sranks | hubie and flayn's excellent adventure

[After the (incident?) meeting with Flayn, Hubert and Lady Edelgard have been careful. They aren't sure how much she knows and how wary she is of them, so they spare the time to talk to her and attempt to learn more, bu so far they're both at a loss. Lady Edelgard has insisted that they remain cautious, but from the look she gets whenever they talk about Flayn, it's obvious there's something she isn't saying. Hubert hasn't pressed her on it - Lady Edelgard will share her thoughts when she's ready to.

Still, he won't deny that it's almost nice to have her around. Flayn distracts their classmates, and that makes laying Lady Edelgard's plans much easier. Flayn herself isn't terrible to be around or talk to, but Hubert always remains cautious. She is one of them, after all.

Today's battle was supposed to be a simple affair. Rout some bandits, no problem. It's something they've done countless times together, and with Flayn providing more support with healing, it theoretically should be even faster.

Perhaps it was. He can't tell, given that he's currently stuck at the bottom of a hole and can't get out.

Sure, he can beat himself up all day long for not noticing the pitfall before he fell into it, but who would expect a pitfall when dealing with bandits. They usually aren't clever enough to set traps for intruders. So his plans to sneak in and take out the bandit leader before he could try to escape are ruined, and Hubert's stuck at the bottom of a hole. Thankfully, it doesn't seem like he's seriously injured himself. Unfortunately, he's injured himself just enough where climbing back out isn't going to be an option. There's also the fact that the soil's just a little too loose for that. The only thing he can do is wait for help to arrive.

This is embarrassing. Humiliating. How could he be caught in such an obvious, stupid trap? But he pushes those feelings down and waits for one of his classmates' voices to reach his ears. They'll come looking, and someone's voice will carry and then he can alert them to his presence—

And there it is, but it's the last person he wanted. Hubert sighs before raising his voice.]

Flayn, I'm down here.

[And, if that isn't enough - because Hubert really isn't all that fond of yelling (unless he's in battle) - he fires off a miasma spell straight upwards. The dark magic should serve as a signal for where he is - and that he's sort of stuck.]

[Ah, there he...is...

Flayn has to take a second when she hears his voice coming from below--he's so much taller than her, how on earth could he be on the ground? Is he wounded? It isn't until that Miasma fires upward and it gives Flayn a goddess-damned heart attack and makes her yelp that she realizes just what's happened.

Just. Okay, she's going to get close enough to the hole so that she can look down without risking herself falling in, and. Well, this is certainly a thing, now isn't it.]

Oh goodness! There you are...

[Flayn lets out the smallest sigh of relief while she tries to...get an idea of how bad the situation is, goodness. This looks like a mess, honestly, and Flayn is looking at this disaster of a situation and trying to come up with something...]

...Oh dear. Hubert, how badly are you injured? Is there any way you might be able to climb up?

[Flayn feels guilty--she's definitely overdone it in using her magic today, so using Rewarp is absolutely out of the question. There has to be something she can do, though, she just has to think! Certainly there's a way!]

[And there she is. Of all people, it had to be Flayn. Sure, many of the others would have tried to tease him, but at least they're trustworthy enough. If Flayn's alone, she could easily just leave him here... But he doubts his classmates would give up the search easily, and he knows Lady Edelgard won't believe anything Flayn says. So it could be worse. Somehow.]

I've had worse injuries. [Entirely true, but probably not something he should say...] Climbing out isn't an option, however. I've already attempted.

[The soil's not quite sturdy enough for that and given he can't support himself fully on one leg, he'd have entirely too much trouble even if it was.]

[Oh dear. Flayn tries to take some stock of the predicament, thinking hard about what she could do. She absolutely can't summon up the strength to use Rescue, or she would have done that...and she's never properly learned how to use Physic, so healing him from a distance is out of the question too.]

Oh goodness...please, allow me to think! Certainly there must be a way to get you out of there...

[There has to be some kind of way to get him out of there. It's a hole that's not easy to get out of, certainly, but Flayn's mind trails off back to the monastery, to the pier, and Professor Byleth showing her how to properly fish and reel something in--

And Flayn thinks she has it.]

I believe I have an idea! I need a tad bit of time, so please, do not aggravate your injuries further--I should be able to pull you out in but a moment's time!

