#and its not even the fact that hildas wrong in these situations its that she never acknowledges that!! no one ever pushes back! its annoying

[sieglinde-freud]

i miss claude so badly im already planning my golden deer maddening run while still in the middle of black eagles. i just want my guy. my favorite guy. unfortunately i just love the black eagles as a group/cast but i am mourning my man (i never kill him btw)

[quixot1sm]

hey can you talk about n's relationships with other characters in the hilbertverse

AHH. yes :) this is also going to be a very very long answer but oof i think about this stuff all the time

team plasma:

he was treated as though he were their beloved spotless lamb and figurehead, and honestly, even though ghetsis is a total dick and never felt anything for his son, n was led to believe he'd had a good childhood with a nice- albeit emotionally distant- family, until ghetsis finally showed his true colors. n's sisters were less siblings to him and more caretakers, about ten or so years older than him. the sages were simply teachers, the rest of plasma his underlings even as a young child. everyone treated him like a prince, but the only one he had any true connection with was the zorua who had grown up with him in the wild and stuck to his side even when ghetsis came to collect him. zorua is by all means n's brother, and he's kind of an asshole to everyone else but he's very protective of n.

hilbert:

a few months after n's 18th birthday and official coronation as the king of team plasma, he found himself in accumula town, and it was there that hilbert caught his attention. hilbert was the first person in the real world that n paid any real mind to, and it was because he was just so weird. here n was, being told all his life that people outside of team plasma were heartless and cruel, and yet this newly licensed trainer seems to be anything but, according to his pokemon. it really caught n off guard. so, they investigated... and surprisingly, they and hilbert were fast friends. the two of them had a lot more in common than they expected, they shared a love of pokemon, and a desire to make the world better for them, and even though hilbert was reluctant to agree with their worldview, n came to believe that hilbert would do the "right" thing and join team plasma. that... obviously was wrong, and they had a bit of a falling out after hilbert rejected this proposal. after this though, n latched onto the idea that if hilbert wasnt with him, then he must be the one to stand against them, and from here put together the idea that hilbert would be his hero counterpart. in n's eyes, they were bound together by the string of fate, meant to destroy each other in a war for the future of the world one day. this made hilbert terribly, terribly sad while n was enraptured by the idea. and, whether it was always meant to happen, or if n's actions spurred hilbert on to become something he wouldnt have otherwise, who can say, but eventually hilbert was in fact confirmed to be the hero of ideals... and in their decisive battle, he totaled n, and he had the grace to have done it to save them, and all his friends. n had utterly lost, they couldnt even compare. hilbert was everything that they werent. when ghetsis set his hydreigon on hilbert- even though zekrom and hilberts samurott cut its fire blast off before it could do more than leave some scars- n was terrified of the whole situation and felt itd been their fault, so they ran away. n would never, ever forgive himself for this. as mentioned in the last post, the more time that passed without being in contact with hilbert (and especially after learning that hilbert had allegedly died), the more n idolized him. itd only be when he found hilbert alive, but in the form of kyubert, would n ironically see him as simply human again.

hilda:

honestly, he'd only had the briefest interactions with her before his first leave from unova. when he returned though, she was shockingly among the most patient with him. frustrated and angry, yes, but again he shared a lot in common with hilbert, and hilbert considered them his friend, so hilda tried to be gentle. she even tries to bond with them! tries to get them back on their feet and interacting with other people, but eventually hilda takes to participating in battle tournaments in other regions to do the same for herself, and n starts globe-trotting again, so they see each other less and less.

cheren:

cheren does not like n. at all. try as he might to stomp out his immature and unwanted feelings of jealousy over seeing his pseudo-ex getting involved with someone new, n leaves a bad taste in his mouth. after bw, cheren cant help but view n as being the root cause of hilbert getting hurt, and this only worsens after the reveal the events of bw2 brings. cheren really tries to give n slack and show them a little kindness, for hilbert's memory's sake, but it's difficult. he'll let n stay at his house in aspertia if he needs to, but he'll be biting his tongue the whole time. n is very aware of this, but of course they feel as though it's completely warranted, so just hang their head and endure it.

bianca:

she feels terrible for n. she doesnt know him all that well, she maybe only saw him once or twice during bw, but she can certainly relate to him. controlling father, debilitating self doubt, it might be far from a 1:1 comparison, but she understands to some degree. n had dismissed her as a reckless, irresponsible, even if well-intentioned trainer before, probably even spoke down to her like a jerk at some point, but after bw2 he starts tentatively spending time with her as both an attempt at comforting/being comforted and apologizing.

nate:

also very much does not like n for "taking" his big brother hilbert away from him, but unlike cheren he's very upfront about it. he co-operates with n towards a common goal through interpol, but he sure does not enjoy it, and will let him know as much. despite this, n feels obligated to look after him since hilbert no longer can. they'll take the hostility on the chin- once again feeling as though they deserve every second of it- just as long as they can ensure that nate is doing okay.

rosa:

rosa does her best to forget hilbert ever existed and with that pretends to have no opinion of n one way or the other. deep down, she probably does hate him for the same reason as nate, and while she doesnt directly voice any of her animosity towards him, she'll twist the knife with vague statements and implications if she's feeling particularly short-fused that day. luckily for n his interactions with her are few and far in between, and considering her words are harder to bear than anyone else's because they make him think about all his failings more than he already does, he tries to avoid her.

alder:

not actually all that close, but alder sees him for what he is (i.e. a deeply hurting and misguided teenager who was failed by the people around him), so he offers support and aid when n will accept it from him. n, like they are with everyone else, is initially reluctant to reach out to him for help when under the belief that they are in a mess of their own making and undeserving of forgiveness, and that asking as much from alder of all people is beyond poor taste. though alder is one of the first people he crashes with when he has nowhere else to stay, n leaves the moment he feels as though hes encroaching too far on alder's time and resources.

[uten4]

Chaos UNICLR Bisexuality Masterpost

A couple people have expressed interest in me posting my thoughts on the subject of Chaos potentially being a character who is attracted to men. So I hope that this post will be food for thought, both for people who already believe wholeheartedly that he is gay, and for those who have never considered that idea before.

In short, I do believe that Chaos was written to be into men. I specifically read him as bisexual. So, I will get the brief but strong evidence that he's into women out of the way first.

Chaos' specific power, Umbral, is to make a manifestation out of a book, and the physical characteristics of the manifestation correspond to the topic or other feature of the book. A short time after gaining this power, he's internally monologuing about his experimentation with Umbral, and he says this.

This is a suspiciously specific denial, which he makes out of nowhere. It's easy to read this as an indication that he was imagining using his powers for this purpose, and therefore finds some female idols attractive.

[Edit: The line above was mistranslated. In the Japanese, Chaos straightforwardly admits that it crossed his mind. This doesn't effect the fact of him liking men, and I'm not editing the post beyond this clarification, but do with that fact what you will.]

It would have been creepy for Chaos to actually make a living manifestation of an idol's swimsuit pictures, but he didn't do that; that's not what he's poorly trying to conceal here. He's defensive about anyone-- the viewers? Himself?-- even thinking that such an action has crossed his mind. Upon some examination of other things he's said and done, it becomes evident that this defensiveness extends to the subject of men, too.

Let's take a look at the first line. It's suggesting something to us. Let's consider the situation of a standard female character saying something like, "I'm really interested in that girl. Uhhh, not like that though!" Our reaction as readers would likely be that unless she created the reason, there's no reason for anyone to think that she's interested in another girl like that, i.e. in a romantic or sexual way. So it is a clear indication that there is something up with the character's feelings on sexual orientation.

In the original Japanese for this first line, Chaos' "that Gordeau character intrigues me" is 「あのゴルドーって男が気になる。」 The phrase 気になる, similar to "interested in" in English, can be used to demonstrate romantic interest or even love confessions. (Here's one source for that, but several others are available on the internet.)

However, Chaos did not in fact actually say "it's not like that, though" or a similarly loaded line to correct himself. So on its own one could take this line as him being tsundere about Gordeau in a friend way.

But then we look at it in the context of his other line with Enkidu. This is an extremely similar format and joke-- Chaos says something that could be pretty innocuous, but then thinks he said it wrong/weirdly, and then rephrases it. We know that the Under Night writers are capable of having subtle running gags between different parts of the story (ex. the concept of rolling someone up in a blanket like sushi to capture them is brought up in Wagner, Merkava, and Seth's Arcade modes), so this is intentional. And what's the common denominator of these lines? It is only that Chaos says something which could be taken as an implied attraction between two men.

Therefore, if he keeps rephrasing such sentences, he thinks and worries about gayness... kind of a lot.

There are also instances of other characters associating Chaos with gayness. In the timeline, the earliest one is during Enkidu's Chronicles mode, wherein Hilda uses the word 恋女房 (koinyōbō, "one's dear wife") in reference to Chaos and Gordeau's relationship two times. Chaos is there for the first instance, and Hilda is responding to him explaining Gordeau's feelings. The second instance is after Chaos leaves the meeting to check up on Gordeau.

For the second one koinyōbō was not translated at all, so I put the Japanese for it. It is along the lines of "Yeah, yeah. Good grief, when it's about [his] beloved wife, [Chaos] sure is single-minded..."

In both cases, Hilda is pretty clearly making a joke out of the fact that Gordeau and Chaos are so close, and Chaos is so loyal to him.

The other time Chaos seemingly gets accused of being gay is during his Arcade mode. He comes across Yuzuriha, who seems to be a stranger to him, and she complains about a "belly-flashing pervert" who she just encountered. Chaos realizes she's talking about Gordeau, and questions her intensely on his whereabouts. After that, Yuzuriha says this--

So, she thinks he's gay. And she finds it creepy likely because she already thinks Gordeau is creepy... simply because Gordeau wasn't wearing a shirt, so she's jumping to pretty big conclusions in both cases.

From these examples we can see that the writers made a point to have characters joke about/accuse Chaos of being into Gordeau, and for Chaos to think about gayness himself, multiple times. Why would they do that? We can narrow it down to one or more of three potential reasons.

1. They think it's funny.

2. They're trying to make a point about this innocent straight guy being accused of gayness just for caring about his friend.

3. He IS gay, and the writers are nudging us in that direction.

Let's pick up this other interaction from Enki's Chronicles mode which could provide support to any of these points.

First Chaos avoids leaving the party with Enkidu. In the Japanese he says 「男２人で一緒に帰ろう」, "two men leaving together," which makes it even more clear that he feels odd and conflicted about leaving with another man specifically. This is another example of Chaos worrying about being perceived as gay or thinking about gay men.

Then Enkidu makes a reasonable point about how Chaos' worry is strange and contradictory. The translators seem to skip an entire line before "I guess I won't say anything...", which is 「端から見た際の問題であろうしな。」 If I were to take a stab at translating it, I'd say it is "I suppose it's a problem of how the situation is viewed from the outside." If I'm being generous, that provides a bit of support to option #2 for why the writers would do this, because Enkidu seems to be reluctantly identifying that perhaps two men would be mistaken as lovers by outsiders.

But I do ultimately think the answer is a combo of #1 and #3-- the writers think this is funny, and Chaos is attracted to men.

If the writers really wanted to have a theme with Chaos about not assuming guys are gay just because they're close to another guy, then when Chaos is alone and not recently accused of being gay, or when Chaos and Gordeau are alone, then nothing gay should happen. If under those conditions, gay thoughts or actions or words still appear, then they would be delegitimizing their own theme.

But gay thoughts do still seem to happen when Chaos is alone and not recently accused of being gay. For example, the "that Gordeau character intrigues me" line. That was from his Chronicles mode, which is his earliest appearance at any point on the timeline. It was before the viewers were shown any gay accusations being flung at him. If we aren't shown it or told it, then we have no reason to believe that Chaos has exterior reasons to worry about being associated with gayness... but that line still seems like it's him worrying about being gay.

Let's take a look at this other part from his Chronicles mode.

There is admittedly nothing overtly and undeniably romantic about these lines, but they have a romantic feel to them. This is after Gordeau asks Chaos to join Amnesia, and they throw the pros and cons of the arrangement back and forth for a while. Chaos doesn't think there are enough pros to join, but this is the main thought that pushes him to eventually say yes. He's joining for Gordeau.

And Chaos' reaction to his own feelings also makes perfect sense in the framework of how defensive we know him to be regarding gayness. He dismisses his feelings here, as ridiculous, laugh-worthy.

It is notable that the word he uses for "drawn by" is 惹かれる, which is often used in romantic or sexual contexts. It is also notable that this scene is not a joke.

And that's the evidence that Chaos thinks about gayness even before he's been accused. There are also gay occurrences between Gordeau and Chaos when they're alone.

Before I present those things, I want to clarify that I don't think Chaos and Gordeau are the bi male rep of the century. I am just presenting things as they are, even though some of it may be cringe-y, poorly written, or stereotypical. If you plan to make content about them please use critical thinking before just going along with whatever the UNIB writers did; for example you might want to refrain from applying the label of "wife" to either of these characters.

Anyway, at the beginning of Gordeau's Arcade mode, he has this interaction with Chaos.

When Gordeau jokes that he’s Chaos’ master, he uses the word 亭主 teishu, which can mean “master”, “household head”, “owner” of an establishment, or “husband.” “Master” is a fine translation, but this gag is repeated later and for that it's good to remember that it also means husband.

Later on, Gordeau refers to Chaos as his faithful servant, for helping him. We can see that the word he uses is 女房役 nyōbōyaku, "manservant", and happens to contain some of the same kanji as koinyōbō, the word Hilda used in reference to them several months prior. On its own, the 女房 nyōbō part just means "wife"... and Chaos uses that word in the next line.

When he argues against being Gordeau's servant, for some reason he shortens the word nyōbōyaku to nyōbō (the red-underlined portion here). I’m not sure whether this is a normal abbreviation of nyōbōyaku or if it is indeed very loaded, but the Japanese fanbase often acts in a way that makes me think it could be the latter. In which case he’s saying, “Who’s the wife? No… whose wife am I supposed to be?!”

Then there is the green-underlined portion. Chaos is saying "If you're talking about the nyōbōyaku in baseball, maybe you're correct in that case?"

In baseball, nyōbōyaku, the term Gordeau used for "servant", is also a term for the catcher. Why would Chaos say this? How is he like Gordeau's catcher in baseball?

The localization makes this common innuendo more obvious--

"Granted, I'm always on the receiving end, but still."

I won't assume the writers are dumb; I'm sure they knew what they were implying, and it's clear that the localizers did too. These characters are gay, Chaos is bisexual.

Here's the image that comes right after, by the way. They could not have picked more romantic lighting if they tried.

I suppose people could argue that the Arcade modes aren't canon so Gordeau and Chaos being together isn't canon even if you take the line that way, but I believe the plots are what's not canon, not the characterization. If the characterization in the Arcades isn't correct then what's the point of having a story in them at all, when it's one of the few story elements in the game? Not to mention that it's characterization which is reflected many, many times in many parts of the game, as I have detailed above. This is just one massive drop of confirmation for something about Chaos which has been demonstrated many times. Good for him!

[zeldas-cigarrette]

Now, I’ll drive alone past your street. (Ⅱ)

A/n: This is the sequel to my last post, I couldn��t write any smut, I wasn’t in the mood for it. Just wait for another story in which I’ll definitely include it !!! If you have any requests, feel free to leave them somewhere ^^ And thank you so much for the interaction on my last post:))

Part 1

Word count: 1,635

Warnings: none

Zelda Spellman x female witch reader

———————————————————————

It pained you when sudden thoughts about Zelda flickered in your head. Although you decided on leaving for a while, you missed her, Hilda, Ambrose, and Sabrina. The wittiness of Hilda when you came down for breakfast, looking like a complete mess. Sabrina when she was onto something, including you in every step of the way. And Ambrose, when he was fuzzing about the mess his younger cousin had caused again.

The sudden ring of your cell phone tore you out of thoughts. Hilda’s caller ID showed up just as it did the past week. You’ve always been too afraid to pick up, scared of listening to her ranting about you letting her sister marry this man. But unlike the other times, the Brit has called, now you were brave enough to answer the call. Maybe Zelda fulfilled her task and became High Priestess?

„Y/n, I tried to reach you all week” Hilda hastily explained. „I know, I know but-“

„There is no time for explanations, you need to come back. Something’s wrong with Zelda” she cut you off while unsteadily breathing into the speaker.

You hesitated to speak, not being sure what you shall say. You loved the red-headed witch too much to let her suffer. „I’ll be there Hilda,” you said and quickly ended the conversation.

You knew it was about time to go back and fight for your love and show Father Blackwood who’s in charge.

✧ ೃ༄*ੈ✩

It didn’t take long for you to teleport you back to the mortuary, you left a few of your belongings where you’d stayed. You took a deep breath before knocking on the red front door. The familiar scent of your friends home crept up your nose and you started to loosen your tension. „Praise Satan you’re here, come in quick” the British woman rambled and pulled you inside.

„What’s going on?” You asked curiously. „My sister has changed during her honeymoon, it’s just as if she’s under some kind of spell.”

You nodded and hung your coat onto one of the hooks. „She does everything Blackwood asks her, Zelda would do anything to protect our family and now that bloke tries harms us and she just agrees with everything” Hilda explained and you knew immediately what she was trying to say. „And, Ambrose is said to have killed the Anti Pop. Nicholas Scratch helped him get away before Blackwood could lay his hands on him” she added pulling a grimacing face.

„I will go to the academy and inspect the situation myself, we will fix this mess” you tried to reassure her. The witch nodded and led you into the kitchen where the two cousins sat, pondering over how to help her aunt. „You’re back Y/n!” Sabrina exclaimed and hugged you tightly. A smile formed on your lips. Deep down you were happy to be back even though it took you some time to realise.

The darkness slowly came over Greendale and millions of stars peppered the night sky. „I will head to the academy and see what happened to your aunt and in which condition she is” you informed them and drummed your fingers on the tabletop. „Be careful, Blackwood is crazy at the moment. His misogyny went up to a new level” the young witch rambled worriedly. „I’ll take care.”

You grabbed your coat before leaving the house, inhaling the sweet scent that lingered in the house once more.

✧ ೃ༄*ੈ✩

Arriving at the academy, a weird feeling spread in your gut. You entered the school for witches and warlocks, having an exact destination to where you wanted to go. You walked through the halls of the academy searching for either Zelda or Blackwood. A sharp pain shot through your arm when a hand grabbed you and pulled you into a room.

The facet of the person immediately let you know who it was. „Blackwood” you explained and freed yourself from his tight grip. „You ought not to be here” the sharp tone in his voice sent shivers down your spine. „I came to speak to Zelda.”

He eyed me. „Wife!” The High priest yelled and waited impatiently for Zelda to come. Seconds passed before a woman in a flower dress entered the room. „Would you give us a few minutes?” your voice thickly filled with annoyance. The warlock just nodded and left the room.

„Zelds, what happened?”

„I don’t know what you mean?” her voice almost pitching. „Honey, you can tell me” your hand reached for hers. „But there is nothing to tell. If you excuse me now, I ought to make tea for my beloved husband.”

Her words sounded surreal, fake just simply not like Zelda. A hopeless sigh escaped your lips, you should’ve told her how wrong it was to marry that bloke. The only thing to hear was the sound of her music box.

✧ ೃ༄*ੈ✩

„It’s like she’s a doll” you took a sip of water before continuing, „no free will, and devoted to someone she said she’d overthrow.”

Hilda’s gaze wandered through the room. Footsteps echoed through the Spellman house, both of you looked at each other before stepping in the hallway.

You two saw her walking in the kitchen having her hand draped over something. Hilda followed her sister closely. The next thing you heard was high pitched screams from Sabrina who must’ve been in the kitchen. Your legs moved as fast as they could to see what was happening. Zelda stood there, wounding a mouse through the meat grinder. „Aunt Zel, why did you do that? That was our only chance to save Ambrose?” Sabrinas said stunned while her mouth fell agape.

I didn’t know what she was talking about, but surely Leviathan, who now was just a mashed version of itself, played its role in it. „I think I know what’s going on!“ Hilda exclaimed and it looked just as if a light bulb appeared over her head. „Sabrina, you have to get that music box from Zelda’s room in the Academy“ her aunt explained. The teenage witch nodded. Her aunt expected her to leave but that wasn’t the case, she somewhat teleported the box.

Zelda just stood there, staring at the mashed familiar. You couldn’t deny the fact that you were curious about how she teleported a box to her, but you suppressed the thought until you knew what was going on with your toner girlfriend. „Open it up darling” Hilda demanded her niece, „this has to be some kind of Caligari spell.” „What spell?” You asked genuinely interested. „A spell, typically used by old warlocks, to turn their wives into conscious witches aware of every action, yet, unable to make their own choices” the Brit explained and pulled out a photo of the music box.

„Just smash it and our Zelda should be freed from the spell,” Hilda told Sabrina who now held the picture in her hands. With a loud thud, the glass of the frame was broken, leaving a confused Zelda. You saw her facial expression change when she laid eyes on you. „Zelda is it you?” you asked nearly on the verge of tears.

You knew how stupid it was, leaving her alone with the whole situation, telling her she was better off without you. „Y/n...” the woman stuttered not daring to look away from you. You couldn’t contain your happiness and relive of having her back, you stepped closer and hugged her in a hurry. Her hands instantly sneaking around your waist, pressing you close to her body.

„I was an idiot, Zelda Spellman and I am sorry for how I behaved” you whispered in her ear. Her red locks were spreading on your face, you inhaled her scent. „Don’t worry, I must admit it was my fault too. How could I ask my girlfriend if I could marry another guy?" she mumbled in your shoulder and pressed yourself just a little closer to her body. „Alright, lovebirds” Sabrina sighed and let herself fall back on one of the kitchen chairs.

You loosened your hug and drew back to look at her. „Why don’t we get you something proper to wear?” You suggested and eyed her flower dress. „Satan, wearing this dress the whole time, internally drove me mad” Zelda admitted and tugged on the hem of her dress.

You took her hand in yours and softly moved your thumb over her skin. The fiery woman was broken, you saw it in her green eyes. Gently, you pulled her after you, scared she might break if you’d do it more hastily. Arriving in front of her bedroom door, you were hesitant if she’d even want you to come in put she slightly pushed you towards the door. „Don’t blame yourself, you had every right to leave. I wouldn’t want to see how you marry someone else�� the witch remarked after a long silence. „I just feel like I could’ve prevented you from the pain,” you told her.

Zelda just shook her head and patted next to her on the bed. You followed her plea and sat next to the witch, staring down at your hands. „I haven’t told you this for weeks now, but I love you,” the older woman said and took your hand into hers. You slowly placed your head on her shoulder. „I love you too, but never ever marry anyone again as long as we are together” you had to add that. „Never” she mouthed before planting soft kisses along your jawline. „As dominant as ever” you giggled before the woman pressed you down on the bed beneath.

The room was filled with ecstasy and lust after Zelda was finished pleasuring you. You snuggled closer to her chest, not daring to leave her side again. Zelda’s red locks covering your face once more, made you feel comfortable with falling asleep. ‘You’ll be there for her on every step of the way, no matter how much strength it may take’ you thought to yourself before sleep hit you.

