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[Truthfully speaking, this Ball was nothing more than a glorified dance class in Linhardt's mind. They were practically obligated to attend and partake, dancing with people and exchanging smiles and pleasantries; a ball like this was at least somewhat important to the nobility, Linhardt was sure, but as far as he was concerned? He had no business here, and the first chance he could get out, he took gladly.

He wasn't altogether sure about where to go, honestly; he could certainly just turn in for the night on his bed, or get back to his crest research, but there was another curiosity that he wanted to take a look at; the Goddess Tower. The details were a little fuzzy in Linhardt's mind, but he had heard some so-called rumors about what happened within the tower. Something interesting would happen if two people entered the tower...was it that they would be blessed by the Goddess if they shared a vow, or that they would be cursed for defiling her tower? Linhardt couldn't really recall off the top of his head, as it wasn't a topic that interested him too much, but...well, it was an interesting research opportunity and there was certainly a first time for everything.

But of course, he knew very well he wasn't exactly destined for much in the love department. As far as he was concerned, the Goddess Tower would be a once in a lifetime napping spot, and Linhardt intended to take the bait. It was surprisingly quiet, though he didn't doubt that there were people waiting to come in and try to find their 'true love', as they would likely call it. Linhardt finds his way to a nice spot within the tower, settling himself in for what's likely to be an interesting sleep, if nothing else.

Who knows, maybe he'll get to eavesdrop on some unlucky sap within the tower before he nods off, or perhaps even hear someone find the love of their life. The latter would certainly be a nice thought, for one of the others, perhaps. That would at least be interesting to hear...]

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[He knows. Bernadetta's disappearance isn't making things easy on House Varley, but even his network of spies hasn't managed to find her location. If someone's gone from his sight, it's definitely a worry. Bernadetta isn't someone he can see being a threat to Her Majesty, but he'll do what he can to increase his efforts into finding her.]

While House Varley may be... difficult to work with, I doubt they would be acting so irrationally and drawing attention to themselves if they planned on doing anything dire. Keep an eye on them, and I'll see if I can learn anything about Bernadetta's location.

[He drops it at that, though. He has no interest in reminiscing about a classmate from so long ago.]

As for what you can do to help me... Well, you can start by relaxing. You aren't going to heal if you're constantly working. I did come here to check on you, after all. I can't very well leave if you're pushing yourself, now can I?

[Linhardt nods his head, bringing Nyx closer to himself--that may be just what's needed in order to smooth relations, at least, so he's more than happy to move on.

...And then pout because Hubert, dear gods...]

To think that years ago, this wouldn't even be a matter of discussion...I'd be asleep like a lamb, utterly oblivious to the world at large. You've both done something to me, I'm sure.

[...Not that he still couldn't nap so freely, but it's definitely a little harder nowadays. At least somewhat, especially when there's work to be done.]

...But of course, you assume I would want you to leave, you know.

[Which he doesn't.]

You're very lucky I'm free for the rest of the evening.

[Even though it's already pretty late...

Something Linhardt's said there makes him pause, though. Hubert rests his chin against his hand and folds his other arm beneath his elbow. His gaze has drifted away while considering his question, and when he asks it, his voice is perhaps intentionally blank.]

...Do you regret joining us?

[Don't...don't let me regret this. That is all I ask.

Not a day goes by without him wondering about it.]

[Linhardt chuckles a bit at that first bit--he supposes that Hubert is right, honestly. It's something that makes that warmth bloom in Linhardt's chest, really...

The question doesn't make that abate. Even though Linhardt gives it serious thought--the regrets still linger, vaguely, over Caspar's death; he was a needless death in the face of everything that happened. There's been a lot of needless death in this war, in this great upheaval that will change the world as they know it. Linhardt had always viewed death as a hideous thing, but...

He's changed. He knows that much. Linhardt doesn't know if it's all been for the better, really. He's stained his hands red for the sake of the Empire, though not as much as some of the people here. He's healed the wounded, he's dealt with the nobility, he's been the far more yielding left hand to the Emperor, while Hubert remained brutal and steady. He's become more motivated, at least enough to properly do his own work and ensure his place in the Empire's ranks.

While many thoughts run through Linhardt's mind, the answer he gives Hubert comes quickly, and very easily, with the open honesty Linhardt is known for.]

I've no regrets for pledging my loyalty to you, and Her Majesty. I do not regret the things I have done in the name of the Empire. Were I given the option of an easier life in exchange for erasing all that I have done, to do it all differently...I would say no without hesitation.

[...]

Because a world where I am not by your side would be a world most dreary.

[And all of that is true. The world has been fraught with hardships aplenty, but even if given the opportunity, Linhardt would never want to go back and deal with a 'pretty' future.

