#he's even bigger then claude's two

[wispisstillverybored67]

Hilda's wyvern is named Sunflower. It's clear she spoils him dearly.

[arolesbianism]

I am having a delightful time plotting out hcs for Euphraise's childhood and young adulthood and it's making me wanna revamp the looper Euphrasie au concepts I made a whole back because I need an excuse to explore different aspects of this woman so badly

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

Could i request yandere sebastian, claude, and ash with floyd from twst reader? They look the same in human and merform and has the same personality.

I'll do two 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Floyd Leech Reader | Yandere Black Butler

From another world and an eel-mer person, you’re never one for abiding by the rules. Fun is what you’re after and what you find fun includes man-handling the ones you’re pointed to. Which happens to work for you in the slums of London where plenty of people need squeezing. Luckily you’re twin, the talker, has the pills that allow you both to keep your human appearances….for now. The best thing to do is stay where the fun is considering they also happen to have the mysterious ingredients needed to keep you and your brother walking: 

Sebastian Michaelis

“Ayyy! So you’re the one they want me to squeeze? This is gonna be fun!”

While ultimately you’re no match for the demon butler

But you certainly give him a run for his money

Magic-powered eels aren’t exactly his typical foe

Nor do his opponents stop mid-fight to whine about being bored

“Ugh, I wanna go for a swim. This is boring!”

“I can make things more interesting for you if you like.”

“Eh?! Doubt it Sharky. You’re not fun to play with.”

Once he realizes that you’re becoming the only thing on his mind 

He can only wish to appease your ever-changing moods

Hoping that you’ll give him the time of day

Which unfortunately means stopping whatever work he’s doing to ‘play’ with you

When you nonchalantly let it slip or reveal your eel-mer form he’s already thinking of ways to lock you up in a tank

The only problem is your undetermined mood

And your twin….that’s oddly reminiscent of himself

Who seemingly has it out for him with that stupid smile always on his face

He hopes that’s just their typical expression and not a cocky grin

Otherwise, there are plenty of circuses that’ll want a mermaid or even better a mermaid corpse

“I hope we can get along in the near future. After all, it’d be for (Y/n)’s best interest.”

Ash Landers

“Stop! Chasing me!”

“Come on! Come on! Don’t be scared! I just want to squeeze ya!”

“You broke that man’s spine!”

Love and crippling fear is a thin line for Ash

With his warped view of humans, he sees you as a…work in progress

You’re not human, 

you intentionally bite others without knowing where they’ve been

And delight in hurting others 

Granted if he points you in the right direction you can be somewhat helpful

“Nah I don’t wanna squeeze ‘em anymore.”

“But you said you would!”

To him, you’re just so frustrating 

But he can do it

You're rehabilitation is going to make all the pain worth it

He’s going to have an even bigger problem when your twin gets in his way

“Blleeeegh!!!”

“They said they're not all that interested in helping you at the moment.”

“What!? But they just told me to-”

“They. Are. Not. Interested.” 

Oh he’s going to love cleansing this world of such a nosy twin

[5iyoomi]

3H Leaders With an Overworked S/O

characters: Dimitri, Edelgard, Claude

warnings: none! just fluff

A/N: this kinda bled into an idea I had for them with an insomniac reader so these are sort of a mix of the two things! written for them pre-timeskip and with a gn reader (with one use of dear, darling & sweetheart, but otherwise nothing pointing towards a specific gender). I haven't written for fe3h in forever hopefully they aren't too ooc

Word Count: 1,770

‎

Dimitri

Like you, he's probably overworked as well

Being a royal and a leader has its merits, yes, even though he doesn't really like all the formalities that come with it, but that doesn't mean it's always easy

He's used to pushing through it, protecting his people and doing anything if it gets pushed onto him. That's his role, after all, and if he can take the pressure off of others then he'll gladly accept it

With you, though, he understands that's not the kind of advice you need. It's not uncommon for him to find you in the Monastery's Library hours after everyone had gone to sleep for the night, hunched over one of the large, elegant tables with stacks of papers and notebooks splayed out around you

He'll sit down with you when he catches the single, dim light on in the otherwise dark room, waving off your questions of how he knew you'd be there as 'just a feeling'

He's realistic, helping you with your workload even if you insist otherwise, that you need to get it done yourself before your deadlines hit. But he'll also hold you to it if you mutter out a 'just one more', his eyes looking between you and the clock mounted on the wall

"Here should be a good stopping point for now, don't you think? You've already finished most of what you needed to get done," Dimitri says with a soft smile, setting a piece of paper into a stack that you'd deemed the 'completed' section.

You'd been there long enough that he had time to go brew the both of you some chamomile tea, hoping the fragrance and sweet notes would help lower your stress. It seemed to be working, your anxiety lessening as you took small sips and noted the fact that you'd at least gotten the bigger, more important things out of the way.

"But-" you start, tapping your pencil against your head in thought, but your words get cut off with a yawn. "There's only a few more left, wouldn't it be better to just finish them?"

Dimitri shakes his head, reaching over to hold his hand out for you. You take it after a moment, interlocking your fingers and sighing when he gives your hand a squeeze. "They aren't due for another few weeks, right? They can wait until morning, you should really get some rest, dear."

You want to protest, tell him it's not even that late, but you've already thrown out every excuse you can think of to get him to not drag you to bed. He wasn't obligated to do any of this for you, and you knew these nights were something that ate into time that he could be using to get some much-needed sleep. So you finally, albeit hesitantly, give in, your teacup long empty and shoulders drooping in defeat. "I guess so-"

The blonde brightens at that, his thumb stroking over your own with a gentleness you'd grown weak to. It was hard to fight him when ocean blue eyes gazed into yours, his love for you obvious in the simple ways he showed his care. "If it helps, you can stay in my room for tonight. I'm sure one night won't hurt."

You nod, sparing a glance at the once disorganized mess of pages and deciding that you'd take his word for it. "I'd like that."

Edelgard

Similar to Dimitri, she's always dealt with things by trooping through them. As a more private person and a leader, she rarely ever lets appearances fall, so you're one of the few people that's seen what she can be like behind closed doors

Thus, her first instinct when she sees you nodding off in class is to gently nudge you awake and tell you to get to bed earlier. It might sound a bit harsh, but she only wants the best for you, and she thinks to what might happen if you were to fall asleep like that in the middle of a battle, which doesn't exactly help either of you (dramatic much?)

But when you tell her it's because you're swamped with work, trying to keep up with everything while simultaneously doing extra for people that, in her words, couldn't take the hint that you were busy, she gets upset

Not at you, but more at herself for not noticing the signs sooner when you're her partner of all things, and for making a comment that may have come off as insensitive. She still struggles with how to deal with these things, especially when it comes to you, emotionally or otherwise, so there's a chance she'll just ask you exactly what you need from her

She's a bit more lenient when it comes down to you staying up since she tends to do the same, but she'll still suggest taking a day off at one point

She'll take you to the greenhouse if you're up to it so that you aren't cooped up in your room all night with the idea that a change of scenery might help you avoid burning out or getting too frustrated

The Monastery was so quiet at night, most of the student body and staff already long asleep or busy with their own things. You only see a few people as you step outside, fingers interlocked with Edelgard's and a small crease in your brow from looking over the same words for hours.

You'd always thought it was beautiful, but lately you had no time to appreciate it, what with assignment after assignment piling up on you, so it was nice to get out for a while, even if the only things that awaited you when you got back were unfinished documents and half-filled in pages.

Scribbled notes that you took when you could hardly keep your eyes open. A breath of fresh air was almost enough to make you forget why you've been so stressed out. Almost.

The greenhouse was no different, the place always well-kept due to the student's tireless work. It made you feel a bit better, walking side by side with Edelgard as you're greeted by greenery and the like.

Pink and purple flowers bloom in one corner, slowly but surely growing underneath the bright moon visible through the glass, while seeds you assume to be newly planted sit beneath fresh soil on the other.

"Look at this one, it's the same color as your eyes." Edelgard says, grabbing your attention. You turn towards her in time for her to slip a flower behind your ear, her thumb brushing over your skin with a thoughtful grin. "It's good to get out, isn't it? That's why we're out here, so you shouldn't worry so much, darling."

You smile, feeling your cheeks and body start to warm. She was so effortlessly sweet sometimes; you think it's going to be the death of you one of these days. "Yeah, you have a point there."

Claude

He probably notices before you even say anything or notice you're feeling off yourself lol

He's an observant character, but it does still surprise you when he asks you if something's wrong out of the blue

"Huh? No, I'm alright, just a bit tired."

He sees right through it, but he doesn't wanna push you, so he'll just keep an eye on you for a while, making sure that you aren't overdoing it or setting aside your basic needs

If he sees that you are, he'll make it a point to put extra food on his plate for you. He'll come knocking on your dorm door every now and again to check on you, sliding a snack or drink your way and staying if you let him, though he mostly distracts you

It'd be hypocritical of him to tell you to take it easy when he's the same way, so he won't exactly tell you what to do, but he'll find a way to get you away from your work if he notices it's causing you too much trouble. He'll also have a polite word with your professor, maybe tell them that you're sick and need a few days off if he thinks it's bad enough

You might huff at him and say that that wasn't necessary, but he'll insist it was

It's another one of those nights, times when Claude comes knocking with another excuse at the ready for why he's there. You know why, it's become obvious over the last few weeks that it's his backwards way of telling you that he cares. He'll never scold you for your habits, but you know exactly what he wants to say even if he doesn't say it.

"Hey, wanna dance with me?" Claude asks after a comfortable silence had grown like a veil over the both of you. He'd made himself very comfortable on your bed, but you never actually minded. It was endearing in a way, really, even if you had to turn him down when you finish writing out a sentence, looking up at him from your desk.

"I'm busy, Claude, you know that."

"Come now, you can hardly even focus. Just a few minutes, promise." He gives you his signature smile, one that's saved for you but still equally mischievous as all of his other ones. He holds out his pinkie finger, chuckling at your muttered seriously? But he doesn't see you saying no. After a few moments of hesitation, you stand up, taking his finger in yours and shaking.

"Fine, but only a few minutes. I'm serious." You say, yelping when he stands up abruptly, pulling you up with him and taking your hands in his. He kisses your knuckles oh so softly, a glint in his eyes that you realize far too late that you shouldn't trust, but he's already got you right where he wants you, and he doesn't plan on letting go.

"I know, I know. I won't take up too much of your time, sweetheart." He hums.

It isn't just a few minutes, song after song playing on the record as you danced into the night. But you can't find it in yourself to be mad. Not when he twirls you around so carefully, a hand placed on the small of your back with your arms wrapped around his broad shoulders.

And certainly not when he coaxes you to bed, not even bringing up the thesis you had to finish since all of your attention was on him now. He presses a kiss to your forehead, wishing you sweet dreams, and you fall asleep in a matter of seconds with him by your side.

[terrortwinunicorn]

Sleep Over ⚠️

Damian's POV

"Like the year prior y/n was my prom date and like the year prior Mrs. Ottomano was making her dress well both her dresses as I was y/n's prom date to her senior prom," I said looking at y/n as we were getting ready to recount my senior prom. Demi had handed both senior prom photos to me as we took a break from helping moving y/n into my place.

"Claude offered to make two. I was going to wear the same dress but since Claude offered," shrugged y/n as she taps the photo of my senior prom "But this dress was my favorite."

I smirk "Mine too," I said. It was black, short and strapless . The bodice fit her like a glove while the skirt was a flared A-line. "Like the year prior I was at every fitting and well my crush on you was even bigger."

Y/N blushes lightly "I was already smitten with you but dumb ass me never had the courage to tell you."

"We were both dumb asses," I said nuzzling her nose before pressing my lips to hers.

"Can we please get to the story?!" said Demi making Matt, y/n and myself laugh.

"Okay. Okay," y/n and I said.

Friday, May 26, 2000

One week before Luis's prom in the Bronx

Y/N stood in her nude heels. Mrs. Ottomano was pinning the hem of the skirt as we listened to a mix cd that y/n had burned. The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson blasting through the speakers. Y/N singing along. I chuckled as Mrs. Ottomano was finishing the skirt. Y/N was looking at herself in the full length mirror. She wore her hair up in a ponytail.

"Claude?" said y/n looking at her.

"Yeah y/n?" she murmured as she had a pin between her lips.

"The tulle underneath to poof up the skirt is sticking out right here," she said playing with the tulle sticking from under the skirt.

"Okay," said Mrs. Ottomano as she moved to quickly fix the hem.

"Claude this fabric is fabulous!" said y/n as she ran her hand over the fabric of the dress that was made of black sparkling fabric "Where did you find it?"

"JoAnn's," said Mrs. Ottomano as she stood "Do you like the length?"

It was at least twelve inches above her knee. If y/n didn't like the length I certainly did. Y/N looks at herself in the mirror.

