#halycondaze / edelgard

[astraseason]

@halycondaze sent... slipped under claude’s bedroom door was a note, “meet me in the kitchens - e” and, were he to follow the instructions, he would find the emperor herself, in day clothes that are covered in flour and a little bit of egg. despite the disheveled state of her and the kitchen, she turns to him, just a little smile on her face, the presentation of the dish she’s made only slightly off. a recipe card sits on the counter, titled “sautéed pheasant and egg,” and clearly in claude’s handwriting. “happy birthday,” then, she adds, “it may look a mess, but i did follow your recipe... i do hope you like it, claude.”

   in truth you almost missed the note entirely in your half-asleep daze, noticing it only at the crunch of paper underfoot. a yawn is stifled as you pick up the note, smoothing it out before unfolding and reading it. ... twice. your eyes glazed over the first time around. oh, you need coffee.

   it’s fairly early for edelgard to want something from you. she’s not usually up for another little bit-- anything this pressing is something hubert would be taking care of for her. and why in the kitchens? a brow raises as you ponder what the emperor could possibly want to discuss, but you shove the paper into your pocket, glance in the mirror to ensure you’re looking nothing less than perfectly put together, and head on down.

   surprisingly enough, her shadow is nowhere in sight as you stroll down to the designated meeting place. funny, you’re almost certain he would’ve turned up by now to either clue you in on what edelgard even wants or to threaten you some more about the dangers of betraying the empire. huh. maybe she has doubts about the alliance and wants to sort it out in person? despite the seemingly abrupt nature of the war and her refusal to back down, edelgard is reasonable. she isn’t about to cut ties without an attempt to salvage things.

   ... but what did you even do to warrant this discussion in the first place? assuming it is such a thing in the first place, but you can’t think of anything else she might want to talk about in such quiet hours, away from the hustle and bustle of early morning drills or passersby. ( you really hope she doesn’t mind having the discussion over coffee. )

   you know your reputation as a schemer and an outsider does not make for an ideal ally, but your goals are fundamentally the same, aren’t they? she wants to abolish the church of seiros’ power and rebuild society from the ground up to give every life an equal chance at success and happiness regardless of crest status. you want to break down the walls between nations and foster peace and understanding. a camaraderie so strong that someday, you can extend a hand to all the other regions of the world... you had hoped that such a risky venture on her part indicated some form of trust. to be fair to edelgard, you have been approaching that hope with a very cautious optimism-- you know full well the moment your paths didn’t align, you would be unable to continue supporting all this bloodshed in good conscience.

   ( you’re still not sure you accept it now, but edelgard had given the impression that regardless of whether she headed it or not, war was coming to fodlan one way or another. perhaps it’s better that your former classmate is at the helm. )

   you’re unable to help yawning again as you enter the room, stray hair finally falling out of its carefully slicked-back place, at at first don’t recognize edelgard. she’s dressed down in more casual clothes, hair not in the familiar buns you’ve come to recognize -- the ponytail is quite a cute look on her, you have to admit -- and a complete mess of egg and flour. the kitchen itself is equally a disaster zone, making it dificult to focus on what the emperor has produced until your eyes finally wander to the counter space by her side.    ... now that you think of it, edelgard was a pretty big fan of the dish you got added to the menu back in the day. she’s even got the recipe card you handed the staff on display! you’re surprised it survived all these years...

“it looks perfect,” you tell her, a smile that exudes nothing but warmth curving your lips upwards. seems you were overthinking things again... nonetheless you load up a fork and after a moment of deliberation, take a big bite. she wouldn’t dare poison you in such a sloppy manner, would she? not in such an insecure location, where someone could walk in at any moment... “tastes perfect, too! thank you. d’you want a hand cleaning up in here?”

   ... once you’re done eating, mind. and perhaps have finally made that coffee.

[grimahearted]

@halycondaze hit the ♥

      “...my hair?” Her gaze flickers towards the white strands so like her own, and her expression wavers, just a bit. “It’s been like this...for as long as I can remember, really. Why do you ask?” 

[sunlithopes]

@halycondaze said...

‘ momma didn’t raise a quitter but she did raise a fool and it turns out those two things are a terrible combination ’ / edelgard to flayn

flayn can’t help her laughter as she pulls edelgard out of the water. the fish that edelgard had caught- the one that had pulled the unsuspecting emperor into the pond- was long gone by now. but that’ was alright. edelgard was alright, and that’s what was important.

