hotel: emet

[shaft]

fufufu

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week 1, monday, prism / crystalline apartment

[shaft]

[ Is Emet feeling nostalgic? Claude is just snooping around, looking curious. ]

This isn't a bad place to stay.

[ktiseos]

...one of the more acceptable apartments here, I always thought.

[he's poking around here too, lingering in one of the bedrooms! the emet-sized bed probably makes it obvious why; it also looks like two people have been sleeping in it.]

[shaft]

[ hm

interesting

looks from the bed to emet ]

So this was your temporary home?

week 2, tuesday

[shaft]

[ Later, because Claude is awkward about talking about things in front of a crowd, ]

Your notes mentioned people you'd grown close to at your last game. It was a little surprising.

[ktiseos]

-surprising in what sense.

[this is all way more information than he wants anyone to have about him, thanks, what the hell.]

[shaft]

[ tilts his head ]

Just the level of detail? I suppose.

week 3, tuesday, library

[shaft]

[ Let's say these nerds are the in the library when they get launched into a memory.

There's barely a beat between the knock at your office door and Hilda's voice as she steps inside, "Claude? You're still at it?"

You're in your office at the Riegan manor; a place that's more familiar to you than your bedroom these days, your chair well worn by your constant weight, and your desk growing ever messier as you compile notes and reminders. Right now, you have a map of Derdriu in front of you, chess pieces sitting atop it as though you were playing a particularly morbid game.

Your eyes are dry when you raise them toward Hilda, and you think you've probably been staring too hard.

"Just making sure that I haven't missed anything," you answer, tapping the map on your desk.

She only sighs in response, shaking her head. "You're not going to be in great fighting shape if you don't get some rest, you know."

Tomorrow, Edelgard's army will reach your city, where you'll make your last stand. You've evacuated Derdriu in anticipation of the battle, but your thoughts are spiraling still wondering how to minimize the casualties. Your country has already surrendered so many lives to this war, windows and orphans made by your hand. You can't pretend to be noble with your hands this bloodied, but still. You want to protect whatever you still can.

"... Hilda." Your voice is grave when you speak again. "Tomorrow, if you see that the tide is turning against us, I want you to escape, okay? I don't want you to throw your life away for a losing battle."

"Claude... do you really have so little faith in us?"

Not in them. But it feels a little late for faith now. You couldn't keep the Roundtable from fracturing. Lords defecting to the Empire because they believed the Alliance was doomed under your leadership. You couldn't keep the Great Bridge, letting the Empire march into your lands. Why would things change now, when the country has been steadily breaking around you for so long?

"I'd never doubt you. I just want to make sure that we account for all possibilities if my little scheme doesn't work out tomorrow."

"Maybe your plans would go better if you told us about them," she shoots back, and she's probably right.

But you don't relent. "Just trust me. And promise me that you'll escape if it comes down to it."

You can see her expression shift, not disappointment like you expect, just... sadness.

"I do, but you know you're a leader now, Claude. You need to trust others for them to trust you."

The memory starts to go dark there, and you don't hear your response, just the thudding of I can't, I can't beating alongside your chest.

When their surroundings come back around then, Claude is rubbing his temples. ]

Well, that's always awkward.

[ktiseos]

I-- yes. Yes, it is.

[he shakes his head to try to clear it. that's-- he's often said he cannot very well imagine a world of war, where scenes such as this occur. he still cannot. that aspect of it still feels so foreign, can't quite resonate with him, but-

the reluctance to be open certainly does. that, he knows.]

Was she safe? Or do you recall what came after this?

[shaft]

[ Claude prefers to keep quiet about— well, as much as he can get away with; touchy about all aspects of his history and his life.

But it seems cowardly not to own up to his failures. ]

She died the next day in battle. [ He tilts his head back. ] To be honest, I could never figure out why. I guess some ideals are worth dying for.

week 3, friday, barealis

[shaft]

[ Welcome to the bar.

Claude is here, staring at a glass but not drinking it. ]

[ktiseos]

...it will go to waste, you know.

[he says, after several moments of observing this.]

[shaft]

[ looks over at him ]

Do you drink?

w4 monday

[ktiseos]

[hello, claude. wherever emet finds him in the hotel

he sets a hand on his shoulder, then huffs and pulls it away. nooo.]

Not this again-

[shaft]

[ ??? claude just stares at him? ]

You alright there, friend?

[ puts a concerned hand on his elbow ]

[ktiseos]

I am fine. Do not touch me.

[he says, starting to pull his arm away but not quite making it all the way.]

week 5, monday, room 9

[shaft]

[ They walk into a door and...

9. You open the door and find yourself in a warm, comfortable bed. It is so comfortable here. You really, really don't want to get up. If you stay in bed, you will eventually drift off to sleep and not wake up, only to be found in the hallway, unconscious. Someone will be able to rouse you, but for the next six hours you will find yourself struggling to stay awake and will find yourself drifting off to sleep - even when standing upright - at highly inconvenient (and perhaps even dangerous, depending on what you are getting up to) times. Should you manage to get yourself out of bed without drifting off to sleep, you will be able to leave the room and come out into the hallway normally with no adverse effects.

This is Claude's Achilles heel.

... He yawns. ]

[ktiseos]

...what in the world is this.

[his brow furrows-- the bed is very comfy, he doesn't want to get up, but why is he in it with claude?? help.]

w5, tuesday

[ktiseos]

[hewwo claude. where is he on this fine tuesday.]

Claude? I would speak with you of something, if you've the time.

[shaft]

[ He can be having tea in the courtyard. He'll gesture for him to join him. ]

Sure, tea is better with conversation anyway.

week 5, sunday, dining room

[shaft]

[ Hello, friend. Let's have tea in the dining room.

Claude looks tired. ]

Seems like it was another week with plenty of bodies.

[ktiseos]

...so it does.

[he exhales a sigh, shaking his head.]

I did not expect to see you here, Claude.

week 6, fhursday

[shaft]

[ Claude is looking for Emet! Hello. ]

Emet, got a minute?

[ktiseos]

[hewwo! he gets a nod of acknowledgment.]

I do. What is it, Claude?

week 7, monday, parlour

[shaft]

[ they're still here! after the floor man reveal, claude is looking for emet. ]

... Exciting times.

[ktiseos]

...I suppose they are, yes.

[he's over here, watching the portraits still. he's going to be here, like, all week.]