perfectteatime | Victory Road Inbox

[ When he arrives, he'll find a neat little tea-table set out in the garden near the house. There are cookies and small baked goods set out on a stand, and a delicate tea set already set up.

Byleth is placing a few flowers in a vase in the center when he spots Shiro, lifting his hand to wave to the man. ]

[Oh this... this is possibly the sweetest thing he's ever encountered. Especially in the face of a fairly new friendship. For a minute, Shiro mostly just stands there, processing - until his Skarmory shoves him forward a few steps, snapping him out of it.]

Hey - thank you. Really, I - this is amazing.

[Ah, there's that truth telling urge again.]

Oh? You've really never had a tea party before? This isn't much really but please, sit down, make yourself comfortable.

I brewed chamomile, I hope you're okay with that. It's calming.

[ He says this as he pours him a steaming cup of the golden looking tea, placing it on a saucer at the empty seat. ]

I hope you're hungry.

Not really, no. Nothing like this. Tea, sure, but... not this.

Chamomile is fine - it grew on me.

[As he sits, in the empty chair. It's easy to be honest like this. About simple things.]

Did you make all of this?

Well, I am pleased to be the first to give you this experience.

[ He offers him honey for his tea. ]

Mostly. Some of the snacks I bought but I prefer to make most things myself. Lot of free time right now.

That's... amazing. I said that already, didn't I?

[Oh hell is he nervous? Maybe a bit. It's probably because he's worried about suddenly spilling his guts to the man kind enough to ask him to relax for an afternoon.]

Sorry - if I start rambling. I can't really stop myself right now.

You did, but you can keep saying it if you like.

[ He settles across from him now, blowing at the steam rising from his own cup. ]

That's all right. I'm told I'm not much of a conversationalist, so I don't mind.

I'll try and find a different adjective.

[He reaches for the cup in front of him, curling his hands around it. Metal clinking softly.]

I don't know. I've liked the conversations we've had so far.

You don't have to. It's not like you're being graded.

[ While he wants Shiro to relax and feels for his plight, he has to admit it's amusing in the most endearing way. ]

I'm glad for that. So have I. Please, try some of the snacks if you like. I tried to pick ones that go well with chamomile. It's a bit of a grassy tea, but it's soothing and-

Well. Apologies but you look like you are overdue for some soothing.

[Shockingly, that gets a laugh out of him. It's worn, a little ragged, but it's real.]

You know, you sound like a lot of the people at the house.

[But from his tone, it's more fond than anything irritated. He'll grab a pastry, snack on that between conversations.]

-- it was better when I slept. [And there's that brutal honesty, thanks Snorunts.]

Oh? Is that a common sentiment?

[ Ahh yes, he can see how this could get dangerous. ]

Trouble sleeping? You don't have to tell me, by the way just... giving you that out. I don't mean to pry.

But have you ever considered maybe taking a vacation?

Back in our household, yeah, it is.

[With good reason, though. He shakes his head, pushing his hand through his hair.]

I... live in on a tropical island. [Doesn't that count as a vacation?] But. If I left... people tend to think I'm just running away from problems.

[Also with good reason, but still.]

That doesn't count. And how would that be running away? Taking a break, taking time for yourself is a necessity.

If anyone regards that as running away, then they are simply a fool. You intend to come back from vacations.

[ He takes a long drink from his tea, and then holds his cup over Shiro's. Tipping it to pour a little of the contents into the other man's cup. ]

You can give. [ Anther little pour. ] And give. [ More yet, until there are only drips emptying into the other cup. ]

Eventually. You run dry. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Eventually. You must-

[ Returning his own cup to his saucer, he refills it from the pot. ]

Take a break.

I - [He bites his lip, desperately wanting to brush this off, but, of course, he can't.] - have a history of doing that. Here, too.

