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[ It's not urgent, she says, but when it comes to being presented with a mystery? Well. Not that he'd ever be inclined to ignore something Petra says, but what he was about to start is immediately set aside since it can wait. ]

Something to show me, huh? You certainly know how to intrigue a guy. There's something I have to finish up first, so does meeting there in a few minutes work? If not, take your time. I can entertain myself with Brigid for a bit. Well, assuming you don't mind.

[Well, not urgent to most people, but she knows how he is about anything even remotely mysterious. She may have known exactly what she was doing when she presented her invitation.]

I am already here, so that is working perfectly well! Of course, you are welcome to entertain yourself here anytime you like, if you did not already realize. The forest will always welcome you.

You do not need to be rushing, but I hope you are hungry when you arrive.

And hungry on top of that? In that case, I definitely won't keep you waiting for too long.

[ Since joking about that is easier than touching upon the forest welcoming him any time, even if the same could be said about all of their domains. Probably. Maybe this is also a really good reminder he should make that clear about Derdriu sometime if he hasn't already.

Either way: it's not long before he appears on the edge of the canals himself since while he didn't rush through what he was doing, keeping Petra waiting isn't on his to-do list. The walk along a path through the edge of his domain leading to the others has become a familiar one, though this time he doesn't take the turn into Garreg Mach.

And speaking of familiar, the sight of the forest brings a smile to his face. Now it's just a matter of locating the host herself, wherever she may be. ]

[Fortunately for him, he does not have to venture in terribly far before he hears his name being carried on the breeze from a short distance away.]

Claude!

[Her voice is bright and cheerful, as it so often is, even a touch eager— and it comes from a short ways down the branching path and somewhere above him. His host can be seen perched on a large branch of a tree that is significantly larger than any of the others nearby, with the path circling around its base and outlining the stretch of lush greenery and bright flowers beneath it. Petra's legs swing as she leans forward in her seat, one hand braced against the branch itself as she raises the other to wave before she pushes off and drops to the ground, landing in a low crouch.]

You were finding your way with no trouble, it seems.

[ There's the call of a very familiar voice from somewhere nearby and Claude stops where he is. He hardly has time to peer into the trees - where he suspects Petra might be - before the woman in question appears by leaping down from where she was perched. That's also familiar and if he wasn't smiling before, he is now. ]

I suppose this is where I admit I've spent some time on the fringe of what you've created here, isn't it? Seeing as how I've given myself away with knowing where I was going in order to find you.

[ Speaking of their domains: that's a good reminder as he walks forwards that he hasn't arrived here empty-handed so Claude holds up the bag in his hand as an indicator of just that. A gift, of sorts, or intended to be even if he's going to talk around it in circles as always. ]

The fortunate side of being able to have whatever we want show up here is that while Derdriu's markets might be out of our actual reaches, it doesn't mean the fruit we spoke of has to be. Assuming you're still interested in trying them, that is.

I was having a suspicion you might have.

[Her smile hitches wider into a full-blown grin as she braces a hand against her hip. That Claude had already spent some time here of his own accord doesn't surprise her in the least.]

You are someone who likes to be knowing everything you can about anywhere you go. I thought you might have been curious.

[As for his offering, her face lights up as her gaze comes to rest on the bag he holds up.]

Funny, I was thinking the very same thing about the fruits of Brigid!

Ah, is that the secret behind why I was supposed to bring my appetite with me? I should've guessed we'd have the same idea.

[ Since, well. They've talked about (and tried) food aplenty, both in Cadens and not, so to Claude it feels only fitting they'd both had one of the same ideas. That Petra's face lights up feels like a bonus in and of itself, though: ]

In that case, I should probably also apologize for stealing your very thoughtful idea, though - [ while handing over the bag of fruit in question, ] hopefully this makes up for it. I tried to add as many kinds as I could remember trying. If there's any bonus to them being here rather than in person, it's that at least they can't rot. Or... I'm assuming they can't.

