See, you said you're no good, but I'll take that assessment.
( Nico chuckles, thanking the vendor with a war smile before gesturing for Hubert to follow. )
Anyway, we're almost here - look!
( True enough, a few stalls down is the fancy pet emporium: toys, puzzles, treats and clothes for all manner of pet, including some very cute little earth-sized sweaters. )
See? C'mon, they're precious - even you gotta admit it.
[He didn't sigh this time, but Hubert certainly felt like it. But he follows after a beat, weaving around the sparse crowd to arrive at the indicated stall.]
[The hats enchanted to be able to stay on a cat's head get a flat, unimpressed look from Hubert before his feet stop of their own volition by the corner of the stall, and irritation washes over him on the heels of the feel of a very familiar enchantment.]
[Now, Hubert does sigh again.] Not these juvenile things again, [he grumbles, before casting his gaze up to the offensive little sprig of greenery.]
( Nico, who has somehow managed to remain just outside of the enchantment, glances back towards Hubert when she realises he's stopped a few paces away. )
Huh?
( What juvenile things? )
You mean the hats? 'Cause if you already knew these things existed and just never said anything, I'm gonna be so mad at you.
( A grin curves her lips as she waves him closer, oblivious to the fact that the poor guy is currently unable to move. )
I wonder if there's any in black, to match your outfits ...
[Hubert nods his head slightly up to gesture towards it; the top strands of his hair brush against the leaves, considering the stall's overhand is only 6'5" or so. Hubert ends an arm, palm up.]
I cannot leave until I fulfill certain conditions. Your hand, please; I would appreciate the aid.
[Yes, he absolutely is intending to kiss her hand instead, because Hubert's like that.]
( Hubert's gesture gets a glance upwards from Nico, who - ah, wait she's heard about this! Her smile takes on a hint of mischief as full understanding dawns on her: )
Wait, that's the kissing plant, right?
( Which explains why he wants her hand, but ... wow, kinda boring, right? )
... You're sure you just want my hand, Mr. Refined?
( Nico teases, stepping in a little closer even as a little pink dusts her cheeks. She isn't usually so forward with people she genuinely likes, but Hubert is - he's something else. Someone she wouldn't mind giving more than her hand to, in any case. )
[He's clearly taken by surprised by the way Hubert blinks at her, hand still outstretched. The barest hint of something flickers across his face, gone before it can form into a true expression.]
[His hand lowers half-way, floating a little awkwardly between them as Hubert finds his words.]
I... would not want to make you uncomfortable, Nicoletta. [It's weak. Hubert wasn't naive; the coloring on her face was more than just frost-nipped, to say nothing of the way she peered up at him or advanced—or that Hubert doubted he could make someone as bold as Nico uncomfortable, considering where she worked.]
[But the words were a good buffer while he processed this new information, this surprising expression of interest.]
( Nico just scoffs and shakes her head, covering any nerves with easy bravado. )
Please - it'll take more than a fancy man stuck under a plant to make me uncomfortable.
( Another step. They're close now - perhaps the closest they've ever been while facing one another - and she realises a second too late that this might end up being a tip-toes situation if Hubert lets her continue. He said he doesn't want to make her uncomfortable, but really ... )
Anyway, I more worried about you.
( The tail end of an eyebrow lifts a little way as she worries her teeth over her lip, one hand moving to touch Hubert's wrist in reassurance. Nico's smile turns a little bashful: )
You gotta tell me if you're gonna melt or somethin', okay? Or if you really do just want a hand.
[Hers was the more apt concern, and Hubert knew better than to deny it. He watches her face, the little plays of emotion, and there's something odd—but not at all unwelcome—in the gentle touch upon his gloved wrist.]
...No, nothing of the sort. [For some reason, he couldn't help feel concerned. An anxiousness about disappointing her, perhaps?] I'm merely surprised.
[But there's no reason to stay here in the cold, blocking a side of the stall. Some corner of his mind was aware of the merchant watching them, even if Hubert couldn't bring himself to care. So he stoops lower to help bridge the difference in their height.]
[And if Nico pursued anything more behind a simple chaste press, she'd find him hesitant and a little clumsy, simply reacting to whatever advance she made—making it clear Hubert had no idea what he was doing.]
