[Semi-Closed] Nothing can go Wrong with this Plan.

[wilder]

Date & Time: Friday Evening
Location: Room 103
Characters: Allen Walker (debtor), Sophie (blossomgale), Zelos Wilder (wilder), Cheria Barnes (flashmaiden), Oz Vessalius (velveteened), Arya Stark (wolfchild), Seles Wilder (hiddendepth), Sheena Fujibayashi (holeseeker), Tales of Graces f members, Exorcists and anyone I'm forgetting (seriously I'll add names as we go)
Summary: Holding a dinner so we can all get to know each other, this should end terribly.
Warnings: F for food?!

[This month's haul of transports seemed to bring in a lot of familiar faces for the residents of 103. Friends, family, comrades, terrifying generals who are your boss now- all sorts! ]

[It was Sophie's idea to hold a dinner. A dinner of family, for everyone to have a chance to meet each other and get to know each other better. It seemed like a nice way to welcome everyone into this horrible war. But hey, food! And so, Allen and Sophie made sure to invite their friends, family and comrades in order to have a warm evening together]

[And Kaneis, well, at least he isn't climbing out the back window at the prospect of social interaction for hours. This my friends, is progress. ]

[But gather around friends and family and terrifying boss! There's food, people, wine and games to be had! Just you know, try not to cough in it you sick jerks]

[OOC: KITCHEN | DINING TABLE...FLOOR...COUNTER | LIVING ROOM | BEDROOMS. Please feel free to tag around, thread hop and just have fun! If I left anyone out of the attending list please let me know! ]

Comments

[omurice]

[There's a moment where Hubert has to analyze what was just said.

And for some reason, it does't surprise him a single bit that Asbel would consider Sophie his child. It must comfort Cheria quite a bit. Then she must be her mother?]

Well, assuming my brother is her 'father', then yes, I suppose I would be her uncle.

[wilder]

[he gives a little nod. Yep, that lines up with what he heard even if he doesn't fully understand the stitch (you people are so young to be parents and uncles!)]

Heh, family like that's gotta be a handful sometimes. No wonder you're putting us under a magnify glass.

[omurice]

[No, it's quite complicated. Even more so since Sophie is older than all of them, despite her childish personality.]

I'm not sure if I should thank you for understanding, but yes, I've made myself clear at this point. I simply worry for their safety.

[wilder]

Sure, I get it. I have a sister.

[Who people will lose limbs if they ever try to hurt her]

Don't worry. I wouldn't ever try to hurt your family. Sophie's been nothing but kind to me.

[omurice]

A wise decision.

[Or else he'll have so many people to answer to, it's not even funny.]

[wilder]

[he snorts]

There's no wisdom about it. I already got you figured out, I'm not threatened.

I'll be nice because I like Sophie. That's all.

[omurice]

[THOSE ARE FIGHTIN' WORDS!]

I highly doubt that you do.

[Now if it were Malik saying those exact words, he'd be flustered, but nope... not with a stranger who hardly knows him.

He thinks.]

[wilder]

[he chuckles, taking a swig of his wine before he speaks with his continued casual tone]

Hubert Oswell, lieutenant of the Strahta Military, right?

It's weird, Asbel's last name is Lhant and he said he was from Windor. You're clearly both nobles and I guess you could be a bastard or it could be something else - I'm not sure yet. Though you sure have too much attachment for a brother to be a typical bastard situation, where they aren't even aware of their existence.

So my guess is? You grew up together, but got separated along the way. There's a lot of reasons that happens to noble siblings, bastard or not. You a lot more untrusting and bitter than your brother, so I'd imagine you're the one who got hurt more by that. Your new environment was unsafe and cold, so you became so to protect yourself. Slow to trust, watchful, cynical- all attributes fitting for an unfriendly noble court.

[he takes another sip of his wine before continuing]

Of course that mask doesn't fit you entirely, you're too decent a human being. That's terrible for a child who feels alone in a noble court. You're smart so you know that, but you want to be taken seriously so you try to make up for it in other ways. You throw yourself into your military work, your duties, your title. Take yourself seriously enough, prove you're more than a decent and scared child- and people will take you seriously too. Maybe even intimidated by you. I'm sure it works for some, but not all.

But even if you get taken seriously, you hate that life and probably always will. So you cling to Asbel, you cling to Sophie - to good decent people who love you and aren't gonna discard you when they realize you're still that scared and decent child underneath. And in turn you protect them as much as you can because you know the world isn't as beautiful as they think it is, but goddess the last thing you want to happen to them is to have the feel the same pains you felt. And so you'll keep up the mask in hope it scares off any possible threats- like myself.

