[ It's hard to tell what part of his revelation hits her the hardest, but the look on her face makes no room for lies; she is affected, more so than a general should be over the loss of a soldier. And it's just as hard to tell, whether he should be regretful to have given her the news, or happy that Edelgard-- this Edelgard, whenever and wherever she comes from-- hasn't lost her heart.
Still, a nod of his head is all the confirmation he can bring himself to provide; the events that transpired in the Great Bridge of Myrddin... it would seem Dorothea's recollection of them seemed to match his, at least. ]
Assuming that is correct, I do not think you hail from much earlier. Based on appearances alone, you do look exactly like the Edelgard I know.
[ Another subtle squint, as though he's studying her features with a bit more attention; her voice has grown graver, and though today she looks different, when he first arrived, she donned the same war dress and hair style as she did the last time they had met, during that brief parley. If she's not exactly the same, then at least a lot closer to his last memory than what she looked like, back in their Academy days. ]
Besides, if some of us do come from different timelines, does that truly matter? Other than all of us having attended the Officer's Academy and an ongoing war, is there a point of commonality between us?
[ Hmm. Ferdinand had not said exactly how much time had passed, but since he had also initially believed they were from the same time the war must progress quickly once the Professor reappears.
Dimitri can study her all he wants; though she feels a bit too aware of it, she doesn't begrudge it under these circumstances. ]
Does it truly matter?
[ She must be misunderstanding him because the answer to that question is so obvious to her. She knows no Ferdinand that doesn't live and die for her cause, so perhaps in a case like that it matters little. But it's disconcerting to her to have someone more familiar with her than she is with them, like Constance, and equally disconcerting to think that she let her guard down so much for a Dorothea who fought for Faerghus. That is not the Dorothea knows. ]
If there is a point of commonality for us all, I don't know what it is. Something at the Academy, perhaps. What I do know is that in some cases the differences matter to me to a great deal. [ As if to prove it, she hastily continues. ] I would be a fool to spend time with you if I thought I would be facing you in battle as soon as I left this place, but that Dimitri will have no recollection of this. No memory of any weakness he has seen, no strategy cobbled together through learning my habits.
[ A point of commonality... Well, he can think of one, at least, though it predates their time at the Academy. If there are multiple timelines, some with only minor differences, others with major events changed... he wonders, if the two of them were always destined to meet across all of them.
(He wishes he could ask what else she remembers of the boy she once taught to dance.) ]
I can see how that would matter to you. [ He can, really, from a purely strategic perspective, which does suit the Edelgard he knows. ] But what I mean is, whether you come from an earlier point in time or not, we are not the exact same people we know. The future Ferdinand has seen, or the one Dorothea has lived... they have not yet come to pass to either of us.
[ While he doesn't disagree with her ultimate conclusion-- much on the contrary, actually-- his perspective on matters is different. Whatever he learns about her while on this island, however closer he can get to figuring out her true motives... The Edelgard he knows might not be the exact same, but that is not to say understanding this Edelgard is any less valuable, or any less effective in securing victory the only way he truly does wish for: without spilling more blood, least of all hers.
One might call it a strategy of his own, though, and so he cannot divulge it, either. ]
Ah, pardon my digression. [ A shake of his head. ] My point is, considering the strange circumstances behind our diverging memories, it is the present that we must focus our efforts on. Ultimately, that is what allows for this agreement between us, is it not?
[ They might each have their own motives, but this much, they can see eye to eye on. ]
Yes, she supposes that regardless of how exactly they have both reached this conclusion they both have reached the conclusion. ]
That is correct.
[ Though she is only willing to take it so far. This agreement is not an engraved invitation for them to become friends here, and she likes to think he understands that by now but there is room for doubt.
She considers him over her tea for a moment. ]
What were you doing before you came here, Dimitri? Were you marching on the Empire?
[ For now, that is more than enough; that they have reached the same conclusion one way or another is already quite the progress as it is, really.
Still, to talk about the war... is not something he would look forward to. So his eyes drop to the plate, his cake barely halfway finished; that enthusiasm for new tastes from earlier completely gone. ]
We were headed towards Enbarr next, yes. [ He's wise enough to at least not divulge the details of the state of affairs, as he recalls them-- not that the Kingdom has absorbed Alliance forces into its army, or that most of the Empire has already fallen. Instead, what he reveals is: ] But before that, I sent an envoy to request a parley from you-- or rather, the Edelgard I know.
