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[bloodypath]

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Modranicht gift

[thejoyrider]

[There’s a small package on Hubert’s doorstep. As soon as he unwraps the purple paper, he shall see a small bat doll made of felt.

“It reminded me of you” the attached note reads]

[bloodypath]

[...Huh. This was unexpected. It's a useless trinket, and Hubert doesn't think much of it at first. But a few days later, something quietly nags in the back of his mind. The little felt doll reminded him of something.]

[It's with some chagrin that he finds himself knocking on the door to Marie's residence, dressed in warm clothes style in his usual grim black-and-dark-grey fashion.]

Feb 1st, for Ventus

[bloodypath]

I understand that you've accepted my request. Very prompt of you.

However, I couldn't help but find something familiar. You were among the recently captured weren't you?

[callmeven]

oh! um thank you!

yeah I was, but I'm pretty much healed now

is that okay?

Action. Pre-Bernadetta Arrival

[unyieldingmarch]

[Well. She can't keep putting this off forever, can she? No. Absolutely not.

It's early one evening towards the end of January, well after the raid is over. As good a time as any, with snow piled up outside and an evening meal behind them as well.]

Hubert.

[She speaks from her chair by the fire, looking over at him from above her book.]

I would like to speak to you on something that has been weighing on me.

[bloodypath]

[The scratching of Hubert's pen doesn't even slow, his gaze still flicking from the tome open on the arm of his chair to the notebook in his lap. His attention does sharpen in the Bond, though, making it clear he's listening attentively.]

Yes, Your Majesty?

[bravelyathome]

[After a conversation with Sylvain, she realizes she may have misunderstood what Hubert was saying a few days ago. She feels bad about that. But she's sure he's not big on apologies. But also she feels she owes him one.

So she slips a letter under his bedroom door. She even makes sure there's nothing cute about it and that it looks very practical!]

Dear Hubert,

The other day you did something very nice for me when you offered to bond with me until I could find someone else. I know you saw that something was wrong even though I tried to pretend badly that it was fine. I did it again. The thing I do that I have to stop doing. The thing where I don't listen and then think the wrong thing.

I thought you were saying you didn't want me. Which is okay, I didn't expect people to want a weird girl like me! But it was definitely scary to realize maybe that would trap you in something you didn't want to be in. Except I should have asked if you were alright and I didn't.

I'm really sorry. I'm even too scared to say so to your face but please accept my letter! Next time I'll be better and ask instead of assuming. Or I'll try. I'll try really hard.

I'm very sorry,
Bernadetta

P.S. Sorry for rambling. I know you don't like that.

[bloodypath]

[...A letter?]

[What a surprise. He supposed the medium did make a lot of sense for Bernadetta. Very well; he would accept this stage.]

[He brings the reply at night on (habitually) silent feet, slipping it under her door in turn with hardly a whisper.]

You have nothing to apologize for, Bernadetta; I made my own share of assumptions that night. Regardless, I shall accept your apology, provided you accept mine.

As you might have noticed in our history of five years, I am one to speak my mind. If I am truly displeased, or opposed to an idea, I will openly say so—even to Her Majesty. If nothing else, there is that aspect of my character that you can trust.

No, I had likewise presumed you would not be interested in it. I am aware that I, at times, cause you such great discomfort that you can hardly look me in the face. [Like now, case in point, he doesn't mention.] Please understand that is not something I begrudge you for. However, an aspect of Bonding involves touch; I was only trying to avoid causing you undue distress.

It seems my actions have had the opposite effect. Thank you for your letter, Bernadetta. I hope this dialogue will clarify matters for the both of us.

[finesseblade]

Hubert.

[ Oh look, he's mostly figured out how these work. There's a photo of Hubert's extremely normal ad on the quest board attached. ]

I'll admit, this seems restrained for you. I'd have expected you to just go out and collect the blood yourself, with no particular scruples about how. Still, I have to ask: what is this?

