(Isn't it funny when MG life just aligns so everything that could possibly go wrong just goes wrong? Even when things seem good, they're never really good, not when that goodness is built on a deceit. And sometimes, you try to do something and
everything goes wrong
Again. Again. Again. And really, he has no right to feel like he deserves anything better when he's on the other side and everything is the result of his own actions but really, there's only so much a person can take before the weight becomes crushing.
During the trial, he'd seen fine enough, even with the questionable mark on his face that he refused to explain. And after the trial, he'd quickly retreated away but who could blame anyone? After a "right" decision that didn't feel so right? And maybe it was the stress of being suspected twice in two weeks getting to him? Even at the removal though, he hadn't really seem to be... focusing, though. Unable to watch, to really meet anyone in the eye, to really stand by anyone's side and even the happy ending isn't enough to bring him back from whatever he's lost in.
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng won't be able to grab him right away. He's a flighty person and seems to slip away into a different locked room or another quiet corner through out the day until they're finally to grab one (1) very tired young man in the evening.)
[ It's a combined effort that allows them to corner Claude - they make eye contact, and decide wordlessly how to go about this when neither have the luck to catch him where they can keep him. The concern is... palpable, in that snap of a look.
So Hua Cheng herds him, even if he doesn't realize that's what's being done, and does so that he can't go anywhere except to where he'll be received by Xie Lian. There's no threats, no bullying.
Just a quiet corner for the three of them to settle in, even if his escape is cut off.
[ here's the quiet corner!! xie lian has a tea tray in his hands, and if he's been sort of shuffling around for the past hour with it, well ... don't judge him, alright?
the quiet corner this time is actually in the hallway near hua cheng's room, and xie lian gives claude a quiet nod as he is very gently cutting off his escape path. ]
...Claude, come sit for a little while with us. You look like you've been buzzing about all day.
There's a corridor. Nondescript but open and bright, filled with sunlight. Is it some sort of garden? A temple? He can't remember. The walls are bleached with light. There should be something there… color? What color were the walls? What was beyond those arches? It's missing. Something is missing. (What's missing?)
And tucked behind those arches, away from the outside, in the shadows that make up the inside, a boy finds himself against a wall. His robes aren't the same as the ones they wear in Fodlan. They're… different. That's all he knows about them. But this isn't in Fodlan. He knows that much. This is a faraway land, the name still fresh in his memory but this place is gone. (Where is it?)
The cornered boy braces a hand against the wall behind him. He glares up at the taller boys around him. Their eyes are different— shades of gold and brown like the earth while his are a bright green, like the forests, like the grasslands, like—
"The eyes of a weakling."
He's not. He's not weak, he snaps and when he's pressed further back into his corner…
Claude realizes his position now, caught between Hua Cheng and Xie Lian, herded into a corner away from where others can see. He hasn't felt this in so long. It had begun to feel like a memory.
A memory he still has. He still has this memory, even if he can't remember it all.
And he immediately begins to back away, trying to create a space between himself and them. Of course, it's too late and he only backs into Hua Cheng which has him looking for another escape. His eyes flash-- bright, defiant, the eyes of someone who knows he's caught and is willing to fight to get out of it. He lets out a laugh, forced and lacking,)
What's this?
(He's amused. He's so terribly amused. He's already trapped. There's no escape. Why? Why why can't he get away from anything here.)
I can't. (Please please just let him go. He can't sit still. He has to try... something.) I can't stay still.
[ The thing about this is that Hua Cheng knows the look - knows it from experience, on both sides, the opressive feeling of being trapped in a corner and fighting with defiance in your eyes just as well as he does the hunter that's cornered his target. There's no pity in his expression as Claude bumps back into him, though. Not really any sympathy, either, or the same unkind intent that they're both familiar with.
He just looks impassively down at him, pulling out his PHS to unlock the door. It's easy to reach around him when he's already in this position, and his other hand reaches, settles, between his shoulders. No grip in his clothes, just a solid force. ]
If you won't stay still, then pace until you collapse - inside.
