Entry tags:
claumitri pt 1
The guy is blond, blue eyed, a whole head taller than Claude, and carting around the kind of murderous death aura (accessorized with an expression to match!) that has been making the other people in line incredibly nervous for the last five minutes before he ever came up to the counter. Claude's first thought is What is this guy's problem? He's freaking out the whole cafe. Then, proving both his highly questionable taste and ability to rapidly take in lots of information at once, his second thought is A shame, honestly, he's kind of hot. Because he's a professional and has the kind of customer service smile that even other people in retail can't beat, what leaves Claude's actual mouth is, "Hey there, welcome to Golden Deer~. How can I help you today?" Claude makes a note to turn on the charm, if only to make this guy ease up so that the other customers don't call the cops.
Despite his sterling reputation and retail-demanded acting skills, the glare on the guy's face only seems to get all the more pronounced and stormy. Enough, in fact, to make the person behind him shift backwards a step just a little uneasily. That's a rare one. Usually even the grumpiest people can't find fault with his radiant little smiles. Still, it does happen... The guy answers swift and short, "Can I get a venti Americano with an extra shot of expresso and a pump of vanilla?"
No frills, no nonsense. Claude revises his mental plan. Might be best just to get his hot and grumpy murderer-in-waiting through the line as quick as possible, make everyone happy. "Sure!" he replies, still putting on an air of casual ease. It doesn't escape him that he's probably the only person in the cafe acting as such, but that's fine. He's used to being the more relaxed party in the room at any given time... for any number of reasons. His fingers flick across the register screen as light as he pretends to be. "One venti Americano with an extra shot of expresso and a pump of vanilla. You want anything else?" Yet he hasn't even finished the sentence when he sees the faintest shake of the man's head, and Claude is already moving the process along as the card reader lights up-
"You."
Claude doesn't realize what's been said, for a second. How could he? The guy is already swiping his card through the reader even as he says it; it's not the action of a person who's consciously hit on the cashier of his local coffee shop. Claude pauses for a split second, trying to figure out if he misheard somehow only to immediately come to the conclusion that, no, no way, he absolutely didn't. In the same split second that he comes to that realization, his observation is almost immediately validated by the very guy responsible. They're right in front of each other; Claude has a front row seat to every little reaction. He gets to see the guy's hand jerks to a stop right out of the card reader, the utter stillness that falls across those perfectly broad shoulders, and how that glare finally disappears into thin air to be replaced by a blank-faced but wide-eyed look that carries about half a dozen different emotions in the blend that all seem to add up to horrified embarrassment.
It's not exactly strange for him to get flirted with at his job, by all genders. Sometimes Claude even reciprocates, if he thinks it's harmless enough or if the other party seems interesting. Sometimes he has to call security. Every time, the flirt is always on purpose.
That someone could flirt accidentally, all while looking like he would snap Death's neck himself, is certainly a new one. Later, Claude might even be impressed by himself. Right now, he doesn't even know how he wants to respond-
But good news, he doesn't have to. His Grumpiness makes the decision on this whole encounter all by himself, hastily typing in his PIN to the card reader. "That's all," he says, voice strained and- is that a blush? That's a blush spreading across his face, and it's amazing what a little bit of red can do to change an expression. Oh, he's still a huge muscular guy with bags under his eye who looks like he could break someone's jaw... but he's a cute one, shoving his card back into his wallet hastily.
"Alright then," Claude says, having decided with that alone as he tears off the receipt with an easy snap of his wrist. Yet before he can take this intriguing if risky little jump, the receipt is taken from his hand in a heart beat. Just like that, the guy is gone- moving at the fastest Claude has seen someone go without moving into a full on sprint. For a few seconds, he's left just standing there with his retail mask off and a look of blank surprise reigning instead. He recovers quickly, of course, and he makes the americano just in case.... But tall, blond, and intimidating doesn't come back to get it. Claude takes the drink for himself on his break, sipping it lazily and in no particular rush.
Funny. He's had people buy him drinks before... but usually they come with a phone number attached. He doesn't even know the guy's name.
"I can't go back to that cafe," Dimitri says, breathless and partially slumped against the door frame. "I've shamed my entire existence."
"Oh, I'm sure it wasn't that bad," Mercedes says with the patient and relaxed cheer that they've all come to know for the last few years. It's good that she's speaking up, because the rest of them are still wondering what on earth could have happened for a simple coffee run. At least, that's what Sylvain is wondering as he watches her go over to where Dimitri has his face in his hands. With how Dimitri still has a stick in him after all these years- and Sylvain has known him since they were kids, the stick might be a full grown tree by now- it probably isn't that bad. All he can muster up is faint amusement as he continues to help put up a row of succulents that will survive Mercedes' gaps in memory. And if gaps are too large and unconquerable, well, that's why Dedue exists.
"So no drink for Ashe today then, huh?" he says teasingly, which earns an elbow to his side from Ingrid, where she's right next to him putting up the books. Together, they're making Mercedes and Co.'s new apartment space seem almost cozy, despite Dimitri's flustered breakdown.
Ashe himself looks embarrassed at being called out. "I said he didn't have to go get anything.... So it's fine, really." Instead of taking the teasing in stride, that just prompts him to go over to where Mercedes has ushered Dimitri into a beanbag chair where he looks hilariously out of place.
Well, it seems like decorating a new apartment will have to wait! Sylvain cheerfully abandons succulent duty even as he flashes Ingrid a smile that says What, shouldn't we comfort our disaster stick in the mud friend during his time of embarrassing need? Her flat look of exasperation says she doesn't believe him at all, but that's fine. She doesn't stop him, which is the important thing. Yet by the time he joins the little beanbag crew, he's apparently already late to the party. Mercedes has an expression of blank faced puzzlement as she absorbs whatever Dimitri has just whispered to her, and Ashe has overhead enough to feel the need to rub the back of his neck. "I mean, if it was only that, maybe you could say that you mispoke?" Ashe suggests. "How much did you say?"
"Just- that. Just 'you'." Dimitri's grimace is bad enough to be more of a silent snarl than anything. "I had already shaken my head, I didn't need to open my mouth-"
To the dismay of many people, Sylvain is in fact pretty quick on the draw. Dismay because, while he could use his intelligence for a great many things that would do good to the world or even just his immediate surroundings... He instead pieces together his friend's atrocious social skills, the red on his face, and the basic mundane repetition of every food service joint in the world (coffee shops included) to make up the picture of what embarrassing mess Dimitri stumbled into. Even then, he almost doesn't believe it, having to ask incredulously, "Wait, you actually *flirted* with someone? In public?"
At least a couple different someones give him an exasperated and annoyed look, but Dimitri isn't one of them. He only stares in mortified horror down at the floor. "He was the cashier," he confirms in a hushed whisper. "What was I thinking- Sylvain!" At least the sound of laughter finally gets Dimitri to look up at him, although his face is nothing if not even more red. "I am dying. I am dead from my own shameless actions. Please have respect for the deceased."
"Hey, there's no need to act like that," Sylvain says, grinning. He's got to act fast if he doesn't want Ingrid to scold him, after all. "Besides, isn't this a good thing?" Folding his hands behind his head, he shrugs. "You're always being told that you need to go and see new people instead of sticking with the same friends you've known since kindergarten, especially lately. Even your therapist agrees, right? So you could almost view this as a good first step, reaching out like that."
"That wasn't reaching out," Dimitri protests. "I flirted at him. At his job!"
"Oh, that's hardly a big deal. I've flirted with people when they've been on the clock plenty of times."
"Which you never should have," Ingrid says, finally giving up on organizing things when everyone else in the apartment isn't bothering anymore. Walking over, she frowns at Sylvain. "There's a time and place for flirting, and doing it while someone has to pretend they like you no matter what is not that time. I agree with Dimitri." Reaching over, she pats their favorite blond disaster on the shoulder. "Still... You know what you did was inappropriate. Ashe is on the right track, in apologizing and saying you misspoke. It... isn't even technically a lie!"
Sometimes, listening to his friends is... Well, none of them are really having the wrong idea, especially for someone like Dimitri, Sylvain has to admit. He even knows, just by looking at the guy's face, that Dimitri would 100% do it, along with all the overly stiff apologies he could offer. A lot has changed since they were kids, and since they were all teenagers, but that aspect of him hasn't changed at all. It just... really seems like a waste. So, before Dimitri can really commit to this whole idea, Sylvain says, "Listen, let's go back to the very start. Who said you had to never go back to that cafe?"
Dimitri thins his lips. "He works there, Sylvain."
"Yeah, but he doesn't live there," he counters casually enough. "Listen, it's kind of ridiculous to avoid an entire cafe just because you embarrassed yourself in front of one guy there. Until you can work up the courage for a nice apology, you can still keep going there, just, you know, on his days off."
