“  enjoyed the show, did you ?  ”  as he turns around, yuri tries not to sound surprised by seeing him, despite sensing the presence two little songs ago. the children had scurried away to play—with that endearing little attention span they have—and now, yuri is not so sure of what to read on his expression. there’s no shame to be found on his own, however. only a tentative glint on his eye.  “  though, i’m not too fond of eavesdroppers.  ”  the songs were for the kid’s ears, after all.  

      THE KING BOWS HIS HEAD LOW, somewhat resembling a guilty puppy dog as dimitri makes an effort to pacify whatever irritation he’s caused the other man. ❛    my sincere apologies, yuri. it was not my intention to eavesdrop. i had not realized anyone else would be here visiting the children today.    ❜  not that dimitri had made it known that he would be visiting. he’s found in recent months his trips to faerghus orphanages are much more enjoyable when the general public is not aware of his plans. more time to spend with the children that way after all. 

      HE TAKES CARE TO APPROACH HIM QUIETLY, behaving like one trying to greet a particularly skittish cat. when he gets close enough he speaks, voice soft & low. ❛    shroud? --- could you perhaps spare a moment of your time? i was hoping i could speak to you.    ❜

   indeed, the unmistakable glint of dorothea arnault getting an idea——— yuri’s acknowledgement only makes her smile widen, hands still hidden behind her back.  “  𝖽𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝖻𝖾 𝗌𝗈 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤, 𝗒𝗎𝗋𝗂𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗌. you know i wouldn’t even think of asking anything too strenuous of a busy man such as yourself. well, not often anyway.  ”  and her hands stop hiding, revealing a blueberry pastry,  “  𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲 ?  i don’t fancy myself as a fantastic cook or anything, but you on the other hand .  .  . i want your opinion, that’s all ! easy enough to give, right ?”

      ❛    YOU --- YOU WANT MY OPINION ?    ❜  it’s a rare moment in which yuri has a lapse of his cool composure, his eyes widening as he processes dorothea’s request. it’s not often that people ask for his opinions on things, let alone his opinion on something so trivial as cooking. to others yuri is but a pretty face in a crowd, a hitman, a subservient tool meant to be used & discarded at any moment. & that’s how he wants to be seen. if he’s seen as something else...something more. things get complicated & messy. it may not be much now with dorothea but yuri’s seen this enough times to know how this will end unless he puts an end to it prematurely. 

   sylvain can’t stand the way the echo of his steps buzzes in his ears. dimitri stands not too far from where he first spotted him, and the night suits him in a way sylvain can’t describe.  “  i figured you’d be here.”  his voice reaches out, standing close enough now. sylvain’s expression regards him with a year-old fondness, unique to him. something not exclusive to when they’re alone, but certainly more easily seen.  “  can’t sleep either?  ”  and his voice is different, too. leveled, testing the air. 

      THE PRINCE STIFFENS WHEN HE HEARS THE SUDDEN VOICE. not that dimitri hadn’t heard the echoing footsteps approaching him. in his rare naivety he’d thought --- he’d hoped whoever had entered the cathedral simply wished to pay their respects to the goddess. which isn’t to say sylvain’s company is unwelcome, not at all. dimitri just doesn’t know if he’s ready to face the people he’s hurt in recent months. 

malleus draconia 

      ❛    OH, I KNOW THAT LOOK...    ❜  the statement is said with a small sigh, calculated features briefly looking displeased before he puts on a feigned smile of politeness.  ❛    you want something. well, ladybird whatever it is do get on with it. i’m not exactly the most available man at the moment.    ❜