[At first, it was because it was such a change to a normally impossible to read face. Dimitri had mixed feelings about Byleth at first. Admiration, of course, for someone so skilled at tactics, at using a blade, but also a bit of wariness. Some suspicions could not be put down to the side so easily, not with his station being what it was, and with Byleth such an unknown.]
[So to see that smile, to know that there was nothing to fear...]
[And then to know that he could be there to see such a rare expression, to be there and perhaps in some way help Byleth feel such things...]
[That was perhaps overstating his importance to the grand role of things. Dimitri had always taken his feelings to be that of a childish crush, of someone's feelings of admiration mixing in with hormones, or some such thing. How much of an effect had he really had on Byleth's emotions, on if there was a smile or not? He'd always doubted himself, honestly - best not to saddle the Professor with such things.]
[Here, however... Here there is no doubt at all.]
[Byleth sees him and smiles as though he has gotten to see the moon for the first time, a ray of light in a dark sky, and Dimitri feels his breath be stolen away. When his professor steps forward, dressed in finery that feels dizzying to Dimitri, he cannot do anything else but stand there.]
[What else can he do, even as Byleth barrels into him and wraps his arms tight around his body?]
[Well, for starters, he can return the gesture, settling his arms around Byleth's back.]
Professor... [Perhaps a holier title would be more appropriate here, with how he is dressed. Yet it still feels strange for him to say such a thing. Not for his professor.] I... I am glad you are here as well.
[He didn't get the sweater out yet. Dimitri wonders if he should have done so first, before anything else. Anything to make Byleth warmer.]
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[At first, it was because it was such a change to a normally impossible to read face. Dimitri had mixed feelings about Byleth at first. Admiration, of course, for someone so skilled at tactics, at using a blade, but also a bit of wariness. Some suspicions could not be put down to the side so easily, not with his station being what it was, and with Byleth such an unknown.]
[So to see that smile, to know that there was nothing to fear...]
[And then to know that he could be there to see such a rare expression, to be there and perhaps in some way help Byleth feel such things...]
[That was perhaps overstating his importance to the grand role of things. Dimitri had always taken his feelings to be that of a childish crush, of someone's feelings of admiration mixing in with hormones, or some such thing. How much of an effect had he really had on Byleth's emotions, on if there was a smile or not? He'd always doubted himself, honestly - best not to saddle the Professor with such things.]
[Here, however... Here there is no doubt at all.]
[Byleth sees him and smiles as though he has gotten to see the moon for the first time, a ray of light in a dark sky, and Dimitri feels his breath be stolen away. When his professor steps forward, dressed in finery that feels dizzying to Dimitri, he cannot do anything else but stand there.]
[What else can he do, even as Byleth barrels into him and wraps his arms tight around his body?]
[Well, for starters, he can return the gesture, settling his arms around Byleth's back.]
Professor... [Perhaps a holier title would be more appropriate here, with how he is dressed. Yet it still feels strange for him to say such a thing. Not for his professor.] I... I am glad you are here as well.
[He didn't get the sweater out yet. Dimitri wonders if he should have done so first, before anything else. Anything to make Byleth warmer.]