[ She really couldn't expect him to be displeased after he personally asked the Augur for a way for them to continue seeing each other after they're expelled. All the same, the pleasure in his face brings more to her own.
And his question makes a small laugh escape under her breath. ]
Let us simply say that we should not break any furniture over the next few weeks.
[ It's teasing but also not inaccurate! It had been some time since she received a specific reward for her -- largely their -- sexual effort and now she must start anew. ]
Not even if we have something to celebrate. [ One of her hands moves to cover his. Though she didn't blush at all during her demonstration, this part does cause a slight twinge of heat in her cheeks. ] Because it is my intention for you to wear this as my husband.
[ She pauses for a fraction of a moment, then makes an addition just in case he needs to hear it as clearly as possible. ]
You will marry me, won't you? [ He's said that he already thinks of her as his wife and he was willing to marry her before that, as evidenced by his (unnecessary and unfortunate!) anonymous network post years ago, but it doesn't feel right not to phrase this as a question. One that he can choose to accept. They are the architects of their own romance and she wouldn't have it any other way. ] I want neither of us to be kept waiting.
[ His own quiet laugh mirrors hers, her response having multiple layers of meaning to him. He remembers having his card all but cleared out when he made a similar request of the Augur, but mostly he knows it is usually him causing property damage, so he makes another mental note to be extra careful in whatever celebratory enthusiasm will result from this tea.
Or he could try to, but her following words give him the impression his birthday is hardly the main event for today. Slowly, the arch of his eyebrows softens, and realization settles upon the curve of his lips. ]
You have always been far less patient than I.
[ His tease is both fond and nostalgic in equal measure, but no less true for it. When the tempo of his step-step-turn wouldn't match hers, when she marched on ahead and threatened to leave him behind -- as a child, at war, in life -- she was never one to be kept waiting, and so it fell squarely upon his shoulders, the task to rise up and meet her. But Dimitri's own stride could outpace hers, seeing friendship when she would call him no more than ally, reaching beyond the limits of formal agreements to feelings she failed to recognize, giving all of his heart when two worlds still kept them apart; he, too, has been made to wait.
Today, she finally catches up to him. ]
Of course I will marry you, El. [ He leans in to press his forehead to hers, reinforcing an answer that needed no giving. ] But perhaps I should ask you that question in another day or two. I would hate for this topic to become reason for contention between us yet again.
[ He doesn't really think she's under an influence this time, but hey-- never let it be said he didn't learn his lesson!! ]
[ Ultimately it's selfish, even though she is only taking -- finally -- what has been offered. At first she didn't know how to allow herself to be happy with her work left so unfinished at home, waiting for her.
Then she was willing to taste happiness and claim it but within certain bounds because this particular indulgence only existed here and it needed to be decidedly their own uninfluenced decisions steering their actions.
Now, with measures in place to mitigate the ache of a potential separation, who benefits from them not doing exactly as they please on their own terms? Certainly not her. She cannot dig her heels in so hard that she doesn't make the most of their time together. She closes their eyes as their foreheads touch. ]
Shall we argue about it on the network? [ It's not said without an undercurrent of amusement in her voice. ] We can ask those dear to us to hear our vows and perhaps even celebrate with a small feast. There will be no doubt in your mind -- or anyone else's -- that we are married by the time you and I take our leave.
[ Her hand leaves his but only so she can palm his cheek instead. ]
You will be my husband-- [ There is no strange magic behind this and that's precisely what makes putting it into words right now seem magical to her. ] --and I will be your wife. Irrevocably my Dimitri.
[ For once, it is a gesture that comes easier to him: laughter at the mention of an argument on the network, a smile at the prospect of a small wedding, his face unabashedly leaning into her touch like he could never have enough. But as long-winded as he could be, as vocal as he was about showering others in heartfelt sentiment, right now, he finds that words fail him when he needs them most.
Or perhaps he doesn't, not really. Perhaps this power to render him speechless is just one of the many ways in which they are such a good match for each other. ]
I am yours. [ A minor correction. He is no husband yet, but he is certainly hers. ] This much, I can say without interference.
[ So it is another reference, in a way, a throwback line to a time that was once reason for awkward silences and palpable embarrassment far beyond what a pair of feline ears and tails could feasibly cause. One that he also made when she caught on to his feelings in a pool of flower petals, back when a thoughtless proposal rolled off his tongue and hung between them, something to grab on to when he couldn't find his footing. A crutch he has no need of anymore, but no less true for it.
But it does evoke a memory, and he takes a hand to the ring dangling from his necklace. Again and again, it is imbued with new meaning. ]
When first we exchanged these, I was mostly under an influence. [ Mostly, as he never again has to hide the extent of his then conflicted feelings for her. ] Once that was over, I was prepared to honor the vows I made to you, as I believed that to be the right course of action. But what I say now is not bound by duty.
[ The pause he takes is only an excuse to cup her face again again, no need to force his memory and dig for his exact words; for better or worse, he never forgets what he holds important. ]
For every day you wear this ring, I hope you will remember that you are not alone. My blade, my strength and my love are yours, and no matter when or where, my heart will always be with you.
Perhaps it should not seem like such a strange and marvelous thought because surely he would not ever have pursued this if she didn't and this past year of shared lives and living space, shared beds and bodies, has never not seemed happy to her. Yet this occasion makes her think it distinctly -- she has made him happy -- and feel as though the thought should be held up to catch the light, a gem of choice cut and clarity.
What wells in her chest is giddy. Here her title has always meant little but she has rarely felt more a young woman and less an emperor, a mask, a tool than she does in this moment, with her most loved pressing his face to her hand like the biggest cat of all. When he cups her face again she meets his eyes without reservation, sinks into the moment like it's satin-covered, and fortunately this time it's only a twinge of heat in her cheeks. He makes her happy. It's no longer a surprise -- it hasn't been for some time now -- but she likes the way it feels. ]
You are burned into my memory, Dimitri. I will wear you near my heart, only a touch away.
[ Burned into her memory, she says, yet it is his heart that melts-- under her touch, around her words, spills over her sentiment. So full with incomparable joy, the kind he once thought he would never know, the kind he learned to wait for ever since entering a relationship with her.
(It hasn't always been easy to match the tempo of their steps, not as children, and perhaps even less so as adults. Today, they are the perfect match for each other's song and dance.) ]
I could not think of a better place to call my home.
[ Speaking of which, the ring that dangles near his heart is a reminder, and he steals another glance at the pendants Edelgard has traded for. They are known to get carried away in their affections every so often, so perhaps it would be wise to make sure they are, indeed, wearing this means of communication they have just secured before the unpredictable strikes. ]
What say you, beloved? [ His free hand makes for his necklace again. ] Shall we add these pendants to the rings on our necklaces?
[ Or they could find a different place to wear their rings, maybe. He wouldn't mind that. ]
[ His home. It's quite a statement from a proud Faerghan.
