[Good tea and conversation? The more he heard about this 'other Byleth', the more he sounded like some bizarre imposter who bore his face and name. Byleth knew nothing about tea, didn't really converse well, and was awkward with new company... mind, he enjoyed Jeralt's company, and Alois, a recent addition, was okay too. Byleth didn't understand his jokes half the time, but Alois's genuine friendliness more than made up for it - but even then, Byleth struggled to converse easily with him.
Perhaps, this 'other Byleth' just achieved that which he was failing at now? Claude was from further in time, even if his history had taken a vitally different path to his own. Maybe, in three more years, Byleth will enjoy good tea and conversation, and can interact with others without having to sneakily practice his smiles or small talk, yet flubbing it anyways when it came to the actual thing. He just had to keep putting in the work, no matter how disheartening the setbacks were.]
...I can't claim to be well-versed in tea, but I accept your offer. It's more productive than what I'm doing now.
[Bye... leth. Claude isn't offended by the snub, at any rate, and is found waiting beneath the archway as promised. In person it becomes more obvious he feels as miserable as the rest of the Meridian do, truthfully, as evidenced by the thick cloak he has drawn around him to keep off a chill he can't quite seem to shake off, a certain pallor to his face, and underneath his layers and gloves, his skin is cracked and sore.
But he's trying not to dwell on his complaints, physical or mental, as when he spots Byleth, he offers a cheerful (if tired) smile.]
[In direct contrast to Claude, Byleth looked the same as usual. He felt slightly chilly, but the general malaise clinging to him was neatly compartmentalised where all aches and pains went. Unless the injury or illness was directly hindering him, he didn't bother to acknowledge it. Pain and discomfort was transitory, anyways.]
Hello. Thank you for inviting me.
[However, despite disregarding his own malaise, he noticed it immediately on Claude. He looked like death slightly warmed up, but Byleth wasn't sure if pointing it out would be rude or not.]
[Does he look that bad that not even one of his trademark Charming Smiles can distract from it? He does feel awful -- he felt worst of all around Hayame, for some reason -- a cause he hasn't yet been able to attribute but is down to the curse of being a Stargazer.]
Ah-- I've been better, but I'm okay. The tea will help perk me right up.
[He'd ostensibly wanted to do this for Byleth, but he does have to admit the outing will do him some good too.]
Oh, right! I got a present for you on the way. [Subject change! He pulls a book out from his cloak and offers it to Byleth; it's a dense-looking tome on magical theory.]
[Byleth reluctantly dropped the subject - he supposed the leader of the Leicester Alliance would know his own limits - and was suitably distracted by the book Claude presented him with. It looked fairly dense, on a subject that Byleth had an interest in.
It was just... he didn't understand what he did to deserve it.
If it had been Jeralt, Byleth would understand why. He was his father and he loved him. Shez, as well, he understood - he had felt guilty after almost murdering him from his bout of possession, despite Byleth telling him that he was forgiven, so kept gifting him 'apology presents'. No one else gave him gifts.
Still, it would be rude to reject it. Slowly, he reached out, unable to conceal his confusion entirely, and accepted the book.]
...thank you, Claude. This is kind of you. [Almost awkwardly:] I didn't... think to get one in turn. I'm sorry.
[Claude studies his reaction closely, but his warm smile doesn't falter even at Byleth's confusion.] I didn't get you it expecting anything in return. Just your company is enough.
[It would give Byleth something to focus on besides his frustration, too, he thinks, and it seems this Byleth shares a love of learning the other held. What could be more interesting to a magic user than magic from another world? Regardless, he accepted it, so Claude's happy. He gestures down the street ahead.]
Alright, the place is just a few minutes from here, but it's tucked away a little off the beaten track.
[Byleth tucked the book against the inside of his forearm - since he lacked pockets or anywhere to store a book - and nodded.]
Very well. I'll follow you. Lead the way.
[Admittedly, while Byleth had wandered around Springstar, he didn't really note the location of teahouses and the like. Mostly, he had mapped the city out as well as he could, noting the chokeholds, the open spaces, its overall defensibility, over sightseeing. He had no idea what to do with his seemingly endless amount of free time with no marching orders or frequent battles to bounce between, so frequent assessments of his immediate environs is what he did...]