The gears in Dimitri's head are almost visibly turning as he stares up at Sylvain, trying to figure out what possible way he's being had here. His friend of many years is occasionally oblivious, to the point that he still doesn't know he was being flirted at for an entire year, but he's not an idiot. He's one of the few people in the world who knows that Sylvain isn't as dumb as he kind of wishes he was sometimes. "There's no possible way I could know that."
"So you just need someone who does! Or who can find out." Sylvain winks. "Which is a task I'll happily volunteer for. Besides, it'll be good to get an idea of how he reacted to your little stunt, right? Because, no offense meant, Dimitri... But you can be a little ridiculous sometimes. Don't want to go full ham with an apology if he doesn't feel it was a big deal, right? Ooooor, alternatively, if he never wants to see your face again, going into hiding might actually be the better apology."
The gears are still turning, but a little slower this time as Dimitri lets himself be convinced, all the moreso when Mercedes clasps her hands together. "That could work too, you know. Apologies can have the opposite effect if they're too much or too little, so it never hurts to check!" There's Ashe, giving an encouraging nod of his own too, and if Ingrid is humming in wary thought because she knows him almost better than anyone, well... She's still outnumbered.
At the very least, she doesn't say anything before Dimitri does, who gives a tentative nod. "If it would be no trouble..."
"Hey, Ashe says the place is really good all the time anyway. Having some of the food there might be worth the visit! Anyway, did you get his name? What he looks like, at the very least."
That kind of thing might work on Dimitri, who either wants to believe the best in people or has lost all hope in humanity, no inbetween, but Ingrid is a little harder to get one over. As they all go back to unpacking Mercedes' various knick-knacks, Dimitri apologizing to Ashe in the process, she leans in closer with a suspicious squint. "Are you really planning to go down to the Golden Deer purely as a helping hand?"
"So suspicious!" he protests, before giving up the act. Better to come clean before she makes something big out of it. "Anyway, aren't you curious? It's been ages since he's been interested in anyone. I almost thought he was making plans to join a nunnery and commit himself to God alone. What kind of person got through to a guy that thick?"
"Sylvain!" The scolding might be hissed out, but she doesn't exactly deny it.
This is going to be a ride.
"Hey there- oh, nice, you guys do seasonal lattes. Let's see..."
The redhead is the only guy in line right now, busting up a bit of quiet time in the shop, so Claude doesn't really mind letting him peruse the menu. He just flashes him a quick friendly smile. "Hey, take your time~. I've got nowhere else to be." Finishing off the banter with a slight laugh, he takes in this newest customer. Definitely not a regular- Claude would recognize anyone this handsome in that particular shade of red. What's most interesting, however, besides the good looks, is how he's being looked over himself in turn, with those eyes quickly finding his name tag.
Making his choice fairly quickly, the redhead leans back with his hands in his pocket. "How about a venti chai tea latte? A little extra cinnamon and definitely a little more chai, if you can manage it."
"A guy who likes a little bit of spice burning down the throat, huh?" Claude chuckles, waiting even as he places the order. "Want anything else?"
Just like he rather figured he would, the redhead leans into the counter a little bit, smiling with an easy confidence Claude can recognize. "You, if you're on the menu."
The flirting, he expected. That exact line, after only a couple of days of hearing a much clumsier attempt...? That makes him pause for a half second, wondering if there's an article going around on pick up attempts that he hasn't heard about, before Claude rolls with it. "I'm more of a free sample type," he teases, taking the flirt for the answer it is and ringing up redhead's receipt. "You getting the rest of the dish depends on some things. A more original pick up line, for starters."
There's no offense. In fact, there's the exact opposite as redhead laughs and slides his card through the reader. "Because a guy used it on you earlier, right? Would he have gotten docked for originality too?"
Well well well. The plot thickens. "Rumors sure do spread fast," Claude says, playing it cool even with his curiosity thoroughly peaked. "Although, with how fast that guy ran out on me, I didn't think he'd be the one to spread them."
Exasperation crosses over the redhead's face, and he holds his hands out to his sides to accompany his shrug. "Yeah, his flirting skills really do have a lot to be desired, although, really, this isn't the worst he's ever been. You're honestly as lucky as you are cute." He winks. "But I should introduce myself. Name's Sylvain. I thought I would take a look at who got my buddy flustered for the first time in honestly forever. Really, being affected by cute people at all in forever."
"Well?" Smirking right back, Claude takes a step away from the counter for a better view and cocks his head to the side. "Am I worth the visit?"
"Worth it and then some. If the coffee is as good as the service, then I'm not sure I'll ever want to leave." Pushing himself away from the counter, Sylvain laughs. "But I should probably let you work on that coffee first before I make any calls on that." Unlike his apparent buddy, Sylvain doesn't run right out the door. Instead, he does what is indeed the normal person thing, and goes to sprawl out at one of the tables while he flicks through his phone. Claude doesn't doubt that, despite the teasing in regards to their mutual blond, Sylvain was serious when he was flirting. Still, he doesn't push, because he is on the clock. In fact, he's pretty sure he won't need to....
Something he's proven right on when he finishes up the latte. Once he calls for Sylvain to get it, the redhead comes up to him with his phone prepped and at the ready. "Mind if I take a picture of you?" He waggles his phone. "Another friend of ours can't believe he made a move on someone either, and I want to get a picture to show her. She won't admit she's curious, but I know she's dying of it."
Pretty roundabout but at least up front way of asking for his picture; Claude rolls with it. "Is it really so surprising for him to make a move on anyone?" he asks in amusement, holding up the drink in one hand and flashing a peace sign with the other. Once the shot is clearly done, he slides the drink across to him.
"It may surprise you but he is in fact occasionally bad at people," Sylvain says, reaching forward. Instead of just accepting his drink, however, he does something else- he slides something into Claude's hand at the same time. Raising an eyebrow, Claude looks down to a thin strip of paper with a series of numbers written, and a single name: Dimitri. "But I'm not, and we have been friends for a long time... So I thought I would do him a favor." Drink in hand, Sylvain shrugs. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to! You can even throw it in the trash if you want. But it's there, if you were wondering what the deal with him is." His relaxed grin shifts a little bit, a bit more purposeful to match his wink. "Of course, if he's not your type, then I'm always available. I will say this for Dimitri- he definitely has great taste." And with that last bit of flirting done with... He makes his way out of the shop. Sure enough, on the back of the same strip of paper is another number completely different from the other one, and with a simple 'S' signing it off.
"It's such a chore, being so popular," Hilda says when she hears about the whole thing later that night in their shared apartment, sighing with a little bit of drama before she perks right up to drape across Claude's shoulder. They're both huddled in the living room, a laptop on the coffee table that they're both perusing. "Anyway, this is what I found online, take a look."
"I always knew I could count on you to dig up all the social media dirt, Hilda," he says fondly, crossing his legs to make himself comfortable as he leans into her space as well. "Sylvain Gautier, huh? Fancy."
"You know, that's really funny coming from you of all people."
No one can say that Sylvain isn't a popular and busy guy; Claude knew he had seen a kindred spirit in him. His various pieces of social media are flourishing, from a feel-good Instagram account that's so well done that Claude has to give it credit, to a Facebook which is filled with all sorts of friendly pictures and silly little joke posts. Anyone else might not see it as a big deal, but Claude can recognize when things are kept lowkey neutral and utterly relaxed. He has similar accounts on various other sites that are connected with his name, just in case future or current employers might go looking. (Or future dates, in Sylvain's case, more likely.) A respectable tactic, honestly. It doesn't escape him, either, just how many different people Sylvain seems so very chummy with in the various pictures he posts. Well, he's not the kind of guy who judges for that. Life is short. Why not spend it having a good time?
After getting a nice solid idea of just what Sylvain is offering- not even what he's like, but what he's offering to the general public and anyone also looking for a good time- Claude starts scrolling down through the giant public friends list on his page. "Now lets see..."
Hilda spares a glance up from her own phone, where she'd been grinding for coin on Cat Game. "What's up?"
"Sylvain said him and Dimitri are friends. If they're really friends, then they should be friended on at least one piece of social media. It's just a matter of figuring out which ones."
In the case of Sylvain and Dimitri, the plural aspect of that sentence might have to be taken out. Twitter? No connection. Instagram? Not even the slightest trace. As is often the case, it all comes down to Facebook trawling, and that's where Claude finally finds some measure of victory when Dimitri's name pops up. When he clicks on that name, Hilda makes a faintly offended noise. "There's nothing on this guy!"
