Please. The contents are naught more than frivolous words.

[Standing tall, Lorenz delicately arched an eyebrow. He knew this game well by now-- and knew that Hubert had more than enough to 'properly leverage' him.]

...You do not even deign to see when I am being genuine with you, Hubert. I do not need your help.

[...That was the demeanor of a man that knew something.

Despite himself, Lorenz stiffly pulled out a chair across from the man and sat himself in it while doing his utmost to avoid eye contact in that instant.]

You are going to extract a price from me, but I have Conditions if you do.

[The aroma of the coffee was tantalizing even in the summer heat as Lorenz met Hubert's gaze with his own. The set of his shoulders and jaw were clear, calculated as he reached into a pocket and pulled out a small glass bottle with a clear liquid inside.]

The subject matter of is deep, personal importance to me. I'll not have you weaponizing it as you do every one of our other interactions. I will not 'prove myself' to you on this matter; you should be more than well aware of my stance on matters of import to you.

[How many times did he have to prove that he wasn't a threat, he wondered? How many times did he have to prove that his intrigue with Hubert was not politically based, but on how their minds and personalities interwove together when affairs met at a critical point?]

[An arched brow-- really?]

To assuage both of our unease, it seems. I harbor no ill intent toward you or your's, but this is not a matter I will have you leveraging in your plans either.

It seems you have a clue, but how many more debts must you extract until you are satisfied?

[A sigh. It was the same song as it always was...]

Even if I were to profess my support of your cause, my belief that both Lady Edelgard's and Claude's plans have merit and should both be brought to fruition if at all possible, you would never believe a word I say. That is a correct and understandable method, given the Adrestrian influences within Alliance politics... But why continue demanding that which cannot be proven in this realm?

Were Claude here for me to speak to, I may be able to give a more defined answer, but he is not and likely will not be. Until I can find a more definite answer... That is all I can offer.

But I tire of... This. Whatever this is. You are a fascinating man, Hubert, and I desire to know you better for reasons that are entirely my own... But as you cannot trust me, I cannot trust you not to use the contents of my missing item for untoward purpose.

You see the problem, yes?

It would give us both a sense of certainty regarding one small aspect of this world.

[Lorenz said stiffly, falling onto his base of haughtiness as a matter of security.]

I've found it most helpful with Lapis, when she was still in this realm. As difficult as she could be to understand at times, being able to divine her true feelings during the most confusing moments was a small blessing.

[Specifically, he focused on Lapis. Following the advice he had gotten from Hubert before, he wisely kept himself as closed off from Sylvain as possible. That man was too much of a wildcard with his emotions to be trusted in delicate affairs like this.]

Besides, I am not as uncouth as you may imagine. We may be more alike than you realize.

[Lorenz stared at Hubert, brows knitted in confusion and surprise as he took those words in-- his hands stilling and his thought process stumbling as the weight of those words settled onto his shoulders.]

But... is it not a Noble's Duty to set aside their personal wishes and goals for the sake of the greater good?

[He ventured, tearing his eyes from Hubert as he settled back onto that old refrain. Intermingling with those he knew from his school days, who lived life outside of the well curated social circles that the Gloucester family had accumulated over the course of generations, had taught him a lot about the world. But, in that moment, he was truly perplexed.

--He laughed bitterly.]

I had no idea that this was how people saw me, Hubert. Clearly, I didn't follow Ferdinand's suggestion of talking to those who were unfamiliar and not making judgements too quickly well enough.

[It had been something he had struggled with quietly, alone. Taking care of others came naturally to him; taking care of himself was a wholly different matter.]

A friendly face keeps matters running smoothly within the Alliance, unfortunately. The fact that our current Duke abides by that philosophy as well despite not hailing from our lands does little to alter this fact.

That said, I will think on the matter. Even if Claude were to arrive, there is no guarantee that he would be a Claude that is capable of answering my questions.

[Sighing at how easily Hubert had seen through him, he pulled out his capped inkwell. Of course Hubert would have found information on his writing habit-- he shouldn't be surprised.]

