[Closed] We work hard, and then we work harder.

[unyieldingmarch]

Who: Edelgard von Hresvelg & Various
When: Early June
Where: Aefenglom and Dorchacht, and At Sea
What: Edelgard does some quests with her CR
Warnings: Violence, and Edelgard's usual warnings of human experimentation, blood in a vampiric context, and talk of death and war.



At Sea (For Corrin)

It's strange being on a ship, the rolling motions of the waves against the wood not enough to really bother Edelgard, though how much of that was her vampiric body and how much of it was her own fortitude was anyone's guess. Either way, she wasn't in her element and it probably showed in the stance she had adopted, staring stoically out over the moonlit water. The glimmer of silver off the horizon was entrancing, beautiful and distracting...but she couldn't deny that she was any less afraid of the water, no matter how it looked. Maybe it was strange since she didn't exactly need to breathe, but fears weren't easy to let go of.

Either way, she's definitely making waves in the bond, mulling over various things, and likely subconsciously calling out to at least one of her Bondmates.


Below Decks (For Byleth)

During the early hours of evening Edelgard's more active and attempts to be more social, since she can't exactly come out of her vampire-proof room during the daylight hours, or risk bringing people into it. It's simply a bad idea. She's not restless, exactly, but she has a lot of pent up energy. And even the Emperor isn't above pestering her other bondmate during their journey. So, she knocks on the door of Byleth's cabin...hoping to find something to occupy herself this evening. And time with a dear friend certainly is a good way to occupy oneself.


The Silent Forest (For Saber)

Edelgard was happy to take on this particular quest, and even happier to have the opportunity to do so with Saber. She'd seemed capable and competent during their meeting, and so when a pair of Wilder Witches were asking around for guards during this trek, it had seemed as good a time as any to get to know one another better. Fully armored, with Aymr slung over her back, the Emperor was covered in head to toe as the wagon the Wilders had brought rumbled out towards the forest path, the last rays of a fading sun not quite sunk below the horizon yet. An early "morning" for her, but they did need to get going during the daylight hours, and her enchanted clothing was good enough protection until night fell.

"Were you on the original expedition out here?" Edelgard asks of her companion, curious.



[Further prompts will be in the comments. If you want to do something quest related with Edelgard feel free to ping me on Plurk at intercession]

Comments

[hegemonwings]

[ byleth has been keeping odd hours, somewhat by necessity, sleeping in phases. she finds it important to keep appraised of their heading and to be able to pick up things here and there from the galley, but she's not about to move her sleep cycle back out of sync with edelgard's, either. her mostly-nocturnal habits of waking up in the middle of the afternoon are less tenable, here. she's risen for the evening—but only just—when she feels her bondmate by the door, and already standing up when she hears the knock.

she's dressed in a fairly simple chemise when she opens the door, hair still a bit tangled. ]

El. [ byleth smiles, even as she's clearly still a bit tired. she opens the door wider for her to step inside. ] Come in?

[unyieldingmarch]

Yes, it's me.

[Edelgard is dressed, fully so. A blouse, long trousers, gloves, her usual attire for her "days" such as they were. And she's smiling as she steps inside, a cheerful and upbeat thing.]

I came to check on you. I felt you stirring. Are you sleeping well?

[She offers a wry smile, looking at the tangled mass of Byleth's hair.]

and...Do you want some help with that?

[hegemonwings]

Well, but not all at once. [ she has some sweets stashed from the galley for edelgard, but those can wait. as her partner goes on, her smile turns a bit sheepish. she hadn't had the chance to look in the mirror yet. ]

I think... I wouldn't mind the help. [ especially not from her. yeah, she can brush her own hair just fine, but...

it sounds nice. ]

[unyieldingmarch]

[Edelgard laughs softly, stepping forward and reaching a hand up to touch Byleth's cheek. She's warm, fresh from having a drink, and it shows through the glove just a bit.]

I'd love to. If you want to sit down so I can reach.

[She's still a shorty.]

[hegemonwings]

[ byleth lets out a soft, pleased sound at the warmth of her touch, leaning her head into edelgard's hand just a bit. ]

Of course.

[ she keeps her eyes on edelgard's for a moment before finally nodding, taking her hand as she steps towards the bed of her cabin and sits down on the edge. this kind of... easy intimacy is still new to her. ]

[unyieldingmarch]

[Edelgard is getting used to it. She's gotten practice with Corrin, and she's wanted to do this for Byleth for a while.

So, taking a comb, she slides up onto the bed behind her bonded and begins to gently arrange her hair.]

How have you found the trip thus far?

[hegemonwings]

[ a bit of memory rattles loose as edelgard begins—rough hands, her father chuckling as he makes some dry joke to try to get...some... kind of reaction out of the stone-faced girl in front of him as he combed her hair.

byleth keeps her eyes forward, tilting her head slightly. ]

I've... tried not to let myself enjoy it too much. This isn't for pleasure, after all. But I think I've found it agreeable. [ she lets out a breath. ] What about you?

[ she knows that edelgard doesn't do well with open water. ]

[unyieldingmarch]

[Edelgard leans closer, taking her time as she begins to pull the brush through the bottom strands of Byleth's hair. Slow, steady, just working out the tangles from the ends to make it easier as she gets further up.]

