a lion among ladies

[backstreetbard]

[ Dorothea doesn't exactly love spending time in the cathedral of Garreg Mach's campus, as stunning as the stained glass windows and flying buttresses are to behold. She hasn't put stock in the Seirosi faith since she was six years old.

In spite of that, she can still be seen there often in the days following the mission to quell the Western Church's rebellion in Gaspard territory, her hand rubbing circles in Ashe's back. She understands what it feels like to lose a parent, though she doesn't speak of it; instead, she only listens as he very gradually works his way through the shock and pain. Sometimes the only comfort is commiseration.

It's draining, though. She has to step back eventually, to try and shake off the old familiar feelings that watching another orphan in mourning dredges up in her.

Standing on the bridge that leads to the cathedral, she inhales the fresh mountain air and releases a sigh as she looks out over the scenery. A flash of blue in her peripheral vision catches her attention, though, and she's back on stage, turning to face her new house leader. ]

On your way to pray?

Comments

[hauntedking]

Dorothea-

[ He starts to respond and then he feels her hands smoothed out over his thighs. Even through the cloth of his riding trousers, the touch makes him stiffen - his problem from earlier is back in full force and he tries to shift his weight in an effort to hide it. He leans forward a little, face slowly reddening. ]

...I - I am glad to hear that you prize my attention so highly. And flattered that you want to pay so much thought to me. I - I want that, too. I want you to be with me for - so much longer.

[backstreetbard]

[ Even though he's leaning away from her for reasons that don't require a genius intellect to deduce, Dimitri's declaration that he wants her to be with him for a long--if unspecified--amount of time has her taking in a soft, shuddering breath.

Her hands slide back up his hips to his waist, but they travel up farther to his chest where she wraps her arms around him. The two of them are too close for him to scoot far from her. ]

I'll stay with you as long as you'd like.

[hauntedking]

...I think I would like that.

[ Despite how awkward he feels, on another level he's incredibly pleased and gratified to find that she seems to care for him as much as he does for her. He coaxes the mare back around - time to head home. ]

There's a lot we could do together.

[backstreetbard]

[ In spite of how easy it would be to twist Dimitri's words into some kind of double entendre, Dorothea refrains. She's already given him enough of a hard time today, he's earned a break. For now. ]

Of course there is. [ She goes quiet for a moment, thinking of the tone of their ride so far, and wondering how serious she wants their conversation to become. But, if they're talking about their future, surely it's okay to speak plainly to him. Isn't it? She supposes this is just another way to test the waters with him. ]

I've never been involved in politics, myself, but it's no secret that I have my thoughts on the way things are run in Adrestia, at the very least. I would never presume to tell you how to lead your country, but... I've seen the very worst of society, at the edges where things fall apart. If there's any way I can help you, any advice I can give to you in the future, you know you can ask me any time.

[ Exhaling softly, she nuzzles into his shoulder again, quietly contemplative as they turn to head back toward the stables. ]

[hauntedking]

[ It feels good to have her there, pressed against his back. Beyond his own intense attraction, it's just comforting to feel the warmth of her body and the press of her hands. ]

...I want to make the lives of my people easier. I want to help them. So... if you have any suggestions, I would want to hear them. I can't simply think that I'm the only one who knows anything. I know my limitations.

[backstreetbard]

[ It pleases her to see how open he is to her assistance, prompting her to brush her lips softly over the nape of his neck. It almost feels too intimate, but she doesn't shy away. ]

It takes a strong man to acknowledge his limitations, though. I admire you for that. I know you'll make a wonderful king, Dima.

As far as my ideas and suggestions... perhaps we could discuss that some other time. Over tea, maybe.

[hauntedking]

[ The brush of lips makes him shiver and he tries to turn his head to get a better look at her. There's a pleased flush across his features and his smile - his smile is as bright as its ever been. ]

I would love that. You know more about what people need than I do and if you could tell me more about that - then - then I think I'd have a good start on becoming a good king.

[backstreetbard]

[ Dorothea meets his eyes when he turns to look back at her, and she smiles back at him with obvious desire, which she has to rein in.

As receptive as Dimitri seems to hearing her out, there's a part of Dorothea (and not a small part, at that) which dreads that conversation. She likes to be perceived in a certain way--refined and elegant, glamorous, poised and confident. There's nothing glamorous about eking out an impoverished existence on the streets. There's nothing beautiful in those experiences. Will he still like her when he knows she slept under overturned crates to stay out of the rain? When he knows how much literal garbage she's eaten to survive? Would he still want her? Maybe she can fudge the details enough to spare her own pride. Maybe. ]

You'll be a good king because you want to serve your people. That's the most important thing. You have a good heart, Dima. I know you'll do well.

[ And since he's looking back at her, she presses in to kiss his cheek this time for good measure. ]

[hauntedking]

That... means quite a lot to hear. You've no idea.

