#then it's dimitri who finds the way he treats women uncomfortable | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lochnessies · 3 years

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I guess my discomfort with the AM route could actually be summed up as

“I went straight from playing The Gayest House to the Most Heteronormative and Patriarchal House and even though it makes sense from a worldbuilding and storytelling standpoint, it still made for a very uncomfortable experience for me, the player.”

i’m not here to say what can and cannot make a person uncomfortable since that’s so heavily subjective and i personally also don’t like patriarchal undertones as well so i completely get it. however, i have always found it weird when people refer to the black eagles as the ‘gay house’ and act like that makes it superior to the others. i mean… i like edel, dorothea, and linhardt but their sexualities don’t make or break them for me as characters. and the ‘gayness’ of these characters only happen if you happen to s-rank them as the same sex and has no impact on the story. plus you can recruit 2/3 of them out of house and marry them there so it’s kinda irrelevant. the only house that doesn’t have canonically lgbt characters is golden deer and i’ve never seen people use that as a reason as to why they don’t like them. hell, i’ve seen people call them the ‘gayest house’ before. also blue lions does have a canon bisexual… mercedes. plus a lot of endings for the characters have a lot of homoerotic subtext… mercedes/annie, dedue/dimitri, dimitri/felix, sylvain/felix, dedue/ashe. opening an inn together, living together, being buried together, dying on the same day, loving a man more than his wife…. last i checked these are not very heteronormative things. quite the opposite actually lol

as for patriarchal…. are you sure you wanna say that about the kingdom rather than the empire? what makes the kingdom more patriarchal than the place that has a man drill into his daughter how to be the perfect wife, the emperor has lots of concubines, daughters are thrown to the streets, women are desperate for husbands bc it’s the only ways to gain stability, a woman used as a broodmare till it kills her, a noble woman with a crest can’t inherit her house and her daughter is almost forcibly married and raped to have children by her step father.

is it because a lot of the main characters for the plot are male rather than female? that’s not patriarchal it’s just slightly lazy bc patriarchy is systemic not a a problem of plot structure. once again, the golden deer only has judith as a female general/essential npc and the rest are men but i don’t see people get upset about that.

Imagine if I only played AM and I came away thinking this was a typical medieval fantasy where the men are all in leadership roles,

not all the men are leaders and some women are too. such as cornelia and edelgard and they hold a lot of it.

the women are all relegated to support roles and struggling against forced marriages,

no they are not. once again, edel and cornelia are major characters and definitely not supporting roles. also, nobody is being forced into marriage in the blue lions. ingrid’s father suggests suitors but she has complete control over saying yes or no. and in her endings she gets to be a knight. however, we do know forced marriages are a thing in the empire.

men act out their feelings with violence,

yeah, dimitri does get violent but it’s seen as extremely negative and as a sign of his poor mental health and lack of ability to rule at the moment. if this was a typical fantasy game then his violence would be praised and a sign of a warrior and king. dimitri has to let go of his violent impulses in order to become a good kings and as shown in ss/vw he will die if he continues down his self destructive path.

in azure moon byleth and everybody else is constantly telling dimitri to get his shit together where as cf everybody just vapidity nods along to edelgard’s violent impulses.

women in power are inherently suspect,

women are not inherently suspect due to their sex. they are suspect bc the main female characters are suspicious and they do shitty things that hurt the other characters and they are rightfully angry. hell, even male characters are suspect. for example thales and even dimitri himself is seen as suspicious during the academy arc.

hints of flirtation between women are aggressively shot down,

i assume this is about ingrid? i hate to tell you but rejecting somebody’s romantic advances isn’t homophobic and if you don’t respect people’s boundaries then i don’t want to be around you. all other female relationships are treated very well and the female characters admire and respect each other.

hints of feelings between men are treated awkwardly and uncomfortably.

once again, with feeling this time, opening an inn together, living together, being buried together, dying on the same day, loving a man more than his wife are not examples of feelings between men being treated awkwardly. hell, most of the deep and loving relationships are between men. some are strictly platonic (rodrigue/dimitri & gilbert/dimitri) and other are much more 👀. dimitri was even critiqued by some straight men bc he was so open about his feelings with bylad and many people read him as bisexual (my sister even hcs him as completely gay). he literally calls another man ‘irreplaceable’ and ‘cherished’ while he’s apparently shirtless.

Not knowing there’s a whole other route where multiple women are in charge,

just because a woman is in charge doesn’t mean she’s good at it and we know edelgard isn’t a good leader and is willing to stoop to the lowest of the lows. just bc she’s a lady doesn’t make her horrific actions suddenly #girlboss and #feminism

men pay women respect and never degrade them,

women are not above critique. and men don’t violent degrade women for no reason on blue lions (you could say felix and his ingrid supports but he’s a dick to everyone and sylvain whos a rampant misogynist regardless of route and the same could be said for lorenz on golden deer). also hubert does degrade petra and that’s a cf exclusive.

nobody ever suggests that there are inappropriate roles for any gender,

and i have good news! neither do blue lions! ingrid is wholeheartedly supported by her male peers and dimitri (by op’s definition a violent man) even wants her to be his knight and serve in his guard.

men are allowed to be soft,

dimitri, dedue, and ashe??? hello?!??

women are allowed to be aggressive,

ingrid and catherine??? hello????

everybody has at least one potential gay ending and it’s not treated as a shameful secret.

i hate to be the one to tell you but none of the characters from any routes have explicate gay endings outside of the few with byleth. you can read into something all you want and make headcanons but that doesn’t change what is provided in canon. i find all the same sex endings in azure moon to have romantic undertones (outside of gilbert of course go home to your wife dude). and NONE of the endings are treated as a shameful secret. homosexuality is never talked about as being shameful in the game and that sounds like you projecting.

#asks

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fe-semi-decent-scenarios · 4 years

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How do the BL students cope with missing their s/o? (like they're on a mission or something and won't be back for a long time) Bonus points for including how they react to seeing them again lol. Congrats on the big 100 btw

[Thank you! This is a little late but I was amazed to see so many people reading these posts.I’m pretty proud of this one.I wrote this as a ‘first time they’re apart’ kind of scenario. Hope it is to your liking! :3]

Dimitri:

Karma really does bite, and boy does it do so hard

More often than not it is Dimitri leaving you behind for missions. Being the leader of the Lions meant that he was stationed at almost every important battle. Sometimes you’d join, and others the professor would decide to have someone else take up arms. No biggie, you know? He never complained since it guaranteed your safety.

He didn’t even think of the possibility of a role reversal. One where you’d be sent out while he’s left behind. Up until now he was always by your side, but Manuela knew his limits better than anyone. She insisted he take the month off to rest.

Once again, no biggie. He’d much rather be productive but with some convincing he easily gave in. Everyone departed for the monthly mission and he decided to invest some of the extra time on his hands into an evening with you

He was about to search for you, but then memory did it’s job.

“Ah, that’s right. They departed with their battalion this morning...”

Dimitri wasn’t used to the silence of an empty Monestary. Was it always this hollow when the army was deployed? There were some people, yes. However most areas appeared almost lifeless.

It brought up some unpleasant memories to say the least. Ones of a dusk castle, strangers on every corner, empty dinner tables, and cold nights spent staring up from his balcony.

The time he spends without Dedue glued to his side is full of reflection. Once he’s trained, eaten, studied up, etc. He’ll stroll around the monastery and think of what his life has become

How fragile the peace is. How much longer will it last?

He wanted to talk with someone. The silence was deafening and he wished for a distraction before the voices made their appearance.

They did.

He wished for you to come home. Despite the voices screaming that he had no right to long for your comfort, the desire still remained.

Was it the same for you when he’d depart? This...lonely?

He hoped not.

Since when had Dimitri become assimilated to the daily nonsense that was his life?

Dedue had caught on to his highness’ feelings instantly. Dimitri was more reminiscent than usual, and often his walks would take him to your room. He wouldn’t enter, just look at the door as if expecting it to open. He wasn’t one to talk of the past as it made him uncomfortable, but sometimes Dedue would catch him smiling at nothing. It was a welcome change to have happy memories.

When you come home it’s as if Dimitri has a new aura. Well, maybe not entirely but he has a more solemn look in his eyes when they meet yours. He spends the first day being caught up on politics with the Professor and Seteth, but for many nights beyond the return he seeks your company

He wants to hear your voice. The one he craved for when the silence became intolerable

“I’ve returned my beloved, would you care to tell that story from the other night again? I know it has only been one day but I would love to hear it.”

