all for Her Majesty

               Well, his double in interests in books on Isola itself seems way less amused by their little predicament than he is. Man, he must really want that book! “    Huh- Huh? You never played Rock, Paper, Scissors man? It’s the ultimate decider of miniature disputes? Ah dude, wherever you’re from they’re seriously missing out.    ” 

Inay positions himself so he is standing in a way that they can face one another, one hand with its palm out flat and the other grasped in a fist above his palm, the classic rock paper scissors pose, “    Alright, so you start like this, see? Do what I’m doing.    ”

Hubert blinks a few times before extending his hand. “Like this?” he asks, and makes his hand into the scissor motion. What a strange thing this was, he thinks, and watches the stranger’s hands with a furrowed brow.

||  █ ▌— genesis glances up at the head on top of the shelf, but doesn’t pay it too much mind. these past few days have been odd all across the city, owing to the holiday that’s coming up, and the peculiar nature of those who run this city.

❝ ah, of course. ❞ he picks up the severed head with care and walks it over to the only headless body. ❝ has this happened often? you seem very calm. ❞ 

“Not often, no,” he says, and his body takes the head back very casually. He holds it close his his chest, below Genesis’ eye level. “A shame this happened, though. I was in the middle of research when I was taken away. Are you here to look around as well?”

     “Not the festive type? I think the shops are decorating for a holiday at the end of the month: Halloween, they call it. I’ve only seen it a handful of times.”

        @adresveleno​​​​ —–  liked for a starter.

Hubert shakes his head ‘no’, and laughs a little under his breath.

Hubert holds his head in his hands, down low where his stomach is. It’s an odd height, he hasn’t seen the world at this level since he was a child -- but he continues to watch as people mill about and consider going to hunt some monsters. He’s considering it too, of course, though he has to admit his powers here feel incredibly limited. He’s only been able to demonstrate the heal ability which, as far as he’s concerned, does not do enough.

A familiar face does catch his eye, however, and Hubert shifts the head so it can be more at eye level. The weight of it is heavy, and he might need to return it to his shoulders soon.

“Excuse me?” Hubert says as his head sits atop of one of the bookshelves in the library. To the unobservant, it almost looks as if he’s peeking through and looking; he’s not, of course, but his body seems to have wandered off without a head to guide it. 

“Ah,” Hubert says as he looks at Kuja -- they’ve met before, unfortunately, and Hubert does recall the interaction with mild disdain. 

irony bled from the man’s lips, for while perhaps leather and steel may have been an uncommon blend of textures for an outfit in spirale, the stranger carried himself in what could only be described as dated clothing. not at all unfitting or bad, per se, but certainly interesting enough for sephiroth’s gaze to linger before his eyes closed. 

“ perhaps. “ but he does not make use of the ladder. of course he doesn’t. in a flurry of green and black sparks and the shadow of feathers, sephiroth appeared already on the shore of the isle, where the waves lapped at the heels of his heavy boots. “ but i can already tell this venture will prove to bore me. “

Hubert raises an eyebrow, his head tilts slightly to the side as he observe. Something about him makes Hubert pause, though it’s not out of fear nor appreciation -- it’s the ease by which he performs magic.

Magic that, as far as Hubert can tell, has been taken from him.

                   As all great Philosophers would do down the line of their wacky and odd lives it was time to get a little research done. He was adjusting to his new environments (the best one could when placed in a scenario that felt beyond fiction) but he wanted to know more. To conquer this type of confusion would be with the use of clarity ! As he reaches up for a book he curls is finger as another, likely just as distracted as he was, goes for the same.

“    Ha, guess we’re gonna have to play rock, paper, scissors for it, eh dude?     ” 

@adresveleno​

Hubert is distracted. He wants to solve the mysteries of this place, of course -- who wouldn’t -- but also out of a loyalty and devotion to Her Majesty does he find himself at this library later in the evening. He wants to know everything he can so he may best suit her interests, though at present he’s unsure if this library will be of much use.

The Stars, as they call themselves, do not seem to be forthcoming.

 “I have been here for years! And to my knowledge. To those with magic they allow you the most basic of its form. For those with weapons, training wood.” his eyes narrow at that. “It is rather demeaning, but this city is relatively peaceful.” 

 “there is no rhyme or reason for ranking up here. But after a month, you gain more…amenities.”

“I did find it odd when I came here that there’s hardly any weapons,” he’d noticed it within himself first, of course, not that he’s adept with a sword but the only magic he could summon seemed to be to heal. “I’d thought I was the only one who had been given useless abilities. It is rather comforting to see this is not the case.”

||  █ ▌— kuja raised an eyebrow at the words, surprised that the other man said anything at all. he’s used to people less confrontational than this, it seems… but no matter. He simply raises an eyebrow at the man as he sips his tea.

he’s had little to do since arriving–perhaps he should look into securing some sort of work? at least until he orients himself. he’d been told by someone who had spent more time in this city than he had that his income would eventually return to him… but that it would take a significant amount of time.

so he needs something to occupy himself in the meantime. other than skulking about cafes like he is, or meandering about in the hopes that something here can entertain him. he’s discovered no shortage of interesting things, but nothing that can hold his attention.

kuja notices the scrutiny toward his attire. he supposes he shouldn’t be surprised–after all, he hadn’t seen anyone in all the time since he’d arrived sporting a look on the level of his own. ❝ wonderful, ❞ he said, in response to the words. ❝ i’m glad you have some sense. ❞ 

Hubert watches the other clearly flamboyantly dressed man and frowns just slightly. His brows furrow which cause his eyes to narrow more as he brings the cup to his lips once more. Is this man attempting a power play? Why? Hubert wishes he had something to slip into the other’s drink so he may leave him be.

