To be fair to Dimitri, he's not precisely a master of dance, either, but he has had enough lessons to manage. He offers her a warm smile and a nod, "Now and always."
Then he starts. It's something simple. A slow waltz that takes them around the dance-floor and while the attention of the room might be on them, his attention is entirely on her and it shows in the way his expression seems to light up and glow with an inner light. For the first time in a very long time he feels content.
The stares make her skin prickle despite the warmth of the ballroom, yet her own smile doesn't falter in the least. This is what they'd known would happen, after all, and it would be foolish to be surprised by it.
So she keeps smiling, content to let Dimitri lead her around the dance floor; it's one of the few times she's willing to relinquish control to someone else. Certain that Dimitri will keep her upright even if she does stumble over a step or two, Byleth lets her gaze wander away from him for just a little while. She quietly studies the audience, gauging their reactions. It's better than expected: though there are a few scandalized or unhappy faces here and there, most look thoughtful or accepting.
Sylvain, of course, looks delighted, as do the rest of the Lions. Well, Felix looks as surly and exasperated as ever, even sandwiched between Ingrid and Annette, but Byleth thinks he looks more relaxed than he did during the war. Fondness wells up in her.
"Oh," Byleth says, with realization, softly enough that only Dimitri can hear her. "I'm happy."
His classmates, at least, seem to be very pleased, and that's really all he can ask for, even if certain members of Faerghan nobility don't particularly like the idea of the king deciding to be close with a jumped-up mercenary. He's the king and he's making his choice. He turns them together, sliding a half-step closer, watching her with an almost reverent smile.
If no one could've guessed that he was in love before, he's not leaving much room for doubt.
"I'm glad," he replies, voice low, meant only for her, "That's all I want for you - to be happy."
Inscrutable as she might be to most people, even to them it's easy enough to read the soft expression on her face as she looks up at Dimitri. Byleth isn't making an effort to hide it either; if Dimitri isn't worried about letting people see them like this, then she isn't either.
"I am." They might be surrounded by other dancing couples here, but there's no taking away from the intimacy of the moment as they whisper to each other. "You're safe, and so are so many of our dear friends. The war is over. It's all I could ask for."
There might be long road of rebuilding ahead of them, but even that doesn't seem so daunting now.
(ooc: sorry about that! accidental hover menu click...)
No, it doesn't seem all that daunting, does it? Dimitri draws her a little closer and sways along to the music. For a little while longer he can forget about responsibilities and having to be a king. For now he can just enjoy being with her. With having a moment of peace.
As the song begins to wind down he eases back a step.
"Shall we go again? Or find something else to do with ourselves?"
Out of the corner of her eye, she can already spot a few nobles inching toward them. No doubt they're hoping to find some fresh gossip to sink their teeth into. Byleth could almost admire their tenacity, even if it'll mean a headache for her.
"I think we've already missed that opportunity," Byleth replies, lips twisting with a wry smile. She flicks her gaze over his shoulder in a wordless bit of communication, hoping he'll pick up her meaning. "Seems that we'll have to face the music now."
"I suppose we'll have to," Dimitri laughs - but he can face it. He has her with him, after all, and all the rest of their friends. There are quite a few questions to answer (or deflect), but those moments of feeling free buoy him through the rest of the evening. By the time the party is winding down he's tired and rather grateful that he can finally find some time to rest. The servants are beginning to clean, the last of the guests have drifted off, and he finally has time to himself again.
"A reprieve from the battle," Byleth says in that dry way of hers, whenever her sense of humor surfaces. She's only half-joking, too; somehow dealing with so many people at once leaves her feeling more drained than if she'd been fighting on the frontlines of the war again.
She smooths down the sensible dress Annette and Mercedes had helped wrangle her into earlier, returning his smile with relief. "Of course, Dimitri. I haven't forgotten... I still have something I promised to give you, don't I?"
And she'll be glad to have him to herself once again.
"Oh, that's right-" His cheeks color and he tries to settle himself again with a little laugh and then holds out his hand for her to take. They've already danced together. Why care if people see them holding hands?
With a private smile, she takes his hand, knowing that this, too, will make the gossip rounds. Well, she and Dimitri did plan to give everyone something to talk about, and they've done exactly that.
"It was nice, seeing everyone again, but I'm glad the night is over." Quiet as the grounds are once they've left the ballroom, Byleth doesn't have to speak up to be heard.
"What do you think," she says a second later, with a playful smile up at him. "Have we caused enough trouble on your first official day as king?"
There's a pause before a laugh escapes her, easy and warm. Though they had technically been closer while they danced, the cover of the night makes their walk more private than the ballroom. More intimate.
"No doubt he will." Byleth can picture the swordsman as he was earlier, characteristic frown on his face. At least his harsh lines had been softened by the others who have become so precious to her, as they surrounded him. "I'm surprised they managed to keep him here the entire night. I thought he would've escaped long before it was over."
