locked to failnot

[darkseal]

[The Officer's Academy is a very interesting place. In some ways, it's more or less what Hubert was expecting, given what his father's said of his experiences here, but it's the people that really make the Academy so fascinating.

There are other nobles present in the Golden Deer class, though their house also has several commoners. Both are treated the same by teachers and faculty alike, which is a bit surprising, given the rest of Fódlan. In some ways, it feels like the monastery is completely removed from the rest of the world, existing separate from the Alliance, the Kingdom, and the Empire entirely.

But it wouldn't do to forget their places in the world - most of the students here seem very aware of that. That does seem to be why Claude is here, after all - and where Claude goes, Hubert follows. That is the duty of the next head of House Vestra, and it is one he wears with pride.

Admittedly, there's quite a lot he doesn't know about Claude. They've known each other for a little while now, and reached the point where they get along well enough, but Hubert isn't stupid enough to believe Claude fully trusts him and he's certain Claude recognizes that he feels the same way. They remain cautious, but as long as Claude remains next in line as leader of the Alliance, Hubert remains his to command.

Not that that's his primary concern today; it's one of their free days, and Claude seems to have vanished. Even Hilda doesn't know where he's run off to, which leads Hubert in the direction of the library. It's certainly one place Hilda wouldn't bother to look for their house leader, anyway.

So he isn't surprised at all to find Claude here, and it looks like he's currently occupied.]

...You seem to be enjoying yourself.

[There isn't really a need for Hubert to announce his presence - it's not like he was trying to hide it, after all - but he does so anyway as he studies the books Claude's picked out.]

Comments

[darkseal]

[This isn't a battle he's going to win. Not that it's particularly surprising, considering how evasive Claude always proves to be, but it's frustrating all the same. His duty is to be three steps ahead, and he can't even manage to remain in pace with Claude. How is he ever to serve a man like this?

He isn't as frustrated as he could be, however, and he decides the path of least resistance is to let Claude win this one. So he steps back as Claude moves, eyeing the book for only a moment before returning his gaze to Claude's face.]

Of course. There's plenty here that will undoubtedly help you; should there be anything you require assistance with, just say the word.

[He presses a hand to his chest and folds his other arm behind his back as he ducks into a bow. An apology, maybe, for overstepping his bounds. Again. It's going to keep happening though, so he can't really say he's truly sorry.]

[failnot]

[ oh, such propriety. fodlan really was a land of stuffy nobles, huh? no wonder claude was having trouble fitting in. or, admittedly, particularly even want to, though not for the lack of (sort of) trying. he understands the value of looking the part.

but hubert? well, there's a curiosity and a half. claude watches the man fold himself into the expectation of manners, bowing his head without an uttered apology. a silver lining, that. words of apology had their time and place, and here, on hubert's tongue? that wasn't wasn't it. nor did it belong on claude's; if he apologized for every time that he made someone frustrated, he'd barely have time to breathe, much less anything else. heh. ]

I appreciate that. Though maybe leave the bowing out next time. I sure you've already noticed, but I'm really not one for much propriety.

[ now, what to do? he could dismiss this whole situation, bring back into the safer waters of learning about fodlan, about fodlan's history, its customs and religion, or, ]

Are the members of House Vestra all so -- [ what'd be the best word for this? maybe, ] dutiful?

[darkseal]

I'm afraid that's impossible.

[Though judging from the barest hint of a smirk, that might not be totally serious. Maybe. It's kind of hard to tell with Hubert.

The question gets him to fold one arm beneath his elbow and rest his hand against his chin, almost as if he needs to consider the question. He doesn't, certainly, but it gives him something to do with himself as he composes his answer.]

Yes. House Vestra has existed to serve the leader of the Alliance since the beginning. All those of House Vestra are trained to serve the next leader.

[He doesn't sound bothered by that idea at all; if anything, he sounds a bit confused about why Claude would ask, as though this sort of thing is completely and totally normal.]

[failnot]

[ but that's the joke: it's not normal. not to him. that type of loyalty was uncommon in almyra, where respect is earned, fought for, and thus, believable. loyalty that came as a consequence of bloodlines or rank? not so much.

especially when one read between the lines too, with how it promises an absolute certainty: if (or when) house riegan fell from its throne as the ruling house of the alliance, house vestra's loyalty would shift. house riegan would be left without the support of house vestra, whose service and competence was best described as underestimated. at least, in claude's opinion. from the little digging that he'd done of the house, and what he's seen of hubert's capabilities thus far. ]

Whoever that may be at the time, huh? [ runs the implication if one extrapolated hubert's words far enough. ] Well, guess that has its merits. For one, you never have to wonder about where your allegiance should lie.

[ now the kicker, ]

But say that your leader at the time does something that you might find challenging. [ to believe and stand behind as all new ideas tended to be. ] Would you still serve them then?

[darkseal]

[Claude's question is hardly an unfamiliar one - it's been drilled in his head every day since he was old enough to start learning all the duties of House Vestra. It's certainly the sort of thing that most people would find confusing, perhaps. Concerning, possibly. But for House Vestra - and Hubert - it isn't anything he needs to really consider.]

Of course. House Vestra exists to serve the leader of the Alliance, regardless of what decisions they may make.

[It isn't the nice sort of loyalty born of trust and dedication; it's the sort of thing most people find baffling. A loyalty born of duty rather than devotion isn't something that Hubert expects everyone to get, but that's perfectly fine by him. His stance on it isn't changing. This is what he was taught and who he is, and as such, his loyalty remains Claude's. That doesn't mean he'll turn a blind eye to just what Claude is up to - but it is his business to remain knowledgeable about what his charge is up to.

So it's complicated, but as far as he's concerned, it makes perfect sense.]

[failnot]

[ just like that, huh. it was that easy? claude had more questions, of course, curiosities that wouldn't go satiated unless said questions were spoken out loud. but there's a certainty to hubert's answer that has claude holding his tongue for now, lashes dipping a bit in consideration as he watches for the usual cues of hubris (and/)or lies.

he finds none. naturally. which could be because: one, hubert wasn't lying (most likely), or two, hubert was so good at lying that not even a fellow liar like claude could pick up on it (likely, but not as much). it didn't particularly change claude's plan of addressing this little boon and hiccup, how and where he planned on setting hubert into his plans. ]

Not my usual style of loyalty, but hey, if it works for you and the Alliance, who am I to judge?

[ he tried not to judge, period. especially not at a juncture like this, where he hardly had all the pieces. but even if he might choose to curb his tongue in certain matters (certain questions), that didn't mean that claude couldn't pick hubert's brain in other ways. he was here to serve the eventual leader of the alliance, right? which also meant helping with his education, as this library was. so, ]

Still, it does make a guy curious. How did House Vestra end up swearing fealty to the leader of the Alliance? The Alliance hierarchy might be centralized now, but doesn't leadership still change hands once in a while?