And to her, after years of wrestling with her home being the place that houses her most unhappy memories, it's kind of a breath-taking thought. She has thought of her home in larger terms -- Enbarr, Adrestia, Fodlan -- and in her entire time here she has been resistant to the idea of thinking of this place as home.
But Dimitri? Her Dimitri? He makes an excellent home.
Ignore her soft eyes and the visible warmth in her cheeks. She's nodding her agreement! ]
The sooner the better.
[ But just a moment. Just one: she wants to lean her face up to his and give him the sweetest of brief kisses first, her joy threatening to spill out in the form of laughter. With that, she reaches to undo the clasp behind her neck. ]
I suppose it's possible that we will need to explain these necklaces to someone one day.
[ Ignore her soft eyes and warmth? Oh, no, much the contrary-- he thinks he would rather indulge in it. As much as he admires her strength and fighting spirit, even her sheer stubbornness at times, there is no denying that this is how he loves her the most: soft, delicate, safe in the knowledge that she will never have to shoulder her burdens on her own again. Happy.
(Maybe one day they can do nothing but indulge, together in a home of their choosing, free to dance until no sunset could pull them apart. But in the meantime, he takes her kiss, a gift so great he can never take for granted.) ]
To quite a few people, I am afraid. [ And though it's not a comfortable prospect by any means, he still manages to say it with an airy breath and a smile. ] And they will no doubt question the truth in our claims, every bit as much as the thought of marrying an enemy of war. That is, provided there still is a war to return to...
[ Perhaps he oughtn't be so distracted when his brute fingers engage with delicate work like unclasping his own necklace, but his mind wanders anyway. They have had reason to believe time stands still back in their own worlds, but does it truly? Does he even want it to be? He was once prepared to face the Edelgard back home until one of them no longer drew breath, but that thought has grown exponentially harder now that her face means so much more to him than just the memory of a dear childhood sweetheart. And if Byleth's accounts turn out to be the future that awaits him, then would he look at her transformed visage and see a grotesque creature unworthy of compassion... or a beloved monster instead?
He sighs, chest swelling with the depth of his feelings and sinking with the weight of his troubles. Their happiness is as selfish as is his wish that this moment would not be sullied; again they are matched, sin for sin, monster for monster. ]
Be it as it may, my choice has long since been made. [ And the silver chains coming undone from around his neck are just another reminder, metal pooling over metal at the center of a large open palm. ] I swore I would follow my heart, and it has led me back to you, time and time again. Whatever challenges await ahead, I trust that we shall see it through.
[ Time and time again, his hand reaches for her; right now, with an offer, a promise, a ring that dangles from a necklace like his heart from her fingertips. ]
[ She eyes him curiously. Dimitri has been less inclined toward creative half-truths and necessary lies their entire time here, although he seemed to work with her demands to the best of his ability when they initially made their agreement.
(She'd be lying if she claimed there wasn't some odd and unmentionable thrill in those secret meetings and conflicted feelings but how could she possibly have expected to end up here, asking Dimitri to marry her in front of their friends. Knowing he has considered himself that committed and in love for some time already. Happier and less alone than she has ever felt.
She supposes he has always had a talent for making her feel that way.) ]
You think you would tell the truth as soon as someone noticed it?
[ Hold on. His acknowledgement that his heart has lead him back to her time and time again, his certainty that they will rise to any challenge ahead... she can practically feel the pleasure churning through her brain. Once her pendant is safely around her neck, the chain clasped, her hand meets his again.
The next step -- besides marriage -- may be finding ways to make this wild story more... accessible to their nearest and dearest at home. Not everyone needs to know, of course, but she has every expectation that Hubert will pick up on subtle differences, even if she does her best to hide the chain around her neck. Would Dedue be as observant? ]
I think a great many people may doubt our sanity before we even reach the part about marrying the enemy. [ Which isn't to say that she disagrees with his certainty. Though her touch lingers, she slides his necklace out of his palm. ] I suppose that our means of communication could serve as proof of our claims-- [ Since she has experienced nothing quite like it at home. ] --but I must look just like the Edelgard you left behind.
[ Her question gives him pause, and her following statement almost fills in for an answer of his own. Not for nothing, questioning Dimitri's sanity should be par for the course for the friends who witnessed it all: his ghosts, his rage, his bloodlust for Edelgard later matched by his iron will to understand her. He doesn't expect any different from them, really, could never begrudge then for raised eyebrows and vocal protests.
Still, he wants them to know the truth always, wants to hide nothing else from those he deems dearest. It is what they deserve, and what gives him any measure of peace. ]
Perhaps... not as soon as someone noticed, no. [ Because Dedue? That man can probably tell from a mile away that someone ate the weedelgard, and Dimitri doubts he could keep it from him. ] For one, and provided I do return to the exact time and place as I was before coming to the island, then I would be speaking of my love for the Emperor as we march on the imperial capital. Frankly, that is not something I would wish to do.
[ And surely she can understand why. As much as they know their counterparts are different people, at the same time... they are not. They are the same in face, name, soul, even in shared history; at the end of his long road, he will have to challenge the Edelgard who is, in so many ways, the same as the woman he loves. ]
I suppose I would start with a compromise. A way to both reassure them I will not stray from my path, and reinforce my resolve to reach out to Edelgard to the very last. There is not much else I should say until the war's conclusion, but when that time comes...
[ Well. That will heavily depend on how the war concludes, and whether or not both he and that Edelgard come out alive. That would be the most favorable outcome, but what would it mean for her? Another lifetime in prison, her closest friends gone? Death might be kinder, but he's selfish.
With his own necklace in her hands, he reaches for her pendant, thumb idly running across the small metal surface. A thought flashes across his mind, just an impulse. ]
If she is alive when the war is over-- [ His eyebrows furrow, as though he has yet to digest his own train of thoughts. ] Do you think... she would listen to you?
[ There is certainly a lot left undefined about their return. They have no proof that they will return to where and when they were before arriving here on the island. She has chosen to think she will because nothing else has seemed acceptable.
But it is difficult to imagine.
She threads his necklace through the small loop on his pendant, her expression thoughtful. Would she listen to herself? Her eyes stray to his face for a moment, then down at his large fingers on her own pendant. She has to be honest, as dissatisfying as the answer is: ]
I'm not certain. If the attempt is made after everything plays out as Byleth described, perhaps not.
[ It depends on how it is handled, she supposes, but if she has lost everything, if she has fought him in the palace and been defeated, if her allies are dead or scattered, if she has transformed... ]
There was no-- [ She pauses slightly, as though gathering her thoughts. ] --room in Byleth's account for personal details about her. [ This isn't even particularly Byleth's fault; it seems there wasn't exactly time for in-depth discussion with her counterpart. ] Such as whether the transformation had any affect on her [ my ] mind. Regardless, I think hearing me speak more or less as your ally could simply be a betrayal at that point.
[ What a shame that she thinks herself unlikely to grant a second parley so soon. Not even to the boy who kept her from losing her heart in the most difficult time of her life. Her eyes meet his again and she offers a tight smile. ]
I'm sure you now understand why trust would be so difficult for her to measure out but imagine learning that you are one of multiple versions of yourself and you may be the least fortunate. Worse, you have only learned this when you are no longer in a position for another Dimitri's knowledge to be of actionable benefit.
