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[ Something in him relaxes again at that, and at the sight of that smile from Claude. He’s gotten pretty good at reading each one. What they mean, or as close to it as he can get.

That one? It’s one of his favorites.

He lets his head fall forward to rest against Claude’s their noses brushing together as he rests there. ]

Well, it was all part of one big surprise, technically. I’m glad you liked it, though. And that dinner wasn’t actually terrible. [ He adds this last part with a laugh, as if joking about it now might cancel out the momentary vulnerability in the previous question. ]

[ The smile doesn't fade as Sylvain tips his head forward; instead, it turns into something what might almost be considered a private one - aside from the part where it's still entirely visible to the man in front of him - and one filled with more of that feeling. Rather than sweep it away as anything else he lets it stay while tracing his thumb over the other's cheek. ]

What'd I say about not selling yourself short? You get credit for all of it.

[ Whatever protest is in that, faint as it is, is also softened by affection. He's come to expect Sylvain will find one of the many ways he seems to have to skirt around a compliment where now was no exception. That won't stop him from paying the compliments all the same or repeating them as much as it takes for them to sink in with now being no exception.

Including one that's still forthcoming since with one small lean upwards for another kiss: there's still the tea waiting for them. ]

I think this should be about ready now, [ is what Claude offers by way of a segue afterwards since that pine aroma's much stronger than before thanks to the steeping being complete as he drops both hands to Sylvain's shoulders. ] What do you say we head back and get to the chess you also promised me?

[ Sylvain's smile holds a note of softness that's been appearing more and more lately. Not that he's aware of that, exactly, but he doesn't do anything to diminish it in the moment either.

Dropping one last kiss to Claude's lips, he straightens with an incline of his head. ]

I'll put the leftovers away while you get the tea sorted. Where do you want to play? Inside or out?

[ An intriguing question, and that's one Claude considers while reaching for a tray to carry all of their tea supplies on. ]

Outside, I think. The evening's cool enough that I think even you won't melt with hot tea to go with that.

[ He's not going to miss a chance to lightly tease Sylvain all because he can while picking up the tray to head out to the terrace. One fragile thing to move at a time as the cups rattle thanks to the motion and he keeps a careful eye on them. Once they're set down, it's back for the chess set next which gets carried with no less reverence.

Lovely as the dim lighting inside had been, the bright moonlight above helps illuminate everything a bit more. By the time Sylvain makes it outside, he'll find Claude distracted with the board only partially set up since he's once again admiring everything about each piece being set out until he looks up with a smile. ]

Turns out being out here was all the better for getting to see all the work on these, too. You really went all out.

[ The remaining dinner is quickly packed up and stored away in the icebox before Sylvain heads out onto the terrace to join Claude, unsurprised to find him still in the midst of setting up the board.

Still, he grins with quiet pleasure at Claude's appreciation of his gift. ]

I'm glad you like it. I was originally gonna get Jace to help me, but... I ended up finding an artisan in Libertas I could commission to carve what I needed. I wasn't sure if it would be too much of a cliché or not, but I figured at least it would be a pretty collection for you.

Whatever that artisan charged you wasn't enough for how good these are.

[ Teasingly, even if some part of him is serious about that and means it as another compliment to the selection of the absolutely beautiful board and pieces that it is. The knight in his hand is set down where it goes, and then it's just a matter of straightening everything up a bit on the squares to make sure they can all be seen and properly appreciated. ]

The other board I have is one I bought the instant I had enough coin to get it not long after arriving. It's served its purpose well but I think this will be my favorite by far. Now, [ picking up one piece in each palm and shuffling them out of sight as best he can before concealing them in closed hands he holds out to Sylvain with a grin, ] Lions or Deer?

[ Sylvain just arches an eyebrow in amusement as he sinks down in the chair across from Claude. ]

Was that a serious question?

[ You should already know the answer to that without having to ask. ]

[ Claude merely arches an eyebrow right back as if unimpressed. He isn't, but it's required for further teasing. Of course. ]

Look, I know what you really want since now's finally your chance to join the Deer after all, but you'll have to choose them first to make that happen. [ With a helpful wiggle of his fists still concealing the pieces in question waiting for Sylvain's selection for the choice in question that's pending since he'll absolutely be stubborn enough to sit here until one is made. ] Better question: left or right?

Pretty sure your last attempt to lure me into transferring was far more elaborate than that. Although I seem to recall telling you then that you’d have had better luck if you’d sent the girls to invite me.