( Honestly? A simple, chaste kiss is probably their best option for the time being: they're in public, it's cold, and the merchant is definitely watching them with a too-pleased expression, which means that Nico does little more than bump up onto her toes so he doesn-t have to lean quite as far.
It's an unexpectedly sweet moment - one that deepens the flush dusting her cheeks - and when they part she bobs back down with a relieved little sigh.
No melting. That's a positive sign, right? )
... All good?
( If her eyes are a little brighter than they were before? Well. That's neither here nor there; all that matters is they're filled with a sparkling warmth reserved for those with whom she feels truly comfortable. )
[For such a small, simple thing, the gentle kiss leaves something in his chest heavy and warm, and there's just the barest flush to Hubert's own cheeks as they part.]
[And Hubert seems to have stopped scowling for the time being, his features softening towards where they normally sat, even if they fell short. Still, the gentle, neutral expression was by far the closest Hubert's been to smiling since the departure of both of his Bonded.]
[He nods, and after a beat steps backwards (in a motion that regrettably draws Nicoletta's hand from his wrist) to offer her one of his formal bows, one hand across his chest and the other hand arm behind his back. His bow is just shallow enough to avoid dipping his head back under the mistletoe.]
( Seeing the frown melt from Hubert's expression lightens something in Nico's chest; a weightless warmth, and one that has her smile softening into something a little more private. It shouldn't feel like a Moment but it does feel like a Moment - although the spell begins to disperse when Hubert takes that step back and offers a formal bow.
Nico chuckles, giddy and fond. )
Well, thank goodness. Would've been a shame for you to be stuck out here all night.
( She teases, doing her best to shake off the lingering after-effects of the all-too pleasant kiss. )
... And y'know, I'd say we're on good enough terms now for you to just call me 'Nico' if you want.
Wouldn't you see it a boon, tormenting me with your purchases while I was a captive audience? [He's not too dour to keep from bantering, and the lightness of Nico's mood helps. This was... pleasant.]
[Hubert steps around the plant's trap as he joins Nico at the front of the stall, looking over the eccentric (in his eyes) array of accessories for cats, dogs, birds, and others, including rats. And pointedly ignoring the starry-eyed merchant still watching the two of them.]
I'll call you whatever you'd prefer. If that is Nico, then very well.
( That gets a light laugh from Nico, who pretends to look thoughtful for a moment. )
Y'know, maybe you're right — but I gotta say it's pretty cute that your idea of torment is rat-sized sweaters and hats for cats.
( Speaking of: she reaches for a sweet little black sweater decorated with a silver star. It's almost as if it were made for her to show Hubert — heck, it matches pretty much every outfit she's seen him in — and Nico holds it up triumphantly in the palm of her hand. )
Torturous, right?
( And yes, she'll be ignoring the merchant too, because even Nico isn;t unaware of the fact that this whole outing is getting sweeter by the moment. )
Unbearably, [he drolls in return, but still good-naturedly. Even if Hubert was still short of smiling, his face has relaxed considerably from where he'd began the day.]
[Hubert accepts the delicate little sweater, turning it over in gloved hands. It reminded him of something Bernadetta would suggest.]
It has some charm, I suppose, [Look that's the closest he's getting] but I'm not entirely sure I see it as worth the expenditure; if you're concerned about their comfort, that can be solved with a heated cage. [A minute shake of his head.] I would almost say it'd be a purchase measured more in your amusement than the rats' appreciation.
[Almost like he'd be buying it for her rather than himself or the pets.]
( Relaxed is good. Nico will absolutely take relaxed, if only because it's been hard seeing him so obviously unhappy in the aftermath of his Bonded's disappearance. Losing two such connections at once ... well, let's just say that Nico hopes she never has to experience that for herself. )
Right! Charm!
( ... She'll also take that, too, because honestly? The fact that he's even willing to concede that means this outing has been a great success. Nico smiles warmly, her new hair-pins catching the light as she offers a brief shake of the head: )
And I dunno what you're talkin' about — everything I'm doin' here is for the rats.
( Which is blatantly untrue, but whatever. Nico is just trying to give Hubert an evening of something a little different, possibly even a little fun. )
... That heated cage idea ain't half bad, though. Maybe there's a spell for that?
Oh, I'm sure there is, [he murmurs a little absently, a thumb running across the star on the back.] I made a heated pillow for Lady Edelgard's cat, some time ago. Modification shouldn't be terribly difficult.
