IC Inbox

[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~."

Comments

[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.