[ It had been a flippant dismissal, at the time. An evasion, and one he hadn’t put much thought into. But that had been early in their time in the Academy, and he hadn’t known Claude very well yet. Not past some idle curiosity over the man who seemed to wear as many masks as he did.

Which just made him dangerous to get too close to. Sylvain could safely hide among the Lions. They’d all known him long enough that none of them looked at him too closely anymore. Just accepted the truth of what he showed everyone, back then. He’d doubted, even then, that Claude would ever be so willingly obtuse.

Still, he reaches his hand out to tap at the knuckles of Claude’s left hand, joking as he does so. ] Choosing right never ends well for me.

All I'm hearing is a challenge to make sure it's even more elaborate this time. No need to confirm that, by the way. I could probably make it happen.

[ He remembers.

There would've been strategy in luring away one of those four close friends from Faerghus, and in the ever turning calculations in his mind back then he'd been deliberate about who he'd selected. Not that he hadn't also tried with Felix (and was met with a particularly Felix brand of disdain) and Ingrid (who'd lectured him until he escaped), though present day Claude feels a bit of uncertainty in whether it's comforting he's apparently tried this in all times - at least with Sylvain - or if it's something else.

Something else nearly wins since with it comes a minor dull ache over what could've been if Sylvain had accepted, but he pushes that aside when it has no place now and can be saved for a later rumination. Less important, clearly, than turning over his left hand and unfurling his fingers to reveal the lion nestled inside. ]

Looks like I still have convincing to do for you to join now even if you're technically outnumbered by Deer as it is. Though I think this means you get to move first in this game, so there's that.

I happen to like being outnumbered by Deer. Or at least the two I’m normally outnumbered by these days.

[ He reaches out to pluck the lion from Claude’s palm, drawing it close to roll it between his fingers consideringly for a moment, taking in the careful craftsmanship that had gone into it. The artist really had outdone himself. ]

You know. [ Stated oh-so-casually as he carefully sets the king in its rightful position on the board. ] If Dimitri hadn’t turned up for our reunion at Garreg Mach and left us all thinking he was dead… we might have been the ones approaching you.

[ He doesn’t look up to meet Claude’s gaze as he drops that nugget of information. It might not have been true in Claude’s world - he has no idea how the differences in their pasts might have altered things. But he knows the position he and Felix had found themselves in at that point of the war. How few options they had left. That had been one of them, and the cause of some pretty heated arguments. Not that that was unusual, when it came to him and Felix. Or Felix and anyone, really. ]

[ For a second he almost teasingly asks just how many Deer Sylvain's used to being outnumbered by if there's some other situation where that's happened, but that feels too close to peeling away the veneer of not thinking of Fodlan. What's come to pass for him, what might for Sylvain at some point, what will with certainty for Hilda - and for those of their friends who aren't here any longer, and all of it adds up to an ever present knot somewhere in Claude's chest he can never quite ignore.

It feels enough to set the carved deer king where it goes on this board. A tangible reminder of what wouldn't have been possible anywhere but here in a way that's easy enough to muse upon without thinking too much deeper about it - until Sylvain takes it there.

The casualness in it belies something else which makes his blood run cold in his veins for an instant with all the effect of being dunked into ice water when not expecting it. As much as he should keep his eyes on the board, Claude finds his gaze wrenched off it to look at the man across from him. By some miracle his expression remains unchanged - he's pretty sure - even as the reality of that sets in followed by the bitter follow up that there was no way for that to happen in what he'd lived. Was there? If he'd sent a message to Faerghus's last defenders - what good would it have done? Claude thinks faintly of a conversation from long ago where Sylvain wondered if he'd been responsible for dispatching a messenger sent by the Kingdom. ]

It's good to know I was consistent in making the Alliance look far more stable than it was. [ A safe enough statement to start with as he looks pointedly back to the chessboard because that feels - better, even if it's not by much. ] Not sure that would've worked out so well for you considering what happened to Derdriu when Teach wasn't on our side.

[ His gaze flits up to meet Claude’s when he feels those eyes so intent upon him. He’d debated saying anything at all - maybe this was a bad idea. But it’s a topic they’d skirted around before. Carefully avoiding it. Like so many other dangerous topics left unspoken between them. ]

Before Dimitri… the Professor was just as absent anyway.

[ Finding both of them together in the ruins of the Monastery - Sylvain’s pretty sure that had been their first hope of it not ending on the disastrous path they’d all seen it heading.

