been told about Archanea she flickered an eyebrow before shaking her head in bemusement, chuckling.

“My sisters and I are from Macedon, one of the many countries on Archanea. It’s mostly mountains and forest, along the south-western end of the continent.” She explained. “Our former commander in the military, Minerva, became queen at the end of the last war. My sister Est actually retired to Altea instead, but that’s not important.”

Now his ignorance was really hitting him, and Alm had a vague notion of regret of being unable to really look into a lot of what he technically should know of royalty during the short period they had been in Castle Rigel. It wasn’t any of those ‘to do later’ things, either, considering it was a ‘right here and now’ sort of thing.

So, Queen Minerva and King Marth. Got it. He nodded to Catria, committing the names to memory so he could, maybe later, look up what he can and write up a decent enough draft for a missive. It would do them all good to set up peaceful relations from the start, especially since Catria and her siblings seemed to know both royals.

Absorbing the information given to him, he gave her his full attention, then beamed. They had plans, at least, and a general idea of where to go, so that was good. He was sure they’d be missed, but the sisters had a home, and he was more than happy to let them return to it.

“Hm… I see. I think I’ll take you up on those missives. I’d like to start off on the right foot with Archanean royals.” Alm said with a laugh, offering a grin, then gave himself pause.

“That you all served in a war before this one, well… thank you very much for helping us here too.” He bowed his head slightly in thanks, grin turning into a thankful smile. From what he knew, they were just looking for their sister, and could have left once she was saved, but chose to stay and help. For that, of course, he was grateful. “And, of course, you’ll always be welcomed here if you need help, no matter what.”

Hm… might even be a good idea to escort them all the way to the port. It was the least they could do.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to hear a little more about them. Nothing too personal, though! Just to, ah…” His left hand rose to his cheek, scratching at it idly. “… Get an idea of what they’re like.” Sending a generic sort of  missive didn’t seem like a good idea to him, but he’d probably have to run the idea through Clair, Celica or Zeke… maybe Catria or her sisters? “If it’s a good idea to send personalized missives to open negotiations, anyway…?”

It was probably no secret that he was stumbling in the dark at this ruling and nobility thing.

“It’s not them that you’ll be spending most of your time with, I expect. Technically, the majority of your messages will likely be with Emperor Hardin or Empress Nyna. They have a sort of…level of control over the other nations.” Catria said after a few moments. She was the most diplomatically inclined of the three sisters, if only because of her unofficial status as Minerva’s favored messenger.

Unofficial since Est was retired and Palla…frequently didn’t enjoy leaving Minerva’s side for reasons that went far beyond the platonic, she’d admit, but still the messenger none the less. Still, she supposed she could give him and Celica both a more in-depth explanation of Archanea’s politics at a later date. “I can explain the grand scale of it all more at a later time, if you do not mind us putting our departure off another day or two, I suppose. And please, do not worry about us -  we were glad to help Celica after she helped us rescue Est in turn. As far as we are concerned, any debts have been repaid.”

She paused, and then decided to throw her sister under the proverbial cart for a moment. “Then again, with how frequently Est has gotten captured in recent years, an escort to the harbor would be appreciated. Just in case.”

Then he asked about the two other royals in a personal context, and Catria almost dropped her bags. She paused and fumbled with them, hoping he wouldn’t notice the temporary but blatant loss of her fabled professional dignity, taking a deep breath through her nose and closing her eyes.

Damn that thought. She’d hoped to at least get past this continent where nobody even knew before she gave this away. So instead she focused on Minerva first, using the time to try and get her thoughts together for talking about him.

“Queen Minerva of Macedon is…well, she was our field commander for many years. She has very principled values, and would do anything for her little sister or her country.” She was very, very careful to leave Michalis out of the discussion. “She can come off as harsh, but I assure you, she can be a kind person once you see past her bluntness. As for King Marth of Altea-”

Unable to stop herself, she let out a deep sigh that ached of longing. She doubted even someone as…romantically challenged as a few had told her Alm could be on occasion could mistake it.

