#ive had two hubert essays its almost time for a blue lions one i guess lol

[indigowallbreaker]

So I'm sending you this ask because I hope you'll be kind about answering it, but what exactly is it that is so appealing about Dimitri? I've played both VW and most of CF, but even after spoiling myself on the specifics of his character arc, Dimitri is just...wholly uninteresting to me as a character. It doesn't help that I'm in general not a fan of the "[character] does horrible things but is sad about it and/or I hate their counterpart and therefore they are a soft uwu bean who can do no wrong" sort of vibe I get from most of his fans here on tumblr. But I do want to try and keep an open mind. So, as someone who does like him, I'm curious what about him is interesting to you?

First I want to clarify that I may not be the best person to ask. I’m a bigger Black Eagle fan than I am a Dimitri fan. That said, I DO like Dimitri, as he is a very good boy with a easy to swallow story line. 

I’ve tried answering this about 7 times now because I keep starting with “here’s why people probably like Dimitri in general” -- But your question boils down to “what about him is interesting to you?” 

So here first my serious answer aka the part that was at risk of becoming an essay:

Dimitri’s supports with Marianne and Mercedes perfectly capture my favorite thing about Dimitri-- He’s trying his best. That’s not me saying “he does horrible things but is sad about it etc etc” (I know there is a part of this fandom that thinks this way but I think they’re the minority.) I really do feel that at the end of the day, Dimitri wants what he thinks is best for the world. And he will do what it takes to make that happen. 

Dimitri wants the people of Duscur to live better lives, he wants to atone for what has become of Felix’s family, he wants Edelgard to stop the war before he has to kill her. He wants to be a good person so so badly even with his trauma putting ghosts in his head. Dedue says it best after Gronder:

Dedue: Everyone is saying His Highness is back to his old self, but I do not think that is accurate. What he was until recently is what he had been for as long as I've known him. So tortured by his compassion for the fallen that it had driven him mad. He has always been too kind to be king. He has always felt too much for the weak and the dead. That is exactly why I look up to him.

Reading up on his plot is one thing. But if you really want to give Dimitri a chance, I suggest playing his route. Feeling the ups and downs, being part of the Hero’s Journey-- it’s not a bad route if you want a traditional Fire Emblem story. As stated, I’m more an Eagles fan, but I use his route as a feel-good reprieve when I want to save as many characters as possible.    

Now for some less heavy handed reasons. Aka the ones I think about when I write Dimitri:

He tricks Ashe into talking about good candy so he can go buy Ashe some, much to Ashe’s embarrassment.

Just so freaking bad at sewing. He snaps needles and scissors all over the place, the big brute. 

Annette knows tons of embarrassing young-Dimitri stories and he hates that.

This kid b e g s Byleth not to sign him up for the White Heron Cup. If selected he says “Curse you, Professor. I will of course accept, but know that you have damned us all." lmao the drama. It’s fantastic.

Likes horses and riding but his canon classes don’t make him a riding unit and that saddens me.

Laughs at Alois’ puns. Bless his heart.

Love kids, as seen in his C and B supports with Byleth, and even post skip is kind to orphans. 

“That’s why his cloak so big-- it’s full of secrets.”

Chris Hackney is just a fantastic voice actor. Pre-skip voice is different from Pre-Gronder voice is different from Post-Gronder voice. And all well done.

His supports with Dedue. Particularly the line: “Listen, Dedue... Perhaps you consider me to be someone special. But I think the same of you. You are irreplaceable. Cherished. So stop saying that we cannot be friends. Stop saying such awful things.” Dimitri doesn’t want vassals he wants FRIENDSSSSS

Offers a girl he likes a dagger (because this is a good idea. the Kingdom is wild, my dude) and Sylvain takes every single opportunity to mention it. Dimitri hates that he does this. I freaking love it.

(Male Byleth passes out in Sealed Forest) “It will be faster if I just carry you back.” (Female Byleth passes out in Sealed Forest) “I’m sorry, I am SO sorry, I have to pick you up to get back, I have no choice [flustered Proper Prince noises].” I’m barely exaggerating.

I hope this helps even a little bit! At the end of the day, Dimitri is a character in a video game. If you don’t really like him, there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s plenty of FE characters I don’t like. You don’t have to love every character to love the game. As much as I say ‘play the Blue Lion’s route to give Dimitri a chance’ you don’t have to do that either. Play what makes you happy!