infreefall | redacted ★ claude

That's... actually good advice. Sounds like something my teacher would say.

[ it's a little odd, coming from claude, but somehow he keeps finding new ways to surprise her. and it makes it a little easier to believe he'll win that war of his. ]

Sounds like you needed someone like us, though. [ she smiles, kicking her feet idly from wherever they're sitting. ] So it sounds like some good came out of being stuck here after all, huh?

(To be fair though, Claude will probably spend the next five years skipping sleep to focus on w a r and keeping his own dang country together during it all but that's fine. No one has to know how hard Claude really works when no one is looking, especially back home once he claims his title and becomes a true leader.)

They sound like a good teacher. Make sure to listen to them. They'll help you get through anything if you pay attention.

(Speaking from experience, there. But hmm...)

Maybe... (It's kind of amazing how much he's opened up in two months here compared to all of his years in Fodlan.) There's someone back home, my professor. She isn't as direct as either of you but she always had a way of drawing me out towards her.

It was nice, really. (And he laughs lightly,) She was the kind of person I wanted to be more myself around. Because I could be myself around her.

But I guess I needed a bigger push, still.

(And he found that push here.)

I know he will. He's... already helped me through a lot.

[ she's assuming claude says that because his professor did the same for him, but. once he finishes, ochako's leaning forward a little, grinning slyly. ]

Are you saying you actually trust someone with who you really are? [ scandalous, claude! absolutely scandalous! ] I never thought I'd see the day!

(Oh, what a cute smile...)

I'd trust her with my life. More than that, I'd trust her with my dream, too.

(He can admit this proudly! He loves his professor a lot. The first person in his life to ever really inspire him and make him feel like anything was possible.)

There are things I still can't tell her but I will, some day, I promise. It's not like here where there aren't any politics getting in the way.

(Politics truly ruin everything.)

What, you don't tell everyone about that?

[ it doesn't sound like something that should have to be a secret? ]

Even if you can't tell her now, I'm glad you have someone like that at home. You just have to win that war, right? Then you can make your dream happen? You'll be done in no time.

[ it's not that simple and ochako knows it, but like. it's easier to think about it this way, and she has more faith in claude than she'd maybe like to admit. ]

Everyone would think I was a madman. They'd take away my title and hide me away if they didn't chase me out the country.

(Things are so complicated back home, Ochako.)

Yeah. (He'll pretend it's that simple. In some ways, now that he remembers who will be at his side, it really is that easy.) It'll take awhile still but don't worry about it.

I'll have home all cleaned up and ready for your grand visit. ... I might surprise you, too.

Then they're wrong. [ it really isn't that simple, ochako! ] It's a good dream - one that they should all support.

And I'm going to worry no matter what. We're friends, right? That's what friends do when someone they care about is in danger... but I know you'll do it.

[ there's a soft laugh. ]

You make it sound like such a big deal... I'll be looking forward to it, though! I like surprises.

I know, but I have a lot of people I need to convince still.

(Fantasy racism is real.

But hah, he just gives her a smile at that. He really hopes he'll be a different person when they meet again after the Realm. He has his dream but he also has a private, personal wish that will come true if his dream becomes reality,)

This will certainly be a surprise. (He says like he's keeping a joke all to himself. A secret. Heh.) I've never told you much about myself. I kind of forgot, you know? And the same goes for you, too, right?

Since we have time... why don't we get to know each other? We're actually able to now.

[ ...oh. well, he isn't wrong! she is surprised, and it shows! they did talk about this before, but maybe ochako just wasn't expecting him to open up so soon? ]

Okay.

[ problem is, she doesn't really know where to start? maybe... ]

But first... Is it okay if I call you by your given name? Hikaru-san said I should ask, since we're friends and all.

(And that gets him to smile again. He's quiet for a moment, seemingly considering the request... It should be an easy answer, right? But she's actually asked a much more complicated question than she thought.)

Yes. (She can call him by his given name but he continues,) I'm sure you mean "Claude" but... it's "Khalid." My real name is Khalid.

(Surprise.)

[ wow he really is just full of surprises, isn't he? though she's very obviously curious about that, ochako doesn't ask. instead she says: ]

Whatever I think your name might be doesn't really matter compared to what you want me to call you. [ . . . ] But okay. Khalid-san.

[ she seems pleased to have this privilege anyway. ]

(Claude, or rather, Khalid, also looks pleased.)

It's been a long time since anyone's called me that. (Today is his first time hearing it in years.) I've missed it.

It's a better name than "Claude" anyway! (And now, he's complaining,) Everyone's named that in Fodlan!

(EVERYONE. It's such a generic name back home.)

[ she's about to ask why that is, but - she just starts laughing instead. ]

That's true. "Khalid" sounds much nicer than "Claude." I like it.

(He's also laughing because he completely agrees!)

Right? (It's so much nicer.) I like it, too. It's who I really am, after all.

(And there's so much to unpack there but at the end of the day, he's always been proud of that part of him. Hiding it was really hard.)

[ hearing that... ah, she can't think about it too hard. she won't.

still - ]

Thank you for telling me. All I really wanted was for you to feel comfortable enough to be yourself, anyway, you know?

