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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I-It's okay. I don't get them very much, so I think I'll be fine.

[She... lifts her arms a little. Is this how you initiate one...?]

[Edelgard hesitates. What was she expecting? Bernadetta being too much of a coward to accept? Perhaps dying makes someone more bold...

Eventually she pulls the other young woman into a hug. Her arms curling around her with their chests flush so that Bernadetta can feel it when she gives that extra squeeze. The hug is... stiff, which is to be expected. But there is warmth in it. Edelgard is trying to put some heart into this action. Not doing so would be an insult to all that she has said to Bernadetta.

And all that Bernadetta has done for her.]

[Dying once has loosened some of Bernadetta's deeply inset hesitation, and the sudden trip down memory lane has also shaken her more than a little. But...

Well, this is Edelgard. Say what you will about how imposing she is, or how brutal she is on the battlefield, or how viciously she can cut a man down in conversation. But Bernadetta has always known that if Edelgard ever wanted to kill her, it would either be done by Hubert in the dead of night, or unerringly forthright by her own hand, from the front.

Bernadetta might not be sleeping at all, tonight, but here and now she goes loose and lax and hugs Edelgard back, the way her uncle used to do for her.]

[One hand rises to pet Bernadetta's hair for a short period. The hug actually lasts a little longer than Edelgard had intended it to, but eventually she lets her hands fall away to end the embrace.]

Always call upon me if you have a need, Bernadetta. I shall be there.

...thank you, Edelgard.

[For... for a lot, really. For choosing to find value in a recluse. For making that five year promise. For...

For erasing the image of her back, shrinking in the distance, a little bit more each day.

Bernadetta steps back, and clasps her hands together loosely.]

I'll remember that. I-I promise.

[Funny thing that she may truly be different than "other Edelgards" in that for some time she had the professor to rely on for comfort and support. A confidant and as such she had someone to help keep her heart from completely freezing over or turning to stone.

Outstretching one of her own hands, Edelgard makes an offer.] Will you join me for tea? I have some questions for you.

O-Okay. Sure. I've... I've got some nice Sweet-Apple Blend tucked away, if you like that?

[Does... Edelgard want to hold her hand too now?

She takes it, just in case.]

Oh, I would definitely partake with you.

[Edelgard accepts her hand, but not to hold it in the simple sense. Now, she holds Bernadetta's hand as if she has the honor of escorting her like a gentleman would a lady.]

O-Oh! I'll... get on that, then.

[Dimitri is, in Bernadetta's humble opinion, something right out of a fairytale, as princes go, but somehow Edelgard remains the uncontested most valiant person at this Monastery. She's not sure just why or how, but the facts don't lie.]

Then... should we go to the gazebo? For, uh... old time's sake? Or tradition, I suppose.

That would be lovely. Perhaps it's a bit dark out, but it should be enough to see what we are doing.

[She'll lead the way to the gazebo, then. After all having spent some time there with Sothis before she knows at least one table and set of chairs is serviceable.]

...do you... think it will snow?

[She ought to make more quilts...]

We should stock up on firewood, when the mist lets up. Just in case.

[As she contemplates Bernie's question Edelgard cants her head to the side.]

Dimitri had said it is still in the middle of winter, but spring is on the horizon. The possibility of snow cannot be ruled out, but I'm not sure how long we'll have to worry about that.

Oh, that's good. Um, we're pretty well stocked, but I'd rather not have to, uh, deal with snow caving in those roofs.

[They've done their best, but professional architects they most certainly are not.]

I would venture with you to gather some when the sun returns.

[When they arrive by the gazebo she sees the table and chairs to the side. She'll walk Bernadetta there, and...

Well she's not actually a man so she won't pull her chair out for her, but she'll at least pat the back of her hand gently before letting go and seating herself.]

[Bernadetta settles down, her posture...

Well, after that memory, Edelgard can probably practically see the invisible ropes dictating the set of her shoulders and the straight arch of her spine.

Bernadetta herself doesn't notice, after so long. It's either this or her cringing, frantic slouch.]

I'd like that. Thank you, Edelgard. Um... m-maybe we could ask Dimitri to pull a cart for us...?

[Is... is that too much?]

Why would we need him?

[Surprise is clear on her face. Were Bernadetta and Dimitri really that close of friends?]

He's... he's nice. And he likes to be helpful.

[He leant her the shirt off his back, once. After... a mortifying modesty malfunction, but still.

There is so much about her friendship with Dimitri that Edelgard will never hear from her mouth, because Edelgard will probably kill him.]

And if he helped, we could bring back a lot of wood...

[Edelgard would learn how to wrap her tiny child sized hands around that massive neck of his to choke every last breath of his out of him while he apologized until he turned blue.

But she'll probably never find out, so it's fine.]

I do suppose it would increase productivity.

[And maybe if she imagined him more like a workhorse than an intruder or an enemy that would help.]

[Right. Totally. Probably fine.

Bernadetta has never met any version of Claude von Riegan and could not pick him out of a line-up if a blade were held to her throat, but this protective proclivity does not bode well for him if she ever does.]

I think so! He helped me a little with the quilts at first.

[A little. It was delicate work, after all.]

But, um, if you wanted it to be just us, that would be nice too! Like... like our greenhouse time.

[........SHIT.

That's! What! She calls it in her head!]

A-Ah, I-I mean, the, uh, the time we work in the greenhouse together.

Speaking of the greenhouse! I've actually had plenty of people turn over bags of seed they found to me, and if you'd like to speak to Flayn she actually has some as well.

[Edelgard didn't insist on taking from Flayn because, well... Obvious reasons that have to do with the Death Knight.]

But do not fret. We can keep our "greenhouse time" to ourselves. I do not mind making that man put his disgustingly excessive strength to an actual use.

He's very gentle too, even if he's that strong. It's really impressive, I think.

[BERNADETTA.]

Oh! That sounds great. We could use some new crops to enrich the soil...

[Wait right there, Bernie Bear. Edelgard puts her hand on the table to halt discussion on the greenhouse.]

...Gentle in what way?

...? In... general?

[She cups her cheek in her hand, thinking of how to explain what she means.]

Like, he can haul a cart better than any warhorse, but he can grasp your hand like it's something very delicate, too. Or pat your head.

[Bernadetta, no.]

You've been holding hands with him?

[IN A CHASTE WAY SHE HOPES. Well, it most likely is chaste. She remembers he was quite the gentleman in the academy days. The only nasty rumors she ever heard about Kingdom boys were about...

Sylvain.]

Sometimes? I-I, um... the first time I met him here, I screamed and stepped on him and... ran. And, uh... and barricaded myself in my room. He calmed me down and got me some water, and we started talking that way. Um, another time, we ended up talking about... about my father, because I had, well... you remember how I get, sometimes.

[Self-castigating and almost hysterical, yes.]

He held my hand that time, and a few others. It... It was nice. He's nice.

[She doesn't seem to fully grasp that it takes a certain category of person to not be nice to someone like Bernadetta.]

I like making him smile. That's nice, too.