[ It's just a cage, isn't it, loathed little boy with mixed blood?
If anyone knows, understands, Hua Cheng does, even if there is no mercy with the sympathy. ]
(Trial over. Execution over. Nothing left to focus on so clearly it's time to find a new distraction or talk about feelings.
There are a bunch of papers on the floor, pens and stuff. The pterodactyl is sleeping in a blanket nest next to them. This is his proxy baby wyvern now. Too bad he doesn't remember anything about taking care of wyvern so he's starting off from scratch and has no idea what he's really doing!!! But so far, everything is fine. It's fine. He's a smart boi he'll figure it out.)
[ here, too, is xie lian, also settled in at the mess of pens and papers! he's got one in his hand, tapping it against his cheek. his ankylosaurus sleeps against his back, still, perfectly content. ]
I think I have a good memory to start. At least - for Miss Hikaru. I'd like to remember that she made prayers to the god of the kamidana downstairs by making an offering with a white flower, and that she continued to do so, all the way until the end.
[ at least he thinks so, anyway. ] It meant a lot to me.
[ Hua Cheng's spinosaurus is the only one up and moving, but is - well-behaved, compared to how it's acted in the past. Just climbing on the bottom bunk, snuffling around, rummaging sheets. Its owner sits on the floor, not writing - drawing. He leaves the writing to the two of them.
Though he doesn't look up from his work, he does pause when Xie Lian says that. Then, he leans, so that he's pressed into his side for a moment, two, three. Afterwards he straightens and returns to his work. ]
She was from somewhere called Earth, before she was brought to Cefiro. A memory mentioned somewhere called Tokyo Tower, so I went looking through books in the shop - I think she's from Tokyo, Japan. [ tap tap goes the pen ] Her most treasured friend there was actually her dog, Hikari, her constant companion.
[ A click from the pen, and he turns his page around - a wolf-like dog stares back, depicted like he was caught mid-leap, fierce and proud like Hikaru would have liked to see, in an art style Xie Lian already knows, and one that Claude may recognize from the shrine's portraits. ]
Yeah, I remembered seeing Tokyo in one of her memories. She had brothers and two friends that were like sisters to her. They were from the same world.
(He never really got the brothers names... or maybe he will pending PCs still in progress haha.)
There were people important to her in both of her worlds and she loved them very much. She met a princess named Emeraude and her high priest, Sol Zagato. There was a guru named Clef, a blacksmith named Presea, and a prince named Ferio. There were two others named Lantis and Eagle.
(Ah, but there are some sad things there. A whole story that he promised her that he would remember.
He looks over at Hua Cheng's drawings. Yes, he definitely recognizes the style, even if he doesn't recognize the dog. That's new. Huh, he didn't know Hua Cheng could draw. It's better than anything he could do right now.
It's nice, he thinks, learning something new by talking like this. Even if Hikaru was often an open book, someone who opened up to others easily, there were still things he didn't know about her.
Also don't mind the few odd bubbles floating around the room that I am absolutely going to pop soon.)
I didn't know about Hikari.
(He leans over to get a better look and as he does, one of those bubbles wanders right into the side of his face--)
(A bell rings, tolling a late evening hour and a classroom full of students gather up their books and belongings, tucking them away and storing them on shelves or in packs to take back to their rooms. Among them is Claude who had been sitting in the front row but immediately gets up onto his feet to help a woman clear off the chalkboard and put away some maps. He's too eager to help and immediately strikes up a conversation with her, smiling cheerfully as he begins to ask follow up questions about their most recent lesson. She's his teacher? She really doesn't look that much older than him but this curious, almost expressionless woman has nothing but his complete respect.
Some of the students leave the classroom, emptying out quickly while they chatter away about the upcoming ball. They can't believe the professor actually kept them in class this late. They need to prepare. Despite the complaining, no one really seems to be bothered. Really, everyone is all smiles as they leave.
