#post time-skip byleth mind you

[onedivinemisfit]

Modern professor Safira ✨

FE3H (c) Nintendo

Art: Me

[lellu]

Thanks you for entertaining my request :] I don't mind if it's not "novel" as long as it is about your own taste!

- What are the quality you like about Edelgard ( About her as person and about her ideology )? Is there any personal flaw she has that is compelling to you?

- What's your favorite line of dialog from Edelgard? Is there any Edelgard line that seems more mundane than her more popular one that you particularly enjoy?

- Which Edelgard support is your favorite? Why? On the contrary, is there any support she has that feel like it could have been better than it is, gone in another direction or went further than it did to you?

- What's your favorite Edelgard endcard?

- If you had to pick one character for each house ( including the Ashen Wolves and the Church of Seiros staff ), who would it be? Why did you pick them and what would their support be about?

- If you had to make Edelgard join another route as an important recruited character, which route would it be ( it can be Houses or Hopes routes )? Why? How would it happens?

- Is there a particular aspect of Edelgard you love to analyze?

- Is there any details or obscure trivia you'd like to share about Edelgard?

- Is there another setting you would like to see Edelgard in? Why? ( It can be anything, from placing her in our world, any kind of AU, a crossover with another game, etc )

Also questions that might be a bit sillier to you, I am a fandom girl at heart ^^"

- Do you have any headcanons regarding Edelgard?

- If you're into shipping, who do you ship with Edelgard? What do you like about them? Do you have any rarepair?

- Is there any song you associate with Edelgard?

- Do you read fanfic, and if so what is ( /are ) your favorite Edelgard fanfic?

- Do you have any AU including Edelgard?

Feel free to skip any questions you do not want to answer for any reason and take any time you need to answer! I tried to be somewhat short, but if this too long do not hesitate to cut the ask. I can also send the questions in multiple ask so you can answer bit by bit when you feel like it! ( Or if you want MORE ask I can do that too-)

( Also I'm glad you like the reblog on my blog, I don't mind the spam rbing :] And if you ever need more cool Edelgard/fe3h related post, I've accumulated many *high-caliber* artwork and analysis over the year that I'd love to share! )

- okay for starters. i love the intense belief she has in people's ability to be great given the opportunity and her commitment to giving people that opportunity -> best instance of this is linhardt's a and a+ supports with her where it's like. especially with how their relationship starts out, you expect the two of them to be irreconcilably at odds with each other. but edelgard believes in him and puts in the effort to create a job tailored to him that *literally no one else* would be able to do because she knows he is capable of amazing things, but she recognizes that he would not be able to thrive in a traditional environment. and i Adore how this shining bit of hope contrasts with the way she so often lies to people and pushes them away. edelgard is constantly balancing wild dreams with horrible fear and it makes for such an interesting character. what else is there. im obsessed with her moments of ruthlessness. im obsessed with her moments of kindness. im obsessed with the way that she has never stopped running from her past and fighting towards a future that she might be able to live in (but she knows she probably won't) and the cowardice and the courage are two sides of the same coin. she cant face herself so she faces out at the world and dares it to try her.

this is already long lmao ill put the rest of my answers under a cut:

- okay maybe a weird answer but i actually love her little speech to byleth after jeralt dies. its harsh and its not wrong and its unnecessary and it shows exactly how she copes with things herself and. it is just such a lovely character moment. i love her a support with bernadetta and the way that she admits bernie has made her kinder, how the two of them allude to their backgrounds through talking about flowers, the line about how she can't wait to see the flower's true colours. there are so many more but my memory for lines is not great and these are the ones on my mind.

- another probably weird choice but i have to say that i adore her support chain with manuela. the way she's so out of her depth with the faith because she Doesn't want to destroy something so important to so many people but her own experiences make it difficult for her to understand, how manuela helps her to be able to respect it much more honestly. i don't know if its my very favorite support of hers (almost all her support chains are equally fantastic to me, though i don't care for constance's, and I think hubert's b and a supports are alright but not up to the standard of most of the rest. his c is really good though) but it's one that doesn't get much fandom focus so i wanted to spotlight it.

- my favorite endcard is probably a tossup between byleth and lysithea. i think that her and byleth's ending is very sweet and i adore the sheer catharsis of her and lysithea taking down the people who hurt them together and taking back their lives. her solo ending is also important to me of course, on account of it giving us a hint of what comes next. i think her stepping down and retreating from the public eye is very important and i wish it was made explicit in more endings than just her solo and hers with hubert. also a shoutout to her caspar end card which i think is really funny. who let them get married

- if i were to make edelgard recruitable on any other route i'd make her a last minute recruit on verdant wind. i think the concept of her coming to support claude once he's proven his resolve to her (and claude being willing to spare her, because he's the only lord i think could do that and have it come off well) would be fantastic, because ive always wondered what she would look like in a supporting role. i think she could do it really well if she got past herself. obviously she would have to have different supports (though not manybecause the timing is tight; maybe a heavily boosted support growth so she could reach b with claude and a potential different paired ending with lysithea– if we're feeling spicy maybe we can finally let her and marianne talk, or make dedue recruitable as well and have them conflict over dimitri's death). and this gives us the bonus of having a route where she can help face down the agarthans, and maybe even come to something of an understanding with rhea! honestly this might be my ideal route lmao

- a better question would be is there a setting i *wouldn't* be interested to see edelgard in. she's a fascinating character and so much of what she does is heavily reliant on her exact canon circumstances so any really well done au would be able to explore some interesting aspects of her.

- headcanons! ok most of my headcanons are not easy to articulate and the ones that are are very much projection. absolute biggest projection hc is that shes a lesbian but would chill with claude in a <> way. for other hcs? she would love modest mouse. her homestuck classpect is prince of rage. once she's older than any of her siblings made it to she begins to think of herself as the eldest. sometimes she just has to turn her brain off and let muscle memory and some odd residue of incredible willpower move her forward. stepping back would be incredibly hard on her and for a while she'd be the worst off mentally she had been since the experiments because she never really learned to stop running and as soon as she stood still it caught up with her Hard.

- top 3 edelgard ships for me are edeleth berniegard and edelclaude. edeleth is narratively really fun on both cf and ss but for me it's also what happens when you play a dating sim but kin one of your romance options so hard that the player character just becomes "what would i want someone to do for me". berniegard is such a good opportunity to let edelgard be a little soft and let bernie be a little brave and they both do art and like stuffed animals and have so much to work through and. augh. squishes them. edelclaude just has so much incredible fanwork and the snippets we do get of them are to me the most interesting relationship between the lords. they talk about how similar their goals are they flirt on the battlefield they think each other are the most annoying guy ever. ive got a little spot reserved for edelys and i think rheagard is. Well. rarepairwise i think hapi/edelgard, edelgard/marianne, or all three together could be fascinating, especially if you throw the hegemon husk into the mix.

- songs i associate with edelgard: the crow and grade school games by dessa, caliber by wintersleep, november by sparkbird, make up your mind by florence + the machine. probably a billion others but since i started playing fe3h ive only been listening to a few songs on loop lol

- favorite edelgard fic? probably The Stars Will Be Watching Us by onnari. time loop fic that was my introduction to edelclaude and Boy Was It Ever An Introduction.

- my big brainrot aus are an animorphs au (lords + byleth and flayn as the animorphs, the yeerks are those who slither and the church are the andalites) and a no byleth!au where hubert dies early into white clouds that forces edelgard to lean into her other relationships.

[indigowallbreaker]

Dimiashe Week Day 5: Stargazing

This one is short enough to just post on its own. But if you wanna leave kudos/a comment, it's also posted on my ao3 page! Almost with my other Dimiashe week content! :D

Includes:

Pre-Time Skip

Pre-Relationship

Kisses o3o

--

It was hard not to look at the night sky while camping. The smoke from the fire curled up into the darkness and your eye was drawn to the movement. Because of this— because Dimitri kept trying to catch his eye— Ashe found himself staring up when the star flew overhead.

"Oh!" 

Beside him, Mercedes turned in alarm. "What's wrong?"

"A shooting star!" Ashe pointed to the sky somewhat redundantly. "I saw a shooting star!"

Flayn looked up, hands clasped in delight. "How lovely! Don't forget to make your wish!"

A wish. Ashe frowned in thought, lowering his gaze to the fire. He could wish for the safety of his siblings, or a drier march back to Garreg Mach in the morning, or even a Blue Lion victory in the Battle of the Eagle and Lion next week. However...

Two deep blue eyes were boring into him, and had been since they set up camp. Ashe gulped. Right now, the only thing Ashe wanted above all else was for Dimitri to forget what he'd done during the bandit fight today. 

Ashe looked to the stars and thought with all his might— I wish Prince Dimitri would forget I kissed him.

Another star shot through the sky. Ashe's heart leapt into his throat even as Flayn cried, "Ah! I saw that one!"

"There's another!" Sylvain cocked his head. "Huh. There's a few actually."

"Meteor shower," Professor Byleth stated, holding out their empty dinner plate to Annette.

Annette spooned them more meat from the cookpot and laughed. "Wishes for everyone!"

As one, the Blue Lion class lifted their heads to the sky and made their wishes. All except Ashe, who felt one wish was more than enough for him. He watched his classmates instead— some put their hands together as if praying, some mouthed to themselves, and some simply stared upwards stoically. Even Dimitri was looking at the shooting stars. It made a peaceful scene, and Ashe smiled in the silence, wondering what everyone was wishing for.

Then Dimitri abruptly caught Ashe’s eye. Ashe gulped. He all but jumped from his seat and declared, “I’m going to check on my bow strings,” before marching away from the fire. No one paid him much mind as he ducked into his tent. 

Once there, Ashe put a hand to his rapidly beating heart. How could one moment of eye contact do that much to him? He breathed out slowly, trying to calm himself so he could return and have dinner. 

But the events of the day kept replaying in his mind’s eye. Dimitri pressing Ashe against a tree to let the bandit leader pass by them. Dimitri watching as the man moved away, whispering to Ashe to wait in case he doubled back. Dimitri tilting his head and asking if Ashe was alright. Dimitri standing beautifully in the autumn sunlight as Ashe surged forward to kiss him. Dimitri blinking owlishly when Ashe quickly pushed him away so he could ready an arrow for the rapidly approaching footsteps. 

It hadn’t taken long for Ashe to regret his actions. Apart from his horrible timing, you couldn’t just go around kissing princes! No matter how often you had been thinking about it! Ashe ran both hands over his face. Now Dimitri wouldn’t stop trying to get him alone, doubtless so he could reprimand Ashe on his inappropriate behavior. Maybe it would be easier for Ashe to transfer to a different class altogether. 