He meant what he said when he wanted to face everything head on. He was going to have to face it sooner or later, but he's glad to be doing it by Hubert and Edelgard's sides.]

[He waits patiently for the answer, expecting it to take longer than it actually does. As always, Linhardt is entirely honest and a bit too forward with it, but he can't say he minds. Even so, it takes him a moment to finally look at Linhardt again.]

I'm pleased to hear that. Sometimes I'd wonder...

[He trails off there, though. Something's occurred to him that takes his attention away for a moment; Her Majesty had once asked him something similar, hadn't she? She'd wondered what his life would be like if he wasn't sworn to her service. It had been such a bizarre, outlandish question to ask.

Perhaps Linhardt feels the same way.]

You've changed so much since we first met.

[He decides to focus on that instead.]

I was always impressed with your intellect, and I had hoped you would devote yourself to a worthwhile cause. I'm pleased it is ours.

[...]

And personally... I wouldn't want you anywhere else.

[There is perhaps just the slightest hint of a pout at the talk of a worthwhile cause--Linhardt has always believed that his crest research would at least prove valuable for something, thank you very much. Even so, he has to admit, his research has taken some turns as he's starting to realize that outside of war, these crests may have no real use; they may have been simply meant for war...

That's a topic Linhardt can focus on at another time, however. Linhardt knows he's changed due to the environment that he's been in; he's adapted to what Her Majesty needs of him. What Hubert has needed of him, too, at least somewhat. Even still, Linhardt hasn't lost his own values, his own self in the ever churning tides of war.]

...I would not want to be anywhere else, you know.

[He's the one who said that they should avoid their feelings until the war is over, but Linhardt's first thought is to finally give word to those feelings in his heart, the explicit words he's wanted to say for so long.

He quiets the thought. Decides to lighten the mood a bit with a chuckle.]

After all, someone had to teach you how to properly relax, right? You wouldn't have been able to do such a thing on your own.

[There's a moment - a very brief one - where it feels like everything else in the world has fallen away. Linhardt's adorable pout, his reassurance that there isn't anywhere else he'd rather be... It stirs feelings in Hubert he thought he'd cast aside long ago and for that brief moment it feels so wonderful. He wants to say more, he longs to reach out and touch Linhardt and never let him go—

But that isn't something he can do now. He can't forget his position and his duties, and he certainly can't forget the war or Her Majesty. There will be a time and place for him to embrace these feelings (and Linhardt) but that time isn't now.

He doesn't try to crush the feelings like he once did, but he does push them aside. It wouldn't do to be distracted.]

I'm sure it would have led to disaster. Can you imagine what would have happened if I had fainted anywhere near Her Majesty? I suppose you've saved my life.

[Not because Lady Edelgard would have killed him or anything, but because he would have promptly died on realizing that she found out about it. Her Majesty can never know.]

Oh, it would have. Her Majesty would have probably elected to watch over you more closely to ensure that you weren't working too hard for her sake. I could only imagine the lecture she would be giving you as well...

[Linhardt laughs easily. This is so much easier to deal with than the feelings that bloom in him, that he can let grow over like the tangled grass fields he used to love to sleep in...

Maybe one day, he'd like to go back to Garreg Mach, just to see if that spot survived the test of time.]

You'd never hear the end of it.

Never. I doubt she'd let me leave her sight for months.

[In some ways it's strange, how their roles have changed so much since their days at Garreg Mach. He was the one who kept her nearby, who insisted on being close to her to protect her from any harm. Now she wields him as a weapon, striking out at those who would oppose her rule. He has never been opposed to painting the path before her, but he finds he doesn't miss being by her side as much as he would have thought.

It's strange, but not really all that surprising now that he thinks about it. He's found things to do - things he enjoys - outside of her. Her Majesty is still his whole world, but maybe his world is larger than he once thought.]

I'm pleased you were able to put a stop to that before it could happen.

She certainly wouldn't--for your own safety, of course.

[Months prior he would have found Edelgard to be utterly overbearing--on some level he still does, but that's just a part of Edelgard's personality. One Linhardt doesn't really care about getting rid of, because it'd be far more trouble than it was worth.

Linhardt rubs the back of his head a bit at that, though, before letting himself fall gracelessly on the pillows.]

...Anyone else would have likely sent you to Manuela and been on their way, and that would have turned out unfavorable, one way or another. I suppose at the time I simply wanted to ensure that you got the care you needed, without having to worry about the ramifications.

[...]

We would have likely never spoken further, if that hadn't happened.

Edited 2019-08-18 22:34 (UTC)

[That gets him to laugh and he covers his mouth with a hand.]

I can only imagine how terribly that would have gone.

[He doesn't rise from where he's sitting, but he does bow from his seat.]

You have my thanks for not doing the sane thing and taking me to Manuela.

Well, why do that when I could put my faith magic training to the test?