She's not entirely wrong. The page for "Dimitri Blaiddyd" isn't empty, by any means, not exactly. It's just clearly not been touched in five years, judging by the time stamp. Even during that time, a lot of the posts seem to be almost pretty basic- the same kind of attempt at keeping a good image that Claude had recognized in Sylvain's social media but done in a much more bland and almost overly serious way. They're sporadic in terms of date, which Claude suspects were when he forgot to post something on his own feed, and almost more like simple notes on his life. Things like happy birthdays to various friends (all mutuals to Sylvain, he sees), or mentions of going to some community event or another. At least, while the words are stiff and almost uneasy in some ways, the pictures Dimitri posted some five years ago are a little bit nicer and probably the most genuine thing there. Images like the view from a bridge at dawn, various shots throughout seasons all around the city, and the occasional long-distance and equally longing snap of some street cat.
There are, notably, absolutely zero pictures of Dimitri himself anywhere on his own page, or at least any that he's volunteered of his own accord. For that, Claude has to check where he's been tagged, and that seems to most happen on the pages of either Sylvain or the mutual friends that the two seem to share. (He makes a mental thanks to a pair of girls named Mercedes and Annette, who seem to post almost more than Sylvain does, and a lot more honestly too.) In contrast to Dimitri having not touched his Facebook for over five years, his friends have all gladly picked up the slack. So much as in the last week, even! Mercedes and Annette post dozens of pictures of the two of them moving to a new apartment, most of them inconsequential to Claude's internet snooping, and the ones Dimitri does show up in seem to be with him in the background. If Claude didn't know better of the man who accidentally flirted with him and then ran away because of it, he might even go as far as to say that Dimitri prefers staying out of the spotlight. He's always in the background, or with other people. Still... Even those pictures manage to capture something different from the man who'd radiated a quiet promise of murder in a perfectly quaint little coffee shop. The bags under his eye are still present, but he seems calmer in most photos and even almost at ease in a group shot of everyone eating lunch together in a messy yet-to-be-unpacked apartment.
There's one that really gets his attention, however, and Claude pauses. "Holy shit."
"What, what is it?"
"Finish your round of cat blobbing and then look at this. That jacket he wore when he failed at flirting did not do him justice."
The caption for this particular picture reads 《WE GOT THE APARTMENT!!!! thx dimitri!》, and features the two women he's come to know as Mercedes and Annette. Thanks to the wonders of the internet and the prevalence of social media, he almost feels like he knows them pretty well at this point with how much of their stuff he's browsed.... But they aren't who he's focused on. Rather, it's the guy they're hanging onto. Dimitri is actually a focal point for once, right between the two women and in fact the main reason that they're upright at all. Annette is posed up along his side, one hand spread out with no small amount of dramatic flair, both feet off the ground entirely, and one of Dimitri's arms holding her up along her back. Mercedes is on his other side, swung down in an equally dramatic dip that Dimitri doesn't seem like he was prepared for but is still managing astonishingly well. The guy in question is wearing a rather plain ensemble... but that's just fine, because he's in a tank top that does a more than fine job of broadcasting just how built he is, muscles in perfect definition with how he has to hold up both women. Everyone is laughing.
Hilda makes a small "ooooh" of approval. "So he doesn't clean up too bad!"
He really doesn't, but it's not because he's actually featuring in a picture instead of avoiding it, or that his shirt really does a sinfully perfect job of outlining his muscles, or that his hair is actually done back in a just-messy-enough ponytail instead of hanging limply around his face. Instead, Claude feels incredibly validated by those second thoughts he'd had when Dimitri had been glowering at him and everyone and God across the counter:
When he's smiling, face flushed with good cheer, lips parted in a smile wide enough for laughter Claude can't hear, eyebrows up in startled but good natured surprise...
Yeah. That glare had put a perfectly good face to waste.
There's probably a lot more snooping he could do tonight, but Claude has things he could be doing instead of spending more than a half hour being weird on the internet. At least, weird in this particular way. Figuring that's enough, he rummages out his own phone along with the strip of paper carrying two numbers on it. Showing she knows him fairly well at this point, Hilda sighs in a way Claude, personally, likes to think is rather fond. "Your taste is horrible as always. I would have just looked up 'hot single ferals in my area' if this is how it was going to be."
Claude laughs at her. "Hey, it doesn't look like he'll kill me in a dark alley. Besides, if he's a little feral and bites, well... I'm into that."
"Don't get rabies."
"No promises~."
↣ hey is this dimitri?
⇀ Yes, it is. Who is this?
↣ blond hair, eyepatch?
⇀ Yes.
↣ hey there! it's claude from golden deer [○´・ω・]ノ your friend passed along your number
↣ you never did pick up ur drink
↣ or me (。•̀ᴗ-)✧
『MESSAGE READ AT 7:27 P.M.』
Claude gives him a good ten minutes to come to terms with this fact of life before he squints at his phone. Hilda has her hand to her mouth, trying in vain to hold back her laughter if only so that Lorenz doesn't give them a telling off on disturbing the neighbors. Again. "I hope he didn't have a heart attack and die right there," he mutters at his screen.
"Maybe he got so surprised that he threw his phone at a wall so hard he shattered it."
"If he did, that just makes me want to touch his biceps all the more."
Normally, Sylvain would be disappointed that he doesn't have a date on a nice weekend night. Normally, however, he doesn't manage to rope Felix into spending the night at his apartment. And, well. Normally, his phone doesn't explode with about a dozen texts all at once. Well. Not usually normally. He hasn't done anything, recently, that would make it happen. He... thinks. Sylvain desperately tries to remember who he's dated in the past month that might have decided to start something... or maybe had a boyfriend or girlfriend or nbfriend who'd object to his existence. Those ones always came as a sucker punch of a surprise, and Sylvain hates surprises like that in his dating life as it is.
For once, however... It's kind of the opposite of his usual problems. It's so outside what he could possibly have expected, in fact, that Sylvain takes a few seconds to reread the messages over a few times. "WHAT!?"
Felix sticks his head out from the cabinets, one eyebrow raised at an exclamation that loud. "What did you do now?"
Out of all the people Sylvain knows, Felix is one of those who would appreciate and understand his plight the least. Unfortunately for both of them, Felix is the one who's there, so it's Felix's ear that gets the honor of being vented into. Sylvain gives a hopelessly surprised gesture at his phone. "I gave that cashier both of our numbers, and he actually texted Dimitri!? I didn't think he would contact EITHER of us!"
When Sylvain looks over, he can almost visibly see a reboot screen starting up behind Felix's wide eyes. "Wait," he says, voice strangled from an urge to either laugh at Sylvain or sheer incredulity, "someone actually is interested in him for once?"
"That's what I'm saying!"
⇀ Sylvain, we need to talk.
⇀ Sylvain, I know you have your phone on you at all times, even when you are taking a shower. Pick up the phone right now.
⇀ This isn't figuring out his work schedule, Sylvain!
⇀ Giving him my number so that he can text me isn't what you said you would do at all!
⇀ I just
⇀ I just expected to take care of this neatly and without anything terrible happening.
⇀ What were you thinking?
⇀ Sylvain
⇀ get on the phone right now sylvain
⇀ i swear to god if I have to come over there then I will
⇀ goddammit
↬ oh wow ok you're actually swearing now
↬ I can tell you're really upset right now dimitri
↬ But i'm here
↬ so
⇀ why
↬ listen i was serious that it was a good thing that you reached out and everything! u never took a first step even in high school
↬ so i thought
↬ hey
↬ why not get a look at this guy and see how he reacts to hearing about u
↬ and he didn't seem horrified at you so i thought a # couldn't hurt
↬ what did he say?
⇀ He introduced himself and referenced my disastrous and shameful display from when I spoke to him.
↬ idt that's exactly what he said but k
↬ what did u say?
⇀ I haven't replied yet.
↬ how long ago did he text u?
『MESSAGE READ AT 7:52 P.M.』
"Jeez," Sylvain says quietly to himself, unable and unwilling to stop the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "This is why you had such bad luck dating in high school, Dimitri. But I guess disasters might be this guy's type." Well, there's someone for everyone in the world. It's not necessarily something that might *last*, but there is someone for everyone.
He wishes Dimitri luck anyways. He can't remember the last time their Grumpiness ever took a moment to relax. Maybe a cute coffee shop cashier is just the thing to break through.
Assuming, you know. Dimitri remembers to not leave the cute cashier in question hanging on an un-answered text for.... He'll put his money down on half an hour.
That's some fun new drama that he's sure he'll get to hear all about later. For the present current now, Sylvain puts his phone back to the side and smiles over to where Felix is pinching the bridge of his nose in disbelief. "What, is it that surprising?"
"It's most likely because he's tall and blond, but, even with that, I can't believe it."
"Oh, you can't believe it now? Wait until I tell you the details."
