[For all that Claude may be more adept at pulling off this kind of implicit threat than Hubert, the fact is that he's not nearly as interested as Hubert would be in doing so. He truly would rather get along with Hubert - and Edelgard, and everyone he can. He'd had enough hatred and people trying to kill each other before he'd ever even arrived in Fodlan. There's better ways to explore, better ways to be than that.
So when his threat clearly lands, and Hubert has no response to it...he can't help but feel a little bad about it. Strategically, the move was impeccable - it's why he chose to make it - but in terms of compassion, it's not great. Claude was the only Deer in this world for a long time, and it's not a great feeling being isolated even if the only people you know aren't necessarily hostile to you. He's not thrilled weaponizing that. And Hubert just got here. It's harsh hitting someone like this under these conditions...especially when what Claude ultimately wants is to not engage in aggressions with them.
So he tries softening his tone. Not in pity, because he thinks Hubert would have some kind of violent allergic reaction, but something a little more friendly, a little more welcoming.] It's a warning for your own good, y'know. Dimitri's here, and I can't say for sure that he's not still convinced Edelgard was somehow behind the Tragedy of Duscur. At the very least, he knows she was working with the people who were, and you get why that'd enrage anybody in his position. I honestly don't know how he'll react to you being here, but it probably won't be good for either of you until - unless - he understands some things better. With a little more nuance. That might be possible now in a way that wouldn't have been before, but it's gonna take some delicacy to get there. I wouldn't just spring yourself on him without warning. The other people in from the Kingdom who are here...well, they've got their own resentments regarding the Empire that they can hardly be blamed for, but how reasonable they will or won't be is a little harder for me to predict. Discretion's definitely not gonna hurt anybody here, though.
I'm willing to work with you here, Hubert. Not against anyone else, but with you all the same. I don't think there needs to be an 'against' anyone else, especially here. And I don't think the disconnect between us and Edelgard - and you - is as big as people have made it out to be. But everyone - Edelgard especially - has been pushing too hard, not explaining themselves, doubling down on the things they already think without letting any new thoughts in, and nobody's on the same page anymore. There's so much I'd like to know about where her head's been at, why she decided it was necessary to do the things she did. Obviously you aren't her, but you've got to know her and her reasoning better than anyone. There's a lot you could tell me, and a lot of good that understanding could do. Even for Edelgard herself.
[He grins a little.] And if you're worried about telling me things somehow betraying Edelgard, or giving me or anyone else an edge over her, you don't need to be. What happens here will only affect here - whether you consider that fortunate or not. But if she shows up here...well, for the reasons I already mentioned, it'd be to her benefit as much as anyone's to establish some diplomatic groundwork.
no subject
So when his threat clearly lands, and Hubert has no response to it...he can't help but feel a little bad about it. Strategically, the move was impeccable - it's why he chose to make it - but in terms of compassion, it's not great. Claude was the only Deer in this world for a long time, and it's not a great feeling being isolated even if the only people you know aren't necessarily hostile to you. He's not thrilled weaponizing that. And Hubert just got here. It's harsh hitting someone like this under these conditions...especially when what Claude ultimately wants is to not engage in aggressions with them.
So he tries softening his tone. Not in pity, because he thinks Hubert would have some kind of violent allergic reaction, but something a little more friendly, a little more welcoming.] It's a warning for your own good, y'know. Dimitri's here, and I can't say for sure that he's not still convinced Edelgard was somehow behind the Tragedy of Duscur. At the very least, he knows she was working with the people who were, and you get why that'd enrage anybody in his position. I honestly don't know how he'll react to you being here, but it probably won't be good for either of you until - unless - he understands some things better. With a little more nuance. That might be possible now in a way that wouldn't have been before, but it's gonna take some delicacy to get there. I wouldn't just spring yourself on him without warning. The other people in from the Kingdom who are here...well, they've got their own resentments regarding the Empire that they can hardly be blamed for, but how reasonable they will or won't be is a little harder for me to predict. Discretion's definitely not gonna hurt anybody here, though.
I'm willing to work with you here, Hubert. Not against anyone else, but with you all the same. I don't think there needs to be an 'against' anyone else, especially here. And I don't think the disconnect between us and Edelgard - and you - is as big as people have made it out to be. But everyone - Edelgard especially - has been pushing too hard, not explaining themselves, doubling down on the things they already think without letting any new thoughts in, and nobody's on the same page anymore. There's so much I'd like to know about where her head's been at, why she decided it was necessary to do the things she did. Obviously you aren't her, but you've got to know her and her reasoning better than anyone. There's a lot you could tell me, and a lot of good that understanding could do. Even for Edelgard herself.
[He grins a little.] And if you're worried about telling me things somehow betraying Edelgard, or giving me or anyone else an edge over her, you don't need to be. What happens here will only affect here - whether you consider that fortunate or not. But if she shows up here...well, for the reasons I already mentioned, it'd be to her benefit as much as anyone's to establish some diplomatic groundwork.