[While Grant goes to inform his child that they'll be leaving, Dedue fetches himself a coat and shoes. When he returns, Grant does, indeed, have the opportunity to hold the door for him, which is a strange reversal of Dedue's usual role. He's not particularly used to having other people do things for him.]
[As they walk out into the cool winter weather, Dedue breaks the silence with a particularly astute,]
That... sounds like it might translate to "yeah, it's been a lot".
[He's sorry to call you out, Dedue, but... y'know, maybe take it as a compliment that Grant's comfortable enough to do that to begin with?]
Aah, yeah; I ran into her, too. She... sure seems to be enjoying the opportunity to make herself known.
[...He laughs again. Audibly dry this time.] I... yes. I am. Brought it on myself, though, I... keep tryin' to reason with Pokemon who are entirely uninterested in being reasoned with.
[It's the closest thing to an admission that he's going to get. There's nothing, after all, that Dedue can't overcome with unyielding willpower.]
She seemed to enjoy the opportunity to make herself a nuisance to Lorenz.
[She even locked the poor man in a cupboard and went on a shopping spree with his money. And while it must have been an exciting thing to have a body again-- ignoring the existential questions that arise from Pokemon having once been people-- it's quite cruel to imprison a man just so that you could run amok.]
I suppose they are all too engrossed in the possibilities of being in a human form to concern themselves with reason. I hope they have not given you too much trouble.
[Grant is a kind man, he doesn't deserve having to corral a bunch of misbehaving Pokemon-in-friends'-bodies.]
[Yeah, honestly, Grant wouldn't expect more than that. Dedue doesn't really seem inclined to complain about his problems, even when doing so would be intensely justifiable.]
Christ, yeah... poor guy doesn't need that stress on top of everything. He's already got so much to get used to, just being here.
Yeah, I... think that about sums it up for a lot of them. Some aren't being too bad-- I think Skittles is just excited that being in Claude's body means being taller than usual? [Dear, sweet Skittles, not creating a bunch of unnecessary problems.] Anyway, it, uh-- I mean, I guess I can't complain too much. It's been kind of rough, yeah, but definitely not worse for me than it must be for their trainers.
[Lorenz has had quite a lot of stress since he'd arrived, for a number of reasons. Dedue... worries for him, for lack of a better term. Lorenz had never been a particularly robust man, and his health seems to have made little to no improvement in the five years since they were at the monastery. Of course, not all men are built to the constitution of himself or Grant, nor would Dedue expect him to be, but Lorenz is frightfully delicate.]
[But, well, the delicacy of Lorenz's constitution is perhaps a discussion for another day.]
Has Claude taken well to the change? He is, ah... somewhat harder to locate, now. [Because he's a four-inch speedy little spider, mostly. Dedue could've had him perched on his back and wouldn't have noticed his tiny body.]
Regardless, it will be good to have a respite from it all for a time.
[Besides, nothing terrible is likely to happen. A little mischief, perhaps, like Stephanie's, but that's hardly much more than a little embarrassment and some lost funds, which could be easily replaced. Goddess knows that Claude has enough of it, since he was willing to drop two million on a Dreepy.]
I think he's doing pretty well with it, yeah. Been avoiding the... risks pretty well. [He hasn't gotten stepped on!! Partly by way of hitching rides on other people.]
Ooh, yeah, for sure. Not... not something I'm really equipped to deal with continuously, all day.
These kinds of disturbances do not seem to last for very long, at least. [A few days at maximum. If nothing else, they shouldn't be dealing with any of this for very long.] But let us hope that it is among the shorter of them.
[They approach the establishment, and Dedue makes it to the door first this time; Grant gets the door held open for him. It's only fair.]
Would it be strange of me to admit that I have not had occasion to drink at such an establishment?
[A bar, he means. He'd been at taverns before in Fodlan, of course, but not to drink; merely to acquire food, which he would usually eat quickly and leave to reduce the risk of attracting too much attention. Even before he was rescued from imprisonment, though, he never frequented public houses.]
I don't think it's too strange. I mean, the bar scene around here is alright, but drinking isn't everyone's favorite go-to social activity, y'know? And it sure isn't the most obvious way to spend your time in this place.
[What with the superpowered animals and wild competitions and... also, just, all the interpersonal drama going on.]
[The establishment is not terribly busy at this time of day. Being the one who lacks experience, though, he decides to follow Grant's lead in general bar-associated activities.]
That is true, though I do not mean only in this place. Even in Fódlan, I did not frequent public houses. [A brief, considering pause.] I did once bring Sylvain back from one, however.
[It had been quite late and Sylvain had yet to return to his room, and Dedue had gone down into the town that surrounded Garreg Mach to see if he was still carousing. He had instead found Sylvain relieving his stomach of his contents in an alley near the public house, and had brought him back to the dormitories to rest. Despite his late activities, he'd still been surprisingly spry the next morning.]
[Grant takes a look around as they walk in, glancing at Dedue.] You alright sitting at the bar, or do we want a table?