A group of students linger around still, some of them watching Claude talk to the professor. All of them are interested and some of them are just... amused. They've never seen Claude like this with anyone else. he always seems to light up when he talks to the professor.
When he notices that the others are still around, he reaches to take the professor's hand in his own and pull her towards his friends. Maybe they're more than just teacher and student or an advisor and her young lord in training. It's hard to tell exactly when Claude is naturally a casual and friendly person but the two certainly seem close.
"The time has come for the annual ball. But first, an eve of merriment!" Claude laughs and the professor gives him a glance, a quiet smile on her face as she listens to Claude play dramatics for everyone's attention, "OK, I'll admit it. The Officers Academy isn't as uptight as I thought."
Everyone laughs. They're all too familiar with their leader's complaints about how uptight and boring life at the academy could be. It's always felt like he had his own reasons for being here and none of them were really included sitting in class, listening to lectures, and being groomed to be the leader others expected him to be. He was always here for something else... which often got him into trouble with the other teachers.
Hilda lets out a delighted squeal and the group break into excited chatter, talking about their plans for the night. The room is rowdy, full of life, and smiles all around as they jest and poke fun at each other. It only stops when Claude cuts in, speaking up to say something that they all quiet down to listen to.
"Everyone! Listen up. To no one's surprise, I have a brilliant idea." He grins, quite pleased with himself and winks at their teacher, "Teach, you'll want in on this too."
"This may sound impetuous. Perhaps irresponsible. Almost certainly impossible. But we're gonna do it anyway. In exactly five years' time, let's promise to meet again, right here at the monastery."
And yet, despite how bold and impossible he'd set it up to be, everyone is took quick to agree and express their support. Well, maybe it wasn't so impossible after all, huh? ... Nothing has felt impossible since he met her, he thinks, and he watches Byleth carefully, trying to get a read from her reactions. She barely reacts much at all, instead, taking in everyone else's reactions and Claude speaks to her directly, "And you, Teach? I guess it's hard to imagine that you'll still be teaching here five years from now... But I'm sure no matter where you end up, you'll come running at the chance to see your adorable little Golden Deer again, right?"
Right? Surely, he could expect her to be there when he needed her. She's different. She's special. He'd known it since the moment they first met and it only became more true the more time he'd spent with her. Every battle they'd been in together, every class they shared, all of their conversations, that moment she wielded that awesome sword of hers... she's special.
"Probably so." She replies simply as she considers his offer.
"Ahem... That was your cue to promise everyone you'll return. Go on, set a good example, Teach. If you promise, everyone else will, too."
Before she can even respond, everyone else is cheering again. It's a brilliant idea, one they all support. Eventually, Byleth seems to understand and she nods in agreement.
"The promise is sealed!" Claude exclaims, "That means we're all obligated to keep it. Five years from today, all of us will meet again at the monastery."
Claude levels eyes with Byleth. He can never read her. He never knows what's going on inside that brilliant mind of hers. "Don't forget it, Teach." He gives her a smile, thoughtful but true, "You and I will meet here again..."
The group begins to break up. One of them shrieks that they didn't realize how late it was. Claude lingers a while longer, to talk just a little longer. He hesitates, considering his next words carefully.
(There's a legend.) (On the last night of the Ethereal Moon, on the same night as the ball... If a man and a woman go to the Goddess Tower and make a wish, it's sure to come true.)
She gathers up the last of her things and stops short of leaving, seeing that he's still waiting for her. She tilts his head to the side. Did he have something else he wanted to ask?
(Nah... Someone like Byleth Eisner wouldn't waste her times with silly fairy tales like that.)
"Hey, Teach, I'll see you at the dance?" She nods and he seems pleasantly surprised, "Really? I'll be keeping an eye out for you, then."
And he leaves. Actually, he dislikes these stuffy dances with all of their rules and certain company. It makes him tired just thinking about committing to a whole night of posturing.