“are you alright, my dear?” flayn says, brushing her lover’s soaked brown hair out of her face now that they were both on the dock again. edelgard had come far in overcoming her fear of the water with flayn’s gentle guidance, but that didn’t mean it was gone entirely. “do you want to sit on the porch swing for a while and dry off?”

[helloclairvoyant]

@halycondaze said...

❛ there exists a tipping point between gods and monsters. ❜ / from el

"gonna have to disagree with you there, your highness,” cassandra says, standing up and stretching his arms out. most of the damage done to the capellan had been internal, but nothing so bad that a healer couldn’t mend it easily. “it’s easy for something to be both. a monstrous god, or a divine monster...to say there’s a tipping point suggests that they’re mutually exclusive.”

he gestured at the infirmary’s other occupant, who seemed hellbent on making herself as hard to treat as possible. “take a look at our dear friend grima,” cassandra said. “they’re certainly a hellish mix of monstrous and divine.”

“...but perhaps i’m taking your words too literally,” cassandra said with a sheepish shrug.

[emblemcrowned]

@halycondaze​ ➥ “Come back alive.” / from edie for.... connie!

       The redhead was taken by surprise. She hadn’t expected the head of house to show concern to a transfer. Constance had only been part of Black Eagles for little more than a week, after the professor encouraged her to switch houses. She did well in class, but hadn’t yet formed connections with other students. 

       Still, she felt homesick for Golden Deer. She missed being in the same class as her brother, she missed Raphael’s positive attitude. She even missed Lorenz. That house... Felt more like home. The Black Eagles were still unfamiliar. 

       ❝ I, um, I will, Edelgard - ❞ She quickly bowed. ❝ Sorry, Lady Edelgard. ❞

[flamespun]

poetry starters // accepting // @halycondaze ( edelgard )

       ❝ So do you, you know. ❞

       Perhaps her words come out a little harsher than intended, but Lysithea pays it no heed; she has always been a touch abrasive, and the Emperor has always overlooked it, acting more like a big sister at times than the ruler she was. As much as the younger girl might protest to such treatment, she is grateful for it - and considering their similar history, even more so.

       But all of this does little to hide from Lysithea how much Edelgard works away at herself till it seems like there is nothing left. She’s certain she’s not the only one to notice - Hubert must have seen something, surely. But even still, the older girl continues to grind herself down to the bone, and in truth it frightens Lysithea. Was she not the one who had been lecturing her not so long ago on the importance of taking care of oneself?

       Arms crossed over her chest, she pins Edelgard with a look that leaves little room for wiggling out of the discussion. ❝ You made me promise to keep fighting for my life - it’s unfair of you to not hold yourself to the same standard. I know how important all of this is, you know that. But how can you see things through to the end if you work yourself to death before it’s even come? ❞

[charismastaticarchive]

verse [ dedue (house swap) ] : andromeda and perseus @halycondaze

after the tragedy of duscur, dedue is saved by the crown prince of faerghus--and then promptly put on public trial as a scapegoat for the regicide. dimitri cannot save him as he saved him from the flames---but princess edelgard can. fearing a diplomatic incident (and knowing the truth of those who slither), she uses her political power to give him sanctuary in the empire. he becomes her loyal vassal---and while he does not forget that boy, his relationship with edelgard is a more healthy one, based in respect & trust and social change they plot together in tempered, even movements that are enacted in real time.

dedue gives edelgard the chance to breathe---and becomes her moral grounding. she will not forget the ‘outsiders’ because of her relationship with him, and she will help duscur, dagda, and brigid maintain & rebuild their cultures & homelands with his support. (and rely less on those who slither, starting to try to take them down earlier bc of their involvement with the regicide, though at that point she had nothing to do with those who slither due to her young age lol)

 dedue, on his own part, takes to edelgard’s crusade against the crests with emotional intelligence, loyalty and a strong sense of justice. he holds her back from taking her quest too far---but also comes to find he does not need to in many cases. and more than that, they both provide a rest for each other’s weary, traumatized souls. many nights are spent in comfortable silence, sitting side by side, exchanging looks that mean everything in the garden, the library, or training grounds.

they understand each other. they respect each other. they care for each other!!! and while dedue will not publically say he thinks of them as equals---he does not view edelgard as an untouchable goddess as hubert does, but a wise ruler that greatly needs his help as much as he needed her all those years ago.