[Now that he thought about it, there was a reason it reminded him of Bernadetta. She'd been speaking of making the rats accessories shortly before she vanished, hadn't she? Perhaps Nico's urgings weren't an awful way to honor her in a roundabout manner. Hubert sighs.]
Very well, I'll humor you. [A moment to dig through his pocket for the cunes and pass them to the fawning merchant—before she passes one back with "10% off" and a smile.]
( Unbelievable! After all his protesting, after all those claims of torment, he's been making heated pillows for cats? Nico laughs delightedly before nudging him with her elbow — but then he goes ahead and really does surprise her by deciding to follow through with the purchase. )
Seriously?
( But he's already handing the cunes over — and getting a Kisstletoe discount, by the looks of it. )
See, I knew you weren't immune to the unholy power of ... uh. Cute pet outfits.
( A beat as she looks up at him, her smile a little crooked. )
Alright, maybe I thought you were immune, but you've gone ahead and proven me wrong. I like that.
[Geez, Nico, he made that pillow expressly for a practical purpose! What do you think he is, soft and squishy on the inside? But Nico's laughter is warm, and Hubert overlooks her nudge for it.]
I like to believe I am a reasonable man. I can be swayed with the appropriate arguments.
[He tucks the little sweater into a coat pocket, stepping away from the stall to allow others the chance to peruse—and to get away from the merchant's nosy watch. Hubert glances down at Nico and her crooked smile.] Was that all to your machinations, or will you be dragging me off on another odyssey?
Nah, I'm not gonna push my luck any more. You bought a tiny sweater for a rat; I'm pretty sure that'll tide me over for a couple weeks at least.
( Or until she gets another silly little idea, in any case. Nico isn't sure when she became so invested in keeping Hubert's spirits up, but becoming a genuine annoyance definitely isn't part of the plan. )
You wanna see what else is goin' on here, or head somewhere else?
( She rubs her hands together for warmth, then stuffs them into the pockets of her coat. Look, she's managed to dress for the weather for once, but she did forget her gloves. )
[Hubert did not voice the fact that he might have to double back on another day to purchase another. The rats were shockingly smart, for vermin; he didn't know if they possessed the capacity for jealousy if one received a sweater and another didn't. (If they even liked it.)]
[And he'd had half a mind to reprimand Nico about her gloveless state at the onset of this adventure, but, this was progress well-enough, he supposed. Still, it didn't escape him.]
Perhaps we shouldn't press our luck with the weather, either. The snow will not remain light forever.
[To say nothing of the chill itself as the evening aged. Hubert nearly left it at that, walking along the row of merchants and angling them back towards the Haven. He glances briefly Nico's way out of the corner of his eye. Modranicht... it was almost a year ago to the day that Edelgard had asked him to learn to open himself, and to learn to be selfish. The rats had certainly been a big step, but...]
[It's not a gesture Hubert hasn't made before, but this time, it's different; Hubert's arm lifts slightly, just a subtle shift of his shoulder and bend of his elbow, more of a suggestion of a gesture than a true one. The look he turns to Nico in time with it is silently questioning, and together there's something so very tentative about the offer of his arm.]
[Because while Hubert has offered his arm plenty of times to others before—politely, professionally, jestingly, amicably—this instance felt different in the wake of their moment at the stall. It's almost bold, by Hubert's especially reserved standards, a hint of a question behind the gesture itself, and certainly out of his usual comfort zone.]
( Any other time, Nico doubts she'd have thought twice about taking his arm. It's a gesture with which she's fairly familiar: she and Kyrie often link arms when they're out together, and she'll occasionally slip her arm into Nero's just because she knows he finds it embarrassing, but this? It's definitely different. Hubert's querying expression, the fact they just kissed, the weird sensation of warmth in the pit of her stomach ...
She slips her arm through his, bringing them closer together than they've ever been before. The slight flush of pink returns to her cheeks as she clears her throat before giving his arm a warm little squeeze: )
Yeah, you're probably right about that. It's kinda nice to just hang out though, so ...
( Nico looks up at him again. )
D'you, uh — we could go back to mine for coffee or something? Or yours, if you don't got a couple roommates who won't be able to leave well alone.