[bloodypath]

It is a legitimate and Coven-approved advertisement for the the exchange of currency for a provided service. Do you find issue with that?

Unless, of course, you're interested. If that's the case, color me surprised.

Early Febrruary

[bergamotrose]

Hubert,

In regards to your quest: You ARE aware that you can simply ask me for assistance, correct? While I do not know the full extent of your reasons, doubtless they involve Lady Edelgard's welfare.

We may not exactly be friends, but I am not so selfish as to deny someone of what they need.

Please respond so we can make arrangements. Whatever your schedule is, I can make it work.

-LHG.

[bloodypath]

[Well of course it's for Lady Edelgard, but... look. Don't call him out like that.]

If you interested in answering it, you will be paid, the same as the others. It's hardly a dire matter, and I will incur no favors.

If you are serious, there's a cellar in the property's sideyard. Wait for me there.

Action, sometime in the first half of Feoveuer

[foundfamilies]

[Leslie has largely avoided the sitting room off the kitchen, at least whenever the fireplace was lit. But the fire is out today, and so are most of the other residents. Edelgard is asleep and both Bernadetta and Hubert are out of the house. (The former is likely at Sylvain and Felix's house and Hubert might be down in his lab.) And Leslie, the only one awake and indoors, is not about to change the state of the fireplace herself.

Taking advantage of this rare opportunity for the comfortable seating, Leslie curls up in one of the armchairs with a book. Because this is Leslie, "curls up" means "sitting straight up, her knees still bent over the edge of the chair even though this means her back is nowhere near the back of the chair, with the book on her lap." It's still pretty comfortable.

Since she has been frustrated by her difficulties with getting started with the magic of this world, she ends up getting very absorbed into the book on foundational magic theory, reasoning that if she understands the whys of magic, the hows should follow more easily. She's concentrating much too hard to notice when she's no longer the only awake member of the house.]

[bloodypath]

Ah. Good evening, Leslie.

[Did he walk in? Teleport in? How long has Hubert been standing there? No one knows. The man moves like a shadow.]

[He strides past her chair, loosening the scarf about his neck, and something stirs beneath it, poking a beady-eyed head out.]

For Azura, Early-Mid Feoveuer

[bloodypath]

[Though not expecting the knock at the door, it isn't unsurprising. The others living at the residence were far more social than he. Hubert isn't surprised to find Azura on the other side of the door, either; he was aware of her temporary arrangement with Edelgard.]

[Temporarily Bonded or not, Hubert did not smile in greeting. Or greet her at all by polite standards, really. They might've never interacted, but he knew of her. Corrin's Bonded, and housemate, and one from her world. Edelgard's trust in her only earned Azura a wary benefit of the doubt, not trust from Hubert in turn.]

Can I help you?

[prayerwheel]

[ There's a .5 second period of time where Azura looks at him in confusion before processing who he is. Oh. Right. Hubert. Edelgard's retainer. From the description she'd been given and the photo she'd seen, she she knew he was a bit spooky, but like, this is full-on Lurch territory.

...granted, it was Edelgard describing him and probably also Edelgard who took the photo, so biases were likely had. Maybe it would have been different if they'd met on the street, or something, too. ]

Salutations. I came by to see Lady Edelgard. [ producing a package from her coat ] Is she home?

Pranked!

[bravelyathome]

[Bernie's changes are becoming more noticeable but it's the psychological ones that haven't really popped up. Until now.

Several times on the ninth, Hubert will move through a doorway like usual. However, randomly doorways will have little traps on them! Which means that several times throughout the day he suddenly finds himself absolutely covered in paper confetti. Sometimes even followed by a bubble of joy from his bond with Bernie which says that she's not far away for some of them.

Enjoy that, Hubert. Enjoy.]

[bloodypath]

[The first sprung trap comes along with raw, reflexive alarm, and his arm wound back with a floating glob of acid to fling at... whatever was responsible.]

