victory_road | September Catch All [closed]

Listen... Dimitri is well aware of the bellsprout kigurumi. That is exactly why he got the ditto apron. He can think of no one who would use it better.

In multiple meanings of that phrase.

But that is the farthest thing from his mind right now as Dedue looks over to him, asking that question, and Dimitri perks up. "Far from it, my dear!" he exclaims, and finally unwinds his arms from around the pot to offer it out to Dedue. "I hope that it is something... you will view fondly."

In all honesty, Dimitri is somewhat worried on this one in particular. It shows, perhaps, in a slight tremble to his hands, which he does his best to hide once the pot is free from his grip by way of clutching them together on his lap.

Once free of its wrappings, the pot is revealed to be quite detailed. It is carved out of wood, of course, which is not entirely surprising considering Dimitri's constant attention to the hobby of woodworking. Yet that has, for the most part, been restricted to simpler projects. If there is anything intricate, it is often in his toy weapon making, offering more detailed handles or little designs along the blades. Otherwise, he has often stuck to little figurines of different Pokemon.

Yet all across the outside of the pot is practically a small story, held inbetween two different patterns curving along the top and bottom sections of it. Both those sections are carved and colored in familiar Dusci patterns, brilliant teals and pretty yellows or oranges.

But the stretch of images along the middle? Those are different. Those are basic figures - so basic that they do not even bear expressions carved into their faces, only simple shapes.

A child with dark skin and moonlight pale hair. A boy with sunshine yellow hair in a mop about his face. They stand together, hands so close that it's clear they're holding onto each other. Another pair of figures are not far along the curve of the pot, the black of Garreg Mach's uniforms impossible to miss as they pose together, the broader of the two in the back with an axe raised in one hand and his companion before him with a lance readied, both facing the right as though a unified pair.

The image after that is perhaps incorrect on some details - Dedue has not worn the armor he had on when he reunited with them so long ago, and Dimitri had only seen it but for a few nights, if even then. And yet there the two of them are, one in bright silver, the other in night pitch armor, reaching out for another, their weapons to the side almost as an afterthought.

Then, at the very end... Both of them together. No armor. No weapons. Just the comfortable and peaceful clothing of this world, both of them facing each other in what is presumably a kiss with how they press their faces close.

And from there, it begins again.

As Dedue holds it in his hands, he may notice that the wood has clearly been treated with more than merely paint, but rather some sort of lacquer that keeps the wood smooth, protected. Hidden behind that layer, the colors shine without fear of the world dimming them.

Dedue unwraps the parcel carefully, once he has taken it from Dimitri's trembling hands. Delicately, of course, as befits a treasured gift from his cherished prince. He expects a pot of some sort, just based off of the shape of it, though the truth of it is far more sentimental than that word could ever imply.

It is precious beyond measure. Dimitri has gained skill in his woodcarving hobby, but this is more than just the sum of his ability-- it's them. The two of them, their history, etched indelibly into the wood.

He turns the pot in his hands, to view the images in chronological order. Sees first the two of them, children clinging to each other in the aftermath of their terrible meeting, and gently caresses the yellow mop of carved hair, its shape a simple but nostalgic representation of the hairstyle that Dimitri once wore. He can recall Dimitri's face as it was then better than he can remember the faces of his own family anymore; the figures don't need to have features for him to know what they should look like. The next image, years later, of them in their monastery uniforms, Dedue standing vigilant as His Highness's shield. Aligned in purpose, in action, an inseparable pair.

It is the next two images, though, that strike his heart most keenly. Their reunion at Myrddin had not been quite so sweet as this depiction implies, but the soul of it is there-- of two halves of a single whole, brought together again. Everything that Dedue had to endure, the captivity under Cornelia and the long, arduous process of healing from his wounds, was worth it for that moment that he saw Dimitri again. Had Dedue's sense of duty been any less, he might have done exactly as this carving portrays and thrown down his weapon the moment that danger had passed to instead go to His Highness.