( But her tone is fond, if only because she knows Kyrie's interference and Nero's prickling would all be coming from a place of love. Doesn't mean she has to approve of it, though. )
[Some form of relief strikes Hubert when she accepts his elbow that he hadn't realized he'd been waiting for. The breath Hubert lets out is quiet and far from a sigh as he looks ahead again, and the corners of his mouth lift ever so faintly.]
Mm. Leslie is never a bother, I can assure you. I wouldn't be opposed to coffee if you don't mind the animals.
[But, let's be real, when was Hubert ever opposed to coffee? His residence had become an outright zoo at one point between all the occupants, and with their departure he and Leslie had inherited all those animals. Recalling Nico rubbing at her hands, Hubert places his free gloved hand over her in the crook of his elbow so at least her fingers wouldn't freeze for his request.]
I've recently acquired a bag from Purramid that I'm quite pleased with. Hopefully it's to your tastes.
( The last of the uncertainty that hung around his offer melts away to leave something altogether pleasant between them: a warming combination of his relief mixed with her delight. )
See, this is where I could pretend I'm the kinda person who knows about coffee an' cares about the flavour, but ...
( She chuckles lightly, then offers a little shrug. )
As long as it ain't instant, it'll be fine.
( The touch of his hand is a surprise, but Nico is grateful for the barrier of Hubert's between the cold air and her bare fingers. She waits until they've fallen into step comfortably before speaking up again: )
Anyway, tell me more about these animals. You got some kinda menagerie goin' on that I should know about?
[Hubert can't help a reflexive feeling of disgust, his mouth twisting slightly.]
I have had more than a lifetime's worth of instant coffee at war. You needn't worry about that.
[Falling into step felt almost instinctual; Hubert had spent most of his life keeping pace with someone much smaller than him, after all, and despite the difference in their statures adjusting his stride held no difficulty.]
Something of the sort. My first familiar is a snake, and with the turn of the weather spends most of its time slumbering by the hearth. You've met the rats. There are two cats, Heidi and Princess—one Lady Edelgard's and one Leslie's—as well as an Aegir Hound Lady Edelgard had taken in. It... seemed in ill taste to rehome her pets, so care of them has fallen to myself and Leslie.
[He frowns slightly.] I suppose... there is also an enchanted broom in the basement that very much behaves as an aggressive dog. I'm still unsure what to do with it.
( Nico is counting the animals off in her head when Hubert has to go and mention the enchanted broom, which immediately has her pressing her lips together into a thin line as she tries to hold in a burst of laughter. It isn't so much the thing itself that's hilarious, but the idea of Hubert being chased around by an aggressive, barking broom, and she has to take a moment to press the fingers of her free hand to her lips as she quivers with held-in giggles. )
Y-You ... um. Spell gone wrong, huh?
( She's on the verge of teasing about it some more, but fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately) the rest of Hubert's reply finally catches up with her. He'd had more than a lifetime's worth of coffee ... during the war? )
Wait—
( Nico glances up at him again, her expression sobering a little. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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See, you said you're no good, but I'll take that assessment.
( Nico chuckles, thanking the vendor with a war smile before gesturing for Hubert to follow. )
Anyway, we're almost here - look!
( True enough, a few stalls down is the fancy pet emporium: toys, puzzles, treats and clothes for all manner of pet, including some very cute little earth-sized sweaters. )
See? C'mon, they're precious - even you gotta admit it.
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[The hats enchanted to be able to stay on a cat's head get a flat, unimpressed look from Hubert before his feet stop of their own volition by the corner of the stall, and irritation washes over him on the heels of the feel of a very familiar enchantment.]
[Now, Hubert does sigh again.] Not these juvenile things again, [he grumbles, before casting his gaze up to the offensive little sprig of greenery.]
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( Nico, who has somehow managed to remain just outside of the enchantment, glances back towards Hubert when she realises he's stopped a few paces away. )
Huh?
( What juvenile things? )
You mean the hats? 'Cause if you already knew these things existed and just never said anything, I'm gonna be so mad at you.
( A grin curves her lips as she waves him closer, oblivious to the fact that the poor guy is currently unable to move. )
I wonder if there's any in black, to match your outfits ...
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[Hubert nods his head slightly up to gesture towards it; the top strands of his hair brush against the leaves, considering the stall's overhand is only 6'5" or so. Hubert ends an arm, palm up.]
