[What an experience it is watching Nico try to salvage this. Her surprise stopping her train of thought short, each sentence pivoting in a different direction, hopeful gestures trying to mend what her fumbling words couldn't.]
[Not that there was anything to mend. Hubert was perhaps a little taken aback, but that was far from offense. No, he couldn't help but watch on fondly, appreciating her earnestness, in both her opinions and her mistakes. It's refreshing to not have to guess someone's hidden intentions.]
[A low sound comes from Hubert; it's too dampened and melancholy to be his usual smooth chuckle, but... it is a laugh, or a ghost of one that was close enough. The first one in a while.]
There is no harm in it. Do not trouble yourself.
[Hubert guides them to the side towards his house; it's one clearly designed with this world's vampires in mind, given that there were no windows on the second floor. He unlocks the door and gestures her in to a sitting room on the left, a banked fire in the hearth.]
( Nico remains flustered for a short while longer anyway, although even she can't help but grin when that almost-chuckle rolls from the back of Hubert's throat. She feels pretty foolish, yes, but at least he hasn't left her feeling stupid or ashamed for making such a mess of things. )
Well, alright. If you ain't offended, then maybe I'll be able to get over it.
( Happy for the distraction of arriving at their destination, Nico follows Hubert into the house and removes her coat as she keeps an eye out for his familiar. )
Me? I'm twenty-three. Go on now, you can go ahead and say I look thirty as well.
( She turns to face him again, the sheepishness lifting from her expression as she chuckles at him again. Her coat is lifted a moment later: )
Nothing of the sort. [Hubert directs her towards a coat rack near the door with a wave of his hand. After Nico's estimation of him, he'd started to worry he'd overestimated her age.] I'd would be surprised to meet any mercenary claiming to be thirty that looks as you do.
[Granted, what mercenary life looks like in FĂłdlan probably differs from... whatever Nico's world is like, but Hubert felt safe in assuming it wasn't an easy life.]
[A glass habitat indeed sits beside the hearth, presumably with the aforementioned snake, judging by the little ball of black and white scales basking in the low heat. Even with the nearby fire, winter still wasn't kind to the cold-blooded creature. Hubert wanders through the sitting room to the kitchen.]
( Nico wrinkles her nose at the term. Sure, it's exactly the word to describe what Devil May Cry does, but she associates it more with hunting and killing people than demons who've managed to claw their way out of hell. )
I think I'm gonna stick with "devil hunter", if it's all the same to you. Sounds better on the business card.
( At his invitation, Nico does move to get comfortable on the couch, although she takes a moment to crouch by the snake and offer a little "hi" before moving over to take a seat. She can see the snow beginning to fall more heavily outside, and watching it build up against the window reminds her of the upper floors of the house. )
So your Lady Edelgard ... was she a vampire while she was here?
[Devil hunter, he notes, though he really didn't see what fault there was in mercenary. But, it was her business, he supposed.]
[With his back to the sitting room, the way Hubert's expression sinks back into something more solemn at the reminder isn't visible. It wasn't so much that he'd forgotten—that damned phantom sense of nagging loss never left him—but it certain brought the feeling to the forefront, especially in the house. The place fit four residents well, but two felt overly empty.]
She was, yes. Her Majesty was transformed as many others were. It is a cruel thing, to force someone to consume the blood of others and rob them of the sun.
... I'm guessin' you did everythin' you could to make sure she was as comfortable as possible, though?
( The house, for example, was obviously purpose-built for her kind, and Hubert speaks of her with the kind of fierce reverence that suggests he'd do anything for her. Nico smiles: it's the same kind of loyalty that Nero shows Kyrie, although she isn't sure whether their relationship was like that.
Who knows. )
I bet she appreciated it.
( A silly thing to say, really, considering Nico never met the woman, but maybe it's what Hubert needs to hear. Nico turns on the couch so she's knelt on the cushions with her arms folded against the back: )
Not like Nero. I spend way too much of my time here bustin' my ass to help him, and he's still a jerk about it.
( But she sounds amused if nothing else, because that's just how Nero shows affection to anyone who isn't Kyrie. )
[His motions still for the barest second, and then Hubert responds with a noise of wordless confirmation. That's the benefit of being Bonded, at least; Hubert felt Edelgard's appreciation. It was good to be reminded of that, perhaps, even if it did nothing to make separation for the third time any easier.]
Nah, I know he 's grateful underneath that frown of his. Even if we don't really say it, ever since we Bonded ...
( Similar to Edelgard and Hubert, she suspects. Being able to feel the depth of Nero's appreciation of her had been new and different - and she suspects that went both ways. )
We're just not very good at talkin' about it, is all.
[It wasn't difficult to understand, even if none of his Bonded could be described as ungrateful. Even as close as they were, even Bonded, he and Edelgard were perhaps not as good at talking as they should have been—perhaps too considerate of the other in turning a blind eye to what they did not want seen, instead of pushing where it was needed.]
[Hubert wanders back with two mugs of a particularly aromatic coffee—and a snooty one, prepared with the best beans Hubert could find in the city over the last year.