—————————————————————

[somepinkthing]

Is edelgard a racist and/or xenophobic? Yeah definitely a little bit. But you gotta frame it in the context that about 90% of the characters we meet are too. Tbh I wasn't aware people really focused in on this aspect of her character until recently. I am not denying or dismissing it, it's an important theme, but for edelgard it's more in the peripherals of her story arc. However, the fact that it exists so casually perhaps makes a point in and of itself

Fodlan is isolationist. It has been isolationist for as long as its people can remember. That has created a mindset that is very distinct amongst people born and raised there. Them vs us. If you are not for us, you are other. Something else. Unacceptably different. That logic applies to broad political topics such as race and to more personal issues as well. That’s the norm of fodlan. Edelgard is not immune to racism; very few in the cast are. We see it in lorenz with his blatant distaste of outsiders. We see it in ingrid with her assumption that people who are different are the enemy, guilty without any proof and guilty to each and every person. We even see it in people like hilda and sylvain, who harbor no ill will but simply don’t think too hard about their actions or attitudes towards sreng or almyra. We see it in how people treat petra like an interesting commodity, dedue like a danger to society, cyril like mud beneath their shoes, and claude like a violent interloper. This is the environment edelgard fits into. That’s not an excuse by any means, but it does provide a certain context for the scale of the issue. The problem isn’t that it’s rare, the problem is that it’s the norm. Xenophobia is so ingrained that even people that might be decent otherwise don’t see the system as wrong

Now, if we are comparing, amongst the lords edelgard is definitely the most ignorant of this issue and, arguably, might not always pay problems outside of the crest system the attention they deserve. On this front especially, she can’t compare to dimitri who has seen the aftereffects of such hatred firsthand. And neither of them will ever know how it is for claude to live it every day of his life. Edelgard is more or less on par with hilda or sylvain. She holds no malice towards people from outside of fodlan and is open to seeing them as allies and friends. She’s even willing to consider opening peace talks with almyra. It's not that she's entirely intolerant, it's that she just doesn’t think too hard about her learned biases and her own position of power. The best example of this? Petra and claude

Edelgard treats petra like a friend and equal but, at no point, does she ever really seek to understand petra’s situation. In her letter to petra before the timeskip, she reminds petra so easily that Brigid is under imperial rule and, in the same breath, tells petra to make her own way and choose for herself. That's where the disconnect comes into play. Edelgard likely meant every word she wrote but given their situations? It’s disrespectful at best and a threat at worst. Edelgard never asked petra what her opinions of the empire are, about her situation, about her aspirations except to compare them to her own, or about brigid at all. Again, their interactions held no malice but it also lacked consideration. It's not that edelgard was being cruel but she didn't understand nor did she think to ask

Then there’s her words to claude in verdant wind and to byleth her paralogue. The irony of criticizing almyra for its invasion when she invaded another sovereign state just last month is not lost on me. And her words to claude in verdant wind? Honestly even if she had never said anything out loud, her attitude towards claude throughout the game more than spoke to her mindset on that front. But I think people latch onto it too much as a sign that edelgard is extraordinarily racist while I feel she was meant to represent a norm in those moments. “You can’t possibly be good for fodlan you weren't raised here,” is an unfair assessment which implies a lot of untrue things about immigrants, but comparatively? Edelgard’s opinion is downright tame and it's entirely possible that she even didn't understand that this is discrimination. I'm aware that claude spent at least seven years intensely studying fodlan's history, customs, and people and that he's more than proven himself as a leader—I'm not saying edelgard's right, don't misunderstand. I'm saying that the takeaway isn't that edelgard is singular in this. Rather, this opinion is fodlan's norm. The point is that even edelgard, who preeches against allowing one's birth to determine their future, would accuse claude of being unfit for a role simply for being born elsewhere and see nothing odd. In her mind, there's no reason keeping an "outsider" out of leadership roles should contradict her ideals. This scene exists to showcase how deeply intolerance is ingrained into all of fodlan's people, not to imply that edelgard is the outlier

Now, there is ofc one other thing that can’t be overlooked when talking about this topic: edelgard’s view of the nabateans. A million things can be said about that. Perhaps the agarthans whispered lies to her that she believed. Perhaps her hatred for rhea blinded her. We know for a fact she at least never knew the whole story. Whatever the reason, edelgard undeniably views nabateans as Other. They are not human, not like us. She heavily implies that they do not deserve to participate in fodlan’s future in part because of rhea’s mistakes, but also in part because they are not human. That they've lived on this earth just as long as the current human race has doesn’t seem to occur to her, only their relation to rhea. And yeah rhea had no right to use the people's faith the way she did and someone should say it, but we know for a fact that rhea isn't the only nabatean. Of the ones we know, only three have anything to do with the church! To decide that all the nabateans are overlords based soley off rhea is... something

The way I see it, edelgard's questionable takes on the nabateans are as likely to be due to xenophobia as it is a mixture of her being understandably angry, her relationship with rhea, the empire's history, and TWSITD's influence on her. However, whatever the case, there's no denying that it's messed up for edelgard to view an entire group of people this way and I know some people don't like CF partially because of this—and that's fair! To me though, it’s another aspect of her character that plays well into her backstory and all-or-nothing viewpoints. As for the rest of it though? If you dislike her for buying into fodlan’s crap about outsiders that’s definitely fair too, but don’t forget that her degree of ignorance is hardly the exception. It is very much the norm and, yes, that statement probably includes some (or a lot) of your faves

[mookybear12404]

I know a lot of people, including me, felt a bit let down with the reunion between Byleth and Claude.

But now? Now I realize that this masterpiece of a scene is an incredibly vital piece to Claude’s character development.

Let me explain to you why.

Firstly I’ll have to explain Claude’s character development. I’ve seen a post or two where people accuse Claude of being the only lord without any character development. Well it is true that his character development isn’t as in-your-face as some of the other lords, (like Dimitri), Claude does in fact have quite the character development.  

To start off, we know that Claude didn’t exactly have the nicest childhood. Listen here to his support conversation with Marianne:

Claude: There’s no reason to feel uncomfortable. It’s not like I plan on saying it aloud. But if my guess is correct, there’s something I want to tell you. Will you hear me out?

Marianne: Fine. I will listen.

Claude: Once upon a time, in a faraway place…

Marianne: What the— are you telling me a story?

Claude: Just listen. Once upon a time, in a faraway place, there was a young boy. This boy came from a despised lineage. In short, his mother was a daughter of the enemy. So the young boy was treated horribly by everyone around him. He hadn’t done anything wrong. Everyone hated him simply for existing. Yelling, fighting back, explaining himself… Nothing he did could change his situation. When he was finally old enough, he ran far away from home. He escaped.

Marianne: It sounds to me like he had no choice. I would have done the same, had it been me…

Claude: Thing is, after he ran away, he still found himself in the very same position. People in the outside world hated him for where he came from.

Claude spent most of his early childhood having to defend himself from repeated and violent attacks of racism. He was harassed so much that he felt he had no choice but to run away at the first opportunity.  

We get even more about this in his support with Byleth:

Claude: Well, I grew up in an environment where it was necessary to think that way. It’s like I told you before, I wasn’t born into a life of luxury. Ever since I was a child, I’ve always been seen as…different from those around me. An outsider of sorts. I’ve been resented and hated. There have even been attempts on my life. I don’t believe I’ve earned such treatment, but that’s how it goes for people like me.

Byleth: I don’t think of you as an outsider.

Claude: Thanks, Teach. You know, in many ways I’m just a normal person like everyone else. But in the right environment, anyone could be seen as an outsider. It can become…overwhelming. That’s why I kept running. Kept fighting. As a kid I spent a lot of time licking my wounds and coming up with schemes, trying to keep my nose out of trouble while plotting against my enemies. My parents always told me I wouldn’t grow stronger if I didn’t learn to fight my own battles. And so, in the end, I did. And I grew up to be as independent and self-reliant as my parents always wished for me to be. Lucky me, right?

Having to defend oneself alone at such a young age, having to cope with isolation, constant mistreatment, and discrimination, those are all things that must of had an impact on his mental well-being.

We know that Three Houses is a game that doesn’t take traumatic experiences lightly. Dimitri, having to witness the Tragedy of Duscar, suffers from terrible survivors guilt, depression, and anger. Edelgard is permanently scarred by the torturous experiments inflicted on her at a young age. Even many of the minor characters, such as Bernadetta and Marianne, suffer tremendous detriments to their mental health because of their childhood traumas.  

Despite this, Claude appears to be one of the most cheerful and laid-back characters in the game.

At first.

While Claude comes off as an easy-going guy, we quickly learn otherwise.

Near the beginning of the game Byleth states to Sothis that Claude, “has a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes”.

Claude is a character that lives in a mask. He’s secretive. Defensive. He refuses to share his his secrets with others, and he straight up lies to Byleth about his birthright in their C support. In fact, he somehow manages to keep his identity as an Almyran a secret right up until the very end of the game.

He had to learn from a young age to defend himself. Without significant physical strength, he had to resort to fighting dirty, and eventually learned to use his brain to his advantage. According to the wiki:  

“Being treated as an outsider by both sides, he devised schemes at an early age that would help him survive the rough treatment he received from both houses. These experiences helped him develop his strong tactical prowess.”

On top of being secretive and cunning, Claude is also someone who HATES when others have secrets. He pretty much spends the academy trying to gather church secrets and pressing other characters into divulging their backstories.

In an earlier conversation with Marianne:

Claude: She’s hiding something, that much is clear. But that just makes me all the more desperate to know her secrets!

I can’t find the exact words he says, but in a conversation with Byleth where Claude tries to convince them to give him Jeralt’s diary, he admits that if Byleth had turned him down he would have stolen the diary anyways, because he was so desperate to know their secrets.

From all of these traits, It is clear to see that there is a lot more to his character than just his cheerful demeanor. It is also clear that the events of his childhood had one major effect on Claude.

They shattered his trust

Claude is someone who has learned that there is nobody in the world he can trust but himself. He becomes totally self sufficient, runs away from home, conceals his identity, and enters the academy completely alone.

Claude is also the only lord in the game to not have a “best friend” character that is locked from being recruited to another house. If you wanted, you could take all the students away from him, leaving him completely alone.

Throughout your adventures with him, however, this shell of distrust seems to crack little by little.

During many of his final support conversations, (such as the Marianne one I copied earlier, as well as his one with Lorenz, Hilda, and many others,) Claude is more open and honest about himself. While he never fully trusts any of the other students with his identity or his plans to unity Almyra with Fodlan, he is less careful to hide things that relate to his homeland.  

It is with Byleth, however, that Claude opens up to the most.

Byleth is the only person Claude comes to trust enough to share his grand plan. (side note, I truly loved the English voice acting in their A support scene. I haven’t heard the Japanese yet but I bet it’s just as good.) During their A support, there isn’t the usual swagger or charm in his voice. He’s open, honest, and so so raw. He starts by admitting to Byleth that he’s an outsider, (though he doesn’t say from where,) and he, for the first time in his life, describes his dream in detail to another person.

He shares his plan with such a careful voice. And at the end of his speech Claude asks if Byleth thinks his plan is just “a crazy pipe dream”. He’s so desperate for Byleth’s approval.

Also, there’s also a really good piece of dialogue I enjoy from Claude in the war phase. If you try to move him while he’s at critically low he will grunt,

“I-I’m hurt, but I’m with you.”

He trusts Byleth so much, that even when he’s close to death, he chooses to go along with whatever plan they have for him.

Claude, the master tactician, king of distrust, obediently follows Byleth’s orders.

So going back to the reunion scene…

While yes, some tears and a hug would have been nice and all, it wouldn’t have been able to convey the most vital part of Claude’s character development. Claude has grown to trust Byleth more than any other person in the world. So much so, that he refuses to believe that anything, not even death, could have stopped Byleth from breaking their promise to return on that day.

And he’s not like Edelgard, who returned to the monastery on a slight sliver of hope. No, Claude believed without a shadow of a doubt that Byleth would return that day. He believed this so firmly that he even prepared food for them.

It seems like a stretch of logic for Claude to think like this. I mean, Byleth disappeared in the middle of a massive battle. Who’s to say their body wasn’t buried under some rubble or something? But Claude’s not someone who likes to bound himself to logic. And this is his Teach we’re talking about here. His Teach, who tore open the eternal darkness to return to him. His Teach, who risked life and limb daily on the battle field to protect him. Teach must have survived. And if they survived then they’re coming back.

Its not a question of “if” or “when”, but of “so what kind of food should I bring for them?”

[ptersparkers]

angel (chilling adventures of sabrina)

summary: as the only pure mortal in the fright club, there seems to be an influx of interesting things happening in greendale that you are unaware of. a certain prince of hell happens to find that interesting. 

warnings: typos, probably.

a/n: ummm maybe i binge watched caos this past week and maybe i’ve fallen in love. i’ll let you figure that out. also this is my first time writing for caos (and not marvel, lol) so let me know what you think!!’ pls give feedback thank u. 

add yourself to my tasglist! 

ps: this gif is mine so if you use it, please credit!  

When all was said and done, Sabrina and Caliban had come to amicable terms regarding the shared responsibility of ruling Hell.

It didn’t take much convincing for Caliban to relinquish his prior ambition after learning his rule would end within a day, as the Pagans would have defeated him and taken Earth for themselves. Sabrina’s ability to show him the time loop she was once trapped in gave him a reason to quit the fighting and rule Hell on an equal scale, no questions asked.

Plus, he started to like the bleach blonde witch.

You, on the other hand, felt like you had missed out on the most important plot piece of the greatest film of all time.

While Harvey, Theo, and Roz had known about Sabrina’s secret since her sixteenth birthday, you were left in the dust about the shenanigans that went on around Greendale. You were truly the only mortal with no magic or witch ties, but the other four couldn’t say the same. Sabrina was a witch, Theo’s ancestor Dorothea often visited him in time of need, Harvey’s family had a history of witch hunting (which he does not partake), and Roz’s ability to foreshadow the future with a simple touch proved to be more useful than she had originally thought.

You were a mortal. A regular high school student whose biggest problems were studying for four AP classes every day while balancing cheerleading and other extracurriculars.

It wasn’t until recently that the strangeness came to light. What the Fright Club had failed to mention was that Sabrina had continuously hexed you in order to keep you out of harm’s way by leaving a small bag filled with her Aunt Hilda’s concoctions in your bedroom. It worked its magic when you slept, an invisible blanket covering your eyes that made their strange disappearances seem normal.

But it seems like that hex was fading. Sabrina neglected to change it out every other week due to being preoccupied by Caliban’s yearning, the Dark Lord’s agenda, and Lilith’s drama regarding Hell. Now you sat with wonder and couldn’t help but feel left out of a great adventure that your friends embarked on.

A month had passed since Sabrina and Caliban had made amends. You grew to understand the nature of it and the four filled you in on all you had missed with a guilt hanging over their heads. It was hard to hear and understand, but ultimately you couldn’t hate your best friends for wanting to keep you safe.

You knew not to question Sabrina’s whereabouts if you weren’t able to find her because she was most likely taking care of business down below. You still had yet to meet Caliban and the only information you gathered from him was what the gang caught you up on and Sabrina’s grievances whenever she felt annoyed by him.

“You know, this is all a weird concept,” you said. “I mean, I guess I always had my faith and doubt kept me guessing about what’s really out there, and it’s really out there,” you said, stealing a fry from Theo’s plate. The five of you sat in Dr. Cerberus’s diner and decided you weren’t going to do anything that wasn’t normal for teenagers.

“It still creeps me out,” Harvey admitted. “Hell was worse than I could’ve imagined.”

“Caliban’s got things under control and Lilith’s doing just fine being an advisor,” Sabrina said. “I don’t think she’s mad about the ruling situation anymore. Lucifer’s still doing his bidding but I think they’ve reconnected.”

“That’s...good?”

Sabrina chuckled. “Trust me, it’ll take some getting used to.”

“That is an absolute understatement.”

The door to the diner chimed while you fished inside of your purse for a quarter.

“I’m gonna go pick out a song, any requests?”

“You’re the music genius,” said Roz. You smiled and walked towards the front of the diner.

As you approached the machine and put the quarter inside of the slot, a tall man with sand colored hair loomed over you and watched.

“Can I help you?” you asked.

“Not really. Just observing.” You quirked an eyebrow, not recognizing his face despite knowing everyone in the small town.

“You’re not from here, are you?” you asked.

He chuckled. “Is it that obvious?”

“Greendale’s a pretty small town. It’s easy to spot someone who’s not a local,” you replied.

“Well in that case, I’m not from around these parts. Far from, actually.” He looked at your hand and then the juke box. “What song are you choosing?”

You pried your gaze away from him to look back at the machine and put the coin in the slot, choosing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” before looking back at him.

“Satisfied?”

The handsome stranger looked at you and didn’t try to hide the face that he was checking you out by letting his eyes look at your body up and down. Not that you minded.

“Very,” he said with a sail try voice before walking around the corner. “The name’s Caliban.”

“Y/N,” you replied. You raised your eyebrow before walking back to the other four and sat down in your previous seat only for the handsome stranger to approach the table.

“Caliban,” Sabrina greeted. “What a lovely surprise.”

“Nice choice,” Roz commented, hearing the song play throughout the diner.

“That’s Caliban, as in the Caliban?” you asked.

“It’s good to know you lot have been talking about me,” he said, crossing his hands over his chest. “I decided to take a break from, you know, and come see what you love so much about Greendale.”

“She knows about Hell,” said Sabrina.

“Funny how I’ve never seen her there, or anywhere with you four, as a matter of fact,” Caliban replied.

“It’s a long story,” you said, sipping on your chocolate milkshake. “Not an important one, though.”

“Contrary,” he began. “You’re the first purely true mortal I’ve met in Hell or otherwise with no ancestral ties to witches or greater magic. That’s pretty important to me.” You blushed, not knowing what to say or do next.

“Is there a reason you’re here?” Harvey asked with a slight attitude. Caliban shifted his focus from you to him, which made your body relax a little bit.

“I didn’t come here for business or to whisk Sabrina away, if that’s what you’re wondering. I’m just here to see what makes Greendale so special, though I think I’m starting to see why.” Caliban spared no expense and was not shy about looking in your direction as he spoke his last statement.

“Don’t even think about it,” Sabrina said sternly. “You are not going to get any ideas, are you?”

Caliban chuckled and put his hands up in defense. “Whatever you say, Sabrina.” He began to walk away but not before turning around and winking at you. “See you around.”

Caliban walked out the door and you didn’t bother asking where he was going next.

“Dear Satan, he’s so annoying,” Sabrina said, exasperated. “It’s like he’s made it his personal mission to make my life, well, a living Hell for lack of a better term.”

“At least he’s not hellbent on defeating you anymore,” Theo reasoned. “I think he’s trying to get to know you a little bit better.”

“And he’s doing it by flirting with my best friend?” Sabrina asked. She put her head on your shoulder and and ate a fry from her plate. “You know I love you, right?”

“Mhm.”

“I’m not saying you need to stay away from Caliban, but you need to be careful around him. At least until we’ve worked together long enough for me to trust him completely.”

“Loud and clear, Brina,” you said. “I still can’t really wrap my head around this whole thing. I can’t watch horror films about Hell and witches the same ever again.”

The Fright Club laughed.

“It’ll take some getting used to,” Harvey said. “I mean, I was pretty apprehensive at first. Remember when Brina and I broke up and I spent every day at your place after school?” You nodded. “That’s when she told me she was a witch. It was kind of hard to wrap my head around until everything with the Pagans and angels happened.” You nodded, soaking in his words. “Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with feeling like you don’t understand. I don’t even understand most of it, if I’m being completely honest.”

“In think that’s enough food for me,” said Roz who pushed her plate to the middle. “Seeing Hell with my own eyes really suppressed my appetite.”

”Oh, shoot,” you said, looking at the clock mounted on the wall. “I have to head home and help my mom. I promised her I’d help clean the kitchen and I’ve got to be home in ten minutes. Can I pay you guys back?”

“Don’t worry about it. See you tomorrow?” said Theo.

“Count on it!”

***

You saw Caliban not long after your first encounter with him. The idea of him being the ruler of Hell (alongside Sabrina) was still a hard concept to understand and you weren’t quite sure if you were supposed to bow in his presence or not.

“Unnecessary,” he said when you asked. Caliban sat across from you at the local coffee shop, offering to walk you when you had caught his eye. You harbored a hot latte and he held a blueberry scone in his hand. “I think you mortals like that glory.”

You shrugged. “Can’t argue with that.”

“Hell doesn’t have formalities when it comes to celebration other than referring to each other by one’s title,” he explained. “It’s just easier that way.”

“You make it seem like Hell’s a relaxed place to be.”

He pinched a piece of his scone off at put it in his mouth, smirking at your statement.

“Oh, far from it. As righteous as demons are, we’re not that shallow.”

“It’s kind of hard to believe you’re made out of clay,” you said, taking a sip of your latte.

“Why do you say that?”

“I dunno,” you said. You reached over the table to poke his bicep. “You seem so real. So human.”

Normally, Caliban would’ve been offended by such a comparison. But he smiled.

“I suppose. I don’t question my creation. I accept it and try to live as adventurously as I can.”

“I hope to,” you said. “Getting out of Greendale, I mean. It’s my biggest dream.”

“You’d want to leave this town?” he asked.

“Well, yeah,” you replied. “I have nothing going for me here. I’m powerless and there’s no reason for me to stay where I’m not needed.”

To his surprise, Caliban felt his heart jolt at your comment. He was wordless for a moment.

“Where will you go?”

“I don’t know,” you said. “Maybe somewhere on the west coast. Maybe I’ll still be in New England. College is the perfect opportunity to explore the world and come back home for a few weeks at a time.”

“This is where Lucifer fell, you know,” said Caliban. “The sacred place is hidden deep in the woods where there’s a clearing of rocks and stone. That’s why this place is driven by witches of the Church of Night.”

“I still can’t believe the Devil is walking among us,” you said, shaking your head. “My mom used to force me to go to Sunday school, and I suppose I did have faith. It’s all meta now.”

“Are you still a believer?” he asked.

“I kind of have to be, considering you’re here.”

Caliban smiled.

“Do Heaven and Hell ever interact withe each other?”

“Not exactly,” he began. “We’re on civil relations but don’t want anything to do with each other. They stay up there so long as we stay down here. I’ve never encountered an angel before.”

“You haven’t?”

“They aren’t allowed to come down to Earth unless absolutely necessary,” he explained. “Not really sure why but it’s one of their more important rules.”

“I think I have a headache,” you teased. All of this knowledge about celestial beings truly made your senses adapt to your surroundings in Greendale and you were more than aware of the fact that God was real.

“I should go,” Caliban said, standing up. “I need to escort some souls back to Hell and send some up north.”

“You mean not all souls who are sold to the Devil go to Hell?”

“Sabrina and I negotiated that,” he said. “No more soul-selling. The ones that preexist will be discussed by her and I, and we decide if the punishment is worth the crime. I don’t think someone who sold their soul for a good cause needs to spend all eternity down in Hell. That’s why she comes down there all the time.”

“Huh,” you said at a loss for words.

Caliban smiled. “I’ll see you around, princess.”

***

The next time you see Caliban was with the rest of the Fright Club. He was wearing a linen button down with several buttons popped open, exposing his bare chest with black slacks and white sneakers. His hair was tousled and you swore this was the most human you had ever seen him.

“Ambrose is being a little paranoid and wants me to check out the edge of Greendale for threats,” Sabrina said. “I think he’s just worried about me co-ruling Hell while living on Earth. It’s nothing to worry about.”

“You say that like it’s just another day in Greendale,” you said.

Sabrina shrugged. “I mean, it kind of is.”

“Well, do you need us to do anything?” Roz asked.

“I want you to come with me, if that’s okay. Harvey, Theo, and Y/N, you don’t need to come. I’m sure this is Ambrose being Ambrose.”

“Are you sure, Brina?” Harvey asked.

She waved him off. “It’s fine, really. Roz and I will spend a few hours making sure things are normal and we’ll meet back at my place for dinner? Aunt Hilda’s kind of expecting us.”

“Wouldn’t miss it!” Theo said enthusiastically.

Sabrina gave the group one last smile before she took Roz’s hands and teleported out of the room, which left the four of you.

“I can give you a ride, Theo,” Harvey offered before looking at you. “And you too. I don’t mind driving to the other side of town.”

“I can take her home,” Caliban said. Harvey looked at you and Caliban spoke again, noticing his hesitation. “Part of our deal was that I made sure her friends remain unharmed. That includes Y/N.”

Harvey seemed to accepted this answer and grabbed his keys from his pocket before bidding you a goodbye. He and Theo drove off in his truck before you and Caliban left in the opposite direction.

“So, uh, do you want to come in?” you asked, awkwardly standing by the front door after he insisted on walking you in.

“I don’t mind,” he said. You fumbled with the keys before opening the door with a shaky hand and let him inside. It was the first time you were letting a boy into your home (other than Harvey and Theo, but your relationship with them was strictly platonic) and you felt a little more nervous than usual. After figuring out you had liked Caliban more than you originally expected, there was nothing you could do to stop your heart from beating just a little too fast when we he was around. Him being in your house did nothing to help the situation.

As for Caliban, his usual overwhelming desire for a carnal relationship was nowhere to be found when he stepped into your house. He looked at the white walls decorated with family photos and admired the ones with you as a child. Caliban watched as you put the house keys in a glass dish and followed you to your bedroom.

It was odd, Caliban thought, to feel nothing but tranquility. He was almost always hyperaware of his surroundings and wary of demons and souls roaming past him in Hell, but it was just the two of you. Two bodies under one roof.

“My parents won’t be home until later tonight. N-Not that we have to do anything!” you added. “I just mean they’d freak out because they haven’t met you before.”

Caliban chuckled. “I wasn’t planning on making a move, if that’s what you were wondering.”

You didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed.

“Your room suits you,” he said. Caliban admired the photos on your nightstand and polaroids pinned to a brown board on the wall filled with memories from your past with the Fright Club and other friends and family members. He saw a stack of books beside your bed and a fish tank sitting by the window, your closet doors closed, and decorative pieces that highlighted your personality.

“Thanks,” you said, laying down on your best. “You can sit, you know.”

Caliban took this opportunity to lay next to you. When you felt the bed dip, you averted your eyes to the ceiling.

“What are you thinking about?” Caliban asked after a long pause of silence.

“How fast life changes,” you replied. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, but with all that I know, how can I keep all of this celestial knowledge a secret from my parents? The world is always doubting Heaven and Hell but I know the truth. I don’t know if being purely mortal is helping me out in this situation either.”

“You’re an innocent,” Caliban said, turning his head to look at you. “So pure and clean. Your soul has been untouched by neither light or night and it’s probably the one thing that’s going to save you in the future.”

You turned your head to meet his gaze. “I’m still powerless.”

“Maybe in one way, but not completely. You have no witchcraft magic but you have intelligence and intuition. You know not to meddle with things that aren’t of your concern.”

You were silent.

“What else are you thinking about?”

“How much I like spending time with you,” you confessed. “But it’s hard, you know. You’ll be in Hell most of the time and you’re made of clay, for crying out loud.” Caliban chuckled. “I didn’t really think you’d be around as often as you are.”

Caliban was silent.

“What are you thinking about?”

“You,” he replied. “I’m always thinking about you. I used to think morality was a disease, but it’s not. It’s a rationale, just like any demonic presence.” Caliban moved closed to you.

“I think about what love is and how I don’t know what it really means.”

