hotproblems | 🌹🌹🌹

[After protecting her bag of bergamot tea leaves with such vigour for so long, it was almost refreshing for Constance to be able to finally put them to use. She was a regular drinker of tea, but it had been a while since she'd had a decent tea party with a fellow noble (the professor, as wonderful as she was, didn't feel the same). Plus, getting to know Lorenz over the months they'd been in Lunatia had been a wonderful experience, even if their age difference did make her feel like something of an annoying little sister.

But surely an endearingly annoying one?

...best not to dwell. Anyway, the tea leaves are steeping, the teaware is laid out neatly, and the two of them are alone in his apartment (sometimes it is best not to ask what the other Golden Deer are getting up to). Really, it's the opportune time to discuss...]

Lorenz...

[...well. That.]

...would you mind dreadfully if I asked you about....something that is somewhat...personal? I feel like I need a true gentleman's perspective.

[It is mercifully a shenanigans-free afternoon, for both the city at large and their, hmm, respective social circles. Lorenz is grateful for the opportunity to have Noble Tea Time, as Constance is lovely company and no one else quite understands the urge to inject a little normalcy from back home into this... place.

Don't get him wrong: there are things about the city he even likes. But sometimes one just wants to put on some tea and act egregiously proper for an afternoon. Tea time is the perfect reprieve from Lunatia's persistent oddness.

He is currently engaged in the arduous task of convincing his yappy little monster to stop trying to chew on Hilda's pizza slice pool float abomination, but like, the rest? The rest is so good and normal and Noble. Ah--]

Oh— um, yes, one moment- [one moment to shove this float into a closet while dearest, darlingest Abraham Darcy whines about it, okay-] There!

[Whew!!!! He's coming back to the table, dog and all. Hey.]

Now then, what's on your mind? You aren't having too difficult a time, I hope...?

[Look, it simply Would Not Do to not have Abraham present! Constance normally isn't one for cute creatures but she's happy to make an exception in this case. Dog vs. Float also makes for a lovely distraction while she tries to get her words in order.]

Oh, no, nothing too difficult. Just...frustrating.

[Ugh. Where to even begin?]

...do you remember me telling you that Hilda and I were working on something together? Or, well, that she was teaching me something. Back at the auction ball.

[At least that had been a lovely evening in general, so the memory wasn't too jarring. Even so...it makes her drum her fingers on the table for want of something to do with her hands; the leaves haven't been steeping long enough for her to busy herself with pouring the tea, so...]

She was....oh, how do I say this...

[With Hilda it had still been difficult to talk about, but it's...different! With Lorenz! Time to absolutely avoid all eye contact by focusing on her teapot.]

...she's been helping me...talk to...boys. You know...in a...romantic sense. I must admit that it is not one of my strengths.

Oh!

[Oh thank the Goddess he has a wriggling, barking monster to keep track of for the next few seconds, because Abraham cannot decide between Up and Down and Lorenz cannot decide what is the politest expression to wear in the face of...

...Hilda's Lessons In Romantic Conversation (tm). Is that... What has she... Dear, sweet Constance, the sudden urge he feels to scold at least 50 people is not noble at all, but good gracious, if anyone has been untoward to her-!!

If he makes a face, it's surely because he just got a dog paw almost in the eye. Oh boy.]

And has she, hm... That is to say, are you... [aaaaAA] Did it- help?

["help"]

[hello darkness my old friend.....................]

Well, it's...I must admit, my results have been...mixed. Certainly not worthy of the standard I must set for myself.

[Allow her to explain an attempt that ended up going terribly badly, in which her intended target managed to work her out within about two 'flirtatious' comments. And she wasn't even trying properly! It was supposed to be a practice run, to test her ability! Oh, the agony...]

You see, Hilda is such a natural at such things, but I...well, I am not. It grates at me, Lorenz! I dislike having things at which I do not excel! You understand? But this...

[...oh thank goodness, the tea is ready, she can focus on neatly pouring it which means she doesn't have to look at Lorenz and oh goddess please do not JUDGE her-]

...I must admit...it escapes me.

[Oh, this is... this is truly the most disastrous flirtation story he's heard in ages... Not that he would dare to fault Constance for her efforts, no, it's probably this boy's fault!!

...

...well, hope springs eternal.]

Well, it... If it makes you feel better, one would imagine that the point of flirtations is to be noticed by the intended party. Otherwise, what would be the point?

[See? It could have been worse! She could have practiced so poorly that it being a poor attempt at practicing wasn't even figured out!!

Ahem.]

I do understand your frustration, in the most basic sense. What specifically is your question...?

[Is it his turn to give great romantic advice?? Mercy.]

[Lorenz is obviously trying to cheer her up - bless him! - but Constance still can't quite bring herself to feel any better about her supremely disastrous first attempt at flirting without Hilda's guidance. Not that it would have been better if Hilda were there, but still...]