There is milk and sugar if you prefer it, [he rumbles as he hands her a mug, taking a seat with a moderate distance between them. Kissletoe or not, offered arm or not, he didn't want to be too presumptuous.]
This Nero you've mentioned... he is your 'devil hunting' partner, is he not? What spurred you to such an extreme profession?
( Nico takes the coffee with a hum of thanks. There's definitely a time and a place for a sweet coffee with a dash of milk, but right now? She's more interested in the hot, full flavour of the black drink between her hands. It smells divine - Nico inhales appreciatively before taking a little sip, after which she moves to put her mug down and settle just a little closer to Hubert. )
Well, it's kinda in the family.
( Have a grim chuckle. )
My daddy, he got into some real dark stuff with the Order of the Sword - church crap, y'know? Turns out the High Priest Sanctus was a demon all along, an' my dad was workin' on some sort of alchemy to make him, uh ... a demonic army? Dante and Nero sorted that all out, though. He's dead now.
( She wrinkles her nose. )
Anyway, I wasn't raised my him - he abandoned us when I was a baby. My adopted grandma did my upbringin' after my mom died; taught me how to make artisinal weapons for sendin' those demons back to hell. She'd tell me stories about the weapons she made for the legendary Dante - devil hunter extraordinaire of Devil May Cry - and when Nero took over from him? That's when I made my move.
( Huh. It all sounds pretty crazy when you lay it out like that, doesn't it? Nico offers a vaguely sheepish smile. )
I found him, said I was lookin' for a job. Someone's gotta make up for what my daddy did, and - I'm good at it. Really good at it.
[Hubert isn't so quick to abandon his mug, sipping slow at it as Nico explains and grateful for the warmth; Enbarr's more temperate climate left him accustomed to mild winters.]
[It's... a surprisingly familiar story, enough so to make a part of him relish in the irony of it. "Church crap" headed by a false preacher and a child left to see to a parent's mistakes...]
[Hubert takes a final, thoughtful sip of his coffee, seemingly unacknowledging of how hot it was and meeting Nico's sheepish smile with a steady look.]
My. That's quite a tale. Your father utilized alchemy to bring monsters into the existence, and so you utilize it to remove those monsters; the world sounds far better off with you walking in your father's stead. [Hubert's tone falls just short of warmth, but it definitely contained some measure of approval.]
Others I know might even go so far to call it noble.
Well, looks like I'm gonna have to work even harder to get Mr. Refined's real seal of approval. Always the way.
( But she's smiling, broad and warm, even if Hubert's tone hasn't quite made it there yet. )
But yeah, demons were comin' on up into the human world long before my daddy got involved with The Order, he just — he helped them a bit too much. I can't have that be what my family's remembered for.
( She tucks a leg under herself, sitting on the couch sideways with one elbow propped against the backrest. Her head comes to rest on her hand as she levels her host with a curious look: )
What about you? How'd you find your Lady Edelgard an' get all caught up in a war?
[There's an amused glint in his eyes.] They would call it noble. I call it responsible.
[He could only imagine the grand way Ferdinand would tout the whole "redeeming your family" thing. Hubert had a much quieter and practical view of it. Another sip of his coffee, then he continues.]
House Vestra has always handled the Imperial family's uglier matters since the dawn of the Empire a millennium ago. I've been Lady Edelgard's servant since I was six—quite literally before I can remember.
[His attention turns to the banked fire as he talks, and a gesture of his hand and an effort of magic brought it to life.]
And the war... simply, I am one of its masterminds, alongside Her Majesty. I've spent half my life orchestrating it. [Hubert shakes his head, turning his gaze back to Nico.]
Fódlan has its own demons—one that masquerades in plain sight, and another that lives in the shadows—that have puppeteered it for a thousand years, if not more, and they have conditioned our culture to breed worse monsters in the hearts of men. Though the cost of war is immeasurable, we will excise those demons, swiftly and absolutely. We have seen the worst of what their guidance has wrought, and it is a madness Lady Edelgard and I could tolerate no longer.
( Well, now. Nico likes the sound of responsible — for all it's probably the first time anyone has ever referred to her as such. Instead of giving in to another silly smile she distracts herself by reaching for her coffee again, which she sips as she listens to Hubert explain the state of Fódlan.
It's a lot to take in — not least because the idea of being born into servitude suggests a wildly old-fashioned way of life, but Nico isn't going to split hairs about that. If there's one thing Aefenglom has taught her, it's that they all seem to have come from wildly different places and periods of time. )
Wow ... you're not, um. What I imagine, when I think of a servant.
( Is that ... rude? She hopes not! )
But, it sounds like Lady Edelgard was pretty lucky to have you around. It's kinda hard to change the world on your own, right? Especially if you're gonna be doing stuff like ... orchestrating wars.
( Which ... doesn't immediately sit well with Nico, although Hubert doesn't seem like the type to agree to drastic measures unless there's no other more efficient way. She worries her lower lip between her teeth for a moment, clearly thinking about it, before letting her lips curl into a mischievous little smile. )
No wonder you seem older an' wiser than you are, huh?
