perfectteatime | Victory Road Inbox

[There has been a rash of new arrivals-- Byleth among them. It hasn't been so long since the previous Byleth left, and for that, Dedue is somewhat thankful. There hasn't been much time to grieve the loss of their professor, and now he is back among them. A little different, perhaps, but largely the same.]

[Dedue is, now, in the process of making tea. Whenever another one of their group arrives, he finds it best to greet them with a warm drink. It had been much harder to discern Byleth's tastes in this particular matter than for the other Blue Lions; when hosting tea parties, the professor would default to his guest's preferences rather than his own. It's taken a fair amount of observation and guesswork to determine it, but were Dedue a betting man, he might place money on chamomile. And if he's wrong, well-- strike that from the list. He'll figure it out eventually, as he has with the rest of the group's culinary preferences.]

[He acknowledges the professor's presence with a nod as the kettle heats.]

So just as a head's up I think the snorunt maybe cursed some of us with perpetual honesty and I was worried about you just in case you had things you didn't want to share with the world so uh just FYI I am going to stop typing before this gets worse!

Professor Eisner,
I hate to be a bother but if you happen to have time I would very much like to speak with you. Please, do not put yourself out for my sake. It is hardly something very important I simply thought it might be nice to have tea.
Yours,
Lorenz Hellman Gloucester

[Texting is just like sending an owl with a missive right?]

The trip to Sevii is... both peaceful and nerve-wracking, in odd turns. While it is appealing to get away from the chill of the main continent and take an excursion to a tropical paradise under the excuse of collecting seeds for their garden, it is also the first time since Dedue had reunited with Dimitri that he would be leaving him for any significant period of time. And the last time that he had left His Highness on his own...

Well. It hadn't ended well. So even though he and Byleth are aboard a ferry and the weather has gone from chill to balmy, he hasn't really been able to settle. Of course, Dimitri had reassured him that he would be fine, and he has Claude and Grant and even Felix around to keep him grounded and well. They had done a fine job of it, too, when Dedue had apparently been missing for several months. So they must be fine. They must be.

Standing on the deck of the ferry, overlooking the brilliantly blue waters, Dedue flips open his 'gear and considers calling Dimitri. Or perhaps sending a message?

[ Ring, ring. Guess whose calling at stupid o'clock on Valentine's Day, of all days, unexpectedly.

This gal, that's who! ]

It's warming up quite nicely lately, but this evening still calls for a long coat, and Byleth stands waiting for Shiro where they agreed to meet. Breakfast, now a Meowstic in his arms, and Clippy snoozing by his feet.

Catching the sight of his date approaching, he smiles and lifts a hand in greeting.

"Shiro! Hey." He feels like he should say something more, but- well. Byleth has never been very chatty to begin with, so he settles for going in for a hug... and a peck on the cheek.

[_{Apologies for the incoming drunk text, Byleth. Corrin is... TRASHED.

You see, prior to this, Felix had informed Corrin that Byleth also had a divine weapon at the dance after-party. And he needed to know about it - right this instant! Wasting no time, he whipped out his Pokégear to type the following garbled words into his device:} ]

BELP
BELLSBELLS
BELLS

BIELTH
BYLETH

HELLO!!! ITS CORRIN.
iM A BIT DRUNK.
JUST A BIT.

ANYWAY]I
FELIX TOLD ME U HAVE A LEGENDARY SWORD ?
ME 2!!!!
M
MINE IS CALLED YATO!!!!IT CATCHES FIRE...DONT ASK I DONT KNOW WHERE TJE FLASMES COEM FROM EITHER
THEYRE PINK FLAMES
AS WELL
AND ITS GOT ROTATING BLADESGH>??????????
LOVE IT
ANYWAYU
LETS TALK AOBOUT
ORUR SWORD SONE DAY
ITLL BE A
DIVINE INTERVENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I';M FUNNY 🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️🗡️
🗡️🔥<- MY SWORD
🗡️❓<- YOUR SOWRD (A MYSTERY)
CANT WAIT
YOURE MY BSF (BEST SWORD FRIEND)

At first, when he gets a moment to look over this brochure thing, Grant is... not sure what he's looking at here.

And then he gets to the last page, stops, and... makes a little bit of a face. "...Oh. Prom again. Great.”

That's his commentary, right here in the living room. Those are his thoughts.

Hey, I finally got to talking to Shiro. He's not interested, but thanks for giving me the nudge to actually say something, now I've actually got the chance to move on haha

[He says as if he hasn't been crying pretty much since it happened, but! Byleth does not need to know that and probably shouldn't!!]

Sometime after the festival, Byleth will be visited by a delivery Pidgey, bearing an envelope and friendship bracelet woven in spring green and a pale pink not unlike the markings on Allura's cheekbones.

Dear Byleth,

I woke up with this under my pillow last night. Keith tells me it’s a “friendship bracelet,” and I have a feeling this one belongs to you. Your calm, patient demeanor is very much appreciated, and anyone who makes Shiro so happy is a dear friend already.

Thank You So Much,
Allura

Edited 2022-07-01 20:01 (UTC)

[Present for you, sir!]

[A little bundle, wrapped in a bandana. Opening it up reveals a lovely gem.]

[And a note!]