That's a fair question.

[The tea is poured...she cannot focus on the crockery much longer without it looking bizarre, so...allow her to daintily place the pot exactly in the centre of the table with a sigh.]

I suppose it's...well. Without going into too much detail, such skills were...never considered of any use, for House Nuvelle. We didn't tend to...mingle.

[But we don't have time (or any desire) to unpack all that and the implications of it, so...hopefully he is picking up what she is putting down.]

Now that I am all that remains, however, I must find myself a suitable partner. The future of my house - my very name! - depends on me successfully finding a good father for the next generation of Nuvelles. I've put a great deal of thought into this, and decided that being here in Lunatia would give me an excellent chance to develop those lacking skills! But I must admit, I'm....struggling, more than I thought I would.

[Ugh. At least the tea tastes lovely.]

I suppose I'm mostly curious about what your thoughts are on this...whole affair. You know, interacting with gentlemen in such a way. Am I going about this all wrong?

[Ah... Part of him is relieved, actually, that this is about nobility and legacy and so on, and not, say, actual romantic strategies. Or at least it's mostly not about that, because honestly— he has a very poor track record, no one needs to hear about that, let's just talk about Family Values.]

Assuming that Hilda... instructed you based on her own unique talents, I would wager the root of the problem is, well- that.

[Hilda is lovely, best girl, can't get enough of that lazy lady, etc, but she is also the complete opposite of both of them without any contest and so - obviously Hilda's flirting lessons aren't going to synchronize well!! What nonsense!]

You know that I understand the importance of maintaining one's house, of course. But I, ah... [sigh. alright. for Constance,] Well, I too went about trying to secure my family's future in... the wrong way, years ago. It served no purpose and benefited no one, in the end, and so—

[Hmm! Tea break, such a perfect blend, delicious--]

Constance, you are a remarkable lady in your own right. Whoever is going to earn your honest affection and support your house will see that. I'm certain you needn't worry about whose methods you borrow.

[The tea is exceptionally good, isn't it - almost to the point where Constance is quite sure a discussion of its merits would be far more comfortable for the both of them, but...! They've come this far, haven't they?]

...that's so very kind of you to say, Lorenz.

[...no, really, it is. Genuine compliments like that are few and far between, as hard as she works to promote herself. Might as well do the complimenting yourself, if no one else will! But it does feel so much better coming from another, particularly someone she respects...]

Perhaps I have been a tad misguided. I don't know, it's all...

[...right, now is a perfect time to take a sip of tea so she can gather her thoughts in a way that doesn't make her want to scream-]

...being here, where there's such an unsavoury focus on...engaging in relations with others, I feel it's clouding my judgement. I've been so dedicated to reviving my house, I never thought I'd have time for....well, a relationship that isn't arranged for a purpose. You know, a...romantic one. But I feel myself wanting to at least try such a thing, while the stakes are so low, but....well, there's the crux of the problem. I don't know how to talk to men in that way, and frankly I'm...

[...okay, this is getting a little too personal, why doesn't she just. try to gently steer the topic away from that-]

I should ask; what are your thoughts on it? You know...enjoying ones self, here in Lunatia.

[Lorenz purses his lips, brow furrowed, because it's so... unfortunately familiar, the struggle she's describing. Perhaps the core reasons differ; the restoration of the Alliance-or-whatever-it-is-now rather than his own house, etc etc, but he knows all too well the feeling of not knowing what to do with oneself here, so far removed from the thing all others have revolved around for so long.

That said: oh boy, now that's a personal question.]

I... do admit, I did think about the ramifications of the behavior this city encourages quite a lot, especially at first. Throwing aside every ounce of propriety still doesn't sit well with me, but luckily I've found it much less necessary than so many claim.

[The absolutely bizarre way some people respond to their moonblessings, for example? He's been scandalized by too many network posts to be the same.

Anyway. Hmm. He's thought about the "low stakes" and "for a purpose" things, too... He takes a thoughtful sip, then, slowly:]

Thinking of this world as a place of no consequence is difficult at best. We two truly are sitting here having tea, are we not? The things we do in this world are significant.

[Emotionally, anyway? Therefore:] I believe you should trust your judgment.

[...that's so true, isn't it? If she hadn't had the fortune to be summoned to Lunatia, she would have never developed such a close relationship with Lorenz, or Hilda, or, frankly, anyone outside of the Black Eagles. It's a sobering thought; particularly when she considers just what the future has in store. Is this some kind of sign?]

You're right. The relationships I've developed here mean a great deal to me.

[Let her take another sip of that tea while she gathers her thoughts, once more.]

I suppose that's part of what makes it all so complicated. I have to operate on the assumption that I'll eventually return to Fódlan, or I fear I'll lose my mind.

