#sylvain and lorenz really do need to be learning a thing or to from him

[justrandomselfships]

@fe-oc-week day 2: Relationships.

OFC I'M GONNA START WITH SYLVAIN. Here is longer rant post abt their relationship.

If we want to put it in a basic way they are just friends to lovers where their friendship time had them cross a lot of boundaries between friendship and romance like their casual affections. They never expected anything of each other, and maybe that's the reason why they grew so close (and why they never thought that they might be in love).

Now time to talk about her closest friends! Where she considers a lot of them as such haha- rant post about (Claude, Hilda and Cyril) (Ferdinand, Lysithea, Marianne)

But no matter what, her nr1 bestie is Claude! These two are the definition of chaos. They like goofing around more than anything, but at the same time they have unlimited trust towards each other.

With Hilda they just get each other. They understand their feelings better than anyone. They may not have many common interests but somehow they always find something to talk about.

Cyril is like a brother to her. She's very protective of him even though he doesn't need it and she knows that. She just likes to go the extra mile for the sake of her friend!

Ferdinand is someone she thought she was in love with before realizing her feelings for Sylvain (I never mentioned it lol)... But her feelings for him are fully platonic! They love learning things from each other to put things simply.

Heather's relationship to Lysithea is mostly about the fact that they care about each other's well being more than necessary. Their ideals and way to live their life is pretty much opposite, but they still care about each other a lot.

With Marianne, Heather is just super impressed by her- which confuses Marianne. They both adore animals and tend to spend their time just enjoying the moment, rather than forcing a conversation.

Now that the most important people are settled... Here is the rest of the Golden Deer!

You may or may have not noticed it but Heather is close to all Golden Deer ladies... except Leonie. That is for a reason that they have no way of getting along. Heather finds Leonie judgemental, while Leonie finds Heather spoiled. They do "settle" their differences in their supports- but even after that they don't consider each other as friends.

Lorenz is someone Heather always had troubles even starting a conversation with. Although there is no denying the difference, her mind just keeps comparing him to her previous suitors- that's why she doesn't want to talk to him. ever. BUT IN THE HYPOTHETICAL SUPPORTS I'VE WRITTEN THINGS DO GET BETTER.

Raphael is just overwhelming to her in a good way. His positive attitude is exactly what she needs and so the two don't have much issues getting along. In supports I wrote with him and her- he helps her with her eating habits.

Ignatz is another person whom Heather is very impressed with. She loves all kinds of art- so of course she'd be interested in his paintings as well. She doesn't stop talking about how skilled he is and she really wants to motivate him to never drop this hobby.

Other important notes:

her favourite professor is Manuela

she loves hearing Alois' puns and often tries to think of something better

she's scared of Seteth due to respecting him too much.

she'd have the biggest trouble from the Golden deers talking to Byleth casually during first few chapters.

[alienducky]

I DEMAND THAT YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BLORBOS (if you want)

So I had to double check what Blorbo means, and apparently it means your favourite character? In which case may I present a good % of the FE3H cast? ;P

I just... I love most of the students in different ways for different things?

Claude is just... Claude. He has so many layers to him, being both incredibly simple (in terms of what he ultimately wants) and also stupidly complex (in how he goes about getting those things)? He wants to make connections, make friends, bring everyone together, but has been burned too many times while growing up to ever really trust anyone. He's always waiting for the other shoe to drop, for that knife to land in his back. His closest friend is Hilda who openly shits on Almyra because she's a casual racist, and that has to kill him on some level, wondering what she'd say about him if she knew, and yet she's still his best friend who he openly mourns when she goes down fighting for him? Who he can't stand the thought of losing in Hopes? He has to be in charge, of everything. Has to know all the details, make all the plans. And then makes plans for in case the first ones fail. He never stops thinking, calculating, digging up all the information available, because knowledge is power. Not just for blackmail, but because understanding your opponent means you can predict them.

Claude's just great, and I could pick him apart for hours.

Also? He has a wyvern. So, ya know. I'm very simple and predictable, ok?

I also love Leonie. She's solid, very open and honest. Kinda stubborn, but open to learning and can admit when she's wrong. Puts Lorenz in his place which is always a bonus. I want her to be my friend!

Same with Raphael and Caspar to some degree. Caspar is a little less willing to the whole learning thing, but with enough rope to tie him to the chair so he can't run away I think he'd eventually listen? Raph sees the good in everyone and everything, always willing to help, and stands up for his beliefs. They're muscle heads, but fundamentally kind people who deserve way more love than they get

Marianne is a peach who straight up talks to animals! Hilda is a riot when she pulls her head out her racist ass who has way more depth than she lets on, with the whole loyalty till death thing, and her creative side with the jewellery. I want to tease Lysithea like Claude does and feed her cake and sweets while we discuss magic. Ignatz is doing his best and the flashes of backbone he shows in early supports are amazing

Annette and Ashe are wonderful and deserve all the best things in life. Two little cinnamon rolls trying to make the best of their monuments of childhood trauma

Sylvain is.... Um. Ok, he's kinda an ass sometimes, and if he were real I'd probably hate him, but the snippets of who he could have been without all that Miklan and crest trauma? That version of him I love. The one who goes all out for his friends, who is a self sacrificing moron who hurts himself over and over because he somehow thinks it'll make things better? The one who cares so, so deeply when he lets himself, despite trying to push everyone away and keep them at arm's reach so they can't hurt him first. The version of him who is loyal to a fault, through thick and thin, and who is forever torn and on some level broken in non Blue Lion routes.

That Sylvain I love. The one behind the smiling playboy mask he shows the world.

Petra is a Bean. A Very Good Bean. She deserves all the love and kindness and all the help she wants tracking down the bastards who dragged her from her home and then made fun of her being dumped in a completely alien society. She is so damn strong, both physically (srsly she's been a crit machine in every playthrough it's insane) and mentally, I don't have the words

Thea is great in every way. She's kind and compassionate and is lethal with her snark. I want her to adopt me as her little sister and teach me her ways

Bernie needs a hug. And also all the help she wants disposing of her father because I know she's creative herself but I have some ideas if she wants them? Despite how much she wants to hide, and complains about being made to go out, she does go out to help her friends when they need her

Cyril is amazing. I love him to bits. Absolutely no fucks left to give for Hilda's bullshit. Slowly learning how to have friends. Learning to rely on people other than Rhea. He's wonderful and adorable and he'd hate me for it but I want to ruffle his hair and help him with his chores and make sure he's not getting blisters and feed him tasty Almyran food coz I bet he misses it, even if he won't admit it.

Shamir is everything I wanted to be growing up. No nonsense, take no shit, super smart, stealthy, and an archer??? She's great. I need that Marge Simpson meme

Seteth is fantastic, because once you get past that straight faced rules lawyer, he has a wicked sense of humour and a playful side and is such a dad. He's kind and caring, and he honestly does care, even if he shows it oddly

Byleth is whatever I want them to be. Blank slate, who nevertheless loves the people they pick in each route. Fierce and loyal and loving and struggling to express barely understood emotions... And putting up with Sothis being a gremlin

And then omg, Shez. Shez Shez Shez. The embodiment of no thoughts head empty. No filter, at all. Jumps off fucking cliffs for funsies. Multiple times!!!!! I just. I love Shez, ok? I am in desperate need of Shez merch, and Etsy is failing me. All I can find is the occasional sticker and I am a very sad Duckie about it

Ahem

Non FE3H is a little difficult... Mostly because 3H is my current obsession, but I guess...

Arlo and Oaks, from My Time at Portia are great? Arlo eats spaghetti, kicks down doors, and gets sweaty in the summer. Oaks is the Best Bear Boy Bean in the world. Shame the Devs dropped the ball on developing him, or giving him a decent backstory (I have so, so many questions about how he was raised)

Also, probably don't count, but the Cotton Llamas and Panbats. They are my Blorbos too. I need to finish making my third Panbat... As soon as I work out where I stashed it <__<;;;

Dys from I Was A Teenage Exocolonist is great! Little rebel baby. Also Sym, who is... Not really someone you can sum up easily? Cal is also great! I need to get back to playing this game, so I can romance him. Or not, because I want him to be happy with Tammy... Nngh

I think that's everyone I'd consider a Blorbo...? I mean, I love a bunch of other characters from different things, but none I've got out of my way to buy merch for like I have Claude (and the other students to some extent. Looking at my sticker covered table).

Sorry that got so long >__<;;;

[fireemblems24]

Dimitri's Supports

I have waited FOREVER for this. Let's go. And I decided to put my patience to the test, saving Dedue for last.

Since it's Dimitri and I love him, and like Dedue who I also love, he's the only one unlocking all his A-Supports, I'm going to blog all my reactions to them like I did with Dedue. Part of me wishes I thought of this for the other characters, but honestly it would've taken forever lol. Plus Dimitri and Dedue get special treatment because I said so.

Raphael

Starting off with something light hearted, I hope. I do wonder if I'm going to regret not saving this one for the inevitably heavy-handed stuff coming later.

I'm seriously betting this is a support you're supposed to get in part 1 lol. Dimitri sounds young (or maybe I'm just haven't heard non-growl part 2 Dimitri enough yet?)

Dimitri's training made Raphael think he was dying lol. Dimitri's strength is really meme tier.

I need fanart of Dimitri and Chrom co-miserating their mishandled strength breaking something. And Lucina.

Lamo, Raphael has never felt a cramp before. Lucky bastard.

Raphael is a sweetie, going to apologize to his muscles. I really wish they gave him something else to talk about other than muscles and food. Not everyone needs Dimitri tier development, but I think I'd like Raphael a lot more if he just got a smidge more depth.

Got to say, it's a bit jarring to go from "moments away from a suicide charge in the rain" to "lol, Raphael, it's muscle pain." As glad as I am that I got this support, I do think some should've been locked to part 1.

And this isn't just for Dimitri's development. I also saw Marianne and Raphael's B before this support and she reverted back to her part 1 self too.

Catherine

Maybe it's just me, but he does sound a bit older.

OMG - Dimitri's back. 😭😭😭

Sorry, it didn't really hit in that first one since that seemed like a part 1 support.

Oh, cool! I was wondering if anyone would bring up Catherine returning to Faerghus. My bets is she's too loyal to Rhea. (I guessed right)

Catherine be simpin. That's ok, I get it.

So it's not because Catherine dislikes Dimitri, or that she's absolutely needed to rule House Charon, so I think Dimitri just likes her. She's cool though. I get it.

Lamo, she told him he'd better get his sleep like he's a kid.

Curious how the A+ support will play out.

Mercedes

Team Mom's support!

Oh, no, this one's taking a serious turn isn't it? But their initial supports were so light and cute.

Mercedes just told Dimitri that he's kind to a fault. Somehow I know he's going to deny that.

Annnnnd I'm right 😭😭😭He's still calling himself a killer and disgusting monster 😭😭😭

OK - so THIS seems perfectly in tone with his recent character development. But it's so sad hearing him still talk about himself that way.

Mercedes is such a therapist. I can't. She's too pure. But savage. I saw that Lorenz support.

"I am scared . . . so scared that I will forget their faces." 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Dimitri why????

Mercedes telling Dimitri to live in the present. Her supports are always so good. I legit think she's easily a top 10 favorite in this game.

Wow, Dimitri saying if someone told him that 5 years ago, he'd be different. DID NO ONE EVER GIVE HIM ANY HELP AT ALL???

I love how she's talking to him as a classmate, and equal, and not talking up to him. He's always wanted that.

Dimitri's never given his own dreams any thought 😭😭😭He really was just 100% living for other people most of the time. 😭😭😭

Awww MERCEDES, I can't. She says she just wants to keep being his friend. This is so damn sweet. And heavy. But still sweet.

It just hits super hard knowing how badly Dimitri just wanted friends in part 1. And looking back, Mercedes and Sylvain were really the only two who were pretty casual with him.

Aww, yeah, Mercedes not putting up with the bullshit, Dimitri. Telling him to quit the self-deprecation! God, I love her.

Oh, God, they both said the old FE code for "we're married" i.e. I want to "stay by your side."

Ok, @garlandgerard, I totally get why you ship this. Mercedes loves to nurture people, and Dimitri's emotionally needy, so they match pretty well. She also didn't put up with the constant self-put-downs, but stayed gentle about it. And they talked like equals too, like friends, which is what Dimitri always wanted. It's all very sweet.

Annette

Yeah, see, this one starts off with "your highness," but Mercedes it was just Dimitri. No hate for Annette. She's my girl.

These two always give me sibling vibes.

Haha, Annette "I thought I already knew you, but I'm not sure I really do." Hmmmm wonder what Dimitri did that made her think that maybe there's parts of him she didn't know. No. idea.

Hey, Annette, no one blames you for not knowing what to say to Dimitri when they reunited lol.

Annette too pure too, wanting to cheer Dimitri up with his favorite food.

Her not knowing what he likes to eat is 100% that moment when you realize you don't know someone's favorite color.

HOW can Dimitri have no strong feelings about food. I'm having pizza right now. Let me tell you, I have strong feelings about some food.

I love how easily Dimitri deflected from talking about himself lol.

Awwww, Annette wants to live with her family again. I'll make that happen, Annette. Don't worry.

Haha, they're conspiring together behind Gilbert's back.

They still have an A+ support, which is weird, because that seemed pretty well ended? Like I see why Catherine's needed more, but not this one. Still, not going to say no. I like their dynamic.

Ingrid

OCF they're training. God I love all the Faerghus childhood group though.

Oh, fuck, here comes Glenn again. My heart's not ready for this with Rodrigue dead. Poor Felix.

Ingrid being Dimitri's knight 😊😊😊 as it should be.

Haha, Dimitri asks her for an interpretation. Just make her your knight.

Glad he hasn't started saying "I'm not worthy!" Because right now it's about Ingrid's feelings.

Wow, there, Ingrid. "However you please, Your Highness." That . . . that sounds like an invitation. To "staying by your side."

Dimitri laughed. 😊😊😊

Oh, God, this is so cute. His pause asking her to support and defend him as his knight. 😊😊😊 OMG. I'm not sure that's all she had in mind though, good Sir, have you LOOKED in the mirror?

Seriously though, Ingrid's just surrounded by studs, isn't she?

Oh, God, I'm right. She didn't just mean knight. But Dimitri's too dense in that area to notice. She crushing hard. Girl, I get you.

She blushing, saying "for the Kingdom," naw, she just like him. Me too, Ingrid. Me too.

Dimitri always makes people promise not to die on him. It's so sad considering . . .

Flayn

With Flayn it's always a toss up. Sometimes things are super light hearted, and other times it's way heavy.

On a random note, does no one wonder why Flayn hasn't aged a day in 5 years?

Flayn having nightmares. Not allowed. I bet it's fucking Jeritza's fault. I'm glad you get to rip him a new one so many times in this game.

Why is Flayn apologizing?? She's never done a thing wrong in her life.

Right, Flayn's other support with Dimitri was pretty heavy. And it started so funny with him stomaching her food.

Oh, good grief, what's he apologizing for? Ok - so Dimitri did do some things wrong. But not to Flayn.

He lied. Let me guess. Her food actually sucks.

Aw, got it. He went right to the meal. Is he really going to come out and say, well it actually sucked 😂

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK

WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE MEALS???? AND THE TEA an embarrassing amount of tea.

Wait. He can't taste ANYTHING??? Like. How? Did he hide that????

Ok - I need to look at his team and dining dialogue.

OMG. He really never says a word about how anything tastes? He always just talks about smells????

OMG. How did I NOT NOTICE. I've taken Dimitri to dinner a million times. And tea timed him too many times to admit too.

AND I NEVER NOTICED HE NEVER ONCE SAID HOW ANYTHING TASTED. HOW.

OMG that support with Annette hits different now 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

OMG and Dedue's support with Flayn hits different now. Since he wanted to badly to find food Dimitri loves 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Does Dedue know? Is that why he's so dedicated to cooking??

Can I headcannon that?

OMG, I feel so awful about that jab about pizza. Dimitri CAN'T TASTE pizza or anything 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Please someone tell me there isn't any more "this awful thing also happened to Dimitri and he's failed to tell you" like learning he almost fucking died at Duscur. And now this. Dimitri needs to learn how to fucking complain.

The writers are so fucking mean to Dimitri. OMG. OMG, how am I supposed to take him to dinner and tea now, knowing this?

Why does everything hit so differently now? And so many Blue Lions supports are about food - but Dimitri can't relate

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

This game needs to stop bullying Dimitri.