[goldguile]

Name: Edelgard von Hresvelg Age: 23 Do you like to cuddle?: Oh, absolutely. There is something quite comforting about laying one’s head on another’s chest. Can we make-out?: Provided enough build up.. Perhaps. A night in or dinner out?: Whichever you would prefer, either sounds good to me. Ice cream or chocolate covered strawberries?: Is it cheating to say “ice cream and chocolate covered strawberries”? Maybe just the strawberries, then. What makes you a good Valentine?: I must admit, I’m not quite sure what makes a good valentine. However, I will share my sweets and stuffed animals, so it must count for something. Would you cook for me?: I doubt you want me to.  Would you let me cook for you?: If it’d make you happy, I’d happily be your taste tester.

“you know... i’m not sure what makes a good valentine, either.” 

you shrug your shoulders, smiling at the emperor of adrestia fondly. her response to the question is straightforward and to the point. she’d considered the options and... well, picked one. actually, she’s picked the one that would be preferable. it’s not quite what you’d want as a snack, but... hm. within the confines of the choice, it would be the more successful one. as always, edelgard von hresvelg evaluates the situation carefully and picks the more profitable path. 

   she can keep her sweets, though. gods know you don’t want any of the sugar. hell, maybe you can make a date out of baking something for lysithea? who knows?

“but why don’t we find out together?”

@halycondaze​ | prompt.

[avosloved]

halycondaze replied to your post: pick odette up without warning  (  or permission...

edelgard vc might i say, a big mood?

       ah yes...someone who understands my plight.

[goldguile-a]

tag dump 2.0

verses & ship tags

❛♛ → 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐬 ⋆﹙verse: officer’s academy﹚

❛♛ → 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝 ⋆﹙verse: golden deer﹚

❛♛ → 𝐚𝐳𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧 ⋆﹙verse: blue lions﹚

❛♛ → 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 ⋆﹙verse: black eagles﹚

❛♛ → 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰 ⋆﹙verse: church of seiros﹚

❛♛ → 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞 ⋆﹙verse: alliance of the deer & lion﹚

❛♛ → 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬 ⋆﹙ verse: alliance of the eagle & deer ﹚

❛♛ → 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 ⋆﹙verse: unity of the eagle﹐lion﹐& deer﹚

❛♛ → 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐚𝐰𝐧 ⋆﹙verse: postgame﹚

❛♛ → 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 ⋆﹙verse: heroes﹚

❛❤ → 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 ⋆﹙ship: reztactics | dimitri﹚

❛❤ → 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬 & 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 ⋆﹙ships: tomestobetold | marianne﹚

❛❤ → 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧 ⋆﹙ship: shadowruler | hubert﹚

❛❤ → 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ⋆﹙ship: illusorydungeons | byleth﹚

❛❤ → 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 ⋆﹙ship: illusorydungeons | lorenz﹚

❛❤ → 𝐰𝐞'𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 ⋆﹙ship: valorwilled | edelgard﹚

❛❤ → 𝐢'𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 ⋆﹙ship: valorwilled | paimonia﹚

❛❤ → 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ⋆﹙ship: halycondaze | edelgard﹚

❛❤ → 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮﹐𝐢 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 ⋆﹙ship: lifelirius | felix﹚

❛❤ → 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 ⋆﹙ship: avosloved | odette﹚

[astraseason]

 @halycondaze​ sent... ღ for miss celi from el ( prompt. )

“ellie, ellie stop--!”

   your giggles betray you: you do not want your emperor to stop kissing you. you revel in every soft brush of her lips against your flushed skin as your hands tangle in soft ivory locks. never did you think you could experience such a gentle touch from your beloved princess; her hand ( her vision, her love-- ) had always seemed destined for far greater stars than you.

   it’s funny how things work out.

“ellie, hubert’s going to scold us for being late again--” and yet, you make real no effort beyond a half hearted protest to stop the emperor. she has suppressed this side of herself for far too long; if she deems a little of hubert’s fussing a worthy price to pay to indulge in it, who are you to resist? “--at least let me kiss you too, silly...”

[heartswayed]

halycondaze replied to your post “   transferring classes, huh…?”

❝ Araceli, you're always welcome to join our class. ❞

“l-lady edelgard?! you-- you were listening just now? um... t-that’s very kind of you, your highness... might i, um, think on it a little more?”