But is not hypocricy an unfortunate part of our lives that we must all work on? You are yourself guilty of this petty crime.

[Lorenz quietly watched the process, once more intrigued by Hubert's methods. He had been carrying around the inkwell because he had intended on approaching a Witch he did trust if his search had been fruitless-- a towering man who lived in his neighborhood, whose intelligence was as vibrant as his charm.

The man claimed to be a conqueror and yet also a king. It was perplexing-- but thus far the man calling himself Iskandar had been nothing but respectful in regards to all of Lorenz's personal troubles.]

...If it brings you satisfaction, please know that I would stand beside Lady Edelgard if she were called to task and needed aid in this realm-- but I say that because I've sat with the fact that we are from versions of Fodlan with differing histories... and I'm aware that even if Claude were to arrive that he is not a man to blindly trust.

[That was the deepest part of his confusion regarding Petra. Why would she-- a princess from a kingdom on the clear opposite side of Fodlan-- place her bets on a man who isn't looking in that direction at all? There was nothing for Claude in Brigid that he was aware of.

Everything he had deduced of the man indicated that Claude was looking in the opposite direction, towards Almyra.]

But, for all of your own talk about how you can't trust the rest of us because of our differing histories, have you ever considered the notion that the Lady Edelgard von Hresvelg that is in this city may not be the one that you know?

You're trusting someone on their word alone-- and not thinking about the possibility that her history might be merely similar?

[He shook his head, knowing full well that he was playing with fire in that instant.]

Hubert, with the myriad of possibilities that we have been presented with among those of us from Fodlan, it's entirely probable and realistic that the Fodlans we all hail from are somewhat, but not entirely, different. Some more so than others. In fact, the odds of any of us being from the exact same time with the exact same history are astonishingly low.

[Eyes narrowed slightly at the hesitation in Hubert's magic and body language, and for a brief moment he felt regret-- regret over causing a steadfast man who was dedicated to his cause to show a glimpse beneath the stern facade he wore. He sighed, and took what comfort he could in the fact that Hubert was at least distracted by a task at hand.]

No one would expect less from you, Hubert. But, I wonder... wouldn't some incidents before the war have impact on our lives in some small yet undeniable fashion? I cannot imagine where I would be if I hadn't crossed paths with some of the Black Eagles while we were still in school. Even if we're on opposing sides of the war, I value those connections and hope to one day reestablish them-- if time and history allows us to.

[A sigh. Lorenz, all theatrics, rested his chin in his hand while he watched the impressive lines that etched Hubert's face. A lesser man would have been intimidated; Lorenz was merely glad to see something]

Only that Lady Edelgard is an impressive blind spot for you in all of your plans, [He said with a casual air, as if discussing a recent show at the Mittelfrank Opera House.]

And that it's surprising that you, with your infinitly analytical mind that has foresight into every possibility, has not even a shred of concern over what the nature of Fodlan's multiple timelines means for us all.

Potentially we all know things about each other that we wouldn't otherwise. Potentially we've seen and done things that others would never have anticipated.

...I'm certain your Lady Edelgard has no idea what a fantastic dancer you are, for example.

As if I would deny credit where it was do.

[Lorenz shook his head, his dark hair managing to still look half presentable despite the heat and humidity in the town square.]

The Hubert von Vestra in my memory bested me during the White Heron Cup-- indeed, he bested the entirety of Garreg Mach. You never give less than your all, and it shows.

[But, knowing that he might be pushing too hard, Lorenz leaned away from the man and heaved a sigh.]

...Truthfully? If asked whose word I trusted more-- that of Lady Edelgard von Hresvelg or that of Claude von Reigan, I would certainly choose Lady Edelgard. You see, Claude is a liar at heart and he doesn't know Fodlan. Not the way a person raised on her soils does. By contrast, Lady Edlegard is nothing if not honest and honorable... and I feel that she has seen truths of our world that few others have.