"I love it. So now should we do the dress for my prom?" she asked.

Mrs. Ottomano shook her head "We can fix that next week. You're here for the next two weeks anyway," she said "I wanna hem this skirt and besides you're spending the weekend over at Luis's anyway."

"WHAT?!" shouts Demi scaring both y/n and me.

"What what?" I asked.

"Your parents were just cool with you spending the night at Luis's house?" asked Demi looking at y/n.

"As long as we didn't sleep in the same bed," she said "And before you ask Luis's dad had the same rules."

"Okay. Continue," said Demi.

"Demi can we keep the interruptions to a minimum?" chuckled Matt.

Demi stuck her tongue out at him.

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Y/N smiles at me and I can't help but feel my cheeks flush.

"Can we do a Crazy for Swayze marathon?" she asked giving me puppy dog eyes as Mrs. Ottomano smirks as she put away her pins into her sewing kit as You Make Me Smile by Jennifer Love Hewitt began as y/n began singing along.

"Of course," I said looking at her as I stood and walked over to her taking her hand and began dancing with her.

"Be careful of the pins," warns Mrs. Ottomano as we float across the living room before she left the room.

"Luis. Let me get out of the dress," said y/n.

Matt laughed "Y/N he would have easily helped you with that," he said and Demi smacked him upside the head "Ouch!"

"Shut up!" said Demi "Continue."

"Anyway," I said giving Matt a look.

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"Okay," I said letting her go as Hey Mr. DJ (Keep Playin' This Song) came on and y/n began dancing to the song. She was watching herself in the mirror as she danced and sang along.

"Y/N!" calls Mrs. Ottomano and y/n hurried off as the music continues as I turned I jumped as Angelo was behind me.

He smirks "Dude I saw that," he nods.

"Saw what?" I asked.

"You drooling over y/n," he said.

I subconsciously wipe my chin "No," I said.

"You are so screwed," he chuckled "And you just jumped at the chance to have y/n spend the weekend while we go to Ma's cousin's wedding in North Carolina."

"Because Pops and I couldn't see her spending the weekend alone," I said.

"Sure," he smirks as the sewing room door opened as We Belong Together by Ritchie Valens ironically began.

"Zip it," I hiss at Angelo as he raised an eyebrow and I turned to look at y/n "I will go get the den ready for the Crazy for Swayze marathon. Do you want yellow cheddar cheese or caramel or regular popcorn? We got the tin."

Y/N giggles "How about all three?" she said.

"Okay," I said turning as Angelo turned and made an obscene gesture to me "Knock it off," I said only loud enough for him to here.

"Obscene gesture?" asked y/n "Knowing Angie it was a

hole and a finger and the finger went into the hole."

I nod and she rolled her eyes.

"Okay I know he is your cousin but he sounds like an absolute turd," said Demi.

"Back then he was. But since Ginger and he had Layla when they were nineteen he changed," said y/n.

"He lived to torture me about my massive crush on y/n," I said.

"And he was your friend?!" said Matt.

"I told Luis countless times he didn't need to let Angie torture him about things," said y/n.

"Yeah why did you allow it?" asked Matt.

"I was a fool in love and he knew it. He was also the one who kept pushing me to tell y/n too," I said.

Demi shook her head "I would have told you

too but wouldn't have tortured you about it."

"You were also three," said y/n.

I cringed "Baby let's not remind ourselves of that," I chuckled.

"Sorry," said y/n kissing my cheek.

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By the time I had set up the den. Y/N was knocking on the door. I quickly ran to get it nearly knocking my Pops over in the process. He had music playing on his record player as Dancing In The Street by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas play as I opened the door y/n smile.

"Y/N come in. I got the den ready," I smiled as I stepped aside letting her in before closing the door.

"And I got the movies," she held up the DVDs as Pops changed his record and he put on Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers. Y/N smiles "Love this song Señor Martínez," she smiles at him.

"I do too y/n. Remember you have Luis's room and Luis you sleep in the den," he said.

"Pops!" I said.

"Luis," he gave me a warning glance.

"We know Pops," I said.

"Good. Dinner will be delivered shortly. Go have your Crazy for Swayze marathon," he said as he sat in his arm chair, grabbing his book.

"Come on. I got everything set up," I said grabbing y/n's hand lacing our fingers and we walked to the den. Once in the den she tossed her duffle bag onto the arm chair. I shut the door taking the movies from her "Get comfy," I gesture to the blankets and pillows laid on the floor.

"Luis this is almost like when we were kids and would watch movies in here," she giggles kicking off her sneakers before sitting on the floor.

"I know," I said.

"It's absolutely adorable how you did this," she said.

"So what movie?" I asked holding up the stack of DVDs desperately trying to hide my flushing cheeks.

"You chose," she said. I took a deep breath and looked at the stack of DVDs. I smiled lightly. She obviously had Dirty Dancing, Ghost and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar her favorite Swayze movies but she also had Red Dawn, Road House and Point Break a couple of my favorite movies by him and The Outsiders which we both enjoyed.

"You actually brought some for me?" I asked looking over my shoulder she smiles.

"Of course. I'm not going to let you sit here and be tortured by just my movies. I'm not cruel," she said as I pop in a DVD into the player.

"You never have been. So judging by these we are having Crazy for Swayze the entire weekend?" I asked looking at her as I walked over to our little cozy spot as we dubbed it as kids.

"Yeah. Is is that a problem?" she asked her eyes searching my face to know if I was upset.

"Y/N. Not at all. It'll be fun snuggled up watching movies all weekend," I said as I sat beside her and she moves closer to me. I wrapped an arm around her. She laid her head on my shoulder as I started her movie, the movie she has loved since she was a little girl. As Dirty Dancing begins she looks up at me before kissing my cheek.

"¡Gracias por empezar con Dirty Dancing, Luis," she said settling back into my side laying her head on my shoulder as I can hear Pops's music ironically it's Put Your Head on My Shoulder by Paul Anka. I turned the volume on the tv up. (Thanks for starting Dirty Dancing, Luis)

"Sé lo mucho que te gusta Dirty Dancing, Squish," I said. (I know how much you love Dirty Dancing, Squish)

"Squish?!" asked Demi and Matt.

"It was a stupid nickname I gave her as a kid," I said "It's a name that stuck until our mid twenties."

"I miss that nickname," said y/n "And you called hugs squishes when we first met and that's how the nickname came about."

"That's right," I said.

"That's really kinda sweet," said Demi as she leans against Matt.

"Do you want me calling you Squish again?" I asked y/n and she nods.

"Okay. Then you are once again Squish," I said pecking her lips.

"And you will be once again Pookie," she giggles.

I chuckled "Still can't believe I allowed that nickname until I was twenty five."

"I do. It's because y/n gave you it," said Demi.

"Fair," I said "And now as a forty two year old man I guess I'm Pookie again."

"I could also call you mi pequeño trasero peludo,"

she teased as she got

that from NCIS. (my little hairy ass)

"Pookie is perfectly fine."

Y/N giggles.

"Can we continue?!" asked Demi.

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"You're the best Pookie," she said as we watched the opening credits of Dirty Dancing as Be My Baby by The Ronetts played over pictures of dancers dancing.

"No you are, Squish," I said as she looked up at me with a smile and I felt my breath hitch in my throat as our eyes met but thankfully I was saved by....

"That was the summer of 1963 - when everybody called me Baby, and it didn't occur to me to mind. That was before President Kennedy was shot, before the Beatles came, when I couldn't wait to join the Peace Corps, and I thought I'd never find a guy as great as my dad. That was the summer we went to Kellerman's," said Jennifer Grey as Baby, y/n turns her attention to the screen. She wrapped her arm across my torso as she drapes her leg across mine when a knock came on the door. Y/N untangled herself from me as I pause the movie. I went to answer the door.

"Pizza and wings are here," said Pops "Come grab some while it's hot."

"Yum," said y/n as she was at my side before slipping past me and Pops heading towards the kitchen as Pops and I both followed her. Y/N has a plate taking a slice of pizza from the box "Señor Martínez what sauce is on the wings?"

"Honey Bourbon BBQ. I remember that's one of your favorites," he said.

"¡Gracias Señor Martínez! " she smiles at him.

"You're welcome y/n," said Pops as she took some wings and some celery before grabbing a bottle of pop from the table.

"I will meet you back in the den," she said looking at me before skipping off towards the den. I watched as she left before turning to grab food myself but jumped when Pops stood in my way.

"Luis Berrios you remember that you sleep in the den. Y/N has your room," he said his arms folded across his chest.

"Pops. I know. Trust me I know. I know your rules and Mr. and Mrs. y/l/n's rules. I promise. Now can I get something to eat? I want to go back to the den to continue Dirty Dancing."

"Luis. I have seen the way you look at y/n."

"Pops. I'm not going to try anything okay? I don't even think y/n feels that way," I said "And I would rather keep her in my life even if it's just as a friend. So I won't try anything."

Pops nods and put his hands up "Okay. You may eat," he said stepping aside.

I grabbed my food and headed back to the den. Pops's words playing over and over in my head. Y/N lit up when I walked into the den.

"Goodie you're back. I can unpause the movie," she said grabbing the remote and starting the movie as I sat beside her. Two small tv trays sat before us.

"Squish, you didn't have to wait till I got back," I said.

"Pookie, I had to it wouldn't be a movie marathon without you," she said giving me doe eyes that made me melt.

I kissed her forehead "Bien. Gracias Squish," I said.

She unpaused the movie. Baby and her family had just arrived at Kellerman's and Lisa was talking about her shoes.

"I can't believe how incredibly shallow Lisa is at the beginning of the movie," she said shaking her head.

"I can't believe you have seen this movie a hundred thousand times and you still get annoyed by Lisa," I tease.

She turned to me and playfully stuck her tongue out at me "And I invite you to bite me," she said popping a pepperoni into her mouth.

"How hard was it to not bite her?" asked Demi with a smirk.

Y/N arched an eyebrow looking at me "Well Amor?" she asked.

"Do you know how much I fantasized about doing that? Just going vampiro on that neck of yours back then? Well now too but now I know you would not freak out. But back then? Damn you were definitely many a reason why I had," I am stopped by y/n as she pressed a kiss to my lips.

"Shh," she murmured against my lips as she broke the kiss "Just continue the story."

"Okay. Okay," I said.

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"No lo haré. Eres demasiado bonita para morder," I said. (I won't. You're too pretty to bite)

She raised an eyebrow "No me importaría," she winks with a giggle. (I wouldn't mind) I swallowed hard as my attention is drawn to the movie as Baby sees Johnny for the first time. Y/N tilted her head as she watched before giggling lightly as Johnny told Robbie 'You just put your pickle on everybody's plate, college boy, and leave the hard stuff to me' "Now being older I understand what that means but thank God it flew over my head as a kid."

I chuckled lightly "Well yeah. I mean as kid you're innocent," I said as I ate a chicken wing "When you get older you realize what something means. Like what Johnny said to Robbie about his pickle. You realize Robbie was a man slut and put his pickle in any bun that offered."

Y/N choked on the piece of chicken wing she was chewing "LUIS!" she giggles.

"What? It's true."

"Okay fair," she said with a nod "He did sleep with anyone with a pulse. Well any female with a pulse. Poor Penny," she frowns lightly as she had been cheated on after sleeping with her ex.

"You okay?" I asked placing a hand over hers.

She gave me a soft smile "Yeah. He wasn't worth it. I regret sleeping with him. I regret giving him my most sacred gift. I kinda wish I had saved it for someone worthy of it," she said as her eyes move between my eyes and the tv.

I laced my fingers with hers, resting my forehead against hers before raising my lips and placed a kiss to her forehead "You can't change anything but now you know to save that most precious gift for the right man. I promise you will find him one day," I reach up and caress her cheek as I rest my forehead against hers. I just hope it's me I thought.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST TELL HER THEN!!!"

said Demi.

"Damn Babe. Calm down," chuckled Matt.

"Sorry. Continue," said Demi.

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My heart raced as our eyes met. I cupped her face and as I was about to lean in and kiss her. A knock came on the door causing us to break apart.

I coughed "Yeah?" I said.

Pops opened the door and poked his head in "How is dinner?" he asked.

"Great Pops," I said my face flush.

"Very good Señor Martínez," said y/n as she tucked her hair behind her ear "Is there more chicken wings?"

"Yes," said Pops coming into the den "Let me get them for you."

"Gracias Señor Martínez," she murmured handing him the plate.

"Luis?" he asked.

"More wings too," I said handing him my plate. My heart still thudding against my chest "Thanks Pops."

He nods and headed from the room. Y/N watching the movie. Her eyes not leaving the screen. I settled back watching the movie and it's where Baby confesses her feelings for Johnny and I hear y/n softly saying the lines.

"Me? I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I'm with you," she said.

"And you didn't even realize I turned to you as

I said it," said y/n looking at me.

"Aww," said Demi.

