gloucester's rose

“Oh, how forlorn. This must be how noble ladies kept by dragons feel.” Although he was far more irritated by the puzzling predicament before him. “Agnea’s Arrow may be too powerful...Hm...Oh-” He hears footsteps, readying Agnea’s Arrow to strike whomever is arriving, at least until she comes into view-

“Professor!”

“Oh, I’m so glad to see you. Have you come to rescue me?” The sound of roaring in the upper floors really did set the scene here. “It appears the fae still haven’t fully forgiven me, you see.”

Separated from his party, he had taken it upon himself to walk around. Having had his magic restored, he didn’t find himself overly worried, and anything that came up had been promptly dealt with or left alone.

The flora grew around the ruins, within them, cracking statues and rock and making it quite difficult to read.

Although the horned woman was certainly trying.

“Impressive - that you can read such ruined script, that is.” The compliment is hindered by his town and presentation as he continues his own walk through the ruins.

“Apparently, rumor has it some faefolk had previously taken up residence here. They must not be any longer, as their garden has grown quite out fo control.”

Still, that doesn’t quite seem to be this guy’s problem. Lorenz turns to him, an eyebrow raised, and then furrowed with concern.

“Oh, come now, surely it’s not that disconcerting.”

But he also knew that they were not all inclined to remember the same thing, either.

“Well now it is always a pleasure, particularly as I’ve only recently returned here. However, I do have an odd question for you.”

“What, exactly, do you remember before coming here. Surely you’ve been here long enough to know there is something quite odd going on, and it would certainly be in our best interests to determine just how odd this is going to be at the start.” Particularly before someone has to reveal someone else’s untimely death.

Unpleasant business, that conversation.

“You’re not cold? Tell me, what is your secret. This place is absolutely horrid this time of year.”

His own gaze turn downward, eyes catching his reflection in the amber of the teacup.

“…I do not blame you for being downcast. Were the situation reversed, I scarce think I could hold my composure.”

Well-mannered as he was, Ferdinand was the passionate sort, and sometimes his feelings came before his judgement.

A moment of silence, a deep breath, and he looked up once more.

“I suppose if I had to lose, it was honorably. But that is a future I am not from. I… am not certain that had I not left the monastery when I did, it may be you that I encounter across the great bridge.”

Somehow, though still a bit shaken, it did make him feel better.

“I should thank the Goddess we can meet like this. In a future away from the war. Please know I do not bear any ill will against you, my friend. I am thankful you gave me the truth, hard as it was.” … “It seems silly to ask, given the severity of the topic at hand. But, we… will continue to be friends, I hope? I would certainly like to.”

“I wonder if you still will. It is...Gloucester territory, after all.” He said, brow knotted now. Even if they were from two different times, had he not stayed with Claude? Had he followed his father and cowed to the Empire? The thought made him particularly ill, and he had turned pale at the thought of it. Looking down, his reflection staring back up at him in his tea...

All those wonderful things Claude had said about him - were they even true? Could they possibly be true? Could every time he was given the chance to choose, would he choose what he did?

He did not know. He could not possibly know. Perhaps he did not want the answer. Composing himself slightly, he brushed his hair back into place with a careful finger, looking back up at Ferdinand.

“Naturally we will continue to be friends. If anything I should be asking you that. It seems as though one of us has...Committed the wrong, here.” Really now, Ferdinand could be far too thoughtful.

     “Lorenz?”

It was uncharacteristically of Lorenz to seek Claude out, unless he specifically needed something. Though both have grown from the days of the academy ( for better or for worse, claude was still trying to figure that out ), some things never really changed. Lorenz was more accepting of Claude as a leader and vice versa, Claude knew he could leave Fodlan in his hands for a brighter future, but Claude and Lorenz both still had their walls up around others.

Even when they didn’t realize it.

     “Ah, right. Yeah. Hilda’s gone. Again. This isn’t the first time      she’s disappeared on me, so I’m not all too surprised or bothered,      honestly!”

He’s not being honest with himself. His words, however, does put a frown on Claude’s face.

     “Lorenz… I won’t deny that when I came to Fodlan, she was one      of the firsts to really help me out. She was the first I befriended,      the first person aside from Teach who believed in me, but… You      should know by now that you mean a lot to me as well. You and      the other Golden Deer, but we’re talking about you specifically.      You’re the one I’d want on the other side of me. You and Hilda      both kept me grounded, when Teach couldn’t. Teach and I have      similar mindsets, so I always looked towards you and Hilda for      another perspective.”