But like, God, can you imagine? Not tasting anything? I'd starve. I'd actually starve. I never really get hungry. I really would starve.

On the flip side, he's good for Flayn then, since someone can eat her cooking I guess.

"I was just saying what I thought you would want to hear . . ." Dimitri - a summary.

Naw, that's a kind lie. That kind of lie doesn't really hurt anyone.

Oh - dear God. Flayn. Stop. No sampling pungent food.

Oh, she blushing. Dimitri got her blushing

Please tell me in their paired ending Dimitri gets his taste back.

Oh, there's an A+, does he taste something. Please tell me he tastes something.

This support though. It wasn't really one on my radar but

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Gilbert

Oh, man, this one right after Flayn's. God, I'm going to need the Alois one after this. Gilbert and Dimitri are two of the most somber characters in the franchise.

And I haven't forgotten that heartbreaking B support.

Haha Lambert sucked at lying too. Dimitri too pure. Weirdly, despite everything, it's still pretty true.

Oh, shit, oh shit, we're back to Dimitri's demand that Gilbert kill him. I'm betting you usually get that in part 2.

God, imagine seeing Dimitri recover only to see him beg for death again 😭😭😭😭😭😭

I need alcohol.

I need the Alois support.

OMG, shit, Dimitri. No. Don't. Stop.

Like, I know Gilbert won't really kill him, but damn. This support is heavy.

No, Dimitri, no Gilbert is not cruel for not killing you. God.

Oh, not sure about this. I get what Gilbert's going at here, but telling Dimitri that he's not allowed to die because he's got a duty is . . . I think Rodrigue's and Mercedes' live for what you want/the present is a LOT healthier.

At the same time, this is a pretty effective way to make sure Dimitri won't go and try this again, because he really takes duty seriously.

Dimitri doesn't wish to die? 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Oh, thank God.

"Many times I have felt that I cannot afford to die . . . But this was the first time I truly feared the prospect." 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

"Is it really right for me to live?" Oh, dear God. I'm so soft for Dimitri. I can't.

Gilbert answered that one right. 100%.

Damn, these supports.

Alois

OK. I need this one. I really need this one.

I really hope Alois' inspiration is bad puns. I need bad puns right now.

Pretty sure this is a part 1 support though. I love how Alois, not Dimitri, is leading this. And that the person the Kingdom NEEDS is running around and getting attacked by monsters lol

Ok, bad puns. Bring them.

There we go. Thank you, thank you, Alois.

OMG no one's laughing 😂😂😂

Dimitri's laughing 😭😭😭😭😭😭

That's it. This is always getting saved for part 2. I need to hear part 2 Dimitri laugh.

I'm also so glad someone finds Alois funny. Dimitri and Petra need to start a club.

OMG I love the two other confused soldiers. I needed this 😂😂😂

Marianne

These two were so sweet in their C and B supports.

I swear I'm going to end up shipping Dimitri with everyone. Except maybe Annette, no hate, they just seem so much like brother and sister to me.

And Felix x Annette 100%

Survivor's Guilt - the pairing. Both wondering why they survived 😭😭😭

"There are so many others who are much more deserving of life . . ." - who said it? Marianne or Dimitri?

These two just understand how each other feels so well. It hits so different compared to Marianne's other romantic possible supports where they just try to make her smile.

Instead these two take comfort in finding someone who understands how they feel so well and feel relieved they can share that with someone.

Haha - "I must go on living. I cannot give in to death so readily." This coming right after his support with Gilbert. Good job, Gilbert.

They've both had it so rough 😭😭😭😭😭😭

"There is no need to force yourself to smile as your soul bleeds." Dimitri always gives such good advice that he never follows.

Aww, now at least it's getting cute instead of just heavy. Marianne laughed too 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Yesss, Girl, preach. I got a little sick of her other supports all being "cheer up!" Like I know it's all in good faith, but I'm so glad this chain exists. It just hits different.

Dimitri doesn't think he's strong enough to live his life. 😭😭😭 this game. I swear.

ohhhh - ohhh, Dimitri blushing now. And all she needed to say was they've been brought closer together. Congrats Marianne!

OHHHH tables have been turned. Now someone's making Dimitri promise he needs to live!

"I don't know what I'd do with myself if we lost you . . ."

"I promise to the goddess of Fodlan that I will never give you cause for despair."

OMG these two are being so sweet, I can't. 😭😭😭😊😊😊

Felix

Oh, boy, here we go. This should be . . . interesting.

Oh, we're starting off good I see. Felix telling Dimitri he needs to answer quickly or get cut in half 😔Felix. No.

Dimitri sounds so somber 😭

Dimitri admitting both are him - the vengeful "boar" and the friendly good person. And this is why I love him.

Dimitri feels the need to shoulder all the regret the dead feel, please don't. They wouldn't want that 😭😭😭😭😭

"The dead won't acknowledge your loyalty, they don't care." - Felix not wrong there.

I partly agree with the idea Dimitri is "serving his own ego" by claiming he's acting for the dead. I think it's a bit more complicated than that, but I think that's part of it.

Felix saying some good stuff here about the dead being dead and the living being living.

"If you keep stringing gravestones around your neck, you'll snap." - Felix, I don't know if you noticed but . . . uh . . . he sort of did.

Felix telling Dimitri to become a grave keeper is a bit funny. Not going to lie.

"I'm not immune to emotion you know." - just tsunderes things

Aw, Felix is upset his father died 😭😭 after all that shit-talking about Rodrigue 😭😭

Wish Felix didn't cut Dimitri off when he said "more than anyone you-" (care about other people, unless he joins CF and just kills everyone)

Oh, God, Felix is such a tsundere. "I couldn't stand the pathetic look on your face. That's all." Sure, Felix.

Kinda wish these two had an A+ though. Seems like there's more to do than the A+ with Annette and Flayn.

Really curious to see what their paired ending is like after that. Seems they're still learning to learn about each other. Well, Felix is. Dimitri didn't seem too upset lol.

Dedue

Ok guys. Here we go. I can't believe I managed to wait for this for last. Everyone hyped this one, so let's hope.

Really? We open with Dimitri having scars on his back? 😭

From 9 years ago? So scars from Duscur then?

Images of shirtless Dimitri now. though Not bad images.

He got scars protecting Dedue?

"It makes me think that is was worthwhile that someone like me survived." 😭😭😭 he's talking about protecting Dedue? 😭😭😭

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

"But I saved someone - saved you. That and that alone has been my crutch." 😭😭😭😭😭

I always knew these two were co-dependent.

Dimitri really out here saying that saving Dedue helped him "justify" surviving. 😭😭😭😊😊😊

OMG THAT'S THEIR STORY

OMG, poor Dedue. And Dimitri 😭😭😭did he literally "take a bullet" to save Dedue 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 and still has scars? No wonder Dedue's so loyal. Some kid he didn't know did that. That's one hell of an introduction.

And picturing little Dedue just resigned and angry and waiting to die and just 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Oh, Dedue, you've repaid that debt ten-fold I'm sure.

Ahaha, Dimitri's doing the "you'd better accept your worth!" discussion this time lol.

Dear God these two. Now Dimitri's bringing up that Dedue busted him out of the jail.

I swear, these two have more of a plot off screen than some routes do on screen.

And now picturing Dimitri resigned and just ready to die. And then Dedue busts in. 😭😭😭

"That was nothing more than my duty as your vassal." Stop that Dedue. Dimitri doesn't want you to be his vassal. He wants more.

Holy shit.

"You are irreplaceable. Cherished." 😭😭😭😊😊😊😭😭😭😊😊😊😭😭😭😊😊😊😭😭😭😊😊😊

Not to be that person - but I tell all my "friends" that.

Yes, Dedue, stop saying insisting you're just a "vassal" - that's a worse joke than Alois' puns from earlier.

"Please . . . do not look at me that way." What way, like you're about to make Dimitri cry, or like . . .

"You promised me you would build a Kingdom that is proud to boast of Duscur blood." - shit, man, these two. I just . . .

OMG so much emotion from Dedue. The only time I ever heard that before was in VW when he learned Dimitri died. But let's not remember that right now 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Oh shit. He called him "Dimitri." 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

And it made him blush.

OMG.

Guys, these two.

Aww, Dimitri looks so surprised. 😊😊😊😊😊😊

Oh, these two are so soft for each other. I can't. I just can't.

"To be your friend . . . is what I have always wanted." You're going to get it.

Man, I feel almost guilty S-Supporting Dimitri. He needs to pair up with Dedue pronto.

Dimitri sounds chocked up. OMG.

"So please call upon me when you walk alone at night." Ok. Dedue. Ok. Yes. Guys. This is all very straight.

I'm not saying it's - you know - cannon, but there's some big feels here.

Oh, Dimitri, stop it. You like Dedue's overprotectiveness. Don't lie.

Man, you guys were so right. Dimitri really just came out and said Dedue was "cherished" and "irreplaceable." Like, I'm not making this stuff up. And Dedue blushing hardcore just saying Dimitri's name.

They're both just so soft. I can't. I literally cannot. This support was gold. It was worth all they hype.

And learning more about how they meant. Dimitri really taking a bullet for Dedue there. I just . . .

I just want all the happiness for both of them. They're really something special towards each other. Like I legitimately think this is one of the most two-way loyal relationships in the whole franchise, and definitely the tightest bond in this game.

Like in past games you had Seth for Ephraim and Erikia and Soren for Ike and it's not like Ike, Ephraim and Erikia and etc don't care, but it wasn't the same level, you know? But this is such a two way street.

And I'm so weak for bodyguard with a crush. Like Seth/Eirika? Yes. Geoffrey/Elincia? 100%. Riza/Roy (Fullmetal Alchemist) there again. I'm sure there's more, but those are my top ones. Even Merlin/Arthur sort of counts even if Arthur doesn't know Merlin's his bodyguard lol.

I need to read fanfic for these two. I really don't want to spoil anything, but I'm dying. They're both just so sweet, and I just really love their dynamic. I really want to do a write up on it once I get to the end of the game.

[fantasyinvader]

So, a couple of thing I want to put out here.

1) I’ve mentioned this before, but Flayn’s endings do confirm that Fodlan changes in every route but CF. This of course kneecaps the argument that those endings restore the status quo. But considering that Flayn leaves your party the second you opt into CF, the only route where you lose Enlightenment and the only one whose epilogue’s boarder is black rather than white, her leaving can be seen as important to the ending. Think about it, Nirvana allows someone to escape from the cycle of death and reincarnation. We maintain said status in SS/AM/VW, the routes where Flayn is around at the end to confirm Fodlan changes. CF is about restoring the Empire and losing Nirvana through ignorance, implying the cycle has just reset itself. It is the only route that doesn’t have confirmation things will change, even Heroes makes it out Edelgard is still trying to figure out how things will work, while Lorenz and Sylvain have endings that show they pass their positions off to their kids in complete contrast to what Edelgard wants. What did Hanneman say again in his support to Dorothea? Oh yeah.

“ Consider this. At its inception, the concept of nobility assumed that the greatest among the populace would rise to power... However, in practice, nobility often serves to keep those deemed commoners down, segregated from those who, by chance, were born to a noble family. “

The cycle repeats.

2).One of the things that has been bugging me lately is VW’s role in the story. I know I’ve argued it’s the outsider route because it doesn’t reflect the themes of SS, AM and CF that the game was built around. The idea of it being a foil to CF in some way was there, if it wasn’t meant to reflect those themes than what was it?

Then I remembered the interview, how Claude was originally meant to be a villain you can’t hate. This stuck me as odd, since a lot of people argue that CF is about humanizing Edelgard and making it harder to hate her. That doesn’t fit in with the interview, since it would mean having two likable villain protagonists. But what if, after everything we see, Edelgard WASN’T meant to be likable at the end of CF? That CF was meant to show us how vile she actually was, while the writing around Claude eventually changed so he stood among the heroes.

This started the ball rolling for me. VW’s foil is more about the nature of their stories. As the game says, Claude’s and Edelgard’s ideals aren’t that far apart but here’s the thing, Edelgard’s a liar.

* So for all the talk about her having trust issues and opening up to you, the fact is she does this as soon as her support becomes available, while Claude’s own trust issues figure more into the story and at the end he still doesn’t tell you his real name. Despite how his own damage is less severe than Edelgard’s tale, Claude’s trust issues are more prevalent. It takes a lot for him to open up about what he really wishes to accomplish to the GD, whereas Edelgard lies to the faces of her closest allies.

* Claude also sees violence as a last resort, whereas Edelgard starts the game by placing a hit on her fellow students in order to better facilitate her conquest. This can even be taken to account with their preferred weapons, Edelgard prefers axes, which have great power but poor accuracy. Claude uses bows, outside of the traditional weapon’s triangle, who are known for their accuracy but also tend to lack in power (not to mention, how they traditionally need support due to not being able to directly counterattack). You can also see this with Edelgard being defeated by Byleth (sword) but is able to defeat Dimitri (lance) except when Dimitri is supported by Byleth.

* Edelgard talks about merit but she takes credit for Byleth’s leadership, never putting them into a position of power and even has lines stating she doesn’t see them as an equal. Claude on the other hand recognizes Byleth would be a better leader for Fodlan than himself, and his speech at the end against Nemesis is all about the power of friendship. Hell, in some of his endings Claude doesn’t take the throne of Almyra and instead adventures around the world.

* His ending is in pure light, while Edelgard’s is in pure darkness.

* Edelgard says she has the true history of Fodlan, making it sound like it turned her against the Church. Claude actually does learn the true history and as a result is a lot more sympathetic to Rhea at the end.

* Edelgard talks about uniting the continent, doing away with the Church, and bringing to light the history she has been told. While she forcefully does the first, the details show she takes over the Church instead and spreads her own false history. Claude does unite the continent in the aftermath of the death of it’s leaders, the Church loses a lot of power as a result of the war and Rhea’s death, and Nemesis himself shows up to prove he wasn’t the hero. While this may have played a role in the post-war loyalist uprising, Claude does what Edelgard says she would do.

* Edelgard says she will make peace with Almyra, thinking it will be easy because they don’t believe in the Goddess. But in CF, she kills/exiles Claude. IT’S PRINCE, NO SURPRISE THERE’S AN ATTACK THE MONTH AFTERWARDS. And Hilda and Cyril, both of whom are a part of the GD in VW, can not join her meaning the paralogue that explains that Almyra fights for shits and giggles is not available in CF. Claude does unite his forces with Almyran ones in order to stop Edelgard despite the latter not believing in the goddess.

I mean, we can go on. But it’s clear, Claude is definitely meant to be more heroic than Edelgard. His route is meant to foil CF, showing what it would look like if your leader actually meant what she was saying. Even him being a foreigner can play a role into this, as he’s bringing parts of his culture into Fodlan. Again with the outsider theme, but also outside of the Buddhist/Chinese theming of the rest of the game. Claude is the real deal as he finds the courage to trust others, whereas Edelgard is a fake.

[iturbide]

What do you think could have been done to improve 3H? Given the budget/time, what changes would you have done? Also, what elements do you consider KEY to a good story?

fffffff I would have done so many things differently in 3H it requires a read more but to your second question: I feel that characters are a key element of a good story. Possibly the most crucial element, to me. You can have the most epic, incredible plot in the world -- but if the characters taking part in it aren't interesting or able to engage the reader, then the story loses a huge part of its impact. It's only by caring about the people taking part that a reader can get invested in the story and its outcome; if you don't care about what happens to someone (either in a good or a bad way) then you're at best apathetic to the events, at worst bored by them.

Frankly everything else in a story -- narrative structure, conflict, etc -- is so malleable that I can't consider it key. You can easily make stories that have no classic conflict if you have characters that people care about, because just watching them interact with the world and each other can be beautifully engaging. So at least to me, the key is in the characters: whether you love them and want them to succeed or love to hate them and want to see them get their just desserts, they're the ones that do the heavy lifting in a story, so making sure they're compelling is one of the most important things to me when writing.

As for 3H though I have a lot of changes I would make. Throughout the whole game.

