garregmach | (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

Then I'll have to be even kinder to you, from now on.

[If this is the level of niceness he'd like...

...

Yeah. Yeah, she thinks he ought to get it.]

[What? Kinder? That's just —

Edelgard's warning flashes through his mind, and Dimitri's hands raise as if he's surrendering.]

That is — not necessary, I assure you! Anything more might be a little embarrassing...

[...or deadly.]

I don't—

[Give her a moment, this is a Big Moment for her.]

If it's about taking care of a friend, I d-don't care how embarrassing it is.

[Ignore the stutter.]

[Goddess above, he can't take this. Dimitri steps away slightly with a nervous laugh, fidgeting.]

I see.

[Please, let him think of a subject change —]

Ah, on that front, how are things going with all that new fabric?

I, um... the first time I made a friend, I failed him.

[Please don't shake this off, her trembling gaze seems to plead.]

A lot... a lot of cruel things happened to him, just... because of me. And I can't change that, and you aren't him, and you never will be and—and I just, I really want to do better, this time. To do better for you, because you're kind, and you're kind to me even when I'm at my lowest and most... well... incoherent. S-So... so, let me try, Dimitri. ...please.

[She fidgets, then glances away.]

...th-the fabric is good! And there's, um... three Felixes now, apparently? So... I'm, I'm remaking some of the patterns I made for... one of them. I, uh... I made s-some robes, too? For people to use at the sauna?

[Though Dimitri has little difficulty when it comes to giving comfort (even if he can be awkward at it at times), receiving affection is still somewhat rough. He doesn't feel he deserves it, even if he knows well enough to not voice that now. But he still meets her gaze, listens to her reasoning — it brings Felix to mind. Not the Felix he knows in his own time, but the first one he met here, who feels like he "let" Dimitri die.

With a soft sigh, he smiles at her again, this time without the anxiety.]

The robes will be very much appreciated. There have already been... incidents.

[Oh good, he's smiling again.

She smiles back, nervous but sincere—that's her in a nutshell, really.]

Y-Yeah, I figured there would be. What with the wall all... you know.

[She nibbles her lip, thinking for a moment.]

Um—this is... just a thought but... has anybody tried moving one of the black boards up there? We could write 'men' on one side and 'women' on the other and flip it around whenever people are... in there.

[It's a simple solution, but no, no one has thought of it that Dimitri knows of. He pauses for a moment, then he laughs.]

Oh, that would certainly be easier, wouldn't it? Very clever. I have just been hanging my cloak at the door when I need to use the baths.

[Since it's easily recognizable as his, he figures that it's a sufficient warning for anyone that might decide to join him. So far, no one has.]

I don't think my bolero would be, um, quite as effective.

[A-Awkwardly, she releases him, finally, and steps back.]

I... still have your measurements, so I'll make a robe for you, too. Um, should I put it by your room or near the baths themselves?

Near the baths should be fine. I am not sure if I should remain in my room, truthfully. There is another version of myself here, and he is... younger. He probably needs the comfort of a familiar room more than I do.

[Plus, it puts him near Felix and Claude, both of whom would hopefully keep an eye on him. Felix especially — Felix is fully aware of just how unstable Dimitri was at that age, and Dimitri would have been especially inclined to listen to him if he chose to be kind.

That is something he will absolutely never say out loud. Felix doesn't need to know.]

There's two of you now, too?!

[She covers her face.]

Oh no... three of Felix, two of you... how am I going to keep track of everyone...?

It is easy with me, at least. I look quite a bit different than I did five years ago. As for Felix... well, the Felix who comes from a timeline where I survive wears an ornament in his hair. I die in both of the other timelines, which makes me hesitant to ask for them to make any changes for me...

[Dimitri laughs, though it's half-hearted.]

Perhaps we should just ask everyone to wear the colors of the house the professor taught in their timeline?

Um, I know. I... I sort of, made that charm for him. And, uh...

[How to put this?]

One of the other two cut off his ponytail, while we were talking about the mix-ups. I helped him even it out.

[She rubs the back of her neck.]

I... don't know where we'd find enough colored fabric for that. But it might help, yeah.

A simple wrist tie would work. — wait, did you say he cut his hair?

[Is it strange that he knows exactly which Felix she's referring to? The Felix he encountered in the library was by far the most upset at the mix-up. What happened in his timeline that made him act that way...? Dimitri folds his arms, frowning.]

Well, that makes it simple, I suppose. They'll all have different hair. I wish it did not have to come to this, though.

I nearly jumped out of my skin, when he did it.

[It was so dramatic...]

None of them... took it particularly well. When, I, um, when I told them about...

[Her death.]

Where I came from.

No, I imagine not, [he says quietly, fixing his gaze on his boots.] Felix is not a fan of sacrificing oneself for king and country. Or Emperor, in your case.

[Dimitri chuckles, but without any real amusement.]

I do hope he is not as harsh with you as he is with me.

[Surely not. Felix is far softer with women, enough so that Dimitri has taken notice.]

No, he's... really sweet, to me. All of him are. I, um... the one with . the ponytail, but no charm, I made him promise to take care of his Bernadetta when he goes back, since... since there's no Edelgard left to oppress her father, there. I think that made him feel a little better.

[Probably not, but let her dream.

Her head whips up, eyes wide with panic.]

D-Don't tell him I told you about . the sweetness, though! He... gets fussy about that. All of him!