[Regardless, Edelgard looks for a spot she can use to rest while her mind drifts to the Horizon. Thank goodness for the anonymity of this "network" reaching the Horizon had opened up for them. It allowed a small measure of relaxation, though not much. Edelgard did not yet trust that the communications were as private as everyone believed. Not yet, at least. Some wariness was still called for.]
[And then...she settles back and lets herself drift away to the Horizon, and the cottage that sits in the center of their shared domain. She appears inside the lavish interior, modeled after the royal apartments of the Imperial Palace back in Enbarr, her hair down completely, and dressed in a red, sleeveless sun dress. A great deal of her body, is bare, far more than she would ever be comfortable with in real life, exposing her many scars, but the borders of the domain can be sealed to prevent intruders from coming in, and...Byleth wants to feel her touch, something Edelgard wants as well. That's a wish she has no trouble indulging at this time.]
"I'm here." She calls out, glancing into a nearby mirror and running a hand through her hair just to make sure it looks neat and presentable.
Byleth's heart flutters at the sight of Edelgard in that dress. The laws of the Horizon may be different from physical reality, but her openness when they're alone here always surprises her. She approaches from behind, in view in the mirror, dressed in a grey buttoned shirt and simple black trousers. Her arms slip firmly around Edelgard's waist, face pressing into her shoulder.
"El," she murmurs, squeezing her, "you look beautiful. How has today gone?"
Edelgard leans into the embrace, her hand coming up to cradle Byleth's head. There's a familiar ring on her finger, missing in Abraxas, but able to be manifested through the Horizon, a symbol of a promise made between the two of them. "Mmmhmm. You look quite handsome yourself, my dear." She breathes deeply, already completely relaxed. "It's been going well. I've been looking more into King Galdwin. I think there might be a way in there for me." He wasn't as large a presence as the queen, but his stated goals seemed quite admirable, and in-line with Edelgard's own. "If I can find an opportunity to champion his causes, I can probably get myself noticed." With the end goal of Edelgard being elevated to the court as an advocate. "That would open up all manner of possibilities for us." If she can get the king's confidence, who knows what information she could become party to?
"...I missed this. Deeply." She admits after a moment. Byleth's body is warm, and Edelgard is happy to revel in the familiar, comforting heat. "I've missed you." They've been together almost near-constantly, but it hasn't been the same, with the walls they had to put up so as not to arouse too much suspicion as to the real nature of their relationship. It's been...hard-going.
She listens, relaxing into the contact in turn. Byleth's hand settles onto Edelgard's forearm—a ring back on her own finger, here in the Horizon—callused fingertips tracing idly along a scar as she presses her lips to the juncture of her partner's neck and shoulder. "Promising," she answers, eyes slipping closed. She finds herself swaying slightly as they stand there together. "If there's anything I can do, even if it's just being there... just say the word. For my part... I've considered the University as an angle, but I would need to learn more."
Finally, Byleth shifts around, moving to stand face-to-face with Edelgard without separating from her. One hand settles onto her Emperor's hip, the other resting on her cheek. "Soon we'll have a space of our own again—a real one. Where it can be just the two of us, when the day's done. I..."
She trails off, her eyes slipping closed.
"It bothers me more than I expected. I'd already grown used to... you being the last thing I saw before I slept. The first thing I saw when I woke. It was only for a short time, but having that taken away..."
Edelgard nods, letting herself also drift away. As Emperor, both during the war and its immediate aftermath, she was no stranger to strategy and planning sessions like this one, but oh, how she could get used to having them like this, wrapped in her lover's embrace, armour and mask both discarded, wholly vulnerable yet entirely unafraid. "Of course." She replies. "I know I can rely on you for anything, my love." Byleth's own suggestion causes her to hum thoughtfully.
"The University...you mean the supposed rift between the High Mage and his sister?" People talk around Thorne, and that particular thorny relationship had not gone unnoticed by Edelgard. "Are you thinking of taking up teaching again?" Concern seeps into her voice. Not because she doubts Byleth cannot handle herself or is unskilled, Edelgard is a testament to Byleth's aptitude as a teacher, as are all the other Black Eagles. But... "I know you have mixed feelings on your tenure at Garreg Mach." As far as Edelgard is concerned, whatever gains might be made by using the feuding Rhett siblings, isn't worth any distress or anguish being back in a similar position might do to Byleth. And Edelgard wants to be sure before they proceed.
As they shift to face each other, Edelgard lets one arm rest on her shoulder, her fingers idly stroking against the older woman's neck, while her other arm slides down Byleth's side. She can't help but lean into the hand on her cheek. "I know. I am displeased we didn't have more time, but it will come again." She smiles fondly, gazing lovingly into Byleth's eyes. "And when it does, perhaps we can consider it a small peek into our future. When the work is done." That's still years away of course; Edelgard doesn't see it taking less than a decade to see her reforms to the Empire put in place, and there's still the matter of her twin Crests complicating issues too, but unlike before, now she dares to dream of a life past the throne, of actually living in the world she wants to build, with her beloved teacher at her side.
Byleth hums once at Edelgard's initial response, relaxed and content. This is easy, simple. When the question comes, and the bit of concern with it, she shakes her head. "That's the angle. And I'm considering it. But... really, my heart, it's all right. I enjoyed teaching. And it brought us together. It's just..." She trails off, silent for a moment as she presses her lips to Edelgard's forehead once they've moved to face one another. It was the reason she had been brought to Garreg Mach in the first place that weighed heavy, the nature of her position and the manipulations behind it.
