9 years old Dimitri had the biggest wholesome crush on Sylvain's mom and would do anything to impress her: bring her flowers, ask her to watch him spar, have tea with her, playing the violin for her. He even asked her to marry him once!
Dimitri looks back at it with much embarrassment, and gets upset whenever Sylvain uses it against him.
"Sylvain you can't court Manuela, she's a teacher! And she's much older than you are! "
"Oh sure, I can't innocently flirt with the professor but you get away with trying to marry my mom!"
"It's been 8 years, SYLVAIN LET IT GO!"
CUTE!!
Sylvain: Rhea's definitely a beauty.
Dimitri: Please control yourself.
Sylvain: You're right, I should approach cautiously. Maybe pick her some dandelions or play "Hot Cross Buns" on my violin.
Dimitri: Sylvain--
Sylvain: Know anyone with more tips on how to woo mature women? ;)
Dimitri: SYLVAIN >////<
Imagine after Dimitri gets engaged. Sylvain gives him this big hug of congratulations and says, as if doing Dimitri a favor, “I’ll be sure to break the news to my mother gently.” And it’s the most hateful glare Dimitri has ever shot someone in his life.
Bonus points if the person he’s engaged to is Sylvain.
my mom does that too (she's Southern Italian, Sicilian to be precise)! I've been sick the last few days and she's been feeding me the world. She does that with everyone that comes over, hell she bakes a whole ass cake on top of the unholy amount of food she's already cooking whenever my bsf comes over! Southern Italians have a long history of discrimination, even in their own country, and throughout history they've always been kept more ignorant and poor compared to the Northern Italians, so I'm pretty sure it tracks back to that.
Oh hey! More support for my "thesis" lol. I'm sorry you're sick, but that's so lovely! There's nothing so sweet as watching a Mama bird bustling around like that. There's so much love and pride and self-esteem that goes into that work.
And yeah, as I was saying in my tags, it makes sense to me that those who have historically been traumatized by privation as a community end up with food as a love language. Like there's some kind of cultural assumption that ties distress to hunger and scarcity. I think that's what this over-the-top behaviour – hospitality, generosity, lavish celebration, harsh punishment, religious devotion – is all about. It's the ritualistic reassurances of a people all too aware of how even the most basic of securities can be ripped away.
I also think it has to do with how reliant marginalized communities are on kinship and family networks. Safety and survival means keeping your children and your children's children close, and the whole community acts as one to care them. So there's this sense that children don't really grow up within the circle of hearth and parental warmth. Objectively we are adult with complex emotions and problems, but within the homestead they're read very simply. "Why is the child crying? They're probably hungry." And the comfort takes the form of soothing an ancestral fear, like "look, there is more than enough food. Our people are strong, and so will you be. As long as we have each other, you will never go cold or hungry and alone. You eat until you know that. I love you."
What happened with Flayn after she showed up to Garreg Mach?
For security reasons, you must understand I can’t disclose details. The simplified version is that, as I suspected, the professor somehow became aware of her presence and the two shared an audience. The Imperial leadership was in attendance as well, which is to say myself, Ferdinand, and Her Majesty. Negotiations took place to the mutual but mild dissatisfaction of all involved, and Flayn was permitted the freedom to leave unharmed if she so wished it.
Time has yet to tell what her decision will be where that is concerned. Suffice to say the war may end sooner than expected, with notably less bloodshed at that. If we play our cards correctly.
If you have time, can I please ask for “kiss at dawn” for Petra x Claude?
(still challenging myself to work through my nearly year-old backlog of prompts. Sorry for the wait!)
There was a faint creak outside Claude’s dorm window. The sound roused him right away, one hand already gripping the dagger under his pillow. He lay still for a few heartbeats. Listening.
Another creak. A tap at his window. A faint mumble in a language he didn’t recognize. Claude sat up as the words registered in his sleepy mind, his panic already fading. Muffled as it was by the glass, he recognized that voice, and it belonged to no assassin.
