middaeg | . summer's play

[A lens through which one could view the stars... Dimitri recalls reading about the object almost immediately upon being offered one. It's a small contraption. Curious, that such a little thing can reveal so much about the world.

More curious that such a common instrument in this world was deemed dangerous.

He takes one hesitantly, but as he climbs a hill to view the meteors his excitement grows.

When he reaches the apex, he holds the lens to his eye-

It's blurry.

Which means it needs adjustments. Carefully, so carefully, he begins to twist the dial.

There are people milling about, though they've all been keeping to their little groups. Standing alone, Dimitri is a bit of an outlier - he's not the only solitary observer, and with monsters in the crowd he's not the tallest, but he is the only one without his eyes turned to the sky as the brilliant rainbow brightens and casts an ethereal hue over the stargazers.]

Edited 2020-04-03 02:06 (UTC)

[ she stands there in black-and-silver officer's garb, the only visible armor being greaves and vambraces, with a dark blue cloak over the top. symbols of adrestia, the emperor herself and the crest of flames are marked here and there. still, that shock of blonde hair stands out in her periphery, and... sure enough. that's the boar prince. she's connected the dots on what those devices are as well—the empire had started producing them for scouts anyway, as she recalls—and bites down a flare of anger at seiros. so much suppression, and for what?

still. maybe meeting like this is a chance to try again. ]

It's a bit tricky to get them aligned properly, isn't it? [ she speaks up from a solid five feet away, very much giving him his space. ] ... You seem well, Dimitri.

Edited 2020-04-03 02:38 (UTC)

[Dimitri doesn't look away from the contraption in his hands.

He can't give such an easy greeting to the woman who has approached - close enough to talk but far enough to keep safe distance.

A frown presses deep into his features, and with a slow, slow sigh he banishes it.

There's no cause to abandon diplomacy tonight - a beaten bloody body would ruin the mood.] Good evening, General.

Are you familiar with these devices? [He supposes it makes sense - an army opposed to the Church's would have little regard for their rules.]

[ she supposes it's too much to ask him to use her name, considering everything. ]

... In principle. Their design is more advanced than anything we had developed. [ byleth steps a bit closer, her stance guarded but not hostile. ] What's the problem? Perhaps I can help.

[He contemplates shoving the contraption into his pocket and putting a stop to this entire conversation. Speaking to the woman like this feels like a farce.

She's closer before he notices.]

It's out of focus. [Lowering the instrument, Dimitri's finger runs over the clockwork dial jutting from its side. He can turn it, but always too far...

Finally turning to her, he offers the telescope.] Thank you. [Stilted.]

[ byleth nods, reaching out gently to take the telescope from him. ]

It's no trouble. [ she holds it to her eye and looks up, gingerly turning the dial until the meteor shower stands in sharp relief. her breath catches at the sight of all of it so close... she's held like that for a few seconds, before exhaling, lowering the telescope and offering it back for him to take. ]

Try it now?

[There's nothing to look at but the ground or the woman's face, meteors still just glimmers of light in the sky. Beneath him, the grey cracked cobblestone grows dimmer until he loses any details to darkness.

Dimitri looks to Byleth just as her lips move, the slightest sign of emotion he'd be warmed by in his own teacher.

He's not left cold now, either.]

I appreciate your help. [He takes the device back, but doesn't yet bring it to his eye.]

It must be much preferable to watch the stars than to survey a battlefield.

A new experience for us both, perhaps? [Still stilted, too formal, like if he bit himself back any farther his teeth would shatter.]

[ part of byleth wants to apologize for before. to ask if there's a chance that they can start over. but she forces it down. still, she nods as dimitri expresses thanks. ]

I... do like this much better, yes. I took no pleasure in the work, and... even I'm not immune to sights like that. [ she gives him a very slight smile. ] This world has many things we've never experienced. I hope we both get the chance to do so.

[No pleasure - just vindication.

Dimitri nods, buying time to piece words together from the visceral feeling that keeps panging in his chest.]

As do I.

Though, it seems a shame to leave everything behind.

You had a country to rebuild, did you not? [And he has their vengeance-

If Dimitri cannot maintain a facade of levity, then he will stew in his dissatisfaction with himself, and his situation, rather than lash out.

Just as there's no denying Byleth's future, there's no escaping his past.]

... I have much waiting for me when I return to Fódlan, yes. Personally and professionally. [ she almost starts talking about the work that remains: the coming shadow war, the rebuilding and absorption of infrastructure, shifting back to a peacetime government, the establishment of a proper civil service, fully integrating faerghus and leicester under civilian governors, territorial reform, the rebuilding of fhirdiad and arianrhod, the endless council meetings... but no. the tone has been light, so far. she'd prefer to keep it that way. ] But my main responsibility is here with me.

[ her fingers go to the gold and red amulet around her neck, unconsciously. her expression warms a bit, a slight smile on her face. ]

So, I'm hoping to make the most of my time here.