(The memory is clear for them and yet, for himself? There's a big ol' hole in the shape of one particular person. The entire beginning and end of the memory is static and emptiness and all that he can really recall is the middle, a promise that he made to his classmates, his followers, and his friends.)
Ah.
(He brushes his face with his hand where the bubble hit him and shakes his head,)
[ me looking at the other things I have to tag like, this is fine
But Hua Cheng is - exhausted. The moment Claude comes into the room, it's evident. Even after a night of rest, it's still there, and for someone as observant as Claude who's spent a great deal of time with him will be able to see the pinch at the corner of his eye. But, that's probably fair, isn't it?
His left arm is gone, after all. His sleeve is pinned at the wrist against his shoulder, and that's it - nothing there. It's probably at Xie Lian's insistence that he's simply seated on the bed, legs crossed, PHS in his hand and daemon in its huli jing form curled up in the cradle of his legs.
Unlike with other people, it opens both eyes when Claude comes in, the right the same red that he's seen in the memories they volleyed back and forth. ]
After everyone's return, Claude had given Hua Cheng and Xie Lian some time to collect themselves. The two would inevitably need to talk and figure things out and after everything... well, something like that is personal and best resolved between two people instead of with a third party. All he did was promise to speak to them later, to leave them alone for now, and to be willing to open to them if they needed him sooner, the worry and concern evident even without the daemon at his side betraying him.
He notes Hua Cheng's appearance and it's only because the two are close that he speaks lightly,)
You look like you could use a nap.
(His daemon has gone from a dragon to a small stag deer, one that immediately betrays Claude and approaches Hua Cheng, as if to check on him and then moves towards Xie Lian, too. Claude, on the other hand, is as composed as ever, even if it looks like he might say something else at first, he nods,)
[ it is probably not surprising that xie lian looks... fussy. very fussy. he's worried to pieces about san lang, and has been since yesterday, though his usual composure mostly seems to have returned with the dawn of a new day. he's sitting fairly close to hua cheng, though there's a respectable amount of space between them - his daemon, on the other hand, is nearly attached to him, tucked against the huli jing in his lap. it lifts its head to greet claude's deer as it comes by, and xie lian has a smile for it as he scritches the top of its head.
that smile extends to claude, too, warm and friendly as ever. ] Hello, Claude - I hope you don't mind. Both San Lang and I have a few things to share, as I'm sure you might too.
...I have a question for you, first - it's about your team. How many members did it have originally?
(The deer lets Xie Lian scritch at him and also moves to nuzzle its nose into his hand, sniffing at him and just... generally expressing what might look like concern. Dang, these daemons really do betray what you're feeling, huh?)
That's... something we're trying to figure out. Our guess is six or seven. Do you remember the rule about the leaders losing their powers if they lose enough people?
(The one that went into place shortly after Shima, a known fox was removed?)
It affected Fox. By then, it was possible multiple teams had already lost two members... so we can only really assume we lost more than that by then.
I saw Hikaru and Vezda yesterday. They couldn't speak but they had a message.
Hikaru's message was telling me Swan and Fox need to kill this week. (That was it!) Vezda's was... well, the last part was for you.
(Looking @ u Hua Cheng.)
He knows what you did to Alyssa and there's that whole thing with the arm. (Vague gestures.) He was pretty angry and I'm pretty sure he told you to go drop from a pegasus. ... That means from a real high place.
xie lian will invite claude to come up to his room. alphinaud is usually with izumo - and has been most of this week - so, presumably, hua cheng is also here. he's the one to open the door to let him in, with a small smile on his face, and afterwards, xie lian returns to what he was doing before - toweling off hua cheng's long hair. ]
Sup, Claude. [ this fucking curfew effect at least we all have it. he winces, and then shakes his head. ]
(He doesn't even know what he's saying. It's like he's speaking a foreign language?? Anyway, Claude is? Well, he's mostly fine in the sense that he seems to be keeping himself together just fine but he's definitely more somber than usual. Where is his cheer when Teach and Ochako are dead.)