I am not unwilling to speak to her. On the contrary, I wonder if there is anyone better equipped to deal with our counterparts than ourselves and I think we should consider this further. Even so, it would be hard for her to give weight to what I say.
[ The longer she speaks, the more he deflates, his chest a large balloon that has been squeezed out of air-- or hope. Perhaps he truly is too naïve, to have expected any different. ]
I appreciate your honesty. [ This much, he can say in earnest. ] In all truth, it is as I suspected: she may be beyond my reach at this point, and the Professor's accounts only reinforced that thought. But I--
[ The breath he expels is something of a groan, a shake of his head marking his frustration. There are so many ways for him to finish that sentence: that he should have reached for her sooner, that he doesn't want to lose anyone else, that he still cares about her against all odds, that he wishes to save her though it may not be his place to. Would it bother this Edelgard -- his El -- to hear of his depth of feeling for her counterpart? He doesn't think her given to jealousy, but this is a very unique circumstance they find themselves in.
But his El is not beyond his reach, and so reach he does, his palm moving up from her pendant to cup her cheek, thumb stroking skin. No matter how far his thoughts stray, he would be hard pressed to look at that face and not feel a smile spring up in his. ]
You are my one and only beloved. But whether out of fondness for the little girl who was once my dearest, or the feelings I have for the woman standing before me... Across infinite timelines, I know there is no Edelgard von Hresvelg whose smile I would not love to see.
[ As long as they carry even a small fraction of the El he befriended or the El he came to love, so too will they carry a piece of his heart. Going forward, it is only fair that his wife should know. ]
My apologies, I did not mean to sour such momentous occasion. I know that she would call me foolish for it.
[ Is this one of the many ways in which his El and her counterpart are the same, or is this where they differ? He's still waiting on a verdict. ]
[ Dimitri has a large soft heart and learning just how large and soft has been a pleasant surprise after the tales she has heard of his counterpart's stormier nature. That Dimitri will not look at her like this when they meet again, nor would he speak of her so fondly. Again her cheeks warm. She can complain all she wants about this place -- and she will -- but it has been remarkable to have been given a chance to communicate in a way they would not have otherwise.
Leave out the manipulated intimacy and the fact that they didn't choose to come here and much about their story is...
Well, surprisingly romantic. The romance she once told both Dorothea and, more recently, Dimitri himself that she expected to never have. That much she is grateful for. To know love, and more specifically his love. ]
Dimitri--
[ His large soft heart is not foolish on its own. There have been times when she painted him with broad strokes, thinking his heart was too soft or he was too attached to the Church or he was incapable of action when it was needed, and she doesn't think she has always been wrong when judging him but their lives are complications upon complications and she has had a chance to learn his shades of gray by now. ]
--I am not certain that I ever felt particularly special before I met you. Do you know that? I was not by nature an unhappy child but I was one of many and sometimes felt it. I was my father's daughter or someone's sister.
[ And then the experimentation she endured made her a type of special she would not ever have wanted, but that isn't the point she wants to make. The point is that knowing there is so much affection for her in that large soft heart of his still sometimes takes her by surprise. The fact that they can never be those children again doesn't actually detract from the fact that they were those children.
And many of the things she wanted as a child she still wants now.
With a hint of something like pride, she leans in to return his necklace to his rightful place. Not without a small kiss to the side of his face. ]
You have not soured our occasion. I'm pleased that we can speak about difficult subjects and work together to lessen the bloodshed in our future.
[ Combining their strength, one might say. Once the necklace is clasped behind his neck, she frames his face with her hands. ]
I would like for my counterpart to live and see her goals achieved and have a taste of personal happiness. If she cannot see her way past a cell of course she will not go along willingly. But perhaps there is a way to tell her what you know and find a goal that can be worked toward together. Byleth's past does not have to be your future. We will write that ourselves.
[ When she begins to speak again, Dimitri listens with a squint in his eyes and an incredulous tug in his lips. It's true he can't imagine what it must be like to be just one of many -- he has only ever been an only child, the sole heir to the throne, the last of his name -- but to think he made her feel special, even in their childhood? It would be hard to pinpoint whatever he did to accomplish such a feat, as obvious as his puerile affections may have been at the time.
But these days? He can see how she would be made to feel special-- because he actively tries, because she has always been a special presence in his life, through highs and lows. Perhaps she'll never quite understand the full depth of his feelings for her, because she never quite witnessed how deep his hatred ran, but what he told her several months ago remains true. And what else is there to say of a man who loves her more than his once only reason to keep breathing? ]
I can only trust that we will, my beloved. [ He has to, lest that large soft heart of his will shatter. ] And right here and now, between your warm hands, I do. This bright future that you have envisioned... may it be intertwined with mine forevermore.
[ The details of which can be discussed at length and planned for at a later moment, because right now? All he wants is to close his eyes and lean into her touch, her hands dwarfed under his, the curve of his chest swelling and deflating with each deep breath. For all that his mind sometimes will race with affliction for the lives and fates that are beyond his reach, she can calm the tempest every bit as well as she could once cast it.
The breath he exhales is short and bittersweet. ]
It is somewhat of an ironic thought, is it not?
[ Does he intend to leave her in the shadows? Of course not. The pause he takes is only so he can see her again, a gentle brush of his knuckles treating her cheek. ]
You, who would once see yourself as though being no more than your war, and I, a man who is only good for war. Perhaps that is why only you can make me feel at such peace.
[ If Edelgard is her war, then in her Dimitri has found his Somewhere to Belong. ]
[ Special, much like now. But how could she feel any other way when he chooses her? Despite everything from the past he shares with another Edelgard to the blood shed during the war to the difficulties in courting her on this very island, he chooses her. Once it meant everything to be chosen -- believed in -- by their Professor; it means even more to her now.
When he leans into her touch, she welcomes it like she could roll herself in his affection and be buoyant for the rest of her days. She has spent too much time heavy with dire purpose. ]
You are not only good for war. In fact, you have proven yourself capable of building bridges.
[ Still, what he says isn't lost on her. There is a certain odd balance in it, and more importantly she is glad to know that she brings him peace. ]
But I will take you all the same. [ Urging his hand toward her lips, she kisses his open palm and then folds his fingers as though to trap that affection in place. ] Together we may even be good for love.
[ The words sound a bit strange to her own ears. They aren't grounded in any grim practicality; he rekindles her hope. ]
There is something else I'd like for us to do but I think it should wait until the weather clears. [ The snow may not be cold but by the end of a walk they could be covered in it. ] Perhaps later tonight.
[ Capable of building bridges, huh? There is some truth to it, but only in the same extent to which he had outside help: alliances forged out of necessity, secrets never meant to be spilled out, a much greater picture he wouldn't otherwise be able to see in full. The will to find a more peaceful resolution to their conflict had always been there, but without these influential forces, would he truly be able to do it on his lonesome?
