persecutetioncomplex | Noctium Inbox

Dear Ashe,

Tomorrow works perfectly.

I'll be waiting,
Bernadetta

[It's terribly exciting, but he does opt to go by to Bernadetta's place for the occasion. True, she's infamously a recluse, but he assumes that maybe she would prefer to be in her own comfort rather than be too social outside.

So he brings with him a terra cotta pot filled with soil, and... nothing else, it seems. He lightly knocks on the door.]

It's Ashe!

[Ashe, unknowingly, is one of a select few who actually know where she happens to live. Still, she opens the door much more quickly than she ever did, back in school.]

Oh, r-right on time. Come on in; is this the surprise?

Hi, Bernadetta! Oh, not quite. I'll show you in just a second!

[At her explicit invitation to go inside, Ashe does so, setting the pot down.]

It's something someone taught me how to do. It's my first time doing real magic, so I'm very excited.

Let me know when you're ready.

Okay...

[She settles onto her couch, hugging a plush, prettily embroidered pillow as she watches him.]

I'm ready. Is, is there anything I should do to help?

Nope, not at all! Just leave it to me.

[Now Ashe is taking in a deep breath, and he closes his eyes as he holds his hand over the soil. He tries to do it as he did before, not overthinking and just... listening for it. The amount of tenderness and care he loves to take with his own gardening, how content it makes him.

Slowly growing out of the pot is one lone plant: a Noa sapling.]

Ah! There. Whew, it's not full grown, but um, I'm sure if I spent more time I could keep it growing.

[She's quiet, watching him. The room buzzes with tension, with promise, and then—

That.

She knows that plant.]

Ashe! A-Ashe!

[She jolts out of her seat, pillow tumbling to the floor, and before she can think twice her arms are around his neck, her lips against his cheek, and then she's squatting slightly to better examine the sapling.]

It's a noa tree!

Edited 2021-03-27 01:30 (UTC)

[The kiss on his cheek makes his mind go blank for a moment before he remembers where he is. He gives a little chuckle, ducking his head, bashful but pleased by her joy. Absolutely worth it.]

I have an Emerald, which means I can grow plants from our home. Someone has been very kind in teaching me how to do it. I'm still getting the hang of it, but we can have a little bit of Fodlan with us.

I really only have a small apartment, though. I wonder what it would take to get a greenhouse here?

That's! That's exactly it!

[She grabs his sleeve, shaking it a little in her rampant excitement.]

Ashe! I'm getting a greenhouse!

[His mouth opens, and Ashe looks dumbfounded for a moment before he's going to take both of Bernadetta's hands into his own.]

That's perfect! I can help get you started with plants! That's amazing, Bernadetta!

Yes! And, um, maybe even peach currants too, i-if you have the time! And, uh, whatever else you want some space for!

Of course. I'd love to help you out, Bernadetta. Besides, this means we can make some familiar meals and teas.

[And it'll help make everything feel a bit more like home.]

If you have any other requests, I'm more than happy to help out.

That’s, well—

[Oh gosh, she wants to ask for so many things. One finally floats to the top of the pile. Ashe knows apparently, so...]

Maybe, um, maybe you could start an Almyran pine sapling or two? When... when there’s time and energy to, to spare?

[A warm smile forms on his face, and he gently squeezes her hand.]

Maybe just help me with some Synchrony sometime, and I can definitely do that. We can surprise Claude.

Oh—of course—this must’ve taken so much Manna, here, l-let me—

[She squeezes back and suddenly Synchrony surges, washing over him with a veritable tidal wave of joy and excitement and gratitude.]

O-oh! Thank you.

[A giggle escapes Ashe, a smile on his face as he feels her emotions. In return, he has delight and fondness to share with her. Bonding with her has been wonderful. True, he wishes he'd put in the effort much sooner during their school days, it's better now than never.

She's so sweet and wonderful. He's glad to befriend her finally.]

That's perfect.

[She shifts her hands, fingers lacing with his as she moves a little closer. Her own feelings are multiplied as they echo against his. It's warm, and gentle, and bright; eager and forthright in a way most people don't get to see from her, most times they reach out to her.]

I'm glad. Thank you... so, so much, Ashe. This is so wonderful.

[The feeling is just so wonderful. His emotions in conjunction with hers, and it makes something so... beautiful. Byleth is a bit like a sponge, but with Bernadetta it's a bit more like a warm spring afternoon. He isn't sure how else to describe it.]

Of course. Seeing your reaction was enough, but... feeling it is beautiful.

A-Ah.

[Bashfulness ripples through her, a frission of self-doubt here and there, is it too much, does he really mean that, but then it settles back to that steady warmth, albeit now gilded with a shy, flattered, uncertain awareness.]

I, um, I just... it... i-it means a lot, that you, um, that you thought to share it with me.

Edited 2021-03-27 05:32 (UTC)

[Those kinds of feelings are all too familiar. The self-doubt and the shyness. He's glad she still has that warm feeling, but he does let his intent come through: assuring and sincerity.

He pauses, then brings up one of her hands in order to kiss the back of it.]

I know you wanted to see if there was a chance to find plants like our home. You're the first person I thought of.

Oh.

[Her voice is a little wobbly, and her cheeks are now very red, and her hand is being kissed like this is something courtly instead of kind courtesy and she doesn’t know what—

...actually, wait, there are tons of stories that tell her what to do, here. She digs up a quote, as she scrambles not to embarrass either of them.]

“W... well met, my knight of gracious heart and kindly deed.”

[It isn't embarrassing, but for a moment he's adequately flustered as well as certainly excited to hear the familiar quote.]

"Fair maiden, the pleasure is all mine. To know you is a true marvel."

“Kind sir, the pleasure is entirely mine; to know a good man is good fortune; to know a kind one, a treasure.”

[...it gets easier, falling back into familiar lines, though she’s never actually said them out loud before.]

[This is the kind of thing that makes his heart flutter. To quote favored books, to share an interest like this. It's tender and sweet; who could not adore Bernadetta?]

"If I am to be treasure, then let my noble days go on to enrich you, my lady. I know no other honor than this."

“How wicked I should be, to hoard away such riches. Kind sir, you tempt me too much.”

[Her own heart flutters in turn, for much the same reason. He’s so nice, every time. If she had lingered at the archery field, even just once...]

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