ohmyarceus | JANUARY - FEBRUARY TEST DRIVE MEME

Okay, no way would I have forgotten that. Something weird's going on here. But our base of operations in the war has been Derdriu for the entire time I've been leading the Alliance...

Did things happen completely differently for us? I mean, that's what it sounds like, but...I didn't even know that was a thing that was possible. For two people from the same world to come here, but they've lived different versions of events from each other...

Although it's not the weirdest thing about being here, I guess, so I can't exactly rule it out. It's just...wild.

It... must be that, because it just happened for me- but what made such changes...?

[ They can figure out Byleth's protagonist-centered ability to change fate later.

Still, there is a rather cruel part of her in the back of her mind, whispering such things as 'is he even yours, then? are you his? would he want such an aberration at his side?' And while Lysithea is used to shouting down her insecurities, working despite them, this. This is something she wasn't prepared for. She knows, logically, that Claude would be disgusted at such a notion, and yet. ... She does not voice it. ]

This is all too much. I'm going to be getting a migraine at this rate- but. Have you seen anyone else...?

Oh - yeah, sorry, you asked before, but I got all wrapped up in that disconnect between our experiences. You know how I get with mysteries.

Anyway, I only just spotted Leonie on the network, same as you, but she's the only other person from the former Golden Deers I've seen here. But she's not the only person from our world by any stretch! I've been traveling with Dimitri, Sylvain, and Felix. Don't think I need to ask if you remember them.

It's an understandably large distraction. Still, if we're going to be here with this sort of discrepancy, two heads are better than one.

If Leonie's here, it's possible that we're in the same area- I'll have to take a look around, but I doubt it'll be hard to miss her with how small this village is.

Still, I'm glad that it looks like you're safe. How far out are you? I don't want to let you guys get too far to catch up to.

Already raring to go with figuring things out, huh? I know it's only been a few months, but I've missed having someone around with a scholarly bent. I like these guys fine, but they're a bit more meat than mind, if you catch my drift.

And yeah, you and Leonie are probably in the same place! As far as I know, everyone starts out in the same town. In the same house, even. Which is weird, but hey, everything's weird here. You just kind of roll with it after awhile.

And yeah, things have gone pretty well for me - both back home and here, I've got no real complaints. But we're pretty far from New Bark Town - that's where you are, I'm sure. We might have to figure out a quick way to get you to us...we're weeks of travel away from you right now if you'd have to rely on walking. I wouldn't want your little legs to get tired.

[Ah, that familiar teasing tone. He can never resist.]

It'll be nice putting this effort towards something kinder than war, that's for certain... It doesn't feel right, but it seems like it's the best option to focus on right now.

I see... That's what I thought. What a strange way to enter a new world... Maybe we should wait a bit, and see if anyone else surfaces? I'd hate to leave only for someone like Ignatz to stumble out lost and alone too.

[ She listens carefully, even pulling out the map from that bag she'd been given to see if she can start planning the route carefully... only for that familiar teasing lilt and that comment to finish it. Automatically, she slams both hands on the table- the gear shakes a bit, while her milcery is a bit surprised at the sudden movement- and scowls. ]

I'm not some little girl who needs to be coddled!

[Claude laughs, folding his arms behind his head.] Well, you are short. No denying that, right?

And what does that have to do with anything?! I can still travel and march with the rest of you! Ugh. You're just as insufferable as ever.

Oh, come on, if I wasn't insufferable you'd wonder what was wrong with me.

Still, though, I'm not kidding about the distance. Maybe I can get someone to fly you out to us...or maybe I can bribe someone to lend me a Fly TM so I can use Arbiter to fly out to you myself.

Oh - Arbiter's this really big bird I have. Practically the size of a wyvern! But you need to be able to teach pokémon a special move before they're able to properly carry people in flight.

Maybe so. Or maybe I'd go a day in your presence without a headache!

[ She sighs, sitting down and readjusting the camera once more. She wasn't about to admit it, of course, but she'd been standing for that whole conversation so far, and... well. Her legs did hurt a bit. Claude could never know. ]

That sounds impractical- unless the 'move' is also a guide to do so safely? There's quite a difference in riding on something's back and being plucked from the ground in it's talons after all.

Whichever method you choose, I hope it can be soon. I don't like being so far away from you in this strange place.

You shouldn't yell so much! That can cause headaches, you know. [The fact that Claude prompts the yelling gets casually ignored. All part of the teasing, really.]

That said, it's just another one of those things about this place that I don't really understand how or why it works, but that seems to just be fact nonetheless. There's a whole lot of things here that I've been having to accept working without rhyme or reason, just because there doesn't seem to be any way of figuring out the rhyme or reason.

[Honestly, that sentiment's kind of touching. Lysithea trusts and relies on him that much, that she's uncomfortable being separated like this...it's a reminder that, for all the teasing Claude does, they really do have a strong bond. He's developed relationships with Dimitri and Sylvain and Felix here, of course, but...there's something to be said for his Deer, specifically. Deeper bonds going back further.

