victory_road | [Closed] Just Say You Do

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[Closed] Just Say You Do | April 10

Who: Team Femblemtroika + Jane, Kayo, & Zuke; and Carly as photographer (if you want! per this thread)
When: April 10
Where: On the beach in Olivine
What: #sylvixwedding

Today, 10 Great Tree Moon - or April 10, if that's more your style - a small section of beach along Olivine's coast has been rendered 'for private use only' for a time.

In Fodlan, Great Tree Moon is the beginning of the new year, coinciding with the onset of true spring. This wedding wasn't deliberately planned as a symbolic expression of this fact, but it's a happy coincidence that it is one.

Those gathered for the event today are a tiny group, by the standards of Kingdom nobility. If this were taking place in Faerghus, every lord and lady would have been expected to show up, bearing lavish gifts and false flattery on their tongues. Here, it's just a bunch of friends and partners, nothing more. And everyone present is likely to agree that this is much, much better.

[The subject line of this post is brought to you by the convention video of Sylvain's voice actor proposing in character to Felix's voice actor. It's amazing.]

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"Then you succeeded." Even though Dimitri knows that it is Felix and Sylvain's day above all else, he still leans in and presses a slightly salty kiss to Felix's forehead. "There is no doubt that you succeeded. One need only look at the two of you."

"Good." He studies Dimitri's face again. "Stress over your speech can't be the only reason for all this blubbering, though. You said it was complicated. No one else but me has said that today. So something else must be the matter. What is it?"

Edited 2021-04-25 07:35 (UTC)

Ah. Of course Felix would go for that. Reaching up, Dimtiri tries to wipe away any left over wetness. "I don't want to ruin your wedding today just because I failed at keeping my own emotions in check, Felix," he murmurs. "Nothing is the matter - it is a wonderful wedding with you and Sylvain looking the happiest I have ever seen you. That is all that matters."

Felix scoffs. "As if you could ruin this with a little waterworks. If I'm the happiest you've ever seen me, then nothing you say is going to be disastrous enough to change that. Besides, I already said it was complicated for me, too. I got my share of private emotions out of my system last night. I doubt you'll say anything I haven't already considered and come to terms with."

On one hand, Dimitri feels certain that he will say something and make Felix frustrated, or miserable. It happened so much in the past, where it felt like nothing he said was the right thing... But on the other hand, Felix may be right. Maybe he already has thought of what Dimitri is thinking about right now.

"I... wish others were here," he murmurs, gaze downcast. "Other friends. Other... family. I'm glad we are all here, but..."

He wishes there were more.

"Mm." Felix nods. "That's only natural."

He isn't sure exactly how to talk to Dimitri about this, though, or what's left to say.

"It's...I've been thinking a lot about...Glenn and my old man, during all this wedding planning nonsense." But, of course, there was nothing to be done about it, so thinking is as far as he got.

It's certainly... awkward. Still, Dimitri nods, and feels a bit of relief. So Felix really was able to think about them and... not be pulled too much into negative emotions. At least, not enough to affect the wedding.

What to say indeed. Dimitri swallows thickly. "Rodrigue... would have been glad to see you so happy," he tries. "You deserve this, Felix."

Felix glances aside and pushes down the kneejerk response, that it doesn't matter what Rodrigue would have wanted, and Felix didn't do any of this for a dead man, and that knowing his old man he would have made some speech that was ultimately about Glenn or the Kingdom somehow.

Felix does feel all those things, but he's also the one who wore ducal finery to a beach wedding as a nod to his father, one subtle concession he could bear to make. He's also the one who still to this day carries Glenn's iron spur with him on the march, even if he couldn't possibly explain why. And...

"I...suppose he would have. And yes, I do. Sylvain does, too, and my old man would have been glad for that, as well. If there was one thing he did right, it was doing right by Sylvain. ...I want to introduce you to someone. Wait here."

Felix gets up and wanders off, though he doesn't have to go any farther than the table where he and Sylvain sat for the meal; his Cubone is sitting there in his chair. He picks up the small Pokemon and comes back to sit beside Dimitri again, the Cubone in his lap.

"This...is Achille. ...he knows who you are." The Cubone makes a quiet sound that sounds like a coo and reaches out with a little hand toward Dimitri. To do what, Felix doesn't know.

Dimitri just nods as Felix speaks, unsure of what else he should say. It feels like a miracle, that bringing up Rodrigue didn't start up another fight... but it's true. For all the complicated relationship the two of them have had, Rodrigue was well liked by other people.... just like Felix. Dimitri thinks it's something the two of them have in common, although no doubt Felix would hate to hear it.

When Felix rises to his feet, Dimitri looks up with his brows furrowed. Introduce him to someone? But it's only all of their friends in attendance here...

Except then there is a small Cubone and - oh. Dimitri's throat closes up, and he can feel his eye sockets start to ache again. Gently, trying to keep his hand from shaking, he offers up a finger for the little Pokemon.

Felix doesn't watch them as the Cubone pats Dimitri's finger with a soothing motion and a low, quiet trilling sound, and then offers up his bone for Dimitri to hold, if he likes.

Dimitri may or may not guess that all this is happening because Felix told Achille the whole story of Duscur and the war and the battle at Gronder.

It has always felt Dimitri that everything about him is obvious, honestly. The worst parts of him, the bloodied and wretched parts... and his past most certainly, although that was never helped due to a live of always being looked at. Of course everyone knew about the prince of Faerghus. Of course everyone knew about the Tragedy.