Hey, Byleth :)

I hope things are going okay for you, here. It's rough, I know. And if there's anything you need, I'm here for you. <3 Just let me know. Also we earned this in one of the missions, but none of my pokemon need it... Hopefully yours do.

Love,
Shiro

[SPECIAL DELIVERY!! Via Pidgey Express. Whenever Byleth answers his door on the morning of the 20th, he'll have something waiting for him.]

[It's sitting on top of a box. And tucked neatly into said box are not only four really cute little cakes, but yet another box. Listen, someone went all out here, okay. Inside that smaller box, is a very delicate bracelet. With a note.]

Byleth,
The 'gear told me it was your birthday today. And maybe I went a little overboard here, but you're... you're worth it. You waking up here, watching Miniors with me? That was one of the best things that's happened in a long time. You're one of the best things that's happened in a long time.

So, happy birthday. :) And thank you, for being here.

Love you,
Shiro ♡

[Yes there's a little heart included. He uh. Also may or may not be in town, in case Byleth doesn't have plans but - yeah he didn't want to be overwhelming.]

Edited 2022-09-20 04:09 (UTC)

( surprise! a gift basket has arrived at the femblem residence for a mr. byleth eisner! it contains an egg, and some wrapped gifts. included is a card, with a message: )

Hey, Byleth!

✨🎈 Happy birthday!! 🎈✨

Really hope you have a good one!
I couldn't resist putting a nice bundle of gifts together for you.
You are a really special friend!

It's a shame I can't turn into a dragon any more.
That one time, when we flew through the sea, and saw all the fish? 🐟 Amazing!!
It's one of my favourite memories I've made in this place!

Anyway, I really hope you like the things.
Oh, before I forget! Not to spoil the surprise or anything, but the egg I have included is an Applin egg!
I discovered something crazy while raising these fruit dragons. Did you know they evolve when they eat an apple? It's true!
The type of apple you feed them changes their form.
They can grow huge and chunky like a pie, or into a serpent-like wyvern. All depends on the apple!

I hope you like your new friend when they hatch from their egg.
And I hope you like all the other stuff too!
And that you have an amazing day all around! You deserve it!

Lots of love,
Corrin

( the gifts that he has included are the following: a hand-made bag and glasses case, a goofy looking hat, some miscellaneous snacks and chocolates, and of course the egg! )

This is a conversation that has... probably needed to happen for a little bit. But, even with Byleth already having expressed interest, it's sort of a nerve-wracking prospect.

It simplifies things a bit when he finds out that Claude has been having a similar problem. A short discussion later, they make a decision, and approach Byleth together.

"Hey, Byleth - d'you have time to talk?"

It is nearly the Professor’s birthday, and Dedue, like most of the household, has not forgotten it. Since Byleth did something quite special for his, Dedue feels that it’s only fair to do something like that in return.

He finds Byleth wherever he happens to spend his time during the day; fishing, perhaps, or just relaxing in the ample accommodations that have been provided for them all.

“Byleth,” he says. “It will soon be your birthday. If you would like to celebrate it with me, and do not mind a trip, I thought that you might enjoy returning to Sevii for a while.”

Hey! Kind of a random question, and I'm not sure if they have Halloween in your world, but... would you like to go to a haunted house show with me sometime this month? My friend owns a club, and she's putting on a whole thing and put out an open invite. No pressure if you're busy! Or not into that kind of thing, but I thought I'd ask haha

[Oh god Shiro don't type out 'haha' that's weird.]

Right. So. yes. :)

When Dedue enters his room, he will find a surprise. Most notably, Byleth in his bed. Halfway undressed, and tangled up in the blankets and sheets. He's sound asleep, albeit ungracefully. On the side table, a bottle of wine and a plate of snacks waits, mostly untouched.

Along with a bundle of fresh picked flowers, it appears that Byleth clearly had something in mind, but expected Dedue to come to his room much sooner than he did. It would have been a very romantic scene, if not for the softly snoring man, sprawled over the bed with his hair in disarray and mouth hung slightly open.

At least he looks peaceful.

With the weather fast turning from heatstroke-inducing hot to the much crisper air of fall, Sylvain's been quick to find his more preferred attire: soft, fuzzy things. And while his typical furred coats hadn't arrived with him in this place, he's found a suitable replacement in something the shopkeep had assured him was much better. He's not so sure anything is as warm as a real pelt... but the Thievul kigurumi he's wears is pretty warm and comfortable.

Which is what Byleth will find him wearing when Sylvain dials him for a video call and sends him a wink from under the tall-eared hood.

"Hey, you free tonight?"

"I never saw you as much of a child. Given how close in age we were- it never really crossed my mind." His voice trails off at the feeling of those lips on his jaw, and he tilts his head up for Dimitri. Losing his focus for just a moment to enjoy that feeling. Something he's longed for.

"Know that you have nothing to prove... but if you want to show me, then show me." Because he's not going to miss that queue. He'll let Dimitri take charge until he senses the need for direction. He is curious how experienced he's become between the others. Not that he's going to be grading this or anything... probably.

"Don't worry about being gentle, if you do not wish to be." Though he expects, knowing Dimitri, it will be one extreme or the other.

Backdated to when Byleth first arrived

text; backdated to around snorunt time

text; @rose_of_gloucester

action - a totally platonic trip to sevii at the end of February