Ah, what a silly thought. He just made a vow that Edelgard would never be alone again; that also means neither will he. ]
That may be something else we have learned together.
[ And he will treasure every bit of it, the affection she places right at the center of his palm and that he holds on to with all of his strength-- and his closed fist even draws Hugo's attention for a moment, his little snout trying to sniff out the promise of a hidden snack, but alas, this particular kind of treat is only meant for the larger feline in the room. ]
Ah, you are full of surprises today, eh? [ After a moment's pause for some brief ear scratches -- what a heinous crime it would be, to deny his cat some of his own affection -- Dimitri turns to Edelgard again, his full attention freely given. ] What is it that you would like to do? An evening stroll if you cannot fall asleep?
[ However long it has been since their days of sporadic evening walks and late night messages, already it feels like a lifetime ago. ]
[ She smiles, sincere but not without self-awareness. ]
I think I'm still learning.
[ Obviously falling in love with Dimitri has been... a process, though in some ways it has been easier than one might expect, helped along significantly by their forced separation from the war and the utter absence of those who slither in the dark. It will still be a challenge to build bridges whenever she returns.
But Hugo's curious sniffing makes her let out a small laugh. The hand she holds out to him is also sadly empty but beckoning with a promise of scratches. There are no felines in this apartment who don't like that! ]
What I had in mind was an evening stroll before we even consider sleep.
[ A walk together is something they could do at any time but there's a specific purpose driving this! Timing is important. ]
[ Her attention to Hugo never fails to earn a smile from him, but it's her plan reveal that actually has him breathing out a laugh. Even though they're celebrating his birthday, there is very little he could deny her, least of all today, yet her request is so... simple. Something they could do -- and have done -- any other day. He's hardly the type to complain, of course, and it's true their options around the island are still somewhat limited, but it is still a bit odd. ]
Is that truly all you had in mind? [ A good-humored lilt lingers in his voice, but he does narrow his eyes in curious suspicion. ] I would not object, far from it, but I reckon there is no need for such formality over a simple evening stroll together.
[ Well. Admittedly she is still a fair bit formal without any real need for it, much like she was about their teatime in the balcony; he now understands she had grander plans to unfold, and perhaps that is why he expects something more of their promised walk. ]
Be it as it may, know that you may ask whatever you wish of me. As long as it is in my power, you every whim will be met today.
[ It's only fair, isn't it? She's just given him everything he could ask for. ]
I hardly think it's formal to tell you all I would like to make a point of doing with you today.
[ Well, it's not all. She hasn't veered into anything suggestive... yet.
But another laugh escapes her. ]
It's not my whims we should be following today. [ It isn't that she particularly needs a special day to show or be shown affection but it does feel good to have a nice birthday and contribute to him having one as well. To drive her point home: ] Is there anything you would like to do to celebrate further?
[ Think no more about tonight's walk right now! Later she'll suggest that he wear trousers he can easily roll up for a walk on the beach. ]
[ Think no more of tonight's walk? Not possible, because-- ]
I can think of something I would like us to do once we return from our stroll.
[ There's nothing wrong with the tongue that wets his lips, or the way his voice doesn't drop to a whisper, or even with the less than perfectly innocent quirk to the corner of his mouth-- nothing wrong with being suggestive here, in the privacy of their home. It's something Dimitri had to struggle with for quite some time, his reservations ever so lingering, but he's learned to find comfort in showing both his love and his want for his most beloved without restraints. ]
As for what we could do before then-- [ He pauses for a second, humming as he mulls over his thoughts. ] It may be short notice, but I would enjoy having dinner with our closest friends. [ And also share the news? Their home worlds were a different story, but their formal engagement should come as no surprise to anyone on the island-- and besides, he absolutely must (gloat at) tell Sylvain at the very least, come on! ] Perhaps going skating, assuming the ice will actually keep. It has been a long time since I last had the chance to...
[ Would that even be something Edelgard would be interested in? He remembers she was never thrilled about ice skating as a child, though he would be happy to teach her. ]
But, these are simply whims that I can go without. My one true wish has already been granted.
And then realizes a fraction of a moment after she gives him her most attentive look that he's blatantly flirting. There was a time when everything suggestive that he said was an accident, something he seemed to stumble blindly into, but now...
Well, now he licks his lips like a cat anticipating a meal and it isn't at all lost on her that she is that meal. Sorry, Hugo, but now her hand finds its way into Dimitri's hair instead. ]
Then I suppose the only question is whether or not we will make it to a bed first.
[ They don't have to. Her eyes have been opened to positions and locations she would not have imagined (and would possibly have been scandalized by) before. Just living on the island was eye-opening but living with Dimitri has taken it a step further. There is no room they can't use, no surface they can't "bless," no need to hurry into a bedroom and hide their passion beneath the blankets. Unless they want to. It's not something she could have expected to feel liberated by but she does.
She leans in to press her lips against his chin. He may be sweetly proclaiming that what he truly wants he has already received but that is no reason not to celebrate to the fullest. ]
Why don't we first let our friends know that we would like to have dinner with them? Perhaps we can meet at the restaurant. Then-- [ She's allowed to give her husband-to-be one more kiss before she finishes her thought. ] --we can investigate the ice.
[ It's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, and she's quick to save face, but for a second there it really did seem like she expected him to elaborate on his idea, didn't it? He knows he's not very practiced at it, but he would like to think there's been enough improvement to his flirting that she wouldn't be caught off guard like that!
But then she flirts back, and it evokes many a memory-- the oldest dating back to a masquerade they attended, soon after she learned of his identity. Influenced as they both had been, he did not step back from his (reckless) propositioning even when their masks fell off, and she came over of her own volition, and what followed was such a surge of renewed urgency for each other's touch they couldn't even make it to his bedroom. It was a bit scandalous to think about, at the time, and probably the kind of behavior they would actively have to watch out for back in their worlds, but here, in this home they have built for themselves? It's just right. ]
I suppose a walk together could have us working up quite an appetite.
[ Yes, just right enough that he can take their flirting a step further, his lips seeking her kiss when she aims for his chin, once, twice, unabashed in his greed-- and he would love to get carried away in the moment, kiss her in full and get a head start on their celebrations, but their schedule sounds tightly packed, doesn't it? Finish their tea, have an impromptu dinner with friends, skating on ice, then a walk together... If anything, they should start getting ready soon. How strange it still feels, to have so much to look forward to.
(Sometimes, he still wonders if he deserves any of it.) ]
That sounds like an excellent plan. [ Her kiss chases his intrusive thoughts away, and he thanks her in silence with another. ] They might even wish to join us for a stint on the ice. Even Felix seemed to enjoy it, a year ago.
[ It had meant much to Dimitri, too, as that was the first time since their heavy heart-to-heart that he and Felix got to stop avoiding each other and and take active steps in mending their friendship back up. It is not nearly as fraught now as it was back then, but the memory still gives him pause. ]
Do you think we should formally share the news with them?