“He is…remarkable, truly. Kind, brave, and just - but could just as easily be relentless if pushed.”

Huh, an Empire, was it? Alm canted his head to the left in curiosity, but otherwise listened as well as he could. It was hard to grasp the concept, but for the moment, until he could actually get some studying done, he decided to view it akin to how Rigel and Zofia had monarchs both, but they both also had to defer to Duma and Mila respectively. “I should probably prepare missives for the Emperor and Emperess, then.”

And thankful he was for Catria to offer such an opportunity to learn more! With a grateful smile, he gave a nod. If all was to go well for Valentia as a whole, he would have to learn as much as he could, and quickly. “I’d appreciate it. I hope this delay isn’t too bad… I can wait until you ask your sisters about it, if you want.” Of course, the middle sister was not here by herself, and so he did not want to pressure her into making a choice that might cause a sibling spat. Speaking of… “I’ll handle the details for an escort party, consider it done!”

If it came to it, he’d go there himself. They did need to assess the damage to both kingdoms to decide how to handle things henceforth, so it wasn’t like anyone had a good reason to tell him no.

His expression shifted from an easy smile to raised brows and a contemplative expression when Catria fumbled, but said nothing, merely taking in what he was told of Minerva of Macedon and Marth of Altea. They both sounded like good people, people he’d personally love to meet someday if they drew such admiration, and yet…

Well, anyone would have to be a fool to miss the way the woman before him seemed to just float on air without the help of her mount at the mention of the latter.

A huffed sort of laugh left him then, shaking his head. Alm’s eyes sparkled with a slight hint of mischief, and yet looked almost all too serious when he said, “I’ll be sure not to keep you too long from going home, then.”

Bad as he may be to express himself sometimes, Alm knew that look when he saw it. It was hard not to when it was one you wore far more often than you had any right to. At least he had enough self control to stamp the thought out and, instead, offer a thoughtful nod. “Thank you. I’ll be sure to mention your sisters and yourselves on the missives, too. If anything, it’s most appropriate.”

“The missives would be a good idea. While they have no real say in how Altea or Macedon perform their internal affairs, they will still intervene in any outside contact - but they are both fair people, I assure you. Emperor Hardin in particular is undoubtedly fair and understanding, I would not fear whatever his response is.”

Catria vaguely explained her own understanding of Archanea’s political dynamic, aware that she was far from the best person. Perhaps he could speak to Palla about it, she should be able to take him in the right direction a little easier. She was just a courier, most of the peacetime. “The escort is appreciated as well. As I said…when it comes to my sister, it’s better safe than sorry.“

She let a spark in her eyes flicker for a moment, chuckling a little as she pictured Est’s face on realizing that Catria - the serious one of the three - had finally pulled a rib on her after ten years of avoiding them. And she’d used a King to help set it up.

”…mentioning us is not necessary.“ Catria wondered if she managed to hold herself back, or if Alm was just too polite to mention that he’d seen the look on her face. She clicked her tongue, shaking her head after a moment with a smile. “Although it would be appreciated. I imagine Queen Minerva is just about ready to scream at us — we were meant to return almost a year and a half ago. She gets so riled up when it comes to concern for her friends, after all.”

Okay, so it was definitely different than what he had in mind at first. It definitely sounded like a different system altogether than he’d seen just yet, which made it all the more interesting, if a little odd. There was likely a lot to learn from them, however, if Emperor Hardin was a fair man despite his position over other nations in Archanea.

Gods, he really owed Catria a debt now, vague explanation or not. “Right!” So, outside contact. Trade negotiations and such would probably have to be talked about with the Emperor and Empress at first, then! “I trust your word about Emperor Hardin. I just have to make sure to start off on the right foot.” And not put his foot in his mouth while he was at it.

