middaeg | [Closed]

Who: Hubert and Edelgard
When: Oct. 16th
Where: Coven
What: Bonding
Warnings: None

They had spoken of Bonding so clinically. They both had to find one eventually; it wasn't without benefits, and there was no shortage of trust between vassal and liege. Why should they wait until misfortune struck? Aside from Hubert's paranoid concern of the Bond being potentially exploited, they had no objections.

Hubert wasn't entirely without apprehension, if he was honest. Though his life was already tied to Edelgard's, though they knew each other nearly as well as they knew themselves, he worked best with distance. There was a difference between promising to keep no secrets from her and... occasionally failing to mention things. Distance allowed him to separate the important from the unimportant, his work in the shadows from that in the light, the logical from the emotional.

The Bond was... the complete and utter opposite of all that.

They'd been waiting for some time in the morning. In the aftermath of the fog, the Coven was completely overwhelmed between the injured and legal issues and whatnot. Keeping staff on hand to work the Bonding ritual wasn't a priority.

Hubert practiced simple exercises while he waited in the comfortable silence. He focused on the little orb of mist swirling in his palm, carefully sculpting it into different shapes with his will and the occasional gesture.

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"Such wouldn't surprise me, given your multitude of admirable and expertly-honed talents, and your years of experience herding them. Surely our overly-qualified Emperor could find one suiting her exacting standards with ease."

It's not a difficult comparison to make, considering his nocturnal tendencies, ruthless and aloof nature, and perpetual alertness. Especially when he's doing the verbal equivalent of making eye contact and pointedly knocking something off the table.

"Oh...certainly. It's not as though I'm inexperienced. Keeping Bernadetta and Caspar in the same room during a meeting is a bit like that. To say nothing of others..."

In her mind, the image of Hubert flicking a tail back and forth comes through loud and clear.

"To say nothing of Annette and Linhardt..."

He chuckles.

"As I said. It should be a trifle. When are you expecting to make a selection?"

"Soon. Perhaps as soon as tomorrow. Today...I would rather spend with you."

They do have this wonderful new bond to explore.

Hubert blinks in surprise, the mist conjuration in his palm faltering as embarrassment flits through the Bond. He catches it quickly and it fades—not to hide it from their link, but to keep it distant from himself.

The whole day? That would be too much idleness for his tastes, but... considering that Edelgard had an undetermined amount of literal days left, he had no grounds to object. Besides, it wasn't as if the time would be unpleasant. His unending drive to be productive might itch at him, but it's a small discomfort to endure.

The mage closes his eyes for a brief moment, still smiling faintly. That warm regard, always at a constant low thrum in the back of his mind, grows a little brighter before it quiets again.

"Hah... Very well. What did you have in mind, Your Majesty?"

Ah yes, his drive to be doing things with his time. She could feel his embarrassment and his...yes, discomfort...that was discomfort...through their bond.

Setting down her cup, she leaned forward and smiled up at the blushing mage. That was a good look for him, she thought to herself, amused...but also with an idea in mind.

"I should like for us to begin scouting the city for ways to get out, outside of the main gates, for a start. In case there is trouble, knowing a way out is good. Also, I think there is a greenspace not too far from where that goblin market was set up. I'd like to head there and see if we can locate some herbs growing that might be useful for anything."

She really just wants to walk, get air, and enjoy the sun...but this is a way to keep him happy.

That amusement he felt in their Bond ran parallel to something sly, and it almost felt like he could abstractly track the thoughts as they formed. Even without that duality in the back of his mind, it wasn't the most convincing of reasoning—but it wasn't the worst, either. He appreciated the thought, anyway.

Hubert returns the smile, albeit a slighter one, far more composed than he'd been a moment ago. Perhaps because it was still so alien, Hubert wasn't sure if he'd ever get used to this... mental proximity.

"I see. We should be quite busy, then. The city is immense. Shall we get going?"

"Yes."

She rose, smiling still.

"Yes, I think we should."

He rose as well, deftly wrapping up the uneaten piece of fruit bread in a handkerchief and tucking it away in his coat. Hubert pauses just before stepping back out onto the street, considering Edelgard thoughtfully.

After a moment, the mage offers his arm with a quirk of his mouth. He'd play the part of companion, if it made his Emperor happy.

She takes his arm, wordlessly sliding into place with a soft chuckle. Yes, he knew what she wanted, he likely didn't even need the bond for that. But...she couldn't deny that she didn't want to be alone. Not now, or ever.

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