[ it sounds, much to yuri's chagrin, far too much like something he'd do. ]
sounds like it needs some tweaking, efficacy notwithstanding.
[ a very different conversation that he probably wouldn't be having with yuri, because while he would be willing to share his faith magic, he wouldn't stay his tongue from the scolding dimitri would deserve. ]
more importantly, why exactly did you stick your hand in something labelled 'not water'? don't they raise you royal types to be more aware of threats?
[ ... Fair. Genuine injury would only serve to render this entire incident all the more humiliating. ]
In theory, yes.
Practice often proves otherwise. In this case, the hour was earlier than it should have been and I had not thought to expect anything but water would make an appearance in the bath chamber. By the time I saw the warning to the contrary, it was already too late.
[ Amongst its more serious flaws, insomnia is rarely kind to little things like situational awareness and observational abilities. ]
In the future, you may wish to consider a more apparent signal. Or a separate venue.
[ yuri had meant to chasten dimitri, and here he is instead, feeling rather guilty himself.
dimitri's insomnia isn't new information to those within his purview. especially not to someone like yuri, who can frequently be found out and about at all hours. but it's one thing to catch a glimpse of him in the monastery after dark, and another entirely to know the consequences of his sleeplessness. (and be partially responsible for them.) ]
i'll strive for both. and, perhaps, a formal introduction between yourself and any object of danger. that way you can at least identify how grave your injuries may be.
[ it's yuri, so he has absolutely no qualms about leading dimitri by the hand to a container of dubious origin and pretending to extend an olive branch between them. ]
and there's nothing to be done about the.... unfavorable hours you keep?
If you believe that's necessary then I will not argue otherwise. All things considered, this entire incident could be deemed a blessing in disguise. Or an early warning system.
[ ... That’s one way to look at it?
The next reply arrives with some hesitation. It was never his intention to add Yuri to the list of people who feel it necessary to trouble themselves over his health or schedule, but it seems he skirted too close to the truth to avoid the attention. ]
Nothing that works with any consistency, no. But it’s far better now than it has been many times in the past. That alone is enough for me.
[ Or it would be if that satisfaction was a shared feeling. ]
or a lucky break that could have easily been a fatal accident.
[ and that's another way to look at it, because yuri's not an optimist.
it's odd. he takes no issue with it, but yuri would never have guessed before all this that the king of faerghus would see him as some sort of confidant.
his mother would tell him he's always had a bleeding heart. (then again, so has she.) ]
i think you settle far too often. 'enough for you' seems like it's actually not enough.
[ between him and ingrid and felix, dimitri isn't going to get away with anything. ]
Cynicism aside, I believe that interpretation may lean towards the needlessly dramatic.
[ If nothing else, he trusts Yuri enough to assume any truly fatal experimentation would be kept away from public spaces. Just as he trusts himself to avoid them with slightly more finesse than demonstrated in this incident. ]
You're beginning to sound startling like Dedue.
[ And yes, Ingrid and Felix. Occasionally Mercedes, as well. ]
[ dimitri does assume correctly-- although yuri would make the argument that it's because anything truly dangerous he was dealing with would be for something specific, and he wouldn't want anyone to catch onto whatever designs he had for it before due time. ]
i have to disagree. if i were as patient as dedue is, i'd apply for sainthood right now. a statue of me would spruce up the monastery rather nicely.
perhaps there's some other sort of not-water substance we could cook up to help your insomnia.
Then it would appear you have been told correctly. This time, everything ended just fine. There's no purpose worrying about what could have been.
[ ... Because he's one to talk.
Dimitri would be happy to chalk up that argument to Yuri's startlingly poor level of self-awareness when it comes to his own capacity for kindness. As evidenced by this entire conversation, really. ]
I find it difficult to disagree. About Dedue or about your decorative aspirations. Those would both be worthy sights.
As for your offer... Thank you. I appreciate the thought, truly, but I would hate for you to waste time better spent on more essential work.