Since the first move was his, he started with a pawn, shuffling it further up the board to start the play. ]

Felix and I… we’d discussed it. Argued about it. We could hold the north for a time, but not indefinitely. And there was no one else, without them, that we’d have been willing to follow. [ A pause, before he makes a face. ] Well, that I was willing to follow, and drag Felix along with me, likely cursing all the way.

[ This time he resists the urge to look up again in favor of imagining one chess move and then another like it'll clear his head. It does, somewhat, but not enough to dampen any of the far louder thoughts which refuse to leave courtesy of that what if.

It's ridiculous to have felt anything like a flash of hope after that chill of shock faded out since there's no undoing what happened at Gronder. It should make no difference to hear this now because of it, and yet. Grief is the wrong thing to call it, Claude tells himself, to hear there could have been something else. Something that's not the reminder he has more often than not that there will be none of this if they return home: no sitting across from each other playing chess, no complaining about the amount of books scattered across his room, no sense of ease between them, because there will be no Sylvain waiting for him there.

Maybe grief's the right word after all. ]

Well, if there's anything about that I can picture clearly, it's Felix cursing you the whole way and then everyone else after arriving. I don't think we would've had enough swords in the convoy to placate him.

[ Dryly and at least in a normal teasing tone since it's far too easy to slip into that when it comes to talking about Felix, and joking about it drags him back into the present where he can appreciate a chance to tease about the infamous swordsman. Along with also nudging one of his own pawns forward to start the series of moves he has in mind, conveniently without giving Sylvain any hints on strategy. ]

Even now, I'm honestly not sure how either of you managed to hold it for so long, especially against the Empire at that.

[ He hadn’t been intentionally eavesdropping on Claude’s emotions - in fact, he’s been struggling to ignore them more of late. But that wash of sudden and sharp grief catches him like a punch to the gut, making his breath hitch for a moment as his fingers hesitate over his next move.

He stares at the board for a moment, unseeing, because that had been so visceral and unexpected. But as he pauses to wonder why, it’s not hard to piece things together. Even if he’s a little surprised at the strength behind that reaction.

Huh. Well. Apparently Claude would miss him when he was gone after all. What a strange thought. And one he doesn’t want to think too deeply about. Not because he wouldn’t be around to enjoy that fact when it became a reality, but because he doesn’t want to think too much about why that might have elicited such a strong response.

Easier, then, to let Claude divert the conversation to joking and strategy, rather than the grim realities that awaited them back home.

He lets his lips quirk in wry amusement as he slides another pawn forward. ]

Mmm, we used tactics they weren’t familiar with, mostly. The western lords were always pretty arrogant in general, and never studied any strategies outside the ones most common in Fodlan. So we started employing some of the Srengi ambush tactics on them. My father was horrified, but they worked as well on the southern troops sent to subdue us as they had on our invading troops a decade back.

[ He thought Claude might get a kick out of that bit of irony and clever trickery. ]

[ Even with his attention ostensibly on the game before them while he waits for Sylvain to move his next piece, it's difficult to let go of that what if which still feels like it's echoing through his mind with all the repercussions of it. Had this been when he'd arrived, it would've impacted him less. Claude recognizes that without a doubt because it's the weight of everything else following now that they've been here adding to the feeling. There'd been costs in the war which he'd always known, and a handful of them have only come into further focus with perspective.

He shouldn't dwell on them. Maybe he's losing his touch in disconnecting thoughts before they latch on too much to interrupt everything else, though he takes a deep soundless breath and attempts to do that anyway. Sylvain's offered him something to focus on with that talk of strategies used being the further perfect distraction to let it go. ]

That's a good way of using something they'd never see coming.

[ A grin as he taps a finger against his jaw in supposed thought, though whether it's over his next game move or this new revelation Sylvain's offered him is difficult to say. Five years was a long time to hold what little remained of the Kingdom together - in some ways far more than dealing with the Alliance even if both of them balanced on a very fine edge. A hum and then Claude takes a moment to consider what Sylvain might be doing with the lone pawns out there when there's not enough indicators for it yet. ]

Though I don't envy you for it. Spending years arguing with the Alliance lords suddenly seems like a better route when it comes to that, even though that was plenty frustrating in and of itself.

[ Time to gamble on the chess strategy when he reaches for a different piece to slide it into play after going down the list of options. ]

Horrifying your father in the process is just a bonus to that since I think you and Lorenz had that in common when it came to our side of the war.