Even from inside the tent, Ashe could hear the laughter of the other Blue Lions, talking about wishes and poking fun at one another. No, Ashe couldn’t leave them. He’d simply have to find the courage to face Dimitri someday.

“Ashe.”

Ashe yelped and spun around. Dimitri himself was pushing his way through the tent flap, expression stone.

“H-Hi, your Highness. I was just coming back. I-It looks like my bow is fine after all!”

“Ashe, I have given today a great deal of thought.”

“That’s good! Do you think we’re ready for the Eagle and Lion? I think today went pretty well—”

“Do you want to know what I wished for just now?”

Ashe gulped again. “Well… They say if you tell someone your wish, then it won’t come true.”

Dimitri’s lip twitched in an almost smile. “I am willing to take that risk,” he said, stepping closer.

It took all of Ashe’s willpower not to step backwards. He let Dimitri move closer and closer, looking into those determined eyes he had been avoiding all evening. “What did you wish for?” He asked quietly.

Dimitri put a hand to Ashe’s cheek. “I wished you would kiss me again.”

Ashe covered that hand with his own. Tentatively, he leaned forward and brushed his lips against Dimitri, and Dimitri returned the pressure— and it was instantly better than the kiss Ashe had stolen in the forest. This one was slow. This one made Ashe’s eyes fall shut. This one came with Dimitri cupping the back of Ashe’s head and letting out a small sigh.

When they naturally pulled apart, Ashe didn’t stop the wide, giddy smile that stole his face.

Dimitri chuckled, running a thumb under Ashe’s lips. “You look so happy.”

“My dream didn’t come true.” 

Before Dimitri could make him explain that, Ashe pressed close once again and kissed his puzzled frown.

[creativesplat]

for the character ask, how about Alcryst and Alfred?

right so this has been in my drafts for MONTHS so I decided I'd post it (I may not have done Alcryst, really sorry 😅)

sorry for taking so long to get back to you doodles!

4. If you could put this character in any other media, be it a book, a movie, anything, what would you put them in?

oooh... I think Alfred would be amazing in an 1800s gothic horror book, maybe as the romantic interest. He and his wife Alear go to the Inn of the Blaiddyd family. He's on his deathbed with (insert romantic poet style wasting disease here (eg. consumption)), and as a last desperate attempt to heal him, Alear's sister Veyle has recommended to see a doctor who is treating the heir to the Inn, Dimitri. The doctor has no heart - literally - it was taken out by the one of the fell ones (eldtirch horrors) Bylee and Byleth, both identical twins, have lost their hearts, taken by the Immaculate One (eldritch Rhea, but she doesn't go by that name).

Anyway main points:

Dimitri's haunted (being treated for hallucinations and sickness of the mind, but he is actually for real haunted as well as mentally unwell)

This is because of the Blaiddyd curse, but let's not get into that.

Byleth and his sister, Bylee, came to treat Dimitri. Both came under the curse as a result, and attracted the Immaculate One.

So this would be book three of the series. (book one is Veyle and Alear escape the Fell Serpent (eldritch horror sombron)), book two is Dimitri and Bylee, they fall in love(?) they aren't sure and its never confirmed in book two, and she tells her brother Byleth about the haunted vibes she gets from the inn. Its about the two discovering the origin of the Blaiddyd curse and the Fell Star (eldritch horror that dwells in Bylee, it gets into a creepy what makes us human style thing) After a two year time skip in which we discover the handsome love interest that introduced Alear to the outside world in book one is deadly ill, and Veyle gets information on the Blaiddyd inn. A place which can heal loved ones, at a price...

duh duh duhhhh!!

5. What's the first song that comes to mind when you think about them?

life's been boring by RYMAN LEON

6. What's something you have in common with this character?

ADHD coded!

also we're both people of faith (he's one of the most religious characters in the game, and I'm a Christian.)

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

I have a lot... lets see...

Makes flower crowns for any and all reasons, one of them is to keep hands busy when hyperactive (eg fidget toy but flower crown version)

picky eater

insecure about his body (he talks to Marth about it in the bonds)

thick as mince. Like man is not a smart boi

hyperfixates on certain diets and exercise fads on loop. One month it was keto, the next it was about bodily flexibility (like the stay flexi guy), then he went vegan for health reasons, after that it was about meat (as raw as it could get, he got rather sick) all while going to the gym religiously.

he is an AWFUL cook

ADHD brain means he is NOT a very tidy guy

probably autistic, I mean look at his B support with Alear and tell me that man isn't

weighs less than Celiné. He isn't happy about it and tells her its because of his 'sleeper build' but he's actually just slim

Suffers with Chrones, chronic pain, as well as a slew of other genetic ailments. He did not win the genetic lottery

13. What's an emoji, an emoticon and/or any symbol that reminds you of this character or you think the character would use a lot?

💪🥰🥺🤣🏋️🌸🌻👟 Idk he probably uses those

15. What's your favorite ship for this character? (Doesn't matter if it's canon or not.)

F!Alear, because it's very sweet, and the character models are really fun to pair together because they look so different!

20. Which other character is the ideal best friend for this character, the amount of screentime they share doesn't matter? ALCRYST ALL THE WAY like Alfred would be the best big brother to Alcryst it's not even funny how good that would be I just love it! MAKE THEM INTERACT! ITs so good!

23. Favorite picture of this character?

24. What other character from another fandom of yours that reminds you of them?

Sokka, in some ways, because he's funny and silly and a little insecure, but honestly Sokka is WAY smarter than Alfred.

[kumeko]

A/N: For the @fdimilethzine! I wanted a little compare and contrast of their relationship pre-skip, post-skip, and post-canon, like a slow burn in snippets.

…

…

…

…

Byleth was close, close enough to touch. Standing in front of the goddess tower, with no one to witness their conversation, it was hard for Dimitri to focus on anything else. Her hand brushed his when she shifted, her breath a roar in his ears, and all he could think about was breaking the distance between them and grabbing her rough palm.

That distance always existed between them. He was attuned to it, like a flower to the sun, and whether it was the classroom or his missions, he couldn’t help but be aware of the gap between them. Propriety dictated he step to the side. His heart demanded he stepped closer.

It would be easy. There was a dance. It was dark. Tonight was a full moon, big and bright and more than enough to give a case of lunacy. A dozen excuses rushed through Dimitri’s mind as they both gazed upon the goddess. Any one of them was a decent enough reason.

He had said something. He couldn’t remember what, but he had to have said something for Byleth was looking at him. Her expression was as unreadable as ever. She turned to the tower, head tilting back slightly as she glanced at the top. Quietly, she murmured, “That’s a good wish. I don’t have any of my own, maybe I should wish for that too.”

“I…” Dimitri muttered, tongue-tied and nervous. What had he wished for again? Somehow, it felt insignificant to this moment, this distance, this gravity that pulled him to her. His suit felt too tight, his collar too stiff. Sylvain had always teased him, telling him to loosen his top button, and for once he wished he’d listened.

“Yes?” Byleth cocked her head as she turned to him, her blue eyes glittered like sapphires in the gloom. She had dressed up for the ball, her hair pinned back after Mercedes’ and Dorothea’s careful tutelage. Ingrid had complained about how the two of them had gotten kidnapped, but it had been worth it to see Byleth in her dress, her toned arms peeking out of her gauzy sleeves. Her dress swayed like a flower’s petals with every step. Her neckline was just barely respectable.

It also made it harder for Dimitri to think.

He was glad it was dark. None of Sylvain’s courting ���lessons’ covered what to do at a time like this, when Dimitri felt too much, when the back of his neck burned and every thought fled his mind as he grasped for something to say.  He was keenly aware of her gaze, of the weight of it, and he tugged his sleeves as he tried to calm down.

“Dimitri?” Byleth asked again.

It was impossible she couldn’t see how red his ears were or hear how fast his heart beat. Maybe she did know, and was just teasing him, hoping he’d take that first step. Squaring his shoulders, Dimitri gathered his courage. “If you don’t have one, then perhaps we should wish we were together forever.”

Byleth’s eyes widened, her lips parting softly. Dimitri fought the urge to run when she didn’t say anything, just stared at him as though she were seeing him for the first time. It had been a mistake to say that. It had been a mistake to think that. It had all been in his imagination, his hopes given life in the midnight hour.

He kept his arm firmly to his side, his fingers digging into his thigh. Forcing a laugh, he added, “You must admit I’ve improved in the art of joke telling.”

-x-

Byleth was close, close enough to grab.  Crouching, Dimitri froze and stared at the apparition in front of him. His former professor looked just as she had five years ago, just as she had before war ravaged the continent and the earth had swallowed her whole.

It was impossible, of course. Even as Byleth offered her hand, her worried green eyes watching him, Dimitri knew better than to accept. She was a ghost. There was no further shore than that of death, and this was just another trick his mind played, another memory coming to haunt him.

Another regret lamenting his weakness.

Byleth cocked her head and he remembered another night, so long ago, when he had been a naïve child thinking of love and other fleeting things. It felt like a lifetime ago. Back then, he still had hopes for Edelgard. Back then, he still thought he could answer his family’s ghostly cries on his own.

Now? He knew better. Dimitri laughed bitterly, lowering his head. “I should have known...”

Of course her ghost would appear here, in the ruins of the monastery. What had he been thinking, hiding like this in the shadows of the past?

Byleth didn’t speak. He wasn’t sure if it was better that way. Dimitri didn’t want to hear her admonishments or laments, her cries for help or grief. Didn’t want his heart to ache anymore than it did at the sight of her.

He looked up at her outstretched hand again, at her furrowed brow. That kindness cut deeper than any scowl. Dimitri curled his hand into a fist as he forced himself to his feet, careful to keep a safe distance from her ghost. “…that one day you would be haunting me too.”

-x-

Byleth was close, close enough to hold. Dimitri wasn’t sure when the distance between them started to shrink, when their shoulders started to bump and thighs brushed with every movement. Whether it was at the daily strategy discussions, trivial meal conversations, or even times like right now, when they were merely patrolling the ruined monastery. There was barely any gap between them now. He could feel her heat radiating off her skin, hear her breath like it was his own.

Despite it all, Byleth didn’t seem to notice. She didn’t flinch when their arms touched, didn’t react when his fingers flitted through her hair, pulling out a stray leaf. Dimitri wasn’t sure what was worse: that she didn’t care or that his touch was like the wind to her, easily forgotten.

He could never forget hers. Each set a tremor through his body, an earthquake threatening to overturn everything he knew.

If he were smart, he’d switch patrol partners.

If he were smart, he would have kissed her years ago.

For now, though, he’d keep this small indulgence. From the corner of his eye, Dimitri watched as Byleth considered their tactics for their next move. She rubbed her chin lightly. “We need to shore up supplies for the next battle. It’ll be a siege as opposed to a quick attack.”