Still… something nagged at him that he had to ask now, since Catria had brought it up twice, even if the second seemed a little like a teasing jest. With a quirked half-smile, he turned the idea over in his head a couple of times before finally giving it voice. “I hate to ask, but does Est just… get in trouble a lot?” He didn’t mind the escort, it’d give him more time to sort out thoughts he doubted he’d be able to process the moment he was sat down for political talks, but, come on. It couldn’t have been that bad. Could it? … Never underestimate anyone’s talent for disaster, he supposed.

And then a thought struck him, and he merely sighed and shrugged… with a dramatic aplomb and a small quirk of the lips. “I guess it should just be called an Estcort.” Hehehe. Estcort.

And, perhaps, Catria says it’s not necessary, but it certainly sounds like it, especially when it came to Queen Minerva. Not that he could blame her, if his own friends were due back that long ago, he’d be worried sick too. “Well, hopefully a good word in will take some edge from the scolding, although I can’t imagine it’d stop it from happening.” 

… Might as well just sneak good word in with the King of Altea while he was at it, but he’d keep that to himself. “On that note, though, think something should be sent ahead of your arrival? Just to make sure folks back in Archanea know you three are alright.”

“This is the second time we’ve had to save her from being captured in the middle of a war.” Catria rolled her eyes at the question, letting out a slight laugh. “Outside of that, well…she has been fairly accident prone. Apparently she once trapped herself in the storage room of her shop for several hours before her husband found her. While she’s always shown a lot of promise, it’s had a tendency to be held back by things like that…and I don’t think her heart’s particularly in being a Pegasus Knight, either. She just…copied us.”

She shrugged a little, before letting out a brief bark of laughter at the name he offered. “Oh, gods - if you call it that she’s going to throw a fit. Please, just pretend it’s a mistake of the pen when you put it together on your letter - Queen Minerva would be quite amused, I think. Naga knows sometimes it felt more like she was protecting us than the other way around. Not that any good words will save us from her tongue upon arriving - which I’ll probably get the worst of.”

She frowned a little at that, her forehead creasing underneath her headband. “…yes, if Est is going back to her husband and Palla escorting her there once we cross the ocean…damn it, it is going to be my job to explain this mess, isn’t it? Catria the damned delivery girl strikes again.”

Alm’s brows raised once Catria made it clear that it had not been the first time — moreover, Est just seemed to be prone to incidents, period. It was probably not very fun for her… but how did things like that just happen to one person? More than once? Hoo boy.

“That… sounds like cause for alarm.” He says, then offers a small, helpless grin and shrug, soft chuckle leaving his throat at the idea of Est being angry at the pun. Well, best not upset her, if anything. She seemed like a nice person, odd streak of bad luck aside. “Here’s to hoping this is her last kidnapping, at least.” There was no use praying to the Gods now of all times, all he had to do is hope her bad luck didn’t hold out for a third.

Oh, Queen Minerva might enjoy the joke? How about that? “Alright, a good chuckle never hurt anyone. Let’s just keep the fact that it’s on purpose between us.” His lips tug into a wider smile then as he offers a secretive wink, right hand akimbo against his hip now, a little more relaxed now that it felt like he knew Catria a little better. “But a try doesn’t hurt, provided it doesn’t make things worse. I’d hate to trouble you guys after all you went through.”

And oh man, imagining the tongue-lashing himself, even without knowing Queen Minerva, was already shudder-inducing! He couldn’t imagine being in Catria’s place, much less envy the position.

But then the other’s words give him pause. Of course one of the letter senders would have to be them, it’d make no sense to send Clair out on a sortie when she’d have to just fly on back home afterwards, then send the three sisters on their way. Sending a letter over boat would just take longer than it’d take the sisters to return home, too…

“You know what? If it’ll have to be like that, maybe it’s just best you three show together, instead of letting you take the whole hit. That doesn’t really feel fair to me.” His left hand rises to his cheek, giving it a nervous sort of scratch. “Just forget I said that.”