[ Sylvain’s immediate response is to wrinkle his nose in distaste at that comparison. ]

Hey now. If you’re going to start comparing me to Lorenz, I’m taking the tea back.

[ He adopts a not-so-mildly offended tone at the implied insult there, even as he huffs and leans back in his chair.

There might still be enough of a glimmer of laughter in his gaze, however, to give the ruse away.

Besides, it’s ample enough distraction to give him a moment to study Claude’s most recent move and try to figure out what he’s up to. Not enough clues yet, as usual, so he merely shifts to sliding a third pawn into place to support the first two, setting up a strategy he’s never gotten to try against Claude just yet. It’s a risky one, but also very different from his typical strategies. He’s hoping it’s unexpected enough to give him an advantage here while he keeps the other man guessing at what his aim is.

When trying to outmaneuver Claude? He always needed every advantage he could get. ]

No way, I'm keeping it.

[ As if he has any real fear of Sylvain following through on that threat Claude leans forward to place one hand over his cup of tea and the other over the teapot. That only lasts for so long since it's a good reminder to pour some for them both, finally, what with the chess board having completely distracted him upon coming out here. And, of course, Sylvain counts as several distractions all on his own. ]

I meant it as a compliment! [ If it sounds like he's barely restraining a laugh, it's because he is when he knows that's not going to help the case whatsoever - even if was partially true. ] Nothing wrong with showing your father up in the process. Gods know Lorenz's father desperately needed it more often than not.

[ He's only a little bitter about that after all this time. It'd worked out in the end though some deliberate manipulation, but there's a level of truth to it that it wouldn't have worked out without Lorenz's support in the end. A world away, at this point, and also tied too much to the rest of what Claude doesn't want to think about.

What's better is casting a glance to the board, moving another piece as if on impulse, and then picking up his tea. The scent alone again brings another wide smile to his face though before taking a drink he pauses to look at Sylvain. ]

Kind of feels like we should both take a sip at the same time. I think that's how this works, right?

You compared me to Lorenz!

[ Cue a completely scandalized - and put upon - protest, complete with hand over heart and horrified expression at Claude’s own attempt to excuse away the statement as benign. Ish. ]

In what way could that ever be a compliment?!

[ Somewhere, one Lorenz Hellman Gloucester is being mortally offended right now, but that just makes the faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips all the more genuine.

Anyway. It’s easier to focus on that half of the statement than any mention of his father. Which he is quite deliberately not touching with a twenty foot pole, he definitely did not have enough wine at dinner to have a conversation like that tonight.

So instead, he just reaches for his tea cup and lifts it, playfully making a little toasting gesture in Claude’s direction. ]

It can be. I’m pretty sure we get to make up whatever rules we want at this point.

[ As someone absolutely delighted by dramatic displays there's no shortage of said delight here now as Sylvain pulls out one long suffering act after another in quick succession. There's no surprise in that being focused on over everything else said, what with it being easier than the rest, and as Sylvain lifts his cup Claude chuckles slightly. ]

I think you'd be surprised. Much like the rest of us Lorenz isn't who he once was. That said, [ with a pause absolutely meant to signal the obvious remark coming, ] it's not like he's strayed too far from being the noble head of House Gloucester.

[ With those final words said in a pristine imitation of Lorenz as well, what with all those years of being able to study the man's mannerisms - and several times of mockery of them along with Hilda. He lets those thoughts fall away as they arrive, focusing instead on leaning forward to signal his own toast. ]

See, that's exactly the kind of response I like to hear. Rewriting all the rules might just be the best birthday present of all.

[ Or something like that as it's another thought he doesn't follow in favor of casting a wink towards Sylvain over the edge of his cup while going to take that first sip finally - and without any teasing behind that much.

It's almost exactly as he remembers it, so much so that homesickness and contentment battle for a few seconds before the latter triumphs, and the smile on his face is nothing but genuine. The amount of work put into creating this tea is something he can only imagine and was done so expertly Claude can't help but marvel over it being done out of nothing but thoughtfulness. ]

If I've already said you've outdone yourself tonight, then I really mean it now after this.

[ Sylvain just laughs, because of course rewriting all the rules would be what appeals to Claude the most there. Grinning, he tips his teacup slightly in Claude’s direction before bringing it to his own lips to taste.