[Claude leads him past rows and rows of shops and streets lined with stalls. Oracle defeat or no, Springstar remains a hive of activity and of people, trading and bartering goods. He keeps glancing at Byleth every now and then to make sure they aren't separated in the crowd, and he notices the way he seems to be making certain observations, so he decides to pick his brain about it.]
[Byleth's answer came without hesitation. He had never been anywhere like it before, as he and Jeralt tended to avoid major cities. He was pretty much a country bumpkin here.]
Crowded. Loud. Difficult to defend, in case of assault or siege, though the confusing terrain may serve well to stage ambushes against invading forces. That would require intimate knowledge of the city's layout by the resident defence force, however, which is a monumental task due to its size and density.
I, for one, think it's exciting. All that chaos, but so many different people from so many different worlds are able to coexist and find acceptance. Even Zenites are permitted to come visit.
[At least for the time being -- not that all of them will want to, with tensions beginning to increase, but still.]
Aren't you even a little bit impressed by the way of life here?
...I suppose it's impressive that so many people can live in one location. It must allow for many opportunities and unique experiences.
[Personally, though, it wasn't Byleth's thing. Maybe it was just a shock to his system and he hadn't grown accustomed to it yet, or maybe being unable to share the experience with Jeralt made him melancholy, he wasn't sure. He didn't know how to express this, though, and he was leery of offending Claude by not picking the correct words.]
But... I am not... used to this. [He exhaled shortly.] Not alone, in any case. That may be impacting my opinion negatively.
[Claude's not offended, but it does make him pause. He draws Byleth to one side of the crowds, next to a stall. This is once again another sign of the gulf between their experiences with one another, so he has to stop to explain himself, he thinks. This is something Byleth needs to hear, without the interruptions of the throngs of people around them.]
Listen... Back home, I consider you as more than just an ally. You're my dearest friend. Things may be different here, but I hope you can come to think of me as a friend, too.
[The same thing Dimitri told him - "you're my dearest friend" - yet Byleth had done nothing to achieve it from his own efforts. There was no way to describe the complex tangle of emotions this evoked in him, though. He lacked the words.]
You and Dimitri are quick... to claim friendship with me. [his words were slow, clearly trying to organise his thoughts as he spoke.] While a part of me is happy to so easily gain friends, I... don't feel deserving of it. It was the Other Byleth who put in the effort to befriend you, and who succeeded. I'm still learning how to speak to my peers, and how to smile. I haven't yet made a friend from my own efforts.
[He only knew how to interact with people who were either clients, fellow mercenaries, or enemies to neutralise on the battlefield. In those scenarios, the flowchart of conversation was very simple and easy to follow. This had no flowchart.]
The whole situation... [he paused for a moment, then decided to be blunt:] It makes me feel like I'm an imposter. A poor one.
You're no more than I'm an imposter compared to whatever Claude you know. We may be slightly different people, but the stuff that makes us who we are... I'm sure a lot of it is the same.
[And if that's the case, how can any of them be just an imitation? Difference doesn't make them worse.]
I'm not always proud of how I treated you when we first met. I even did plenty of things that would earn your distrust, even anger. But we still stuck by each other through thick and thin... How about we take a chance at putting our faith in each other this time, too?
[A lot to ask, to be sure, and he's aware Byleth will have no way of telling if any of that is the truth, so--] You don't have to answer right away. Just think about what you want to do, without any pressure from me or Dimitri or anyone else.
[There was a considerable pause as Byleth thought it over. It wasn't as if he didn't want to make friends with Claude, after all - he did - but he'd been worried that Claude's friendliness had been misplaced, that there was an unspoken assumption that Byleth would have to meet the expectations the Other Byleth had set. Expectations he would inevitably fall short of.
That worry still remained, but maybe...]
Very well. So long as you promise to befriend me based on the person I am now, rather than who you wish me to be, I'll put my faith in you, Claude.
[And, since even he knew friendship was a two-way street:] I promise I'll see you for who you are currently, as well.
You sure you're up to that challenge? I have a reputation for being hard to see at all.
[He laughs, but he's just teasing. If Byleth means what he says, he'll make the effort to try. He might find that an older and mellower Claude isn't quite as slippery as he used to be.]