[ Hmm. He's not sure he'll ever get used to making this distinction. ]
[ That fact that he moves on Enbarr itself says enough. She is no longer the aggressor in that war. She has lost Ferdinand and probably others dear to her. A grim scenario.
How strange to think of Dimitri getting the better of her. How could he have managed it?
She still has her fork in hand, but it still idles between her fingers. ]
And what did you hope to achieve with this parley?
[ The question immediately draws a sigh out of him, his sight still aligned with the half-eaten piece of cake before him. Maybe Hugo can have it later as an extra treat; he doesn't think his appetite will be returning anytime soon. ]
Do you recall what I told you not long after my arrival? That, should you ever wish to reveal your reasons for starting the war, I would be wiling to listen?
[ His eyes seek out hers again, as he tends to do when the gravity of his words require nothing but open honesty. ]
That is what I hoped to achieve, at the time. To understand you.
[ That is what he wanted out of a meeting with her? As much as she tries to keep her face a neutral mask, there's something incredulous in her eyes all the same.
She supposes he was giving her an opportunity to surrender, or looking for a reason not attack her home. More of what she might expect from the Dimitri she trained against at the Academy, softer and more reluctant to fight. ]
I doubt that worked as you might have hoped.
[ It isn't said harshly, though it is firm. One thing she knows as an absolute is that there will be no surrender from her. ]
[ His eyes drop to his plate again, but rather than a sigh, there's a smile adorning his lips, small and bittersweet though it may be. ]
Perhaps not exactly. But I did get something out of that meeting, regardless.
[ The confirmation that a hurried gift from an once dear childhood friend had been so meaningful to her-- so much, that even this Edelgard has kept it on her all these years. Knowing that back then, and the revelation he had the night of the invasion... He can't say his efforts were completely in vain. ]
At any rate, I do not intend to give up. [ A brief pause, a little headbutt on his leg, and the corners of his lips tug a bit higher. ] It might be foolish of me, but, well. I am nothing if not stubborn.
[ Mr. Headbutter seems to take that as his cue to hop on Dimitri's lap, and from there, make the leap to the table, heading straight for that unattended piece of cake-- and though Dimitri isn't much of a disciplinary pet parent, he has to hook his hands under the cat's front legs and pull him back. ]
[ Wait. He can't just say that and get away with not elaborating. ]
Dimitri.
[ Okay, fine, so Hugo's convenient reappearance does distract her for a moment. Watching with amusement as Hugo's valiant effort is thwarted, she feels her lips curl a bit and finally takes another bite of her own cake. ]
I suppose all three of us are stubborn.
[ She can accept that graciously, aware that she is nothing if not determined. There are less kind words that some could use to describe her and she is well aware of that too. ]
[ ... ah. So Edelgard is not only stubborn, but also just as curious as a cat; he didn't foresee her going as far as asking for elaboration. But that is... hm.
All this time, he has been keeping the truth of his identity a secret, if only because he couldn't bear the thought of having her forget who he was yet again-- like his gift had been more meaningful to her than him. But now that there's a real possibility this isn't the very same Edelgard he knows, he has to wonder if maybe she hasn't had the same chance to remember him. Wonder if it wouldn't be best that she doesn't remember she used to call her enemy a friend.
(Sometimes, he wishes he didn't.) ]
What I got was... [ Another pause, the corners of his lips quirking up again, just a bit. ] A smile.
[ Not a lie, but it is as much as he's willing to say at the moment. Whether she ever does realize he's that boy whose face she drew on her sketchpad, or if he's to remain a forgettable piece of her past, it is not his right to force it upon her again. ]
As I said, it might sound foolish to you. [ Sentimental, even, but that word would speak of implications she does not recall. ] But, if you truly are as stubborn as you claim, then perhaps you will understand why that counts as a small victory in its own right.
[ Meanwhile, Hugo finally manages to wriggle himself free of Dimitri's clutches and scurry off across the table, settling down besides Edelgard's plate with his ears drooped and what can only be described as a challenging stare towards his owner. Go on, he dares him to reach this far! ]
[ Of all the answers he could possibly give her, this is not one she considered. Her smile stretches in obvious surprise.
He is not wrong. If she smiled at him during their parley -- a true smile and not just a baring of teeth or a smile of stubborn resignation -- then it does seem notable. She just... cannot imagine how he would have prompted it, especially if he is marching on her capital. ]
As large a victory as I would willingly give, I'm certain.
[ But how could he consider it that at all after a war spanning years?