[Which was... nothing. Once reflex subsides and he realizes it's just paper and not some kind of attack, it's confusion. Bewilderment. Bernadetta might not be privy to the thoughts, but it's clear his mind is racing as to the how and why and who and back to the how someone got by his wards, planting these little things.]

[Funnily enough, his first thought is to blame Corrin.]

[The second one doesn't get nearly as severe as a reaction, but his end of the bond laces with indignation.]

[But then there's that little bubble of joy. Gears turn in his mind again. It's as if that bubble in the Bond is the needle instead, popping that indignation as understanding seeps in. Oh.]

[Oh.]

Mid Mareuer-ish. Floating Timelines are in play

[bergamotrose]

[It was with great hesitation that Lorenz contacted Hubert at all that late afternoon after he had finished his shift at DiplomaTea, but the situation at hand had left his options rather... limited. Despite the times when he swore he caught a glimpse of Hubert's baleful, shadowed figure on the edges of his awareness when the moon sat high in the sky and his thoughts tilted sideways, he still knew in his gut that Hubert was a better option than Felix in many respects.

After all, Lorenz and Felix had a thread in common:

Sylvain.

However, it was the matter that they didn't have in common that was the deciding factor in the equation.

Lapis Lazuli.

That afternoon, when he closed his eyes, he had expected friction between the two when he realized they were in the same area. Lapis' lack of understanding of society and her private nature put her at odds with a great many people, and Sylvain certainly wouldn't make matters easier with his own nature. What Lorenz hadn't expected, however, was the sensuality.

He didn't dare let his thoughts stray for too long. The Bonds he shared with the both of them made matters... difficult. Such matters were only made worse when he realized where they were at-- and realized that he had no place to go that was entirely safe from this intrusion.

Thus, he quickly wrote a message to the one man with whom he was collecting an uncomfortable number of debts:]

Hubert,

I know this is short notice, but do you have time this afternoon for a chat? It is but a trifle, but I find I am in need of your expertise.

-LHG.

[bloodypath]

[Hm. This is curious.]

Very well. Where?

4/17 Action

[bergamotrose]

[It was rare for Lorenz to make a house call unannounced. Rarer still was the fact that he did not come empty handed. Thus it was that he arrived on the doorstep in the latter part of the day in newly pressed clothes and his hair immaculately put into place. Clutched in his hands, covered in a simple wrap of paper and twine, was an array of greenery of deceptively soft papas grasses intermingled with the leafy fronds of rhodedendron that ended in bold burgundy blooms. Intersperced with the foliage were crimson berries of a tantalizing beauty that stood in sharp contrast with the wooden, bone-like seed pods and the rich ebony of the lilies. Delicate looking anenomes finalized the look in a bold finish that made Lorenz wonder if he had perhaps gone overboard...

But it was too late to second guess himself now that he was at the door.]

[bloodypath]

[The latter part of the day tended to be Hubert's night—but not always. It's by a stroke of luck on Lorenz' part that Hubert decided he'd sleep after sunset today.]

[Opening the door, his gaze drew down to the crimson-dotted bouquet, then to the faun's state of dress. A deadpan stare met Lorenz' eyes.]

What. [An equally deadpan tone answered.] Is this.

Backdated Gift Delivery!

[bravelyathome]

[On the evening of Hubert's birthday, he will go to his room and discover that there is a beautifully wrapped present waiting on his bed. Inside will be a crafted black cloak. Very like the ones he so favors. With it is a note:]

Happy birthday!

I know you like practical things. So I thought maybe you'd like having a new cloak! I promise I didn't make it cute at all!

I hope you had a nice day.

Bernadetta

[bloodypath]

[She would likely feel him discover it. A progression from wariness to curiosity to warm gratitude.]

[He might not say anything about the gift, but Hubert can be seen wearing it from time to time.]

