candybox | OPEN POST: Claude von Riegan - Fire Emblem: Three Houses

[ Dorothea knows what people think about her. She's heard the whispering of soldiers and students alike, each epithet and rumor less kind than the last. It shouldn't bother her; it bothers her immensely. Not only does a low public opinion hurt her chances at finding a suitable spouse, but every overheard 'gold digger' or 'harlot' is like a little knife trying to sink into her ribs.

She has to prove herself. Not just to prove them wrong, but for her own peace of mind as well. If she can make it look effortless when she summons lightning or swings a sword, then she'll have earned her place here, and their whispered insults won't find their mark so easily. For this reason, she follows a strict training regimen outside of her class' scheduled times. Her routine is strenuous--not unlike Lysithea's, in a way, but including swordplay and exercise in addition to increasingly complex spellwork practice, regular dates with eligible suitors, and a beauty regimen of balms and serums to keep her skin and hair looking their best.

That's why she's at the training ground at this ungodly hour, very technically breaking curfew. It’s exhausting, but she likes to avoid sharing the space when she can avoid it if she’s going to be looking anything less than perfectly put-together, and only the goddess knows how difficult that can be when the people like Felix seem almost to live here.

She tenses up in the middle of a form when she hears the door creaking open, sprinting without thinking to the shadowy corners behind the columns that line the grounds. If it’s a guard, she’s certainly going to be hearing about it from one of the higher-ups—probably Seteth, if she had to guess. He always seems to enjoy harping on people when he thinks they’re misbehaving.

Carefully, she peeks out from behind the column, hoping to get a bead on whoever it is she’s going to have to sneak past if she wants to get out unnoticed. ]

[Claude's prone to frequently breaking curfew to snoop around. And why shouldn't he? The other house leaders do it all the time, and while he doesn't have the slightest inkling of what they're doing, their business is their own, as far as he's concerned. He may be sneaky, but he's not paranoid, and he definitely isn't about to spy without a good reason.

What interests him more is exploring the monastery. Without knights, professors, Seteth-- or hell, even Lorenz-- breathing down his neck, Claude has almost entirely free rein of the monastery, so long as he's careful.

Tonight he's brought his bow and arrows to the training ground, ostensibly to train in private. He's not even bothering to hide his presence, whistling cheerfully as he enters. Soon, he sets up a number of targets and is practising firing on enemy vital points. He doesn't miss a shot, though he thinks that's hardly impressive when they're stationary. Still, it's fun to get in some uninterrupted quality training time... at least for now.]

[ The fact that it's Claude here training instead of someone with more apparent drive... should that be surprising? He is her new house leader, after all--a nobleman, but a much more laid back one than the insufferable Ferdinand or pretentious Lorenz. He probably wouldn't even think to lecture her about breaking curfew like some of their more self-important classmates, especially since he's guilty of the same crime.

As she watches from her vantage point, it's clear that he's a talented marksman at the very least. Dorothea knows that Edelgard doesn't seem to think much of Claude's lackadaisical attitudes, but the boy has skill in spite of the deficiencies other house leaders might ascribe to him. Dorothea hasn't really gotten to observe him in action much to this point, as their their skill sets are different enough to keep her otherwise occupied, but this feels enlightening for a whole host of reasons. Is he like her, then? Does he come out at this hour to practice without scrutiny to make it seem like he's more naturally gifted than he really is when other people were watching? She could respect that, honestly; he's an actor like her--a fact she'd recognized before she'd ever transferred over.

After a few minutes, she decides it's probably better to attempt a stealthy retreat than to stay hidden in the shadows spying on him like a creep. The sandals she's wearing won't click against the stone floor like their boots would, but the sound of the door opening would draw his attention well before she could slip out unnoticed. Lysithea is the only one in their class who knows how to use warp, and even if Dorothea could manage it, the accompanying flash of light would be conspicuous.

Casting about for a second, she stoops to pick up a few pebbles from the ground, taking one and throwing it across the hall. It clatters as it hits the stone floor, hopefully providing a second or two of distraction so she can get bolt behind the column closest to the door. ]

Edited 2021-02-13 16:19 (UTC)

[The pebble certainly draws Claude's attention, and his eyes follow the direction it came from. It couldn't be one of the stray animals that roam the monastery when he was sure the door had been closed the whole time, not to mention it looked like it had been tossed rather than dropped, which tells him that perhaps he wasn't as alone on the training grounds as he thought.

