[ huh! they are Still Hugging. this doesn't seem to be normal? now it's awkward, and dimitri is Concernicus. sylvain wouldn't do this in garreg mach, guaranteed, and they didn't even do it when his brother died, so ... well, to be fair on that last point, it wouldn't hurt if they did. so ... so ... ?!??! ]

... Well ... I have always said you are capable of being good. It's nice that other people here are seeing that as well.

It helps that you haven't done ... what you are normally famous for in Garreg Mach here. You're a blank slate to them, and since you continue to be on your best behaviour, this is all that you are to them.

I'm not saying this is bad, by the way - I am grateful that you're here. And being nice and helping out others is always good. We are making the best of a situation we didn't choose to be in, in our own ways. Your best is helping people and making them happy. That is admirable, and deserves to be noted.

[ there's a beat, and then he asks, rather uncertain, ] Sylvain?

[ golden retriever is alarmed and licking your face kind of voice. people don't normally go to the prince for hugs. and while dimitri is hug-shaped, he is also not-hug-shaped. he's not going to pull away, but he does stiffen a little bit. ]