"The circumstances are different this time. I'll be fine, if we follow that option," she insists. Her thumb strokes over the line of her partner's cheekbone, as she offers her a gentle smile. Still, her face heats up a little at the Emperor speaking of the end goal they've set on. They will have their future, no matter what. She's certain of that—the alternative is unthinkable.
"And... we will. Sooner than later. Consider it a promise, El," she says, leaning forward to touch her forehead to the other woman's, eyes slipping closed. "We walk this path together, after all. No matter what."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-03-18 06:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-03-19 01:34 am (UTC)[Regardless, Edelgard looks for a spot she can use to rest while her mind drifts to the Horizon. Thank goodness for the anonymity of this "network" reaching the Horizon had opened up for them. It allowed a small measure of relaxation, though not much. Edelgard did not yet trust that the communications were as private as everyone believed. Not yet, at least. Some wariness was still called for.]
no subject
Date: 2022-03-19 03:07 am (UTC)ℑ'𝔡 𝔩𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔢𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲.
[ it's a slightly embarrassing admission, even as she undersells it. she herself has already found a spot suited for her needs in this. ]
ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔥𝔬𝔩𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲. ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔭𝔢𝔞𝔨 𝔞𝔰 𝔴𝔢 𝔪𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔱 𝔭𝔯𝔶𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔢𝔶𝔢𝔰. ℑ𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔰𝔢𝔩𝔣𝔦𝔰𝔥 𝔬𝔣 𝔪𝔢? [ she isn't being subtle, despite edelgard's own wariness about the network. ]
Switching to action
Date: 2022-03-19 03:16 am (UTC)𝒪𝒻 𝒸ℴ𝓊𝓇𝓈ℯ 𝒾𝓉 𝒾𝓈𝓃'𝓉. ℐ'𝓋ℯ 𝓂𝒾𝓈𝓈ℯ𝒹 𝓎ℴ𝓊𝓇 𝓉ℴ𝓊𝒸𝒽 ℊ𝓇ℯ𝒶𝓉𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓈 𝓌ℯ𝓁𝓁. ℐ'𝓁𝓁 𝒷ℯ 𝓉𝒽ℯ𝓇ℯ 𝓂ℴ𝓂ℯ𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓇𝒾𝓁𝓎, 𝓂𝓎 𝓁ℴ𝓋ℯ.
[And then...she settles back and lets herself drift away to the Horizon, and the cottage that sits in the center of their shared domain. She appears inside the lavish interior, modeled after the royal apartments of the Imperial Palace back in Enbarr, her hair down completely, and dressed in a red, sleeveless sun dress. A great deal of her body, is bare, far more than she would ever be comfortable with in real life, exposing her many scars, but the borders of the domain can be sealed to prevent intruders from coming in, and...Byleth wants to feel her touch, something Edelgard wants as well. That's a wish she has no trouble indulging at this time.]
"I'm here." She calls out, glancing into a nearby mirror and running a hand through her hair just to make sure it looks neat and presentable.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-19 03:53 am (UTC)"El," she murmurs, squeezing her, "you look beautiful. How has today gone?"
no subject
Date: 2022-03-19 05:01 am (UTC)"...I missed this. Deeply." She admits after a moment. Byleth's body is warm, and Edelgard is happy to revel in the familiar, comforting heat. "I've missed you." They've been together almost near-constantly, but it hasn't been the same, with the walls they had to put up so as not to arouse too much suspicion as to the real nature of their relationship. It's been...hard-going.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-19 04:11 pm (UTC)Finally, Byleth shifts around, moving to stand face-to-face with Edelgard without separating from her. One hand settles onto her Emperor's hip, the other resting on her cheek. "Soon we'll have a space of our own again—a real one. Where it can be just the two of us, when the day's done. I..."
She trails off, her eyes slipping closed.
"It bothers me more than I expected. I'd already grown used to... you being the last thing I saw before I slept. The first thing I saw when I woke. It was only for a short time, but having that taken away..."
no subject
Date: 2022-03-29 08:28 pm (UTC)"The University...you mean the supposed rift between the High Mage and his sister?" People talk around Thorne, and that particular thorny relationship had not gone unnoticed by Edelgard. "Are you thinking of taking up teaching again?" Concern seeps into her voice. Not because she doubts Byleth cannot handle herself or is unskilled, Edelgard is a testament to Byleth's aptitude as a teacher, as are all the other Black Eagles. But... "I know you have mixed feelings on your tenure at Garreg Mach." As far as Edelgard is concerned, whatever gains might be made by using the feuding Rhett siblings, isn't worth any distress or anguish being back in a similar position might do to Byleth. And Edelgard wants to be sure before they proceed.
As they shift to face each other, Edelgard lets one arm rest on her shoulder, her fingers idly stroking against the older woman's neck, while her other arm slides down Byleth's side. She can't help but lean into the hand on her cheek. "I know. I am displeased we didn't have more time, but it will come again." She smiles fondly, gazing lovingly into Byleth's eyes. "And when it does, perhaps we can consider it a small peek into our future. When the work is done." That's still years away of course; Edelgard doesn't see it taking less than a decade to see her reforms to the Empire put in place, and there's still the matter of her twin Crests complicating issues too, but unlike before, now she dares to dream of a life past the throne, of actually living in the world she wants to build, with her beloved teacher at her side.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-04 03:23 am (UTC)"The circumstances are different this time. I'll be fine, if we follow that option," she insists. Her thumb strokes over the line of her partner's cheekbone, as she offers her a gentle smile. Still, her face heats up a little at the Emperor speaking of the end goal they've set on. They will have their future, no matter what. She's certain of that—the alternative is unthinkable.
"And... we will. Sooner than later. Consider it a promise, El," she says, leaning forward to touch her forehead to the other woman's, eyes slipping closed. "We walk this path together, after all. No matter what."