Yeah, that was me at the beginning of the week... I basically just had a lot of time to think.
(And just going to sit down in his pile of leaves!! And invite Hikaru to sit next to him. There are some things laid out on the floor and he'll first move to shuffle a bunch of papers with writing and drawings on them what looks like tablecloths from the dining room but with... tears and holes in them? Also there's a doll.
She might also notice that he's... not exactly in the most cheerful or lighthearted mood! Usually quick to talk, he's been kind of quiet since Wednesday and the trend continues.)
I took a few classes. Art, dance, music, singing... the usual noble stuff.
(Nothing too impressive! But he'll at least pick up some of the papers and flip through them. Most of them are written in... absolutely illegible cursive (like someones' hand can't keep up with their thoughts) but he'll stop to show her a few sketches among them,
(Gosh, he'll just turn to the page with the map on it and point them out.)
This is Fodlan. (He circles most of the center with his finger,) I'm from here. (And he circles the Alliance.) We don't have a royal family like the Empire or the Kingdom. (He points to both of them.) We're a bunch of noble houses that form, well, an Alliance.
The leading house is mine. (And he points to "Riegan" on the map, marked by a crescent moon.) The Duke of House Riegan keeps everything together so in that sense, I'm the closest thing to Prince Dimitri and Princes-- Empress Edelgard.
My mother's from the Alliance but my father... (He traces his finger across the border, past a place called "Goneril" and "Fodlan's Locket" to--) He's from here. This is where I lived most of my life. "Almyra."
(If it weren't for that wall, they'd be touching, even.)
Almyra is... well, its mostly desert and mountains. We have some grasslands and some forests, too, but it's all low. It's completely different from Fodlan. (Which will be important when he answers what he likes about his other home but for now, he focuses on his first,) But it's a beautiful place.
The city I remember... the buildings are mostly white but there's also a lot of color. The roofs and walls are painted or covered in murals. Everything feels so open and bright and when the sun rises and falls over it... everything seems to change color, like it's all shining with gold. And at night? It just glows. It's the most beautiful place in the world.
(He loves it. He loves Almyra and he's grateful he can still remember it, even if... there are things missing. He can't quite remember where he saw these views. He can't put his finger on his vantage points. He just remembers a shining jewel in the desert.)
SLAMS IN HERE VERY LATE remember when we still remembered shit that was nice
a beautiful warm island of people in the middle the desert
[To imagine a landscape of gold, of dry air and white buildings and splashes of color, the sounds of people, a vibrancy of life under a blue sky and a warm sun.]
He closes his eyes! And will also lean a little on her like he miiiight just doze off. But he's awake. His body isn't really relaxed at all and he's as alert as ever. He's trying to recall, )
Sometimes. (He'll explain more in a bit.) It was the largest city.
(The capital. He can remember that much clearly.)
People from all over gathered there, especially during festivals.
There was one festival we had... we'd celebrate it at night. (Details are kind of fuzzy,) But we'd light fires all over the city and spend the whole night singing and dancing. And we'd take turns jumping over the fires, screaming like beasts and rolling around.
(A wild festival.)
... I remember sneaking out to join. (From where? Why? He isn't really sure. He just remembers gathering up his cloak and dagger and sneaking out into the night to join the festivities with others.) I can't remember much else.
maybe your family didnt want you going outside at night since that's when bad things happen sometimes
[It's a wild, wild guess, but she's not gonna dwell on it too much. She leans right back into him with a voiceless giggle, more than willing to prop him up.]
im glad you got to go anyway
life is really vibrant and fun and special and thats why being alive and being able to do all sorts of things is really important
They weren't really the protective types. Not that way, at least. (A whole lot tough love for one Claude von Riegan.) Whatever the reason, it didn't stop me in the end.
(Nothing can!!)
I agree. I wouldn't say life is always great... (It's not. He might not remember much but he can remember that much clearly, still. It's kind of a shame that when he pokes at those holes in his memory, all he finds is a sense of loneliness, fear, and spite.) But as long as I'm alive, I want to live. Experience as much as I can and do whatever I'm able.
