victory_road | [closed] May Catch All

Grant only halfway registers the question, at first, distracted with getting those eggs organized - so, while he answers, he's not fully paying attention. "Aah... well, people handle it a lot of different ways, depending... but, where I'm from, usually one person will offer the other a ring and ask them to get married. A lotta people like to set it up as part of a date night, or--"

He pauses.

"...Anything... bring this to mind?"

There's no way, right? There's only one reason he can think of that Dimitri would be asking him this, but-- okay, look, he's not getting his hopes up.

A ring.

When Grant looks up at Dimitri, he is staring down with Worrying Intensity at an egg. It was the same with Dedue as well - intent to marry represented by jewelry. And he's seen a few references to it in Johto, and Kanto, as well.

Did Faerghus just... miss something? Even though a knife seems so perfectly serviceable and can be as fancy as you like? Although knives don't work so well here, so he can understand, that, but - Dammit, Sylvain and Felix exchanged rings too. Is he old fashioned?

Give him a second, Grant.

...Or maybe have him just answer immediately, absent minded as he tries to rework some plans in his head. "Oh, well, I was thinking that I would like to propose to you, Claude, and Dedue, so I wished to know the customs. Why is it always jewelry..."

Oh. Hm.

He might just be thinking, but... Grant keeps a careful eye on him as he waits for some sign that Dimitri is... well, either okay or not. However, he doesn't have to wait long before Dimitri just-- drops that on him.

It really shouldn't be a shock, because, again: He could only think of one reason Dimitri would be asking him this at all. And yet, here he is. Grant hurries to set down the egg he's holding, just in case he... he doesn't know, loses his grip or something. "Y-- really? I mean, it's-- it's traditional, sure, but it doesn't... have to be jewelry if you don't want to do that."

"I do not mind it!" Dimtiri blurts out, just as much as in a hurry as Grant is, and he looks over to him with a wide eye. "It is just - apparently, with Dedue, it is a similar process back in Duscur, where the one uses jewelry as well, for proposal purposes."

Although thinking of that.... Dimitri sighs, and reaches up to rub at one earlobe. "Dedue used to always wear one earring in particular when we were still young, all the way to the Academy, that was apparently something his father crafted for his mother. It's beautiful - I still have it, as a matter of fact. But that is besides the point."

Right, focus, focus. Dimitri looks over at Grant with that big puppy eye. "Would you rather a ring, Grant?"

"Well, I mean-- a-anything is fine! I'm not... y'know, I'm not picky."

...Also, hang on, give him a second.

"You still have it?"

"Oh, yes, of course," Dimitri says, not quite realizing how this is sounding juuuuuust yet. "After all, it was one of the last things he gave me, before we were separated for those long five years."

Just remembering those times... The last he saw of Dedue... Dimitri falls a little more somber, gently cradling a leg in his lap. "Dedue was the one to break my out of my prison, when the war first started. He insisted I journey ahead, escape fully, and... entrusted me with that earring.

"I initially told myself I would return it to him, when we reunited... but then word was he had perished." Dimitri shakes his head. "It weighed on me heavily, that idea, and so I treasured that earring with all that I was capable of."

Even while falling apart and engulfed in rage.

"Uh... huh. I see." He sees.

He'd be more amused by the whole thing if it wasn't tied into that... whole, upsetting, traumatic mess. He reaches over to cradle a hand soothingly against Dimitri's jaw. "...That makes a lot of sense. I'm sure he really appreciates that you held onto it, too."

Automatically, Dimitri leans into that soft touch, and hums. "I offered it back, but he seems content with it in my care. I will have to make sure it is used properly." Sure, he could just hold onto it forever, maybe have something to display it in, but... Things are meant to be used, ultimately. An earring should hang on a person properly. He doesn't want Dedue to think anything less than that.

But still - Dimitri tries to pull his mind away from such memories and looks up at Grant. "At any rate, I would like to get you something proper and that you would like before I make the attempt, and I was not sure on your culture! If it is jewelry, then I will be sure to get you a fine piece!" A sigh. "And perhaps that is better, for a dagger is of little help here..."

Yes, he's talking about weaponry now.

"Hmm... if you want to get your ear pierced, I'm sure I've seen piercing parlors around."

He can't help a fond laugh - Dimitri is just... so... himself. So painfully, heartwarmingly earnest. "Hey, in theory I'm fine with a dagger - but I do get what you mean about wanting it to be something that has use here."

...A pause.

"Would you want a dagger?"

Honestly, Dimitri is certain that he will manage the ear piercing one way or another. It is important, of course, but also something which can be handled at a later date - and apparently at any time so long as they are in a city.

The question Grant poses is... a little bit more of a headscratcher, and Dimitri takes a moment to consider it.

"You know, in truth... I have never expected to receive a dagger of any sort."

"I've never really expected a ring, either." He smiles gently. "The question is, do you want one?"

He is, admittedly, not sure where he'd get a dagger around here - but he's sure he could commission a nice wooden one or something like that.

Oh. Well. He's really not getting out of this question! Dimitri's brain seems to do a soft reboot, with how he stares blankly a moment.

"I - well!" His cheeks begin to heat up. "I suppose I would find it delightful, yes. Charming." Tailored to his specific stupid nonsense very much.

Grant's eye lights up as his smile grows. He nods before turning back to his egg-sorting. "I'll keep that in mind, then."

Sounds like he'll need to start looking into local artists so that he can just. Completely destroy his boyfriend, like you do.

.......Wait.

Wait.

"Grant! Are you going to beat me to proposing?" Sir!

"Y'know-- I'm not sure! I guess it'll depend on how long it takes each of us to get what we're getting!"

He is just... trying so hard not to laugh.

GASP!!!!!

"Grant! Then you will have to get something for Claude as well!" Because obviously they can't just do this isolated. "He teased me about daggers as well, you know!"

"Oh-- absolutely, yeah!" He perks up, looking to Dimitri eagerly. "Have you talked to him about what they do in Almyra? What would he want?"

"Well-" Oh boy. Dimitri tucks some of his hair behind one ear, looking embarrassed about it. "We started to discuss some of it, but... He thought that perhaps I was overly rushing, for wrong reasons. So I think that conversation became somewhat... sidetracked."

Grant's brow creases as Dimitri explains. "Oh... man. I guess it's fair to want to take your time with something like this. ...How d'you feel about it? The... talk with Claude, I mean."

"I think... it went well," Dimitri decides, after a moment, nodding to himself. "We both brought up good points, in the end - thinks to worry about, to take into consideration. There is no doubt that we love one another, and no doubt that we would like to get married sometime in the future. But perhaps... It is too soon, with all that has happened."

Dimitri shakes his head, and turns a smile to Grant. "And maybe it will be all the more a pleasant surprise when we decide what to do."

[closed] May Catch All

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