[Dimitri had fought on the fields of Gronder like a man possessed, mindless of friend or foe... it seemed that it wasn't that he was unwilling to consider joining forces with them, so much that he was unable to see anything or anyone at all other than Edelgard.
It made the tender parts of Claude's heart ache, thinking of what he'd had to have survived for the young prince who'd seemingly stepped out of a storybook to end up like that. That same tenderness is so tired of seeing people die, was relieved beyond belief when Hilda turned up with Dimitri on her back, barely clinging to life but still alive.
Claude had arranged for him to be rushed back to the Monastery, a cell prepared. It didn't sit well with him, locking Dimitri up like that, but he was wildly unpredictable and dangerous-- as much as he wanted to help him, Claude also had to look out for his own people.
Everyone is under strict orders to let him know the moment Dimitri wakes up; with how rarely Claude gives anything that could be considered a "strict order", as well as the uneasiness many have around this idea of his in the first place, of course they take it seriously. Within moments of Dimitri waking up, a runner is sent to fetch the Duke, and Claude makes to the cell at a confident but hurried pace.
Marianne had gotten out of the cell the moment he woke up, and fortunately she'd been able to get him out of a critical state. It was Claude's hope he was still too weak to break out by force. He approached the bars of the cell, eyeing Dimitri, assessing him.
He gently asks Marianne and the guards to leave the room, pulling a chair up close to the bars and sitting down, posture relaxed and open, unthreatening.]
Sorry for the, uh-- accommodations. [He smiles wryly, genuine in his apology even if he doubts Dimitri will believe it.] You're at Garreg Mach monastery right now. I have no wish to harm you, Dimitri. Quite the opposite, really.
[Standing so quickly had been a mistake, his body feeling weak. He glares through the bars for a long moment before giving in to his body's protests. Taking a few steps back, he takes a seat heavily on the side of the bed, hunched over and fighting.
It's not even clear he'd actually listened to a word Claude has just said, glaring down at his feet now.
Garreg Mach. And he'd fallen at Gronder... How many days? She would certainly be back in Enbarr by now. It felt devastating. She'd been so close. Not close enough.]
What do you want with me? There's no one left to pay a ransom... Except the Empire. I'm sure they'd be keen to kill me again.
[Claude watches him closely, the flickers of emotion so raw and clear over Dimitri's face. Rage, confusion, frustration... all understandable, given his situation.]
If I wanted to kill you or trade you for a ransom, I wouldn't risk you regaining consciousness. [Claude says simply, hoping to put those notions to rest quickly. Dimitri would never believe this was simply an act of kindness, that Claude wouldn't just leave him on the battlefield to die if he could help it. He has no reason to trust in Claude's intentions. Granted, his reasons aren't entirely altruistic-- there is solid strategic reasoning as well. Working towards multiple goals with the same action.]
We're working to stop the Empire's conquest. Having the King of Faerghus and those loyal to him at our side would be an enormous boon. Just the news that you're alive would destabilize their hold in Faerghus. We need the resources and troops, you need the help even getting close enough to get a shot at Edelgard.
[He hears what Claude says and it makes sense or, at least, he can't think of a flaw in that logic. Edelgard probably would've been more than happy with his head... Which immediately has him trying to remembering how close he'd gotten to her. He'd seen her. Her red armor.
Claude's speaking again when he refocuses on the here and now, hands clenched into fists, breathing hard. It takes effort to force himself to look up and listen.]
I want her head. [No shit, Dimitri.
His response is unhelpful at best. He closes his eye, seeming to take a moment to process everything.] Faerghus doesn't have much more to give.
... Give me my weapons and armor and a quick steed. I'll go to Enbarr myself. [And get himself killed before ever reaching the city most likely. Even obsessed, the idea of joining forces was wiggling its way into his brain. Realistically, he knew he didn't have a chance alone. With the Alliance and Kingdom resources combined however...]
[Yeah bud, he knows you do. Claude remains seemingly unphased at Dimitri's answer, smiling wryly and shaking his head. Sorry, your Princeliness, no can do.]
I might as well kill you right here if I do that. Same result in the end, only I'd save myself a quick steed. I think you underestimate your people's loyalty to you.
[He sighs, standing up and brushing nonexistent dirt off his knees.] But if you need time to think it over, I understand. I'll be back for your mealtimes. [He makes as though to leave, fully prepared to if Dimitri doesn't give in just yet.]
