I'm a cute beandog

- I love Terence and Dion - but the power imbalance is undeniable. Dion is Terence's commander and prince, above all else. I believe Dion is saddened by this, wish as he might to be on equal footing with Terence... he simply cannot.

- In their tender moment in the tent, Dion tries to let his guard down, to tell Terence he wishes that he were his master instead. Dion in this moment desperately wants a brief respite, a small escape from his titles and duties, HE initiates with Terence... but Terence earnestly says he will always be Dion's loyal servant.

- Dion's demeanor changes INSTANTLY. He is reminded of their military propriety, and the gulf that will always exist between them. He lowers Terence's hand, his face hardens, and he harkens back to strategy.

- Dion's upset, though. Terence also immediately realizes his misstep - however earnest he may want the prince to know he follows him because he truly loves him, and would do so regardless of their stations in life, the fact is those barriers exist, and he unintentionally reminded Dion of them.

- The moment is over, and Dion's rage is simmering at the surface - not at Terence, but at the world, the war, everything preventing him from loving as fiercly and freely as he truly feels himself capable, everything endangering his people, everything going so wrong in his father's court. The reminder of these barriers causes Dion to flare up against them...

- And then the messenger arrives. Dion is uncharacteristically harsh with the man, shoves him, lashes out and hits the table, knocking his wyverntail to the ground, and then again, uncharacterically, insists on abandoning his men to go to the palace.

- Then, an interruption. Dion again lashes out in anger, but Joshua and Jote beat the shit out of his guards most expeditiously, and Dion's shocked face is like a freezing splash of water to his rage. It's quelled, immediately, as he stares at Joshua, trying to remember...

- "We stand in the presence of the Phoenix ..." said reverently, in awe.

- "You wouldn't want to get your fingers burned." This sounds like banter, something so informal and disconnected from Dion's anger moments prior, that it almost feels like a secret between the two of them, between Joshua and Dion. A small memory or a joke of their younger years.

- Joshua's eyes immediately go to the wyverntail, and before anything else, he picks it up. He knows the importance of this flower to Dion, knows Dion would not let it lay on the ground unless something were terribly amiss, with this prince he has not seen for twenty years.

- This feels to me like symbolic of the way in which the Phoenix can heal, not just physical wounds, but posseses empathy and care for emotional wounds as well - especially as it will pertain to Dion in particular.

- Dion's voice in this entire scene is so soft, slightly shaking at parts. I can imagine his heart is pounding, his mind racing in utter confusion and joy to see someone he thought long dead. He stays formal though, calling Joshua a distinguished guest.

- Joshua picks up the flower, reverently, looking at it as Dion talks. He is quiet for a moment, seeming to have many thoughts or memories. He harkens back to the Rememberance Ceremony, recalling a time before their titles and formalities truly meant anything. A time when they were potentially fast friends instantly.

- Dion's voice is soft, emotional, yet somehow playful when he says "I thought you long dead. Do I address a ghost?"

- From the MOMENT Joshua enters the tent, Dion never ONCE takes his eyes off Joshua, or exchanges confused glances with Terence or Jote, even when he yells "At ease!" At Terence. He's forgotten anyone else in the room except for the Phoenix.

- Joshua banters right back, "Many have told me I look like one..."

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