[ ah, yes, dimitri, the one who's constantly worrying about what could have been, what has been, what might be. he absolutely should be lecturing yuri on this topic.
whether or not his capacity for kindness is anything to write home about, it's nothing that could outweigh the sins he carries. yuri's made his peace with that. or so he'd like to convince everyone. ]
wait... do you genuinely think a statue of me would be a worthy sight? or was that a real, actual joke?
i would argue that trying to keep the king in better shape than 'haggard enough to drink dubious liquid' is essential work.
[ If Dimitri thought for a moment that Yuri was the type to actually desire such a flagrant symbol, then... Well, they would still lack the resources and capability to make it a reality. But it's an amusing hypothetical, nonetheless.
Hypocritical though they may be, there's no denying the wisdom inherent in his final message. Isn't the idea of relying upon others, accepting and offering support in return, an integral part of the world they're fighting for? ]
Words we could all learn to take to heart. Fine, I accept. So long as it does not interfere with your own obligations, I would be more than grateful for any assistance you could offer.
[ And because trust is a wonderful thing, the idea of being a test subject, of sorts, is no concern to him at all. ]
[ and, well, that. what yuri says and what he truly feels are, as always, different-- and dimitri picks it apart perfectly in thinking that yuri doesn't actually desire a claim to fame in the form of a bronzed statue. it's not often someone calls him on his bluff, intentionally or otherwise. ]
glad you've decided to see reason. and so graciously, too. it's going to make it less fun for me when i get to say 'i told you so.'
[ and yuri intends to be able to say exactly that. he'll take advantage of that trust, as ill-placed as it is. it turns into his new side project of sorts. over the next few weeks, dimitri finds himself the (unwitting?) victim of yuri's questioning-- he messages to ask when dimitri feels the most alert, what kind of things keep him from sleeping, what he does to relax, and so on. all the answers are roughly the same level of horrifying. yuri's beginning to realize that it's a miracle dimitri is even standing on two feet most days.
he enlists constance's help, since yuri has always been better with faith magic than with reason. the herbs, though, are all yuri. his mother always had a knack with them, since even cheap medicine was too much of a luxury for them. the end result is something that looks quite like a potion, though constance insists it's a sleeping draught. it's all semantics to yuri. what matters is if it works.
he corners dimitri late one night and shakes a bottle of the stuff at him. ]
Got a first draft for you. Hopefully something that'll help you relax. And it's not even booze... although I could get you that, too, if you want.
[ the way yuri smirks is enough to hide the flicker of excitement in his eyes. nothing quite like seeing the efforts of his labor paying off. ]
And yet, I have a feeling you'll find more than enough satisfication in saying it regardless.
[ Which is fine because, should that day arrive, he will welcome the opportunity for Yuri to say any and all versions of "I told you so.". He'll have earned it.
There a reason why he answers every question with utter honestly, after all, no matter how revealing. It's... embarrassing to be so upfront with the nature of his weaknesses, but it's also the least he can offer. Whether out of compassion, friendship, or scientific curiosity, this is goal Yuri's decided to work towards. Dimitri won't add to the difficulty of the task.
So, when the time comes, he accepts the offered bottle without hesitation or dubiousness. ]
Thank you. But unfortunately, I will have to decline your second offer. Indulging in alcohol has never proven an effective solution in the past, and I see no reason why that would have changed.
[ In the end, sleep alone isn't enough. It has to be restful, refreshing. And, preferably, without the side effects of loosening his grip on reality and making the dead ever more challenging to ignore. ]
This, however... I have higher hopes for. [ Not high, mind you. But higher! ] Is it a single dose?
[ A tilt of his head and a playful sort of grin that belies the fact that Yuri himself doesn't drink much. He's not the sort to carelessly toss away his coherency like that. Too risky. No, he'd rather be in control of himself at all times, keep that mask of his from slipping too far down.
Then again, he doesn't have the same... difficulties with sleep that Dimitri does, so. Maybe he'd be more willing to try anything. Including the bottle of dubious liquid he's presenting. ]
A single dose. But there'll be more, if it has any effect.
[ Yuri had impressed upon Constance the importance of a trial batch, rather than creating large vats of hazardous items to sit around in washrooms. She'd heeded him this time around. ]
Advance warning that it might not be such an easy sip. [ A pause for a glance at the size of the bottle. Continuing the comparison to spirits, it's enough to nearly fill a wine glass. ] My apologies.