A walk and skating. [ Well. Possibly skating, if it looks safe enough to her resident ice skating expert. ] I expect us to be quite hungry by then.
[ Not to mention the small surprise she intends to give him on their walk, which she suspects may make his heart swell. The thought of this shared experience makes hers simultaneously flutter with nerves and soar with pride. ]
Would you like to? I see no reason not to, unless you would like to speak of it privately with anyone.
[ But the truth is that she doubts it will be much of a surprise. Their romance has involved sharing their day-to-day lives for well over a year now. Sleeping together, waking together, exploring together.
In some ways it feels like making up for lost time. ]
[ His smile matches hers, the cup he had just sipped from promptly placed back down. ]
Then I suppose teatime will have to last us long past dinner.
[ Does he mean their tea and baked goods as sustenance? No, not really, and the way he leans over for just one more kiss is a good indicator of his true intent. A little more flirting can't hurt, right?
(The real challenge is to keep it to flirting only-- can't get carried away, they have plans to get to! Speaking of:) ]
Oh, I would prefer sharing the news over dinner, myself. [ He reaches over for another gougères, choosing to focus on the food for the moment-- the only part of his hunger that can be immediately sated. ] But the last time I acted on my own over this particular topic, it became reason for contention, remember?
[ It's as light-hearted a jab as any, but one can't say he hasn't learned his lesson!
When next he hums, it's both in appreciation of the cheesy delight and in thoughtful contemplation, head tilting to one side. ]
I wonder if it would be possible to make one small addition to that anonymous post.
[ She's aware that he is being playful (and she likes it) but if he thinks for even a moment that kisses will not be stolen at dinner, while they skate, on their walk then he's entirely mistaken.
But when he takes the opportunity to treat himself to something besides her kisses, she gives him a smile accompanied by an arched eyebrow. ]
As I recall-- [ They will never not recall this but she is also capable of being playful! ] --we were not actually married when you consulted the network. This announcement is one we will make together, with no need for anyone's advice.
[ Wait, what's that he said? Her eyes widen. ]
What is there to add?
[ Half a moment later: ]
Perhaps that we have come to a different agreement?
[ Is the network archived? Can people go that far back and read that post even now? Has he ever gotten a late reply weighing in on the status of their spur-of-the-moment influenced exchange of vows? ]
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And his question makes a small laugh escape under her breath. ]
Let us simply say that we should not break any furniture over the next few weeks.
[ It's teasing but also not inaccurate! It had been some time since she received a specific reward for her -- largely their -- sexual effort and now she must start anew. ]
Not even if we have something to celebrate. [ One of her hands moves to cover his. Though she didn't blush at all during her demonstration, this part does cause a slight twinge of heat in her cheeks. ] Because it is my intention for you to wear this as my husband.
[ She pauses for a fraction of a moment, then makes an addition just in case he needs to hear it as clearly as possible. ]
You will marry me, won't you? [ He's said that he already thinks of her as his wife and he was willing to marry her before that, as evidenced by his (unnecessary and unfortunate!) anonymous network post years ago, but it doesn't feel right not to phrase this as a question. One that he can choose to accept. They are the architects of their own romance and she wouldn't have it any other way. ] I want neither of us to be kept waiting.
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Or he could try to, but her following words give him the impression his birthday is hardly the main event for today. Slowly, the arch of his eyebrows softens, and realization settles upon the curve of his lips. ]
You have always been far less patient than I.
[ His tease is both fond and nostalgic in equal measure, but no less true for it. When the tempo of his step-step-turn wouldn't match hers, when she marched on ahead and threatened to leave him behind -- as a child, at war, in life -- she was never one to be kept waiting, and so it fell squarely upon his shoulders, the task to rise up and meet her. But Dimitri's own stride could outpace hers, seeing friendship when she would call him no more than ally, reaching beyond the limits of formal agreements to feelings she failed to recognize, giving all of his heart when two worlds still kept them apart; he, too, has been made to wait.
Today, she finally catches up to him. ]
Of course I will marry you, El. [ He leans in to press his forehead to hers, reinforcing an answer that needed no giving. ] But perhaps I should ask you that question in another day or two. I would hate for this topic to become reason for contention between us yet again.
[ He doesn't really think she's under an influence this time, but hey-- never let it be said he didn't learn his lesson!! ]
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Then she was willing to taste happiness and claim it but within certain bounds because this particular indulgence only existed here and it needed to be decidedly their own uninfluenced decisions steering their actions.
Now, with measures in place to mitigate the ache of a potential separation, who benefits from them not doing exactly as they please on their own terms? Certainly not her. She cannot dig her heels in so hard that she doesn't make the most of their time together. She closes their eyes as their foreheads touch. ]
Shall we argue about it on the network? [ It's not said without an undercurrent of amusement in her voice. ] We can ask those dear to us to hear our vows and perhaps even celebrate with a small feast. There will be no doubt in your mind -- or anyone else's -- that we are married by the time you and I take our leave.
[ Her hand leaves his but only so she can palm his cheek instead. ]
You will be my husband-- [ There is no strange magic behind this and that's precisely what makes putting it into words right now seem magical to her. ] --and I will be your wife. Irrevocably my Dimitri.
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Or perhaps he doesn't, not really. Perhaps this power to render him speechless is just one of the many ways in which they are such a good match for each other. ]
I am yours. [ A minor correction. He is no husband yet, but he is certainly hers. ] This much, I can say without interference.
[ So it is another reference, in a way, a throwback line to a time that was once reason for awkward silences and palpable embarrassment far beyond what a pair of feline ears and tails could feasibly cause. One that he also made when she caught on to his feelings in a pool of flower petals, back when a thoughtless proposal rolled off his tongue and hung between them, something to grab on to when he couldn't find his footing. A crutch he has no need of anymore, but no less true for it.
But it does evoke a memory, and he takes a hand to the ring dangling from his necklace. Again and again, it is imbued with new meaning. ]
When first we exchanged these, I was mostly under an influence. [ Mostly, as he never again has to hide the extent of his then conflicted feelings for her. ] Once that was over, I was prepared to honor the vows I made to you, as I believed that to be the right course of action. But what I say now is not bound by duty.
[ The pause he takes is only an excuse to cup her face again again, no need to force his memory and dig for his exact words; for better or worse, he never forgets what he holds important. ]
For every day you wear this ring, I hope you will remember that you are not alone. My blade, my strength and my love are yours, and no matter when or where, my heart will always be with you.
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Perhaps it should not seem like such a strange and marvelous thought because surely he would not ever have pursued this if she didn't and this past year of shared lives and living space, shared beds and bodies, has never not seemed happy to her. Yet this occasion makes her think it distinctly -- she has made him happy -- and feel as though the thought should be held up to catch the light, a gem of choice cut and clarity.