[Dimitri watches Byleth's hand closely - because it's motion - but he hardly recognizes the adornment beyond its imperial make. She must truly care about the empire, and about her class...

It's not too difficult to believe - his teacher cared deeply for all of them, as well.

For his sake, Dimitri presses his civility further.] I'll admit...

The meteors are quite the sight, but it does feel like we should be doing something more.

[The city suffers a plight, and here they are, watching the sky fall.]

The entire city has slowed down for this, Dimitri. [ that fractional smile remains. ] If the locals can take the night... then so can we.

[Her words sound too easily like the suggestion of his Professor - granting Dimitri permission to take just a little something for himself.

With a slow nod, he attempts to take the advice to heart.

It does little to calm him, but in the very least he raises the telescope to his eye and squints up at the sky.]

I don't recall ever seeing something like this in Fodlan. Though, there are allusions to such sights in a few pieces of foreign folklore I've read.

[Now Dimitri speaks from interest rather than obligation, as if such easy conversation could continue to pull the spirit of his Professor from this woman.]

Folklore isn't my specialty, [ she says that after some thought, looking at him with a touch of curiosity. ] so I would be curious. I've heard some things from Petra about the tales they tell in Brigid, but... [ byleth shrugs one shoulder. ]

[The Professor hardly knew of Fodlan's religion when he'd arrived - it follows that he'd know even less of foreign myths. Especially given how common disdain for the surrounding countries was in all levels of society...

What Dimitri knows comes from books in Abyss, and the words of foreign merchants and friends.]

I'm sure she has many interesting stories. [What became of Brigid in the war, he wonders...

His brow furrows, and his grip on the telescope tightens. It blurs, but he keeps it raised.] If you're interested, I can share the one I know.

Though I'm sure it'd be better from the source. [Almyra, in this case.]

[ she notices the tension, of course, but says nothing. (brigid's doing great though, dima, everything's cool.) her eyes go back to the meteor shower. perhaps if she doesn't make him feel like he's being scrutinized, he may relax a touch. ]

Most things are. But I trust you can tell it well enough.

[When Dimitri lowers the telescope, he offers it to Byleth - a bit stiffly, but it's a gesture of good will regardless. Under a shared view of the stars, it almost feels as if they could exist in the same world...

Hands freed, he quickly wraps one around the other, squeezing his knuckles before they fall to his side.]

In Almyra, there's a legend about a set of twins born from the stars. Some accounts tell of two boys, others a boy and a girl, but they are always infants when found by a lowly peddler.

Their new father goes through many trials, and the twins always turn to the stars for guidance. What they read there helps him become a rich and respected man.

Though, of course, many are greedy for their power, so they're forced to run away.

In some ends, they simply disappear. In others, one kills the other to send them back to the skies and goes on to live as a mortal, no longer able to see the stars.

[A rather dark ending - Dimitri pauses as the story comes to a close.]

I believe it's meant to be a cautionary tale, as many are.

[ something about that... it's wrapped in metaphor, but it has her wondering. that can wait, though. she raises an eyebrow. ]

Cautioning against what, exactly? [ she's not sure she sees much of a moral. ]

[So much can be gleaned from myths and the reasons they're told - Dimitri wishes he knew more, and that his knowledge reached further beyond Fodlan's borders. Perhaps someday...

With a soft hum, Dimitri considers his response.]

No one would say that the twins were in the wrong for using their power as they pleased - after all, it belonged to them, and they were only helping a loved one.

But any ability like that - capable of turning a man's fortune around - will be coveted. So, in some ways, it could be interpreted as a warning against altruism... keep your strength hidden and use it wisely.

I prefer to read it as an affirmation that greed for power ruins everything in its path.

[He pauses, then - and his eyes are on her. Truly listening, hoping for her thoughts.]

[ byleth almost thinks he might be mocking her somehow with this. there's a good deal she could read into his words if she had a mind to, but... no, she thinks he's being genuine. some of the tension slips out of her stance. ]

Seeking power as an end in itself can only end in tears. [ she says that slowly, carefully, meeting his gaze and nodding once. ] Power is an important tool, but never a worthy goal.

[The air between them isn't easy - the cometflies that drift aimlessly around have lost their ethereal mystery. Instead, they seem only to box them into proximity. To force this conversation, to prevent either of them from flaring up and storming away.

Dimitri doesn't know whether to appreciate or begrudge the creatures.]

I agree.

And I think no one can say that using one's power to help those we love is a terrible thing.

[Living, or dead.

Admittedly, Dimitri is expecting a disagreement.

~~Maybe he's even hoping for one.~~]

[ it's... useful, at least. that they're being forced into this. still, for now, the disagreement doesn't come.

still, her responsibility is to the living. she desires retribution for her father, but... it's not what truly drives her hatred for those who slither in the dark. only one part of a greater whole. ]

... It isn't. [ she shakes her head, gently, at that. ] All that I have done has been to that end... and to make sure none will suffer as they have.

. summer's play

. byleth

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in this tag i completely wing a folk tale

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