“Ingrid is organizing the supply chain as we speak,” Dimitri replied. Her shoulder bumped against his and he hoped his poker face had improved since their academy days.

“She’s always on top of things.” Byleth paused, looking up as they passed by the Goddess Tower. The building still stood, somehow, unravaged by the test of time and war. Only its scorched bricks indicated how close the fires had gotten to it. She murmured, “It’s been a while since we last stood here.”

Dimitri stopped beside her, keenly aware of the distance between them. Just like back then, they were alone. Just like back then, they were close, close enough to touch. He was taller now, older, but not wiser. Next to her, he felt lacking.

He was always lacking when it came to her.

“A lifetime,” Dimitri breathed.

“Perhaps.” Byleth brushed a stray lock behind her ear. “For me, it feels like just yesterday.” She glanced at him, her lips quirking as she added, “Though you’ve changed much.”

“And you, not at all.”

Her hand brushed against his once again. Dimitri couldn’t read her expression as she stared at him, her eyes fathomless. Did Byleth know about the desire she kindled in him with each touch, how the embers she’d sparked five years ago were now a wildfire?

“I have changed,” she replied softly.

“My apologies,” he murmured, swallowing thickly. “I suppose with all that’s happened, it would be hard to stay the same.” Remembering their last conversation here, he asked, “Do you know what you’d wish for now?”

Byleth smiled mysteriously. “Perhaps.”

-x-

Byleth was close, close enough to kiss. Dimitri wasn’t sure what to do as she stood in front of him, looking at him expectantly. The newly rebuilt goddess tower penned him in, keeping him frozen in place as she took a small step closer. Her white robes fluttered in the wind. He could smell her rainwater scent.

It took all of his strength to keep his chin firmly up, to not bend to her like a willow in the wind. Carefully controlling his voice, he carefully managed a “Byleth?”

“Yes?” she asked blithely, as though they were in the strategy room separated by a table, as though they were in public with Dedue between them, as though they were not standing so damned close, alone in the night.

It was a full moon again. He remembered old wives’ tales of werewolves, of how the moonlight could change someone, of the energy it gave. Maybe he could blame it for tonight’s lunacy. Or maybe it was just how Byleth saw the world—she never seemed to mind the distance between them, the carefully wrought inches that he tended to like a gardener. For every step he took away, she took one closer. For every wall he put up, she broke through it like a ram.

Wetting his lips, Dimitri tried a more direct question. “Aren’t you a little too close?”

“Not close enough,” she replied. Dimitri couldn’t read the emotion in her eyes as she took yet another step closer, her body all but in his arms. “I have been patient, but enough is enough.”

There was a roar in his ears. He could feel her breath ghosting on his neck, feel her soft mounds on his chest. Every part of him felt aflame as their knees bumped, as her gaze threatened to swallow him whole. His voice lowered a notch, almost afraid to ask the question. Almost afraid to hear the answer. “For what?”

“I found my wish,” Byleth murmured huskily.

One of her hands slipped into his, clasping it tightly as though to keep him in place. Not that she needed to, he couldn’t—didn’t want to move. A jolt ran up his spine. Her other arm curled around his neck, pulling him down. Her breath warmed his lips and Dimitri suddenly recognized the naked desire in her expression, the same that he saw in the mirror when he thought of her.

Then her lips were on his and he stopped thinking and just let himself feel.

She had been right. She wasn’t nearly close enough.

[dragonsarecats]

What you say might be true for the Blue Lions but not for the Black Eagles? SS existence show how functionally the Black Eagles aren't loyal, they can all turn against her in a way that goes beyond not exactly following her like some Deers with Claude. But focusing on Edelgard point of view, she certainly doesn't take for granted loyalty, she think most people will go against her once the truth is out ( it's often brought up, be it in dialogue like Dorothea support or her behavior like the deep suprise when you support her in the Holy Tomb, hell there's even way she constantly ask if Byleth is they're sure they want to follow her consistently throughout the route ) and even with her ally she remain cautious ( the most obvious is her behavior towards Shez, but remaining in house you have the moment when she hide what happened in Arainrhod for example ): just like Claude learn to trust in VW, so does Edelgard in CF. "Having a group of people one can rely on" is also a fundamental theme of CF, that's Edelgard arc with the Black Eagles strike force and Byleth.

And it's normal: Claude has trauma around trust, and so does Edelgard. Claude was an outsider and a kid growing in a situation of deep rivalry, his situation was so dire he was under treat of assassination; and he end up in country which he still has a lot to learn about and where people hate his very origin ( very angry at how people dismiss how horrific Claude past is, and how much it affect him by the way ). Edelgard lived through political turmoil where her father was betrayed in a political coup, then she was herself directly betrayed by a person she trusted, her uncle, ending up in a situation no one should ever have to live through. Ever once she's out, she's under the abuse of a shadowy group that have manipulated major event in she shadow and who can litteraly take people face. All while learning the most influential institution of Fodlan is hiding the truth.

( And Ferdinand isn't loyal? On Edelgard point of view he's the son of the man who betrayed and used her father, and a man who deeply support the system. On Ferdinand point of view you have him constantly doubting Edelgard at the beginning of CF, one of his first line after the Flame Emperor reveal being "As the next Duke Aegir, should I follow Edelgard into battle?"... Felix is miserable when you recruit him elsewhere, but Ferdinand not so much? And it makes sense looking at Adrestrian politics and how he isn't Edelgard childhood friend unlike Felix with Dimitri )

Previous answer here

Okay, so once again, I need to reiterate that when I discuss themes and characters in fire emblem three houses, I am always doing so in relation to how the narrative and gameplay framework go together. I've said it as a joke, but Jeralt is a prime example of how this works and how narrative and gameplay roles really affect each character.

So to that end, I really don't think you can say Ferdinand isn't loyal. No one is loyal in this game save for Hubert and Dedue (as various church people are recruitable and thus by metrics we're using, not completely loyal, although Catherine has a similar situation to Hilda, I think). They can't be loyal because they have to be recruitable.

You also have to keep in mind that you recruit people pre-war. They literally just transfer into different homerooms. No one is recruited with the initial intention of not going back to their home territory after they graduate, lol. But the academy phase is all about developing bonds within the class and with the professor and when the war goes down--well, they all weight their bonds and their loyalties and chose the former, save for a few exceptions (Lorenz, Ashe, etc. Characters you recruit and have to "recruit" again after defeating them with Byleth post time-skip).

That is to say, again, Byleth is the fulcrum on which this universe spins, both narratively and in game. Three Hopes proves it.

Characters need to be recruitable, and so everyone's loyalty is suspect.

Which is why I don't think your Silver Snow argument holds much water? I don't mean that disrespectfully, just that I disagree with your interpretation of what this means. Edelgard and Claude are exceedingly similar in several ways, and are often directly compared in both their routes in their ideals and differing methods. They also have similar trust issues, but again, are vastly different.

Edelgard has always had someone her age she can rely on. She has always had the same person, in fact, in Hubert. Claude does not; he does not have an official retainer for a reason. Edelgard desperately wants to trust people--even in Verdant Wind, she's filled with longing towards Byleth when they've comparatively barely interacted. Claude and Edelgard deal with their trust issues in different ways; Edelgard longing quietly to have a hand reached out to her, and Claude longing to reach out a hand that won't be smacked away. It's why his speech when they defeat Nemesis is so important.

I don't think Edelgard takes loyalty for granted at all--sorry if that was unclear. I don't think Dimitri does either. I don't think they can considering their pasts. But they take for granted this respect that's naturally given to them as leaders, that Claude visibly has to fight tooth and nail for. There's a reason people are constantly hounding over Claude's secrets but not Edelgard's when in my mind she's far more suspicious in her respective route. However, I think on the surface, Claude thinks they take these things for granted. They have loyal, unswayable retainers, noble connections formed in childhood, rivals who they dispute with who don't literally seek to take their power, and just a general respectful air granted upon them that he doesn't.

When it comes to Silver Snow, again, I don't really think that can be compared to what happens with Claude. Without Byleth, Claude loses members of the Deer. This is entirely different to Edelgard losing the Eagles because they are loyal to Byleth. Byleth's charisma and ability to earn the trust of people despite her inherent oddness (even to distrusting people like Hubert and Claude, because again I don't think Edelgard is inherently untrusting) is a feature, not a bug. Edelgard feels so betrayed in Silver Snow not just because her house has left her and she trusted them but because her teacher has turned against her and taken the house with her, an echo of what happened to her father.

It's just. They have very different situations going on, lol? Silver Snow is less a commentary on how people leave Edelgard and more an expansion on the recruitment function--people will, when push comes to shove, chose the bond they've cultivated with Byleth over the bond with their Lord. Without this interference, Edelgard doesn't lose any of her people. They're loyal.

And yes, that includes Ferdinand, lmao.

Each house leader deals with dissent in a different way. Edelgard ignores it, Dimitri tries to placate it, and Claude engages with it. Edelgard and Ferdinand's arc is about him learning to stop comparing himself to her because she is his better; not in their current world, but the world she wants to create, a meritocracy. Her abilities surpass his and he grows to respect that. In Verdant Wind, when confronted on the bridge, he mentions how he feels like he's the only one who can properly advise Edelgard (likely in part to how he thinks Hubert isn't critical enough of her and does whatever serves her best).

He might disagree with her, but he believes it's his role to guide her, and frankly, it is, narratively. Edelgard doesn't show distrust of him because of what his father did, but rather, exasperation. She and Ferdinand may not be childhood friends, but they did grow up together, and she's been used to him doing this since they were children, as she mentions. Any doubt Ferdinand has about following Edelgard is less about his personal feelings for her, in my opinion, and more about what he's supposed to do as someone in his role. "Do I support her as the son of the prime minister?" Not Edelgard as Ferdinand, but an Emperor and her future advisor.

[kariniarts]

Hi there! I really like your Dimileth art. This is kind of random but I've been looking for a Dimileth fanfic and I was wondering if you could help me find it? It's set post-time skip and Dimileth get married, have kids and the politics of Fodlan after the war are explored. They meet the Ashen Wolves at one point and the last chapter of the fic that I remember was Byleth giving birth to a baby under very scary and risk circumstances because she'd lost a lot of blood/there were complications. I really liked the fic but for the life of me I can't remember the name of it anymore. Have you heard of/come across a fic like that? Or if not, could you point me to someone who might? No worries at all if you've never heard of it! Thank you very much for your time in reading this :)

Hi @little-miz-fangirl, there's one fic that comes to mind for me but not sure if this is the one you're looking for: The Sins Of Our Fathers - Chapter 1 - Lavender_Seaglass - Fire Emblem: Fuukasetsugetsu | Fire Emblem: Three Houses [Archive of Our Own]

I do love this fic a lot, it made me super emotional

[justrandomselfships]

Heather and friends

Yeah I do feel kinda guilty how me writing down literally all of my platonic F/O talk is shorter than the Sylvain post. I just did some general info tho didn't go in too deep

BUT FUCKING HELL I STILL DON'T HAVE A CYRIL TAG

Claude

Heather is affectionate with friends: for Claude she likes to poke him the most.