A Note and a Package Left for Hubert

[islandhuntress]

[Petra doesn't know many witches, which is problematic on many levels, but those are problems she is pointedly ignoring. At the moment, she is particularly curious about the contents of a potion from the Goblin Market that she's been told could stop her transformation. She'd been struggling to hide her changes and this seemed, well, too good to be true.

Unfortunately, Hubert hadn't been there when she'd come by, so, instead, she'd left him the potion in a small package with a handwritten note, which reads:

"Hubert,

I am hoping for your help in regards to this potion. I am wanting to know its effects. I was told it would stop further monster transformations.

Please let me know if there are plants or other ingredients I could offer you in trade for your help.

I know you are probably not wanting to help me but if this potion has is effective, it could help many.

Thank you Hubert.

~Petra Macneary"]

[bloodypath]

[The reply arrives at her residence in the dark of the next morning. As swift as it seems to come, it took Hubert a while to satisfactorily compose it. It far more curt than his usual letters, but... It's a step up in civility, at least. ]

Don't belittle yourself like this. You're far too intelligent to believe for an instant swill from the goblin market, of all places, would do as advertised. It is a place of swindlers and liars, peddling what they might not legitimately.

Mirrorbound have resided here for a year, desperately searching for a way to retain their humanity, and all but for naught. If such a potik did exist, such a well-kept secret would not be in hands of a snake oil merchant on a hidden street, for a pitance of cunes. It would be earth shattering, spread like wildfire at a rate to put rumor to shame, and likely controlled by the Coven or for an unfathomable price.

It is nothing more than a mild depressant. Relaxing, perhaps with a painkiller, and what seems to be something to suppress skin irritation.

text • un: machinequeen

[trulygifted]

Hey there Mr. Refined

I just remembered - a few weeks ago I came into some freaky plant parts that apparently make for great aphrodisiac potions
Since you made me some for the shop, I figured you might wanna mess around with them, see what happens?
I meant to ask you at the party, but I was kinda preoccupied

How're you doing, anyway?
All good?

[bloodypath]

Hello, Nicoletta.

Only if you're interested in purchasing the result on behalf of the store. One of my Bonded has already passed some to me, knowing they have alchemical use, but quite frankly I have little need of them. There are few formulas such a plant is used in besides aphrodisiacs. Still, I am grateful for your consideration.

Life has been uneventful—a welcome change from the usual change of pace in this land, I admit. I trust you've fared the same?

Late November | Text

[bergamotrose]

Hubert,

It has been some time since we last spoke, and I have been wondering about how you were holding up.

Would you like to meet somewhere for coffee?

-LHG

[bloodypath]

I have far too much to attend to.

Though I suppose there is nothing stopping you from making yourself present. You know how to deal with the wards.

modranicht gift!

[fulgency]

[Quite frankly, under other circumstances, it's highly unlikely that Ozymandias would ever particularly bother with gifting Hubert anything for the holiday. It is not so much because of the differences in their stations, but rather the lack of familiarity. Were Edelgard still here, it is entirely like that the two would remain cordial and see one another in only brief passing as they always had. However, her absence means that they are both thrust into bearing the responsibility of Leslie's care. It has not exactly brought about any semblance of closeness, but there are now ways in which they overlap that did not exist prior.]

[And besides, any investment in Hubert shall always be of indirect benefit to Leslie.]

[So, from Ozymandias, Hubert shall receive a few pounds worth of the blend of coffee he prefers from the Purramid Café since that is about the only thing Ozymandias knows for certain he appears to like. Perhaps a bit impersonal, but Ozymandias assumes it shall not go to waste.]

Modranicht gift

[thejoyrider]

[On the day of the holiday, a plate of homemade cookies and a sample of herbal tea mysteriously appears on his doorstep. The wrapping is decorated with a fresh lily flower (actually a Fae magic product, designed to fade away from existence in a few hours) and a ribbon. The attached handwritten note reads as follows:]

Happy Modranicht! Let’s have another great year here in Aefenglom!

M⚜️