victory_road | [closed] February Catch All

[ Eh. She gives a shrug. ]

Soda's not for everyone. It's good to try new things but there's nothing wrong with not liking what you try either.

I won't, but I will say that these cookies are really delicate. But I'm glad you like it! Matcha seems like something that'd suit you- that's the flavor. The cookies themselves are called macarons. [ A pause. ] Matcha is a type of tea, by the way. I think most tea flavors would suit you- people like to preserve the tea so the sugar isn't nearly so overpowering.

... In theory, of course. Not about to insist you eat stuff you don't actively care for-

I have a hard time imagining that soda is for anyone other than Dimitri, and he can't taste anything.

[He finishes the cookie and gives the box of them a wry smile.] Cookies made with tea, huh? Our old professor would probably like them. They were constantly taking students and faculty to tea. I don't know how they ever got anything done with all the teatimes they scheduled. Then again, I'm not sure they ever slept, either.

I do like tea. One of my favorite kinds of tea comes from Claude's homeland. I'd like to try this matcha tea sometime.

[ Yeah, you yell at that soda, old man. Still, the idea of not being able to taste anything is a rather sad one- food was one of the best things about living, in her opinion. ]

Teachers don't sleep, there's too many things to grade. Everyone knows that, Felix.

... I wonder if there's an equivalent for it here? Might wanna look into some tea sampler sets. For matcha, however, I'm pretty sure you guys are actually at the right city for it right now. The baker said they import it from Ecruteak.

[ ... Hm. Might be time to bust out the baking skills. ]

I feel kind of bad that I didn't even think to get you anything. But it's nice to see you again.

[And he'll never let Dimitri forget it, either!]

Heh. Byleth wasn't much of a traditional teacher. They were a mercenary until the Archbishop hired them to teach our class. I wasn't complaining--their sword skills and battle tactics are masterful. But we had a very different academy experience than Claude did. He was the house leader for a different class.

That's not a bad idea. If I can find something similar to Almyran pine, Claude would enjoy it, too.

[He blinks at her.] Why would you feel bad about that? It's a gift, not an exchange. And...likewise. While I'm here, we should have a few battles so you can show me what you've been working on.

[It's not just for the training, of course. It's good to see her in general. They've spoken via video a few times, sure, but that's never the same thing as seeing someone in person. It's just...easier to stick to what's familiar and obvious.]

Sounds like you really admired them.

[ Which is really saying something given that he's such a grump with high standards. ]

Ah- well. I've gotten things from several people today, and because they care about me. I didn't even think to do anything like that. Hell, I had to ask you if that even was a thing- it's. Embarrassing. Like I'm so disconnected from the concept of having people in my life that I don't know how to express it when everyone else does- even though I know it's not true.

[ ... Well that's enough of that nonsense. At his suggestion for battles she instantly perks up at the idea of something they know. ]

Oh! Yeah, that works. I wish I'd been able to do more...

[ girl you were sick and then doing a commission shut up. ]

I suppose I did. Still do. They're our army's tactician, now. It's...a long story.

[He hums, low and thoughtful.] When I was your age, I was the same. ...Flames, I sound like my old man. [He shakes his head.] I never used to be much for giving or receiving gifts. It seemed frivolous. A waste of resources and time. But...the more friends I allowed myself to have, the less frivolous it seemed. I prefer it to words.

[He thinks about Seteth again. Funny how those conversations they used to have keep coming to mind, here. Perhaps it's because in Johto, they've gone back to a time when there's room in their lives for more than war.]

It's pointless to wish you'd done more when you couldn't. Staying in bed while you were ill was the right call. Besides, didn't you say that painting was going to take time?

You mentioned a war. I'm not surprised, honestly. At the 'long story', I mean.

[ Still, she can't help but giggle when he gripes a bit. ('Flames' is an interesting curse- but eh. Every place has it's own.) It's interesting to think that his love language may be gifts, though-- ... wait. The shopping trip in Goldenrod- Oh. ]

It just feels... silly. Like of all people to not realize that rules can be bent, or broken, even for minor stuff like holidays, I'm the last to be told.

Well- yeah. But I can do multiple things in a day!

Mm. We're still at war. It's been over five years since it started. Though I suspect it's nearly over, one way or another.

[He smirks slightly.] That does seem strange. I would have expected you to do as you please, regardless of the rules.

[Then he shrugs.] In that case, make sure to train every day from here on.

... Back home, long before I Was born, we had two wars that involved every country on the planet- one was four years, and then one was 6. Even now though we're still hurting from it somehow. I hope you guys can recover faster.