“I think love means different things to different people,” you said. “I think it’s mutual respect and loyalty. It’s knowing details about someone, big and small. It’s about being together but knowing you can be independent. Love is hard and it takes time. Love is not instant.”

“You’re pretty wise for an innocent,” he said.

You laughed. “Maybe I’m just a hopeless romantic.”

“Maybe not.”

Caliban lifted his body to hover above yours, your chests barely touching as his eyes gazed right over your lips. You dared not to move and Caliban hesitantly leaned down further so that your lips barely brushed against one another, the goosebumps on your skin taking affect. Because you weren’t pulling away, he took it as a silent signal and pressed his chaste lips against your soft ones.

There was no spark. No magic and no fireworks. There was only you and Caliban, and there was no other way you would’ve wanted your first kiss to feel like. Time slowed down as Caliban relaxed by your touch and your hands roamed his neck. The cold outdoor air was replaced by the warmth of Caliban’s body and when he pulled away, he let his thumb stroke your cheek as he cupped the side of your face.

“You are, dare I say, an angel.

“That’s a compliment, considering I know how much you despise them.”

He laughed. “Perhaps I’ll make an exception.”

Caliban leaned down once more to press a tender kiss to your forehead and you closed your eyes in bliss, happy to accept the good that came with the craziness of the last month. You looked at his structured jaw and grinned at his loving gaze, letting out a tired laugh.

“Perhaps.”

[the-hilda-librarians-wife]

A Familiar Soul - Chapter Eight

Summary: Hilda decides to be completely honest with her mother, surprised when she seems to be a lot more in on magic than Hilda had expected her to be.

With her daughter’s association with witches, Johanna is forced to face some secrets of her own, bringing her back to feelings and people she’d rather have left behind

Dealing with insecurities and inner demons of her own, Kaisa finds herself face to face with the very issues that brought her to be so displeased with her own abilities

Or: the one where Johanna is Kaisa’s familiar

Notes: Sorry for being late!! I meant to post this yesterday but Things Happened and I ended up not being able to re-read and edit this chapter on time. Anyway, here’s a longer chapter for having waited longer for it; I’m not going to lie, I’m very excited to share this chapter with you, since I’d say this and the next one are half-way marks of this fic that really split the story in two themes.  Hope you enjoy it!

Read it on ao3: (chpt1) (chpt2) (chpt3) (chpt4) (chpt5) (chpt6) (chpt7) (chpt8)

 “Hilda, is this really a good idea?”

“Of course it is.” Her words reverberated on the walls of the dark tunnel she was leading them through. There was water on the ground, and Alfur looked down at it with disgust, grateful to be perched on Hilda’s ear and away from it. Tontu was not so lucky. Not only did he have to walk, but also he seemed to be in a constant battle to find a spot where Hilda’s steps wouldn’t accidentally spray the dirty water on him. “I've Talked to the Rat King a bunch of times! We’re friends.”

“Are you, really?” Though the nisse’s voice was filled with sarcasm, Hilda didn’t notice it, focusing on lighting up the way with her flashlight. Alfur shot him a look, telling him to be nice. Hilda was just a child, after all.

“What we mean.” The elf said, even though he’d been trying to make his point since they’d left the apartment to no avail. “Is that perhaps, instead of going to a mythical monster who lives in the sewers for information on your mother’s life, maybe, you should just ask her?”

Hilda waved her beam of light to the left, taking it to the right when she didn’t recognize the passage she saw. The one at the right looked more familiar… didn’t it?

“Mum wouldn’t tell me what I want to know, believe me. There’s something off about all this.”

Her creature companions seemed to resign themselves to the fact that Hilda was not going to let go of this idea, telling themselves that it could be worse. After all, at least they had been invited and would be there should she need them. Knowing Hilda, she might as well have set off on this task by herself, especially in the state she was. Upon arriving home the evening before, after having followed Kaisa all the way to the cemetery, Hilda had barely spoken to her mother. Even Johanna, who had wanted to tell her to not invite people into the house without her knowing, had found it best not to comment on it while Hilda was in that mood.

“I know I’ve never met this Rat King guy.” Said Tontu as he brushed off a spider that had fallen on his sweater. “But are we really supposed to be here? We’ve been walking for some time.”

Now that this had been called to Hilda’s attention, she had to admit that they were taking an unusual amount of time to arrive at their destination. The tunnels were getting smaller and smaller, in a way that an adult would have trouble walking along them, and they continued getting tighter, which made the trio feel as if they were in a funnel. At one point, the passageway stopped getting narrower, and instead opened up to a chamber.

“Is this where we needed to be?” Alfur asked as he noticed mysterious symbols engraved on the stone bricks that composed the chamber. There was no longer water on the ground, but the air was colder somewhy.

“No.” Muttered Hilda, who hadn’t wanted to admit she didn’t know where they were. She was about to retrace her steps back to where they had begun in order to dejectedly try to find what entrance she had gotten wrong, when an enormous figure dropped down from the ceiling in front of them with a bang. In the low lighting, they could only see it’s silhouette towering over them and feel its rotten smell, but when Hilda pointed her flashlight at it, making it roar, they were able to see that the monster was made almost entirely out of garbage - wet strands of hair, cardboard and paper that had been thrown away, used cigars and a great variety of things they feared to even name. It roared with the light, a low pitched and broken sound, showing its teeth of sharded glass.

The three of them screamed and turned for the exit, but just when they did so the creature extended one of its tentacles and blocked the passage with it, trapping them in the chamber. With two others, he picked Hilda and Tontu up.

“What do we do?” He shouted. Unseen to both of them and also to the beast, Alfur had already hopped down from Hilda’s hair to the ground.

“I don’t know!” Instinctively, Hilda was resisting the monster’s grip, trying to make it drop her. Nothing was coming from her efforts.

“I’m going to call Mum! Stay right here!”

“Tontu!” before she could say his name, the nisse had disappeared through the nowhere space. “Alfur, are you there?”

“I am going away, but I’ll be back with help!” He shouted back at her. Though the monster had managed to cover up most of the passage, there was still a spot big enough for Alfur to go through.

“But Tontu is already doing that! You’ll leave me alone with the monster!”

“I don’t think Johanna will be able to do much against this thing, Hilda.” He said, tensing up for the girl when it brought her closer to sniff her. “But I’ll be quick, I promise!”

_#_#_#_

Johanna yelped when Tontu appeared beside her drawing desk in a flash of pink light. This in itself didn’t surprise her, since she had grown used to the nisse popping up randomly around the house ever since he had come to live with them, but the way he grabbed her sweater’s sleeve scared her with its urgency.

“What-”

“Hilda is in danger!” He cut her off, and Johanna was sure that if she could see his eyes, they would be staring right into hers. Those words immediately clenched every muscle in Johanna’s body, her every instinct preparing her to fight.

“Take me to her!”

The first thing Johanna noticed when Tontu took her through nowhere space and to the place her daughter found herself in, was that it definitely was not the park, where Hilda had said she would be. The second was the smell, putrid and rancid and making her want to cough before she was even able to get situated. Lastly, she gasped when she saw her daughter on the ground with a horrid creature’s tentacle wrapped loosely around her waist.

Had she been thinking straight, she would have realized the lack of distress on Hilda’s face, or how she was whispering to the creature who was slowly coming to release her. Being worried out of her mind, however, she was neither able to see this nor hear it, though the latter could be blamed on how her heartbeat was thudding on her ears. Johanna screamed Hilda’s name, which made the girl look at her in shock as she watched her mother lunge in her direction, aiming for the tentacle so it would let go of Hilda.

Although she did hit it, her actions had the opposite effect: the creature screeched in indignation, tightening its grip on Hilda again and lifting her up. Johanna called for her from the top of her lungs, Hilda’s now scared features being the last thing she saw before the sewer monster curled another tentacle around Johanna herself, picked her up and threw her against a stone wall, making the entire world go dark.

_#_#_#_

“Very good.” Kaisa cooed when she finished reading the essay on the influence of Venus on a star chart. Tildy was never fond of making her students write long lengthened texts, since she herself found it to be a bother, but Frida always thought that she fixated a subject better and learned about it more in depth if she made an essay. With that in mind, she had arranged with the librarian for her to look over her writing when she was studying something within Kaisa’s area of expertise. What she hadn’t expected was for Kaisa to know so much about so many things.

“Thank you! I was wondering if you’d be willing to discuss some details within this topic with me?”

Forcing a smile, Kaisa began looking through the books of one of the piles near her. Technically, she didn’t need to be in the library so early on a Saturday morning, but she always arrived earlier to organize the books. Turned out to be better, since that way Frida was able to find her for the bits of help she most certainly didn’t need, but which Kaisa loved to give.

Well, which she usually loved to give. Not long after she began reading Frida’s essay, she started to feel a tingling sensation on the back of her neck, followed by a tightness in her heart like a string had been tied to it and was being pulled. It was extremely distracting, taking her away from the writing all the time, which made her have to re-read the same lines constantly. Kaisa hoped that maybe she was coming down with an illness, or was just feeling off because of not having slept particularly well the night before, because deep down she recognized those signs. It had been so long since she’d felt them, however, that she brushed the possibility away. 

“Or course! Why don’t we meet today after the library closes? I also have this book I think you’ll love.”

There was no time for her to hand Frida the book, though, since she was barely done speaking when a pigeon hit the window near them, making them both turn to look at it. Instead of trying to fly right back, it hit its beak against the glass repeatedly, which caught their attention and caused them to take a closer look at it. It was then that they noticed the pigeon wasn’t alone.

“Alfur!” Frida gasped, opening the window on instinct. Kaisa had already had the opportunity to meet the elf, but never had he been in such an agitated state. He didn’t even bother dismounting the pigeon to talk to them.

“Quick! I need you to come with me!”  The distress in his voice was evident, and a single thought popped in the mind of both witches as they ran to the library’s door: Hilda.

“To the sewers!” He said, flying the pigeon besides them when they ran outside. “Some sort of monster has captured Hilda!”

“Why on earth was Hilda in the sewers?!” Panting, Kaisa gasped. If there was one thing she wasn’t used to doing, it was running, and her lungs were already beginning to burn with the effort. 

“Usually it’s better no to question it.” Frida grabbed her hand to urge her to move faster. Kaisa was concerned by how Frida seemed to know perfectly the way to the sewers, but she supposed that, too, was better to be left unquestioned.

They dashed through the city as though their lives depended on it, knowing very well that Hilda’s might. Kaisa could only hope none of the people they raced by were regular patrons of the library; she didn't think running after a bird with a child would look too professional.

When eventually they reached the opening of the sewer system, they didn’t as much as give it a second thought before proceeding right into the tunnel. Usually, Kaisa would have been more than a little reluctant to enter a smelly hole like that, but the string in her heart was telling her to go, and to go fast. And go fast she did.

After all that was over, both Frida and Kaisa would remember never to doubt Alfur’s memory. Despite only having taken that path down the labyrinth of tunnels once, he never hesitated more than a second to choose when they were faced with more than one possible direction. Not a long time had passed when they began hearing a sound different than that of their feet on the wet stone and their heavy breathing.

“Please.” They could hear Hilda plead in the distance. “We were getting along before, weren’t we? That doesn’t change anything.”

Frida gasped when she heard her friend’’s voice and quickened her pace, with Kaisa struggling to keep up with her. When the tunnel’s walls began to squeeze them in, Kaisa had to bend her head despite being on the shorter side, and with that complication for her Frida went ahead. Worried for Hilda, Alfur barely noticed that the monster’s tentacle was no longer covering the entrance, and they all jumped through the entrance and into the chamber, except for Kaisa who had to stop to wonder how she’d manage to fit through the stone funnel.

“Frida!” From the monster’s grip, Hilda choked. “Go away! What are you doing here?”

The monster turned its eyes, made of five broken light bulbs, to the newcome witch. Though every cell in her body wanted to cower, Frida forced herself to stand her ground, grateful to have brought her wand. The new angle allowed both of the to see something that had been hidden behind the monster: another tentacle was tightly wrapped around the ankles of a prostate figure on the floor, with Tontu by her head trying to check her breathing.

Kaisa’s heart skipped a beat. “Anna!”

Only Frida heard her startled gasp, and she turned to Kaisa with urgency.

“What do we do?” The question was broken by Frida’s scream when the monster lunged forward, trying to get the girl in a amoeba-like movement. As it extended its body to close her in, she jumped back just in time to escape.

“I- I don’t know” Still stuck at the entrance, and knowing that this wasn’t likely to change due to her muscles having frozen, Kaisa could feel herself begin to hyperventilate. She hated it when this happened. Panic only made her brain stop working when it was the one part of her that still worked. When she saw Johanna blinking her eyes open drowsily, she forced herself to think.

“It’s a soppelbunke!” She said when she remembered, growing ever more afflicted as Frida escaped new attempts to capture her. “It doesn’t attack unless its space is invaded.”

“Well, I invaded its space!” Shouted Hilda. “What now?”

“There’s a spell-” 

“Cast it!” After being cornered, Frida shouted as she felt the monster tie her legs together with its tentacle. It lifted her up, though she was upside down, and seemed to analyze her carefully. Even through her haze of dread, Frida recognized that the soppelbunke seemed more curious about her than anything else. She had, however, no intention to find out how long it would take for its interest to shift into something more like hunger.

“What are you waiting for?” Kaisa’s gaze switched back to Johanna, who was now half way to sitting, perching herself up on her elbows; it was clear that she was trying to get up, and that the nisse next to her was doing all he could to stop her. The expectation in her eyes was too much for her to bear.

“No, I- I can’t…” Her voice got smaller with each word she spoke. This wasn’t something she wanted to admit when there were people relying on her. More importantly, this wasn’t something she would want to reveal to Johanna no matter the circumstances.

Although none of them heard her, Hilda and Frida exchanged a look as they both deduced what the problem was. It seemed like the librarian hadn’t quite put their void adventure behind yet.

“Tell me the chant!” The monster had turned to growl at Johanna and Tontu, who had now also been joined by Alfur, and Frida took the chance to try to get Kaisa to speak. There was a gigantic amount of fear in her eyes, but oddly enough, it didn’t seem to be directed at the soppelbunke.

“Kan skitten bly, igjen a ratne!” She finally said as she tried to force her fingers to move and grab her wand. “And make a triangular motion!”

With only her legs bound, Frida was able to grab her wand and pronounce the chant as firmly as she could, drawing a triangle in the air. The creature didn’t even have the time to understand what was happening before a blue blast came from the tip of Frida’s wand and hit it. All the individual components of its body came apart, forming a disgusting pile on the ground, and as soon as they got up, both Frida and Johanna ran to Hilda. 

Johanna tried to take her daughter’s hand into her own. “Hilda, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” The girl huffed as she took her hand back. “Thanks to Frida and Kaisa.”

Johanna retreated at the cold words, and as she was suddenly reminded that Kaisa was there, she turned to look at the chamber’s entrance.

She saw nothing but the tip of a black cape as its wearer walked away.

_#_#_#_

The first thing Hilda did when she arrived home was take a bath. Not only because the stench of the sewers was stubbornly clinging to her, but also because her mother wanted to talk, and she couldn’t think of anything else she wanted to do less in that moment.

She’d been almost there. The monster had been so <em>close</em> to letting her go before her mother popped into the chamber and angered him. Kaisa herself had said that the soppelbunke only attacked when rightfully provoked, everything indicated that it could have been dealt with only through dialogue. Hilda would eternally be thankful to Frida, of course, but before her mother had shown up things had been fine! And now she’d face a scolding for something that wouldn’t even happen if Johanna hadn’t showed up.

The table had been set with the last pieces of a cake Johanna had baked earlier that week, and Hilda sat down in front of her mother. The woman took a deep breath, her hands interlaced in front of her chest.

“Hilda.” Johanna began with a fake facade of calm. She couldn’t say she was angry, per se, but every single one of her nerves felt like they were on fire. ‘On edge’ was the best definition she could give. “Now that you’re safe, I need to know what you were doing in the sewers.”

Hilda sat back in her chair and crossed her arms. “What I was doing there doesn’t change what happened, does it?”

“It doesn’t.” The woman had to restrain herself from fidgeting. She didn’t want to ground Hilda; just like she was doing an effort to be more honest, Johanna knew she had to do her part to be more understanding, but goodness, it was hard. She tried to put her child self in Hilda’s place and imagine what she would have liked her parents to do, but her adventures had rarely taken such big and dangerous dimensions, and on the rare occasion that they did, her parents never learned of it. It didn’t go unnoticed by her that there was one sole reason for her to always have been protected: she never went anywhere without her witch.

But she couldn’t very well tell Hilda that.

“I’m just trying to understand if what you went there to do is something that I could have helped. You need to understand that you don’t have to go on these mad chases alone, and you don’t have to go at all if it’s something I can control!”

“Funnily enough, it was something that you would have been able to help.” Hilda said, even more harshly than she had intended. “But if I had thought you would have helped, I wouldn’t have gone all the way to the sewers.”

“Hey, don’t blame me for this!” Johanna protested. “You can’t know whether or not I’ll help if you won’t ask me!”

“Let’s test the theory, then. What did you do?”

Johanna blinked. “Pardon?”

“You must know what I’m talking about. Kaisa said you made her mad.”

“Why were you even talking to Kaisa?!” Logically, Johanna knew Hilda had gone to her after she’d kicked her former girlfriend out of the house, but she’d hoped Hilda wouldn’t actually hear anything she said. “You know you can’t trust her! She didn’t even lift a finger to help us today.”

“Don’t talk about her like that!” The intensity of Hilda’s defense startled her mother, and it surprised the girl herself. She’d once been upset at the librarian for freezing when it mattered the most, but she thought she’d now grown past judging people for their insecurities, and Johanna should too. “She did her best! Now please tell me what you did that made her so angry at you.”

Johanna put a hand on her chest to defend herself. “All I did was protect her.”

With a sigh, Hilda got up from her chair. She would never give up on trying to have a good relationship with her mother, but for that particular subject it seemed like the more she tried the worse it got. As she headed back to her room she shook her head in dejection.

“Yeah, I’m beginning to see why she’d be angry about that.”

_#_#_#_

Tildy hadn’t asked why Kaisa was at her doorstep. She hadn’t needed to. The moment she saw her student she could tell Kaisa was on the brink of tears; she’d barely begun pouring them both tea when the librarian spilled the whole story.

“I couldn’t do anything!” She finished with tears already streaming down her face, one drop even falling inside her teacup. Tildy could tell by reading the situation that this called for the sofa. Kaisa always felt better venting when they were both sitting on the couch instead of on a table, and so she gently guided the other woman to stand up from the chair and sit down again.

“Yet everything turned out fine.” Tildy said with her most comforting voice. “So what is this really about, little one?”

There was a beat of silence, the question hanging heavily in the air. 

“I’ve never done right by anyone in my entire life!” Kaisa’s crying turned into a full on bawling. “I couldn’t be the change my mother needed me to be, I couldn’t be the witch you taught me I could be, I couldn’t be the friend Johanna deserved, and now I can’t even be the protection Hilda will require!”

Her apprentice had never been a blunt person, nor much of an emotional one, so the sorceress was taken aback by the sudden flow of honesty. She could tell Kaisa had been holding that back for long, and now it was like a dam had broken and the waves were coming forward and rocking her to her core.

“Kaisa, you are the keeper-”

“So you keep saying!” She blurted out.” But I’m not the keeper of the books! The keepers were great and wise, and all I do is let everyone down! I’m just a librarian, and i’m not even sure I’m good at that.”

She covered her face with her hands, sobbing into them. Part of her wanted to be embarrassed with that behavior, but the other part knew that this was Tildy. If there was one person she could break down in front of, it was her. Surely enough, her old mentor put an arm across her back and pulled her closer, enveloping Kaisa in her warmth and in her scent of cinnamon like she used to do when she was a little girl.

And, like she used to do when she was a little girl, Kaisa wept.

[kendrixtermina]

I’ve found the interview! Or parts of it

Other fun points beyond Claude’s real name.

A lot of my headcanons have been confirmed!

Silver Snow was the first route written (maybe that’s why it’s the weakest? It took them a while to find their Mojo)

El wasn’t just a driving figure in the plot but also in the writing process, ie, the other lords were then developed as contrasts.

Dimitri’s eyepatch was also improv apparently one person just randomly suggested it halfway through, the original model was then used for CF. It was intended to show that he had a hard life in the last 5 years

They say they took some influence from “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”

CF was indeed intended as a “secret” hidden route holding a distinct place - it was originally supposed to be harder to unlock - they also underestimated how many players would always go explore on the first day (apparently the option is only open in the first day - which makes sense, later she’s already departed)

Edelgard is indeed Byleth’s foil/ counterpart / rival / contrast as someone with roughly equal power

So developement wise you might draw some parallels to Elsa (the developers gradually realized this character had more potential as a hero than a villain/ was actually pretty sympathetic - part of why they made joining her easier) and also Rika from Digimon Tamers (they realized the figurines of the girl characters didn’t sell, so they made the primary girl the ‘rival character’ which always sells. Rika was indeed hugely popular, probably because your average anime ‘rival character’ tends to be complex, cool,  and one of the most powerful chars in the setting)

Lysithea was indeed just a prototype, Edelgard had a much more advanced procedure done on her (hence why she generally seems a lot more “super”)

They originally planned for her to be able to stop/interfere with divine pulse but that didn’t end up making it into the final game

You have to consider that a game is not a book or a movie - something might be a cool concept on its own but if its implementation is annoying to the player it’s worthless

However I will take this as confirmation to my headcanon that she has some mild timewarping going on, and that this is what happens when she can attack multiple times (as per ‘raging storm’ or in her Hegemon form)

That really IS Sothis on the mural

An aspect that I didn’t personally consider but adds to my observations of how Rhea is a really interesting take on the concept of a demigod: They stress that to her Sothis doesn’t just represent her mother but also the creator/ her god. She very much does worship her and has goals beyong just wanting back a family member

(Indeed she does tell Byleth that she can’t wait until “Our creator rules this wayward land once more”)

And here’s yet another account of the war of heroes. In this i must admit defeat because others called this and I didn’t:

The Nabateans were in fact ruling over humans, and people were in fact resisting/standing up to that

The Agarthans having their own sinister motives,  invented the methods to make crests/ relics

At this point you DO get greed and powerlust involved - people like Nemesis started trying to kill dragons to gain their power left and right and the balance of power shifted

Rhea didn’t so much “make” the Elites into heroes - The (human) people really did see them as liberators and that was too big to change, so Seiros kept the broad strokes manipulating the details so that all tied back to the goddess.

So they replaced an aristocracy of Nabateans by an aristocracy of people with Nabatean-like powers. There’s an interesting dynamic here

So Edelgard was almost completely right.

I’m sorry I doubted you El!

That said I still get the impression that Nemesis was definitely in it for the power and still massacred civilians.  He’s like the Ten Elites’ secretly evil teammate.

So on the one hand, Rhea didn’t do this unscrupulous act of making people she hates into heroes just for control, on the other hand the war of Heroes was alot more muddy

On the other hand this makes Silver Snow a bad end in my book. “Happiness in Slavery”.

I did talk about how SS didn’t have Byleth growing out of their character flaws the ways the other routes, but now... wow they were a tool until the end

I still can’t believe that Sothis, Seteth or Flayn are evil though, Sothis seems compassionate and disliked Rhea’s methods - but was she even around then, actually? Because she was asleep for a long time after the war with the Agarthans. So the Nabateans, perhaps already under Rhea’s leadership, were already semi-corrupt.

(That obviously doesn’t justify slaughtering them all down to the last child - Zanado was the civilian population)

Seteth might have been as much of a tool now as then. Though I still hold to my opinion that he’s the last one to hold to Sothis’ “real” mission - which was guard not rule

Of course Rhea believed almost to the last that guarding was precisely what she was doing

Heavens this has so many layers and complexities I love it I want to make a full drawn out novel based on a similar premise

That said they specify very clearly that Seiros and co really did just want to keep the peace. They are benevolent/ paternalistic overlords basically

Almyra seems to have an “Ottoman Harem” situation going on where the King has multiple wives and the heir is whoever is worthiest/strongest rather than the eldest. So from the beginning Claude had many rivals as if the bullying he experienced wasn’t bad enough

So Claude/Khalid is different from Dimitri who was always the rightful crown prince, and Edelgard who never expected to inherit and suddenly found herself catapulted up the line of succession. For him it was always a “maybe”.  

This is an interesting contrast to Edelgard. Her father also had many concubines but it seems she had a good relationship with her siblings regardless.

“He won’t hesitate to plea for his life and considers survival as the ultimate victory. That’s also why Claude is the character who survives in every route. “

The original plan was to slip up and have Nader call him the wrong name. i see why they cut it, it would make everyone involved look like they don’t take the situation seriously

The moment in non-GD routes where he couldn’t predict that Hilda and Judith would sacrifice themselves is ascribed to him “having different values than the people in fodlan”. Ouch. So good at reading people but the cultural difference still bit him in the ass at the worst possible moment.

If you see the Church as Seiros as an analogue to a corrupt medieval church, this certainly fits with the common observation by ppl of different backgrounds that christian countries tend to have an undercurrent of glorifying suffering and self-sacrifice in ways that seem masochistic to ppl from other backgrounds or even local non-believers

The beard was supposed to make him look “adventurous”

“He’s a very good guy” - I mean, yeah.  