[And, on that note:] Oh, yeah - I mean, I'd assume the same still applies back there, even more so, right? You had other things to keep up with, and I can't imagine your position lent itself well to being able to afford to let your guard down. I'm just glad you feel comfortable enough these days to be willing to do stuff like this now and then... instead of only stopping by these places out of necessity, like to retrieve Sylvain.
[Seriously, with all he knows, he... cannot begin to imagine the pressure Dedue was under back home. That he's willing to ease up now and then at all seems like a miracle, after having learned not to for so long.]
[The seats at the bar are significantly higher than the ones at the tables, which would... seem to be easier for men of their stature.] The bar will be fine.
[And continuing the subject of Dedue as they make their way to their seats,] It would have been unseemly, as I am intended to be His Highness' bodyguard, as well as his vassal. Even so, I would not have been particularly welcome in any establishment, regardless of whether I had the money to spare for something so nonessential.
[A vassal's stipend hardly afforded him much spending cash. And while Dimitri had a fairly large budget for his household as the crown prince, his uncle still had control over it. It seemed prudent to keep his expenses as low as possible, so that there could be one fewer angle to censure him by. Here, there's no such risk of disapproval. Perhaps it says something about the degree of pressure that Dedue was under that it's taken him approximately half a year to go out.]
[He nods in understanding as they go to sit down.] 'Bout tracks for that place. On the note of how it would've looked bad, though, with you being Dimitri's bodyguard, I am really glad you're feeling like you can relax even this much now. Wouldn't be surprised if it'd taken longer, even, but... I'm glad to see it.
[Yyyyeah, the length of this transition period has not been lost on him. But, with all the context he has, he is truly relieved on Dedue's behalf that he's been able to adapt at all.]
There is no war here, and the risk of significant and permanent injury seems far less than in Fódlan.
[Which... is sort of a reason to relax some of his hypervigilance. They are not all on battlefields every month, fighting for their lives against Imperial forces or vicious monsters. Dimitri is no longer a wild-eyed vagrant stalking the woods of Faerghus. Their lives here are comfortable, with ample resources and time for leisure.]
[But--]
[And this is where Dedue gets something of a thousand yard stare, comparable to the most shellshocked of Vietnam vets--]
Save for the danger that His Highness actively seeks out.
[The list of the many and varied ways that Dimitri has managed to find trouble even in this world flashes through his mind. Even Grant may be able to read in Dedue's stoic face that he's actively reconsidering his decision to leave Dimitri alone, even for a short while.]
[Grant... laughs, weakly, the kind of laugh that's only half amusement at most, and the rest is pained understanding.]
Yeah, he... he seems good at that. But, [Before Dedue changes his mind and bolts,] He should be okay for a while, and he's not totally unattended. Dimitri may make some... questionable decisions, but that doesn't mean you can't afford to step away from him and relax sometimes.
[He isn't unattended at the moment, though Claude is currently a very tiny spider-like creature, and Grant is here, as is Dedue. That means that there are several fewer voices of reason around Dimitri for the time being, and that's... a non-ideal situation.]
[Step away from him and relax. Dedue has not done such a thing since he and His Highness met all of those years ago, and it's a very difficult thing to start doing now.]
I think that we should order those drinks now.
[Before he gets it into his head to run back to Dimitri.]
[As soon as the bartender isn't busy with something else, Grant orders a beer, and a couple plates of snacks - which he makes sure to ask Dedue for opinions on, making it very clear that those are for him, too. They may be here to get drunk, but best to still be responsible about it.]
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[As they walk out into the cool winter weather, Dedue breaks the silence with a particularly astute,]
It has been a very strange day.
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Yyyeah. Even more so than usual. Hope it hasn't dumped too much stress on you?
[Well. Obviously there's been some, or they wouldn't be fleeing the house to go drink.]
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[Which, considering that he could handle Dimitri being mad, a continental war, and nearly dying at least once, isn't saying much.]
I discovered that Ginger's name is actually Stephanie. That was a strange experience.
[She also hit on him. It was weird.]
You seem... stressed.
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[He's sorry to call you out, Dedue, but... y'know, maybe take it as a compliment that Grant's comfortable enough to do that to begin with?]
Aah, yeah; I ran into her, too. She... sure seems to be enjoying the opportunity to make herself known.
[...He laughs again. Audibly dry this time.] I... yes. I am. Brought it on myself, though, I... keep tryin' to reason with Pokemon who are entirely uninterested in being reasoned with.
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[It's the closest thing to an admission that he's going to get. There's nothing, after all, that Dedue can't overcome with unyielding willpower.]
She seemed to enjoy the opportunity to make herself a nuisance to Lorenz.
[She even locked the poor man in a cupboard and went on a shopping spree with his money. And while it must have been an exciting thing to have a body again-- ignoring the existential questions that arise from Pokemon having once been people-- it's quite cruel to imprison a man just so that you could run amok.]
I suppose they are all too engrossed in the possibilities of being in a human form to concern themselves with reason. I hope they have not given you too much trouble.
[Grant is a kind man, he doesn't deserve having to corral a bunch of misbehaving Pokemon-in-friends'-bodies.]
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Christ, yeah... poor guy doesn't need that stress on top of everything. He's already got so much to get used to, just being here.