[ She gives him a mock-offended look and paps his shoulder. ] Hush you! ... But, honestly? I think that with the circumstances of my last night back home and then my arrival here since, I've just been more... aware of them, I guess? And I've been trying so hard to steady myself out again that I've actually been behaving again because it's easier for right now. [ Not that it makes her feel any more like herself. ]

I will, I will. I think Blanca, Poppy and Freesia are close to evolving!

Every country? What a strategic nightmare.

Tch, I doubt we'll recover completely within our lifetimes. So much of Faerghus will need to be rebuilt. Three separate nations' worth of squabbling nobles will need incorporating into the hierarchy of a united continent. We'll still have conspiracies and Imperial sympathizers to root out, opportunistic bandits to get rid of...to say nothing of reforming the Church, restructuring the nobility, improving relations with neighboring countries...ugh. I can't believe I accepted the role of Dimitri's advisor for all this on top of managing my territory.

[Felix gives her a curious look.] What were the circumstances of your last night at home? Was that the same night you left your school behind?

[He nods in approval.] Good. Be prepared to reevaluate what you know of their capabilities. Most Pokemon learn new techniques when they evolve.

[ She listens solemnly, but doesn't respond- either because the true depths of the subject is intimidating, or out of a sense of guilt for her own destructive history and the problems she's caused, or something else entirely. It's... a lot to think about, after all. Not to mention the ramifications of even thinking about the World Wars... yikes. ]

Oh- uh... well. It was. That night, I'd been trying to get my team to take an assignment seriously- so we could move up in the world. Be taken more seriously as... well, criminals. But they kept slacking off, and that boy I told you about was buzzing all around and just... you already know all that. And my former idol tried to attack me for 'failing' her so... I fought back and cut ties with everyone. I wasn't even planning on stopping by our base- just... needed to get away from everything and everyone. Think for a bit. But he kept close just in case someone lashed out at me for it all. And.. to talk, if I needed it. And then... I was. Here? And I haven't had time to actually process anything.

[ And it's showing, hon. ]

Ah- right. I also want to make sure I look up what TMS Blanca can learn... it's a shame she can't learn Poison Powder though, or she'd be unstoppable.

[Felix nods. He's not sure he's taken the time to fully process the implications of their victory in Fhirdiad, either. It's hard when these things are so far away and irrelevant to the here and now.]

Perhaps this Pokemon god pulls people from significant moments in their lives deliberately. We were celebrating our greatest victory to date the night I ended up here.

[And, he doesn't say aloud, both Sylvain and Dimitri had been radiant that night. Weary, yes, but legitimately happy for the first time in what felt like forever, and Felix had noticed. Had watched them both. The fact that they were about to go to Claude's rescue, too, seems almost too coincidental...

But he has no way of confirming anything, so he puts it out of his mind.]

Fortunately, this place doesn't seem to have many rules.

[Then he snorts in vague amusement.] You sound like Claude.

Maybe. ... I just wish I had someone I knew too. [ Kid Flash, specifically- but the chances of that were horribly slim. But her former team would hurt too much, and she'd happily avoid the Titans for as long as possible if they ever turned up.

Still, his comment makes her laugh. ]

Do I now? Well, am I wrong? She can already paralyze, leech life or put her opponent to sleep- poison would just be the cherry on top!

Mm. [It's a noise of understanding.] If Sylvain hadn't already been here when I arrived, things would have gone very differently for me, I'm sure.

It would. Having a full range of options for changing strategies on the fly is important. Fortunately, Pokemon battles involve teams, so you can pair her with another unit who can poison the enemy and achieve much the same result.

[A small smirk appears on his face.] But Claude has an enthusiasm for poisons that would be worrying if I didn't know him.

I feel like an enthusiasm for poisons should be worrying in general, regardless of fondness for someone.

[ She stops her teasing to nod in agreement though- in an ideal world, status effects stacked. Oh well. ]

Oh- we got distracted. We were gonna go train, right?

Who said anything about fondness? Back at the academy, he used to talk about poisoning other classes' food before a mock battle, but he only made non-lethal poisons and he never actually did it. Tsk. It would have been a sure way to win if he had followed through.

[Is he disappointed that Claude didn't use underhanded tactics to win a battle he was on the other side of? Maybe.]

We were. Gather your team.

... I was more referring to the fact that you two are dating so hard that a cashier thought you were engaged, actually. But. Good to know!

[ It definitely helped separate him from certain thoughts- Kid Flash would never.
Still, she does as told with a laugh. ]

[closed] February Catch All

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[ good end ? ]