Thanks for giving me a chance. No matter where you go, you always seem to get stuck with other peoples' expectations of you, huh? [Being the Ashen Demon, then Rhea's machinations and the church... It's some poor luck. Claude shakes his head.] I promise I won't burden you with that. But if I ever slip up, you have permission to... I dunno, cast some exotic spell from that book on me?
I wouldn't do that. You're my ally. It would be wrong to cast a spell on you, exotic or otherwise.
[Even if the spell was 'harmless', Byleth wouldn't do such a thing. However, he understood that Claude would require correction if he ever did begin to project Other Byleth onto him, so...]
I'll simply tell you that you've upset me. Will that suffice?
[Easier said than done. Byleth had only ever truly confided in Jeralt, because his father could normally intuit his feelings when Byleth struggled to put them into words. Jeralt did most of the work for him, and did so with boundless patience. Byleth had no idea how it would work with Claude.
But he knew that friendship was not an instantaneous thing. It had to be built, carefully, brick by brick, and that meant enduring potential misunderstandings as Claude grew accustomed to Byleth's various quirks. It may, in fact, help Byleth grow, become closer to this Other Byleth who succeeded where he had failed.]
Very well. I'll try my best to be honest with you, Claude.
[Beat.]
In any case, we should continue to our destination. You still seem under the weather, and I hear tea is good for one's health. Is it alright that we shelve our current discussion for now?
Yeah. We seem to be on the same page, so I won't talk your ear off about it.
[And just telling Byleth to trust and confide in him, when Claude had built up a solid reputation of being untrustworthy and deceptive... Well. That definitely wasn't going to happen overnight. But a friendship can't be built if he doesn't extend a hand at all, and Byleth certainly could use it right now.
He draws his cloak closer around his shoulders, and leads the way once more. By the time he takes them to a winding side alley and a gate leading into a shaded, leafy courtyard, he's trying not to make it obvious that he's shivering. But once they're inside, it becomes more obvious why he brought Byleth here, of all places: closing the gate behind them, the noise of the city seems to melt away. There's a star-shaped fountain in the middle of the courtyard with flowers scattered across the surface for decoration, and warm lamps to light the way into the teahouse.]
Here's the place, just through the doors ahead. I found it a few weeks ago.
[Byleth kept an eye on Claude, observing his sickly pallor and shivering. He said nothing, however, as Claude had already shifted the topic from his own health once before, and Byleth wasn't going to pester him unnecessarily. He did walk slightly closer to him though, just in case.
They arrived at the tea house, and Byleth automatically took stock of his surroundings: ambush points, defensive points, before actually absorbing what said surroundings looked like. It was muted and warm, peaceful, a serene bubble away from the chaotic hubbub of Springstar. Tentatively, Byleth decided he liked it.]
I thought you might. Give a place a chance before you write it off, and you might find a hidden gem or two.
[Claude smiles at him before leading the way inside. The teahouse itself isn't overly busy, with just a few patrons. Colourful but softly lit lamps light the interior, and the seating around painted lacquer tables is covered with bright cushions and throws, with mosaics, artwork and even intricate stone carvings covering the walls, in an eclectic mix of styles from various worlds.
It's the exact kind of hideaway Claude might smuggle himself away to for hours on end with a good book -- and it seems he's gotten in the habit of doing just that, because he greets one of the staff who recognises him as he enters. He takes a table for them both with a view looking out on the courtyard, but still tucked away in a corner for some privacy, and sits down with a relieved sigh. He's trying to be good company, but he can't totally disguise the excursion taking a toll.]
Oh -- yeah, they do food here too, if you're hungry. Just cakes and snacks and stuff, but it's still good.
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[He doesn't want to assume this Byleth is all the same... But he can't be that different in terms of tastes and preferences, right?]
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[Good tea and conversation? The more he heard about this 'other Byleth', the more he sounded like some bizarre imposter who bore his face and name. Byleth knew nothing about tea, didn't really converse well, and was awkward with new company... mind, he enjoyed Jeralt's company, and Alois, a recent addition, was okay too. Byleth didn't understand his jokes half the time, but Alois's genuine friendliness more than made up for it - but even then, Byleth struggled to converse easily with him.
Perhaps, this 'other Byleth' just achieved that which he was failing at now? Claude was from further in time, even if his history had taken a vitally different path to his own. Maybe, in three more years, Byleth will enjoy good tea and conversation, and can interact with others without having to sneakily practice his smiles or small talk, yet flubbing it anyways when it came to the actual thing. He just had to keep putting in the work, no matter how disheartening the setbacks were.]