[ Hua Cheng has his cheek propped up in his palm as he lets Xie Lian dry his hair, having changed into something dry, and his eyepatch is off - he's got a hand towel pressed to his eye with his fingers while he steadies himself. You'd almost think he was dozing, until his tired surfer drawl pipes up. ]
She volunteered, and I'm betting Chiron did, too. Won was splintering - we gotta find him tomorrow.
(Wow, a lot sure has happened right? Those reunions Friday, man... and now the trial? He's barely had any time to grab everyone he's wanted to which is why as soon as he has the chance after trial. Of course, he gives them time to you know, take care of their wounds and everything? But he's grabbing them Hua Cheng and Xie Lian.)
Finally. I was worried I'd miss the two of you again.
(Sometimes you spend all Friday catch up with your crush and sister and falling asleep instead from relief of checking in on your dads. It's fine.)
There's something I've been wanting to tell you.
(Both of them, now that he has his memories and those voids of anxiety are filled with resolution and meaning.)
[ It's fine, since your dads were very much preoccupied post-adventures, too. Everything was a lot! And while he's still fairly tired, Hua Cheng did tell Claude that he always had time for him - and he still means it, weeks later, even now that they're at the end. ]
Oh? [ You have his attention - especially with that resolution clear as day. He saw it during the trial, but it's a different tone when it's not in the middle of a fight. ]
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Week 3, sunday
everything goes wrong
Again. Again. Again. And really, he has no right to feel like he deserves anything better when he's on the other side and everything is the result of his own actions but really, there's only so much a person can take before the weight becomes crushing.
During the trial, he'd seen fine enough, even with the questionable mark on his face that he refused to explain. And after the trial, he'd quickly retreated away but who could blame anyone? After a "right" decision that didn't feel so right? And maybe it was the stress of being suspected twice in two weeks getting to him? Even at the removal though, he hadn't really seem to be... focusing, though. Unable to watch, to really meet anyone in the eye, to really stand by anyone's side and even the happy ending isn't enough to bring him back from whatever he's lost in.
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng won't be able to grab him right away. He's a flighty person and seems to slip away into a different locked room or another quiet corner through out the day until they're finally to grab one (1) very tired young man in the evening.)
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So Hua Cheng herds him, even if he doesn't realize that's what's being done, and does so that he can't go anywhere except to where he'll be received by Xie Lian. There's no threats, no bullying.
Just a quiet corner for the three of them to settle in, even if his escape is cut off.
It's time to talk. ]
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the quiet corner this time is actually in the hallway near hua cheng's room, and xie lian gives claude a quiet nod as he is very gently cutting off his escape path. ]
...Claude, come sit for a little while with us. You look like you've been buzzing about all day.
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And tucked behind those arches, away from the outside, in the shadows that make up the inside, a boy finds himself against a wall. His robes aren't the same as the ones they wear in Fodlan. They're… different. That's all he knows about them. But this isn't in Fodlan. He knows that much. This is a faraway land, the name still fresh in his memory but this place is gone. (Where is it?)
The cornered boy braces a hand against the wall behind him. He glares up at the taller boys around him. Their eyes are different— shades of gold and brown like the earth while his are a bright green, like the forests, like the grasslands, like—
"The eyes of a weakling."
He's not. He's not weak, he snaps and when he's pressed further back into his corner…
Claude realizes his position now, caught between Hua Cheng and Xie Lian, herded into a corner away from where others can see. He hasn't felt this in so long. It had begun to feel like a memory.
A memory he still has. He still has this memory, even if he can't remember it all.
And he immediately begins to back away, trying to create a space between himself and them. Of course, it's too late and he only backs into Hua Cheng which has him looking for another escape. His eyes flash-- bright, defiant, the eyes of someone who knows he's caught and is willing to fight to get out of it. He lets out a laugh, forced and lacking,)
What's this?
