Mm. I'll try to meet Her Majesty's expectations. [ byleth's smile widens at that, and she lets out a pleased sigh, keeping her close. though... something occurs to her, curiosity flickering in the bond. ]
Had you given... much thought to the idea of children? Before we were brought here.
[ look, never mind that they're more or less raising a child here in aefenglom. a precocious and capable child, but even so. back in the dream, it had definitely sounded to byleth as if edelgard was testing the waters there. ]
[Shockingly, amazingly, Edelgard is not stunned by the question. She'd actually expected it sooner.]
I had considered, likely, taking a ward. But having children...I don't know if that's feasible for me. I suppose if I'd met the right man, but I haven't.
[ she makes a thoughtful sound at that at first, but then she huffs a gentle laugh. she thinks she's picked up on something unspoken there at the end. still, she doesn't know how to phrase this in a way that will make sense. ]
I see. I'd had... similar concerns. Even if there were some way that I didn't find... distasteful, [ byleth's... pretty sure that she isn't terribly interested in men, and before being brought to geardagas, she had only really had eyes for edelgard anyway. ] I'm not sure it would be feasible for me, either.
[ there are too many questions about her biology; she's a unique existence, and her mother—a similar being, she's sure—had died in childbirth. she can't help but wonder whether the crest of seiros might resurface, or whether the crest of flames still rests dormant in her blood, and if there is a chance of that reemerging—
byleth has thought more than once about the nightmare scenario of a would-be imperial heir bearing the crest of flames, and the way that child might be manipulated to push back against all that its mothers had aimed to do. adoption really is the approach, for a number of reasons. ]
I've... enjoyed having Leslie around, though. Enjoyed partnering with you on her care. I think that I would like to...
[ yes, she'd like to do the Parenting Thing for real someday, back in fódlan. alongside her. ]
[Edelgard doesn't even want to think about the notion of biology. Her own lifespan hinges on Hanneman and Linhardt's success, just like Lysithea, but she's certain that it'll be resolved in time. And here, now, she's one of the undead anyway. So, hum. How would it even work?]
I think...that sounds lovely.
[If only they could just scoop Leslie up, but that's not going to happen. She has a life of her own to return to, and a mother that needs punishment.]
I'm sure that we can find a suitable arrangement. There are bound to be children needing a home. And it's not as though resources are an issue.
[ she loops her arms below edelgard's chest from behind, tucking her chin above her bondmate's head. ]
And if we're to be the last emperor and empress, revolutionizing society... [ byleth may not have said her intentions in so many words before, but she knows that there's no point in continuing to dance around it. when it's just the two of them, thinking about their future feels harmless. it's all fantasy for the moment, not actionable. she has no real intention of moving forward with their relationship in this place, barring significant changes in their situation, and she's made no secret of that. ] I imagine we could set a much worse example than adopting war orphans.
[ the blood of hresvelg and seiros, and the last direct marks of sothis's presence in the world... all of it will end with them.
it feels right, she thinks. though it does call more practical questions about their next steps at home to mind. ]
[Leaning into the embrace, Edelgard tips her head forward, murmuring her agreement softly against her partner's shoulder. The bond flickers with pride, with love, and with an intense feeling of gratitude. The understanding on display...the way that Byleth is just so effortlessly voicing her own thoughts is a relief.]
I think so too, dearest.
[She's...not sure the pet name will stick, but she wants to try it. Maybe it will. Maybe it will come out weird...]
[ one of her hands goes up to stroke at edelgard's hair. she's always been slightly amazed by it—its shine, its softness. even knowing the reason for its color... well, the color was unique, but it hadn't been what she found beautiful about it. byleth presses a kiss to the top of her head, squeezing her slightly. though... that pet name. heat rises to her face, love and surprise both obvious in the bond. ]
El... [ she doesn't know what to say to that, but she doesn't disapprove. far from it. ]
[Leaning into the touch, Edelgard sighs, letting some of the tension float away from her. She begins to relax again, the worry that Byleth's distress had caused beginning to fade out. It's...good...to have this kind of affect on people. Especially someone you love.]
I love you.
[What else needs to be said? Other than a quick soft kiss.]
[ byleth lets out a pleased sigh as she feels the effect she's having on edelgard, happy to just... have this moment. she returns that quick kiss with one of her own, fingers weaving into her partner's hair. ]
El... my heart. [ a pet name of her own. maybe it's too on the nose, maybe it will come out strangely with the way she tends to speak, but—she leans forward for yet another quick, gentle kiss. ] I will always choose you. Come what may.
