garregmach | (no subject)

(no subject)

A mist settles in over the monastery.

Is it morning? Night? Who can say? Today, the day feels endless. The sun is nowhere to be seen — or had it been at all? Instead, a curious green glow engulfs Garreg Mach, like an eternal twilight settling in. Time seems to be paused almost, though the wildlife in and around the area continues to act as though nothing is wrong. As though this is perfectly normal. As though it is natural for the skies to be dark, with not a single star in sight, and for the sun to be forgotten in the mist that lingers. The paths are at least lit by small orbs of light, fireflies flitting about.

However, should one come into contact with one of those fireflies, a memory of the past will be projected for all in the close vicinity to see. Joyous occasions, tragic events — they don't seem to discern one way or another. Perhaps it would be best to watch your step for now, though.

Of course, after lingering for about a day, the strange ambience will fade into what appears to be a normal night at Garreg Mach. It's as if nothing had happened at all. Did it? Or was it all simply a shared hallucination?

[ ● MEMSHARE POST. Coming into contact with the fireflies will share a memory of your character's with those around them. You can top-level with a memory to start out or have people tag you and determine it then, whatever. I don't make the rules (except I do and I say yolo). Have fun with it!
● Open posts like this one are flipping to a two week schedule instead of a weekly one.
● Because of the above, the last bit is there for people who'd maybe like to play out aftermath threads later on but don't want to wait for a new post or make a new one.
● Settings have been slightly updated. ]

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[ ooc | I'm game for anything. Angsty, fluffy, silly, whatever you feel like writing/threading! ]

[Though Dimitri has been avoiding the training grounds, he does still want to keep himself from getting too rusty. If that means fooling around with a training lance with the dummies in the knight's hall, then so be it. He's starting to realize what all these strange lights do, so he'd rather just keep inside...

...not that it ends up helping him in the end.

--

Dimitri always loves visiting the Fraldarius lands. Not only does he get to spend time with his best friend, but Rodrigue also spoils him absolutely rotten — he's permitted to do things that he really probably shouldn't be. In this case, Rodrigue is letting Dimitri handle a lovely antique sword.

"May I swing it?" he asks eagerly. When Rodrigue nods, he grins widely and starts playing with it, not taking as much care as he should...

"Oh, I want to go next!" Felix chimes in.

But before Rodrigue can give an answer, Dimitri swings so hard that the precious sword snaps. He stares at it in horror. Felix starts crying. Rodrigue is holding his breath — Dimitri's worried he might yell, but really, he's just trying to hold back a laugh.

"I didn't mean to..."

--

Startled as it fades away, Dimitri jabs that practice lance a little too hard, too. It splinters in his hands, and he starts to huff out a curse before he spots Felix standing in the doorway.]

The wood was practically rotten, [he mutters.]

[ The memory should be a sweet one. Those days were the best of his life, after all – days where he still had a brother, still had a father, still had Dimitri to call a friend. And yet time has cast a pall of acrimony over such memories. Still, Felix is not one to dwell; after a moment of silence, he approaches Dimitri and bends down to pick up a splinter of wood. ]

Some things never change.

[ All in all, it’s a pointless remark. The kind that he normally despises. But here and now, it’s said as a kind of peace offering. An olive branch, if Dimitri accepts it. ]

I’m the Felix you ran away from in the library, in case you’re wondering, [ he continues, tone surprisingly not unkind. It’s more awkward, if anything. ] First a Fraldarius heirloom sword, then the library ladder, and now a training weapon? Pull yourself together, boar.

[ He flicks the splinter at Dimitri’s chest, quirking a brow. ]

[Though he seems a little on edge still, he knows Felix well enough to recognize the lack of aggression in his tone, even if his words still have some bite. Dimitri's stopped wearing his armor for the most part here (it just makes his clothes get sweaty faster, and they're lacking in spares), so that splinter catches on the fabric of his shirt. With a soft sigh, he picks it out and kneels to collect the rest of the splintered lance.]

It does not help that half of everything here is in terrible condition.

[He has better control over himself these days, really!]

At any rate, I am glad to have run into you. I should not have fled like that, even if hearing about my death in such detail was... disturbing.

[Dimitri keeps his gaze awkwardly fixed on the ground as he cleans.]

It turned out for the best, anyway. I had to see it today, I do not know how I would have taken it if I didn't hear about it first.

Edited 2019-10-21 23:42 (UTC)

[ A surge of nostalgia momentarily takes Felix off guard; once again he stands over Dimitri as the man crouches down to pick up pieces of whatever poor wooden object has suffered his stupid strength. Except this time, with a bitten back sigh, the brunet acquiesces to help. Careful not to bang heads with Dimitri, he too crouches and begins to collect the splinters – dumping them in Dimitri’s hands as he goes. The recent happenings of this world have left him feeling distinctly wrong-footed and more open to trying to patch the old hurts between them.

When he hears what Dimitri has experienced, he looks up sharply, color fading from his face. Though Felix had described the death in detail, he only repeated what he’d been told secondhand. Even he hadn’t had to watch Dimitri’s gruesome death. ]

No, I shouldn’t have dumped that information on you. I was…angry, but that’s no excuse.