[ Maybe one of those things to not think too hard about and just go with it, which is what Claude's content enough to do while looking around their surroundings just a bit since curiosity practically demands it. ]

Though curiosity might've gotten the best of me in investigating the outside, I'm sure there's still much I haven't seen farther in if there's a place you have in mind for us.

No apology is being necessary.

[She shakes her head in response, dismissing that particular idea— though she doubts he was terribly sorry to begin with. She takes the bag in question and pulls it open long enough to take a good look inside, her enthusiasm remaining.]

I hadn't thought about that! If there is any we aren't able to eat, they should be staying fresh a good long while. The Horizon is having many perks I have taken for granted so far.

[It's easy to do so, considering how overwhelming the place itself had been during her first few visits. This portion of it is finally starting to feel like it's truly hers, and she's become quite comfortable in Sylvain's reimagining of Garreg Mach, as well.

Lowering the bag, she beckons for Claude to follow her, turning her back to him as she heads back towards the tree she'd previously been perched in.]

That said, I am having a place in mind. We will not have to go far!

I suppose that means with that in mind we can create all kinds of feasts in here whenever we feel like it. Might be worth testing out sometime, especially if it involves more of Brigid's fruits since that's my vote.

[ Something he's seen in action from that party thrown by Julie not long after he'd arrived, even if the holiday it was escapes him beyond there being a lot of red, white, and blue. Then all kinds of food on top of that, and then fireworks. It occurs to Claude they could also add their own fireworks to things to be created since above the monastery would surely be a good place to set them off.

That plan can wait to be thought over and elaborated on some other time besides the present as he dutifully falls into step besides Petra on the way to their destination, having not picked up on anything about the immediate surroundings yet. ]

Lead the way, Petra, as I'm at your mercy here for where we're going. I'll leave it up to you whether you take advantage of that or not.

We would not be the first ones to be creating such a feast, but it would be nice to show others how we feast back home— and I would be happy to show you how things are being done in Brigid.

[She smiles to herself, and it is audible in her voice even with her back turned— she appreciates that Claude has more than once shown interest in her homeland and how life is led there, for while Fodlan has become a second home to her, even now she cannot forget the circumstances under which she first came to the Empire. She had made friends there, true, and had even gone so far as to fight for the Empire by choice rather than force, but Brigid would always hold her heart.]

As for taking advantage, I am tempted... but let us be saving that for another time. Here!

[She has, in fact, only gone a few yards before she comes to a stop in front of the oversized tree she had dropped from only a few minutes earlier, gesturing towards it as she looks back at him over her shoulder and grins.]

I know you were saying there were some good climbing trees on your supply route, but I thought it would be nice to be having one we do not have to travel so far to visit. It is roomier than most! Perfect for napping or sharing fruit.

[ The mention of taking advantage of implied mercy and all gets a slight grin from him, but in the past minute the wider one was definitely for being shown how things are done in Brigid. Something he'd very much like to see - something it seems Petra would be keen on sharing regardless if not for it being all her suggestion but for the smile he can hear in her voice. Something he'll have to think about for himself, as there's probably a way to bring Alliance (or 'Alliance') traditions to life more here than the few he has scattered about.

Maybe even something they could extend to the monastery sometime if that's not getting too far ahead of himself, especially considering Claude's a little too busy thinking about this rather than where they're going when he has to stop abruptly to avoid walking into Petra at her announcement they've arrived. To what he's not quite sure, but only at first. It quickly becomes apparent with the explanation as he looks up at the tree before him with a smile which only grows wider upon realizing what's going unsaid about the past - that she remembered it enough to create it, even after quips in passing - or in the thoughtfulness Petra's put into it by thinking of it all.

Of course, that's not what he's going to say. Not at first. ]

I should start by saying I'm glad you didn't make us travel almost to Solvunn to find a tree, especially if this is a challenge. [ There's an attempt to look serious like this is a 100% real challenge as he turns to look at her, but the amount of mirth he's only just barely holding back certainly undermines any of that. ] To climb it, I mean, since I can only assume that means a race to the top where it's more comfortable.