And the last. Love finally realized in its fullest. Something that could only exist in this peaceful world, united in a manner that would be scandalous in the very lands that Dimitri would one day rule.

Turn again, and back to the beginning. Endless.

"It is beautiful," he says, and there are holy relics that are not held so preciously as his hands hold this pot. "I adore it."

He reaches out with one hand to draw Dimitri in, then, to press a kiss to his beloved brow and to that unruly yellow hair. To hold him and press his face against the crown of his head, for lack of the words to describe how this gift has moved him.

Dimitri's heart pounds violently somewhere within his throat, and nearly threatens to leap from his mouth wholly whenever Dedue so delicately turns the pot. He knows that he is not the most skilled of woodworkers just yet, not with the sorts of things he has seen in crafts fairs and online and the occasional show he watches at two in the morning when sometimes he just has to randomly wake up. But he has put a great deal of effort into it, staying up even into the morning for those final touches to dry...

He so desperately wants Dedue to like it.

So when that hand lights upon his shoulder, those lips to his brow, Dimitri lets out a breath and laughs. "Oh, I could not ask for more, then, Dedue. I am so glad you like it. It is even suitable for plants - I made sure to make sure to take care of the wood appropriately!" Tilting his head back, Dimitri smiles at him. "I love you... so I wanted to give you my all."

Is it possible for anything that Dimitri makes for him with care and consideration to ever be displeasing to Dedue? Even had this pot not turned out as well as it did, if there were mistakes and blemishes on it, he would still love it dearly as something that Dimitri had made for him with his own hands.

Before he had arrived in this place, he'd had a handkerchief that Dimitri had once attempted to embroider during his lessons with Mercedes in needlework-- it had been a bit threadbare after being kept for so many years, and the pattern that Dimitri had tried to sew into it was... perhaps supposed to be sunflowers? But despite its inexpert execution, Dedue had loved it dearly.

"And I, you." He loves Dimitri, always, with the entirety of his heart. "I will have to find something worthy of being housed in such a gift."

He couldn't put just any common plant into a gift so painstakingly crafted by his love, after all.

"Thank you, Dimitri," he says, and kisses the crown of his head again. "It is a wonderful gift."

"Anything touched by your hands would surely be worthy," Dimitri says with a chuckle, head tilted back as he just soaks in the affection. If he is spoiled like this, then he might think himself to be the one whose birthday it is instead.

"I look forward to seeing what the others gift to you." He laughs, just slightly. "I would not be surprised if there were to be a confession! Although perhaps that would be in bad taste..." Ah, although that has him pause, and he glances up at Dedue. "Although, I never asked if you ever held such romantic interests as I do, Dedue..."

Probably something he should check in on, before he makes jokes on such things.

Dimitri could have such affection from Dedue whenever he desired it-- he wouldn't have the heart nor the will to deny him.

But on the topic of others... he had met with Byleth earlier this morning to receive his gifts, and had received more than he had anticipated. It's almost uncannily opportune that Dimitri brings up this kind of topic only a short while after the issue of courting initially made itself known.

"I confess that I have given little thought to the subject. My heart has always been yours, and I did not consider that anyone else could share it. Nor that any would desire to."

He knows that Dimitri has many opinions on that, but Dedue still had always planned on remaining solely at his king's side, devoted only to him. And he could have been content with that, even without the possibility of anything romantic between them.

"And I would not wish to be unfaithful to you."

Nothing that Dedue says is truly surprising; Dimitri knows this in his heart of hearts. Their situation was not a kind one, although it was cruel in very different ways for the both of them. For Dimitri, he knows he never truly thought of love or romance for himself while the burning revenge of the dead still crackled against the back of his neck. For Dedue...

...There is nothing that Dimitri loathes more, almost, then how much his own country disappointed him, and he can only really leave it at that before saying anything else.