...I can't claim to be well-versed in tea, but I accept your offer. It's more productive than what I'm doing now.
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[Is that something Byleth can imagine...? Well, regardless, he can learn about that, too.]
There's a big archway over the entrance to the Empório district. Meet me there, and I'll show you the way to a nice tea house.
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Very well. I'll head there now.
[With that, he cut communion. Sorry, Claude, the lack of farewell is not an intentional snub...
Anyway ~insert travel time here~]
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But he's trying not to dwell on his complaints, physical or mental, as when he spots Byleth, he offers a cheerful (if tired) smile.]
Heya! Thanks for coming.
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Hello. Thank you for inviting me.
[However, despite disregarding his own malaise, he noticed it immediately on Claude. He looked like death slightly warmed up, but Byleth wasn't sure if pointing it out would be rude or not.]
Are you... well?
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Ah-- I've been better, but I'm okay. The tea will help perk me right up.
[He'd ostensibly wanted to do this for Byleth, but he does have to admit the outing will do him some good too.]
Oh, right! I got a present for you on the way. [Subject change! He pulls a book out from his cloak and offers it to Byleth; it's a dense-looking tome on magical theory.]
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It was just... he didn't understand what he did to deserve it.
If it had been Jeralt, Byleth would understand why. He was his father and he loved him. Shez, as well, he understood - he had felt guilty after almost murdering him from his bout of possession, despite Byleth telling him that he was forgiven, so kept gifting him 'apology presents'. No one else gave him gifts.
Still, it would be rude to reject it. Slowly, he reached out, unable to conceal his confusion entirely, and accepted the book.]
...thank you, Claude. This is kind of you. [Almost awkwardly:] I didn't... think to get one in turn. I'm sorry.
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[It would give Byleth something to focus on besides his frustration, too, he thinks, and it seems this Byleth shares a love of learning the other held. What could be more interesting to a magic user than magic from another world? Regardless, he accepted it, so Claude's happy. He gestures down the street ahead.]
Alright, the place is just a few minutes from here, but it's tucked away a little off the beaten track.
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Very well. I'll follow you. Lead the way.
[Admittedly, while Byleth had wandered around Springstar, he didn't really note the location of teahouses and the like. Mostly, he had mapped the city out as well as he could, noting the chokeholds, the open spaces, its overall defensibility, over sightseeing. He had no idea what to do with his seemingly endless amount of free time with no marching orders or frequent battles to bounce between, so frequent assessments of his immediate environs is what he did...]
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What do you think to Springstar?
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[Byleth's answer came without hesitation. He had never been anywhere like it before, as he and Jeralt tended to avoid major cities. He was pretty much a country bumpkin here.]
Crowded. Loud. Difficult to defend, in case of assault or siege, though the confusing terrain may serve well to stage ambushes against invading forces. That would require intimate knowledge of the city's layout by the resident defence force, however, which is a monumental task due to its size and density.
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[At least for the time being -- not that all of them will want to, with tensions beginning to increase, but still.]
Aren't you even a little bit impressed by the way of life here?
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[Personally, though, it wasn't Byleth's thing. Maybe it was just a shock to his system and he hadn't grown accustomed to it yet, or maybe being unable to share the experience with Jeralt made him melancholy, he wasn't sure. He didn't know how to express this, though, and he was leery of offending Claude by not picking the correct words.]
But... I am not... used to this. [He exhaled shortly.] Not alone, in any case. That may be impacting my opinion negatively.
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[Claude's not offended, but it does make him pause. He draws Byleth to one side of the crowds, next to a stall. This is once again another sign of the gulf between their experiences with one another, so he has to stop to explain himself, he thinks. This is something Byleth needs to hear, without the interruptions of the throngs of people around them.]
Listen... Back home, I consider you as more than just an ally. You're my dearest friend. Things may be different here, but I hope you can come to think of me as a friend, too.
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You and Dimitri are quick... to claim friendship with me. [his words were slow, clearly trying to organise his thoughts as he spoke.] While a part of me is happy to so easily gain friends, I... don't feel deserving of it. It was the Other Byleth who put in the effort to befriend you, and who succeeded. I'm still learning how to speak to my peers, and how to smile. I haven't yet made a friend from my own efforts.