I've been alright. Having you and Corrin both near has helped. And I admit, I'm not as concerned about my inability to swim.

[Chuckling to herself...]

Not needing to breathe has some benefit.

[hegemonwings]

[ byleth huffs out a gentle laugh at that, feeling... content, she thinks. identifying her feelings with much specificity is still something that eludes her. but something like this is just so... normal, in a way that she still can't quite believe she has in her life.

she hums softly, letting her eyes slip closed as a smile tugs at her lips. ]

I'm glad. It... makes me happy, knowing I can help ease your mind.

[unyieldingmarch]

You've always had a talent for that.

[Edelgard's fingers stroke gently, smoothing out the hair she's pulling at, catching a couple of tangles and trying to unravel them before the comb hits them. She'd rather not hurt Byleth, after all.]

Ever since we met.

[hegemonwings]

[ byleth senses the consideration and lets the soft words sink in. a touch of... embarrassment? love? both? rises in the bond. ]

You've been... sweeter, lately. [ or more openly so, anyway. she says that, gently, feeling her face warm and her pulse quicken a bit. ] I think that I like it.

[unyieldingmarch]

Have I?

[The Emperor laughs softly, tilting her head forward to kiss the top of Byleth's head. Just something small, but she knows it'll have a big impact. Just like...]

I suppose you can thank Ozymandias for that. I saw a memory of his wedding, a little over a month ago. It encouraged me to be more open with my affections.

[hegemonwings]

[ byleth hums again, relaxing further in response to the kiss. ]

I haven't met him, but I'll bear that in mind. [ she can't help but feel like she should be doing something with her hands, even with their current position. ]

It's made this easier for me. You know that I'm... not skilled at expressing how I feel. [ she tries with edelgard, though. always. ]

[unyieldingmarch]

He's interesting. Overbearing and pompous, but he's on the Council, so I had to get to know him. He's...alright.

[By that, she means that Byleth probably wouldn't care for him. But...you know...]

...I am not much better, you know. But I understand. And, it's fine. I'm just glad to have these moments, regardless of your ability to express it in words. I can feel what it means to you.

[hegemonwings]

... These moments mean the world, my heart. [ her voice is quieter, as she admits that. ] Like proof that everything has been worthwhile.

[unyieldingmarch]

Yes. Yes I think that's an apt way of putting it.

[Edelgard continues her work, finally moving to the middle of Byleth's hair.]

I never dared dream of moments like this. Yet, here we are."

[hegemonwings]

[ if byleth feels any discomfort as edelgard knocks out one particularly resistant tangle, it doesn't show. ]

It had... never crossed my mind one way or another, until the war. But I do enjoy getting to have you to myself. [ she knows that she isn't—and frankly, shouldn't be—edelgard's primary focus at all times. it's the same for her own priorities; they both keep busy, and that will be just as true when they return home, if not more so.

but all the same. ]

[unyieldingmarch]

Me either. I never thought that the chance would come. And home will keep us busy, but...I think that we'll have opportunities.

[She laughs softly, working through some particularly gnarled strands of hair with a bit of vigor.]

There are secret passages within Enbarr's palace, after all. I can make sure that your room has one to mine.

[hegemonwings]

Can't have anyone thinking the Empire's marshal is visiting Her Majesty's chambers at night, hm?

[ there's more than a touch of amusement in her voice as she says that, leaning against her just a bit. ]

What would people say?

[unyieldingmarch]

Likely nothing. I had thought more that it would just be preferable for us to have our privacy, and avoid the gossip.

[She means it sincerely, even if she is laughing softly.]

[hegemonwings]

[ she lets out a soft sigh, letting edelgard continue the work. she... feels like? she shouldn't turn around? her heart warms at the sound of edelgard laughing, as ever. ]

I would prefer that. And I suppose we should try to be... subtle, when we return? At least for a time.

[ until the monsters in their midst are rooted out, she means. ]

[unyieldingmarch]

Yes. We'll need to be. For a time.

[Edelgard is under no illusions that it will be possible to keep it totally secret, but they should try.]

It could make you an even bigger target, if they see it as a means to get to me. But, they don't know we're preparing for war.

[hegemonwings]

I can handle whatever they might try. But if it will deny them the option... if it will let you rest easier, then...

[unyieldingmarch]

It's better to just keep public and private lives separate. That's been my finding, anyway. It is no one else's business, dearest.

[hegemonwings]

Hmm.

[ she's not sure how much that's even... possible, for people in their position—in edelgard's position, especially—but she nods regardless, turning at last, just enough to look at her. ]

Privacy is one thing, but... El, if we are to be... [ married. she doesn't... really want to say it out loud, with the odd limbo they currently exist in. even if she's brought it up before in implications, in hypotheticals, in images and feelings, and even if edelgard has been receptive. byleth knows her meaning will be clear regardless. ]

... Though I suppose that's a question for after we break them.

[ hubert has made it clear enough he believes such things are emphatically not an immediate concern, even if she hasn't directly brought up the matter with him—"the war is not over. not for you, not for me." "ah, but such things are a long ways off. not until the rot has been carved from fódlan's bones and the vermin lies broken among their ruins..."—and byleth realizes full well that her friend is right, but... she still finds her heart running away with the notion, here and there. ]