middaeg | CLOSED • Let's hear it for the boy

Who: Nico + Hubert
When: Backdated to late November
Where: Hubert's lab
What: A science meet-up!
Warnings: TBA

( The rats, Nico has decided, are well worth the chilly temperatures of Hubert's cellar-lab — as is the company of a fellow scientist who doesn't just seem bored or aghast when she talks about her work. The spear is resting across the central table, looking for all intents and purposes like ... well. A spear. Nico is of course desperately curious as to what kind of magic it might have held back in Hubert's world, but for the time being? )

Hey— Cara!

( She's a little distracted with the rats, who're happily getting themselves acquainted with her in that shameless way that only animals can. Cara has already darted up her arm, scaled her shoulder, and is climbing up to sit on top of her head, where Dust is being held close to her chest and sniffing around her fingers.

Nico's laugh is an easy, delighted thing, because boy is this not how she imagined their afternoon would turn out. )

They're a handful, huh?

( She croons, lifting Dust a little higher to admire them in the light. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hubert could only sigh when Cara immediately began to scale Nico, but he offered no assistance and only crossed his arms. Nico was a grown woman, and could shoo the brown-and-white adventurer if she so desired.]

[The chubby little Dust was content to investigate Nico's fingers, both for food and to curious paw at her tattoos. ]

Quite. Dust in particular. But, they're manageable, so long as they are kept entertained.

Will you be warm enough? Lady Edelgard is approximately your height, and would not mind if you needed to borrow a cloak.

( It should be pretty evident that Nico has no interest in shooing the little adventurer; in fact, she even goes so far as to help her get steady on the top of her head. She is, however, beginning to feel the cold down in the cellar, and turns to Hubert again at mention of a cloak. )

You sure about that? I know you're, uh ...

( Nico raises her eyebrows. It's hard to tell where Hubert stands on this 'Lady Edelgard', but the few times he's mentioned her it's been with utmost respect and commitment to propriety. Anyway, it's difficult to communicate that without sounding like she's poking fun at him, so she opts for a slight change of track: )

She really won't mind? 'Cause I can't lie, I'd really appreciate the extra layer.

( She's wearing a native-style dress this time, but it's one she's cropped so that it only falls to above the knee. Perhaps not the best idea considering they're heading into winter, but you know? That's a problem for her future self. )

Then maybe I'll put these troublemakers down and check out that spear properly.

[Mentally, Hubert cringes. He's been trying to break Cara of her habit, but... so long as the rat was exercising and entertained, he supposed. Bored pets tended to be troublesome pets.]

[Cara however, seemed content, judging by the quiet grinding noise she was starting to make. The rat made no further moves except to hold her balance in the next of Nico's hair.]

You are technically our guest. Her Majesty would insist. [Hubert glances at the spear.] What technology once drove it, I haven't the faintest idea. It had once been infused with lightning magic, if that is of assistance to you.

[He steps back, offering a professional bow.] I will return shortly.

[And in a purple flash, he was gone.]

[Dust, meanwhile, crawls from Nico's hand and clambers up the front of her dress, stuffing herself between the neckline of her dress and the warmth of the Witch's skin. Her little grey head poked out to keep watching the ongoings curiously.]

( Nico blinks at Hubert's sudden disappearance. That's not a trick of his she's seen before, nor does she have any idea how he did it, but she can't help but chuckle at how smart and cordial he was before literally vanishing in front of her eyes. )

Ah well. He'll return shortly, huh?

( Her attention drops to Dust, who's now making herself comfortable by wriggling under the material of her dress. It gets a stifled chuckle from Nico (who's doing her best not to dislodge them both), then a real laugh as those tiny claws tickle around her clavicle. )

Well, let's hope so. You can keep me warm in the meantime.

( Dust pops her head out again ... in agreement? )

[Presumably in agreement, as those beady eyes hold nothing akin to dissent. But alas she is but a rat, with little rat thoughts, concerned only with her own warmth.]

[And Hubert meant it. It's hardly thirty seconds before that flash again heralds his arrival, a thick red winter cloak on his arm. Hubert offers it. ]

Though perhaps next time, you might select more appropriate dress for the inbound winter.

[The subtle smile on his face makes it more of a tease than any kind of judgement. ]

( Nico jumps a little at his return, but she's impressed enough by the cloak that her surprise quickly melts away. )

Ooh, thanks! That looks perfect.

( And it does: thick, heavy, lined with soft material ... and such a beautifully festive colour! But she's concerned about the rats balancing on her person, and so she looks between herself and the cloak for a moment before turning to offer Hubert her back/ )

Help me put it on? I don't wanna startle the cuties.

( Nico glances back over her shoulder with a little grin, because if he's going to tease her? She'll tease him right back. )

Please? C'mon, think of the children.

( The rats, Hubert. The "children". )

[He isn't so juvenile as to roll his eyes, but he did scoff quietly. ]

They are hardly children. They made their choices. And you are only reinforcing their bad habits.

[But Hubert complies, carefully settling the cloak around Nico's shoulder mindful of Dust.]

( Nico just chuckles at Hubert's quiet scoff, if only because she's beginning to appreciate his behaviour as an integral part of who he is. She likes that about him — likes that he'll scoff even as he helps — if only because in truth? It's actually kind of endearing.

... Probably best he doesn't find out about that any time soon, huh? )

Guess you could say the same about loaning me your Lady Edelgard's cloak.

( Which has provided an immediate warm layer for which she's very grateful. She turns back around, Dust's nose twitching in the air as if greeting Hubert again. )

After all, how am I gonna learn if you keep bailing me out?

( She raises an eyebrow as she smirks. )

[Hubert makes a quiet, thoughtful noise, his usual ghost of a smile returning. He crosses his arms in the beat of silence that follows.]

[A faint and happy contentment floats in the back of his mind—Dust's contentment, from their familiar Bond.]

You are absolutely right, Nicoletta. I will remember that for the future; You have my utmost apologies for hampering your personal growth.

[And he will remember that.]

Aw, c'mon, I was just kidding!

( She reaches out to swat at his upper arm: )

You don't need to bother yourself with my personal growth, I promise. Keeping me happy's way more important.

( But she's still smiling that mischievous smile of hers, for all she's now preoccupied with gently removing Dust from the spot between her dress and her skin. When the rat is safely held between her hands she offers her to Hubert: )

Anyway, I think it's time I had a look at that spear. Hold on to these guys for a little while?

[He only chuckles in response to the swat.]

Is it? Surely you'll be happier after you've begun to make wiser choices. [You've made your bed, Nico.]

[But he accepts Dust, a faint mixture of happiness (her human!!) and Do Not Want (she was warm there) swirling in the back of his head. The chubby little rodent tries to squirm under his sleeve before Hubert gets a better grasp on her, and lifts a reluctant Cara from Nico's head with a murmur and a little telekinesis.]

The only modifications I've made to the lance is a minor conjuration enchantment, in case I need it unexpectedly. Otherwise, it's the same as it was in my world, inertness aside.

CLOSED • Let's hear it for the boy

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