     “Y’know, there was a reason I always challenged you, why I      always played those little games you pulled with me back in      the monastery, during our academy days. It’s because I believed      in you. Just like you believed in me. So, yeah, of course I’ll look      towards you as my right-hand man. And that won’t change when      Hilda gets back too. You both have had that position.”

He immediately wanted to point out that that was an obvious lie. Claude was not a man of many tells, but despite it being a repeat performance, there was no conceivable way in which Claude wasn’t hurt by her absence. And that was fine, there was no reason for him not to be. Lorenz was hurt, himself. Hilda being cast off his island was...Unacceptable. To be thrown into whatever fate awaited her, something that none of them could know...

But Claude’s next words gave him pause, and he stood stark still as he listened, unsure of what to say in response. As for himself, Lorenz had decided to believe in Claude above all else. That even though he had torn his own heart out, turned his back on so many because he believed in him, he would gladly do it again. Even knowing House Gloucester’s position near the Reigan Dukedom. It did not matter at the time, no matter what his words may have said to the contrary.

After a while, he cleared his throat, finally speaking: “That is...unexpected. I am aware of my value to your cause, and to your war, but I was...Not aware it was so intimate as that.”

He could not help the surprise on his face, hands clasped behind his back. “Here I thought I was being courteous by offering mine support to you in this trying time...Of course, I-” Cutting himself off, his own features turned an awful shade of pink, up to his ears. “Of course I knew you were simply challenging my preconceived notions at the time, just as i was challenging you. It was certainly mutual verbal sparring. Assessing whether you were up to the task, deserving of my loyalty, and-”

Dear, he was nearly to hand-wringing. Honestly, he hadn’t wanted to have a conversation like this, but his talk with Ferdinand had released the floodgates on many things he had been keeping locked up tight, and he had no clue just what to do with that.

So, looking uncharacteristically fraught, he sought out Claude.

“I know that Hilda, is...” Trailing off, he frowned, glancing away. “I have become aware of her absence, and if it is bothering me, I am certain it must be bothering you.”

Something of a laugh escaped him, though genuine, it was not.

“Yes, well. I do apologize. It is hardly becoming to begin a grim conversation without permission at teatime. Usually, those sorts of discussions are for other places.”

Or, so he was taught. Ordinarily, he would have buried it down and continued on with lighter themes, as a noble ought to do–it was important to keep one’s company in mind, after all! And although Lorenz was also likely aware of this unspoken rule… …Well. Ferdinand trusted him a great deal. After taking the risk of asking, his assumption was correct–the other didn’t mind at all.

A deep breath, and he collected himself.

“Recall the time we met up again in this strange place, if you will. When I had laid eye upon you with warmth and welcoming, I was not met with the same expression. Not something hateful, nor forgetfulness, nor hostility. Quite frankly, you appeared as if…” … “…As if, perhaps, I was someone who should not be here.”

…

“That is correct, is it not?”

“Ah...” A soft clink as he so indelicately placed his cup back down, as that this news would so spoil the tea he loved by associations. Gloved hands crossed over each other as he considered what to say, features downcast and bangs falling across them. Memories that had simply felt best left in the back of his mind resurfacing.

Perhaps Hilda’s departure had allowed him to simply compartmentalize better. Admitting he would miss her, that she was going back to war instead of this island, literally and figuratively. A place away from war, away from everything else. Away from.

“It is correct.” He avoided eye contact with Ferdinand for a moment more, collecting himself. Finally sitting up straight, he pushed his hair out of his face, a mask of weariness settling in. “We both have our loyalties, and I do not believe that has changed even now. Nor would I expect it to - it is a part of you I respect deeply - but it was still a deep-seated wish of mine that you had joined us. That at that battle we did not have to fight, but...”

Shoulders fell for another moment. “I knew we would have to fight our friends from Garreg Mach, but I did not think of the consequences. You and I were friends despite our houses, and yet the Great Bridge would be where we would have met regardless.” Why did Ferdinand have to be there, of all places? The place that connected his House to the war so directly? So intimately?

“i disagree. if he didn’t trust you, there were surely many opportunities to dispose of you before the war’s end. unfortunately i don’t know your agenda yet, but i am curious. would you care to share?”

“Claude is cautious but he is no fool.”

“…”

“Yeaaaah… I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Poor, sweet, Caspar.”

“are you sure he wasn’t… exaggerating. maybe.”

“Ha.”

“that’s rough buddy.”

Claude fell silent again, only offering a small hum. Internal conflict, huh? Ha, he knows all about that.

     “Hey, speaking seriously… If you need someone to talk to about      that, you can always come to me. But, I’ll understand if you wanna      keep your cards close to your chest! I think we both know how to      do that well.”

“Oh no, that is all you will be getting out of me. No turning this around more than you already have.”