I cannot leave until I fulfill certain conditions. Your hand, please; I would appreciate the aid.
[Yes, he absolutely is intending to kiss her hand instead, because Hubert's like that.]
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( Hubert's gesture gets a glance upwards from Nico, who - ah, wait she's heard about this! Her smile takes on a hint of mischief as full understanding dawns on her: )
Wait, that's the kissing plant, right?
( Which explains why he wants her hand, but ... wow, kinda boring, right? )
... You're sure you just want my hand, Mr. Refined?
( Nico teases, stepping in a little closer even as a little pink dusts her cheeks. She isn't usually so forward with people she genuinely likes, but Hubert is - he's something else. Someone she wouldn't mind giving more than her hand to, in any case. )
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[His hand lowers half-way, floating a little awkwardly between them as Hubert finds his words.]
I... would not want to make you uncomfortable, Nicoletta. [It's weak. Hubert wasn't naive; the coloring on her face was more than just frost-nipped, to say nothing of the way she peered up at him or advanced—or that Hubert doubted he could make someone as bold as Nico uncomfortable, considering where she worked.]
[But the words were a good buffer while he processed this new information, this surprising expression of interest.]
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( Nico just scoffs and shakes her head, covering any nerves with easy bravado. )
Please - it'll take more than a fancy man stuck under a plant to make me uncomfortable.
( Another step. They're close now - perhaps the closest they've ever been while facing one another - and she realises a second too late that this might end up being a tip-toes situation if Hubert lets her continue. He said he doesn't want to make her uncomfortable, but really ... )
Anyway, I more worried about you.
( The tail end of an eyebrow lifts a little way as she worries her teeth over her lip, one hand moving to touch Hubert's wrist in reassurance. Nico's smile turns a little bashful: )
You gotta tell me if you're gonna melt or somethin', okay? Or if you really do just want a hand.
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...No, nothing of the sort. [For some reason, he couldn't help feel concerned. An anxiousness about disappointing her, perhaps?] I'm merely surprised.
[But there's no reason to stay here in the cold, blocking a side of the stall. Some corner of his mind was aware of the merchant watching them, even if Hubert couldn't bring himself to care. So he stoops lower to help bridge the difference in their height.]
[And if Nico pursued anything more behind a simple chaste press, she'd find him hesitant and a little clumsy, simply reacting to whatever advance she made—making it clear Hubert had no idea what he was doing.]
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( Honestly? A simple, chaste kiss is probably their best option for the time being: they're in public, it's cold, and the merchant is definitely watching them with a too-pleased expression, which means that Nico does little more than bump up onto her toes so he doesn-t have to lean quite as far.
It's an unexpectedly sweet moment - one that deepens the flush dusting her cheeks - and when they part she bobs back down with a relieved little sigh.
No melting. That's a positive sign, right? )
... All good?
( If her eyes are a little brighter than they were before? Well. That's neither here nor there; all that matters is they're filled with a sparkling warmth reserved for those with whom she feels truly comfortable. )
Uh ... I mean, did it break the spell?
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[And Hubert seems to have stopped scowling for the time being, his features softening towards where they normally sat, even if they fell short. Still, the gentle, neutral expression was by far the closest Hubert's been to smiling since the departure of both of his Bonded.]
[He nods, and after a beat steps backwards (in a motion that regrettably draws Nicoletta's hand from his wrist) to offer her one of his formal bows, one hand across his chest and the other hand arm behind his back. His bow is just shallow enough to avoid dipping his head back under the mistletoe.]
I am free, yes. You have my thanks, Nicoletta.
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( Seeing the frown melt from Hubert's expression lightens something in Nico's chest; a weightless warmth, and one that has her smile softening into something a little more private. It shouldn't feel like a Moment but it does feel like a Moment - although the spell begins to disperse when Hubert takes that step back and offers a formal bow.
Nico chuckles, giddy and fond. )
Well, thank goodness. Would've been a shame for you to be stuck out here all night.
( She teases, doing her best to shake off the lingering after-effects of the all-too pleasant kiss. )
... And y'know, I'd say we're on good enough terms now for you to just call me 'Nico' if you want.
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[Hubert steps around the plant's trap as he joins Nico at the front of the stall, looking over the eccentric (in his eyes) array of accessories for cats, dogs, birds, and others, including rats. And pointedly ignoring the starry-eyed merchant still watching the two of them.]