[He only knew how to interact with people who were either clients, fellow mercenaries, or enemies to neutralise on the battlefield. In those scenarios, the flowchart of conversation was very simple and easy to follow. This had no flowchart.]
The whole situation... [he paused for a moment, then decided to be blunt:] It makes me feel like I'm an imposter. A poor one.
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[And if that's the case, how can any of them be just an imitation? Difference doesn't make them worse.]
I'm not always proud of how I treated you when we first met. I even did plenty of things that would earn your distrust, even anger. But we still stuck by each other through thick and thin... How about we take a chance at putting our faith in each other this time, too?
[A lot to ask, to be sure, and he's aware Byleth will have no way of telling if any of that is the truth, so--] You don't have to answer right away. Just think about what you want to do, without any pressure from me or Dimitri or anyone else.
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That worry still remained, but maybe...]
Very well. So long as you promise to befriend me based on the person I am now, rather than who you wish me to be, I'll put my faith in you, Claude.
[And, since even he knew friendship was a two-way street:] I promise I'll see you for who you are currently, as well.
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[He laughs, but he's just teasing. If Byleth means what he says, he'll make the effort to try. He might find that an older and mellower Claude isn't quite as slippery as he used to be.]
Thanks for giving me a chance. No matter where you go, you always seem to get stuck with other peoples' expectations of you, huh? [Being the Ashen Demon, then Rhea's machinations and the church... It's some poor luck. Claude shakes his head.] I promise I won't burden you with that. But if I ever slip up, you have permission to... I dunno, cast some exotic spell from that book on me?
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[Even if the spell was 'harmless', Byleth wouldn't do such a thing. However, he understood that Claude would require correction if he ever did begin to project Other Byleth onto him, so...]
I'll simply tell you that you've upset me. Will that suffice?
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In fact, you can be honest with me in general. If anyone or anything is ever bothering you, you can confide in me any time.
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But he knew that friendship was not an instantaneous thing. It had to be built, carefully, brick by brick, and that meant enduring potential misunderstandings as Claude grew accustomed to Byleth's various quirks. It may, in fact, help Byleth grow, become closer to this Other Byleth who succeeded where he had failed.]
Very well. I'll try my best to be honest with you, Claude.
[Beat.]
In any case, we should continue to our destination. You still seem under the weather, and I hear tea is good for one's health. Is it alright that we shelve our current discussion for now?
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[And just telling Byleth to trust and confide in him, when Claude had built up a solid reputation of being untrustworthy and deceptive... Well. That definitely wasn't going to happen overnight. But a friendship can't be built if he doesn't extend a hand at all, and Byleth certainly could use it right now.
He draws his cloak closer around his shoulders, and leads the way once more. By the time he takes them to a winding side alley and a gate leading into a shaded, leafy courtyard, he's trying not to make it obvious that he's shivering. But once they're inside, it becomes more obvious why he brought Byleth here, of all places: closing the gate behind them, the noise of the city seems to melt away. There's a star-shaped fountain in the middle of the courtyard with flowers scattered across the surface for decoration, and warm lamps to light the way into the teahouse.]
Here's the place, just through the doors ahead. I found it a few weeks ago.
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They arrived at the tea house, and Byleth automatically took stock of his surroundings: ambush points, defensive points, before actually absorbing what said surroundings looked like. It was muted and warm, peaceful, a serene bubble away from the chaotic hubbub of Springstar. Tentatively, Byleth decided he liked it.]
It's quiet. I like it.
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[Claude smiles at him before leading the way inside. The teahouse itself isn't overly busy, with just a few patrons. Colourful but softly lit lamps light the interior, and the seating around painted lacquer tables is covered with bright cushions and throws, with mosaics, artwork and even intricate stone carvings covering the walls, in an eclectic mix of styles from various worlds.
It's the exact kind of hideaway Claude might smuggle himself away to for hours on end with a good book -- and it seems he's gotten in the habit of doing just that, because he greets one of the staff who recognises him as he enters. He takes a table for them both with a view looking out on the courtyard, but still tucked away in a corner for some privacy, and sits down with a relieved sigh. He's trying to be good company, but he can't totally disguise the excursion taking a toll.]
Oh -- yeah, they do food here too, if you're hungry. Just cakes and snacks and stuff, but it's still good.
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