[In his defense, it had been to get away from a house full of memories, but - ]

[He looks up, though, listening. Watching the slow demonstration. Something in it makes his chest tighten, his throat clench up. Byleth called him out so quickly, he's a bit at a loss.]

[His hands curl around his cup again.] Some days I - really want to. It just gets harder to try. Too much comes up, or - it feels like it does.

Taking care of yourself and taking time isn't running away. Just because you have before doesn't mean you aren't deserving of rest. Even so, you don't even need to go somewhere for a vacation.

You can just... resolve to be kind to yourself and rest.

Like right now. You're having tea with a friend.

[ He shoves a biscuit into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully before looking at Shiro again. ]

This is a little vacation.

[That's... new information. He doesn't reply immediately, his eyes lowered, focused on the teacup.]

I think you're the first person to ever tell me something like that.

[He's not arguing. He's definitely not arguing, just - trying to take it in. Trying to accept it. In the meantime, he takes a biscuit too, toying with it a moment.]

Resting, 'being kind' sounds ... it [Deep breath.] I've never been great at that.

Really? To tell you that you ought to deserve a break? Or that you can stay?

[ He tilts his head, finishing his cup of tea before going on. ]

You're plenty kind to others. Sometimes, it's as simple as letting someone else take care of you.

What kinds of things do you like to do? If you didn't have any responsibilities, what would you do?

Ah, no I mean... that something simple like this is a vacation.

[Right - drink the tea. It's warm, and immediately soothing. He lets his eyes close for a few moments.]

I can definitely... say I'm not great at that part. Never have been. [He wants to say he'd be willing to try. But he can't. Again with the inability to lie. Maybe he'd try for a while, but it would always fall flat.]

Fly, honestly. Start piloting again - if it were even possible here. But I don't mind the observatory. I really don't. Space was always important to me.

Ahh. Well yes. You can take little vacations all the time. A snack you like, or taking a small nap. If you give yourself these little gifts, life can seem less-

Just less really.

[ He nods. He's plenty used to people who don't take care of themselves like they should. ]

Hmm. Well, you have a flying pokemon, maybe you can teach them to fly closer to the way you like to. If you need a different kind, maybe we can search one out and become friends with it.

[ Now that he's done with his tea though, he decides he needs to get a better look at Shiro. To do this, he stands and leans way over the table, looking at him from different angles. That's a normal thing people do right? ]

"Just less", huh?

[He's trying to parse that. Trying to turn that over in his head. It doesn't really seem possible. Just taking time for himself.]

Skarmory's the fastest flyer I can find, short of a Pidgeot. I - I guess I just miss being the one at the controls. Clearing the atmosphere again. But - I really appreciate...

[The offer, he was about to say. But then, suddenly, Byleth is right there.] ... your... advice? Hi?

We could perhaps see if we can get you a Pidgeot... Teach it to fly in response to touch signals. That's what we did with the Wyverns in a lot of cases.

Yes hello.

[ He's still up here. In your face. Looking closely. ]

Just want to make sure I get a good look at you.

That's right - you said you had Wyverns in your world. If you flew them, I'd love to learn more.

[Absolutely. Anything to get himself into the air more often. Maybe that's what he needs, after all.]

[He's... really not sure what's going on. And ends up staring sort of dumbly at Byleth in return.]

Is - there something on my face? [A beat.] Besides the uh. [He lifts his hand, gesturing at the scarring over his nose.]

No, nothing on your face I don't think. Just wanted to make sure I get to see how your face really is. You don't get curious?

You have to get in close to get rid of the blur.

[ Goddess above help this man needs glasses. ]

Blur...?

[Wait. Wait, wait wait. The space hamster is running on its wheel now.]

Byleth, are you... nearsighted?

Am I what?

[ Hey remember that this guy was raised as a mercenary... yeah. He's actually kind of dumb if you scrape off the whole Professor thing and it's not about tactics or swordplay. ]

Oh, no, no. I just have to look really closely so people aren't fuzzy.

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