victory_road | March Catchall [closed]

Cherrygrove is a lovely city and one Lorenz has grown quite fond of. More than that, though, it's been recommended that he go there for medical reasons as well. Something about the spa being able to show him some techniques to manage his symptoms. But he hadn't expected to have company for this little venture. Still he was glad not to be alone.

"I do hope you can find somethings to entertain yourself with while I am working with the massage therapist here, Ashe." He offers a small, almost guilty sort of half smile before sipping at his tea once more, plucking unenthusiastically at the bowl of fruit beside his breakfast. The amount of food he's expected to start eating on a daily basis is patently ridiculous, so far as he's concerned.

I know it has been clear to everyone already but I feel it is worth stating outright that certain symptoms that I have previously been able to manage easily with Faith magic are causing far more trouble here. After speaking to the medical experts here I have a rather extensive regimen I need to follow. If something happens where I need assistance Stephanie will have a backup inhaler for emergencies and be able to offer instructions as to what to do.

There is other information that I feel you should all be aware of. While this is largely only relevant to those of us from Fódlan To save any confusion or need to clarify things with others I thought it best to include everyone. I have attached a document that explains what seems to be a gap in our overlapping knowledge.

[And, as promised there is an attachment included.]

[Private addition for Byleth]
Professor. I wished to warn you before you read further that... much of the information included is in regards to those responsible for your father's death. You may wish to wait until you are alone or at least not in public before reading.

This isn’t the first time Grant and Felix have gone drinking - and used that as an opportunity to chat about their shared relationships with less risk of either of them getting self-conscious. This time, however, Grant’s got a secondary goal in mind.

Or… well, no, confessing to Felix is his primary goal, if he’s honest. It’s just that-- he can’t just jump right into that. Yes, he intends to say it as clearly and concisely as he can when the time comes, but there’s… something else that’s still concerning him, and he’s got to check that first.

So, once it’s clear that Felix is (unsurprisingly) not interested in small talk, he gets right to it. “I wanted to check in with you, in regards to… well, the rest of us starting new relationships, and how you're feeling about that."

He can't help it. Lorenz.... is pacing. A lot. The announcement and the subsequent call to action among the others in the house has him all but vibrating with anxiety. Not only are none of his pokemon even close to being of a level high enough to be useful.... the idea of getting rammed by another big angry bird is enough to have him freeze up. Not only the encounter with Sandalphon weeks back but the memory of Ladislava looming over him on her wyvern, suddenly blocking his view of Ferdinand and Byleth and-

He shakes his head, huffing a sigh and turning on his heel to head back into the kitchen. He can get more tea (herbal now, he's apparently been drinking too much caffeine) and find something to snack on to ease his nerves. Mister Whiskers barely twitches an ear in his direction as he leaves, only to very nearly run smack into Sylvain.

"O-oh! I- Apologies. I thought you'd have... gone with the others?"

Someone coming up to Felix and saying 'hey let's talk about relationships and feelings' is usually his cue to leave immediately, but...Grant would probably quietly implode thinking Felix is upset with him or something. Better to just get it over with.

So here he is, sitting across from Grant at a small table with a bottle of sake, a six ounce glass, and a plate full of spicy yakitori. He chews a bite of chicken and waits for Grant to say more, but after a slightly awkward silence during which no more comes, he swallows his bite and gives Grant a blank look.

"Why?"

Things are warming up, plants will be able to get started soon and it's no surprise that Dedue is out in the yard looking after some of his previously planted specimens. The thing is, with Dimitri and the others discussing a new location, somewhere with more room, he's not entirely sure of the details, Lorenz can't help feeling like poor Dedue is going to need more help. So after running through their morning drills and trying to have Safrano help teach Yuzu a few things about horsemanship... Lorenz is left contemplating the variance he's going to have to put into his approach with his new steed.

The differences between training a flighty, high energy saddle horse and a hard headed draft are... a new challenge for him. One he's actually rather excited for. But that means more bonding with the young mudbray and so Lorenz is going to hover outside for a time, watching Dedue work. Reminded of the times he'd do the same in the greenhouse years ago and blushing faintly.

"Is there anything I could assist with, Dedue?" He finally asks after a time, after he's rested a bit since running Safrano through his training and using the blasted inhaler to ease the tightness in his lungs after.

