#dragcncrest

Claude can't say when their little banter began. Just like the rest of their relationship, the lines are blurred. They've always joked around. It's always been a joke between them, one between them and them alone.

It's never gone past flirting. Claude doesn't know if he wants it to go past that. He quite likes Yuri; that dangerous edge of his makes him very interesting. Of course, Claude has thought about it - he has eyes, he can't deny Yuri's attractive. He's not only physically attractive, though.

Yuri leans in to whisper in his ear, and Claude fights off a shiver. He isn't foolish enough to jump into anything, and especially not with a man like Yuri. He quite likes not being murdered in his sleep, and he can't trust Yuri not to stab him in the back. It's thrilling, it's terrifying - it's exhilarating.

"You should be," Claude says smoothly. "I could always run away if you don't make an honest man out of me, Yuri." He slips an arm around Yuri's waist, holding him close.

( sugar, spice and bittersweet - accepting )

Alear had never fished before. They’re fairly certain of this; they might have forgotten plenty about their life, but just as they knew instinctively how to wield a sword, they know instinctively that they don’t know how to fish.

They’ve been learning with Diamant, though. Over the past little while, it’s become their thing. It’s time spent in comfortable silence sometimes, though other times, they’ll chat - it depends on how seriously they’re taking fishing on a particular day. Today, not particularly; they wonder if, in part, they both use this as an excuse to hang out. They’ve never asked.

Truthfully, Alear can’t even remember what they’re talking about. It stops mattering when Diamant laughs at something. But when he laughs, it’s a big laugh, the sort of laugh one could hear for miles. It’s not a graceful, melodic laugh, but there’s something in that unabated joy that strikes right in the centre of their heart.

Ah. Well, that’s new.

They look out to the water, deciding that looking at Diamant right now is a terrible idea. Surely he won’t notice: act natural. Of course, he does notice. Of course, he asks.

The problem is that Ephraim doesn't quite know how to entertain the Frelian princess. Unlike her brother, he doesn't think that she'll appreciate being dragged through a series of competitions. Being Eirika's friend, he expects her to be more like her.

Unfortunately, that means he's out of ideas.

"Ah... would you...care for a tour of the castle? You don't often visit."

for some meme idr lmao

After speaking to Naga, Chrom and Robin sat together in silence for a while. Chrom doesn’t know what to say. He knows what Robin wants to do. Chrom is being selfish. He doesn’t want her to sacrifice herself. He knows, were the positions reversed, that he would lay down his life for Ylisse. For his home. For everyone he loves.

He can’t ask Robin to do that. He can’t ask her to even take that chance. He knows she won’t listen, so he doesn’t say anything. He sits, elbows on his knees, hands loosely clasped together. He wants to beg her not to do this, he wants to ask her to leave it to him: after all, as the Exalt, is this not his job? Isn’t he supposed to perform the difficult tasks for the home and people he adores? Before he can, she speaks.

“And we will.” His hands tighten their grip. “I won’t let you do this. I won’t let you die, Robin. Too many people have died already; I won’t count you among the dead.” He doesn’t know how he’ll do it. Perhaps he can get Frederick to grab her when the time comes. He needs to be faster than her. Smarter. To outwit the tactician - heh, what a feat that would be.

Arms laden with blankets, she stops by the linen closet to snag a few more - just because they've slept in uncomfortable places before doesn't mean they have to make the floor of the main hall uncomfortable - before setting off downstairs with Cynthia close by. "Do you want to see if a cook is still up to make us cocoa?" She's never made it herself before, given that such ingredients were difficult to find in their future and that she's never learned since coming here. Perhaps that's ridiculous, and perhaps she should learn now that they have the time and energy to spare for it.

But that can wait. Tonight, she wants to spend time with Cynthia downstairs, a different sort of camping than usual. A fire in a hearth, comfortable bedding, and no monsters to worry about.

Cynthia was about to settle onto the pillows when it was snatched under her. “Oof,” she huffs as her head hits the mattress. It takes her a second, in her disoriented state, to understand what Lucina is asking of her. “Oh, uh, sure?” So maybe she’s a little lost on why, but hey, Lucina wants to do something dumb. Cynthia loves dumb stuff. She’s gone along with plenty of Cynthia’s dumb ideas, so Cynthia’s happy to go along with it.

