shaft | school: otome

Well, best of luck. But I should mention that where I come from, women usually give garlands to their lovers.

[ she blinks. Then, still calmly-- ]

You wouldn't accept it, then?

[ He thinks about it. ]

No, that would be a boring answer. We're not in Fódlan anymore anyway.

Well, my subtle romantic advances aside--

[ OTOME.

She's just pushing herself up carefully now to start a fussy selection of crimson flowers. ]

I promise not to give you anything if I can't even string three of them together.

[ OTOME

There's a moment of very brief embarrassment, before Claude smoothly moves along. ]

I look forward to it. What do you think about this Winter Formal business?

[ she just smiles. Sure, she'll let him change the subject. ]

Honestly, I've never gone to anything like that. I imagine it's going to be a dance of sorts?

Really? Your school never had any events?

[ o: ]

Nothing like that! We had school festivals, I suppose.

[ But no formal dances thank god ]

What's a festival like then?

Each class does something-- like put on a play, or create a cafe within their classroom or run a stall or a haunted house... and they open it up to the public, so everyone can come in and take a look around and enjoy themselves.

... Now that I think about it, they're very popular for confessions too.

[ He blinks, looking up as he pictures it. It sounds like a lot of fun. ]

Confessions? How so?

Well, you could take someone around the school as a date of sorts and at the end, on the roof or in front of the bonfire, the mood is right...

Is that right? That's fairly similar to the dances we had at my school then.

On the night of a dance, students would go sneaking into the Goddess Tower. It's an old tower on our school grounds where legends say, if two people confess their love, they'll be granted a happy ending.

I must say, I'm a little envious of people who were able to prioritize that kind of thing.

... It's interesting how some traditions seem to persist, no matter what world you're in, right?

[ with a faint smile, as she gathers up more red flowers and settles again to try braiding the stems together. ]

But I am, too. Things like that... it was never really a consideration for me.

Too busy saving the world, even back then?

Just too busy helping people. [ a laugh. ]

As it turns out, most dates don't like when you leave them if you get an emergency call.

[ wait ]

You couldn't have been a doctor in high school...?

Oh no, that was more recent... ish.

In high school, though, I was too busy studying, and then there were the after-school clubs so I never really thought about romance for myself.

Ah, you never gave love a chance, huh?

[ He smiles a little. ]

Well, I can't judge. I'm much the same. It's too much of a liability.

[ she's quiet for a few seconds, twisting the stems together. ]

Because of the war? Or does that have to do with why you don't trust favors without catches?

That was the wrong word choice.

[ He shakes his head, immediately regretting it. ]

Actually, I find love quite powerful. But it's... just not a priority, I suppose. There's too much else that consumes, for me to ever think about such things. Because of the war. Because of politics.

[ She also shakes her head. ]

Here we are, two people who can admit there's strength to be found in love, but far too busy for it.

I hope that, when the war ends and the politics settle at least a little, that can change for you.

Your well wishes are appreciated.

[ He bumps his shoulder against hers. ]

But to be honest, I've never had much of an inclination toward romance. I've lived most my life alone, and I've never yearned for that to change.

[ She bumps back, expression fond. ]

I think someone is missing out on you, probably. But if you're content with that, then so am I.

You're too kind. And you?

[ Props his cheek on his palm. ]

What do you want?

(no subject)

momming - 2021-06-25 00:43 (UTC) - Expand