Her eyes turn to Hugo when he scrambles across the table toward her, and as he looks toward Dimitri in open defiance she lifts her hand to pet him. She is no fool, of course: the fork in her other hand picks up the last frosting-heavy bite of her cake and delivers it to her mouth before Hugo can get any smart ideas about finishing it for her. ]
I would be cross as well, Hugo. I think he should give you a treat to make amends.
[ Her fingers stroke down Hugo's back but her eyes return to Dimitri. She has one more question that she can't quite dismiss. ]
[ A defeated chuckle escapes his lips when she encourages Hugo to demand compensation for Dimitri's disciplinary action from earlier, and he even reaches for the paper bag Edelgard has brought, but his hand halts at her question. Can he really bring himself to answer that in full honesty?
No, no he cannot. But the smile he spares her is every bit as earnest as the memories he does not speak of. ]
In a different life, perhaps.
[ Is it said in reference to their current topic and the likely existence of multiple timelines, or the children they both claim to have been long since dead? That's something they both have yet to find out. ]
But, the present is all we truly have. [ As he resumes his original train of thought-- and promptly veers this conversation elsewhere-- he fishes out a single treat from the bag. ] For the moment, whether cooperating to find our way back home or joining forces to protect the innocent on this island, we are allies. And, having that in mind...
[ When he reaches out with an extended palm again, it's so he can offer Hugo his hard-earned treat; it just so happens that Edelgard is in that very same direction, and his eyes are not at all focused on his cat. ]
Would you be willing to listen to one more proposal?
[ Why doesn't that satisfy at all? Does he not want to answer? Or is this genuinely how he feels in light of their current circumstances?
She studies his face for a long moment, a bit skeptical but stubbornly unwilling to argue on this point. As curious as she has found the way he acts toward her here, he is the one with the self-proclaimed goal of understanding. All she needs from him -- no, all she wants because it is not so dire as to be a need -- is his willingness to be a temporary ally. And it seems she has that.
Putting her fork down on her plate, she gives Hugo another stroke as he slinks off toward Dimitri's side of the table again, lured by the treat. Dimitri has almost as much attention from her. ]
You have my attention. What is your proposal?
[ She has to assume it's somehow related to their new agreement. Of course she'll hear his suggestion. ]
[ As Hugo nips at the treat on his hand and merrily scampers off back to his lap, Dimitri's smile widens, glad for both, her willingness to listen and for having navigated out of the one conversation he has chosen not to have, at least not yet. If she knew of who he really is, would the current arrangement and the proposal he's about to make be more or less difficult to carry out? For now, he can only wonder. ]
Back on the day of the invasion, I recall you told me you were... not a very talented swimmer. [ To... put it gently, as even he could tell she was so badly affected by the ocean that her combat prowess was at a disadvantage. ] At the time, we were able to coordinate our battle efforts, but there might come a day when you have to face it on your own, especially seeing as we are surrounded by water. And so, I have been wondering.
[ A pause to slice off another forkful of cake, though he only takes it to his mouth after asking: ]
Have you considered... improving your skill level?
[ It's such an unexpected change of topic that for a moment or two her surprise is written all over her face. It's hard to imagine herself being in a situation where she's surprised and somewhat disappointed that the proposition she has received isn't more sexual... but for a minute she definitely is.
Regaining her composure, she studies his face. ]
Is this concern for my well-being, Dimitri?
[ "Improving her skill level" indeed. ]
I am aware that it would be to my benefit to become a better swimmer while here... so yes, I have.
[ Has she done anything about that consideration, however? No. ]
[ Well. He can't say he's not concerned for her well-being but also, he can't say that he is, either-- because of her pride, rather than any reservations he might have. And he knows he's not particularly good at being deceptive, so that leaves only one way out: compromising on the truth. ]
I am fairly certain you could handle yourself, but I also have to consider the innocent who might come to rely on your strength. [ His voice takes on a graver tone, though there's still a placating smile on his face. ] You have given me reason to believe that you would come to their aid in a time of need, but having to mind both your own safety as well as theirs might be overwhelming. Even running an unnecessary risk, really.
[ Of course, one must always mind their safety in a battle, but that's usually in terms of watching out for an opponent's fake-out, the way they shift on their feet before an attack, the balance of their weapon and their grip on its handle-- and even when they do have to account for terrain adversities, it's not a matter of immediate life or death. Edelgard, of all people, should be able to understand that much without much elaboration. ]
Besides, as much as I may give you my word on not using this to gain an unfair advantage over you, there are others who might, should they happen upon this information somehow.
