[Linhardt listens to Hubert, and though his face is the picture of calm, his mind is anything but. The wish itself is simple enough, that this is to go well, and Linhardt can't help but feel silly for a moment. Maybe he is over thinking it and yet...

I hope that we're able to see this through to the end; that you'll get precisely what you want from this and that you'll be happy with the end result.

Ah.

He's not sure why something icy grips his chest at that, but Hubert, of all people, wishing for him to be happy at the end of all of this is...it's making his mind do something. It makes him...happy, to hear that. It's something that sees just the tiniest tinge of color rise to his face, and realistically he knows Hubert is just saying that for anyone who might be listening, and yet...and yet...

Linhardt's starting to wonder where the line between his actual feelings and the feelings he's simulating in this experiment are, because he doesn't know anymore. But somehow those words, they fill him with joy and fear all at once.]

...That is very kind of you, Hubert. That is my hope as well.

[...]

I... [Linhardt pauses, looking elsewhere.] ...In truth, I wished for something quite a bit sillier. Courage, in fact.

[Linhardt's look goes back to Hubert at that, something...close to resolved, yet more nervous than he's been in his life.]

Will you hold still for a moment?