[Dimitri's gaze seems to trail his every little movement and it's certainly making him look the part of a caged animal. He stands up when Claude does, almost as if he's expecting to be freed despite what the man has just said. He stares at Claude, miffed to be outright angry and too angry to give him an answer. Part of him half expects it to be a bluff, Claude pressuring him for a decision... had he really just asked for an alliance between, between what? Dimitri was sure the few forces he's had left had either been killed or had finally come to their senses and abandoned him. Claude was putting money on a horse that wasn't even racing.
So, Dimitri is left alone with his thoughts and the dead. Likely word of his sometimes lively, sometimes pleading one-sided conversations will make its way back to Claude when the guards change shift. Not that he seems to care. The cell doesn't have an outside window either so Dimitri's already loose awareness of the passage of time becomes even more skewed.
The clank of the door startles him out of a conversation and his attention snaps to it. He's come to a decision after a few rousing debates but he's curious what Claude will say, if anything.]
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It made the tender parts of Claude's heart ache, thinking of what he'd had to have survived for the young prince who'd seemingly stepped out of a storybook to end up like that. That same tenderness is so tired of seeing people die, was relieved beyond belief when Hilda turned up with Dimitri on her back, barely clinging to life but still alive.
Claude had arranged for him to be rushed back to the Monastery, a cell prepared. It didn't sit well with him, locking Dimitri up like that, but he was wildly unpredictable and dangerous-- as much as he wanted to help him, Claude also had to look out for his own people.
Everyone is under strict orders to let him know the moment Dimitri wakes up; with how rarely Claude gives anything that could be considered a "strict order", as well as the uneasiness many have around this idea of his in the first place, of course they take it seriously. Within moments of Dimitri waking up, a runner is sent to fetch the Duke, and Claude makes to the cell at a confident but hurried pace.
Marianne had gotten out of the cell the moment he woke up, and fortunately she'd been able to get him out of a critical state. It was Claude's hope he was still too weak to break out by force. He approached the bars of the cell, eyeing Dimitri, assessing him.
He gently asks Marianne and the guards to leave the room, pulling a chair up close to the bars and sitting down, posture relaxed and open, unthreatening.]
Sorry for the, uh-- accommodations. [He smiles wryly, genuine in his apology even if he doubts Dimitri will believe it.] You're at Garreg Mach monastery right now. I have no wish to harm you, Dimitri. Quite the opposite, really.
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It's not even clear he'd actually listened to a word Claude has just said, glaring down at his feet now.
Garreg Mach. And he'd fallen at Gronder... How many days? She would certainly be back in Enbarr by now. It felt devastating. She'd been so close. Not close enough.]
What do you want with me? There's no one left to pay a ransom... Except the Empire. I'm sure they'd be keen to kill me again.
no subject
If I wanted to kill you or trade you for a ransom, I wouldn't risk you regaining consciousness. [Claude says simply, hoping to put those notions to rest quickly. Dimitri would never believe this was simply an act of kindness, that Claude wouldn't just leave him on the battlefield to die if he could help it. He has no reason to trust in Claude's intentions. Granted, his reasons aren't entirely altruistic-- there is solid strategic reasoning as well. Working towards multiple goals with the same action.]
We're working to stop the Empire's conquest. Having the King of Faerghus and those loyal to him at our side would be an enormous boon. Just the news that you're alive would destabilize their hold in Faerghus. We need the resources and troops, you need the help even getting close enough to get a shot at Edelgard.
no subject
Claude's speaking again when he refocuses on the here and now, hands clenched into fists, breathing hard. It takes effort to force himself to look up and listen.]
I want her head. [No shit, Dimitri.
His response is unhelpful at best. He closes his eye, seeming to take a moment to process everything.] Faerghus doesn't have much more to give.
... Give me my weapons and armor and a quick steed. I'll go to Enbarr myself. [And get himself killed before ever reaching the city most likely. Even obsessed, the idea of joining forces was wiggling its way into his brain. Realistically, he knew he didn't have a chance alone. With the Alliance and Kingdom resources combined however...]
no subject
I might as well kill you right here if I do that. Same result in the end, only I'd save myself a quick steed. I think you underestimate your people's loyalty to you.
[He sighs, standing up and brushing nonexistent dirt off his knees.] But if you need time to think it over, I understand. I'll be back for your mealtimes. [He makes as though to leave, fully prepared to if Dimitri doesn't give in just yet.]
no subject
So, Dimitri is left alone with his thoughts and the dead. Likely word of his sometimes lively, sometimes pleading one-sided conversations will make its way back to Claude when the guards change shift. Not that he seems to care. The cell doesn't have an outside window either so Dimitri's already loose awareness of the passage of time becomes even more skewed.
The clank of the door startles him out of a conversation and his attention snaps to it. He's come to a decision after a few rousing debates but he's curious what Claude will say, if anything.]