[He doesn't consider it rude if it's enough to draw a wan smile from him. ]
That is because I am her retainer, not her butler, and still a noble in my own right. House Vestra is unique amoung the great houses for many reasons - our servile relationship to House Hresvelg one of them.
[There's something in the way Nico bites her lip that lulls Hubert to a patient silence. But whatever she'd been considering seems to have passed, and a fleeting worry in the back of his head with it. ]
I simply have a different area of expertise. While others were following their parents to learn a trade, I followed my father to the palace to learn governance and subterfuge. If you asked me to forge a weapon, I wouldn't know where to begin.
Well then, you should count yourself extra lucky to have me for that now.
( Nico grins — it's a little tongue-in-cheek, of course, but she'll never pass over an opportunity to remind people she's a genius at what she does. Together they make for quite a pair, don't they? )
And I guess if I ever need to subterfuge my way into a better situation, I know who to call.
( A comfortable silence follows her little chuckle, during which Nico allows herself to finally address that little tug of something pulling at the back of her mind. She's here, in his space. He's here, and he made her coffee. They're talking about their lives, their responsibilities, and it's all just ... it's good. Maybe ... now is the time to ask? )
So. I was thinkin' ... back there at the market. That was nice, right?
( Oh, man. Okay. Okay. Inviting yourself back to a guy's place for coffee doesn't always mean "coffee", but if Hubert isn't interested then he'll at least tell her straight, right? )
I'd kinda like to do it again, if that's — if you want? Kiss you, I mean.
[The silence that follows truly is comfortable. The revived fire is doing its best to remove the remaining chill from the room and the conversation is pleasant and coffee a familiar comfort... It's perhaps the most at ease he's felt since the severance of his Bonds. His gaze turns to the fire in idle thought; this late, it would be polite to invite Nico to dine with him and Leslie, but did he have the supplies for unexpected company?]
[Instead, his train of thought is derailed by Nico's offer; it seems "coffee" did mean literal coffee by the rare expression of plain surprise on his face.]
[Hubert clears his throat after a shocked second, his gaze briefly flickering aside before returning to Nico's face. ]
--Yes, it was... pleasant. I...
[He's been approached before. Of course he has; an heir to a great house was still an heir, even if Vestra was considering settling. All shallow things he had no interest or time for - but here, there was no status, no politics, no war, no... complications.]
[It's okay to want something, floats in the back of his head.]
[After a long moment of consideration, Hubert slowly sets his cup down. He wasn't sure if the heat in his ears was from the fireplace or a flush.]
I... would like that.
[His voice isn't as smooth as it usually was, but wasn't exactly timid. Still, this was beyond him in so many ways, so beyond his usual areas of comfort. ]
( Nico releases a soft breath, surprised by how quickly a sense of uncertainty was able to inflate in the few moments it took for Hubert to make his decision. She sets her own mug down next to his before easing a little closer; her right knee brushes against his, and she slides a hand over it gently before lifting it to touch the smooth line of his jaw. )
Okay.
( Angling her face towards his is easy enough; just a gentle nudge to bring him a little closer to her. When honey-brown eyes dip to his lips there's an immediate flutter in her stomach, and she glances up again before brushing a soft, chaste kiss against his mouth. )
An' if you wanna stop, all you gotta do is say.
( Sure, it might just be a little making out on the couch, but Hubert seems ... tentative, in this area of life. Less experienced than she is, in any case, and she'll be damned if she ends up giving him a bad time by being over-eager. The tips of their noses brush, and Nico bites back another silly grin as her palm moves to rest against his shoulder. )
'Cause I like you, Hubert, and I sure as hell don't wanna ruin it.
( This time when she leans up to kiss him, it isn't quite so chaste. Nico tilts her head just so, slotting their lips together so he can feel just a hint of heat, and lets her eyes slip closed as she gives him a moment to get comfortable with the sensation. )
[For all his hesitancy, Hubert subtly leans into the touch at his jaw and heeds every little tug and press to reposition him. It's a simple thing, that touch, just like Nico's touch to his wrist prior in the evening, but almost overwhelming in its own way; touch was rare enough for Hubert, something he'd only had with his Bonded for cycling magic, and the feeling of skin against his face warmed something instinctual and touch-starved in him. The first fleeting kiss is just as warming, just as enticing.]
Nor do I, [Hubert murmurs back. This close, separated by just a breath, it seemed almost criminal to speak any louder—even if Hubert's surprised he can hear himself over the thundering of his heart. His right hand remains on the couch cushion; his left hovers uncertainly, trapped between them and the back of the seat.]
[He can't help but lean slighter into the gentle weight of Nico hand, the press of her lips. It's here Hubert feels the raw lack of his own experience, a yawning void depriving him of a way to express his reciprocation. Hubert's left hand tentatively settles on Nico's wrist, featherlight, and it's the best he can do to carefully mimic each little motion of Nico's mouth.]