"I think he wanted to make sure we managed in the end. Not that he'd ever admit it," Dimitri shakes his head with a rueful little laugh. He glances down at her and cocks his head.
"Much like us, he has responsibilities and appearances to keep up."
"So he does," Byleth murmurs, thinking of the much more volatile student Felix had been before. He's grown up; they all have.
"He cares much more than he wants to admit... only now, he's more open to showing it." Shaking herself from her thoughts, she smiles up at Dimitri. "Part of that, no doubt thanks to you."
For a moment, she's tempted to shake her head and deny it. It would've seemed laughable to her before, that someone like her could influence her students, and yet Byleth's starting to see that she might've impacted them more than she believed. And been impacted by them in turn.
Byleth wonders if Dimitri has trouble believing the same of himself, too.
"It's the same for you." Is what she finally says, tilting her head to consider him. "Even if I did help Felix, as you've said, I doubt he'd accept your kingship if he didn't believe in you--having that peace of mind has more weight than you think."
"I think he considers me a friend... although for a long time I thought we couldn't possibly be anymore. So I'm pleased he's come around in his own way."
He's still prickly, of course, but he isn't quite as quick to hurly insults as he used to be. Dimitri counts that as a win, in some respects. He turns a corner and then starts up the steps to the next level. Her room should be up here somewhere, right?
"Strange in what way?" To her, it had always seemed inevitable Felix and Dimitri would mend their bridge someday. Even when Felix was at his prickliest, he hadn't been able to leave his old friend alone.
As they reach the top of the stairs, it's Byleth who steers them toward her room. The lock clicks as she opens it with her key, and after stepping in, she pauses by the drawer to light the candles. The room fills with a warm, soft glow.
"For a long time, I didn't think he would ever come around," he replies with a rueful smile. For a time he had also been lost in his own darkness - so seeing any sort of future had been difficult.
He finds himself in her room, not quite of what to do with himself, and after a second he hesitantly lowers himself into one of the chairs to wait.
"It's been a long time since we've managed being alone, hasn't it?"
"It has." Not surprising at all, given everything. Everyone had been desperate for the war to end, and they'd filled the last stretch of it with both meetings and training. "I want to believe we'll find more time to spend together, now that the recovery has begun."
Byleth lingers by the desk, where she keeps her supply of teas and cups. It's late already, and she hasn't even given Dimitri what she meant to yet, but it's been a long day, and they could both use something warm and relaxing. Selfishly, she also wants to keep him here as long as he's willing to stay.
"Tea, Dimitri?" She smiles at him over her shoulder. "I still have plenty of chamomile."
"Oh, if you're going to make some, then... yes. I'll happily take a cup," he replies, starting slightly. His lips spread in another smile and he starts to get to his feet.
With a raised brow, Byleth gestures for him to stay where he is. It's just like him, to be so willing to lend her a hand, even when the day is about him.
"No need. I'm perfectly happy handling this," she tells him, filling her kettle with water from the jug, then placing it by the fire to warm. Her hands are both gentle and precise as they measure out the chamomile flowers, pouring them into teapot.
"It's comforting. Doing this," she admits as she carries it over, teacups rattling quietly on the tray as she sets it down on the table. A ritual of sorts that she hadn't had the time for back when she traveled with her father.
"Well, as you wish..." He seems a little unsure to be just sitting and waiting around, but that's always how he's been. He wants to help. He reaches up as if to take the tray from her and then shakes his head and lets her set it down.
"It is, honestly... almost like we're back in school. But everything is different and... that's fine. We've lived so much. We've done so much. It's hard to really fathom it now that we're on the other side of it all."
Dimitri's aborted movement doesn't go unnoticed, a ghost of a smile flitting across her lips. Byleth slides into the other chair, busying herself with the teacups. Normally, she'd feel this setup inadequate, with just the tea and no other treats to offer, but they've just come from a celebration with plenty of food prepared for the monastery's visitors. It doesn't feel necessary, especially for something as cozy as this.
"Any kind of change can be...jarring," she says, thinking back to her first days as a teacher, uncertain and floundering to make sense of her new life. "But we'll adjust eventually. It's a good change that we all fought for."
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Then he starts. It's something simple. A slow waltz that takes them around the dance-floor and while the attention of the room might be on them, his attention is entirely on her and it shows in the way his expression seems to light up and glow with an inner light. For the first time in a very long time he feels content.
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So she keeps smiling, content to let Dimitri lead her around the dance floor; it's one of the few times she's willing to relinquish control to someone else. Certain that Dimitri will keep her upright even if she does stumble over a step or two, Byleth lets her gaze wander away from him for just a little while. She quietly studies the audience, gauging their reactions. It's better than expected: though there are a few scandalized or unhappy faces here and there, most look thoughtful or accepting.