[ Surely she has heard Claude is on this island by now, right? Luring her out to a battle in Derdriu, the Aquatic Capital in Alliance territory... Well, Dimitri wouldn't put it past his schemes. ]
The truth of the matter is that over the last few weeks she has thought more than once about how she wishes she had not been put into a position to feel as though she had to let Dimitri know about her lack of swimming skills. Since they were fighting side-by-side and she had already so narrowly avoided being swept underwater she needed him to know, both for his sake and her own, but it wasn't a decision made without ruefulness.
Now, with the knowledge that he is not the Dimitri she will face in battle when she returns home, she feels somewhat more secure about it, but when is showing weakness to the enemy ever ideal? ]
I have considered much of this as well.
[ It's as smooth an answer as possible under the circumstances, and not a lie. As soon as she admitted the weakness to him she knew she should do something about it.
It has been harder to decide what to do about it. Telling someone else means putting a spotlight on her inability again. Perhaps she could do that with Ferdinand, but she is not so far removed from a time when he would have seized this as an opportunity to show that he is better than her at something. He, on the other hand, has recently suggested that he has grown to a point where he realizes that was unnecessary. She is starting to think it may be true, but this is not how she would prefer to test him. ]
You will have to forgive my confusion. Are you offering to teach me?
[ What is there to confused about, Edelgard? He did say he had a proposal to make, didn't he? ]
I am offering to be an option, should you wish to consider me as such.
[ All right, he does see how that could be puzzling; they are not friends, and as far as Edelgard recalls, they never were. Some more elaboration might be necessary, so: ]
Despite our agreement and everything else we discussed today, I understand you might find it difficult to trust me. But on the other hand, much like you came to me because you would rather minimize exposing yourself, you might prefer not to reveal this information to anyone else.
[ Unbeknownst to him, he might be seeing his plans beginning to bear fruit; might be starting to understand the way she thinks, just that little bit better. ]
If it would make you feel more at ease, you could see it as an extended offer to keep things fair between us.
[ For a moment she does little more than blink her surprise at him. ]
I would need to think this over.
[ Again, she is startled by his seeming sincerity. And he obviously isn't wrong in his assumptions: not in thinking she finds trusting him difficult, not in thinking she may prefer to involve as few people as possible. It would be extremely convenient for the only person here who knows to be the one to teach her. Still, she isn't sure she likes the idea.
Her hands fold together on the table. ]
But why would you do this, Dimitri?
[ Unlike the agreement they have already made tonight, there is nothing in it for him. ]
[ Her surprise was to be expected, and the fact she even considers giving it any thought is a much reaction than he hoped for. In all honesty, even he was afraid that would be too bold a move.
This time, her questioning is easy enough to answer: ]
I would do this for any of my allies, temporary or otherwise. [ Sincere as ever, the same smile that never lets him lie. ] Although I think you might have misunderstood me; when I said this would be in the interest of fairness, I meant it would be a way for me to compensate you for having learned of such compromising information. You only felt compelled to reveal it due the circumstances of our battle, after all.
[ He reclines back on his seat, one hand dropping to his lap and the cat on top of it for idle petting. ]
At any rate, I do not expect you to give me an answer straight away. But I would be happy if you considered my offer in earnest.
[ Fine, she can certainly see wisdom in wanting a potential ally to be a good ally. If they had to fight large tentacled creatures on the shore again, he would have a distinct interest in having her perform at her best.
And if more creatures rose from the depths tomorrow she would immediately berate herself for her inaction in the meantime, but she still cannot bring herself to give an answer to this now. ]
I see your point, but I meant what I asked.
[ Does she understand him? No, she still does not, but in this case she is not -- to the best of her knowledge -- misunderstanding him.
If he feels as though she still scrutinizes him across the table as he pets Hugo, he is not wrong. ]
You put this as though teaching me to swim would be your self-inflicted punishment for learning something I only revealed in a dire situation. I suppose that is one way to think of it, but not the way I see it.
[ No, she has difficulty thinking of it in terms other than Dimitri having a front-row seat to her being so far from her best. Vulnerable.
It seems better to think of this as yet another tangible exchange. ]
I want to know what you would consider proper repayment for your time and effort if I decided to take you up on the offer.
[ His eyebrows shoot up in response to her choice of words. ]
Punishment? [ The single puff of laughter that pushes past his lips is more puzzled than anything else, though there may be some amusement to the very dramatic shift this conversation has taken. ] Edelgard, you make it sound as though teaching you would be a chore. Truly, I would be happy to.
[ Not a courteous glad or even a measured content; he really does mean happy, whole-hearted and honest-- though he realizes a second too late that might make room for even more confusion. ]
I spoke only of compensating you, and yet you seem to be under the impression you would be in my debt while I would call that making us even. There would be no need to repay me in any way, I can assure you.