The timeskip designs were supposed to “radiate their life style over the last five years” - I certainly see that with, say, Dimitri or Bernadetta

[ainarosewood]

Gentle

@gatheredfates​

 This is Part 2 

Hello is part 1 

tomorrow’s prompt Kiss will be part 3

Aymeric looked pensively out his window for the fifth time at the heavy snowfall.  Beside him he heard the clank of a tray and Lucia’s voice stating, “You worry too much sir,  did she not face Shiva, Nidhogg, even Thordain and his Knights Twelve and still return to us.  I doubt a storm is going to be much of an issue for the Warrior of Light.”

He turned toward her the barest of pink rising on his cheeks and he stammered, “I...no I’ve not forgotten any of those things Lucia but you know as well as I how unpredictable the storms of Coerthas can be....”

The female knight’s lips twitched with mild amusement as she poured his tea adding his preferred amount of birch syrup deftly before asking, “Have you also forgotten that she was born and raised here in Ishgard?  That she was in the Central Highlands post Calamity?  I’m sure she is fully aware of how uncertain Coerthan weather can be,”

She set the tea before him and he gave her a sheepish grin before saying, “Thank you Lucia and no I’d not forgotten she is a daughter of Ishgard I just...”

“Want to worry like a maid swooning for her errant knight,” the Garlean woman teased her eyes dancing waiting to speak until he was taking a sip of the tea.

“Lucia!” he sputtered nearly spitting said tea across his desk, he glared at her the color deepening on his cheeks as he stammered again, “I...there is naught wrong with being concerned for a dear friend.  Especially one that we owe so much too.”

Lucia laughed stating, “And there’s naught wrong if she is more than a ‘dear’ friend to you sir,”

She was about to say more when he raised a hand looking at the door his politician’s mask up as it swung open and a very annoyed Hilda strode in.

“Sorry te darken your door noble sir,” she stated with a ghost of a grin, “But me boy’s and I have made some headway in finding those bastards that claim to be the ‘True’ brothers o the faith,”

“So some escaped the Vault as we suspected that day?” he queried

She nodded her ruby eyes dark as she stated, “Aye at least one known, a good Father by the name o Reginald.  Seems he was a favorite o the swine Charibert’s Inquisitors.  My boy’s found that the man was spotted with a contingent o about ten Knights heading into the Western Highlands.”

“So they’ve been detained at Falcon’s Nest?” he asked dread filling him

Hilda shook her head, “No the snake stopped there briefly but then went on further into the Highlands.  My boy’s don’t know exactly but they’re fairly certain that he and his following have holed up in the old mills out there.  The one’s the Heretic’s used fer a time.”

“Seven Hells!” he swore turning to Lucia, “Gather a contingent of our most trusted knights.  Lucia, have them be ready to move as soon as the storm clears.  And inform the Scions that I wish to speak with them immediately.”

Hilda cocked her head at him stating, “While I admit they shouldn’t be left to their own ideas, good sir, why the sense of urgency and calling on the Scions?”

He closed his eyes in anguish as he stated softly, “Because about six bells ago I sent the Warrior of Light to investigate reports of Dravanian activity in that same area.  Reports that came not from Falcon’s Nest but the Mill’s knights.  I had assumed it was simply from the ones left there to prevent the Heretic’s from returning not the potential of anyone else.”

“So our dear Warrior’s most likely flying into an ambush she knows nothing of...hmm she is more than capable of taken care o herself, Lord Commander.  I’d think you of all people would know that.”

“She is, but she will most likely stay her hand if she suspects the knights are only doing their duty.  And I dare to assume, that you know as well as I, what an Inquisitor is capable of.”

“Hmm, you’ve got me there,” she stated thinking, “Don’t worry bout Ishgard at the moment.  My boy’s and I will keep the peace go and save our friend.”

He nodded, “I leave it to you and the Watch then,  Inform Handeloup if there is aught the Watch needs.”

“Aye ser,” she responded striding out.  Once she made it into the hallway she spoke with said knight then made her way back toward the Brume.

*******************************************************************************

Aymeric paced his office like a caged ceourl awaiting the Scions to come to the Congregation.  His eyes kept staring out the window relieved to see the snow lessening which meant they’d have a chance to arrive swiftly provided they left before the storm started up again.

A knock sounded on his door and he barked, “Enter,” a moment later Alphinaud strode in his young face filled with concern, behind him came Y’shtola, Thancred and finally Krile.  The trio had curious looks on their faces and he wasted no time, “Pray first, allow me to apologize.  I had no intention of sending her into such peril.”

Y’shtola’s ears twitched and he felt her gaze harden as she asked quietly, “What sort of peril and of whom do you speak?”

Aymeric closed his eyes fighting back his anguish as he replied, “Sallee...I had asked her to investigate reports of Dravanian activity near the Gorgagne Mills in the Western Highlands.  With no knowledge that some of the True Brother’s of the Faith had made their way there and was sending a false report.  Please forgive me friends, I had no idea I was sending her to a trap.”

Alphinaud’s face paled and he snapped, “We must do something at once!  I have no doubt that they blame her for all of what they perceive to be Ishgard’s ills.”

Aymeric nodded, “Lucia has already gathered our most trusted knights and I intend on leading them myself.”

“With no knowledge of their numbers or how they have them arrayed, Ser Aymeric?” Thancred asked in an annoyed tone, “Think man, they will have the advantage.”

Aymeric nodded, “I am well aware.  Which was one of two reasons why I sent for you.  One was to inform you of the situation and the other was to ask for your aid in discerning how best to extract her.”

Thancred gave him a relieved smile then stated, “Then I shall head out there and see if I can get a lay of the land.  I will contact you via linkpearl to inform you of their placement and numbers.”

He left and Aymeric turned to Krile and Y’shtola, “I am also informed that the both of you are accomplished healers and I would greatly appreciate you assistance for I have no doubt she will be injured.”

Both healers nodded and Alphinaud stated, “I to have some skill with the healing arts Ser Aymeric and I have fought alongside her many times before.”

Aymeric looked down at the young Elezen stating,  “I am aware of that fact Master Alphinaud, I had no intention of leaving you behind.”

“Calm yourself Alphinaud, you will not be able to help her at all if your not thinking,” Krile stated quietly then she turned to Aymeric asking, “Obvious animosity aside what makes you think she will have injuries?”

Aymeric’s eyes closed a pained expression crossing his features, “Because the one leading them, Father Reginald was one of the foremost Inquisitors...and they are not known for gentle questioning.”

“I see,” the Lalafell murmured softly 

“Come, there are chocobo readied and waiting for us at the stables as soon as we receive Master Thancred’s report we will strike.  I’d rather not gather in Falcon’s Nest for fear of them having eyes there.”

Once they arrived at the stables they were greeted by the sight of a chocobo pacing agitatedly and kwehing in distress.  Its deep burgendy feathers idendtifing it as Swiftwing, Sallee’s chocobo.  Quickly Y’shtola made her way over to the bird and did her best to calm it before leading it forward and handing its reins to Alphinaud.  The boy nodded patting the distressed chocobo and stood there awaiting Thancred’s call.

Within a few bells Alphinaud’s linkshell chimed and Thancred stated flatly, “There seems to be around ten knights gathered around the perimeter.  As well as another ten separated out into two patrols that have irregular intervals.”

Alphinaud relayed this to Aymeric who directed the knights into the air as he  mounted.  Alphinaud mounted along with the other Scions and they launched as well.  “Were on our way Thancred let us know if anything changes.”

It didn’t take long before they arrived all gathered near where the Hyur was observing the Mill.  “I figure I could slip in for a closer look provided there was a distraction made.  That way we can locate her quickly and prevent them from taking any drastic measures.”

“Seems sound enough to me, Lucia take ten of our knights with you toward the western front and lure the patrols to you.  Master Alphinaud, your with me along with the remaining knights to deal with the sentries once Master Thancred has located the Warrior of Light.  Mistress Krile, Y’shtola could I ask you to follow and be ready for the charge on the main entry.”  Aymeric directed

All nodded in understanding and Thancred made his way down to the Mill using the land to his advantage.  It did not take him long to slip past the sentries.  Once he was there Aymeric commanded, “Now!”

Lucia led her knights forward directly toward the patrols who scrambled to meet them. It did not take long for her to lure them away toward the nearby fields.  Meanwhile Aymeric mounted his chocobo and waited for Alphinaud and the others to do the same.  The young Elezen climbed onto the bird’s back and awaited Thancred’s call.

In a few moments the shell chimed and Thancred gritted, “The bastard has her in the basement and seems to be torturing her as we speak.  If you strike the sentries I doubt he will notice, he seems to enjoy his work far too much.”

Alphinaud’s eyes flashed in anger as he relayed this to Ser Aymeric.  The older Elezen felt rage building deep within as he growled, “To arms then, let us go now!”

They charged directly at the Mill and several of the sentries scrambled to meet them.  Aymeric drove his bird straight for the main entry having it kick down the door.  With the grace of long experience he swung off the bird commanding it to guard and he met the blade of the knight still standing with Naegling. He shifted his blade using it to disarm his opponent then used Naegling’s hilt to knock the man unconscious.  

He turned to face the other two knights only to see one drop wretching as a sickly green spell slammed into him from Alphinaud’s tome.  The other cried out in pain as a blast of air began ripping at his face.  From the corner of his eye he could see Y’shtola standing with her cane drawn not far behind him.

Suddenly the air was torn with the sound of a pain filled scream and Aymeric charged forward leaping over the rail and down into the basement charging forward.  Before him he saw Sallee bound to a chair a myriad of wounds seeping blood.  Her face thrown back in agony as a cherry red pole of iron was being stabbed into an empty spot in he abdomen.  Said pole was in the hand of a short balding Hyur in the robes of the vault.

Aymeric snarled in rage and lunged Naegling held before him.  The priest had enough time to turn only to be impaled on the blade.  He stared wide eyed in shock at Aymeric and the Elezen twisted the blade and slashed down.  Reginald fell to the basement floor, his guts spilling out before him.  A pool of his lifesblood pouring from the gaping wound.  Ignoring the mans gasps as he breathed his last Aymeric strode forward shaking the blood from his blade before sheathing it.  He then stepped behind the chair and unbound the Warrior.  Catching her then cradling her gently as he called, “Mistress Y’shtola, Krile to me!”

The two bolted down there seeing him holding the injured Elezen their mouths thinning in anger before Y’shtola stated, “Pray, hold her tightly Ser as we see to closing these wounds.”

The Elezen nodded not trusting his voice as he knelt down holding her close while the two began channeling healing spells into her.  Her scream of pain rang in his ears but he held fast.  Firmly but also feather light fearing that he’d harm her further but knowing that if she thrashed about it would only make things worse.

“Seven Hells,” he heard Alphinaud cry as the young Elezen joined his fellows and aided in the healing.  It did not take long for most of the surfaces of the wounds to close.  Once that had happened the three lowered their hands cutting the spells.

“That is all we can do for now, we must get her back to Ishgard and to proper facilities,” Y’shtola stated wearily.

“I will bear her there my self,” Aymeric murmured softy, “Ser Nathan!”  

At the knights appearance in the door he continued, “Send word to Captain Whitecape he will have a patient brought to him shortly by my own hands.”

The knight saluted then bolted off once he had Aymeric called, “Ser Esseoux”

A few moments later an Elezen knight appeared in the doorway and Aymeric commanded, “See that the knights that were here and survived the battle are detained for questioning.  I will be returning to Ishgard so the field is yours, please had it over to Lucia upon her return.”

“At once Lord Commander,” the knight responded saluting.  Then he turned and began shouting commands to the other knights.  

Aymeric then carefully made his way up the stairs taking care not to jostle Sallee in any way.  Behind him he heard the three Scions follow.  Once he stepped outside he was greeted by Switftwing who began looking over the woman in his arms and whistling agitatedly.

“Would you bear us back to Ishgard?  Tis the best chance she has at the moment.” He asked the bird.

The cocobo kwehed in agreeance then stood still waiting for the Elezen to mount.  As if melting out of the shadows Thancred appeared beside him and Aymeric handed him Sallee long enough to mount before the Hyur handed the unconscious woman back to him his free eye dark with rage at her injuries.

The chocobo launched and unerringly turned toward Ishgard flapping as fast as he could to get his mistress to someone who could help.  Aymeric simply held onto the bird with his legs and grasped the woman close praying that she would be well.

[swearronchanel]

9.06

I’m a day late but I have thoughts

- Fred is truly a gem lol but another garden seems redundant

- Trixie actually working!

- Why did they bring back Val’s really bitchy cousin lol, I’m sure she has others on the block😂

- Also Mcnulty seems eager to come back, nice boy

- Sister Hilda tryna stay positive when she knows the truth, bless her

- Also the heat 2000 feels just as far away when you say it now at days too😂

- Save Nonnatus House 1k65/2k20

- I was always wondering when the Turners would tell Angela she’s adopted. I think it should be soon, she deserves to know & I hope we see it

- Little girls always wanna be the same😭 that’s true, but I hope that they acknowledge the fact that it’s a different situation and Angela won’t ever have the struggle May is about to have

- “Maybe they’ll move and carry on like before” Trixie in tears makes me wanna cry😭 she’s literally already been through this. I wish we saw more moments where she reflects as the only OG midwife left (yea Shelagh is technically too but you already know all the issues)

- Also Trixie looks damn great

- What will midwives the do!? We shall see

- Oh so Val has a dad? Did he pass? Give us more info lol

- I also feel like it’s been spring/summer this whole series lol

- Ok but the suddenly alive lost parent trope is pretty soap-y/melodramatic but go on,

- Shelagh stress smoking is a big ass mood but also stop you have weak lungs sis

- Reggie always have great ideas

- Chugging castor oil uh I rather die 🤢

- She’s going to shit her brains out now

- LMAO YUP

- Sister Hilda and Trixie could be an interesting dynamic, let’s see it

- Fred do not worry you’ll figure it out

- What’s wrong with Sister Frances?

- Where is Ms Higgins from that she just said laboratory like that LMAO?? Or do all brits say it like that? i dont remember

- Can’t wait to see Phyllis back with her cubs

- Fred and Reggie hugging for so long🥺

- Sister MJ is going to make a garden, I love her

- Trixie’s new pyjama’s are so cute

- It’s a boy 🥺

- “I am not alone sister” LMAO omg reminds me of the time my grandma went shopping by herself right after she came out of the hospital and we called her and asked who she was with and she straight up said “con díos” aka god and I died

- Never underestimate Sister Mj tho

- Tim is so grown and yet he’s still just the babysitter is so wack give him a little story

- “I like that we’re complicated” awww

- The photos of May🥺awww

- Give Esther a chance man, I feel so bad. She only asked to meet her before she goes back

- Gtfo how can the agency not provide a translator so that she can understand official documents in her first language? That’s bullshit

- LMAO FRED IS WASTED

- “Only in the line of duty ma’am” 😂

- Oh no poor Sister Frances, cramps are the WORST 😭

- I legit would not be able to move for hours and have thrown up before from period pain. Thank god for birth control

- What’s wrong with baby warren?! Omg noo a heart problem

- Trixie’s fit is great

- The fucking chicken pox caused this omg nooo

- THE BEATLES AT SHEA!! iconic! Remember when Don took Sally on Mad Men

- Omg baby is blind? and only going to live a few weeks? Noo😭 this is heart breaking

- Poor Val and poor Maureen ugh this is so awful

- My niece turned 1 today and baby warren is making me extra emo😢

- Sister MJ with the teddy bear 🥺 she doesn’t even care she got caught for taking the blankets LMAO

- Damn May doesn’t remember her or her language. This is so heartbreaking

- ALSO why were there not subtitles so we could know what she said? 🤔 very questionable... just like how they emphasized earlier her going by a “christian” name now... 

- Esther shouldn’t have gotten loud but they didn’t even give her a chance? That’s not really fair

- I know Patrick is being protective but he’s so defensive that he probably did scare May

- PHYLLIS FAKING CAR TROUBLES TO GET CRYRIL AND LUCILLE TOGETHER I LOVE IT

- Damn that didn’t go well LMAO

- I’m really feeling conflicted here. I know the Turners have the best intentions and want to keep May safe but I feel like they haven’t given Esther enough of a chance before passing judgment. Like how do we not know she’s a completely changed/clean from drugs women?

- like she is working for a family with enough money for international travel so they probably pay well? IDK what to think rn. Maybe I’m giving Esther the benefit of the doubt but no one else really is

- “They made my child afraid of me” that’s so sad to hear

- “Forgetting her language, forgetting that she’s Chinese” !!! THIS, no one is talking about May’s loss of culture & what’s worse is that no one else seems to care. It really upsets me, the show always wants to pride itself on respecting other cultures and being inclusive but I don’t always feel that

- Also what she said about what they’ve done to her people. She ain’t wrong. F**k colonialism and all its evils !!

- Poor Esther 😭 this is so sad. It’s a lose lose situation for her and she just wants her daughter to know her and know that she loves her

- Also I know sister J is sister J but her talking to Esther is a bit biased don’t you think

- NO NO NO Warren passed 😭😭😢

- Damn Patrick has to carry a stack of death certificates 😢

- ANOTHER look from Ms Franklin

- all the girls look great though

- My heart really breaks for Esther man. This is so sad. She’s the victim of circumstances and it sucks to feel like the world is against you

- It’s so awkward bc the Turners are always set up in moments to kiss and then they don’t and just stand or sit there

- Such beautiful flowers

- They developed the film of Baby Warren😭

- Cyril’s FIT ! A fashion KING who loves Lucille. I love it. I love them.

- The nosy nurses of course

- Alright this is an awesome little festival good job Fred and Reggie !!

- Love the dress Trixie. The hat no so much but it’s the 60s so

- A BABY GARDEN OMG HOW PRECIOUS

- SISTER MONICA JOAN WON OK!

- “Flowers take many forms. Each one has its story. Each one unfolds...” 🌼🌸💐🌷🌺🌻🌷

- “Not every garden blooms as we except it... tears take the place of rain when the sunshine fails us...” 😭💖

- This was a beautiful ending to a sad episode wow

[randomnameless]

What do you think about morally grey in three houses?

Hmm…

There has been several posts recently discussing this particular topic, which boiled down to “what is morally grey” and, well, this is an interesting question!

I’d say “grey” is when someone isn’t completely black or white, but has elements of both alignments. 

The obvious having been stated, it makes me think about several other tropes, like the “pet the dog” trope or “morality pet”.

Does having good intentions but shit execution means you’re grey? It depends! What is the “shit execution”? Eating babies? Forgeting to put the lid on your pan full of boiling water because you were super busy to, idk, bring pregnant wife to the hospital, so when your old mom tried to add pasta to the pan she burnt herself and died?

I’d say it depends on what are your limits and what you deem acceptable or not and uh, apparently, killing people in prevention they might do something wrong isn’t black enough to dilute the pool into “too black you will need to add 5 liters of bleach to get a clearer result”…

I’ve said it before, but the purple giant deciding to snap his fingers to get rid of half of the population to save the world isn’t, to my tastes, morally grey. It’s still 50% of people dying because someone decided and they weren’t consulted.

If those 50% agreed to it though? It’s immediatly more complicated, not for them, but for the guy/woman holding the trigger - they want to die to save the world, but will you really kill them? (i think this had been adressed in Tales of the Abyss at one point).

Look at Quanism - it has both good and bad aspects.

Quan will cross a desert twice (even if the second time he kind of failed) to save and help his best friend Sigurd, because he might need help and will even accompany him during his various journeys in foreign states. Quan will defend his country (mmh) and his people against Thracian invasions. Quan’s people have Leonster’s best interests at heart.

Quan will also shit on Thracia, put outrageous prices on food exported there, act as the High King of what seems to be a federation of several sovereign kingdoms and often call Verdane people barbarians.

Was Quan a bad guy, or a good guy?

Ultimately, in FE5, Leif refuses Quanism. Given a crapton of circumstances, he finds his own doctrine (well the peninsula is united under his rule, like Quan would have wanted, but Thracians aren’t exiled or relegated to shit like Quan might have done if he had been in his son’s shiny boots).

The Hero ™ isn’t grey, or tries his hardest not to be. Sometimes he manages to do that by disgusting asspulls, sometimes he succeeds by thinking out of the box, sometimes he doesn’t and falls in the grey spectrum - where we can still ask ourselves, is he still the hero, or how does the fact that falling in the grey spectrum impacts him?

FE9 Naesala, and arguably in FE10, refuses to be called a good king or a good leader. He will prioritise his kingdom and his people first, but is perfectly aware that he is not The Hero ™ Tibarn represents. Naesala has good intentions at heart, shit execution and refuses to be called or even thought as heroic. It is heavily implied that he “atones” for the rest of his life, and is willing to be used as a punching ball by Tibarn because of what happened in Phoenicis.

Arvis might have had the best intention, he completely crossed the line. I personally don’t think he knew Manfroy and co would hunt children and go on a murder spree in the 1st gen, but, and this is what is truly fightening, I don’t know if Arvis would have stopped his association with Manfroy if he knew (maybe he would have tried to backstab him to prevent such a thing from happening, but it’s the same dilemna we had with Lyon in FE8, are you really going to work with evil forces to do something because you think you can control them? If you do, then what does that make you?)

Ultimately Arvis tries to redeem himself, by asspulling saving all children and dying by Seliph’s hands - does that make him grey if associating with Manfroy and conquering the continent turned his color spectrum to black? Or was Arvis “morally black” since the beginning?

On the other end of the spectrum, Sigurd’s invasion of Augstria (and Verdane but no one cares about barbarians) feels wrong (at least I felt so). Sigurd is even called on it by Eldingan, and FE4′s biased narrator says that during the occupation, Sigurd’s occupying forces did some shit. 

Is his incompetence/reluctance/ignorance that his troops were “doing some shit” in Augstria dark enough to change his color spectrum? Can we hold the fact that he is a knight so he cannot disobey/doesn’t think about disobeying orders even if they are about subjugating a country and removing its king against him? Sigurd grows in Silesse, but then he dies :’(

But still, is Sigurd morally grey? I don’t think so. Maybe after his death he would have been, or he would have retained his knightly values, we will never know. Faced with Lewyn’s dilemna - continuing the fight that will kill many, or going home and letting many die - Sigurd doesn’t know how to answer. But this is a good thing, he might have turned into the Hero ™ who solves problems by thinking out of the box. Or he would have tried to, idk.

Sigurd isn’t loyal good, nope, he goes against orders to protect Shannan. I’d say chaotic good, but it ultimately doesn’t matter, imo, Sigurd’s pretty “morally white”.

This isn’t really on topic though, your question, and by extension the concept of morally grey is actually asking if said character is “moral” or “amoral” by your own standards!

On FE16 :

Boar!Dimitri is an interesting case. Boar!Dimitri wants and will, if Billy isn’t with him, fight until his last breath in a desperate attempt to kill Edelgard. In AM, where we see Boar!Dimitri and interact with him, it’s implied that Boar!Dimitri wants to be a boar and fight against Edel, but he will not force his former friends to join him in his quest. He tries to tell everyone off, saying “they’re too weak” or some liability, but we ultimately see it with Dedue and Rodrigue that despite his tuskers, Boar!Dimitri doesn’t want people to die for him.

Is Boar!Dimitri morally grey? He is driven by his revenge and yet, he will not do “everything” to get Edel’s head. He will not sacrifice his friends for Edel’s death (then of course comes the question “but they’re following him so if pulls a Leeroy Jenkins they will follow” which is right). Still, the fact that he prioritises his revenge and Edel over his people is pretty meh in my book especially since Rodrigue told him that they’re starving etc. Then there’s his useless cruelty dealing with Randolf which sucks. Everything taken into consideration I’d say that, imo, Dimitri’s a light shade of “morally grey”.

Claude isn’t morally grey at all. He desperatly wants to be, but imo, he reads more like Virion (and/or Innes, I totally forgot about him).

Given the dev’s interview and all, Claude will not sacrifice his friends, and puts survival as his top priority. He wants to look like a heartless schemer, ready to do anything to achieve his goals, but just like Virion, in a real life situation? Nope. Claude will escape, and find a way/lament if his friends fell because they weren’t supposed to. With the Innes comparison, I’d say Hilda might be his Gerik - he told/ordered her to get away and escape, she says fig it and stays until the end.

Claude might have been the Hero ™ who thinks out of the box, but there are no boxes in FE16… 

Claude’s morally white, he has his ambitions but won’t cross his own thresholds to achieve them. Of course there’s the “it’d be nice if Rhea disappeared” at the end of VW, but, because the plot asked for it or not, Rhea dies at the end of VW. Claude doesn’t have to get rid of her, and even if she didn’t, would he truly do it or wasn’t it a Virion-boast? Would Claude kill the person who sacrificed herself twice to save them, or have her killed? I don’t know. I don’t think so.

Also, given from his Flayn’s supports and the scenes where he loses his calm, while he really wants to find answers to his questions and about the true history of Fodlan, Claude will not try to force them out of someone who’s reluctant to tell them. Yes he lost his shit with Rhea, and yet, he didn’t force her to reveal the truth, and even let her go to catch some much needed rest acknowledging she only told him a half-truth, or avoided his question.

Edel? I confess I had a very serious case of bias towards Arvis when I joined the Jugdral fandom and the “for the greater good” motto. 