"Really?" I asked.

She nods as her eyes filled with tears

"Yeah. I was praying you would look at me

but you kept your eyes on the screen.

God I wish I had just grabbed your chin

and turned you to me and

told you straight to your face."

I reached up and wipe away the

tears that fell from her eyes.

I lean in pressing a kiss to her lips.

"Why didn't you?" I asked resting

my forehead against hers.

"Scared you didn't feel the way I did."

"God we had so many missed

opportunities," I said "Including your

prom and mine."

"Great. Can we get to that?!" asked Demi.

Y/N and I smirk at each other

"We did get side tracked and

we did promise Demi," I said.

Demi leans forward grabbing

both of our chins turning us to face her.

"But finish this story first!"

she said a grin on her face.

"Well there really isn't much left,"

I said "Unless you count you coming into the den

after having a nightmare and

Pops caught us snuggled

together on the den's sofa bed."

"OH MY GOD YES CONTINUE!!!"

said Demi as smile spreading

across her face.

🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

It was around one am when I heard the den door open.

"Luis?" asked y/n quietly "Are you awake?"

I click the lamp on the table beside the sofa bed.

"Y/N. What's wrong?" I asked.

"I had a nightmare," she said her cheeks stained with tears. I know this was against the rules but she looks so stressed I was willing to break them.

I held up the blankets "Come on," I said as she didn't hesitate crawling into the bed beside me. She snuggled close and I wrapped an arm around her "What was it about?" I asked as she lays her head on my shoulder.

"I was being chased by a man. I couldn't see his face but I heard his voice it was deep and scary. He told me to come back that he wasn't done with me yet. I stumbled," I was rubbing her arm as she recounted the dream "and fell. He gained on me grabbing me. He put his hands around my throat and began choking me as I was about to pass out in the dream I woke up gasping for air. All I saw were his eyes. They were red and evil."

I kissed the top of her head "Well it's over now. You're safe. I got you," I said as she drapes a arm over my torso before snuggling closer to me. Her leg drapes over my leg.

"But my parents rules. Your Pops's rules," she said as I continue to run my fingertips down her arm.

"Sometimes rules are made to be broken," I said kissing the top of her head "I will take the blame. I can tell you won't be able to sleep alone in my room."

"Luis," she murmured.

"Hmm?" I said reaching up and clicked off the light.

"Estoy enamorado de ti," she murmured. (I'm in love with you)

"What?!" I asked but she had fallen asleep. I was shocked as to her saying what she had. I don't know if she meant it or she was sleepy and hadn't meant it. But as sleep took over my body I soon forgot about it and went to sleep myself.

🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

"LUIS BERRIOS MARTÍNEZ JUNIOR !!!" y/n and I are startled awake by Pops's booming voice. We both jumped before separating.

"Pops?!" I said wiping the sleep from my eyes.

"What is y/n doing in here?!" he asked.

"I'm sorry Señor Martínez. I-I had a nightmare," said y/n sitting up "I came to talk to Luis. We we must have fallen asleep. I'm sorry."

"We have rules for a reason," said Pops.

"Pops. Nothing happened. Y/N literally came in was in tears and was shaking. I wanted to calm her. We just wound up falling asleep."

"I don't care Luis. I'm responsible for y/n this weekend and her parents don't want you two sharing a bed and neither do I."

"Pops we shared a bed as kids! What's the difference now?!" I asked.

"You're teenagers," he said.

"And we are responsible teenagers! We aren't doing anything. I am certainly not pressuring y/n into anything either!" I said.

"Señor Martínez. Don't blame Luis. It's my fault. I'm the one that crawled into bed with him," she said and I knew she was falling on the sword for me.

"After I lifted the blankets and invited you into the bed! I wasn't going to lay there watching you shake and cry. If it wasn't in here. I would have walked you back to my room and laid there with you. Same scenario would have happened. It was one am," I said placing my hands on her shoulders "You're not taking this on yourself. I'm more to blame than you are, y/n. You just had the nightmare by no fault of your own," Pops is still standing there fuming. His arms crossed over his chest.

"Y/N go to Luis's bedroom. Stay there until I come to get you," he said pointing to the door.

Y/N scrambled from the bed leaving the den and I was pretty sure she was in tears. I knew tears were stinging my eyes. It hurt that my Pops didn't have enough faith in us.

"Pops! Please. Nothing happened!" I said as I got out of the bed "I let her tell me what happened and she fell asleep. I was going to leave once I knew she was asleep but I fell asleep too. I didn't mean to. Don't blame y/n. Blame me. It's all me. I invited her into the bed. I wrapped an arm around her to calm her. I fell asleep once she was calm. It was me!"

"Luis. We have rules. Y/N's parents and your mother and I. We all knew this time would come when our children became best friends and inseparable. But you're a male and she's a female!"

"So automatically we're going to have sex?!" I asked throwing my hands up "Obviously none of you trust us!" I was angry "Thanks for the respect!" I spat "Or is it that because you four don't trust your parenting?!"

Pops's eyes bought popped from his head as he stood to his full height "Luis Berrios Martinez Junior you do not talk to me that way! I'm still your father after all!"

"Then please act like you raised a gentleman and not a guy who can't handle his sexual needs. I love y/n and I respect the living hell out of her. I wouldn't and couldn't do anything she wasn't a willing participant. Unlike her ex boyfriend. I know when no means no!" I stormed from the room making a bee line for my bedroom. I barge in and y/n is sitting on the bed crying "Grab clothes!" I said as she looked at me blinking away tears.

"What?!" she asked.

Pops was hot at my heels "What was that in the den?" he said.

"You heard me Dad," I said and Pops's anger disappeared. I sat beside y/n and wrapped my arms around her.

"What do you mean you know no means no?" he asked.

Y/N blinks at me before looking at Pops "Because my ex didn't. I had, I had," she buried her face into my shoulder crying.

"Pops. She had said yes but took it back," I said looking at him as I held y/n as she cried.

🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

Demi is in tears as she realized what had happened. She was off the love seat and immediately envelopes y/n and me in a hug and Matt wasn't far behind. Y/N cried into my shoulder as the three of us hugged her.

"I hate I was only three. I might not have been able to kick his ass," said Demi "But I could have kicked him in the shins."

Y/N giggles into my shoulder and I smiled as Demi and Matt sat on the coffee table as y/n snuggled into me. I wrapped my arms around her kissing the top of her head as she looked at Demi and Matt.

"Did anyone know?" asked Matt.

"I only ever told Luis. I called him right after it happened. When he dropped me off at home. I immediately called Luis but I swore him to secrecy."

"Oh my God," said Demi shaking her head as she wipes away tears.

"I know I should have said to y/n to go to the cops but she was terrified. He was the son of a cop and star football player. She knew he would probably get off with a slap on the wrist. I think that's why I got so angry at Pops too. I was just so angry knowing."

"Was this the first time?" asked Demi.

Y/N shook her head 'no' "He just thought that my first yes was for anytime. I told him yes that night but something just made me change my mind and I told him no multiple times but he didn't listen," she explained "Thank God my parents were already asleep. After talking to Luis. I took a shower until I almost blistered and cried the entire time. The next day he broke up with me. It's why I didn't want to be anywhere near him and why I went to homeschooling. Probably why I was so scared for so many years to be honest with Luis."

"One of the many reasons I hate him. If the purge every were to become a reality he is the one who I will be purging from this earth."

"Luis. Please no," said y/n.

"Amor. He deserves it," I said.

"I just don't," she said as I wipe away tears away from her cheeks pressing my lips to hers.

"Te prometo que con todo lo que soy siempre te protegeré," I said resting my forehead against hers. (I promise you that with all that I am I will always protect you)

"Y yo a ti,"(And I to you) she said caressing my cheek as our eyes met "Can we talk about our proms now?"

I smiled before pecking her lips.

"Yes please. I wanna hear something sweet," said Demi wiping her tears the sleeve of her shirt "But only if you're willing," she reaches over grabbing y/n's hand and squeezing it.

"Yeah. I really want to," said y/n.

"Then let's talk about them. Mine first since it was first," I said as I held up the picture "My prom......"

Tag List: @eringobragh420 @magicalbuttertarts @madhatterbri @keekee-23 @loki69zowens @caramara3 @bloodlinesbabe93 @miss-kuki-nz @surdelcielo

[hresvelged]

"Looking a little more rough than I remember."

Though the words may be cheeky as he tends to usually be, it is only in the content, and not in the tone of voice. Indeed, should she turn to face him, she will fail to find the casual smile that many have come to know him for, the one he uses to conceal many things. Indeed, his expression is more serious than he tends to be.

"So you guys ran into trouble on the way back, too?" Interesting.

Not that Claude suspected her of anything beyond her ambition to be a powerful Emperor someday. He has no doubt that she has much to hide, but so does he, so he's not one to talk.

Rather, it's interesting because...

"I thought at first that only Garreg Mach was attacked, but if you too were targeted, and yet it doesn't look like any cities or villages were... Whoever it was was going for those related to the monastery specifically, by the looks of things. Those who were there, and those who were headed there. That's what it looks like right now."

He eyes her carefully. His gaze is calm, betraying no emotion.

"Can you think of anything? And - by the way, have you seen Dimitri?"

These attack-ravaged lands take a toll on anyone— Sunken eyes to her left and words of despair to her right. The scars hidden under her gloves and the thoughts encompassing the budding emperor's mind. For Claude, it was the way he spoke his sentences as the two came into one another's view. She could certainly notice it, even if she did not utter as much. There was no need to; not when there were bigger matters to attend to.

"I could say the same for you," she says in greeting. Plain, even if a bad attempt at keeping a mood. "But yes. We did. I don't know how much you've heard, but our peril began within the mountain pass. And now, we find ourselves here with everyone else. That separation in itself feels purposeful, as you say." With the positioning of the monastery, it was no surprise that there were faces who would have their eyes on it. She knew this already. It was a key element in this game of scuffed chess. What she didn't hold was the current why's.

Words and thoughts of agreement poured through her mind and left her with more to say. "I have a number of conjectures, but I lack the proper concrete proof to fully point a finger at the moment. One thing is certain— That book over there. Have you had the time to glance at it?" While she has not, she had no doubts that it was left there on purpose. Edelgard uses her right hand to point towards it, swiveling in its direction. "Odd, is it not? It was placed there in the hopes of us looking at it. Or, rather.. I should say, it was so we would not miss its presence."

As she lowers her hand, she lets out a sigh and shakes her head. "I haven't seen Dimitri. I'd assume he's fine, even if I don't know where exactly that may be. As the next king of Faerghus, he wouldn't act carelessly."

[sequestering]

fic rec friday: pond ice and the in between by luxover

i had a panic thinking this series had been deleted. it hasn't, thank goodness, so obviously i had to reread (then download) the whole thing and i just aghhh. it's somehow even more precious and magical to me now than four years ago.

it's a period piece now, and how fun is that? that we as a fandom have period pieces. it was written over ten years ago, featuring characters from a different league in a very different world: the guys run their pick-up league by email chain; sid's a corporate lawyer who brings his work home with him in large bundles of paper; claude's only just beginning to grow up; seguin is a party boy bruin. it's this perfect little sliver of a world that is fading into the rear view.

it's a love letter to rec hockey - to the absolute lowest form of the sport, played with no spectators and no real organisation. just a bunch of people who couldn't be more different, who week-in week-out carve out precious hours from their real lives, because they love hockey. and, yeah, maybe they were meant for something bigger, maybe they're haunted by the spectre of a professional league, but this is what they've got, and it's enough. they make it enough.

it's got such an emotional resonance. the stakes are fairly low and the drama minimal: two guys meet and fall in love without obstacle; a young man moves amicably out of a home he loves. these mundane, ordinary life events are given such wonderful attention, such emotional depth. they matter intensely to the protagonists and so they matter intensely to us.