[One might be assuming that she intends to prepare her magic to warp him out.

They would be wrong, and Hubert might be able to hear Flayn while she goes off a little and starts digging through a knapsack--there should be some rope in here, after all.]

Of course. I'm not going anywhere.

[Hahaha. Hopefully she's going to get the professor. As embarrassing as it will be to have to face Professor Byleth after this, they'll at least be able to come up with something to—

But no, from the sound of it, Flayn isn't going far. What is she doing up there...? It's unlikely she has the strength to cast a spell to warp him out, but he's fairly sure he can still hear her up there, so...?]

Flayn? What are you doing?

[He's not worried, exactly, just curious.]

[Flayn remembers plenty about tying knots, and surely it won't be so hard to tie something off into a loop so she can pull Hubert back up--Flayn concentrates hard, doing her best to remember what she learned, and by the time he asks her about what she's doing, she's got a pretty good approximation of something Hubert can slip into so she might be able to pull him out!

...Because yes, Flayn and all of her 8 strength believes she'll be able to do this.]

I am simply preparing the finishing touches for my plan to get you out of that dreaded hole! It is but the least I can do, with everyone else so occupied!

[flayn, honey, you sound far too excited for something that's gonna end in total failure??? oh gods

Either way, Hubert will...absolutely be able to hear the sound of some sort of tent peg being hammered into the ground (though it's a slow process, because again, Flayn has far too much confidence), after Flayn ties the rope to it. That'll ensure the rope doesn't fall into the hole, at least!]

And it is done!

[...Look out above, there's the end of the rope coming down--it's tied off in a sort of loop that he should be able to fit himself into.

Keyword: should. Flayn is. Kind of making an attempt, but hoo boy.]

Please, wrap that around yourself--I shall pull you up!

[Oh, he doesn't like the sound of that. Either she's planning something dreadful or she's sincere and she really does think she's found some way to get him out, and he's not sure which is the more terrifying idea. The latter, probably.

He can hear the sound of something being... hammered into the ground? Oh no. Oh no, she'd better not be doing what he thinks she's doing—

And then the rope falls in and Hubert sighs.]

I mean no offense, but surely you don't think you're capable of lifting me out on your own.

[This wouldn't be a terrible idea, but it would require at least two people to pull him out. Sure, Hubert isn't particularly muscular or heavy, but he's 6'2". He's absolutely not a light person. To make an already bad idea even worse, Flayn is tiny. This would almost be comical if he weren't the one stuck in a hole.

Later on he'll have time to analyze this and try to figure out exactly what Flayn's intentions were, but for now, he's just. Exasperated. So exasperated. He doesn't ask for much in this life, why do these things happen to him.]

[Flayn huffs a bit, looking down into the hole with an almost indignant expression.]

I think you underestimate me, Hubert! I do believe that I shall be able to remove you from that hole with far more ease than you might expect!

[FLAYN YOU ARE A FUCKING NOODLE]

And should I not...well, I am certain our classmates will be able to do so, once their fight is done. But I do not believe that will be necessary!

[Let! Her! Try!!!]

[Well, Flayn is certainly persistent... Fine, what's the harm in trying? She won't be able to pull him up, but it's not like this can end all that poorly, right? Might as well attempt.]

Very well. [He secures the rope around himself and tugs on it a bit. Were the ground more stable, he could probably pull himself out with just this, but...] I'm ready when you are.

[Flayn perks up almost immediately at that, practically beaming down at Hubert.]

Oh, thank you ever so much! I shall pull you out of there in no time at all!

[Flayn does stay close to the hole itself when she starts to try and pull him up and--goddess above, he's much heavier than she thought he'd be. There's definitely a tug as Flayn keeps attempting though, unwilling to give up as she keeps pulling and pulling. It's not going to be making much, if...any progress, but by the goddess she is trying, tugging and tugging and tugging until she needs a moment to breathe.

She's clearly struggling, but this is her classmate, a friend trapped in that hole--that's what Flayn tells herself. She's never been the strongest among her family, or even among the Black Eagles, but she can't simply allow herself to give up, can she? She can't. She won't.

That's what sees Flayn tug the slightest bit harder--hard enough that Hubert might actually feel himself get lifted up, if only a bit, for a brief moment before everything spirals out of control.