Dedue:

Time alone with you was already a rarity, so your complete absence didn’t dieter him as much as one would think. Dedue’s schedule rarely has a slot for free-time, and so the days pass on like seconds

As long as there is no specific reason to worry then he refrains from doing so. Dedue genuinely believes in your strength and capabilities so he won’t needlessly fret over nothing. He has his own duties to attend to just as you do.

However, this doesn’t mean he feels nothing on the matter. Others can gossip about him all they want but his nationality doesn’t define his personality. Not that he cares, since his stone exterior hides signs of weakness

Let’s get this straight: he does miss you. While not in surplus, your time together is precious to him. He notices how your seat is empty during lessons and meetings. He unconsciously checks the training hall’s door during his regime, impatiently waiting for you to pop in and say your daily ‘hello’. He’s painfully aware of the extra pair of gardening gloves in his tool pail. Dedue knows that you are gone and it has an impact.

He just ignores it. Dedue knows that when duty calls it must come before personal issues. Even if there is no contact between you two, he would rather no letters than one relaying distress

If his highness asks about his feelings Dedue’s replies are short and curt. He does not wish for any worry or pity.

One small sign that Dedue is off-put is that he becomes forgetful. It’s something only those who know him well can pick up on. For example: he won’t bring any writing utensils to a meeting. To a stranger this is a common mishap that happens to everyone. Only people who know Dedue well will see that someone as responsible as him wouldn’t forget something so minute

Another is the short sighs he lets out. Nothing drawn out or dramatic, just quick puffs of air through the nose- kind of like a huff. They’re very difficult to catch and are a habit when he feels impatient or restless

The day you come home isn’t a large extravaganza. Prince Dimitri accompanies him to greet the returning troops, but it doesn’t take a wise man to see that he mainly came for moral support. You were his friend as well, and he also wanted to see Dedue happy.

When you come into sight Dedue approaches as if it’s a normal day. Your appearance is a bit too worn-down for his liking, and he says so. He asks if the journey went well, and whether it did or not he gives a minuscule smile

If you return it he’ll pat your head. A welcome home, if you will

“Come. Let us speak of the time we were apart. I would like to hear of your travels”

Felix:

Simple solution. Whenever Felix feels as if he’s missing your presence he’ll go find you.

Oh wait

He can’t lmao

It doesn’t hit him how big your role is in his life until you’re forced to be apart. All it took was a few days for Felix to feel like something was missing

At first he’s in denial. What is he, a child? A grown man doesn’t need someone to lean on, or keep him company, or check on him...or to give him encouragement......make him laugh....listen to his problems............okay. Maybe he does.

At the beginning he seems put together but gradually as the days go on Felix becomes socially intolerant. The only person he wants to talk with is you, and you’re not there. Anyone else can buzz off or they’re getting snapped at

No one says anything either. Sometimes you can’t when the only solution is so far away

Felix works extra hard when you’re gone. No one’s there to force much needed breaks onto him. From morning till dusk he’ll train and only stop for meals.

It’s his distraction. Every time that familiar pang shows up the training dummy gets another slice

What’s happened to him? He was never so dependent on another person. Yeah, he has people that he cares about but their presence was never a necessity in his life

The pain only intensifies as he thinks of what you’re doing, the dangers you’re facing, other (men/women) making you smile-

Oh....Oh no. Dear god he’s in love que the dummy’s head being sliced off

He’s waiting in your room on the day you get back. You’ll walk in to see him reading at your desk, only for the book to snap shut when you open the door

A bit roughly he’ll pull you in for a hug. Not too tight, if you wanted to escape it you could

“Look. I’ll only say this once so you better listen...don’t leave for that long ever again. If you have to then I’m going with. No arguments”

Ashe:

He’s fine. It’s okay. Ten days in and life goes on, you know? Today he played with some of the stray cats in the monastery like he normally would. The only off part was that he forgot to bring fish treats, normally you’d do that.

Then he ordered some sweet buns for dessert after dinner; it was his usual order on your rare dates. Those days you’d snatch one but this time they were all his

He had them in the garden with some mint tea and watched the sun set. The last time he did that you decided to braid his hair while he told bad puns about his patchy facial hair fiasco. This time he viewed in tranquil silence

Later in the evening he practiced archery to unwind. Lately Caspar agreed to be his training partner with you gone. He’d collect the arrows shot and help reposition the targets. You would normally do the same and in turn Ashe would wake up extra early to help you in the morning.

At night he curled up in bed with “Loog and the Maiden of Wind,” picking up from where he left off. It was easy since you had given him a copy with a built-in cloth bookmark for his birthday. He loves it to pieces.

Please come home When his eyes began to feel heavy he tucked it under his pillow for the day.

Under the covers he shifted to get comfortable, and just like every night he ended up cuddling one of his pillows

How much longer

He closed his eyes

....

..........

What was taking so long? The professor never mentioned that the journey would take weeks? There haven’t been letters either...

Where are you? What are you doing? Do you miss him? Are you eating properly? Are you sleeping right? He should have asked Seteth to let him accompany you. Are you on your way home? Should he go ask? No, it’s late. Asking now would be a bother-

He misses you so much. No amount of time spent absorbing himself in different hobbies makes the discomfort in his chest go away. Everything reminds him of you.

When you come home he’s front and center at the gate. The professor had taken pity on the boy (courtesy of Flayn’s plea) and arranged his schedule to be free all day. He spent it chatting with gatekeeper until troops appeared in the distance

The moment you’re in sight he’s skipping down the stairs and greets you with the warmest embrace. The second you pull back he’s peppering kisses on your cheeks.

“You’re back! I’ve missed you so much I can’t even begin to explain. Let’s go eat dinner and you can tell me all about the trip”

Sylvain:

Is it weird that with you gone Sylvain actually begins to be a productive human being?

He spends the newfound spare time at the stables with the horses, or helping with chores around the monastery. Very rarely is he found goofing off

Weird. Most would expect him to let loose considering how you have him on a ‘ball and chain,’ as he puts it

So???? How come he chooses now to be responsible.

Simple. He only acts rebellious to get a rise out of you

Just kidding lol. Only partially

While he does get a free show out of your nagging, it isn’t the reason he behaves like that. Neither why he’s suddenly ‘turned over a new leaf’

Sylvain highly respects you. Not only do you work hard but you’re also one of the most genuine people he knows. He’ll never say it to your face but before he loved you Sylvain looked to you as a role model. He never could have imagined that someone with such an authentic set of emotions would become his partner

He also puts you through hell with all the trouble he gets in. Anyone else would have ended the relationship by now with so many FALSE rumors of adultery on his end. Yet you never gave up on him.

In short, you’ve stood by him through thick and thin. From daily mess ups to the more deeper problems. You’ve been a major pillar that he leans on.

So that’s what he’s going to be for you. While you’re away he’s going to pick up the slack and make sure there’re no messes waiting for you to come home to

Just him and maybe a few snide jokes. You know, a couple of dramatic whines about all the trouble he went to in making sure your room stayed clean

Sometimes it gets difficult to turn down the invites from his peers, but he holds strong. The change is so drastic that Byleth even jokes about sending you away more often.

He takes it with a grain of salt. They’d never exploit their students like that and he knows it

When you arrive home he’s waiting patiently in your room. In one arm there’s a blanket and in the other a feather duster c’mon he has to make this believable

“Well there’s the (man/woman) of the hour. Do you realize the horrors that I’ve endured these past weeks? I cleaned this room EVERY DAY. You owe me big time!”

Sylvain demands that for all the worry, strife, and hard labor you put him through; he deserves an afternoon nap with his partner. Will you let him slack off?

Annette:

Busy, busy, busy!!!

She has so many chores to get done, books to read, people to talk to, and songs to sing

She hated to say goodbye, but eventually you’ll come home. This isn’t like before. You’re not like him.

Annette trusts you

She loves you

While you’re gone she’ll think of all the things you can do together when you get back. What’s a better way to use the time, right?

She 100% plans to blackmail you into treating her for lunch. How could you leave her behind to watch over everyone by herself? So cruel...

There are mild worries that fill her heart. Thoughts on your health for one. Whether you’re skilled in faith or not it doesn’t matter to her.