[frickingnerd]

having a baby with claude von riegan

pairing: claude von riegan x fem!reader

tags: pregnancy during the war + angst about raising a child during those times, angst with a happy ending, established romantic relationship, worried!claude, reader tries to hide her pregnancy

you really couldn't have picked a worse time to get pregnant than during a war

well, it's not like you had planned to get pregnant now of all times

but now your stomach was getting bigger with each day and you knew exactly what that meant

you decided not to tell claude about his child yet, since you knew your boyfriend was busy leading the alliance and really didn't need to worry anymore about you than he already did

you tried to hide your body under some baggy clothes, hoping that nobody would notice the baby bump underneath

and you still joined your comrades during battle against the adrestian empire, so that nobody would get suspicious

battles were starting to get harder for you, since you couldn't move as swiftly as you used to anymore

even your life at the monastery was being more difficult than usual, since there wasn't much food for everyone anymore, but you had to eat for two people now

eventually, you couldn't hide your pregnancy anymore

you had passed out in the monastery and claude had rushed to your side to bring you to the infirmary

he tugged you into bed there and when professor manuela started to do a check up on you, the two of them noticed the baby bump you had been hiding

by the time you woke up, it was late evening and claude was quietly sitting by your side, his head sunk into his hands

it took you a moment to remember how you had even ended up here and you panicked, lifting the sheets and putting a hand onto your stomach

you could still feel the heartbeat of your unborn child and relaxed when you realized the baby was alright

but now you had to explain to claude why you were keeping the child a secret from him

he looked up as he noticed you were awake

his eyes were filled with tears and it broke your heart seeing him like this

"claude, i…" you felt horrible for keeping it a secret from him. he looked so upset

"don't ever worry me like that again, y/n. i thought i would lose both of you…" 

he wiped his tears away and inched closer to you, gently taking your hand

"i'm sorry, claude. i didn't want to worry you. and i didn't want to lie to you either" now you could feel the tears coming up in your eyes as well

"i know, y/n. i know…" he pressed a soft kiss onto your forehead. "you just wanted things to stay the way they were. you wanted to stay by my side and you didn't want to burden me. is that about right..?" 

you nodded quietly in response

"as much as i wish you could stay with me, you'll have to stay in the monastery from now on. no more battles for you, my love" 

you knew this would mean that claude would be away for days at times and you wouldn't get to see him

but you also knew that this was the right thing to do

he'd take care of winning the war, while you stayed behind and take care of your child

and once the war was over, the two of you could raise your child together

[theamberplumbob]

The Bride of Straud: Chapter 5

Of course, Claudia and Vlad could not be expected to take care of their spawn all on their own. Vlad recommended they acquire a butler. He assured he had the perfect person for the job. Claudia happily agreed. As much as she’d become attached to her new born daughter, she couldn’t spend all her time doting on Ophelia.

The butler’s name was Mehdi Al Arabi, and he was one of Vlad’s many mortals who owed him a dept. In the past Mehdi proved to be quite useful, not as a blood bag, but as servant. He shared Vlad’s appreciation for music, and could efficiently play almost any instrument. He also knew how to cook, garden, clean, and take care of children. He would live in the manor, and dedicate his life to serving the Straud family, so long as he was provided a proper living space and they did not drink from him. Claudia could manage that.

Upon Mehdi’s arrival, Claudia immediately noticed how attractive he was, and she had a feeling based on the way he looked at her that he was thinking the same.

On his first day, Mehdi proved to be quite competent, caring for Ophelia with efficiency. All Claudia had to do was ring a bell, and he would do whatever she pleased. Now that she had a spare hand around the house, she had a certain project she wanted Mehdi to take care of.

She called him down to the barren sunroom room, where empty flower pots laid strewn. Claudia had purchased some plasma fruit, wolfsbane, and sixam fly trap seeds, and wanted Mehdi to grow her a garden. She pointed to the flow pot in the middle of the room, and revealed the rose in her hand. “This is the rose my husband gave me when we first started courting,” she said, handing it to Mehdi. “Plant it, so it can flourish and grow forever.” And so, Mehdi began to plant and nourish Claudia’s garden.

As the days went on, Claudia continued to improve. She felt she reached a pinnacle when it came to her charismatic abilities. Between Vlad and Caleb, lying had become second nature to her.

On top of that, her vampiric powers were growing. She ascended from prime vampire to master vampire, and with it, her bloodlust deepened. Before, she could go at most a day and a half without drinking, now, she found herself having to drink at least twice a day. Vlad assured her it was a good thing, that her metabolism was growing along with her strength. With this in mind, Claudia felt it was time to challenge Miss Hell once again.

Like any other night, Claudia arrived to challenge Miss Hell to a sparing session, and like any other day, Miss Hell humored her. What Miss Hell wasn’t expecting was for Claudia to get the drop on her.

Claudia was fast and cunning and strong. Before she knew it, she was on her knees, and Claudia was the one helping her up. Miss Hell was stunned, but also incredibly proud. Claudia did exactly what Miss Hell assured she would. She got strong, strong enough to beat even her. However, there where two more trials before she could fully prove herself.

The second trial was defeating Markus. While Miss Hell was known for her strategic fighting style, Markus was pure muscle. Not many could brute force their way through a vampiric duel, but Markus had many a times. However, not this one. Claudia knew exactly how to use his stature against him. The bigger they are, the harder they fall, and Markus certainly did. Though, he could only be impressed with Claudia’s abilities. Miss Hell had trained her well.

The last trial was Cat. Cat was unbelievably agile, and incorporated her bat form into her fighting style. Claudia could certainly say this: Cat was ruthless in battle. She was like an animal who had been backed into a corner.

However, Claudia was able to match her ruthlessness, and even double it. Despite her quick moving, Claudia was still able to get ahold of her and knock her down. With that she had done it. She had defeated the Hellions in battle. The three of them bowed to her. Now, they could finally, truly recognize her as queen.

Claudia came home to tell Vlad the news, but couldn’t seem to find him. Instead, she found the spirit of Alice in the game room. At this point, Claudia had gotten used to the spirits of their victims haunting the mansion, however, it was rare to see Alice, and she was one of the few that would actually speak with her.

The two ended up having a riveting conversation. They both had a very pragmatic way of viewing the world, valuing power and material possessions over a the vague concept of contentment that society often taught them to chase.

They both had a thing or two to complain about when it came to their husbands, neither being truly in love, yet ended up married and with a child. However, Alice never ended up getting as far as Claudia had, and wished she had known her, well, before she killed her. Claudia couldn’t help but agree. She didn’t feel guilty for killing Alice, per se, she just wished it had all played out differently. She would have loved to take someone like Alice under her wing and teach her the are of manipulation and treachery.

Perhaps… there was still a way yet… but that would have to wait for another time, since Vlad came in. He explained he had gotten caught up playing the violin. With that, Alice disappeared.

Claudia told Vlad the news, and he was quite pleased. Vlad assured Claudia that she only continued to prove how right he had been to make her queen.

Since Halloween night was almost upon them, he felt it was appropriate for them to revive the vampiric tradition of hosting a masquerade ball to celebrate. Claudia was all for the idea, it was an excellent way of increasing her standing with the people.

The masquerade was a joyous event. Everyone attended in their finest dress and ornate masks, all accept Samantha, Brandy, and Demetrius, who seemed to have decided not to conform to the dress code. The Hellions found this extremely distasteful, but given that Brandy was the royal photographer and Demetrius the royal portraiture, they could make an exception. Still, Markus shot them dirty looks all throughout the party.

Angie and Danielle were also in attendance, wanting to experience the grandeur and romance of a vampiric masquerade ball on Halloween night. They seemed to enjoy the event, Danielle in particular taking the time to socialize with the other vampires, despite their family’s tendency of self-isolate.

They all knew that the Daniels looked down on other vampires for being less benevolent in their drinking habits, which was why they only seemed to associate with the Vatores and their own extended family. They never voiced it, so the others never acknowledged it. However, Danielle may just bridging that gap.

Claudia specifically spent much of the event socializing with Demetrius. He was a charming man, and very skilled with a brush. She was looking to have her portrait done, and he was happy to oblige.

By the end of the night, everyone went home happy, they had certainly liked the impact that Claudia had on Vlad. They hadn’t had this many parties in decades. She brought the joviality back into the vampire community. Claudia found their high opinion of her quite pleasing.

The next day, Vlad pulled Claudia aside to have a very important discussion. Claudia had progressed far enough in her vampiric training and been queen long enough that it was well beyond time for her to sire her first vampire. Vlad directed her to library where there were archives of potential candidates for turning. Claudia could look through them and choose the one she wanted. After many hours spent in the researching, she found the one: Bella Goth.

Bella had married into the Goth family, a clan with a rich occult history and a lot of old money. While many assume her to be the young trophy wife of a prestigious billionaire, she was so much more. She was secretly an agent of S.I.M.S., an intelligence agency charged with investigating international conspiracies. By becoming her vampire maker, she would not only have control over the Goth’s power and influence, she would also have a mole inside one of the most powerful organizations in the globe.

The first step was befriending her. Claudia arrived at the Goth house while Mortimer wasn’t home, pretending to be a co-worker who wanted him to look over her writing. Bella offered for her to stay until he got back.

Realizing that Bella shared her love for chess, she offered to play a game with her. The two had a very engrossing discussion over their, rather intense, match (which Claudia won, of course). As it got later and Mortimer didn’t come back, Claudia said that she could simply come back another time, but asked if Bella would like to get coffee with her some time. Bella thought that would be fantastic. And so, the trap was set.

Now, Claudia needed to return home to her daughter, who was aging up that night. Vlad and Mehdi gathered round as Claudia took Ophelia out of her bassinet and helped her take her first steps.

Ophelia looked so much like her mother, with her jet black hair and general facial structure. Lucky for Claudia, Caleb and Vlad both had the same grey eyes.

“She has my eyes,” Vlad remarked.

Claudia smiled. Vlad was completely clueless.

[faroreswinds]

is GW's direction really that crazy when you think about it? feels more like people are just salty that Claude didn't team up with their faves on his route because people look at Claude as a third party that validates their side. But what I saw in Hopes fit what I thought about Claude from Houses Claude does whatever he feels most benefits his goals at the moment regardless of morals. He teams up with Faerghus when he feels it benefits him most, he teams up with the Church when he feels it benefits him most, he teams up with the Empire when he feels it benefits him most and he throws his allies to the dogs when he feels it benefits him most. Like in Houses, Claude tells Dimi before leaving in Azure Moon that this is how he operates and that he only makes moves that he thinks benefit him. That's the story trying to communicate how Claude and Dimi are different. Do fans think he's just trying to be cute or that his words mean nothing? Claude's not a man of rigid principles, he's an opportunist. He, the other characters and supplementary material repeat that same message about him over and over again too. like Claude's not supposed to be a uniformly kind person, he's friendly and pleasant to talk to but someone that can be amoral or moral depending on the circumstances. And in GW, an alliance with Edelgard was more personally beneficial to him than trying to team up with Faerghus. They have the bigger force, they're paying Leicester significant reparations, they're getting stability at his southern border and they want to eliminate the same threat.

I mean.... It kinda is a crazy direction.

The issue isn't just the differences between Hopes!Claude and Houses!Claude. That could be a whole other explanation on its own, but since you have framed it as in-character, let's go over the other reason why it is a poor direction on its own.

The biggest issue, anon, is that Hopes!Claude... is an idiot.

Nothing he does or says makes much sense when you add up all the worldbuilding elements together into one big pile.

For example, he decides to side with Edelgard and wipe out the Church. He believes this will end the war quicker, and remove Edelgard's justification for war. And if that justification is gone, then Edelgard will have no choice but to cease her aggressions, or else the war is no longer justified.

However, this logic ignores sooooo many things. The first is that Edelgard publicly declares that the Kingdom and Alliance are false nations that only exist due to meddling forces. That should be a red flag right there and then. Not only that, but Edelgard invaded his nation and beelined for the capital. That should have been another red flag. If Edelgard didn't wish to take over the Alliance, she would have had no need to go for the throat.

Claude even admits that Edelgard might not stop her war. He should know that someone may not stop a war just because it is no longer "justified". And yet, he continues to side with her.

Here is another one. Claude puts a lot of blame on the Church for... basically everything wrong with Foldan. Forced marriages. Fierce border protections. The existence of nobility. The lack of freedom for nobles. I mean, just everything and anything you can think of, in his eyes it is the fault of Rhea and her Church.

But how can he come to that conclusion? Does he live under a rock? Is he not the leader of the Alliance? Does he not know that Edmund, within his own Alliance territory, makes trades with other nations outside of Foldan? When he went to school, did he not see how people of Duscur, Brigid, and Almyra got places in the classroom? How a woman from overseas got to be a Knight of Seiros? Even if he only spent two weeks there, surely he saw something, no?

He is also a prince of another nation. A nation with no Church, and no Crests. And they still have a King and nobility of their own. So why is he blaming the Church for such things? He literally is from another nation.

Hopes!Claude feels like he was written by a young author who is just starting out. There is no logic to his thinking. He just hates the Church because the writers needed him to.

And what makes it worse is that Claude is supposed to be the smart one. He is lauded as the brilliant tactician. The guy who thinks 5 steps ahead in every chess match. But he comes across as the most ignorant of the three lords, who cannot see past his own nose.

So yes, this is why is it a crazy direction. It's not just because of any misalignment of his character from Houses. It's because within Hopes itself, Claude is just a moron that it is hard to take him and his thought processes seriously.