Sometimes, it really astonishes him just how much he can be terrible. Dimitri has always held this low view of himself to some degree, but it's especially bad now as he glowers down at his phone. It takes a second for him to realize his own expression, and he hastily shakes his head. "Breathe," he tells himself quietly, sinking into the chair at his tiny kitchen table. It still seems so dwarfed compared to the overall size of his apartment, compared to him. He doesn't feel particularly welcomed by it, but he doesn't need to in order to close his eyes and let out a slow breath. He swears he's going to get back to the message he knows is still waiting for him on his phone. However, it's important he not mess this up. It's important that he not let his temper or his impatience or anything else get in the way. Deep breath. Slow. How it feels filling his lungs, the stretch of muscle, and how it feels leaving him. Just like the Byleths said, for occasions like this. It's okay if he takes another minute.
When his heart has ceased so much rattling in his rib cage, Dimitri opens his eyes again and glances down at his phone. This is fine. It doesn't seem bad yet. He tries to tell himself that, with some mixed degree of success. Maybe Sylvain is right. Maybe Claude isn't as repulsed or insulted as Dimitri had thought he would be.
...He should probably still apologize, however.
"Oh, hey," Claude says at a cheerful ping from his phone. "He actually responded."
Hilda doesn't look away from where she's trawling through the dungeons of Hades, pink hearts and sparkles surrounding her hunk of a character. "That only took half an hour. What is he saying?"
"Ha. Well..."
⇀ I apologize that it took so long for me to respond to you. I hadn't been told that my number had been given to you, and I didn't expect you to get in contact with me at all.
↣ lol
↣ it's fine
⇀ I also want to apologize for how rude I was when I saw you at the Golden Deer. It was improper of me to say that sort of thing to you while you were on the clock. I wasn't thinking.
↣ if it makes you feel better, you aren't the first
⇀ I can believe that very easily.
↣ charmer (。◝‿◜。)
↣ but you don't have to apologize so much
↣ you got me really curious tbh! i wasn't expecting a sudden come on from a guy like you~
⇀ It is not a habit of mine.
⇀ Although there is something I can't help but wonder.
↣ shoot
⇀ Were you serious just now?
↣ about what?
⇀ When you inquired about me picking you up.
⇀ I can't read tone over text very well, so I'm not certain if you were just joking or being serious.
⇀ If it was a joke, then you don't have to concern yourself over me any further.
⇀ I don't want to be a bother to you.
↣ lmao you're really serious you know
↣ well let's see
↣ hmmmmmmm
↣ you seem like a pretty nice guy and you ARE pretty cute
↣ so i wouldn't mind a single date to see how you really are
↣ b/c i've definitely seen more sides of you than i have literally any other person all in the total span of 5 minutes
↣ and that's pretty interesting!
⇀ Is that a good thing?
↣ ~(m~ー~)m it's a mystery!
↣ anyway did you have a date in mind or should i show how serious i really am?
⇀ Please allow me to make up for my embarrassing display when we first met.
⇀ I may just need a little time.
⇀ I hope you understand.
↣ lol ok
⇀ Are you allergic to anything?
⇀ Do you have a preference for dates?
↣ nah lmao
↣ and surprise me 。゚+.ღ(ゝ◡ ⚈᷀᷁ღ)
In perfect harmony, him and Hilda both lean back away from his phone with some satisfaction. At least, he's feeling pretty satisfied with how the conversation went. Hilda goes, "Do you think his idea of a date is murdering you in a sanitized white basement, or taking you to the most bland white bread artisanal restaurant imaginable? Also, which would you prefer?"
"I mean, at least the attempted basement murder would be a new and fun experience," Claude says glibly, finally putting his phone away so that he can crane his neck to see where Hilda is in her game. "Anyway, my chances are, as I view it, 30% boring artisan restaurant, 10% murder, and 60% a potential third option."
"And just what is this mysterious Door Number Three?"
Claude gives a playful wink. "Something interesting."
⇀ So I feel that I owe you an apology, Sylvain.
⇀ I should not have snapped at you in the way that I did, let alone let my temper get to the point of swearing.
⇀ I was simply not expecting to deal with this kind of thing, especially when I was under the impression that something else would happen.
⇀ I can understand the good intent behind your actions.
⇀ Thank you for your concern and friendship.
↬ :)
↬ so need help with that date u got?
⇀ However, you still never should have done what you did, and I am still rather annoyed about that.
⇀ So, as punishment, I will not be asking for your assistance in my romantic endeavors.
⇀ You will get no pleasure out of whatever happens in my love life.
↬
↬ but i'm great w/helping plan dates!
⇀ You have a talent for swindling women.
↬ this is w/a guy!
⇀ I have made my decision, Sylvain.
⇀ Have a good night.
↬ dimitri please do not plan a date on ur own
↬ Dimitri, I will even use proper grammar and punctuation. Please don't do that.
『MESSAGE READ AT 8:16 P.M.』
↬ omg
Dimitri doesn't plan the date on his own.
He's more than willing to acknowledge his many faults- a bit too willing, maybe, if his therapists are to be believed, which they are. Still, when he can recognize his own weaknesses and not get completely wrapped up in them, he's willing to shore them up. In a lot of cases, that means asking for help. Sylvain really would be the most knowledgeable person to contact in this matter, but Dimitri means what he said. He's not going to give his friend that kind of satisfaction when he's made a mistake like this.
That's how he finds himself, one free afternoon, seated neatly on the couch of his newly made neighbors while Annette cheerfully spreads out a variety of magazines and Ashe clicks through a couple of different websites. Very faintly, Dimitri feels himself wishing that he'd picked a day that Mercedes was off work. "I mean, movies are fairly tried and true," Ashe says, resting his cheek in his palm. "But it doesn't look like there's anything really good showing lately...."
"I'm not particularly a fan of going to the movies anyway... Not for a date." Dimitri shakes his head. "It feels strange to just sit in a dark room, watch something, and then call that an activity you did together.... It feels like a waste of money and time for something as simple as a conversational topic to have later."
"I agree completely," Annette announces, crossing out various things in the magazines. No one can say she doesn't do her best when it comes to helping others out, and Dimitri feels a swell of fondness in his chest. Truly, he doesn't deserve most of the friends he has. "You're definitely far more active anyway, Dimitri, and you should show off your best side for a first date! Oh-" She taps something on a long list featured in some article or another. "What about rock climbing together? That's really interesting."
Ashe and Dimitri consider the suggestion carefully. "It may be a little... much for a very first date?" Ashe offers carefully.
Dimitri nods. "What if he's not someone who likes to exercise so much...? And I would be taking a valuable bit of time off for him.... I don't want him to feel as though he is working more if that isn't what he wants."
Sighing, Annette leans back with her arms crossed. "True... It would have been really helpful if he could have told you what sort of dates he likes. I don't know if he's adventurous or feeling lazy..."
"It's his day off. He should be allowed to feel lazy."
A click of the laptop signals Ashe is continuing his own side of the search. "Bowling might seem too boring, huh..."
Dimitri tries not to be too intrusive as he leans over to look at the list Ashe is browsing now, but, eventually, he can't help but have his gaze drift over to his friend. "What... did all of you do, for your first dates with one another?"
That draws both of them to a pause, and Dimitri is treated to the charming image of two people so absolutely in love looking over to one another, smiling gently, blushing, swept up in soft memories that are only truly shared by each other. He's always been happy to see his dear friends go through such an experience, ever since they all started to stumble into this massive relationship with one another. It's what he's occasionally dreamed of for himself, for many years, and only recently has stopped completely punishing himself over. "Well," Ashe finally says, "I'm not really sure if this is something that your date would be interested in at all, honestly, but... Me and Annette went to a planetarium. It was pretty cheap- not that we're saying you should be cheap! Although perhaps don't go over the top? But, well..." Still blushing and smiling a bit, Ashe shrugs. "It was what worked for both of us, at the time..."
"And it was so much fun!" Annette gushes, holding her hands up and gesturing, her own smile wide. "It wasn't like a packed movie theater or anything, and we were allowed to talk, or ask as many questions as we wanted! There was also plenty of stuff to do afterwards connected to the show, so we just- messed around! And we got to talk about everything, and, well..." She leans back, hands curled up in her lap, and shares another one of those bright smiles with Ashe. "You know! Things happened."
He doesn't know, actually, although he wishes that he did. Dimitri just watches the two of them, smiling a little to himself. Even if he doesn't ever find anything or anyone for himself... At least his friends are happy. That's more important, he thinks. He almost wants to excuse himself so they can have some moments together, even if he hasn't yet gotten an answer on how Mercedes and Dedue factored into all of this. Before he can, Ashe leans forward again. "But maybe that's the kind of activity you should aim for. Something a bit more... open? So it doesn't feel so restrictive!"
"That almost sounds as though it would be a perfect date..." Do things like that exist? Dimitri leans forward to start going through the magazines as well, hoping for some burst of inspiration. Sylvain would probably have the perfect idea if it was something like that... Maybe he was too hasty in refuting any potential help. As he shifts aside some of the magazines, one of them seems out of place- probably picked up purely by accident as Annette was gathering them. One of Dedue's magazines, if Dimitri ever had to guess, and he picks it up to see it a little more clearly. It's a nature magazine, but there's a special article advertised on the very front about the relationship between animals and plants... The focus appears to be a more tropical locale than anything that they would get to see here in the city. Dimitri stares at it for a moment, mind slowly churning, before he turns to where Annette is crossing out more things in one of the magazines.