( And there it is again: a gently kind of tentativeness that Nico wouldn't expect of someone who'd done much of this before. Hubert's touch is barely-there, his lips move only to match her own movements, and Nico can't help but smile into the kiss as she realises that he really is untried in the ways of kissing. Too busy orchestrating wars and serving Lady Edelgard, no doubt, although at the very least this puts to rest any niggling ideas that maybe she and he were something ... more.
She licks his lower lip gently, just to see how he might react, before pulling away just enough so that she can speak again. )
You can touch me, y'know. If you want.
( One hand moves to his wrist, guiding his hand down from where it settles against her own to touch the curve of her waist. )
... I'd, uh. I'd like it if you did.
( Another experiment: Hubert seems to respond well to her suggestions, whether he's begrudging about them or no, and it isn't too far a stretch to imagine a life as a retainer means he feels comfortable receiving instruction. If that's the case? Well, Nico is more than happy to oblige. She kisses him again, this time letting her own hand move to the warm of Hubert's chest, where she splays her palm against his sternum as their lips slot together again. )
[That little lick catches him by complete surprise, and elicits a barely audible noise on his next breath. It's something Hubert knows about—he's happened across too many trysts while skulking about in streets or the academy's grounds at untimely hours of the night—but it's another thing entirely to be on the receiving end of the warm, wet sensation for the first time, and it draws a little color into his cheeks.]
[...Not unpleasant, but something that certainly would take getting used to.]
[Hubert's hand settles just as feather-light against Nico's waist as it had at her wrist—but something changes subtly in his eyes at her addendum, settling into a look marginally more solid. Just as Nico guessed, his gloved hand rests complete against the curve of her waist, and his other hand ventures so far as to settle atop her knee.]
Very well, [He rumbles, thumb brushing idly against her leg from where it rested. It's not an especially bold move by anyone's standards but Hubert's, but it was made all the easier by the request. Swimming in so much uncertainty, having a clear idea of at least something Nico wanted grounded him.]
[He presses into this kiss easier—perhaps still far from confidant, but he relaxes into the warm pressure of Nico's mouth and the enticing touch of her hand, his own sliding from her waist to her back as Hubert shifts closer. ]
(Very well, he says. Nico almost chuckles against his lips: she's never been with anyone quite so traditional about it all, and getting a 'very well' instead of a 'fuck yeah' is weirdly new and charming. For all Hubert's obvious inexperience there isn't anything about this that isn't good; it's nice to let him take his time, to feel her out, and to try to figure out what he wants to do next.
... Of course, the thought of 'next' makes Nico's stomach flutter. While she highly doubts this will end in a messy quickie she can't say she doesn't like the idea of it leading there someday; not tonight, perhaps not even soon, but there's no denying that she's a sexually-minded person.
She briefly sucks his lower lip between hers. Another time. )
Mm. Hey, can I—
( Nico pulls away just enough that she can see the pink in Hubert's cheeks, before raising an eyebrow and making a vague gesture towards the way they're turned in towards one another. )
It'll be a bit easier if we're ... y'know. Facing each other?
( This is happening, Hubert. She wants to sit on your lap. )
[That fact that Nico seemed to be walking him through each step of... this wasn't lost on him. Every motion was one bit of information, introducing something subtly different after Hubert adjusted. He's grateful for Nico's insight; her gradual introduction bordered on overwhelming as it was, and the practice (was there any other word for it?) she allowed him along the way lent itself to a growing ease. Hubert presses slightly more in to the slide of her lips, the tease of her teeth, starting to (experimentally) meet rather than react. The hand atop Nico's knee leaves to fold over the hand splayed against his chest. Even through his glove, even through his shirt, there was... something delightfully warm in the gesture that left the skin underneath tingling, enough to identify the simple fact that he liked it.]
[But if his cheeks weren't warmed before, they certainly were after Nico's request. They were certainly running up on the boundary of what Hubert was comfortable with at this juncture (the impropriety of this, in the living room for Goddess' sake), but... he couldn't particularly say he wanted it to stop just yet, either. There was a companionship in this he'd never had the luxury of; as much as Hubert played at being made of stone, he was very much human, and the touch-starved part of him was reluctant to let go.]
[But, Goddess, if that wasn't a request. Hubert has to clear his throat before words would work.]
If that is what you want, [he acquiesces with small nod, and after a beat, readjusts to lean against the back of the sofa.]
( Nico's exhale is a warm, giddy thing, and she gives Hubert's thigh a gentle squeeze before moving herself over his lap. She doesn't push the moment too far: it's relatively obvious that she's made sure to settle herself on his thighs as opposed to higher up his lap, allowing just enough space between them to save Hubert from having to even think about ... well. Anything else. It does, however, ruck her skirts just a little way up her thighs — although she's still more covered than she was when she was swanning around in her shorts.
Go figure. )
... Is there anythin' you want?
( Her palms slide back up the warm of his chest. One hand keeps going, curves over his shoulder to sink into the hair at the back of his head, while the other tilts his face towards hers so she can take his lips in another kiss. )
I mean, don't get me wrong, it's great to get to do it all my way, but ...
