Well for starters, I already gave you one. [Beat.] You were mostly out of it by that point and Professor Byleth asked me to check on the others, so Dorothea and Linhardt could check you over.
[Alear sighs a bit at that, shaking her head.]
But no. I at least wanted to come by and see you. I imagine it's pretty boring in here without someone to talk to.
[Alear would unfortunately know...]
...Besides, I had a feeling you didn't do that on purpose. [...] I didn't really like hearing some of the things that got said about you. Even if I don't know what they're really talking about, I at least wanted to just...I don't know. I guess make sure you weren't all by yourself here.
[The first part gets a roll of his eyes, but Alear continues and Griss settles a bit. It's... weird that she'd want to come check on him now, but she probably thinks of him as her responsibility since they're classmates. Even if she's framing it like that, it's probably not really about him at all.
...Though given what he's seen of her, she does seem to be the sort of bleeding heart to really care about everyone. Maybe he's doing her a disservice in assuming the worst.]
...Eh. [A half-shrug.] I don't really care what anyone thinks of me.
[As long as it doesn't upset Zephia, that is.]
Guess it's good of you to drop by now that I'm up; better than studying.
[He inclines his head a bit to indicate the books that were brought to "entertain" him. Yes, they are indeed dry books on magic that are not entertaining in the slightest. Griss doesn't even have a problem with studying, but really?? Right after a (blissful) near-death injury?? Thanks, Byleth.]
[...Man, she wishes she could live like that. Alear brushes that thought out of her head, though--she needs to make Miss Rhea and the Black Eagles proud.]
That's Professor Byleth for you; I don't think I've seen them do a single thing that isn't work in some way or another...
[Alear pauses once that's out there, though, looking to Griss.]
Is it just stuff that you already know that they're trying to get you to read over? Or is it just boring?
[Griss scoffs, but yeah, Alear's right... The professor really is something else.]
Just dull as hell. It's not like I even mind studyin', but I think I deserve a break after today.
'Sides, I'd rather talk to someone than bury myself in dry books.
[Though the professor isn't exactly the most talkative person anyway... So maybe it's for the best that Alear's here. It staves off boredom, means he has an excuse not to study, and...
Well, if all you're getting taught is the stuff you already know, then of course it's gonna be boring! [Do note that she's not disagreeing with him in the slightest; if anything, some gears seem to be turning in her head...] But I get it. It can get pretty lonely without anyone else to talk to; it was like that here for a little while...
But once you make some real friends you can count on, you'll never have to worry about that again!
[...she is still entirely too :D for this--
Alear is going to sit on the ground though, and if he's not gonna read those books, she's gonna try to! ...And promptly look at it like she's reading a whole different language for a moment, but--]
What did you end up doing before coming here, anyway?
[Griss rolls his eyes and scoffs at the idea of "real friends". Come on now, Alear, just how many friends do you think he's going to be making after today??? It's not happening. He doesn't need friends anyway!!
Anyway, he watches her take a seat on the ground and scoffs again at her expression; makes sense that she wouldn't get it, given she's probably never had much experience with using magic, but this isn't exactly the most complicated stuff in the world.]
Eh. It's kinda a long story.
[How does he even begin to explain any of what happened before he arrived here...]
Short version's that my life sucked, I was taken in by a woman who wanted better for me and started teachin' me magic, and she pushed me to go here to learn more.
[Alear listens to that and turns it all over in her head for a moment. Just like her...or what she's supposed to tell people, anyway. No wonder Miss Rhea told her to use this sort of story; it happens to people all the time.
...It doesn't mean she can't be a little sad about it, but--]
Yeah? She must be a really great woman, if she let you come here. People don't really get into the Officer's Academy very easily...I think.
[Let's just ignore that--]
What do you want to do with yourself, you think? Are you thinking about becoming a knight of some sort?
[He says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world, like there couldn't ever be any other option. Griss doesn't bother to elaborate any further, though; no sense in bringing up that it's a member of the staff. It's not like Zephia's their professor, so there's no obvious bias from her that's causing problems or anything, but it isn't really any of Alear's business, so he's just not going to say anything about it.
Besides, she's asked him a question that is truly baffling.]
A knight? Me? Did you hit your head in that battle? No way.
[That also... isn't an answer to the other question...]
[Hahaha, conveniently an excuse to side-step that first part!!]
I mean, maybe it isn't? But it sure as hell ain't for me, of all people. You kiddin' me? What kind of impression have I given you that I'd ever wanna be a knight?
[It comes out a little sharper than intended, but Alear tenses up a bit at that as she honestly seems to struggle to wrap her head around that.]