Allying with Thales and pals though, wait, i know I’ve said above that it wouldn’t have changed a thing about Arvis if he knew Manfroy’d hunt children - it wouldn’t have for the greater plot, but to me, Arvis would have fallen into the “morally black” pit way faster than he did. I like my Tumblr username, I like my mooks, I don’t like using them as war assets or the idea of even using them. FFS we’re using feral laguz randoms here, and even Miccy in her “i will do everything to protect Daien” didn’t use them.

She might have started a war, but shows regret for the bloodshed going as far as to lament at Dimitri’s death in CF despite the irony of that map - she knows that what she is doing is wrong, but thinks it needs to be done to build a better future. However, the “starting a war” + “Kostas in the prologue” look like Arvis in his best moments - and he is morally black - but “using beasts as backup” + “giving Emile hunting grounds” and everything about lizards and eradication sets her in the “morally black” spectrum.

Edel knows what are her limits between the “acceptable” and “not acceptable”, but for the sake of her goals, she will cross all of them. But she is no sociopath, or cruel person, she doesn’t enjoy crossing those lines and yet she feels it is compulsory to reach her goals.

i’d like to see an Arvis/Edel support convo

Rhea? I’d say grey, on the grounds of creating someone with the intent for it to be used as vessel is really creepy, but then, transmutation/alchemy/creating artificial sentient lives is creepy in itself and raises a ton of bioethical issues i’m not ready to deal with in this post because it’s already long as fuck and this is crossing beyond fandom discussion. Rhea knows that her experiments are questionable, and she’s ashamed of them but felt they were a necessity - pretty much like someone crossing their moral line and turning “morally black”. 

This point is neutralised in game though, because Rhea succeeded and the side Sothis choose ultimately won the war - so yes, Fodlan needed Sothis and Rhea’s homonculi were ultimately key to bring peace/prosperity to Fodlan... IMO, it’s still questionable, even if the game rewards it.

Rhea will not cross all of her lines though, she said the church will go against anyone who targets the students and the monastery, and she means it going as far as to blow her cover twice turning into a dragon to protect the students/Billy and his pals in part 2.

Also, national bias at play, but rewritting history not to alienate thousands of supporters of the side who lost the war is pretty grey in itself. Slowing technological progress? We know the reasons, if the book in the DLC, despite Linhardt’s warnings has to be believed, since the devs said so. Is it something that would count as morally “black”? Idk, maybe? Or maybe i’ve read/watched too much sci-fi stuff where one of the most common plot point is “humanity isn’t advanced enough to know how to use this technology”. It is grey, but Rhea doesn’t fall in the “morally black” spectrum, she’s a darker shade of grey than Boar!Dimitri, for sure, but she’s still, IMO, grey.

This is not to say that Edel’s evil and Claude’s good/whatever the contrary adjective of evil is! Or to say X/Y/Z is a better character than A/B/C! 

I love Arvis and Hilda (FE4!Hilda) to death, and I prefer them to Siggy and Eldie. But I also know that they’re not supposed to be liked because they were right or because what they did was the right thing, nope.

Tl;dr : Morally grey, black or white depends on who you’re talking to, and if FE16 brought us something new, it’s that not everyone thinks that doing a certain thing is evil, or, on the contrary, a good thing. 

There’s no consensus on what is “good” or “wrong” which can be interpretated in all kinds of worrying (?) ways.

[demoncryptspanties]

Time after time

Part 4

Masterlist, part 1, part 2, part 3, 

A/N There are a couple linking issues between parts so if you can't find it just type the title in the search bar. Thank you guys for reading x. 

Hilda had filled you in on the situation, but you hadn’t the opportunity to see Ambrose at all. The council had kept him in a holding cell of sorts until his trial and you had been questioned and dismissed by the council just as Hilda and Zelda had. Being unable to be present during the trial itself had meant that Hilda, Zelda and you had been stuck in the house for 3 days. With little to do and knowing this was the time of his actual trial, you paced around the living room. Having been unable to relax at all, you were antsy and panicked just wanting to see him.

You maybe burst into tears twice out of the blue, Hilda rushing to console you while Zelda made another cup of tea. That is why it was such a relief when there were two knocks on the door, guards from the council. 

The guard opened a letter before reciting its contents to the three of you. “The verdict itself will be at midnight. Nothing you do or say will change that fact or the verdict. At his final request, until a decision is made, he is to remain here. If any attempt is made by him to run or disappear, he will be held in his cell indefinitely and will face execution or life sentence, on top of the results of the verdict.” 

Once he had finished you shook your head lightly and attempted to look behind them. They stepped into the house and out of the way revealing a very shaken looking Ambrose.

The feeling of him in your arms again seemed to be instant, whether you or him at run to each other was unknown. When he finally did separate from you, the aunties pulled him into hugs of their own. However, the happy moment was brief, interrupted by all your feelings of anger and disappointment.

“What the fuck Ambrose,” you whined, eyes glassy again.

“Not that I want to use the same language but yes. What the fuck indeed,” Zelda said with a small huff and a shake of the head. She walked away leaving a very antsy Hilda.

“Perhaps you should eat something dear. Before the verdict,” Hilda tried to smile but the action was lost just as quickly.

You moved your hand to your hip glaring at him until he decided to speak up, “I’m sorry it was stupid.”

The sound of his voice as relieved as it made you, also seemed to ignite a fire in your stomach. “You’re sorry that’s what you have to say. It was stupid. Are you mocking me? It was beyond stupid, where did you even get the idea. Who gave it to you? I get in passing, ha it would be fun to blow up the Vatican but to plan it out, to actually want to do it. What is wrong with you. What were you thinking, that it would all turn out okay because it clearly hasn’t?” Your tears were freefalling by now, the anger making you lose your self-control and start desperately gasping for air.

Hilda went to comfort you, Ambrose, as well until the sad look in your eye stopped him. He let Hilda try to calm you for a moment and then proceeded to sit down next to you, pulling you into his arms. You snuggled into him until your breathing levelled out. Wiping your eyes, you gave him a quick peck and pulled him closer to you.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to break down. It’s been a hard couple of days. I should be the one comforting you,” He let out one of his signature chuckles kissing the top of your head.

“No, you were right. You should be angry at me. I didn’t think at all. Of anything of anyone.” He held you there for another couple of seconds before Zelda had called him to the kitchen. He untangled himself from you, Hilda handing you some hot water as you two sat on the couch.

“This next couple of hours is going to be hard for him,” Hilda said softly

“I know. I’ll do my best to comfort him.” You sighed. “Perhaps you should make him some comfort food,” she seemed to perk up with the notion, walking to the kitchen just as Ambrose walked out.

He stood in front of you unsure of what to say. You gave him a soft smile and started the conversation instead “So how was your time in Rome, besides the whole blowing up the Vatican.”

Your inviting gaze had him launch into a series of anecdotes about all the people he had met and what he had done. You continued talking until whatever Hilda had cooked was ready and then through the diner itself. It was only when it was the two of you again that you both stopped. Your smiles faded as you lay in the middle of the room. With both your eyes focussed on the ceiling there was no need to pretend for one another.

The atmosphere had shifted drastically after this, with time looming forward with the threat of the verdict everything became sadder and more meaningful. You opted to sit in silence for a while, neither of you keeping an eye on the clock in the corner. It seemed that you were both going to continue with this until the verdict but then he jumped up with great urgency, shaking his head as if trying to talk his way out of something. 

“Where are you going.” You asked eyebrows cocked in confusion, looking up at him from your spot on the floor. 

“To write my last will and testament.” He replied; his eyes were wide his breath coming shorter.

“I think you’re being a little dramatic Ambrose” You answered, getting up and pulling him towards you. You gave him a soft peck holding his gaze. He sighed deeply and pulled you into a hug.

“They could kill me because I didn’t give them up.” He mumbled into your shoulder.

“They won’t you know that. You know I respect you for that. I think it was honourable.” You said, kissing the skin just above his robe on his neck.

“Honour isn’t exactly revered in our culture Y/N” He pulled you away from him, looking deep into your eyes.

“You can just say you’re scared you know. Or cry, or both. I won’t think any less of you.” He pulled you away from him so that you were standing at arm’s length. He sunk on the bed, gesturing for you to join him, which you did. You moved into his arms and he held you tight, not wanting to let go. You didn’t know what happened at the trial and you didn’t want to. You knew what he needed and that was comfort, it was you. That was only further confirmed when you heard soft sobs coming from him as his breath became deeper and more desperate.

When he calmed down his face was buried in your chest. He pushed away from you and hold your gaze. “If they choose to execute me, I don’t want you to be there.”

“You don’t get to make that decision for me. They won’t execute you; you didn’t go through with it. It was a conspiracy to blow up the Vatican not the act itself.” You said trying to reassure you.

“I suppose, the decision is at midnight as you know so we will find out soon.” He seemed more relaxed than previously; his shoulders slumped slightly.

“Well that is in a half hour I would prepare yourself.” You pulled him upwards, eyes not giving anything away. Not the fear you were feeling for him or the sadness of the whole situation.

“I am prepared.” He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. It seemed more for you than anything else.

He left not shortly after, with a brave face and promise to come back to you which he did 3 hours later; they had decided that he would be on house arrest indefinitely. Although that now eliminated the problem of execution it proposed a new issue. The fact that he had promised to travel with you forever, that you would experience all the culture and try not to miss anything. He felt as if he was breaking a promise but of course, that was not logical, it wasn’t his fault.

You had welcomed him with open arms, the two of you gorging on fruits and wine again, reminding you both of better times. By the time the two of you had finished and settled down, it was mid-morning. He was wine drunk, you choosing to stop before you lost your sense of self.

“You know how much you mean to me Y/N. My universe is you.” He whispered, sounding as if he was afraid of waking something.

“That was rather poetic Ambrose.” You smiled at the ceiling.

“You know I’ll never leave you.” He reached for your hand and held it tightly.

“I mean you can’t even if you wanted to now.” You both chuckled, him going into full-blown laughter before settling down just as quickly. “I’ll always come back to you. Whenever you need me, no matter what happens” 

“Marry me Y/N,” he asked, completely serious, the easy smile absent from his face. You were both lying in the middle of the room looking at the ceiling as if there was a world to be seen there. He got up and stumbled towards something, handing you a small box before settling back down next to you.

You were still dazed, twisting the wooden carved box in your hands as if it would explain itself. “Ask me again in the morning,” you offered a smile playing on your face that he couldn’t see, too engrossed in the ceiling, “But know I would say yes.” 

You pecked his cheek setting the box back where he got it from and joined him. The two of you sat in silence, for the most part, you making small apparitions for him to look at before he drifted off. You let him rest not waking him when his aunties tried to get him to eat. Choosing to spend time with them instead of going back to Ambrose, you revealed his proposal with worried eyes. Although he had been asleep the whole day, the anxiety that he would forget was too much for you.

“Dear, the more you think about it the worst you are going to feel. He had the box prepared he was probably just waiting for a good time to do it.” Zelda said over her cup tea.

“What happens if there isn’t a good time for a while. Even years and now I know that it’s there.” Your shoulders slumped more than before.

“Well hint at it” Zelda offered.

“I don’t want to push him. Something huge just happened I want him to be ready and not just propose to me because of change.” You sipped your tea slowly savouring how sweet it was due to the copious amounts of sugar you put in it. “In all honesty now would be the worst time to do it, maybe in a year or so.” You sighed deeply before exclaiming “Judas priest I don’t know” 

Ambrose chose to walk down at that exact time. The atmosphere had changed and the three of you were silent. He walked towards you with a slight frown before kissing your head. “Good morning aunties is something wrong.” 

“Nothing at all dear,” Hilda answered, her usual smile on her face. 

“Would you like to have a bath after I eat something” Ambrose whispered to you while he was preparing a sandwich.

You hummed into your tea, deep in thought. He seemed to catch on because he massaged your shoulders gently, kissing your cheek. “Do you want to talk about something later”

“Shouldn’t I be worried about you. No, I’m fine,” You smiled at him, but he didn’t seem to buy it. “How are you feeling?”

“Glad I’m not dead, or in jail.” He was still on the high of the previous day, the implications of his sentence not yet sinking in.

“I’m glad, I’m going to go and run that bath, join me when you want to.”

You had about 5 minutes in the tub alone before he joined you, slipping into the space behind you. “You know that I love you, Ambrose.” You said reaching for his hand in the water.

“Of course. Do you want to tell me what the problem is?” He said softly near your ear.

“It’s just, the emotions from yesterday. I’m just tired” You leaned into his chest, the candles proving a smell that only made you calmer.

“You’re everything to me Y/N,” He said tracing sigils into your thigh with his free hand. 

You savoured the moments of serenity and engaged in meaningless chatter about his time away from you in Rome and yours here in Greendale with your sister. You knew there in that moment that you regretted nothing, not your status with your old coven or your relationship with your parents. It was all worth it, he was all worth it.

The coming days had been similar, in a state of bliss for the two of you until it came to the trip you had organised with your sister months ago. It was to place a few towns over, a getaway that Ambrose was supposed to come with you on.

In the night with you two huddled together he encouraged you to go pretty forcefully. Saying that you had booked this, weeks in advance and it would be a waste if you didn’t go. You did, kissing him on the doorstep and running towards your sister’s car. You waved him goodbye, as you drove away excited for the week to come but also upset that you were leaving Ambrose unwillingly.

Your sister reassured you the whole way through the week, the two of you able to relax and have fun but you missed him dearly, the new circumstance meaning more than usual.

He seemed fine when you got back, a little clingy but otherwise fine. Your absence didn’t seem to anger him, and he didn’t seem envious. It was a week until you actually had a conversation about his situation.

“Y/N, you know how I can’t leave here.” He said matter-of-factly. He had rehearsed this speech anticipating your reactions.

“For the time being,” your eyebrows were furrowed when you looked to him.

“Well, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. We made a promise to travel before this whole situation. I want you to do that. Before you say I don’t dictate your actions, I know. I am asking as someone who loves you dearly to travel. I know you will always come back and send letters. I don’t want you to miss out. The sentence was indefinite, it could mean forever.” He took a deep breath, seemingly pleased with himself.

“Okay. You seemed to have made up your mind I’m not going to fight over this. You’re right, I want to travel but a lot of it was I want to do it with you. You can see the world through my eyes. We’re both writers, we’ll figure it out” He pulled you into a tight embrace, relieved with your response and happy that you understood. 

And so, it began.

The first time you left for a period longer than a week was again a trip with your sister. She decided on Egypt practically forcing you to come with her. It was when she has a conversation with Ambrose who also was very forceful in your attempt to go that you said yes.

You left with a promise to talk every two days through the mirror at a set time. The car ride was bad enough, but the boat was worse. Angelica had to get you drunk to get you to let loose a little. Your first week there was great, once you got used to the heat and the change in atmosphere, but it all went downhill at the end of the second week.

You were in a tent in the middle of nowhere, some underground restaurant that Angelica had been dying to go to, the boys were pretty but the girls even more so. It was when you were approached by an olive-skinned girl with dark brown hair that you started to feel a little weird. She had propositioned you which you did say no to, but it made you think about your relationship with him and the propositions he was probably getting at home. Though he was unable to leave the house, they did run a funeral home which meant that you had grieving families in and out. And what a better distraction than a cute seemingly single guy that you would be spending the majority of time with during the organisation for said funeral. 

You began to miss him in more aspects than one and making a mental note to talk to Ambrose about it. That night your talk with him was curt and short, you let your imagination get the better of you, although trusting him, the allure of other witches in the area was a bit much. 

This made the next two weeks a little harder to get through. You missed two conversations with Ambrose and tried to enjoy yourself, but Angelica left you alone for the last 2 days, sensing you didn’t want to talk about it. The trip to Egypt seemed to have been a blur. Like it didn’t happen at all because of your mood. The minute you got back you just sunk into Ambrose’s arms and sat there for what felt like an hour but was probably only about 10 minutes. 

He seemed relieved to see you but tried to hide it with a small laugh that died pretty quickly. He buried his face in your hair so you wouldn’t be able to see him and took a pretty deep breath. The two of you didn’t say anything to each other, there wasn’t a need. 

It was a couple of hours later, the two of you just staring at the ceiling in each other’s arms when you asked him about your relationship. “I know we’re still together, but we are staying monogamous right. That was a dumb question I’m sorry.”

There was a bit of silence on his end before he answered, “yeah. Unless you’ve met someone or something. I get my situation is difficult, but we can work through it right.”

“I was actually more concerned about your end. You run a funeral home; people are always looking for distractions when grieving.” He chuckled lightly and nothing was said about the topic again. The conversation seemed somewhat unfinished but neither of you said anything to change that.

The next years became monotonous. You woke up next to Ambrose who in that time had become a licensed mortician. You had breakfast, drank a lot of tea and spent the day either helping with the funeral things or learning witchy things from the aunties. You travelled now and again but never longer than 2 weeks. You and Ambrose were practically chained together, talking every day. He never gave you a reason to doubt your relationship or anything that happened. There were no serious arguments and nothing that made you uneasy. But also, no marriage proposal, it was the fact that you knew the box was there. It was still in the same place, hidden under Satan knows what in a drawer. 

The day started as you thought it would. Your hands traced circles on his chest, you were humming something under your breath, but he didn’t seem to notice. Ambrose was deep in thought and you could tell, his eyes although looking at you were so far away. 

It was a few minutes of laying when he finally broke the silence. “You need to leave,” his voice was firm but hurried.

“There’s no need, my flight is tomorrow. I’ll leave in the morning.” You were confused but still a little dazed.

“No, I mean you need to leave for good,” you perked up immediately, moving to sit up next to him.

“What do you mean. Not come back. You can’t kick me out of my own home. You are joking right.” You had a slight frown on your face, but his eyes were still not focussed on you.

“No. I’m breaking up with you.” He closed his eyes while saying it unable to see your reaction.

“What are you talking about. What did I do? Did you meet someone or something? We’ve been together for decades, you can’t just no.” You had stood up by this point trying to process what he was saying.

“No. I just realised that I am holding you back and you have, met someone I mean. Probably loads of someone’s that you decided not to date because of me. I am holding you back and I can’t do that anymore.”

You voice moved up about two octaves, the shock still in your system, “What is that supposed to mean. Holding me back from what. I have everything I need and want here with you. Do you want me to stay is that it, I’ll stay?” You were pacing, tears falling from your eyes but in your state, you didn’t notice.

“No. You are going to leave tomorrow and yes come back this is your home and we can be friends. I just can’t do this anymore. You didn’t do anything, you are perfect, always perfect I just can’t anymore. My sentence could mean forever, it’s unfair for you to feel the need to come back.” Despite what he was saying he was calm, still in the same position as before.

“You don’t get to decide what I’m feeling; you don’t get to decide what I want to do. Ambrose, I am fine with how things are,” 

“But I am not,” he lost his composure, raising his voice at you before sighing deeply. “I can’t do this anymore, we are over. Done.” 

“Ambrose. You can’t just break up with me because you think you’re doing me a favour. This is bullshit. I love you Ambrose and no amount of space and time is going to make me change that. If you want me to stay I will but you are not holding me back. I make my own decisions about my life and I am happy with how things are. I am happy with you.”

His voice quietened down to just above a whisper, “I am not. I am not happy with you. I can’t do this anymore; I can’t keep faking that. I am sorry but I can’t. It isn’t just about me holding you back. I am so restricted, and I can’t bring that onto you.”

He had you at a loss for words, holding you in your place before you went to the door and slammed it behind you. The noise must have roused the aunties because a moment later a pretty angry Zelda entered Ambrose’s room while Hilda went to meet you in yours.

“What did you do Ambrose,” Zelda had a fire in her eyes and a set jaw looking down at her nephew. 

“I did what was best for her. I can’t keep doing this to her.” 

Zelda cut him off with a stern look, “You don’t get to decide that. Well, it’s you who has to live with the consequences of your actions. You get no sympathy or help from me, I’m sure you already saw how wrong you were to do that.”

Ambrose couldn’t answer his aunt, the guilt of the matter reaching him too deep but his desire to make Y/N happy and to do what was best for her, reaching him deeper. He had made his decision, he only hoped it was the right one. 

Meanwhile, you were sobbing in Hilda’s lap, completely distraught and still confused. It wasn’t the nature of his feeling but rather that this is honestly what he thought was best. You wondered whether this had been brewing for a few months, even years. He had wanted to travel so bad, but you had tried in every way you could magic and otherwise to show him everything you deemed enough, and yet it wasn’t enough. You weren’t enough, it was that feeling that had you sobbing uncontrollably. 

You just about cried yourself to sleep, the next day coming quicker than you wanted. You packed a bag and got a hold of Angelica. You told her what happened and the fury that radiated off the image of her was immense. She vowed to kill him, but you just told her that you would stay with her for a while.

You left without so much as a goodbye, promising to keep in touch with the aunties. He knew how to contact you if he needed to. You went to find your sister, ending up back in Spain, staying in the same place you had first met Ambrose at. The first couple of days were harsh, you didn’t move out of your room, Selene having to remind you to eat. Angelica had met you there and pulled you int her arms as you cried.

Lilac had come a week or two later, talking about how she knew he was bad news from the beginning. It was a breakup, a somewhat normal breakup. You just didn’t understand why it happened and apparently neither did the other girls. 

Although they extended the invitation to you, you chose not to drink and instead tried to pull yourself together. You tried to tell yourself that it was a long time coming after his sentence but that seemed fake even to you. The box in the drawer seemed to tell you otherwise. So, you wrote and wrote. The girls brought you more paper and you sat at the table or in your bed writing. Hilda had called to ask how you were but didn’t say anything about Ambrose even after you asked specifically.

Everything seemed a mystery even to her. It took a month, but you called your dad and spoke to him. He had spouted out something about not all people who seemed good together were meant to be together. He was basically just saying what he thought you wanted to hear. A month after that you decided to return to the coven in central America. They were still happy to have you after the years and said for you to come as soon as. Lilac left to do her own business, but you spoke once a week and Angelica had insisted on coming with you. 

Life without Ambrose was weirdly refreshing at first. Once you told yourself you were ready to put your head up and move on your body seemed to believe it. You started to go out and smile more but desperately tried to stay around people as much as possible. That’s why you grew to hate the night. When everyone was asleep and you were alone it made you think of him, whether he was thinking of you. Whether he cared what you were up to, or if you were okay. Whether he had moved on or fallen for someone else, whether that’s why he broke up with you. 

It made you miss him. The apparitions you would show each other, his smile and laugh. The kimono robes which you had stolen from him but now refused to wear. You missed him utterly and completely and while not feeling empty, you felt like something was deeply wrong. Like something was missing and you didn’t know what would fix it. 

Unbeknownst to you, he was a mess. Maybe it was because he was stuck in the house and everything reminded him of you. Maybe it was because unlike you he couldn’t leave and just move on to a new place like that. Maybe it was because he was lonely. He spent the days mostly drinking tea and doing his job. He seemed to sleep more than ever, feeling fatigued easier. Over time he stopped seeing you everywhere. His kimonos stopped reminding him of you and he was able to open that drawer. He took out the box and held it in both his hands. It was then he knew he made the wrong decision. That it wasn’t fair to you, to him and everyone around you. The reason he did it seemed fake when he looked at the specially carved wood. He traced the grooves with his fingers and thought of you. Everything seemed wrong and he didn’t know how to fix it. It was too late.

It must have been over a year later when he asked to see you, to speak to you if he could. Hilda had told you that he wanted to during your last talk. You were happy, something was still missing, he was still missing but you were happy. Being around the women, feeling loved the way one is supposed to. Beginning the process of learning everything there is to know had given you a new freedom, it was clear by the look in your eyes. You still missed him though. You missed him a lot, which is why you wrote. The reason you took the writing course in the first place was to channel your emotions, it had been cathartic and still was. 

The various pieces of paper and notebooks practically littered your extremely spacious room. The women had been generous, probably because how eager you had been to learn from them and also, of course, their own kindness. When you had heard that Ambrose wanted to talk to you, you felt weird. Not, not wanting to talk to him but your hesitancy made you think a lot harder about the situation. 

You had felt good without him, of course, you still missed him but throwing yourself into your work had been a decent coping mechanism. Although you would never admit it to anyone sometimes you would sit in one of his kimonos while writing. You couldn’t explain why but gave you relief, it had been so long that they no longer smelt like him, but it provided you with a weird sort of comfort.

The night was bright because of the long summer nights when Zelda called you. You had a mirror along one of your walls which you sat Infront with a smile on your face, more for your benefit than anyone else’s Almost to tell yourself that this was fine, and you were okay. Red hair replaced your reflection, which for some reason made your smile drop slightly. 

“Hello Y/N, how are you dear.” Her question was the usual, monotone but there was something underneath it like she was asking more than just how you were.

“I’m fine, a little tired because of a mishap earlier but other than that I’m good. Lilac is actually visiting next week.” You took a deep breath and settled deeper into your chair.

“Well Hilda was going to beat around the bush, but Ambrose would love to talk to you if you’re up to it.” She held the pipe tighter in one hand and blew smoke into the mirror obscuring your vision, that also meant that she missed the twitch in your face at the mention of his name.

“Sure, send him over.” You weren’t sure if your voice betrayed you, because you were everything but sure, but she left a half-second later anyways. After a minute Ambrose appeared in front of you, a gentle smile on his face.

“So, Y/N, how are you.” His question was stiff.

“I’m fine, it’s been nice here. What about you?” Your answer was just as stiff, when you said it out loud it sounded rehearsed.