She kind of wishes that the professor scheduled her to fight as well. However, things were better this way.

Annette will make sure you have somewhere wonderful to return to

She even writes a small ‘welcome home’ jingle! Anything to bring out your smile

People will occasionally ask how she’s holding up. After all, if Annette doesn’t worry about herself then of course others will do it for her.

And yeah. Sometimes it does get rough. She’s human and naturally her partner means the world to her. Who the hell would be okay with sending their loved one away?

It’s just that if she isn’t optimistic than who will be. Who’s going to give you encouragement when you need it most? Isn’t that what being a couple is about? To have faith and believe in each other?

That’s why she’s okay. She’ll sing those fear demons away and take comfort in knowing you’ll come home with everyone else

And when you do she’s there with a few of your favorite flowers. She’ll congratulate you on a job well done whether the battle was a win or lose, and literally force you into her dorm to talk the hours away.

“Welcome home! I had plenty of time on my hands while you were away so I wrote a small song...i-if it’s okay then can I sing it for you? I promise it’s not about tasty cakes this time haha!”

Mercedes:

The daily church hymn lifts her spirits. Mercedes’ devout faith is what supports her during moments of weakness

You’ve probably guessed this, but every day you’re in her prayers.

Not that you weren’t before, but now she spends a little more time mulling over possibilities of danger. Some extra blessings couldn’t hurt either

She does find her thoughts trailing over to you often as well. Not anything negative but instead the happier memories. Saying goodbye was a rough blow when realization hit that your return date wasn’t definite

Alas, the goddess will protect you. Mercedes steels herself to be patient and invest her energy into more productive things

Mercedes is sort of like the big sister of all her friends. The doting type. Without you around she has all this pent up affection, and the lions get the blunt end of it

They’re an outlet that she uses to distract herself from not having you around. Not that they necessarily mind it (maybe Felix but he’ll get over it)

The time she’d spend with you is used to bake for the monastery children, or help with chores. She uses it wisely and also works on some of her own hobbies.

You may or may not find some well-stitched embroidery on your socks. She goes all out and even offers to help mend Dimitri’s battle-worn cape. That thing needed a literal miracle to return to it’s former glory

Life isn’t much different aside from your lack of presence. With each day she finds herself looking forward to your return, and occasionally she’ll inquire with the professor about it. Mercedes is known for her patience, and it truly is a virtue in many cases. Definitely in this one.

When note of your future return arrives she can’t help but smile. If allowed she’ll ask to read the letter of notification herself and will do so with incredible focus. She’ll clutch one hand to her chest in relief before giving it back and leaving to return to her duties

and so it goes until your return. She might not be able to come meet you at the gate, but at first sighting she’ll engulf you in an embrace.

After a once-over for any injuries, she’ll insist that you have tea together. Hell, Mercedes would be happy if you two could just chat together on the nearest bench. There’s so much to talk of and now you two have all the time in the world

“It’s so nice to see you again! Oh my...it feels like forever since I have seen you smile. I almost forgot how contagious is is haha”

Ingrid:

If it was up to Ingrid than she would be positioned right at your side. You two work well as a duo both on and off of the field. The army would benefit from your skills being magnified as a team

She also wouldn’t have to deal with this ungodly sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. Don’t misunderstand- Ingrid isn’t the protective type. She trusts in your capabilities both as a fighter and person. It’s only that being away for so long is a rarity, and she needs time to adjust.

She’d just have to trust in the other people stationed at your side to do what she can’t

If she knows any of them personally then Ingrid 100% approaches to ask that they watch your back

That takes care of any worry, but not of the crack in her daily life

Ingrid has much on her shoulders. Her family, Fargeus’ future, her friends, what food’s being served in the dining hall, if it tastes good or not, the church, the ‘flame emperor’, and you of course.

She’s also the type of person who likes uniformity: a schedule. You’re a part of that and being so far disrupts it. She’s afraid that her personal emotions will tap into her ability to fulfill her duties

Everyone else assures her otherwise. Ingrid is known for always giving 110% so a while of just 100% is no big deal. She is allowed to be human

She’s allowed to miss you. Her friends assure her of it

She’s allowed to worry. There’s no need to sear shut her fears. After losing Glenn...well, it’s understandable.

She’s allowed to ask for news updates. The professor has encouraged this.

She’s allowed to go in your room if she needs alone time. You said so before leaving.

However, Ingrid doesn’t allow herself those comforts until days after your departure. When you said goodbye it unsettled her stomach in more ways than one. It took some time to sort through her emotions while still maintaining her responsibilities

It took everything for Ingrid to move on from the past, and this experience set in a sense of gratitude for all that she’s been given. It also was an opportunity for her to reminisce over what she has lost, and still has to do.

Needless to say, when you return Ingrid has gained a newfound confidence and comfort in not having a set schedule for life. Everything has always felt as if it needed to be rushed, but meeting you wasn’t something she had planned nor sped into. Spending some time to focus on her own personal goals aside from the ones preset for her before birth aided in Ingrid coming to terms with that.

“Hello. It’s been so long that I hardly recognize you! What? It’s a joke!...Yes, I know how to tell jokes- hold on this is supposed to be a heartfelt reunion so don’t ruin it!”

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nicolewrites · 4 years

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the impracticality of attractive best friends

@mishspelled why am i like this

Rating: G+ Genre: Friendship, Romance Characters: Sylvain Jose Gautier & Ingrid Brandl Galatea Words: 5,054

Ingrid is acting weird. Sylvain is determined to find out why.

AO3

Something is wrong with Ingrid. She’s been avoiding him for like four days and in the middle of a war when they’re supposed to be close companions that can watch each other’s backs, it makes Sylvain nervous. She still talks to Felix and Annette and Mercedes just fine. She even eats with Dimitri and the Professor one night, but she is certainly not talking to him.

The first instance of Ingrid being weird is when he finds her and Ashe in the library. They’re laughing together over some knightly tale which Sylvain is sure that he has read at some point or other in his life: he is friends with Ingrid after all. He approaches them quietly, making sure that he is sneaking up on Ingrid.

Ashe perks up when he notices Sylvain and he raises a hand in greeting. “Hi, Sylvain!”

Sylvain grins in return. “Ashe, Ingrid,” he greets.

Ingrid’s shoulders tense. She turns slowly to face him. “Hi,” she says shortly.

Sylvain pulls out the chair next to Ingrid and sits down next to Ingrid. He drops his arms onto the top of the table and rests his chin atop them, lowering his head to the height of the table. Ashe and Ingrid are both staring at him and he smiles at them.

“Don’t mind me,” he says lightly.

The corner of Ashe’s mouth twitches and his gaze darts to Ingrid, but then he drops his eyes back to his own book, reading the next passage aloud. Ingrid shifts next to Sylvain and her knee slides away from his where Sylvain hadn’t even registered that they were touching. He lolls his head towards her and sees that her ears are pink and her gaze is fixed determinedly on Ashe as their friend reads about Loog.

Slowly, Sylvain catalogues Ingrid’s reaction. She had tensed when he had shown up. Her ears are pink. She isn’t looking at him. She hadn’t seemed to want to touch him where their legs had been brushing. It really isn’t a typical Ingrid reaction.

He turns his own eyes to Ashe and, out of the corner of his eyes, he just barely catches the flicker of her gaze as Ingrid steals a tiny look at him. Sylvain presses his chin further into the cradle of his arms to hide a smile.

He’s not exactly sure what’s wrong with Ingrid, but from his perspective, it doesn’t seem to be an entirely bad thing.

The second instance of Ingrid being weird takes place in a small war meeting.

Dimitri and the professor have really synced up their plans since Gronder and the retaking of Fhirdiad, but that doesn’t make the impending task of taking Fort Merceus any easier. The battle map that they have of the fort, a parting gift from Claude and his spy network, is out-dated and there is no way to predict who will be present at Fort Merceus when they lead an all-out assault on the most protected Empire fortress. In retrospect, their plan is really quite stupid.

Sylvain points out a side gate over a lower part of the wall at Fort Merceus. “What about here?”

Dimitri taps the point on the map and frowns. “It’s not an ideal entry point for anyone except flyers, really.”

Sylvain looks at Ingrid. She is looking at the map too. Her mouth is set in a thin line and her green eyes are narrowed as she analyzes the proposed entry point.

