locked to 1x1

[darkseal]

[Life at the Officers Academy isn't particularly thrilling, and while Hubert can certainly admit that there are merits to being here, the weekly tasks assigned to the students are not one of them. Sure, some of them do have the potential to be useful for some students, but he honestly has no idea why he was assigned to stable duty, of all things. At least it's better than sky watch...

If Hubert were tasked with this alone it would be mildly annoying, but doable. But no, of course not. He's taking this on with the newest member of the Black Eagles house, one Felix Hugo Fraldarius. He has no idea why Felix decided to transfer from the Blue Lions, but if he had to guess, it would most likely be because of Professor Byleth's skill with a sword. Felix seems dedicated to his training, striving to get stronger and better.

Not that he knows Felix. Of course not. Hubert has barely exchanged any words with him, even since Felix joined their class. That doesn't mean he's not keeping an eye on him, of course - Hubert keeps tabs on everyone in the monastery, and he knows as much as he can about everyone. His information is certainly lacking, but it is his duty as Lady Edelgard's vassal to obtain as much information as he can and he won't let her down.

But for now, he's waiting just outside the stables, studying the horses within with his usual enigmatic expression. He has a chin raised to his hand and he looks lost in thought - but as always he's acutely aware of his surroundings. He'll know when Felix shows up.

Assuming Felix doesn't ditch him, which isn't entirely out of the realm of possibility, he supposes.]

Comments

[1x1]

[ The almost business-like manner in which they go about their duty is strangely uncomfortable for Felix, though he’s determined not to examine too closely why that is. He’s not a fool; he understands that he’s unconsciously comparing the atmosphere to what he would have experienced with the Blue Lions house. It’s an adjustment, and not necessarily a bad one. So, he puts his head down to throw himself into the task without comment. Mucking stalls is unpleasant, but it needs to be done – and while he desires nothing more than to return to training, he doesn’t cut corners. Hard work is something he appreciates, after all.

He catches Hubert’s eye twice before he can be bothered to speak up. ]

What? [ he demands, mouth twisted in a frown. ] Got a problem?

[darkseal]

No.

[He doesn't, actually. Felix is working hard, and he's doing a decent job of it.]

Merely examining your efforts, that's all. [He waves a hand, dismissively.] Please, continue.

[He's smirking at that, but it isn't particularly harsh or overly rude, no moreso than he'd be to any of the rest of the Black Eagles students (who aren't Lady Edelgard, of course). He doesn't intend to tease Felix for long, anyway; he'll get back to work without further comment.]

[1x1]

[ Felix doesn’t immediately return to task. Frown deepening, he watches Hubert in stony silence for a moment and tries to decide if the mage is being sincere. Though he hasn’t spent much time in the company of his new classmates, he’s generally a good judge of character. Hubert von Vestra seems to be an exception to that rule; Felix just doesn’t know what to make of him. But what he does know? It feels like he’s being mocked. And after his unsatisfying encounter with Ingrid, Felix is more than willing to take the bait. ]

My “efforts.” [ The sneer is audible in his voice. ] Are you implying you can do better?

[darkseal]

[He's not even remotely surprised that Felix immediately sees it as a challenge, and Hubert turns to him. He rests a hand on his chin and his elbow on his other arm, head tipped just slightly to the side as he studies Felix.]

Is that what you think I was saying? [His expression and voice haven't changed even the slightest to give an indication one way or another.] Hmm, I wonder.

[1x1]

Speak plainly.

[ A horse shuffles aside with a grumpy snort when Felix brushes by, approaching Hubert. The height difference between the two students is inconvenient, but he doesn’t let that deter him from glowering up at the mage. Buttons? Pushed. ]

I have no interest in playing games. Say what you mean or shut your mouth.

[darkseal]

[Oh, that is amusing. He really shouldn't find it so funny to push the other students' buttons, but Felix riles almost as easily as Ferdinand does, and it's enjoyable.

However, they do have work to do, and if he keeps pushing he's not entirely convinced that Felix won't punch him. So he settles a bit, dropping his hands.]

Just an observation, nothing more. I meant nothing by it.

[1x1]

[ Unconvinced, he folds his arms across his chest and scrutinizes Hubert closely – as if he could pry the truth from the mage simply through sheer willpower. All he ultimately accomplishes is to make himself uncomfortable with the direct staring. Felix exhales harshly, his rising ire expelled. ]

Not sure I believe you, [ he replies, more coolly now. ] You don’t strike me as the type of person to make flippant comments.

[ Then again, maybe he’s read Hubert wrong. Regardless, Felix returns to task; he's not quite settled yet and its evident in the tense hunch of his shoulders. ]

[darkseal]

[He bites back the urge to make one there. It's a bit difficult when given an opportunity like that... but he really doesn't have any intention of picking a fight with Felix.

Instead he tips his head just a bit - it's not quite acknowledgement or dismissal or anything, really, just an indication that he's heard. Felix's suspicion is warranted. It isn't as though they know each other at all.]

Believe what you want. [It's blunt, but not harsh or dismissive.] Do know that I will never cause problems for Lady Edelgard, however.

[It's the most backwards way to say it, but (as always) that sort of logic makes perfect sense to Hubert. He's not going to pick fights or irritate his classmates unnecessarily because that will undoubtedly lead to Lady Edelgard having to deal with it, and such immature behavior will never be tolerated. So he'll be a bit of a pain, sure, but he will never go too far with it.]