She decides to help Lucina grab more pillows and blankets - it’s not because Lucina isn’t strong enough, but rather because the more the better, right? She’s still a little confused, but she goes along with it.

“I’m always up for cocoa,” she says. Something warm to hold onto by the fire? Of course she’s going to say yes.

This whole thing feels quite indulgent; they’ve spent so long living in squalor. Thick blankets, soft pillows, and hot cocoa - these are luxuries they couldn’t even dream of during the darkest time of their lives. It’s surreal to think about it. They can have their happily ever after together. It’s the stuff girls like her dream about, and that dream is now a reality.

Or maybe Cynthia is being silly.

She arranges the pillows and blankets by the hearth. From here, one could look at the Christmas tree, covered head to toe in garlands, tinsel, and baubles. It’s just the start of a happier time for them, a sign of things to come. It brings her peace to look at it. Maybe the worst really is over.

Once they get their cocoa, they settle into the mess of pillows and blankets. Cynthia leans her head on Lucina’s shoulder, mug in hand. It’s warm and comfortable, and she never wants to leave the space they’ve created. She never wants to leave the warmth, and the comfort. She wants to stay with Lucina, no matter what. This better life, this better world, that they’ve created together.

My dearest Marianne,

It has been but days since I last saw you, but those days have been agonising without you by my side.

Forgive me for not writing to you sooner; regrettably, it was too much of a struggle to write well while on the road. However, I can assure you that I write to you before I do anything else in Derdriu.

I know not how I will rest without you at my side. You are my joy and my comfort, and without you, I am off balance. All I can think of is returning home to you and your waiting arms. I've hardly arrived, yet all I can think of is going home.

The thought of you will keep me strong, and the thought of your loving embrace shall keep me warm on these cold nights. I miss you more than I could ever express. I await the day I can see you again.

So she clears her throat as she enters the room holding two large mugs of cocoa. "C-Cynthia?" she says nervously even though her friend has never gotten angry with her. Oh, how she wishes she weren't so cowardly because of her mother. "U-um...I l-learned how to make c-cocoa and, um...I thought...m-maybe you would like some? I p-put some m-milk and p-peppermint in it, too." She waits for Cynthia to say one way or the other whether Noire is even welcome, the mugs hot against her palms, but she dare not overstep.

( unprompted ; always accepting )

There's nothing like a snack after training. Usually she carries something with her, but not today. She's almost finished eating when she hears someone enter the room. She turns around and sees Noire - poor thing's practically shaking. It's just Cynthia; why is Noire always so scared? Maybe Cynthia's too loud for her. Yes, this makes sense to her.

"Hey, Noire!" Wait, is that too loud? Ugh, she's overthinking it! Noire is just... Noire. Cynthia can totally deal with shy, quiet people in a normal way.

"Oooh, hot cocoa! Heck yes, gimme." She takes one of the mugs from Noire's hands. "Come on, come sit. Cocoa's way more fun with other people." She gestures at the other side of the table, where no one else is sitting. She brings the mug to her nose and breathes in deeply.

( sugar, spice and bittersweet - accepting )

It has been five years since the war began. Five years since they’d all made that promise to return to Garreg Mach.

Of course, Hilda came. She didn’t know if anyone else would, but she was feeling sentimental. She didn’t expect everyone to be here. Claude is here, Lorenz managed to make it - heck, even Byleth is back. But none of that matters when she spots a vision in blue.

“Marianne!” Hilda doesn’t walk - she runs. She runs until her body collides with Marianne’s, and it doesn’t matter because she’s picking her up anyway and spinning her around. Marianne is so light - or maybe Hilda has gotten stronger. Hilda holds her tight, like she’ll disappear from existence if she doesn’t. She spins them until she’s dizzy, and then she has to put Marianne down.

I missed you so much. Hilda smiles softly at her, before putting a hand to Marianne’s cheek. She’s here - she’s really here. She’s warm, and alive, and she no longer looks so gloomy. She almost doesn’t look like the same girl Hilda had known at Garreg Mach. She’s blossomed into a beautiful woman.