Sure enough, Claude spotted a familiar face on the other side of the window. They locked eyes with him. He waved with the hand not still clutching his dagger. Crossing the room, Claude undid the lock and slid his window open with a, “Rough night, Petra?”
Petra sat balanced on his windowsill with ease that belonged to a songbird. “I am sorry for waking you,” she said, as if appearing outside his window in her sleep clothes was mildly rude instead of downright strange. “My target is the roof.”
“What’s on the roof?”
“Nothing is there. I want to be there.”
Claude considered this. “Alright. I’ll come too.”
Petra laughed. “You cannot even be climbing trees! Climbing to roofs has more difficulty.”
“I guess that’s true. Then why don’t you make my room your target instead? We can talk about what’s wrong.”
Petra’s smile faded. Just behind her, the sky was tinged green, caught between night and dawn. “What has you thinking something is wrong?” Petra asked, eyes not meeting his.
Claude shrugged. “Up at odd hours. Climbing buildings. Doesn’t sound like the Petra I know.” Stowing his dagger on his nightstand, Claude leaned over the window frame, cool evening air hitting his face as he watched Petra.
“I was... having good dreams tonight. Dreams of home. When I have those, I always wake with sadness.” Petra ran her fingers down her braid, rubbing the end between her thumb and pointer finger. One leg swung absently under the window and made Claude wonder how far the fall was to the first floor. “The roof is a good place for thinking,” she finished.
“I see,” Claude said thoughtfully. The roof wouldn’t have been his first choice, but he understood wanting privacy when you’re feeling vulnerable. “Tell you what. Join me for breakfast in a few hours. I’ll have some strong tea ready for you.” He smiled. “Can’t have our newest Deer falling asleep in class, can we?”
Petra’s lip quirked up and her eyes softened. In fact, if Claude were an obnoxious poet like Lorenz, he might have said they shined in the predawn light. “I would be liking that grately.”
“Sorry to interrupt your climb.”
“Sorry for making my climb over your window.”
“It’s fine,” Claude said. “If you’re ever too tired to get to the roof, you can always stop in here. I’ll just be really quiet and let you think.”
She laughed. Before Claude could take pride in that, Petra closed the already scant distance between them and placed the lightest of kisses on Claude’s unprepared lips. “You have my thanks,” she said with a grin. Getting gracefully to her feet, Petra reached above Claude’s window and hoisted herself up. Then she was gone.
The sun was struggling into the sky by the time Claude’s mind returned. He shook his head, ducked back inside, and shut the window. The roof might be Petra’s preferred place to think-- but Claude got a good amount of thinking done in the few hours before breakfast without moving from his bed.
I saw your posts about trans Felix and then an idea popped into my mind: trans Glenn MTF. She had never told her father about her feelings so, when she was sent to protect the King in Duscur, she actually survived and became a wandering mercenary under her true name. Glenn may be gone, but Gwen is still here.
GWEN FRALDARIUS!! ALL HAIL.
At first she plans to just recover from Duscur. She needs time to heal before making the journey home (perhaps she should go to the castle and check on what remains of the royal family but. she can't face Dimitri rn. poor kid.)
But then she hears that the Kingdom is actively attacking the people of Duscur, with many Kingdom citizens/lords cheering on the murders and planning to the take the land. That's when Gwen loses her love for the Kingdom. She cannot serve people-- lords and dukes and her own father-- who can let this happen to innocents.
Once her wounds are healed, Gwen begins wandering. She picks up small jobs for money before joining a mercenary group. No one cares she's a woman, no one cares that her cloak sports a tattered symbol that looks a little familiar, no one cares that she sometimes has nightmare about her near-death. They're just happy she can swing a sword.
In fact, the mercenary company lead by Jeralt treats Gwen really well. She even gets to train Jeralt's kid from time to time.
