logs | (catchall / open)

[ The weary aches don't fade even as they make far from the gallows and his strength returns to him, which is strangely agitating. The whole episode has him more restless than his own stint in "jail" back home, buzzing with unanswered questions and unresolved anything.

It bothers him more than the brand on his arm, which he winds a fresh set of bandages around, frowning. ]

Sylvain, I appreciate that you came. But you don't have to attend to me.

[ It's a hard balance, trying not to sound ungrateful for the rescue, but also insisting his friend stops treating him with any special attention. Even after death, it doesn't feel like the roles between all of them have changed very much. ]

[ it's inevitable that the fine distinction between friendship and fealty is often blurred between them. children in faerghus aspired to chivalric, bloody deaths, weaned at a young age from breastmilk to tales of glory and sacrifice. at times it's hard to distinguish between tradition and necessity, and at times the two are very much conflated.

sylvain understands he has no debt to settle with the throne, but even so, this is something he ought to do. whether as a friend or former subject (not that he was ever his), this is something he chooses to do, and it's not as selfless as it might be perceived to be. ]

You'd rather me hand you off to Felix instead...?

[ he shoos dimitri's hand away so he can help set the bandage on his arm. ]

Or do you just find me that unreliable? I'm a changed man, you know...

[ he asks it gently, without any bite. more like an inside joke between them. ]

[ Dimitri tries to steal the roll of bandages back, because he's a stubborn child. ]

I know I can depend on you. [ The Sylvain he knew from home was especially... reformed, as one might call it. ] But you don't need to act as my keeper.

[ Everyone had beat it over his head to accept their friendship, to rely on them more, to allow someone else to shoulder his burdens. And he did accept that, slowly and not without awkwardness and complaint. But this Sylvain had done enough, pillaring up his broken rule for so long.

He's a different person, but not. He attempts to navigate these new waters, and does it poorly. ]

[ sylvain immediately moves the bandages behind his back. oh no you don't!

and he snorts a little at that remark. is this what he missed out on for 5 years? dimitri's rebellious stage? ]

Just being your good ol' friend is plenty, thanks.

[ keeper is more dedue's schtick, isn't it? or even felix's... ]

Now hold still.

[ he counters the dour attitude the only way he knows how—with feigned ease. dimitri's capture had dredged up plenty of memories, and none of them good. they still fester in the back of his mind like bile in his gut, all held back behind an even-keeled smile. ]

[ ):<

Dimitri drops his attempts at thievery and stops squirming about, but does not look pleased about it. ]

I'm grateful for your friendship, of course.

[ He keeps his arm held out, though the brand stretches tight against his skin with how he's clenched his hand into an unhappy fist. Unlike Sylvain, he doesn't hide much of anything in his expression: he looks and sounds troubled. ]

But Felix told me before. About all that happened with Cornelia.

[ And his "execution." They've really had to deal with him getting jailed so many times. ]

[ he waits until dimitri's protests subside before he resumes working. it seems dimitri knows his thoughts anyway, without sylvain needing to voice them.

he just shakes his head. ]

Even if you hadn't been taken, I'd still be doing this you know. 'f course, doesn't help that you had.

[ it's true that the past provides additional incentive, a desire to amend what he couldn't before. but he realizes they're not bound together quite the same way, certainly not by the same memories. (he winds the bandage around his arm a few times. he wonders if this sort of wound is something sakura can treat, though he'd much rather chase rumors of other cures before putting any more strain on the girl.) ]

...Does it really bother you that much? Would it be better if we left you alone?

[ sylvain's not unwilling to give him some space, if he needs it. he has to admit himself, that it isn't easy understanding someone you've never fully known in the first place.

but that's what talking is for, isn't it? clumsy though their conversation might be, that's partly why he wants to be here. ]

[ He doesn't grimace or fidget now that he's stopped being a big baby about this, even if he can still feel the sting of the brand as the fresh bandages cross over his skin. ]

It isn't that you're a bother at all.

[ He's grateful. It's hard to want for anyone's company—or rather, he isn't used to asking for it, or expecting it—but he finds it a surprising balm to have Sylvain's support, unprompted and consistent.

And it should be uncomplicated too, but it isn't. ]

I just don't want to retread the same mistakes.

[ Sylvain's service to Faerghus is what killed him. Or maybe it was being friends with Dimitri. Either way, he wonders how differently things should go this time. ]

[ he finishes dressing the wound and pats him lightly on his good shoulder. ]

Neither do I.

[ whether dimitri had been king, or someone else, sylvain knows he would've always fought for his home. (and he had, during the years dimitri had been presumed dead, the years cornelia had ruled from fhirdiad in his stead. his return had just been a continuation of what's already been set into motion by someone else.)

...he doesn't want him to suffer alone. it's not that dimitri owes him his happiness, but that sylvain believes he deserves to know ease. ]

Think of it this way. If we'd switched places, I'm sure you'd be doing just the same for me.

[ he makes a show of squinting at him. ] You would, wouldn't you...?

[ There's a moment's pause before he almost asks what Sylvain means by that; what mistakes did he have to worry about? It sounds like he had done all he could.

But then he frowns immediately, taking the question seriously enough that he's almost worried that Sylvain needs to ask. ]

Of course I would.

