IC Inbox for Prismatica

[crestfallenfor]

Inbox

video ⬤ audio ⬤ text ⬤ delivery

Sylvain Jose Gautier ⬤ FE:3H
residential district ⬤ text
Cordis ⬤ text

info ⬤ permissions ⬤ kinklist

Comments

[teasip]

Sylvain?

[ Byleth's eyes widened. Another one of her students. He was originally a member of the Blue Lions, but seemed very interested in joining the Black Eagles when she got to know him. (Well, it was more like he joined almost immediately but --) ]

Ah, forgive me. Would this be one of your items? I found it outside this door and figured it might hold some import to someone.

[ She holds up the crumpled letter. ]

[crestfallenfor]

Yes...?

[So she does know him from... somewhere. But he can't remember her, so it must have been a one time thing that left more of an impression on her than it had on him.

And here she was, returning something he'd misplaced, not unlike someone else he knows.

Odd.]

It is, but... I'm sorry, have we met?

[teasip]

[ Oh. He must have been one of the other Byleth's students. ]

Um, well... my name is Byleth Eisner. We had met in Garreg Mach. Originally you were in the Blue Lions but switched to the Black Eagles since you were interested in being one of my students.

[ WELP. She's getting used to explaining this over and over again now so she has the speech down pat. ]

I understand that's hard to believe, but I'm happy to show you that I am Byleth. Just probably not the one you are acquainted with.

[crestfallenfor]

[He can absolutely accept that there are multiple Byleths. He can even accept that, sometimes, in some timelines, Byleth was a woman. That's... a bit uncomfortable, all things considered, but understandable.

What immediately makes his blood run cold is hearing that not only did this Byleth choose the Black Eagles, but that he had, apparently, left the Blue Lions for her.

It's easier to channel all those unpleasant feelings toward her, though, and he very nearly shuts the door in her face.

(But that would end the thread, and what fun is that??)]

Why would you pick her?

[And, suddenly, everything warm and welcoming about him is shut down. His voice is cold, his expression is harsh and stony, even his posture goes a little straighter as he looks down at her.]

[teasip]

[ The question gives Byleth pause. She knows what that cold glare is. She knows bits and pieces from what everyone has said. Edelgard did plenty of cruel and difficult things, including declaring a war. She can't answer for that nor can she claim ignorances. ]

When I joined the Black Eagles, I was drawn to her as a strong leader. She believed that she was going to do good to Fodlan.

[ She puts a hand to her chest, feeling the lack of a heartbeat there. What a strange feeling. ]

I have only just awoken from five years asleep, so I'm not going to say I know the full extent of what she has done to you and your fellow friends. But here, we are not at war and I do not believe it is wise to act as if we are enemies. After all, you still are one of my beloved students.

[ At the very least, Byleth is very sincere. ]

I'll take my leave, if you wish to think about it.

[crestfallenfor]

She didn't.

[He'll be the first to admit that there is a lot that needs to change in Fodlan. His own circumstances were testament to that, after all, and what he'd heard of the Emperor's ideals sounded... appealing, in an odd way. But he's also not one for idealism - her means to that end weren't feasible, to say the least, and starting a war over it was inexcusable.

You can't take away a continent's faith and dismantle a thousand-year system of government all at once and expect the people not to fight back. What good is a strong leader with foolish ideas?

He'd thought Byleth to be smarter than that.

He still believes his own Byleth is. This one... well.]

I am not your student, Byleth, but I am willing to speak with you.

[A sigh, and some of the tension seems to leave his shoulders. He's not letting go of the anger simmering just under the surface, but he is further internalizing it. She's right. They're not at war here.

It would be detrimental to Dimitri, at the very least, if he carried on like they were.]

[teasip]

Thank you, that is all I ask.

[ She smiles at him, a small smile of hope. To be honest, her time as a mercenary taught her about conflict. But her time in Garreg Mach taught her about camaraderie and togetherness. ]

Have you been here long?

[ Byleth looks inside his apartment. It looks exactly like hers. ]

[crestfallenfor]

[It's not much of a concession, to be honest, but... it's better than nothing. Better than pulling his lance on her, or slamming the door in her face, or yelling his frustrations at her as the first good target.

He steps out instead, shuts the door behind himself. (Though that's... a little harder than it probably should have been. An almost-slam still betraying him.) He isn't to the point where he's willing to invite her in, but...

He can take her to lunch. Or to tea.]

Mmhm. Compared to you, at least. It's been a few months, now.