Yeah they are just >:)

Teasing is their friendship language and dear GOD they don't pass any opportunity.

Ofctheyteaseeachotherabouttheircrushes

They always make up stories of what made them friends. It still is a mystery when and how they became so close.

Claude likes to joke that they became close because they started making bets and she ended up being his temporary poison tester- for example (and that's what he'd be introducing her with to Byleth saying how she's much more durable than she seems)

But I'd be lying if I said she never tried his poisons... The devil in her head won, is what happened.

They also trust each other on an ultimate level. Heather doesn't keep any secrets from Claude but she doesn't expect him to do the same. She's just unable to hide a single thing from him. The millisecond she figures out her feels for Sylvain Claude knows etc.

In time skip when Heather is in AM route she's worrying about her bestie 24/7. Ik I mentioned it in the Sylvain post but it's important to bring it up again. Literally when he sent that letter she was READY to go there all on her own solo the fucking army.

Didn't do CF so can't say what's happening in there. But she'd be devastated to fight Claude ❤️

Hilda

Heather is affectionate with friends: Hilda has the most hugs reserved. They also hold hands when shopping together!

Although they don't really have a lot of common interests they just get each other yk?

They're both lazy, don't like training or fighting and they certainly love cute things.

Heather is one of the few people Hilda doesn't have to worry about in battle... But instead she's concerned with Heather's private life and how she doesn't seem to fight for things she cares about.

Even though she was at first really not convinced with Heather's feelings for Sylvain it didn't take much for her to change her mind. The three often hang out, but only after Heather told Hilda about her crush was when she started to really look at how the two interact.

Heather actually doesn't mind doing Hilda's work every once in a while. When there is a assignment she likes (like stable duty for example) she'd be willing to replace her.

Hilda ofc dolls Heather up whenever they have the chance. Having self-care day is just their favorite thing ever.

You KnOW that she'd be Heather's maid of honor for her wedding with Sylvain. But I'm adding this because it's important to me yk...

If they happen to be apart due to only one of them being recruited to another class, the two continued to send each other letters to make sure they're alright... But after some time they stopped.

Cyril

Heather is affectionate with friends: for Cyril it's mostly patting his shoulder/back. At first he found it odd but when he asked her why she did so she told him that this is how she shows that she appreciates him!

So he started doing the same! How cute.

She doesn't get in his way, but Heather and Cyril's relationship can be compared to Ashe and Cyril's. The difference being that she's somewhat of a sister figure to him.

He often points out Heather's ridiculous standards towards herself compared to others. And each time if hits her like a truck.

Being called out by a 14 y/o is just a shocker lol

Although he doesn't need any protecting, Heather can and WILL scream at anyone making mean comments about him. Especially if him being from Almyra is brought up.

He doesn't really know what to think of her for the most part, but he trusts her and he's not afraid to talk about his troubles with her.

And she'd turn the world upside down to help him! They can always count on each other. But Heather doesn't bother him with her personal problems (stuff like suitor situation), but that's just because she knows how brutally honest he'd be about it. Even if he didn't understand it, he'd still be right.

Buut she wouldn't know about his reading problem, only because it never had to be brought up to be honest.

Hey, I'm a Cy//sithea trash btw. So you know she'd be curious about their bond developing. It's not as in she'd immediately think they're in love. But she was definitely thrilled that he was making more friends! Of course time skip changed some things around so she'd be teasing him just for it to be ineffective he'd be like "Yes, I like her??? Why are you surprised??"

[clusterfuck-misc]

ANON ASKS:

could i get some yan dimitri from fe3h? maybe pre time skip puppy love ;w;

I AS MUCH AS I LOVE FLUFFY CAPE DIMA, PRE-TIMESKIP PUPPY LOVE DIMA IS FAR SUPERIOR.

Pre-timeskip Yandere Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd x Reader

This is in HC format.

The reader is gender neutral.

Content warning: obsessive behavior, delusional themes, overprotective behavior, slightly aggressive behavior.

ARCHIVED POST. @clusterfuck-yandere IS MY NEW BLOG.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND REQUESTS ON THIS BLOG.

— His obsession with you on your birthday.

You nearly forgot about the professor inviting you to have tea, which is why you found yourself running through the halls of Garreg Mach in hopes that you wouldn’t be late.

Being in such a hurry meant you didn’t slow down while rounding the corner.

And that’s how you ran into him.

Both of you stumbled backwards, blinking from the initial shock of the collision. A quick apology was about to leave your lips before you realized who you ran into;

Prince Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd.

Your mind completely halted.

Uh-oh.

“Y-Your highness,” you stuttered, immediately standing upright. “I’m— I apologize! I didn’t see where I was going, and…”

You trailed off when you noticed how he was staring at you.

It was… weird.

Like he was shocked or in a dazed state.

Worried he hit his head, you took a step closer to get a better look at him.

“Your highness?”

When you reached to put a hand on his shoulder, you could feel his entire body tense as his cheeks flushed.

That’s when the prince’s retainer — Dedue, you remember — appeared, worry written all over his face.

“Your highness,” he softly began, “are you alright?”

Fortunately, the presence of his retainer seemed to snap the blonde out of his trance. “H-Huh? Oh—! Yes… yes, I am.”

The Duscuran turned towards you with a blank expression. “What happened?”

“I was in a rush,” you started, “and—”

“It’s alright,” Dimitri quickly interrupted. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

The look he gave you was… well… you didn’t know how to explain it.

“I should’ve been more careful. I’m terribly sorry, your highness.” You gave a polite bow to further your apology.

“All is well,” the prince assured, smile slightly bigger than normal. “I should’ve been more careful as well.”

He continued to stare at you with… those eyes.

Awkwardly, you decide to take your leave, still feeling his gaze on you.

You didn’t even hear what he said to his retainer.

“Dedue… I think I found my betrothed…!”

— If you weren’t in the Blue Lions house before, expect to be recruited by Professor Byleth on behalf of Dimitri.

It was shocking to hear that the Prince of Faerghus specifically wanted you.

I mean, the only interaction you had was when you ran into him on your birthday. Maybe the professor had the wrong person?

“Nope,” Byleth said. “Dimitri asked for you. He said you would be valuable to the Blue Lions.”

You could only blankly stare at the professor. Maybe Dimitri has watched you train?

If you were to take up on the offer, expect a celebration thrown in your favor; not only because the other Blue Lions want the latest recruit to feel welcomed, but because the prince specifically ordered it.

If you were to decline the offer, expect to see other Blue Lion members try to convince you to reconsider.

“The prince really wants you to join,” Ashe will reason with you.

“His highness probably has the hots for you,” Sylvain will wink.

“Prince Dimitri is really nice,” Mercedes will try to persuade you.

If you still decline, Dimitri’s not afraid to go straight to Rhea and demand you get moved to the Blue Lions.

It might sound crazy, but he’s got a few cards up his sleeve to convince the Archbishop.

He is the soon-to-be King of Faerghus, after all…

— He used to write you love letters all the time.

The first time you received one made you feel flattered.

It talked about how wonderful you were, and your eyes were pretty.

But as more and more showed up at your door, they began to sound more… well.. creepy.

“Your skin feels like porcelain, and I wish to feel it every day.”

“You smell like my every daydream, and I wish to never stop smelling you.”

“Your naked form is that of an angel’s, and I would do anything to bask in its glory.”

But the one that really made your skin crawl was the following;

“You look like the most peaceful river when you sleep.”

Since the letters were anonymous, you had no idea who was sending you the creepy messages.

All you could to was go to the professor, who talked to the other teachers about it.

The result was a lecture given to each house about harassment.

The teachers made it a point that “sending nonstop letters about how you want to stroke someone’s hair” was under the harassment umbrella.

It actually helped; the letters stopped immediately after.

If only you saw the guilty look on Dimitri’s face during the lecture.

— He tries his best to be helpful for you.

And, to his credit, you do appreciate how you can always depend on him.

But it can get a bit… overbearing… at times.

It’s like you can’t do anything for yourself.

Picking up books, writing notes, opening doors, don’t even try to do your chores. He’s got it all covered for you.

And don’t even think about going on the battlefield.

Dear goddess, he will throw a fit.

“You shouldn’t! It’s too dangerous for you!!”

It’s obvious the prince has a soft spot for you (to which Sylvain teases him for).

Some even hold a grudge against you for it.

But don’t worry. No one’s allowed to be rude to you.

Not when Dimitri’s giving them death stares

And poor Dedue has to follow orders without question.

“Make sure nothing happens to (Y/N),” Dimitri will say on a daily basis.

Usually, he hates giving his retainer official orders.

When it comes to you, however, he has to make an exception.

How else is he going to guarantee your safety?

— He tries to get into your room while you’re asleep.

It was only him standing at your door for the longest time, but he’s recently been getting apprehensive about not seeing you.

He simply has to see your face.

Ever since the letters, however, you’ve been locking your room at night…

Yeah, that won’t stop Dimitri.

It’s easy for him to break the doorknob and enter your room.

He tries to be as quiet as possible, sneaking into your room and standing at the foot of your bed to watch you.

He has to hold his hand over his mouth so you don’t hear his heavy breaths.

You’re just so perfect…

Perfect for him…

You’re honestly everything he could ever hope for.

It takes everything in his power to not jump into the bed with you and hold you close.

He’s gone by the morning, giving a guilty glance towards the doorknob on his way out.

He also tries to close the door as quietly as possible… as if you’re not going to notice how the doorknob’s completely fucked.

It’ll literally the first thing you see in the morning.

You’re not sure what exactly happened to it, since it wasn’t like that in the morning??

It definitely leaves you uneasy. What if somebody…?

No, that wouldn’t happen…

Not at Garreg Mach…

… right?

— He’s in complete shambles any time you touch him.

And it could be the smallest touch, too.

Handing him something and your hands brush together? His heart his racing.

Giving him a pat on his back? His face is completely red.

Bumping shoulders by accident through the corridors? His stomach leaps into his chest.

After any sort of physical contact he has with you, he’ll gush to Dedue about how wonderful you are, and how he doesn’t deserve such an angel.

Poor Dedue has to uncomfortably listen to him go on and on about you just even looking at the prince.

And, don’t get me wrong, he’s excited his liege is in love.