I'll call you whatever you'd prefer. If that is Nico, then very well.
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( That gets a light laugh from Nico, who pretends to look thoughtful for a moment. )
Y'know, maybe you're right — but I gotta say it's pretty cute that your idea of torment is rat-sized sweaters and hats for cats.
( Speaking of: she reaches for a sweet little black sweater decorated with a silver star. It's almost as if it were made for her to show Hubert — heck, it matches pretty much every outfit she's seen him in — and Nico holds it up triumphantly in the palm of her hand. )
Torturous, right?
( And yes, she'll be ignoring the merchant too, because even Nico isn;t unaware of the fact that this whole outing is getting sweeter by the moment. )
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[Hubert accepts the delicate little sweater, turning it over in gloved hands. It reminded him of something Bernadetta would suggest.]
It has some charm, I suppose, [Look that's the closest he's getting] but I'm not entirely sure I see it as worth the expenditure; if you're concerned about their comfort, that can be solved with a heated cage. [A minute shake of his head.] I would almost say it'd be a purchase measured more in your amusement than the rats' appreciation.
[Almost like he'd be buying it for her rather than himself or the pets.]
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( Relaxed is good. Nico will absolutely take relaxed, if only because it's been hard seeing him so obviously unhappy in the aftermath of his Bonded's disappearance. Losing two such connections at once ... well, let's just say that Nico hopes she never has to experience that for herself. )
Right! Charm!
( ... She'll also take that, too, because honestly? The fact that he's even willing to concede that means this outing has been a great success. Nico smiles warmly, her new hair-pins catching the light as she offers a brief shake of the head: )
And I dunno what you're talkin' about — everything I'm doin' here is for the rats.
( Which is blatantly untrue, but whatever. Nico is just trying to give Hubert an evening of something a little different, possibly even a little fun. )
... That heated cage idea ain't half bad, though. Maybe there's a spell for that?
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[Now that he thought about it, there was a reason it reminded him of Bernadetta. She'd been speaking of making the rats accessories shortly before she vanished, hadn't she? Perhaps Nico's urgings weren't an awful way to honor her in a roundabout manner. Hubert sighs.]
Very well, I'll humor you. [A moment to dig through his pocket for the cunes and pass them to the fawning merchant—before she passes one back with "10% off" and a smile.]
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... Of course you did.
( Unbelievable! After all his protesting, after all those claims of torment, he's been making heated pillows for cats? Nico laughs delightedly before nudging him with her elbow — but then he goes ahead and really does surprise her by deciding to follow through with the purchase. )
Seriously?
( But he's already handing the cunes over — and getting a Kisstletoe discount, by the looks of it. )
See, I knew you weren't immune to the unholy power of ... uh. Cute pet outfits.
( A beat as she looks up at him, her smile a little crooked. )
Alright, maybe I thought you were immune, but you've gone ahead and proven me wrong. I like that.
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I like to believe I am a reasonable man. I can be swayed with the appropriate arguments.
[He tucks the little sweater into a coat pocket, stepping away from the stall to allow others the chance to peruse—and to get away from the merchant's nosy watch. Hubert glances down at Nico and her crooked smile.] Was that all to your machinations, or will you be dragging me off on another odyssey?
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( Nico just chuckles and shakes her head: )
Nah, I'm not gonna push my luck any more. You bought a tiny sweater for a rat; I'm pretty sure that'll tide me over for a couple weeks at least.
( Or until she gets another silly little idea, in any case. Nico isn't sure when she became so invested in keeping Hubert's spirits up, but becoming a genuine annoyance definitely isn't part of the plan. )
You wanna see what else is goin' on here, or head somewhere else?
( She rubs her hands together for warmth, then stuffs them into the pockets of her coat. Look, she's managed to dress for the weather for once, but she did forget her gloves. )
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[And he'd had half a mind to reprimand Nico about her gloveless state at the onset of this adventure, but, this was progress well-enough, he supposed. Still, it didn't escape him.]
Perhaps we shouldn't press our luck with the weather, either. The snow will not remain light forever.