Academy Phase

Giving each House their own unique set of missions. I feel that part of why the Azure Moon route is considered so strong is because it's the most character driven, something that starts in the Academy Phase: everything from Lonato's rebellion to Miklan's theft of the Gautier Relic are highly personal to the Blue Lions students, with Ashe being Lonato's adoptive son and Miklan being Sylvain's estranged older brother (and someone who's well-known to Dimitri, Felix, and Ingrid on top of it). While these are both important events, for the Black Eagles and the Golden Deer there's not the same level of personal engagement: it's just a thing that's happening rather than a devastating blow to the students we love. While there are certainly missions that can and should stay the same (the raid on Seiros' tomb, Flayn's kidnapping, the Remire incident, etc.) having select missions be personalized by House to give that same level of engagement would have made for a far stronger narrative, since it enhances the player's connection with the students of their chosen House.

Just as an example: for the Black Eagles, rather than putting down Lonato's rebellion, maybe have their mission be aiding a small sect of the Church in the Empire that's being plagued by monsters or bandits. It gives us the chance to learn more of the history between the Church of Seiros and the Adrestian Empire, how close they were and how it fell apart a century before the game; Rhea might explain that she wants to improve these failing relations by having Imperial students go to aid this disconnected branch, and in private Edelgard could hint at her distrust of the institution and of Rhea herself even if she is following orders. Not only that, we could hear on returning that the Blue Lions students accompanied the Knights of Seiros in dealing with Lonato's rebellion, so we still get the fallout from those events and have a reason to choose the Blue Lions in another run.

Another example: for the Golden Deer, rather than going after Miklan and witnessing his transformation, maybe a report arrives that someone stole Failnaught and task the Alliance students with retrieving it. It lets us learn more about the situation in the Alliance, giving more details about Duke Oswald's situation, Claude's appointment as the heir to the Riegan House...and while he would never do it personally, have there be subtle implications but no hard proof that Duke Gloucester is behind the theft, just as he was the death of Claude's Uncle; on top of that, we could still get a battle against a Black Beast when Failnaught transforms the bandit, giving Claude a very personal look at how dangerous these Relics can be (something he likely wouldn't have had deep insight into, given his Almyran roots). And again, on returning to the monastery we could see the Blue Lions dealing with the fallout from Miklan.

More interaction between the House Leaders in general. There are only a handful of scenes where all three of them interact together, and I can only think of one instance where they're even in each other's company at the monastery (Claude and Dimitri in one of the early chapters). Having more of these moments where they're apparently interacting on the grounds or where we can see them together in cutscenes, giving us more insight into the leaders of the other Houses we didn't pick, would give us a lot more investment in them as people and make the eventual revelations at the end of the Academy Phase hit a lot harder.

Especially with Claude's ambition being what it is, it would have been a far better show of his character to have him hanging out with different students every month -- not just from his own House like Hilda, but from other Houses. Have him be talking with Petra in the dining hall one month, or with Annette at the reception hall another; if you sided with the Black Eagles or the Blue Lions, it would be very easy to suspect that he's up to tricks and trying to figure out individual weaknesses...but if you picked the Golden Deer, you'd likely realize very quickly that he's got no ulterior motives because you've been seeing him in action and getting Supports with him.

More Supports period. We were robbed of some fascinating interactions, like Ashe and Dorothea or Dedue and Petra, and some really strong Support chains stop before they reach their full potential (several Sylvain supports, including Marianne and Bernadetta). I want to see so many more of these and I would add in a ton if given half an opportunity.

Giving Byleth more agency. This bleeds over into the War Phase, too, but one of my biggest complaints about the game is how limited the response options are, especially when it comes to Edelgard and her frightening rhetoric as early as chapter 3. Give us more options with real varied outcomes, rather than it changing one immediate line of dialogue; give us real dialogue trees rather than minutely altered responses so that we have an opportunity to affect change. This runs the risk of drastically altering Byleth's relationship with the various House Leaders, but that potential is undeniably fascinating in and of itself.

War Phase

Azure Moon: Make Dimitri's turn more gradual. Show him grappling with Rodrigue's words more, have more scenes where he and Byleth talk and he tries to work through his understandably complicated feelings. It doesn't even have to take that much longer, honestly: every week for the next month, give us an extra cutscene and let there be a small change in how you can interact with him. For example, maybe he still doesn't attend the round table in the first week, but you do have the option of assigning him to a task around the monastery; in the second week if you explore, you have the option to invite him to a meal; in the third week he finally attends the roundtable and you're able to work on his skills again; and in the fourth week his supports finally unlock.

Azure Moon: Make Claude recruitable. Don't have him leave Failnaught and go waltzing back to Almyra, have him actually head up the Alliance in this time of need and volunteer to join forces with the Kingdom forces. You can have the option of turning him down, if you really want, at which point he might leave Lorenz in charge and go back home, but give us the option of bringing him on board along with any other former Deer that fought with him at Derdriu -- and furthermore, let us have some supports with Dedue and Dimitri to go with it. Ideally those Support chains would be available in the Academy phase and maybe you'd have the recruitment option only if Dimitr's Support level with Claude is at least a B (since you can get to A during the Academy Phase but not unlock it until the War Phase as I experienced many times). But still: Claude recruitment. Yes.

Verdant Wind: Make Dimitri recruitable. Having him die offscreen after Gronder is absolutely terrible, especially since we know for a fact that at least two people from the Alliance army saw what was either going to happen or directly happening. At the end of the battle, give us an option of going after Dimitri: if you choose not to, he still dies, but if you do you have the opportunity to save him and recruit any other former Lions with him. As abve, Supports between Claude and Dimitri would be great, and you could even keep Dimitri's Supports locked for a while and include scenes of Byleth and/or Claude and Dimitri talking and working with him until he starts turning around the way he does in Azure Moon. Dimitri's death in Verdant Wind is a travesty and it needs to be changed.

Verdant Wind: More character stuff in general. One of the things that makes Azure Moon such a strong route is that it's so deeply character-driven. Verdant Wind is much more plot-driven, and while it's still strong, it could have been more impactful if the characters were more directly affected and/or we got to see more of their individual actions. For instance: after securing Myrddin, have weekly missions where you actually go along and meet with the Great Lords and discuss with them before the final round table. Have Byleth and Claude go with Lorenz to talk to Count Gloucester and try to get his buy-in, and give us more dialogue trees where Byleth can contribute (for better or for worse) so that in the end you either get his full agreement or only grudging consideration because Lorenz intervenes. Get us engaged, show us more of the situation in the Alliance, and let us have a role in moving from this uneasy state of neutrality to full agreement that it's time to take action.

Silver Snow: A unique story in general. Basically everything in the route is a weaker copy of the events in Verdant Wind, and regardless of which came first, Verdant Wind handles the events in a way that makes more logical and narrative sense than Silver Snow does. So even if things could be changed in Verdant Wind to make it stronger and more unique, Silver Snow needs the most work and ideally should have a new plot made just for them that gives the Knights of Seiros a chance to really shine.

Silver Snow: More for Seteth to do period. Despite the fact that he's ostensibly our Lord stand-in for the route (since he's the one who meets you after the timeskip, where it's either Claude, Dimitri, or Edelgard who does in the other routes), he barely has a chance to do anything and doesn't make much of an impact on the route overall. Silver Snow could -- and ostensibly should -- give him a chance to showcase his talents and stand as a unique and engaging character, since his role in the Academy Phase was so minor; relegating him to the same general role in Silver Snow does him a great injustice.

Crimson Flower: Have Edelgard suffer consequences. This is one of my biggest complaints with the game on the whole: that Crimson Flower goes out of is way to glorify imperialism and Edelgard gets a rosy perfect ending with nothing ever going wrong according to her endcards. Logically the way she achieved her goal would have led to massive dissent, unrest, and civil conflict in the territories she conquered and subjugated; her route needs to show that, and make it clear that there are in fact consequences for her actions, both within the original Adrestian territry and without in the newly conquered ones.

Crimson Flower: Deal with the damn Agarthans. Given that she knows about them in detail the way neither of her fellow House Lords did, it's an absolute travesty that we never saw her go after them in her route: all she did was show her hand too early and cause hundreds of senseless deaths when the Agarthans fired on Arianrhod. Her route should have ended with a conflict against the Agarthan menace -- and likely a very hard one, harder even than the battle against Rhea, because she left them for too long and gave them time to bolster their defenses before she arrived. And given that she's killed Rhea, the end of that conflict would likely be a massive loss of life when Thales bombs Shambhala -- further consequences for her actions.

All Routes: Give Byleth agency. This is especially pertinent in CF where canon reduced Byleth to Edelgard's enabler: give them a chance to fight her, push back against things that either don't make sense or are only going to hurt people, argue and maybe force her to change her mind or see another viewpoint rather than continuing to barrel down a path of bloodshed and loss because she selfishly decided that war was the only way. But giving Byleth that same agency in other routes would be equally powerful: let them talk candidly with Dimitri, let them encourage Claude to trust his companions and reveal his Almyran heritage, just...let them have a chance to be their own person, with complicated relationships and the ability to speak freely.

[radiantresplendence]

The Dark Knight Class - Fire Emblem Three Houses

In my opinion, the Dark Knight is on the high end of the “viable” classes in the late game. I think that a lot of the mage girls have better options where they’d excel, because females horse mages have access to classes like Valkyrie. This isn’t a jab at Dark Knight however, for what it’s worth, it’s a good class. I just feel that its desire to be hybrid physical and magic holds it back for a lot of characters. 

The class exam wants C in lance, B+ in reason and A in riding. This is annoying, to say the least. In most cases, the characters that you’ll want as a Dark Knight won’t see a horse until they qualify for this class, being that (though hybrid) the class favors magic and there are no mounted mages until Valkyrie at level 30 (which is both gender-locked and a better class, I’d argue). Essentially to qualify for this class by the time it becomes available, you’ll need to have someone’s goal set to riding for most of the game with little payoff until you get here. C lance is neat, and opens up the possibility of potent lance Combat Arts, particularly Frozen Lance, without going too far out of your way. Basically, I like the lance requirement and don’t like the riding, but while you’re on a horse, you might as well pick up Movement +1. 

Analysis

The Dark Knight’s notable bases are 17 magic, 14 dexterity and 16 speed. These bases are fine, but are a little low for level 40 and probably won’t affect your stats much, seeing as the Warlock that you were probably in before qualifying for this class also grants 17 magic. You’d have to be really statscrewed to get any serious buff just for passing the exam and even then you’d have to get here off of a class like Fortress Knight. The stat boosts that Dark Knight provides are 1 strength, 2 magic, 2 dexterity and 1 speed (but you lose 2 while mounted). They’re not anything to write home about, as you’ll hit ever-so slightly harder as a Warlock, at the cost of having significantly less mobility. 

The Dark Knight boasts a solid 7 movement while mounted and 6 while dismounted. Every point of movement counts, especially with Canto and being placed in the mobility tier right below the likes of Dark Flier is not a bad place to be. 

Dark Knight’s Class Skills are good. They’d be better if the Class just opted for the faire that the student in question had access to though. As it stands, they have Black Tomefaire, Dark Tomefaire and Canto. The class’s Mastery Skill is Seal Resistance. 

Black Tomefaire is great. +5 damage for being a mage that stacks with a copy of itself once you max out your reason is great free damage. 

Dark Tomefaire is really just here for Hubert. It does the same thing as above, just most characters won’t get any use out of this. 

Canto is always good. You melt someone with magic and then use the rest of your movement to leave. It’s great. 

Seal Resistance sucks and shouldn’t be used in favor of more reliable skills to give you more kill potential. If you deal damage to someone, they suffer -6 resistance until the next turn. I suppose you could do interesting things with Deadeye Ashe on NG+6 though if you really wanted to. 

In terms of growths, Dark Knight gives a 5% increase to strength and a 10% increase to magic. Like most mounted classes, you suffer a loss in speed growth, in this case 5%. They’re solid growths for a Master Class, to the extent that they’ll help much that late into the game. 

Good Dark Knights

Lorenz is the poster child for the class: Solid strength and magic, solid reason spell list (albeit lacking much spice), access to Frozen Lance at C+ lances, and strengths in everything that he needs to get here. Lorenz makes a strong Dark Knight, even if he’s a little lackluster until he gets here. He’d be better if he had a cooler faith spell list though. 

Ingrid lacks the same kind of punching power and the ease of access that Lorenz enjoys in regards to this class, but she has a lot going for her to make up for it. She too learns Frozen Lance, albeit at an A lance investment and she’s fast enough to not really care about the speed penalty in most cases. She also learns Thoron and Physic, despite having a more limited spell list. She may lack the reason strength that Lorenz has, but if you build her as a mage, she should be able to reasonably get the the B+ to qualify by level 40 pretty easily. (Additionally to note, I think the optimal way to use Ingrid if you’re playing Blue Lions is as a mage and this class is the best class for her to do it.)

Using Sylvain as a Dark Knight is also viable. He’s arguably the only unit I’d have on a horse before qualifying for this class. His reason budding talent grants him Black Magic Avoid +20 which is a good skill, even if finding a golden use for it is a little difficult on Sylvain outside of NG+. He has a more robust spell list than Ingrid, and notably picks up Seraphim at the cost of Thoron. I’d argue he’s better as a Paladin for Swift Strikes though. Interestingly, he also can learn Lightning Axe but not Frozen Lance... but I’d only really get his axe rank that high if I were making him a flier. It could be of note in NG+ maybe, but you’d have to pick that over making him a Black Magic dodge tank with Alert Stance. Basically, Sylvain can do some neat stuff as a mage and Dark Knight is probably where he should wind up if you’re doing that. 

While I’m on the topic of NG+, Bernadetta can fit fairly comfortably as a Dark Knight, especially after a couple of playthroughs of training. Thoron, Physic and Rescue are in her surprisingly robust spell list, despite being a pretty lacking mage. C+ lances can get her Vengeance to go with her Personal Skill Persecution Complex and she has a budding talent in riding that grants her Pass. I’d build Bernie normally through Brigand and Archer into Sniper to get here, but I could see some value in going Paladin for maximum Vengeance with a guard adjutant. Just understand that if you keep her in bows, she’ll have exceptional versatility in the class with with Deadeye and Encloser. If you’re playing Blue Lions and recruit her, you can even give her Failnaught. This may be the only unit I’ll include who may get a magic boost for qualifying for the class. 

This is probably Hubert’s best class, all things considered because it’s the only way for him to get a real Class Skill to act as a boon to his dark magic. He can even pick up Frozen Lance as a budding talent. It’s a real bummer that Hubert’s faith list is as bad as it is, but I suppose it makes sense given his character. Much like my thoughts on Dark Bishop, Hanneman and Hubert are surprisingly similar in their roles. I personally feel like Hanneman loses more than Hubert does when moving up to a Master Class though, not to imply that it’s a bad transition, more like a give and take. After all, Canto and that added mobility is really nice, even if you lose out on some versatility/double meteor. 

Edelgard is the only unit that can make use of both of Dark Knight’s faire skills. Make mage Edelgard a Dark Flier instead or don’t do it at all.

Conclusion

Play Blue Lions, recruit Bernadetta and Lorenz and make everyone a Dark Knight. Felix doesn’t get to complain because of his budding talent in reason, Dedue dies during the timeskip and has Vengeance and Dimitri won’t let you train him anyways. Dark Knights of Faerghus: It’ll be rad. 

Dark Knight is pretty okay. Boys kinda get shafted as dedicated mages. This review kind of got away from me. 

Here’s hoping you enjoyed this. If you’d like to read more of my thoughts on FE3H classes, here they are. 

[chupacabrahhh]

*~{ Garden of Golden Deer }~* a Fire Emblem: Three Houses Part 1 drabble

okayyy this is kinda brazy, I've never written fanfic for a video game before but man fe3h really got my imagination juices goin, and it's all thanks to my wonderful Golden Deers Q v Q

[ set during the aftermath of ch5 when Miklan is defeated & you rescue the Lance of Ruin. I recruited Sylvain the previous chapter and he replaces Lorenz in my house. The professor tells her students a story her father Jeralt once told her long ago. ]

~

It was nearing late afternoon, and the end of the Golden Deer’s lesson for the day. Byleth had everyone practicing combat moves they had drafted earlier, the sounds of weapons clashing ringing throughout the training grounds. The professor herself was locked in special dedication with Sylvain, the Sword of the Creator parried against his newly acquired Lance of Ruin. This was the first time he was allowed a feel for the relic in combat, but his clammy grip and furrowed brow gave insight to inner turmoil unlike Byleth had ever seen on her student’s face, especially when wielding a lance with which he was already very proficient.