[She nods against his shoulder, slouching a little. She's comfy.]
doing all sorts of things is what gives you those memories that make you you and make you learn how beautiful the world can be no matter where it is
even if the world is complicated and even if it doesnt always show the beauty we want it to show that doesnt change its still a wonderful and enormous place
[She looks very fond as she types, though she'll pause to motion back across the border with her finger. What about Fodlan?]
Doing different things, traveling to new places, meeting different people... All of that shows you what the world is really like.
(And sometimes it isn't beautiful. Sometimes it's an ugly and cruel place but instead of obsessing over the darkness, Claude prefers to look out into the light and see the beauty.
He looks down at her finger, at Fodlan and smiles again,)
Different. It depends on where you are.
(He leans over and points to a place in the map. He circles the Leicester Alliance again.)
Here, it's mostly plains and mountains. The capital (He taps "Derdriu") is where I spend most of my time when I'm home. It's where all of the old lords meet and have stuffy meetings... well, they're more like angry venting sessions these days.
It's the most beautiful city in Fodlan. People call it the Aquatic Capital because it looks like it's floating on the sea. I never got to see the ocean much growing up... so being close to it all the time was a new experience for me.
(And he moves his finger to the center of the map,)
Ah, but these days... this is where I spend most of my time. ("Garreg Mach Monastery.") The Academy.
(Me, checking memories to see if he still remembers Byleth and Hikaru is safe.
Claude nods in response and when she mentions Byleth? His eyes seem to light up just a little,)
More or less. I met her around here. (Further away, near a little village in the Adrestian Empire called Remire.) I was in real trouble and she saved my life.
(And he recognized how strong she was. He knew she was special. And he'd fought with Edelgard and Dimitri to bring her over to his side instead... The next thing he remembers is heading back to the academy. He frowns,)
The knights took her back with us and she started teaching there.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Her note is quickly edited, before she taps at her throat and holds out her PHS for him.]
i dont want to be around shiro san right now
are you sure i can stay
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You, too, huh?
(He taps his own throat,)
It's fine. I get not wanting to be around certain people for awhile.
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dont like it
but it makes it easier to think i guess
i knew you wouldnt ask a lot
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(And just going to sit down in his pile of leaves!! And invite Hikaru to sit next to him. There are some things laid out on the floor and he'll first move to shuffle a bunch of papers with writing and drawings on them what looks like tablecloths from the dining room but with... tears and holes in them? Also there's a doll.
She might also notice that he's... not exactly in the most cheerful or lighthearted mood! Usually quick to talk, he's been kind of quiet since Wednesday and the trend continues.)
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i didnt know you drew things
youve been thinking a lot havent you
[she doesnt know how to be a schemer clearly]
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(Nothing too impressive! But he'll at least pick up some of the papers and flip through them. Most of them are written in... absolutely illegible cursive (like someones' hand can't keep up with their thoughts) but he'll stop to show her a few sketches among them,
A crescent moon
A sketchy version of this map
A sketchy version of an archer on a horse
A deer)
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you are a prince i knew it i knew it
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(READING? He's looking... and just looks confused?)
Nah, I'm not that important. My grandfather's a duke. I'm just his heir. The Alliance doesn't have princes. Almyra does but that isn't me.
stares into the camera like the office
[she knows literally nothing]
your family is from two countries too right
is that the two
the alliance and
i dont know how to spell the other one
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(Gosh, he'll just turn to the page with the map on it and point them out.)
This is Fodlan. (He circles most of the center with his finger,) I'm from here. (And he circles the Alliance.) We don't have a royal family like the Empire or the Kingdom. (He points to both of them.) We're a bunch of noble houses that form, well, an Alliance.
The leading house is mine. (And he points to "Riegan" on the map, marked by a crescent moon.) The Duke of House Riegan keeps everything together so in that sense, I'm the closest thing to Prince Dimitri and Princes-- Empress Edelgard.
My mother's from the Alliance but my father... (He traces his finger across the border, past a place called "Goneril" and "Fodlan's Locket" to--) He's from here. This is where I lived most of my life. "Almyra."
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theyre really close to one another arent they
i hope theyre both beautiful places
what do you like best about your two homes
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(If it weren't for that wall, they'd be touching, even.)