“I’m good. Haven’t been out much,” he let out an awkward chuckle and coughed. “I wanted to say I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you as much as I know I did.” 

“You’re a year late. It doesn’t matter now. I’m okay, I’m over it.” You said that more for yourself than anything. 

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but his eyes focused on something behind you. You had pinned up some of the writing you had done which he was reading. A lot of it was about pretty generic things since you had taken down the other ones a day prior put there were a few that you thought he couldn’t see behind you.

I am still not able to come out of that dream, your sight is in my mind, haunting me because I know we’re never meeting, after all, you don’t want us to. I just don’t know how to come out of it. Your face is inside my head bright like the sun. I’m burning. 

The first he didn’t think was about him but the second was pretty obvious.

Why did you come back? What I want is peace and quiet. To be able to breathe, to be loved unconditionally and to love the same way and I had that with you. I had that and then you made me leave with the guise that it was for me but now I just want to come home. I only ever want to come home to you.

He didn’t know what to feel about it. He felt guilty but also something he didn’t quite recognise. He missed you, that much was obvious but now after everything he felt he didn’t deserve you, that it was unfair to you to be with him.

“I want us to be able to be friends. I miss the aunties and the town. It’s a weird place but you know. It was home for a while. It’s still home to me.” He sort of jumped at the sound of your voice. Not quite noticeable but enough for you to see he was distracted somewhat. Selene hissed lightly, settling on your hand. 

“Please, come and visit. It would be nice to see you in person, to see you at all. I want us to be okay. You were a huge part of my life; I still want you in it.” He didn’t know what more to say and, in all honesty, neither did you. He said a quick goodbye and called Hilda who appeared almost as soon as he left.

“Dear, how was that. Not that you want to talk about it. What about your day, or week? Zelda said something about a mishap.” You told her just that, about the small fire and your day. You were distracted, eyes darting everywhere but her eyes. She left quickly after that and you went straight to bed. 

Once Lilac had arrived, you talked to her and Angelica together about your conversation. Lilac had been quick to “Fuck him” but Angelica had been more understanding in a way. She encouraged you to see him. It was almost as if she knew how badly you wanted to and gave you permission to do it. When you had gotten back to your room at the end of the day you found Selene curled up in one of Ambrose’s kimonos. 

[crackimagines]

To the End of a Dream (evil!Byleth AU)

AU Masterlist Here!

Withering Flower - FINALE (Part 1)

With the Knights of Nemesis retreating from Gronder and about to activate the Javelin of Liberation, Dimitri, Edelgard, and Claude leave the Church forces behind to pursue Byleth.

Their final clash will be at Garreg Mach.

-----

The Elites of the Fell Star Journal - “Second battle of Garreg Mach”

Having everything end where our plans began.

There was no need for anyone to point out the irony of the situation. 

Not only was the Empire attacking us, but the Kingdom and Alliance and even the damned Church raised arms against us, and only us.

One way or another that day, we all thought the same thing.

“This will finally end when hundreds of us lay dead at either side.”

-----

Byleth was in the classroom organizing his papers when he heard the doors open.

(Byleth) “Hm? Oh, class.”

The Black Eagles class walked up to him, looking very excited.

(Byleth) “What’s with the smile on everyone’s faces?”

(Dorothea) “Well, professor! The ball is tomorrow!”

(Edelgard) “Hah, I have no worthwhile memories of such an event, yet I am still looking forward to it.”

(Hubert) “As am I, in the sense that I look forward to destroying all the unworthy suitors that would swarm Lady Edelgard.”

(Ferdinand) “I admit, Edelgard is adorable, however I think I am far superior on the dance floor!”

(Dorothea) “You’re not a bad dancer Ferdie but you have some moves that are...hard to watch.”

(Linhardt) “I also know how to dance...in theory. Maybe I should participate as well.”

(Bernadetta) “N-NOT ME! You wouldn’t catch me dancing no sooner than you’d see a fish swimming through the sky!”

(Caspar) “You do tend to flop around like a fish on land after all! Though, speaking of it, do we get to choose who we dance with and stuff? I wonder who I’ll ask...”

(Petra) “I will fight with all I have!”

(Byleth) “Er...I don’t think fighting is what you’ll be doing, Petra-”

(Dorothea) “So, professor, got anyone in mind?~”

Byleth raised his eyebrow at her.

(Byleth) “I...don’t think I’m going to dance, I’m a mercenary not a-”

(Ferdinand) “No, you’re not a mercenary either, professor! You’re our teacher!”

(Bernadetta) “I-I won’t be dancing but, I’m sure watching you would be interesting!”

(Edelgard) “Our professor ball dancing?” Snrrk!

(Byleth) “I-I can dance! At least...I think I can?”

(Caspar) “You mean those ‘dances’ you do with the other mercenaries? That’s drunk dancing!”

(Hubert) “Seeing our professor ‘drunk dance’ at a ball as fancy as this would be very entertaining? May I humbly request you do this?”

(Byleth) “Absolutely not.”

Everyone began chatting about the dance, Byleth’s dancing skills and who they were going to ask to dance.

Edelgard watched the class engage in such a lively manner, it brought a smile to her face.

(Edelgard) “Excuse me, sorry to change the subject but I have a proposition. Five years from tomorrow, let’s all agree to meet up again!”

(Caspar) “Like a class reunion? That’s a great idea!”

(Petra) “Yes, you will get to see how much growing I have done! This is a good idea!”

(Byleth) “Five years time? Hah, I wonder how all you kids will be five years from now.”

(Linhardt) “And you won’t be enjoying a cozy retirement by then, professor?”

(Byleth) “Hah, not likely being honest. Though, no matter what I’ll be, I’ll be right back here in time.”

(Edelgard) “It’s a promise, professor. Don’t you forget it!”

-----

(Edelgard) “Five years...”

(Dimitri) “El?”

(Edelgard) “O-Oh, Dimitri. Sorry I...”

He stood next to Edelgard, looking up at the monastery.

(Dimitri) “We cannot turn the hands of time back to what it once was.”

(Edelgard) “I know but...maybe if I had done something different...Byleth wouldn’t be what he is now. If I had never started the war then...Maybe we could have all lived in peace together-”

(Claude) “What’s done is done, Edelgard.”

He walked up beside her, looking up with the two.

(Claude) “Much as I would have loved to live a life of friendship, reality doesn’t work that way. All we can do now is try to right our wrongs.”

(Dimitri) “No matter what, we’ll stay alive long enough to fix this world, together.”

(Edelgard) “...Together.”

(Claude) “I like the sound of that. But, right now we gotta hurry. We’ll be within Garreg Mach in an hour...”

(Edelgard) “Byleth...”

(Everyone) “...”

(Edelgard) “Alright. Let us put an end to it, once and for all.”

...

Byleth stood near the gates watching the three armies converge on their location.

(Soldier) “Sir, the Javelin of Liberation will be activating soon. All of the main forces who haven’t rebelled are out here in the gates.”

He nodded.

Ever since the massive casualties at Gronder, their morale was shaken and started to question their loyalty.

The fact that Shamir, Alois, and Leonie had defected did not help easing their fears.

There was an uprising within the barracks that had to be contained. No one had time to properly kill them.

(Soldier) “If I may sir?”

(Byleth) “Go ahead.”

(Soldier) “I don’t think there’s much chances of us surviving this fight, so you need to get to a safespot and ensure that the Javelin activates.”

Byleth turned to the soldier.

(Byleth) “You are right but...Not being with my men in this battle would surely break mora-”

(Soldier) “We’re all dying for this cause, one way or another. For us loyalists, I’d be more comfortable knowing our deaths ensured victory.”

Byleth looked at the armies who were getting closer, seeing Edelgard leading everyone alongside Dimitri and Claude.

(Byleth) “...Understood. Sothis watch over you all.”

The soldier nodded, and started directing commands to the others, preparing for battle.

Byleth went to the roof to watch the Javelin’s progress on activation.

The main core was in the Tombs where he found the Sword of the Creator, near the chapel.

(Byleth) “All of this blood I have shed...All the lives lost. All will soon be forgiven for everyone...”

...

(Dimitri) “Even though he is our old friend, we must not go easy today...”

(Claude) “As long as we pull off the victory, doesn’t matter how.”

(Edelgard) “Our victory must be absolute, no matter what it may take...”

Kingdom, Alliance, and Empire soldiers drew their swords, the House Leaders retainers coming up to them.

(Dedue) “We all are ready to lay down our lives to stop this madness.”

(Hilda) “Speak for yourself! I don’t plan on dying. I plan on kicking their butts, and living to tell the tale!”

(Hubert) “An inelegant way of putting it, but something I agree with nevertheless.”

...

The Blue Lions slowly drew out their weapons.

(Sylvain) “Can’t say that this is where I imagined the war taking us but...I’m glad we’re all together today.”

(Ingrid) “I will protect my homeland, and my people!”

(Felix) “Tch...If I die here, then the Old Man would never let me hear the end of it...”

(Annette) “My father is gone, but I will not be losing anyone else today!”

(Mercedes) “I’ll protect everyone, even if it means losing my own life!”

(Death Knight) “You will not be losing it when I am around, because I will make sure you die by my hands...”

(Ashe) “Lonato, Christophe, everyone...Today, we’ll make things right for everyone!”

...

The Golden Deers all stood behind Hilda.

(Marianne) “After seeing so much death firsthand, I now realize how precious life is. I won’t let everyone be robbed of such a wonderful thing!”

(Raphael) “I got my little sister, and she sure as heck isn’t going to get killed by this weird Javelin thing if I have anything to say about it!”

(Ignatz) “I’ll protect my family, and all of ours!”

(Lorenz) “What kind of noble would I be if I let a tragedy such as this slide? It is my honor to-”

(Lysithea) “Put a sock in it, would you?...Hmph, I’m not sure I have long to live but, I won’t be letting it end early!”

...

The Black Eagles Strike Force looked down sadly.

(Linhardt) “To think this is where 5 years would put us...”

(Bernadetta) “This one time, I won’t run away. If I die today, well...At least I know it was for all of you.”

(Caspar) “Randolph...even though I didn’t know you that well, I’ll make the professor pay for what he’s done to you, and your sister!”

(Dorothea) “Professor...”

(Ferdinand) “I am conflicted as well but, I will be protecting all of our homes.”

(Petra) “Whether it be Brigid or Fodlan, protect them I shall!”

...

(Edelgard) “Hubert. From the schematics and plans Leonie told us, you and the other retainers will lead the students to the core.”

(Hubert) “And you’ll be going for the control room where Byleth is, correct?”

She nodded.

(Hilda) “We’ll get it done, don’t you worry Miss Edelgard!”

(Dedue) “Leave it to us.”

Everyone looked back to the gates and took a deep breath.

Everything they did here would decide the fate of everyone.

[Apex of the World (Rain) - Fire Emblem Three Houses] 

(Edelgard) “FORWARD, NOW!”

(Dimitri) “FOR HONOR!”

Claude motioned forward, and charged with everyone else.

Demonic Beasts came barreling out of the gate, running at a full tilt sprint at them.

Dimitri jumped into the air slammed the lance straight into its head, making it stop and trip over, the corpse now acting as a mini shield for everyone.

The second beast tried going for Claude, only to miss as his Wyvern flew into the air, letting Claude land a shot in the eye.

Hilda, Lorenz, and Ignatz attacked from the sides, sticking their weapons into its head as it tried to break free from the barrage.

Marianne and Lysithea finished it off with a combination of holy and dark magic, burning parts of the body off or completely disintegrating it.

The third beast swung its claws at Edelgard, which was blocked by a magical barrier that reflected it back.

She stood still readying her axe as the rest of the class charged in front of her.

Caspar grabbed onto its head while it was recoiling, and started punching it in the eye, with Hubert, Dorothea, and Linhardt keeping it down with magic.

Ferdinand, Petra, and Bernadetta began taking down the soldiers that were accompanying the beasts and were eventually joined in by the others.

The Blue Lions rushed into the town with Dimitri, seeing the soldiers in formation, walking towards them.

(Ingrid) “RIGHT AND LEFT FLANKS!”

Soldiers emerged from the houses, catching several Kingdom soldiers off guard and killed them.

The Death Knight was almost caught off guard by two soldiers, but his horse leaped back, and cut both their heads off with his scythe.

(Dimitri) “KEEP AN EYE ON THE HOUSES, SOME ARE IN HIDING!”

Dimitri swiped his lance upwards, cutting off the limbs of one knight as he helped one of his own up.

The rest of the classes joined in, with troopers on all sides pouring from the other entrances.

(Nemesis Knight 1) “THEY’RE IN, SHUT THE GATES!”

The Gates closed behind Edelgard, seeing that a good portion of her soldiers were still out there, alongside Claude’s and Dimitri’s.

Claude’s Wyvern landed on a porch right in front of the gate and motioned to everyone.

(Claude) “PREVENT ANY REINFORCEMENTS FROM COMING IN OUTSIDE, AND FIND A WAY TO BLAST THESE GATES OPEN!”

(Alliance Captain) “Yes, Milord!”

Claude nodded and flew back into the fight that was ensuing in the town.

Felix and Sylvain struck down a soldier trying to charge Annette and Mercedes who were trying to cast a spell.

As another squad tried to come at them from behind, Ingrid swooped in, knocking them all back with her Pegasus and skewered one of the soldiers on her lance, making her drop it and pulling out a sword.

Annette and Mercedes shot a line of ice spikes that shot out of the ground, sending a battalion flying into the buildings around them.

Ashe took out the enemy snipers trying to shoot Ingrid, and Dedue protected him from any attackers coming from behind. 

A soldier turned the corner and ran straight into Dedue’s shield, making him kick the soldier down, tumbling onto other soldiers falling at the bottom.

Once the Town Square was clear, they all moved to the gates.

However, more and more soldiers began to surround them.

(Dimitri) “Damn, there’s no end to them!”

Dimitri cut down several soldiers, twirling his lance and impaling a soldier behind him without turning to look at him.

Edelgard crushed a soldier completely into the concrete, breaking it and making blood splatter everywhere as Hubert shot a fireball into the building, making everything inside explode.

A soldier opened the door from the building, completely on fire as he fell to the ground dead.

(Edelgard) “We will not be able to make it to Monastery at this rate!”

(Hilda) “Claude, take Dimitri and Edelgard to the monastery, there’s no time to wait up on us!”

They all looked back to their retainers, realizing if they had any chance, they had to be left behind.

(Dedue) “Your highness, go!”

(Hubert) “We have no intention of dying just yet!”

(Hilda) “GO YOU IDIOT!”

Claude nodded, and had Dimitri and Edelgard hop on.

(Claude) “This ride’s gonna be really bumpy, so hang on!”

His Wyvern shot off towards the Monastery, leaving everyone behind.

(Dedue) “Now, it’s up to us!”

The soldiers who accompanied the classes were finally wiped out by the overwhelming numbers of Knights of Nemesis, who slowly began to surround them.

(Hilda) “Looks like they still haven’t found a way to enter in yet! We need reinforcements!”

(Hubert) “EVERYONE, HOLD YOUR GROUND!”

All the classes stood back to back, drawing out their weapons as they moved closer in.

(Ingrid) “So many of them...!”

(Lorenz) “I admit, I’m more than a little worried!”

(Hilda) “I never thought I’d be dying back at the schoolgrounds!”

(Dedue) “How about side by side with your classmates?”

(Hilda) “...No!”

(Hubert) “Both of you be quiet, we need a plan!”

(Bernadetta) “You know what...?!”

Everyone turned to Bernadetta who grasped her bow firmly.

(Bernadetta) “TO HELL WITH ALL OF YOU, NONE OF YOU ARE GONNA KILL ANY OF US TODAY!”

She took the chance to fire her arrow straight through someone’s head, making the soldiers flinch.

(Death Knight) “Well said, little one! General Vestra, you have your plan!”

Before they could react, the Death Knight jumped into the crowd, swinging his sycthe left and right and decapitating and chopping people into pieces.

Now, the rest of the class began attacking, charging and making their enemies back up in fear.

Ashe and Petra pulled out a sword and started trading blows with anyone who got too close to their circle, followed by Felix and Sylvain.

Annette and Mercedes went back into the circle as everyone was keeping the close combat soldiers at bay, alongside Marianne, Lysithea, Dorothea, Linhardt and Hubert.

Spells ranging from healing to offensive were being cast, keeping everyone in fighting shape as they slowly turned the odds back into their favor.

Ingrid grabbed Ignatz by the hand and onto her Pegasus, leading them towards archers who were about to fire into the crowd.

Ignatz dropped down and sliced most of their bows in half, with one archer being able to shoot into the crowd.

Dedue grabbed his shield and deflected an arrow that was about to hit HIlda.

(Dedue) “Ineffective!”

(Hilda) “Thanks!”

She said cheerfully as she swung her axe down, cutting someone in half, and kicking the legs toward a crowd.

Caspar and Raphael used their gauntlets to pulverize the enemies, charging straight in together, crushing heads and stabbing through stomachs.

A group tried to gang up on Raphael, who grabbed one of the soldiers by the legs and swung his body like a weapon, sending troopers flying back from the sheer force.

Ferdinand and Lorenz had to get off their horses to fight in such close quarters, elegantly dodging with their lances and striking back, almost as if they were fencing instead.

The more that everyone cut down, the more soldiers that took their place coming in.

(Ashe) “S-So many!”

(Dedue) “WHERE ARE THE REINFORCEMENTS?!”

As if on cue, one of the gates close by completely exploded, shooting debris all over the floor.

Everyone stopped fighting and looked towards the noise, unsure of whose side it was.

(Nemesis Knight) “That came from the barracks we had in town!”

More Knights of Nemesis emerged from the smoke, raising their weapons.

The students clenched their teeth, raising their weapons as the Knights of Nemesis started to cheer.

Their cheering stopped when they saw Thunder Catherine step out in front of them.

(Catherine) “Sorry to keep you all waiting!”

An arrow flew out of the smoke, hitting a soldier dead in the eye, letting the Knights with Catherine charge out into the fray.

They were joined by Knights of Seiros, adding more to the chaos and confusion.

(Nemesis Knight) “DAMN IT, THE DEFECTORS GOT OU-AUGH!”

A soldier had an axe thrown into his chest, and another was taken out by a woman on horseback.

(Shamir) “Looks like we made it in time.”

(Alois) “Had to make a quick detour!”

(Leonie) “Come on, the Monastery guards will be too busy to deal with us!”

The classes looked off into the distance and saw smoke coming from Garreg Mach.

Even the demonic beasts were having a hard time dealing with the Defectors.

(Shamir) “The beasts we made were ordered not to attack our own forces in the event someone possessed them or Those Who Slither were still around. Obviously, that came to bite them in the ass.”

(Hilda) “Then what are we waiting for, let’s get a move on!”

Everyone nodded, and left the fighting to the soldiers, running towards Garreg Mach.

Catherine was leading the charge, cutting down anyone foolish enough to get in her way, with the classes coming in right behind her.

(Alois) “We’re heading towards the chapel’s Tomb! That’s where the core is!”

Everyone nodded and made a mad dash for the chapel.

Able to run through most of the mayhem with the Loyalists and Defectos fighting each other, they ran down the stairs and saw the core.

It was a massive glowing crystal that was so bright, it almost illuminated the entire tomb.

(Leonie) “There it is, let’s go!”

(Dedue) “A moment, Leonie.”

(Leonie) “Huh?”

(Hilda) “Where are the guards at?”

Everyone remained silent until they saw a shadowy figure form in front of the crystal.

(Hubert) “That sword shape!”

Catherine turned her attention to the weapon the figure was holding.

(Catherine) “The Sword of the Creator! Damn it, it’s Byleth!”

(Linhardt) “N-No it isn’t! Look at the shape of that person!”

(Death Knight) “It is someone worse...”

The core pulsated, and now lit the entire room up to where everyone could see the figure clear as day.

...

“Who...WHO ARE YOU ALL?!”

(Mage) “Sir, the ressurection is working, and he’s under our control.”

(Byleth) “Amazing, Thales. Simply amazing. Trying to resurrect this man against Seiros. How symbolic.”

“That sword...that is mine...! And that crest...!”

(Byleth) “It was never yours to begin with. Sothis belongs to no one.”

“Your hair...your eyes..that means...YOU’RE ONE OF THEM-”

(Byleth) “Kneel.”

“HRRGH! I...CANNOT...MOVE...”

(Byleth) “This is your duty, and you will obey. You are to protect this room from invaders, and you will forfeit your life in order to protect it.”

“I AM A KING! YOU CANNOT CHAIN ME DOWN LIKE-”

(Byleth) “I can, and will. I’ve read the reports on what you are. You’re nothing more than a pathetic old man, but a useful one I suppose. Put him into stasis and have him reemerge once someone has infiltrated.”

(Mage) “Yes sir.”

“YOU WHELPS, DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO I AM?!”

...

[God-Shattering Star - Fire Emblem Three Houses]

(Hubert) “Nemesis...!”

“You...YOU ALL WILL DI-”

(Hilda) “GO BACK TO HELL YOU CRUSTY OLD BASTARD!”

(Leonie) “Goddess, that’s what Byleth was doing all this time down here?!”

(Dedue) “Tch, doesn’t matter! We must get to the core, from the way it’s glowing its about to activate!”

(Catherine) “THEN LET’S DO THIS! EVERYONE, CHARGE!”

(Everyone) “HYAAAAAAAAA-”

(Nemesis) “NO ONE WILL GET IN MY WAY TO DESTROY SEIROS AND HER CRONIES!”

Nemesis charged into the students, and clashed swords with Catherine.

The swings were met blow for blow, both of them too fast to actually make any decisive hits.

Alois and Leonie came in from the sides, attempting to flank him.

Kicking Catherine away, he cut the head off Leonie’s horse, making her fly off and the horse making Alois roll out the way.

Bernadetta, Ignatz, and Ashe fired several arrows at him while he was in place, making him back off.

Activating the whip, he deflected the arrows and swung it the archers.

Ignatz managed to dodge in time, but Ashe and Bernadetta were hit by it, making them hit the floor.

Leonie and Alois charged again, Alois slamming the axe onto the floor with Nemesis rolling out the way, blocking Leonie’s hit in time.

Pulling back his sword, he swung at Alois, cutting his axe in half and striking him down, a visible scar on his armor as he fell down.

Leonie sustained a similar injury, though without the blessing of armor, having blood spill out.

(Hilda) “LEONIE!”

(Hubert) “FOCUS!”

Nemesis jumped into the air, slamming his bastardized version of the Sword of the Creator into the ground, creating a mini shockwave.

Dedue, Hilda, and Hubert, and Catherine were sent flying and hit the pillars behind them, falling onto the ground.

Annette and Mercedes fired a multitude of spells at him, Nemesis using the whip to absorb the spells with his sword.

Quickly deactivating the whip, he countered both the Death Knight and Felix’s attacks, who came from his sides.

Nemesis grabbed Felix and threw him onto the Death Knight, making him fall off his horse.

The horse went ballistic, and started charging at Nemesis out of pure fear, which he cut in half with a single slice.

He turned to his right and saw Ferdinand, Lorenz, and Sylvain charging with their lances in three separate directions. 

Flicking his wrist, the whip reactivated and he swung it upwards, decapitating all the horses and inflicting cuts that went through all three of their armors.

He noticed that his shadow was growing larger, and looked upwards seeing Ingrid trying to divebomb him with the Pegasus.

Rolling to the side and taking several swings, both unable to land a solid hit on each other.

Nemesis grabbed Ingrid by the arm, and pulled her towards him and off her mount.

He punched her in the stomach, denting the armor and making her cough up blood.

The force which he grabbed her dislocated Ingrid’s arm, and he threw her into the closest wall, making the wall crack using Ingrid as a projectile.

When she fell onto the floor, it was then he noticed that Lysithea, Annette, and Dorothea were charging up a spell.

It was starting to become brighter than the core in the room.

(Lysithea) “FIRE!”

Unleashing a beam of dark magic, it completely incinerated the pillars next to Nemesis, with him barely dodging in time.

He was about to run before he noticed that parts of his arms were singed off, making it hard to hold the Sword of the Creator.

Flicking his wrist, he was about to strike at the three mages until it got caught onto something.

Looking back, he saw the Death Knight’s scythe was holding the whip.

Caspar and Raphael leaped out from cover, and drove their gauntlets into his head, making an audible cracking noise.

Instead of falling over, Nemesis mustered all his strength to throw the Death Knight around like a ragdoll, finally releasing his grip.

Having nothing to restrain him, he headbutted Caspar so hard that blood came out from both their heads, and kicked Raphael into the ground.

Nemesis aimed his sword at Raphael’s heart, but his hand was shot by a precision shot, making the sword fly off from his hands.

Turning back, he saw Shamir and Petra, loading up arrows.

He ran up to them, leaving his sword behind and using rage as his weapons, raised his fists.

Petra and Shamir dodged his punch, as he punched the wall and created two massive holes.

They took out their daggers and went for the his knees, slicing the major arteries and hopping away quickly before he could retaliate.

From this position, Nemesis could see the room clearly.

All the mages in the room immediately went to healing the injured, Mercedes, Marianne and Linhardt healing the gravely injured first.

However it was at this point he realized he didn’t see Hubert, Catherine, Hilda or Dedue from where he knocked them out.

He saw Lysithea in the distance, firing at a spell behind a rock.

Then, the bright light appeared right above him.