[...LIN, OH MY GOD]

...But truly, it was no trouble. Someone had to make sure it got through to you in a manner that didn't embarrass you awfully.

[lin. lin you can't just say those kind of things, you make it sound like it was an experiment???]

I was able to survive through my embarrassment, wasn't I.

[He looks far too pleased with this, honestly...]

I never would have guessed that things would go the way they have.

You were. You've survived through so many of them...

[Linhardt's look gets almost mischievous at that, though he has the courtesy to try to hide that sort of look behind one of his hands.]

Nor would I, all be told. In a worse world, we would have likely been forced against one another in a clash of ideals...and to put it in very simple terms, that would be far too much of a bother.

[...It's very simple, flippant terms, but Linhardt's tone is serious enough about it. He clearly doesn't mean those words at face value.]

[That gets him to settle a bit, leaning back in the chair and considering. If Linhardt hadn't found them out, what would have happened? Things could have been very different. They could have stood against one another, or more likely, Linhardt would have returned to his family and not bothered with the war at all.]

...As much as I wish you hadn't been brought into this and you could have remained safe and away from harm, [he glances at Linhardt's leg at that] I can think of no better outcome.

A clash of ideals would have been far too troublesome.

[He's sort of smirking, though. He gets it.]

[Sometimes he worries about you, Hubert...like you're gonna try to do something rash for him when he actually, unavoidably, has to see the front lines...

Of course, Linhardt doesn't bring that up. It doesn't seem right to, after he already got injured attempting to be Hubert's shield.]

Truly, you understand. At that point, I would have rather been napping...perhaps I would have hibernated through the whole war.

[He yawns a bit at that, snuggling Nyx closer. He can't hug Hubert but he can sure bring her closer and hug her in his place, and Hubert will never know.]

I would have known the perfect spot, too. A peaceful field where the wildflowers grow near the estate...I'd be happy to show you it, should you ever come to the territory. In the future, of course.

Edited 2019-08-19 02:58 (UTC)

[Oh, that... That does something to his chest, and for a moment it's hard to find the words he wants and put them in an order he likes. His expression is soft when he responds, and it takes him a moment to remember to settle into something a little more neutral.]

...I'd like that. I would like to see where you grew up.

[And sure, he could find useful information from poking around House Hevring's estate, but that's not why he's interested. Knowing what he does about Linhardt and Linhardt's past, he can only imagine that the place would be comforting - a home, not an estate. What was it like, he wonders.]

Perhaps I'll ask you about it again. In the future, of course.

[The war has been taking several turns in their favor. Between more secured victories and more focus on working with the nobles, it feels as if their making up has caused the Empire's to bolster significantly. Their efforts have borne fruit at long last, and they were finally starting to finally push back.

They were going to see Edelgard's vision through, and Linhardt could swear that everyone else seemed pretty happy about what was going on too. Perhaps unusually so, but he'd take whatever he could get.

It certainly helped that Byleth came back to them so suddenly. Garreg Mach was finally under the possession of the Empire, and it was theirs to do with as they pleased. Linhardt quite liked it as a base of operations, though he still had to go out quite often even with that; business with the nobility kept him busy when they weren't organizing themselves for missions, to say nothing of skirmishes keeping Hubert busy as well. But things had finally settled into something resembling a routine, and Linhardt could absolutely say he liked it.

Of course, said routine was a lot different from when he attended Garreg Mach as a student; there were letters to send, research to attend to (for both Edelgard and for himself), chores to do (sky watch was proving to be a surprisingly fun venture...), and Linhardt had to admit, he had less time to nap than he normally would. He still at least tried to sneak some sleep in, but with war looming and being in a surprisingly pivotal spot...well, it doesn't come as easily anymore.

Linhardt supposes that he shouldn't have been so surprised when Hubert finally decided to take matters into his own hands and convince Linhardt out of the library for a while, and after some protesting--there were a few more letters to be done, but they were ultimately not of high priority--he acquiesced and decided to go with Hubert.

...He was pretty sure Hubert would wind up telling Edelgard if he didn't go with him, so really, it was a lot less trouble to cooperate. He lets Hubert lead him along, though...]

Really, Hubert, you don't have to be so worried for me...

[It's said with a slightly tired tone as he rubs one of his eyes.]

...But I suppose I should thank you for dragging me out of there. I lost...track of time...

[He punctuates that with a yawn.]

[If Hubert were directly asked, he would claim that their victories and the sudden shift on the political front was entirely a coincidence with his reconciliation with Linhardt. In truth, it seems everyone knows about their hand in the recent turn of events, and he's certain he's gotten knowing looks from Ferdinand of all people. He would complain about it, but the last thing he wants to do is acknowledge that anyone has any idea of what's happening with him and Linhardt. They couldn't know. Could they?