At least he's getting food and drinks out of it. That's got to count for something.

Grant honestly considered getting sake, as well, as part of him is tempted to try and get a little more buzzed for this particular conversation than he'd normally aim for - but, in the end, he decided against it. So, beer, as usual for him. He takes a drink before answering, and... well. He guesses he also should have anticipated that response.

"Because... it seemed to bother you back when we were talking about Zuke and all. And I know we pretty much came to an agreement there, and Dimitri's started things up with Dedue since then, but-- it's sort of stuck in my mind, y'know? I know I can't... undo what's already happened, if it's bothering you, but if it is I'd... I'd like to at least be able to get a better grasp on where you're coming from, and mitigate things going forward."

Felix's brow furrows. He still doesn't really understand why Grant is concerned with what bothers or doesn't bother him, but he agreed to sit and talk to Grant, so he supposes that's what he'll do. At least until he's finished his food.

Is it still bothering him? Honestly, Felix hasn't given it much thought since Sylvain's return. Not because it no longer matters, but because...well, it just hasn't really come up, and Felix has been a lot busier since then.

...wait a second. "Going forward. As in, you expect this to happen again. Tch, of course it will." He pauses to take a drink. "I don't see what my feelings on the matter have to do with anything."

Grant's breath threatens to catch in his throat. Okay. He knew it would be tough to talk to Felix about this, just... don't worry about it too much.

But he can't actually deny that he expects that, because... well. He's really trying not to lie here.

However. "...Because you're a part of this relationship. And you're my friend." He... he thinks he can safely assume that by now. "You should have a say - and if you don't feel like you have so far, that's a problem that needs addressing."

...huh. Felix didn't realize Grant was paying such close attention to him. Sure, he's been stepping in to make sense of things during group conversations recently - and Felix is both grateful and impressed - but he always figured that was mostly for Claude and Dimitri's benefit.

"It was a 'relationship' when it was just the five of us, as we originally agreed. It's no longer a 'relationship,' it's just...a bunch of people dating Dimitri and Claude, and occasionally each other." He shrugs. "And in that case, the only relationships my opinion matters for are my own."

Grant's brow creases, a sort of weight settling over his expression as he takes that in.

"...Felix, do you think that the rest of us aren't taking this seriously?"

This early in the year, there are a few hardy, weather-resistant crops that can be planted and still withstand the fickle spring weather, and the cold frames that he constructed before the frost set in have protected those plants that could overwinter. Dedue sets about reawakening the garden-- turning over the soil in preparation for sowing, opening up the cold frames to let in the spring sunshine. It's a different sort of work than what he had to do in the greenhouse; heavier and harder labor, the kind that brings a sweat even in cool weather. At some point during it, he'd had to strip down to his undershirt to avoid overheating.

At Lorenz's arrival, Dedue nods to him in acknowledgement, but otherwise continues with his labor. He'd seemed like he needed rest more than conversation, anyway, and thus Dedue was content for them both to continue as they were until Lorenz decided to initiate.

He stops for a moment to answer, sticking his broadfork into the soil and leaning against it.

"For now, much of what needs to be done is working the soil," he replies. "It is difficult labor."

Heavy enough to tire him, and he's of a far stronger constitution than Lorenz. Giving him a steel broadfork and asking him to till might actually kill Lorenz outright.

"It is nearly time to start seedlings, however. I will need to keep them indoors and transplant them to the garden later, once the weather is less volatile."

That would be far more Lorenz's speed-- less heavy lifting involved.

"What? No. You're obviously taking it seriously, otherwise we wouldn't keep having to sit around talking about it." Felix takes another bite of chicken, chewing and swallowing as he thinks. "But what we agreed to do last winter isn't what we're doing now, and it's ridiculous to keep acting like it is."

[The text comes a day or two after Felix's birthday. Most of the message is the selfie Sylvain obviously took.]

sylvain insisted that we send this right now
with the picture
so here it is.
we're engaged.
~~again.~~]

[Felix typed and then deleted that last line.]

oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
let me marry you! mbgood
i mean let me
let me do the marrying of you. together.
you know what i mean.
im so ha ppy for you!
congratilations!

ps do they m ake gloves ythat work betttr for texxt?

