blooming with pride,

"In that manner, indeed," Tsubaki agrees, voice measured. "However… The power of crests and the power of dragon veins are quite different. From what Fodlan's scholars describe, a crest merely gives its bearer a genetic advantage, yes?"

He does not dare say it aloud, but he does not see the physical purpose of crests any different than other genetic advantages: one's mental aptitude, one's height, the likes. There are ways to compensate the differences, at least in terms of battle.

"Those who possess the power of dragon veins can alter the outcome of battles entirely, as they possess the ability to manipulate our continent's terrain, Nohr and Hoshido both. Drying entire rivers, changing the flow of magma, summoning violent gales, and even consuming the earth in great tremors…"

Tsubaki hums.

"When godly powers like that exist, we all truly amount to nothing. Perhaps that's the truth behind our co-existence." He raises his tea cup for a sip, though the rim barely touches his lip before he gasps in surprise, "Ah—!"

there are those who would call it a gross reduction of the continent's history and the legacy bestowed upon its people—but it is what makes their system all the more detestable. to cast out a child for reasons beyond their control remains a cruel and condemnable act, whether because they are born with hair too dark, eyes too light, or a lack of crest that is so desperately desired.

she studies tsubaki a moment longer, her fingertips coasting over a tea cake that's promptly plucked from its tray to be added to her dish.

"it's fortunate that fodlan has no such thing as these 'dragon veins' you speak of, professor." what greater divide would there be if one was able to shake the earth and split the seas, as he describes? it's the last thing they need in this world of theirs—for so-called 'godly figures' to walk amongst them, as if the common people and the crestless were not already regarded as less than human. "maybe hoshido's got it figured out, but we have a long way to go here."

dorothea forces another smile. with that, she reaches for the nearby teapot.

"easy fix. may i? "

In fact, a true butler, as old, barking Gunter had yammered ceaselessly into Jakob's once young and malleable and innocent mind—yes, even the likes of Jakob had been innocent once—must spread his wings to encompass any and every adjacent art. A chief manservant's view must be neither short nor narrow, his arsenal neither limited nor complacent in that limitation, but in all things far-reaching, flexible, and wide. In his quest to achieve status as an absolute paragon of servitude, bricklaying must be Jakob's specialty just as well as tablesetting; bookkeeping as much as gardening; tree surgery and tanning. Shoe-shining. Fletching. Chaffering. Refurbishment. Interior design. And, last but not at all least, horsemanship.

That's right. . .horsemanship.

"—Ho'h! What a surprise. And here I thought that Silverglade Dreamer would maintain her steady lead after going uncontested for two quarters of the race. That Emberstride's jockey is certainly a formidable one."

Alone in his agenda, but accompanied elsewhere, Jakob bounces off the commentary of his fellow audience with great accommodation. So accommodatingly, in fact, that he didn't bat a lash at the odd sound to leave the man next. Not a comment, not a whisper, not an untoward glance. Instead he continues to face forward in ignorance and smile courteously - pleasantly. Unpleasantly. Perhaps, of all things: knowingly?

Surely, that cannot be.

"To be frank, I've no interest in the spectacle of horse racing. But, the horses and jockeys themselves are rather a marvel. Each horse is built and bred for speed—matched to their pedigree are the skill of the riders. Dogs are praised as man's best friend, but horses carry our burdens more. No clearer evidence exists than here." The thundering of the race track is much too loud, the vestiges of horse excrement much too smelly. Yet, oddly enough, Jakob can stand it. Why? Because his experience has been made that much more interesting.

"An astute observation," Tsubaki remarks, nodding solemnly. There's only an ounce of surprise towards Jakob's evaluation. If a butler must be worth their salt, then they should curate a wide breadth of expertise. That is, after all, integral to the soul of a retainer— and what is a butler, if not a retainer in different attire?

Friendly banter is planned, then halted as Jakob drops a devastating topic—

"Like— Pegasi?!" Tsubaki exclaims, stumbling for the Fodlanese word as he gawks. Why would Jakob bring up pegasi?! False assurance easily crumbles— What if Jakob is bringing forth pegasi as a subtle hint that he knows of this true identity?! Surely, the butler isn't harboring a secret affinity for such majestic steeds— Unless?

"Should they sprout wings, it'd be much difficult to spectate, no~? The resistance in flight is quite different than land; there will be no bursts of power to keep the audience enthralled— I think, anyhow. I wouldn't know from experience." Nimble fingers quietly adjust the brim of his hat, "Truthfully, I have never rode a pegasi before— All my knowledge is nurtured by natural curiosity and tomes, haha!"

Tsubaki awkwardly pushes strands of scarlet tresses behind his ear.

Arms mutually clasp behind his back. As he continues to monitor on the sidelines, it is some who take his surveillance as an invitation to come closer. He acknowledges his acquired sky-knight companion with a glance, then a gruff sound of throat.

"That one is a knight," he corrects Tsubaki rather than leaves alone, though he could not possibly fathom why. That Finn served as an ally for all of one mock battle; it is not like they are bosom mates or particular birds of a feather beyond possessing a liege, either. Still, he feels the need to clarify. How discomfiting.

"—As are you. Is such comportment becoming of Lady Sakura's retainer, Tsubaki?"

The pause that ensues straddles the line of an attack.

That is, until he continues:

A thin brow raises as Jakob roulettes the next victim. Carmine eyes drift to Mitama as the pair scruntinzes her from afar. A neutral expression keeps itself balanced upon the sky knight’s mein.