[ A race he's immediately going to lose, but what's one more competition? ]

[She laughs openly; she has nearly lost track of all the ways they might compete with one another in this place, something that has become assumed between the two of them for how common it is, and she pauses to shake her head as she turns to face him once more with a hand propped against her hip.]

We could be racing, and I cannot resist the challenge if you are issuing it, but this tree is also being a place of respite.

[Much like the tree they'd both come across back home had been, climbing lessons aside.]

I am wanting to see how well you climb, though. The way I am remembering it, you are better than most men of Fodlan, but still not as good as me. I was always enjoying that you were wanting to learn.

[ Petra's laugh wipes that faux serious look away in favor of a smile, since - it's too hard to resist not smiling in the face of her delight even if he absolutely knows what his fate would be in any such race. Respite's a much better idea, especially now that the Horizon seems to be behaving. Hopefully. ]

If I'd have known this invitation came with a test [ "test" ] attached, I would've created some better trees like Derdriu has to practice on first. But they say climbing a tree's something you never forget, so I'm confident in my ability to reclaim my title of better than most.

[ Or something close to that since some of it's just Claude rambling in circles as he often does, but really: this particular title is one he'd be willing to go by. All the more reason to not procrastinate on first sizing up the tree as if he really has any kind of strategy in mind here (he doesn't) before stepping forward to grab onto a lower branch to haul himself up and over it with ease. More like relative ease since the motion's not as fluid as it could be and betrays it's been A While since Claude's last climbed a tree, but he's not letting that stop him in favor of reaching for the next closest branch to climb a bit higher. ]

So far so good. Does this mean I win partial approval?

If you are wanting to impress me, there is nothing stopping you from making those trees once you leave here to practice until your next visit— but you are quite right, it is not something you forget easily.

[She stands back to watch him as he gets started, her gaze intent as she prepares to appraise his progress. Even if it's been awhile, Claude is still a strong and agile combatant, which means he rises to meet the challenge quite well, by Petra's standards. As he asks after his performance, she gives a nod before she starts to climb up after him, taking a firm hold of the lowest branch and hoisting herself upwards.]

You are doing very well! Is it all coming back to you?

[ The mention of impressing someone, fleeting as it is, gets an equally fleeting grin though it's mostly to himself since Claude is focusing very much on not falling out of the tree. It's steady enough so far, but assuming this tree is like the ones he remembers - there's a good chance it'll become increasingly less so the higher they get. For all his bravado (tree-related or otherwise) he'd like to avoid any mishaps.

With any luck, anyway. Though maybe he shouldn't be tempting fate by glancing down to check on Petra's progress now that he's made it to branch number two and is moving on to a third one like this is no trouble at all. ]

I think so. Good to know even after all this time, I can--

[ Here's the part where overconfidence comes in: Claude's got a grasp on that branch, sure, but the combination of not focusing on climbing and being ready to tease Petra means split attention comes back to get him when his hold slips and with a wobble, he falls back only to be caught by one more tree limb off to the side which catches him around the waist. Luckily, nothing's injured here but his ego. Thanks, Horizon! ]

Yeesh. This tree's a little too realistic, turns out.

[A bruised ego can be difficult to nurse, but that doesn't stop Petra from laughing at his little mishap as she comes up behind him, pausing when she's about even with his own progress. She grins broadly, one foot propped against the trunk to keep her stable.]

Hmm, I was doing too good a job of imagining it, I am thinking.

[Realistic is certainly a compliment, isn't it?]

Nothing injured, I hope! I suppose the nature of this place is making that quite difficult.

[She bites at her lower lip to keep her grin from hitching wider.]

I will not tell anyone what I saw.

[ Some part of him should be embarrassed that here and now, all these years later, he has once again fallen out of a tree in front of Petra. This time not entirely out of the tree, so that's an improvement. Kind of. Even if he's feeling mildly betrayed by his (rusty) tree climbing skills, it's hard not to grin himself at the sound of her laughter since that alone feels more than worth it though he swaps it for an expression of deep concern seconds later. ]

The fact that you're grinning brings me no confidence you aren't gonna tell anyone, you know. Should I be expecting a dramatic retelling next time we're all at dinner?