“Of course he must still feel some type of way over Miklan. I bet he hasn’t laid a hand on the relic that stole his brother’s humanity since the day it was handed over to him. This must be very difficult for him..” she thought empathetically. Next to Claude, Sylvain was her most cocky and skilled student with their weapon of choice. She had never seen him mishandle a lance or without a confident smile on his face, but in front of her now he kept changing grip position and shifting the weight of the Lance of Ruin away from him, his body language screaming that he still wanted nothing to do with the thing. Byleth wished she could ease her student’s troubles, but she didn’t know what to say to comfort him about wielding this Hero’s Relic when she herself still wasn’t all that acquainted with the Sword of the Creator. And her past experience as a mercenary made her nothing if not numb to the taking and end of life, either around her or by her own hand. Suddenly, a memory from years past flickered back into her consciousness from a time when she was very small and had questioned death for the first time, before it became a daily part of her existence.

“Sylvain, that’s enough for today,” she nodded at him with eyes as kind as she could emote, and sheathed her sword. “Everyone, wrap up your sparring and meet me underneath the oak tree outside of the training grounds.”

She turned her back to the sounds of her students exclaiming victories over the others or getting into teasing squabbles. Byleth grabbed her water canteen on the way out and took a few gulps, knowing she would need the hydration for what she planned next. A part of her felt nervous at the coming prospect but an even greater part was assured in the comfort she hoped to bring her Golden Deer. Taking a seat on a large rock underneath the shade of the great tree, Byleth closed her eyes and tried transporting herself years back in her memories of being a small girl in her father’s arms. She could recall the feeling of his fur coat’s neckline as she gripped it, could smell the crisp air of winter’s final gusts as spring made its grand appearance across the land. At this time the mountains were still capped white but the valleys were turning lush and verdant, and buds of the bravest flowers were starting to stand tall, yet withheld the magnificence of their blooms.

Opening her eyes now, she gazed upon seven colorful and expectant faces all looking up at her with mixed expressions, her own little garden she was tasked with tending. Sigh, but the face of their biggest problem plant- er, child, was not among them.

“Claude, get your golden butt over here and sit down with the others. I haven't dismissed you yet.”

“Augh Teach, I was just a few steps away from making it home free, if only you had stayed in your trance a moment longer,” the house leader lamented teasingly but obediently plopped down in the back of the bunch beside Leonie and the Lance of Ruin, which Sylvain had expectantly distanced farthest from him as he sat towards the front of the bunch.

“Professor, are you going to make us meditate because that’s really not my thing and I already promised to meet someone for tea so,” Hilda piped up next and smiled sweetly as she twirled the ends of her pink hair, hoping to be obliged to leave as well.

“No, Hilda, we are not going to meditate and I promise this won’t be long. I’d like to share a quick little story with you all.”

“A story?” Lyisthea spoke next with a twinge of annoyance coloring her tone, but her doe eyes gave away her true excitement.

“Yes, this is a story my father told me back when I was a young child, and it’s stuck with me ever since. As we continue receiving missions that send us onto the battlefield, you’re all going to have to become very acquainted with death, which still might be a difficult or painful concept for you to grasp, understandably.” The mood had shifted from playful to pensive as she brought up death, and the change had caused that prickle of anxiety to return. Lecturing about battle tactics was something she had been forced to get used to by now, impersonal, automatic and well within her wheelhouse, but storytelling with colorful language and emotional sentiment was definitely leagues outside of her comfort zone. She gulped back the fear quickly and cleared her throat to begin, not wanting the silence to stretch any longer than it had.

“This is a story about what becomes of those who die on the battlefield.” Her opening statement grabbed the attention of all her students, with Leonie leaning in the most, obviously setting her expectations high as she hungrily awaited the words of Jeralt. “It was around the end of the Lone moon and I was small enough to be carried by my father but had already seen the handiwork of what he and his fellow mercenaries were hired to do. The image of bodies lying facedown on the land had been imprinted into my mind, and as we walked among the melting snow and coming flowers, I asked him what would become of those who died fighting? Accomplished nobles had grand sendoffs, and villagers were lovingly prepared by the hands of their families, but what was to become of those violent strangers who met their end in a random battlefield? Without missing a beat, he said…”

Byleth took a moment to appreciate the looks on her deer’s faces, with Sylvain’s amber eyes gleaming the brightest of the bunch.

“They become flowers.”

“Flowers!?” Raphael booming incredulous tone contrasted the professor’s soft spokenness.

“Yes, the fighters become flowers. As their blood and life force seeped out of their bodies and into the land, the great exchange was transmuted by the goddess into the most delicate and lovely creation, flowers. What’s more, he explained, was that the soul of each warrior who had taken life as their means of living would spend their next reincarnation as a flower, to learn the lessons of fragility, powerlessness, and surrender. A brief moment in their soul’s journey back to the goddess where they embody what it means to be defenseless. A child could come running along to pick it, a deer grazing and eat it, or at the end of the year it withers to the natural cycle of the seasons, never once harming another soul in its lifetime. He says that is how balance is restored  and how all warriors learn the lesson of gentleness.” Byleth concluded her storytelling with a breath and leaned back with a tiny amused expression watching the unexpected existential and poetic tale turn over in their minds.

Leonie was the first to speak up. “Pardon me, Professor, but I have trouble believing Captain Jeralt the Blade Breaker came up with a story so… uh, flowery.”

“Very perceptive, Leonie, you do know him well. You’re right that that tale didn’t originate from his thoughts. My mother told it to him. But I can assure you he does believe in its message.” Leonie blushed and huffed embarrassedly at being praised by her one-sided rival but nodded once in acknowledgement.

“So Teach, do you believe in that myth? That you and he and all of us will reincarnate as flowers in the next life?” Of course she was expecting that from Claude, a languid smirk on his face as he awaited her answer with interest.

Byleth pondered her inner self for just a moment then nodded slightly. “Yes, I do.”

“Oh, I knew that to be true, Professor! I always noticed that wherever you walk, you always take care to never step on flowers. It’s something I always admired about you..” Marianne was softly glowing with a rare joy then remembered she was in the company of all her classmates and immediately wiped the smile from her face and looked downwards.

Ignatz spoke next, the stars of inspiration lighting his whole body language. “Professor, thank you for sharing such a moving tale! I believe it must be true, as it aligns with all that I believe the goddess values as well! A-and if I may, Professor, I believe that in your next life, you will be a grand and magnificent tree, just like the one we’re all gathered under.”

“Ignatz, so bold! I’m impressed with you!” Sylvain smiled teasingly and ruffled his peer’s olive bowlcut, causing the boy to blush an even deeper shade than his proclamation had him before. “And I have to say, I agree with you. The Professor has to be a majestic and wise tree,” he said, turning his smile towards her. Byleth noticed most of the darkness had left his amber eyes and his inner light was shining through once again, so even though the storytime was a bit embarrassing and uncomfortable, seeing him embody a bit of his old self again made it all worth it, as much as the wonder in the rest of her Golden Deer’s faces. Yes, she felt herself smile genuinely, they were indeed a vibrant garden of individuals.

[argent-vulpine]

A Matter of Logistics

Fandom: Fire Emblem Three Houses

Rating: G

Characters: Claude/F!Byleth

Words: 1.9k

Read it on AO3

War required a lot of preparation. There were supplies to consider, tactics and strategies to go over, routes to plot. The logistics of it would have been overwhelming if Byleth didn’t have her students to help her. They were brilliant, every one of them, in their own unique ways. She pored over lists of supply requests, eliminating things that were deemed unnecessary and finding ways in which to make it all somehow work.

And for the first months of the long war, everything went quite smoothly.

It wasn’t until Fort Merceus that things went awry. Some of their supply wagons had been far too close to the fort, and while they’d gotten the horses and soldiers out in time, the wagons had been utterly demolished in the wake of the javelins of light.

Unfortunately, half of their tents went with the wagons.

This meant a great reshuffling of personnel. Some of the rank and file gave up their tents for their immediate leaders: the sergeants and officers who gave them their individual commands. Those soldiers were fine with sleeping on their bedrolls beneath the stars, and many were adept at making simple lean-tos which they would huddle under on the rainy nights.

The problems really arose when it came to herself and her (former) students. Byleth sat at a makeshift table – little more than a tree stump – with a candle, some parchment, and her quill and ink, and tried to wrap her head around new assignments.

She could settle Hilda and Lysithea together; the pair seemed to get along fairly well now. Seteth and Flayn, of course, took a single tent and retired for the evening. Ignatz and Raphael had elected to share, being that they were childhood friends, which freed up a tent for Marianne, who really needed her own space. Lorenz grudgingly accepted sharing his larger tent with Sylvain, though neither were excited about the prospect.

Leonie did not need one, she claimed, and Byleth believed her, letting her find her own place to settle in for the night.

Leaves rustled around her, and Byleth placed a hand on her dagger as she looked up and around, relaxing only when she saw Claude stepping through the brush, his signature grin on his face. “Come on, Teach, what’s with the long face?” he asked, plopping himself beside her and slipping the parchment off the stump. “Ah, figuring out how to arrange the remaining tents to appease the nobles?”

She gave a soft sigh, plucking it from his grasp. “Yes. I have it mostly worked out. We’ll need new tents, of course, as soon as we can.” Her lips pursed slightly, the movement so subtle it might have been missed if Claude hadn’t learned how to read her.

“So what’s the problem then?”

“There’s only one tent left.” Byleth glanced at him, her features set into her typical mask. “It has to be yours, of course.”

“It should go to you,” he said in the same moment.

Her brows furrowed slightly. “You’re the duke. The leader of the army. It rightfully goes to you.”

“You forget, my friend, that you are the Archbishop. Seteth would have my head if I let you sleep out on the ground.” A pause. “I’m certain he’s not the only one.”

Byleth winced slightly, brushing a lock of hair out of her face. “You can’t sleep out on the ground, either, Claude. So if you can’t, and I can’t, and there’s only one tent…” Her voice trailed off, coming to the conclusion he must have already reached, judging from the look on his face.

“So we share,” he said with a light-hearted shrug. “What, Teach, you don’t trust me to be gentlemanly?” That little smirk was back, the one that made her stomach flutter. If her heart beat, she was certain it would have been drumming rapidly against her ribs.

She gave him a little shove, trying to ignore the way her cheeks warmed. They were in the middle of a war. Her feelings for him aside, now was certainly not the time… and that even assuming he felt the same way. “I trust you in all things, Claude,” was her soft reply. “I am just concerned that it would be viewed… improperly.”

He sighed and pushed himself to his feet, holding his hands out for her. She hesitated, and then allowed him to help her up. Her hands fit into his so nicely, and even though he wore gloves, she could feel the warmth radiating from his palms. He pulled her to him, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “I’m not letting you sleep out here alone, By.”

She shivered at the sensation of his breath on her ear, glad suddenly for the dark so he couldn’t see the faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

Claude released her to gather up her things, snuffing out the candle. “I know you grew up as a mercenary, but you’re the Archbishop now that Rhea is gone, and the Archbishop simply cannot sleep out in the elements no matter how much you might try to argue. My tent is big enough for us both, and that’s that.”

Byleth huffed out a laugh, admitting defeat. They’d be out here all night if she didn’t, and they had a long trek ahead of them. She found the others as they entered the main encampment, confirming details with them of their new - and hopefully temporary - sleeping arrangements.

Claude’s tent was one of the largest on the field, but with the pair of them and all their gear, including the Sword of the Creator and his own Failnaught, there was little in the way of sleeping space. She surveyed what was available with a keen eye. “The center is the best place for us to sleep,” she finally said, keeping her voice steady. Their bedrolls would be damn near on top of each other, but it made the most sense. Gear at the edges in case of rain or chill, and sleeping beside each other would… would help with any issues with warmth. She knew that much from having been on the road so much with her father.

He nodded his agreement and began shifting things around, tucking packs and weapons into wherever they would fit while Byleth laid out her bedroll, making sure to leave ample space for him to place his own. And then, of course, came the awkwardness of dressing down for the evening. Bits of armor came off and joined their respective piles; Claude’s arm brushed against her back when he removed his coat. Their boots settled together beside the tent flap, looking oddly at home next to each other. That particular thought was pushed away, into the back of her mind.

Claude turned slightly, catching a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye. “Well, Teach, I think I’m ready to call it a night, aren’t you?”

“… yes. We have a long day of ahead of us.” She shuffled around until she was cocooned in her bedroll, her back to him. “Goodnight, Claude.”

He flopped back onto his own bedding with a slight grin. “Yeah, goodnight… Byleth.”

At some point in the night, a chill settled in. Byleth’s shivering stirred her tent-mate, who drowsily rolled onto his side and pulled her against him, one arm settling comfortably across her middle. Byleth sank into a deeper sleep as the warmth surrounded her, a content sigh passing her lips.

She was the first to wake the next morning, the cobwebs of sleep clouding her mind for a long moment until she realized the position she was in… and that Claude was pressed against her, holding her to him almost possessively. When she tried to extricate herself, his arm tightened, and he nuzzled into her hair, a soft, happy hum in his throat.

Well… five more minutes couldn’t hurt, right?

She relaxed into his embrace, her cheeks warm and stomach doing that odd fluttering again. The man was… impossible. Mischievous, sneaky. A schemer in so many ways, but kind and compassionate, too. Perhaps that was why she’d fallen for him, why his face was the first she’d wanted to see when she’d awoken from her long slumber, and was the first she searched for on the field after a battle, to make sure he was alive and unhurt. Feelings she couldn’t have allowed herself when he was still her student had surfaced and grown during the months since she’d returned. And sometimes she thought she caught him looking at her, too, in a way that made her skin tingle. Did he… think about her the way she did him?

“You’ve got your thinking face on, By,” he whispered, lips brushing her ear.

His voice jolted her back to reality, making her jump and earning a chuckle from the focus of her thoughts. “How, uh… how long have you been awake?” Her voice came out a little more strained than she would have liked, but maybe she could blame it on nerves. Or sleep.

“Only a couple minutes,” he murmured, sounding half-asleep still. “You’re a lot softer than you look, did you know that?”

“I… what?”

His laugh rumbled in his chest. She could feel it, pressed up against her as he was. And… it wasn’t the only thing she could feel. Her face reddened. “Surely you don’t need me to repeat myself?” She could almost hear his smirk.

She could pull away. She knew she could force her way out of his arms… but did she want to? It seemed as though he had no intentions of releasing her, and that gave her pause.

“There it is again. And just what are you thinking so hard about, huh Teach?” he asked, the old nickname said with fondness. An endearment; she could hear it now.

Instead of trying to leave his grasp, she managed to turn until she was facing him, pleased to see a flush had crept across his cheeks, staining them pink. It served him right. “You,” she said simply, her features carefully blank.

His eyes widened, just slightly. “Is that so…” Claude smiled - really smiled - as he searched her face, his gaze dipping down to her lips. When her breath hitched and her own gaze dropped, he moved his hand from her waist, carefully placing it on her chin and tilting her face up to him. He moved slowly, giving her time to back away, to signal a no, and when she did neither, he claimed her lips in a gentle kiss.

A jolt went through her at the contact, her eyes fluttering closed even as she returned the kiss, fingers reaching up to thread into his hair. Encouraged, he deepened the kiss, slanting his lips against hers and sliding his hand to the back of her head.

He might have tried to go further, to explore deeper, but the bugle call signaling the start of the day startled them apart.

“We… we should get ready to move out,” was what Byleth finally settled on, her cheeks flaming as she pulled away from him.

He grinned, leaning in to steal another kiss before parting with a theatric sigh. “I suppose you’re right. We do have a long march ahead of us.” His eyes sparkled with mischief as he looked her over. “We can revisit this later tonight.”

Byleth couldn’t help but hear it as a promise.

[omgkalyppso]

22. “Wanna see firsthand how flexible I am?” for the fe3h pair of your choosing? askjhg my mind went right to sylvain but it's up to you

Okay, okay, okay. So this got away from me. The full thing is extremely nsfw, rated E, on my ao3 and can be read here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/30829016

I don’t even get to the prompt with what I’m sharing here, but take the first segment:

The ballroom was full. The old and the young mingling both on the floor and at the wallward tables, with airs of celebration and whispers of truth. The event was as much a political playing field as any structured meeting or hushed agreement, but unlike the latter two, Lorenz had been invited in. His father yet controlled Gloucester, and under Dimitri’s reign it felt unwise to usurp the natural conclusion of Count Gloucester’s litigious career when already the commonfolk were mourning a war, their country, and so many of their other Great Lords.