“You could probably get two battalions over that point before enemy archers regrouped,” she points out.

“Yes,” the professor agrees. “Sylvain, how are your wyvern skills?”

He blinks at the professor. “Uh, I suppose they’re up to par. I don’t usually have a flying battalion though,” he points out.

She waves off the concern. “That can be fixed.”

“Professor,” Ingrid cuts in. “What about Seteth? He’s already established as a Wyvern Lord and he has the battalion already trained. We’ve taken on the aerial missions before.” Her eyes scan the map for something almost desperately and she relaxes after a second. “Here,” she says, tapping the other entry point, “you’ll need as many mages as you can over here and Sylvain has the Reason skill and the mobility on horseback.”

Sylvain studies the map. She makes a fair point. Having mages at that specific chokepoint would be incredibly helpful, as Ingrid had pointed out, but it is also extremely far away from where she, and Seteth in her proposal, would be deployed. Sylvain can’t help but feel a little hurt that she’d rather fight alongside Seteth than him, one of her oldest friends.

“Yes,” Dimitri agrees. “Sylvain, I do think that perhaps you should stay and watch mine and Dedue’s backs here.” He nods to Ingrid. “Thank you for the suggestion.”

The professor’s face is a schooled neutral expression, but her eyes land on Sylvain and he reads the summons in them without words. He rises from the table and nods to Dimitri and Ingrid before excusing himself. The professor trails after him and Sylvain waits for her just outside the Cardinal’s Room.

“What happened between you and Ingrid?” the professor asks as soon as the door closes behind her.

Sylvain blinks. “I have no idea what you’re talking about."

She looks unimpressed. “Sylvain, what did you do this time?”

He holds his hands up. “No! Really! I didn’t do anything. She’s just been acting strange lately.”

Something clicks for the professor and she sighs, an affectionate smile edging up her lips. “Right, well, you should sort that out. You two are one of our best pairs out there.”

Sylvain stares at the door to the Cardinal’s Room. “I don’t even know what happened,” he argues.

She pats his arm reassuringly. “You’re a smart man, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” She turns to reenter the meeting room but pauses. “Thanks for the catch on that aerial entry point.”

Sylvain can only stare stupidly as the professor reenters the war meeting. At least he has confirmed his suspicions that Ingrid is acting strangely around him at the very least. He really hopes that whatever this is can get sorted out shortly.

Sylvain absolutely doesn’t intend to get into a conversation about marriage with Lorenz and Ferdinand, but they had brewed Seiros Tea and he isn’t stupid enough to pass on one of his favourite blends when Ferdinand is doing the brewing.

So he finds himself sitting in the courtyard as Ferdinand and Lorenz casually discuss the stronger hints of flavour in the tea, zoning out and staring towards the stable.

Marianne and Ingrid are both in the vicinity, grooming their mounts and chatting blindly about something or other and Sylvain finds himself watching them instead of listening to Lorenz drone on about the subtleties in the Almyran herbal flavours in the Seiros tea. Apparently, his distraction is unfortunately noticed and the other two noble’s attentions are snatched by Ingrid and Marianne as well.

“Two beautiful flowers, aren’t they?” Ferdinand says, a smile on his face. “And masters of equestrian arts.”

Sylvain stares at Ferdinand incredulously. “Hold on, what?” he questions.

Lorenz laughs, placing his teacup down. “Oh come now, Sylvain, I’m certain you’ve noticed the plethora of beautiful and eligible young women that frequent the monastery now. Half of them are courting your King after all, but it is undeniable that Marianne and Ingrid, with their titles, have a better chance than most.”

Sylvain blinks like an idiot and looks back over at Ingrid and Marianne. “Courting Dimitri?”

Ferdinand clicks his tongue. “No, no. Not Marianne for certain. There is no way she desires that sort of attention, but perhaps a smaller title might interest her.” His gaze softens a bit and Sylvain notices that Lorenz’s grip on his teacup tightens.

“I could certainly see Ingrid pursuing Dimitri,” Lorenz says, changing the subject off of Marianne, who Sylvain is now almost entirely convinced that Lorenz is enamoured with. “You all were childhood friends, were you not? That would be a most beneficial pairing for her house and it would be an easy match for His Highness as well.”

Sylvain frowns. “Dimitri and Ingrid?” He can’t really see it. Ingrid has only really ever treated Dimitri like a prince, not a potential spouse.

“Yes,” Ferdinand agrees. “Dorothea was telling me about the unsavoury suitor types that Ingrid has had to deal with in the past. I would have suggested Felix, but I suppose he’s already off the table isn’t he.”

Sylvain stands up, feeling uncomfortable. He’s not sure what’s worse between the allusion to Glenn and Ingrid’s engagement or the thought of Ingrid courting Dimitri.

“Speaking of Felix,” he excuses, “I do have to run.”

Ferdinand nods, completely oblivious, but Lorenz’s eyes narrow the tiniest fraction in suspicion. Sylvain stares down the Gloucester noble and takes a pointed glance at Marianne, daring him to voice his doubt of Sylvain.

Lorenz lifts his teacup back up and takes a sip to hide his annoyed expression.

Sylvain is on edge every time that Dimitri gets within a hundred paces of Ingrid for the next three days. Dorothea gives him a weird look over dinner and he quickly stops staring at his childhood friends where they’re eating with Ashe and Dedue. He stares down at his own meal, poking it with his fork.

“What is wrong with you?” Dorothea asks, not pulling any punches because of course she doesn’t.

Sylvain blinks at her. “What?”

She waves at him, gesturing to his whole body. “You’re all mopey and tense today. It’s like someone has been walking around poking you with a stick for three days.”

She turns and glances over her shoulder in Ingrid’s direction where Sylvain had been staring. Her head snaps back to him, her dark hair fanning out in the motion as she raises an eyebrow.

“No,” Dorothea says, a wicked grin spreading over her face.

“What?” Sylvain questions. “What are you on about?”

She leans forward, resting her elbows on the table and cupping her chin in her hands. “Don’t tell me you have feelings for Ingrid.”

Sylvain stares at her blankly. “Excuse me?”

Dorothea smirks at him. “Oh my god, of course you do.”

Sylvain frowns putting his fork down so that he doesn’t drop it on the chance that Dorothea makes another outlandish claim. “No, I’m just trying to figure out why she’s been acting weird.”

Dorothea’s expression slackens into disbelief. “Oh,” she says.

They sit for a moment in silence, just staring at each other. Sylvain drops his gaze and picks up his fork, spearing a piece of pheasant. Dorothea sips from her goblet and the awkward silence lingers just long enough that Sylvain finally thinks of something just as horribly embarrassing for Dorothea as that last exchange had been for him.

“So, Ferdinand mentioned that you’ve been talking a lot.”

Dorothea’s head snaps up and her green eyes narrow so quickly that Sylvain is surprised she doesn’t reach across the table and stab him with her dinner knife.

“Not. Another. Word.”

Sylvain grins and takes a sip of his own glass. “Aw, come on. Don’t women love a man who is sensitive about his love of horses.”

Dorothea sneers. “Same way that you noblemen seem far too interested in a woman’s ability to love her horse with her entire heart.”

Sylvain pauses and lifts his goblet to her. “To our friends, the ultimate horse-women.”

Dorothea sputters at his classification of Ferdinand, but she taps her cup to his and they both drink heavily. Sylvain wrinkles his nose at the taste of the wine. “God, where did this even come from?”

Dorothea laughs, her head tipping back and her smile widening. “Claude, if I remember correctly. He offered the army Derdriu’s stocks.”

Sylvain scoffs. “Of course he did.”

The Ingrid weirdness does not, unfortunately, disappear with time. Instead, there are now six days until they march for Fort Merceus and Ingrid has started leaving rooms when he enters them. Sylvain just wants everything to go back to normal.

He corners Dimitri and Dedue first. They’re in the greenhouse, but Dedue has notably told Dimitri that he is not allowed to touch anything, so he’s just sitting on the edge of one of the gardens chatting quietly with his retainer.

“Your Highness! Dedue!” Sylvain greets brightly, walking into the greenhouse.

Dimitri turns to him immediately, but Dedue is hands deep in dirt and does not turn. “Hello Sylvain, what can we do for you?” Dimitri asks.

