Victory Road Inbox

[perfectteatime]

Hello. You've reached the message box for Byleth Eisner. Please leave a message after the beep.

... Was that all I had to do? Oh hit the pound key- BEEEEEP

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[donoteattheweeds]

Byleth counts down to the start of the race, and Dedue readies himself to spring into action. One might expect that, upon hearing go, he would attempt to swim as quickly as he could-- one would be incorrect. Instead, his hand snaps out and closes around Byleth's ankle, wrangling him back within arm's reach. Then he gets an arm around his waist and hauls him up against his side like he's holding a football. Contained-- one professor.

Dedue wades out into the pool towards their designated finish, Byleth still held securely. If the professor even attempts to struggle, he will find that his flailing is ineffective at best. Dedue has found that the lack of Crests in this world significantly bridges the gap that used to exist in terms of strength; Byleth, like Dimitri, is now but a mere mortal man. Dedue can make it roughly halfway before the water starts to become too deep to comfortably walk in, and at that point he stops, adjusts his grip on Byleth, and throws him like a sack of grain back towards the shallow end of the pool.

With that head start, and Byleth yeeted back towards the starting line, he has a significant advantage in making it to the finish first.

[perfectteatime]

For all his skills and talents, Byleth simply was not expecting this. He gives a garbled squawk when Dedue grabs him, wriggling and squirming in his grasp while he's toted along. He really is completely powerless in this case. Given that his powers no longer exist here he only has the strength of his natural build, and compared to Dedue? Not happening.

"Dedue?!" He manages as he's hefted up, just in time to be tossed like a sack of potatoes back towards the other end of the pool. Have you ever heard the Professor shriek?

Now you have.

He lands with a splash, surfacing seconds later, sputtering and spitting out water. By the time he manages his way back, Dedue has long since won.

"Seriously!"

[donoteattheweeds]

By the time Byleth makes it to the finish, Dedue has certainly won and is, in fact, sitting on the edge of the pool, watching him come in. His feet dip into the pool casually, as though he hadn't just horribly... sort-of cheated at their race.

"Indeed. It would appear that I have won."

Byleth didn't stipulate any rules to their race, like non-interference. He only has himself to blame for losing.

"By our agreement, you owe a round of drinks."

[perfectteatime]

At first he kind of huffs, but honestly it was... really quite clever. A part of him is very proud of Dedue for that. So the smile creeps back up his face quickly.

"Cheeky." He says, amused.

"Very well. A round of drinks for a very clever man." He's still going to give Dedue a little splash though. "What will the others think when they find out you threw the professor like a shotput?"

[donoteattheweeds]

It's clever because it's so unexpected of him-- something that Dedue cannot take advantage of too many times. Even so, there is some satisfaction to be had, mostly because the professor is not upset at him for his underhanded tactic.

"If I am permitted to make a request, I would like the drink that has pineapple in it."

If, of course, Byleth is willing to entertain a request from the victor. Tropical fruits are incredibly rare back in Fodlan-- having them in something as frivolous as an alcoholic drink is a surprising luxury.

"I would imagine that they would think it quite a tall tale, Professor."

[perfectteatime]

"You are permitted to request anything you like, Dedue." He nudges the man as he pulls himself out and goes to fetch some towels.

"Ahh you're saying nobody would believe me? Perhaps you are right." It's an amusing revelation honestly, he's mostly just delighted that Dedue finds himself comfortable enough to be cheeky with him. It kind of feels like an honor.

"I suppose it is something I will have to live with for eternity, in that case." More or less, this will be a fond memory. "I'll be back with some drinks."