It was a party, anyway, and it was so rare to see so many of his old friends in good company, together. He had been excited when he’d chosen his apparel, violet and navy and red. Red roses trimmed the edge of his blue jacket, with tails and train that extended to his knees, while a pattern of pale while roses decorated a pale yellow waistcoat, buckles and buttons outfitted to match, but after the attention of frolicking about had started to fade, flowers offered or given to each single young lady in a display of garish pageantry, there was little left to do but dance, with most everyone but whom he wanted.

Sylvain spun Marianne, the pair of them laughing with a joy that was long deserved and hard earned. She wore yellow, a happy sight if ever there was one, while Sylvain’s coat and pants were green and teal, with a silver vest, cravat and shirt beneath, with sleeves that flowed out at the wrists, so that he shimmered and caught the light, an alluring bauble, even for the lords and ladies who knew better.

“Lorenz.”

He gasped as he returned his attention to Hilda; his rose a lie tucked into her pink hair.

“You’re staring,” she warned, kind and sympathetic.

A smile curled his lips, bittersweet about the reality of their circumstances, but appreciative of her sentiment. He dared not search the tables for signs of his father, her family, or worse, Sylvain’s.

“My apologies. Would that I could will away all distractions, to focus upon the prettiest flower in the room.”

She grimaced, but he was relieved by the familiarity of it. Silently, he watched the dance of her earrings more closely than his own steps; silver wyverns with opalescent wings that shimmer with each graceful turn, catching the pink of her hair and dress, silently signaling her and Claude’s connection.

“I wouldn’t wish for you to be alone with me, Lorenz.” Startled, Lorenz opened his mouth to speak in his own defense, but Hilda shook her head, smiling more sincerely. “At least he’s here.”

“That is some comfort,” Lorenz confessed.

“He looks handsome tonight.”

Looking again, Lorenz caught sight of Sylvain resting a hand on Marianne’s side as they tried a few steps of more complicated footwork. He cannot hear their words over the crowd and the music, but the tenor of Sylvain’s voice is obvious as Marianne chimes gently for him to wait so they can start again, fumbling at his instruction.

“So do you,” added Hilda, pulling Lorenz’s attention back to her, and he realized he’d already forgotten what she was saying.

He recovered swiftly, smiling with a fond roll of his eyes. As the song fades, they separate to applaud the band, and then the music resumes, a slower orchestration. He reoffered his hand, plaintive.

“People will talk.”

She was teasing him, but there is truth to it.

“Better they talk about us.” He teased back, “Besides, would you really want a more ignorant suitor? Who would seem a finer match than I?”

Across the dancefloor, Ingrid yelped. Sylvain vested her in arms for a three-quarter lift that left him laughing and her humiliated as the room turned to the source of the noise. Shoving him, Ingrid is scolding her friend, setting his square glasses askew, a recent, and apparently sorely needed addition to his usual accoutrements. He has played the dashing gentleman for years, but no one is surprised to see him castigated like an unruly child. Lorenz has learned through frustration and intimacy that either truth is so much more haggard than that…

Lorenz wondered how Sylvain might dance with him, if he did, and whether he would be as vocal and competitive as they had once been, or whether it could be soft and sweet … if only for a few minutes.

With an exchanged nod, Lorenz dipped Hilda, shutting his eyes to the opposite wall of vested onlookers. Following that, he led her, step by step, to the opposite end of the hall, facing purposefully away from Sylvain.

“What are you going to do?” whispered Hilda, once they were far from the band and most of the others. There is less privacy here, and their voices are liable to be heard despite and because there are fewer dancers surrounding them. Lorenz is too heartbroken to care.

“What else to do?” he asked, melancholy. Lorenz was hushed for secrecy but not silenced as he should be, and confided the rest, “Wait out our fathers, and see what comes next.”

[eatingfireflies]

I played FE3H with Japanese audio (Dimitri and Kageyama Tobio are voiced by the same person and that makes me happy, you see), so sometimes I watch LPs in English and get surprised because that’s not how I expected the characters to sound at all. Like I love Chris Hackney and I think his post-timeskip Dimitri has a rawness that isn’t quite there in Ishikawa Kaito’s performance, but his Academy Phase Dimitri sounds so posh lmao??

When I mentioned this to a friend, they asked me to rate the three lords according to how polite their speech is and I went with Edelgard > Claude > Dimitri. Which isn’t really that surprising post-timeskip, but this is true for Academy Phase also. With some exceptions. 

Ofc this doesn’t take into account their speech patterns and delivery (like their tone of voice), and I’m going to talk about that more, but mostly I’m focusing on Dimitri because I think the way he talks is very interesting. And it’s not because I’m biased and love him best. Not at all. 

In passing tho, I want to say Sothis is another favourite. She uses the personal pronoun ‘washi’, which is the anime shortcut for ‘old man’ and the way she talks is honestly very old person (the kind who is kinda crabby and embarrassing and yells at kids in her lawn and not the kind of old that you’d expect to suddenly drop ‘thee’ and ‘thou’), but her voice obviously matches how she looks so the contrast is very cute?

Anyway, back to the three lords: 

Edelgard uses 私 (watashi) and あなた (anata) and her sentence construction is fairly polite. But she’s also very straightforward and (dare I say) bold–which fits an Emperor, but is also kind of rude otherwise. 

Claude uses 俺 (ore) and あんた (anta) and he’s just as laid back as those pronouns he uses. He talks like you’re close friends, which is ofc also rude in formal settings, but we’re not Lorenz. Post-timeskip he calls Byleth 兄弟, but it makes sense for them to translate that to ‘friend’ instead. (I mean, ‘sibling’ just sounds awkward.)

Dimitri uses 俺 (ore) and お前 (omae), which means his ‘you’ is more informal than Claude’s. But in contrast to Edelgard, Dimitri is seldom straightforward to the point of rudeness. Idk how to explain it, but let’s just say Edelgard would demand (politely), while Dimitri would ask (informally).

But that’s Dimitri on average. Even before post-timeskip and his infamous 失せろ*, it’s worth noting that Dimitri’s speech patterns change depending on who he’s talking to.

*translated as ‘Go away’ in the English, but I think ‘Get lost’ captures the mood better. Most sites translate it to ‘get out of my sight!’, which is also good but is kinda wordy. I’ve seen so many Dimileth fanart focusing on this moment–失せろ made an impact on so many fans, lemme tell you lmaoo. 

The first time we hear him speak is when he asks Jeralt for help, and he’s on full keigo mode:

Keigo is Not my strong suit so tbh I’ll have a harder time understanding him if he keeps this up, but notice below that he uses 私 while speaking of himself (well 私たち, since he’s with Claude and Edelgard). 

He also does the whole です and ます thing, which is the formal form that we first encounter when we’re beginning to learn Japanese. He speaks like this with Alois too–and most likely other people of rank–but not those who are sworn to the Kingdom, which makes sense since he’s their prince. For example, he begins speaking in keigo to Gilbert during their C support, but once they’ve established that Gilbert is Gustave, he switches to his usual informal speech. I don’t remember him ever speaking formally to Rodrigue. 

Jeralt is an older dude who’s the leader of a group of mercenaries, so Dimitri goes for politeness, but he drops this like just a few minutes later, when he’s talking to Byleth:

He addresses Byleth as お前, the same way he addresses Claude and Edelgard (who are his peers), drops です for だ 

and switches from 私 to his usual 俺. 

*Edited to include Ashen Wolves DLC info: Dimitri uses 君 (kimi) for Edelgard, when he asked her about her hair colour. Very interesting, and I’ll let you decide what that means).

I er, don’t have screencaps for this, but he will switch to keigo when he finds out Byleth has accepted a teaching position at the Officers Academy. (Like when you speak to the house leaders and ask about the students.) If you choose Blue Lions, the cut scene will address how they speak to each other–Annette will be all ‘Oh no! I was speaking to you earlier like you were one of the students!’ and Sylvain will go ‘It’s fine if the professor doesn’t mind, I mean, Dimitri is our prince and he’s fine with us being informal, right?’ 

This pretty much stands on its own in English, but with the context of the Japanese language, these people are actually talking about how they were using informal speech around Byleth their professor earlier and are they allowed to continue doing so? 

If you choose another house, Dimitri will start speaking in keigo during your first exploration and then go ‘I sound too stiff?? Well then [switches to informal] I’ll speak like this.’ Implying I guess that Byleth was all ‘You don’t need to speak like that’ while he was talking. 

I think it’s really interesting how this is a thing, like there’s Edelgard and her ‘you should never take things at face value’ and Claude with his schemes, but then it’s the earnest Dimitri who does this whole ‘public facade’ thing. 

Byleth’s assessment that some darkness is hiding behind that sincerity is kind of dramatic, but I do think the game does a good job of reinforcing that Dimitri’s not exactly putting all his cards on the table and that there’s a different side to him … without Felix telling us directly. 

失せろ

ETA: I just realised I didn’t come back around to the point I first raised: that the characters sound different in English. Dimitri’s the most extreme example of this, with just a few other characters that stood out for me. (Like Linhardt is less wordy in Japanese, but they needed to translate his attitude into words so that makes sense.) 

In Dimitri’s case I think it’s because he gives off a 真面目 vibe (majime; which is earnest or serious, but means a bit more than that) that they had to translate into chivalry because there’s no direct or easy equivalent. You can see how they played this up in scenes like the Battle of Eagle and Lion where he goes ‘For honour!’, but he just says

進めっ which is like, just ‘Forward!’. It’s majime but not chivalrous, you know what I mean?

(To those who want to know, yes, ‘Kill every last one of them’ is 殺し尽くしてやろ, so that’s a pretty spot on LMAO.)

The relaxed and informal speech might clash with the chivalry too, so it got lost in translation only to come back during moments like above.

[faroreswinds]

Data Mining Activities & Quotes Analysis: Sylvain

As per what I said before, I want to look deeper into data mining for funsies and just see what I can spot. 

Today’s character is: Sylvain! 

As a little disclaimer, I won’t be doing all his quotes because that’s a LOT! Instead, I’m just going to focus on stuff I think is interesting to look at, like particular classroom questions, or his lost items, or whatever. One day, I’ll probably get into the chapters individually but today is just to focus on one character. I’ll also update this as I find more stuff, as a small heads-up. If you find something that I missed, feel free to let me know and I’ll update the post as well.

Ok, so let’s get into it!

Check out more from this series of analysis here. They will be updated over time.  

Basics- Battle

Most of the battle quotes aren’t interesting, and the data mining does not include the voiced lines without text so I had to turn to the wiki page. That said, there were a few Post Time Skip Defeat the Enemy quotes he says I find particularly interesting:

"Don't bother haunting me."

"Burn until we meet again."

Based on Annette’s support with Claude, we know the Kingdom has a particularly interesting view on the afterlife. I won’t go into the details here- instead, I will be making a Kingdom focused page for all things cultural that will cover it- but the talk of “burning” and “haunting” go along with their beliefs. 

Not to mention, it is very, very dark. And Sylvain, despite his carefree attitude, has got a dark and gritty view of life. He’s smiling on the outside, but he will have no qualms with taking you down. 

Basics- Cooking and Choir

Sylvain just has no interest in either of these things, as per his quotes: 

Cooking Together

Part I: Cooking... Cooking... Heh. Well, it'll all work out somehow...maybe.

Part II: If you just follow the recipe, most things will come out fine. I think.

Choir Practice

It's hard to sneak out when the professor is watching.

Share a Meal- Dining Dialogue

Sylvain only has two people he has quotes with during meal time: Ingrid and Dimitri. Surprisingly, not Felix, despite having an ending with him and not an ending with Dimitri. His quotes with Ingrid are just cute, but I think his quotes with Dimitri have some nice little insights:

Support C

Sylvain: You know what, Professor? His Highness here is the most stubborn guy I know.

Dimitri: Now, Sylvain, why not go ahead and eat? If you do not, I may help myself to it.

Support B

Sylvain: By the way, how delicious are the monastery meals, right? We sure don't eat like this back in the Kingdom.

Dimitri: I agree. If we could only grow more food on our poor soil, and in the severe winter of the north...

Sylvain has a lot of quotes, including from FEH and from his support with Dimitri, that pertain to wanting Dimitri to relax (and that he’s too stubborn to). This goes hand in hand with the relationship chart that came out from Nintendo Dream some time back:

I wish I could link this picture to the original translator, but I don’t know who did it. But as you can see, Sylvain wants Dimitri to relax. 

The quotes from support B gives some insight into the Kingdom, about how they just don’t eat like they do at the monastery because the winter of the north is so severe and it’s hard to grow food.

Sylvain’s default responses aren’t particularly interesting, except for:

Neutral: I realized it after I got to the monastery—nobody in Faerghus knows how to cook.

Basically saying that the food at the monastery is particularly good. This goes well with Faerghus having poor yields of food in general. 

Share a Meal- Favorite/ Least Favorite Foods

Sylvain seems to have a pension for fish, as based on his favorite foods. Nearly every dish he loves is fish based, except for one with is a meal for two dish (obviously a philandering thing), a few white meat dishes, and the Sweet Bun Trio, which is a Faerghus sweet. Except for the Sweet Bun Trio, all his favorites have meat, which makes sense because colder climates tends to lend to meat dishes to maintain the calories needed to maintain body heat. The dishes with fish include Teutates Loach (a fish from the Kingdom), White Trout, Airmid Pike, and Albinean Herring.

He has few dishes he doesn’t like, which all happen to be seafood based except for one. The fish meals are not described as particularly tasty, or they are extremely simple without much preparation. The only non-fish meal he doesn’t like is the Beast Meat Teppenyaki, which is described to have a wilderness taste- and he probably doesn’t like it due to history he may have with his brother. 

Interestingly, he doesn’t seem to have an interest in Gautier Cheese Gratin, which has cheese from his region. 

Gifts and Lost Items

Sylvain, of course, does have some items/like certain gifts that pertain to the philanderer in him. These include:

Gift: Dapper Handkerchief-  A handkerchief adorned with refined embroidery. Appreciated by fashionable men .

Lost Item: Unused Lipstick- Lipstick that would make an ideal gift for a young lady. It probably belongs to someone who likes wooing women.

Lost Item: Crumpled Love Letter- A carelessly discarded love letter. It probably belongs to someone with a complicated love life.

Sylvain clearly takes an interest in fashion, as well as his womanizing ways leaking into his lost items. We can see his casual nature when it comes to wooing the girls with the fact that the lost letter is “carelessly discarded”. 

But the rest of the gifts/ lost items paint Sylvain’s other side:

Gift: Landscape Painting- A landscape painting of magnificent Lake Teutates in the clearing fog. Appreciated by those who enjoy nature or art.

Gift: Board Game- A fun activity in which players compete using stones on a board. Appreciated by those who enjoy tactical thinking.

Lost Item: The History of Sreng- A book recording the history of the Sreng people. It probably belongs to someone who has ties to Sreng.

Despite his carefree side, many of us know that Sylvain is actually incredibly smart and takes an interest in making positive changes and taking his job seriously. The board game shows he enjoys tactical thinking, and his lost item, the History of Sreng, shows he is taking an interest in local politics and is keen to learn. As for the Landscape Painting, we can see that Sylvain enjoys art (as you will see later), and that he’s not all about women and lazing about. 

As for his disliked gifts:

Gift: Book of Crest Designs- A book containing the designs of 21 identified Crests. Appreciated by those who enjoy studying Crests.

Gift: Watering Can- A tool used for watering plants. Appreciated by those who enjoy gardening.

Gift: Floral Adornment- Flowers cut short so they can be worn decoratively. Appreciated by most ladies and those who like gardening.

Obviously, thanks to Sylvain’s history, disliking Crest-related gifts is no surprise. However, he also doesn’t seem to have an interesting in gardening, as he is not keen on the gardening-related gifts. 

Classroom- Instruct

Sylvain has three study requests:

You know, jousting is a popular sport in Faerghus. The ladies love a guy who can joust. Speaking of... Let's polish up my riding and lance skills.

The best way to impress people is to save them by diving into harm's way. That's what a Great Knight does, yeah? So let's focus on my axe and heavy armor skills.

I want to study reason and faith. What, surprised? Hey, I may be rough around the edges, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a little magic!

We learn a few things from these:

Jousting is popular in Faerghus. Makes sense for a knight-based nation. 

Sylvain seemingly wants to impress people by diving in harm’s way. But based on his general attitude, I think he really actually wants to just protect people and is pretending it’s all about the ladies. 

Sylvain wants to learn magic, both faith and reason. 

