darkbishop | NOCTIUM INBOX

[It only made sense to explore with another person. They know nothing about Primavera, so wandering off alone isn't the best idea. At the same time, both Hubert and Linhardt agree on the value of small talk (there is none), making them natural partners for this endeavor.

Linhardt has opted to simply use his phone to take photographs of anything he finds interesting, be it plant, animal, architectural, or miscellaneous (categories in constant revision).

After taking a photo of a particular flower, Linhardt remembers something.]

Oh. I discovered something that you might find interesting.

[Or he might not. Whichever. He leans in to sniff the flower he just shot.]

[Primavera has been significantly more peaceful than Hubert was expecting. Not that he thought we'd be thrown directly into conflict or anything of the sort, but he assumed that there'd be something suspicious going on to investigate. So far it's been quiet. Not that it's a bad thing; given the unique flora in the region, Hubert's already occupied enough as it is. He's examining another flower a little further away when Linhardt speaks up, and he rises from where he was crouched as he replies.]

Oh? What is it?

[Linhardt looks over to the flower that Hubert is examining. It's strange to see Hubert next to a flower. It seems incongruous with his nature somehow, like seeing the Professor overly emotive, but of course Hubert's interest in natural substances would extend to their origins. Which reminds him.]

Two things actually.

First, I met a mage here who can create magical batteries. Or he'll be able to soon. We just need to figure out a couple of things.

[He waves his hand dismissively; none of them should be problems.]

So we might be able to come up with an untraceable way to communicate using magic. That seemed like the sort of thing that might interest you.

[Just an update.]

Also, you may have seen that Claude is offering to exchange knowledge with us since he's not pretending to not be Almyran anymore.

Fascinating.

[Magical batteries... That sounds like something Linhardt will be eager to continue experimenting with, so Hubert can leave that to him. Linhardt will figure something out, and once he does, that will be extremely beneficial for them.]

I would like to hear any updates you have on that in the future.

[But right now... The remark about Claude gets a nod from him.]

I found it odd he was willing to drop the act here, but I see no harm in it for the time being. He's someone I would prefer to work with rather than against.

[In other words, Hubert's going to remain cautious, but he's fine with things as they are now.]

Then I will keep you informed.

[Just because Linhardt would prefer to ignore politics and scheming doesn't mean they won't be happening regardless, and Hubert is his friend. He would not hide useful tools from Hubert any more than he would not speak up about Petra's spear work.]

I thought it strange at first as well, but he doesn't really have any motivation to continue hiding it. He may just be freeing up his mental energy; he certainly put on an act when he first saw me.

[What Linhardt is truly curious about is how Hubert and Claude will react to having intellectual peers. One of the best parts about being here for Linhardt is that he's met other people who view the world as he does and share his interests.

Hubert and Claude haven't had that either. They like scheming and plotting, and those are precisely things they couldn't share back in Fodlan. Will they work well together, or will it explode into negativity? Will it be good for Hubert? Either way, it will be interesting to observe.]

I also agree that cooperation is better than hostility. In this case, Claude may have some interesting points of view. He's more used to looking at things as a newcomer.

[Which they are here in Noctium. He and Hubert have been involved in Adrestia's machinations their entire lives. Outsiders, they are not.]

I've thought as much myself. Claude's certainly been interesting to talk with, particularly about the things that have been happening here.

[A lot of it has been dancing around the more delicate subjects of Fódlan and the differences in their timelines and the like, but now that they're slowly growing accustomed to one another's presence here, it's possible they'll actually be able to make progress on learning more here. Hubert would be a fool to ignore how useful Claude can be, and there's still plenty to learn about this world.]

[Linhardt smiles when Hubert admits that Claude is interesting to speak with. He agrees, but more than that, it's high praise from Hubert. Hubert tends to share Linhardt's opinions on people's general intelligence level (it's low). He doubts that Claude and Hubert will ever trust each other: Their worldviews and experiences are too at odds for that.

Still, it could be a fruitful intellectual relationship and Linhardt knows that's something valuable as well.]

Has he told you anything interesting?

[Linhardt wants to know, but not enough to dance around Claude trying to find out. Since they're allies, Hubert is more likely to answer Linhardt's questions.]

He's been more open than I would have thought with Almyra's culture and the similarities with what is present here - though admittedly I did catch him at a good time, it seems.