The fact that this isn't quite his Lysithea doesn't factor into his considerations at all. Lysithea is Lysithea; she's one of his, so she means the world to him. They all do. And he'll look out for them, the same way he's always done his best to.]

Don't worry, kiddo. We'll figure out a way to get you to us as fast as possible.

[ SHE'S IGNORING THAT. OR TRYING TO, DESPITE THE ANNOYANCE CLEAR IN HER FACE. ]

You're the worst.

[ Insufferable no good jerk who she loves and is incredibly loyal to. How dare he. ]

I don't like having to relearn the rules for basic living. Not that there's much of a choice...

[ Still, there is a question that's been weighing heavily on her mind since learning of the others' presence. Without even thinking, her voice lowers not quite to a whisper, but out of concern and simply the sensitivity of the subject speaking too loudly simply feels wrong. ]

Claude... what do we do if someone from the Empire shows up? I don't doubt that it's a possibility, if we're both here alongside some of the Blue Lions. But if you've been traveling with Dimitri... well, I'm worried. [ For the Prince and his health? For Claude's safety, should the worse come to pass? Both? ... Yeah. ] I remember how he was near the end of that year.

Well...on the subject of Dimitri, there's good news on that front. He definitely got worse over the past five years - he ducked his execution at Cornelia's hands, but he was mostly living on his own in the wilds all that time, stewing in fury. [A beat.] Obviously, that's not the good news.

The good news is that he's been recovering since he got here. A lot. By now, he's almost like the Dimitri we all knew back during the better times at Garreg Mach. Just with...a lot more self-worth and guilt issues thrown in. Anyway, you don't have to worry about him, or at least in the context of his being safe to be around. Worrying about him taking proper care of himself or not falling into self-hatred would be a lot more reasonable. He's got my full confidence, and I don't give that lightly.

[His expression sobers.] As for someone from the Empire appearing...that's a tougher question. I'd like to say that if it's anyone other than Edelgard or Hubert, it'll probably be fine. I know our former classmates from the Black Eagles aren't thrilled about this war. And while I don't necessarily think they'd be disloyal to Edelgard, I also don't think they'd keep up hostilities here, in a place where the whole conflict is totally removed from us and there's no real way to further anyone's agenda. I think we could probably strike a truce with them easily enough...and who knows, maybe even mend some bridges.

Edelgard and Hubert, though...they're driven. I wouldn't put it past either of them to try to kill us here for the sake of the war back home. That said, they'd still be out of luck, because apparently it's not actually possible to die here. At least, that's what I've been told. As you can imagine, I'm not rushing to test it.

That is high praise, especially given the circumstances. Perhaps if I'm able to get home, I can tell... the others, and we can prevent some form of tragedy. That is, assuming we even remember.

[ And what a troubling thought that is, forgetting the time spent here when she only has so little. ]

You've always been good at bringing the best out of the people you care about. You're an uplifting person like that. I'm sure that Dimitri is in good hands.

Since I'll be having to play catch-up, I'll let you know if I see anyone else. I'd hate for them to catch you unaware.

Maybe. If I'd known he'd been alive sooner...well, who knows if I'd have been able to get through to him, but I definitely would've done something.

[Claude hadn't been able to get through to him at Gronder Field, that's for sure. He doesn't know if this Lysithea knows about what happened there, and somehow he feels it may be best not to tell her. He's still sporting a fairly fresh scar from Dimitri's lance, after all...and Lysithea has a short temper.]

Well, now who's giving the high praise? I don't know what I've done to deserve that level of confidence from you, but I'm flattered. [He's not just saying that, either - to some degree, he really doesn't know. It sounds like the circumstances for Lysithea's version of events back home had been rather different from the ones he remembers, so it stands to reason that the things he did must have been different. Had the version of himself Lysithea had known been better than him? Worse? What choices had he made, presented with different situations? Claude wonders just how beneficial it might be to pry into the details...and if he could possibly hold back his curiosity, even if he concluded knowing might be detrimental.]

You know me, though. I'm not easy to surprise.

If not you alone, then certainly with help. I'm not sure what the ramifications would be, but I want to believe that it would be worth it. Sparing someone from as much suffering as we can should never be a bad thing, after all.

[ And if she goes back to her point of time safely, she'd have plenty of time to do just that- prepare and warn and help heal. Something worth doing, in her opinion. ]

Well, you've never lead me wrong. You've long since earned my loyalty, Claude. Even if you are a complete and total pest... You're our pest. None of us would trade you for the world, you know.

[ Even if she yells at him a lot, it bears reminding sometimes. ]

I'm not sure I'd want to risk anyone else near him at his worst. He can be kind of dangerous. It's not the kind of gamble I'd ask anyone else to make. That's my specialty, y'know?