When the company leaves to relocate to Garreg Mach, Gwen disappears before they even get out of Remire. She's grateful it was dark when the House Leaders showed up and Dimitri was too distracted in the village to recognize Gwen (though, she has changed quite a bit from what he knew as a kid).
Gwen knows Felix would be at school by now if Dimitri is attending. She feels guilty for leaving her family, guilty for leaving her Prince and her knights, guilty for letting people think she'd dead. But these past few years have been filled with such freedom. It's hard to regret her choice.
And so Gwen goes off on her own again. Takes on a few mercenary jobs. Wanders Fódlan but keeps an ear out for news surrounding Garreg Mach. Miklan really stole the Lance of Ruin? Idiot. Hope Sylvain is doing okay. The Blue Lions won the Battle of the Eagle and Lion? That's cool. Wonder how well Felix fought. The ball should be coming up soon right? Those were good times. Maybe Ingrid found a date.
The Empire did what and is attacking where?
Garreg Mach falls and it's the first time Gwen seriously considers going home. Everything surrounding Dimitri's 'execution' is fishy at best, however, so Gwen goes searching. And searching and searching.
Until the trails ends right at Garreg Mach five years later. Gwen finds the whole of the Blue Lions class and (? unaged??) Byleth in the middle of realizing Dimitri’s alive. Dimitri who barely pays this strange swordswoman any attention and goes back to muttering to himself.
But Felix knows. Felix stares. So does Sylvain. So does Ingrid.
Especially when Byleth smiles and goes over and says, “It’s good to see you again, Gwen.”
You can’t leave me on a cliffhanger like that! What happened after Gwen returned?!
amazing question I didn’t consider I’d have to think past the time skip whoops
[link to part 1 of what I’m calling ‘Gwen Lives’]
Well the first thing that happens is an almost comedic amount of confusion.
Gwen is shocked at the state Dimitri is in. She's shocked to find not only him, but a bunch of students just hanging at Garreg Mach-- including her little brother, her ex-fiancé, and Byleth, captain Jeralt’s kid who is the only one that looks the same.
Since Dimitri and Byleth have also 'returned from the dead', Felix is getting a little numb to this. Just narrows his eyes suspiciously and says, somewhere between rage and tentative optimism, "Glenn. How could you possibly be alive?"
Gwen holds back a flinch because she hasn't been called that name in almost 10 years. But this is her brother, this is Felix, and she owes him a hundred apologies so she's going to move on. "It's a long story, Fe. First things first; what are all of you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?!"
Ingrid is near tears, Sylvain is shifting from foot to foot in case Felix does something he might regret, and Dimitri is finally paying attention now that he's heard Gwen's voice.
Gwen simply replies, “I was looking for Dimitri,” which is apparently the wrong thing to say, because Felix’s expression darkens and he puts a hand to the sword on his belt (It’s always the Boar. His family has always been about Dimitri and never Felix). Sylvain moves to stand between them. Ashe, Mercedes, and Annette have taken three steps back and are watching with wide eyes.
It’s Byleth who speaks first. They’re the model of puzzlement and give a little wave to get the group’s attention. “Uh, how do you all know Gwen? What am I missing?”
Felix balks. “A lot, apparently. This is Glenn.”
“No? Her name is Gwen. She was part of my father’s mercenaries before we went to Garreg Mach.” Byleth looks to Gwen. “I wondered where you went. I haven’t seen you since—”
“Remire.” Dimitri speaks for the first time. Voice low and eye wide. He looks so run down that Gwen wants to order him a bed, like she used to on days he pushed himself too hard training. Dimitri goes on, “I thought I saw you. I assumed you were a ghost. But if you’re… then who…” He trials off, hand to his head, mumbling too quietly for any to hear.
Byleth takes a cautious step closer— but Dimitri shrinks away with a sudden scoff. “It matters not. The dead must have their revenge.” And he leaves without a backward glance.