"Annette, do you think...?"
Despite his sterling reputation and retail-demanded acting skills, the glare on the guy's face only seems to get all the more pronounced and stormy. Enough, in fact, to make the person behind him shift backwards a step just a little uneasily. That's a rare one. Usually even the grumpiest people can't find fault with his radiant little smiles. Still, it does happen... The guy answers swift and short, "Can I get a venti Americano with an extra shot of expresso and a pump of vanilla?"
No frills, no nonsense. Claude revises his mental plan. Might be best just to get his hot and grumpy murderer-in-waiting through the line as quick as possible, make everyone happy. "Sure!" he replies, still putting on an air of casual ease. It doesn't escape him that he's probably the only person in the cafe acting as such, but that's fine. He's used to being the more relaxed party in the room at any given time... for any number of reasons. His fingers flick across the register screen as light as he pretends to be. "One venti Americano with an extra shot of expresso and a pump of vanilla. You want anything else?" Yet he hasn't even finished the sentence when he sees the faintest shake of the man's head, and Claude is already moving the process along as the card reader lights up-
"You."
Claude doesn't realize what's been said, for a second. How could he? The guy is already swiping his card through the reader even as he says it; it's not the action of a person who's consciously hit on the cashier of his local coffee shop. Claude pauses for a split second, trying to figure out if he misheard somehow only to immediately come to the conclusion that, no, no way, he absolutely didn't. In the same split second that he comes to that realization, his observation is almost immediately validated by the very guy responsible. They're right in front of each other; Claude has a front row seat to every little reaction. He gets to see the guy's hand jerks to a stop right out of the card reader, the utter stillness that falls across those perfectly broad shoulders, and how that glare finally disappears into thin air to be replaced by a blank-faced but wide-eyed look that carries about half a dozen different emotions in the blend that all seem to add up to horrified embarrassment.
It's not exactly strange for him to get flirted with at his job, by all genders. Sometimes Claude even reciprocates, if he thinks it's harmless enough or if the other party seems interesting. Sometimes he has to call security. Every time, the flirt is always on purpose.
That someone could flirt accidentally, all while looking like he would snap Death's neck himself, is certainly a new one. Later, Claude might even be impressed by himself. Right now, he doesn't even know how he wants to respond-
But good news, he doesn't have to. His Grumpiness makes the decision on this whole encounter all by himself, hastily typing in his PIN to the card reader. "That's all," he says, voice strained and- is that a blush? That's a blush spreading across his face, and it's amazing what a little bit of red can do to change an expression. Oh, he's still a huge muscular guy with bags under his eye who looks like he could break someone's jaw... but he's a cute one, shoving his card back into his wallet hastily.
"Alright then," Claude says, having decided with that alone as he tears off the receipt with an easy snap of his wrist. Yet before he can take this intriguing if risky little jump, the receipt is taken from his hand in a heart beat. Just like that, the guy is gone- moving at the fastest Claude has seen someone go without moving into a full on sprint. For a few seconds, he's left just standing there with his retail mask off and a look of blank surprise reigning instead. He recovers quickly, of course, and he makes the americano just in case.... But tall, blond, and intimidating doesn't come back to get it. Claude takes the drink for himself on his break, sipping it lazily and in no particular rush.
Funny. He's had people buy him drinks before... but usually they come with a phone number attached. He doesn't even know the guy's name.
"I can't go back to that cafe," Dimitri says, breathless and partially slumped against the door frame. "I've shamed my entire existence."
"Oh, I'm sure it wasn't that bad," Mercedes says with the patient and relaxed cheer that they've all come to know for the last few years. It's good that she's speaking up, because the rest of them are still wondering what on earth could have happened for a simple coffee run. At least, that's what Sylvain is wondering as he watches her go over to where Dimitri has his face in his hands. With how Dimitri still has a stick in him after all these years- and Sylvain has known him since they were kids, the stick might be a full grown tree by now- it probably isn't that bad. All he can muster up is faint amusement as he continues to help put up a row of succulents that will survive Mercedes' gaps in memory. And if gaps are too large and unconquerable, well, that's why Dedue exists.
"So no drink for Ashe today then, huh?" he says teasingly, which earns an elbow to his side from Ingrid, where she's right next to him putting up the books. Together, they're making Mercedes and Co.'s new apartment space seem almost cozy, despite Dimitri's flustered breakdown.
Ashe himself looks embarrassed at being called out. "I said he didn't have to go get anything.... So it's fine, really." Instead of taking the teasing in stride, that just prompts him to go over to where Mercedes has ushered Dimitri into a beanbag chair where he looks hilariously out of place.
Well, it seems like decorating a new apartment will have to wait! Sylvain cheerfully abandons succulent duty even as he flashes Ingrid a smile that says What, shouldn't we comfort our disaster stick in the mud friend during his time of embarrassing need? Her flat look of exasperation says she doesn't believe him at all, but that's fine. She doesn't stop him, which is the important thing. Yet by the time he joins the little beanbag crew, he's apparently already late to the party. Mercedes has an expression of blank faced puzzlement as she absorbs whatever Dimitri has just whispered to her, and Ashe has overhead enough to feel the need to rub the back of his neck. "I mean, if it was only that, maybe you could say that you mispoke?" Ashe suggests. "How much did you say?"
"Just- that. Just 'you'." Dimitri's grimace is bad enough to be more of a silent snarl than anything. "I had already shaken my head, I didn't need to open my mouth-"
To the dismay of many people, Sylvain is in fact pretty quick on the draw. Dismay because, while he could use his intelligence for a great many things that would do good to the world or even just his immediate surroundings... He instead pieces together his friend's atrocious social skills, the red on his face, and the basic mundane repetition of every food service joint in the world (coffee shops included) to make up the picture of what embarrassing mess Dimitri stumbled into. Even then, he almost doesn't believe it, having to ask incredulously, "Wait, you actually *flirted* with someone? In public?"
At least a couple different someones give him an exasperated and annoyed look, but Dimitri isn't one of them. He only stares in mortified horror down at the floor. "He was the cashier," he confirms in a hushed whisper. "What was I thinking- Sylvain!" At least the sound of laughter finally gets Dimitri to look up at him, although his face is nothing if not even more red. "I am dying. I am dead from my own shameless actions. Please have respect for the deceased."
"Hey, there's no need to act like that," Sylvain says, grinning. He's got to act fast if he doesn't want Ingrid to scold him, after all. "Besides, isn't this a good thing?" Folding his hands behind his head, he shrugs. "You're always being told that you need to go and see new people instead of sticking with the same friends you've known since kindergarten, especially lately. Even your therapist agrees, right? So you could almost view this as a good first step, reaching out like that."
"That wasn't reaching out," Dimitri protests. "I flirted at him. At his job!"
"Oh, that's hardly a big deal. I've flirted with people when they've been on the clock plenty of times."
"Which you never should have," Ingrid says, finally giving up on organizing things when everyone else in the apartment isn't bothering anymore. Walking over, she frowns at Sylvain. "There's a time and place for flirting, and doing it while someone has to pretend they like you no matter what is not that time. I agree with Dimitri." Reaching over, she pats their favorite blond disaster on the shoulder. "Still... You know what you did was inappropriate. Ashe is on the right track, in apologizing and saying you misspoke. It... isn't even technically a lie!"
Sometimes, listening to his friends is... Well, none of them are really having the wrong idea, especially for someone like Dimitri, Sylvain has to admit. He even knows, just by looking at the guy's face, that Dimitri would 100% do it, along with all the overly stiff apologies he could offer. A lot has changed since they were kids, and since they were all teenagers, but that aspect of him hasn't changed at all. It just... really seems like a waste. So, before Dimitri can really commit to this whole idea, Sylvain says, "Listen, let's go back to the very start. Who said you had to never go back to that cafe?"
Dimitri thins his lips. "He works there, Sylvain."
"Yeah, but he doesn't live there," he counters casually enough. "Listen, it's kind of ridiculous to avoid an entire cafe just because you embarrassed yourself in front of one guy there. Until you can work up the courage for a nice apology, you can still keep going there, just, you know, on his days off."
The gears in Dimitri's head are almost visibly turning as he stares up at Sylvain, trying to figure out what possible way he's being had here. His friend of many years is occasionally oblivious, to the point that he still doesn't know he was being flirted at for an entire year, but he's not an idiot. He's one of the few people in the world who knows that Sylvain isn't as dumb as he kind of wishes he was sometimes. "There's no possible way I could know that."