“I’m not sure I’d call it that,” Hubert counters dryly, and he reaches out a hand to quickly flip the papers over so the stranger can’t read them. There’s nothing important of note on those papers, but something tells him he needs to cut any conversation he might have with this individual as short as possible.

@adresveleno​ // s.c.

||  █ ▌— the brief moment of eye contact is all it takes for recognition to flash across yuri’s face. hubert von vestra is not a man yuri had ever expected to see again, and though he was only a player in the grand game of war, had taken part in many a battle against adrestia’s emperor.

it… isn’t a comfortable place to be in. he’s been seen, though, and to turn tail and run looks–worse. less comfortable. he keeps his expression neutral, calm, natural, and inclines his head toward the emperor’s advisor. ❝ what an unexpected face. it’s been some time, hasn’t it? ❞

Hubert does not run. He does not look afraid, however he does not look pleased either. His expression is one of neutrality, and on Hubert that looks a touch more sinister than maybe necessary. He approaches Yuri under the assumption of a shared past -- one that brought Edelgard to victory and allowed them both to live.

“Perhaps,” he allows, and keeps a steady eye on Yuri. His mouth forms a tight line but this isn’t telling of any recognition on his part, just his personality shining through in his actions.

There were no ships in ‘The World’, nor large bodies of water to carry them. The actual vessels construction wasn’t particularly complicated, but the fact that it may have once bounced upon the waters around the island stirred her imagination. 

Legs settled in the sand, she brushed her fingertips against the wood. 

Footsteps.

Her ears swiveled and her whole body straightened at the voice. She winced; in her surprise, she’d swiped her hand off the ship and a bit of wood had stuck into her palm. 

A splinter, though she’d never experienced one. It throbbed a bit, but she’d care for it after addressing the voice. 

She tilted her head to indicate she’d heard and grins cheekily. 

The chat box materializes just above her head.

Hubert’s brow raise slightly as he reads the text quickly above the creature’s head. He smiles, slightly amused at this turn of events, and folds his arms across his chest.

“Then my interest would be piqued,” he says evenly. Nothing like this exists within the Adrestian Empire, nor had he heard of it in other lands. Therefore this interests him more -- but he’s not one to openly question an obviously sentient being’s existence. Time will tell of Spirale’s strange mysteries, he has so many questions already it seems foolish to waste answers on less pressing matters. Instead, he tils his head and nods towards the stern.

“It cannot be helped when those who come in as masters of magic, lack the ..power to perform even the basics.” But he gives a big smile as if expecting this. “That is why the key is to _rank up! _rank higher and higher by …whatever means needed!”

He shows his giant long bow, twice his size.

“I would not have my weapon if I did not rank up.”

Hubert is definitely intrigued by this man’s words. He leans in a little, head tilted to the side in a very slight inclination. “And how does one… rank up?” he asks. It’s interesting – and good to know, he thinks. If nothing else, it’s information he may pass onto Edelgard.

@adresveleno​

 “Why yes, this city is rather advance. Its…charmish? Charming? No not the word. Confusing at best, but I believe a young man [?] such as yourself would be a quick study on its various technicalities.”

     The sea.

     She’d never been hesitant to admit how terrifying the perpetual waves seemed. Facing her fears was just another step on the path she had to take – and facing them meant acknowledging where her shortcomings began. Still, as the breeze brushed back her silver hair, Edelgard couldn’t help but wonder if this was one fear she was ever going to conquer.

     There was just never really any need to do so, as the sea didn’t directly stand as an obstacle to her goal to unite all of Fódlan. Still, it was an obstacle all the same. And, at the thought of insurmountable troubles, it wasn’t a surprise to her that a familiar voice graced her ears. Even without turning around she’d be able to recognize him from anywhere. 

❛ Hubert. You really do never cease to surprise me. I hadn’t expected your presence, yet.. Somehow, even without my knowing, you’ve found me. ❜

     She turns to look at him now, a small smile barely hidden.

Hubert bows his head. It’s a gentle acknowledgement, and he keeps his happiness in check as he looks out towards the sea. Strange for Lady Edelgard to have come here of her own volition, though he does know that these devices they’ve been assigned tend to error out. Others in his travels have mentioned that they did not choose to come to the adjoining isles -- he surmises this must be the same for the emperor.

@adresveleno​ // s.c.

||  █ ▌— the fibonacci ward is a fascinating area, so unlike what kuja had grown accustomed to that he was almost left dizzy by it. this is probably why he’s made his way to the surface, out of the confounding levels below and into a small cafe that seems to fit his tastes—enough, anyway.

once his cup of tea is ordered, however, he finds himself at a loss. no free tables, and isn’t that dreadfully inconvenient.

with a heavy sigh, he approaches a table with only a single occupant, a well-dressed man with an expression kuja interprets as the sort one might typically wear when they don’t wish to be bothered. perfect. kuja approaches the table and sets down his cup before sliding easily into the chair opposite him. ❝ pardon me, but there don’t seem to be any tables free. i hope you won’t mind if i sit here. ❞

Hubert is looking over some papers in front of him. The action feels much more official than it is, truly, he does not have much to do here at this moment; everything that he needed to help Emperor Edelgard was left in his home world, however far that may be.

Still, he’s acquainting himself with the local information and attempting to orient himself so he can better aid Her Majesty in any endeavors or plans she has for this city. He is always, eternally, at her disposal.

His thoughts are interrupted by another and he looks up, eyes narrowing. He reaches for his coffee and takes a sip as he looks at the interesting state of dress this man is in.