“I had a question for you actually, Your Highness,” Sylvain admits.

Dimitri looks surprised. “Oh, yes, of course. What is it?”

“Is Ingrid being weird to you as well?”

Dimitri stares at him. “Ingrid? Being weird?”

Sylvain realizes his mistake. Dimitri is one of the most socially oblivious people he has ever had the opportunity to know. He scratches the back of his head and prepares to backpedal out of this conversation to pretend it had never happened. Dedue brushes his hands off and stands up, turning to face Sylvain.

“Is this about her avoiding you and changing her assignment with Ashe or Annette or Mercedes whenever you two get partnered up for something?” Dedue asks.

Sylvain snaps his fingers and points at Dedue. “Yes! That!”

Dedue’s lips tilt into the tiniest smiles as he is obviously amused by the situation. “No, Sylvain, I believe that is only around you.”

Sylvain frowns. “Damn.”

“I think Ingrid and Mercedes and Annette were going to the Knight’s Hall,” Dimitri offers as if that solves all of Sylvain’s problems.

Sylvain nods. “Right, well, I’m going to go ask Felix.”

“I imagine you’ll get a similar answer,” Dedue says right before Sylvain leaves the greenhouse.

Sylvain decides not to dwell on that idea.

Felix is, of course, at the Training Grounds. He seems to be in some kind of strange sparring stand-off against Raphael and Lysithea. Sylvain pauses in the door of the Training Grounds and stares as Felix takes off towards Raphael, swinging his training sword with brutal efficiency.

Raphael blocks the blow on a training axe and uses his brute strength to shove Felix back. Lysithea then waves a hand and casts a spell, catching Felix loosely in a cage of Dark Magic. Felix groans in irritation and cuts the spell back.

Lysithea rolls her eyes and folds her arms. “You leave yourself wide open doing that.”

“Well, he’ll have back up on the actual field,” Sylvain chimes in.

The eyes of all three of his friends turn towards him.

“Oh, hey Sylvain,” Raphael greets brightly. “We were running some different drills.”

Lysithea huffs. “Apparently since Hubert uses Dark Magic like me, I’m the only one capable of helping out here.”

Felix rolls his eyes. “That was Raphael’s idea,” he reminds.

Raphael just grins his big dopey grin. “Hey, we gotta be ready, right? Hubert and Edelgard will be tough opponents when we get to the capital.”

Sylvain chuckles at Raphael’s endless optimism. “Right. Can I borrow Felix for a moment?”

Felix sheaths his sword and walks over to Sylvain. Sylvain turns so that Lysithea stops staring at him and throws an arm over Felix’s shoulders. Felix immediately shrugs it off and Sylvain smiles at the familiarity of their antics.

Keeping his voice low, he asks, “Is Ingrid being weird around you too?”

Felix just stares at him.

Sylvain frowns. “What?”

Felix grabs his arm and twists it just until the point of pain. Sylvain jerks his hand back, shaking it out and scowling at his friend.

“What the fuck, Felix?” he demands.

Felix scoffs. “Knight’s Hall.”

And then he’s turning around and walking back over to Raphael and Lysithea to resume whatever strange training regiment the three of them have developed. Sylvain stands there for a moment. He supposes that if Dimitri and Felix don’t have answers for him, his next best bet is probably Ingrid herself.

It’s mid-evening by the time that Sylvain arrives in the Knight’s Hall, but it isn’t any cooler than it had been in the afternoon. The torch sconces outside are lit and there is faint chatter that he can here from inside which means he is probably correct in assuming that at least one of his old classmates is still here.

He pushes open the door and is immediately assaulted by the image of Ingrid absolutely brutalizing a training dummy with a training lance. Sylvain stands there for a second just watching her smooth motions and the rippling muscles in her back, arms, and legs as she spins and jabs and tears into the dummy in absolutely brutal fashion.

Sylvain scans the rest of the Knight’s Hall and sees Mercedes and Annette sitting by the fire, flipping through tomes and exchanging whispers here and there. Ingrid seems so completely preoccupied with her training routine that she doesn’t even notice him. Sylvain redirects to the fire pit, plopping onto the couch next to Annette.

Annette jumps and snaps her book closed on her hand. Her brow twitches and she slowly reopens the book, shaking out her finger. “Hi Sylvain,” she greets.

Sylvain steals a glance back at Ingrid who has finished tearing up one dummy and is moving onto the next one.

“Why is she acting like Felix?” he whispers to Annette. “She’s not usually like this.”

Mercedes and Annette exchange a knowing look and Sylvain narrows his eyes as he looks between the two mages.

“She’s frustrated,” Mercedes offers as if he’s supposed to believe that’s all it is.

Sylvain sighs. “Fine, but why is she treating me like I’m horrible to be around right now? She’s not doing it to anyone else.”

Mercedes pats his arm and Sylvain feels pitied and a bit stupid. “She’s had a frustrating couple of weeks.”

Sylvain looks at Annette who is, historically, the worst liar he has ever met in his entire life. “Annette?”

Annette gives him a tiny grin which tells him that she knows something he doesn’t. “Why don’t you spar with her? Maybe that will be better for her frustration than destroying every training dummy we have.”

Sylvain pauses. It’s a reasonable suggestion, but Annette’s little smile still makes him nervous about anything related to Ingrid. Mercedes smothers a tiny giggle into her hand and Sylvain realizes that he is really not going to get anything out of either of them, so he stands up, heading towards Ingrid.

He picks up a training lance from the weapons rack and steps in front of her, catching her next blow and blocking it from hitting the training dummy. Ingrid immediately stumbles back, her eyes wide.

“Sylvain!” She looks completely startled to see him. “When did you get here?”

He chuckles and makes a loose, light jab towards her which she blocks instinctually. “A few minutes ago. Thought you might prefer a sparring partner to a defenceless dummy.”

Her lips purse, but she strikes back at him with a wider swing. “Fine, but you had better keep up.”

Sylvain grins and counters. He steps forward and she retreats, light on her toes, before she spins around him, trying to get behind him. While once Ingrid might have wiped the floor with him thanks to his lackadaisical ideas about training, he has seriously picked up his training during the war. He has her beat in the physical strength area, but Ingrid is seriously quick and it’s only years of training against her and Felix that allow him to read her movements well enough to block most of her strikes.

Still, Ingrid is coming at him with a vigour she doesn’t normally bring while training and Sylvain is quickly forced on the defensive. He locks the shafts of their lances together and slides in, closing the gap between them allowed by their weapons and Ingrid’s eyes blow wide with alarm. He’s not Felix, so he has no experience with grappling, but her lesser strength has her at a disadvantage here.

Sylvain, unfortunately, is momentarily very distracted by the candlelight flickering in her green eyes and she frees her lance, dropping the tip and sweeping his legs out from under him in a quick, fluid motion. The training lance catches in the material of his shirt as she draws it up to point at his chin and there’s a ripping sound as it catches on the ties of it.

Sylvain and Ingrid both study Sylvain’s now ripped shirt. From the fires in the sconces around the Knight’s Hall, the fire in the fireplace, the warm evening, and the exertion from the workout, Sylvain’s next action is done without thinking.

He pushes aside the tip of Ingrid’s lance and sits up. He strips out of his ripped shirt and stands up, kicking his lance back into his hands as he turns back to her, now shirtless. Ingrid’s lance is still pointing at the ground as she stares at his stomach blankly. Sylvain raises an eyebrow and she quickly turns her head away, her cheeks flaming.

“Round two?” he suggests.

There’s a smattering of laughter from over by the fire as Mercedes and Annette giggle at the scene.

Ingrid doesn’t give him the courtesy of a warning before she’s swinging her lance at his shins. She follows the blow with a slicing upward strike that Sylvain only barely deflects. His own weapon rattles from the force of catching her blow and he steps back. Ingrid follows, staying her course of what appears to be “incapacitate Sylvain as quickly as possible”.

Her blows are quick and rapid and Sylvain is barely agile enough to block half of them. When her lance's shaft smacks across his ribs hard enough to bruise, he lashes out with one of his feet to get her back. Unfortunately, the only thing he succeeds in doing is unbalancing himself as she hooks his foot with a grappling move he has only ever seen Felix use and takes him down.