Catherine was warped right on top of him, slamming Thunderbrand into his arms, which he tried to use as a shield.

Feeling his bones start to split apart, he then realized where the other three were.

Right beside Catherine.

Hilda slammed her axe into his legs, severing it, which made him lose balance, leading to his arm getting cut off by Thunderbrand.

Dedue slammed his shield with all his strength on top of Nemesis’s head, crushing it and splattering his head all over the floor.

Everyone hopped out the way as Hubert casted his most powerful dark spell, completely overwhelming Nemesis’s body and vaporizing it into dust.

Once his body was gone, the mock Sword of the Creator dissipated into the air.

(Shamir) “Leonie, Alois!”

Marianne grabbed Leonie while Mercedes helped Alois up, trying to heal their injuries.

(Leonie) “D-Don’t worry about us, the core...!”

They all looked to the core which was pulsating faster and faster.

(Shamir) “Shit, it’s about to activate!”

(Alois) “Y-you-agh! N-Need to overload it with magic! HURRY!”

Dorothea, Linhardt, Lysithea, and Annette all started to cast their strongest spells and aimed it at the core.

(Shamir) “NOW!”

At the same time, all of them shot from their hands, ranging from ice, holy, dark, meteoric spells onto the core, hitting it all at once.

The core exploded into fragments, the energy overtaking the room in a bright light.

[SONG END]

Catherine held her eyes shut, expecting to lose all feeling from the blast, until she opened an eye.

The room was just lit dimly with the orange torches that were in the room, no longer outshined by the core.

She looked around her, seeing all the students were having a similar reaction.

(Leonie) “We...did it...hah...!”

Marianne felt Leonie go limp, which prompted her to start shaking her.

(Hilda) “L-LEONIE!”

(Marianne) “I-It’s the shock from her blood loss, I can still save her!”

(Catherine) “And the others?!”

(Sylvain) “A-Agh...right here...!”

Sylvain was helped up by Felix, but they nearly tripped over themselves once they saw how Ingrid was.

Ferdinand and Lorenz helped each other up, which Linhardt began to heal the both of them, alongside Dorothea.

(Hubert) “That was far closer than I’d like...”

(Hilda) “N-No kidding...!”

(Dedue) “Wait a second, our lords!”

Everyone’s eyes widened when Dedue said that.

They may have taken out the core.

But what about Byleth?

-------

[nicolewrites]

i apologize for my divinity (it is never enough) - iii

this ride don’t stop till i say it does. here’s part 3 and it’s even wordier than part ii so you’re welcome? 

Rating: T+ Genre: Angst, Friendship, Family Characters: Byleth/My Unit, Claude R., Dimitri B., Sothis, the Golden Deer Words: 7,958

AO3 | FFN

pt. i | pt. ii

iii - white clouds, redux

- ~ -

/ great tree moon /

If Byleth swings her sword a little quicker now, Jeralt doesn't notice. Cutting through the bandits is achingly familiar, but she feels weak. Her muscles are looser and not as practiced and the skill of her students is lacking as well. Byleth finds herself fighting close to Dimitri's side out of habit, but it feels wrong somehow to see him as he used to be–whole and unbroken.

There's a terrible, dark moment when she sees the leader of the bandits lunge at Edelgard. She wonders, what if I don't save her? What happens then? Her feet are anchored into the ground as her mind deliberates.

The answer is not one she likes. Both Claude and Dimitri lunge forward to protect the Imperial Princess in her stead. Dimitri takes the axe across the back and his lance dips and plunges into Claude's stomach as the Alliance Heir shoves Edelgard away. Byleth doesn't wait for their bodies to hit the ground before she's whipping time backwards.

"As to be expected," Sothis says. "We'll have to change things later on."

Byleth drives her blade up and protects Edelgard. She escorts the students back to the monastery, alongside her father, Alois and the Knights of Seiros. The familiarity of everything hurts and Byleth can't help but feel that she's trudging an endlessly repeating path to a mass grave.

As Garreg Mach looms above before them, Byleth can feel the unease rolling off of her father. Alois seems excited, as always, but Byleth keeps her mouth pressed quietly into a firm line. She watches Dimitri and the other exchange barbs. There's a lightness about him here, in this moment, that she aches to feel, but now that she looks at him all she can see is the hunched shoulders and incredible pain of the Dimitri he may become five years from now.

Edelgard's posture is stiff, but it's not yet the posture of the emperor she may become. Her lips still quirk at something Claude says which tells Byleth that she has time. Now that she's looking closely, she easily picks out the sheath of Dimitri's dagger at her hip. If it mysteriously disappeared, would it fix anything?

Claude, on the other hand, is still just Claude. His green eyes are playful and allude to the cleverness that hides just beneath the surface. To her surprise, however, Claude keeps stealing glances at her. When he studies her when he thinks she's not watching, his brow furrows just a bit and Byleth sees the analytic part of her student as he tries to dissect her with his gaze alone.

Later, after Alois drags Jeralt off for a drink and Byleth is left standing in the entrance hall with the three house leaders, Dimitri and Edelgard excuse themselves to find the rest of their houses. Claude lingers.

"This is going to sound a bit crazy," he says slowly. "But, have we met before?"

Byleth feels surprise ripple across her face because of course they have met before, but there is no way that Claude has any memory of it because that timeline was destroyed the moment she broke that thread.

Sothis? she inquires cautiously.

"Hmm, how peculiar," the goddess muses in Byleth's head. "He certainly has no real memory of you, but perhaps this is something deeper at work."

"No," Byleth articulates finally. "I've always been with my father and I've never left Fódlan."

Claude shakes his head briefly and gives her one of his signature trouble-maker smiles. "Of course, how silly of me to assume otherwise."

He leaves then and Byleth watches him go, a warm curiosity blossoming in her chest. Maybe, she ponders.

"Indeed," Sothis agrees.

- ~ -

The second time, she succumbs to her wonderings about Claude, Alliance Heir.

- ~ -

/ harpstring moon /

The Golden Deer have a kind of unrestrained chaos that was absent through her time with the Blue Lions. Sothis finds it funny as she struggles to rein in Claude and Hilda and to connect to the quiet Ignatz and Marianne.

Leonie seems to have a grudge against Byleth that can only be attributed to both of their relationships with Jeralt. Lorenz seems to have a mild enough interest in her, but she remembers that it is simply due to her Crest-bearing nature, even if no one here knows she has the Crest of Flames yet. Raphael is bright and optimistic and seems interested in her strength on the battlefield and her appetite in the dining hall.

Ignatz is quieter, but she catches him studying her many times as she lectures. Byleth hides her smile and lets him doodle her portrait. He has a great talent. Marianne is back to the quiet, self-hating girl Byleth remembers from before the war and she does everything she can to try to boost the girl's spirits. Lysithea is all sharp edges and defensiveness. She continues to work herself to the bone and Byleth brings her sweet treats and soothing tea to absolve the girl of some of her stress. Its origin is unknown to her, but she refuses to let any student of hers crumble under the pressure.

Hilda is both infuriating and entertaining to watch. She's a beast on the battlefield, cutting down her foes precisely and powerfully. But, she plays herself off as a dainty flower, batting her eyelashes and showering her fellow students in compliments until they do her dirty work. Byleth just rolls her eyes and presses Hilda for answers in class until she inevitably gives up the act and gives the answer that she's looking for.

Claude seems to find everything Byleth does funny. He sits in the middle of the classroom, close enough that she knows he takes notes in his elegantly messy scrawl, but he watches her all through class and combat training and even over shared meals like he's trying to break her down slowly. He has a calm, casual smirk on at almost all times, but it never seems to soften the sharp judgement of his green eyes.

In the time she has been here, Claude has not given up on his theory that he has met Byleth before and she would be lying if she said she wasn't a little bit worried about that fact. Claude is disastrously clever and the last thing she needs is a distraction from the reason that she's here–to fix things. Sothis finds him funny and takes every occasion to tell Byleth so.

Byleth ignores her for the most part, but when Claude gives her a more genuine smile it warms her right to the core and she has to turn away to hide the growing smile on her own face.

- ~ -

/ garland moon /

Facing off against Lonato feels strange without Ashe. Byleth has made a habit of checking in on her Blue Lions students pretty regularly and trying to forge connections with them even as she leads the Deer. She finds him in the cathedral the night after Lonato's death against and this time she sits with him and holds out her hand.

Ashe takes it without a word and squeezes it so tightly that it stings. After a while, his grip loosens, but his head hangs and he doesn't let her go. He doesn't seem to understand Byleth's investment in the situation, but he says nothing to her. When he finally leaves in the early hours of the morning, Byleth lingers, staring up at the statue of Saint Seiros.

Is any of this pain worth it? she asks silently.

"Is any of it preventable?" Sothis inquires back.

Byleth frowns. I don't think so.

"Then we must keep going," the goddess says.

Byleth nods and turns to leave. Claude is standing in the entranceway of the cathedral, staring at her and she stumbles when she sees him.

"Good morning, Teach," he says casually.

Byleth folds her arms as she approaches her student. "What are you doing awake?"

Claude shrugs. "I was going to do some aerial patrols and I saw you and Ashe. What's your deal with the Blue Lions, anyway?"

Byleth presses her lips together. "They're good kids. You all are. I'm just trying to make sure that everyone gets their fair share of time with me. I do teach everyone even if I'm leading the Golden Deer."

Claude steps forward, tipping his head to the side like a cat. The sharpness of his eyes glitters in the dim light of the cathedral. "And these good kids must include Edelgard and Hubert, right? And that's why you refused to correct Edelgard's axe grip even if you spent almost an hour trying to get Hilda to admit she already knew it."

"This child is too observant for his own good," Sothis grumbles.

Byleth steels herself and tries to present the neutral expression that had been second nature to her when she had been the Ashen Demon. "Shouldn't you be glad I'm not increasing the skills of another House Leader as much as I am with someone in your own house?"

Claude recognizes her deflection and gives her a slightly cheeky smile. "I am going to figure you out, Teach, you can mark my words." He winks and turns to leave, the yellow of his cape fluttering with the movement.

Something deep inside Byleth aches for a familiar blue cloak and the quiet stolen moments she shared with Dimitri in another life. She frowns as she watches Claude leave. He whistles for a wyvern as he's partway across the bridge connecting the monastery proper to the cathedral. He flies away on the beast like it's second nature to him and Byleth shifts uncomfortably.

Sothis is right. Claude is entirely too clever and observant for his own good. She needs to try harder.

- ~ -

/ blue sea moon /

Byleth has tea with Ferdinand and Lorenz one afternoon and smiles at the bottom of her cup as the two nobles chat about frugal things. It's a conversation that she's sat through before, but it's nice to see a lighter, genuine side to both of the students.

"Have you ever thought about changing houses, Ferdinand?" she asks before she can stop herself.

Ferdinand's teacup pauses halfway to his mouth. He cocks an eyebrow at her. "To the Golden Deer?"

Byleth shrugs. "Or to the Blue Lions."

Ferdinand muses over it for a moment. "It's an interesting proposition, Professor, and if my loyalties didn't lie so heavily in the Empire, I might consider it more."

Lorenz chuckles. "Well, we did win the mock battle so I can't blame you for wanting to join the clearly superior house."

Byleth laughs lightly at Lorenz's words, but the depth of Ferdinand's words draw her the image of the young man so corrupted by loyalty he died for a ruler who had no particular care for him. She bites into her lip and hides her displeasure behind her teacup.

They're sharing tea in Byleth's quarters upon Lorenz's suggestion and as she looks past her two guests, she spots Dimitri strolling by. She stands up before she even realizes what she's doing. She pauses, looking down at her students and smiling.

"Excuse me for a moment, I just need to grab Dimitri for a moment."

She slips out of the room before either noble heir can protest and sees that luckily Dimitri hasn't gone too far.

"Dimitri!" she calls out.

The Blue Lions Leader turns and smiles upon seeing her. "Professor, what a pleasant surprise!"

She smiles back at him. "Would you like to join us for some tea? Lorenz and Ferdinand had just stopped by and I thought you might want to sit down with us."

Dimitri's smile dips a little and he glances to his right to the Training Hall. "Ah, I would, but I had promised to train with Ingrid and Sylvain."

Byleth steps back. "I won't keep you then."

Dimitri looks back towards the Training Hall and hesitates. "But, if you'd like to join us after you finish with tea, I'm sure we would all appreciate your guidance."

Byleth raises her eyebrow. "Lances and spears are definitely not my strength so I'm sure you're all more adept than I would be." She presses him curiously, interested to see how he responds.

"But you're a strong fighter so you could figure it out, or you could use a sword and just absolutely destroy us either way," Dimitri points out.

Byleth chuckles. "I suppose I could." She glances past Dimitri to see Claude exiting the Training Hall and she consciously steps back, suddenly hyper-aware of the space between her and Dimitri.

Claude beelines towards them and slings an arm around Dimitri's shoulders, smirking. "Hello Dimitri, Teach," he greets.

Dimitri tenses at Claude's touch, but relaxes once the Alliance heir starts speaking. "Hello Claude," Dimitri greets coolly.

Byleth notes that the tension isn't completely gone from the prince's shoulders. He's definitely not as comfortable with Claude as he feels around just Byleth. She presses her lips together and turns her attention to Claude.

"Would you like to join Lorenz, Ferdinand and myself for tea, Claude?" she invites politely.

Claude winks at her. "I'd be honoured. I'll see you around then Dimitri." Claude lets Dimitri go and brushes past them both towards Byleth's quarters.

Byleth hesitates for a moment before following after Claude. "I'll see you for training later then," she says as a way of goodbye to Dimitri.

He smiles and warmth curls in Byleth's chest. He's not lost to her yet.

- ~ -

Much later, the Sword of the Creator hums in her grip. It's warm to the touch and familiar, but the way that the Golden Deer eye her with awe and surprise is a bit off-putting. She cracks the sword against the stone and cuts down the Church rebels without much further thought. There's no time for her to consult the familiarity coursing through her veins.

She focuses on the fight, not stopping until her breathing is the only thing she can hear. Her chest is tight and she's tired, but she is alive and her Fawns are alive and they're stronger than they used to be. They have gotten used to following her commands and execute them almost flawlessly.

Pride wells in her chest as she examines the path her students have carved. There is loss there too, for the time she has tackled this same set-up with the Blue Lions, but she refocuses on the moment. Her Deer have become important to her too, just like she intended.

"Professor!" Hilda calls.

Byleth turns and sees Hilda striding toward her. Claude is limping along behind her, his eyes fixated on the sword clutched in her hand. Byleth slides it into a loop on her belt and descends the dais towards them.

"Who's hurt?" Byleth asks Hilda.

Hilda shakes her head. "No one seriously," she replies, still staring at Byleth. "What is that?"

"It's the Sword of the Creator," Claude answers. His brow is cocked curiously. Despite whatever reason he is limping for, he doesn't seem to care, focusing entirely on the unique relic Byleth holds. "Isn't it?"

Byleth nods slowly. "Yes, I think so."

Claude shakes his head. He is obviously still suspicious, but his relief at the end of the battle seems to dominate his current consciousness. "I think you're going to have to explain some things to Rhea, Teach."

"Explain to Rhea?" Sothis scoffs. "More like she has some things to tell us."

Byleth shrugs both for Claude and Hilda and the goddess in her head. "I'm hoping she'll be able to answer some of my questions, actually."

- ~ -

/ verdant rain moon /

The black beast that Miklan turns into is no less unnerving this time than it was last time. It roars and charges her students and Byleth doesn't have time to be distracted. It seems to have a personal grudge against Ignatz as it pursues her archer even as he retreats.

Byleth doesn't have time to get to his side before it's atop him–jaws tearing at his throat his chest–and then she's calling on her Divine Pulse and praying desperately she can prevent that future from coming to fruition. For a terrifying moment, Byleth hears the beast's cries echo across the stones mixed with the terror of her students, and then her gut lurches and time winds backwards.

She instructs Ignatz to stay back this time and the beast focuses on her instead. She faces it down, clutching the sword so tightly that her palm burns from its constant heat. She slashes at it, Lysithea blasts it with her dark magic, and Marianne's white magic keeps her on her feet long enough to take it down.

Ignatz approaches her after, holding out a Vulnerary. "Professor," he says, brow creased. "How did you know to keep Claude, Leonie, and I out of its line of sight? We would have been done if that thing had gotten in close range."

Byleth downs the healing drought and smiles warily at her student. "I have a feeling that that thing was still clever enough to see an advantage where it could take it."

Ignatz studies her face for a long moment and Byleth hopes he can't read the lie on her face. After a moment, he nods and turns away. Byleth exhales and rubs her shoulder. The vulnerary has helped some, but she's still aching.

Better me than them, she thinks determinedly.

"They're different from the others," Sothis notes quietly.

Byleth considers the statement, watching as they clear the ruins of the bodies of the thieves, helping each other and passing around healing items to those who need them. Lysithea and Marianne focus on magic while Raphael and Hilda do much of the heavy lifting. They know their strengths and play to them.

I think I love them too, Byleth admits.

Sothis laughs and it warms Byleth where her heart should be. "I know you do."

- ~ -

At the monastery, as soon as Manuela lets her out of the infirmary, Byleth looks for Ingrid and Felix. They're chatting quietly in the Knight's Hall and look surprised to see her.

"Professor!" Ingrid exclaims, straightening her spine as Byleth approaches. "Weren't you hurt?"

Byleth waves off the concern. "Nevermind that." Felix eyes her slightly suspiciously and Byleth takes a deep breath. "I can talk to Hanneman for you," she offers.

Ingrid looks surprised, but Felix keeps his face strategically neutral. "Why?" he asks bluntly.

Byleth smiles sadly. "Because I know Sylvain is hurting and I want to help."

Ingrid frowns. "You don't have to do that."

"You'll do it even if we tell you not to though," Felix discerns, studying her face.

Byleth nods. "I will. I wish I could have stopped it."

"Did he really turn into a beast?" Ingrid asks quietly.

"I wish I could tell you otherwise," Byleth says slowly.

Felix turns away, staring at a training dummy in the sandpit instead. "And now Rhea wants Sylvain to take that relic, doesn't she?"

"He's safe to use it," Byleth assures, but Felix turns his flint sharp gaze back to her quickly.

"And you're sure about that?"

No, Byleth thinks desperately. I don't know if having the relics brings more pain than it's worth, but I'd so much rather it be in his hands than the hands of the church.

"Yes," she says instead.

Felix looks frustrated, but Ingrid nods. "We'll talk to Sylvain," she says finally.

"I wish you didn't have to," Byleth adds before she turns to leave. I wish I could absolve you all of your pain and your burdens.

- ~ -

/ horsebow moon /

Byleth feels the burn of the poison in her veins as soon as the Death Knight's scythe cuts into her. The familiar burn triggers something in her and she drops to her knees as pain turns her vision white.

"Professor!" Lorenz yells. He's the closest to her so he pulls her to her feet and studies her face intensely, trying to see why she collapsed.

Byleth drops the Sword of the Creator and breathes slowly as her vision comes back to her. The pain isn't even that bad yet, but the memory of it seems to have shocked her body to the extreme. "Get Claude," she orders strictly.

She stumbles against him and Lorenz whips his head around. "Raphael!" he yells. "Get Flayn and Monica out of here. Leonie, find Claude. The professor needs help."

Byleth feels a spark of admiration for the leadership traits Lorenz has, even if he buries them under layers of noble snobbery most times. Marianne hurries over to them and her white magic tingles as it heals most of Byleth's wounds. She says something softly to Lorenz that Byleth doesn't catch, but Lorenz shakes his head in response.

Another pulse of fire burns from the wound and Byleth grimaces. She steps away from Lorenz and looks around the crypt. The strange soldiers are gone now, including the Death Knight, but their presence makes Byleth's skin crawl. Those soldiers had been Edelgard's last time and the insignias they bear this time are the same.

Am I too late? Did I not do enough?

Sothis doesn't reply and anger prickles along her skin. She has torn apart her future to come back to try and stop the war and to save her students and she isn't sure that she can handle losing them again.

"Teach!" Claude yells. Leonie and Claude are rushing towards them. There's a smear of red across Claude's cloak from where he had dammed Manuela's wound. He looks wild and shaken, but relief blossoms across his features as he realizes Byleth is still standing.

His hands land on her biceps as he reaches her, looking her up and down. "What's wrong, Teach?"

Poison pulses through her veins. She grimaces and grips Claude's hand in her own. She slides it towards the wound. His hand is warm against her even through her shirt. The blood seems to concern him, but he's sharp and knows that's not what is actually bothering her.

"Leonie, give me your hunting knife," he instructs.

He cuts away the fabric where it sticks to her skin and curses as he uncovers the wound. Leonie, behind him, blanches at the sight of the blackened veins. "What the hell?" she exclaims.

Claude touches the wound and fire burns through Byleth. She cries out unintentionally. Claude hisses an apology and fumbles for the pouch of poisons and antidotes on his belt. He pulls out the familiar clear vial. Byleth doesn't hesitate, downing the antidote without waiting for him to say anything.

Most of the pain fades, but the wound still aches dully. Claude slides an arm around her waist. "Come on, Teach, let's get you to the infirmary."

Even with Claude's support, Byleth stumbles her way out of the crypt. Her exhaustion seems to have caught up with her and the lingering effect of the poison amplifies it. She leans her head against his shoulder as they emerge from the tunnel in Jeritza's room and breathes slowly, trying to centre herself.

"Kid?"

That voice makes her look up sharply. Jeralt and a contingent of knights have just entered the room and her father's worried gaze is fixed directly onto her. She straightens up a bit, trying to look less like she's relying on Claude to keep her upright.

"I'm okay," she assures.

Claude snorts out a laugh. "The Death Knight's blade was poisoned," he informs. "I got it out of her system, but she needs rest, not whatever the hell Rhea is going to try to have her do."

Jeralt's brow furrows. "I'll worry about Rhea." He walks forward and presses a firm, warm kiss to Byleth's forehead. The display of affection is unusual for Jeralt, but she knows the meaning he places behind it. "Get her to the infirmary," he says to Claude.

Byleth wants to ask him to stay, to take her himself, but he's a captain and he has a job to do. She bites her tongue as he walks by her even if every bone in her body wants him to stay or to leave and get as far away from the monastery as possible. The selfish shadow in her chest tells her that she's not sure she can go through losing him again.

"Teach?" Claude inquires. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Byleth inhales deeply and tears her eyes from where her father had disappeared to. "Yes, I'm just tired."

"Why are you still lying to him?" Sothis asks suddenly.

Claude steps forward to assist her again and Byleth realizes that she doesn't have a good answer to that question.

- ~ -

/ wyvern moon /

This time, Claude once again backs her participation in the Battle of the Eagle and the Lion. Dimitri and Edelgard had protested, as expected, but Byleth studies their expressions as they each present their argument. Dimitri still seems concerned about her well-being, but Edelgard has something cooler and tenser in her expression. It is disconcertingly reminiscent of the expression she had held in the Holy Mausoleum.

Between Claude's scheming and Byleth's tactics, their battle plan comes together smoothly and even more efficient than it had been when she had fought this fight with the Blue Lions. Ignatz and Leonie share the responsibility of the ballista and the defence of it. Lysithea, Marianne, and Lorenz easily sweep through Felix, Ingrid, Dedue, and Sylvain due to their lack of ranged attacks. Byleth, Raphael, Hilda, and Claude take on the Eagles and the whole thing topples with remarkable efficiency.

After the battle, Byleth's standing with Claude atop the hill when Dimitri and Edelgard approach.

"Professor, that was a remarkable strategy," Dimitri compliments. "It's like you knew my every move before I could make it."

Edelgard inclines her chin. "Almost as if you knew what it would be, really," she adds. There's an undertone of suspicion in her tone and Byleth frowns.

Thankfully, Claude, despite his notable previous suspicions, laughs. "Come on then, where's my compliment? I am an equal contributor to this strategy," he argues.

Byleth smiles. "He's right about that," she points out.

Edelgard rolls her eyes. "Your schemes hardly count as a concrete battle plan, Claude."

Dimitri's attention stays fixed on Byleth. "It did all feel familiar," he says to her quietly. "But, strange, nonetheless. Almost like you should have been fighting with me instead of against me."

Byleth laughs weakly. "Strange," she echoes.

Dimitri shakes his head and holds a hand out. His palm is warm against hers as she shakes his hand. "A battle well fought," he concedes.

- ~ -

/ red wolf moon /

The Golden Deer are equally as disturbed as the Blue Lions were after the battle in Remire Village. Lysithea and Ignatz, in particular, seem concerned with Solon and the fact that he had been disguised as Tomas.

Byleth had been heading back to the Golden Deer classroom when she heard mention that Tomas had been at the monastery by recommendation of House Ordelia. The admission had caught her off-guard so she redoubled her pace to the classroom, wanting to talk to Lysithea again.

Unfortunately, Tomas's connection to House Ordelia is as concerning to Lysithea as it is to Byleth. Her youngest student has three different historical texts in front of her and her eyes have dark circles underneath them. Byleth reaches over and closes the book in front of her. Lysithea turns a burning gaze to her, displeased and Byleth shakes her head.

"Get some rest. The situation won't change much by morning, and we need everyone to be at their best for the future," she says to her student.

Lysithea's shoulders hunch. "I know," she admits slowly. "I just," she trails off, looking frustrated and vulnerable.

"It's not your fault," Byleth says. "Don't ever think that this is your fault."