It’s just… well…

Sylvain puts it the best.

“He’s like some lovesick puppy when it comes to that (Y/N) person!”

It also doesn’t help that he hears the prince mumbling about you while staring off into space.

“I can’t wait for us to be wed, my (Y/N)… it’ll be the happiest day of our lives…!!”

Dedue can only stare at Dimitri like, I think that’s planning a bit to far ahead…

Again, he’s excited for his liege…

… but he’s also worried…

— He suddenly becomes extremely possessive of you.

It was like a flip switched in Dimitri’s mind.

Sylvain and Ingrid were talking about how impressive your new combat technique was (not that you would be able to use it in battle), and Dimitri began talk about how amazing you are.

“Sylvain let’s a chortle escape his lips. “You know, for someone who does nothing but talk about them, I’m surprised you haven’t ask them out yet.”

The redhead then began to talk about how he can be Dimitri’s wingman, but the prince wasn’t listening. He was too preoccupied with the horrifying realization that you two weren’t officially together.

He spent all of this time fantasizing about you, he’s neglected to actually profess his love to you..!

What if someone tries to take you away from him because they think you’re available?!

He walks away from the conversation and immediately looks for you.

He has to let you know he loves you!!

When he finds you, however, his throat becomes dry and his hands start fidgeting…

He suddenly remembered why he hasn’t professed his love to you yet…

Your very presence causes him to feel absolutely weak.

Which is why he makes sure no one is a potential love interest for you.

And I mean no one.

Teachers, his friends, even Dedue.

Your eyes have to be on him and him alone!

He’s now by your side 24/7, making sure no one’s making advances on his betrothed.

No one’s allowed to flirt with you, touch you, or even look at you a certain way. Unless they want a Lance to be pointed at them, it’s probably best they stay stay away from you…

It’s like you have your own guard dog…

And it’s kind of awkward to have a guard dog who has his own guard dog…

— He can be absolutely fucking terrifying.

Say someone isn’t leaving you alone.

They keep glancing at you from across the classroom, constantly try to get your attention, flirt with you…

… despite Dimitri’s constant death flares towards them…

Yeah. Pray for them.

He’s not afraid to pick someone up by their neck, holding them in the air as his expression grows dark.

“I’d suggest you stop harassing (Y/N),” he’ll warn them. “Your constant pestering isn’t wanted here.”

Onlookers will watch this scene on fold with pure shock.

What the hell did that person do to get the prince so mad??

The poor student will vigorously nod (well, as best as they can with their neck being squeezed), running off as soon as they’re dropped to the floor.

And all you and Dedue can do is just share a nervous glance.

What the fuck has gotten into the prince?!

He’s usually not so confrontational, and he hates creating scenes…

Why on earth would he do something like that over a student just trying to talk to you??

Afterwards, he’ll return to normal, staring at you with those lovesick eyes as he talks about your excellent job on the exam.

The atmosphere will return to normal after a bit, but you’ll never forget how dark his eyes got when he did that…

And goddess forbid if that student tries to talk to you again.

Expect to never see that student again.

A search party will go out for them, guards will question students about their last known whereabouts, it’s an extremely big deal at Garreg Mach.

No student has ever mysteriously vanished before…

You can’t help but shake the feeling…

No…

It can’t be…

But, then again…

Things suddenly start to make sense in your mind.

Those love letters that you received a while ago….

You know, during the same time Dimitri suddenly became so helpful to you…

Your doorknob always being broken…

You know, during the same time Dimitri started to be at your side 24/7…

That student going missing…

You know, during the same time Dimitri held them by their neck after “harassing you…”

Oh god.

You remember just how calm Dimitri was during the entire search.

He said something along the lines of, “maybe they went somewhere they shouldn’t of… or did something they shouldn’t of.”

Did the prince really do something to them…?

Anytime you would ask him about the disappearance, he would get this guilty look.

But not like a criminal kind of guilty;

It was like a dog who did something bad.

No matter how hard he tried to dodge the question, you knew he had something to do with it…

There was no doubt about it.

— Overall, a happy Dimitri is a stable Dimitri.

All he wants to do it be by your side, making sure you’re safe and sound.

He would never do anything to hurt you; that would be his nightmare.

He thinks of you as some sort of deity that saved his life (despite doing nothing that causes a debt for him to repay).

He’s waiting for the day he can officially bring you home so you can be married.

It’s your destiny to be his betrothed whether you know it or not. As long as you don’t have eyes for another, everything will be fine.

Make sure you do everything according to his fantasies about you.

Accept his flowers with a gracious smile.

Allow him to help you with chores and domestic task (like the good soon-to-be-husband he is).

Say yes to him when he eventually gathers enough courage to ask you out.

If you don’t, it’ll be hell for everyone else…

As time passes, you’ll be the only thing that keeps Dimitri semi-sane.

It’s a burden that you must carry if you know what’s good for the sake of everyone around you.

You’re his angel; his everything.

So make sure to play part when he’s at his worst.

[clemlet]

Progress on Asheleth fic that has been in the works for... Far too long

I have been writing it very inconsistently and out of order for like a year. I want at least the first three chapters complete before I post it on AO3 because it's definitely going to take awhile to piece it together. BUT, here is a list of things to look forward to:

Dorky Ashe crushing on Byleth in the academy phase.

When the war hits, there's a touching reunion scene between Ashe and his siblings when he makes it back to Gaspard.

Ashe has secretly written letters (some are love letters) that he never intended on giving to her over the course of five years. Mostly just because he had nobody to talk to about everything he was going through and wanted to pretend she was listening to him.

What initially makes them bond over the timeskip is insomnia and nightmares (seeing their fathers die). But eventually things get a lot lighter and they spend a lot of time fishing amd gardening and cooking together and it's very adorable.

They are each other's first kiss and Ashe confesses he's had feelings for her for years.

Lots of sneaking around! Because they're at war and dating your commander/your solider isn't the best look.

Making out in the library and the greenhouse.

Ashe having to take Sylvain out for drinks to awkwardly ask for sex advice.

Byleth amusingly asking to borrow Manuela's erotic romance novels so she can figure out what she's supposed to do.

Awkward yet romantic first time for both of them.

Dedue figuring out their relationship because, you know, his room is literally right in between theirs so he hears everything. But after this, he becomes somewhat of a confidant for Ashe.

Yuri, being Yuri, notices that Byleth is acting really suspicious and sneaking around so he has spies tail her and gets her to admit her relationship. Much like Dedue becomes a needed support system for Ashe, Yuri becomes this for Byleth.

Sauna sex scene. Because it sounded fun to write.

I can't say much more because it'll spoil what I'm planning but I do have the ending in mind. And I think it's a good story.

Also note that while there will be light smut, the chapters are isolated and *usually* not plot relevant (with one exception but I'm trying to work something out with that), so if you don't want to read that, you can easily skip it. I didn't want the focus to be on sex because above all, I'm intending this mostly as a love story. I just want to also broaden my horizons as a writer so... There will be a few of those scenes.

[porcelaintoybox23]

I like playing with hornet’s nests apparently and i won’t stop today

The house lords not having supports is the dumbest part about this game. The problem with fe3h is it is a really good game, which makes the areas where it falls short stand out even more. There is no reason why the lords don’t have supports with one another and I honestly think it would knock out a lot of issues people have with the game.

Here lie spoilers for the whole game and opinions based on playing 2.5 routes. This doesn’t include Yuri because I haven’t bought the DLC.

This game gives the player the illusion of choice. Nothing you do has a serious impact in the game barring the choices needed for CF and a few paralogues here and there. I think these supports would greatly help. Edelgard and Dimitri could have supports where they can rekindle their friendship, albeit with Dimitri knowing that they’re step-siblings and El still being in the dark for a time. How far you choose to develop or not develop the relationship can have some interesting effects. If you get them to a high level on AZ, maybe El can figure out what their relationship truly is but keep it hidden for later. Maybe she could have a legitimate claim to the Farghues throne as a step-sister? If it’s not increased, El can figure it out during the pre-Enbarr convo post timeskip. Even if none of that could happen, just imagine how much worse the flame emperor reveal would’ve been with their newly rebuilt friendship.

With El and Claude, these two would wreak absolute havoc. Their goals aren’t misaligned and Claude isn’t religious. Increasing their support could let El tell him what she knows about the church, maybe not TWSITD since you know shapeshifting and nukes. I find it so confusing that CF has us invade the alliance. I don’t even think it’s all that necessary, and I put that on the writers. Maybe El and Claude could have written letters as supports post time skip where they can be allies and we don’t have to invade.

Dimitri and Claude supports could open options of improving relations between Fodlan and the nations outside of it. Maybe Claude could start to trust a little sooner and Dimitri have more of a grounding force in his life. They both live in the library where their research overlaps.

It’s really weird that schemer Claude doesn’t try to create some kind of relationship with two future rulers even if it’s just to gather info. Seriously, Claude wants to “end racism” but doesn’t take the time to connect with two of the most potentially powerful people on the continent? Also, they all go to school together. Why do the not interact?????

Have Dimitri and Claude call out some of Edelgard’s choices, have her point out the faults in their world views.

I think there should’ve have been an option for the lords to team up to bring the truth to light, get Rhea to step down, and takedown TWSITD.

Mind you, I’m not saying this potential route should be the “true ending”, I don’t think there should be a true ending at all. The changes that open up with the increasing or ignoring their relationships are realistic. Just another option. None of the house leaders are dumb, and it’s weird that there was not some other option besides war.

Speaking of forced choice; Byleth is a black hole Mary Sue. I got this term from a comment on YouTube on a video i do not remember. Nothing happens without Byleth and everything they do is amazing and awesome and everyone loves them. (Barring Seteth and Hubert) This is more of my view, but I don’t think the main character needs to be the most important. It feels lazy to have the house leaders depend on Byleth to stay stable, especially when they have house members they make bonds with. It also seems forced to have a five-year time skip in every route. In AZ it works since Dimitri is mentally unstable, the kingdom is in shambles, and the empire has Rhea. In CF, it’s fast-paced nature would lend itself to Byleth being out of commission for a year at most. I love Byleth, as blank a slate as they are, but it’s dumb to have the tide of war automatically change with them. I know this is more gameplay but Byleth isn’t needed.

I know things can get contentious in this fandom, so i only ask that you keep any responses polite. I will do the same

[indigowallbreaker]

So I'm sending you this ask because I hope you'll be kind about answering it, but what exactly is it that is so appealing about Dimitri? I've played both VW and most of CF, but even after spoiling myself on the specifics of his character arc, Dimitri is just...wholly uninteresting to me as a character. It doesn't help that I'm in general not a fan of the "[character] does horrible things but is sad about it and/or I hate their counterpart and therefore they are a soft uwu bean who can do no wrong" sort of vibe I get from most of his fans here on tumblr. But I do want to try and keep an open mind. So, as someone who does like him, I'm curious what about him is interesting to you?