[aethele]

“Well, you can never have too much hot chocolate.” from edie

@halycondaze / MEME !

he tips the kettle,  index held just over the lid so it doesn’t slip,  and pours the creamy chocolate brew into one of his finer teacups.  it swirls,  filling to the perfect amount,  enough to satiate but not enough to spill.  a trail of steam dances up,  winding in a design of its own.  “ careful, ”  he says as he hands her the cup.  “ it is hot ! ”

he watches,  waiting for her to take a sip.  he has brewed it just for her:  care in every drip,  with an added sweetness and just a  pinch  of fresh peppered spices  ( he knows  exactly  what she likes ).  then,  expectant:  “ well ?  what do you think ?  be honest. ”

[halycondaze]

halycondaze blog clean up

hi! it’s me! i’m not dead! i’m going to do a lot (lot) of cleaning and edit this blog down to my three biggest muses (edelgard, cyril, and rajya) and clean out my drafts. it’s not a nuclear drop, and if there’s a specific thread you want me to keep, feel free to message me about it, but otherwise, i’m going to be editing myself down a lot, because the restaurant is finally reopening and i’ll be working a lot.  

as always, moots are welcome to add me on discord, where i’ll definitely be rping more casually.

[imperialvestra]

Rules: Don’t reblog, repost.

tagging: @aethele, @listlesscholar, @halycondaze, @thornvows, and anyone else who wants to do the thing! tagged by: stolen from @ambitionsrelic

( reply as muse talking )

► NAME ➭  Hubert von Vestra

► ARE YOU SINGLE? ➭ Yes. I’ve little time for such frivolous things.

► ARE YOU HAPPY? ➭  I hardly see how that matters

► ARE YOU ANGRY?  ➭  Not particularly. 

► ARE YOUR PARENTS STILL MARRIED? ➭ Tragically, my father has passed on and my mother has found herself a number of younger men to terrorize. 

⚡️ NINE FACTS!

► ‘BIRTH’ PLACE ➭ Enbarr

► HAIR COLOR ➭  Black

► EYE COLOR ➭   A pale shade of green

► BIRTHDAY ➭  The 17th of the Great Tree Moon

► MOOD ➭  Contemplative

► GENDER ➭ If I must pick, I suppose male, but I don’t particularly care for it.

► SUMMER OR WINTER ➭  Winter. I despise warm weather

► MORNING OR AFTERNOON ➭ Afternoon. I don’t care for rising early unless I must.

⚡️ EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE!

► ARE YOU IN LOVE? ➭ I hardly see how that matters. But yes.

► DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT? ➭  No. Love is something that grows with time. Lust and infatuation are instantaneous. 

► WHO ENDED YOUR LAST RELATIONSHIP? ➭ It was hardly a relationship, more of a brief tryst. It was mutually agreed that we had both gotten what we wanted from the arrangement so there was no need to carry on. 

► HAVE YOU EVER BROKEN SOMEONE’S HEART? ➭  Not as far as I am aware. There were a few foolish girls who confessed their feelings to me at the academy, but I doubt their hearts were hurt beyond repair when I refused them.

► ARE YOU AFRAID OF COMMITMENTS? ➭  No. Those who run from commitment are cowards. 

► HAVE YOU HUGGED SOMEONE WITHIN THE LAST WEEK? ➭ No. I haven’t hugged anyone in the last ten years. I see no reason to.

► HAVE YOU EVER HAD A SECRET ADMIRER? ➭ There were one or two, as I said, in the academy, but I’ve not had one for some time as far as I am aware. 

► HAVE YOU EVER BROKEN YOUR OWN HEART? ➭  Yes.

⚡️SIX CHOICES!

► LOVE OR LUST ➭  I find both to be rather distracting and inconvenient, but if I must pick... love. 

► LEMONADE OR ICED TEA ➭ Why would I wish to drink tea with ice? Neither, I prefer coffee.

► CATS OR DOGS ➭  Cats.

► A FEW BEST FRIENDS OR MANY REGULAR FRIENDS ➭ I would prefer the former. I’ve little time to maintain a number of casual friendships and would prefer to be more selective with my companions. 

► WILD NIGHT OUT OR ROMANTIC NIGHT IN ➭ If I must pick, I would choose the later, though I don’t see either occurring in my immediate future. 

► DAY OR NIGHT  ➭ Night.

⚡️ FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS!

► BEEN CAUGHT SNEAKING OUT ➭ Yes, but I was young at the time. I’ve learned how to avoid being caught.

► FALLEN DOWN/UP THE STAIRS ➭ No.

► WANTED SOMETHING/SOMEONE SO BADLY IT HURT? ➭  Yes, but the things that I want hardly matter int he long run, so I do my best to put them aside. 

► WANTED TO DISAPPEAR ➭  Yes.

⚡️FIVE PREFERENCES!

► SMILE OR EYES ➭ Both can be appealing... but perhaps a smile.

► SHORTER OR TALLER ➭ It’s of little importance, though perhaps shorter by default. I’ve few companions who are taller than me. 

► INTELLIGENCE OR ATTRACTION ➭ Intelligence.

