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Hm.
[Byleth's response was decidedly... very neutral.]
In war, innocents will be dragged into conflict despite our best intentions. Would it not be best to have it be in a controlled way?
[Byleth's response was decidedly... very neutral.]
In war, innocents will be dragged into conflict despite our best intentions. Would it not be best to have it be in a controlled way?
[Excuse Byleth as he goes through a series of 'huh?' and 'oh' and 'wait, my birthday???', which manifested as him staring blankly at Felix for about six solid seconds.]
Oh. Well, yes. You can never have too many knives.
[He nodded slowly at this bit of wisdom. Ever a maxim of a mercenary: always have knives.]
But to be honest, I had completely- [not known] -forgotten about my birthday. It's not often celebrated.
Oh. Well, yes. You can never have too many knives.
[He nodded slowly at this bit of wisdom. Ever a maxim of a mercenary: always have knives.]
But to be honest, I had completely- [not known] -forgotten about my birthday. It's not often celebrated.
[Byleth turned when he heard Yuri rouse, and made a complicated expression at the explanation he gave. Well, he'd never truly known his birthday, but he was hardly going to doubt Yuri if he said today was the likely date for it. He was just mildly flummoxed over all this effort being put towards celebrating it.]
...I haven't, no. I'm, a little confused why it's something to be celebrated, but...
[He looked back at the cake, and the gifts, feeling strange at the sight of them. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, though. He felt genuinely... happy, if still confused.]
...I'm grateful for the effort you put in for me. Sorry if my surprise made me seem unappreciative.
...I haven't, no. I'm, a little confused why it's something to be celebrated, but...
[He looked back at the cake, and the gifts, feeling strange at the sight of them. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, though. He felt genuinely... happy, if still confused.]
...I'm grateful for the effort you put in for me. Sorry if my surprise made me seem unappreciative.
Well, that's...what people do.
[ The short version, the unhelpful version, was what naturally sprang to Yuri's lips first. Any other explanation was bound to sound highly sentimental. He wasn't entirely certain how it would sound coming from him, having long regarded himself as cold for all his guarded nature.
Even so, he had opened that door. It wouldn't be fair to Byleth to give him mixed information when such commonplace events as birthday celebrations were foreign to him. The same had held true for Hayame when she'd inquired about such things over Communion. ]
Usually, [ he began only to halt, debate with himself, link his fingers where his hands rested on his lap. ] it's something someone does because they're grateful you were born. That you exist and are part of their life. Not that they usually think about it so deeply, but that's what it boils down to.
[ At its core, Yuri had understood it as much, because his mother always tried so hard to mark the occasion no matter how little they had or how bleak the world outside became. She always emphasized how he was her gift from the goddess, so of course they were going to celebrate. That had stuck with him and assuredly always would.
Yuri didn't know why it was different for Byleth and Jeralt, but it wasn't for him to question. He could only state the facts as he understood them. ]
Usually, I expect, people who care about you just view it as your special day and would like to make you happy.
[ Not that he...didn't make something of a campaign of trying to lift Byleth's spirits since arriving here, seeing how much stress he carried and how frankly insane all of this was but still. It was a a special occasion. ]
[ The short version, the unhelpful version, was what naturally sprang to Yuri's lips first. Any other explanation was bound to sound highly sentimental. He wasn't entirely certain how it would sound coming from him, having long regarded himself as cold for all his guarded nature.
Even so, he had opened that door. It wouldn't be fair to Byleth to give him mixed information when such commonplace events as birthday celebrations were foreign to him. The same had held true for Hayame when she'd inquired about such things over Communion. ]
Usually, [ he began only to halt, debate with himself, link his fingers where his hands rested on his lap. ] it's something someone does because they're grateful you were born. That you exist and are part of their life. Not that they usually think about it so deeply, but that's what it boils down to.
[ At its core, Yuri had understood it as much, because his mother always tried so hard to mark the occasion no matter how little they had or how bleak the world outside became. She always emphasized how he was her gift from the goddess, so of course they were going to celebrate. That had stuck with him and assuredly always would.
Yuri didn't know why it was different for Byleth and Jeralt, but it wasn't for him to question. He could only state the facts as he understood them. ]
Usually, I expect, people who care about you just view it as your special day and would like to make you happy.
[ Not that he...didn't make something of a campaign of trying to lift Byleth's spirits since arriving here, seeing how much stress he carried and how frankly insane all of this was but still. It was a a special occasion. ]
Edited 2023-09-23 09:30 (UTC)
Better, I think, to try and prevent it at all, if we have that power.
