victory_road | [closed] a very late catch all for november-december

[Felix only has gifts for some of the crew, because he barely knows Grant and has never met Karako.

For Chip, since Dimitri's already given them some swords: a sturdy leather (or whatever they use as fake leather in Pokemon world) belt that's a size or two too big, so it will ride low on the kid's hips like a sword belt. He's found some equally sturdy rope that he uses to create a makeshift "sheath"--it's really just a few knots and a loop big enough to slide the blade into but small enough to catch at the crosspiece. Felix invites Chip to a swordplay lesson and gives them the gift then.

For Claude: a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and--thanks to some instructions from someone at one of the stores in Violet--an app for his Pokegear that has a bunch of soothing nature sounds. To drown out this maddening, incessant music. He has developed, by now, a habit of occasionally just showing up at Claude's room to complain about something or ask for advice on random things, so he does that one evening after dinner and that's when Claude receives his gift.

For Dimitri: First, Felix hands him a little bag filled with an assortment of items that either heal or protect Pokemon from various ill fates. Then, with more hesitation, he also hands him a little square box. Inside the box is a silver cloak brooch, sturdy enough to hold a very heavy furred cape in place, shaped like a shield and etched in Fraldarius blue with the symbol of his House (and Crest).

(like this but without the ribbon):
fraldarius shield

For Sylvain: Felix knows how much Sylvain loves theater and the arts, and there hasn't been any chance to do anything like that during the war, so it's been a long time since he's gotten to enjoy that kind of thing. With a bit of research, Felix discovers these things called movie theaters that exist in every town. So, on the same night that Sylvain gives him his gift, Felix presents him with two tickets to see a movie in Azalea. ...he...sort of assumes Sylvain will want him to go along, but...he doesn't say so out loud. (Yes, Felix gave him a date for Christmas skdjfgs)

Edited 2020-12-17 04:13 (UTC)

[Sylvain has been waiting for Felix to get back from his own gift giving rounds. A small, wrapped bundle sits on his lap. He taps his fingers over it nervously, wondering if it might be too much, or not enough. Things... hadn't changed much since he'd bought it, but it still feels like such a bold declaration.

But it's too late now, he supposes. He was out of luck if he wanted to find something equally as thoughtful, yet somehow less presumptive.

He fidgets a little more, frown playing at his lips. He turns the gift over, and then over once more, before tilting his head back and sighing.]

Hurry up, Felix. [The walls probably won't tell on him for being bossy.

Probably.]

[Eventually, Felix finally returns to the room, though not empty-handed--he carries a drawstring bag sporting the images of Honedge and its evolutions in one hand.]

Claude never shuts up.

[He shakes his head, grumbling, but it doesn't actually sound like he minds much. He sets the bag down on a table and comes over to sit near Sylvain.]

What's that?

[Sylvain starts, having entirely not expected Felix to show up while he'd been mumbling to himself. Instinctively, his hands go to cover the present, abruptly deciding that he doesn't want Felix to see it, at all. It had been a mistake, and a foolish one that that.

But it's too late. Felix had already seen it, and Sylvain was doomed to this fate. Heat rises to his face as he shrugs and... simply holds it up to his companion.]

Just. Something for you. [He catches himself.] Not that it is supposed to sound as boring as that. It's a gift. But it's probably too much and you won't like it, so I can take it back.

I'll decide whether I like it or not.

[He takes the bundle from Sylvain's hands, still feeling a bit awkward about this whole holiday gift-giving thing. It feels annoyingly mushy and offensively transactional at the same time. (But he's genuinely touched at the various gifts he's received, including from people he did not expect gifts from at all.)

He unwraps the bundle without fanfare and unfolds the scarf inside, holding it across both hands so he can give it a good look. At first, he has no idea why Sylvain would have been so weird about it--it's a scarf, a very common gift among Faerghans. It's thoughtful and practical--just the sort of gift Felix likes. But after a moment, he realizes...oh, the scarf's colors. Oh. His cheeks turn pink. He doesn't look up when he speaks, too embarrassed at his own reaction.]

It's... [His thumb rubs idly over the soft fabric, and then he takes it in both hands and shoots Sylvain a mild glare, almost pulling the scarf closer protectively as though he expects it to be snatched away.] Don't you dare take it back.

Edited 2020-12-20 14:53 (UTC)

[Felix starts speaking, and Sylvain knows exactly where it's going to go. He cringes preemptively, waiting for Felix to throw it back.]

