Oh, I definitely understand. [ The chuckle those words elicit from Claude is an entirely genuine one in response and one of solidarity between them for being in the same situation. More or less. ] I learned from a young age to think beyond what was in front of me and to anticipate whatever I could think of. I wasn't good at it at first but I got better, and now it's a difficult habit to let go of in any situation with our present ones included.
[ All to say: he gets it. Istredd surpasses him in ways he could never begin to guess at when it comes to scholarly pursuits, Claude knows, and his own strength lies in strategy. It's been a weapon he's been carefully and secretly sharpening against what's been happening in Abraxas, and as someone who worked alone for so long it's even better to know there's someone else doing the same. Talk of strategy is placed on pause when Istredd answers his question. Claude nods slowly, turning those words over this way and that for a few seconds, and then finds his own answer to give without much of a break at all. There's too much that's meaningful to them to hide it. ]
I know that as well, too. There's... well, I suppose the fastest way to say it is that I also have a partner who I couldn't be with if it wasn't for being here because our realities don't align.
[ Though he'd originally thought of Sylvain and his death at Gronder Field, it hits Claude after the words are out of his mouth how this could just as easily apply to Hilda, too. Whether it's for one or both of them, the sentiment Istredd's voiced resonates deeply as a reason worth staying for. ]
I know of at least a few others where that's the case as well, and that's before even getting into friendships forged here like ours. All of them are reasons I hope we don't have to put anything to the test, metaphorical or quite literally, by whatever might come. But I would be lying if I said it's not a reason I hope that should the worst come to pass we can find some way to shelter us from it, or simply have the plans in place for it to lessen the impact if we can.
[ And with a slight grin again, one almost automatic rather than humor though it's not without the projection of it, ] Perhaps that's where you and I and our endless plans and theories can come in to help.
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[ All to say: he gets it. Istredd surpasses him in ways he could never begin to guess at when it comes to scholarly pursuits, Claude knows, and his own strength lies in strategy. It's been a weapon he's been carefully and secretly sharpening against what's been happening in Abraxas, and as someone who worked alone for so long it's even better to know there's someone else doing the same. Talk of strategy is placed on pause when Istredd answers his question. Claude nods slowly, turning those words over this way and that for a few seconds, and then finds his own answer to give without much of a break at all. There's too much that's meaningful to them to hide it. ]
I know that as well, too. There's... well, I suppose the fastest way to say it is that I also have a partner who I couldn't be with if it wasn't for being here because our realities don't align.
[ Though he'd originally thought of Sylvain and his death at Gronder Field, it hits Claude after the words are out of his mouth how this could just as easily apply to Hilda, too. Whether it's for one or both of them, the sentiment Istredd's voiced resonates deeply as a reason worth staying for. ]
I know of at least a few others where that's the case as well, and that's before even getting into friendships forged here like ours. All of them are reasons I hope we don't have to put anything to the test, metaphorical or quite literally, by whatever might come. But I would be lying if I said it's not a reason I hope that should the worst come to pass we can find some way to shelter us from it, or simply have the plans in place for it to lessen the impact if we can.
[ And with a slight grin again, one almost automatic rather than humor though it's not without the projection of it, ] Perhaps that's where you and I and our endless plans and theories can come in to help.