"So you just need someone who does! Or who can find out." Sylvain winks. "Which is a task I'll happily volunteer for. Besides, it'll be good to get an idea of how he reacted to your little stunt, right? Because, no offense meant, Dimitri... But you can be a little ridiculous sometimes. Don't want to go full ham with an apology if he doesn't feel it was a big deal, right? Ooooor, alternatively, if he never wants to see your face again, going into hiding might actually be the better apology."
The gears are still turning, but a little slower this time as Dimitri lets himself be convinced, all the moreso when Mercedes clasps her hands together. "That could work too, you know. Apologies can have the opposite effect if they're too much or too little, so it never hurts to check!" There's Ashe, giving an encouraging nod of his own too, and if Ingrid is humming in wary thought because she knows him almost better than anyone, well... She's still outnumbered.
At the very least, she doesn't say anything before Dimitri does, who gives a tentative nod. "If it would be no trouble..."
"Hey, Ashe says the place is really good all the time anyway. Having some of the food there might be worth the visit! Anyway, did you get his name? What he looks like, at the very least."
That kind of thing might work on Dimitri, who either wants to believe the best in people or has lost all hope in humanity, no inbetween, but Ingrid is a little harder to get one over. As they all go back to unpacking Mercedes' various knick-knacks, Dimitri apologizing to Ashe in the process, she leans in closer with a suspicious squint. "Are you really planning to go down to the Golden Deer purely as a helping hand?"
"So suspicious!" he protests, before giving up the act. Better to come clean before she makes something big out of it. "Anyway, aren't you curious? It's been ages since he's been interested in anyone. I almost thought he was making plans to join a nunnery and commit himself to God alone. What kind of person got through to a guy that thick?"
"Sylvain!" The scolding might be hissed out, but she doesn't exactly deny it.
This is going to be a ride.
"Hey there- oh, nice, you guys do seasonal lattes. Let's see..."
The redhead is the only guy in line right now, busting up a bit of quiet time in the shop, so Claude doesn't really mind letting him peruse the menu. He just flashes him a quick friendly smile. "Hey, take your time~. I've got nowhere else to be." Finishing off the banter with a slight laugh, he takes in this newest customer. Definitely not a regular- Claude would recognize anyone this handsome in that particular shade of red. What's most interesting, however, besides the good looks, is how he's being looked over himself in turn, with those eyes quickly finding his name tag.
Making his choice fairly quickly, the redhead leans back with his hands in his pocket. "How about a venti chai tea latte? A little extra cinnamon and definitely a little more chai, if you can manage it."
"A guy who likes a little bit of spice burning down the throat, huh?" Claude chuckles, waiting even as he places the order. "Want anything else?"
Just like he rather figured he would, the redhead leans into the counter a little bit, smiling with an easy confidence Claude can recognize. "You, if you're on the menu."
The flirting, he expected. That exact line, after only a couple of days of hearing a much clumsier attempt...? That makes him pause for a half second, wondering if there's an article going around on pick up attempts that he hasn't heard about, before Claude rolls with it. "I'm more of a free sample type," he teases, taking the flirt for the answer it is and ringing up redhead's receipt. "You getting the rest of the dish depends on some things. A more original pick up line, for starters."
There's no offense. In fact, there's the exact opposite as redhead laughs and slides his card through the reader. "Because a guy used it on you earlier, right? Would he have gotten docked for originality too?"
Well well well. The plot thickens. "Rumors sure do spread fast," Claude says, playing it cool even with his curiosity thoroughly peaked. "Although, with how fast that guy ran out on me, I didn't think he'd be the one to spread them."
Exasperation crosses over the redhead's face, and he holds his hands out to his sides to accompany his shrug. "Yeah, his flirting skills really do have a lot to be desired, although, really, this isn't the worst he's ever been. You're honestly as lucky as you are cute." He winks. "But I should introduce myself. Name's Sylvain. I thought I would take a look at who got my buddy flustered for the first time in honestly forever. Really, being affected by cute people at all in forever."
"Well?" Smirking right back, Claude takes a step away from the counter for a better view and cocks his head to the side. "Am I worth the visit?"
"Worth it and then some. If the coffee is as good as the service, then I'm not sure I'll ever want to leave." Pushing himself away from the counter, Sylvain laughs. "But I should probably let you work on that coffee first before I make any calls on that." Unlike his apparent buddy, Sylvain doesn't run right out the door. Instead, he does what is indeed the normal person thing, and goes to sprawl out at one of the tables while he flicks through his phone. Claude doesn't doubt that, despite the teasing in regards to their mutual blond, Sylvain was serious when he was flirting. Still, he doesn't push, because he is on the clock. In fact, he's pretty sure he won't need to....
Something he's proven right on when he finishes up the latte. Once he calls for Sylvain to get it, the redhead comes up to him with his phone prepped and at the ready. "Mind if I take a picture of you?" He waggles his phone. "Another friend of ours can't believe he made a move on someone either, and I want to get a picture to show her. She won't admit she's curious, but I know she's dying of it."
Pretty roundabout but at least up front way of asking for his picture; Claude rolls with it. "Is it really so surprising for him to make a move on anyone?" he asks in amusement, holding up the drink in one hand and flashing a peace sign with the other. Once the shot is clearly done, he slides the drink across to him.
"It may surprise you but he is in fact occasionally bad at people," Sylvain says, reaching forward. Instead of just accepting his drink, however, he does something else- he slides something into Claude's hand at the same time. Raising an eyebrow, Claude looks down to a thin strip of paper with a series of numbers written, and a single name: Dimitri. "But I'm not, and we have been friends for a long time... So I thought I would do him a favor." Drink in hand, Sylvain shrugs. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to! You can even throw it in the trash if you want. But it's there, if you were wondering what the deal with him is." His relaxed grin shifts a little bit, a bit more purposeful to match his wink. "Of course, if he's not your type, then I'm always available. I will say this for Dimitri- he definitely has great taste." And with that last bit of flirting done with... He makes his way out of the shop. Sure enough, on the back of the same strip of paper is another number completely different from the other one, and with a simple 'S' signing it off.
"It's such a chore, being so popular," Hilda says when she hears about the whole thing later that night in their shared apartment, sighing with a little bit of drama before she perks right up to drape across Claude's shoulder. They're both huddled in the living room, a laptop on the coffee table that they're both perusing. "Anyway, this is what I found online, take a look."
"I always knew I could count on you to dig up all the social media dirt, Hilda," he says fondly, crossing his legs to make himself comfortable as he leans into her space as well. "Sylvain Gautier, huh? Fancy."
"You know, that's really funny coming from you of all people."
No one can say that Sylvain isn't a popular and busy guy; Claude knew he had seen a kindred spirit in him. His various pieces of social media are flourishing, from a feel-good Instagram account that's so well done that Claude has to give it credit, to a Facebook which is filled with all sorts of friendly pictures and silly little joke posts. Anyone else might not see it as a big deal, but Claude can recognize when things are kept lowkey neutral and utterly relaxed. He has similar accounts on various other sites that are connected with his name, just in case future or current employers might go looking. (Or future dates, in Sylvain's case, more likely.) A respectable tactic, honestly. It doesn't escape him, either, just how many different people Sylvain seems so very chummy with in the various pictures he posts. Well, he's not the kind of guy who judges for that. Life is short. Why not spend it having a good time?
After getting a nice solid idea of just what Sylvain is offering- not even what he's like, but what he's offering to the general public and anyone also looking for a good time- Claude starts scrolling down through the giant public friends list on his page. "Now lets see..."
Hilda spares a glance up from her own phone, where she'd been grinding for coin on Cat Game. "What's up?"
"Sylvain said him and Dimitri are friends. If they're really friends, then they should be friended on at least one piece of social media. It's just a matter of figuring out which ones."
In the case of Sylvain and Dimitri, the plural aspect of that sentence might have to be taken out. Twitter? No connection. Instagram? Not even the slightest trace. As is often the case, it all comes down to Facebook trawling, and that's where Claude finally finds some measure of victory when Dimitri's name pops up. When he clicks on that name, Hilda makes a faintly offended noise. "There's nothing on this guy!"
She's not entirely wrong. The page for "Dimitri Blaiddyd" isn't empty, by any means, not exactly. It's just clearly not been touched in five years, judging by the time stamp. Even during that time, a lot of the posts seem to be almost pretty basic- the same kind of attempt at keeping a good image that Claude had recognized in Sylvain's social media but done in a much more bland and almost overly serious way. They're sporadic in terms of date, which Claude suspects were when he forgot to post something on his own feed, and almost more like simple notes on his life. Things like happy birthdays to various friends (all mutuals to Sylvain, he sees), or mentions of going to some community event or another. At least, while the words are stiff and almost uneasy in some ways, the pictures Dimitri posted some five years ago are a little bit nicer and probably the most genuine thing there. Images like the view from a bridge at dawn, various shots throughout seasons all around the city, and the occasional long-distance and equally longing snap of some street cat.