[ so hearing that really does make her happy for him. ]

No, thank you. (He shakes his head,) For encouraging me.

(He raises a hand to his chest, right over his heart and gives her a bow. It isn't anything too fancy-- he doesn't want to embarrass her too much but he knows that probably won't stop her from reacting that way anyway.)

I've kept secrets for so long. Far longer than necessary, even. I've spent so long dreaming about a future where I can be accepted for who I am... I didn't realize that time could be now. Maybe I was more afraid than I thought? Hah! But it's nice to be honest. At least, a little more honest.

[ hhhh it does embarrass her, just a little, so she blushes and looks away. ]

You... really don't have to do that.

[ it seems silly to do all that for something that seems so simple to her, but maybe it's just a noble thing? nobles are very weird. ]

I'm glad, though. Some secrets are fine and all, but... You deserve to have people you don't have to hide from.

Sorry, it's a habit.

(Being a noble and [redacted] and all that. But especially after something like this that feels so personal to him, you know?)

Some secrets are fine... it makes things more surprising later, right?

(Like the ones he wants to save for Ochako.)

But now you know one of my secrets. (One of his greatest ones, even.) What will you tell me now, hm?

(He's teasing,)

I told you about my dream before. (Even if he couldn't explain it very well at the time.) What about you?

Hm... I don't think I really have any secrets, honestly. Besides the ones we had to keep here, that is.

But since you told me about your dream, I can tell you why I wanted to become a hero? But no judging! It's... a little embarrassing.

No judging.

(He's like... the least judgmental person in his canon.)

Okay. So...

[ she is going to just... keep her eyes trained on the floor because it is embarrassing to talk about, especially compared to someone with a dream like his. but she still doesn't shy away from the truth. ]

Most people are heroes because they want to save people, you know? At least, that's what they tell people. That's how it's supposed to be - heroes help people because there's someone who needs them. And it's because they do that kind of thing that people start to like them, and they get fans and stuff - especially kids, because seeing heroes fighting villains and winning and helping people is just... really cool. So pretty much every kid wants to be a hero at some point, including me.

But then my quirk manifested, and - it's a really good one. Not for combat, like the heroes we'd see in the news, but for other stuff. Moving things, mostly.

[ she wrings her hands together as continues. ]

My family owns a construction business, but since quirks are a lot more common now than when they started, it's - they don't get as much business as they used to, and the costs of running the business haven't gone down any. So we're completely broke. It's been that way my whole life, so when I first got my quirk, I thought it would be perfect. I could help save their business just my moving stuff around on my own...

...But my parents said no. My dad told me that they wanted me to follow my own dream instead - which is great, don't get me wrong! But my dream was just to take care of them, and hero work pays well if you're popular enough, so... That's why. I didn't choose to become a hero to help people. I just need the money, for my family.

[ maybe that's not the only reason anymore. there's been so much more on her mind both before the realm and during everything that's happened here, but. ochako won't deny how it started, or how it still feels like a pretty shallow, selfish reason to call herself a hero.

she smiles, though! it's a pretty obvious attempt to cover her discomfort with this part of herself, but she's trying! ]

But I'm still just a student anyway, so I've still got a long way to go before I can make enough money to help them out. I still have to graduate first!

(And he's just going to tilt his head ever so slightly to the side, raising a brow at Ochako. He just looks... confused?)

Was that supposed to be embarrassing?

(He's confused! What about that was supposed to be embarrassing, Ochako!!!)

[ she! covers her face! ]

It is! You're supposed to be a hero because you want to help people, not because you need the money! And... I don't know, it's just embarrassing to admit how hard our situation is to other people. Even me going to U.A. is... I can only do it because they've worked so hard, and I can't even get a side job to help out because the schedule for school won't allow it, and...!

[ ochako, you're rambling. ]

With money, you can buy security and necessities. From that, you can get comfort, happiness, and peace. We can be romantic and say it isn't; that money can't buy happiness and you can live without it but at the end of the day, money is important.

(He'd be a terrible leader if he didn't understand economics.)

You're doing this to help yourself and your family. There's nothing shameful about that. It's noble and admirable. I know plenty of people who have done amazing things all for their families and money. They're some of the most incredible people I know.

(Lysithea fighting to restore her family's honor. The greatest mage he knows. Raphael to take care of his sister after their parents died. The strongest brawler at the academy. Then there's Leonie who puts in so many hours of training just to pay back her village for paying her tuition to come to the academy. The most promising young mercenary in the Alliance.)

Admitting your situation is difficult is... well, difficult. But anyone who gives you a hard time for your dream and motivations is a fool.

Well, I know that, but you might be surprised by how many people would judge me for it. Especially after Stain...

[ wait he doesn't know about stain. hm. ]

That's a villain that showed up a few months ago in my world - Stain, the Hero Killer. They said his plan was to purge the world of anyone who wasn't a real hero, which was like... any hero except All Might, basically? Anyone who was doing hero work for anything but selfless reasons. So, someone like me.

He's gone now, but... they keep saying that he influenced a lot of other people, so now there's probably a lot of villains out there with that same ideology. So it's kind of hard not to think about how I'm supposedly not doing it for the right reasons sometimes, you know?

redacted ★ claude

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