[And he'll look over at Hubert, smirking]

How'd I do?

[omurice]

[An emotion of rage rises to Hubert's face, breaking the facade he held. It's true, it's all true, but it's so precise to the point Hubert has to question why Kaneis knows him so well. Sophie and Cheria wouldn't have said anything about him and his pains -- no, those two focus on the positives. Asbel wouldn't say anything either.

So at times like this--]

There's a saying that "it takes one to know one". Perhaps you would care you explain the pain you went through to be able to be able to come to such a conclusion?

[Oh, no, Hubert's not denying this at all. It's out in the open. But this... this is why Hubert felt he couldn't trust Kaneis. That he was someone who could use someone else's emotions to his advantage.

Still, it's clear that Kaneis' words stung, bringing up so many things he prefers to keep hidden because yes, it hurts.]

[wilder]

[oh, he sees that anger. He knows that he hit nerves, that had partly been his intent. Were this any other noble? He'd probably laugh and make some crack about how obvious he is, watch them storm off. He certainly didn't have any fondness for Hubert]

[But in the end, Sophie still wins out. He was sincere in that remark about not hurting her family. Sophie showed him kindness he so rarely got to experience, and acceptance as well. Not only that, but Hubert is smart- he had meant that when he said too. He'd catch a lie]

[And so, the truth. Almost as a peace offering]

I originally came from a prestigious family in my country. When I was ten years old, I became an orphan but was still expected to carry out the family duties. You can imagine how that went. I act as a mercenary here so I don't get dragged into more power games, and getting talked to like a normal person is a nice perk too.

[a light shrug] It's not that hard to see in other people. But don't worry, I'm not planning on spilling your secrets to people.

[He's not that much of a douche. And even if he was? Well, he sure gave you that tidbit of information to bring him down too]

[omurice]

[Hubert halfway expected Kaneis to simply laugh and walk away, but he didn't. To the young man, that says a lot. And it had nothing to do with Hubert, no. That vitriol was sincere, but he also senses that fondness for Sophie peeking through.

Taking a deep breath, he takes the experience he had with Pascal and Captain Malik to heart. Yes, his immature rage got the better of him, but Kaneis appeared to have backed down. He must do the right thing and do the same.]

I see then.

[No other words no nothing. No empathy either, because no one should have to go through the shithole that Hubert went through.

Still, he wonders... if his and Asbel's father had died while they were still young, how would that have affected Asbel? Perhaps it's a blessing that he got to go to train to be a knight and mature before the title of lordship was thrust upon him...]

[wilder]

[Oh that's obvious, Asbel would've become Batman of course]

[And he sees that the guy backed down, that's something. He half expected him to storm off or tell him something along the lines of "eff you". But nope, seems he's willing to back down too. ]

[Except he's here and that's just...awkward. Wow. this is awkward. Should he apologize for being an ass- no. Then Hubert might feel obliged to apologize and that'll make things even more awkward and he knows it'd be insincere]

[Plus really he doesn't feel that bad about biting, welp.]

I do mean it though, I won't hurt your family. Watch me all you want, but it'll probably be a waste of your time.

[omurice]

[Out of habit, Hubert pushes the bridge of his glasses up against his nose, though he's slow and deliberate about it. He's thinking, analyzing again based on what just happened. If it's one thing about his rage, is that it goes as quickly as it comes. It's something he has to control, especially since he can't let his emotions get the better of him, whether he's on or off the battlefield.

Right, Hubert should just learn to trust--]

I believe you will keep to your word. [Since he does get the feeling Sophie was the reason he backed down. And he needs to learn to trust since he honestly did get no report of anything happening to them.]

[wilder]

Thank you.

[Manners, he does have them. He knows Hubert is taking a leap there. Trusting is hard man. so hard]

If you haven't eaten yet, you should probably get some food before Allen eats it all.

[An excusable out, right?]

[omurice]

Yes, I suppose I shall do that.

[Yep, Hubert catches that out. They're done with this conversation, and with the state Hubert's in right now, there is little to no need to continue it.

Though before he takes off--]

Perhaps at another time we'll be able to speak some more.

[Whether it's morbid curiosity or the fact that Zelos may very well be similar to him, he doesn't know.]

[wilder]

[he gives a simple nod]

Of course.

[He figured they would at some point. Just...now's not a good time, yeah]