[faioula16]

::to Dark Purple Rose:: I read your short stories, where Sebastian Michaelis x F!reader are interviewed, and both characters are so lifelike. So that I have the feeling. to see them sitting on a couch right in front of me. And Sebastian Michaelis character you succeeded really well. Therefore I would like to express the request. Whether you would not make one of these interview stories with the following key points, per key point. These are very good for you. Drum I would be very happy to read more such stories from you. Thank you. As follows::

Here are questions for the reporter ::'Question for you both, Mr. Michaelis and y/n:: -- how did they each meet the other ?(circumstances, place, time). -- what did you first notice positively about each other (and what, circumstances, place and time)? -- did you give the other time to get used to your feelings? (or did you manipulate, or badger). -- was y/n initially reserved, rejecting, or shy? (did it take a long time? how did Sebastian feel it would cost him more effort?) -- how did Sebastian overcome y/n's initially reserved, rejecting, and shy character?(means, behaviors) -- how did you then return each other's feelings? -- And how different were the reactions of your environment to your relationship? (Agni and Soma must have been annoying) -- when y/n has her period, how do you manage to control yourself?(what means or behaviors help you?) -- how does Sebastian manage to be there for you when he always has to mother ciel? -- how do you manage to be always by your side, when you have to get souls to consume ? -- was there already the situation where they saw the true form of him? (how had it been, and the situation afterwards?) --why they chose their souls without darkness, despair or fear. --(similar to the game '7 minutes in heaven') how did they spend their last minutes on earth? (What doing, what wanting) --how well do you know each other? Their likes, dislikes.

not only Madam (aunt of ciel) is very strict, and can be disciplinary demanding. but also others have their quirks. -- have they ever had to discipline y/n? (if so with what actions?)

::'Question to All Three Mr. Michaelis and y/n and, Claude Faustus:: -- how was their first getting to know each other what did they immediately notice positively about their partner. -- how does the everyday life of the three of them usually look like, in spite of Zwistichkeiten that there may be. -- and how do you live with your two dearest by your side, every day? -- they always do everything together, or each of their own -- and in the evening they fall asleep as a trio. And how does that work between them? And do they know how to name each other's likes and dislikes?' -Are they able to resolve possible disagreements, or are there sometimes tense situations during the day--the more annoying and difficult people in their environment?

Extra scenario: how would a relationship run, if at all, Sebastian found interest. :: Woman born in the constellation 'Gemini' with all the peculiarities of this constellation. And also quick change of opinion or planning, if circumstances or mood change. And just 'INFJ-T' and 'INTP-T(/A)'. Which with 140cm height is hardly bigger than his master Ciel. But is a tomboy who would never wear clothes like skirts, dresses, high shoes, make-up or jewelry. Who even if she also defends her independence, and autonomy, protects a cavalier and gentleman. This but in public rather refuse, for fear of showing weak points evil people. And at first rather rejects attentions. Already rather shyness, and at the same time active in activities can be. -- In addition, a dog phobia has. And especially a medical sector doctors, and shies away from needles. --May not reveal vulnerability to possible 'enemies'. -- Feel free to phrase the question more fluidly so the reporter can better ask these questions. -- And what if she changes plans or quickly discards plans? (Constellation Gemini, with all the peculiarities of the constellation). -- Who holds the cash book in your hands, and who spends more of the two of you, who has the last word in discussions? -- what about family planning? Children desired?

many greetings, and thanks :D i celebrate just now your new stories :)

My apologies it took me a while to complete and post your request dear reader, however, I think the results are worth your patience and expectations. I truly hope you will enjoy it and please feel free to ask for more requests in the future.

Dear ravenlocsworld, I sadly have to inform you that the site doesn't allow me to post all of your questions in a post due to the far too many words number, But have no worries for I will create a part 2 for the rest of your questions and will connect it with links so you will be able to pass from Part 1 to Part 2 or backward if you so desire. Hopefully, I won't be forced to create a part 3 due to the rules of the site. Hope you will enjoy Part 1 from the bottom of my heard and will look forward to the second post with the rest of your questions, thank you.

First interview with Sebastian and Y\N: (Part 1)

You sat comfortably on a fine seat across from the famous Phantomhive butler and his beloved one. On the double couch right before you, the couple stared back at you with polite smiles. Sebastian's arm was resting over Y\N's shoulders, keeping her as much close to him as possible while both of them were listening to your first question.

Questions for you both Sebastian and Y/N: How did you meet each other?

Sebastian: In the most random way possible I suppose. My young lord and I were investigating some citizens for information about a case that concerned her majesty back during those rather difficult days. *His white-gloved hand caressed the side of Y\N's arm and stared down at her in a loving manner*

Y\N: My legs got wings that day, believe it or not, a stray large dog was chasing after me through the streets. I was asking for help but no one seemed to bother even to listen to me, for they were quite busy minding their own business I do believe. I don't like dogs at all from the trauma I got back from my childhood and that's why I got to such a situation in the first place. Thankfully Sebastian scared that beast away and that was my very first introduction to him.

Sebastian: Indeed, in a blink of an eye I knew my darling and I were meant to be. I cannot lie though I was a bit annoyed that a mere human young lady was destined to become my everything. Even for a demon such as myself, it wasn't easy to court her, but then again I always admired feisty kittens~ *The butler cooded in a low tone and chuckled to himself as he bend down a bit to plant a sweet kiss over Y\N's cheek in order to fluster her even more*

What did you first notice positively about each other?

Did you give the other time to get used to your feelings?

Sebastian: My darling's very existence was enough positive to make me realize that my long life gifted me with an extremely rare and unexpected opportunity...my only true life companion. You see, persons like me are cursed to live alone forever, however, there is a 1% chance that might be given only once in a lifetime. I apologize for my explanations might sound a little dramatic, but...I can assure you that a Phantohive butler cannot lie. After all, I am simply one hell of a butler. *He sent you a closed-eyed smile*

Y\N: As for me there wasn't something specific that attracted me to Sebastian, his good looks weren't an excuse for me to like him because I don't tend to like people for such simple-meaningless reasons as good looks or charming behavior. To be honest, I detested him very much for no reason, I mean first, he saved me from the dog, and from that moment on he paid me visits almost every night...in form of a cat. Obviously, I didn't know that the stray cat who followed me over my house that day was the Phantomhive's demon butler, how could I? But I have to admit that in the end, I didn't come to be disappointed in my decision to be bound with Sebastian for eternity. After all, I will be with the one I love without being forced to abandon my soul or my humanity either. Not that I would abandon either of them anyway.

Sebastian: *The demon butler let out a soft yet hearted laugh at his mate's opinion while his hand was rubbing her back gently* Of course, you aren't disappointed my love, after all, I did vow to you that I would do anything in my power to satisfy your every need and desire. And also to protect you at all costs and be utterly loyal to you no matter what. This is a demon's duty to their soulmate, you will always be my priority. You know very well that I am only responsible for your precious soul to find the perfect body host, one after the other once the previous one is sick, destroyed, or ready to pass away. *His arms wrapped Y\N in a warm side embrace* I could never see you as food, not you my dearest *Gentle smooches were placed upon Y\N's forehead as he rested the side of his face on top of her head and looked back to you with a serious expression* Time was all I needed to let my beloved get used to her feelings that would grow for me sooner or later. No manipulation was required either. And when it comes to me, I didn't need time to get used to my 'feelings'. Even if they were emotions I have never felt before, from the first moment our eyes met...I knew my darling kitten would be mine.

Questions for Sebastian: Was Y/N initially reserved, rejecting, or shy?

Did you feel it would cost you more effort?

Sebastian: *Sights* I must admit that my love was and she still is quite a stubborn human. Even nowadays, once she gets something in her head is nearly impossible for me to make her change her mind. In the end, I can't help but fulfill her wishes. I do believe her utter stubbornness is one of her bigger charms. To answer your question more specifically, yes, it took me quite an effort and time to grow closer to her and win her favor and trust. It was worth it of course as you can see. After all...I always loved a good challenge. As for your other question, I thought of her rejecting and dare I say a bit of a shy personality quite adorable and amusing. Just like some kittens would react to me when I would try to pet their fur and ears or generally play with them, by the end of the day however I would always succeed to make them purr in absolute satisfaction. Isn't that right, my little kitten~? *The butler whispered to Y\N's ear, making her cheeks take a dark pink color tone, her spine sliver as a result, and her expression turn into a quite flustered one as the demon's soft lips began to kiss all over her ear and so ever lovingly*

Y\N: W-would you cut that off, please? We're in front of a guest if you have forgotten about this matter already! *She placed her palm against Sebastian's cheek and tried to push the butler's closed-eyed smiling face away, only to manage to move him aside a few inches away. Causing the head butler to let out a soft chuckle and stare back at you in amusement*

Sebastian: See? I was right. My darling is simply adorable when she tries to deny me. *He sighed deeply in satisfaction and embraced Y\N warmly in his arms* I am so lucky to have you, darling. *You could have sworn you bearly heard what he just said as if these words came out from him in a form of a faint whisper*

Question for Y\N: How did you then return each other's feelings?

Y\N: Well I don't know how to explain this but it just happened. After I realized every night's cat visitor's true identity, I was beyond angry but Sebastian's every night visits turned to extra visits during the early morning as well. Honestly, he would sneak into my house like it's a pretty normal thing to do and bring me breakfast in bed, do house chores for me, clean all over the place, and very often give me gifts. I'd keep trying to get him out but it was no use. And to think he calls me the stubborn one. *Y\N took a deep breath* Anyway in one of my flustered tantrums we kissed and that led to a passionate make-out session and...you know better where this is going to so...I won't spit more details.

[kumeko]

Prompt: I like the war phase of 3 Houses so much for these 2. Something filled with yearning (or the crescendo of the yearning). I like the idea of them liking each other so much but not pursuing until "things are settled", or whatnot. Being scared of losing them. Best friends who pine. Anything like that.

A/N: For LucyGringe for the @claudelethgifts.  I love pining and ahh, these two just spending the war phase yearning is chef’s kiss, I can only hope I wrote it well. I feel like Claude would know it’s mutual, while Byleth would be a bit more in the dark (even to her own feelings). Does that make it harder? Easier?

It was a bit hard to figure out how to connect this until I went for a “five times he grabbed her hand and the one time she grabbed his” format.

…

…

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0

The ring weighed heavily in his pocket.

1

They were in the middle of a war, a simple fact that Claude had to remind himself of over and over again. He’d spent five years in this war, had fought and bled and killed as the months and years passed.

Despite that, it was all too easy to forget the calluses on his fingers as he walked in the forest. Around him, his former classmates chattered, dappled in shadow and light, and if he squinted, he could almost see their teenage selves. They could be returning from a class mission instead of a bloody battle.

It was all Byleth’s fault.

Claude peeked at the woman by his side. She didn’t look a day older than when she’d disappeared. Maybe he’d slipped back in time, turning back the clock to when the worst opponents he’d faced were bandits instead of former allies. When he could justify the blood that had stained his hands.

He wasn’t the only one feeling this way. A jovial mood filled the air as his friends reunited for the first time in years. Leoni led the pack, smirking as she taunted Hilda and Lorenz. “Your attacks were sloppy.”

“As though yours were refined.” Lorenz scrunched his nose. Despite the mud and blood streaking his robes, he still held a dignified aura about him.

“Ugh, you’re making me agree with him,” Hilda bit out, grumpy. She snapped at Leonie, “That’s really the first thing you say to me in months?”

Behind them, Ignatz rubbed his neck shyly as he glanced at Marianne. “It’s nice to see you again.”

Marianne flushed and gave a soft smile. “M-me too. I think so too.”

“I missed you guys!” Raphael shouted as he wrapped his arms around Ignatz and Lysithea, dragging them into his embrace. Somehow, he’d grown bigger, more muscular, a feat that Claude hadn’t thought possible.

And on the exact opposite end of the spectrum, Lysithea hadn’t even gained an inch. She hissed, “Get off me, you big oaf!”

Though he’d never admit it aloud, Claude had missed this banter. There wasn’t really any room for it when all of Fódlan was in flames. And he wasn’t the only one to think so—from the corner of his eye, Claude watched as Byleth’s lips twitched, her expression softening as she studied her former students. A far cry from the old days, when she’d been hard to read.

Or maybe he’d just gotten better at it.

“Whatcha thinking, Teach?” Claude asked, the old moniker slipping off his tongue out of habit. He hadn’t said her nickname in ages and yet, it was impossible to think of her without it.

“It’s really been five years,” Byleth replied, finally turning away from the group to him. Her eyes widened slightly, as though realizing something.

She’d left an easy opening, and he couldn’t resist. “I couldn’t tell looking at you.”

Byleth didn’t seem to hear him. “You’re taller.”

“That’s old news now, Teach,” Claude teased. Their growth spurts had come and gone, and he’d almost forgotten how short he’d used to be, how they’d used to be on the same eye level. “Is that all you noticed?”

“No…” Byleth studied him, overly serious for a throwaway comment. Whatever she saw, she frowned. “You know battle now.”

“You’ve seen me fight before.” Claude raised a brow, not quite following.

She pursed her lips, considering her words before replying, “You know of war.”