There are, notably, absolutely zero pictures of Dimitri himself anywhere on his own page, or at least any that he's volunteered of his own accord. For that, Claude has to check where he's been tagged, and that seems to most happen on the pages of either Sylvain or the mutual friends that the two seem to share. (He makes a mental thanks to a pair of girls named Mercedes and Annette, who seem to post almost more than Sylvain does, and a lot more honestly too.) In contrast to Dimitri having not touched his Facebook for over five years, his friends have all gladly picked up the slack. So much as in the last week, even! Mercedes and Annette post dozens of pictures of the two of them moving to a new apartment, most of them inconsequential to Claude's internet snooping, and the ones Dimitri does show up in seem to be with him in the background. If Claude didn't know better of the man who accidentally flirted with him and then ran away because of it, he might even go as far as to say that Dimitri prefers staying out of the spotlight. He's always in the background, or with other people. Still... Even those pictures manage to capture something different from the man who'd radiated a quiet promise of murder in a perfectly quaint little coffee shop. The bags under his eye are still present, but he seems calmer in most photos and even almost at ease in a group shot of everyone eating lunch together in a messy yet-to-be-unpacked apartment.
There's one that really gets his attention, however, and Claude pauses. "Holy shit."
"What, what is it?"
"Finish your round of cat blobbing and then look at this. That jacket he wore when he failed at flirting did not do him justice."
The caption for this particular picture reads 《WE GOT THE APARTMENT!!!! thx dimitri!》, and features the two women he's come to know as Mercedes and Annette. Thanks to the wonders of the internet and the prevalence of social media, he almost feels like he knows them pretty well at this point with how much of their stuff he's browsed.... But they aren't who he's focused on. Rather, it's the guy they're hanging onto. Dimitri is actually a focal point for once, right between the two women and in fact the main reason that they're upright at all. Annette is posed up along his side, one hand spread out with no small amount of dramatic flair, both feet off the ground entirely, and one of Dimitri's arms holding her up along her back. Mercedes is on his other side, swung down in an equally dramatic dip that Dimitri doesn't seem like he was prepared for but is still managing astonishingly well. The guy in question is wearing a rather plain ensemble... but that's just fine, because he's in a tank top that does a more than fine job of broadcasting just how built he is, muscles in perfect definition with how he has to hold up both women. Everyone is laughing.
Hilda makes a small "ooooh" of approval. "So he doesn't clean up too bad!"
He really doesn't, but it's not because he's actually featuring in a picture instead of avoiding it, or that his shirt really does a sinfully perfect job of outlining his muscles, or that his hair is actually done back in a just-messy-enough ponytail instead of hanging limply around his face. Instead, Claude feels incredibly validated by those second thoughts he'd had when Dimitri had been glowering at him and everyone and God across the counter:
When he's smiling, face flushed with good cheer, lips parted in a smile wide enough for laughter Claude can't hear, eyebrows up in startled but good natured surprise...
Yeah. That glare had put a perfectly good face to waste.
There's probably a lot more snooping he could do tonight, but Claude has things he could be doing instead of spending more than a half hour being weird on the internet. At least, weird in this particular way. Figuring that's enough, he rummages out his own phone along with the strip of paper carrying two numbers on it. Showing she knows him fairly well at this point, Hilda sighs in a way Claude, personally, likes to think is rather fond. "Your taste is horrible as always. I would have just looked up 'hot single ferals in my area' if this is how it was going to be."
Claude laughs at her. "Hey, it doesn't look like he'll kill me in a dark alley. Besides, if he's a little feral and bites, well... I'm into that."
"Don't get rabies."
"No promises~."
↣ hey is this dimitri?
⇀ Yes, it is. Who is this?
↣ blond hair, eyepatch?
⇀ Yes.
↣ hey there! it's claude from golden deer [○´・ω・]ノ your friend passed along your number
↣ you never did pick up ur drink
↣ or me (。•̀ᴗ-)✧
『MESSAGE READ AT 7:27 P.M.』
Claude gives him a good ten minutes to come to terms with this fact of life before he squints at his phone. Hilda has her hand to her mouth, trying in vain to hold back her laughter if only so that Lorenz doesn't give them a telling off on disturbing the neighbors. Again. "I hope he didn't have a heart attack and die right there," he mutters at his screen.
"Maybe he got so surprised that he threw his phone at a wall so hard he shattered it."
"If he did, that just makes me want to touch his biceps all the more."
Normally, Sylvain would be disappointed that he doesn't have a date on a nice weekend night. Normally, however, he doesn't manage to rope Felix into spending the night at his apartment. And, well. Normally, his phone doesn't explode with about a dozen texts all at once. Well. Not usually normally. He hasn't done anything, recently, that would make it happen. He... thinks. Sylvain desperately tries to remember who he's dated in the past month that might have decided to start something... or maybe had a boyfriend or girlfriend or nbfriend who'd object to his existence. Those ones always came as a sucker punch of a surprise, and Sylvain hates surprises like that in his dating life as it is.
For once, however... It's kind of the opposite of his usual problems. It's so outside what he could possibly have expected, in fact, that Sylvain takes a few seconds to reread the messages over a few times. "WHAT!?"
Felix sticks his head out from the cabinets, one eyebrow raised at an exclamation that loud. "What did you do now?"
Out of all the people Sylvain knows, Felix is one of those who would appreciate and understand his plight the least. Unfortunately for both of them, Felix is the one who's there, so it's Felix's ear that gets the honor of being vented into. Sylvain gives a hopelessly surprised gesture at his phone. "I gave that cashier both of our numbers, and he actually texted Dimitri!? I didn't think he would contact EITHER of us!"
When Sylvain looks over, he can almost visibly see a reboot screen starting up behind Felix's wide eyes. "Wait," he says, voice strangled from an urge to either laugh at Sylvain or sheer incredulity, "someone actually is interested in him for once?"
"That's what I'm saying!"
⇀ Sylvain, we need to talk.
⇀ Sylvain, I know you have your phone on you at all times, even when you are taking a shower. Pick up the phone right now.
⇀ This isn't figuring out his work schedule, Sylvain!
⇀ Giving him my number so that he can text me isn't what you said you would do at all!
⇀ I just
⇀ I just expected to take care of this neatly and without anything terrible happening.
⇀ What were you thinking?
⇀ Sylvain
⇀ get on the phone right now sylvain
⇀ i swear to god if I have to come over there then I will
⇀ goddammit
↬ oh wow ok you're actually swearing now
↬ I can tell you're really upset right now dimitri
↬ But i'm here
↬ so
⇀ why
↬ listen i was serious that it was a good thing that you reached out and everything! u never took a first step even in high school
↬ so i thought
↬ hey
↬ why not get a look at this guy and see how he reacts to hearing about u
↬ and he didn't seem horrified at you so i thought a # couldn't hurt
↬ what did he say?
⇀ He introduced himself and referenced my disastrous and shameful display from when I spoke to him.
↬ idt that's exactly what he said but k
↬ what did u say?
⇀ I haven't replied yet.
↬ how long ago did he text u?
『MESSAGE READ AT 7:52 P.M.』
"Jeez," Sylvain says quietly to himself, unable and unwilling to stop the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "This is why you had such bad luck dating in high school, Dimitri. But I guess disasters might be this guy's type." Well, there's someone for everyone in the world. It's not necessarily something that might *last*, but there is someone for everyone.
He wishes Dimitri luck anyways. He can't remember the last time their Grumpiness ever took a moment to relax. Maybe a cute coffee shop cashier is just the thing to break through.
Assuming, you know. Dimitri remembers to not leave the cute cashier in question hanging on an un-answered text for.... He'll put his money down on half an hour.
That's some fun new drama that he's sure he'll get to hear all about later. For the present current now, Sylvain puts his phone back to the side and smiles over to where Felix is pinching the bridge of his nose in disbelief. "What, is it that surprising?"
"It's most likely because he's tall and blond, but, even with that, I can't believe it."
"Oh, you can't believe it now? Wait until I tell you the details."
Sometimes, it really astonishes him just how much he can be terrible. Dimitri has always held this low view of himself to some degree, but it's especially bad now as he glowers down at his phone. It takes a second for him to realize his own expression, and he hastily shakes his head. "Breathe," he tells himself quietly, sinking into the chair at his tiny kitchen table. It still seems so dwarfed compared to the overall size of his apartment, compared to him. He doesn't feel particularly welcomed by it, but he doesn't need to in order to close his eyes and let out a slow breath. He swears he's going to get back to the message he knows is still waiting for him on his phone. However, it's important he not mess this up. It's important that he not let his temper or his impatience or anything else get in the way. Deep breath. Slow. How it feels filling his lungs, the stretch of muscle, and how it feels leaving him. Just like the Byleths said, for occasions like this. It's okay if he takes another minute.