First I want to clarify that I may not be the best person to ask. I’m a bigger Black Eagle fan than I am a Dimitri fan. That said, I DO like Dimitri, as he is a very good boy with a easy to swallow story line. 

I’ve tried answering this about 7 times now because I keep starting with “here’s why people probably like Dimitri in general” -- But your question boils down to “what about him is interesting to you?” 

So here first my serious answer aka the part that was at risk of becoming an essay:

Dimitri’s supports with Marianne and Mercedes perfectly capture my favorite thing about Dimitri-- He’s trying his best. That’s not me saying “he does horrible things but is sad about it etc etc” (I know there is a part of this fandom that thinks this way but I think they’re the minority.) I really do feel that at the end of the day, Dimitri wants what he thinks is best for the world. And he will do what it takes to make that happen. 

Dimitri wants the people of Duscur to live better lives, he wants to atone for what has become of Felix’s family, he wants Edelgard to stop the war before he has to kill her. He wants to be a good person so so badly even with his trauma putting ghosts in his head. Dedue says it best after Gronder:

Dedue: Everyone is saying His Highness is back to his old self, but I do not think that is accurate. What he was until recently is what he had been for as long as I've known him. So tortured by his compassion for the fallen that it had driven him mad. He has always been too kind to be king. He has always felt too much for the weak and the dead. That is exactly why I look up to him.

Reading up on his plot is one thing. But if you really want to give Dimitri a chance, I suggest playing his route. Feeling the ups and downs, being part of the Hero’s Journey-- it’s not a bad route if you want a traditional Fire Emblem story. As stated, I’m more an Eagles fan, but I use his route as a feel-good reprieve when I want to save as many characters as possible.    

Now for some less heavy handed reasons. Aka the ones I think about when I write Dimitri:

He tricks Ashe into talking about good candy so he can go buy Ashe some, much to Ashe’s embarrassment.

Just so freaking bad at sewing. He snaps needles and scissors all over the place, the big brute. 

Annette knows tons of embarrassing young-Dimitri stories and he hates that.

This kid b e g s Byleth not to sign him up for the White Heron Cup. If selected he says “Curse you, Professor. I will of course accept, but know that you have damned us all." lmao the drama. It’s fantastic.

Likes horses and riding but his canon classes don’t make him a riding unit and that saddens me.

Laughs at Alois’ puns. Bless his heart.

Love kids, as seen in his C and B supports with Byleth, and even post skip is kind to orphans. 

“That’s why his cloak so big-- it’s full of secrets.”

Chris Hackney is just a fantastic voice actor. Pre-skip voice is different from Pre-Gronder voice is different from Post-Gronder voice. And all well done.

His supports with Dedue. Particularly the line: “Listen, Dedue... Perhaps you consider me to be someone special. But I think the same of you. You are irreplaceable. Cherished. So stop saying that we cannot be friends. Stop saying such awful things.” Dimitri doesn’t want vassals he wants FRIENDSSSSS

Offers a girl he likes a dagger (because this is a good idea. the Kingdom is wild, my dude) and Sylvain takes every single opportunity to mention it. Dimitri hates that he does this. I freaking love it.

(Male Byleth passes out in Sealed Forest) “It will be faster if I just carry you back.” (Female Byleth passes out in Sealed Forest) “I’m sorry, I am SO sorry, I have to pick you up to get back, I have no choice [flustered Proper Prince noises].” I’m barely exaggerating.

I hope this helps even a little bit! At the end of the day, Dimitri is a character in a video game. If you don’t really like him, there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s plenty of FE characters I don’t like. You don’t have to love every character to love the game. As much as I say ‘play the Blue Lion’s route to give Dimitri a chance’ you don’t have to do that either. Play what makes you happy! 

[sxrensxngwrites]

sxrensxng’s masterlist -

the majority of my fics are not posted onto tumblr, and are instead on ao3. the links in this post will link back to my ao3 for you to read the fics there. further tags/warnings are in the fics themselves.

click on the title of the fic to read it! a “✨” indicates that it is a multi-chapter fic.

some fics also have spotify playlists. those are linked within the fics themselves :)

legend of zelda:

“campfire’s warmth” - link x reader

“Link sees the girl often, and every time he does he feels his heart skip a beat. After each visit, he can't help but wait to see her again. One early morning, each of them has stayed up too late, and the warmth of the campfire pulls them in.”

“laundry day” - link x reader

“Link and his traveling companion spend a lot of their time on the road. That alone is enough to accumulate dirt and grime. And even adventurers need to wash their clothes from time to time.”

stardew valley:

“monumental” - sam x reader/farmer

“Sam was very happy being normal. He very much enjoyed being normal in the ever-changing world around him. But when the farmer came to town, he wasn't sure he liked being normal anymore. If anything, he wanted to be the furthest thing from inconsequential.”

“attention to detail” - sebastian x reader/farmer

“Sebastian finds himself falling in love with the farmer. However, as time goes on he realizes that he's missed the greatest detail of all: The Farmer was already in love with someone else.”

“wrong turn” - sam & sebastian & reader/farmer

“Robin insisted that her son needed some fresh air. The Farmer and Sam agreed to take him on a leisurely walk with them, but they never anticipated that they'd take such a wrong turn.”

fire emblem: three houses:

“stay, i pray you” - dimitri x byleth, sylvain x mercedes ✨

“Dimitri doesn't know where he came from, he just wants away from his wretched life on the city streets. An opportunity for escape presents itself, but Dimitri doesn't know if he has it in him to pretend to be the missing crown prince Alexandre Blaiddyd.”

dc/batfamily:

“intruder alert” - dick grayson x reader, batboys & reader

“Living together with your husband offered a certain peace in life. A certain peace that is shattered by the comings and goings of your eccentric in-laws.”

marvel cinematic universe:

“mine and yours” - druig x reader✨

“Druig’s mind control is seemingly negated by the presence of a mortal woman. He demands that she fix it and return his gift, but she can’t return something that she hasn’t taken. Luckily for her, Druig refuses to leave her side until he gets back what is rightfully his.”

“two of a kind” - peter parker x reader/oc , doctor strange & reader/oc ✨

“Doctor Stephen Strange wasn't quite sure where the girl came from. All he knew was that she had fallen from The Dark Dimension and she had a habit of talking too much. The girl herself didn't know much either; She couldn't even recall her own name. What were you to do with a hyperactive teen with unknown origins in the first place?”

TO BE CONTINUED…

[lananiscorner]

FE3H route review and thoughts - Verdant Wind

This was the second route I played, since I had heard that this was where most of the lore was. Unfortunately, I found most of the Golden Deer not nearly as emotionally engaging as I did the Blue Lions. Hell, for the first half of the game, it's not even clear what Claude's actual goals are and why he is so obsessed with uncovering the secrets of the church. I think many people appreciate this route for its more lighthearted, free of character drama tone, but that's part of what makes it not work me. Much of what I am going to put in the "things I would have changed" section comes from @butwhatifidothis‘s great essay on how to improve Verdant Wind, which I encourage everyone to read. Overall, I would put this route in second place, together with Silver Snow. Rest beneath the cut, because it got long: 

Things I really liked about this route, in no particular order:

We learn the grim reality behind crests, heroes relics and the church.

Claude is willing to investigate if he knows the full story and will admit when he's wrong.

This house has the most commoners, and as a consequence offers a refreshing perspective on Fodlan.

Nader and Judith are great.

This route had the best paralogues (and no, I am not just saying that because of Thyrsus, I'm saying that because Marianne's was amazing from a character and lore perspective, Claude's was infuriating but also very interesting because we get to meet Macuil), Leonie's interactions with Indech are gold, Lorenz's and Raphael & Ignatz's tie into each other somewhat, and Hilda's & Cyril's gives more background info on Almyra.

Leonie is a character who seems absolutely insufferable if you only judge her by her interactions with Byleth, but she is literally such an amazing person, I can't.

Final map is amazing. Seeing Nemesis and the original elites was really neat.

Things I didn't like/would have changed (once again, much of this was explained in much better detail then I ever could by butwhatifidothis and you should all read their excellent write-up):

Claude is always touted as this master tactician and much is said about how he's carefully navigating the political bickering of the alliance lords... off screen. We should have seen at least two roundtable conferences on screen (could have been as simple as one inanimate background with a bunch of relatively generic looking portraits, voice actors for the roundtable lords could have been recycled from other side characters). One of these should have been during chapter 5, where Claude does actually mention having to go to one of these, the other one when he goes to a conference with Byleth after the time skip. Show us how he has gone from talented, but inexperienced teenager who gets exhausted by those meetings to a shrewed schemer who plays the roundtable lords like a fiddle.

After rescuing Rhea, Claude basically does a 180 from "I don't trust Rhea or the church and you're the reason Fodlan is so isolated" to "oh, nevermind, I was wrong, my bad, we're cool" in one chapter. Really? Really. Why not sprinkle some of that in pre time skip? Let him have his "hey, people from all over are here, so maybe the church is not as intolerant as I thought" moment pre time skip. After he finds out Tomas was Actually Evil All Along, he tosses the information he was given by him. Let him take that a bit further. Let him question if his opinion of Rhea may be biased, so his change of mind after the time skip does not come out of the blue. For that matter, let him question the points of Edelgard's war proclamation (like "Edelgard claims the church hoarded the wealth of the people to live in extravagance, but honestly? I've seen the archbishop's living space. It's not fancy at all.")

Slithers and Nemesis by extension were fun to fight, but they also felt tacked on. Claude says plenty about the church, but it's not until Lysithea points out the dubious mages halfway through the post time skip that he starts thinking about Slithers again. All it would have taken was a line here or there in earlier chapters to let us know "okay, he's investigating the church and relics and such, but he's also looking into what happened there with Tomas and Kronya". You could even go so far as to have him task Lysithea (or if she is dead, a group of mages in his employ) with tracking Slithers after Merceus, so he finds their stronghold on his own even before Hubert's letter arrives.