[And right under Byleth's response-]

Does this mean I will not officiate this time?

It's finally time. Not for the big one, no, but still a major step for Crookedkit. He's been talking it up all week, that he has something special he wants to do on the night of the full moon and he'd like for as many people as possible to attend. All that excitement has been coupled with a few prolonged absences as he's run off into the woods to make some kind of preparations, and now it's finally ready.

The spot Crookedkit has staked out is lovely, an underdeveloped section of beach that's tucked away slightly behind the treeline. He's enlisted help from his Pokemon in pushing a sturdy rock out into the sand, which is now where he stands with his back to the water and the moon above it. There isn't really anywhere prepared to sit on the beach, and all of Crookedkit's team is gathered up, Bluepaw laying flat on the sand and Needlepaw sticking her pointed snout out from among the waves behind him to watch while all his terrestrial teammates are already grouped up before him on the sand.

Standing on top of his rock and looking over both all his Pokemon and over everyone who took the time to humor him in the middle of the night, Crookedkit feels more than a little nervous, but he sucks in a deep breath and starts anyway.

"Let all, um...Pokemon and Trainers and Breeders awake right now gather beneath this rock for a special meeting!"

Already his heart sinks a little at the wording. No Tiderock, no Clan name to invoke...it will have to do, though.

He nods, slowly, and takes another sip of his drink. "Alright. I think... we might be working from different definitions, here. This is definitely different from where we started, yeah - but I'd still consider it a relationship. Just a more complex one. I suppose it might be more accurate to call it a network of relationships, but.. that isn't as succinct." He... sort of laughs, one of those brief little exhalations as he tries to cover his nerves. "When you said it wasn't a relationship anymore, I... got worried that you saw it as just a... a series of flings, basically, at least on the rest of our parts. It... sounded sort of dismissive to me, like you thought this whole thing mattered less because there were more of us involved. But... with that clarification, I can think back over it and see what you meant better. So... thank you for clearing that up."

Grant taps his fingers against his glass, putting his thoughts back together. "...I think we all do know that it's different from how things started out... or, at least, I do, and I'm pretty sure the others know too. But, if it hasn't seemed that way from your perspective, where'd we give that impression? Because-- your feelings on this stuff do matter; even if the impact the rest of our relationships have on you is indirect, it still exists."

Well its the 2nd time so we need 2 officiates, right? ;P

Edited 2022-03-15 18:15 (UTC)

[Internally, he is cringing at the informal nature of this announcement. Surely there should have at least been a request for everyone to have dinner together so it could be made in person? Formal announcements mailed to their friends that do not live at the house? Speeches? Something???

Felix making a speech. Okay, no, that's laughable. Maybe it's better (safer?) for everyone that they've done it this way.]

Congratulations!
It is wonderful that you've been able to come to that place in your relationship despite the strange setbacks this place has thrown your way.
I wish you all the best.

'Concongratilations' are certainly appreciated- Sylvain's laughing when he shows Felix the excited response before replying.

Thanks professor, we'd love to have you there. With or without the gloves. ;)

Edited (MOBILE HATES ICONS GGSI IS HONOPHOBIC) 2022-03-15 19:08 (UTC)

There we go, much better.

Sorry, I got so excited. I would be so honored if I could officiate- let me know if you need help with any organizing or planning. I am completely at your disposal.

I don't mind if Dimitri wants to! Or we could do it together! That way it's double official! Oh that could be fun!

[Felix snorts and shakes his head at 'double official,' but he's smiling while he types the response.]

yes.
both of you do it.
dimitri excelled at it last time
so you've got stiff competition professor.

[Felix, this isn't a competition...]

😸

[Yep, that's...the whole reply. Did Felix send this on purpose? Did Sylvain hijack his Gear? Did one of his cat Pokemon do it? The world may never know.]

March Catchall [closed]

Spa Vacation w/ Ashe

text for all adults; @rose_of_gloucester

for felix; sometime after Bird Crisis

Bird Crisis: Meanwhile, at the homestead

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HONSE for Dedue

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[Text] @the entire travel group (backdated to late Feb.)

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Naming Ceremony! OTA

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barges in

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