puppycrush2 | week two

[Oh, this is so charming. Less formal than a show put on in a theatre, but a much grander scale than simple street performances back home. Though it is a little jarring with so many songs competing with one another for their attention. Still, Dorothea is a lot more plain and open with her excitement at the scene than her more taciturn date—all pleased smiles as she scans the crowds and the stages, settling on one off to the left at Lessing’s question.]

That one over there seems very intriguing, don’t you think?

[She points over to the stage where a duo are performing something jazzy, the sound of a saxophone beckoning them over.]

[ It does take awhile to acquire an ear for this level of musical competition, though given Lessing has been living at the university since he was a young boy, he's had plenty of time to adjust.

He'll nod at her question, and start to drift towards that stage. ]

Do you like woodwinds then?

[ Though a lot of jazz does tend to be more brass in nature. ]

[She falls into step alongside him, trying to get a better look at the performers on stage as they approach.]

I think I’m a little more fond of strings, personally. There’s something a little elegant to the sound that I really like.

[So as for why she’d honed in on this one first, in that case—]

But there’s a thrill in trying out something a little different, isn’t there?

[That’s kind of what’s made this entire experience with the show they’re on so appealing.]

[ He can appreciate that opinion, even though he's more of a percussion man himself.

But he will hum in agreement at that question. ]

The university I spent most of my time in... the students had different ways of playing, but the music still tended to follow certain trends. There's a lot more variety here than what I usually get to hear.

[ It's nice, but he says that as someone who doesn't tend to play classically. ]

[She nods in agreement at that.]

There’s a little bit of variation from opera to opera, but broadly they follow a certain style in my experience… the variety here is exciting to hear.

[Especially since she had been stuck for months with the hymns at Garreg Mach… But speaking of school, Lessing’s mention of a university draws her attention back his way, brows raised with a touch of curiosity.]

A university… Are you a student too, then? What did you study?

[ Just a whole lot of agreeable nodding happening between the two of them, because it sounds like she knows exactly what he means. He's heard opera music before, and he can understand that. It also tends to be of a certain sort.

Though as for his own school experiences... ]

Not exactly. I audit classes, but I'm not studying for a degree right now. It does mean I can sit in on anything I find interesting though.

[At the very least it’s reassuring to find that they’re on the same wavelength when it comes to such an interest.]

I suppose there’s something appealing in the freedom in that sort of thing.

[Only touching on what’s interesting, letting whims guide you. She almost feels a little jealous at the idea of it, but of course there could be any number of reasons he had behind it.]

Is that why you hadn’t formally enrolled? Still figuring things out?

[ His gaze slowly passes from the performers on stage back to Dorothea during the conversation. The performances is good, but it's largely stationary, so it's not like he needs to watch them to appreciate it. ]

Maybe in part. I was preparing and waiting for something to happen though, and attending classes was a good way to pass the time.

[That’s fair enough, and maybe even a bit commendable that he’s willing to keep busy even if he’s stuck in the idle position of waiting for something.]

Classes are good for that if nothing else, aren’t they? I’d taken on the life of a student for a good number of months before signing up for the show here, and while I don’t know if it’s really for me in the end, the time certainly did fly by.

[ He's never been particularly good at idling completely. As long as Lessing isn't deathly ill he'll continue to train, study, and do odd jobs as needed to keep himself busy.

There's no reason someone can't be productive while still waiting for something to happen. ]

It does help things feel like they're crawling along.

[ Though... He's looking just at her now, no longer focusing on what's happening on stage, at least not visually. ]

Not a fan of school yourself though?

[ Or maybe it's just not what she's really looking for, given what she's told him already about what she's trying to find here. ]

Classes themselves are fine, don’t get me wrong. And I enjoy having new settings to meet people in…

[Thus, showing up here in the first place. She lets her own attention turn toward Lessing as well.]

It’s more the practical applications they put us up to that I hadn’t been quite prepared for. I fear that having a tender heart doesn’t mix well with fighting.

[Because, you know, school sending you off for combat is a totally normal thing, right?]

[ In some places it probably is. Lessing knows the students at the university he attends certainly learn their fair share of Arts, and many of them will be applied to combat situations in the future. Still, it's a far cry from them actually being sent off into battle.

Lessing himself is a bit of an outlier in how much training he has, but he's been aware of things that the other students haven't known about for some time now, and been readying himself for something bigger that they didn't even realize was bubbling under the surface.

He doesn't expect it from other people though, and he raises a brow at that. ]

They sent you into fights as part of your schooling?

We assist the knights on missions from time to time, to get field experience.

[The simple answer, though it certainly requires a tad more explanation to likely satisfy that muted bit of surprise there on his features.]

The academy’s primary function is training up scions of noble and wealthy families for battlefield command, or for those aiming to make a career out of knighthood. A great place to meet well-connected people, but there are expectations, of course.

[It’s not like she hadn’t expected it; she knew what she was signing up for when she decided to chase this endeavor, for the most part. But there’s a difference between being prepared in theory and learning what it’s like in practice.]

Got it...

[ A school for knights does make a certain degree of sense to him, though that's a pretty wide variety of positions they're allowing for in the one school. He wonders if the classes are separated out amongst those who plan to involve themselves directly in the battle, and those who are taking more of a leadership position. ]

Seems like it would be useful for the people who are looking to make a career out of it, but not the easiest place for those who aren't.

[ He gives her a curious look. ]

[She sees that look he gives her and laughs a little, punctuating it with a chagrined smile.]

You’re not wrong. I think it’s a shock for many of the students, even if they’re knowing what to expect.

[The duo on stage wraps up their current song, and the crowd rouses with applause for a moment. She joins in, letting her gaze drift back to the stage. And once the applause dies down again:]

I’m… not entirely sure I can say I regret it, though. Not fully. Even if I do think it would have been much easier to stick to being on stage and trying my chances there.

[But it was a gamble that felt worth it, particularly when chasing after her mentor is what landed her there in the first place.]

[ For all the cheering and woos, there are just as many people that stick to clapping, and Lessing joins in that at least. His clapping trailing off towards the end, one ear flicking when Dorothea starts talking again.

There's something in this sentiment he can understand. Things can always go easier in life than they do. Things certainly could have in his, but he doesn't regret any of it. ]

Easier doesn't always mean better.

week two | dates

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