[ Her tongue pokes out in retaliation at made up memories of their Academy days. Sure, she may or may not have considered throwing herself at Byleth's feet in a puddle of tears as a last ditch attempt to get out of training - but those had been far and few between and never to the point of blows. It was all lies and slander as far as she's concerned.
Besides. Byleth would have definitely beaten her without even blinking.
Any air of teasing seems to melt away into the night as Claude answers her. His words hang in the air and there's a moment where she doesn't know how to react let alone what to say. Everything he had said had been succinct and truthful, stripped of flowery language and convoluted turns that she so often had to puzzle and think through. Just like the other truths that had come before, he lays it down at her feet without pretense. She doesn't have to unpack them, but she does have to unpack how she feels about it all.
Petra knowing because she had asked is both amusing and hurtful; amusing because it would be in her straightforward nature to ask. Hurtful because it was perhaps a testament to how much Claude trusted and cared for her in a way that hadn't taken them years of trial and tribulation to build. Hilda's ego doesn't care that she knows everything while Petra knew only a sliver, never mind that it isn't a competition nor does Claude owe her anything when she's simply been a burden to him this entire time. Bitterness settles on her tongue all the same even if she thinks that that's somehow fitting; Petra remains an example of what she'll never achieve. Of course Claude would be comfortable enough to tell her first. The news that Wanda knew his name and had kept it a secret stings slightly - only because she's still sitting in the knowledge of Petra knowing. It hadn't been Wanda's secret to tell. And for that, Hilda can't help but be grateful. As for Byleth well...that just made sense.
Noticeably, Sylvain's name isn't among those mentioned. There's no triumph or pride in knowing that she knows something Sylvain doesn't know. But there is some surprise. And perhaps a twinge of concern. Her initial response comes with an absent minded hum of acknowledgement, her gaze drifting down to where Claude's hand traces senseless shapes over the back of her hand even though she can feel his gaze raise to meet hers. She doesn't trust herself to express how she feels without acting out of hurt - but he might sense it anyway in the way her shoulders hunch foward slightly. So she turns to her other thought instead. ]
no subject
Besides. Byleth would have definitely beaten her without even blinking.
Any air of teasing seems to melt away into the night as Claude answers her. His words hang in the air and there's a moment where she doesn't know how to react let alone what to say. Everything he had said had been succinct and truthful, stripped of flowery language and convoluted turns that she so often had to puzzle and think through. Just like the other truths that had come before, he lays it down at her feet without pretense. She doesn't have to unpack them, but she does have to unpack how she feels about it all.
Petra knowing because she had asked is both amusing and hurtful; amusing because it would be in her straightforward nature to ask. Hurtful because it was perhaps a testament to how much Claude trusted and cared for her in a way that hadn't taken them years of trial and tribulation to build. Hilda's ego doesn't care that she knows everything while Petra knew only a sliver, never mind that it isn't a competition nor does Claude owe her anything when she's simply been a burden to him this entire time. Bitterness settles on her tongue all the same even if she thinks that that's somehow fitting; Petra remains an example of what she'll never achieve. Of course Claude would be comfortable enough to tell her first. The news that Wanda knew his name and had kept it a secret stings slightly - only because she's still sitting in the knowledge of Petra knowing. It hadn't been Wanda's secret to tell. And for that, Hilda can't help but be grateful. As for Byleth well...that just made sense.
Noticeably, Sylvain's name isn't among those mentioned. There's no triumph or pride in knowing that she knows something Sylvain doesn't know. But there is some surprise. And perhaps a twinge of concern. Her initial response comes with an absent minded hum of acknowledgement, her gaze drifting down to where Claude's hand traces senseless shapes over the back of her hand even though she can feel his gaze raise to meet hers. She doesn't trust herself to express how she feels without acting out of hurt - but he might sense it anyway in the way her shoulders hunch foward slightly. So she turns to her other thought instead. ]
You're going to tell him, aren't you?