[ He does fear his own self-control. The beast he senses roiling in his own depths. But right now the sun is shining, Dorothea is close and warm, and there's a kiss pressed to his cheek. He pauses, letting the horse find her own way back to the stables to try and get a better look at Dorothea. ]

...is it alright if I kiss you?

[ He's almost shy about it. Even if this position is a bit awkward. ]

[backstreetbard]

[ Dorothea is obviously surprised, though pleasantly so. She'd been planning to wait until they reached the stables and dismounted to go for a kiss, but if Dimitri is proposing one, there's no way she'd say no. ]

Of course it is.

[ It requires a little bit of contortion on both of their parts, but it's only a moment before her lips are on his, petal soft but insistent. ]

[hauntedking]

[ When she says of course he feels his heart leap and despite the relative awkwardness of their position on the horse, it still feels like the most important moment in his life. He kisses her and the feeling of her lips causes a rush. He leans into her as best he can, breath escaping in a soft sigh.

He wants this to last forever. ]

[backstreetbard]

[ Sadly, kisses can't last forever, especially when both parties are having to strain a little to make contact because one is seated directly behind the other. Even so, it's a sweet kiss--not entirely chaste but still warm and pleasant. Her eyes flutter shut, but she opens them again in time to see that they're approaching the stables once they've rounded the bend in the trail.

Giving him one last squeeze, Dorothea pulls back and settles back into the saddle. Surely it's noteworthy enough that they would ride together like this, but any casual observer would get the picture pretty quickly if they were caught kissing. She's still not quite ready for the world to know just yet. ]

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri rides the rest of the way back to stables feeling like he's floating on air, a giddy smile on his face. The world seems to have opened up and the sky has blessed him with light and wamrth. It's nonsense, of course, but it feels as if he could do anything in the moment. And so whe nthey finally arrive at the stableyard, he pauses to help her dismount, giving her his hand so she can slide off of the mare's back. ]

Easy now.

[ But that smile is still there, beaming bright and clear for everyone to see. ]

[backstreetbard]

[ Dorothea takes Dimitri's hand as she hops down from Molly's back, and if it weren't for the few stable hands milling around, she'd have given him a proper kiss right then and there. Better to show a little discretion, though, she does take Molly's reins and gesture to the large stable doors. ]

We'd better get her into her stall, hadn't we?

[ She guides them both along without further ado back into the shaded stables, away from the prying eyes. She's sure there's more to do to care for Molly after their ride, but once they're alone, Dorothea turns to face Dimitri again and pulls him in for a kiss that thankfully doesn't require any twisting or craning of the neck to accomplish. ]

[hauntedking]

Yes, we better had.

[ He follows her off of the horse and then trails alongside the mare into the stall, one hand against her flank. And when they're out of sight and Dorothea turns to pull him into a kiss, he sinks into it without objection. He cups her face in his hands and kisses her as if it's the last chance he'll ever get, because he wants all of this so badly. ]

[backstreetbard]

[ It feels like a fairy tale. She, Dorothea Arnault, is being held and kissed by a real life handsome prince charming. This kind of thing didn't happen for people like her, but it is happening. It's real. He's strong and solid against her, warm under her hands as she wraps her arms around his waist.

She has half a mind to tell him what she's thinking, how this is like a dream come true, but instead she nearly jumps out of her skin when a throat is loudly cleared nearby.

"Hey, you crazy lovebirds, make sure to leave some room for the goddess." ]

Sylvain!

[ Dorothea glares at the tall redhead, but his expression is an amused, rakish grin.

"Sorry, was I interrupting something?" he asks, winking at them audaciously. ]

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri, too, jumps about five feet in the air when they're suddenly interrupted. He turns, a bit red-faced, to find that it's Sylvain, of all people. He sputters for a moment and then clears his throat. ]

We were - just - were finishing up a ride. Dorothea has... asked me to show her how to ride.

[ He is immediately aware of what that probably sounds like and his face goes even redder. ]

And we were just leaving.

[backstreetbard]

[ "I'll bet she did," Sylvain quips, and Dorothea's already flushed face goes an even darker shade of red. ]

Don't you have something else to be doing instead of bothering people who are minding their own business?

[ Sylvain raises his hands as if in defeat and laughs, like none of this is of any consequence to him at all. He does give Dorothea an appraising look, though, as if seeing her for the first time in some new light. It's a look she doesn't like one bit.

"Don't mind me," he says. "I'm just here to do a bit of riding myself, though clearly not as fun as the kind you two were doing." He winks before making himself scarce, but the damage is done; the moment between her and Dimitri is shattered like crystal, and she makes a sound of frustration. ]

I should probably go. [ Her voice is soft now, not wanting what's left of their conversation to be overheard. ] I had a wonderful time. Let's have tea again soon? Tomorrow, if you're free?

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri shoots her an apologetic look as Sylvain leaves. ]

He... can be a bit of handful. But he's been a friend for a long time. I'm sorry for him.