So when the Cubone offers up his bone... Dimitri takes in a slow, watery breath just so that he doesn't burst into tears once again. There's Dean's hoof on his back, gently rubbing it, and that helps, a bit. Gently, tentatively, he reaches down to loosely wrap his hand around Achille's own, the bone with it. "Thank you," he says, voice drawn tight. He doesn't know what else to say.

Achille nods, patting Dimitri's hand with his free one, and sits like that for however long the king would like. Once he lets go, the little Pokemon turns to Felix and pats his arm, too, before he slips down to the floor and waddles off.

Felix clears his throat after a moment, eyes on the tablecloth. "Brandl is here too, somewhere. ...anyway, there's no use dwelling on who isn't here. Focus on those who are." He glances up and offers Dimitri his hand. "Dance with me, Mitya."

As Achille waddles off, Dimitri takes a slow and shaky breath before looking up at Felix. He really has been trying, and he wants to say that, but... maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe he can just focus on what's right in front of him.

"Is that all right?" he asks, reaching over to place his hand in Felix's. "Dancing with one of the grooms on his wedding day..." Sure, they are all romantically involved, but he still doesn't know the protocol on such hings.

"Pff. I say it's all right. Besides, Annette's already dragged both of us separately onto the dance floor."

Felix stands and tugs Dimitri along with him, taking up a stance that puts his partner in the leading position, for once; he knows that's probably the only way the prince of Faerghus was ever taught to dance.

It really is generally expected for someone like Dimitri to lead in a dance, both because of his station and because of his height. That's just how it is. If he knows anything else... Well, it's not apparent as he shifts into the position that seems to be expected of him.

Eye still a little water, Dimitri smiles. "She's really quite glad for both of you. Weddings seem to be the kind of thing she would be delighted by... and for two people she cares about so much? Even moreso." As the music goes on, Dimitri starts to guide Felix along the dancefloor - a waltz, for the time being. He knows Felix likes more exciting things, but he's starting slow for now.

Felix groans quietly. "I know exactly how glad she is. She can't stop telling me. When she first found out about the engagement, she literally knocked me over. It was an accident, but still." He narrows his eyes, even while his cheeks flush faintly at the memory. "And Claude, the traitor, just laughed at me."

He doesn't seem to mind the basic waltz, not with Dimitri. This dance was really just a way to get them both out of their heads and back into the present; it doesn't need to be fancy, as far as Felix is concerned.

For all that Felix complains... "You must have been quite glad," Dimitri comments softly, spinning with his lover in his arms. "You like Annette so much, after all. Of course the two of you would up in a position with each other, happy the other is happy."

Felix follows Dimitri's spin with an easy pivot and a backstep, pink lightly dusting his cheeks. "Isn't the point of having friends that you like them?" he mutters, as though Dimitri had accused him of something unusual. "Obviously it's better when she's happy."

And she makes everyone happy just by existing, so they're even. Or something.

Ah. It is always so precious when Felix gets soft like this. Dimitri had appreciated it, during the ceremony itself, but he's glad to see it all again as they float across the dance floor.

"That may be so," he agrees, "but I always thought Annette was a particular favorite of yours."

"I...what's that supposed to mean?" Why must Dimitri torment him? On his wedding day, no less? What a cruel lover he is.

Truly so very precious. Dimitri smiles, pulling Felix a little closer than would be seen as appropriate in a Faerghan event. "I meant what I said. You like Annette the most out of the friends you have - especially as you have just married one of your best." The position is now open.

"What are you talking about? What does marrying Sylvain have to do with my other friends? You're not making sense. I like Annette...a normal amount. Stop saying strange things."

Felix lets Dimitri pull him closer, though, and could not possibly give less of a shit about what's 'appropriate.'

Somehow, hearing Felix say the phrase I like Annette a normal amount is enough to make Dimitri wheeze in a sharp breath. It's only thanks to the old lessons he had on dancing that keeps him going with the steps.

"It's not that strange!" he protests as they dance. "This is a wedding where friends have gathered to celebrate!"

"Hmph. It is a wedding. And you're laughing at me on my wedding day. Isn't there some rule about that? Anyway, I don't know what you mean by all this nonsense about Annette. She's here, and that's enough for me."

Felix huffs, and his cheeks are still faintly pink, but he doesn't pull away from Dimitri or anything. Saying it out loud--'my wedding day'--drives the whole experience home all over again. He's...married. He's married to Sylvain. That in and of itself isn't a shock to his system or anything; in some ways he's been sort of married to Sylvain since they were children. But it's real now, more real than ever. Now, it's not just a private promise they made to each other years ago that they only allude to in quiet, serious conversations. Now these people have all witnessed it and it's just...true.

And Dimitri is here. Not just here, but fully present, acting as their friend, their lover, and their king. As he always should have been. That they were able to ask Dimitri to be the one to make their promise official--that Felix can dance with him here at his own wedding party and enjoy it--after everything feels a little like a miracle.

Felix smiles a little, which might seem incongruous to Dimitri, not being privy to any of these thoughts. "We've all come a long way, haven't we?" he says quietly.

"Yes, yes," Dimitri murmurs indulgently, gaze warm as he looks down at Felix. No longer alone with his thoughts, the absences that feel too noticeable, it's easier to just... glide along the dance floor. To not think of anything, but the way that Felix is so relaxed in his arms and inexplicably smiling.

Dimtiri feels glad he can be alive for this.

He'd assumed Felix to be smiling because of Annette, or Sylvain, so it's quite a surprise when he speaks up. "I... suppose we have," Dimitri murmurs. "No war, no responsibilities to anyone but ourselves."

And Felix will look at him, and smile, and allow him a dance.

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