He lowers his bow and the arrow he'd notched, staring into the shadows.]

Word of advice, it's not wise to go skulking around like that. Lots of jumpy students around here might just put an arrow through you first and ask questions later.

[Everyone's been on edge since Flayn's kidnapping and all the strange incidents since. And while his tone is lighthearted, he still isn't relaxing just yet.]

[ Ah, shit. Of course it hadn't worked. Clever bastard--she should have known he'd see through her attempt at distracting him. She could make any number of convincing animal sounds, but at this point her pride won't let her try and weasel out of the encounter (not that he'd buy it, anyway).

Before poking her head out from behind the column and getting stuck by one of those arrows Claude just mentioned, Dorothea sighs and calls out to him first. ]

There's no need for that, now. I'm sure neither of us wants to end up in the infirmary at this hour of the night.

[ That being said, she finally takes a peek, her eyes shining bright in the waning moonlight. Seeing that his bow is lowered, she relaxes and rounds the column, fully stepping out into his line of sight. Her training sword is still in hand, but it's obviously made of wood, not a threat. ]

You're up late, Claudie-dear. Or, up early, perhaps?

[Any tension in his body seems to leave him when he spots that it's just Dorothea, and he returns his arrow to its quiver, smiling. There are a lot of suspicious characters around the monastery these days, but he doesn't for a second think she could be one of them.

Unlike him, she wears her heart on her sleeve.]

I could say the same for you, Dorothea. What's a diva doing backstage when the show's long since finished?

[He may not know a thing about opera, but he's observed her and Manuela long enough by now to have picked up a little of the vocabulary.]

[ She blinks at him, a little surprised, but smiles at the way he references the opera. ]

Rehearsing, of course. Just like you, it seems. [ She hesitates for a moment before adding: ] No performance can be perfected, otherwise.

[ She gives a demonstrative swing of her training sword, her movement a practiced combination of elegant and economical. There's no use in pretending that isn't her purpose here, as much as she hates to show her hand. ]

I won't tell if you don't, but I'm curious now. Do you come here often at this hour? I'm surprised our paths haven't crossed before.

Edited 2021-02-13 23:06 (UTC)

[He's smiling, but he can't quite hide the way his eyes are studying her sword movements. Sounds like she's underselling herself, from what he can see.]

Who, me? Nah. Soon as it's past my bedtime, I'm out like a light. Gotta keep up with the beauty sleep, you know.

[And given how easygoing he is about his studies, it's not all that unbelievable.]

[ Now, see, if he'd said you just didn't come here after curfew she'd have accepted it, but Dorothea doesn't believe for a moment that he's a good boy that goes to bed exactly on time every night. ]

Of course. You have great skin, I'm not surprised. What kept you up tonight, then?

A terrible, terrible stomachache. Did you know it was Flayn's turn for cooking duty today? I didn't, until it was too late.

[That story is equally likely to be true as it's likely to be nonsense, from the way he makes it sound. It's a Claude special talent.]

Thought I'd do something productive instead. But why were you trying to sneak off? Thought I was someone else?

[Getting caught by the professor or Seteth would be pretty scary in the middle of the night, all things considered.]

Was it, now? I'll admit I didn't notice. I can stomach just about anything that doesn't have fish in it. At least it's fresh, you know?

[ That being said, she wouldn't have pegged Claude as having a weak constitution, and besides, wouldn't it make more sense to lie down or go get some medicine if his stomach had been hurting that badly? Archery practice doesn't exactly seem like the logical conclusion there, to her.

As for her failed escape attempt... ]

I hid at first because I didn't relish the idea of a lecture, though I'm sure someone like the Professor would have noticed me right away even in the dark. Her abilities seem almost preternatural at times, it's a little eerie.

[ Her free hand absently brushes through her hair as she watches Claude's face in the dim light. She admits:]

I saw it was you, but... [ She pauses here, choosing her words carefully. ]I think you wouldn't want to be caught with me after hours.