[ Deeply uncomfortable, he wipes his hands free of wooden dust and stands. Talking shouldn’t be so difficult. ]

I’m sorry, [ he says, quiet yet sincere. ]

[Dimitri's hands being full of garbage spares Felix of his affection, but it's written on his face nonetheless. He smiles to himself, standing as well to dump those splinters in with the kindling.]

Very well, then. I accept your apology.

[He returns to the small training area, checking the dummy over to make sure he didn't damage it beyond repair. Thankfully, it seems to be like it'll be all right.

It was totally the lance's fault. Totally!]

...you are welcome to stay here for a while if you like. If nothing else, we share the same embarrassing memories.

[ Even with his face pointedly turned aside, he can feel the weight of Dimitri’s fond regard. Felix huffs, trying not to fall into the dangerous pit trap of familiarity that gapes wide open between them; he may have apologized for how he acted in the library, but there remains a wealth of open wounds to be addressed. One day, perhaps. For now, he will be civil – Felix does not want to leave this world with more regrets than he arrived with. ]

Speak for yourself, boar. [ He glances over at Dimitri with a haughty look. ] If any of our shared memories are embarrassing, it’s only on account of you.

[ Patently false. Don’t you dare bring clingy, crybaby Felix into this, Dimitri. He has an image to maintain!! ]

[Really? Dimitri covers his mouth, but the wicked smile reaches his eye anyway, even though he doesn't intend for it to.]

I see. And here I thought that you had a good memory...

[Clingy, crybaby Felix was the cutest Felix, 3/4 childhood friends agree and they definitely remember it. At least Ingrid is polite enough to never mention it, the same cannot be said for Sylvain (and to a lesser extent, Dimitri).]

My memory is just fine, thank you.

[ Though Dimitri may not have actually mentioned any particular memory, Felix feels like he knows exactly what inspired that smile. With an almighty scowl, he crosses the room to lean against a wall. ]

Wipe that look off your face.

[Don't ask the impossible of him! Felix huffing and puffing only widens his grin, and eventually, he gives up on hiding it and just giggles.]

Ah, I am sorry... you were just so cute, though!

[As far as Dimitri is concerned, he still is. Thankfully, he has learned to value his life enough to not mention that out loud. With his plan to train a little thwarted by the broken lance, Dimitri opts to just sit down, not far from Felix's chosen sulking spot but not too terribly close, either.]

[ The laughter is…pleasantly refreshing. Felix struggles to maintain his forced distance and neutrality. ]

Hmph. We were children. They’re generally cute. Usually.

[ Not that he’s admitting to thinking kids are adorable or anything. Obviously, he’s a stone-cold mercenary with a heart of ice. ]

That much is true. I saw a memory with all four of us, earlier. Even Sylvain and I were quite cute.

[Which says a lot, considering Dimitri's opinion of himself. His eye falls shut with a soft sigh.]

I wonder if we will see Sylvain and Ingrid here...

[Especially Sylvain. Goddess knows they need someone good at lightening the mood. Claude's methods are similar, but it's just not quite the same.]

Who’s to say.

[ The remark is said with apparent disinterest, but… Felix would very much like to see Ingrid and Sylvain once more, without the horns of war drowning out their voices. Though he was present in the Gronder Field battle, he only caught glimpses of his former friends in the distance. Perhaps that is for the best; should they have met face-to-face, he would have had to cut them down. He still doesn’t understand why they followed Dimitri so blindly to their deaths that day. Maybe he never will. ]

The boar prince from my world…he was described like a rapid beast, chomping at the bit for a chance to have Edelgard’s head.

[ He manages, with some effort, to keep his tone cool. For the time being. ]

And yet here you are, playing at man once more. What changed?

[He really doesn't understand, does he? Dimitri does not begrudge Felix for it, but it saddens him nonetheless. Considering his words, he shifts his weight in his chair, lid lifting again while he thinks it over.]

I am not pretending. I know that nothing can ever wash away the blood that stains my hands. My sins are indelible. I have no doubt that I was every bit as rabid and monstrous in my own timeline as the Dimitri that you knew. Even then, though, I was never only a monster. I am both a man and a beast. What changed is that I have learned to accept that instead of cloaking myself in rage to shield me from everything else. And...

[His head lifts as well, gaze settling on Felix's face whether he chooses to look back at him or not.]

I have learned that the best way to honor those who died in my place is to live.

[ His body is tense with anticipation, as if Dimitri’s words are an oncoming blow he sees coming and yet does not dodge. How can he? Felix invited the other man to explain. But at the same time, he fears how that explanation might challenge their already precarious relationship. Nevertheless, Dimitri speaks and he listens intently. At one point, he opens his mouth to argue – only to stop and force himself to be silent until the blond finishes. When Dimitri does, Felix meets his gaze directly and holds it. ]

We all are, [ he admits quietly, a confession of his own. ] Both man and beast, that is.

[ Throat tight, Felix looks away – directing a thousand-yard stare at nothing in particular. ]

Whatever brought about your change… I’m glad for it.

[ There’s so much more he can say, so much more he wants to say, but he’s never been one to discuss his feelings to any extent. ]

It was the professor.

[Dimitri smiles to himself, though it's bittersweet.]

Even before coming here, I knew that I almost certainly would not have survived without them — now I know it without question. That person has the power to change fate. Did they teach the Blue Lions in your timeline, Felix? Or was it another house?

[A question he already knows the answer to, deep down, but he would like to hear it all the same.]

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