[ It's like they're speaking in two different languages, using two different measures-- and it doesn't slide by unnoticed, that slight hypocrisy that is him denying her repayment when he had once stubbornly refused to comply with a similar arrangement only months prior, but... Hmm. ]
But, if you would still insist on repayment-- [ His smile is still there, accompanied by a dust of pink over his cheeks. ] --I suppose I could accept some tea.
[ It's an admission of his own fault at the time, and a reference he would think hard to forget. ]
[ Why should he be happy to do it? Why is Dimitri so strange? Is this the Tempest King?
Different timelines, yes, but how can he be so far from what she expected to come face-to-face with?
She's about say that that she didn't ask if there was a need to repay him because she is making it clear here and now that she sees one... but then he gives her an answer. For a moment she's so still that she's unblinking, and then for a fraction of a moment after that she looks as though she may let out a small laugh.
Ultimately she keeps her composure, but there is a hint of an upturn at a corner of her mouth. ]
[ Why is he so strange, indeed. The answer to that is something he'll be keeping to himself for a while longer.
At present, all that matters is that they seem to finally have come to a compromise, and even though he knows this is in no way a confirmation Edelgard will, in fact, take him up on his offer, a smile graces his features almost as easily as it would if he had gotten a straight "yes" out of her. ]
I am not particularly selective, and all the less so in a place such as this. But I am rather fond of chamomile.
[ He would be even more fond of having company to enjoy said tea with, but that much, he knows for sure would be too bold to say out loud. ]
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Still, a nod of his head is all the confirmation he can bring himself to provide; the events that transpired in the Great Bridge of Myrddin... it would seem Dorothea's recollection of them seemed to match his, at least. ]
Assuming that is correct, I do not think you hail from much earlier. Based on appearances alone, you do look exactly like the Edelgard I know.
[ Another subtle squint, as though he's studying her features with a bit more attention; her voice has grown graver, and though today she looks different, when he first arrived, she donned the same war dress and hair style as she did the last time they had met, during that brief parley. If she's not exactly the same, then at least a lot closer to his last memory than what she looked like, back in their Academy days. ]
Besides, if some of us do come from different timelines, does that truly matter? Other than all of us having attended the Officer's Academy and an ongoing war, is there a point of commonality between us?
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Dimitri can study her all he wants; though she feels a bit too aware of it, she doesn't begrudge it under these circumstances. ]
Does it truly matter?
[ She must be misunderstanding him because the answer to that question is so obvious to her. She knows no Ferdinand that doesn't live and die for her cause, so perhaps in a case like that it matters little. But it's disconcerting to her to have someone more familiar with her than she is with them, like Constance, and equally disconcerting to think that she let her guard down so much for a Dorothea who fought for Faerghus. That is not the Dorothea knows. ]
If there is a point of commonality for us all, I don't know what it is. Something at the Academy, perhaps. What I do know is that in some cases the differences matter to me to a great deal. [ As if to prove it, she hastily continues. ] I would be a fool to spend time with you if I thought I would be facing you in battle as soon as I left this place, but that Dimitri will have no recollection of this. No memory of any weakness he has seen, no strategy cobbled together through learning my habits.
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(He wishes he could ask what else she remembers of the boy she once taught to dance.) ]
I can see how that would matter to you. [ He can, really, from a purely strategic perspective, which does suit the Edelgard he knows. ] But what I mean is, whether you come from an earlier point in time or not, we are not the exact same people we know. The future Ferdinand has seen, or the one Dorothea has lived... they have not yet come to pass to either of us.
[ While he doesn't disagree with her ultimate conclusion-- much on the contrary, actually-- his perspective on matters is different. Whatever he learns about her while on this island, however closer he can get to figuring out her true motives... The Edelgard he knows might not be the exact same, but that is not to say understanding this Edelgard is any less valuable, or any less effective in securing victory the only way he truly does wish for: without spilling more blood, least of all hers.
One might call it a strategy of his own, though, and so he cannot divulge it, either. ]
Ah, pardon my digression. [ A shake of his head. ] My point is, considering the strange circumstances behind our diverging memories, it is the present that we must focus our efforts on. Ultimately, that is what allows for this agreement between us, is it not?
[ They might each have their own motives, but this much, they can see eye to eye on. ]
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Yes, she supposes that regardless of how exactly they have both reached this conclusion they both have reached the conclusion. ]
That is correct.