Anyway, the important thing is that they've managed to reclaim Garreg Mach, and along with it, Professor Byleth. They said they were asleep for the past five years, which is suspicious but ultimately they don't seem to be a threat. Still, Hubert is keeping an eye on them for now. He cannot allow anything to happen to Her Majesty now, not when they've begun to make great strides again.

But with the return to Garreg Mach stirs up old memories and feelings, things he'd rather forget and move on from. Well, mostly. Today he has something in mind, something that's a bit too whimsical and silly for someone like him, but he thinks Linhardt will appreciate it anyway.

After all, Linhardt has been working himself too hard.]

The work you do is exceptionally important, but it can wait until you've rested.

[He leads Linhardt to a very familiar spot, pausing for a moment as he turns to look at his friend.]

This is where you were so determined to get me to nap all those years ago. I suppose we could both use the break today.

[The smile he gives is one reserved only for Linhardt; he wouldn't dare allow anyone else to see him lower his guard even this much.]

[...Oh.

Oh, this place is familiar--it's somehow even time itself seems to have been kind to it, and it's still so overgrown, and yet looks so soft. Linhardt actually seems kind of surprised that Hubert would bring him here, honestly, but...

Linhardt winds up looking at Hubert's face, seeing that smile on there just for him--oh gods, his heart is warming, and Linhardt is openly smiling in a way he usually doesn't in kind. It's making his chest, that love in his heart--it's making it act up so much and he has to admit, it'd be awkward if he didn't feel like he were about to be walking on air.

...Or well, sleeping on air, as it was.]

Ha...I never thought that you would have me join you in this wonderful spot ever again, if I may be honest.

[Linhardt absolutely will take a step out, before finding a nice place to lay down.]

Perhaps this time, you'll be able to sleep a little more soundly, hm?

I've never been particularly fond of reminiscing about the past.

[But he joins Linhardt easily, sweeping his cape aside so he doesn't sit on it.]

I can certainly try to get some sleep, though I don't know how successful I'll be. At the very least I can remain here with you, and hopefully not end up as embarrassed as last time.

[It's a wry smile now, but he doesn't seem really bothered by that. It led them to where they are now, after all. If he's going to be bothered by anything, it was his actions in the capital.]

I'd quite like to avoid a repeat of that as well. Perhaps the years will have taught you to be able to ease into sleep more easily.

[Linhardt takes that as his cue to drop that, at the very least; in truth, he'd rather not recall that little incident in too much detail. There were far more pleasant things to recall about it anyway, like the dance that it lead to, the sweets he was given, the bear he was...

...Oh.]

Ah-- [Linhardt doesn't jolt upright, but he does look slightly embarrassed as he remembers something.] ...Should I go grab Nyx, then? To...well...

[Linhardt seems to consider something for a moment--whether he wants to scoot away, get a little more distance from Hubert, or if he just...doesn't want to sleep at all...he's never really felt at ease without something, but maybe he'll be able to sleep without something to cling to for once.

...He hopes.]

[For a moment he stares, confused. You can probably see the wheels turning as he tries to figure out how those points connect. But eventually he does get it, and it gets a somewhat startled but soft laugh out of him.]

Ah, I... I'm not laughing at you. I just hadn't realized...

[Linhardt needs something to sleep with. It's something he hadn't really considered before, but he does always keep Nyx close to him and takes very good care of her. It makes sense. Sure, it isn't something he really gets, but it's not like sleep is a very rational thing anyway.]

No need. You can borrow my arm, if you'd like.

[It's not a joke, and he holds it out as an offering.]

[At first that gets a pout--Linhardt actually does take his sleeping quite seriously, after all, and he's not sure why Hubert's chuckling at first, but the assurance he's not laughing at him gets him to ease somewhat. Though, Linhardt's still confused, but before he can actually utter the question of what Hubert means, he's...

He's actually offering his arm for Linhardt.

...Oh, gods, that gets a light dusting of pink on his cheeks--mostly in surprise, but...]

You're...certain, of this?

[It's an open invitation. It's an open, warm invitation, and Linhardt takes a couple moments to consider it before he winds up scooting closer to Hubert, taking the man's arm in both of his own and laying against it.]

...You're so very good to me, Hubert. Thank you. [He chuckles.] And you're very warm, too.

Surprisingly, I am alive and I do possess a heart.

[It's teasing, but he settles easily. There's something incredibly nice about having Linhardt this close... It isn't what he should be thinking of, and yet again he finds himself thinking about Linhardt's words. After the war. After the war. They can't afford to consider anything else before then. He can't afford to be distracted by anything or anyone. He must succeed in Her Majesty's name. Everything else is secondary.

But still... A quiet moment like this almost makes him want to put those thoughts aside.]

Get some sleep. I'll wake you if you doze for too long.

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