realmofstories | Uneasy Alliance

[Since the shift to Londeva, Dimitri has temporarily relegated himself to an observational role. As much as he wants to help, he's learned the hard way that acting without information can lead to dire consequences. So he watches as the story starts to play out, only lending a hand in helping the locals in non-violent ways. Soon enough, he's at least somewhat satisfied with his understanding of how things proceed aroud here. And if he feels ready to participate, he's sure everyone else from Fodlan is as well.

He just has to make sure they don't end up trying to kill each other here, too.

So Dimitri gathers everyone together, insisting he has something important to discuss and that it's most efficient if they're all in the same room while he does it. He can be quite stubborn when he needs to. He's all smiles when he greets everyone in the entryway of his flat near the river. The gritty aesthetic of Londeva actually suits him rather well — he looks right at home in his head to to black suit with blue accents, and he's thrilled about the glass eye he's been given to wear in place of his eyepatch. Sure, it doesn't restore sight, but it moves in tandem with his real eye and doesn't look completely dead. Good enough for him!

He's planned things out so Edelgard arrives last, hoping it keeps her from feeling boxed in by having Felix or Sylvain come in behind her. The seating in the front room is situated to give her a clear path to the door, and he's made sure that the chair closest to the exit remains unoccupied.]

Ah, Edelgard! Please, come in.

[Felix can't quite get used to the fake eye, but he tends not to look Dimitri directly in the face anyway. He sits near Sylvain, feeling tense about the meeting, a mixture of being on guard concerning the danger represented by Edelgard and on guard for any shift in Dimitri's bearing. Dimitri's come far, but Felix knows the beastly face of him is not something that was shaken free, but persists like a disease in the blood, coiled down inside him for the rest of his days.]

[If anything eases him somewhat, it's the smiles Dimitri keeps giving. The face that only came back towards the end of the war. Beasts don't smile, at least not without showing their teeth.]

[He crosses his arms as Edelgard comes in, looking more closed off than welcoming.]

[Dimitri welcomes Edelgard, but she seems to give more attention to his companions. Sylvain and Felix more enemies than Dimitri will be... considering their past and his wholehearted acceptance of their Essences.

The look in her pale eyes is cold and calculating. Each step toward the seating arrangements is slow, and her over-the-knee boots have a heel that clicks every time she makes a step. They also cover most of the way her leather pants lace up at the side, but are unable to hide the gaps that flash bits of her thigh or hip since the boots do not reach that far.

At least the bustier is breathable, and the metal adornments on her outfit that resemble Prague's astronomical clock don't cause any inconvenience or discomfort. The only piece of her outfit that gives her discomfort is the thin poet sleeves reveal glimpses of her scarred arms if the light hits it just right.

When she stands by the chair left open for her she does not yet sit. However she does look around to see where to set her... Well, it was a shepherd's crook, but now with the campaign shifting tone in her hands is a metal staff with a celestial compass atop it.]

Do you believe this meeting truly necessary?

Edited 2020-11-24 01:30 (UTC)

[For what it's worth, Sylvain's posture isn't half so closed off as Felix's. He doesn't hold a grudge the same way the youngest of the Faerghus kids does, and he has no intention of being rude for the sake of it. He isn't sure this is a good idea, but he's willing to let Dimitri try.

[Dimitri looks so charming in his suit, and putting on his leadership hat has the man looking overall very dashing. Sylvain is very proud of him! Sylvain himself has opted not to peacock, for once, wearing simple victorian-style trousers and a bronze-and-teal vest with a small pocketwatch chain as an accent. His arm his draped from his chair over to Felix's, dropping to his shoulder to squeeze once before lifting back up to the back of his chair.

Edelgard looks practically native, with the outfit she has on, and he refrains from whistling, but only just.]

I see no reason not to compare notes and touch base. We all have more in common here than we do with most anyone else in the codex, after all.

[The umbrella caddy will hold that crook nicely. This is a wet city, so of course such furnishings are provided. Dimitri is about to ask if she'd like anything to drink when she decides to stand beside her chair and ask if the meeting is really necessary. His gaze flicks between Edelgard and Felix, both clearly on guard.

He sighs heavily, heading over to sit stiffly on the couch. There, now he won't be looming, Edelgard can sit.]

I am quite certain it is necessary, [he replies with a small huff. But even though he's displeased, it's obvious he's more annoyed than he is truly angry.]

I am sure you all have been keeping an eye on the proceedings regarding this tale, yes?

[Felix's outfit is also Victorian, with a waistcoat and a long dark open jacket. But he has high boots up past his knees and a large belt for holding the scabbard of his new sword.]

[His shoulder is tensed hard under that grip. Felix grunts lightly as Sylvain squeezes his shoulder, pulled out of some of his fixation by the touch. He drops his crossed arms and glances at Sylvain, lacking the hostility he might have given him years back for getting in his space.]

[He returns his attention to watching both the new arrival and Dimitri, but he looks at Dimitri more than at Edelgard, as though the concern mostly lies there. At least Dimitri seems fine now. Kingly, even. Measuring diplomacy before fruitless fighting.]

...More likely we're wasting our time, but let's see where this goes.

[Felix's words echo her own sentiments — if a bit more roughly than she would have spoken them herself. Edelgard's eyes do find the umbrella rack, but she refuses to use it. Instead it seems she is more comfortable holding on to her weapon in a room full of potential enemies. Even if Sylvain and Dimitri have already tried convincing her there is no will to fight from either of them.]

If we are all in understanding of what is going on I feel no need to spell it out either. But I suppose until you get it out of your system you will want to talk. If that is the case I will cease interrupting you.

[Sylvain bites back the urge to say something snarky. He asked a question and neither of these pointlessly grumpy idiots even close to responded to it.

He catches Dimitri's gaze and hopes that his dramatic sigh comes across in his eyes.]

I've been here longer than the rest of you, so yeah, I have an idea how it all works. We have to act out the roles assigned to us, and sometimes playing the part affects us either by giving us new abilities or changing our mental state. That's what you're getting at, right?

[There's a moment there where Dimitri has to wonder what it says about him that he seeks out people who can be so exasperating. Much of what he intends to say does go without saying, it's true — but his heart just can't take fighting Edelgard again. If he looks like a bit of an idiot in his attempts to avoid that, then so be it. His lips twitch slightly when Sylvain catches his eye, but Dimitri doesn't otherwise react.

Though he does appreciate the backup.]

...yes, precisely. Taking our history into account, I think it wise for us to meet face-to-face to reiterate that we have no desire to fight here. It would be pointless to do so. As long as we are aware of the involuntary nature of one's actions when playing out these scenes and agree to hold no grudges for what may happen, we should be able to work beside each other if not necessarily together.

[Deeply uncomfortable, he folds his arms and looks away.]

I know how that must sound coming from me. I have lost too much to anger to allow it to take hold again.

["Desire to fight" is pretty much encoded into Felix's being, but he doesn't intend to start anything. Still, he scoffs, turned and looking away from them like Dimitri is doing, also uncomfortable.]

No one wants to do anything pointless. But I doubt anyone can stamp out all their grudges and urges to fight down to nothing. None of us are used to the war being over. What matters is staying in control of our feelings and not doing anything stupid.

Exactly, Felix is correct. Trying to stamp out all those feelings would probably just make them fester like a wound and infect all interactions. I would be more than willing to do my best to keep myself out of your way should that be what you desire.

[Her eyes fall upon the seat beside her again. Would it be worth it to take a seat, or should she prepare to leave quickly should this be wrapped up post haste?]

Uneasy Alliance

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