( Another kiss, a little deeper this time. )
I dunno what I'm sayin'. I guess I just — it's okay for you to want to try somethin' too, 'kay?
[Hubert does not fidget as Nico slides into his lap, and aside from the flush in his face, he might've been seated a rather mundane event with the absence of nerves from his expression. Still, Hubert's heart beats quickly under Nico's hand as it slides across his chest, Hubert subtly leaning into the gesture, and he folds quite easily into her embrace as one of his arms wrap about her lower back in return.]
[He's learning, both in technique and to be more comfortable. Compared to how he'd kissed her the first time, Hubert almost melts into the next one. There's an incredible warmth in this even with the fire discounted, far more than he would have expected from another's body heat alone. It's easy to bask in as Nico rambles between meetings, his free hand coming to rest easily on Nico's elbow.]
[What did he want?]
[Hubert doesn't answer immediately. While Nico might be a sexually-minded creature, he very much wasn't. It's unlike him to get caught up in any sort of indulgence, and part of Hubert wondered if he was trying to distract himself from the pain of his severed Bonds—though, he was undeniable fond of Nico, perhaps even so far as charmed.]
[Another kiss, then Hubert's forehead comes to rest gently against hers.] Your companionship is more than enough, [Hubert rumbles, and in all honesty, it's true. This was a flurry of new experiences for him, after all, and company granting a reprieve from his newfound, constant loneliness was nice enough.] But... should anything cross my mind, I will voice it.
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[Not that there was anything to mend. Hubert was perhaps a little taken aback, but that was far from offense. No, he couldn't help but watch on fondly, appreciating her earnestness, in both her opinions and her mistakes. It's refreshing to not have to guess someone's hidden intentions.]
[A low sound comes from Hubert; it's too dampened and melancholy to be his usual smooth chuckle, but... it is a laugh, or a ghost of one that was close enough. The first one in a while.]
There is no harm in it. Do not trouble yourself.
[Hubert guides them to the side towards his house; it's one clearly designed with this world's vampires in mind, given that there were no windows on the second floor. He unlocks the door and gestures her in to a sitting room on the left, a banked fire in the hearth.]
Dare I ask your age, following that assessment?
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( Nico remains flustered for a short while longer anyway, although even she can't help but grin when that almost-chuckle rolls from the back of Hubert's throat. She feels pretty foolish, yes, but at least he hasn't left her feeling stupid or ashamed for making such a mess of things. )
Well, alright. If you ain't offended, then maybe I'll be able to get over it.
( Happy for the distraction of arriving at their destination, Nico follows Hubert into the house and removes her coat as she keeps an eye out for his familiar. )
Me? I'm twenty-three. Go on now, you can go ahead and say I look thirty as well.
( She turns to face him again, the sheepishness lifting from her expression as she chuckles at him again. Her coat is lifted a moment later: )
You got somewhere I can hang this?
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[Granted, what mercenary life looks like in FĂłdlan probably differs from... whatever Nico's world is like, but Hubert felt safe in assuming it wasn't an easy life.]
[A glass habitat indeed sits beside the hearth, presumably with the aforementioned snake, judging by the little ball of black and white scales basking in the low heat. Even with the nearby fire, winter still wasn't kind to the cold-blooded creature. Hubert wanders through the sitting room to the kitchen.]
Please, make yourself comfortable.
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Mercenary ...
( Nico wrinkles her nose at the term. Sure, it's exactly the word to describe what Devil May Cry does, but she associates it more with hunting and killing people than demons who've managed to claw their way out of hell. )
I think I'm gonna stick with "devil hunter", if it's all the same to you. Sounds better on the business card.
( At his invitation, Nico does move to get comfortable on the couch, although she takes a moment to crouch by the snake and offer a little "hi" before moving over to take a seat. She can see the snow beginning to fall more heavily outside, and watching it build up against the window reminds her of the upper floors of the house. )
So your Lady Edelgard ... was she a vampire while she was here?
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[With his back to the sitting room, the way Hubert's expression sinks back into something more solemn at the reminder isn't visible. It wasn't so much that he'd forgotten—that damned phantom sense of nagging loss never left him—but it certain brought the feeling to the forefront, especially in the house. The place fit four residents well, but two felt overly empty.]
She was, yes. Her Majesty was transformed as many others were. It is a cruel thing, to force someone to consume the blood of others and rob them of the sun.
[The scent of coffee begins to fill the air.]
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... I'm guessin' you did everythin' you could to make sure she was as comfortable as possible, though?
( The house, for example, was obviously purpose-built for her kind, and Hubert speaks of her with the kind of fierce reverence that suggests he'd do anything for her. Nico smiles: it's the same kind of loyalty that Nero shows Kyrie, although she isn't sure whether their relationship was like that.
Who knows. )
I bet she appreciated it.
( A silly thing to say, really, considering Nico never met the woman, but maybe it's what Hubert needs to hear. Nico turns on the couch so she's knelt on the cushions with her arms folded against the back: )
Not like Nero. I spend way too much of my time here bustin' my ass to help him, and he's still a jerk about it.
