[His gaze drops to her hand, but he doesn't ask why she's removed her glove. Lady Edelgard will explain her reasoning soon enough - and the question goes a long way to explaining it.]
Chroma is energy that we produce, is that correct? I have heard it is necessary for casting magic.
[Obviously his priorities are in the right order.]
[That explains it, then. The explanations he managed to get from people weren't enough to let him know that, which is irritating, but it's only a minor set-back. Surely such a thing would be exceptionally difficult to handle were he alone and he can only imagine how troublesome it's been for Lady Edelgard. How irritating.
He removes one of his gloves swiftly and takes her hand without hesitation. Though physical contact isn't really something he offers, it isn't as though he's really opposed to it. He's just awkward about it.]
You have my apologies for not arriving sooner.
[Not that it was anything under his control, of course, but it gets the sentiment across well enough. He's sorry she's had to deal with this on her own, but he's here now and she will always have his support.
To tell you the truth, it’s a bit embarrassing. [But his hand is warmer than she would have expected from the cold, callous Hubert. Her other hand finds his as well, holding onto it with both of them now. It’s a more ephemeral touch at first, but after a few moments her grip becomes taut, lightly scraping her fingertips across the back of his hand.
The generation of chroma feels...nice. Again, embarrassingly so. Though Edelgard is a stranger to hand-holding in the first place, so she can’t tell the difference.]
People like us, distant, not suited for...intimate contact, in a place where something like this is essential.
[A ghost of a smile forms on the corners of her lips along with a breathy, hollow laugh.]
[She isn't the only one unaccustomed to it. It does feel nice, in a way that makes him wonder if it's purely based on chroma and the way it's being generated, or if hand-holding has always been this nice and he just never knew.
...The former makes way more sense.
Lady Edelgard's words get a smirk from him and he shakes his head a bit.]
Completely ridiculous. I've found myself thinking that of almost everything I've encountered here.
[Lady Edelgard is the one good thing this place has to offer. Well, perhaps it's too soon to say that for certain, but he doubts things will start looking up any time soon.]
[Something about Hubert being absolutely appalled by everything he finds here is a little bit amusing to her, and she finds him looking at him much more fondly than perhaps he’s used to –– well, absence does make the heart grow fonder.]
I’d suggest getting as well acquainted with the way this world works as quickly as possible. It’ll be to our benefit as we try to get home. I certainly have no interest in staying here.
Though...
[there’s a beat as her eyes seem to lose focus]
Losing the immediacy of my responsibilities as Emperor is not without its benefits...It’s been a long while since I’ve had the opportunity to even simply sit and think.
[The first part gets a nod from him; of course Lady Edelgard isn't interested in staying here. Her path forward lies back home, and there isn't anything this world can offer that will sway her from it, he's certain of that.
Her words aren't entirely surprising, though he does raise his one visible eyebrow. Lady Edelgard must be the Emperor as soon as she returns home. She doesn't have any other option; it was the title she has claimed for herself, and the person she has to be. He understands that much, and some part of him can understand the desire to want to have more time to herself, at the very least.]
There is much we could learn from the people here. [That's carefully-worded, considering.] Perhaps there could be some benefit to being dragged here.
[A brief pause. As he's described it, this makes it sound like the only possible benefit could be for intelligence-gathering purposes. That's not exactly the sentiment he's trying to express, but it's always a bit difficult...]
I... am pleased that you do have time to yourself.
[...Is that better...?? As important as Lady Edelgard's path forward is, she is still a person, and he does want what's best for her.]
Hearing about the possibilities of the future from those that come ahead of us also has given me much to think about.
[and gripping hubert’s hand a little more tightly:]
Not that anything about what I must do has changed. But in so many years, I’ve never been afforded such a respite, taxing as it has been nonetheless. No longer racing the clock or facing the pressures of those relying on me...It has put much in perspective. How long we’ve been moving forward without the opportunity to breathe.
Perhaps some time off could do you well yourself, Hubert.
[a quiet noise of amusement]
Not that I expect to see you relaxing any time soon.
[He can certainly understand the first part; hearing about their future certainly does give him a lot to think about as well. They have the time for it now, which is... something. He's not entirely sure he'd call it a good thing.]
At this point, I'm not sure I know how to relax.
[The words aren't quite sarcastic, but they're a touch too light to be serious. His expression is almost a smirk, but a bit too soft for that. It's the closest he gets to smiling, and Lady Edelgard is one of the few people who can ever earn that expression.]
I understand, however. Having time to collect ourselves and prepare for what's to come can only work in our favor.