[Honestly...Claude shudders to think of Lysithea - or Ignatz, or Marianne, or most of them anywhere near a fully feral Dimitri. Part of him believes Dimitri wouldn't go so far as to kill any of them just for being in the way, but...he also cares too much about his friends to want to test it.

And then Lysithea says things like that, and it only makes Claude want to protect them all even more. He smiles, trying to bury his genuine self-consciousness at such high praise.] Honestly, Lysithea, buttering me up so thoroughly like this...c'mon, be honest, what sweets did you see that you want me to buy you? I mean, you've got a whole new world's selection at your fingertips, so I can't blame you for getting excited...

[He kind of has to make light of it. That much sweet earnestness, from Lysithea especially...he has to water it down or his heart won't be able to take it. The blasts of sunshine from Raphael are bad enough, but at least a guy can brace himself for that; Raphael's like that all the time. When Lysithea does it, it hits him right in the blind spot.]

I suppose it is. ... I know I can be very harsh, and sometimes I do go on tangents without thinking about the implications, so I'd like to ask ahead of time. Is there anything you'd have me avoid talking about or saying? [ Considering she once made Ignatz blow up on her, that's saying something... and then her sudden and rambling compliments towards Hilda and Leonie both. It was best to be careful and do her hardest not to hurt the prince, especially given what she's been told of his mental state. ] Oh, I'm sure I'll be back to yelling at you in no time. You have a talent for drawing it out. I just... though we have worked together in the war, it's been so long since I've actually gotten to be with you and the others. Either in battle, or in peace times. And you know I like to make myself perfectly clear. [ And there is a pause... ] Though if you've seen anything new, I would like to try it.

Mm...I'd say steer clear of talking about the past five years with him. They were a really bad time for him, and he's still working on getting out of that mindset. Also, don't bring up Edelgard or the Empire too much. He's still dealing with his anger issues there.

I'd also say to try not to yell at him too much. His self-esteem's so low it's crashed through the floor into the basement. He barely understands what good other people see in him, and we're still trying to break the habit of his calling himself a monster. It sounds like he did some pretty awful things during the past five years, trying to get his revenge on Edelgard...but I also wouldn't exactly say he did any of them in his right mind. So...we're trying to help him get back to his right mind. Which is the kind of guy who can and will try to make up for whatever damage he's done. The upstanding Dimitri we knew back at the academy. He needs to be able to believe in himself again for that.

But when you're right, you're right. We've been around each other plenty during the war, but it's not what you'd call quality time, huh? It's mostly been as soldiers and noble scions, dealing with the practical concerns of weathering a war. Honestly, that's maybe the best thing about this place - a peaceful world with no matters of national gravity to worry about. Or at least not for us to worry about, because we're not in charge of anything but ourselves and our pokémon here. We can actually relax. Remember what fun is again. I've never been a guy to take things overly seriously, but even I haven't had much room for anything but the practicalities over the past five years and change...and I don't think a whole lot of the peace I maintained within the Alliance trickled down to any of you.

Now, though, I might actually be able to spoil you a little to make up for some of that. Once we meet up again, I'll take you to a nice bakery and let you go wild.

[ Lysithea is not a gentle woman. She is kind, uplifting, supportive- but she lost 'gentle' long ago, if she ever had it to begin with. After everything in her life, she wasn't even sure if she'd ever have use for it again... but for the lost prince's sake, she's willing to learn. ]

I can only imagine what he's gone through, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I'll do my best to be as supportive as I can be- [ And there's a little smile here, like it's an inside joke. Really though, it's more of a promise. ] -and you know how I feel about failure.

No, not really. The nobility had to lead their territories and maintain what they could, and those who weren't had to fight no matter the cost. Everyone with coin to their name would throw their own self-serving demands for truce or alliance or defection around like children throwing rocks in a pond... but we were all doing our best. I can't blame anyone but the Empire for this.

[ "This" meaning the general chaos, not how the various dukes and counts and lords acted, that is. That was just noble-minded cowardice and greed, same as ever. Still, Lysithea grins at the offer. ]

I'll certainly take you up on that! I've seen the technological advances- and with advances come development in all things! I can't wait to see what new creations exist now!

I'm sure you'll do fine. You're pretty sharp sometimes when you're busy thinking about other things - [Which, back home, she often was.] - but when you're not preoccupied, and especially if you're making a particular effort, you can be as kind as anyone.

But yeah, there's all kinds of fascinating things around. I know you like cakes best, but you wouldn't believe the variety of candies you can find in this place...

[ Aw, Claude... She's so used to people remarking on her temper or busy nature, so compliments are... well, really nice. Especially from the ultimate (loving) thorn in her side. ]

Well, now I can't let you down!

Ooh, I must admit I'm curious... You'll have to do some scouting on my behalf!

JANUARY - FEBRUARY TEST DRIVE MEME

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CLAAAAAUDE

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she is trying to make a joke. but also shes completely sincere. give her the cakes claude

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