Sylvain lands hard on his back in the sand, but Ingrid is not proficient in grappling and doesn’t realize that she has actually given him an advantage. Sylvain jerks his lance along the sang, sweeping her own foot and she comes crashing down after him, landing on top of him. She hadn’t been expecting the blow, so her weapon goes skittering away as her hands land square on his chest. Her legs slide around his hips and then Ingrid is sitting on top of him on the floor of the Knight’s Hall.

Sylvain stills, his chest heaving from exertion. Ingrid is gaping at him, but she isn’t moving off of him and Sylvain’s attention is unintentionally drawn to the iron of her thighs around his torso and the corded muscles of her forearms where she braces against his chest. Since they’re sparring, and Sylvain is still holding a weapon, he rolls, forcing her over.

Now he’s pinning her in the sand and he slides his lance up under her chin, effectively ending the duel. He expects Ingrid to laugh and shove him off because it’s so like them to devolve into grappling while sparring, but instead, her whole face turns incredibly red.

Sylvain pauses, staring down at her. She’s embarrassed? It doesn’t really compute why she’s embarrassed unless that she’s really ashamed to have lost to him.

There’s a scuffle of movement behind them which Sylvain dimly registers as Annette and Mercedes running out of the Knight’s Hall. He’s still staring at Ingrid like an idiot.

The redness in her face doesn’t fade, but she does shove him this time and he flails and falls back onto his ass. Ingrid doesn’t stand up, but she does curl her knees into her chest and bury her face her hands. Sylvain doesn’t get up either and just blinks at her.

“Ingy?” he says, testing out a nickname from back when they were children. “What’s up?"

“Nothing!” she squeaks out, lying worse that Annette normally does.

“Ingrid,” Sylvain says, growing more serious and a little more concerned. “What’s wrong?”

She drops her hands and tries to glare at him, but the lingering redness in her face makes it charming and endearing instead of intimidating like a normal Ingrid glare. “Nothing,” she says again.

Sylvain sighs. He stands up and dusts his hands off on his pants. He offers her a hand up and she takes it. He pulls her up and she stumbles into him before springing away as if he had burned her.

“Can we talk about why you’re being weird? We have an important mission ahead of us,” he begins, trying to defuse the situation.

Ingrid rounds on him, blushing again. “Oh my god, Sylvain, do you have any idea how attractive you are?” she snaps, obviously without thinking.

Sylvain feels his jaw drop. “Uh,” he stutters dumbly.

He knows he’s an attractive guy as the amount of female attention he had flirted with when he had been younger had been a very good indication of the fact that he is at least good looking. He had just never realized that Ingrid had noticed.

She spins away from him, burning her face back into her hands and groaning.

Sylvain’s eyes skim over her and he takes in her small, wiry form. She’s the picture of a lady knight and she’s an absolute badass. Sylvain’s brain immediately burrows into the ground as he remembers the feeling of her strong thighs caging his torso. Her hair glows gold in the firelight and her shirt clings to her from the sweat accumulated during her workout.

Ingrid is, as Ferdinand had unfortunately pointed out, incredibly beautiful.

“Is that why you’ve been avoiding me?” he asks. “Because you think I’m attractive?”

She turns back to him, glaring, but she is still red. “If I say yes will you leave me alone and we can pretend this entire conversation never happened?”

Sylvain runs a hand through his hair. That’s one possibility, but he kind of likes the idea that he can fluster Ingrid. He smirks at her and steps towards her. Ingrid tenses, but to her credit, she does not run away from him immediately.

“There’s nothing wrong with finding your best friend attractive is there?” he asks.

Carefully, with motions as though not to startle a skittish animal, he places a hand on her waist. Ingrid watches him do it, looking mildly alarmed. He steps closer to her again and the adorable blush creeps up her neck.

“Sylvain,” she warns.

“I mean we have a two-sided problem in that case if it is a problem.”

She blinks, processing his words. “What?”

He grins. “You’re hot, Ingy.” The childhood nickname feels weird paired with the compliment about her physical attractiveness, but he doesn’t regret it.

Ingrid’s foot kicks out and then Sylvain is falling to the ground again. He pulls on her as he goes down and she lands square on top of him again, this time settled over his hips. She presses an arm against the top of his chest to keep him down in the dirt.

“Shut up!”

He laughs. “I’d say you won round three, but you know,” he taps her hips with his hands, “I count this as a win for myself.”

Ingrid swallows visibly and then she leans down and kisses him. The kiss is hard and slightly awkward because she’s still pinning him to the sandy floor of the training pit and then because she jerks away after a second, flailing back as if she had just realized what she had done.

Sylvain grins lazily and tightens his grip on her hips so that she can’t run away from him. “That’s one way to shut me up.”

She bites her lip, looking uncertain, and loosens her grip on him. “Sylvain,” she starts.

He shakes his head. “Hey, you’ve been avoiding me. Can I talk first?”

She nods slowly and he rubs his thumbs over her hips, trying to be reassuring, but Ingrid just shivers at his touch and his mind almost immediately starts to wander back to the thighs of absolute steel bracketing his hips.

“I think you’re amazing,” he offers. “You’re badass and beautiful and you’re one of my best friends, Ing.”

She steals a glance at his hands on her hips and then looks back at him. Her green eyes sparkle and Sylvain’s heart flutters. “You think I’m beautiful?” she asks quietly.

“I do,” he agrees.

Ingrid’s hands loosen until they’re more of a touch than a pin and she shifts, her hips pressing into his. Sylvain’s hands tighten unintentionally and Ingrid freezes.

“Sorry!” she squeaks.

He feels himself flush a little. Ingrid continues on her previously decided path, leaning down as her hands flatten against his bare chest until she can kiss him lightly, almost hesitantly. Sylvain tips his chin up into the kiss and she responds by putting a little more force into the gesture.

Sylvain releases her hip and cups the side of her face as he kisses her back. Her lips are slightly chapped and warm and she tastes like the spicy meat they had had for dinner that night. He tightens his grip on her and considers trying to roll her onto her back, but then Ingrid’s hand shoves him down against the sand again as she runs a hand over his stomach. Sylvain grunts and deepens the kiss.

She opens her mouth to him without thinking and arches into the hand that he buries into her hair and the one on her hip. They kiss blindly and stupidly for a while until Ingrid tears back to breathe, her chest heaving as she stares down at him.

“Uh,” she stutters.

“Do you want to go for dinner with me tomorrow?” Sylvain asks before she can dig herself a hole. “On a real date,” he clarifies, just to be certain.

Ingrid’s awkwardness fades into a shy, cute smile. “I’d like that.”

She doesn’t move off of him and Sylvain glances down at their situation. She’s still basically sitting on top of him while he’s shirtless. There is no one else in the Knight’s Hall and there probably won’t be tonight since it’s getting later now.

“One condition,” he continues, his thumb tapping her hip lightly. She raises an eyebrow. “Kiss me aga-”

He doesn’t get the words out before she swallows them with a hard kiss.

#the writing section #the impracticality of attractive best friends #fic: the impracticality of attractive best friends #fe3h #sylvain jose gautier #c: sylvain jose gautier #ingrid brandl galatea #c: ingrid brandl galatea #sylgrid #ship: sylgrid #sylvgrid #ship: sylvgrid #r: t+#g: romance #g: friendship #g: humour #words: 5.0k+#fire emblem three houses #f: fire emblem

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ruritto · 5 years

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Hello ahhh I know everyone is on the prisoner felix bandwagon but but omg I found you when you posted about the jealous sylvain and everyone loving felix and thats just ahhhh perfect!! And I cant find any good fics like that and just if you are still doing prompts I would love to read more about it or if you want to expand on that or just SOMETHING I would love you I mean I already love you with all the sylvainxfelix you post but anyway I'm sorry to bother you and or if I dont make sense sorry

Skdlnglag anon please come to me any time you want to talk about that cause Jealousy fics are *chef kiss* anyway lemme try

Sylvain isn't gonna lie. When Professor Byleth chose their class he was very happy. The professor was unbeliavably attractive after all. Not to mention she really is an amazing teacher and a kind person. So yes, Sylvain was happy, the whole class was, so he was even willing to look pass the whole crest thing. Particularly Dimitri, who Sylvain is amused to see looks absolutely smitten with the professor, and even Felix who proceeded to ask for a spar everytime they had free time (Sylvain has needed to patch up his friend more time in the last few months, proving the professor's skill).