[The fact that there are quite a few similarities in something that is so vastly different than what Hubert's familiar with is interesting in and of itself, but hearing Claude speak so freely about it with no real worry or angle behind it was also interesting.]

Oh? When did you speak to him?

[It's difficult to imagine a 'good time' being sufficient to sway Claude into sharing things with Hubert he otherwise wouldn't. How odd.

People are so strange. Then again, Claude also isn't Claude. His Claude anyway.]

Actually, now that I think about it, perhaps we should share what we know about who's here. It's hard to keep track of things.

Agreed, it would be good to share what we've learned; it's certainly possible we've missed someone.

[This has very definitely happened despite Hubert thinking he's totally keeping track of everyone.]

You, Dorothea, Bernadetta, Lady Edelgard, and I are the Black Eagles present here. Bernadetta and Lady Edelgard are from a different timeline. Ferdinand is here as well, though it would seem he joined the Golden Deer. Claude is the only other member of that house present here.

Dimitri and a version of the Professor are here, both from the same timeline. Yuri is here as well. Have I missed anyone?

[he absolutely has because he hasn't interacted with them!!!]

[Part of Linhardt is amused that he knows of people there that Hubert doesn't. Both of them are even less sociable than Bernadetta (given that once Bernadetta has decided she's not scared of you she will check on you and give you gifts, whereas Hubert and Linhardt are both of the 'no contact is good contact' version of friendship), but now Hubert has proven himself to be the least sociable Black Eagle.]

I'm not sure that the Professor and Dimitri are from the exact same timeline, but yes, they are sibling timelines.

Ashe is also here. He's from another sibling timeline to the Professor and Dimitri. I think Felix is here as well.

Interesting. So there are more differences in timelines than I had thought.

[Does that mean he and Dorothea aren't truly from the same timeline? What about Linhardt? Is he from further along in theirs or another entirely? There's so much potential for variation which is both fascinating and rather terrifying.]

Yes. I've been trying to work out if every action results in a different timeline or if only certain actions are significant. Even if it is the latter, we don't know which actions are significant. Also, it's actually impossible to tell if any of us are from the same timeline, since even if we think we are, there may be something different in Dagda that we just don't know about. Or on another planet.

[Here, Hubert. I brought you this existential crisis. Do you like it? I made it myself.]

All we can do, mathematically speaking, is establish a minimum amount of timelines.

[Thanks, he hates it!]

Agreed. Broadly speaking, it seems there are at least three - one for whichever house the Professor chose to lead.

[There are certainly more than that, but those seem to be the largest and most immediate changes.]

I find it interesting that so much seems based on that one decision.

[You never appreciate anything Linhardt gives you, Hubert.]

That does seem to suggest that some choices are more salient than others. Perhaps there is an infinite number of Fodlans, but they are all clustered around certain decisions.

[Good job, Hubert. Now Linhardt's thinking aloud.]

Like how objects with larger mass have more gravity. Perhaps certain decisions have more... time gravity?

It's almost like what we chose doesn't matter at all, because we lack time gravity. Maybe that's all fate is...?

[Unlike Hubert, Linhardt finds that realization comforting.]

It would seem that the majority of our decisions remain constants throughout the various timelines.

[Lady Edelgard always takes over and starts a war. Hubert always remains at her side. Claude remains loyal to the Alliance. And Dimitri to the Kingdom. Byleth's decisions seem to be the most important factor here, and it's one Hubert doesn't really like.]

I wouldn't go so far as to call it fate, though. We have no idea exactly how any of this works - and unfortunately, I doubt we're likely to figure that out here.

[Unless someone here's an expert on how time just so happens to work in their own world??? What are the odds of that, though.]

That's likely why the Professor's choices make such an impact: Most of us are predictable enough that Rhea and Those Who Slither were able to orchestrate events for decades, if not centuries. The Professor, on the other hand, has a habit of doing unpredictable things. She's an unknown variable.

That's why you initially disliked her so much at the Academy, isn't it?

[Never mistake Linhardt's lack of desire to get involved for unawareness.]

But you're correct. There is no way to verify any of my theories.

[And yes, that makes him grumpy. Linhardt doesn't mind being cosmically insignificant, but he can't prove his insignificance and that makes him an angry little speck.]

NOCTIUM INBOX

April 2021 Event Thread - Exploring Primavera

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