Sylvain, of course, looks delighted, as do the rest of the Lions. Well, Felix looks as surly and exasperated as ever, even sandwiched between Ingrid and Annette, but Byleth thinks he looks more relaxed than he did during the war. Fondness wells up in her.
"Oh," Byleth says, with realization, softly enough that only Dimitri can hear her. "I'm happy."
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If no one could've guessed that he was in love before, he's not leaving much room for doubt.
"I'm glad," he replies, voice low, meant only for her, "That's all I want for you - to be happy."
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"I am." They might be surrounded by other dancing couples here, but there's no taking away from the intimacy of the moment as they whisper to each other. "You're safe, and so are so many of our dear friends. The war is over. It's all I could ask for."
There might be long road of rebuilding ahead of them, but even that doesn't seem so daunting now.
(ooc: sorry about that! accidental hover menu click...)
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As the song begins to wind down he eases back a step.
"Shall we go again? Or find something else to do with ourselves?"
skip to post party?
"I think we've already missed that opportunity," Byleth replies, lips twisting with a wry smile. She flicks her gaze over his shoulder in a wordless bit of communication, hoping he'll pick up her meaning. "Seems that we'll have to face the music now."
sounds good!
Dimitri takes a slow, deep breath.
"...I think we made it."
He offers her a smile.
"Would you allow me to walk you to your room?"
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She smooths down the sensible dress Annette and Mercedes had helped wrangle her into earlier, returning his smile with relief. "Of course, Dimitri. I haven't forgotten... I still have something I promised to give you, don't I?"
And she'll be glad to have him to herself once again.
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"Then, allow me."
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"It was nice, seeing everyone again, but I'm glad the night is over." Quiet as the grounds are once they've left the ballroom, Byleth doesn't have to speak up to be heard.
"What do you think," she says a second later, with a playful smile up at him. "Have we caused enough trouble on your first official day as king?"
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He should be nicer, but sometimes he feels like he has to poke back at his sharp-tongued friend.
"I'm sure he'll give me an earful about it later."
returns from the dead (seems appropriate for this character)
"No doubt he will." Byleth can picture the swordsman as he was earlier, characteristic frown on his face. At least his harsh lines had been softened by the others who have become so precious to her, as they surrounded him. "I'm surprised they managed to keep him here the entire night. I thought he would've escaped long before it was over."
super appropriate
"Much like us, he has responsibilities and appearances to keep up."
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"He cares much more than he wants to admit... only now, he's more open to showing it." Shaking herself from her thoughts, she smiles up at Dimitri. "Part of that, no doubt thanks to you."
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Especially since for a while Felix seemed to actively detest him. Not that Dimitri really blamed him for it.
"Don't under-rate your own influence."
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Byleth wonders if Dimitri has trouble believing the same of himself, too.
"It's the same for you." Is what she finally says, tilting her head to consider him. "Even if I did help Felix, as you've said, I doubt he'd accept your kingship if he didn't believe in you--having that peace of mind has more weight than you think."
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He's still prickly, of course, but he isn't quite as quick to hurly insults as he used to be. Dimitri counts that as a win, in some respects. He turns a corner and then starts up the steps to the next level. Her room should be up here somewhere, right?
"Still strange to think about, though."
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As they reach the top of the stairs, it's Byleth who steers them toward her room. The lock clicks as she opens it with her key, and after stepping in, she pauses by the drawer to light the candles. The room fills with a warm, soft glow.
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He finds himself in her room, not quite of what to do with himself, and after a second he hesitantly lowers himself into one of the chairs to wait.
"It's been a long time since we've managed being alone, hasn't it?"
Not counting tonight, obviously.
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Byleth lingers by the desk, where she keeps her supply of teas and cups. It's late already, and she hasn't even given Dimitri what she meant to yet, but it's been a long day, and they could both use something warm and relaxing. Selfishly, she also wants to keep him here as long as he's willing to stay.
"Tea, Dimitri?" She smiles at him over her shoulder. "I still have plenty of chamomile."
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"Do you need help with anything?"
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"No need. I'm perfectly happy handling this," she tells him, filling her kettle with water from the jug, then placing it by the fire to warm. Her hands are both gentle and precise as they measure out the chamomile flowers, pouring them into teapot.
"It's comforting. Doing this," she admits as she carries it over, teacups rattling quietly on the tray as she sets it down on the table. A ritual of sorts that she hadn't had the time for back when she traveled with her father.
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"It is, honestly... almost like we're back in school. But everything is different and... that's fine. We've lived so much. We've done so much. It's hard to really fathom it now that we're on the other side of it all."
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"Any kind of change can be...jarring," she says, thinking back to her first days as a teacher, uncertain and floundering to make sense of her new life. "But we'll adjust eventually. It's a good change that we all fought for."
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He takes a breath, letting the scent of the tea waft over him. It's familiar. Comforting.
"We'll manage, though. One way or another. After everything... I don't think anything else will ever be quite as challenging."