Leaves the most awkward room on the planet.
Felix is quick to follow. This is too much for one night. That’s definitely the Boar, and with the Sword of the Creator that can be no one other than the Professor. But he highly doubts that’s really Glenn. Gwen. Whatever. Mercedes follows Felix out, worried and wanting to keep an eye on him, and Annette follows her.
Which leaves Gwen alone with Byleth— still confused— Sylvain, Ingrid, Gilbert, and this freckled kid with a bow on his back who looks so close to passing out from exhaustion it’s not even funny.
It’s Gilbert who finally asks how Gwen is still alive, to which Gwen gives the barest explanation (got wounded, healed, didn’t want to go home) and then mutters something about securing the area before leaving the room.
Byleth follows and, after some prodding, Gwen reveals the whole story. About disagreeing with the treatment of Duscur, being so ashamed of her Kingdom that she abandoned everyone and changed her name, leaving Jeralt’s mercenaries so she wouldn’t have to be at Garreg Mach (“but why didn’t you just say goodbye to me? We were in the middle of learning that one technique.” “I panicked I’m sorry.”), and wandering nearly aimlessly until Dimitri’s supposed death.
“But enough about me,” Gwen says, aiming a sudden glare at Byleth. “Where the hell have you been for 5 years?” To which Byleth responds that it’s time for bed.
The whole next week is A Lot. Mercedes and Annette are excited to meet Gwen. “Felix talked about you all the time!” Mercedes says with a grin Gwen can’t help but return. “Let me make us some tea and we can have a girl’s chat.”
Ashe wants to know Gwen’s favorite books and they have a great conversation about knight’s tales. Gilbert seems to be avoiding Gwen which is just fine by her. Dimitri looks panicked whenever Gwen is near so she gives him space— which is easier to do when she realizes Felix is sticking around the cathedral anyway. Byleth acts as if nothing has happened, and even badgers Gwen about going through forms she had been teaching them before Remire.
It’s Sylvain, Ingrid, and Felix that make Gwen feel as if she shouldn't be here. Maybe staying away for the rest of her days would have been best. Or aiding from the sidelines instead of making herself known. She had forsaken her duty to Dimitri all those years ago— no need to take up the torch again now. Not with Gilbert, Felix, and Byleth by his side.
Ingrid finds her one night and demands to know what in the world Gwen was thinking. Ingrid --who used to be Gwen’s shadow and not even come up to her elbow, who kept up in the training yard better than even Dimitri most days-- is now yelling at Gwen with nine years worth of grief. Why did Gwen stay away for so long? Would she have come back at all if Dimitri had truly been killed? Why go back on her oaths to protect the royal family, marry Ingrid, and uphold the ideals of knighthood?
“When you died, I didn’t leave my room for anything. Not even to work in the stables. I barely ate. I just wanted everything back to how it was and now you turn up like this!” And here Ingrid waves at Gwen as a whole and cries, “What happened to Glenn?!”
Gwen thought these topics would be two separate conversations but it turns out one has a lot to do with the other.
It’s another week before Sylvain, who up until this point has tried to act normal whenever Gwen is around, corners Gwen and smiles all coldly and says, “Ingrid tells me you two finally had some time to talk. That’s good. Now keep going.” The smile fades. “It’s past time you faced your brother. You know Felix is too bullheaded to come to you himself.” And Gwen takes a second to wonder where the gangly teenager with bruises from Miklan and easy jokes went.
That day, Gwen looks for Felix and eventually finds him in the training grounds. She tries to start what’s possibly the worst conversation of her life when Felix tosses Gwen a practice sword and launches at her. Though taken aback, Gwen wins that fight. And the next one. And the one after that.
After Gwen wins the fourth match, Felix is left kneeling in the dirt, gasping for breath, tears drying on his face, sword loose in his grip. He looks up at Gwen and says, “So it really is you.”