It's stupid, I know. But -- [And then Felix is speaking again, and... Sylvain is speechless. Of all people, Felix should know what a rarity that is. But the way he holds the scarf close, like something precious --

The burning in his cheeks only grows. Sylvain covers his face with his hands, humiliated over being so worked up over something apparently minor.]

You like it then? [He peeks up just far enough to look up at Felix, though his cheeks are still covered. Even without him actually wearing it, Sylvain can tell that it looks good on him. Fitting.] If you do, you should put it all the way on.

[Felix watches Sylvain act strangely, confused.]

What's the matter with you? I said don't take it back. Obviously I like it.

[This new, blushy Sylvain is something he's not sure he'll ever quite get used to. It feels like a little rush of adrenaline every time--that Felix could inspire reactions like that from Sylvain, of all people.

Also, that peeking is the cutest thing he's ever seen. What the hell, Sylvain, why do you have to be adorable and hot at the same time? Felix snorts with a small, fond smile and wraps the scarf around his neck.]

It's warm. [And then he pauses, tucking his nose under the scarf so he can breathe in its scent more closely. His face goes tomato-red. Yes, he'd recognize that cologne anywhere. Particularly after the...jacket incident in the woods.] ...and it smells good. [He mumbles, face still half-concealed in the scarf's thick folds.]

[As Felix's head ducks further into the scarf, Sylvain's inches further out of its makeshift shelter. He watches as realization seems to dawn on Felix's face, and a thrill shoots through him when he notices the blush.

If there's one thing Sylvain knows best, it's that words are easy. Anyone can say anything. As far as he knows, though, there's no way to fake a reaction as genuine as the one Felix displays now. It brings a gentle smile to Sylvain's face.]

I hoped you might say that. [He reaches up, hands seeking out Felix's. He carefully threads their fingers together.] Gautier red looks good on you. Not as good as Fraldarius blue, but... It's still nice.

[Felix clasps Sylvain's hand in return, finally pulling his face out of the scarf.] It's both. [As he uselessly points out this obvious fact, the seed of a thought plants itself in Felix's mind. Not a thought he's never had before, but never so clear and concrete. Both colors together, huh...]

Thank you. ...I brought a gift for you, too.

[With his free hand, he reaches into an inner pocket of his jacket and pulls out a little envelope, offering it to Sylvain.] Here.

Edited 2020-12-20 15:29 (UTC)

Huh?

[Maybe it's silly for Sylvain to not have expected something in return. But Felix was never a man for this level of forced sentiment. That alone brings a smile to his face -- he knows he's not special, not if Felix was visiting Claude -- but the thought that the time was taken to find something just for him leaves a pleasant warmth in his gut.

He takes the envelope carefully, opening it as if the paper alone were some precious thing. His smile is gentle as he pulls out the tickets.

There are few people that know about his interests, at least outside of women and knighthood. He's touched all the more that Felix seems to have remembered such a thing.]

There's two. That means you are free this evening, right?

[Felix wouldn't have given him two tickets if that wasn't the implication. At least, Sylvain hoped that was the case.]

[Felix watches for Sylvain's reaction, not because he thinks the gift will go over poorly, but because he's not sure if Sylvain has heard about these...movie things. But he seems to understand, which is good because Felix doesn't think he'd know enough to explain it properly. And that smile Sylvain's wearing...it's quickly become Felix's favorite one, in no small part because it's so new. He smiles too, glad not to have to explain that implication, either. One of many reasons he always feels so comfortable with Sylvain--they've known each other so long that he rarely has to explain anything he says or does.]

Obviously.

[With a free hand, Sylvain pushes some of his hair from his face. It feels so rare to see Felix smile -- that all of the most recent ones have occurred with him is all the more touching.]

I can't believe Felix Fraldarius asked me out on a date before I could ask him. [His laugh is that soft, sacred thing.

Standing up, Sylvain shifts over to his bag of clothing. He shuffles through it with a thoughtful frown.]

Afraid I don't have much to wear. I hope you don't mind.

[His laugh is a little louder now, even as he offers a knowing glance to Felix. He knows that the other man won't care.]

Tch. It's not a date. [Yes it is, and Sylvain's laugh makes Felix want to go kiss him right now. Instead, he just waits.] It would just be senseless for you to go by yourself, that's all.