When his heart has ceased so much rattling in his rib cage, Dimitri opens his eyes again and glances down at his phone. This is fine. It doesn't seem bad yet. He tries to tell himself that, with some mixed degree of success. Maybe Sylvain is right. Maybe Claude isn't as repulsed or insulted as Dimitri had thought he would be.
...He should probably still apologize, however.
"Oh, hey," Claude says at a cheerful ping from his phone. "He actually responded."
Hilda doesn't look away from where she's trawling through the dungeons of Hades, pink hearts and sparkles surrounding her hunk of a character. "That only took half an hour. What is he saying?"
"Ha. Well..."
⇀ I apologize that it took so long for me to respond to you. I hadn't been told that my number had been given to you, and I didn't expect you to get in contact with me at all.
↣ lol
↣ it's fine
⇀ I also want to apologize for how rude I was when I saw you at the Golden Deer. It was improper of me to say that sort of thing to you while you were on the clock. I wasn't thinking.
↣ if it makes you feel better, you aren't the first
⇀ I can believe that very easily.
↣ charmer (。◝‿◜。)
↣ but you don't have to apologize so much
↣ you got me really curious tbh! i wasn't expecting a sudden come on from a guy like you~
⇀ It is not a habit of mine.
⇀ Although there is something I can't help but wonder.
↣ shoot
⇀ Were you serious just now?
↣ about what?
⇀ When you inquired about me picking you up.
⇀ I can't read tone over text very well, so I'm not certain if you were just joking or being serious.
⇀ If it was a joke, then you don't have to concern yourself over me any further.
⇀ I don't want to be a bother to you.
↣ lmao you're really serious you know
↣ well let's see
↣ hmmmmmmm
↣ you seem like a pretty nice guy and you ARE pretty cute
↣ so i wouldn't mind a single date to see how you really are
↣ b/c i've definitely seen more sides of you than i have literally any other person all in the total span of 5 minutes
↣ and that's pretty interesting!
⇀ Is that a good thing?
↣ ~(m~ー~)m it's a mystery!
↣ anyway did you have a date in mind or should i show how serious i really am?
⇀ Please allow me to make up for my embarrassing display when we first met.
⇀ I may just need a little time.
⇀ I hope you understand.
↣ lol ok
⇀ Are you allergic to anything?
⇀ Do you have a preference for dates?
↣ nah lmao
↣ and surprise me 。゚+.ღ(ゝ◡ ⚈᷀᷁ღ)
In perfect harmony, him and Hilda both lean back away from his phone with some satisfaction. At least, he's feeling pretty satisfied with how the conversation went. Hilda goes, "Do you think his idea of a date is murdering you in a sanitized white basement, or taking you to the most bland white bread artisanal restaurant imaginable? Also, which would you prefer?"
"I mean, at least the attempted basement murder would be a new and fun experience," Claude says glibly, finally putting his phone away so that he can crane his neck to see where Hilda is in her game. "Anyway, my chances are, as I view it, 30% boring artisan restaurant, 10% murder, and 60% a potential third option."
"And just what is this mysterious Door Number Three?"
Claude gives a playful wink. "Something interesting."
⇀ So I feel that I owe you an apology, Sylvain.
⇀ I should not have snapped at you in the way that I did, let alone let my temper get to the point of swearing.
⇀ I was simply not expecting to deal with this kind of thing, especially when I was under the impression that something else would happen.
⇀ I can understand the good intent behind your actions.
⇀ Thank you for your concern and friendship.
↬ :)
↬ so need help with that date u got?
⇀ However, you still never should have done what you did, and I am still rather annoyed about that.
⇀ So, as punishment, I will not be asking for your assistance in my romantic endeavors.
⇀ You will get no pleasure out of whatever happens in my love life.
↬

↬ but i'm great w/helping plan dates!
⇀ You have a talent for swindling women.
↬ this is w/a guy!
⇀ I have made my decision, Sylvain.
⇀ Have a good night.
↬ dimitri please do not plan a date on ur own
↬ Dimitri, I will even use proper grammar and punctuation. Please don't do that.
『MESSAGE READ AT 8:16 P.M.』
↬ omg
Dimitri doesn't plan the date on his own.
He's more than willing to acknowledge his many faults- a bit too willing, maybe, if his therapists are to be believed, which they are. Still, when he can recognize his own weaknesses and not get completely wrapped up in them, he's willing to shore them up. In a lot of cases, that means asking for help. Sylvain really would be the most knowledgeable person to contact in this matter, but Dimitri means what he said. He's not going to give his friend that kind of satisfaction when he's made a mistake like this.
That's how he finds himself, one free afternoon, seated neatly on the couch of his newly made neighbors while Annette cheerfully spreads out a variety of magazines and Ashe clicks through a couple of different websites. Very faintly, Dimitri feels himself wishing that he'd picked a day that Mercedes was off work. "I mean, movies are fairly tried and true," Ashe says, resting his cheek in his palm. "But it doesn't look like there's anything really good showing lately...."
"I'm not particularly a fan of going to the movies anyway... Not for a date." Dimitri shakes his head. "It feels strange to just sit in a dark room, watch something, and then call that an activity you did together.... It feels like a waste of money and time for something as simple as a conversational topic to have later."
"I agree completely," Annette announces, crossing out various things in the magazines. No one can say she doesn't do her best when it comes to helping others out, and Dimitri feels a swell of fondness in his chest. Truly, he doesn't deserve most of the friends he has. "You're definitely far more active anyway, Dimitri, and you should show off your best side for a first date! Oh-" She taps something on a long list featured in some article or another. "What about rock climbing together? That's really interesting."
Ashe and Dimitri consider the suggestion carefully. "It may be a little... much for a very first date?" Ashe offers carefully.
Dimitri nods. "What if he's not someone who likes to exercise so much...? And I would be taking a valuable bit of time off for him.... I don't want him to feel as though he is working more if that isn't what he wants."
Sighing, Annette leans back with her arms crossed. "True... It would have been really helpful if he could have told you what sort of dates he likes. I don't know if he's adventurous or feeling lazy..."
"It's his day off. He should be allowed to feel lazy."
A click of the laptop signals Ashe is continuing his own side of the search. "Bowling might seem too boring, huh..."
Dimitri tries not to be too intrusive as he leans over to look at the list Ashe is browsing now, but, eventually, he can't help but have his gaze drift over to his friend. "What... did all of you do, for your first dates with one another?"
That draws both of them to a pause, and Dimitri is treated to the charming image of two people so absolutely in love looking over to one another, smiling gently, blushing, swept up in soft memories that are only truly shared by each other. He's always been happy to see his dear friends go through such an experience, ever since they all started to stumble into this massive relationship with one another. It's what he's occasionally dreamed of for himself, for many years, and only recently has stopped completely punishing himself over. "Well," Ashe finally says, "I'm not really sure if this is something that your date would be interested in at all, honestly, but... Me and Annette went to a planetarium. It was pretty cheap- not that we're saying you should be cheap! Although perhaps don't go over the top? But, well..." Still blushing and smiling a bit, Ashe shrugs. "It was what worked for both of us, at the time..."
"And it was so much fun!" Annette gushes, holding her hands up and gesturing, her own smile wide. "It wasn't like a packed movie theater or anything, and we were allowed to talk, or ask as many questions as we wanted! There was also plenty of stuff to do afterwards connected to the show, so we just- messed around! And we got to talk about everything, and, well..." She leans back, hands curled up in her lap, and shares another one of those bright smiles with Ashe. "You know! Things happened."
He doesn't know, actually, although he wishes that he did. Dimitri just watches the two of them, smiling a little to himself. Even if he doesn't ever find anything or anyone for himself... At least his friends are happy. That's more important, he thinks. He almost wants to excuse himself so they can have some moments together, even if he hasn't yet gotten an answer on how Mercedes and Dedue factored into all of this. Before he can, Ashe leans forward again. "But maybe that's the kind of activity you should aim for. Something a bit more... open? So it doesn't feel so restrictive!"
"That almost sounds as though it would be a perfect date..." Do things like that exist? Dimitri leans forward to start going through the magazines as well, hoping for some burst of inspiration. Sylvain would probably have the perfect idea if it was something like that... Maybe he was too hasty in refuting any potential help. As he shifts aside some of the magazines, one of them seems out of place- probably picked up purely by accident as Annette was gathering them. One of Dedue's magazines, if Dimitri ever had to guess, and he picks it up to see it a little more clearly. It's a nature magazine, but there's a special article advertised on the very front about the relationship between animals and plants... The focus appears to be a more tropical locale than anything that they would get to see here in the city. Dimitri stares at it for a moment, mind slowly churning, before he turns to where Annette is crossing out more things in one of the magazines.
"Annette, do you think...?"