When students from the other Houses started transferring in, well, sure it was surprising but hey, they all got along and the girls who transferred were all beautiful women he was more than willing to get to know.

But then...

It starts with Dorothea. While his interactions with her haven't quite been... positive, he finds himself wincing as he watches her approach Felix while his training. He has to appreciate her guts. She may be husband hunting and the Fraldarius might be a good snag but to actually approach Felix...

Huh.

Sylvain pauses. Somehow... the thought doesn't sit well with him.

'It's just, I know Felix. It's not something he'd want' He thinks to himself with a shake of his head. And knowing his dear friend he'd offend Dorothea.

Grinning he enters the training grounds in time to watch the show. Felix of course rejects her invitation and outright shoos hee. He winces but can't help but snicker at the expected outcome, earning a frown from Dorothea as she passes. He's about to apologize for his friend and offer his own company when a noise of disgust from Felix stops him from following her,

"Must all of you interrupt me?" He demands.

Sylvain is chuckling and approaching before he even realizes he's doing it, "Aw, come on. And here I was being a good friend and inviting you to dinner,"

Rolling his eyes, Felix turns away to continue his training but Sylvain throws an arm over his shoulder, "Hey!"

"Come on! I'm hungry and I know you actually want to try the dish at the dining hall," he says physically dragging his friend, thankful for the height advantage and the fact the training sword is blunted. Felix still punches him in the side though, but only to demand he return his equipment and shower before their meal.

He winks at Dorothea as they pass, feeling oddly smug.

He'd thought that would be the last of it. After all, Felix is prickly and harsh at the best of times, outright cruel sometimes. But apparently the new students of their class are as immune as the rest of the Blue Lions.

He watches as both Annette and Mercedes spend more time with Felix, Mercedes actually once petting the swordsman's blue hair (The sight made him clench his fists to stop from grabbing Mercedes's wrist, the urge surprising him into inaction long enough for the two to walk out of sight).

He's seen Lysithea trying to force cakes at Felix and had considered warning her off only to see the two actually enjoying the sweet treats together a few weeks later. (He was honestly so surprised he could only stand there, eyes transfixed on Felix eating the cake)

Even scared little Bernie who had ran from Felix the first few weeks she'd joined their class now approached him to chat happily! (Something in his gut twisted horribly as he watched Felix listen to her attentively. It's odd... Usually Sylvain would be the one chasing down Felix not Felix chasing someone else)

Something snaps (and even he isn't aware what it is) when he goes to the training grounds to join Felix, knowing the other would be the only one crazy enough to start training this early. He can't help but shake his head in amusement because really? Did he miss Felix that much that he's waking up to train???

Except his plans are ruined as he comes in to the sight of Felix and Dorothea, already about finished sparring.

Felix had an amused smile on his face and Sylvain feels like someone poured freezing water on him. He plasters a smile on his face and makes his presence known.

"Well well, this is a surprise," he says, strutting forward, "Didn't expect you to get caught up in this guy's insane training,"

Dorothea shrugs, "We've come to an understanding,"

And what? What did that mean? He almost wants to ask but Felix butts in.

"Are we getting tea or are you two continuing to flirt?"

There's something in the way Dorothea glances from him to Felix then back that he feels he should worry about but he shakes it off raising an eyebrow at his friend. Felix wasn't really a tea person, as far as Sylvain knew he's only ever joined when it was the professor that asks, but those tea sessions were special. Odd but he could go with it.

Then the girl is wrapping her arms around Felix's surprising even him. "Fine, fine, you're right. See you Sylvain,"

Sylvain blinks. Oh. Them. The two of them were having tea. Not including him.

Felix shrugs and allows Dorothea to drag him away to tea.

"What.." he mutters as Dorothea throws a wink at him over her shoulder, just before the door shuts behind them, "What in Seiros' name!?"

Sylvain stands there for what feels to him like hours, confused. The twisting in his gut is uncomfortable know and Sylvain's brows furrows in confusion. Anger?.. No it wasn't that..

Then...

Jealousy??

But, he wonders, what is he jealous of??? That Felix got to have tea with Dorothea??? Why would he be jealous of that???

The answer hits him like one of Dimitri's over powerful punches.

Oh. He's jealous that Dorothea got to have tea with Felix. He's jealous Lysithea got to share her cakes with Felix. That Bernadetta cuaght Felix's attention enough to be chased down by Felix.

He can practically hear Felix's scoff of 'Moron' as his knees fold on him and he buries his reddening face in his hands.

When the hell did he fall for Felix!?

Confused and despodent Sylvain spends the day in the bar. Both he and the barmaids are shocked he barely pays them attention but he's too busy thinking about his revelation. What exactlt was he supposed to do after realizing he's probably in love with his best friend!?

Same best friend that ladies were now realizing was a catch.

The thought frustrates him because he's always known Felix was kind behind his cruel words. Always known Felix's training was to be strong enough to protect. He was the one Felix used to run to...

'Used to...' he groans and decides wallowing here drinking is doing nothing for him, making his way back to the monastery.

Of course, karma is out to get him and he bumps into Dorothea and Felix on his way back to his room.

Did they spend the whole day together??

The thought brings back his annoyance even as he watches Felix's expression go from flushed and surprised to confused to annoyed.

"Really, Sylvain? The bar? You really spent the whole day chasing skirt-"

Oh! Oh that was it! Sylvain did not spend the entire day in an existential crisis to be told that.

He scoffed, "Do you really have room to say that, Felix?"

Confusion before Felix realizes Dorothea is right beside him (the girl has smacked a palm across her face, which what??), and then Sylvain isn't even going to blame it on being drunk, as he stands there and does nothing as Felix's fist meets his face.

He groans, the force knocking him down.

"You!" Felix growls, "You utter imbecile! You're the one I-"

Biting down on his words Felix glares at him before stomping off, grumbling under his breath.

Well... fuck. He's really messed it up hadn't he?

"Well fuck Sylvain, you've really messed it up," Still clutching his cheek he looks up at Dorothea, "And after I've set it up perfectly too!"

What?

Sylvain is slightly drunk, and Felix's fist might have caused temporary brain damage but he's fairly certain the girl isn't making sense.

Crouching down before him, Dorothea gives him a look that tells him she thinks he's an absolute idiot. Which... okay fair. But nothing was making sense!

"Felix is in love with you, dummy," she sighs as if it's the most obvious thinf in the world (It is not! He would notice!), "I finally managed to get him to think it's a possibility considering how you reacted earlier when I asked him to tea,"

Oh.

"You boys are pretty dense," Dorothea states then thinks it over, "Well you are. Felix just follows your lead to much on this."

He flushes at the thought of Felix liking him.

And then promptly blanches.

Oh!

He's stumbling up, managing not to knock Dorothea over as he takes off running after Felix.

"Thanks Dorothea!" He yells back, "FELIX!! FELIX WAIT UP!!!!"

Catching up to Felix is a pain, and Sylvain is fairly certain he's dying.

Bent in half and panting, he's thankful he's stronger than Felix as the other tries to pull a bony wrist free from his grip.

Frustrated with the struggling, he takes one last gulp of air before throwing himself forward to catch Felix by the waist and hauling him up, face buried in his shoulder.

"What the hell, Sylvain!? You brute! Let go!" Felix demands.

Ignoring the slaps to his head, Sylvain tightens the hug, "I'm so so so sorry Felix," he starts, "I was being a jealous idiot. And then I was too dumb to even realize I was being jealous," Felix's stopped struggling now, looking at him in surprise, "And then I didn't know what to do and said that just cause I was jealous you were with Dorothea,"

He must look pitiful enough because all he earns is a light headbutt, "Yes you were being a moron. Why would you think I'd be interested in her anyway?"

Fair question. Felix has never shown interest in a woman. Which considering all that was revealed makes warmth bubble in his stomach.

His hold has loosened now allowing Felix back on his feet. The other stays close though grumbling against his shoulder, "It's always just been you... Our promise..."

Ah. That promise..

"I'm dumb," he says again, "I'm sorry,"

"Hmph, you're lucky I love you..." was said quiet enough he almost missed it, and then a louder, "I'm still going to kick your ass in training for being an imbecile,"

Uh. So yeah. Idk???? Hope you like it????