[ That goes without saying. He sighs. ]

Though you seem to be the best-behaved of us, somehow. [ Considering that he and Felix got themselves locked up. ]

[ he laughs quietly, hopefully conveying to dimitri that he's kidding. he doesn't doubt his steadfastness in the least bit. (and who would've guessed sylvain would be the odd man out of the jail party.) ]

Never thought I'd see the day. ...Though, I can't imagine you or Felix being up to anything here that would land you behind bars.

[ it's weird they'd even been taken in the first place? he doesn't get the impression either of them have been up to funny business in the netherworld. sylvain's finished dressing the brand, but he still inspects the rest of dimitri to make sure he hasn't been too roughed up. ]

What happened in there...?

[ There's a few scrapes and bruises: a scratchy welt on his ankle from a shackle, indications of a fight, but nothing dire. He winces slightly, though not because of his meager wounds. ]

I suspect I was arrested for violence against that man in the woods—the trickster with the lantern. And for dragging others into my mistake. [ he was not kind in negotiations with puck. ] I didn't ask Felix, but some prisoners that I spoke to were in the same situation. Others were being held there for the most threadbare reasons, if for any at all.

[ Which clearly has him agitated, back to shifting listlessly in place. ]

A desperate move by a desperate warden, perhaps.

[ ...he shouldn't be too surprised, though it does take him aback a little.

but sylvain has witnessed both dimitri's gentler side and the one that would seek destruction—he knows him to exist somewhere in between, a young man who is endlessly kind but also relentlessly unforgiving. ]

Huh. What did he want from you?

[ he imagines this trickster must've been quite the character to elicit such a strong response.

anyway, ] ...I didn't think they'd be this desperate to point fingers, but the Hierarchy must be shaken by the massacre. Let's hope they don't circle back again to this.

[ will they be in danger of another arrest? will the authorities here frown upon this escape, and double down on punishment (even if unjust in the first place)? ]

He broke the lantern when I demanded he return it. I did not restrain myself in time after.

[ He admits it without embellishment or excuse; it wasn't that Puck taunted him, so much as Dimitri punishing him for his actions, for endangering so many people, and necessitated further bloodshed for the sake of his tricks. But he knows he was not kind in return.

Regardless, it wasn't related to the massacre. So it's easy to see where culpability had been stretched, even if Dimitri isn't guiltless. ]

But had that been the issue, I would've been confronted earlier. So I believe you have the right of it—it must have been a reactionary move by a frightened person, or persons, in a lofty position.

[ More bitterly, ]

It would be unwise of them to continue.

[ So hopefully, they won't. ]

...Sounds like trouble.

[ a good thing, then, that dimitri put puck in his place. sylvain hadn't ventured into the oakwoods himself, but had heard rumors floating around of a stolen lantern and the flora turned hostile because of it. so, he can certainly imagine dimitri taking matters quite literally into his own hands.

he nods his head in agreement. ]

Mm. Let's hope this is the end of it. I can't see any benefit to stirring public unrest any further...

[ he doesn't think anyone is around to eavesdrop, although he lowers his voice just in case. ] They'll only paint another target on themselves.

[ ... ] Nevermind all that. We should head back.

[ does dimitri have everything he need... is he still in rags... ]

[ This whole place has been trouble. They haven't escaped any of the problems that plagued life: killing, unrest, corruption. He looks troubled when they start to dip their toes in talk of the political chaos here, but it's the right move not to chance a conversation in the open. ]

...Mm.

[ So instead he finds a loose hem of his ragged shirt—which is threadbare and who knows how old—and tears off a rung of fabric to tie his hair back with, finally able to push his grimy bangs from his face. He hasn't had a chance to change, so yes, it's still rag hours. ]

I doubt they have the resources to track us, if you'd like to return to Serene. [ ... ] You must be wearied from your efforts. Thank you, Sylvain.

[ his majesty in RAGS... oh how the lords of faerghus would weep. sylvain doesn't have much to offer him, unfortunately. the shirt off his own back is bloodied (nothing he shed himself), likely not something dimitri would want to change into. ]

Heh, it's nothing. But you're welcome.

[ he's not gonna take off while dimitri is unarmed and unclothed, though!!! ]

...You got any idea what they did to your belongings?

[ worst case scenario... they steal the clothes of one of the downed guards so dimitri doesn't have to make the trek back to serene wearing a potato sack... ]

[ He's covered enough that he's decent. It doesn't bother him much; he's never been one to care about his appearance beyond needing to look presentable as royalty. His clothes back home were always so unnecessarily ornate anyway. ]

No, but hopefully they're nearby...

[ He didn't have a whole lot, but it's better than starting from scratch. Luckily though, there's some bins near the mouth of the escape route with their things collected. The fluff of his stupid little scarf sticks out of one of them. ]

Though these garments will suffice for now, if need be.

You stay here, I'll go take a look.

[ there shouldn't be too much trouble, given how much of it the restless have already stirred earlier. the remaining guards are probably licking their wounds just as much as the escapees...

...eventually, sylvain returns with dimitri's clothes. or, dimitri can come with, but sylvain will insist he stay put and rest up. whatever the case, the cute lil' scarf is indeed easy to spot. :') ]

We can't have you running around without proper clothes, now can we.

[ unanimously decided by sylvain... at least, he won't offer to dress dimitri for him, and instead turns around so he can have a modicum of privacy while he changes. (ur welcome) ]

(catchall / open)

sylvain ; post-jail

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