( But she sounds amused if nothing else, because that's just how Nero shows affection to anyone who isn't Kyrie. )
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And how is that? [Hubert calls back.]
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What do you mean? How's he bein' a jerk?
( Nico just laughs. )
Nah, I know he 's grateful underneath that frown of his. Even if we don't really say it, ever since we Bonded ...
( Similar to Edelgard and Hubert, she suspects. Being able to feel the depth of Nero's appreciation of her had been new and different - and she suspects that went both ways. )
We're just not very good at talkin' about it, is all.
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[It wasn't difficult to understand, even if none of his Bonded could be described as ungrateful. Even as close as they were, even Bonded, he and Edelgard were perhaps not as good at talking as they should have been—perhaps too considerate of the other in turning a blind eye to what they did not want seen, instead of pushing where it was needed.]
[Hubert wanders back with two mugs of a particularly aromatic coffee—and a snooty one, prepared with the best beans Hubert could find in the city over the last year.
There is milk and sugar if you prefer it, [he rumbles as he hands her a mug, taking a seat with a moderate distance between them. Kissletoe or not, offered arm or not, he didn't want to be too presumptuous.]
This Nero you've mentioned... he is your 'devil hunting' partner, is he not? What spurred you to such an extreme profession?
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( Nico takes the coffee with a hum of thanks. There's definitely a time and a place for a sweet coffee with a dash of milk, but right now? She's more interested in the hot, full flavour of the black drink between her hands. It smells divine - Nico inhales appreciatively before taking a little sip, after which she moves to put her mug down and settle just a little closer to Hubert. )
Well, it's kinda in the family.
( Have a grim chuckle. )
My daddy, he got into some real dark stuff with the Order of the Sword - church crap, y'know? Turns out the High Priest Sanctus was a demon all along, an' my dad was workin' on some sort of alchemy to make him, uh ... a demonic army? Dante and Nero sorted that all out, though. He's dead now.
( She wrinkles her nose. )
Anyway, I wasn't raised my him - he abandoned us when I was a baby. My adopted grandma did my upbringin' after my mom died; taught me how to make artisinal weapons for sendin' those demons back to hell. She'd tell me stories about the weapons she made for the legendary Dante - devil hunter extraordinaire of Devil May Cry - and when Nero took over from him? That's when I made my move.
( Huh. It all sounds pretty crazy when you lay it out like that, doesn't it? Nico offers a vaguely sheepish smile. )
I found him, said I was lookin' for a job. Someone's gotta make up for what my daddy did, and - I'm good at it. Really good at it.
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[It's... a surprisingly familiar story, enough so to make a part of him relish in the irony of it. "Church crap" headed by a false preacher and a child left to see to a parent's mistakes...]
[Hubert takes a final, thoughtful sip of his coffee, seemingly unacknowledging of how hot it was and meeting Nico's sheepish smile with a steady look.]
My. That's quite a tale. Your father utilized alchemy to bring monsters into the existence, and so you utilize it to remove those monsters; the world sounds far better off with you walking in your father's stead. [Hubert's tone falls just short of warmth, but it definitely contained some measure of approval.]
Others I know might even go so far to call it noble.
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"Others you know", huh?
( Nico offers a playful scoff. )
Well, looks like I'm gonna have to work even harder to get Mr. Refined's real seal of approval. Always the way.
( But she's smiling, broad and warm, even if Hubert's tone hasn't quite made it there yet. )
But yeah, demons were comin' on up into the human world long before my daddy got involved with The Order, he just — he helped them a bit too much. I can't have that be what my family's remembered for.
( She tucks a leg under herself, sitting on the couch sideways with one elbow propped against the backrest. Her head comes to rest on her hand as she levels her host with a curious look: )
What about you? How'd you find your Lady Edelgard an' get all caught up in a war?
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[He could only imagine the grand way Ferdinand would tout the whole "redeeming your family" thing. Hubert had a much quieter and practical view of it. Another sip of his coffee, then he continues.]
House Vestra has always handled the Imperial family's uglier matters since the dawn of the Empire a millennium ago. I've been Lady Edelgard's servant since I was six—quite literally before I can remember.
[His attention turns to the banked fire as he talks, and a gesture of his hand and an effort of magic brought it to life.]
And the war... simply, I am one of its masterminds, alongside Her Majesty. I've spent half my life orchestrating it. [Hubert shakes his head, turning his gaze back to Nico.]
Fódlan has its own demons—one that masquerades in plain sight, and another that lives in the shadows—that have puppeteered it for a thousand years, if not more, and they have conditioned our culture to breed worse monsters in the hearts of men. Though the cost of war is immeasurable, we will excise those demons, swiftly and absolutely. We have seen the worst of what their guidance has wrought, and it is a madness Lady Edelgard and I could tolerate no longer.
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( Well, now. Nico likes the sound of responsible — for all it's probably the first time anyone has ever referred to her as such. Instead of giving in to another silly smile she distracts herself by reaching for her coffee again, which she sips as she listens to Hubert explain the state of Fódlan.