[ Though she is only willing to take it so far. This agreement is not an engraved invitation for them to become friends here, and she likes to think he understands that by now but there is room for doubt.
She considers him over her tea for a moment. ]
What were you doing before you came here, Dimitri? Were you marching on the Empire?
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Still, to talk about the war... is not something he would look forward to. So his eyes drop to the plate, his cake barely halfway finished; that enthusiasm for new tastes from earlier completely gone. ]
We were headed towards Enbarr next, yes. [ He's wise enough to at least not divulge the details of the state of affairs, as he recalls them-- not that the Kingdom has absorbed Alliance forces into its army, or that most of the Empire has already fallen. Instead, what he reveals is: ] But before that, I sent an envoy to request a parley from you-- or rather, the Edelgard I know.
[ Hmm. He's not sure he'll ever get used to making this distinction. ]
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How strange to think of Dimitri getting the better of her. How could he have managed it?
She still has her fork in hand, but it still idles between her fingers. ]
And what did you hope to achieve with this parley?
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Do you recall what I told you not long after my arrival? That, should you ever wish to reveal your reasons for starting the war, I would be wiling to listen?
[ His eyes seek out hers again, as he tends to do when the gravity of his words require nothing but open honesty. ]
That is what I hoped to achieve, at the time. To understand you.
[ It's what he is trying to do, still. ]
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She supposes he was giving her an opportunity to surrender, or looking for a reason not attack her home. More of what she might expect from the Dimitri she trained against at the Academy, softer and more reluctant to fight. ]
I doubt that worked as you might have hoped.
[ It isn't said harshly, though it is firm. One thing she knows as an absolute is that there will be no surrender from her. ]
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Perhaps not exactly. But I did get something out of that meeting, regardless.
[ The confirmation that a hurried gift from an once dear childhood friend had been so meaningful to her-- so much, that even this Edelgard has kept it on her all these years. Knowing that back then, and the revelation he had the night of the invasion... He can't say his efforts were completely in vain. ]
At any rate, I do not intend to give up. [ A brief pause, a little headbutt on his leg, and the corners of his lips tug a bit higher. ] It might be foolish of me, but, well. I am nothing if not stubborn.
[ Mr. Headbutter seems to take that as his cue to hop on Dimitri's lap, and from there, make the leap to the table, heading straight for that unattended piece of cake-- and though Dimitri isn't much of a disciplinary pet parent, he has to hook his hands under the cat's front legs and pull him back. ]
Just as stubborn as you are, I see.
[ He is talking to the cat, now. Mostly. ]
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Dimitri.
[ Okay, fine, so Hugo's convenient reappearance does distract her for a moment. Watching with amusement as Hugo's valiant effort is thwarted, she feels her lips curl a bit and finally takes another bite of her own cake. ]
I suppose all three of us are stubborn.
[ She can accept that graciously, aware that she is nothing if not determined. There are less kind words that some could use to describe her and she is well aware of that too. ]
But what did you get out of your meeting with me?
[ The thought puzzles her. She has to know. ]
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All this time, he has been keeping the truth of his identity a secret, if only because he couldn't bear the thought of having her forget who he was yet again-- like his gift had been more meaningful to her than him. But now that there's a real possibility this isn't the very same Edelgard he knows, he has to wonder if maybe she hasn't had the same chance to remember him. Wonder if it wouldn't be best that she doesn't remember she used to call her enemy a friend.
(Sometimes, he wishes he didn't.) ]
What I got was... [ Another pause, the corners of his lips quirking up again, just a bit. ] A smile.
[ Not a lie, but it is as much as he's willing to say at the moment. Whether she ever does realize he's that boy whose face she drew on her sketchpad, or if he's to remain a forgettable piece of her past, it is not his right to force it upon her again. ]
As I said, it might sound foolish to you. [ Sentimental, even, but that word would speak of implications she does not recall. ] But, if you truly are as stubborn as you claim, then perhaps you will understand why that counts as a small victory in its own right.
[ Meanwhile, Hugo finally manages to wriggle himself free of Dimitri's clutches and scurry off across the table, settling down besides Edelgard's plate with his ears drooped and what can only be described as a challenging stare towards his owner. Go on, he dares him to reach this far! ]
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He is not wrong. If she smiled at him during their parley -- a true smile and not just a baring of teeth or a smile of stubborn resignation -- then it does seem notable. She just... cannot imagine how he would have prompted it, especially if he is marching on her capital. ]
As large a victory as I would willingly give, I'm certain.
[ But how could he consider it that at all after a war spanning years?