He also does not liked to be consoled- he wants critique to improve himself. 

Critique

Part I & Part II: I'll have to do better next time.

Console

Part I & Part II: OK. You can stop it.

Classroom- Questions and Answers

Sylvain has two questions he can ask in the classroom: 

This is from the academy phase, and we can see that Sylvain prefers it if you tell him to basically play hard to get. There are some interesting things regarding Ingrid’s dislike here, but this is about Sylvain... and apparently, he doesn’t want to change and doesn’t like it if you tell him to clean up his act. (Ingrid likes it, though). 

This one is from part two. Of course, it pertains to the war, and how depressing it is, and wants something to do to feel a bit better. Funnily enough, the other infamous nobles Ferdinand and Lorenz join him for this one! We can see they all have different tastes, but Sylvain is not interested in a cup of tea, but would rather ask out a girl. He’s not against talking a walk though, but no one seems to actually like it either. 

There are other questions that Sylvain joins in on, but I will add those when I eventually get to them. For now, I will just start with these two and update later. 

Group Tasks

Similar to the dining dialogue, Sylvain only has quotes with Dimitri and Ingrid, and not Felix despite having an ending with him. That said, Sylvain has more dialogue with Ingrid than Dimitri, so we will start with Dimitri first:

Stable Duty & Sky Watch

Support C

Sylvain: So, Your Highness, you're gonna keep the scolding to a minimum, yeah?

Dimitri: Why are you assuming you will be scolded? All you need to do is take things seriously.

Support B

Dimitri: Hey, Sylvain. I would like your help for today's work.

Sylvain: Heh, so you've finally learned you can't do everything yourself?

Results

Support C - Good

Sylvain: Professor... It's... It's finally over...

Dimitri: You are quick to tire out, Sylvain. You should consider building your stamina.

Support C - Perfect

Dimitri: Professor, the work is now complete. Sylvain did his job as well.

Sylvain: Was getting yelled at my job? Because, yeah. I did that.

Support B - Good

Sylvain: The result was fine... Though I thought we could have aimed even higher.

Dimitri: Agreed. Let's come up with a better plan next time.

Support B - Perfect

Sylvain: Professor, don't you think we did pretty well? His Highness here did most of it.

Dimitri: No, it was not all my doing. We made it thanks to your help, Sylvain.

These occur only when you pair them for stable duty and sky watch, which would be both activities the pair would find common interests in due to their personal budding talents and canon classes. We can see that Dimitri wants Sylvain to take things seriously, and Sylvain takes a more playful approach. Sylvain will also comment on Dimitri learning to not shoulder everything on his own, calling back a bit to Sylvain’s concern over Dimitri not being able to relax. 

Sylvain seems to be annoyed early on at Dimitri’s constant scolding, but this changes when their support improves, the two of them praising each other and hoping to improve together. 

Now for Ingrid:

Stable Duty & Sky Watch

Support C

Sylvain: Ugh, I'm with Ingrid? I'm not gonna get away with anything.

Ingrid: Stop messing around and get moving. You don't work, you don't eat.

Support B

Sylvain: Hey, Ingrid, this kind of work is definitely your thing, and I've got some urgent business, so...

Ingrid: I can't finish this all alone. Try to be helpful sometimes, Sylvain.

Support A

Sylvain: Me and Ingrid? Hm, I guess I'll get to work.

Ingrid: Well now, a rare and welcome proclamation. You're a real sight to behold when you try to be.

Weeding

Sylvain: Weeds have it tough. They sprout then get ripped right out of the ground. I'll do my best to be gentle.

Ingrid: Are you seriously trying to seduce a weed? Unbelievable.

Sylvain: What? No! Come on. I was just talking to myself.

Clearing Rubble

Sylvain: If I had to clear this out by myself, I think even I would get depressed...

Ingrid: Fine, fine, I'm not going to leave it all for you.

Sylvain: Let's do it quick though...before I change my mind. I'll grab the heavy-looking chunks. You get the rest.

Results

Support C - Good

Ingrid: Ah, seems we've finally finished.

Sylvain: That's it! I'm done! No more work for me, especially not with her...not in a million years.

Support C - Perfect

Sylvain: Hey, we did pretty well. All because I really went for it, of course.

Ingrid: You're a glib one, aren't you, Sylvain? I did the bulk of the work here, you know...

Support B - Good

Sylvain: I wouldn't call it a rousing success, but it went OK, all things considered. Right?

Ingrid: Well, it went OK once I rolled up my sleeves and helped you.

Support B - Perfect

Sylvain: Heh... How's that, Professor? If ya ask me, I think we did pretty well.

Ingrid: Yes, Sylvain put his back into it for once. Next thing we know, pigs will be taking to the air.

Support A - Good

Sylvain: I don't want to complain since we did OK and all, but that could have gone a lot better.

Ingrid: I think so too... Next time, I'll try even harder.

Support A - Perfect

Ingrid: Professor, here's the report. Perfect, don't you think?

Sylvain: Ingrid and I go way back. If we couldn't manage to cooperate, then what would that say about us?

Sylvain and Ingrid have dialogue no matter what they do. We can see, especially in the stable and sky watch, that at first they don’t really get along. Sylvain is tired of Ingrid’s pestering and Ingrid is tired of Sylvain being lazy. But as their support goes up, we see that they get along better. Ingrid starts praising Sylvain, and Sylvain starts putting more effort in.

Sylvain also seems to be a bit melancholy about the weeds, noting that they start to take life before someone takes takes it away from them. 

Finally, just some fun default stuff. 

Uses keigo when speaking to

Byleth, Edelgard, Dimitri, Seteth, Hanneman, Manuela, Gilbert, Alois, Catherine, Shamir, Jeralt, Rhea, Jeritza, Anna

Spoken to with keigo by

Bernadetta, Dorothea, Petra, Ashe, Ignatz, Lysithea, Marianne, Flayn, Constance

“Keigo” is polite speech, used when addressing people who are in a station in life above you, whether in title or simply out of respect. For instance, he uses keigo for those who are older than him and teachers, like Manuela and Hanneman, and for those who are in higher stations, like Dimitri or Edelgard. 

Those who speak keigo to him consider him of higher status, or someone worthy of respect. Looking at this list, I would say status. 

Tea Party- Favorite Tea

The Tea Party is a pretty big section, so I won’t cover everything but I’ll try to touch on what seems important. Feel free to let me know if you notice more! 

Anyways, Sylvain seems to have a pension for black teas, although not all black teas listed in the game. He prefers Bergamot Tea (commonly known as Earl Grey) which is popular among nobles (he shares this like with Edelgard, Lorenz, Hanneman, Constance, and Anna, most of whom are nobles, and in particular are nobles with particular taste) and Seiros Tea, another black tea that is actually from south Almyra, interestingly enough! He shares this like with Ferdinand, Lorenz, Ignatz, Yuri, and Anna. Both of these teas have a three star rarity- not the cheapest tea in the list, but not terribly rare either. 

He will note that the tea is expensive if you give him an expensive tea, and perhaps seems a bit uncomfortable with you going out of your way.

This tea must have been expensive. I'm sorry if I made you go out of your way.

Tea Party- Talk

Sylvain has a number of quotes from talking, although most of them aren’t too terribly interesting. However, some have some great insight: 

Is something wrong with my face? A bruise on my cheek? Heh... Nah, Professor. Everything's fine.

Everyone has their own reason to fight. At least I'm honest about mine.

Opera, art, literature, I love 'em. They always give you something to talk about.

Sometimes, I'm surprised how warm the monastery is. I wish my parents' home was like this.

Sylvain is an interesting guy because in some ways, he’s not honest and in others, he is. For instance, he insists that you do not worry about his injury. Don’t worry about him. He’s not being honest about any pain he has- this includes his distastes for a lot of women chasing him despite his philandering. However, he is honest in others in his world views. He’s a lot like Dimitri when it comes to trying to see the other side, as seen in “everyone has their own reason to fight”. This is displayed in his other quotes throughout the game too, although we won’t be touching on those. 

As as per the gift of art he likes, we can see here that he’s actually very much into culture and art. He likes them, and likes to talk about them. 

And finally, some insight into his family. Sylvain’s relationship with his father is complex (as per the Blue Lion tradition) and here we can see that he doesn’t view his family home as warm- both perhaps literally in that it’s a cold climate, and figuratively. 

I won’t be going over the like options because there are too many, but I will take note of a few options that make him blush:

Working together...

The opera...

Cute monks...

Some insight things into Sylvain. Obviously, as he likes the opera, the topic of it will be among his favorite. Sylvain likes people working together (although he himself is a bit of a loner, he wants people to work together and talk things through like Dimitri does) and finally, the cute monks... 

I’m taking special note of that because in English, traditionally monks are male. However, the game seems to use monks for both men and women (monks in Greek can be used for both), and the Japanese word used instead is 修道士. Someone with superior Japanese can correct me, but it would seem that this is a masculine word, used for men, especially when using the kanji  士, which means “gentlemen” or “samurai”. 

However, as stated before, the game uses monk for both men and women. I checked the files and even the female monks use  修道士. So, while people claim this is proof he is bi, I would not call it a strong indicator personally (At this time I still think he has a thing for Felix, don’t get me wrong). 

Advice Box

Part I

I wonder if I'll ever find a partner who understands I don't mean any harm when I flirt with others. Does someone like that really exist?

You're bound to meet someone open-minded someday.

That's a dream that will never come true.

Have you considered giving up on flirting?

I'm hesitant to invite a girl to my room in the middle of the night with You Know Who living right next door. I'm terrified of the scolding I'd get the next day.

Maybe I'll rethink the room assignments.

It makes sense that she would be angry with you.

Perhaps it's time you and I discussed your behavior.

Part II

I'm weary from this ceaseless fighting. I wonder if I'll ever meet a kind, beautiful young lady who can cure my hardened heart.

You will one day. I'm sure of it.

Save the dreams for when you're sleeping.

A woman like that wouldn't go for you.

All we do is battle. The fighting never stops, and it's turning everyone's disposition dour. Even the ladies! We should throw a banquet to lift everyone's spirit.

Good idea. I'll see what I can do.

It's too soon to let down our guard.

How selfless of you.

Part I notes aren’t too interesting, other than that Sylvain is worried about Dimitri (his neighbor in dorms) hearing his rendezvous with the ladies and getting a scolding. 

Part II is more interesting. Sylvain’s second note is about lifting up everyone’s spirits regarding the war, and that throwing a banquet might help make everyone feel better. He prefers if Byleth agrees and will start to make arrangements, rather than getting praise for his selflessness. 

And for now, that’s all! I will update as I go, but for now I hope you enjoyed this!

Suggestions and new info welcome. 

[fodlandancers]

Dancer Class Advices

Who to avoid

Characters who are not available on a certain route should not partake in the White Heron Cup if you plan to play that particular route. (Duh!) These are as follows:

Flayn on Crimson Flower

Edelgard on Silver Snow

Hubert on Silver Snow

There are also characters who will have to be re-recruited after the time skip and they only appear several chapters in, meaning you can make them your dancer, but you won’t have access to them for 2-4 chapters. These are:

Dedue

Ashe on Silver Snow & Verdant Wind

Lorenz on Silver Snow & Azure Moon

Dedue is a special case. If you did not complete his paralogue during the school phase he will not return to you at all.

Things to consider when choosing a dancer

There are pros and cons to every character but it ultimately comes down to what your average combat situation looks like.

If your dancer is used purely for support and kept out of trouble most of the time their bulk does not matter.

But if you need your dancer to take multiple hits because you throw them into the thick of battle along with your best units you might want to use somebody with decent bulk or avoid. Mind that the dancer class has -5% growth rates in Str, Def and Res.

If your dancer spends a lot of time trying to catch up to the rest of the party, because you have only horses and fliers, using a unit with long range attacks or assists might be a good idea. However, that issue can be avoided by equipping your dancer with a March Ring and giving them the Shoes of the Wind stat booster.

Relevant Skills & Stats

Swords - The dancer class grants bonus experience to Swords, the Sword Avo +20 Skill and the Sword Dance combat art, making them the weapon of choice. Moreover, it’s the only weapon they will make a little dance with after a kill or level up.

Authority - The other skill this class gives an experience bonus to. The lowered growth rates make equipping a strong battalion a good idea. In case you want to equip your dancer with one of the dancer battalions, the Opera Co. Volunteers require a B rank and the Blue Lion Dancers an A rank.

Faith/Reason - Dancers can use magic and if a class can use magic you should consider utilizing it. Some of the utility spells in Faith can give the dancer an opportunity to do something even when they cannot reach an ally in that turn. Physic, first and foremost.

Riding - Upon reaching an A+ in Riding you get the Movement +1 Ability. This is useful to patch up the previously mentioned movement problem in the late game.

Charm - A character needs at least 13 Charm to win the White Heron Cup. Beyond that, a dancer needs Charm for 2 things: avoiding Gambits and Sword Dance. Getting hit by a Gambit means the dancer won’t be able to move, which is something you should avoid at all cost. You get 5 Gambit Avoid for every point of charm you have. The value of Charm increases with difficulty. The damage of Sword Dance scales off of Charm. Don’t fret about this too much, though, since you probably want to dance most of the time anyway.

The Candidates

Flayn - Squishy type (below 40 Spd growth and at least one poor defensive stat). The original “I don’t know what to do with them so I might as well make them a dancer“ character. Has a talent in Faith and a budding talent in Reason. Boosting her movement by leveling Riding will prove difficult since she has a weakness in it. Might need some stat boosters to patch up her middling Spd. But has the highest Res in the game. And a pretty high Charm, too. You could give her a Levin Sword and go Sword Dance on the opponents’ collective assess. Oh, wait, we were supposed to be dancing.

Black Eagles:

Edelgard - Balanced type (40 or above Spd growth with good defenses). Has bonkers stat growths, therefore the -5% to Str/Def/Res don’t hurt her too much. Has talents in Swords, Authority and Reason. Personally, I’m biased against Armored classes due to their bad movement, cruddy Spd and Res, so I’d say her unique endgame class should be changed for something more worthwhile. Dancer is a valid option.

Dorothea - Speedy type (40 or above Spd growth with at least one poor defensive stat). Tailored to be a dancer, with talents in Swords and Magic. Her budding talent gives her White Magic Avo +20 and she learns Physic for that ranged heal in case she can’t dance. Has a weakness in Riding, though.

Ferdinand - Speedy type. Has a talent in Swords. His personal skill gives him Avo +15 at full HP. His talent in Riding can make it easier to get that +1 Movement ability. The ability to use magic is wasted on this guy. But he 11/10 wants the job just so he can do the Sword Dance.

Linhardt - Balanced type. Has a talent for both types of magic and comes with Physic. Not a bad choice in terms of overall stats, except for his horrendous Charm. May be better off as your main healer.

Petra - Speedy type. Oh, boy, is she! Has a talent in Swords. But also a weakness in both types of magic and her stats reflect that, both offensively and defensively. So, that’s wasted potential there.

Hubert - Speedy type. Talent in Reason and Authority. Weakness in Faith. Great Res. Probably your main magic nuke and would likely hate you for making him a dancer.

Bernadetta - Speedy type. Weakness in Swords but a budding talent in Riding, which gives her Pass. Learns Physic (with a 20% Mag growth, PFFFT!). ngl I’d just let her stay in her room and forget about her.

Caspar - Speedy type. Weakness in Magic and Authority. No relevant talents. Cruddy Charm stat. He’s bad but he’s bad at everything else, too. (This is going to be a trend with the “Heavy” of each house.)

Blue Lions:

Dimitri - Speedy type. Has a talent in Swords and Authority but a weakness in Reason (and magic in general). A little more hurt by the negative growths of the class since his Res is already bad. Budding talent in Riding. He might be better off as your main damage dealer, though, because he’s such a beast and the movement of his unique class is at least okay.

Felix - Speedy type. Talent in Swords and a budding talent in Reason (though his Mag growth isn’t all that great), but weak in Authority and his Charm is below average. You’ll likely want to equip him with his Relic, which means you cannot equip him with the March Ring.

Sylvain - Balanced type. Has a budding talent in Reason from which he gets Black Magic Avo +20 (his Mag growth is below average, however). Talent in Riding. Learns Physic. Amazing color scheme. “This is what a real man looks like.“

Ingrid - Balanced type. Has a talent in Swords and Riding and comes with Physic. High Charm. Great pick due to above-average defenses and godly Spd. She doesn’t hit all that hard anyway.