Almyra is... well, its mostly desert and mountains. We have some grasslands and some forests, too, but it's all low. It's completely different from Fodlan. (Which will be important when he answers what he likes about his other home but for now, he focuses on his first,) But it's a beautiful place.
The city I remember... the buildings are mostly white but there's also a lot of color. The roofs and walls are painted or covered in murals. Everything feels so open and bright and when the sun rises and falls over it... everything seems to change color, like it's all shining with gold. And at night? It just glows. It's the most beautiful place in the world.
(He loves it. He loves Almyra and he's grateful he can still remember it, even if... there are things missing. He can't quite remember where he saw these views. He can't put his finger on his vantage points. He just remembers a shining jewel in the desert.)
SLAMS IN HERE VERY LATE remember when we still remembered shit that was nice
a beautiful warm island of people in the middle the desert
[To imagine a landscape of gold, of dry air and white buildings and splashes of color, the sounds of people, a vibrancy of life under a blue sky and a warm sun.]
did you ever get to help make the city colorful
was it a really busy place at all
UR COOL
(So it's even better.
He closes his eyes! And will also lean a little on her like he miiiight just doze off. But he's awake. His body isn't really relaxed at all and he's as alert as ever. He's trying to recall, )
Sometimes. (He'll explain more in a bit.) It was the largest city.
(The capital. He can remember that much clearly.)
People from all over gathered there, especially during festivals.
There was one festival we had... we'd celebrate it at night. (Details are kind of fuzzy,) But we'd light fires all over the city and spend the whole night singing and dancing. And we'd take turns jumping over the fires, screaming like beasts and rolling around.
(A wild festival.)
... I remember sneaking out to join. (From where? Why? He isn't really sure. He just remembers gathering up his cloak and dagger and sneaking out into the night to join the festivities with others.) I can't remember much else.
no subject
[It's a wild, wild guess, but she's not gonna dwell on it too much. She leans right back into him with a voiceless giggle, more than willing to prop him up.]
im glad you got to go anyway
life is really vibrant and fun and special and thats why being alive and being able to do all sorts of things is really important
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(Nothing can!!)
I agree. I wouldn't say life is always great... (It's not. He might not remember much but he can remember that much clearly, still. It's kind of a shame that when he pokes at those holes in his memory, all he finds is a sense of loneliness, fear, and spite.) But as long as I'm alive, I want to live. Experience as much as I can and do whatever I'm able.
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doing all sorts of things is what gives you those memories that make you you and make you learn how beautiful the world can be no matter where it is
even if the world is complicated and even if it doesnt always show the beauty we want it to show that doesnt change its still a wonderful and enormous place
[She looks very fond as she types, though she'll pause to motion back across the border with her finger. What about Fodlan?]
no subject
(And sometimes it isn't beautiful. Sometimes it's an ugly and cruel place but instead of obsessing over the darkness, Claude prefers to look out into the light and see the beauty.
He looks down at her finger, at Fodlan and smiles again,)
Different. It depends on where you are.
(He leans over and points to a place in the map. He circles the Leicester Alliance again.)
Here, it's mostly plains and mountains. The capital (He taps "Derdriu") is where I spend most of my time when I'm home. It's where all of the old lords meet and have stuffy meetings... well, they're more like angry venting sessions these days.
It's the most beautiful city in Fodlan. People call it the Aquatic Capital because it looks like it's floating on the sea. I never got to see the ocean much growing up... so being close to it all the time was a new experience for me.
(And he moves his finger to the center of the map,)
Ah, but these days... this is where I spend most of my time. ("Garreg Mach Monastery.") The Academy.
no subject
thats your school right
that means thats where you got to meet eisner sensei right
no subject
Claude nods in response and when she mentions Byleth? His eyes seem to light up just a little,)
More or less. I met her around here. (Further away, near a little village in the Adrestian Empire called Remire.) I was in real trouble and she saved my life.
(And he recognized how strong she was. He knew she was special. And he'd fought with Edelgard and Dimitri to bring her over to his side instead... The next thing he remembers is heading back to the academy. He frowns,)
The knights took her back with us and she started teaching there.