Sylvain rolls his eyes, nudged Felix with his elbow as they observe Dimitri wandering deeper into the cathedral ruins, somehow looking gloomier than the two of them felt. “Call it whatever you want. You still asked because you’re worried about him, right?”

“…” Felix said nothing. Deep down, he agreed with Sylvain. It didn’t stop his anger from festering over Dimitri’s sorry state, however. “Sentimental as always…”

“What, you don’t see the connection yet?” His brow raises, and he can’t fight the amused grin off his face. Fe’s innocence is seriously killing him. Time to be more… direct. “Okay. Let’s say you were… ‘battling’ with Annette? Would you still have the high ground?~ Better choose wisely.”

“I fail to see what this conversation has to do with ruling over pillows.” The more Sylvain talks, the more confused Felix becomes. “I’d win any battle. I’m not so weak as to lose to anyone.”

The serious question takes him a little off-guard, and he frowns. He’s not sure why Felix needs to hear him say this out loud. But he humors him with a serious answer. “For him? I mean. He’s gonna be our king when this war’s over. But before that? He’s a friend. I don’t have a lot of those.”

He was expecting that… there’s no way Felix would ever admit to being a bottom out loud. But Sylvain is nothing if not cunning and a bastard. “So what you’re saying is, you’d never be able to win even /if/ you had the low ground? That it’s too much of a challenge for ya?”

He’s staring at Sylvain as if Sylvain is the biggest moron in all of Fodlan. “I’m on top, obviously!” Felix arrogantly scoffs. “I’m strong. I don’t fall easily in battle, and I intend to win.”

Felix crossed his arms over his chest. The look on his face darkened. “…Sylvain, why are you fighting this war? Fighting for him? Be honest.”

Sylvain chuckles in respond to Felix’s biting comments about his love life, then follows his gaze towards Dimitri. Dimitri is sad, withering in his corner like a tall, frowning shadow. He’s been like that since… well. “I see. Something about this picture bothering you more than usual?”

“But you are a pig. I don’t blame Ingrid for thinking so, either. How many times do you have to be chased out of some nobleman’s house for defiling his daughter before it finally sinks in?” He dragged a hand down his face in exasperation. “Look at him.” Then he gestured to the sulking Dimitri.

Aww, Felix is such an innocent virgin. It’s up to Sylvain to guide him on the right path to degeneracy. “You might have a point. Anyway-“ “Pretend you’re in the heat of… /battle/. With a very lovely lady or lad. Do you have the high ground? Or… the low ground?”

He already has a bad feeling about this. Fixing his irritated look on his supposed best friend, Felix replies, “no. But I’m sure you’re going to tell me anyway, despite my having no interest in whatever drivel comes out of your mouth.”

If he ran he’d have to carry her. She wouldn’t object. As long as the hands remain connected.

“Eh, I dunno, sometimes you and Ingrid like to call me a pig, even though I’m the furthest from it you can get. Pigs and boars aren’t that different, I don’t think…” He smirks smirkingly again. “Anyway, what’d he do this time, hm? Other than be way more gloomy than you are.”

“Shut up, Sylvain. I swear, it’s like you exist only to follow me around and aggravate me.” An exasperated sigh escaped Felix’s lips. “Of course I mean him! Who else would it be?”

He is exactly where he wants to be. If he ever runs, call him a fool and drag him back.

She is never letting go either. Forever stuck.

Sylvain looks intrigued. Not good. “Ohhh, looks like someone’s opening a door to a whole new world…” He slings an arm around the short jerk. “Felix, my friend, you ever heard of tops and bottoms?”

“A pillow princess?” A scoff. “You idiots and your half-witted slang. A pillow is not sentient! You can’t rule over it! I’m surrounded by fools.”

“Woah, what crawled up your hind quarters, Felix?” Sylvain smirks that smirk he’s known to smirk. “Lemme guess, His Majesty the Prince?”

“Hmph. The Boar is back to his antics. And I’m expected to fight for this beast who learned to walk on his hind legs?”

*holds your beloved hands so hard*

@sylvikins.bsky.social holding hands