What wells in her chest is giddy. Here her title has always meant little but she has rarely felt more a young woman and less an emperor, a mask, a tool than she does in this moment, with her most loved pressing his face to her hand like the biggest cat of all. When he cups her face again she meets his eyes without reservation, sinks into the moment like it's satin-covered, and fortunately this time it's only a twinge of heat in her cheeks. He makes her happy. It's no longer a surprise -- it hasn't been for some time now -- but she likes the way it feels. ]
You are burned into my memory, Dimitri. I will wear you near my heart, only a touch away.
[ Never alone. ]
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(It hasn't always been easy to match the tempo of their steps, not as children, and perhaps even less so as adults. Today, they are the perfect match for each other's song and dance.) ]
I could not think of a better place to call my home.
[ Speaking of which, the ring that dangles near his heart is a reminder, and he steals another glance at the pendants Edelgard has traded for. They are known to get carried away in their affections every so often, so perhaps it would be wise to make sure they are, indeed, wearing this means of communication they have just secured before the unpredictable strikes. ]
What say you, beloved? [ His free hand makes for his necklace again. ] Shall we add these pendants to the rings on our necklaces?
[ Or they could find a different place to wear their rings, maybe. He wouldn't mind that. ]
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And to her, after years of wrestling with her home being the place that houses her most unhappy memories, it's kind of a breath-taking thought. She has thought of her home in larger terms -- Enbarr, Adrestia, Fodlan -- and in her entire time here she has been resistant to the idea of thinking of this place as home.
But Dimitri? Her Dimitri? He makes an excellent home.
Ignore her soft eyes and the visible warmth in her cheeks. She's nodding her agreement! ]
The sooner the better.
[ But just a moment. Just one: she wants to lean her face up to his and give him the sweetest of brief kisses first, her joy threatening to spill out in the form of laughter. With that, she reaches to undo the clasp behind her neck. ]
I suppose it's possible that we will need to explain these necklaces to someone one day.
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(Maybe one day they can do nothing but indulge, together in a home of their choosing, free to dance until no sunset could pull them apart. But in the meantime, he takes her kiss, a gift so great he can never take for granted.) ]
To quite a few people, I am afraid. [ And though it's not a comfortable prospect by any means, he still manages to say it with an airy breath and a smile. ] And they will no doubt question the truth in our claims, every bit as much as the thought of marrying an enemy of war. That is, provided there still is a war to return to...
[ Perhaps he oughtn't be so distracted when his brute fingers engage with delicate work like unclasping his own necklace, but his mind wanders anyway. They have had reason to believe time stands still back in their own worlds, but does it truly? Does he even want it to be? He was once prepared to face the Edelgard back home until one of them no longer drew breath, but that thought has grown exponentially harder now that her face means so much more to him than just the memory of a dear childhood sweetheart. And if Byleth's accounts turn out to be the future that awaits him, then would he look at her transformed visage and see a grotesque creature unworthy of compassion... or a beloved monster instead?
He sighs, chest swelling with the depth of his feelings and sinking with the weight of his troubles. Their happiness is as selfish as is his wish that this moment would not be sullied; again they are matched, sin for sin, monster for monster. ]
Be it as it may, my choice has long since been made. [ And the silver chains coming undone from around his neck are just another reminder, metal pooling over metal at the center of a large open palm. ] I swore I would follow my heart, and it has led me back to you, time and time again. Whatever challenges await ahead, I trust that we shall see it through.
[ Time and time again, his hand reaches for her; right now, with an offer, a promise, a ring that dangles from a necklace like his heart from her fingertips. ]
Together.
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(She'd be lying if she claimed there wasn't some odd and unmentionable thrill in those secret meetings and conflicted feelings but how could she possibly have expected to end up here, asking Dimitri to marry her in front of their friends. Knowing he has considered himself that committed and in love for some time already. Happier and less alone than she has ever felt.
She supposes he has always had a talent for making her feel that way.) ]
You think you would tell the truth as soon as someone noticed it?
[ Hold on. His acknowledgement that his heart has lead him back to her time and time again, his certainty that they will rise to any challenge ahead... she can practically feel the pleasure churning through her brain. Once her pendant is safely around her neck, the chain clasped, her hand meets his again.
The next step -- besides marriage -- may be finding ways to make this wild story more... accessible to their nearest and dearest at home. Not everyone needs to know, of course, but she has every expectation that Hubert will pick up on subtle differences, even if she does her best to hide the chain around her neck. Would Dedue be as observant? ]
I think a great many people may doubt our sanity before we even reach the part about marrying the enemy. [ Which isn't to say that she disagrees with his certainty. Though her touch lingers, she slides his necklace out of his palm. ] I suppose that our means of communication could serve as proof of our claims-- [ Since she has experienced nothing quite like it at home. ] --but I must look just like the Edelgard you left behind.
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Still, he wants them to know the truth always, wants to hide nothing else from those he deems dearest. It is what they deserve, and what gives him any measure of peace. ]
Perhaps... not as soon as someone noticed, no. [ Because Dedue? That man can probably tell from a mile away that someone ate the weedelgard, and Dimitri doubts he could keep it from him. ] For one, and provided I do return to the exact time and place as I was before coming to the island, then I would be speaking of my love for the Emperor as we march on the imperial capital. Frankly, that is not something I would wish to do.
[ And surely she can understand why. As much as they know their counterparts are different people, at the same time... they are not. They are the same in face, name, soul, even in shared history; at the end of his long road, he will have to challenge the Edelgard who is, in so many ways, the same as the woman he loves. ]
I suppose I would start with a compromise. A way to both reassure them I will not stray from my path, and reinforce my resolve to reach out to Edelgard to the very last. There is not much else I should say until the war's conclusion, but when that time comes...
[ Well. That will heavily depend on how the war concludes, and whether or not both he and that Edelgard come out alive. That would be the most favorable outcome, but what would it mean for her? Another lifetime in prison, her closest friends gone? Death might be kinder, but he's selfish.
With his own necklace in her hands, he reaches for her pendant, thumb idly running across the small metal surface. A thought flashes across his mind, just an impulse. ]
If she is alive when the war is over-- [ His eyebrows furrow, as though he has yet to digest his own train of thoughts. ] Do you think... she would listen to you?
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But it is difficult to imagine.
She threads his necklace through the small loop on his pendant, her expression thoughtful. Would she listen to herself? Her eyes stray to his face for a moment, then down at his large fingers on her own pendant. She has to be honest, as dissatisfying as the answer is: ]
I'm not certain. If the attempt is made after everything plays out as Byleth described, perhaps not.
[ It depends on how it is handled, she supposes, but if she has lost everything, if she has fought him in the palace and been defeated, if her allies are dead or scattered, if she has transformed... ]
There was no-- [ She pauses slightly, as though gathering her thoughts. ] --room in Byleth's account for personal details about her. [ This isn't even particularly Byleth's fault; it seems there wasn't exactly time for in-depth discussion with her counterpart. ] Such as whether the transformation had any affect on her [ my ] mind. Regardless, I think hearing me speak more or less as your ally could simply be a betrayal at that point.