Yeah, I... think that about sums it up for a lot of them. Some aren't being too bad-- I think Skittles is just excited that being in Claude's body means being taller than usual? [Dear, sweet Skittles, not creating a bunch of unnecessary problems.] Anyway, it, uh-- I mean, I guess I can't complain too much. It's been kind of rough, yeah, but definitely not worse for me than it must be for their trainers.
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[But, well, the delicacy of Lorenz's constitution is perhaps a discussion for another day.]
Has Claude taken well to the change? He is, ah... somewhat harder to locate, now. [Because he's a four-inch speedy little spider, mostly. Dedue could've had him perched on his back and wouldn't have noticed his tiny body.]
Regardless, it will be good to have a respite from it all for a time.
[Besides, nothing terrible is likely to happen. A little mischief, perhaps, like Stephanie's, but that's hardly much more than a little embarrassment and some lost funds, which could be easily replaced. Goddess knows that Claude has enough of it, since he was willing to drop two million on a Dreepy.]
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Ooh, yeah, for sure. Not... not something I'm really equipped to deal with continuously, all day.
[God he hopes it's just the one day.]
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[And, well, there's still always alcohol.]
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[For their sake and that of everyone who swapped.
He brightens up a bit, though, spotting a building up ahead, and nods.] Oh, I think that's the place.
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Would it be strange of me to admit that I have not had occasion to drink at such an establishment?
[A bar, he means. He'd been at taverns before in Fodlan, of course, but not to drink; merely to acquire food, which he would usually eat quickly and leave to reduce the risk of attracting too much attention. Even before he was rescued from imprisonment, though, he never frequented public houses.]
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I don't think it's too strange. I mean, the bar scene around here is alright, but drinking isn't everyone's favorite go-to social activity, y'know? And it sure isn't the most obvious way to spend your time in this place.
[What with the superpowered animals and wild competitions and... also, just, all the interpersonal drama going on.]
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That is true, though I do not mean only in this place. Even in Fódlan, I did not frequent public houses. [A brief, considering pause.] I did once bring Sylvain back from one, however.
[It had been quite late and Sylvain had yet to return to his room, and Dedue had gone down into the town that surrounded Garreg Mach to see if he was still carousing. He had instead found Sylvain relieving his stomach of his contents in an alley near the public house, and had brought him back to the dormitories to rest. Despite his late activities, he'd still been surprisingly spry the next morning.]
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[And, on that note:] Oh, yeah - I mean, I'd assume the same still applies back there, even more so, right? You had other things to keep up with, and I can't imagine your position lent itself well to being able to afford to let your guard down. I'm just glad you feel comfortable enough these days to be willing to do stuff like this now and then... instead of only stopping by these places out of necessity, like to retrieve Sylvain.
[Seriously, with all he knows, he... cannot begin to imagine the pressure Dedue was under back home. That he's willing to ease up now and then at all seems like a miracle, after having learned not to for so long.]
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[And continuing the subject of Dedue as they make their way to their seats,] It would have been unseemly, as I am intended to be His Highness' bodyguard, as well as his vassal. Even so, I would not have been particularly welcome in any establishment, regardless of whether I had the money to spare for something so nonessential.
[A vassal's stipend hardly afforded him much spending cash. And while Dimitri had a fairly large budget for his household as the crown prince, his uncle still had control over it. It seemed prudent to keep his expenses as low as possible, so that there could be one fewer angle to censure him by. Here, there's no such risk of disapproval. Perhaps it says something about the degree of pressure that Dedue was under that it's taken him approximately half a year to go out.]
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[Yyyyeah, the length of this transition period has not been lost on him. But, with all the context he has, he is truly relieved on Dedue's behalf that he's been able to adapt at all.]
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[Which... is sort of a reason to relax some of his hypervigilance. They are not all on battlefields every month, fighting for their lives against Imperial forces or vicious monsters. Dimitri is no longer a wild-eyed vagrant stalking the woods of Faerghus. Their lives here are comfortable, with ample resources and time for leisure.]
[But--]
[And this is where Dedue gets something of a thousand yard stare, comparable to the most shellshocked of Vietnam vets--]
Save for the danger that His Highness actively seeks out.
[The list of the many and varied ways that Dimitri has managed to find trouble even in this world flashes through his mind. Even Grant may be able to read in Dedue's stoic face that he's actively reconsidering his decision to leave Dimitri alone, even for a short while.]
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Yeah, he... he seems good at that. But, [Before Dedue changes his mind and bolts,] He should be okay for a while, and he's not totally unattended. Dimitri may make some... questionable decisions, but that doesn't mean you can't afford to step away from him and relax sometimes.
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[Step away from him and relax. Dedue has not done such a thing since he and His Highness met all of those years ago, and it's a very difficult thing to start doing now.]
I think that we should order those drinks now.
[Before he gets it into his head to run back to Dimitri.]
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[As soon as the bartender isn't busy with something else, Grant orders a beer, and a couple plates of snacks - which he makes sure to ask Dedue for opinions on, making it very clear that those are for him, too. They may be here to get drunk, but best to still be responsible about it.]