[Felix rolls his eyes.] As long as you wear something, I couldn't care less. [Oh, there's that mental image again. Whoops. He gets up and moves toward the door to wait there, mostly so Sylvain won't see the lingering blush that accompanies that thought. He adjusts his new scarf and quietly inhales to smell the cologne again. He can't believe Sylvain did that. He can't believe Sylvain even thought to do it. ...but he likes it.]

There are plenty of other people in our group, you know. Maybe I wanted to introduce Chip to a beautiful, cultural experience.

[He thinks to reach for Felix, to steal a grateful kiss, but he's already moving. Sylvain huffs at the direction of his back instead, and then sets to digging around for something suitable to wear. He ends up with a button up shirt and the jacket of his usual outfit. The dark blue is at least close enough to Faerghus to feel comfortable.

He glances at a mirror and tousles his hair just so. Even if he knows that he doesn't need to look perfect for Felix, he still tries. As an afterthought, he reaches over and sprays a bit of cologne on himself as well.

When he finally drags himself over to Felix, he does so as gracelessly as possible. He drapes his arms over the other man's shoulders, a substantial amount of his weight onto his frame.]

I'm ready.
Alright, I'm ready.

Pff. The kid would sooner introduce you to the experience of kicking you in the shin.

[Felix makes an effort not to stumble under Sylvain's weight, instead turning to shove the man off him unceremoniously with a scoff--so, the usual. But then he just takes the sight in for a moment, looking him up and down. He's seen it many times before, of course--Sylvain going out of his way to look extra presentable for a date--but it was never for him before. And damn does Sylvain look good. (He always does.)

Felix moves closer to tug him down by the collar for a kiss.] Okay, I lied. It is a date.

You're probably right. [Sylvain makes a face. He can still feel the mostly chewed, still wrapped piece of chocolate if he thinks about it. But really, that's what he deserves.

He also deserves being shoved away. He starts to whine about it all the same, but... When he catches Felix's eyes on him, he decides against it. Instead, he stands up a little straighter, striking a pose beneath his partner's gaze.

It makes it all the more funny when he gets jerked down to meet Felix's lips. He certainly can't help the way he smiles into it.]

It's cute that you thought I was fooled. [Sylvain tilts his head up and presses a little smooch to Felix's forehead.]

Hmph. Get moving before I change my mind. [Felix heads outside, gladly taking the excuse of the cold wind to bury his nose in his new scarf and take Sylvain's hand (and then shove both their hands together into the pocket of Sylvain's coat), even if it's not that far a walk to the movie theater.]

This city needs a pond. This is perfect ice skating weather.

[Sylvain instinctively tightens his fingers around Felix's. His goal is to make the pocket unnecessary, Sylvain can keep their hands warm by himself. But even he has to admit that it's... kind of cute, having their hands positioned the way they are.]

You really want to see me hurt, don't you? [He juts his lower lip out in a pout. His attempts at ice skating over the years had been hit or miss. Sylvain himself is capable of surprisingly elegant movements. Unfortunately, he's also incredibly top heavy and finds it far too easy to topple over.]

[Felix gives him an unimpressed look at this pout. Sylvain would no doubt be aware that the romantic thing to say in this situation would have something to do with teaching him to skate, holding his hand so he doesn't fall, and so on. Instead, what Felix says is:] It's not my fault you never learned how to lower your center of gravity.

[Soon, they come upon the movie theater, which turns out to be another loud and colorful place that Felix wasn't expecting and isn't fond of, but he can endure it for Sylvain. Felix gets into an argument with the person at the concession stand about the outrageous prices, and then gets into another argument with them when Varley takes it upon herself to steal candy from behind the counter, but otherwise they've arrived with time to spare.]

[Sylvain just sort of... gapes at Felix. He gapes, at least until a sharp, foxlike smile spreads across his face. He leans down, over Felix once more. There aren't many inches separating them but... Sylvain is taking advantage of all of them.]

Just like it's not my fault you're so short.

[And just like that, he's sprinting off in the direction that he thinks the theater is in. He probably gets a little lost on the way, which is vengeance enough. If it isn't, the scene Felix and Varley make together surely is. It's tempered his mood, leaving him sheepish as he slides the necessary cash over, plus more.

It doesn't last long, though. As he leads Felix into the designated room, arm looped around his companion's shoulder, he can't help but marvel. The screen is like the one on his gear, only so much bigger.]

They put it on that, then?

Hey--get back here! Sylvain! [Felix runs after him, and when he catches up he's sorely tempted to shove the other man into the snow, but then they might be late for the show. Besides, Sylvain put effort into looking ~~disgustingly handsome~~ nice for Felix, so just this once he can be merciful.