[ What a shame that she thinks herself unlikely to grant a second parley so soon. Not even to the boy who kept her from losing her heart in the most difficult time of her life. Her eyes meet his again and she offers a tight smile. ]
I'm sure you now understand why trust would be so difficult for her to measure out but imagine learning that you are one of multiple versions of yourself and you may be the least fortunate. Worse, you have only learned this when you are no longer in a position for another Dimitri's knowledge to be of actionable benefit.
I am not unwilling to speak to her. On the contrary, I wonder if there is anyone better equipped to deal with our counterparts than ourselves and I think we should consider this further. Even so, it would be hard for her to give weight to what I say.
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I appreciate your honesty. [ This much, he can say in earnest. ] In all truth, it is as I suspected: she may be beyond my reach at this point, and the Professor's accounts only reinforced that thought. But I--
[ The breath he expels is something of a groan, a shake of his head marking his frustration. There are so many ways for him to finish that sentence: that he should have reached for her sooner, that he doesn't want to lose anyone else, that he still cares about her against all odds, that he wishes to save her though it may not be his place to. Would it bother this Edelgard -- his El -- to hear of his depth of feeling for her counterpart? He doesn't think her given to jealousy, but this is a very unique circumstance they find themselves in.
But his El is not beyond his reach, and so reach he does, his palm moving up from her pendant to cup her cheek, thumb stroking skin. No matter how far his thoughts stray, he would be hard pressed to look at that face and not feel a smile spring up in his. ]
You are my one and only beloved. But whether out of fondness for the little girl who was once my dearest, or the feelings I have for the woman standing before me... Across infinite timelines, I know there is no Edelgard von Hresvelg whose smile I would not love to see.
[ As long as they carry even a small fraction of the El he befriended or the El he came to love, so too will they carry a piece of his heart. Going forward, it is only fair that his wife should know. ]
My apologies, I did not mean to sour such momentous occasion. I know that she would call me foolish for it.
[ Is this one of the many ways in which his El and her counterpart are the same, or is this where they differ? He's still waiting on a verdict. ]
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Leave out the manipulated intimacy and the fact that they didn't choose to come here and much about their story is...
Well, surprisingly romantic. The romance she once told both Dorothea and, more recently, Dimitri himself that she expected to never have. That much she is grateful for. To know love, and more specifically his love. ]
Dimitri--
[ His large soft heart is not foolish on its own. There have been times when she painted him with broad strokes, thinking his heart was too soft or he was too attached to the Church or he was incapable of action when it was needed, and she doesn't think she has always been wrong when judging him but their lives are complications upon complications and she has had a chance to learn his shades of gray by now. ]
--I am not certain that I ever felt particularly special before I met you. Do you know that? I was not by nature an unhappy child but I was one of many and sometimes felt it. I was my father's daughter or someone's sister.
[ And then the experimentation she endured made her a type of special she would not ever have wanted, but that isn't the point she wants to make. The point is that knowing there is so much affection for her in that large soft heart of his still sometimes takes her by surprise. The fact that they can never be those children again doesn't actually detract from the fact that they were those children.
And many of the things she wanted as a child she still wants now.
With a hint of something like pride, she leans in to return his necklace to his rightful place. Not without a small kiss to the side of his face. ]
You have not soured our occasion. I'm pleased that we can speak about difficult subjects and work together to lessen the bloodshed in our future.
[ Combining their strength, one might say. Once the necklace is clasped behind his neck, she frames his face with her hands. ]
I would like for my counterpart to live and see her goals achieved and have a taste of personal happiness. If she cannot see her way past a cell of course she will not go along willingly. But perhaps there is a way to tell her what you know and find a goal that can be worked toward together. Byleth's past does not have to be your future. We will write that ourselves.
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But these days? He can see how she would be made to feel special-- because he actively tries, because she has always been a special presence in his life, through highs and lows. Perhaps she'll never quite understand the full depth of his feelings for her, because she never quite witnessed how deep his hatred ran, but what he told her several months ago remains true. And what else is there to say of a man who loves her more than his once only reason to keep breathing? ]
I can only trust that we will, my beloved. [ He has to, lest that large soft heart of his will shatter. ] And right here and now, between your warm hands, I do. This bright future that you have envisioned... may it be intertwined with mine forevermore.
[ The details of which can be discussed at length and planned for at a later moment, because right now? All he wants is to close his eyes and lean into her touch, her hands dwarfed under his, the curve of his chest swelling and deflating with each deep breath. For all that his mind sometimes will race with affliction for the lives and fates that are beyond his reach, she can calm the tempest every bit as well as she could once cast it.
The breath he exhales is short and bittersweet. ]
It is somewhat of an ironic thought, is it not?
[ Does he intend to leave her in the shadows? Of course not. The pause he takes is only so he can see her again, a gentle brush of his knuckles treating her cheek. ]
You, who would once see yourself as though being no more than your war, and I, a man who is only good for war. Perhaps that is why only you can make me feel at such peace.
[ If Edelgard is her war, then in her Dimitri has found his Somewhere to Belong. ]
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When he leans into her touch, she welcomes it like she could roll herself in his affection and be buoyant for the rest of her days. She has spent too much time heavy with dire purpose. ]
You are not only good for war. In fact, you have proven yourself capable of building bridges.
[ Still, what he says isn't lost on her. There is a certain odd balance in it, and more importantly she is glad to know that she brings him peace. ]
But I will take you all the same. [ Urging his hand toward her lips, she kisses his open palm and then folds his fingers as though to trap that affection in place. ] Together we may even be good for love.
[ The words sound a bit strange to her own ears. They aren't grounded in any grim practicality; he rekindles her hope. ]
There is something else I'd like for us to do but I think it should wait until the weather clears. [ The snow may not be cold but by the end of a walk they could be covered in it. ] Perhaps later tonight.
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Ah, what a silly thought. He just made a vow that Edelgard would never be alone again; that also means neither will he. ]
That may be something else we have learned together.
[ And he will treasure every bit of it, the affection she places right at the center of his palm and that he holds on to with all of his strength-- and his closed fist even draws Hugo's attention for a moment, his little snout trying to sniff out the promise of a hidden snack, but alas, this particular kind of treat is only meant for the larger feline in the room. ]
Ah, you are full of surprises today, eh? [ After a moment's pause for some brief ear scratches -- what a heinous crime it would be, to deny his cat some of his own affection -- Dimitri turns to Edelgard again, his full attention freely given. ] What is it that you would like to do? An evening stroll if you cannot fall asleep?
[ However long it has been since their days of sporadic evening walks and late night messages, already it feels like a lifetime ago. ]
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I think I'm still learning.
[ Obviously falling in love with Dimitri has been... a process, though in some ways it has been easier than one might expect, helped along significantly by their forced separation from the war and the utter absence of those who slither in the dark. It will still be a challenge to build bridges whenever she returns.
But Hugo's curious sniffing makes her let out a small laugh. The hand she holds out to him is also sadly empty but beckoning with a promise of scratches. There are no felines in this apartment who don't like that! ]
What I had in mind was an evening stroll before we even consider sleep.
