[There is no real tactful way to put this, is there.]
Weeeell... You may have seen that I made a post on the network advocating for peace between Camelot and the fae. You might have also seen that not everyone agreed with that.
[ Dorothea might not be a tactical genius like Byleth or Claude, but she’s made a business of surviving through ugly situations. Warnings mean danger, and if the danger relates to someone disagreeing with Claude over starting an actual war, then... ]
Unfortunately, they did. I was able to get away, but chances are they'll come after me again, so I'm lying low for a while. I thought I should warn you too, since my attacker might've seen you with me in public in the past.
I don't have a name, but he isn't human. He's taller than me, with long blond hair, and one red eye like a cat's. The other is blue. He has a deep voice, and he fights with two blades.
I know you can take care of yourself, but just be careful, okay? And make sure to hone your magic, since that seems to be his weakness.
All right, all right. Sorry, I just... I can’t stand the thought of losing my friends.
[ She sighs and begins pacing around the room, agitated at the news. ]
That description you gave actually brings Jeritza to mind. It’s ironic, in a twisted kind of way. ... You’re really okay, though? Not just physically, I mean.
Jeritza... Yes, an apt comparison. This guy claimed to be war itself, so I suppose his attitude isn't so different from that of the Death Knight.
[Even if the Death Knight did save their skins once... The Empire was something of a complicated situation, though.]
And I'm really okay. It was careless of me to let my guard down around here, and maybe I said too much on the network. I'll keep my guard up from now on.
[ Dorothea sighs again, a mix of relief and sadness as she walks a circuit around her apartment. Even though Claude says he’s fine, she knows it must hurt to think you might just be able to loosen up a little only to find that people are just as terrible here as they were back home. It’s a bitter lesson, and one she takes part in with him. ]
I wish it didn’t have to be that way. I’m sorry, Claude.
I guess people are people no matter where you go. Some are good and some are rotten to the core. You’re right, though—if the king can be persuaded, that’s what matters most, and I personally can’t think of anyone better suited to bending his ear than you.
[There's a smile in his response, and it sounds a little more sincere than usual.] Thanks, Dorothea. I'm glad to have your support even all the way out here.
And remember what I said, okay? I know you'll be careful, but if you're in trouble and need help, don't hesitate to contact me right away.
People trying to kill me is old hat at this point in my life, but you can bet I’ll be careful. I didn’t get swept up into a new world just to die here.
I know, I know. I don't want a repeat of that any more than you do.
Oh, and -- I don't know if this is bad news on top of bad news, but in a way it's kind of good news? Useful news? Basically, someone took me to see the calamity that threatens all the worlds. It seems like what we've been told so far on that front is true.
"Reassuring" may be the right word, I suppose? Good to know for sure that we're not having the wool pulled over our eyes in that regard, but also... unsettling. It is what it is--we just have to do the best we can with what we know.
There's even a desert out there, and not even King Arthur knows what mysteries it might hide. It's killing my curiosity to leave it alone for now, but I know we have more short-term problems to consider. I was thinking maybe it'd be worth exploring in future with the right preparations, though.
That sounds exactly like you. [ She chuckles softly. ] What kind of preparations would we need to make? Food, water, parasols for my delicate complexion?
All those things, and maybe preparations of the magical variety. For example, if I honed my green magic enough, maybe I'd become so good at it I could grow food for us out in the desert?
[Or maybe that's just wishful thinking given he isn't nearly as talented at magic as Dorothea, but... you know.]
Oh, and I also met a guy who claims to be a god of deserts in his world. I'd rope him into coming with us too.
[ she probably is byleth's second favorite, if she had to pick.
best not try to unpack that right now. ]
It's not that I don't have plans, I just... I don't have ideas that are different from the usual things I do for her. I plan to make her a white rose garland, too, [ it's that time of year, after all ] but beyond that...
[ making or securing some of edelgard's favorites is almost routine by now. she sounds almost... self-conscious, as she goes on, tucking a lock of hair behind the ear opposite her phone. ]
You have a better sense of these things than I do.
[ as madly in love as she might be, she's not half the romantic dorothea is. ]
Hmm. That's a bit tricky! My tastes run quite a bit more, ah, extravagant than Edie's, we'll say. She's a very no-nonsense sort of person, and I know I can be a bit... over the top?
[ she laughs to herself softly, then sighs. ]
That being said, the garland is a nice touch, even as far from home as we are--I'm sure she'll love it. On that note, maybe some kind of ornament for her hair that won't wilt away in a few days would be a gift she could appreciate. Edie was never one for much makeup or perfume, but her hair was always in perfect order. Maybe hair pins or clips with white roses to go with the garland, so she can have one to wear while the flowers are fresh and the others to wear year-round?
Besides that, little gestures of love can really make someone's day. Breakfast in bed, or something like warming up her towels for her while she bathes so they're ready for her when she's done, or leaving little love notes for her around your living space to let her know she's on your mind. I know I'd be completely blown away if someone did that for me.
You might be surprised, Dorothea. Her tastes can be expensive. [ she huffs out a breath. ] Bergamot tea is not cheap in Fódlan.
[ the army was well financed, the strike force especially, but her personal coffers had strained in no small part due to her insistence on that weekly ritual. someone please help her budget this her family is dying. still, byleth hums thoughtfully. ]
The hair decorations are an idea, though the roses might not stand out against her hair... [ still, the idea of making and preserving flowers with magic for a hair clip intrigues her. red carnations are edelgard's favorite, so maybe...? ] We're still in the hotel, so breakfast in bed is... difficult. Especially when I would have to rise without waking her. I like the other ideas.