It's a lot to take in — not least because the idea of being born into servitude suggests a wildly old-fashioned way of life, but Nico isn't going to split hairs about that. If there's one thing Aefenglom has taught her, it's that they all seem to have come from wildly different places and periods of time. )
Wow ... you're not, um. What I imagine, when I think of a servant.
( Is that ... rude? She hopes not! )
But, it sounds like Lady Edelgard was pretty lucky to have you around. It's kinda hard to change the world on your own, right? Especially if you're gonna be doing stuff like ... orchestrating wars.
( Which ... doesn't immediately sit well with Nico, although Hubert doesn't seem like the type to agree to drastic measures unless there's no other more efficient way. She worries her lower lip between her teeth for a moment, clearly thinking about it, before letting her lips curl into a mischievous little smile. )
No wonder you seem older an' wiser than you are, huh?
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That is because I am her retainer, not her butler, and still a noble in my own right. House Vestra is unique amoung the great houses for many reasons - our servile relationship to House Hresvelg one of them.
[There's something in the way Nico bites her lip that lulls Hubert to a patient silence. But whatever she'd been considering seems to have passed, and a fleeting worry in the back of his head with it. ]
I simply have a different area of expertise. While others were following their parents to learn a trade, I followed my father to the palace to learn governance and subterfuge. If you asked me to forge a weapon, I wouldn't know where to begin.
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Well then, you should count yourself extra lucky to have me for that now.
( Nico grins — it's a little tongue-in-cheek, of course, but she'll never pass over an opportunity to remind people she's a genius at what she does. Together they make for quite a pair, don't they? )
And I guess if I ever need to subterfuge my way into a better situation, I know who to call.
( A comfortable silence follows her little chuckle, during which Nico allows herself to finally address that little tug of something pulling at the back of her mind. She's here, in his space. He's here, and he made her coffee. They're talking about their lives, their responsibilities, and it's all just ... it's good. Maybe ... now is the time to ask? )
So. I was thinkin' ... back there at the market. That was nice, right?
( Oh, man. Okay. Okay. Inviting yourself back to a guy's place for coffee doesn't always mean "coffee", but if Hubert isn't interested then he'll at least tell her straight, right? )
I'd kinda like to do it again, if that's — if you want? Kiss you, I mean.
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[Instead, his train of thought is derailed by Nico's offer; it seems "coffee" did mean literal coffee by the rare expression of plain surprise on his face.]
[Hubert clears his throat after a shocked second, his gaze briefly flickering aside before returning to Nico's face. ]
--Yes, it was... pleasant. I...
[He's been approached before. Of course he has; an heir to a great house was still an heir, even if Vestra was considering settling. All shallow things he had no interest or time for - but here, there was no status, no politics, no war, no... complications.]
[It's okay to want something, floats in the back of his head.]
[After a long moment of consideration, Hubert slowly sets his cup down. He wasn't sure if the heat in his ears was from the fireplace or a flush.]
I... would like that.
[His voice isn't as smooth as it usually was, but wasn't exactly timid. Still, this was beyond him in so many ways, so beyond his usual areas of comfort. ]
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( Nico releases a soft breath, surprised by how quickly a sense of uncertainty was able to inflate in the few moments it took for Hubert to make his decision. She sets her own mug down next to his before easing a little closer; her right knee brushes against his, and she slides a hand over it gently before lifting it to touch the smooth line of his jaw. )
Okay.
( Angling her face towards his is easy enough; just a gentle nudge to bring him a little closer to her. When honey-brown eyes dip to his lips there's an immediate flutter in her stomach, and she glances up again before brushing a soft, chaste kiss against his mouth. )
An' if you wanna stop, all you gotta do is say.
( Sure, it might just be a little making out on the couch, but Hubert seems ... tentative, in this area of life. Less experienced than she is, in any case, and she'll be damned if she ends up giving him a bad time by being over-eager. The tips of their noses brush, and Nico bites back another silly grin as her palm moves to rest against his shoulder. )
'Cause I like you, Hubert, and I sure as hell don't wanna ruin it.
( This time when she leans up to kiss him, it isn't quite so chaste. Nico tilts her head just so, slotting their lips together so he can feel just a hint of heat, and lets her eyes slip closed as she gives him a moment to get comfortable with the sensation. )
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Nor do I, [Hubert murmurs back. This close, separated by just a breath, it seemed almost criminal to speak any louder—even if Hubert's surprised he can hear himself over the thundering of his heart. His right hand remains on the couch cushion; his left hovers uncertainly, trapped between them and the back of the seat.]
[He can't help but lean slighter into the gentle weight of Nico hand, the press of her lips. It's here Hubert feels the raw lack of his own experience, a yawning void depriving him of a way to express his reciprocation. Hubert's left hand tentatively settles on Nico's wrist, featherlight, and it's the best he can do to carefully mimic each little motion of Nico's mouth.]
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( And there it is again: a gently kind of tentativeness that Nico wouldn't expect of someone who'd done much of this before. Hubert's touch is barely-there, his lips move only to match her own movements, and Nico can't help but smile into the kiss as she realises that he really is untried in the ways of kissing. Too busy orchestrating wars and serving Lady Edelgard, no doubt, although at the very least this puts to rest any niggling ideas that maybe she and he were something ... more.
She licks his lower lip gently, just to see how he might react, before pulling away just enough so that she can speak again. )
You can touch me, y'know. If you want.
( One hand moves to his wrist, guiding his hand down from where it settles against her own to touch the curve of her waist. )
... I'd, uh. I'd like it if you did.
( Another experiment: Hubert seems to respond well to her suggestions, whether he's begrudging about them or no, and it isn't too far a stretch to imagine a life as a retainer means he feels comfortable receiving instruction. If that's the case? Well, Nico is more than happy to oblige. She kisses him again, this time letting her own hand move to the warm of Hubert's chest, where she splays her palm against his sternum as their lips slot together again. )
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[...Not unpleasant, but something that certainly would take getting used to.]
[Hubert's hand settles just as feather-light against Nico's waist as it had at her wrist—but something changes subtly in his eyes at her addendum, settling into a look marginally more solid. Just as Nico guessed, his gloved hand rests complete against the curve of her waist, and his other hand ventures so far as to settle atop her knee.]
Very well, [He rumbles, thumb brushing idly against her leg from where it rested. It's not an especially bold move by anyone's standards but Hubert's, but it was made all the easier by the request. Swimming in so much uncertainty, having a clear idea of at least something Nico wanted grounded him.]
[He presses into this kiss easier—perhaps still far from confidant, but he relaxes into the warm pressure of Nico's mouth and the enticing touch of her hand, his own sliding from her waist to her back as Hubert shifts closer. ]
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( Very well, he says. Nico almost chuckles against his lips: she's never been with anyone quite so traditional about it all, and getting a 'very well' instead of a 'fuck yeah' is weirdly new and charming. For all Hubert's obvious inexperience there isn't anything about this that isn't good; it's nice to let him take his time, to feel her out, and to try to figure out what he wants to do next.
... Of course, the thought of 'next' makes Nico's stomach flutter. While she highly doubts this will end in a messy quickie she can't say she doesn't like the idea of it leading there someday; not tonight, perhaps not even soon, but there's no denying that she's a sexually-minded person.
She briefly sucks his lower lip between hers. Another time. )
Mm. Hey, can I—
( Nico pulls away just enough that she can see the pink in Hubert's cheeks, before raising an eyebrow and making a vague gesture towards the way they're turned in towards one another. )
It'll be a bit easier if we're ... y'know. Facing each other?
( This is happening, Hubert. She wants to sit on your lap. )
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[But if his cheeks weren't warmed before, they certainly were after Nico's request. They were certainly running up on the boundary of what Hubert was comfortable with at this juncture (the impropriety of this, in the living room for Goddess' sake), but... he couldn't particularly say he wanted it to stop just yet, either. There was a companionship in this he'd never had the luxury of; as much as Hubert played at being made of stone, he was very much human, and the touch-starved part of him was reluctant to let go.]
[But, Goddess, if that wasn't a request. Hubert has to clear his throat before words would work.]
If that is what you want, [he acquiesces with small nod, and after a beat, readjusts to lean against the back of the sofa.]
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( Nico's exhale is a warm, giddy thing, and she gives Hubert's thigh a gentle squeeze before moving herself over his lap. She doesn't push the moment too far: it's relatively obvious that she's made sure to settle herself on his thighs as opposed to higher up his lap, allowing just enough space between them to save Hubert from having to even think about ... well. Anything else. It does, however, ruck her skirts just a little way up her thighs — although she's still more covered than she was when she was swanning around in her shorts.
Go figure. )
... Is there anythin' you want?
( Her palms slide back up the warm of his chest. One hand keeps going, curves over his shoulder to sink into the hair at the back of his head, while the other tilts his face towards hers so she can take his lips in another kiss. )
I mean, don't get me wrong, it's great to get to do it all my way, but ...
( Another kiss, a little deeper this time. )
I dunno what I'm sayin'. I guess I just — it's okay for you to want to try somethin' too, 'kay?
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[He's learning, both in technique and to be more comfortable. Compared to how he'd kissed her the first time, Hubert almost melts into the next one. There's an incredible warmth in this even with the fire discounted, far more than he would have expected from another's body heat alone. It's easy to bask in as Nico rambles between meetings, his free hand coming to rest easily on Nico's elbow.]
[What did he want?]
[Hubert doesn't answer immediately. While Nico might be a sexually-minded creature, he very much wasn't. It's unlike him to get caught up in any sort of indulgence, and part of Hubert wondered if he was trying to distract himself from the pain of his severed Bonds—though, he was undeniable fond of Nico, perhaps even so far as charmed.]
[Another kiss, then Hubert's forehead comes to rest gently against hers.] Your companionship is more than enough, [Hubert rumbles, and in all honesty, it's true. This was a flurry of new experiences for him, after all, and company granting a reprieve from his newfound, constant loneliness was nice enough.] But... should anything cross my mind, I will voice it.
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