Still, perhaps a part of him had hoped that Dedue could think on such things. Wonder it, perhaps, although another little part of him is pleased to have such attention for himself. Hypocritical, he's sure, and unpleasant to linger on to boot.

Much easier is to laugh a bit, and Dimitri glances at him with warmth in his one good eye. "Oh, so you find me to be an unfaithful lover to you, Dedue?"

Dimitri could have all of Dedue's attention with only a word or a glance. Even if he opens his heart to others, that will likely never change-- Dimitri is important to him in a way that no one else could equal. Perhaps it's a product of their shared hardships, or perhaps Dedue would always have felt this way, even if they had met in less dire circumstances.

He laughs at Dedue's concern for fidelity, teasing him-- not unkindly, though. It is a topic that Dedue believes deserves due consideration, however, considering the nature of their situation.

"No, of course not," he says. "I was fully aware of your other lovers when our relationship began, and my feelings about it remain the same. But I did not have any other attachments, and thus it would not seem right for me to accept another's proposal, even if I did have an interest."

Dedue knew about all of Dimitri's paramours when this started, so there could be no infidelity. But Dedue had no paramours, so adding one in now, when that was not the situation that Dimitri had agreed to, feels wrong.

"I do not know much about how conventional relationships work, nevertheless ones that are more... complicated. I do not wish to cause harm to you or anyone else involved due to my carelessness or negligence."

There must be some way to include new people, he supposes, if Dimitri could start dating him without objection. Or had he been so readily accepted because the others had already been aware of their longstanding feelings for each other? He isn't sure, and it had never seemed like it would ever be a problem before this morning, anyway.

Of course Dedue must always put himself to a different standard than the rest... even when no one else expects it of him. Dimitri leans against him, taking in the soft steadiness of him. Steadiness that kept him going through so very much...

"I shall not give names, for it is not my right," he says, "but this relationship of ours, spanning across so many tender hearts, is not a static thing. Some have fallen or become intimate with those outside this little space of mine. Some have broken their relationship, for now if nothing else, while others have approached and been rebuffed. If someone was so deserving that they could catch your attention... Then there is no one who would object to it."

A pause.

"Well, of course, we try to keep one another updated on such matters, but... Well, Felix has made it clear that he hates large group discussions on emotions. So I suppose as long as you merely tell me if you learn to have any feelings for another, that is all that one could ask for on our own end."

It's not like Felix would care to hear about the details of their love life.

Still, Dimitri has to shake his head. "Of course, I do not want to pressure you in any manner, Dedue. I simply wish... to let you know that you have more freedom than you may think. If it is what you want to do, then I would not be upset. If it turns out that you never catch feelings for another... Then that is just as fine."

Dedue supposes that he isn't surprised that Felix despises any kind of long, honest communication about his feelings, since he seems quite intent on insisting that he doesn't have any except anger and irritation. But it seems reasonable enough to manage the logistics of polyamory by maintaining good lines of communication between the relevant parties. Since that would involve himself and Dimitri at this juncture, informing him of any changes that might occur on the relationship front is doable. A definitive course of action. Dedue does prefer to have clear and actionable expectations. He knows what to do with those.

"Understood. Though even if I were to take another lover, I do not think that they would ever occupy the same place in my heart that you do."

Nor would he necessarily want them to. This does, though, also segue well into something else that he should bring up with Dimitri, about events that only just happened earlier this morning. It's barely sun-up and his day has been surprisingly busy.

"I suppose that this is as good of a time as any to tell you of the conversation that I had with Byleth earlier this morning. After delivering his birthday gifts for me, he expressed a desire to court me."

It's still a strange thought, for him to be courted. He is no dainty noblewoman who must, for propriety's sake, be plied with flowers and love-letters for a prerequisite period of time before being allowed to hold hands with her beau in the presence of a chaperone. The idea of Byleth going through any of those intricate steps for him might almost be laughable.