[ As much as Claude has a reputation for being something of a shifty layabout, Dorothea also knows what kind of reputation she has managed to earn around Garreg Mach, however unkind and unearned it may be. She knows her social climbing is unwelcome in some circles--circles that Claude will need to move through as the Archduke Riegan. Maybe he wouldn't care now, but she knows how quickly that can change. ]

[Claude can only agree there's something very odd about the professor, but he'll keep those thoughts to himself. He's still sizing Byleth up, and given what it could all mean, the less said about it for now the better.

As for being caught with Dorothea after hours... he just laughs, the implication not lost on him.]

Don't you think you're the one who should worry about getting caught up with me? You might get accused of being my accomplice in some crafty scheme. [He shrugs, carefree as ever.] People are going to gossip about both of us whether we're together or apart, so I honestly don't care. Let the uptight nobles talk.

[Of course, that's easier for him to say with a house and crest to shield him, but less so for her. He'd understand if she did want to avoid him entirely.]

[ In this moment, she thinks she likes Claude easily twice as much as she did even half a minute before. Let the uptight nobles talk, he says, and Dorothea can't help the smile that spreads on her face as she takes a few steps closer. He's right in that it would look worse for her either way: either she's a disreputable girl for having an illicit tryst with a nobleman, or she's a miscreant for getting embroiled in his plans. There's no way to win, there.

Leaning forward, she twists a lock of her hair around one of her fingers, lowering her voice conspiratorially. ]

Do you really mean that? You wouldn't be disturbed if people thought we were involved--just two lovebirds sneaking off together at night to keep their romance a secret...? A nobleman and a common girl struggling under the weight of their feelings for one another?

[ She doesn't wait for him to answer, though, straightening her spine and winking once to show she's playing with him. She doesn't want to see it if his expression shifts in the moonlight to one of disdain or indifference. ]

Just kidding, of course. That kind of thing hardly ever happens outside of storybooks and operas.

[There's no disdain or indifference in his expression at all, just a playful smile on his face. Even if, as always, it's difficult to tell whether a smile reaches his eyes or not.]

Hardly ever, but it does happen. A storybook romance sounds a lot nicer than plenty of the things people say. [He huffs out a laugh, shaking his head.] Still... We probably shouldn't overstay our welcome here. Just in case.

[He goes to retrieve the arrows he'd been using with his training bow from the target, and returns them along with the bow to the weapons rack. As he does so, he's struck with a thought.]

How about you and I catch up over tea sometime? Engaging in polite society can't be too scandalous, now can it?

Hmm, probably not.

[ Dorothea goes along with him, slotting her wooden sword against the rack as well and dusting her hands off on her leggings. Since her arrival at the academy, no one has seen her less than perfectly put together in her uniform, with her makeup and her accessories. This marks a first for her.

It's a first, too, being invited to tea by a house leader. Sure, she'd shared a few cups with Edelgard, but always at her own invitation. The future emperor was obviously a smart and passionate girl, but as much as she seemed invested in her classmates' futures, she wasn't too keen on letting them get close to her, always holding them at arm's length. Will Claude be more of the same, or is there a chance they could actually become friends? ]

Polite society is where scandals are born, but you are my house leader now, so a shared cup of tea hardly seems like it should generate too much idle chatter. I'm free tomorrow after class. Sweet apple is my favorite blend, by the way.

Sweet apple? Noted. [He doesn't have any, but a trip to the market can fix that. Or swiping some from the kitchens, if all else fails.]

All right, we'll meet in the courtyard after class. For now, I'll give you a head start back to the dorms and stick around here a little longer.

[Sure, their rooms are on different floors, but seeing them walking back together still might raise eyebrows. Better safe than sorry, and all that.]

[ The following day, Dorothea is back in her usual attire, primped and polished in a very intentional effort to seem as effortlessly lovely as possible. Different fields of battle call for different armor, after all.

Assuming Claude will provide the tea after her hint the previous night, she still brings with her a covered plate filled with finger sandwiches and slices from a dark chocolate tart decorated with strawberries. It’s as important to be a good guest as a good host, she thinks.

To that end, she’s just the slightest bit early, grinning as she sets her plate on the table and takes her own seat across from Claude. ]

I hope you haven’t been waiting too long.

OPEN POST: Claude von Riegan - Fire Emblem: Three Houses

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