I cannot express how utterly disappointed I was that the most Claude ever revealed about himself to the rest of the Deer was "I was not born in Fodlan". Dude, if you want people to believe that We Can All Be Friends and Borders Shouldn't Matter Trust Me I Know, then you'd better be more forthcoming than that to make me believe that you are not talking out of our rear. In the scene after Fort Merceus, let him stand by what he always claims—that if people from both sides of the border knew each other, just talked to each other, they would see they are actually much alike and shouldn't be hating each other. Let him admit he's half Almyran and lets us see the fallout from that: that some people truly won't care (e.g. Ignatz, Leonie, Raphael), others will even be sympathetic to his struggles with hiding part of himself (Marianne, Lysithea), but others will feel betrayed because he tells them so late (Hilda) and others will seriously question his intentions and judgment as leader of the Alliance (Lorenz). Let us have some conflict/tension within the Deer here and shave some of that naivete off of Claude's ideals. Let him reap the fallout from the truth. In the scene that follows, where the Deer canonically discuss the place Byleth and Claude hold in their lives, let them discuss these different viewpoints and come to agree that they will still give trusting Claude a chance, because he hasn't led them into ruin so far.

Finally, a personal pet peeve of mine: the fucking diary scene. Change it so that if you tell him "no" more than once, he will back off and in the next explore dialogue, let Byleth willingly hand him the diary and change his dialogue to "Is this Jeralt's diary? Teach... thank you, truly. I promise to treat it with the utmost care and return it to you as soon as possible." And then, after the time skip, when the two of them have their reunion picknick, let him say: "Oh, before I forget: I promised to give this back, so here you are. [insert picture of diary] Thank you for letting me borrow this, Teach, and I'm sorry it took me so long to return it to you. I learned a lot from it." Because honestly? The original diary scene in combination with Claude never coming clear about his origins really made him seem like a hypocritical, boundary pushing ass. My opinion on him never recovered from that and it infuriates me that just two simple changes could have fixed this.

[lapinbunwrites]

Title: Dedue’s Week Off

Rating: G

Warnings: None

Characters: Dedue Molinaro, Annette Fantine Dominic, Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, Felix Hugo Fraldarius, Byleth Eisner, Ingrid Brandl Galatea, Sylvain Jose Gautier

Additional Tags: Post-Time Skip, Fluff

Word Count: 1,665

Ao3 Link

Dedue sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing the nape of his neck. As he slowly laid down on his bed, he let out a loud groan. When he tried to sleep, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He laid on his back, staring at the ceiling. If it weren’t for Dimitri insisting on him taking, at least, a week off from work, he wouldn’t have a problem sleeping. Dedue stared at his ceiling until his eyes burned from tiredness, forcing him to fall asleep. 

In the morning, he didn’t do much. All he did was make himself something warm to eat before going back into his room. At first, reading kept his mind off of things. While he was reading, his mind started to wonder. He closed his book, placing it on his desk before leaving his room. Dedue walked through the castle halls until he felt the cold air hit his face. 

He let out a breath and continued to walk. Dedue made his way through the town, seeing the many children. They were making snowmen, making snow angels, and throwing snowballs at each other’s faces. Hearing their laughs, it reminded him of the winters back home he spent with his family. He faintly smiled as he remembered the times when he and his sister would chase their dad into the forest pelting him with snowballs. After their snowball fights, they would all go home and cook with the whole family. 

“Due, Dedue,” a voice faintly said. 

He shook his head, realizing that there was someone in front of him. “Oh, Annette.” 

“Hehe, are you doing okay,” she chuckled. 

“Yes, why do you ask,” he asked, softly. 

“You seemed like you were lost in thought,” she said, adjusting the grocery bag in her arms. 

“I’m sorry, I didn't mean to cause you alarm,” he reassured her, offering to take the bag from her. “I was just remembering something.” 

“Oh, thank you, but I can get the bag. Thank you though,” she smiled at him. She tilted her head before she began to walk through the town. “What were you thinking about?” 

“My family,” he said, following her. Dedue let out another sigh as he continued to watch the children play. “Much like these children, my sister and I would spend many hours outside. When we would get too cold, we would go home to cook to help warm ourselves up.” 

Annette faintly smiled as she saw the pain he showed her. 

“Don’t worry too much about it,” he reassured her, looking at her face. “They are long gone. There is nothing we can do.” 

Annette let out a little sigh as they continued to walk. 

“What are you going to make,” Dedue asked, changing the subject. 

“Oh,” she exclaimed, looking through her ingredients. She shuffled through to make sure that she had everything. “I’m going to make Two Fish Saute! I have the Caledonian Gar, the Albinean Herring, and the butter. Hmmm, am I missing anything?” 

“Do you have herbs or a side,” he reminded her. Before he could say anything else, he watched her rush back to the market. Before he could go help her, he was out of his sight. 

Shaking his head, Dedue kept on walking through the town. While he was walking, he saw many people struggling with anything. He ended up helping around as much as he could. He held on to a little child to put a carrot nose on a snowman. He helped an old woman put decorations on her house. Before he knew it, it was nighttime. He walked back to the castle and got ready for bed, instantly going to sleep. 

Within the next couple of days, he was becoming restless. He tried to help around the castle with the cooks, helping Annette with cleaning the library, Ashe with the garden, Felix with his training. They all told him not to worry and to go do something else. He tried reading again, tried getting fresh air again, he tried to pick up sewing with Mercedes. None of it was working. 

As the days went on, nothing was getting better. He would overhear whispers from his friends and acquaintances. He let out a sigh as he chugged along with his day. It started like any other, trying to find something to do, have Dimitri tell him to go relax. Then he would go back to his room to try to relax, only to feel his muscles tense up. 

Dedue let out a groan as he laid down on his bed. “Only a couple of more days,” he whispered to himself. 

While he stared at the ceiling, a million thoughts went through his head. A few seconds later, he could hear laughing outside of his room. Shortly after that, a few snowballs were thrown into his room. Dedue took a look out of his window, seeing Annette laughing and waving her hand. 

“Dedue,” she laughed. “Come join me!” 

He faintly smiled as he went to join her. When he did, he was also met by Dimitri, Mercedes, Felix, Ashe, Sylvain, Ingrid, and Byleth. 

“Annette told us you were feeling lonely after the day she talked to you in town the other day,” Dimitri smiled. 

“While we can’t replace your family,” Felix grumbled. He took one deep breath in and exhaled it. “We can still be your family.” 

“Pained you to say that, didn’t it,” Dedue said, trying to tease him. 

“Very,” he agreed. “Don’t make me say it again.�� 

Dedue nodded. He took some snow and clumped it together. Before he could throw it, Felix already threw the one at him. His smirk quickly was wiped off of his face when Dedue pelted him with even more snowballs. It quickly became an all out brawl. Dedue was chasing after Felix, Ashe and Dimitri ganged up on Sylvain, and Annette and Mercedes were going after Ingrid and Byleth. 

After a while, all of them came up with a game. A few people were given thirty seconds to hide, after that thirty seconds, one person would go find them. If the person hiding was hit by a snowball they were out. If the person trying to find someone was hit with a snowball they would lose. The first person out would become the next person to hunt everyone else down. For the first game, Dedue had to go first. 

He walked deep into the forest. It didn’t take him long to find the first person, Felix. Dedue knew he was going to be ambitious and try to hit him first, but he was able to take advantage of it and hit him with a snowball. He faintly smirked as he heard the Duke of Fraldarius let out a loud groan making his way to the beginning of the course. 

Next was Dimitri, who was hiding with Ashe behind a few bushes. He pretended not to see them, sneaking up behind them and hitting them with snowballs. Next was Ingrid, who was always in some place high. Dedue grabbed snow off the ground, making it in a snowball, and throwing it into the tree. When he heard a thud, followed by her yelling ‘ow,’ he knew she was out. 

Then there was Sylvain, he at least put up a fight. It was back and forth, back and forth until Sylvain got distracted by Byleth. Dedue was able to hit Sylvain in the back of the head. He wasn’t able to get Byleth since they were able to retreat before he was able to do anything. Annette, was of course, with Mercedes. They both tried to hide and on opposite sides to ambush him. It didn’t work so well. Dedue walked up on Annette, spooking her. It also scared Mercedes into showing herself. He was able to hit the two of them easily. 

Byleth, the last one left. The hardest person to hit. They scattered around the area, trying to throw him off his game. Every once in a while, they would throw a snowball at him, missing everytime. Whenever he thought he had a chance, he would hit Byleth, missing just as much as they would. At one point, Byleth made the mistake of showing themself. It gave Dedue the perfect chance to hit them with a snowball. He was the winner of this round.  

When he was able to hide, he was one of the hardest to find. Most of the time, he was either the last one to be out of the game. Or he was able to hit the hunter and complete that round. When the last game finished, they all met up near the castle. 

“You know what we should have,” Sylvain suggested with a giant smile on his face. 

“I hope it’s nothing promiscuous, Sylvain,” Dimitri said, gruffly. 

“You’re Majesty, why would you even say that,” he asked, his mouth agape. He let out a little sigh, shrugging as soon as he saw everyone’s looks. “No, that wasn’t what I was going to suggest.” 

“What were you going to suggest,” Ingrid glared at him.

“I was going to suggest we have a punishment for the person who lost most of the rounds for this game,” Sylvain sighed. 

“Oh,” she said, with a sigh of relief. 

“Yesh,” he sighed again, making his way over to Felix. 

Felix groaned. “That means I have to cook.” 

“I thought you enjoyed cooking,” Dedue said. 

His eyebrows began to twitch. He shook his head, letting out a sigh. “Fine, I’ll do it.” 

Dedue shook his head and watched everyone walk back into the castle. He saw that Annette turned around to face him. He followed her as she tilted her head towards the door. When he got to the kitchen, he sat next to Sylvain and Annette, listening to them talk. He didn’t mince a word, he just listened and watched everyone. At the end of the night, he went back to his room, falling asleep instantly.

----------------------------

This is a gift to @kaijuusandkryptids for their Nagamas gift! I tried my best to show that he has a hard time relaxing since he is a very serious person. I also tried to show more of a tender/fun side of him. I hope you enjoy!!

[pineconesarecrunchy]

Pillow

Edelgard x F!Bylteh

(Byleth tries to help Edelgard sleep better at night, but things take a turn.)

Note: This is post time skip, minor spoilers for that!

...

Another day goes by means another busy day full of planning. Ever since your return, Edelgard has been excited to catch you up with everything, but being an empress has its own demanding duties. Edelgard has matured so much since your first encounter. Seeing her directing and giving orders makes you feel her power just by standing near her and being in her presence alone. Her stern and serious attitude remains as she keeps up a strong front defending her ideologies and carrying out missions in order to fulfill her end term goal. Her determination is astonishing and the front that she puts up has not changed at all over the five years. Two things haven't changed within those years, her soft spot for you and her persistent nightmares...

Edelgard's nightmares have gotten progressively worse since the last time you had discussed the sensitive topic with her before the five years of your absence. You notice recently that with each passing day that it has begun to take a toll on her. You wonder if proposing to stay by her side as she sleeps will help ease her fears.