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timeasmymeasure
voice; un: stargazer
Date: 2021-04-30 12:31 pm (UTC)[You know, because that's a reassuring way to start a conversation.]
voice; un: songstress
Date: 2021-04-30 12:34 pm (UTC)That doesn't sound ominous at all. What's happened?
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 12:49 pm (UTC)Weeeell... You may have seen that I made a post on the network advocating for peace between Camelot and the fae. You might have also seen that not everyone agreed with that.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 01:59 pm (UTC)Please tell me someone didn’t come after you.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 02:40 pm (UTC)I don't have a name, but he isn't human. He's taller than me, with long blond hair, and one red eye like a cat's. The other is blue. He has a deep voice, and he fights with two blades.
I know you can take care of yourself, but just be careful, okay? And make sure to hone your magic, since that seems to be his weakness.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 02:46 pm (UTC)[ He’ll hear the rustle of fabric and the sound of a chair sliding against the floor as Dorothea stands from her seat. Her voice is alarmed, tense. ]
Where are you now? Are you hurt?
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 02:49 pm (UTC)[He warned her so she'd stay away from him, not come running???]
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 03:22 pm (UTC)[ She sighs and begins pacing around the room, agitated at the news. ]
That description you gave actually brings Jeritza to mind. It’s ironic, in a twisted kind of way. ... You’re really okay, though? Not just physically, I mean.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 03:32 pm (UTC)[Even if the Death Knight did save their skins once... The Empire was something of a complicated situation, though.]
And I'm really okay. It was careless of me to let my guard down around here, and maybe I said too much on the network. I'll keep my guard up from now on.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 04:05 pm (UTC)I wish it didn’t have to be that way. I’m sorry, Claude.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 04:23 pm (UTC)[He should have learned his lesson when he first ran away from home, really... Lesson learned all over again.]
Anyway, I'm not going to let one person discourage me. Most people seem to be against a war, so I think Arthur can be talked down from it, too.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 05:34 pm (UTC)[ Her voice softens a little here. ]
I behind you, too. One hundred percent.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 05:59 pm (UTC)And remember what I said, okay? I know you'll be careful, but if you're in trouble and need help, don't hesitate to contact me right away.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 06:42 pm (UTC)And you don’t scare me like that again, you hear?
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 08:38 pm (UTC)Oh, and -- I don't know if this is bad news on top of bad news, but in a way it's kind of good news? Useful news? Basically, someone took me to see the calamity that threatens all the worlds. It seems like what we've been told so far on that front is true.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 11:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 11:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 11:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-04-30 11:26 pm (UTC)[Or maybe that's just wishful thinking given he isn't nearly as talented at magic as Dorothea, but... you know.]
Oh, and I also met a guy who claims to be a god of deserts in his world. I'd rope him into coming with us too.
voice; un: b.eisner
Date: 2021-06-12 03:28 am (UTC)[ she pauses, not sure whether to lead with this, then: ]
El's birthday is coming up.
voice; un: songstress
Date: 2021-06-12 03:37 am (UTC)[ She falls silent and waits patiently for Byleth to ask her question, smiling on the other end of the line. ]
Oh, it is about that time, isn't it? Did you have anything planned? Or was that what you were hoping for advice about?
no subject
Date: 2021-06-12 04:05 am (UTC)best not try to unpack that right now. ]
It's not that I don't have plans, I just... I don't have ideas that are different from the usual things I do for her. I plan to make her a white rose garland, too, [ it's that time of year, after all ] but beyond that...
[ making or securing some of edelgard's favorites is almost routine by now. she sounds almost... self-conscious, as she goes on, tucking a lock of hair behind the ear opposite her phone. ]
You have a better sense of these things than I do.
[ as madly in love as she might be, she's not half the romantic dorothea is. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-06-12 04:29 am (UTC)[ she laughs to herself softly, then sighs. ]
That being said, the garland is a nice touch, even as far from home as we are--I'm sure she'll love it. On that note, maybe some kind of ornament for her hair that won't wilt away in a few days would be a gift she could appreciate. Edie was never one for much makeup or perfume, but her hair was always in perfect order. Maybe hair pins or clips with white roses to go with the garland, so she can have one to wear while the flowers are fresh and the others to wear year-round?
Besides that, little gestures of love can really make someone's day. Breakfast in bed, or something like warming up her towels for her while she bathes so they're ready for her when she's done, or leaving little love notes for her around your living space to let her know she's on your mind. I know I'd be completely blown away if someone did that for me.
no subject
Date: 2021-06-20 04:41 am (UTC)[ the army was well financed, the strike force especially, but her personal coffers had strained in no small part due to her insistence on that weekly ritual. someone please help her budget this her family is dying. still, byleth hums thoughtfully. ]
The hair decorations are an idea, though the roses might not stand out against her hair... [ still, the idea of making and preserving flowers with magic for a hair clip intrigues her. red carnations are edelgard's favorite, so maybe...? ] We're still in the hotel, so breakfast in bed is... difficult. Especially when I would have to rise without waking her. I like the other ideas.
[ she pauses. ]
Has anyone caught your eye, then?
text; un: stargazer
Date: 2021-07-18 10:24 pm (UTC)[...That's it. That's the message.]
no subject
Date: 2021-07-18 10:29 pm (UTC)Tell him I said hi back? I didn't realize he was here now, too.
no subject
Date: 2021-07-18 10:54 pm (UTC)he just got here
poor guy's freaking out a little, so I'm just trying to distract him with fun phone magic!