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[vrdantwind]

"Hey, this is Claude! Pretty sure I'm doing this correctly. You can leave me a message here, and I'll get to it as soon as I can. Talk to you soon~."

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[vrdantwind]

You mean you were worried I might not be properly enchanted if you gifted me with a dagger? [Claude's eyes have regained some of their sparkle; they really are starting to emerge from their grief, for that to be back.

Also, while it's no surprise that someone ratted that story out to him at some point, the question is who told him. Sylvain or Felix are honestly both equally likely.]

I get where you were coming from, Dimitri, and I don't actually disagree with your logic. But for what it's worth - there's no way someone I love could come to me and tell me they wanted to be with me forever, expressing their love the best way they knew how, that wouldn't mean the world to me. Especially if it was you. With how far you've come, and how hard you try? Even if you made some kind of misstep, I could never hold it against you.

[He gently pulls Dimitri down so they can rest their foreheads together.] I love you, with all my heart. And marrying you, getting to be with you for as long as we can, as fully as we can...that means more to me than any of the details of how it happens.

[This kind of earnestness has been coming to him, oddly, easier and easier the more he loses. But Dimitri's got it right, doesn't he? Refusing to go all in doesn't make them any richer, and losing the opportunity to do so...even without having made as full a commitment as they could have, it's still a loss. Not just of what they had already invested, but the opportunity cost of what they hadn't.]

As for your fears...I can't judge you for those. In my own way, I guess I've been holding back for different reasons, but with the same outcome. Not afraid I'd ruin things, but afraid I can't trust them. Like if I edge out too far onto the ice, it'll give way under my feet. But if a man afraid of breaking things can reach out his hand for something more...then I think the man afraid of trusting people doesn't have any excuse not to learn to be a little braver.

[nastyboy]

[Must everyone know of that tale]

[Dimitri's cheeks grow a rosy pink at it being recalled, and he tries to duck his head down just a bit.] It is a perfectly fine gift. Very practical, with an indepth and romantic meaning.

[IT'S SO ROMANTIC, OKAY]

[But for all his embarrassment, Dimitri doesn't fight Claude's pull at all. He follows it gladly, nudging there against his lover's forehead and letting those words sink down into him gently, like a balm filling all the cracks.]

Even so. I would want to make it special for you.

[Something that is composed of both of them, that represents both of them. Something with true time put into it.]

[Well, if Claude says he would be fine with anything... Dimitri smiles again, opening his eye to look at him.]

I would not say if it has anything to do with bravery; a part of me wondered if I was not simply taking lessons I had taken to heart when I was on my own for five long years. But, if that is what we have both decided on - then, tell me, Claude, of Almyran traditions.

I will hold of on a proper proposal for a while yet - it will take me some time to get the proper items regardless - but I still would like to hear anything you could tell me.

[vrdantwind]

Of course it is. [Claude grins mischievously.] Do you think I'm the sort of guy who'd scoff at foreign traditions just because they're not familiar to me? Although I guess people from your own country tease you about it, too...so maybe it's not just a cultural thing.

[Not that he gets any closer to the subject than he already has. Thoughts of Felix and Sylvain...they still ache. Better not to think about them too directly.

So instead, he smiles as Dimitri asks his question again, closing his eyes.] Well, I've already told you a number of the ways Almyra is a meritocracy, haven't I? If you can prove your strength, prove your worth, that tends to mean more than the circumstances of your birth. It's why, despite my being hated for only being half-Almyran, it's still possible that I can win my people over if I prove my skill as a king. It's why class and titles aren't as important as achievements in my country, compared to Fodlan where even people like Acheron or Count Gloucester are elevated and, to some degree, respected - not because they've earned their positions or proved worthy of them, but simply because they were born into them. It's why people tend not to care so much about what you do as how well you can do it.

"Proposals in Almyra are usually about showing your worth, as well. Generally, an Almyran looking to get engaged will go out and seek glory in some fashion - winning a competition or a tournament, earning distinction in a battle, bringing home some big trophy from a raid or a hunt, maybe even just creating something magnificent for their intended. Something that shows, usually in dramatic fashion, that they're someone capable, someone worthy of the love of the person they want to marry. Then, after they've made their demonstration, they propose. Sometimes after acceptance the person who's been proposed to will try to match their fiance's feat. There's various reasons people do it - showing how they're a match of equals, wanting to demonstrate that their fiance made the right choice because they're just as worthy themselves, forging a deeper bond through their shared experiences, pure bravado. It's kind of an optional part of the tradition, though. Whoever's getting proposed to...well, in Almyran society, it's kind of accepted that if another Almyran admires you enough to want to marry you, and is trying to prove themselves worthy of you, that in itself demonstrates that you're worthy of those feelings."

[nastyboy]

[shut up shut up shut up - Dimitri's face can't go more red.]

I have told Sylvain it is classic.

[So.... Outdated, maybe. Archaic.]

[But at his heart, Dimitri is a simple soul who used to like hearing fairytales, and has carried that feeling towards telling children of the very same that he grew up with. It can't be helped, really.]