#sylvix #fic #fe3h #dumb boys

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edelgoth · 4 years

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Can I get a house matchup with a romantic pairing with a female. I'm a bit anxious so struggle with talking to others. I like studying and reading and am always willing to help anyone but I would prefer not too ask others for help. I like baking and cooking and especially like making desserts. I have trouble making decisions and procrastinate a lot. I'm a kind person who finds it difficult to express themselves.

you sound so cute oh my goodness,,,

i would place you in…

the blue lions!!

okay, but you, annette and mercedes?? sweetest trio in the world. it immediately popped into my mind while reading your description and i’m overwhelmed by how wholesome it is. the main reason i’ve put you in the blue lions is that i think you’d get along wonderfully with most of them; which is probably the most compelling reason. i do think you have this softness and kindness to you that blends in well with the blue lions and the themes of azure moon, and i really can’t visualize you anywhere else!!

dimitri: i think you two would have a very sweet relationship!! first of all, dimitri is a very patient, accommodating person, so i think he’d be easier to talk to than others. he’s very understanding, too, so he would be patient with the fact that you struggle to express yourself. he may also try to motivate you whenever you were procrastinating, to varying levels of success. i can see him taking on a “brotherly” role, regardless of your actual ages, with a hint of the protective and the pedantic (he just wants you to be okay and do well, you know?). but, there’s a lot about you that dimitri would admire; your kindness and willingness to help others being of particular note. he’d have nothing but a kind word to say about you, and would find himself quite fond of you. overall, i think you’d have a similar vibe to the dimitri-ashe support chain – too wholesome to handle.

dedue: you and dedue would be very wholesome together. i can see you two spending a lot of your down-time together, mostly by accident. dedue doesn’t mind that you find it difficult to express yourself; he’s stoic himself, and he’s not going to expect too much from you. it’d be a friendship where you both learn to joy of sharing silence with someone who cares deeply for you. he’s also thankful to have an extra hand in the kitchen; you’d spend several evenings cooking up a storm with ashe and dedue, creating dishes long past bed-time. bless this friendship; my heart honestly can’t handle it.

felix: he wouldn’t quite know what to do with you, to be quite honest. your personalities are quite different, but i also think you have some similarities to a young felix (at least, in terms of what i can glean from the scant references we get). i think felix would tend to err on the side of civil with you; he might struggle a bit with your anxiety, since he’s just so,,, gruff. he may also be a bit affronted by your indecisiveness, as he’s the type to stick to his guns. also, don’t expect to get away with procrastinating when felix is around; you’re going to train, or else. but, at the end of the day, i think there’s just something about you that he can’t help but fond of; even if he can’t quite admit it.

sylvain: he’s cleverer than he lets on, and he can read people quite well. the reason i mention that is mainly your admission that you find it difficult to express yourself. sylvain has a whole,,, complex about being misunderstood, so i feel like he’d make a real effort to understand you. that being said, it’d be done in a very sylvain way (you know,,, a lot of teasing, a bit of flirting thrown in, the occasional moment of raw sincerity quickly covered up by a joke about women. the usual). i think he’d be a little protective, and would actively act like your older brother (with dimitri it’s more implied, but sylvain’s shameless – and once again, it doesn’t matter what your actual ages are). he tends to enable your procrastination, though, much to felix’s chagrin. sometimes you find yourself stuck between a battle of wills; but only sometimes.

ingrid: i get the feeling she would be a bit gruff with you, at first; ingrid just doesn’t deal with anxiety in the most constructive way (see: her supports with bernadetta). but once you got to know each other better, i think ingrid would really admire you. once she understood your struggles, she’d always feel a little proud whenever she saw you talking to someone, or expressing yourself to her. she may not be the best person to go to for advice, but she’s rooting for you from behind. she especially admires your dedication to your study (which i’ve assumed simply on the basis that you like doing it i’m very jealous), and your willingness to help others. she probably calls you out every now often, telling you to ask her for help more often, but i’m sure she’ll adapt and get quite proficient at being able to tell that you need her aid without you having to say a word.

annette: i think you’d have a delightful friendship!! i see you studying together a lot; just like you, annette just loves to learn, and i’m sure you two would have endlessly interesting conversations (also, annette’s just going to keep bring you things that she’s working on, seeking a second opinion – thus meaning that you’re never really procrastinating, in a way). annette is very sociable and easy to get along with, which makes me think that you’d have an easier time befriending her. you may struggle talking to other people, but annette just has such a bright, friendly way about her that’s hard to dislike. and once she’s befriended someone, she’s staunchly loyal; annette’s going to look out for and take care of you. and, like i said earlier:; sweetest trio in the world!! i think you’d have the best time with her and mercedes, and you know know that those girls would treat you with the care and attention you deserve!!

mercedes: okay, first things first: baking duo!! i would say baking trio, because of annette, but let’s be honest – it’d be you and mercedes doing the actual baking, while annette stands by and acts as the greatest cheer team of the century. anyway, i think you and mercedes would get along wonderfully!! mercedes is so kind, patient and attentive, and she really listens to people. it doesn’t matter if you find it difficult to express yourself; mercedes just has a way of knowing exactly what you’re feeling or thinking. it’s a similar deal with the anxiety; mercedes understands, and she does her best to make herself as approachable and easy to talk to as possible. at the same time, mercedes really needs to be around someone who’s as willing to help her as she is everyone else. i think the two of you would just look out for each other, and would be able to rely on each other in times of hardship. i love this friendship very much (evidenced by the fact that this paragraph is growing longer and longer by the sentence), and please look after my girl!!

mercedes is your romantic match!! i think your friendship would already be a bit deeper than the usual, which lends itself quite naturally to romance later in life. you two just get each other, you know?? there’s just a beautiful understanding to your relationship that makes it so rare and precious, and mercie’s the sort who’d constantly affirm you and tell you how thankful she is for your presence in her life. i’m getting emotional at the thought of the two of you two baking sweets for each other as a show of affection. oh, and annette is your daughter now. sorry, i don’t make the rules.

ashe: you and ashe would be the best of friends. similarly to mercedes, he’s very patient and attentive, and he does his best to accommodate people. he’s not quite as good at it as mercedes is, but he genuinely does take his time to understand you and the ways in which you do express yourself. and, like dimitri, i think there’s a lot about you that he admires (and they’re more or less the same things). ashe loves that you’re always willing to help people, and he goes the extra mile to do little things for you every now and then. he also loves to lend you his favourite books, and introducing you to his well-loved recipes. you’re honestly quite similar in a lot of ways, and i think that’d make a friendship between you feel quite easy and natural.

other notable connections

hilda: she might seem like a left-field choice, but i’m sticking with it. you two would start becoming friends because, in typical hilda style, she’d exploit you. it was bound to happen; you’re always willing to help, and hilda’s always willing to pawn off her work to others. but, over time, she’d find herself growing quite fond of you. she just thinks you’re so cute!! hilda’s also very talkative, so that wouldn’t be a problem at all (she herself says “i love listening to myself talk!!”). furthermore, once hilda’s fond of someone, she genuinely does go all out for them. it’s a bit of a surprisingly, but genuinely lovely friendship!!

bernadetta: you seem like a more toned-down version of bernie, tbh!! and for that reason, i think she’d find you a surprisingly easy person to be around. you can actually connect with her over her anxiety, and won’t pressure her or make her uncomfortable. she appreciates your kindness and your willingness to help, and does her best to be a good friend in return. bernie would genuinely adore you, and you’d be one of the rare few that she actively seeks out to spend time with. please make her a lot of baked treats, because she deserves it.

petra: she’d decide she was your friend one day and that’s it. petra’s your best friend now. nothing to be done about it. but, i do think you two would have a lovely contrast. petra’s so confident, and such a go-getter, while you’re much more of a grounded, peaceful force. i think petra would find your mind very interesting; she loves to ask you questions about your studies or the books you’ve read, and is always asking for recommendations. petra’s also the sort to try and motivate you whenever you’re procrastinating, and it’s always surprisingly earnest. and, since she herself struggles with expressing herself in an unfamiliar language, she’s another person who’d be patient and understanding with you. just like with hilda, it’s a surprising, and yet very wholesome friendship!!

i actually had a bit of trouble picking three people for this bc there were so many i wanted to include,,, special mentions are linhardt, claude & ignatz

#matchups #house matchup #blue lions matchup #i realised afterwards that the tenses in this are a mess but i've made you wait too long slkjf #so i'm sorry about that

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