(He's amused. He's so terribly amused. He's already trapped. There's no escape. Why? Why why can't he get away from anything here.)
I can't. (Please please just let him go. He can't sit still. He has to try... something.) I can't stay still.
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He just looks impassively down at him, pulling out his PHS to unlock the door. It's easy to reach around him when he's already in this position, and his other hand reaches, settles, between his shoulders. No grip in his clothes, just a solid force. ]
If you won't stay still, then pace until you collapse - inside.
[ It's just a cage, isn't it, loathed little boy with mixed blood?
If anyone knows, understands, Hua Cheng does, even if there is no mercy with the sympathy. ]
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i made yall wait so long for like nothing im gomen
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Week 4, sunday
There are a bunch of papers on the floor, pens and stuff. The pterodactyl is sleeping in a blanket nest next to them. This is his proxy baby wyvern now. Too bad he doesn't remember anything about taking care of wyvern so he's starting off from scratch and has no idea what he's really doing!!! But so far, everything is fine. It's fine. He's a smart boi he'll figure it out.)
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I think I have a good memory to start. At least - for Miss Hikaru. I'd like to remember that she made prayers to the god of the kamidana downstairs by making an offering with a white flower, and that she continued to do so, all the way until the end.
[ at least he thinks so, anyway. ] It meant a lot to me.
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Though he doesn't look up from his work, he does pause when Xie Lian says that. Then, he leans, so that he's pressed into his side for a moment, two, three. Afterwards he straightens and returns to his work. ]
She was from somewhere called Earth, before she was brought to Cefiro. A memory mentioned somewhere called Tokyo Tower, so I went looking through books in the shop - I think she's from Tokyo, Japan. [ tap tap goes the pen ] Her most treasured friend there was actually her dog, Hikari, her constant companion.
[ A click from the pen, and he turns his page around - a wolf-like dog stares back, depicted like he was caught mid-leap, fierce and proud like Hikaru would have liked to see, in an art style Xie Lian already knows, and one that Claude may recognize from the shrine's portraits. ]
1/3
(He never really got the brothers names... or maybe he will pending PCs still in progress haha.)
There were people important to her in both of her worlds and she loved them very much. She met a princess named Emeraude and her high priest, Sol Zagato. There was a guru named Clef, a blacksmith named Presea, and a prince named Ferio. There were two others named Lantis and Eagle.
(Ah, but there are some sad things there. A whole story that he promised her that he would remember.
He looks over at Hua Cheng's drawings. Yes, he definitely recognizes the style, even if he doesn't recognize the dog. That's new. Huh, he didn't know Hua Cheng could draw. It's better than anything he could do right now.
It's nice, he thinks, learning something new by talking like this. Even if Hikaru was often an open book, someone who opened up to others easily, there were still things he didn't know about her.
Also don't mind the few odd bubbles floating around the room that I am absolutely going to pop soon.)
I didn't know about Hikari.
(He leans over to get a better look and as he does, one of those bubbles wanders right into the side of his face--)
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Some of the students leave the classroom, emptying out quickly while they chatter away about the upcoming ball. They can't believe the professor actually kept them in class this late. They need to prepare. Despite the complaining, no one really seems to be bothered. Really, everyone is all smiles as they leave.
A group of students linger around still, some of them watching Claude talk to the professor. All of them are interested and some of them are just... amused. They've never seen Claude like this with anyone else. he always seems to light up when he talks to the professor.
When he notices that the others are still around, he reaches to take the professor's hand in his own and pull her towards his friends. Maybe they're more than just teacher and student or an advisor and her young lord in training. It's hard to tell exactly when Claude is naturally a casual and friendly person but the two certainly seem close.
(( 6:23:00-6:26:35 ))
"The time has come for the annual ball. But first, an eve of merriment!" Claude laughs and the professor gives him a glance, a quiet smile on her face as she listens to Claude play dramatics for everyone's attention, "OK, I'll admit it. The Officers Academy isn't as uptight as I thought."