Miss Rhea and everyone else said that's what the people who come here usually go on to become, if they're not from some sort of noble territory. Or a soldier, maybe. It's not like you strike me as a type to want to join the Church, anyway.
[But anyway--]
What do you actually want to do with yourself, then?
[Griss blinks as Alear snaps, and she redirects back to her initial question that makes him feel prickly. On edge. Because...]
...I don't really have any plans.
[It's been difficult to imagine a future at all, frankly. He spent so much time just trying to make it to the next day, and maybe he's never really learned how to think about something as far-off as the future. He lives in the moment. He doesn't like thinking too hard about anything, after all.]
You're right that I ain't interested in joinin' the Church, though. I'm not really the most religious.
[Faith magic works just as well as long as you believe in something else, after all! Griss lifts his shoulders a bit, but it isn't really a proper shrug.]
I just take it one day at a time. I'll figure it out when I get there.
[...Maybe she shouldn't have reacted like that. But it frustrates her sometimes, when people ask stuff like that--when they ask such simple questions that she should know the answer to, and she just...doesn't. Miss Rhea has done an incredible lot for her, but in the face of something like this...
Maybe she doesn't know the world nearly as much as she thinks she does. Alear doesn't want to say she wasn't taught enough, because Miss Rhea simply is so busy, but...]
...Was that really so hard to admit? I mean. It's okay if you don't know what you want out of life. I think, anyway.
[Alear rubs the back of her head.]
I shouldn't have snapped off at you; I'm sorry about that. But...I don't know. Miss Rhea always said that most people who do come to this Academy end up serving the knights, and I didn't really think there was much else people could do, I guess.
I mean, except for the nobles. But nobility may as well be a foreign language to me.
You don't gotta apologize for that. You're right - if you ain't a noble and you've managed to make your way here, chances are you're workin' for the Church or becomin' a knight to put that martial trainin' to good use.
[Griss shrugs properly this time.]
But that ain't for me. It feels weird not knowin' what it is I want when so many of our classmates seem dead-set on whatever it is they're gonna end up doin', y'know?
[And maybe it's also kind of concerning because his role model is Zephia, who is always so certain in whatever it is she does.]
[Alear has to think about that for a moment, pausing, but eventually nodding. This has admittedly been her normal for a while, but...]
I get it. Makes you...I don't know. Makes you think you're missing something that they have, when they're all so certain, right?
[...]
I don't think that's a bad thing, though; think of it like this! You're keeping your options open rather than just tying yourself down to one thing. I mean, graduating from here, that's gonna look impressive to almost anyone, right?
It means they'll take you more seriously, when you do want to find something for yourself.
[It's almost cute of her to worry after him like this. To try to bolster him, when he doesn't really need it at all. Thankfully, it doesn't really matter what it is he ends up doing, because Zephia will always be here to guide him. He doesn't have to think too hard about it.]
Yeah, you're right. Just gotta try not to get myself killed before then, I guess.
[He stretches, wincing a little at the strain, but it's with a grin, naturally.]
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no subject
[Alear sighs a bit at that, shaking her head.]
But no. I at least wanted to come by and see you. I imagine it's pretty boring in here without someone to talk to.
[Alear would unfortunately know...]
...Besides, I had a feeling you didn't do that on purpose. [...] I didn't really like hearing some of the things that got said about you. Even if I don't know what they're really talking about, I at least wanted to just...I don't know. I guess make sure you weren't all by yourself here.
no subject
...Though given what he's seen of her, she does seem to be the sort of bleeding heart to really care about everyone. Maybe he's doing her a disservice in assuming the worst.]
...Eh. [A half-shrug.] I don't really care what anyone thinks of me.
[As long as it doesn't upset Zephia, that is.]
Guess it's good of you to drop by now that I'm up; better than studying.
[He inclines his head a bit to indicate the books that were brought to "entertain" him. Yes, they are indeed dry books on magic that are not entertaining in the slightest. Griss doesn't even have a problem with studying, but really?? Right after a (blissful) near-death injury?? Thanks, Byleth.]
no subject
That's Professor Byleth for you; I don't think I've seen them do a single thing that isn't work in some way or another...
[Alear pauses once that's out there, though, looking to Griss.]
Is it just stuff that you already know that they're trying to get you to read over? Or is it just boring?
no subject
Just dull as hell. It's not like I even mind studyin', but I think I deserve a break after today.
'Sides, I'd rather talk to someone than bury myself in dry books.
[Though the professor isn't exactly the most talkative person anyway... So maybe it's for the best that Alear's here. It staves off boredom, means he has an excuse not to study, and...