Ashe - Speedy type. No relevant talents. Bad Charm stat. Physic. Looks adorable. You are better off giving him a bow and putting him on a pony.

Annette - Squishy type. Talent in Reason and Authority. Makes an okay dancer in my experience but you should keep her out of harm’s way.

Mercedes - Squishy type. With great Res. Talented in both types of Magic but weakness in Swords. Learns Physic. She’s better off as your healer.

Dedue - Meh type. Weakness in Faith and Riding. Highest Def among all characters but abysmally slow. His Res is horrible and so is his Charm. If you want to make him a dancer then, ironically, this wall of a man will have to stay in the back most of the time so he won’t get picked off by bird men with jazz hands.

Golden Deer:

Claude - Speedy type. Has a talent in Swords and Authority but weakness in Faith. His personal skill gives him Pass. Best personal endgame class! Why would you want him to be anything else? He looks great as a dancer? Fair point. Has a ridiculous Charm stat, second only to Edelgard.

Lorenz - Balanced type. Talent in Reason and Riding. Has the same defenses as Ingrid but trades Luck and Spd for HP and better offenses. i.e. he won’t dodge as often but is pretty durable. Makes up for lack of Charm with excessive tea parties. Gets disowned over losing the dance competition.

Ignatz - Speedy type. Talent in Swords and Authority and budding talent in Reason. Learns Physic. His Charm is pretty bad. I had trouble even promoting the guy.

Lysithea - Speedy type. Has talents in both types of Magic, Authority and a budding talent in Swords. However, her Charm stat reflects her personality. Better off as a magic nuke. I mean, how else are you going to collect those Dark Seals?

Marianne - Speedy type. With great Res. Talented in Swords, Faith and Riding. Comes with Physic. Has a sword Relic. Has good Charm. Not a bad choice but, admittedly, looks 60% better as a Gremory. (That dark blue dress looks so nice!)

Leonie - Speedy type. Talent in Riding and learns Physic. Statwise, very similar to Petra. Her Mag and Res are horrendous. More Charm-ing than people will give her credit for. Still wants to bang my dad, probably.

Hilda - Speedy type. Weakness in Faith and Authority. No relevant talents. Bad with magic. Highest Charm stat of all non-lord characters. A delicate maiden who should really just cheer on her class mates from the sidelines and is totally not better off being sat on a flying lizard to one-shot people.

Raphael - Meh type. Weakness in Reason and Riding. No relevant talents. Statwise similar to Dedue.

Conclusion

For Black Eagles my top picks are Dorothea,  Edelgard or Ferdinand. For Blue Lions definitely Ingrid. Followed by Sylvain or Felix. And for Golden Deer I’d honestly go with Flayn. But for students I’d pick either Lorenz, Marianne or Hilda.

[crackimagines]

Imagine Child!Byleth getting his first crush and the students(claude) immediately figure out he likes someone so they constantly bug him about it

Child!Byleth Post Masterlist here!

(Flayn) “THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE S-SUPPORTER OF BYLETH.”

(Lysithea) “YEAH…I COULDN’T AGREE MORE.”

I’m just going to keep the actual crush ambiguous because my mind is currently at a shipping war lmao

Thanks for the ask, kaaidalupita! I hope you enjoy!

——-

Students learning Child!Byleth has a crush

——-

Black Eagles

(Edelgard) “Professor, may I ask you something?”

(Byleth) “Go ahead.”

(Edelgard) “Do you have a crush on someone here at the monastery?”

- Byleth spat out his drink.

(Byleth) “W-WHAT?!”

(Bernadetta) “Oh, so she was right! That’s really cute, professor!”

(Hubert) “I never heard his voice crack like that before. But this was very much worth it to see in person.”

(Dorothea) “Oh my gosh, how adorable! Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to help you catch whoever’s heart it is! I’m a pro in love!”

(Linhardt) “I’m afraid I’m not an expert on this field, but luckily that’s what Dorothea is for. She can do the work for us.”

(Caspar) “Come on, spill the beans!”

(Petra) “What do the beans have doing with tiny teacher? He is having the crushes.”

(Ferdinand) “It means that he should tell us, Petra.”

(Byleth) “LIKE HELL I WILL!”

(Edelgard) “T-There’s no need for cursing…! But yes, we would very much like to know…the uh…the beans.”

(Byleth) “I SAID NO, EDELGARD!”

(Edelgard) “Professor, I will not relent until you-”

(Byleth) “I-I HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE!”

(Bernadetta) “H-He’s planning to do a me! He’s dashing to his room!”

(Edelgard) “He won’t get far! AFTER HIM!”

Blue Lions

(Dimitri) “Byleth, you have a crush? Why didn’t you say anything to me?”

(Byleth) “W-WHAT?! W-W-Why do I have to tell you about things like this!?”

(Dedue) “He isn’t denying it, your highness. That means he really does have a crush…Heh.”

(Annette) GASP “WHO IS IT PROFESSOR?! DO WE KNOW THEM?!”

(Mercedes) “How precious! Is there anyway we can help, professor? Do you need sweets as a gift?”

(Byleth) “THIS IS WHY I DON’T LIKE TALKING ABOUT THIS STUFF, DIMITRI!”

(Sylvain) “Alright, my tiny professor! Let’s-”

(Ingrid) “OH NO YOU DON’T! Professor, if you need actual advice, you are NOT going to him!”

(Felix) “I think he’s smart enough to not approach him to begin with…”

(Sylvain) “Like he should take advice from Dimitri! He’ll probably say give her a dagg-”

(Dimitri) 

“SHUT YOUR MOUTH IF YOU WISH TO CONTINUE LIVING, SYLVAIN!”

(Ashe) “Well, I don’t really know much about this stuff, but you should just be yourself, professor! I’m sure she’ll be delighted to hear it!”

(Dimitri) “Thank you for being the only normal one here, Ashe…Anyways, professor, let’s at least talk about-”

(Byleth) “ N O !”

Golden Deer

(Claude) “Come on teach, tell us! I promise we can keep a secret!”

(Hilda) “Yeah, we’ll be really careful with this info!”

(Byleth) “YOU TWO ARE THE LAST PEOPLE I TRUST WITH THIS!”

(Lysithea) “I-I…I want to know as well, p-professor!”

(Lorenz) “What in the world are you so flustered about, Lysithea? I believe they are currently interrogating him and not you.”

(Leonie) “Huh, didn’t think you could even think about things like that. I’m more shocked by that fact alone honestly.”

(Ignatz) “Do you think they’d like a painting, professor? That could be a great gift!”

(Raphael) “Oh, how about a dinner date! I can get you two the best meals we have in the monastery!”

(Marianne) “P-Professor, you’re so red…! Are you okay?”

(Claude) “He’s fine! He’s just embarassed, Marianne. Now seriously, who is…Wait, Lysithea’s acting flustered?”

(Hilda) “Does that mean…!?”

(Lysithea) “N-NO-”

(Byleth) “-IT DOESN’T!”

(Marianne) “…I-I think you made your cases worse-”

(Claude) “i don’t believe that for a second you tw-”

CLANG!

(Lorenz) “…Is that the Sword of the Cre-”

(Byleth)

“HERE IS SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN!”

BONUS: Seteth/Flayn

(Seteth) “Flayn, where is my axe?”

(Flayn) “I-I THINK THAT’S A BIT DRAMATIC, DON’T YOU THINK?!”

[fandom-meanderer]

Beauty and the... [Pt. 3]

Pairing: Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd x Reader, Sylvain Jose Gautier x Reader, Felix Hugo Fraldarius x Reader

Part: (3/?) [First] [Previous] [Next]

Genre: Romance, Drama

Fandom: Fire Emblem Three Houses

P.o.V.: 2nd

Word Count: 1,565 Words

Warnings: None

Further Notes: None for today, but nevertheless do enjoy! Sorry if this is a bland chapter, next chapter’s gonna be a Sylvain one! So look forward to that!

—

“You’re looking better,” Ingrid smiles. The two of you walk to class with each other, your face beaming.

“Dimitri and I worked everything out,” you explain, skipping slightly.

“That’s good! I was starting to worry a bit,” Ingrid says. “What do you think the lesson will be today?”

“Ah, well, the Professor has been trying to get me to get better at using a bow actually,” you scratch your head. “But I’m not very good at it. I was going to ask Ashe for some help.”

“That would be a wise decision, yes, he knows his way with a string,” Ingrid nods. As you turn the corner you run into someone.

“Did I hear that you needed help with a bow?” Claude smiles. Ingrid pulls you back and squints her eyes.

“What are you scheming?”

“Nothing! I’m genuinely trying to be helpful,” Claude insists. You press your lips together. “There’s no better way to learn how to pull a string back than from the heir to House Reigan himself, you know,” Claude presses. You think for a moment. Technically, he’s not wrong. But he’s also still Claude.

“Sure,” you finally say.

“Aw well maybe next— Wait did you say ‘sure’?” Claude does a double take. You nod slowly.

“Yes, yes I did, where should we meet?” You ask.

“Training grounds after classes,” he winks. “Don’t be late!”

“I won’t!” You wave to him as he slides into his classroom. Ingrid furrows her brow.

“Are you sure it’s wise to work with Claude?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be? He’s my classmate, and he’s not wrong either. Plus if I need extra help I can just ask the Prof,” you shrug. The two of you sit in your respective seats, not noticing the fuming Prince behind you.

As Byleth went from student to student you focused your efforts on reading up on bow skills, you were just talking to Ashe about methods to aim when Dimitri suddenly spoke up very loudly.

“I want to change my goal to bow!” He shouts.

“Are you sure? You seem more fitted for lances, Dimitri,” Byleth frowns.

“Yes. It’s a good skill to fall back on if my lance were to break mid-battle,” Dimitri reasons, albeit shakily. Byleth noticed the BS behind his reasoning, but decided not to point it out anyways.

“Alright then, we’ll focus on that,” he says.

“Dima? Using a bow?!” Sylvain laughs. “Oh gods that’s rich. Hey, sugar, you’re focusing on bow skills to right? Why not take his highness with you to practice?”

“Oh, yeah, I can do that,” you smile. “I’m practicing with Claude today, not that there’s anything wrong with practicing with you, Ashe!” You quickly catch yourself.

“Oh, it’s alright, (Name),” Ashe nods.

“No, it isn’t, I’ve been practicing with you and then out of nowhere I switch over to Claude, I’m sorry!”

“It’s okay, really,” Ashe blushes slightly. “Claude is much more experienced than I am, after all.”

“I’ll be sure to take good notes so we can look over them together,” you say. Your eyes drift over to Dimitri. “But he’s not serious is he?”

“I hope not,” Felix grumbles.

“Knowing Dima, he’d break the bow as soon as he laid a finger on it,” you frown. “Looks like I’m going to have to keep an eye on him.” The bell sounds above you and you look down on your notes.

“Good luck with Claude, (Name),” Ingrid pats your shoulder. “If he tries anything don’t be afraid to deck him. Put those brawling lessons to good use.”

“I’m sure it won’t get to that,” you sweat nervously. Just as you were about to call out to Dimitri, you turn and find him standing right next to you. “Oh, hey, Dima. I was wondering if—“

“Can I go with you to practice with Claude?” He sputters out.

“I was just about to ask you that!” Your eyes widen. “Let’s make our way over there! I’m sure he wouldn’t mind the company.” The two of you walk out of the classroom ahead of the other Lions.

“Oh, aren’t they just adorable,” Mercedes gushes. “If only they just came out and said it already.”

“I know, it’s so obvious!” Annette adds in.

“Yeah, they’re adorable, I guess,” Sylvain whistles.

“She could do so much better than that boar,” Felix mumbles. Ingrid catches these remarks and a strange idea formulates in her head.

“You two…” She starts. “You two don’t like (Name) that way… do you?”

“No,” both of them answer. They look at each other awkwardly. “She’s just our friend,” they continue.

“Right,” Ingrid says suspiciously. Byleth, on the other hand, eyes the two suspiciously before returning to his book. Does he know? Of course he knows. He talks about it with the other professors all the time. Such as that morning.

~

“Now, now, Manuela, that is simply not true,” Hanneman asserts. Byleth sighs, looks like another morning with the iconic Hanneman and Manuela banter.

“What do you mean? Those two are simply made for each other,” Manuela frowns. She eyes Byleth. “Ah, Professor, please add your input into this.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Well,” Hanneman cuts in. “Manuela is certain that Miss (Name) and Sylvain are head over heels for each other—“

“Which they are,” Manuela adds in. “I mean, they’re just so close! Not to mention the incident at the stables, when (Name) tried to feed the horses and almost got trampled! It’s a good thing that dashing Gautier was there to pull her to safety!”

“Ahem, as I was saying,” Hanneman glares. “I do believe her best choice would be to fall in alignment with Felix. For one, the two are even matched with a sword, and she always knows what to say to calm him down, or the others around him.”

“What do you think, Professor?” Manuela asks. Byleth blinks.

“I’m personally rooting for Dimitri,” he finally answers.

“This is a waste of our meeting time!” Seteth yells.

Needless to say a bet was now in place. Whoever won got six months worth of church funding for their activities.

~

“Alright, so when you draw the string back, you’re going to want to make sure you keep the arrow level. Any shift in angle will throw your aim off,” Claude instructs.

“Like this?” You ask, your arms slightly shaking. Claude walks around you. He places his foot between yours and taps them slightly.

“Spread your feet a little, shoulder width,” he says. “Try to get in the habit already, you won’t have time to think about stance in battle.”

“Right,” you fix you’re positioning and try again.

Dimitri sulked in the back with Dedue. Your prediction was correct. As soon as his finger tips grazed the training bow it snapped in half. If it was just you and him, he would’ve brushed it off and gotten another one, but since Claude doubled over in laughter it hurt his pride a bit. You offered to sit it out with Dimitri and just train another day, but he insisted. It was originally your practice, he just tried to fit himself in.

“Are you alright, your highness?” Dedue finally asks. Dimitri nods.

“I’m alright,” he says. Dimitri continues to scribble down notes on a piece of paper, or at least trying to make it look like he’s taking in notes. In reality he’s just sketching pictures. Mostly of you. Some of them are of you impaling Claude with an arrow. But other than that they’re just cute doodles. Cute doodles of you in class, you using an bow, you sparring, you in wedding dress, you in bed, you in— well you get the idea. Dedue shifted slightly, turning his gaze back to Claude.

“Alright, now release,” Claude says. You follow his command and watch the arrow hit the bullseye.

“Whoa! I did it!” Your eyes shone and you jumped up slightly.

“Good job!” Claude holds his hand to you for a hand shake and you accept it happily. “But that was only one arrow. Keep practicing until you can get at least 3 out of 5 arrows on the target,” he laughs. You look down at the four arrows on the ground next to the target.

“Right,” you nod. “I’m going to go grab some lunch, want to come?”

“Eh, I would, but I have to make sure Lorenz isn’t doing anything dumb,” Claude shrugs. “But this was fun, if you ever need help again you can ask me.”

“I’ll remember that! Thank you again,” you bow slightly.

“It’s no problem, see you, (Name).” Claude exits the training area first. You jog up to Dimitri. “Watcha drawing?” In a fit of sheer panic Dimitri did the first thing that came to mind.

“Your highness!” Dedue gasps.

“Dimitri did you just eat that paper?!” Your jaw drops. Dimitri swallows and nods.

“Um… Y-Yes…” he mutters. “Lunch? Lunch sounds good. I’m starving. Shall we go?”

“Sure?” Dimitri led the trio out, his face getting redder with every step.

Claude, meanwhile, watched from afar, standing next to Manuela. The two high fived as they entered the Dining Hall.

“I don’t usually condone your actions, but I do really need to win this bet,” Manuela says. “What exactly did you do?”

“Eh, I put a lil something on (Name)’s hands. She shouldn’t notice it, but let’s just say that Sylvain will be in a favorable situation,” he smirks.

[wardencommanderrodimiss]

Some faint curiosity of mine on your Three Houses runs: do all or your Byleths have the same classes, or do they vary? Does one have more magic than another, for example? That seems like great fic fodder if there are differences

Yep, they do differ! And a lot of it I pull directly from how I played the game each of these two so far times, as I figured out game mechanics, and the differences between the skills of everyone in their starting house.

