[ It's not what he expected from Maya, who is bright and vibrant. Caring and playful. He'd suspected that she might've lost someone, experienced something dark, given how she reacted to Dimitri and Byleth's return, but...
His brows furrow as their dorm comes back into focus around them, looking troubled. ]
Maya... that was awful. That woman didn't deserve you as her niece.
[ oh... claude... it takes her a few seconds to react but then her head thunks softly against his shoulder ]
[ logically she knows that's he's right... but she can't help but feel responsible.... this was really another fey family feud and that doctor got caught in the middle. ]
[ Though, as he says that the space around them changes again.
It's been five years since the fall of Garreg Mach, and you think the war might finally be drawing toward an end, though not because of any progress that you've made.
You've spent hours at the roundtable, bickering with the other lords of the Alliance in person and on paper, and it's becoming clearer with each day that you can't balance between those that want to side with the Empire and those that want to launch an offensive much longer. Soon the war will breech Alliance borders, and the loyalties of the lords with fracture and split.
You know that Edelgard has reclaimed Garreg Mach, and that you're running out of time and options.
But for once, you decide to clear your head, stationed at the archery range, arrow after arrow flying from your fingers until someone interrupts you.
"They took the Bridge, Claude."
It's Hilda, and as you lower your bow, you try to understand what this means.
With the Bridge of Myrddin under the Empire's control, there's no stopping their advance into the Alliance. Without the Bridge, you've lost your ability to launch your own offensive and take the Empire by surprise. You waited too long.
"Is Judith back?"
Hilda's silent for a moment, but she answers before you can ask again, "... No, she fell in battle."
"What?" There's ice and disbelief in your veins, a sudden fear that you can't comprehend. "That's imposs—"
"People say Edelgard has a new general leading her troops." The words don't stick. Don't make sense when you're still thinking about Judith, who you can't imagine being outmanoeuvred, outmatched. Who's too clever to lose her life. "It's Professor Byleth, Claude. She's back."
And it brings something tight and uncomfortable into his chest, making him tense, though he doesn't tighten his grip on her at least. ]
[ war memories..... once again, this is difficult for maya to grasp, but the feeling of someone you cared for dying is familiar, as is the feeling of ]
[ ... betrayal. ]
That can't... that can't be right.... the professor would never do that to you...
[ she remembers how worried byleth was about him-- ]
[ He doesn't agree with that statement. Can't quite, when the memory of Judith's death has returned so clearly in his mind. ]
She's not Byleth as you know her. [ Because, despite his own feelings, he doesn't want to sully Maya's relationship with someone that she cares about. ] It's complicated.
Did you ask her... what she remembers? The professor here.... I can't imagine her wanting to hurt you.... she was so worried about you, when you got hurt.
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I've gotta be positive or I don't know how I'd keep going. And I really do think people can be better if the circumstances around them are better.
I don't... forgive what happened to me though. I'm still a little petty.
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[ touches his arm lightly... ]
I understand how you feel.
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[ maybe she does understand a little lmao ]
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His brows furrow as their dorm comes back into focus around them, looking troubled. ]
Maya... that was awful. That woman didn't deserve you as her niece.
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[ maya, on the other hand, has backed a few steps away. she looks ready to run - in fact, if it were anyone else but him, she would be running. ]
[ she does flinch when he says that, not quite meeting his eyes ]
It's... okay, Claude. I'm sorry you had to see that.
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[ He doesn't hide the troubled look on his face, wishing for once that he had some of Byleth's ability to connect and comfort others. ]
... You know you didn't deserve to be treated that way, right?
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[ she hates the look on his face, too. she wants to cheer him up ]
I know... [ she doesn't sound entirely convinced, though. ] Nick proved my innocence. So. I'm okay.
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[ He's going to inch closer, and if she doesn't look like she's going to bolt, settle a hand on her head to guide her closer to him. ]
Just because he did his best doesn't mean you need to be okay. You still lost something along the way.
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Yeah... he's a good guy... he would defend you too, if he were here.
[ well after maya bullied him into doing his job. ]
... I've gotten used to that. [ she says quietly. ] I just don't want... anyone else to die, because of me.
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[ He's sort of hugging her now, just keeping her gently tucked against his chest. ]
All of that was done to you, and it wasn't your fault that you were manipulated.
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[ logically she knows that's he's right... but she can't help but feel responsible.... this was really another fey family feud and that doctor got caught in the middle. ]
[ but. ]
Thank you... Claude....
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[ Though, as he says that the space around them changes again.
You've spent hours at the roundtable, bickering with the other lords of the Alliance in person and on paper, and it's becoming clearer with each day that you can't balance between those that want to side with the Empire and those that want to launch an offensive much longer. Soon the war will breech Alliance borders, and the loyalties of the lords with fracture and split.
You know that Edelgard has reclaimed Garreg Mach, and that you're running out of time and options.
But for once, you decide to clear your head, stationed at the archery range, arrow after arrow flying from your fingers until someone interrupts you.
"They took the Bridge, Claude."
It's Hilda, and as you lower your bow, you try to understand what this means.
With the Bridge of Myrddin under the Empire's control, there's no stopping their advance into the Alliance. Without the Bridge, you've lost your ability to launch your own offensive and take the Empire by surprise. You waited too long.
"Is Judith back?"
Hilda's silent for a moment, but she answers before you can ask again, "... No, she fell in battle."
"What?" There's ice and disbelief in your veins, a sudden fear that you can't comprehend. "That's imposs—"
"People say Edelgard has a new general leading her troops." The words don't stick. Don't make sense when you're still thinking about Judith, who you can't imagine being outmanoeuvred, outmatched. Who's too clever to lose her life. "It's Professor Byleth, Claude. She's back."
And it brings something tight and uncomfortable into his chest, making him tense, though he doesn't tighten his grip on her at least. ]
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[ ... betrayal. ]
That can't... that can't be right.... the professor would never do that to you...
[ she remembers how worried byleth was about him-- ]
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She's not Byleth as you know her. [ Because, despite his own feelings, he doesn't want to sully Maya's relationship with someone that she cares about. ] It's complicated.
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Or... her evil counterpart, Htelyb?
[ she's thinking about the other versions of people they encountered.. ]
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... Yeah, of course it is. [ He looks thoughtful. ] Must be another cruel trick.
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Did you ask her... what she remembers? The professor here.... I can't imagine her wanting to hurt you.... she was so worried about you, when you got hurt.
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[ He looks away. ]
You shouldn't worry about it. It's between me and them.
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[ as his big sister.... ]
You know what, though? He thanked me for defending you. He told me that he had wronged you in the past, but I didn't get any details.
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Dimitri's changed quite a bit since he first arrived, hasn't he? I never thought I'd see the day.
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[ she thinks hard about what she wants to say. some of this stuff she knows about dimitri is pretty personal.... ]
... Grief can really twist people up inside ...
[ on that note! ]
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It seems that it very much can. [ He frowns at her, troubled. ] People do enjoy blaming you for things, don't they?
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I guess we have that in common, huh?
[ attempt.. at joke... ]
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[ He's just going to hug her. Like really tight! Against his chest. ]
You've been through a lot... It must be difficult, carrying all that weight.
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It's... just the way things are.
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