[So it should be no surprise that Dimitri takes in all that he can hear of Claude's words, thinking carefully on it all.]

Showing one's worth... Well, as romantic as it would be to propose to you atop the Elite Four's mountain, I suppose I should seek something else.

[And he thinks he already has a bit of an idea...]

[vrdantwind]

[Claude can't help laughing at that.] Honestly, that would be a pretty perfect example of the kind of achievement an Almyran would want to display to the person they wanted to marry. I won't complain if you've got something better in mind, though.

[That bright curiosity is already in his eyes. What are you planning, Dimitri? He both doesn't want to spoil the surprise for himself, and yet totally does.]

[nastyboy]

[Honestly. Dimitri huffs, bumping his head against Claude's.]

And just who, exactly, was scolding me not that long ago on ruining the surprise of a proposal?

[vrdantwind]

I know, I know! That's why I didn't actually ask! [Claude's grinning.] I'm just thinking about asking. I'm being very well-behaved, all things considered.

[nastyboy]

Claude von Reigan, Prince Khalid of Almyra...

[Dimitri tilts his head, and boops their noses together.]

I am not sure if you are capable of ever being well behaved.

[vrdantwind]

Well... [Claude grins.] Relatively. You've got to admit that sometimes I'm worse than others, right? Maybe you're just setting your standards for good behavior too high.

[nastyboy]

Oh, am I? [Dimitri grins right back, and lowers his voice in that way he knows Claude likes.] Or perhaps you are just too eager to be naughty.

[vrdantwind]

Well, maybe I am. [Claude does like that shift in Dimitri's voice, and sidles right up to Dimitri, batting his lashes in a way he knows Hilda would applaud.] But it's not like you don't like it when I'm naughty, is it...?

[nastyboy]

I think I could hardly like it more than you.

[But that isn't exactly a denial, is it, especially when Dimitri leans towards him in turn to kiss him.]

[vrdantwind]

[Claude grins into the kiss, slipping his arms around Dimitri's neck as he pulls him closer. When the kiss breaks, he gives Dimitri his best fake innocent look. (Which is to say, it's his best look of intentionally false innocence.)] What's my incentive for behaving, again...?

[nastyboy]

Most would say the act of being good itself is rewarding, but you seem to be incredibly greedy and prone to mischief regardless. [Dimitri thunks their heads together.]

[vrdantwind]

Maybe I am. [Claude rubs his nose against Dimitri's, laughter in his eyes even if it isn't actively on his lips.] But you like that, too. That said, no reward for being good could be worth as much as this, I think.

[nastyboy]

So does that mean I should start restricting my affection based on good behavior? [Dimitri kisses the tip of Claude's nose... before pulling away.] Well, if the best tactician in all of Fodlan says as much, I have no choice but to agree.

[vrdantwind]

[Claude sighs melodramatically, shaking his head as he rests his hands on his hips.] Really, Dimitri, how do you expect me to focus when you say things as wrong as that?

[He starts ticking things off on his fingers.] Number one, we both know Teach is the best tactician in Fodlan. Number two, while I might only be second best, I'm also one of the best tacticians you know in more countries than just Fodlan. I'd argue I'm the best tactician in Almyra, for instance! And three... [And now he tries to put on his most forlorn look.] Are you really saying your love for me is conditional...?

[nastyboy]

[Why does he ever try to outdo Claude in arguments, again?]

[Dimitri starts to argue about the tactician points - listen it's been a long time since their Academy rivalry so who knows what's changed in five years, and also yes he knows about Almyra but then they're just getting into semantics. But it's that third point that really hits him right in the gut.]

[Dammit, Claude.]

[Dimitri shoulder's slump, and he looks like a puppy again.]

No, of course not. You know I would always love you, Claude, no matter what.

[vrdantwind]

[Really, Dimitri's almost hard to tease when he can look so pathetic. While Claude laughs, he also moves to wrap his arms around Dimitri again, unable to resist comforting him when he looks like that. Dimitri's spent too much of his life genuinely miserable for Claude to not want to soothe any pain he sees in him, the second he spots it.] Yeah, I do know. It's okay, I was just teasing you.

[nastyboy]

I know. [Dimitri huffs, even as he nuzzles into Claude's hair.] But still. I would do anything for you, Claude.

[Anything.]

[Even really inadvisable things.]

[vrdantwind]

Even marry me, apparently, huh? [Claude smiles into Dimitri's shoulder.] Despite all the bad behavior...

[nastyboy]

If you didn't have that bad behavior, it wouldn't be you. [The nuzzling soon becomes a kiss against Claude's temple.] And I want you, Khalid.

[vrdantwind]

[Claude's heart thumps almost violently in his chest, and his arms tighten around Dimitri.] I think I could hear that every day for the rest of my life and not get tired of it...which I guess is what marriage is all about, huh?

I want you too, Dimitri. Always.

[nastyboy]

Then perhaps that is all we need, for right now.

[Dimitri presses a kiss into Claude's hair, unable to wipe the smile from his face.]

Let us go out, Claude. Before marriage, let us simply enjoy our tie together as we are.

And one day, I will propose properly.