[ He tries to smooth the whole thing over, not thinking too hard about it. Sylvain just has a thing about him and relationships and whether or not he's having sex, apparently. It won't come to anything. Right? ]

I would like that. I can make some time tomorrow and we can spend some more time together. I do have to train and study and prepare, but... whatever time I can snatch away I give to you.

[backstreetbard]

A handful? He's a menace.

[ But out of respect for Dimitri and his longstanding friendship with Sylvain, she doesn't launch into a full diatribe about the scoundrel's obvious flaws. Dimitri knows about it all, she's sure.

Glancing around once more, Dorothea gives Dimitri one last kiss on the cheek before stepping out of the stall. ]

I'll see you tomorrow, then, in the library. We can study together--it doesn't have to be a proper tea or anything. Just as long as we're together, that's what matters.

[ And so as the Blue Sea Moon passes, the two of them study and share meals, stealing little kisses whenever they have the chance. The more time they spend together, the more convinced Dorothea becomes that her feelings aren't just infatuation, but perhaps... something more? It's hard to say, for all she's sung about love on the Mittelfrank's stage, she's never been in love before. If she could love anyone, though, she could love him, right? He looks at her like she hunt the stars, and it makes her heart flutter every time.

Meanwhile, their training intensifies as the Rite of Rebirth approaches. As obvious as it is that Rhea isn't the real target here, the parameters of their mission are crystal clear: they are to protect her at all cost. Dorothea has no love for the Archbishop, but improving her own skills can only benefit her in the long run, so she practices with the rest of the class.

Today, she exchanges volleys with Annette, each of them working to perfect the new spells they've learned since the last mission. She basically has Thoron down pat by now. Down at the far edge of the training field, Dimitri and some of the others are sparring with their weapons, and Dorothea takes a moment to watch them. Felix has excellent sword technique, since swords are all he seems to care about, but she never wants to ask him to spar with her since she might have to listen to him talk if she does.

Dimitri is in fine form today, his brow gleaming with sweat as he works through his form. Something unexpected happens then: his Crest activates with a flash, and the blade of his spear snaps, the shaft splintering in his hands like so much kindling. It's impressive, but more than a little terrifying. Just how strong is he? ]

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri, for his part, is walking on air for most of the month, despite the more serious turn that events continue to take. He spends time with her when ever he gets the chance. Little kisses in private. He's convinced that she's the stars and the moon and so much more. He has eyes for her and only her - although his friendship with the Professor also seems to deepen as time goes on. But their training continues. There are things they need to do to meet the requirements of the Academy and to meet the challenges that seem to be their lot this academic year.

He's lost in his own training, concentrating on going through the proper spear forms, sweat beading on his forehead. Everything is going well and then-

The spear slinters in his hands and he curses under his breath and then looks positively mortified. That's not what should happen. He should have better control. A better handle on himself. He can feel Felix's disgusted gaze on him and he's sure that everyone else is staring by now, too.

Including Dorothea. ]

I - I'm sorry.

[ It's said to no one in particular. ]

I'll - find another-

[ And he turns to head for the armor. ]

[backstreetbard]

[ There's a pang of guilt in her chest, seeing how embarrassed and self-conscious Dimitri becomes when he destroys the spear. He saw her watching--did he think she was silently judging him from across the training grounds? His strength is prodigious, there's no denying it, but he's more than his strength.

While he doesn't need her drawing further attention to the mishap while the others are all around and observing, she does approach him once their training sessions are done, catching him before he can slink off on his own.

Reaching out her hand, she takes his up without request or preamble, swinging their hands between them as they walk back to the dorms. Putting her slender hand in his so soon after he'd crushed a training spear is her own silent way of saying she trusts him. No words needed. ]

Have you finished writing up your summary of the chapters the Professor requested?

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri is honestly a little surprised that Dorothea approaches him afterward. Although maybe he shouldn't be. She's always been kind to him and seems to care for him deeply. He gives her hand a tentative squeeze as they walk. ]

Ah - still working on it, honestly.

[ He smiles, even if it's a bit brittle at the edges. ]

I'm sorry about that, though.

[ He still feels the need to mention it. ]

[backstreetbard]

Don't be. You didn't do anything wrong. You can't help having a crest, just like I can't help not having one. [ There's a little bit of a sour note there, but she moves on quickly. Her lack of a crest and the affect it had on the trajectory of her life isn't something she likes talking about. ] You're strong, but you don't intentionally hurt people when you aren't fighting for your own life, or protecting your friends in battle. I imagine it's just like any ability--it takes patience and practice to perfect.

And anyway, I like you just as you are, and I trust you. You've always done your best to treat me so gently.

[hauntedking]

I know.

[ He still sounds a little let-down by himself. ]

I just - I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't want to lose control. And sometimes... sometimes it feels as if that's closer to the surface than I realize.

[ He pauses to glance at her, expression punched slightly. ]

Thank you, though. I'm glad I've earned your trust.