öskupúki.

“ that’s not how dragon / human biology works. ”

“  maybe  i’m  an  obligate  carnivore  too  now  .  no  more  veggies  .  ”

“ i wonder what my beloved children are up to. ”

“   bernadetta...  do you...   ”    it pauses,  a careful look on its face;  surely,  being a teacher is the same as being a sort of stand-in parent,  minus the unwarranted & aggressive horrendous jokes that are admittedly the worst part of having a dad.  byleth wonders;  is it,  too,  a father ?  how many of its students think of it as such ?

“  professor  .  ”  mercedes’  voice  rung  out  ,  both  in  disbelief  and  in  sheer  joy  at  seeing  byleth  again  .  it  had  been  so  long  .  .  .   “  you’re  -  you’re  alive  !  we  thought  .  .  .  ”  and  how  could  they  not  ?  it  had  been  five  long  years  .  “  are  you  well  ?  are  you  unhurt  ?  ”                    /  ft.  @oskupuki​

...  right,  it’s been dead,  hasn’t it ?  to everyone else,  that is.  guilt settles in its still heart;  its students——  its friends,  byleth disappeared when they all needed it most.  its guidance,  as clumsy as it was,  was something the young professor sought to provide as comfort for the children thrust into things they shouldn’t have to know.  mercedes was never a child in its care,  a fully capable woman from day one,  but it feels like it’s abandoned her all the same.  it’s abandoned them all.

           ❝   well   old   friend.   ❞   you’ve   missed   them.   the   world   is   just   a   little   bit   darker   without   them   there.   you   have   not   be   back   in   fodlan   for   months,   back   in   your   homeland   trying   to   bridge   the   gaps.   busting   open   fodlan’s   throat   is   no   easy   task   from   either   side.   ❝   it’s   been   too   long.   ❞

.

❝   i agree.  you never visit;  you’re killing me,  claude,   ❞    it responds flatly,  but it’s sure that its playful...  undertones?  come through.  ( it hopes.  it’d be unfortunate if claude were to think he were actually killing byleth. )