“She cannot help her pedigree.” He says, objectively. “An apple cannot travel far from its tree without the wind’s guidance: She does not know better.”

Still, Mitama’s former confession to Tsubaki– of being impalpable, of being an outsider– still stings fresh. For that, the sky knight thinks its cruel to place judgement onto her.

“Regardless, she tries.” Tsubaki observes, “I believe that is enough– As long as one looks the part, they will learn to behave it, and vice-verse. That’s what early adulthood is for, right~?”

He beams bright at Jakob, then shrewdly directs his gaze towards a star-clad, red-headed woman with obscene cleavage. “Imagine if she arrived in that. Let’s give credit where it’s due~”

His smile almost drops at the presence of his new partner. It doesn't, however, because the aforementioned individual doesn't deserve that much. The corners of Tsubaki's lips tighten; perhaps this is a sign that he's overestimated his own presence at the dance floor.

"Are you lost?" Tsubaki speaks first, grip subtly tightening. He's reminded of his shattered hand-mirror, a trinket he brought from Hoshido, and finds that he hasn't gotten over its shatter. "Exit to your left. You're welcome."

He spins Niles towards the direction, sharp with insistence, and tries to let go. Unfortunately, it's hard: the dance number doesn't require the pairs to part yet.

ETHEREAL BALL 2026

Of course his next dance partner was Tsubaki. Of all people it had to be Tsubaki. The groan he lets out is loud enough for the Hoshidan retainer to hear though he's not sure it's enough to express his displeasure that envelopes him every time their paths cross. Granted, it hasn't been very many times but their interactions during their last mission hadn't helped things. Neither had the war. Certainly not the war. At least he wasn't yapping on and on about how flawless he looked.

"I could ask the same of you." Why he had made his way back to the dance floor was beyond him. Especially after accidentally stepping on Camilla's foot and watching her roll her ankle. Maybe he should step on Tsubaki's too. It would certainly put more of a damper on the other man's night.

Damn, if it wasn't tempting.

"You want to get rid of me so bad, don't you? To think we could have gone the whole night avoiding each other." There's a sharpness in his tone, one he normally reserved for enemies. Tonight Tsubaki hardly seemed worth his time. Causing a scene wouldn't end well here either.

As the other takes him by the shoulders and they spin with the sway of the music, somewhere in between Niles had pulled one of his lilies free from his bouquet to slide it into one of the folds of Tsubaki's clothing. It wasn't as subtle as he wanted it to be but he could care less. He wasn't giving Tsubaki much of a choice in the matter, and whatever he did with it afterwards was beyond him.

The dance ends and Tsubaki’s gaze already drifts, scouting for the vermillion tresses of his daughter or a passing glimpse of his fellow Hoshidan retainers when something pricks him through his clothes.

“Hey,” Tsubaki says, calm, yet the lofty curl at the end of his tone dips into a warning growl, akin to a serpent’s faint hiss. Carmine eyes back flicker to rival Niles’s gaze. “Do you mind…?”

Lily falls unceremoniously to the ground as Tsubaki smoothes a gloved hand over his sleeve.. He crushes the bloom beneath his dress shoe; as if Niles’s flower had any place within his bouquet.

“This is habutai silk,” Tsubaki informs, pointed. His tone is sawed down with a smile, then paired with a saccharine tone. “But you probably didn't know that, right~? It’s top grade material, unlike your attire. So let's be wise and keep our hands off of it~"

He takes one step away.

“Enjoy your evening,” Tsubaki dismisses. Then pauses, before smirking. “And don't step on other people’s toes again. I mean.. Your pitiful dancing is probably the reason why Camilla's looking miserable on the sidelines, right~?"

"Good evening, Tsubaki." He thinks of correcting Tsubaki on the use of Ryoma's title, but he doubts there would be much use in it. He swallows it like the champagne, though the champagne is far less bitter on his tongue.

Interesting is such a polite way to put Tsubaki's feelings. Ryoma can say nothing about such dishonesty. He sips his glass again, a little more thoughtfully this time. He wants to laugh at Tsubaki's tight expression, but years of practised decorum won't fail him now.

"It's different," Ryoma concedes, "but I like it. Maybe I've grown used to the wine here." Red wine still tastes like acid to him, but white wine and champagne both taste fine. "If the champagne isn't to your taste, I do have leftover sake from my birthday."

The thought of becoming the blemish that mars his kingdom's reputation upon foreign land makes Tsubaki's heart drop to the pit of his stomach. These hypotheticals, however, pale in comparison to his king subtly pointing out his distaste, to which Tsubaki's eyes briefly alight with fear.

"Oh—" they say a bit too fast, a deer caught at point blank, before they reinforce themselves with a trained smile.

"Thank you, but I cannot take from your personal collection, Ryoma-sama." Imagine being imperfect and brazen; Tsubaki would never let himself see the light of day had he shamelessly said 'yes!' "The champagne is quite to my tastes, too! It's different, but I like it. Perhaps, I've grown use to it as well~"

He takes the glass to his lips again and sips; he does not wince at the oddly prickly sensation. Which, by all means, must be proof that he has grown use to it, nevertheless enjoys the drink!

"It's quite… deliciously effervescent," Tsubaki says, "The texture profile is quite different from what we're accustomed to Hoshido, too— But I'm quite fond of it, yes."

couple doodles I drew before when FEH was announced and I forgot to upload here!!!