#lethalbeautyofetruria

starter for @thelordoftheair @lethalbeautyofetruria, and @progenitorheart

The older, bigger Claude finally breaks the silence, “You can stop glaring at me over the glass, me.”

Me, he says. Claude scoffs, opens his mouth to retort, but he doesn’t manage to get a single word out before the older Claude continues. “Yeah, I know you don’t trust me. Give it a few more years, you’ll be better at hiding it.”

Deflating like a popped balloon, Claude has no choice but to admit defeat, sulking as he sips more of his water and lets his eyes wander around the tent. Most of the decorations and furniture are unquestionably Fódlan, but Claude spots glimmers of Almyran flair in the fabrics used and the bits and pieces of wyvern armor laying disassembled on the floor. This early in the morning, the older man must have meditated an hour ago or so. 

All five of them–the two Claudes, Louise, Tibarn, and the male Byleth that came with them–sit on cushions on the floor, a bowl of grapes in the center between them for all of them to share. Breakfast, then? Reluctantly Claude leans forward and picks a grape, rolling it in his fingers, hesitant to take a bite.

Of course, the older Claude quickly notices it. “Go on, you can eat it. I’m not out to starve you guys. I’m just... trying to understand what’s going on. Same as you all, I assume.” The older Claude glances around the group. “Well, of course I recognize you, Teach. I almost forgot how you looked with the blue hair. But you two...” He looks at Tibarn, then Louise, frowning. “I’ve never seen you before. What’re your names? And....” He looks at Tibarn’s wings in particular. “Are- Are those real?”

@darklingdragon & @lethalbeautyofetruria

His thoughts refuse to let to of the weird dream that seems to have brought him into this odd place as he flies. Everything is weird, and bad, and wrong. Granted, he isn’t sure if whatever this is beats the petrified world after Ashera’s jugdment, but if it doesn’t, it’s a very close second. That event was also weird and bizarre, but at least they one, did not get warped into a random unfamiliar place, and two, got explanations almost immediately. Doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case here.

He flies in his hawk form, partially because he has a sharper eyesight that way, and partially because maybe, just maybe, he should try to look like a regular animal and possibly avoid some suspicions if he gets spotted?

He doesn’t even know what they’re supposed to be on the lookout for.

The main thing of note he has seen so far would be that town that the Nohrian princess, mage kid and thief girl had already gone to check out, so he pays little attention to that. They’ll probably bring more information.

Far in the horizon to the east, there are army banners. Something’s going down, that is for sure. He would have to get closer to try and figure out what exactly, though. That place and the town seem to be the only information sources currently available and Lady Camilla’s group already has the latter covered, but Tibarn has a feeling that just going to an army camp for a chat m”ight not be the best of ideas.

Maybe his companions have better ones.

He knows next to nothing of them, but what better way to meet new people than a bizarre dream-like adventure, right? Actually, he could probably think of about a hundred better ways to meet new people, but this’ll have to do for now.

He picks up the pace to rejoin with the dragon girl that was observing the area to the west. “There seems to be some sort of armed force to the east”, he informs Myrrh. “Have you seen anything of note over there?”

              ♡   //    QUESTION PROMPTS.  /  @lethalbeautyofetruria

          the rumors really were as everyone said. she’d been curious, with all the talk going around about the new archery professor — a noblewoman from a distant land, they said; but unlike most women raised in the company of silver spoons and comfort, there was a note of something unbreakable about her, a dauntless spirit she harbored rarely seen in wealthy circles. to be honest, caeldori doesn’t know much about that ( after all, she doesn’t think anyone would ever jump to delicate as the first word to describe princess hinoka ), but it sounded like the flurry about this professor’s skill and beauty, both unmatched, weren’t dying down even as much as she’d already heard about it.

          if it’s that, more than any particular zeal for archery, that drives her curiosity to the range one day, then who can blame her? and as she watches, tucked around a distant corner as though she were for some reason nervous, the woman land one, two— no, three! bulls-eyes in succession, faster than any volley she’s seen before. ❝ wow. ❞ sparkling awe brims under a discreet breath; she can’t help but wish kisaragi were here to see it.

          actually, the knowledge of the fearless enthusiasm with which she knows he’d already have bounded up to the golden-braided woman completes that errant thought with a quiet snort of laughter.

          eventually, she musters up the courage to approach, hope and anxiety taking turns on each accelerated skip of her heart. ( come on, caeldori. you’re not going to make a good first impression looking like a fresh school girl on her first day! ) spine straight; chin high but not arrogantly so; a lock of cochineal tucked behind her ear. any flyaways? well, she can’t do much about those.

                    she’s good at stepping into the picture, at least. years of practice.                                         ( and, she’d like to think, some inheritance. )

continued from here @lethalbeautyofetruria

He pauses slightly at the hug, but for once reciprocates, letting a soft sigh escape. There was an uncomfortable, sinking feeling that he knew why she reacted that way, and yet he feared voicing his concerns. If he did, and she couldn’t remember, would it tear old wounds anew? Cause unjust concern? It was natural for every parent to fret over their children, he supposed, so best not heap any more on her shoulders.

“I am glad you agree. The weather here,” it didn’t seem to have any normal set of patterns, but he couldn’t help but refer to it as weather. “Seems clear enough for now. Good for views, right?”

“There are some rocks closer to the water. I am sure we can find some place flat enough to look up. Shall we go, then?”

There were a lot of things that made the situation absolutely miserable - though Erk’s glower was absolutely nothing new for the poor boy - and things definitely didn’t just suddenly better, nor did it look like they would. But for all of his (internal, of course) gloom and doom saying, never would have expected the sudden warmth of affection. 

He, at first, stiffens at the sudden touch but it’s familiarity was welcome and when he realized he was in fact not imagining it, he for once didn’t mind the overt show of affection. “Louise. I feel like I have to be asking you all the same questions, I-” He lets out a huff of a breath to keep it together. (He would absolutely become more miserable if he started crying from being overwhelmed there wasn’t a chance he’d let that happen.)

“O-of course I’ve been taking care of myself. If I didn’t then I knew you’d worry and fret and I couldn’t let that happen.”