Her eyes turn to Hugo when he scrambles across the table toward her, and as he looks toward Dimitri in open defiance she lifts her hand to pet him. She is no fool, of course: the fork in her other hand picks up the last frosting-heavy bite of her cake and delivers it to her mouth before Hugo can get any smart ideas about finishing it for her. ]
I would be cross as well, Hugo. I think he should give you a treat to make amends.
[ Her fingers stroke down Hugo's back but her eyes return to Dimitri. She has one more question that she can't quite dismiss. ]
Do you recall us once being on friendlier terms?
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No, no he cannot. But the smile he spares her is every bit as earnest as the memories he does not speak of. ]
In a different life, perhaps.
[ Is it said in reference to their current topic and the likely existence of multiple timelines, or the children they both claim to have been long since dead? That's something they both have yet to find out. ]
But, the present is all we truly have. [ As he resumes his original train of thought-- and promptly veers this conversation elsewhere-- he fishes out a single treat from the bag. ] For the moment, whether cooperating to find our way back home or joining forces to protect the innocent on this island, we are allies. And, having that in mind...
[ When he reaches out with an extended palm again, it's so he can offer Hugo his hard-earned treat; it just so happens that Edelgard is in that very same direction, and his eyes are not at all focused on his cat. ]
Would you be willing to listen to one more proposal?
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She studies his face for a long moment, a bit skeptical but stubbornly unwilling to argue on this point. As curious as she has found the way he acts toward her here, he is the one with the self-proclaimed goal of understanding. All she needs from him -- no, all she wants because it is not so dire as to be a need -- is his willingness to be a temporary ally. And it seems she has that.
Putting her fork down on her plate, she gives Hugo another stroke as he slinks off toward Dimitri's side of the table again, lured by the treat. Dimitri has almost as much attention from her. ]
You have my attention. What is your proposal?
[ She has to assume it's somehow related to their new agreement. Of course she'll hear his suggestion. ]
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Back on the day of the invasion, I recall you told me you were... not a very talented swimmer. [ To... put it gently, as even he could tell she was so badly affected by the ocean that her combat prowess was at a disadvantage. ] At the time, we were able to coordinate our battle efforts, but there might come a day when you have to face it on your own, especially seeing as we are surrounded by water. And so, I have been wondering.
[ A pause to slice off another forkful of cake, though he only takes it to his mouth after asking: ]
Have you considered... improving your skill level?
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Regaining her composure, she studies his face. ]
Is this concern for my well-being, Dimitri?
[ "Improving her skill level" indeed. ]
I am aware that it would be to my benefit to become a better swimmer while here... so yes, I have.
[ Has she done anything about that consideration, however? No. ]
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I am fairly certain you could handle yourself, but I also have to consider the innocent who might come to rely on your strength. [ His voice takes on a graver tone, though there's still a placating smile on his face. ] You have given me reason to believe that you would come to their aid in a time of need, but having to mind both your own safety as well as theirs might be overwhelming. Even running an unnecessary risk, really.
[ Of course, one must always mind their safety in a battle, but that's usually in terms of watching out for an opponent's fake-out, the way they shift on their feet before an attack, the balance of their weapon and their grip on its handle-- and even when they do have to account for terrain adversities, it's not a matter of immediate life or death. Edelgard, of all people, should be able to understand that much without much elaboration. ]
Besides, as much as I may give you my word on not using this to gain an unfair advantage over you, there are others who might, should they happen upon this information somehow.
[ Surely she has heard Claude is on this island by now, right? Luring her out to a battle in Derdriu, the Aquatic Capital in Alliance territory... Well, Dimitri wouldn't put it past his schemes. ]
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The truth of the matter is that over the last few weeks she has thought more than once about how she wishes she had not been put into a position to feel as though she had to let Dimitri know about her lack of swimming skills. Since they were fighting side-by-side and she had already so narrowly avoided being swept underwater she needed him to know, both for his sake and her own, but it wasn't a decision made without ruefulness.
Now, with the knowledge that he is not the Dimitri she will face in battle when she returns home, she feels somewhat more secure about it, but when is showing weakness to the enemy ever ideal? ]
I have considered much of this as well.
[ It's as smooth an answer as possible under the circumstances, and not a lie. As soon as she admitted the weakness to him she knew she should do something about it.
It has been harder to decide what to do about it. Telling someone else means putting a spotlight on her inability again. Perhaps she could do that with Ferdinand, but she is not so far removed from a time when he would have seized this as an opportunity to show that he is better than her at something. He, on the other hand, has recently suggested that he has grown to a point where he realizes that was unnecessary. She is starting to think it may be true, but this is not how she would prefer to test him. ]
You will have to forgive my confusion. Are you offering to teach me?
