Well, look who it is! In full archbishop finery, no less. I honestly hadn't expected to see you here at all, but if I had, I still wouldn't have expected you to look exactly how I remembered.
[Claude's video feed flashes on, revealing his usual charming smile. Whether the rest of Claude matches up to what Rhea remembers...well, that really depends on what point of time she's from. Claude's not too concerned about whether she's confused, though - less so than anyone else from his world he's greeted here. A lady with as many secrets as Rhea has can't really complain about being left in the dark when other people are in control of the flow of information, in his humble opinion.
He's never been the biggest fan of Rhea. Oh, it's not like he'd ever hated her; say what you want about her, she's done some good. Cyril alone is proof of that, and he's by far not the only beneficiary of the church's (or even specifically Rhea's) better works. But...well, maybe it's his outsider's perspective on the church, but he's seen and heard so much of the church to be skeptical about, if not downright suspicious of. One hardly knows where to start, really. The support of Crests without ever acknowledging or coming out against the abuses people get up to in the names of the power they grant? The extremely questionable beliefs? (The ones that made Dimitri believe those who died for him were burning in hell because of their regrets...those are particularly spicy.) The alarmingly vicious crushing of dissent within the church, seemingly at odds with Rhea's benevolence elsewhere? That whole thing with Teach and the tomb that Claude's still wondering about? All the books and knowledge Claude knows the church keeps under wraps, away from his prying eyes?
And, above all else...whatever Edelgard had against the Church of Seiros, it must've been huge to prompt the actions she took, the war she waged. Claude still doesn't know what it is, but with how it's affected all of them, he thinks they have a right to know.
Of course, back home...no matter what questions he'd had, he hadn't ever been able to properly pose them. Diplomacy hadn't exactly permitted it back when he was the heir to Duke Riegan, and a kid besides...and even if diplomacy had permitted it, Seteth and Catherine certainly wouldn't have. And once Claude had the authority and age to really press for answers...well, no one had actually been able to find Rhea.
Now, though...Rhea's got no authority behind her, no knights, no ferocious Catherine or forbidding Seteth to restrict Claude's access. She's right in front of him.
Claude's not interested in answering her questions. It's about time Rhea provided some answers of her own.]
I know a few things about contests here - I've won one, actually - and I'd be willing to share what I know. How about we trade questions and answers? I've got a few of my own...
[This is like saying the ocean has a few fish in it.]
3, Claude arrives 15 minutes late with Starbucks and an interrogation lamp
[Claude's video feed flashes on, revealing his usual charming smile. Whether the rest of Claude matches up to what Rhea remembers...well, that really depends on what point of time she's from. Claude's not too concerned about whether she's confused, though - less so than anyone else from his world he's greeted here. A lady with as many secrets as Rhea has can't really complain about being left in the dark when other people are in control of the flow of information, in his humble opinion.
He's never been the biggest fan of Rhea. Oh, it's not like he'd ever hated her; say what you want about her, she's done some good. Cyril alone is proof of that, and he's by far not the only beneficiary of the church's (or even specifically Rhea's) better works. But...well, maybe it's his outsider's perspective on the church, but he's seen and heard so much of the church to be skeptical about, if not downright suspicious of. One hardly knows where to start, really. The support of Crests without ever acknowledging or coming out against the abuses people get up to in the names of the power they grant? The extremely questionable beliefs? (The ones that made Dimitri believe those who died for him were burning in hell because of their regrets...those are particularly spicy.) The alarmingly vicious crushing of dissent within the church, seemingly at odds with Rhea's benevolence elsewhere? That whole thing with Teach and the tomb that Claude's still wondering about? All the books and knowledge Claude knows the church keeps under wraps, away from
hisprying eyes?And, above all else...whatever Edelgard had against the Church of Seiros, it must've been huge to prompt the actions she took, the war she waged. Claude still doesn't know what it is, but with how it's affected all of them, he thinks they have a right to know.
Of course, back home...no matter what questions he'd had, he hadn't ever been able to properly pose them. Diplomacy hadn't exactly permitted it back when he was the heir to Duke Riegan, and a kid besides...and even if diplomacy had permitted it, Seteth and Catherine certainly wouldn't have. And once Claude had the authority and age to really press for answers...well, no one had actually been able to find Rhea.
Now, though...Rhea's got no authority behind her, no knights, no ferocious Catherine or forbidding Seteth to restrict Claude's access. She's right in front of him.
Claude's not interested in answering her questions. It's about time Rhea provided some answers of her own.]
I know a few things about contests here - I've won one, actually - and I'd be willing to share what I know. How about we trade questions and answers? I've got a few of my own...
[This is like saying the ocean has a few fish in it.]