[ Yuri comes in close with none of the hesitance that some of the knights or other soldiers still treat their king with, and offers the bottle up. Dimitri is no threat to him like this. He knows dulled fangs when he sees them. ]
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no subject
sounds like it needs some tweaking, efficacy notwithstanding.
[ a very different conversation that he probably wouldn't be having with yuri, because while he would be willing to share his faith magic, he wouldn't stay his tongue from the scolding dimitri would deserve. ]
more importantly, why exactly did you stick your hand in something labelled 'not water'? don't they raise you royal types to be more aware of threats?
no subject
In theory, yes.
Practice often proves otherwise. In this case, the hour was earlier than it should have been and I had not thought to expect anything but water would make an appearance in the bath chamber. By the time I saw the warning to the contrary, it was already too late.
[ Amongst its more serious flaws, insomnia is rarely kind to little things like situational awareness and observational abilities. ]
In the future, you may wish to consider a more apparent signal. Or a separate venue.
no subject
dimitri's insomnia isn't new information to those within his purview. especially not to someone like yuri, who can frequently be found out and about at all hours. but it's one thing to catch a glimpse of him in the monastery after dark, and another entirely to know the consequences of his sleeplessness. (and be partially responsible for them.) ]
i'll strive for both. and, perhaps, a formal introduction between yourself and any object of danger. that way you can at least identify how grave your injuries may be.
[ it's yuri, so he has absolutely no qualms about leading dimitri by the hand to a container of dubious origin and pretending to extend an olive branch between them. ]
and there's nothing to be done about the.... unfavorable hours you keep?
no subject
[ ... That’s one way to look at it?
The next reply arrives with some hesitation. It was never his intention to add Yuri to the list of people who feel it necessary to trouble themselves over his health or schedule, but it seems he skirted too close to the truth to avoid the attention. ]
Nothing that works with any consistency, no. But it’s far better now than it has been many times in the past. That alone is enough for me.
[ Or it would be if that satisfaction was a shared feeling. ]
no subject
[ and that's another way to look at it, because yuri's not an optimist.
it's odd. he takes no issue with it, but yuri would never have guessed before all this that the king of faerghus would see him as some sort of confidant.
his mother would tell him he's always had a bleeding heart. (then again, so has she.) ]
i think you settle far too often. 'enough for you' seems like it's actually not enough.
[ between him and ingrid and felix, dimitri isn't going to get away with anything. ]
no subject
[ If nothing else, he trusts Yuri enough to assume any truly fatal experimentation would be kept away from public spaces. Just as he trusts himself to avoid them with slightly more finesse than demonstrated in this incident. ]
You're beginning to sound startling like Dedue.
[ And yes, Ingrid and Felix. Occasionally Mercedes, as well. ]
no subject
[ dimitri does assume correctly-- although yuri would make the argument that it's because anything truly dangerous he was dealing with would be for something specific, and he wouldn't want anyone to catch onto whatever designs he had for it before due time. ]
i have to disagree. if i were as patient as dedue is, i'd apply for sainthood right now. a statue of me would spruce up the monastery rather nicely.
perhaps there's some other sort of not-water substance we could cook up to help your insomnia.
no subject
[ ... Because he's one to talk.
Dimitri would be happy to chalk up that argument to Yuri's startlingly poor level of self-awareness when it comes to his own capacity for kindness. As evidenced by this entire conversation, really. ]
I find it difficult to disagree. About Dedue or about your decorative aspirations. Those would both be worthy sights.
As for your offer... Thank you. I appreciate the thought, truly, but I would hate for you to waste time better spent on more essential work.
[ Like lacquer remover, apparently? ]
no subject
whether or not his capacity for kindness is anything to write home about, it's nothing that could outweigh the sins he carries. yuri's made his peace with that. or so he'd like to convince everyone. ]
wait... do you genuinely think a statue of me would be a worthy sight? or was that a real, actual joke?
i would argue that trying to keep the king in better shape than 'haggard enough to drink dubious liquid' is essential work.
you can ask for help sometimes, you know.