...maybe makes him feel a little less lonely.]
no subject
But once you make some real friends you can count on, you'll never have to worry about that again!
[...she is still entirely too :D for this--
Alear is going to sit on the ground though, and if he's not gonna read those books, she's gonna try to! ...And promptly look at it like she's reading a whole different language for a moment, but--]
What did you end up doing before coming here, anyway?
no subject
Anyway, he watches her take a seat on the ground and scoffs again at her expression; makes sense that she wouldn't get it, given she's probably never had much experience with using magic, but this isn't exactly the most complicated stuff in the world.]
Eh. It's kinda a long story.
[How does he even begin to explain any of what happened before he arrived here...]
Short version's that my life sucked, I was taken in by a woman who wanted better for me and started teachin' me magic, and she pushed me to go here to learn more.
no subject
...It doesn't mean she can't be a little sad about it, but--]
Yeah? She must be a really great woman, if she let you come here. People don't really get into the Officer's Academy very easily...I think.
[Let's just ignore that--]
What do you want to do with yourself, you think? Are you thinking about becoming a knight of some sort?
no subject
[He says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world, like there couldn't ever be any other option. Griss doesn't bother to elaborate any further, though; no sense in bringing up that it's a member of the staff. It's not like Zephia's their professor, so there's no obvious bias from her that's causing problems or anything, but it isn't really any of Alear's business, so he's just not going to say anything about it.
Besides, she's asked him a question that is truly baffling.]
A knight? Me? Did you hit your head in that battle? No way.
[That also... isn't an answer to the other question...]
no subject
[--HEY, HEY, WOAH???]
Wh--What's that supposed to mean, huh? Being a knight can't possibly be that bad.
no subject
I mean, maybe it isn't? But it sure as hell ain't for me, of all people. You kiddin' me? What kind of impression have I given you that I'd ever wanna be a knight?
no subject
[It comes out a little sharper than intended, but Alear tenses up a bit at that as she honestly seems to struggle to wrap her head around that.]
Miss Rhea and everyone else said that's what the people who come here usually go on to become, if they're not from some sort of noble territory. Or a soldier, maybe. It's not like you strike me as a type to want to join the Church, anyway.
[But anyway--]
What do you actually want to do with yourself, then?
no subject
...I don't really have any plans.
[It's been difficult to imagine a future at all, frankly. He spent so much time just trying to make it to the next day, and maybe he's never really learned how to think about something as far-off as the future. He lives in the moment. He doesn't like thinking too hard about anything, after all.]
You're right that I ain't interested in joinin' the Church, though. I'm not really the most religious.
[Faith magic works just as well as long as you believe in something else, after all! Griss lifts his shoulders a bit, but it isn't really a proper shrug.]
I just take it one day at a time. I'll figure it out when I get there.
no subject
Maybe she doesn't know the world nearly as much as she thinks she does. Alear doesn't want to say she wasn't taught enough, because Miss Rhea simply is so busy, but...]
...Was that really so hard to admit? I mean. It's okay if you don't know what you want out of life. I think, anyway.
[Alear rubs the back of her head.]
I shouldn't have snapped off at you; I'm sorry about that. But...I don't know. Miss Rhea always said that most people who do come to this Academy end up serving the knights, and I didn't really think there was much else people could do, I guess.
I mean, except for the nobles. But nobility may as well be a foreign language to me.
no subject
[Griss shrugs properly this time.]
But that ain't for me. It feels weird not knowin' what it is I want when so many of our classmates seem dead-set on whatever it is they're gonna end up doin', y'know?
[And maybe it's also kind of concerning because his role model is Zephia, who is always so certain in whatever it is she does.]
no subject
[Alear has to think about that for a moment, pausing, but eventually nodding. This has admittedly been her normal for a while, but...]
I get it. Makes you...I don't know. Makes you think you're missing something that they have, when they're all so certain, right?
[...]
I don't think that's a bad thing, though; think of it like this! You're keeping your options open rather than just tying yourself down to one thing. I mean, graduating from here, that's gonna look impressive to almost anyone, right?
It means they'll take you more seriously, when you do want to find something for yourself.
no subject
[It's almost cute of her to worry after him like this. To try to bolster him, when he doesn't really need it at all. Thankfully, it doesn't really matter what it is he ends up doing, because Zephia will always be here to guide him. He doesn't have to think too hard about it.]
Yeah, you're right. Just gotta try not to get myself killed before then, I guess.
[He stretches, wincing a little at the strain, but it's with a grin, naturally.]