He doesn't shrug off the arm around his shoulders, maybe surprisingly since they're out in public. He blinks up at the gigantic screen...not what he expected.]

Maybe. There's no stage, so I suppose that's correct.

[Felix wants to sit as far back as possible, but he won't grumble too much if Sylvain would rather sit elsewhere. It's his holiday gift, after all. Once they sit, Felix tries to munch on popcorn but makes a face at it--way too much butter and salt--and plops the bag onto Sylvain's lap instead. And then...then apparently they have to endure previews of shows other than the one they came to watch for what feels like forever.]

If the movie doesn't start soon, I'm leaving.

[In the end, Sylvain takes his time deciding where he wants to sit. He ends up close to the back row, but still a ways forward as well. It's comfortable like this -- not to much leaning forward or back to see the screen. He even gives Felix a grateful peck to the temple after they settle in.

Already, though, he can tell that Felix isn't exactly having the time of his life. The popcorn gets plopped on him, and while he picks at it, mostly he casts worried glances toward Felix. Those pause as the previews come on, and for the time being, Sylvain is enraptured.

He makes notes of the dates of movies that particularly draw his interest. After one, he reaches over for Felix's hand and squeezes it.]

You are writing all these down, right? These are all of our future dates, you know.

[At first, Felix stops paying attention to the previews because they're boring; why would he want to watch little bits and pieces of a disjointed story instead of the thing they actually came to see? After a few minutes, though, it's because he's watching Sylvain instead. A warm feeling tempers his annoyance, knowing that he was right in thinking the other man would enjoy this. When Sylvain takes his hand, he gives it easily, even if he groans quietly.]

I've created a monster. I'm not writing anything down. If you want to come back, you keep track of them. And they'd better not be all our future dates. As soon as I find a pond, you're skating with me.

[Finally, the previews end and what the screen calls the 'feature film' (whatever a 'film' is in this context) begins. ...and after five minutes, Felix has regrets. This is apparently the story of an unnecessarily enormous Pokemon called an Onix trying to join a squad of obnoxiously loud acrobats called 'cheerleaders,' rife with disgusting personal drama, terrible attempts at comedy, and slang he doesn't understand, and it is entitled 'Bring It Onix.' At least the acrobatic dances are interesting to watch...]

Of course not. [He leans against Felix almost too heavily, arm rest between them be damned. Right here, it's easy to let out a low, throaty chuckle without disturbing anyone else.] I am certain there aren't enough "movies" to fill up every night for the rest of our lives.

[Is it too much, perhaps, for him to tie themselves to one another forever? For a regular couple, maybe. But their eternal union has been written into their fate since they first spoke their promise into being.

This is only a reminder.

Still, he's silent after that, leaving Felix with the thought. His head rests on Felix's shoulder, enraptured by the show in front of him. It isn't the most sophisticated thing he's seen, but it makes him laugh and entertains him all the same.

He reassures Felix of that as often as possible by squeezing his hand, his leg, anything he can reach at the time.]

[Felix considers shoving Sylvain off of him again, but that chuckle so close to his ear gives him pause, and then the words more so. Every night for the rest of our lives. The thought has certainly occurred to Felix before--he even sort of vaguely alluded to it that night in the tent--but for Sylvain to just...come out and say this, so casually...Sylvain Gautier, of all people...

Felix stops paying attention to the movie entirely, then. The thought of 'the rest of their lives' feels like a heavy weight lifted from his shoulders (despite the literal weight of Sylvain's head--which he doesn't mind, since it gives him an excuse to rest his cheek on top of it and occasionally turn to bury his face in the other man's hair). Each day they spend together like this chips away at Felix's deep-seated fear that one day he'll lose Sylvain too. And if they really do spend the rest of their lives here in this world instead of back home...well, there are a few people he'll miss dearly, but other than that, he's not sure he minds the idea at all. No war, no constant anxiety over the possibility that Sylvain or Dimitri will die as soon as he turns his back, no dealing with the Gautiers and their Crests and their arranged marriages...no returning to an empty estate where Felix is expected to rule a territory that loved his father and is at best indifferent to him...

So he clings to Sylvain's hand and nestles as close as he can, and he listens to Sylvain's quiet laughter and decides he doesn't regret choosing this stupid movie after all. (Mostly.) And despite being plenty warm enough inside the theater, he never removes his scarf.]

Felix

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