[Yes, he'd prefer to be home and moving forward immediately. But he's fully aware that pressing onwards without any rest is unhealthy and potentially damaging to Lady Edelgard. It's a thought that does trouble him sometimes, knowing what she must do and the burdens she'll have to bear on her path forward. But he believes in her and her path, and has would never dream of asking her to slow or stop, even for her own benefit.
So this... while it certainly isn't ideal, it may actually be a blessing in some ways.
His grip tightens on her hand in return.]
Perhaps you'll be able to relax a bit more now that I'm here.
[...That sounds pretty full of himself, but you know what he means by it...]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Chroma is energy that we produce, is that correct? I have heard it is necessary for casting magic.
[Obviously his priorities are in the right order.]
no subject
[Remember how she looks tired and sick? Well.]
That’s the way that I’ve been going. Not many people that I’m comfortable getting that close to...
[she reaches her hands closer towards him ever so slightly, hoping that he’ll get the implication here.]
You understand, don’t you?
no subject
[That explains it, then. The explanations he managed to get from people weren't enough to let him know that, which is irritating, but it's only a minor set-back. Surely such a thing would be exceptionally difficult to handle were he alone and he can only imagine how troublesome it's been for Lady Edelgard. How irritating.
He removes one of his gloves swiftly and takes her hand without hesitation. Though physical contact isn't really something he offers, it isn't as though he's really opposed to it. He's just awkward about it.]
You have my apologies for not arriving sooner.
[Not that it was anything under his control, of course, but it gets the sentiment across well enough. He's sorry she's had to deal with this on her own, but he's here now and she will always have his support.
...Even if this is a little awkward.]
Whenever you need assistance, I will provide it.
no subject
The generation of chroma feels...nice. Again, embarrassingly so. Though Edelgard is a stranger to hand-holding in the first place, so she can’t tell the difference.]
People like us, distant, not suited for...intimate contact, in a place where something like this is essential.
[A ghost of a smile forms on the corners of her lips along with a breathy, hollow laugh.]
Utterly ridiculous.
no subject
...The former makes way more sense.
Lady Edelgard's words get a smirk from him and he shakes his head a bit.]
Completely ridiculous. I've found myself thinking that of almost everything I've encountered here.
[Lady Edelgard is the one good thing this place has to offer. Well, perhaps it's too soon to say that for certain, but he doubts things will start looking up any time soon.]
no subject
I’d suggest getting as well acquainted with the way this world works as quickly as possible. It’ll be to our benefit as we try to get home. I certainly have no interest in staying here.
Though...
[there’s a beat as her eyes seem to lose focus]
Losing the immediacy of my responsibilities as Emperor is not without its benefits...It’s been a long while since I’ve had the opportunity to even simply sit and think.
no subject
Her words aren't entirely surprising, though he does raise his one visible eyebrow. Lady Edelgard must be the Emperor as soon as she returns home. She doesn't have any other option; it was the title she has claimed for herself, and the person she has to be. He understands that much, and some part of him can understand the desire to want to have more time to herself, at the very least.]
There is much we could learn from the people here. [That's carefully-worded, considering.] Perhaps there could be some benefit to being dragged here.
[A brief pause. As he's described it, this makes it sound like the only possible benefit could be for intelligence-gathering purposes. That's not exactly the sentiment he's trying to express, but it's always a bit difficult...]
I... am pleased that you do have time to yourself.
[...Is that better...?? As important as Lady Edelgard's path forward is, she is still a person, and he does want what's best for her.]
no subject
[and gripping hubert’s hand a little more tightly:]
Not that anything about what I must do has changed. But in so many years, I’ve never been afforded such a respite, taxing as it has been nonetheless. No longer racing the clock or facing the pressures of those relying on me...It has put much in perspective. How long we’ve been moving forward without the opportunity to breathe.
Perhaps some time off could do you well yourself, Hubert.
[a quiet noise of amusement]
Not that I expect to see you relaxing any time soon.
no subject
At this point, I'm not sure I know how to relax.
[The words aren't quite sarcastic, but they're a touch too light to be serious. His expression is almost a smirk, but a bit too soft for that. It's the closest he gets to smiling, and Lady Edelgard is one of the few people who can ever earn that expression.]
I understand, however. Having time to collect ourselves and prepare for what's to come can only work in our favor.
[Yes, he'd prefer to be home and moving forward immediately. But he's fully aware that pressing onwards without any rest is unhealthy and potentially damaging to Lady Edelgard. It's a thought that does trouble him sometimes, knowing what she must do and the burdens she'll have to bear on her path forward. But he believes in her and her path, and has would never dream of asking her to slow or stop, even for her own benefit.
So this... while it certainly isn't ideal, it may actually be a blessing in some ways.
His grip tightens on her hand in return.]
Perhaps you'll be able to relax a bit more now that I'm here.
[...That sounds pretty full of himself, but you know what he means by it...]