open | a merry meri mingle

[sterngaze]

Who: Meridians new & old!
What: Cookout mingle
Where: Alenroux
When: Mid-March, after Vander's rescue
Warnings: Potentially alcohol consumption and violence, for the rowdy

After the initiation of Springstar's invasion plans for Alenroux, tensions among the Meridian-aligned might be a bit strained. The move comes as a surprise even for many of the shard-bearers within the faction itself, to say nothing of those whose livelihoods depend on the farms here. It's not yet clear what Highstorm's response will be, but one will certainly be coming; when that happens, someone is going to come out on the bottom, and their blood will be at least partially on Meridian's hands.

At times like this, the importance of maintaining morale can't be understated. A call goes out to the newest generation of those harmonized with Meridian's light: it's time to have a party!

PREPARATION:

Those who can are invited to help with the set-up. There are drinks to procure, foodstuffs to acquire and prepare, canopies to erect for shade, entertainments to organize. It's not meant to be a grand affair — the gathering is private, intended to foster camaraderie among the shard-bearers after long days and nights of work — but it will be a comfortable one, with edibles and enjoyments to offer to those taking solace in the company of their fellows.

It takes one of Alenroux's long days to make all the necessary arrangements — and then, late the following morning, after the night's monsters have slunk back into the woods, things are made ready. All that's left is for the guests to arrive.

THE EVENT:

Spring is still in the midst of taking hold over Alenroux, so a tall bonfire at the centre of the gathering place offers a toasty place to linger and chat throughout the day. Hot drinks and a variety of fire-roasted foods are on offer, including an entire deer helpfully supplied and prepared by Liem. Logs and stumps provide simple seating, and nearby canopies provide shade around the tables of food and drink. A little further away, sturdy tents provide more private gathering places for those wishing for a break from the hubbub.

And there will be hubbub. To break the ice between unfamiliar faces, a variety of contests have been set up over the course of the gathering. These range from simple arm-wrestling competitions, to three-legged races, to friendly sparring matches for those so-inclined. Gathered Meris are encouraged to spectate and bet amongst themselves on contest outcomes — and better yet, to volunteer to participate themselves during the next round.

For those who have already had a chance to relax and let off some steam, the gathering is a perfect opportunity to get to know one's fellow sect-mates a little better, and to reaffirm why Meridian called to them in the first place. Those gathered are encouraged to take the chance to tell a few tales about the place they came from, and to share the visions inside their Sunbeam with those from other worlds. A favourite place, a cherished person, an unkept promise, even an old enemy: all could be worth revisiting for a moment with new comrades in arms.

Comments

[fishfearme]

Hm...

[Slowly, Byleth pulled his hands from Dimitri's. He folded them in his lap instead, his gaze inscrutable as he peered at Dimitri.

He was so different to Claude, who was as slippery as an eel and as closed off as a clam, even if he gave off the impression of easy camaraderie. Dimitri was just... what you saw was what you got. There wasn't a hint of duplicity in his earnest expression or voice - Dimitri honestly believed in people, despite humanity as a whole proving itself to be bitterly disappointing at times.

It was inspiring, in its own way. It encouraged you to trust in turn, no matter how irrational. The Dimitri of his world had been very much the same - he had to be to get the likes of Yuri swearing undying loyalty to him.]

In my timeline... I tried to kill you, Dimitri, on multiple occasions. It wasn't anything personal, of course. My only motivation was coin. Yet, despite this... when Jeralt and I surrendered to you after months of fighting, there was no animosity from you. Instead you hired us on the spot, there and then, and helped us to avoid the Church even though we were practically your prisoners. You could've press-ganged us into service - or executed us.

[Byleth sighed quietly - something rueful and almost wry.]

I never understood why you took such a leap of faith on us. I could never figure it out. Of course, I was grateful too. When Jeralt told us to surrender to you, I almost disobeyed. I assumed you would've been like the Emperor and been... coldly pragmatic in disposing of a dangerous element when it was vulnerable. But you didn't. You spared us.

[Huh. Byleth hadn't realised how heavy a weight that had been on him until he had told Dimitri. He thought it hadn't been a big deal, keeping this as a secret, but it seemed it had been eating at him a little - allowing Dimitri to claim friendship without him knowing of Byleth's... earlier hostility towards another version of him. A non-personal hostility, mind. Byleth didn't enjoy killing.]

I know I probably should've kept this to myself. It serves no real purpose to tell you now, when it's so irrelevant to everything, but... I felt compelled to tell you, after hearing you speak. It would've been disingenuous of me, to not confess what I did to the Dimitri of my world. Or, attempted to, rather.

[hauntedking]

[ Again, Dimitri listens. There's a lot to unwind and unpack there. It's... not exactly startling, but it is perhaps a little unsettling to hear they were enemies - at least for a little while. But... he knows Byleth. Trusts him. Whatever had happened in this alternate timeline, he felt sure that he would have done the same. And he did, if the 'him' that Byleth knows is any indication. He offers a slow, warm smile as Byleth finishes. ]

...there's nothing for you to apologize to me for.

[ Again, he reaches out. ]

You are my friend, no matter what world or timeline you might come from. Whatever you might have done - it pales in comparison to what I know of you. Please - be at ease. I cannot hold such a thing against you.

[fishfearme]

...if you're certain.

[Byleth visibly hesitated, but he extended his hand, allowing Dimitri to grasp it once more. He was still unused to it - but perhaps time and desensitisation would allow him to accept the touch without wanting to flinch back first.]

I know that you're not the Dimitri of my world, which was why I felt some semblance of guilt in keeping that secret from you. My Dimitri had already made his decision to look beyond our previous violent history, but you were ignorant of it - may've been unnerved that I once attacked a version of you with the intent to kill.

But if you're certain that it doesn't bother you, then I'll accept that.

[hauntedking]

I can't hold that against you. Even if you did try to harm me... especially after the amount of blood I have spilled in the past, for far less savory reasons.

[ He still carries a lot of guilt about that. ]

So it would be the height of hypocrisy for me to try and blame you for it.

[fishfearme]

Very well. Then, I can accept your friendship without guilt.

[..................]

...I'm unsure on how we proceed from here.

[hauntedking]

...we remain friends?

[ Dimitri laughs. ]

It need not be complicated.