The operative word being 'if'. I find that we have less power than we think in this strange world.
That may be true... but doesn't that mean we should try to do what we can?
...does that mean you're grateful that I was born and am now a part of your life?
[Trust Byleth to hyperfocus on that one thing and ask Yuri so bluntly about it!
His question was genuine, though, as if the concept of anyone aside from his father being grateful about his existence was something a little strange, but in a pleasant kind of way. He was used to people cursing the existence of the Ashen Demon, or confessing relief at him lending his blade to their cause, but never had anyone said "I am grateful you were born and entered my life". Well, not so plainly, which was the language Byleth understood best.
So, obviously, he connected the dots here, and the dots said that Yuri therefore fell under that bracket, that he was grateful to him, that he saw Byleth's existence as something to celebrate. Which was... well, sweet, if he had to be honest.]
[Trust Byleth to hyperfocus on that one thing and ask Yuri so bluntly about it!
His question was genuine, though, as if the concept of anyone aside from his father being grateful about his existence was something a little strange, but in a pleasant kind of way. He was used to people cursing the existence of the Ashen Demon, or confessing relief at him lending his blade to their cause, but never had anyone said "I am grateful you were born and entered my life". Well, not so plainly, which was the language Byleth understood best.
So, obviously, he connected the dots here, and the dots said that Yuri therefore fell under that bracket, that he was grateful to him, that he saw Byleth's existence as something to celebrate. Which was... well, sweet, if he had to be honest.]
[ Leave it to Byleth to cut through so many words and hone in on the core of the matter. Yuri's hands fidgeted where he'd placed them, if only slightly, because he wasn't accustomed to speaking so plainly about sentimental matters. Yet he knew Byleth would understand it best, and his lengthy explanation had been in that effort. ]
...It does.
[ He refrained from adding that surely it was only natural that he feel that way after the time they'd spent together, even if it was a temptation to do so. Rationalizing the matter away would only serve to muddy it with Byleth — he understood that by now. ]
I wouldn't do these things for someone if I felt otherwise.
[ It'd be strange, for one thing. ]
...It does.
[ He refrained from adding that surely it was only natural that he feel that way after the time they'd spent together, even if it was a temptation to do so. Rationalizing the matter away would only serve to muddy it with Byleth — he understood that by now. ]
I wouldn't do these things for someone if I felt otherwise.
[ It'd be strange, for one thing. ]
Well I don't really celebrate anything either. But gifts are fine to give.
Yes, but... we shouldn't allow it to restrict us either. Have you heard of the phrase 'he who chases both hares catches none'? Attempting to win this war while avoiding all innocents from being harmed may be detrimental to our campaign.
Perhaps we should allow it to restrict us. Destroying innocent lives for an advantage is detestable.
Perhaps, but detestable actions are sometimes necessary to win the advantage. It depends on if you can live with yourself afterwards... whether it be killing a few innocents from other worlds, or unintentionally losing our home due to your hesitation.
[...]
Personally, I dislike the thought of harming innocents, and I'll try to avoid it whenever I can. But if a day comes where I must sacrifice a few innocents to save our home, then I'll choose the pragmatic choice, not the noble one.
[...]
Personally, I dislike the thought of harming innocents, and I'll try to avoid it whenever I can. But if a day comes where I must sacrifice a few innocents to save our home, then I'll choose the pragmatic choice, not the noble one.
[No celebration but gifts are fine to give... Byleth sensed a bit of a contradiction there, but let it lie.]
I see... then, thank you for your thoughtfulness. When is your birthday? I'll try to reciprocate to the best of my ability.
I see... then, thank you for your thoughtfulness. When is your birthday? I'll try to reciprocate to the best of my ability.
...then if that day comes, I must stand opposed to you.
[ This conversation is going places. ]
[ This conversation is going places. ]
Edited (Mobile please) 2023-10-01 16:34 (UTC)
[IT SURE IS.]
Most likely. But that day will hopefully be a long way off, or not come at all.
Most likely. But that day will hopefully be a long way off, or not come at all.
I can only hope so. You're a dear friend to me, Byleth. A companion.
[ But he has his principles. And he's ready to die for them. ]
[ But he has his principles. And he's ready to die for them. ]
[There is something stuck to Byleth's door when he returns one day.