He’s relieved, when it tastes as closely as he remembered. He’d spent weeks tweaking it. Adjusting the measurements of certain ingredients. A little less of this, a little more of this. Some of them had to be mixed from scratch, since he had to replace certain ingredients that didn’t exist here with ones that were close enough to mimic the flavor he remembered. It hadn’t been one of his favorite blends back home, but it had been one of Felix’s, so he was more than familiar with the scent and flavor after years of friendship.

Now, however, he watches over the rim of his teacup as Claude takes his first sip, holding his breath as he waits for the other man’s reaction. The smile that spreads across Claude’s lips as he savors it is enough, at least, to get him breathing again. Even if his smile at the compliment given a moment later is a little sheepish and self-conscious. ]

Did I get it close enough? I was worried the pine would either be too strong… or not strong enough. Nocwich pine works a little differently than Almyran, apparently.

[ He'd meant it, and that he'd meant it is enough to tinge Sylvain's smile with those same feelings he'd seen appear earlier with the compliments. Compliments Claude's no stranger to giving for various reasons, but it feels different to give them to Sylvain even as the other man almost always tries to shake them off or leave them there without acknowledging what was really being said. Or perhaps looks a little too pleased in with that too while trying to hide how much they're enjoyed - though those are usually in a rather different aspect than here and now.

Those reactions are all ones Claude's carefully cataloged over the months, and he watches the one now with a different kind of smile overlaid within the one on his face, something quieter and what would be to himself if it weren't for the fact he's not alone. Something appreciative, something else on top of everything since he'd walked into the loft tonight, something that almost feels like - ]

I wouldn't have minded if it was too much. It'd be close then to the nights I brewed a pot and forgot about it while I got distracted by this map or that one so it steeped for far too long. [ During the war particularly there'd been plenty of times he'd gone to take an absent sip of said tea and found it far more bracing than intended, but Claude figures mentioning studying maps will cover that enough. ] If you're planning on tinkering with it some more, I'm happy to provide any input. And taste test it, though hopefully that part goes without saying and will make the variety of input I'll have worth it.

Why doesn’t that surprise me in the least?

[ He can’t help but laugh at the mental image, well able to picture just that when it came to Claude. How many nights had he found him ensconced deep in the library long after everyone else had gone to bed, back in their Academy days? Of course, he’d still been out and about himself, but that was usually for far different reasons.

But his smile, as he watches Claude sample another swallow, is quietly fond. ]

I’ll probably tinker with it some more, if you think it needs it. I’m still cataloguing the spices and herbs I can get here and what they taste like when prepared different ways. It’s much harder when I have to learn all new ingredients from scratch like this. But I’ll be sure to make you the official taste tester, then. At least of this brew. I doubt you’d like the sweeter ones I’ve been fidgeting with very much.

Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up.

[ Sounding put out about that is purely to match Sylvain's too entertained laughter. Besides, Claude's willing to admit that even with the past behind them there's been plenty of nights here where he's done the same or come close to it. Including falling asleep while reading a book when he hadn't thought he was all that tired, but at least here it comes with getting actual rest instead of some quick amounts to scrape by between planning this movement in the war and the next. ]

A title I'm going to wear with pride, [ he interjects upon the matter of being a taste tester before taking another sip to let Sylvain finish his thoughts. It really is great tea. ] I'd be willing to suffer the sweeter ones in the name of helping find what you're going for. They're not my favorites but I remember the popular ones well enough to help, or at least help pick out the specific overtones I didn't like.

Though, [ speaking of sweeter teas and now his expression brightens slightly, ] if you happen to work on a version of Leicester Cortania that's another one I miss. And there's others in the Horizon who've had it when I've made it there, so I daresay you'd have an even bigger market for that one.

[ Sylvain doesn’t supply that he maybe helped with those nights Claude fell asleep, not realizing he was so tired. Because he might not have been, but he’d never complained about the extra rest the next morning, so Sylvain was still taking it as a win.

He grins at Claude’s continued excitement over the tea, feeling a soft rush of pleasure heat up the back of his neck. The praise is… nice. Not something he’s all that accustomed to, but doubly so when this is something he’d worked uncharacteristically hard at to get perfect. It had been important, and it was nice that it had turned out so well in the end. It wasn’t something he was accustomed to feeling, for one reason or another. ]

I can probably give that one a try. I’ll confess, I’m not as familiar with that one. This one, at least, I could cheat on a little, since it had also been one of Felix’s favorites. I was pretty familiar with it to start with.

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