He wondered if it was that obvious. He wondered what signs he’d shown, that they’d all shown.

He wondered when she’d first learned the lessons he kept learning every day.

“In ways I wish I hadn’t,” Claude replied wryly. He glanced at his friends in front of him. Even the way they walked was different, their steps quieter, their bodies tense. They were always ready for a fight these days. “Maybe we can keep up with you now.”

“I liked it better when you couldn’t,” Byleth replied honestly, clenching her fist.

“Me too.” But if Claude had wanted easy and comfortable, he would have gone home to Almyra, leaving Fódlan to clean up its own messes. Or maybe he’d have never crossed those mountains in the first place. “But it’s our choice.”

Byleth’s frown deepened as she clenched her fists tighter. Despite her feelings, she didn’t say anything, just walking quietly next to him. Rocks and twigs crunched underfoot, the rest of his old classmates’ bickering fading into a soft murmur.

This wasn’t how he wanted Byleth’s first day back to go. There was plenty of bad to deal with as it was. If only for now, if only for this moment, he wanted her to be happy.

Reaching down, he wrapped his hand around her balled fist, squeezing lightly. “Glad you’re back, Teach.”

Byleth glanced down, then at him. Her eyes were as green as the forest and she offered a rare smile. “Me too.”

Something in him tightened at her expression.

Before he could say anything, he heard shouts in the distance.

“Another fight?” Hilda complained, readying her axe.

“That’s what war is,” Claude quipped as he reluctantly let go of Byleth’s hand. “You survive one fight just to get into another one.”

2

If the rest of Fódlan was still in the middle of a war, the monastery was stuck in the aftermath of one. Even now, years later, it was still a mess of rubble and scorched bricks, the academy no longer the same as it had been in his youth. The rebuilding had been slow, with only key structures needed to house their soldiers rebuilt. Wild flowers and grasses grew along familiar paths, nature reclaiming what had been abandoned.

If it was this hard for him to see, he could only imagine how much harder it was for her. Dismayed, Byleth trailed after him as he guided her to where the dorms used to be.

“We haven’t had time to clear this up,” Claude explained, a paltry excuse. Broken glass crunched underfoot and he winced. “Nor the resources.”

Byleth’s jaw tightened. “That’s war.”

“That’s war,” he agreed with a sigh.

As they passed by the pond, Byleth stopped by the dock. Kneeling, she reached over the side and skimmed her fingertips on the cold water. “It’s shallower.”

“It is?” Claude stared at the murky waters. He could just see their reflections. It had never been this quiet here before—even outside of the big fishing tournament, there had always been a few students hoping for a big catch. Flayn had almost drowned once, trying to use her hands instead of her rod, and Seteth had almost banned everyone from getting within a meter of the shoreline. “Good eye, Teach.”

“It’s not my eye.” Byleth stood, wiping her hands on her pants. “It was just yesterday for me.”

“Yesterday…” Part of Claude still couldn’t believe she’d slept through the past five years. Despite all he’d seen, it still felt too fantastical, too magical. But there had been nothing logical about how she’d disappeared and returned, about how her hair turned green or even how she always seemed to already know when an attack was coming.

More importantly, he couldn’t deny the truth in front of him. Byleth really hadn’t aged a day since he’d last seen her. Her knowledge of the present was abysmal and even hermits knew of the current state of affairs.

“Then maybe you can help with the rebuilding,” Claude suggested, keeping his voice carefully upbeat. He nodded in the direction of the main hall. “Lysithea hasn’t found the blueprints and it’s a little harder for the rest of us to remember where everything was.”

“I thought there weren’t enough resources?” she asked.

“This is headquarters now.” Claude gestured at the academy behind him. “And you’re Rhea’s heir apparent, or so the true believers say, so…might as well. It’ll help raise morale.”

“…Rhea.” Byleth bit her lip, glancing at the direction of the church. Despite Edelgard’s best efforts, it still stood strong, the towering walls peeking over the rest of the academy. “Is…my father…”

Claude knew what she meant. “He’s still there,” he answered gently.

“Ah.” Claude could guess what she meant. “He’s still there.”

“Good.” While she didn’t run, Byleth’s pace picked up as she headed toward the academy’s graveyard. Luckily, the battle had managed to avoid most of it, leaving Jeralt’s marker untouched by the forces of war or the tides of time.

Well, not entirely. Weeds grew around the gravestone. He’d have to make sure to clear this out later.

Not minding the overgrown grass or mud, Byleth knelt in front of the marker, her fingers gently brushing her father’s name. “It all happened so fast,” she murmured, her fingers tracing the a. Her eyes were dry. “Too fast.”

In more ways than one. Claude remembered losing Byleth once, remembered her returning, remembered the earth disappearing underneath his feet as she vanished once more. There had been little time when it had all gone down. Jeralt had died. Edelgard had betrayed them. Dimitri had gone mad.

He’d spent five years with regrets, his chest heavy with all the things he’d never said.

And now Byleth had survived and he still couldn’t say them.

“Now’s the time to go slow,” he said instead, kneeling next to her. Had he always been this much of a coward? He covered her hand with his. “I’m here, if you need me.”

3

Claude grinned as he sat down in his old seat in the Golden Deer classroom. The layout was different, but there were still tables and chairs, still a blackboard and a desk, and that was more than enough to feel like he was back in class. Out of all the repairs, he had looked forward to this one the most.

For almost a year, this classroom had been a home of sorts.

“It’s been ages since I sat here,” he said, sprawling across the table. It was still an uncomfortable spot for a nap, but if he turned his head just so, he could discretely watch Byleth as she examined the room.

She ran her fingers along the desks before approaching the blackboard. “What will this be used for now?”

“Nothing much,” Claude admitted. If he closed his eyes, he could smell chalk in the air, hear the chatter of his classmates. “Strategy meetings, I guess. Leonie and Raphael just couldn’t stand seeing it destroyed so they fixed it up whenever they had the free time.”

Byleth pressed her hand to the blackboard. She didn’t look at him as she asked, “And the other rooms?”

He had never spent too much time in the other classrooms, but he could still picture them now. The crimson red of the eagles, the vibrant blue of the lions—Dimitri’s flustered smile when he was teased, Edelgard’s sharp smirk whenever she had a comeback.

A better memory than Byleth’s sword, red from Edelgard’s blood, the tatters of Dimitri’s blue cape as he fought like a man possessed.

Regrets that he couldn’t think, let alone voice.

“They’re still in disrepair,” Claude finally replied, sitting up.

Byleth didn’t say anything but her shoulders slumped slightly. With a quiet sigh, she tapped the blackboard. “I never knew what to write when I was up here.”

Claude chuckled. “I could tell.” With how awkward her first few weeks as teacher, it was easy to tell how unprepared she was for it. “Why’d you accept the position?”

“I don’t know.” She turned around, her eyes meeting his. “I just felt…I had to. That something might change if I did. Why’d you ask me to come to your house?”

“Because I knew something might change if I did,” Claude echoed. Though, he had expected Fódlan or his house to change, not himself. Feeling mischievous, he grinned. “You know, we never finished our classes, Teach.”

“That…” She pondered, crossing her arms as she leaned against the board. “No, we didn’t.”

“And we didn’t really graduate,” Claude continued, walking over to her slowly.

She squinted at him, sensing a trap. “That’s true.”

“Then…” Claude smiled innocently. “Maybe you should give your last class. Just to wrap things up.”

Byleth shot him a dubious look. “…no one else is here.”

“It’s a private lesson,” he cajoled, ready to counter any objection. He grabbed her hand. “You wouldn’t leave a student in need, would you?”

“You don’t actually need it,” Byleth pointed out, but she couldn’t hide her own smile as she figured out his game. “You’re leading the army just fine.”

“For how long?” Claude wiped an imaginary tear. “What would my grandfather think about his uneducated heir? What about our men?”

“Fine.” It was faint, but he heard a laugh as she nodded. “Just one.”

4

It was strange to study again. Claude sat in the monastery’s library, a stack of books around him, the musty smell tickling his nose. Most of the library had survived the fire after the Adestrian Empire had attacked, from the books down to the literature, and he spotted more than a few doodles on the table from bored students decades past.

And in the book he was reading too. History made a good teacher for tactics, though someone hadn’t told the kid who’d drawn a stickman running on the bottom of the book. Repressing a sigh, he peeked over his book at his companion.

Next to him, Byleth hunched over the table, her brow furrowing as she examined the continent’s map. As a student, he’d never imagined learning with her. War and time had a funny way of making everyone equals. For all of her fighting expertise, Byleth had five years of geopolitical changes to catch up on before she could help spearhead any attacks.

Her knees knocked into his as she sat back to compare the map with an open book.

Claude grinned and tapped her shoulder. When she turned to him, blinking owlishly, he poked her forehead. “Don’t scowl too much. It’ll freeze like that.”

Her lips pursed as she considered his words. “How?”

Half a decade of sleep hadn’t made her any better with jokes. Claude shrugged and laughed. “I’m not sure, actually. It’s just something my mother used to say.”

“Oh.” She turned slightly, considering him. Her arm brushed his. Propping her chin on her hand, she asked idly, “Is that why you’re always smiling?”

“I wouldn’t say always,” he answered, mirroring her posture. It felt childish but when her lips quirked, he knew he’d made the right move. “But smiles work better than frowns. You can get more done.”

Byleth’s expression softened. “…Jeralt said something similar before.”

Claude winced. He hadn’t expected that landmine. “He did?”

“Yes.” Despite his fears, she didn’t appear down. Fondly, she recounted, “He used to say, ‘It’s easier to get clients and a bonus if you’re approachable.’”

Now that sounded like a mercenary’s advice. Claude laughed. “He wasn’t wrong.”

“He rarely was.” Byleth nodded. “I wasn’t very good at it.”

“You’re still not good at it,” he teased. “That’s what you have me for.”

She smiled. “Yeah, I do.”

He could only watch as she straightened and reached for her book once more. Byleth had always been blunt and straight to the point, but…this was something else. Something different. She smiled more. Talked longer. Sat closer. Even now, as she pulled her book closer, he could feel her proximity, the way her arms grazed his whenever she adjusted her position, the way her hand lingered when she handed him her map.

“Who has the Ordelia territory now?” she asked, looking at him with her bright green eyes. Even the way she looked at him had shifted to unfamiliar territory.

Claude had never thought of himself as a scholar, not in the way Lindhardt had been, but he knew Byleth well enough to write a paper.

And he knew this truth: She liked him.

Unfortunately, that led him to his second conclusion: he couldn’t push this any further. Not now, not with the weight of Rhea’s position on her shoulders, not with the fate of the war riding on their efforts.

“The empire, but it’s a little more tricky than that,” Claude replied, resisting the urge to grab her hand when she pulled back. “Never thought I’d be the one teaching you, Teach.”

He’d swallowed his words five years ago. He could do it again.

5

War killed; a fact that was all too real as Claude stared at the very injured Byleth. Lying on her cot in her tent, blood matting her hair to her face and staining her armour, she was barely conscious as Manuela took care of her. The older woman huffed as she chanted under her breath, her hands glowing as she healed the worst of Byleth’s wounds.

“You shouldn’t be in the vanguard like that,” Manuela barked, irritated as she inspected Byleth for further injuries. Despite her sharp tone, her hands were gentle as she poked and prodded.

“Someone has to be,” Byleth replied tiredly, raising a hand to cover her eyes. She groaned softly as Manuela touched a particularly tender spot.

“That someone isn’t you!” Manuela snapped, her touch turning rough from irritation as she finished checking Byleth. Claude had a feeling their wine inventory was about to miss a few bottles. “You’re too important to fight every mercenary that we cross. You’re our leader!”

“Claude is,” Byleth argued feebly.

Manuela snorted. “Please. Don’t try to wiggle your way out of this.”

Claude released a breath he didn’t know he was holding when Manuela straightened and stepped back. “All’s good?” he asked, somehow managing to keep his voice from cracking.

“For now.” Manuela crossed her arms and glared at Byleth. “If not for yourself, think of me! It’s tiring patching you up!”

Byleth gave her a flat stare before nodding. “I will.”

“Just do it. Why are all of my patients masochists?” Manuela groaned, running a hand through her hair. “Make sure you don’t overexert yourself—I fixed most of the injuries but there’s a few that need to heal naturally.”

“… yes.” Byleth agreed.

“Are you just saying that? I heard the hesitation!” Manuela whirled to Claude, fire in her eyes. He took a step back defensively as she jabbed his chest. “You. Make sure she gets her rest.”

He’d have done it even if she hadn’t asked. Claude forced a grin. “Aww, you trust me now?”

“Not a bit, but you’re better than her.” Manuela picked up her staff and stalked past Claude. “I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Claude winced as she stomped out, no doubt heading toward the supply tent. Well, just this once, he’d overlook it. It had been a bad fight. Their healers had worked overtime to the point even Lysithea had admitted she was tired.

