[ AUDIENCE: BYLETH EISNER ]

[dormheads]

Comments

[azuta]

[ . . . she seems thoughtful for a long moment before - ]

I believe you owe me a drink, don't you?

One that you like, if not your favorite.

[divineimpulse]

[a favorite...

...]

Would you join me for tea, Iris?

[azuta]

[ . . . she huffs a little bit, before nodding.]

Yes. I would.

[divineimpulse]

[time to head for the admin building! she gestures iris to follow.]

Do you have a preferred tea?

[azuta]

[she shakes her head]

Not particularly. I like trying many flavors.

So whatever you'd like, please.

[divineimpulse]

[...

oh no

big mood

but by the time they've reached the cafe's kitchen, she seems to have made up her mind, at least, and is fishing out teabags from the pantry. as she sets some water to boil, she holds out the tea for inspection.]

We don't have earl grey, where I'm from.

I've been savoring it.

[azuta]

Do you not?

[ . . . she seems thoughtful for a moment.]

... my company in my home has developed a few different flavors. I'll see if I can recreate them so you have a package you can bring with you back to your world.

[divineimpulse]

[oh!]

You own a tea company?

[azuta]

The Azuta Corporation specializes in many luxury goods, whether it be cafe items, chocolates, perfumes, cosmetics - things like that.

So I like to dabble in recipe making and experimenting with flavors to develop new things for it.

[divineimpulse]

I never tried making a tea blend before I came here. It was enlightening.

[she adds the bags to the cups, pours the hot water over them, and hums quietly.

...]

Did you try it?

[azuta]

Do you want my honesty or my pleasantry?

[divineimpulse]

[...]

I like your honesty best.

[azuta]

[ . . . . ]

The package is in a drawer in my room, but I have not tried it.

[she brought it back so it wasn't abandoned, but she was too mad to ever drink it]

I'll consider it, now.

[divineimpulse]

[she nods. it's actually more than she expected, honestly.]

There's no rush.

Should I tell you what it is, first?

[she places the teacup in front of iris, with a little dish for removing the teabag.]

[azuta]

[she nods]

Please.

[divineimpulse]

It's a black tea blend of estates with freshly-dried mallow blossoms. It has light citrus notes, and a slightly floral aroma.

I thought it would suit your elegance.

[azuta]

It sounds delightful, thank you.

[and she does seem to mean it. once the tea is properly steeped, she will remove the teabag and take a sip -

and then she nods, pleased.]

It's excellent. Thank you, Byleth.

[divineimpulse]

[she gives Iris a warm look, prepping and sipping her own tea, too.]

I'm glad to share a drink with you, Iris.

It's very kind of you.

[azuta]

... I wouldn't say that.

[she's pretty unkind in general. but she will have some more of the tea.]

But I thought we should revisit our last discussion - since you were a bit bound in what you could say at the time.

Crow filled me in on the rest, after all.

[divineimpulse]

[oh... she nods.]

You know everything I know, now.

But you weren't wrong.

[azuta]

[she looks thoughtful about that]

... I wasn't.

[ . . . ]

But I wasn't right either.

I was angry - and in truth, I still am. Which I know is unfair, because Crow himself has told me to let go. [a beat] ... I think it hurt more, because you and I had a conversation on what it means to lose those dear to us.

[and knowing byleth chose a winter felt like an attack, and a betrayal far worse than just killing someone.]

[divineimpulse]

[...]

Your feelings are still valid, and I respect them.

There's no clear-cut path. But I always knew what I was undertaking.

[she lets out a little breath, tracing the rim of her teacup. all that was left was forward movement.]

[azuta]

What were you undertaking, then? If I may ask.

I am having trouble understanding some of the choices that were made - but I...

[she pauses]

I am an unfair person. I am protective, and biased. Even still... you extended kindness to me, and I do not believe that was ever fake.

So I will try to not be unfair to you, where I can.

[divineimpulse]

No matter how you look at it, it was a brutal exchange of lives. Save two by killing one, and pray that the one you dispatched can also be saved.

It's a cruel trade. But it was clear that someone would have to do it, no matter what.

You can ask me anything, now. I'll do my best to answer clearly.

[azuta]

[she shakes her head]

I don't want to ask. I want to be told.

I want to know what your thoughts on it are - for yourself, and for those you've harmed. Everything you're willing to share.