The sudden movement around them reminds him of his task, and he fumbles with his list before giving Catria an apologetic look. “I should, uh, finish this up. How about we talk once our convoy stops for the night?”

“Of course. It’ll be easier to discuss the, ah, formalities of that later anyway.”

Catria nodded politely, accepting his dismissal. For a moment it made her linger, lips pursed as a question danced across her lips. Was it proper to ask him about something like this? Then again…well, odds were she’d never see him again after this was all over. He would be the closest thing she’d get to a true confidant for years, at least for something like this. Perhaps he’d even understand.

“Can I ask you a personal question, first?”

She hesitated again, before sighing and inclining her head. Well, best out with it. Gods knows once she was away from Valentia she’d go right back to hiding it.

“If you had feelings for someone, and they were…above your station. Would you stay quiet about it, or speak up even if it meant being rejected?”

He nods his head and offers a small bow, even knowing that he really shouldn’t, stations considered. And so, he almost hurries off to continue his task, only to notice Catria’s hesitation as he raises his head. She… Hm. Posture turning from that of one about to walk to standing once more at her request, he gestures for her to continue, taking a breath. Personal question, huh?

It comes soon enough, and it’s… a surprise, somewhat. His brows raise, then furrow in concern. Clearly, this was about her— and about that prince, if he was understanding things correctly. Marth, right? But, well, she wasn’t saying names, so he had to keep in mind to do the same.

“Well, I personally never gave one’s station as much thought as I probably should.” He admits, holding onto the list with his right hand as his left rises to tap his chin thoughtfully. “So this is… probably advice from the strangest of places, but I’d… I’d speak up.”

Right. What if he had been the villager he always thought he was? The commoner? Would he have hidden what he felt from Celica? Alm couldn’t imagine doing so, even if she told him no or that she liked someone else — he could hardly imagine keeping that to himself without at least knowing what the other person thought.

“Maybe they don’t care much for the station of their partner.” He suggests first, offering a tiny smile. “Or maybe they do— but I wouldn’t know until I try, right? You won’t know if someone likes you back if you never tell them, too. You just… always keep wondering, you know?”

He steps closer, nudging her shoulder gently with his own. “Nothing’s more painful than aching for what could have been. And, well, maybe I’d get rejected in this hypothetical situation — one I thought I might find myself in until, uh, recently, mind you.” Because, well. Yes. “But if it’s out there and I’m told no, at least I tried, and at least I know it wasn’t something they were interested in. And, well, it’d hurt to know, but at least you know, right?”

“And, well, just because there’s a chance for a no doesn’t mean there’s no chance for a yes, right? So isn’t it better to let those feelings try to fly than cage them away?” At least, he thought so. There’s a certain peace with knowing something will definitely not work out or be true, even if it’s tainted with pain. And it wasn’t just when it was about… feelings for someone, but that wasn’t what was important right now. “Who knows, maybe they’ll soar to the skies.”

“I see…”

Catria listened to Alm’s words with a kind of rapt attention, a small frown crossing her face at first. Could she speak up, if her back was against the wall? If her options were to say something, or run away and regret it for the rest of her life like she had been so far? But a smile flickered across her face at the honesty and conviction in Alm’s words, all the emotions in his  advice resonating with her strongly. Maybe …well, thinking about it, Marth didn’t seem like he’d complain about the station of his partner. The nobles around him were another story but, well, maybe she could challenge that as well. Minerva would support her if nothing else. She hoped.

“At least I’d know.” She agreed, quietly. Her gaze seemed to fix itself on her own hand for a moment, fingers splayed across her saddle as she stared at it critically. What would it look like with a ring around her finger? She used to never be able to picture something like that even in her wildest daydreams, the little details that would make them more ‘real’ always refusing to fix themselves in place.