Everyone laughs. They're all too familiar with their leader's complaints about how uptight and boring life at the academy could be. It's always felt like he had his own reasons for being here and none of them were really included sitting in class, listening to lectures, and being groomed to be the leader others expected him to be. He was always here for something else... which often got him into trouble with the other teachers.
Hilda lets out a delighted squeal and the group break into excited chatter, talking about their plans for the night. The room is rowdy, full of life, and smiles all around as they jest and poke fun at each other. It only stops when Claude cuts in, speaking up to say something that they all quiet down to listen to.
"Everyone! Listen up. To no one's surprise, I have a brilliant idea." He grins, quite pleased with himself and winks at their teacher, "Teach, you'll want in on this too."
"This may sound impetuous. Perhaps irresponsible. Almost certainly impossible. But we're gonna do it anyway. In exactly five years' time, let's promise to meet again, right here at the monastery."
And yet, despite how bold and impossible he'd set it up to be, everyone is took quick to agree and express their support. Well, maybe it wasn't so impossible after all, huh? ... Nothing has felt impossible since he met her, he thinks, and he watches Byleth carefully, trying to get a read from her reactions. She barely reacts much at all, instead, taking in everyone else's reactions and Claude speaks to her directly, "And you, Teach? I guess it's hard to imagine that you'll still be teaching here five years from now... But I'm sure no matter where you end up, you'll come running at the chance to see your adorable little Golden Deer again, right?"
Right? Surely, he could expect her to be there when he needed her. She's different. She's special. He'd known it since the moment they first met and it only became more true the more time he'd spent with her. Every battle they'd been in together, every class they shared, all of their conversations, that moment she wielded that awesome sword of hers... she's special.
"Probably so." She replies simply as she considers his offer.
"Ahem... That was your cue to promise everyone you'll return. Go on, set a good example, Teach. If you promise, everyone else will, too."
Before she can even respond, everyone else is cheering again. It's a brilliant idea, one they all support. Eventually, Byleth seems to understand and she nods in agreement.
"The promise is sealed!" Claude exclaims, "That means we're all obligated to keep it. Five years from today, all of us will meet again at the monastery."
Claude levels eyes with Byleth. He can never read her. He never knows what's going on inside that brilliant mind of hers. "Don't forget it, Teach." He gives her a smile, thoughtful but true, "You and I will meet here again..."
The group begins to break up. One of them shrieks that they didn't realize how late it was. Claude lingers a while longer, to talk just a little longer. He hesitates, considering his next words carefully.
(There's a legend.)
(On the last night of the Ethereal Moon, on the same night as the ball... If a man and a woman go to the Goddess Tower and make a wish, it's sure to come true.)
She gathers up the last of her things and stops short of leaving, seeing that he's still waiting for her. She tilts his head to the side. Did he have something else he wanted to ask?
(Nah... Someone like Byleth Eisner wouldn't waste her times with silly fairy tales like that.)
"Hey, Teach, I'll see you at the dance?" She nods and he seems pleasantly surprised, "Really? I'll be keeping an eye out for you, then."
And he leaves. Actually, he dislikes these stuffy dances with all of their rules and certain company. It makes him tired just thinking about committing to a whole night of posturing.
But maybe...
(Everything feels possible.))
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Ah.
(He brushes his face with his hand where the bubble hit him and shakes his head,)
Sorry... now really wasn't the time for that.
(This! Is! Supposed to be! About! Hikaru!)
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w5 friday
But Hua Cheng is - exhausted. The moment Claude comes into the room, it's evident. Even after a night of rest, it's still there, and for someone as observant as Claude who's spent a great deal of time with him will be able to see the pinch at the corner of his eye. But, that's probably fair, isn't it?