[To say nothing of the chill itself as the evening aged. Hubert nearly left it at that, walking along the row of merchants and angling them back towards the Haven. He glances briefly Nico's way out of the corner of his eye. Modranicht... it was almost a year ago to the day that Edelgard had asked him to learn to open himself, and to learn to be selfish. The rats had certainly been a big step, but...]
[It's not a gesture Hubert hasn't made before, but this time, it's different; Hubert's arm lifts slightly, just a subtle shift of his shoulder and bend of his elbow, more of a suggestion of a gesture than a true one. The look he turns to Nico in time with it is silently questioning, and together there's something so very tentative about the offer of his arm.]
[Because while Hubert has offered his arm plenty of times to others before—politely, professionally, jestingly, amicably—this instance felt different in the wake of their moment at the stall. It's almost bold, by Hubert's especially reserved standards, a hint of a question behind the gesture itself, and certainly out of his usual comfort zone.]
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( Any other time, Nico doubts she'd have thought twice about taking his arm. It's a gesture with which she's fairly familiar: she and Kyrie often link arms when they're out together, and she'll occasionally slip her arm into Nero's just because she knows he finds it embarrassing, but this? It's definitely different. Hubert's querying expression, the fact they just kissed, the weird sensation of warmth in the pit of her stomach ...
She slips her arm through his, bringing them closer together than they've ever been before. The slight flush of pink returns to her cheeks as she clears her throat before giving his arm a warm little squeeze: )
Yeah, you're probably right about that. It's kinda nice to just hang out though, so ...
( Nico looks up at him again. )
D'you, uh — we could go back to mine for coffee or something? Or yours, if you don't got a couple roommates who won't be able to leave well alone.
( But her tone is fond, if only because she knows Kyrie's interference and Nero's prickling would all be coming from a place of love. Doesn't mean she has to approve of it, though. )
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Mm. Leslie is never a bother, I can assure you. I wouldn't be opposed to coffee if you don't mind the animals.
[But, let's be real, when was Hubert ever opposed to coffee? His residence had become an outright zoo at one point between all the occupants, and with their departure he and Leslie had inherited all those animals. Recalling Nico rubbing at her hands, Hubert places his free gloved hand over her in the crook of his elbow so at least her fingers wouldn't freeze for his request.]
I've recently acquired a bag from Purramid that I'm quite pleased with. Hopefully it's to your tastes.
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( The last of the uncertainty that hung around his offer melts away to leave something altogether pleasant between them: a warming combination of his relief mixed with her delight. )
See, this is where I could pretend I'm the kinda person who knows about coffee an' cares about the flavour, but ...
( She chuckles lightly, then offers a little shrug. )
As long as it ain't instant, it'll be fine.
( The touch of his hand is a surprise, but Nico is grateful for the barrier of Hubert's between the cold air and her bare fingers. She waits until they've fallen into step comfortably before speaking up again: )
Anyway, tell me more about these animals. You got some kinda menagerie goin' on that I should know about?
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I have had more than a lifetime's worth of instant coffee at war. You needn't worry about that.
[Falling into step felt almost instinctual; Hubert had spent most of his life keeping pace with someone much smaller than him, after all, and despite the difference in their statures adjusting his stride held no difficulty.]
Something of the sort. My first familiar is a snake, and with the turn of the weather spends most of its time slumbering by the hearth. You've met the rats. There are two cats, Heidi and Princess—one Lady Edelgard's and one Leslie's—as well as an Aegir Hound Lady Edelgard had taken in. It... seemed in ill taste to rehome her pets, so care of them has fallen to myself and Leslie.
[He frowns slightly.] I suppose... there is also an enchanted broom in the basement that very much behaves as an aggressive dog. I'm still unsure what to do with it.
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( Nico is counting the animals off in her head when Hubert has to go and mention the enchanted broom, which immediately has her pressing her lips together into a thin line as she tries to hold in a burst of laughter. It isn't so much the thing itself that's hilarious, but the idea of Hubert being chased around by an aggressive, barking broom, and she has to take a moment to press the fingers of her free hand to her lips as she quivers with held-in giggles. )
Y-You ... um. Spell gone wrong, huh?
( She's on the verge of teasing about it some more, but fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately) the rest of Hubert's reply finally catches up with her. He'd had more than a lifetime's worth of coffee ... during the war? )
Wait—
( Nico glances up at him again, her expression sobering a little. )
You're a soldier?
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