[The idea that she might never go back, never see her dream reach fruition...perish the thought! The mere possibility does not exist. It's draining to even entertain the miserable concept.]

So what happens, then, if I were to...'get out there', as they say, and fall in love with someone here? I could never choose them over my legacy. But I've never been in love, so I don't feel qualified to speak on it. What if it is as overpowering as the poets make it sound?

[...ugh, how about she just...sighs, and slumps slightly in her chair.]

I'm dreadfully sorry, Lorenz. This isn't the sort of talk one usually engages in when having tea with a dear friend.

Oh— no, no, it's quite alright! Of course I am always here to listen when a dear friend needs my advice!

[But oh, what does a person do when they stumble face first into a genuine feeling or twenty for someone met here, who is not not from home, who will not be spirited back to, hmm, say, the Alliance at the most opportune time by the city's whims, and one day a choice must be made, what would one do in that particular situation—

One would probably elect not to think about it until tea time requires it. Lorenz ducks down to pick up the impatient dog again, as he is very much making a face and it's about to get embarrassing.]

In that event, ah... The poets have at the very least had a point. About the heart, that is. You know, how the heart will want what it wants, and so on...

[He waves a hand, very casually. Then he must think; actually divulging anything about his real and accurate personal life was not the plan, but she is so downtrodden about all this, it seems... fair?

It seems a perfectly normal equitable return after her embarrassing flirting story, so: he clears his throat.]

In the interest of... not speaking from mere speculation: I have been seeing someone. I can assure you, these questions... [welllllll--] do not miraculously become solved, unfortunately. As we tend to agree, you will no doubt find it just as maddening as I do.

[Very reassuring! He's nailing this, or rather, it would be disingenuous to pretend he does not wonder.]

Still, there is... merit in pursuits for one's own happiness.

[Oh goodness, Lorenz is seeing someone? This information is...quite a lot to take in; Constance will work to keep her reaction to mild, polite suprise, but there are many questions to be asked...

(namely, is this person worthy...)]

I....well, I see! I must admit, that makes me feel a bit better.

[Because, you know, Lorenz is the yardstick by which she has started to measure her own nobility, so...surely if he finds potential partners worth pursuing here, she can do the same thing...and it would be okay. Yes! Definitely okay!

...oh goddess, she could. actually start flirting with intention, the thought is both terrifying and yet...strangely exhilarating? Such experiences, so unknown to the House Nuvelle of old...truly, she is paving a new path!]

I do hope things work out with this paramour of yours, by the way. I'm rather touched that you saw fit to share this with me.

[Does Hilda know? Has she Assessed this person....not that she would ever try to interfere (the assertion that she wouldn't trust Lorenz's judgement - appalling!), but! Only certain individuals are worthy. It's just fact.]

Can I assume this means I am free to come to you if I need similar advice again?

[Dearest Coco, if you ever meet his man please don't judge Lorenz too harshly for his taste in mean little gremlins who don't wear shoes...

Odd: it is actually surprisingly harrowing to, ah, tell a dear friend about his Relationship, so her polite surprise is a huge relief. Once again he is not shamed out of existence for not being married with children... wonders never cease.

Anyway, friendship is beautiful, he's so glad, what an excellent afternoon tea after all!!]

Oh, um— thank you. I... hope so as well.

[But before he gets too soft and sappy, ahem--]

You are of course more than welcome to come to me whenever you need something. Anything! It would embarrass the Gloucester name if I were unable to offer sound advice to a dear friend.

[Just "sound" because "expert" is too much of a stretch even for him. Halfway decent advice at no cost except, perhaps, social anxiety. It happens.]

[The best of afternoon teas indeed! It was certainly worth hoarding her tea leaves until this momentous occasion. Could this be what they call....growth? A change? Either way, regardless of how the rest of this conversation goes, she's been given plenty of food for thought.]

You've given me far more than I thought I wanted. Perhaps it wasn't that I wanted the advice, but that I needed it? If that makes sense. I...

[...ahaha. Allow her to take a dainty sip of her tea before she continues (pinky finger out, of course).]

...well, you might have noticed that I tend to have a one-track mind with some things...

[...most. things, really, but one does not point out one's flaws in such a manner, and she knows Lorenz is far too polite to do the same!]

...so I do think it is valuable, to be given another perspective. We can take meaning from the relationships we form here, even if they might not be meant to last. I think, in a way, that's true of many relationships, don't you think? There are people I knew in my youth that I no longer speak to, but I wouldn't say the time we spent together wasn't worth something.

[Hm! She's quicky becoming far more confident with this mindset. Not a problem at all! Naturally, had iy all worked out from the start, etc.]

Just promise me you won't tease me too much if I come back with more embarrassing stories.

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action, time for Noble Suffering

Hell Yes

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we won't talk about what time it is here rn

i pretend i do not see it

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