While perhaps it may be greedy of him... Dimitri still feels something warm and tight twine about his heart, and he presses a kiss along Dedue's strong jaw. "And no one could replace where you lie in my heart either," he tells him. "We love one another for who we are to each other, not for any other reasons so shallow."

The way he loves Dedue, for example, is different from how he loves Felix, or Claude, or Grant. A strange feeling, perhaps, and yet... natural to him.

Dimitri barely has time to settle back into his seat before he jolts up at the news. "Byleth did!" he exclaims, before a small and pleased smile leaps upon his lips. "I always knew the Professor to have excellent taste..."

Someone in the damn world needs to.

Although... That is besides the point, and Dimitri pauses for a moment as he regards his lover. "So... What was your response?"

Dedue tips his head to allow Dimitri to have better access to his face, to press his kisses as he will. Each one is dearer to him than benedictions from saints.

He doesn't think, though, that he'll ever get used to how Dimitri becomes excited at the prospect of another man showing interest in him. Most men would become jealous in such a situation, not pleased about their potential metamour's taste in partners.

"I did not give one," Dedue replies. "I asked him to wait. How could I provide him with a response when I had yet to discuss such things with you?"

He couldn't tell Byleth that they could be in a relationship without knowing that it wouldn't be offensive to Dimitri for him to do so, regardless of how he felt about Byleth. The mechanics of the arrangement that they're all in makes it easier, of course, since it is possible for him to have his metaphorical cake and eat it, too, but if Dimitri had desired monogamy from him, he would have been inclined to oblige.

"I am not yet sure what my answer would be. I will need to think on it."

Sensible, of course, as could only be expected, and Dimitri nods.

"Of course. In that case... Dedue, I can only tell you one thing, for your heart is ultimately your heart, and you know it best, along with all its limits." Another soft squeeze of his hand, so delicate that it could very well not exist to some level. "There is no wrong choice here. If you think you cannot fit another into your heart, that is fine. If you think you could, but it is not Byleth, that is just as acceptable."

Another kiss, since Dedue so kindly offers his face to him. "So think for as long as you like, my marigold. There is no rush to these things."

One last kiss, and a smile. "Then... shall we get to the gardening?"

Sensible, yes, as Dedue is in most things.

"Thank you, for speaking to me about this. I had been curious as to how a relationship of this scope would function, but it did not seem appropriate for me to pry too deeply."

It was a part of it that he had, after all, not really been a part of. Since he is only dating Dimitri, he's more of an off-shoot of the polycule rather than truly inside of it; a metamour, a lover-of-a-lover. It didn't seem right to ask too much about how people that he wasn't directly involved with handled their private business.

Now he is a little more informed, at least, and has an idea of what he can do within the set boundaries.

"I will inform you when I have come to a decision." Dimitri would, of course, be first to know. Dedue accepts his kiss, returns it, and straightens to his full height again.

"Of course," he says. He always enjoyed Dimitri's company in the gardens. "I believe some of your weeds look ready for harvest."

"Oh, are they really!?" Dimitri is perhaps maybe a little too excited, which says a lot about his priorities and experiences in life and that the crown prince of Faerghus has some really weird habits. Still, he is quite eager, rising to his feet right after Dedue.

Of course, there is just one thing, and it has him falter a moment. "Of course, it is still your birthday. We can focus on any of the other plants, if you would like. The weeds, I understand, are purely an indulgence to me." The strangest indulgence in this entire house, possibly, and the house has a gaming room for a rat and a basement for potential werewolf transformations.

Yet ultimately Dimitri will follow Dedue's lead in this, much like Dedue follows his lead when it comes to this complicated web of a romance. One he brings up again, shortly.

"And Dedue... You are a part of this relationship as well. If you wish to ask anything, then you need not hold your tongue. I am here, as are Grant, and Claude. There is little that you could do which would burn a bridge to ashes, not with us, not with this."

September Catch All [closed]

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