[ to hell with those misbegotten timelines. people in those worlds may have to live with the consequences, but they aren't their responsibility. there is a true history, one that she has suffered and witnessed living nightmares to mold their timeline towards. ]
[Edelgard, unsure of what to say, nods silently, curling her head against Byleth and savoring the soft, sweet connection. It's a bit strange, thinking that this is happening after pining for it for so long. Yet...day in, day out...she is reminded by this touch that someone out there loves her. Not for what she can do for them, or for what she's promised to do for them, but just...because.]
[ byleth has no desire to pull away, content to hold her close for now. she's been happy to see edelgard grow, happy that she was able to believe others when they demonstrated a belief in her worth as a person.
that edelgard's been able to see it for herself.
she finally speaks up again, after a long moment of just... holding her. ]
They can call us whatever they like... make whatever assumptions they like. [ maybe there isn't any truly justifying the cost of their crimson path... but even so. even so, they'll ensure that none of it has been in vain. ] We know the truth.
[ but... after a moment more... ]
Is that bergamot that I smell? [ she didn't miss the tea when she came in, she was just... more focused on edelgard herself. ]
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unyieldingmarch) wrote2015-09-30 10:14 pm
no subject
Had you given... much thought to the idea of children? Before we were brought here.
[ look, never mind that they're more or less raising a child here in aefenglom. a precocious and capable child, but even so. back in the dream, it had definitely sounded to byleth as if edelgard was testing the waters there. ]
no subject
I had considered, likely, taking a ward. But having children...I don't know if that's feasible for me. I suppose if I'd met the right man, but I haven't.
[Ah well!]
no subject
I see. I'd had... similar concerns. Even if there were some way that I didn't find... distasteful, [ byleth's... pretty sure that she isn't terribly interested in men, and before being brought to geardagas, she had only really had eyes for edelgard anyway. ] I'm not sure it would be feasible for me, either.
[ there are too many questions about her biology; she's a unique existence, and her mother—a similar being, she's sure—had died in childbirth. she can't help but wonder whether the crest of seiros might resurface, or whether the crest of flames still rests dormant in her blood, and if there is a chance of that reemerging—
byleth has thought more than once about the nightmare scenario of a would-be imperial heir bearing the crest of flames, and the way that child might be manipulated to push back against all that its mothers had aimed to do. adoption really is the approach, for a number of reasons. ]
I've... enjoyed having Leslie around, though. Enjoyed partnering with you on her care. I think that I would like to...
[ yes, she'd like to do the Parenting Thing for real someday, back in fódlan. alongside her. ]
no subject
I think...that sounds lovely.
[If only they could just scoop Leslie up, but that's not going to happen. She has a life of her own to return to, and a mother that needs punishment.]
I'm sure that we can find a suitable arrangement. There are bound to be children needing a home. And it's not as though resources are an issue.
no subject
And if we're to be the last emperor and empress, revolutionizing society... [ byleth may not have said her intentions in so many words before, but she knows that there's no point in continuing to dance around it. when it's just the two of them, thinking about their future feels harmless. it's all fantasy for the moment, not actionable. she has no real intention of moving forward with their relationship in this place, barring significant changes in their situation, and she's made no secret of that. ] I imagine we could set a much worse example than adopting war orphans.
[ the blood of hresvelg and seiros, and the last direct marks of sothis's presence in the world... all of it will end with them.
it feels right, she thinks. though it does call more practical questions about their next steps at home to mind. ]
no subject
[Leaning into the embrace, Edelgard tips her head forward, murmuring her agreement softly against her partner's shoulder. The bond flickers with pride, with love, and with an intense feeling of gratitude. The understanding on display...the way that Byleth is just so effortlessly voicing her own thoughts is a relief.]
I think so too, dearest.
[She's...not sure the pet name will stick, but she wants to try it. Maybe it will. Maybe it will come out weird...]
no subject
El... [ she doesn't know what to say to that, but she doesn't disapprove. far from it. ]
no subject
I love you.
[What else needs to be said? Other than a quick soft kiss.]
no subject
El... my heart. [ a pet name of her own. maybe it's too on the nose, maybe it will come out strangely with the way she tends to speak, but—she leans forward for yet another quick, gentle kiss. ] I will always choose you. Come what may.
[ to hell with those misbegotten timelines. people in those worlds may have to live with the consequences, but they aren't their responsibility. there is a true history, one that she has suffered and witnessed living nightmares to mold their timeline towards. ]
no subject
no subject
that edelgard's been able to see it for herself.
she finally speaks up again, after a long moment of just... holding her. ]
They can call us whatever they like... make whatever assumptions they like. [ maybe there isn't any truly justifying the cost of their crimson path... but even so. even so, they'll ensure that none of it has been in vain. ] We know the truth.
[ but... after a moment more... ]
Is that bergamot that I smell? [ she didn't miss the tea when she came in, she was just... more focused on edelgard herself. ]