[ now who's the pot and who's the kettle? ]
no subject
[ If Dimitri thought for a moment that Yuri was the type to actually desire such a flagrant symbol, then... Well, they would still lack the resources and capability to make it a reality. But it's an amusing hypothetical, nonetheless.
Hypocritical though they may be, there's no denying the wisdom inherent in his final message. Isn't the idea of relying upon others, accepting and offering support in return, an integral part of the world they're fighting for? ]
Words we could all learn to take to heart. Fine, I accept. So long as it does not interfere with your own obligations, I would be more than grateful for any assistance you could offer.
[ And because trust is a wonderful thing, the idea of being a test subject, of sorts, is no concern to him at all. ]
no subject
[ and, well, that. what yuri says and what he truly feels are, as always, different-- and dimitri picks it apart perfectly in thinking that yuri doesn't actually desire a claim to fame in the form of a bronzed statue. it's not often someone calls him on his bluff, intentionally or otherwise. ]
glad you've decided to see reason. and so graciously, too. it's going to make it less fun for me when i get to say 'i told you so.'
[ and yuri intends to be able to say exactly that. he'll take advantage of that trust, as ill-placed as it is. it turns into his new side project of sorts. over the next few weeks, dimitri finds himself the (unwitting?) victim of yuri's questioning-- he messages to ask when dimitri feels the most alert, what kind of things keep him from sleeping, what he does to relax, and so on. all the answers are roughly the same level of horrifying. yuri's beginning to realize that it's a miracle dimitri is even standing on two feet most days.
he enlists constance's help, since yuri has always been better with faith magic than with reason. the herbs, though, are all yuri. his mother always had a knack with them, since even cheap medicine was too much of a luxury for them. the end result is something that looks quite like a potion, though constance insists it's a sleeping draught. it's all semantics to yuri. what matters is if it works.
he corners dimitri late one night and shakes a bottle of the stuff at him. ]
Got a first draft for you. Hopefully something that'll help you relax. And it's not even booze... although I could get you that, too, if you want.
[ the way yuri smirks is enough to hide the flicker of excitement in his eyes. nothing quite like seeing the efforts of his labor paying off. ]
no subject
[ Which is fine because, should that day arrive, he will welcome the opportunity for Yuri to say any and all versions of "I told you so.". He'll have earned it.
There a reason why he answers every question with utter honestly, after all, no matter how revealing. It's... embarrassing to be so upfront with the nature of his weaknesses, but it's also the least he can offer. Whether out of compassion, friendship, or scientific curiosity, this is goal Yuri's decided to work towards. Dimitri won't add to the difficulty of the task.
So, when the time comes, he accepts the offered bottle without hesitation or dubiousness. ]
Thank you. But unfortunately, I will have to decline your second offer. Indulging in alcohol has never proven an effective solution in the past, and I see no reason why that would have changed.
[ In the end, sleep alone isn't enough. It has to be restful, refreshing. And, preferably, without the side effects of loosening his grip on reality and making the dead ever more challenging to ignore. ]
This, however... I have higher hopes for. [ Not high, mind you. But higher! ] Is it a single dose?
no subject
[ A tilt of his head and a playful sort of grin that belies the fact that Yuri himself doesn't drink much. He's not the sort to carelessly toss away his coherency like that. Too risky. No, he'd rather be in control of himself at all times, keep that mask of his from slipping too far down.
Then again, he doesn't have the same... difficulties with sleep that Dimitri does, so. Maybe he'd be more willing to try anything. Including the bottle of dubious liquid he's presenting. ]
A single dose. But there'll be more, if it has any effect.
[ Yuri had impressed upon Constance the importance of a trial batch, rather than creating large vats of hazardous items to sit around in washrooms. She'd heeded him this time around. ]
Advance warning that it might not be such an easy sip. [ A pause for a glance at the size of the bottle. Continuing the comparison to spirits, it's enough to nearly fill a wine glass. ] My apologies.
[ Yuri comes in close with none of the hesitance that some of the knights or other soldiers still treat their king with, and offers the bottle up. Dimitri is no threat to him like this. He knows dulled fangs when he sees them. ]
Here you are.