A hundred mushy things leap to Gwen’s mind at once. From confessing how much she missed Felix and used to fantasize about coming home on his birthday, to apologizing on bended knee and begging to know how to fix all this.
Instead what Gwen does is snort, reach out a hand, and say, “As if anyone would willingly pretend to be your sister.”
Felix laughs. He laughs and takes her hand and Gwen pulls him up into a tight hug.
Can I please have “How could I have been so blind?” for Felix x Dimitri?
(my first idea for this was quite fluffy and comedic. then I remembered these are the heartbreak prompts. so I went with Feels instead <3)
55. "How could I have been so blind?"
“As far as I can determine,” Mercedes said, “Felix simply passed out due to exhaustion.”
Dimitri frowned, eyes falling to Felix in the infirmary bed. His unbound dark hair looked akin to spilled ink across the while pillows. Rarely did Dimitri see Felix with his hair down-- the sight left Dimitri feeling oddly depraved. As if he should not be seeing such a thing while Felix was sleeping.
“You’re sure?” Dimitri asked, looking back to Mercedes. “He has not taken ill or been poisoned in some way?”
Her lip quirked up, likely in response to his paranoia, but she schooled her features quickly and shook her head. “Yes, I’m sure. It’s simply overwork. There are signs he is dehydrated, and...” Mercedes sighed. “Well, it looks to me like he’s lost weight since the war. With your permission, I’d like to talk with his staff and see how often he takes meals.”
“You have it. What does he need now?”
“Rest, your Majesty.” Mercedes lay a hand on Dimitri’s arm. He relaxed at the touch, unaware he had been standing so stiff. “He needs sleep. And perhaps a good meal and a few lectures on taking care of himself.” This last she said a bit louder and with a pointed look at Felix, as if he were awake to defend himself. Dimitri could clearly imagine Felix’s pout if he had heard that.
The mental image nearly caused Dimitri to chuckle. Instead, he covered Mercedes’ hand with his own and smiled for her. “Thank you. I appreciate your swiftness in this matter.”
With a return smile. Mercedes placed a kiss on Dimitri’s cheek, waved to Dedue, and left the infirmary. Presumably she was off to interrogate Felix’s staff. Dimitri now looked Felix over more critically. Perhaps his face was a tad thinner, but he had always been more slight than Dimitri or Sylvain.
Dimitri pinched the bridge of his nose with a heavy exhale. No, he was making excuses for himself. Just under an hour ago, Felix had collapsed in Dimitri’s study-- there could be no doubt he had been overworked. By Dimitri.
“How could I have been so blind?” Dimitri muttered.
Though he had not addressed Dedue, Dimitri heard him step forward. “Felix is a grown man. It is not your responsibility to look after him.”
“Felix has never been good at looking after himself. I should have noticed something before today. It should never have reached this point. Few work as close with me as Felix, and I never even thought to--”
On the bed, Felix let out a low hum and curled tighter on his side. Dimitri and Dedue stared. When Felix did not move again, Dimitri let out a relieved sigh. He had caused Felix enough grief for one lifetime. Mercedes said Felix needed rest-- and rest he would have.
“Let us go,” Dimitri said, his voice soft. A bit of Felix’s hair had stuck to his lip when he moved. An ache pulsed through Dimitri’s arm, demanding he remove it.
Fist clenched, Dimitri turned for the infirmary door, trying to turn his mind back to work. “Do you wish for a messenger to tell us when he is awake?” Dedue asked as he followed.
Oh how Dimitri wanted to say yes. How he wanted to sprint back here the moment he heard the news and kneel at Felix’s bedside with a thousand apologies.
“No. I shall bother him no further.”
“As you wish, Dimitri.”
He winced. Dedue using his name in public always meant he frowned upon a decision. Ignoring that, Dimitri left the infirmary, sure that he was making a choice Felix would one day appreciate.
(send me a heart-breaking dialogue prompt! mind the tags!)