[ A walk together is something they could do at any time but there's a specific purpose driving this! Timing is important. ]
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Is that truly all you had in mind? [ A good-humored lilt lingers in his voice, but he does narrow his eyes in curious suspicion. ] I would not object, far from it, but I reckon there is no need for such formality over a simple evening stroll together.
[ Well. Admittedly she is still a fair bit formal without any real need for it, much like she was about their teatime in the balcony; he now understands she had grander plans to unfold, and perhaps that is why he expects something more of their promised walk. ]
Be it as it may, know that you may ask whatever you wish of me. As long as it is in my power, you every whim will be met today.
[ It's only fair, isn't it? She's just given him everything he could ask for. ]
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I hardly think it's formal to tell you all I would like to make a point of doing with you today.
[ Well, it's not all. She hasn't veered into anything suggestive... yet.
But another laugh escapes her. ]
It's not my whims we should be following today. [ It isn't that she particularly needs a special day to show or be shown affection but it does feel good to have a nice birthday and contribute to him having one as well. To drive her point home: ] Is there anything you would like to do to celebrate further?
[ Think no more about tonight's walk right now! Later she'll suggest that he wear trousers he can easily roll up for a walk on the beach. ]
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I can think of something I would like us to do once we return from our stroll.
[ There's nothing wrong with the tongue that wets his lips, or the way his voice doesn't drop to a whisper, or even with the less than perfectly innocent quirk to the corner of his mouth-- nothing wrong with being suggestive here, in the privacy of their home. It's something Dimitri had to struggle with for quite some time, his reservations ever so lingering, but he's learned to find comfort in showing both his love and his want for his most beloved without restraints. ]
As for what we could do before then-- [ He pauses for a second, humming as he mulls over his thoughts. ] It may be short notice, but I would enjoy having dinner with our closest friends. [ And also share the news? Their home worlds were a different story, but their formal engagement should come as no surprise to anyone on the island-- and besides, he absolutely must (gloat at) tell Sylvain at the very least, come on! ] Perhaps going skating, assuming the ice will actually keep. It has been a long time since I last had the chance to...
[ Would that even be something Edelgard would be interested in? He remembers she was never thrilled about ice skating as a child, though he would be happy to teach her. ]
But, these are simply whims that I can go without. My one true wish has already been granted.
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And then realizes a fraction of a moment after she gives him her most attentive look that he's blatantly flirting. There was a time when everything suggestive that he said was an accident, something he seemed to stumble blindly into, but now...
Well, now he licks his lips like a cat anticipating a meal and it isn't at all lost on her that she is that meal. Sorry, Hugo, but now her hand finds its way into Dimitri's hair instead. ]
Then I suppose the only question is whether or not we will make it to a bed first.
[ They don't have to. Her eyes have been opened to positions and locations she would not have imagined (and would possibly have been scandalized by) before. Just living on the island was eye-opening but living with Dimitri has taken it a step further. There is no room they can't use, no surface they can't "bless," no need to hurry into a bedroom and hide their passion beneath the blankets. Unless they want to. It's not something she could have expected to feel liberated by but she does.
She leans in to press her lips against his chin. He may be sweetly proclaiming that what he truly wants he has already received but that is no reason not to celebrate to the fullest. ]
Why don't we first let our friends know that we would like to have dinner with them? Perhaps we can meet at the restaurant. Then-- [ She's allowed to give her husband-to-be one more kiss before she finishes her thought. ] --we can investigate the ice.
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But then she flirts back, and it evokes many a memory-- the oldest dating back to a masquerade they attended, soon after she learned of his identity. Influenced as they both had been, he did not step back from his (reckless) propositioning even when their masks fell off, and she came over of her own volition, and what followed was such a surge of renewed urgency for each other's touch they couldn't even make it to his bedroom. It was a bit scandalous to think about, at the time, and probably the kind of behavior they would actively have to watch out for back in their worlds, but here, in this home they have built for themselves? It's just right. ]
I suppose a walk together could have us working up quite an appetite.
[ Yes, just right enough that he can take their flirting a step further, his lips seeking her kiss when she aims for his chin, once, twice, unabashed in his greed-- and he would love to get carried away in the moment, kiss her in full and get a head start on their celebrations, but their schedule sounds tightly packed, doesn't it? Finish their tea, have an impromptu dinner with friends, skating on ice, then a walk together... If anything, they should start getting ready soon. How strange it still feels, to have so much to look forward to.
(Sometimes, he still wonders if he deserves any of it.) ]
That sounds like an excellent plan. [ Her kiss chases his intrusive thoughts away, and he thanks her in silence with another. ] They might even wish to join us for a stint on the ice. Even Felix seemed to enjoy it, a year ago.
[ It had meant much to Dimitri, too, as that was the first time since their heavy heart-to-heart that he and Felix got to stop avoiding each other and and take active steps in mending their friendship back up. It is not nearly as fraught now as it was back then, but the memory still gives him pause. ]
Do you think we should formally share the news with them?
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A walk and skating. [ Well. Possibly skating, if it looks safe enough to her resident ice skating expert. ] I expect us to be quite hungry by then.
[ Not to mention the small surprise she intends to give him on their walk, which she suspects may make his heart swell. The thought of this shared experience makes hers simultaneously flutter with nerves and soar with pride. ]
Would you like to? I see no reason not to, unless you would like to speak of it privately with anyone.
[ But the truth is that she doubts it will be much of a surprise. Their romance has involved sharing their day-to-day lives for well over a year now. Sleeping together, waking together, exploring together.
In some ways it feels like making up for lost time. ]
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Then I suppose teatime will have to last us long past dinner.
[ Does he mean their tea and baked goods as sustenance? No, not really, and the way he leans over for just one more kiss is a good indicator of his true intent. A little more flirting can't hurt, right?
(The real challenge is to keep it to flirting only-- can't get carried away, they have plans to get to! Speaking of:) ]
Oh, I would prefer sharing the news over dinner, myself. [ He reaches over for another gougères, choosing to focus on the food for the moment-- the only part of his hunger that can be immediately sated. ] But the last time I acted on my own over this particular topic, it became reason for contention, remember?
[ It's as light-hearted a jab as any, but one can't say he hasn't learned his lesson!
When next he hums, it's both in appreciation of the cheesy delight and in thoughtful contemplation, head tilting to one side. ]
I wonder if it would be possible to make one small addition to that anonymous post.
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But when he takes the opportunity to treat himself to something besides her kisses, she gives him a smile accompanied by an arched eyebrow. ]
As I recall-- [ They will never not recall this but she is also capable of being playful! ] --we were not actually married when you consulted the network. This announcement is one we will make together, with no need for anyone's advice.
[ Wait, what's that he said? Her eyes widen. ]
What is there to add?
[ Half a moment later: ]
Perhaps that we have come to a different agreement?
[ Is the network archived? Can people go that far back and read that post even now? Has he ever gotten a late reply weighing in on the status of their spur-of-the-moment influenced exchange of vows? ]
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