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[Really, Claude wonders how he'd made such a massive miscalculation as to not get to know Felix any sooner than this. He's really come to enjoy the other man's company, all in the space of a few days, and that little smile on Felix's lips right now is worth its weight in gold.

He supposes, if he'd tried to befriend him back in Garreg Mach, that it wouldn't have gone so well. Apparently Felix has changed a lot since then. Claude isn't sure he has - not dramatically - but it still might not have worked any sooner. He may as well just content himself with how well it's going now than to worry about the past.]

Well, it sounds like Fen's not much for activity, so I think maybe I'll keep her in her Pokéball for now. [He looks thoughtfully down at her.] That way she can save her energy, like the Pokédex said. I do want to train her, so she can save her energy for that, too.

[Felix squints a little at the Sunkern.] How do you train a seed? Does she not grow into a flower if you treat her like a normal seed? I really don't understand this world.

[Felix considers briefly that he's spent an awful lot of time talking to Claude over the last few days. Sure, it all started because they were both in the wrong place at the wrong time and Felix did something stupid, but they didn't have to spend several hours chatting in Claude's room the other night, nor did he have to spend all that time yesterday messaging him. So although it's true that he still thinks Claude is absurdly attractive and has thought about kissing him again a not-insignificant number of times, he must also legitimately like the man. Which is not something he expected. Huh.]

No idea yet. [Claude's voice is cheerful. Of course he's happy about the idea of having something new and interesting to look into.] But I can research it!

[Felix reaches over to sort of awkwardly pat Fen's head. How do you pet a giant seed? It doesn't have ears to scritch... He looks at Claude.] You're like a sponge.

[Well, the seed seems happy about the patting, to what degree a seed can seem happy. So...there's that.

Claude, for his part, simply laughs.] It pays to be! I already told you once - knowledge is power. Knowing one key fact your opponent doesn't can win battles no sword ever could, you know.

[Maybe surprisingly, Felix nods.] Of course. I'm sure you're aware, but my father operated a spy network for the crown. Technically, I suppose, I operate it now, not that I know a damn thing about espionage. [He shakes his head, wry.] But as far as I can tell, you want answers to everything whether it's relevant or not. Don't claim tactics are the only reason. You're just nosy and too curious for your own good. One of these days that's going to bite you.

[Claude shrugs, smiling.] That's like saying that there's no point in there being different kinds of food instead of just eating the same meal for the rest of your life. Not only is the variety interesting, but not all information is the same...and you never know when it might come in handy. [His gaze turns sly.] I mean, after all, when I used to whittle myself little wooden toys as a kid, I didn't know that knowledge would come in handy making gifts for friends as an adult...but I was able to repurpose that pretty well, wasn't I?

That's why I'm happy to learn everything about...well, everything. You never know what will turn out to be relevant someday, what might work to your advantage or give you an edge. And you don't know when not knowing something is going to hurt you. Immediate relevance isn't the only measure of something's usefulness. An armorslayer sword might not do you any good if you're not facing any heavily armored knights, sure, but does that mean there's no point in bothering to ever carry one with you?

[Felix scoffs, though that tiny smile is briefly back at Claude's mention of whittling.] That's just a long-winded way of saying you agree with me.

[That gets a raise of an eyebrow from Claude.] In the sense that I'm interested in things that aren't immediately relevant, I guess. But not in the sense that that's a bad thing, or that it won't ever have a payoff. [He grins.] Not that I necessarily care if it pays off, of course; I'd be interested anyway. But since you can't see any value beyond the practicality, well...I'm just saying you never know when the things I learn might turn out to be very practical. Like helping you harvest nectar, for instance.

That doesn't count. You didn't learn botany for its own sake, you did it to craft poisons. And that's relevant without question.

[Claude grins at that.] Even though you've never actually seen me use poison on anyone but, accidentally, myself?

[Felix smirks.] You say that as if you would let anyone see you do it. But yes, even then. It has an obviously advantageous battlefield application.

You're a lot more complimentary of my poison knowledge today than you were the other day. [Claude winks at him.] I must have won you over with the nectar-collecting applications, huh?

[Felix rolls his eyes.] The other day you were talking about drugging Sylvain to sleep. Using it in battle is completely different.

I was talking about helping Sylvain rest using a medicinal sleep aid, Felix. Really, you'll never get anywhere in life if you don't learn how to make these critical distinctions.

That's called drugging someone, Claude. [Ah, again it seems the first-name basis goes both ways now.] And I've gotten plenty far without being pedantic.

Administering medicinal sleep aid! I did say I wasn't planning on doing it against his will, stop making it sound so heinous.

It's not my fault that's how you made it sound.

[He walks along in a silence that's unexpectedly comfortable for a few minutes.]

You must have looked into what else lives in the wild along this road. What are you planning to catch?

I just said I could have Basque use Sleep Powder on him! That only sounds heinous if you interpret it heinously.

[He lets that silence settle easily between them. As much of a chatterbox as he can be, he doesn't feel the need to talk all the time. And he likes being out in nature. It's frigid right now, granted, which isn't ideal, but aside from the temperature it's still pleasant to be out and about. More so to be traveling with friends in such a peaceful environment. He can't remember the last time he could just go on a walk with people he's fond of, with nothing significant on the line.]

Well, there's a few things that interest me if we can spot them in the forest past Azalea...but until then, I hadn't seen anything we're predicted to potentially see that really caught my eye. And with how little money I have from the holiday shopping I've done, I'm trying to be pretty sparing with my Pokéballs.

[Felix nods.] I want to fill out a few gaps in my team's type spread at the cave, but until then there's only the new kind of cat that lives somewhere along this road.

[Ordinarily, Felix tries not to let anyone see him doting on cats, but since Varley was already with him when he arrived, there's little hope of that now. So he figures he might as well abandon the attempt while they're here and catch every cat he can find.]

More cats, huh? [Claude shoots Felix a sidelong smile - and while there's obviously a teasing element, there's a look of genuine fondness in his eye. There's just something very cute and fitting about Felix and cats getting along.] They suit you.

Yes, more cats. Is that a problem? They're the only animal that's tolerable. In our world, anyway.

[Inexplicably defensive as he is over this, he can't help feeling that 'they suit you' is a compliment coming from Claude, and he flushes faintly.] We have an understanding, that's all. If you see a little pink cat with a weird, puffy tail, tell me.

Is that one of the pokémon you're hoping to catch? [Claude grins, lacing his hands behind his head.] I'll keep an eye out for it, don't worry.

Yes. It is. Quit making fun of me.

[He blinks, seeing Claude adopt this pose. It's so familiar, so classic Sylvain, that he almost does a double take.]

Do you walk like that all the time?

Do you seriously think I'm making fun of you every time I smile? [It certainly only makes Claude's grin wider.

It fades into mild surprise at that question, and he glances over at Felix.] What, like this? [He jerks his head slightly to indicate his arms.] Sure, a decent amount. I don't just do it when I'm walking, though. It's always been kind of a habit. Why?

[Claude and Sylvain probably haven't spent enough time around each other to discover all the little similarities in their mannerisms yet.]

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