It's a well-loved envelope with Byleth's name on the front in very elegant, neat script. Inside the envelope are a handful of papers with writing from almost the top margin to the bottom, front and back, in the same handwriting.
It's a short story about the romance between a beautiful, vivacious young woman bitten by a vampire and a hardy, diligent young farmer from town. He helps dispel the vampire's curse over her by confronting and defeating the lordling vampire in a castle nearby. It is very vanilla, but endearingly wholesome.]
It's a well-loved envelope with Byleth's name on the front in very elegant, neat script. Inside the envelope are a handful of papers with writing from almost the top margin to the bottom, front and back, in the same handwriting.
It's a short story about the romance between a beautiful, vivacious young woman bitten by a vampire and a hardy, diligent young farmer from town. He helps dispel the vampire's curse over her by confronting and defeating the lordling vampire in a castle nearby. It is very vanilla, but endearingly wholesome.]
[WHOEVER WROTE HIM THIS BEAUTIFUL AND ROMANTIC STORY??? HE IS SO TOUCHED!!! HE READ IT SO MANY TIMES!!! D!!! IF HE FINDS OUT IT WAS YOU HE WILL RADIATE SO MANY POSITIVE VIBES IN YOUR GENERAL DIRECTION!!!!! D!!!! D!!!!!!!!!]
[HAHAHAHA.
He did not sign his name on purpose, but the paper and pencils are maybe sort of familiar?
Maybe they were generic paper and pencils, and Byleth will never remember giving them to D... Maybe Byleth will shake Liem down instead because of the vamprism.]
He did not sign his name on purpose, but the paper and pencils are maybe sort of familiar?
Maybe they were generic paper and pencils, and Byleth will never remember giving them to D... Maybe Byleth will shake Liem down instead because of the vamprism.]
[Oh that's a brilliant idea... but BYLETH DOESN'T KNOW LIEM IS A DHAMPIRE. I DONT THINK... he's oblivious enough to not realise in any case. Maybe he'll put an ad in the Springstar Times like "WHO WROTE ME THIS LOVELY STORY... PLEASE CONTACT ME I WANT TO DISCUSS YOUR SWEET SOUL".]
[ Very suddenly, there’s a sense of Communion touching your character’s mind. However, it’s as if they connect with the mind of a shared Aspect, as they’re not able to block out the brief, but sharp memory that comes to them. ]
A Shard-Bearer races across the battlefield to provide healing to an ally, but they curse this world in screams as they go. Their life had been peaceful before they were stolen here.
[ ooc note — Just to avoid OOC confusion/misinterpretation, the details included in this memory are random and are not necessarily interconnected or plot meaningful beyond a surface level. However, your character is free to interpret this random memory however they’d like! This event will also be touched on somewhat during today’s NPC Communion Post. ]
A Shard-Bearer races across the battlefield to provide healing to an ally, but they curse this world in screams as they go. Their life had been peaceful before they were stolen here.
[ ooc note — Just to avoid OOC confusion/misinterpretation, the details included in this memory are random and are not necessarily interconnected or plot meaningful beyond a surface level. However, your character is free to interpret this random memory however they’d like! This event will also be touched on somewhat during today’s NPC Communion Post. ]
[ Byleth receives a small parcel; inside are some baked goods and sweets, some fish jerky, and a romance novel. Dimitri honestly isn't sure if Byleth has read this one or not, but it came highly recommended from the store he bought it from, so he hopes it will be worthwhile. There's also a note: ]
Byleth, I hope these tokens of my regard find you well. I know the Oracle event was not easy; please let me know if you need my assistance or company. I wish you all the best. Your shadow was trying. But I hope you've recovered.
-Dimitri Blaiddyd
Byleth, I hope these tokens of my regard find you well. I know the Oracle event was not easy; please let me know if you need my assistance or company. I wish you all the best. Your shadow was trying. But I hope you've recovered.
-Dimitri Blaiddyd
[The gift was well-recieved... and also prompted a burst of guilt in Byleth, since he'd been putting off approaching Dimitri about what had gone down in the maze. So, after tucking the jerky in his long-term food storage (for Just In Case) and setting aside the baked goods and sweets for later, he carefully reached out to Dimitri via Communion.]
Dimitri... I received your gift.
Dimitri... I received your gift.
[ Oh! There's a sense of alertness from him and a warmth. ]
Byleth! I'm glad you did. Are you well?
Byleth! I'm glad you did. Are you well?
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