And Byleth hadn’t so much as lifted her head since they’d brought her to her tent.

Despite the healing, she was still covered in blood, her minor scratches and injuries left untended. Manuela claimed that it promoted natural healing. He’d long suspected she was just too tired to do it all. Quietly, he perched on the cot next to her, trying and failing to put words to his feelings.

His heart was heavy. Heavier than his unsaid words, heavier than the ring that had sat in his pocket for the last few weeks.

Byleth lowered her hand, staring back at him. Her mouth opened, as though to say something, before she closed it once more.

Those eyes had almost closed forever. “That was dangerous.”

“War is dangerous,” she stated.

He tightened his jaw. She was alive and she was here and part of him had feared that this might be their last time together, that he’d just be left with his regrets. “You don’t have to make it more dangerous. The idea is to come home alive.”

Byleth’s brow furrowed. “I did.”

“This was close.” His voice caught in his throat. Keeping his hands from shaking, he squeezed her hand. She always fought close combat, sword in hand. As accurate as his arrows were, he could only pick off so many enemies before they approached her. All it took was one wrong move, one slip up, and she’d be too far for any aid.

And even Byleth couldn’t come back from death.

But he could tell from how her jaw set that there was no use in telling her that. Byleth was stubborn, ever her father’s daughter, and it would take more than a few words to change that. “Just…be careful,” he pleaded.

Her expression softened and she forced herself to sit up with a groan. Before he could move, she covered his hand with her own, sandwiching it between her palms. “I am, always.”

Her hands were still cold. Claude smiled wryly, not quite believing. “You better be.”

6

Tomorrow, the war would be over.

It was a strange thought. The nightmare of half a decade would soon be over. No, it had been longer than that—their enemy had existed centuries, making their mark in the annals of history. And now, a final one.

Win or lose, the world as they knew it would change after tomorrow.

Maybe that was why he’d convinced Byleth to take one last walk with him through the monastery’s grounds. She’d kept quiet for most of the walk, as they passed by familiar haunts. The repairs had patched up most of the school’s grounds; even the greenhouse’s panes were all replaced.

Byleth stopped in front of the Goddess tower. In the late evening, most of it was hidden in shadow, the upper floors almost impossible to see. Her expression was distant, hard to read. “Do you still not believe in the Goddess?”

“Does it matter?” he asked, standing next to her.

“No…just…” Byleth closed her eyes. “I suppose she wasn’t entirely a Goddess.”

She. Byleth spoke as though she’d known the Goddess. Perhaps she had. Even now, even after all this time, Claude only had question after question for Byleth. There was so much he didn’t know, so much he wanted to know.

But for now, he’d just start with this: “Do you have one now?”

“One what?” Byleth asked, perplexed.

“An ambition.” Claude grinned. “You said you didn’t really have one, back then.”

“Oh…” Byleth turned back to the tower, staring up. The wind blew softly through her hair, making her already messy hair messier. She turned back to him and nodded. “I do.”

“And you’re not going to tell me.” He sighed, faking a pout. “Well, I guess I do believe in her a little then.” When Byleth raised a brow, he covered his mouth in mock-horror. “Teach, don’t tell me you forgot our wish?”

“Oh.” Byleth rubbed her chin thoughtfully before realization crossed her eyes. “Right.”

Now he actually felt a little hurt. “Seriously?”

“Do you want to make another wish?” she asked as a way of apology.

Well, he couldn’t say no to that. Claude sighed. “What to wish for…to win the battle?”

“No,” Byleth said decisively. “We’re going to do that anyways.”

How was he supposed to disagree with that? Claude laughed. “Well, if you’re that confident…”

“For a brighter dawn,” Byleth said, her eyes locked on his.

“That’s poetic.”

“You told me that once.” She stared at the tower. “We’re going to make a better Fódlan.”

Her hand was close and if he wanted to, he could reach across and intertwine their fingers. No, not want, that wasn’t the right word—there was nothing more that he wanted. The ring was still in his pocket, the words stuck in his throat.

But to a fault, Claude had always been pragmatic.  As was Byleth.

And now was not the time.

“To a brighter dawn,” Claude said instead. “And this time, it won’t take five years.”

“It won’t.” To his surprise, Byleth turned and took his hand. “We still have that other promise.”

For once, she’d struck him speechless. “Promise?”

“You told me to save you a dance,” she said, gently chiding him. “Now who’s forgetting?”

He burst into laughter. “That’s fair.” Still clasping her hand, Claude bowed deeply. “Will you honour me with a dance, milady?”

If there was one thing Claude had learned, it was that now wasn’t forever. The ring weighed heavily in his pocket, but only for now. His words were stuck in his throat, but only for now.

Tomorrow, come hell or high water, he’d finally take that last step to her side.

[tarithenurse]

I see fire - 20

Fandom: D&D 5E/homebrew campaign. Word count: 2638. Contents: Arrivals, curiosity, discoveries. A/N: Any questions are welcome. Please comment and like and reblog. Let me know if you want a tag. Divider by @firefly-graphics

XX

Thankfully, they can get moving again the next day. Led by Claude under a cloudy sky, the group makes quick pace thanks to changing of horses now and then and Morella’s shape shifting too – the men still find it weird but they are quick to appreciate the practicality of it.

By the late afternoon they all pass through an invisible barrier, impossible to feel or smell but evident because suddenly the landscape before them changes including the appearance of a tower on the horizon. Tall and foreboding with a light on the top that flickers between purples and blues. Taking a step back, the trio sees it disappear once more only to be revealed again when they cross an unseen threshold.

“How does it work? It’s illusion magic, right?” Zilvra asks.

“Some sort of illusion dome but...” Claude explains, “we can’t quite figure it out what with the grand scale of it.”

“Gavin found this?” Morella gapes. “How?”

The leader smiles. “He was exploring and came across it quite by accident.” Then his smile fades. “Gavin...don’t expect to see much of him. He’s not doing well and requires rest.”

Concerned although they hardly know the man, the trio asks what ails him. “Can we do anything to help?”

“Sadly, no...but thank you.” Claude sighs and a glance over at Harris shows how worried he is too. “He was granted the use of the Eye but only by making a deal for it. Each time he uses it, it takes of his life.”

“What?”

“He’d trained with the shaman who had it, mastering the magic of lightning. The shaman offered him the Eye, warning him of the cost but Gavin decided it was worth it although he eventually would lose himself.”

With that, the conversation ends as Claude spurs his horse on ahead, leaving the walking trio behind.

The older and grander trees stop, making room for saplings and tombstones of indeterminable but ancient date. For close to two hours, the group makes way between the graves, giving the trio plenty of time to study them which reveals that the still barely visible engravings aren’t in common or any other language they know although it is familiar to Zilvra.

“It’s a form of Undercommon. I recognize it from my mother’s work,” she explains.

Harris nods. “But old.”

“Well can’t you read it, then?” Morella asks the drow.

“We only learn Elvish and Common in basic school,” she admits with annoyance at the system, “for me to learn Undercommon I’d have to go to university.”

Eventually, the seemingly endless rows of gravestones come to an end near the foot of the tower which stands near the shore of a lake. The light shining from atop is visible now as a constant burning flame which serves less to illuminate in the early evening hours and more as a symbol of the people who have made this place their home.

“Welcome to the Masons’ Alliance Hideout,” Claude says, making a grand gesture with the hand to encompass both old and new elements in the area.

Several barracks have been erected and out on the lake are a lot of ships and boats, all of different make and size but sort of gathered around one central ship that’s bigger than the rest – and more are being built. Many are battle ships but Claude admits that it’s not for naval warfare but rather to form a blockade.

“The plan is to block the Stouvanian access to Welles which holds much of the farmland and the still functional mines,” Claude explains. “We’ll have to destroy bridges but also physically block for the passage of ships and that will disrupt the iron deliveries further.”

Most of the buildings the Masons have made here are wooden but there are some with stone foundations too. They are very different in make from the tower which is built in an architectural style that Zilvra and the others never have seen before. But it must be old because it’s weathered and mosses and ivies are trying to claim the base of it.

Claude barks out a few orders and soon the cart is being off loaded and Elmer’s body carried away.

“Ooh!” Morella squeaks.

Somehow in the busy mingling of people, the big guy has managed to sidle his way over to the eladrin and is now petting her on the head – but not for long as Claude tells him to quit it before guiding the guy away.

”Glad you’re here,” Harris voice catches their attention, “welcome...to the Masons’ home.”

“What’s with the big guy?” Morella asks bluntly.

Their friend seems worried as he looks after the retreating figure. “I’m not entirely sure, Claude is the one who really knows him but it’s some sort of brain damage. Can’t talk, really. Acts a bit like a puppet but rather specific about who he gets orders from.” There’s a sigh. “Don’t underestimate him though...he once killed a guy by petting him. Don’t let him pet you.”

The trio exchange glances, wondering how close they might have gotten already.

“No petting...right.”

Looking up, Zilvra can barely see the flame atop the tower. There’s something arcane in its nature and it reminds her...suddenly she remembers: in the testing facility that fateful day when she and Filandrin got caught, there had been a holding cell – nothing more than a cage really – but instead of trusting in the bars, there had also been a low flickering fire. It had been redder in its hue but still eerily similar in nature to what she now sees on top of this tall building.

“Harris,” Anvindr is saying, “I can see the arcane field around the tower and uhm...the dome is cracking?”

Zilvra sees the new figure before he joins the conversation.

“Ah the illusion magic?” he says without preamble.

He’s a neat guy with a greying ponytail that used to be blond and maybe once sported more volume too. Dressed differently from the Masons and considerably less muscular he could be someone who had supported his life through books or at least not physical labour.

“Mister Reed?” Anvindr asks.

“Goodness, no,” the man smiles, pointedly ignoring Harris’ laugh, “my name’s Gideon.”

The Mason pats Gideon on the shoulder. “He’s our residence magician.”

“We’ve tried to open the door but the abjuration magic that holds it sealed is strong,” he explains, distractedly toying with his sleeve.

“Can we try?” Morella immediately asks, surprisingly backed up by Anvindr.

It doesn’t take them long to get Claude and Harris to agree with the idea. Standing back and watching her friends is Zilvra who is more intrigued by the flame atop. Still, though, she keeps half an eye on her friends’ effort.

The door is solid cork, it seems like. No handles or hinges it’s as though it has been pressed into the frame. Keen on getting in, Morella transforms into an ant and tries to squeeze through any gap available but to no avail...what she does discover, however, is a steady stream of air being sucked in past the microscopic seams around the door. But there is a seam. Clever as always, Anvindr procures his pitons and starts to insert them all the way around, hammering them in slowly but thoroughly and when he’s halfway, there is a steady sound of air whistling through the increasing gap.

Stepping back, Zilvra watches the flame. “Has it ever been different? More red?” she asks no one in particular.

“No. Why?” Claude joins her.

“I’ve seen something similar once...not on a tower, of course, but to keep prisoners in.”

There’s a second’s delay before Anvindr stops the hammering and Claude turns to regard the drow.

“Are you saying it’s a prison?” the Masons’ leader demands.

She shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s just...the way it moves and such...the colour was slightly different but it does remind me of it.”

“Want us to stop?” Anvindr checks.

Claude deliberates, hand on the chin as he looks at the tower as if he could wrest an answer from it. He can’t, though, and eventually he is the one to make the decision to carry on – curiosity winning.

A few more pitons driven deep is all it takes before the door lets go with whoop and a pop, falling outwards and welcoming in fresh air.

“Oh!” Zilvra points to the top where the flame has turned blue and shrunk.

The others stay by the door opening, peering in, hands on their weapons as if ready for an assault by a long imprisoned foe. But nothing except musty air comes out. Joining them, the drow also sees that the base of the tower is just the entrance and a spiral staircase leading up into the darkness.

Carefully, the trio enter, noting how they are the first to disturb the thick layer of dust. Up and up, checking for traps as they go but finding none, the trio continues until they reach a door almost at the very top. Opening that one easily, they take in the view of a simple room with a large circle with sigils around it.

“I’ve seen something like this,” Morella startles her friends, “when I left the Fey Wild...someone placed me in a circle like this before activating it at sending me off to an in-between sort of place.”

“Like this?”

“Well...this one is bigger so maybe it can send more people at once?”

There is nothing else than the circle, made of metal inlay in the stone floor, so the trio dares to step closer even as anything metallic they carry begins to pull towards the circle – not uncontrollably so, but enough to tug gently.

Claude and Gideon arrive just then, wanting to know what is going on and soon equally intrigued by the circle and its implications.

“We could toss something in,” Claude suggests, echoing the secret want of the trio.

Zilvra rummages through her stuff, finding a glowstone on a stick from the mine in Heartwell Shire.

“Ready?”

Everyone agrees, watching it sail through the air and land with a clatter and to no effect on the floor in the circle. Well...the stone begins to glow, but that’s it. It stays.