She could see it this time, though. How odd.

“It might not be my place to say this, but if you haven’t already you should have a conversation like this with the girl from your village as well.” She said, hesitating a little as she steered the conversation away. “Trust me - I can tell when someone’s pining. It’s hard to miss the same sort of looks you used to give.”

She forced the subject away from that again, hands shifting from her saddle to behind her back as she nodded at him and smiled, genuinely for a change. She felt a little more hopeful about the entire situation now.

“Thank you, Alm. You’ve given me a lot to think about on the flight home.”

There seemed to be a strange sort of look in Catria’s eyes, as if the goal was suddenly closer within reach than it ever had been before. It makes his chest swell with pride — if anything, he hoped for the best for her. And, if it didn’t work out, that at least it set her heart free to find another.

Her suggestion brings a smile to his face, and to it he offers a nod. He already had plans, to speak to her during the march. Properly catch up, maybe even spill everything and see how it went. Catria seemed to have a general idea and, well, a good feeling about it — and so did he, if he was honest! So, well, he might as well reach forward and try to catch that arrow on the fly.

“I will.” He promises with as much conviction as he can muster, raising his hand to gently bump his fist against her shoulder. “And here’s to the two of us! I hope it works out.”

With that, he offers a nod, smile widening. “Don’t forget to write!” It was an open invitation, if anything — a penpal or two didn’t hurt any, especially not with what he felt was a friend. A good one at that.

And so, with a wave, he hurries off, a slightly concerned expression on his face. Oh gods, he took too long — hopefully he hadn’t stalled the march any!

[caraidean]

Source

[caraidean]

“...I’m not getting back in that costume again. You can’t make me.”

[caraidean]

valortried replied to your post: “Not so funny when you’re the one getting made to...

est vc actually, palla’s fine with it! she’s not a party pooper like /you/

“Palla’s going to be fine with it up until she realizes Lady Minerva’s going to see her in it, and then she’s going to turn bright damn red and stutter for three days.”

“It’ll be like how I was with Marth, but so much worse. Can’t believe you’re doing that to her...

[caraidean]

“Not so funny when you’re the one getting made to wear it, is it Palla?”

“And trust me, yes, the ears flop. Constantly. It’s hellish.”

[caraidean]

her0icmismatched replied to your post: “…I’m not getting back in that costume again. You...

Oboro vc: “Okay, would you rather be in the next summer banner or bridal banner?”

“Neither - wait. Bride, you say...?”

“...and Marth’s already a groom...?”

[caraidean]

“What’s all of this fuss about...?”

“I’ve forgotten more profanities than most of you will ever know. I still remember the first few I used, however...Catria taught them to me when I was young.”

“’Accidentally used near you’ is not the same as ‘taught’!”

[caraidean]

🎵 Tanith or Catria

Music Meme || Open

Tanith

I'm trapped in darknessStill I reach out for the starsI'm moving in silenceI leave it all far behindOh at dawnI'll face the edge of thorns

Tanith’s rage towards the senate and a select few others during Radiant Dawn is damn near overwhelming - and it mixes with her fear, leaving her concerned for the fate of the world and of course her charge/daughter figure, Sanaki. 

There’s also the, well, Sephiran implications to take into account if we’re going with blog canon. Then these lines get particularly reminiscent: 

In the silenceIt's time to explain(And)Search for truth in liesUseful liesNeedless love's damned

Catria

This choice is cheating because it’s hard to really explain why it works so well without making people play Planescape Torment first - the Deionarra storyline just. Fits the Catria archetype as a dark mirror so well - it’s hard to separate them in my mind. Deionarra’s overwhelming loyalty to the person she loved, to her own detriment, strikes home a lot in particular, and the haunting tones of the theme reflect on how kind of empty and pointless Catria’s life is in the canon ending of the games - her sisters either fled or retired, her liege retreating, leaving her just sort of...in the army. Alone, without a purpose.