Without another word, Lysithea twists in her seat and tucks her arms around Byleth's waist. Byleth tenses for a moment before she lowers her hands to reassuringly touch her student's shoulders. Lysithea is stubborn and her refusal to be seen as young means that she builds so many walls to hide her emotions behind. Seeing her scared and vulnerable like this is almost reassuring because it shows Byleth that she's feeling and that she's connecting with people.

The quiet contact between professor and student seems to reassure her and Lysithea pulls away after a lingering moment. She wipes at her eyes and stands up from the table. She looks exhausted, but her shoulders are square as she announces her plan to head to her room and take a nap.

Byleth shifts uncomfortably as she leaves. She can still hear the cries of people in Remire Village in the back of her mind and she's afraid of what it will mean for the next month.

- ~ -

/ ethereal moon /

The ball is suffocating. She wants to smile and enjoy herself like she did last time–to dance with Dimitri and to spin in silly circles with Claude since neither of them actually know how to dance properly–but the air in the room feels stale and it burns when she breathes.

Byleth ducks out and heads to the goddess tower, hoping that it's empty. The height and quietness of it call to her. She keeps her hands pressed against the stone as she climbs to ground herself. Her head feels like it's spinning as she climbs and her breathing is shallow.

She reaches the top and staggers to the balcony on the edge. She curls her fingers into the stone railing and breathes. The air is cool and it stings, but she's finally able to feel like she's breathing again. She doesn't feel like she's going to collapse anymore.

She stands alone at the top of the tower for a long minute, eyes closed and breathing slowly. There are soft footsteps behind her and she prays for a moment they'll leave so that she can be alone, but not even she is that lucky.

"Teach?"

Byleth turns to face Claude. He is standing just at the top of the stairs and he looks concerned. She bites her lip and turns her gaze back to the window she had been looking out. She can't look at Claude. Like Sothis has said, he is very observant and too good at reading her expressions even when she doesn't want him too.

He apparently either doesn't realize that she wants to be alone, or doesn't care, because she hears him walk over until she can feel the warmth from him radiating into her space. "Are you going to tell me why you ran away from the ball?"

Byleth swallows. "I'm worried about tomorrow," she admits.

Claude raises an eyebrow. "Really?"

Byleth rubs at her temples. "It's not going to go like we think it will."

"You sound sure," he points out.

Byleth bites her lip. She's tired. She's so tired of living the same days and losing people and watching the world fall down the same spiral that led to 5 years of brutal war. She really doesn't want to do this anymore.

Claude contemplates something when she doesn't reply and she feels, more than sees, him shift in her periphery. "Teach, what are you so scared of happening tomorrow?"

Something in Byleth breaks and she leans forward onto her hands, pressing her forehead against the stone. "I'm running in circles and nothing will stop any of this. There is so much senseless death and destruction and I can't make it end. I thought I could stop this, but I've been following the same footsteps and walking the same path."

Claude doesn't hesitate to sink so he's level with her. "Teach–Byleth–I don't know what you're talking about."

Byleth inhales slowly and tries to calm her racing mind. "I have a goddess inside my head and I can turn back time," she says abruptly. Claude tenses. She laughs and shakes her head. "You probably think I'm crazy and I don't blame you. Tomorrow my father is going to die and I'm so terrified I won't be able to do anything about it."

"You're not crazy," he says firmly. "I may not understand half of what you just said, but, Teach, you're not crazy. I mean, you trusted me with this, so maybe you're a little crazy, but you're not crazy."

Byleth laughs lowly. "I can't lose him again."

Something warm drapes over her back and shoulders and tugs her sideways. They shift so that they're sitting on the floor of the tower and Claude's arm is wrapped firmly over her shoulder. Byleth presses her head to the crook of his neck and breathes in his familiar scent of pine and parchment.

"We won't lose him," Claude assures.

Byleth shakes her head against his neck. "That's what I said last time."

She can feel his pulse thrumming where she rests against him. He doesn't seem to know where to take the conversation and instead just keeps his arm around her and lets her rest against him where they sit. She's sure there are a million places Claude with his charming smile would rather be, but he makes no attempt to move away from her, staying a warm, reassuring presence to her.

Slowly, Byleth reaches for his hand. She guides his fingers to the inside of her wrist where her own pulse pulses rhythmically. He doesn't say anything, but his index and middle fingers press into her skin as he feels the hum of her pulse. After a moment, she guides his palm up to her upper chest and rests it against her bare skin above where her heart should be. After a moment, Claude stiffens and pulls his hand away.

"You have no heartbeat," he says matter-of-factly. "How is that possible?"

"I have a goddess inside of me and a Crest Stone instead of a heart."

Claude's breath catches as he leans away from her just enough that he can make eye contact with her. "You weren't kidding."

Byleth closes her eyes and shakes her head. "No."

He leans forward again so that their foreheads are pressed together. The moment feels painfully intimate and a part of Byleth's head is in uproar–DIMITRIDIMITRIDIMITRI, it whispers–and the rest of her is blissfully silent because as wrong as this feels, it feels more right than most things have since she reset the world.

- ~ -

Byleth presses her forehead to the side of Jeralt's face and closes her eyes. She's crying and shaking and

everything hurts again

. She thought she had done it right this time, putting herself between her father and Monica, but Jeralt had asked her to check on Leonie who had been injured in the battle. Byleth had hesitated and her father had insisted and Monica had already been walking away.

He had taken her blade straight to the heart as soon as Byleth had turned away. Thales had thwarted her Divine Pulse and Byleth was once again in the mud, clutching the still body of her father.

Why am I not enough? she asks Sothis desperately. Why can't I save him?

"Perhaps this is his fate. I am the Beginning, but I cannot see the End."

Byleth shakes her head and pulls Jeralt's body closer. With a shaking hand, she tries to pour white magic into him, but just like last time–just like with Dimitri–the spell doesn't take. Finally, having exhausted everything, she cries again.

"I'm sorry," she whispers to her dead father.

There's a sharp gasp over her shoulder and a rush of footsteps as her Golden Deer finally find her. A warm body presses against her side and a tan hand reaches forward to gently close Jeralt's eyes. A hand closes over one of hers where she's clutching Jeralt's chest and she leans into the body, letting it keep her upright. The other hand curls over her back, stroking and comforting as best it can.

Claude swallows heavily as he holds her. "I'm sorry," he whispers. It hurts because he knew and he tried, but they're still sitting here and her father is still dead.

The Golden Deer pile around them shortly after. Their hands brush against Byleth and against Claude and against Jeralt. No words are exchanged and no one complains. Raphael inserts himself last, using his large frame to try and shield as many of them as possible from the rain. Leonie presses her head against Byleth's curling both her hands over Byleth and Claude's joined fingers on Jeralt.

The warmth of their bodies pressing around her is like an echo of the other life, but Byleth thinks this one hurts more because she knew it was coming.

"I'm sorry," Sothis whispers. "I'm so sorry."

- ~ -

/ guardian moon /

"

You have got to be kidding me! How could you fall for this again?

" Sothis scolds.

Byleth lets out a growl and spins. The odd place where Sothis resides is exactly as it was last time and she's just as annoyed. "I'm sorry, alright? I just got mad." She exhales slowly and turns back to face the goddess.

Sothis descends the stairs towards her. "You understand what this means, don't you?"

Byleth frowns. "I can't leave here without your power, can I?"

Sothis shakes her head. "No, you can't. And we've established that you must go. But," the goddess pauses.

Byleth stares at her. Sothis looks remarkably young, as she always has, but she looks troubled. "What is it?"

Sothis reaches out and stops just before she touches Byleth's face. "My friend," she says softly. "If I go this time, I do not know if you will be able to reach me again."

Byleth tenses. "I found you last time."

"And we have been together this time differently than last time. I fear you will feel my absence more."

Byleth lowers her head. "I have to go."

"I know," Sothis replies. "And I am sorry, Byleth, that I have not been enough to save your father and that I was not enough to save Dimitri last time."

Byleth shakes her head and looks the goddess straight in the eye. "We are one, Sothis. Any weakness of yours is a weakness of mine as well. I will find you again when I need you."

Sothis laughs. "Oh my friend, you misunderstand. I hope you will never have need of me again."

Without another word, Sothis reaches forward and presses a hand against Byleth's chest. The goddess dissolves into golden light. The light burns, bright and warm and Byleth screams out. Once again, golden light sears the darkness and she swings blindly out with the Sword of the Creator.

The world bends around her and she cuts through it, tearing the fabric of dimensions to return herself back to her world. There are mixed gasps from around her from the Golden Deer and from Solon's forces.

Byleth ignores it all and flies at Solon, letting her rage burn through her as her awakened sword strikes down. She cuts through the remaining enemies in a blind rage, grieving for Jeralt and for Sothis and for everyone that she has lost.

When she's done and Solon is dead, Claude is at her side. His hands grip her arms and steady her as the glowing energy in her veins fades leaving her drained and exhausted. He studies her, taking in changed hair and eyes and shakes his head slowly.

"Your goddess," he murmurs. "She gave you her power?"

Byleth nods. The world blurs at the edges and her eyes are hot with tears. She tries to ask Claude how her Fawns fared, but her tongue is lead in her mouth and the darkness spins violently. She blacks out so hard and so quickly she almost doesn't hear the cry of her name that tears from his throat, drenched in concern.

- ~ -

/ pegasus moon /

"Hey! Teach!"

Byleth spins to see Claude jogging in her direction. She's standing on the eastern balcony at the cathedral and she's a bit surprised he found her. But, to be fair, Claude is relentless when he wants to be. She nods to him in greeting and he slows to a walk.

"I wanted to catch you before we went into the Holy Mausoleum. I want to know what you're feeling about all of this," he says.

Byleth wraps her arms around her waist and looks out over the monastery again. "I'm still worried," she admits. "There are things that may happen today that we may never recover from. I can only hope we've done enough."

Claude's brow furrows. "This isn't just about what revelation you may receive is it?"

Byleth sighs. "No, it isn't."

"We'll be with you, Teach, all of us. No matter what."

Byleth turns to look fully at Claude. "That promise we all made to come back in five years. Do you think they'll honour that too?"

Claude laughs. "You've met us, right? We're a bunch of crazy sentimental fools."

Byleth smiles and it feels a little sad. "I like the sound of a bunch of sentimental fools."

Claude smiles and something in Byleth's stomach twists. She has no idea what awaits them in the Holy Mausoleum and she can only hope it won't be exactly what she's expecting. She steps toward him and slides her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

"Thank you, Claude," she says quietly.

He hugs her back and for a moment it's quiet, just the two of them and the wind.

- ~ -

After Rhea gives her the order, Byleth's grip on the Sublime Creator Sword tightens until it hurts. She stares down the leader of the Black Eagle House.

"Is it worth all of this, Edelgard?" she asks.

Edelgard's face is steeled cold and neutral. "Everything was leading to this. I've accomplished my aims here."

"Why does it have to lead to war?" Byleth presses.

Edelgard frowns. "There is no other alternative. Professor, we have been walking this path since the moment we met. There was no other way this could go."

Byleth holds her sword out and shakes her head. "If I'd come to you, could I have set you off this path?"

Edelgard's expression hardens into something that's almost cruel. It almost reconciles the images she has of the Flame Emperor's cruelty and the young woman before her. "Professor, if you would have joined me, you would have had the pleasure of being on the winning side of this war that will come."

Hubert appears in a burst of light and then they're both gone and Byleth's chest tightens until it hurts. Inevitable, she laments. Was all of this for naught? It hurts to consider that everything she had been through, all her pain and suffering, was just so that the world could walk the same brutal, bloody path again.

Byleth closes her eyes and lets the tip of her sword brush against the stone. She doesn't want to see the rage on Rhea's face and the dismay and betrayal on Claude's. She doesn't want to think about telling Dimitri and initializing the Kingdom Prince's true descent into madness.

She doesn't want to think of Thales and the cliff and what might come next.

- ~ -

/ lone moon /

Byleth finds the Blue Lions in their classroom, looking serious and troubled. She has just finished speaking with the Golden Deer about the situation and imagines Hanneman has done the same for the Blue Lions. Still, several of them turn sharply in her direction when she enters that classroom.

"Professor!" Ashe exclaims. He wrings his hands in front of his, his brow creased. "Is it all true?"

Byleth nods slowly. "Edelgard is the Flame Emperor and she is leading a march on Garreg Mach. We must be prepared."

Sylvain frowns. "And the Black Eagles?"

Byleth shakes her head. "No, none of them knew but Hubert. I imagine many of them are just as shocked as the rest of us." She looks around the classroom and notices two notable absences. She bites her lip and turns towards Felix and Ingrid, almost not ready to hear the answer to the question on the tip of her tongue. "Where are Dimitri and Dedue?"

Felix scoffs. "The Boar is in the Knight's Hall butchering everything he can get his hands on before he gets to Edelgard."

Byleth flinches. She had, futilely, hoped to be the one to talk to Dimitri, but it didn't look like she was going to get that chance. There is a good chance that Dimitri has already started his spiralling into the mad prince he became after five years. "Dedue is with him?"

"Yes," Annette pipes up. "The rest of us thought it would be good to give him some space."

"It's hard to believe Edelgard would do all of this," Mercedes murmurs softly.

"She's always been ambitious, but this isn't what I was expecting at all," Ingrid adds.

Byleth pulls a hand through her newly mint-coloured hair and sighs heavily. "It will not be an easy fight, that is for sure, but we must all survive."

She turns to leave the Blue Lions. They are not hers anymore, no matter how much she still cares for them now. She hopes that her attempts to guide them and connect with them this time have resonated enough to keep them the same kids and young adults she knows going into the future. She pauses at the threshold of the Blue Lion classroom.

"It's a shame there won't be a celebration for the Millennium Festival. I would have looked forward to seeing you all there."

- ~ -

After the initial briefing, Byleth is placed in charge of relaying the commands to Dimitri and Claude. She sends a squire to summon them both and meets them above the graveyard where if she cranes her neck she can just see where both of her parents are buried. It doesn't take long after she summons them for the two remaining House Leaders to find her.

Dimitri looks haunted. His eyes are tired and his posture stiff and alert. His facade of "perfect prince" is well enough in place for those who don't know him, but Byleth sees through it and she knows the Lions do too.

Claude, on the other hand, simply looks tired. His green eyes are dimmer than usual and his hair is messy, even for him. He has a book tucked under his arm and a bow slung along his back.

They both look achingly young for what lies ahead.

"I have information from Rhea and Seteth about the plans to protect the monastery. We want to protect the monastery, but if it comes to it, it is more important to evacuate those who cannot fight. We want to survive, not be slaughtered here," Byleth instructs.

Both Claude and Dimitri take in the information silently, nodding along as she relays their instructions. When she reaches the end of the information that Rhea had given her, she pauses. Byleth holds out both of her hands, one to each of her students.

Claude doesn't hesitate before slipping his hand into hers. Dimitri takes a moment longer, but she has forged enough trust with him that he does take her hand. She squeezes both of their hands and sends a silent prayer to Sothis that this is not the last time she will see them.

"You must survive," she tells them. "Your people will need you and we will see each other again."

If her words ring oddly to them, neither says a word. Dimitri's hand–large and calloused across the palm–squeezes her back lightly. Claude's hand–slimmer and rough along the fingertips–reciprocates a tighter grip.

- ~ -

In the end, little changes. There is a cliff and a crack and this time she doesn't scream.

She closes her eyes before she hits the ground and welcomes–

darkness.

[spellman-sisters-mortuary]

(the mistletoe prompt: take one)

( @middle-aged-women-trash because you were looking for one)

She hadn't been to a mortal party in decades. Before Ambrose had come to live with them, even. So the better part of a century then. Satan, she was old. It was Baxter High’s end of year holiday party, and Sabrina had forced her to attend. She’d played the don’t you even care about me card, and then Zelda couldn’t very well say no without validating her niece’s entirely ridiculous and completely unfounded suspicion that Zelda had never truly loved her. She loathed to think that, in Sabrina’s eyes, attending a mortal party celebrating the false god at her niece’s request was in any way a measure of her love for the girl. There is nothing Zelda wouldn’t do to show Sabrina how much she is loved, and it worried Zelda how little she understood that.

So she attended. Because of Sabrina but also because of Hilda who, when Zelda had initially refused to consort with mortals strictly on principle, had sighed and rolled her eyes dramatically. “Oh, Zelda, do you even know how to have fun anymore?” she’d asked, and Zelda could hear quite distinctly the pity in her tone. So she attended to prove Hilda wrong as well. It made her feel old to be cooped up in that house, and, frankly, Zelda missed the bitter liquor and fleeting passionate romance of the parties she and Hilda used to attend. So, there she was in the corner of the Baxter High gymnasium observing quietly and entirely alone.

She had a clear, plastic cup of cider in her hand and one arm folded over her middle as she watched hordes of mortal children and their families and teachers mingle and laugh and play board games and bean bag toss and darts and what not. It was all quite overwhelming, to be honest, and Zelda was itching for a cigarette. She'd been smoking for longer than any of these people had been alive, and her attachment to nicotine was quite overpowering, especially in stressful situations. She watched Hilda laugh with some parents and caught Sabrina out of the corner of her eye dragging her mortal friends around a corner, giggling conspiratorially. Bitterly, she swallowed the rest of her cider and set the cup down on a nearby table. 

"Need a refill?" a voice asked from behind. She jumped, just slightly, but it was the lack of nicotine making her jittery, really, nothing more. Miss Wardwell slunk in front of her, ducking just slightly, a curious gesture of humility. There was a strained smile on her lips, perfect white teeth behind them, and her eyes were piercing and bright. 

"I, well, yes, a refill would be lovely," Zelda answered, not knowing how to react to the woman’s eager friendliness. Mary nodded wordlessly and left to get her a cup. When she came back, she handed the cup with cider to Zelda and took a cup of red wine for herself. 

"I took the liberty of adding a bit of rum to yours," Mary told her breezily, "It's the only way I get through these holiday parties myself," she chuckled, glancing around the room at all the so very painfully happy mortals. Zelda eyed her suspiciously. Zelda agreed, wholeheartedly, but her delivery felt staged. Something just...off about it, too plastic, too painted.

"Why do you attend?" Zelda asked before sipping her drink. Satan, it was strong. Zelda didn't even mind. 

"I suppose I'm expected to. Besides, I have nothing better to do," she supplied, her eyes searching Zelda's, looking for some kind of understanding. Zelda certainly understood boredom and the desperate need to escape it. In fact, she didn't think she'd ever understood boredom as well as she did in this very moment. But she was here for Sabrina, and, for her, she would endure just about anything. Zelda hummed vaguely in response. She could respect a woman who works with children, and if Mary Wardwell hadn't felt the need to insert herself so completely, so suspiciously into Sabrina's life then she might actually do just that. "Why are you here...Zelda?" Mary asked curiously, her fingers tapping on the cheap plastic that was holding her wine. 

"Sabrina asked me to attend. It was...important to her," she told her with a forced smile. 

"Ahh," Mary breathed, "what we do for the ones we love," she mused, chuckling and looking at her as if she too had experienced the sacrifices Zelda had had to make for Sabrina. As if her attending Sabrina's silly little holiday party was even remotely a testament to Zelda's love for her niece. It didn't even come close to what she would do for that girl. The naivety was reminiscent of Sabrina’s own, but there was something different in Mary’s. Some flicker of a deeper understanding of sacrifice and pain that Zelda found oddly comforting.

Either way, Zelda smiled pleasantly and watched as Mary brushed her mountains of perfectly curled hair away from her eyes and held her arms perfectly at her sides. The dress she wore was form fitting and, objectively, an appropriate length with an appropriately modest neckline for an after school get together. However, the way she wore it was absolutely sinful. The way her eyes dripped with something secret and delicious and decidedly directed at Zelda. She hadn't the faintest idea what it was, but Mary wasn't talking to her out of the kindness of her heart. That much was clear.

"Thank you for the rum," Zelda said before taking another long drink. Mary watched as she did and took a sip of her wine. Zelda felt uncomfortable being watched so closely, and she rubbed her fingers together anxiously. Satan, she wanted a cigarette.

"My pleasure," Mary smiled with a nod, and it felt, for the first time that night, more genuine than the rest of her words. "I needed some of it myself after talking to Principal Hawthorne," she admitted, her voice getting lower, more conspiratorial, as she took a small step closer to Zelda.

"Oh?" she inquired because it felt like the polite thing to do. Mary hummed deliciously low and glanced around before continuing. Everyone else was too preoccupied with games and meaningless conversations to bother coming over to them. She supposed she and Mary were the black sheep of the party anyway.

"He's quite the misogynist," she told Zelda, "always hitting on me, incredibly disrespectful. It takes every ounce of my self control not to kill him on the spot," she said, searching Zelda's eyes, her voice low, barely above a whisper, their faces indecently close. Zelda swallowed and blinked rapidly.

"How awful. I-I'm sorry you have to work with him. It must be terrible being surrounded by mortals everyday and all their petty drama," she offered for lack of anything more coherent to say.

"Oh, it's not as bad as you might think. They're all so fun to play with, but, sometimes, yes, I'd much rather consort with other witches," she admitted, "Ones such as yourself, perhaps. Strong, passionate, powerful women. Magic is rather...intoxicating, wouldn't you say? Hard to let go of, far too easy to come back to," she mused, one of her hands ghosting over Zelda’s shoulder blade, her head tilted toward Zelda ever so slightly. Zelda furrowed her brow momentarily, hating herself for how much Mary's slow, sultry voice was melting her from the inside out.

"You make it sound like a bad habit," Zelda countered, keeping her expression even. Mary stepped away from her abruptly, breaking the little bubble she'd kept them in. Voices from he party flooded back to her, and Zelda felt positively assaulted by them.

"Ah, well, sometimes the things that give us pleasure aren't always the wisest. Hexing Principal Hawthorne, for example. Smoking, perhaps," she mused, striking a nerve right where Zelda didn't want to be struck. "You seem rather eager to...step outside," Mary smiled, and Zelda immediately felt heat rise to her cheeks at how transparent she'd been. "Don't be embarrassed, dear, I'll join you," Mary gave her a warm smile, and Zelda found herself following when Mary led her to the front doors.

When she and Mary were outside, Zelda lit a cigarette quickly and unceremoniously. They stood at the entrance of the school, covered by an overhang as snow fell lightly on the sidewalk and front lawn. The silence that the snow created was deafening, and Mary just leaned against the door and watched her as she smoked. Zelda stared into nothing, trying not to feel Mary's eyes drilling into the back of her head. She had the cigarette between her fingers and wondered absently when it was the last time she hadn't used her cigarette holder. "What do you smoke?" Mary called and Zelda turned. She blew smoke from her lips and glanced at the cigarette in her hand.

"Marlboro's. Reds," she added, and Mary hummed. She pushed herself off the door and walked over to Zelda. Satan, even her walk dripped with sin. The way she stalked to her like a cat stalking its prey.

"I never was much of a smoker," Mary told her, "but I always enjoyed the romance of it," she breathed, glancing around at the snow falling in the dark and the distant sounds of tires crunching under fresh powder. She glanced up to the clouds and then stopped, a smile gracing her lips. "Oh, dear," she chuckled, and Zelda frowned, following Mary's gaze to find mistletoe nailed to the top of the overhang they were under. Zelda inhaled deeply and found Mary's gaze. Her expression was ever so innocent, but her eyes were steady and playfully suggestive. Zelda’s heart betraying her by thumping loudly in her chest.

"It's just mistletoe," she drawled with a shake of her head as her eyes drifted to Mary's lips. They were blood red and pursed ever so slightly, and her eyes were positively on fire.

"My thoughts exactly," Mary responded, and then without further preamble her lips were covering Zelda's. The motion was quick but her lips were incredibly gentle and tender. Zelda froze as Mary raised her hands and let them rest, feather light, on her waist. Then her lips parted slightly, a suggestion, a proposition, a request for more. And Zelda, frankly too stunned and too completely and embarrassingly intoxicated by Mary, allowed it. Maybe it was the rum or the cigarette or the sheer boredom. Maybe it was that part of her had wanted this since Mary first sashayed through Zelda’s home like she owned the place, leather clad and sultry and begging to be touched.

Zelda’s lips moved languidly in and out of Mary’s. Soft breaths and the delicate sounds of lips and saliva between them. Then Mary wrapped her arms around Zelda’s body and pulled her closer by her lower back so they were flush up against each other. Zelda let herself be handled and melted, and when Mary tugged on her lower lip ever so expertly, Zelda barely realized what she was doing when a low, choked moan escaped her. Sensing Zelda’s immediate panic, Mary kissed her soundly to quell her embarrassment. Then she gave her one more soft, lingering kiss on the lips before letting her arms slide from Zelda’s body. They stood inches apart, and Zelda was struggling to ground herself as Mary delicately and deliberately plucked Zelda’s cigarette from her fingers and took a long, hard drag, never breaking eye contact.

“I must admit that some mortal traditions have...grown on me,” Mary offered, smoke curling from her lips with every word. She blew the rest away from Zelda’s face in a quick, streamlined exhale before handing Zelda back her cigarette. “Bright Solstice, Ms. Spellman. Best wishes to your family,” Mary told her, her eyes blatantly raking Zelda’s body without warrant or apology. Then she turned and walked back inside, leaving Zelda to wonder what had just happened and if it was possible for it to happen again without losing all semblances of her dignity this time.