Namely, that in Flayn's determined attempt to lift Hubert off of the ground, she attempts to stabilize her foot on rather unstable footing--the ground crumbles beneath that foot, and it only takes a moment before Flayn winds up letting out a scream as she lets go of the rope and starts to fall face first into the hole.

This is. Gonna suck, Hubert look out, incoming Flayn--]

[In all honesty, Hubert figured Flayn would give up after a few failed attempts. He waits, doing absolutely nothing to help to dissuade her faster, but Flayn doesn't give up. She keeps trying, and eventually he actually does feel himself lifted a bit (which is mildly terrifying, not that he'll ever let her or anyone know that) but it only lasts a moment before things spiral out of control.

He can see the exact moment the ground starts to give way and has enough time to think "oh no" before Flayn pitches forward with a scream. Hubert doesn't have any magic that will serve to help at all so he does the next best thing and moves to catch her as she descends. It's not going to be a pretty or graceful catch at all, and there isn't really a ton of room down here to let her go once he has, but at least it'll save her from breaking anything on the way down. Hopefully.]

Are you injured?

[His voice doesn't give away anything, but his expression certainly does. He's not even exasperated right now (although that will certainly come once he's collected himself) he's just concerned.]

[Flayn's eyes are jammed shut as she falls, preparing for the worst--she's not sure how she's going to explain this to Seteth if they ever get out, at this point, but she's bracing for the worst and--

It doesn't come. Sure, the landing hurts a little bit, but Flayn's eyes open as she...tries to move around so she can actually see Hubert--that concerned expression getting a bit of surprise from Flayn, before she goes to check herself over.]

I am not. I think that may be only due to your quick thinking. [Flayn goes to move around, feeling only some minor pain in her leg from the initial tumble--it's torn one of her stockings a bit, but she's fine.] You have my utmost thanks, Hubert, for saving me from injury...and my apologies as well, for failing to retrieve you.

[Flayn honestly does feel guilty, and that much is obvious on her face as she glances away briefly.]

You need not be worried for me, however. You're the one who took the fall much worse.

[Flayn says that much kindly, and she...at least tries to move, there's not much room in here, but--]

Though I have failed at retrieving you from this despicable hole, please, allow me to heal your injuries. It is the least I can do.

[Once he's sure she's fine, Hubert lets her go. It seems like the landing wasn't particularly hard on her, which is good. He doubts he's the most comfortable person to fall on, after all. But Flayn's safe - which means they won't have to face Seteth's wrath today. That's absolutely the only reason why he was worried, it has nothing to do with the fact that he acted without thinking.

Flayn's offer does get him to hesitate for a moment before he nods.]

If you can, that would be appreciated.

[The leg injury isn't that bad, all things considered. He hasn't broken anything, at least. But it's still the sort of thing that would put a normal person in a good amount of pain, and yet Hubert's treating it like he suffered a minor scrape instead of a sprain. Still, it shouldn't be particularly difficult for Flayn to heal it.]

[Sure it don't, Hubert...

Flayn perks almost immediately, though, before nodding her head. Faith magic comes to her as easily as breathing, even if she can't do too much all at once. She'll move so that she can get in front of his leg, then, the magic coming to her fingertips easily.]

It will be no trouble at all, Hubert. I can scarcely imagine the fall you must have taken, but I should be able to heal it completely.

[She'll start to cast, then, her hands over his leg while she concentrates her energy into it. It should at least start feeling better while she works...]

We would not want something to happen to a reliable member of our class, after all.

[It's gentle when she says that much, and Flayn does mean every word of that. It should go without saying, but...well, she imagines he could use the reminder after this. Maybe, at least.]

[Flayn's faith magic certainly is strong. He can feel the pain fading quickly, and thankfully there isn't much to heal. It shouldn't take her too long.

It's her words that irritate him. Not because it's her saying them - although that does cause some agitation because as usual, he's not able to discern her exact motivations behind saying it - but because he's gotten them both into this mess.]

A reliable member of our class shouldn't have fallen for such an obvious trap.

[The words were supposed to be only mildly annoyed at worst, but that doesn't happen. It's obvious he's annoyed with himself. So naturally, Hubert tries to move on quickly.]

Thank you for your assistance, my leg is feeling better now.

hubie and flayn's excellent adventure

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject