[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.
( This shouldn't be romantic. She doesn't do romance, Hubert is a novice, and this is their first time doing anything like this together, and yet when he goes ahead and says your companionship is more than enough Nico feels something inside her melt. Is this what she's needed this whole time? Someone to talk to her like she's in one of those old-timey romance novels?
Her flush deepens as their foreheads touch, and Nico feels herself smiling again. )
Okay.
( ... Fuck it. It's not like anyone else has to know how much she likes his formal charm, right? Her fingertips massage gentle circles into the muscle at the back of his neck, and when she slots their lips together again it's a little warmer, a little softer, and somehow a little more than it was before.
Not romantic.
Not romantic.
A tiny sound loses itself between them, caught somewhere between a hum, a sigh, and a barely-there moan, and Nico shifts on his lap as she tries to ignore the simmering heat settling beneath her skin. )
[He could get lost in this. Nico could feel him relaxing under her circling fingertips and her lips; something so very enticing in the subtle softness of that kiss left a desire to sit here and kiss like that the rest of the night. Hubert's better with pressure and the slide of his lips, and feeling comfortable enough to give back into that warmer press.]
[...Until Nico makes that soft noise that he enjoys a little too much. Hubert breaks apart, not far, taking a moment to swallow and catch his breath. The world filters back to him, the fire and the room and having a lady in a rather compromising position in his lap.]
I... should mention that Leslie is upstairs, [Hubert murmurs into their shared space, still pleasantly distracted by the motions on the back of his neck.] I expect she'll be coming down for dinner soon.
( Nico can feel him relaxing under her touch. She's no professional masseuse but she sure knows what tightly-wound muscle feels like, and if she weren't so wrapped up in the moment she might be genuinely concerned by the tension sitting across Hubert's shoulders. When was the last time he let himself unwind? The last time to took a little time out to pamper himself? Thoughts for later. For now, Nico is content to simply let herself enjoy the way he presses back into the kiss—
But then he's pulling away, mentioning Leslie, and Nico licks her lips with a little nod. )
Your roommate, right?
( Currently of unknown age. Nico nudges the tips of their noses together in a playful bump before brushing another chaste kiss against his lips: )
We could, uh — take this somewhere else, while they get sorted out?
[If there was room for any more heat in his face, he would have flushed a little. It's... tempting, more than it should be, and the fond little gesture makes a good argument. Hubert acknowledges the bump by touching their foreheads again.]
[But he couldn't shirk this responsibility. Hubert takes a breath before adding,] I cook for her. She's thirteen.
Nico's eyes go wide as she scrambles off Hubert's lap, where she immediately begins righting her skirts and smoothing them down on the off-chance a kid shows up in the doorway. )
Hubert!
( Man, and just when things had the potential to be getting really good. )
Why didn't you say something sooner? I never would've—
( Climbed up onto his lap to show him how good it can be to have a woman astride his thighs, for one. Clearly flustered, Nico calms herself with a short breath before offering a sheepish little chuckle. Fuck her life. )
[Nico scuttles away with speed enough to leave him looking startled. For as unaccustomed to contact as Hubert was, the sudden lack of it was... stark.]
[And though he doesn't flinch, the sharp use of his name strikes deeper than Hubert expected it would. After a beat, he finds the words. ]
I hadn't meant to upset you. [He stands, but to turn to Nico and offer her a formal bow, hand folded across his chest. ] That was my own egregious lack of insight. I'm sorry.
( Nico just shakes her head, her flush deepening as he takes apologising to the next level and incorporates a bow. )
I'm not upset, don't you worry about that. I'm just — surprised?
( Her laugh is a little breathless, a little awkward, but nevertheless fond. )
And a little embarrassed, I think.
( You know, for being kind of over-eager when there was a kid in the house. It's nothing she can't recover from, however, which she demonstrates by clearing her throat again and offering Hubert an easy smile. )
Anyway ... it's probably about time I headed off. I've got dinner to be gettin' on with myself.
I failed to mention an important consideration. You have nothing to be embarrassed about.
[I never would've— sticks in his mind, right beside a pang of guilt for putting her in that situation. To say that it was a little awkward was perhaps an understatement, but they certainly tried their best to power through it. Hubert tucks his hands behind his back as he nods, a little surprised by his own flicker of disappointment.]
Of course. You are welcome to dine with us, as well—though I understand if you'd rather not contend with heavier snowfall. And... [He takes a quiet breath.] Thank you, for inviting me out. I enjoyed myself.
[The best he could, anyways, with his affliction. Hubert wasn't unaware of Nico's recent attempts to lift his spirits.]
Thanks, but that's okay — Nero and Kyrie might not take kindly to me bouncing on dinner plans without lettin' them know.
( She gets to her feet with a lop-sided smile, then hovers there for a moment before deciding to just go with her gut and risk a little sappiness. Nico takes his hand in hers and gives it a gentle squeeze. )
And hey, me too. I had a really nice afternoon with you, Hubert.
( That smile softens a little as she looks up at him: )
[Some part of this still felt surreal. But Nico continued to look at him warmly, and the gentle grape of her hand did more than he expected to ease his misstep. He smiles wanly back, and goes so far as to return the squeeze after a moment. ]
If I haven't managed to dissuade you yet, then yes, I would like that.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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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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( This shouldn't be romantic. She doesn't do romance, Hubert is a novice, and this is their first time doing anything like this together, and yet when he goes ahead and says your companionship is more than enough Nico feels something inside her melt. Is this what she's needed this whole time? Someone to talk to her like she's in one of those old-timey romance novels?
Her flush deepens as their foreheads touch, and Nico feels herself smiling again. )
Okay.
( ... Fuck it. It's not like anyone else has to know how much she likes his formal charm, right? Her fingertips massage gentle circles into the muscle at the back of his neck, and when she slots their lips together again it's a little warmer, a little softer, and somehow a little more than it was before.
Not romantic.
Not romantic.
A tiny sound loses itself between them, caught somewhere between a hum, a sigh, and a barely-there moan, and Nico shifts on his lap as she tries to ignore the simmering heat settling beneath her skin. )
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[...Until Nico makes that soft noise that he enjoys a little too much. Hubert breaks apart, not far, taking a moment to swallow and catch his breath. The world filters back to him, the fire and the room and having a lady in a rather compromising position in his lap.]
I... should mention that Leslie is upstairs, [Hubert murmurs into their shared space, still pleasantly distracted by the motions on the back of his neck.] I expect she'll be coming down for dinner soon.
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( Nico can feel him relaxing under her touch. She's no professional masseuse but she sure knows what tightly-wound muscle feels like, and if she weren't so wrapped up in the moment she might be genuinely concerned by the tension sitting across Hubert's shoulders. When was the last time he let himself unwind? The last time to took a little time out to pamper himself? Thoughts for later. For now, Nico is content to simply let herself enjoy the way he presses back into the kiss—
But then he's pulling away, mentioning Leslie, and Nico licks her lips with a little nod. )
Your roommate, right?
( Currently of unknown age. Nico nudges the tips of their noses together in a playful bump before brushing another chaste kiss against his lips: )
We could, uh — take this somewhere else, while they get sorted out?
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[But he couldn't shirk this responsibility. Hubert takes a breath before adding,] I cook for her. She's thirteen.
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( She's thirteen.
She's thirteen.
Nico's eyes go wide as she scrambles off Hubert's lap, where she immediately begins righting her skirts and smoothing them down on the off-chance a kid shows up in the doorway. )
Hubert!
( Man, and just when things had the potential to be getting really good. )
Why didn't you say something sooner? I never would've—
( Climbed up onto his lap to show him how good it can be to have a woman astride his thighs, for one. Clearly flustered, Nico calms herself with a short breath before offering a sheepish little chuckle. Fuck her life. )
... Well. No harm done, I guess.
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[And though he doesn't flinch, the sharp use of his name strikes deeper than Hubert expected it would. After a beat, he finds the words. ]
I hadn't meant to upset you. [He stands, but to turn to Nico and offer her a formal bow, hand folded across his chest. ] That was my own egregious lack of insight. I'm sorry.
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( Nico just shakes her head, her flush deepening as he takes apologising to the next level and incorporates a bow. )
I'm not upset, don't you worry about that. I'm just — surprised?
( Her laugh is a little breathless, a little awkward, but nevertheless fond. )
And a little embarrassed, I think.
( You know, for being kind of over-eager when there was a kid in the house. It's nothing she can't recover from, however, which she demonstrates by clearing her throat again and offering Hubert an easy smile. )
Anyway ... it's probably about time I headed off. I've got dinner to be gettin' on with myself.
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[I never would've— sticks in his mind, right beside a pang of guilt for putting her in that situation. To say that it was a little awkward was perhaps an understatement, but they certainly tried their best to power through it. Hubert tucks his hands behind his back as he nods, a little surprised by his own flicker of disappointment.]
Of course. You are welcome to dine with us, as well—though I understand if you'd rather not contend with heavier snowfall. And... [He takes a quiet breath.] Thank you, for inviting me out. I enjoyed myself.
[The best he could, anyways, with his affliction. Hubert wasn't unaware of Nico's recent attempts to lift his spirits.]
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( Nico shakes her head at Hubert's offer. )
Thanks, but that's okay — Nero and Kyrie might not take kindly to me bouncing on dinner plans without lettin' them know.
( She gets to her feet with a lop-sided smile, then hovers there for a moment before deciding to just go with her gut and risk a little sappiness. Nico takes his hand in hers and gives it a gentle squeeze. )
And hey, me too. I had a really nice afternoon with you, Hubert.
( That smile softens a little as she looks up at him: )
I'd like to do it again sometime, if you want?
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If I haven't managed to dissuade you yet, then yes, I would like that.