isleofavalon | November/December Catch-All

[Here in Avalon, Flayn has discovered the wonders of pumpkin spice lattes and carries one with her now in her left hand; her right is occupied with holding onto one of Claude's as they make their way back from the cafe to the treehouse. The sun's almost down, and the brightest of the evening's stars have appeared, dusting across the sky. Flayn looks up at them with a happy but wistful sigh.]

Khalid, I am curious. Why have you never asked me about Failnaught's true origins?

[Claude is trying out a chai latte himself, wrapped up warm to ward off the autumnal chill, holding Flayn's hand in his. Even if the clear night means it's colder than usual, it's a beautiful evening; a rare moment of peace in amongst everything that's happened lately.]

Failnaught? [His gaze is dragged away from admiring the dusk to look at Flayn.] I know the Ten Elites must be a sensitive subject for you, so I didn't want to pester you about their Relics.

[Rhea or even Seteth would be fair game... but not Flayn. Not if she wasn't allowing such a heavy conversation of her own accord. It'd be unfair to spring it on her out of nowhere just to satisfy his own curiosity.]

Why do you ask? Is there something you think I should know...?

Oh...that is so very sweet of you. I am truly touched by your concern. But please do not worry. I once told you that I would answer any question you had about my people and our past, did I not?

[She squeezes his hand.]

It is all right. Such things have been concealed from history for quite long enough. If Father and Seiros refuse to tell these stories as they truly happened, then I shall do it in their stead.

[She glances up at him with an innocent look.]

And of course, I would not wish for your crush on my secrets to languish without satisfaction! I fear you would be simply inconsolable, were your curiosity to go unquenched.

[She turns her gaze back up to the stars again and that wistful smile returns.]

But in this case, I wish to speak not of your ancestor, but of Dhiarmada, the Star Dragon, whose heart resonates with your Crest whenever you wield your bow. Would you like to hear of him?

Dhiarmada...

[Claude repeats the name, thoughtful. He's never come across it before, not in any of his research, or in any of the knowledge passed down from his grandfather about House Riegan's origins. Yet another thing hidden away in secrets upon secrets in Fódlan's history.

He studies Flayn's expression, squeezing her hand lightly before turning his own gaze to the stars.]

Yes. It's not just about my curiosity, though. As a bearer of his Crest, I have a responsibility to learn what I can.

[Ah...this is one of the many things Flayn loves about Claude: his unquenchable thirst for knowledge, not just for its own sake but for the good of everyone. Yes, she wants to tell him everything about Zanado and the Nabatean people someday - if anyone will treasure her people's history and ensure that it doesn't disappear entirely from the world, it's Claude.]

Very well. Dhiarmada was a brilliant prophet. He received visions of the future from the stars, and always seemed to have his head in the clouds. Father used to say he was 'quite exasperating.'

[She uses her Seteth voice for that part, and giggles softly.]

But I loved to hear him speak of what he had seen, even if he did have a tendency to be cryptic and to work himself into a bit of a tizzy over things. And he had a most delightful observatory! He created an arcane sky-viewing device, and sometimes he would allow me to peer into it.

[She lets go of Claude's hand only to move in a little closer and wrap her arm around his waist as they walk. The treehouse is visible, now, in the dimming light of evening.]

Oh, Khalid, I am certain you would have adored it. In some ways, you remind me of Dhiarmada. He, too, was one who encouraged everyone to--hehe. Broaden their horizons, so to speak.

[Claude smiles as he listens, even if it's a wan, bittersweet smile. As she winds her arm around his waist, he encircles his around her small shoulders. Ironic, or perhaps even a cruel twist of fate that he should remind her so much of such a brilliant prophet, when it had been his own ancestor that had taken him away. It's a testament to Flayn that she's able to look at Claude and others with Crests at all without any bitterness, truly, unlike how Rhea viewed humanity.]

I would have loved to have seen it. [He smiles more genuinely now, kissing the top of her head.] Did you ever ask for a reading about your own future? Maybe... about a dashing fellow you'd meet after a very long time?

[She does seem the type to want to know her romantic fortune, at the very least, even if Claude is sceptical of such things himself.]

[A faint dusting of pink colors her cheeks at that kiss - so simple and sweet, and yet speaking such volumes. Forgive her, she's still in the 'basking' phase of romantic affection, and may be for quite some time.

She laughs quietly.]

I did, in fact! But he would not oblige me. He rarely agreed to look into the future for matters of a personal nature such as that. He believed that it would only serve to create unreasonable expectations and cause unnecessary anxiety, should things fail to come to pass exactly as he said - or should they succeed, if the news was disheartening.

[She leans her head against his shoulder.]

Looking back upon it, I agree. Had I known of you before I met you, I fear I might have frightened you away! And I would not have wished to know that I would wait for so very many years. Perhaps I would have pined away to nothing!

All good points. Maybe it's better that I didn't know him, though. If I had reason to put any stock in his prophecies, I might've pestered him to death until he told me something!

[He laughs, though he can imagine Flayn must have been quite persistent herself for quite some time.]

With all those years of anticipation, though... You certainly know how to make a guy feel special. Even with Seteth keeping you as sheltered as he did, you must've met so many different people in your lifetime, but you went after little old me.

[Flayn laughs, too.]

I do not doubt it! Perhaps you would have been the one to finally pry such predictions from him.

[She lifts her head to look up at him as they draw close to the treehouse, and finds herself a bit overcome by how beautiful he is - not for the first time, certainly, and surely not for the last.]

But you are special. It is true that I have met many over the course of so many years, but never have I met anyone like you. You know, of course, that I find you to be extraordinary. Shall I enumerate the reasons?

[Her smile looks innocuous enough, but is there just a hint of mischief in it? Maybe. Maybe not.]

No, that won't be necessary. You'd make me blush! But thank you, Flayn.

[It might not be like him to be modest, but he's much better at dealing in insults and teasing than in receiving compliments.

Once they reach the treehouse, he leads her up the stairs.]

Want to sit outside a little while longer while you finish telling me about him? I can fetch some blankets for us. [The little balcony outside is perfect for sitting and viewing the stars. It might be chilly this evening, but it seems appropriate.]

Would I? Oh, then I simply must. After all, you make me blush quite often. I believe it ought to be my turn, now!

[Nah, not her knowing exactly what she's doing...right? Nevertheless, teasing or not, she means every word.]

Your dreams are as beautiful as you are, Khalid. You make me feel as though I am the only person in the room, even if it is crowded with others. You love humanity as much as I do, and you use your clever mind for the sake of everyone, to make the world a better place. Your intelligence and compassion shine from within you like the sun. When you smile, I feel as though nothing at all is impossible to accomplish.

[She peers up at him again.]

Are you blushing yet?

[By the time they climb the stairs, the sun is a mere gleam on the horizon. Her eyes light up at the suggestion.]

Yes, that would be quite lovely.

Hmmmm... Am I? [Claude very pointedly looks in the opposite direction, as though the view is suddenly much more interesting after all that praise heaped on him, but very obviously so she can't see the flush tinging his cheeks. Once they reach the top of the balcony, though, he pauses to regard her.]

Well, I did say I wouldn't hide any more, so I suppose that goes for the fact you just made me blush, too. You win this round. [He presses a light kiss to her lips, then winks and slips away inside the treehouse, returning a minute later with armfuls of warm blankets.] Here. Take a seat we can dump these on us.

November/December Catch-All

Closed to Claude - Treehouse

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