► HOOK-UP OR RELATIONSHIP ➭ I’ve more experience with the former, but if I were to choose, I would prefer the latter. 

⚡️ FAMILY!

► DO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GET ALONG ➭  Not particularly. Two of my younger siblings have been trying to have me assassinated for the past five years. 

► WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAVE A “MESSED UP LIFE” ➭  I don’t believe my life is any better or worse than anyone else’s in the empire.

► HAVE YOU EVER RAN AWAY FROM HOME ➭ Yes. 

► HAVE YOU EVER GOTTEN KICKED OUT ➭  No.

⚡️ FRIENDS!

► DO YOU SECRETLY HATE ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS ➭ No, though I may disagree with them at times, I do sincerely value those I’ve grown close to.

► DO YOU CONSIDER ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS GOOD FRIENDS ➭ At the moment... yes, I do. 

► WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU ➭ No one, though I suppose I’ve told Ferdinand and Bernadetta a significant amount. Lady Edelgard knows me quite well, but not even she knows everything. 

► WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND ➭ Ferdinand von Aegir. He’s going to be unbearable if he hears me say as much, but there’s little to be done about that. 

[charismastaticarchive]

@halycondaze​ [ pre-established PREVIEW ( CLAUDE & EDELGARD ) ] : romantic relationship !

Love isn’t easy. They’ll tell you it is---but it isn’t. That’s just pretty words that they say at your wedding, and that part of your heart assumes is real---like how you bit into the fondant cake decorations, the pretty white chocolate shaped like a rose, but found it was sweeter and more dour than sugar, spit it into a napkin after looking both ways three times to make sure no one way looking.

Love isn’t easy---it’s hard, like running a country is hard, and they’re both running one each. Trade relations between Almyra and Fodlan have never been better, and that’s good, that’s very good, Edelgard and Claude both know that’s very good---but once trade treatises are met and proposed (ever romantically, with letters and ceremonies of great pomp and circumstances, little meetings after dark, playing chess where you both facetiously try to get a better agreement for your own sovereignty, knowing you would never truly betray one another so)--- eventually, Claude has to go home, and Edelgard cannot follow.

Love isn’t easy, and running a country is arguably harder, but leadership is harder yet still when your moral compass, or your wisest, most beautiful friend and partner, is over mountains or seas, depending on your preferred method of travel. Being alone is hard. They spend at least thirty-three and one third percent of their time composing letters in their heads, painstakingly writing them down when they’re all alone, in the dark, lit by candles just like their wedding night. 

(And what a good night it was, so easy, after every preparation they both made in their heads, to try to make it perfect, as romantic as it could possibly be, they had just fallen into each other, fallen deeper in love with each other, met each other for the first time as husband and wife and knew nothing would ever be so easy as being by each other’s side, being inside each other, being outside of their own minds and all sense of reason and doubt.)

They allow themselves now only that one third. (Claude laughed when Edelgard proposed it, but knew immediately she was serious. Kissed her hands. Rubbed her palms against his cheeks. Of course.) They would not love each other as much as they do if they did not care about their responsibility above all else, but that’s becoming harder and harder too, to be the leader they fell in love with, the strategist, the great mind, the Emperor, the King.

For two weeks a year, and no more, they allow themselves a reprieve. They allow themselves a break, where they plan no talk of treatises or trade or war. (Their plans go awry, of course, as their plans always do when it comes to each other, it’s little less than foreplay for them now, picking at each other and loopholes in trade agreements, like school boy and school girl tugging on each other’s braids and brastraps,)

It’s not enough. It could never be. And so, in both of their infinite wisdom, Almyra and Fodlan form new traditions, new treatises, new holidays, each involving each other, a celebration of these two massive country’s prides, and achievements, and their leader’s love. It is embarrassing----it is hard, to explain to Claude’s Mother and Father, to Nader, to all of Fodlan. But it’s worth it. Like fondant on the tongue, too sweet to consume, but most of it melts on the tongue before you get the chance to spit it out.

Songs are written about them. Most Claude pays for, specifically to embarrass her, to sing to her in their nights alone, just husband and wife, but always Emperor and King. Festivals are held, prosperity is tended to and owned, and there are growing pains, even within themselves, that are hard.

But it’s never been so easy to be with someone else. To be honest, to be brave, to be true. Every moment of loneliness---and there are many, every moment of embarrassment, of anger, of frusturation----becomes worth it... for games of chess, where the pieces are abandoned, the taste of Almyran spices and Andrestian sweets melting so softly and warmly on their tongues.