His left arm is gone, after all. His sleeve is pinned at the wrist against his shoulder, and that's it - nothing there. It's probably at Xie Lian's insistence that he's simply seated on the bed, legs crossed, PHS in his hand and daemon in its huli jing form curled up in the cradle of his legs.
Unlike with other people, it opens both eyes when Claude comes in, the right the same red that he's seen in the memories they volleyed back and forth. ]
We've got a lot to go over.
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After everyone's return, Claude had given Hua Cheng and Xie Lian some time to collect themselves. The two would inevitably need to talk and figure things out and after everything... well, something like that is personal and best resolved between two people instead of with a third party. All he did was promise to speak to them later, to leave them alone for now, and to be willing to open to them if they needed him sooner, the worry and concern evident even without the daemon at his side betraying him.
He notes Hua Cheng's appearance and it's only because the two are close that he speaks lightly,)
You look like you could use a nap.
(His daemon has gone from a dragon to a small stag deer, one that immediately betrays Claude and approaches Hua Cheng, as if to check on him and then moves towards Xie Lian, too. Claude, on the other hand, is as composed as ever, even if it looks like he might say something else at first, he nods,)
... Right. Straight to business, huh?
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that smile extends to claude, too, warm and friendly as ever. ] Hello, Claude - I hope you don't mind. Both San Lang and I have a few things to share, as I'm sure you might too.
...I have a question for you, first - it's about your team. How many members did it have originally?
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That's... something we're trying to figure out. Our guess is six or seven. Do you remember the rule about the leaders losing their powers if they lose enough people?
(The one that went into place shortly after Shima, a known fox was removed?)
It affected Fox. By then, it was possible multiple teams had already lost two members... so we can only really assume we lost more than that by then.
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Week 6, Wednesday
So.
(So.)
Were either of you visited by ghosts this week?
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looks at hua cheng.
? ]
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puts two fingers to Xie Lian's cheek and turns him to face Claude again ]
My team's had a few, but I haven't personally, no.
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Not that one.
(Not Hua Cheng!!! Moving on, moving on,)
I saw Hikaru and Vezda yesterday. They couldn't speak but they had a message.
Hikaru's message was telling me Swan and Fox need to kill this week. (That was it!) Vezda's was... well, the last part was for you.
(Looking @ u Hua Cheng.)
He knows what you did to Alyssa and there's that whole thing with the arm. (Vague gestures.) He was pretty angry and I'm pretty sure he told you to go drop from a pegasus. ... That means from a real high place.
("Go fuck yourself.")
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week 6 post dead
xie lian will invite claude to come up to his room. alphinaud is usually with izumo - and has been most of this week - so, presumably, hua cheng is also here. he's the one to open the door to let him in, with a small smile on his face, and afterwards, xie lian returns to what he was doing before - toweling off hua cheng's long hair. ]
Sup, Claude. [ this fucking curfew effect at least we all have it. he winces, and then shakes his head. ]
...I need... there's something I gotta tell you.
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(He doesn't even know what he's saying. It's like he's speaking a foreign language?? Anyway, Claude is? Well, he's mostly fine in the sense that he seems to be keeping himself together just fine but he's definitely more somber than usual. Where is his cheer when Teach and Ochako are dead.)
Always something, huh?
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xie lian gives him a small, sad smile. he's keeping it together, because he always does - but it clearly doesn't reach his eyes as he says: ]
...She volunteered. She told me on Sunday.
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She volunteered, and I'm betting Chiron did, too. Won was splintering - we gotta find him tomorrow.
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Saturday, post-trial
Finally. I was worried I'd miss the two of you again.
(Sometimes you spend all Friday catch up with your crush and sister and falling asleep instead from relief of checking in on your dads. It's fine.)
There's something I've been wanting to tell you.
(Both of them, now that he has his memories and those voids of anxiety are filled with resolution and meaning.)
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Oh? [ You have his attention - especially with that resolution clear as day. He saw it during the trial, but it's a different tone when it's not in the middle of a fight. ]