[ Not even a couple words into that Claude gives up on sounding offended - not that he ever truly even was - and it's back to reaching for another tree branch which won't betray him this time with any luck to get to where it is Petra wants them to go. ]

Maybe I should've brought more fruit along as some light bribery to be on the safe side. Then again, maybe my undying devotion to climbing trees will win me some more favor.

A dramatic retelling? Hmm, that is depending on my mood!

[She pauses her own progress to keep an eye on him, make sure that he's able to progress rather than scaling past him, and once he seems to have found a good grip as well as his footing, she begins to head upwards once more. His attempt at sounding offended is, as usual, incredibly short-lived; their banter remains playful and affectionate as she hoists herself up to the next branch.]

If you are intending to bribe me, I will take anything you are willing to offer. You did make the fruits of Derdriu sound very tempting.

[She's not going to say no.]

Though you have plenty of favor already, you know.

In that case, maybe I'd better dial back on the diplomacy. Here I was thinking of conjuring up even more fruit when we reach a good stopping point somewhere above us. [ Bribery was definitely the word he was looking for. ] But if I have plenty of favor already...

[ The trailing off there isn't teasing for a change since Claude's self-aware enough (now) to spend a little extra concentration on the next branch which is further up than the other ones he's grabbed. Repeating sliding back down isn't on his to-do list, and after a bit of reaching he grabs it to pull himself up successfully. ]

This is as realistic as I remembered it, [ with a short laugh added. ] Specifically to climbing and not just falling, that is. You can add me being out of tree shape to your dramatic retelling when it happens since scaling a building's not quite the same when it comes to practice.

[ And, speaking of that: now Claude pauses to peer over at Petra when a different idea occurs to him. ]

Now that I think about it, we should probably check to see if all the old places to climb are there in the monastery if Sylvain was nice enough to add them. If not, we'll have to take care of that since I can only imagine the view from the top in here.

[She pulls herself up to the next large bough, perching there so that she can turn and offer him a hand up, should he need it. She offers him a warm and knowing smile as he pauses, her expression brightening at his suggestion.]

He was very thorough in his recreation of the monastery! Maybe he was not paying as much attention to the trees as I might, but I bet we would be finding something to our liking. As you said, if not, there is nothing stopping us from changing it.

[She rather likes the idea of all of them adding bits and pieces of what they remember, what made the monastery special to them.]

Here— we can be taking a rest on this branch for a few minutes, if you like. It is more than broad enough for the two of us.

[ He'll take that hand since he's proved his limitations here already and Claude's not looking to test them much farther than that. The assistance in being pulled up even as he grabs onto a smaller branch for a different handhold so Petra's not having to attempt pulling up the bulk of his weight makes it that much easier, and - he's certainly not going to turn down the rest either. ]

I suppose we can cut him a break after he created everything else in there on his own, can't we? And he's been rather busy with the greenhouse, so that'll leave the trees with you and me where they belong.

[ Just to properly underline that: Claude hoists himself up the rest of the way to take a seat next to her. While he could conjure up some more fruit to go with the earlier gifted ones, and he might still do that in a second, first it feels right to peer out at what he can see of Petra's domain now that they've got some height to clear the way. ]

Then again, this is a rather nice view all on its own. Is any of this a specific location, such as where you grew up or something else?

[She gives a firm nod of approval— where the trees belong, indeed.]

I can think of none better to be handling such a task than the two of us.

[They are the experts, after all; even with some rust on his climbing skills, Petra still finds him to be far more impressive than most Fodlan nobles in this regard. He is quite different from most in a great many ways, enough that she has developed a private suspicion or two regarding what he might have done before coming to Alliance Territory, but none of it seems terribly polite to ask about, or even pertinent.

