[W-wait, she looks like she doesn't believe him, like she actually thinks—
It isn't often anyone is able to see through Hubert like that and while his reaction was admittedly not great, he still should have been able to get away with that. How has she figured him out so easily?
He doesn't have long to wonder it - because suddenly the bird dives at his hand.
The problem isn't his reaction time, actually. He reacts quickly enough. The problem is that his reflex is to call magic to his fingertips and it would be a horrible idea to throw a spell at the poor damn bird in front of Marianne.
(It would be a horrible idea in general, because if anyone ever found out he'd never be able to live it down. But it's especially a terrible idea in front of someone who loves animals.)
So he forces the spell to dissipate from the fingers of his dominant hand, which leaves the bird free to peck at his hand.
It's not anything particularly painful, but the surprise of it coupled with the absolute absurdity that is nearly blasting a bird with dark magic all because it dared attack him (for some reason) gets him to release his grip reflexively.
Crumpled white petals drift to the ground below as he backs up.]
...
[And just when he thought things couldn't get any more awkward.]
Don't... [it's hissed out, quiet but intense] Don't you dare tell anyone or I will...
[The threat trails off there. Eliminate you was probably how he'd end that, but the words dry up in his throat as he glares daggers at the bird. He should leave. He needs to leave. But he can't leave until he knows she isn't going to say a damn thing because if word of this gets out...
If word of this gets out, he's going to have a much bigger mess to deal with. He can only imagine how Lady Edelgard would react, and that's to say nothing of the other idiots in their house. Ferdinand will probably never shut up. Dorothea will never shut up. He is not going to deal with that.
But even so, he doesn't finish the threat. It hangs there, feeling far too weak.]
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It isn't often anyone is able to see through Hubert like that and while his reaction was admittedly not great, he still should have been able to get away with that. How has she figured him out so easily?
He doesn't have long to wonder it - because suddenly the bird dives at his hand.
The problem isn't his reaction time, actually. He reacts quickly enough. The problem is that his reflex is to call magic to his fingertips and it would be a horrible idea to throw a spell at the poor damn bird in front of Marianne.
(It would be a horrible idea in general, because if anyone ever found out he'd never be able to live it down. But it's especially a terrible idea in front of someone who loves animals.)
So he forces the spell to dissipate from the fingers of his dominant hand, which leaves the bird free to peck at his hand.
It's not anything particularly painful, but the surprise of it coupled with the absolute absurdity that is nearly blasting a bird with dark magic all because it dared attack him (for some reason) gets him to release his grip reflexively.
Crumpled white petals drift to the ground below as he backs up.]
...
[And just when he thought things couldn't get any more awkward.]
Don't... [it's hissed out, quiet but intense] Don't you dare tell anyone or I will...
[The threat trails off there. Eliminate you was probably how he'd end that, but the words dry up in his throat as he glares daggers at the bird. He should leave. He needs to leave. But he can't leave until he knows she isn't going to say a damn thing because if word of this gets out...
If word of this gets out, he's going to have a much bigger mess to deal with. He can only imagine how Lady Edelgard would react, and that's to say nothing of the other idiots in their house. Ferdinand will probably never shut up. Dorothea will never shut up. He is not going to deal with that.
But even so, he doesn't finish the threat. It hangs there, feeling far too weak.]