( video, un: lavieenrose )

[affectueux]

[ maybe it’s insanity. more likely, it’s the combination of the sanguis cycle and his upcoming birthday making him restless and impulsive. he can usually tamp down those urges when things are normal, but he also can’t recall a moment when things have ever been normal in lunatia.

maybe that’s a contributing factor, too. either way, here’s a video of serge—like the cycles before, he’s got little bear features. paws included, even if his hands are off-screen. ]

Er, bonjour. My name is Serge… I’ve cleaned many of your tables at Salon de Marie. [ it gets harder when he’s a bear, but that’s neither here nor there. ] My birthday will be coming up soon, and I—it—

[ he frowns, searching for the words. he should have planned this better, but again. the haste. ]

In my world, I’m set to inherit my family’s estate on my 18th birthday. I’ll be expected to get married and carry on the family name, as I’m the only child of my late father. [ he realizes something, and holds up a hand in brief fluster. ] I’m not saying this to brag! It’s relevant, I promise. I bring it up because there’s—a person. Someone I love. Someone I can neither marry nor produce a child with.

…this is quite heavy, isn’t it? I’ll try to get to the point. When your heart is in conflict with both duty and the expectations of society, what are you supposed to do? What can you do?

Merci, everyone. For your attention.

Comments

[affectueux]

[ security. perhaps that’s what he’s looking for. even if he were miserable, at least he would be alive—and gilbert would be, too. but living may not be worth the price that both of them would pay. ]

…non.

[ he frowns. ]

Not “without worry.” There are those who have been able to take lovers outside their mandated marriage with minimal damage to their name, but I am not one of those people.

[reprising]

It wouldn't be easy, yes. Marriage requires a certain amount of loyalty, however...

[ He thinks for a bit- wondering how this will work out for the boy. But, since he's not in his world, perhaps it'll give him some time to at least think on it and decide what's best for him. ]

As easy as it would be to say "Do what your heart tells you"— That would be unrealistic. Perhaps, the right thing in your situation would be-

To accept that some things may not be in your family's favour. If you're set on not giving up on your beloved, then you need to make them accept your own choice as well, provided you're giving them everything else they've asked.

They have no command over your choice of family, for yourself. And if they demand children of you through marriage... that is not their choice to make.

[affectueux]

[ serge wonders what that would really mean, to fulfill what they’ve asked for. he would have to go back in time and prevent his father from ever meeting his mother, he suspects. his aunts’ disdain for him began the moment aslan and paiva met, long before he was even an idea. ]

Is that…

[ … ]

Has that worked out for you? Or… do you feel that it will? It’s hard to imagine that I’ll ever live in a world where my relationship would be accepted.

[reprising]

To be honest, I don't know yet. But I've made up my mind. Whether or not it is accepted, it's a choice I've made. And I will walk into the dawn with my beloved's hand in mine without shame.

[ Byleth and him can't have children together, but there will be others- who will need that care and love. ]

All I know is is that I won't stop doing what I can do for my people. Perhaps it is easier for me, than it would be for you. So my advice may be more selfish. I apologize if it hasn't helped your circumstances at all, Serge.

[affectueux]

[ dimitri’s poignant words do stir serge’s heart. he’s susceptible to that sort of thing—stories of love in the face of adversity, and it seems like dimitri is faring better in the willpower of it, even if he doesn’t know how the results have shaken out. ]

Non. It has helped. Merely feeling less alone is a comfort in and of itself, but, how should I say this… [ he pauses. ] The love of others is a beacon for my own.