She remains all smiles as she reaches into the bag she's been carrying, the strap pulled across her torso, and pulls out a roundish fruit with green and red skin, holding it out to him in offering.]

But yes— the forest here resembles the area just outside my hometown. It has been a long while since I have been seeing it for any length of time, but there are some things that are never forgotten. It is the home of my heart, you could say.

[ There's another smile sent her way at the confirmation the trees are, in fact, under their dominion. Forthright and not tacit, as if there's something waiting for claim to be laid to it here, and now they've done just that.

And he should, maybe, break into the fruit Petra's handed him or recommend one of the Derdriu ones for her to try. Instead Claude does neither and simply rolls the one in his possession between his fingertips under the guise of contemplating it when really: his mind's drifting over the wisps of Almyra he's put into his own domain though they blend in with everything else. Homesickness is something they have in common, perhaps, though Petra's would be of a very different variety to his own.

Claude could make a joke then to change the subject, move onto anything else. He could tease, make some wisecrack and brush it all off, but. That'd be a disservice to them both, wouldn't it? ]

There's fields outside where I grew up, ones that stretch on as far as you can see whether you're on the ground or flying. [ The fruit's forgotten temporarily as he looks off into the distance before them, out at the forest Petra holds dear. ] They aren't much to look at when everything's dry. Just a bunch of what looks like grasses and nothing else. But there's rains that come through and bring it to life, and when that happens there's all kinds of wildflowers to be seen that were hiding in the grasses before. Now that I think about it, I guess that must have been what I was thinking about in adding all those flowers to what I created the first time here, just like you were with the forest.

[Her smile softens as she looks out over the forest that seems to stretch forever, the way they're facing— this tree's placement had been strategically chosen, in that regard, for they both know full well that it's not far at all to either his domain or Sylvain's, where they are all able to come together in a place that means something to all of them. On occasion, she has wondered if perhaps she's being selfish, with her own domain focused on something only she knows so intimately... but the opportunity to share a little bit of Brigid with those she cares about truly means the world to her.]

It sounds beautiful. People are often mistaking simplicity for being dull, but they are wrong.

[Even before the rains come, she's certain that those fields of Claude's are stunning, a landlocked sea for the wind to rustle as it blows through.]

I have found there is much in Fodlan that I have come to hold dear, both among its people and the land itself, despite the circumstances of my being there. It... is being very complicated, sometimes.

[She gives him a sidelong glance before she looks towards the thick canopy of the trees above them, gesturing ahead.]

I am missing Brigid with all of my heart, every day, but sometimes I am not sure I am deserving to say so.

[ Even if he wasn't already watching her from the corner of his eye while looking at the forest before them (allegedly), Claude thinks he would've still felt the weight of that look sent his direction. He doesn't react beyond continuing to fidget with the fruit and moves his gaze properly to the forest, noting the details of one tree after another while he thinks about the truth of what she's said. It applies, even if he'd been preparing to leave for good before the Free Cities decided he needed to be here instead. Fodlan hadn't given him many - if any - reasons to stay by the end of those years when some of his dreams were finally achieved, and he wonders if they have that in common even if her words equally suggest something close to it or the opposite.

Well. No way to ask that without revealing too much at once. It turns out he doesn't have much time to reflect on it in the moment because what Petra says next has him fully abandoning the illusion of surveying her domain to turn to look at her with surprise that isn't all that concealed. That is something he hadn't expected to hear, and Claude sits with the tiniest crease in his brow while he thinks that over. ]

Homes can be complicated, [ is what he finally settles on, letting both hands still in his lap rather than continuing to do anything but eat the fruit in his possession, ] whether that's small or large complications involved, and the same goes for reasons for leaving it behind for somewhere else. But despite whatever those reasons were, you're allowed to miss what you've left and especially when you haven't seen home for years.

[ A few seconds go by where Claude contemplates his own words and mentally runs a fingertip along the edge of that hidden blade called homesickness, and then: ] Are you going to return to Brigid someday soon?

Edited 2023-02-04 16:36 (UTC)

YESSSS

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