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I am offering to be an option, should you wish to consider me as such.
[ All right, he does see how that could be puzzling; they are not friends, and as far as Edelgard recalls, they never were. Some more elaboration might be necessary, so: ]
Despite our agreement and everything else we discussed today, I understand you might find it difficult to trust me. But on the other hand, much like you came to me because you would rather minimize exposing yourself, you might prefer not to reveal this information to anyone else.
[ Unbeknownst to him, he might be seeing his plans beginning to bear fruit; might be starting to understand the way she thinks, just that little bit better. ]
If it would make you feel more at ease, you could see it as an extended offer to keep things fair between us.
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I would need to think this over.
[ Again, she is startled by his seeming sincerity. And he obviously isn't wrong in his assumptions: not in thinking she finds trusting him difficult, not in thinking she may prefer to involve as few people as possible. It would be extremely convenient for the only person here who knows to be the one to teach her. Still, she isn't sure she likes the idea.
Her hands fold together on the table. ]
But why would you do this, Dimitri?
[ Unlike the agreement they have already made tonight, there is nothing in it for him. ]
And what would you consider repayment?
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This time, her questioning is easy enough to answer: ]
I would do this for any of my allies, temporary or otherwise. [ Sincere as ever, the same smile that never lets him lie. ] Although I think you might have misunderstood me; when I said this would be in the interest of fairness, I meant it would be a way for me to compensate you for having learned of such compromising information. You only felt compelled to reveal it due the circumstances of our battle, after all.
[ He reclines back on his seat, one hand dropping to his lap and the cat on top of it for idle petting. ]
At any rate, I do not expect you to give me an answer straight away. But I would be happy if you considered my offer in earnest.
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And if more creatures rose from the depths tomorrow she would immediately berate herself for her inaction in the meantime, but she still cannot bring herself to give an answer to this now. ]
I see your point, but I meant what I asked.
[ Does she understand him? No, she still does not, but in this case she is not -- to the best of her knowledge -- misunderstanding him.
If he feels as though she still scrutinizes him across the table as he pets Hugo, he is not wrong. ]
You put this as though teaching me to swim would be your self-inflicted punishment for learning something I only revealed in a dire situation. I suppose that is one way to think of it, but not the way I see it.
[ No, she has difficulty thinking of it in terms other than Dimitri having a front-row seat to her being so far from her best. Vulnerable.
It seems better to think of this as yet another tangible exchange. ]
I want to know what you would consider proper repayment for your time and effort if I decided to take you up on the offer.
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Punishment? [ The single puff of laughter that pushes past his lips is more puzzled than anything else, though there may be some amusement to the very dramatic shift this conversation has taken. ] Edelgard, you make it sound as though teaching you would be a chore. Truly, I would be happy to.
[ Not a courteous glad or even a measured content; he really does mean happy, whole-hearted and honest-- though he realizes a second too late that might make room for even more confusion. ]
I spoke only of compensating you, and yet you seem to be under the impression you would be in my debt while I would call that making us even. There would be no need to repay me in any way, I can assure you.
[ It's like they're speaking in two different languages, using two different measures-- and it doesn't slide by unnoticed, that slight hypocrisy that is him denying her repayment when he had once stubbornly refused to comply with a similar arrangement only months prior, but... Hmm. ]
But, if you would still insist on repayment-- [ His smile is still there, accompanied by a dust of pink over his cheeks. ] --I suppose I could accept some tea.
[ It's an admission of his own fault at the time, and a reference he would think hard to forget. ]
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Different timelines, yes, but how can he be so far from what she expected to come face-to-face with?
She's about say that that she didn't ask if there was a need to repay him because she is making it clear here and now that she sees one... but then he gives her an answer. For a moment she's so still that she's unblinking, and then for a fraction of a moment after that she looks as though she may let out a small laugh.
Ultimately she keeps her composure, but there is a hint of an upturn at a corner of her mouth. ]
And what kind do you prefer?
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At present, all that matters is that they seem to finally have come to a compromise, and even though he knows this is in no way a confirmation Edelgard will, in fact, take him up on his offer, a smile graces his features almost as easily as it would if he had gotten a straight "yes" out of her. ]
I am not particularly selective, and all the less so in a place such as this. But I am rather fond of chamomile.
[ He would be even more fond of having company to enjoy said tea with, but that much, he knows for sure would be too bold to say out loud. ]
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