B was pretty much exclusively a swordswoman, starting out. Up until I unlocked Enlightened One, she was a Mercenary. It was only in the last two months or so before the timeskip that she started studying Faith, to get a little bit of a grasp on white magic and healing. She’s always on the front lines, usually the first one charging in and the last one coming back out. A lot of the Golden Deer are ranged fighters, after all, archers or mages, and especially early on, B’s strategy was to draw most of the attention and then let her students back her up. A couple mishaps early on warranting a Divine Pulse to save someone further contribute to her (and my) fears of letting anyone get too far up the front lines and in over their heads. Even after she’s learned some healing magic, when she uses it, it’s pretty much a last-ditch resort, to hold someone together long enough for one of the dedicated healers to get there and fix them up properly. Her black magic skills are truly, truly average, but it’s nice to have options at range. During the war, she’s usually seen with Claude and Lorenz backing her up (though Claude might say that she’s the one backing him up), with Lysithea, Marianne, and Linhardt another step behind, and if their strategy is a pincer, it’s often Felix and Sylvain leading the other wing.

Lethe leans more heavily on magic to supplement her skills with a sword - she was a Monk, then Priest. With more of the Blue Lions being close-range/mounted fighters, and thus sturdier and more suited to the front lines, Lethe was more comfortable taking a step back and allowing them to take charge. She knows healing magic from the start and often takes a supporting role - when she’s up on the front lines, she’s equally as likely to be cutting down an enemy as she is patching up any of her allies, often when their situation isn’t that dire, in an attempt to stop it from becoming that dire. She also, in a pinch, can throw a wicked fireball - she’s quite good at black magic, though it’s not the main tool in her box. Her main strategy during the war is to shadow Dimitri and bail him out when he inevitably gets in over his head; everything else, she just sort of leaves to Felix, and whoever of Dedue, Mercedes, Ingrid, and Seteth are floating around in the area to lend a hand.

- 

And for a question you didn’t ask, but the first bit of writing I did when starting this game was about the inherent fucked-upness of Divine Pulse, so I’ll throw in a note on that and how they differ on that, too.

My first run, I fucked up a lot more at the start, so the trauma of seeing her students die early on, before she had fully come to grips with Sothis, is much more a thing with B. It haunts her, because these are her mistakes that get them killed, because these aren’t mercenaries she’s fighting alongside now. Once the war rolls around, she doesn’t have the time to dwell on these mistakes, because there’s always something new coming up next, and that’s honestly probably better for it. She stops being able to remember which battles someone died in, and who it was. (Except the first and only time Claude gets killed, that one was like, that one was just a juicy scenario born out of some extraordinarily poor decisions I made at Grondor Field, and it couldn’t have been better if I tried, I should do something with that sometime.)

Lethe doesn’t really need to lean on Divine Pulse until the war starts, and it becomes just another one of the many, many horrors of war she’s got to deal with, as opposed to its own separate prior trauma like it is for B. It only really once is a Thing for Lethe, and that’s in the final battle in Enbarr, where she’s lived out the same two minutes fighting through the palace about eight different ways, trying to save everyone she loves, and by the end of it she’s exhausted and has no idea which way it actually went. (God, I did not count how many Divine Pulses I used there, but it was a lot, and it was mentally exhausting for me replaying the same bit over and over to get it right, and that’s also juicy as hell, just going through part of the battle to save one of your friends only to see a different one fall this time because circumstances were just different enough, and then turning back time again, knowing that you can’t keep doing this, but you can’t not do it either.)

[aonorunic]

Armor, Fire Emblem Three Houses One Shot

Summary:  Hilda teaches Byleth the importance of a nice outfit, much to Claude's pleasure.

Read on AO3. 

“Is there something I can help you with, Hilda?”

The woman in question did not stop staring at Byleth. It was worse than when Claude first met her. She would catch him out of the corner of her eye staring at her, studying her like he would like to take her apart and figure out how to put her back together again. Byleth crossed her arms over her chest, fingers tapping out a silent rhythm against her skin as she waited for an answer.

Hilda took another long moment, eyes narrowing as she leaned forward to take in Byleth’s new posture. “Professor,” she finally said, breaking the uncomfortable silence, “we need to do something about that outfit.”

Byleth, stunned, could only blink at the other woman. That was not what she expected at all. “What?”

“It’s terrible,” Hilda deadpanned. “We have to do something about it.”

“Why?” Byleth looked down at her clothes. No one had said anything about them until now. “What’s wrong with them?”

“Professor!” Hilda stepped closer and placed her hands on Byleth’s shoulders, staring straight into her eyes. “Think of it this way, your clothes are a type of armor. Your outfit creates a first impression. It can make a statement as soon as you walk into a room. Do you want to make people think you’re a kind and charismatic leader, or stoic and strict? Or do you want to give the impression of purity and innocence? You can use your clothes to make sure people don’t underestimate you, or get them to do just that when it is to your advantage.”

Byleth tilted her head, the only indication she was thinking over what Hilda had said. “That seems like a lot of work for a bit of fabric to pull off. So far my actions have spoken loudly enough for me.”

“True, but you weren’t Rhea’s heir until now,” Hilda pointed out. “You’ll be pulled into Fódlan’s politics now, more so when the war is actually over and you’re rebuilding society. You need to learn now how to use your clothes as another weapon in your arsenal.” 

“I thought you said they were armor.”

Hilda rolled her eyes and grabbed Byleth’s hand. “Come on.”

Byleth was too startled to resist. She was not sure what Hilda had planned, but there was a part of her that was actually curious. And it wasn’t like she would be trapped if she became uncomfortable or this little excursion took too long...at least she hoped so.

Hilda marched her straight to Dorothea’s room, not even bothering to knock before throwing open the door. Dorothea and Petra did not look surprised at all when Hilda showed herself into the room. “Hello, Hilda,” Dorothea greeted cheerfully. “Oh, and Professor!” Her entire face lit up when she caught sight of Byleth behind Hilda, a brilliant smile crossing her face.

“Dorothea, we’re going to dress up the Professor.”

Byleth, for the second time that day, found herself simply blinking in surprise. She was pretty sure her ears were actually ringing from that shriek. How was it even possible for someone’s voice to get that high?

“Now, Hilda-” Byleth tried to protest, but was immediately cut off.

“She refuses to see the advantage of a nice outfit,” Hilda explained.

Byleth did not like the look the two women shared. The part of her that had stayed around Claude too often wondered if they had staged this whole set up.

“Think of it this way, Professor,” Dorothea said, her voice dripping with poisoned honey, “when Claude walks into a room, what happens?”

Byleth thought for a moment, more judging what answer would diffuse the situation than having to remember what happened whenever Claude made an entrance. Her eyes were always drawn to him...She cut herself off before she could fall too far down that rabbit hole. “It depends on what he wants. Sometimes he had everyone’s attention immediately, or else he goes completely unnoticed.”

“Exactly, but let’s focus on that first example. He uses his wit and charm to gain attention. Now, not that you aren’t charming, but that kind of entrance just isn’t you. But you can pull off that same thing with a simple outfit change.”

Seeing Byleth was still not convinced, Hilda once more joined in. “I know it’s hard, but imagine if Claude couldn’t talk. He is going to a meeting of the Alliance Lords, so he still needs to gain immediate respect. His appearance will be the first thing they notice.”

“Breaking out his nicest clothes is not necessary in this case,” Dorothea smoothly took over the explanation. “It would seem like he was trying too hard. But he’ll still wear formal clothes that show both wealth and position, something that walks the fine line between showing off and showing up.”

Byleth had no idea what that meant.

“Now, picture him at an event such as a, let’s say a ball. There is no way he can command the attention of the entire room in his usual way, not without making a social faux pas, and in most circumstances that won’t gain him anything. He is going to use his posture and his clothes to draw in everyone’s gaze. Especially if he is trying to gain the attention of a certain lady love.” Dorothea winked, that lovely smile not slipping from her lips. 

Byleth blushed. She now had the image of an impeccably dressed Claude, his hair swept back, and green eyes sparkling as he looked at her while knowing that everyone else could not take their eyes off of him; knowing that Byleth would not take her eyes off of him. And if she could match him? She imagined Claude’s eyes going wide as he first saw her, his mouth opening in a soft ‘o’ of pleasant surprise. 

She wanted to put that look on his face. Perhaps there was something to what Hilda and Dorothea were saying after all.

“Claude is a duke, so he would be knowing how to…” Petra hesitated, turning to Dorothea as she tried to remember the turn of phrase, “....make an impact.”

Dorothea smiled at her, soft and loving, and nodded proudly. “See? Petra agrees. Now, with so many new allies arriving, we really should show you just how impactful our little theory can be.”

“And it would just be a coincidence that we’re throwing a small party to welcome said new allies tonight?” Byleth pointed out.

“My,” Dorothea gasped, “I completely forgot about that! Hilda?”

Hilda shook her head, trying her best to look innocent. Byleth did not buy it for a second. The two were devious.

But the look she pictured on Claude’s face still held her mind. She wanted so badly to see him look at her like she was the most beautiful thing in the entire world. Byleth sighed deeply and nodded her consent. 

Hands were immediately on her, and Byleth lost herself in the frenzy. She was still confused, but she found herself actually enjoying it all. By the time Petra was braiding her hair, telling stories about Brigid, she was smiling along with Hilda and Dorothea, offering her own quips and earning laughter from the other three women.

“There,” Hilda finally said. “You’re going to make his jaw drop.” She looked very pleased with herself.

“Him?” Byleth questioned, feeling strange with the long skirt of the dress caressing her legs. “I thought this was for our allies.”

“Oh please.” Hilda waved her off. “You’re not stupid, Professor.”

Byleth only smiled softly and shook her head again. She couldn’t be mad. She had wanted this for so long, and Hilda had gone out of her way to arrange the possibility of it becoming a reality.

/

Claude could not believe his eyes. Byleth was always lovely, but he had not expected this. The black dress hugged her torso and legs, only flaring out just under her knees. It created a soft effect, making her seem like she was gliding. The sleeves did the same thing, clinging tight to her arms only to flare out dramatically right above her elbows. When she moved, she sparkled, and Claude could see small beads woven into the cloth. Her hair was done in a dozen complicated braids, swept up to reveal the smooth skin of her neck A belt of silver in the shape of the ever changing phases of the moon completed the whole thing. 

She was wearing the night sky. 

When she turned to greet some minor noble, Claude could see the entire back of the dress was open, held together by black criss crossing ribbon. 

A spark of jealousy shot through him. He wanted her attention on him.

“Claude, your jaw is on the ground,” Lorenz pointed out, sounding much too pleased.

Claude’s mouth shut with a sharp click, causing him to wince as his teeth knocked together. “Excuse me,” he mumbled, not even looking at the men sitting with him as he stood. He even ignored Lorenz’s not so quiet comment to Sylvain about Claude being completely love struck. It was true, but still something he would have to pay Lorzen back for. Just now right now. Right now there was something much more important to do.

Byleth looked up as Claude approached, her face lighting up at the sight of him. Her smile went straight to his heart like an arrow. “Claude.” And the happiness with which she said his name certainly did not help.

“My, my, what do we have here?” Claude teased. “You look lovely, Teach.”

Byleth flushed, Claude’s breath catching as a soft pink touched her cheeks. “Thank you,” she said softly. “Hilda and Dorothea said I should try some new outfits.”

“Ah, that explains it.” 

“Claude? The Margrave’s contingent is here.” To his credit, Lorenz sounded sorry for interrupting.

“Of course they are.” Claude sighed and shook his head. “Will you excuse me, Teach? Seems I’ve got some matters to attend to.”

Byleth nodded, but she could not hide the sorry he saw in her eyes. As soon as he could, he was going to be back at her side.

/

Byleth sighed as she finally escaped the light and heat of the crowd. Tables had been pushed aside and someone had arranged dancing. She was immediately pulled into dances with partner after partner, seeing Claude in the same situation as herself. They had tried to reach each other, but there was always another noble to appease. 

Right now, she just wanted to breathe.

“Hey, good to see we had the same idea.”

Her head shot up, her heart still managing to leapt for joy despite its inability to beat. “Claude!”

Claude stepped out of the shadows, his green eyes sparkling as they looked her up and down brazenly. Byleth felt herself suppress a shiver under that gaze. “Careful, my friend, if you keep looking at me like that I’m going to get ideas.”

Byleth forced herself to meet his eyes, remembering Hilda’s words about these strange clothes being her armor. They most definitely were not, not in the traditional sense, but she had seen Claude’s face when she walked into the room. She had never before been able to disarm him so easily. And Hilda was right, that did give her a certain kind of strength. 

“What kind of ideas would those be?”

For a moment, Claude was speechless. Byleth could practically see him thinking, his brain trying to process what she had just said. But just as he did with everything else, Claude adapted quickly. He stepped toward her, his carefree smile gone. 

Claude reached up a hand and caressed her cheek, sending a jolt of want through Byleth. “Ideas about how much I want you by me always. Ideas like how I want to see you smile, or be there for you when you cry. Ideas about how much I want to kiss you.” 

Byleth leaned into his touch, her hands reaching up to lay against Claude’s chest. She could feel his heartbeat against her palm. It was fast, faster than normal she suspected. “I wouldn’t mind that at all,” she admitted.

She had barely gotten the words out before Claude’s lips were on hers. It was desperate, like he was afraid she wouldn’t be there if he let go. Byleth kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck, holding him as close as she could.

When Claude broke away, it was all too soon. “By, I…” Was all he got out before he was kissing her again, trying to tell her everything he was failing to put into words, too overwhelmed to string his thoughts coherently. He pushed her up against the stone wall, Byleth moaning into his mouth as their bodies pressed together.

This time when Claude moved from her lips, it was to trail kisses down her jaw and neck. Byleth tilted her head, offering the long expanse of skin up to Claude’s eager mouth. Her fingers tangled in his hair, and when she pulled he nipped at her shoulder. “Claude,” she moaned, only to realize how loud her voice was in the quiet of the night.

Byleth brought a hand up to cover her mouth, but Claude caught it, kissing the tips of her fingers. “I want to hear every little noise you make,” Claude said, his voice heavy with desire.

“Then we should probably find someplace we won’t be interrupted.”

Claude straightened, taking a step back from her. Byleth’s fingers tightened on his shoulders, desperate to keep him close. What had she done wrong? “Claude?”

He took a deep breath, leaning down to press his forehead to hers. “Byleth, I want this, I really do, but I want more than a single night. I want you, and I don’t want to ruin this.”

Her fingers tightened in his hair again, and she tilted her head up to kiss him. It was much slower, as gentle as their first was desperate. “I have wanted you for so long now, Claude. I love you,” she finally admitted.

“I love you too, By,” was the answer, Claude doing his best not to let his emotions overwhelm him. “I want to show you how much.”

Byleth smiled, pulling him flush against her and relishing the feel of his desire against her hip. She rolled her hips, drawing forth a groan from her partner. “So, your room or mine?”

Claude burst out laughing, shaking his head as he grabbed her hand and began walking her toward the dorms. “Yours is closer, and I don’t want to wait any longer than I have to.”

She did not remember the trip to her room, only the quickly stolen kisses and the desperate caresses. Byleth was honestly surprised they made it to her room at all. As soon as the door closed behind her, Claude had her pushed up against the wooden barrier, kissing her so desperately Byleth felt her legs go weak. His hands explored her body with more confidence, drawing delightful little sounds from her.

Her own hands were busy with his clothes, undoing buttons and untying laces, shoving the fabric away from him as soon as she could get it out of the way. “Well this isn’t fair,” Claude joked between kisses. “You’re still fully clothed, and here I am in just my small clothes.”

Byleth grinned and shoved him back, using the movement to push herself off the door. “What are you going to do about that?”

Claude matched her grin. Grabbing her shoulders, he turned Byleth around and began to undo the black ribbon keeping her dress together. She sighed happily when she felt his lips worshiping every inch of skin he revealed, until the black fabric pooled around her feet.

Byleth stared down at the fabric, leaning back into Claude’s warm arms.

“By?”

She shook her head and turned in his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck as she brought him close for a quick kiss. “It’s nothing, just something Hilda said. She called my clothes my armor. I was just thinking how appropriate it is that the man who taught me love and joy is the one to remove them.”

Claude buried his face against her neck and moaned. “Do you have any idea what you do to me when you say things like that?”

“I’m hoping you’ll show me,” Byleth teased, shoving Claude back onto the bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Notes: Yeah, I did that.

I was going to write more, but honestly those last lines were the entire reason I wrote the story, and after that nothing I added on really seemed to fit. So, no, not sorry at all.