It's a dark now, almost around midnight, and there are not many people roaming the monastery at this time except for you. You walk up to Edelgard's room door and give it a soft knock.

"El..." Only silence replies. She usually is awake at this hour, what could she possibly be doing? You slightly push the door open to see the room is...empty? You begin to give yourself to a self guided tour of her room. Her bed is neatly made but sitting atop of the duvet is an armored bear stuffed teddy you gave her when you first began your days at the monastery. She kept it. That thought brings a smile to your face as you walk over to her windowsill aligned with badges and medals. To the right of it is her desk, sitting on it are a stack or various papers. The one on top is a drawing of someone who looks...awfully familiar. It's not something Ignatz could conjure that is for sure, but is certainly a portrait of you. You open the desk drawer to see an uncovered box of hair pins and ribbons that she used to wear back in the day. You take one of the ribbons and bring it to your nose. It smells just like her and feels as if she's in the room.

"Professor?" You drop the ribbon and slam the drawer close almost immediately.

"E-Edelgard! You...startled me." You mumble as you examine the figure standing in the door frame. Edelgard looks disheveled and sweaty. Her white hair is up in a messy bun, but some strands have fallen and cling tightly to her face. Her nightgown clings to her damp chest and you realize how sheer her gown is and look away abruptly. "Sorry for intruding."

"Snooping are we. I never took you for a peeping-Tom, Professor."

"Byleth."

"...Byleth." She takes a step inside. "Is there something you need from me? It's awfully late."

"I just wanted to see how you were."

"Why?" She asks carefully, sounding like she already knows what you are eluding to.

"The past few days you have seemed more distracted and disorientated than usual, and I think your nightmares are the culprit. Your current state right now—"

"I am... I am not in the best appearance right now to be disagreeing with you." She says nervously. "I guess there is no use in hiding it from you. It's like you can almost read my mind." She chuckles.

"Perhaps I can."

"Then what am I thinking right now?" She seems like she genuinely wants you to guess. Her expression is curious, her thin eyebrows raised with a small smirk.

"Edelgard, you are avoiding the topic at hand. Please tell me what is troubling your dreams."

"Okay." She sighs and walks over to her bed and sits on it. she pats the empty space next to her beckoning you to join her. You walk over to her side and once you sit down she rests her hear on your shoulder. She entangles her arm with yours and grasps your hand. Your shoulder begins to feel hot form her extremely warm body. Edelgard's sweat seeps into your shoulder making your arm feel slightly damp, but you do not mind. You are fulfilling your promise you made to her all those years ago.

To be there by her side.

"My nightmares have been getting progressively worse."

"What do you think is the cause of them? Is it the next upcoming battle?"

"Yes. I...My dreams are vivid. The next battle I, I am a bit worried."

"You will be victorious; I am sure."

"That is not of my concern."

"Is it the enemy?"

"That is what I am worried about."

"Do you know who is the main target?"

"I have to fight family."

"Oh..."

"Yes."

"Dimitri?"

"Yes."

"You dream fearing fighting him?"

"I dream of being the cause to his demise. I dream of him being the cause of my demise." She squeezes your hand even harder. "I even have moments where I envision both of us living our final seconds looking into the eyes of someone we had loved and grown up with. I wish I did not have to fight him."

"You will cross that bridge when we get there."

"But, that bridge is soon."

"That battle isn't soon, it's not until about three moons or so away!"

"That is very soon for me. I — I cannot, I know it is business matters and it is inevitable, but I am so scared, Byleth. Being the reason of suffering to the one you care deeply for... It is unfair! It is so unfair!" She turns away to choke in her sobs. "Why did we have to be on opposite sides. If he had come to his senses, I wouldn't have to fight him, why is this so dastardly unfair!" She throws herself into your chest and cries, grasping onto your arms.

Edelgard's breathing is staggered and heavy. She shudders and trembles with every inhale and exhale. You can only imagine this is how she has been for every battle she has fought in the five years without your presence. You rub her back with one hand and pat the back of her head with the other. With every second passing, the clothes around your chest gets wetter with her tears. Suddenly she pushes you away and stands up.

"I should not be doing this." She says sniffling and rubbing the tear crust from her eyes and cheeks. "This, is unprofessional."

"No it is not."

"I, Edelgard von Hresvelg, Emperor, should not be crying over something so trivial as to fighting an enemy—" She sounds like she is getting upset with herself for being vulnerable. She shouldn't be.

"I would be upset too if I was in your place about to fight my brother."

"I am not upset!"

"You are being open about your worries to me, there is nothing trivial about that."

"This is so embarrassing." She groans.

"Being worried is nothing to be embarrassed or humiliated about, it is human nature."

"It is not what an emperor should do. I have to set an example and be fearless and—Why did you even come here?"

"Edelgard, I love you."

"What?"

"I love you and care about you."

"So you come here to listen to my anxieties and then confess your love to me when I am the most vulnerable—"

"I love and care for all of the people here. I simply noticed you were acting different and came to see if I could help in anyway and even stay by your side as you sleep for comfort. But, my intentions are clearly being mistaken and so I will see myself out." You head for the door. "Goodnight, Lady Hresvelg."

"Wait!" You stop midway in the door frame.

"What?" "I will take up your proposition."

"Excuse me?"

"To sleep by my side... It sounds...nice.... Hold on, come here." You turn around to see her pull out a stool from underneath her dresser. "Let me change out of this gown first." You go and sit on the stool. Edelgard goes over to her wardrobe and starts rummaging through.

"Should I turn around?" you inquire.

"Why? We have seen each other in the bathhouse before."

"Have we?" You cannot recall ever seeing Edelgard in the bathhouse before. You tend to go late at night of early in the mornings where there are no occupants. Has Edelgard seen you before, but not approached you? Edelgard...who would've thought you were one to act like that... "What were you doing this late at night?"

"I had woken up after imagining Dimitri's blood staining my gloves and axe handle; so I went for a walk."

"A fast walk I presume? You were sweating quite a lot."

"It was more of a ...run."

"Where to?"

"Just around the monastery, the bridge outside the cathedral looks stunning this time. What were you doing?"

"Looking for you."

"...Oh...What about before then?"

"I was scurrying around doing minor quests for people. Gardening, collecting items for people, returning lost items; the usual stuff."

"How helpful." You hear a final snap of her gown. "You may turn around now." The new night gown she wears is cream colored and reflects her pale skin. It is just as sheer... no even more sheer and see through than her first gown. Her messy bun is redone and her gaze rests upon her bed. She walks over to it and plops down. Propping her left arm up to rest her head upon and look at you.

"Are you going to watch me as you sleep?" You inquire.

"No." She mumbles and turns to lay on her back, starring at her ceiling.

You sit in silence for a bit. "Would you like me to blow out the candles?" You inquire.

"Yes, please." You walk around the room blowing out the candles around the room before returning back to the stool. The moonlight is now the only source of light in the room and it shines brightly through the large windows. A few more minutes past.

Then a few more.

Edelgard's face leaves a blank soft emotionless expression. Her skin looks so soft, if you were to touch it, it would probably be so smooth and smell of fresh carnations, her favorite flower. Edelgard groans.

"Is there something the matter?" You ask.

"Could you..." She pauses. The silence is deafening. "Could you get in with me?"

"Sleep with you?"

"...Yes. If it's not too much trouble." Why would it be too much trouble? That is the main reason you came here.

"But, I'm still in my outing clothes."

"It does not matter, you can borrow one of my night gowns if you so please." You hesitate. Accepting would be completely out of line for the Emperor and you as her aid. If anything it would feel awkward because a few hours ago she was yelling at you for misunderstanding your intentions. You really should not accept.

"Sure." To your reply, Edelgard quickly gets out of bed and rummages through her wardrobe again.

"This would look nice on you." She says holding up a royal blue nightgown. Royal blue is a pricey color of clothing. "Don't think about the color's wealth. Just try it on."

"It's like you're reading my mind, Lady Edelgard."

"Oh how the tables have turned and please, it's El."

"Thank you, El." you say and she smiles. You take the gown out of her hands. The two of you stand awkwardly there.

"I should... I will be waiting in bed."

"Okay."

"You can change here." She gestures to the unfolded room divider next to her wardrobe. You did not even notice its presence the first time. Maybe that's where she had changed when you were looking away.

You stand behind it and change while hearing her rustle the sheets and return to bed. You feel as if her eyes are scanning you through the paper frames in the divider, but how could you tell except for only the feeling of it. She could be watching but she could not...just like at the bathhouse. When you finish Edelgard is laying in bed facing away from you, you clear your throat to let her know you're done. She turns around.

"Byleth, it looks stunning on you."

"Thank you. Um, where should I put my clothes?"

"In the drawer next to the wardrobe, second drawer." You open the second drawer and place your neatly folded outing clothes in the empty space next to Edelgard's. The clothes there are of a deep crimson, each are neatly folded. You see a divider between the clothes and a small rectangular box. Glancing over your shoulder to see Edelgard isn't looking, you peek in the box. Then immediately close it once you see a glimpse of the assortment of lace—

"Is there an empty space there?" she asks groggily.

"Yes! Yes, I, I am coming." You say closing the drawer and joining Edelgard in bed.

You lay on your backside looking at the ceiling while her back is towards you. You were right, she does smell of carnations. She turns to face you and you cannot help but glance at her for a moment before looking away again. You feel her slender arm wrap around your waist and another one of her arms wrap around yours; pulling you closer to her. She places her head on your chest like it's a pillow. You can feel her breathe more slower than before now that she's calm. This feels nice.

What are you thinking? How this moment makes you feel is irrelevant. You are here to support Edelgard and help ease her nightmares. Only that and —She begins to softly snore.

How adorable...

...

The next few days Edelgard has been asking you to join her in her slumber to help ease her nightmares. This time you bring your own nightgown, but she insists you should wear one of hers as a thanks. You never give in though. She let you save the blue nightgown from your first night with her, but you never wear it. You keep it hung up in the front of your wardrobe as it smells of her carnation scent. Edelgard seems that she has returned to her diligent self. Working hard and focussed on the tasks at hand. You have not spoken about if her nightmares have changed. Sometimes she would start to sweat in the middle of the night and her breathing would increase rapidly. You would just hold her and tell her everything is alright and you're here for her until Edelgard ceases and calms down. She never uses the pillows in her room anymore, just your chest is a good enough pillow for her.

You can't help but wonder if the frequency of her nightmares are the same or if she's using that as an excuse to spend time with you...

Each passing day spent with Edelgard is a day closer to the reality of her nightmares...

...

SO I — Accidentally deleted the first half so it may not be as descriptive and well done as the rest because I was re writing it and not writing on the spur of the moment. But AAA my first Edelgard/Byleth fic! May/may not make this into a series lol who knows.