“Perhaps it has to be something living to be transported?” Anvindr suggests.

“Or of a different material.” Morella pulls out a coin.

Laying it outside the circle, it slowly slides over the floor towards the etched lines but before it gets that far she plucks it up again and lobs it into the circle proper where it lands heavily without rolling about.

It’s uncertain what comes first, the change in the air or the glow from the inscriptions and lines on the floor. Either way, even as the five people turn to exit the room as a safety precaution, the runes and the entire design glows bright and the door closes. The pull of the magnetism increases, forcing them all to hold on to their belongings as they stand, trapped.

Thankfully, it’s only for a while: the magnetism fades away as quickly as it had escalated and the door opens once more. But now there also is a large sphere within the circle, seemingly holding nothing but a dark void.

“Everyone fine?” Claude checks, earning affirmations all around.

Calling upon her magic, Zilvra sends in orbs of Dancing Light to illuminate the darkness in the sphere but as soon as they enter, she can feel the magic fading as the lights are snuffed.

Anvindr, working from the theory that it might be an anti-magic sphere, lights a torch and pokes it in...but it too is snuffed.

“Wait!” Morella suddenly says, eyes fixed on the orb.

“I saw it too,” Zilvra warns. “Out!”

On the way through the door opening, the two females explain that they’d seen something move, something that also was round but clearly coming closer. Through the door, the pull it almost fully closed, just leaving a slight gap big enough to hear what’s going on inside the room.

“So, something round?” Claude asks.

“Yes and -” Morella is about to explain when they hear a voice from the room they’ve just abandoned.

None of them understand what is being said but at least Zilvra recognizes it as Undercommon, a language spoken in the Underdark and taught as an elective during the higher educations as opposed to Common and Elvish which are mandatory in basic school.

Interestingly, the voice calling out sounds confused rather than aggressive.

Cracking the door open a smidgen further, Zilvra looks in and sees a being that very much resembles a floating orb with a big mouth and eye at the centre and many tentacles with smaller eyes at the centre of it. She has no clue what it is and neither do the others as she describes it.

Looking back in, she sees how the creature is feeling the edges of the sphere it’s in, apparently unable to pass through the barrier.

Wiggling the door a bit, elicits a clear response even when its “back” was turned, meaning that all the little eyes are just as important as the big eye. Then the trio try speaking to it but they are met with confusion and questioning sounds until Anvindr tries with Gith, a language spoken by a different race from another plane of existence, and while the eyed orb does not respond verbally in the same language, a means of communication is established through yes and no questions where the negative or positive answer is given through a blink or two.

“Are you trapped?” Anvindr asks for the group, earning a positive answer – which for the being probably is negative but let that be what it is.

“Have you been trapped for long?”

Another double blink, meaning yes, and it flails its tentacles excitedly.

Warily, the entire group moves inside the room once more but all that happens is a seemingly happy bounce from the being when it can see them.

“Very long?”

Yes. Through a lot of trial and error they manage to establish that it at least has been 700 years.

“Who trapped you...oh never mind,” Anvindr pauses to rephrase the question but notices that all tentacles are pointing towards Zilvra. “Drow trapped you?”

Yes.

Anvindr has been translating back and forth and now he repeats Zilvra’s promise that she knew nothing of it and is sorry it has been trapped for so long. It seems to accept the statement.

“But...my kin doesn’t belong to these lands,” Zilvra points out although the memory of the graves beyond the tower is fresh in her mind. The writing on them had been eerily similar to Undercommon.

“Are you alone?”

Again the double blink for yes.

“Ask him about the glowstick,” Morella suggests, apparently having decided that the entity is a male of some sort.

Anvindr does and for a moment the being disappears out of view beneath where the floor should be only to return moments later with the stick balanced in its tentacles and a satisfied grin on its face. It can’t pass the stick through when it tries though, but Anvindr can pass an unlit torch in, balance the glowstone stick on it and get it out that way.

“Weird,” Zilvra mumbles, but gladly accepts her stick where the stone is glowing softly now it’s out of the orb once more.

“We have to go,” Anvindr explains, causing the being to droop with its tentacles, “but we’ll be back and maybe we can figure out how to free you.”

That makes it very excited, causing it to vibrate almost and smiles broadly (which shows a set of very sharp teeth).

On the way out, Claude is sure that the door is closed properly and as soon as they all have exited the tower, he orders the cork-door put back in place.

[dragoncat91]

Wings of Fire Emblem: The Sand/Sky Prince

(This is fanfiction based on @wofemblem by @trunswicked, they have Claude as a pure sandwing but I think he'd be a sand/sky hybrid! Using my headcanon for the Almyran royal fam...)

She'd had every right to fly away and go back home. She was not being forced to stay here. Yet somehow, the Leicester Alliance didn't feel like home anymore.

She was a skywing, she could fly long distances without needing a rest. She could, and cross the mountains once more...and fly right into the spears of the border guards, and the claws of her disappointed father.

So why was she staying here for this egg? The little thing, with a mottled orange and brown shell, resting in a nest of plush desert moss beyond a heavily guarded gate. Dragonesses laid eggs regularly, regardless if they had had a night with a handsome drake or not...and if the egg came out slightly bigger with a colored shell, there was a new life inside.

The Almyran king looked like he wanted her to stay, and not just for their dragonet. He might even love her. And it might be mutual...but she was only certain that she felt a connection to that dragonet already. He, or she, would be a sand/sky hybrid, and to her knowledge, all Almyran royalty had been pure sandwings for the longest time.

She was going to hunt to clear her head. A large female sandwing with golden brown scales and sharpened cream colored horns, wearing armor, stopped her at the gate. “Lady Tiana.”

Tiana bowed her head slightly and folded her large skywing wings the best she could. “General Farah. Permission to hunt?”

“Granted.” Farah curled the barbed end of her tail in amusement. “But I must warn you. The hatchery staff believe your egg will hatch any time now.”

Tiana snorted, and a small plume of smoke exited her nostrils.

“Little of my business, I suppose.” Farah shrugged. “Okay. Go on.”

He'd gone to look at the egg more often lately. A sand/sky hybrid...and a royal. Part of him hoped he or she would hatch out with the vibrant fire orange scales of his or her mother. Would the dragonet even have the sandwing tail barb? Or would he or she have the large, powerful skywing wings? Tiana could fly circles around him, and he wasn't even old yet. He was her age.

He did have several battle scars already though. He was a dark brown color with tan underbelly and wing membranes. His tail barb was slightly bolt shaped, fitting his title as Thunder King.

And here he was, talking to the egg like the dragonet could hear him. “So, your mother went hunting again. You think she's coming back? She has every right to leave if she wants-”

The egg moved. He gasped and covered the nest with his paw.

Hatchery staff did say it would soon be time.

He removed his paw. He was about to witness the miracle of life.

The shell cracked open. A sandy tan dragonet, sleek like a skywing but with a tiny barbed tail like a sandwing, blinked at the king. With eyes the color of emeralds. Like Tiana's...

Gods, if she didn't return he was going to be so sad.

The hatchery maid pushed her way past. “Sorry, pardon, your majesty! Just have to see if we have a prince or princess!”

Boran stepped aside. The maid cradled the dragonet in her paws, checking the horns. Male dragonets were generally born with horns while females just had nubs. This dragonet had horns. But she checked under the tail too. Boran grit his teeth and cringed. How undignified for the poor little thing. He didn't want to know how the maid could tell at this age with that.

The maid gave the dragonet back. “A prince. Congratulations.”

As the maid left, Boran gazed into his son's tiny green eyes. His son stared back.

The king smiled as a name came to him. “Khalid.”

Tiana beat her powerful wings against the backdrop of the afternoon desert sun. She had two antelope in her claws. She touched down at the palace gates, and Farah grinned at her. “Put those in the larder, and my brother requests you in the palace lobby.”

What awaited her in the palace lobby was amusing chaos. There was that drake she had spent a romantic night with, Boran, the king of Almyra, trying and failing to corral a newly hatched dragonet. The dragonet bounced around, nipping and clawing at his father's paws and tail. The dragonet was a sandy tan color, with a tiny tail barb, but sleek and built more like a skywing in general.

The dragonet caught his father's tail and chomped the barb. Boran lifted his tail and tilted himself to show Tiana their son. “He hatched.”

[fayesdiary]

Faye's Fòdlan Journal: Season 1 - Episode 4: Jeralt left the lens cap on

<- Previous Masterpost Next ->

Hey. It's been a while, but I guess that's what happens when a master procrastinator at writing tries to do a project like this. Unfortunately I either lost or forgot to record footage for this chapter, so there won't be any footage for it. Whoops.

Last time we officially became the professor of the Blue Lions, and we are now tasked with preparing our students for the mock battle between the three houses next week.

So we have to engage with the dreaded Calendar, but for now our only option is to explore the monastery. Talking to Dimitri will have him give us a brief rundown of what we're supposed to do. Because yes, no one in the staff even bothered to brief Byleth on what they were supposed to be doing as the new professor, so the future king of Faerghus has to do it instead. The most esteemed academy in Fòdlan, everyone.

Anyway, he tells us about quests, which are basically characters in the monastery asking us to either bring them something, deliver something to someone else or take part in a special battle. More on that next chapter. You can do most quests whenever you want but some have a deadline and are, for example, only available on the month you get them. And that's... pretty much it, really.

The other main thing is special activities that you can take part in to gain various advantages: choir practice to train Byleth and two students in Faith, cooking for some extra stats for the rest of the month and sharing meals to raise the support and motivation of two other students. Each activity with very few exceptions costs 1 Activity Point to do and cannot be done again, and you gain more Activity Points for the day by raising your Professor Level, which also grants other important bonuses. And since your Professor Level is raised by engaging in those very activities, that translates into a feedback loop.

Well, that or you can spend hours fishing which slowly raises it, your call.

After a long day of wandering aimlessly around the monastery talking to people (everyone has something new to say every month which I find incredibly neat. It's even fully voice acted too!), it's time for the mock battle.

It's a very small map, with four students and one professor for each side, and the whole battle is being supervised by Jeralt, who is... giving us advice during it. So much for impartiality, old man.

Needless to say, we wipe the floor with Edelgard, Claude and the rest of them. But unfortunately, Jeralt forgot to take the lens cap off so none of it was recorded. Disappointed by the loss of footage, they decide to do this again bigger and better in a few months during the Battle of the Eagle and Lion. But we won't see that one in quite some time yet.

Overall, not a bad first week for Byleth and the Blue Lions. They may not know a thing about teaching yet, but luckily they had their experience leading others as a mercenary which let them scrape by.

Next month, it's time for the first real battle where we go kill a familar face.

<- Previous Masterpost Next ->

[koroart]

3, 6, 13, 26, 41? :3

3. Already answered number 3 but I suppose I can add one more va I liked and that’s Claude’s ( Joe Zieja ) , Edelgard’s ( Tara Platt ) , Felix and Ignatz! They all did wonderful jobs and honestly the whole cast put their best efforts into their roles! ✨

6. In 3H it’s definitely AM cuz it’s both the first one I played and the one I enjoyed the most, I liked VW too because it explored the more fantasy/history of Fódlan that was missing from AM and I have to finish my CF playthrough and eventually start on SS so I can’t quite give my opinion on those yet. Hopes wise, I have a feeling it’s still going to be AG even after playing the other two, I feel it in my nuggets.

13. I hope y’all like dmcl cuz the fic that did it for me was The Warmth of Your Doorways by asael & unraelated !! Its a fic I’ve read over and over again and just made me adore this pairing ✨

26. My overall favorite character? Oh god why would you ask me this— jk it’s Lambert and Rodrigue, idk why , idk when and how ( it’s my daddy issues ) one of them only showed up for 30 seconds, and the other just served cunt then fucking died . But I love these two old men so damn much I’m insane. The runner ups would be Dimitri and Claude, as well as Cyril and Lysithea — they are mah babies ✨

41. A HC I share with a friend is that Rodrigue and his wife love each other platonically, basically platonic soulmates, cuz Rodrigue’s wife ( my friend and I named her María ) is aro/ace and her true love is the sea but expectations pulled her from it and her dream of exploring the world. They married because it was expected of them but neither really complained because there was that foundation of friendship and admiration there already. But Maria knows Rodrigue’s heart and love went to Lambert and helped support him when Lambert died ( or in my Lambert lives au, Lambert had essentially given up on love and Rodrigue had a bit of a time trying to come to terms with that )

Another HC of mine is the relationship between Lambert and Rufus, I like to believe they did get along at first but Rufus just couldn’t look past his own jealousy of his brother when he was passed over as heir and gradually their relationship soured over the years. Lambert would attempt to rebuild it but Rufus wouldn’t so the rift only just got bigger.

Final HC is that Lambert had a Major Crest of Blaiddyd, which is why he was often said to be quite powerful in his prime.