garregmach | (no subject)

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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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[How could he possibly know that? Unless — Edelgard remembered it? But no, she didn't seem to remember yesterday, there's surely no way...

Did his younger self show that memory? Did Felix see it?

Dimitri shakes his head, quickly getting to his feet.]

She is — are you asking if I planned to keep it to myself here, or...?

[Back in his own timeline? Because he just told everyone there, not that he's going to mention that now.]

...I have not decided what to do with it, yet.

[For quite a while, Felix doesn't let up his glare, taking the time to process Dimitri's words, as well as his own feelings on the matter.

Then he exhales, and along with it goes the fight in him. It's not fair of him to take out his frustration with his own Dimitri on this particular one, even if they are likely to act the same in this specific regard.]

Never mind. She doesn't know you're that boy who gave her the dagger. But...

[He casts his gaze towards the window, somewhat thoughtful.]

...Dagger Girl had a few words she wished for me to pass on to that boy.

[Dimitri's complete lack of surprise when Felix says Edelgard doesn't remember is telling, especially when contrasted with his reaction to Felix following up by saying she had something to say to him. He forces himself to take a breath and smooth out his expression before responding.]

You do not have to tell me if you would rather not.

[He knows that she was a sore point with his friends back then, mostly because he kept her to himself the way he did. It was selfish, but he couldn't bear to relinquish having a friend who had no idea who he really was.

If she'd known, if he'd told her then, maybe things wouldn't have ended up this way.]

Edited 2019-10-27 06:38 (UTC)

[Fortunately or not for Dimitri, Felix doesn't catch the tells in his expression, far too absorbed with his own thoughts and the boring view outside the window as he collects the former.

Felix shakes his head, having no intention of backing off on his words or promise to Edelgard.]

"The girl you knew is dead, but your gift meant the world to her."

[He couldn't forget those words. Not even if he wanted to.]

She certainly did cut her own path, didn't she.

[It's not at all the one he'd hoped for. How can she not see that the path she's chosen tramples over the will of those who are too weak to fight? Dimitri settles back on the bed with a thud, rubbing his temples.]

I should have told her while we were still at the academy. I had strong suspicions right away — the color of her hair had changed, but I still recognized her face and her voice. And when she pulled out that dagger to defend herself that night the professor rescued us, well... I knew.

She certainly did. But...

[Felix sighs, narrowing his eyes at Dimitri once more.]

Why didn't you tell us?

[There's less of a bite to his accusation this time around at least, simply resigned as he settles next to Dimitri on the bed, observing his expression. He doesn't really want to argue with Dimitri about this, especially when circumstances mostly didn't lend well to a reveal.

But when they were young, and the actual thing was going on... that's a whole other question.]

[Dimitri flushes slightly, looking away. What a time for Felix to be looking at him directly!]

If you mean when we were children, I... was jealous of you three. You, Sylvain, and Ingrid — you all lived up north, and I didn't get to see you half as much as I would have liked to. If father allowed it, I would have just wanted to live there with you.

[He takes a breath to center himself, then he looks to Felix again.]

I admit that I also liked that she did not know who I was. She had no idea I was the crown prince, and at the time, I did not know who she was, either. If I had introduced you three to her, she would have found out. It was selfish of me.

[Having his suspicions more or less confirmed by Dimitri releases the tension out of Felix's shoulders, and he exhales as he leans to rest his cheek on Dimitri's shoulder, satisfied with the explanation.]

How about now? Are you planning to tell her who you are?

No, I do not think so. If I ever tell her, it will be because we have decided to try and make peace, or... to say goodbye. Saying anything before that would only make her think I was trying to sway her with sentimentality. And —

[Dimitri lifts one of his hands, looking down at his palm.]

I am sure she would rather not think of an old friend turning into a rabid beast.

[Even Felix couldn't take it. He's here now, but that rejection still stings. He lets out a sigh, leaning over slightly as well to rest his head on Felix's.]

[Felix sighs as he lays a hand over Dimitri's thigh.]

You both put each other on such ridiculously high pedestals.

[The girl who taught a boy how to live. The boy who pulled a girl out of the depths of despair.

In a way, he could understand. It's quite similar to what he thought of Dimitri in those bygone days, of his world, the sun he orbits around. It's another reason why losing him at Duscur hurt so, driven further home by his first taste of battle two years later.]

But face it. Both of you have changed. Which is why you shouldn't be ashamed of it.

[It sounds strange, coming from his lips. Maybe Dimitri won't even take his words to heart given how he had treated him during their academy days. But Felix had to try anyway. He's sick of just letting things slip by him, and simply sifting through his thoughts in his mind without ever making head or tail of them on his own.]

You're both beast and man. And she's cut her own bloody path to reach where she is now, in the name of what she believes in. Those are you both as much as those children once were.

[He exhales.]

So if you are choosing not to say anything now, do it because you believe there's a better time to reveal it. Not because you're ashamed of what you've become.

[They have changed, but neither of them wanted to. That she can look back on their friendship fondly means a lot to him, and he doesn't want to taint those memories for no reason. Still... Felix isn't wrong. Dimitri places his hand over Felix's, expression smoothing out again.]

Who I have become is the least of my concerns. When we were in the academy, it was foremost in my mind, but after she rebelled — well, you know what happened then. Only recently have I reached a place where I hope we can reconcile, for Fódlan if for nothing else. It is because of that hope that I will not tell her until the time is right. The woman she has grown into is a woman that would feel I was using our former friendship as an attempt to soften her up. If there is to be peace between us, it must be because we can come to an agreement without leaning on old feelings.

[Good. Felix moves to entwine his fingers with Dimitri's, giving his hand a light squeeze.]

As long as you understand.

[It seems his point has gotten across, at least.]

For now, I will play along with your little secret.

[But if Dimitri (or Edelgard) needs a little prodding in that regard... far from him to involve himself in such trifles, but if it's them, he finds himself willing, as a last resort of a kind.]

I appreciate it.

[Dimitri squeezes in return, then he stands.]

Well, shall we get going? I fear I am becoming spoiled, here. This armor feels heavier than it did before.

[Though it isn't the armor itself that's heavy, not really — it's the idea of needing to fight in a manner that would necessitate him wearing the armor in the first place.]

...We should.

[Felix rises as well, though doesn't let go of Dimitri's hand as he does.]

And... I'll carry it with you while I can.

[Mostly figuratively. And it surprises Felix how voicing out such a thing given their temporary present doesn't cause him an undue amount of trepidation. Is it the security of Dimitri's presence and affirmation affording him that? Perhaps, and it's in the wake of those things that he's able to grin faintly instead of wallow in sorrow.]

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