[1x1]

[ Momentarily preoccupied with shifting a bale of hay, Felix simply grunts in response. What Hubert says does line up with the little he knows. From his private education previous to enrolling at the Officer’s Academy, he’d been taught about the prominent families of the Empire. Von Vestra hails from a long line associated with the Imperial Household, doesn’t he? It explains why he’s always hovering around Edelgard like her overgrown shadow. ]

Is that so. [ A beat. ] And if I became a problem for her?

[ Which he has no intention of. It’s simply a hypothetical question, to gauge Hubert’s reaction and character. ]

[darkseal]

[That gets him to pause, and he glances back over. The initial response (what do you think?) is a bit too sarcastic, so he opts for the less biting one.]

That depends on what sort of problem you plan on causing.

[...Okay, so it's still sarcastic, but not quite as harsh as it could be. He doesn't believe Felix has any intentions of becoming a problem, but it's certainly a possibility and one he won't rule out.]

[1x1]

[ Huh. This is mildly interesting; it’s not the immediate backlash that he’d been half-expecting. Perhaps Hubert isn’t quite as mindless a collared dog as Dedue has proven to be, as far as vassals go. In any case, he has no real examples to offer the mage, so he simply shrugs a shoulder. ]

Beside repeatedly laying her flat in the training grounds?

[ Though the wording could have been better, coming from Felix it should very obviously not be a sexual innuendo. ]

[darkseal]

[Were this Sylvain, he'd certainly have a stronger reaction. But no, he doubts Felix means it like that, and the words only get a smirk from him.]

Lady Edelgard will not lose. I do hope she enjoys crushing you.

[this isn't even his fight???]

[1x1]

[ During their conversation, if it can be called that, Felix has moved on from one task to the next. He’s now in the process of grooming a horse, her hoof pulled back and up between his legs as he cleans it of packed mud, rocks, and debris. At the challenge, he pauses – the horse gives his back a dirty look over her shoulder, impatient – so that he can level the hoof pick in Hubert’s direction. ]

Ha, not even in your wildest dreams. She’s strong, I’ll give you that. [ He is forced to relinquish the hoof as the horse irritably nips at him. ] …But with that fighting style, she leaves herself wide open. You’ll see.

[ thank fuck Edelgard isn’t here to listen to these two idiots talking about her hypothetical duel ]

[darkseal]

[He's moved on as well, keeping busy but certainly not dismissing Felix or ignoring the conversation. The horses do not like him, so he's over here reorganizing the saddles and the like and taking inventory for things that need to be replaced.]

Interesting. And you think you'll be able to secure a win by exploiting that weakness?

[Felix isn't wrong, Lady Edelgard does have the terrible habit of leaving herself wide open after attacking and if her attack isn't enough to end the fight, then there's plenty of time to counterattack. So theoretically - although he hates to admit it - Felix could possibly take advantage of that if he's quick enough. Hmm...

edelgard does not deserve this, please let her fight her own battles??]

[1x1]

I do.

[ Felix doesn’t usually have much trouble with animals; perhaps because he’s fairly indifferent to them, they enjoy his companionship. Cats, at the very least, seem to flock to his dormitory door. But this horse… She has had enough of him, it seems. ]

The next time – hold still, dammit – the next time professor pairs us off in training. I’ll show you. Edelgard doesn’t stand a chance.

[ Somewhere in Garreg Mach, a princess sneezes. ]

[darkseal]

Hmm.

[Curious. If there is something to what Felix is saying, then that means Lady Edelgard's training is not sufficient. While he would never wish a defeat on her, it could help patch up any remaining weaknesses...]

Perhaps I'll make time to watch her destroy you.

[or you could just do that, sure why not]

[1x1]

[ A snort – this time from Felix (and not the horse). ]

As if you wouldn’t be watching her regardless. Perhaps I’ll do you a service and show you your weaknesses as well.

[darkseal]

Bold words, but I don't have the time to teach you the error of your ways.

[That is mostly true! He's a very busy man. But also he prefers to avoid sparring when he can because his training is with magic, not weapons...]

[1x1]

Oh?

[ Finally finished with the cranky horse, Felix leans against a wall and evaluates Hubert. It doesn’t seem like the refusal is spoken from a place of fear or uncertainty. But who knows? Perhaps the mage is craven; it isn’t as if his position as vassal to the Adrestian princess were given to him out of respect for his skills. At least, probably not. ]

I’ll simply satisfy my blade with the defeat of your princess then. Now, are you almost done? I have places to be.

[ Places being the training grounds. Again. Obviously. He’s fairly predictable. ]

[darkseal]

[Definitely the training grounds... Felix practically lives there...]

I look forward to seeing that. Go on, you'll need all the extra training you can get.

[From the look of things, he's pretty much done here anyway; he'll finish up and do a final check over everything, because Hubert is nothing if not exceptionally thorough, no matter how little he cares for the task.]

[1x1]

[ YOU DON’T KNOW HIM!! ]

Hmph.

[ Felix scans the stables one final time, confirming that yes – he has completed his duty well enough to excuse himself. Though these group activities are a pain, he’s not the type to shirk responsibility and leave his classmates to pick up the slack. Satisfied with what he sees, he nods and turns to take his leave without so much as a goodbye. How’s that for bonding. ]