This may not be anything like what Felix would have chosen to do with his life, but if he's expected to do a job, he's damn well going to make sure he's the best there is at it. Which is why, despite his surliness and dislike of people in general, he's the most popular companion in the whole place.
They learned early on that he didn't have the social skills to pull off 'charming,' so his appeal for clients is in his cold, demure persona that lets them feel like they're the only ones who can warm him up - it's the easiest way to seduce them without having to talk much. Then again, he's pretty enough that sometimes he barely needs to do anything at all. A single disdainful glance over his shoulder or the simple act of pulling his dark hair loose is often enough.
So when they told him they were just going to give him to some middling Adrestian official's heir, of course he was offended. He argued until they threatened to drag him kicking and screaming if they had to. Eventually, he had no choice but to give in.
He sits now in a velvet armchair, dressed as he does when he's on the clock, hair down aside from a few artful braids along the sides. He's only just barely keeping his fury reined in behind a cool gaze when this noble comes in.
Felix arches a brow and holds up his hands, both of which are of course empty. "Do I look like I'm holding something? What kind of question is that?"
...okay, so he's pretty close to breaking character already and if he ruins this deal with his attitude problem he'll be in big trouble, but come on.
The prostitute has a fair point. It is a stupid question. Given the man's outfit and general presentation as well as basic safety protocols, of course the man isn't holding anything or hiding any objects. If he could do that, he could easily have a weapon.
So Linhardt nods, accepting being called out for his stupidity. In fact, his gaze on Felix is appreciative; Linhardt wants to make good decisions, and he can't do that if people won't tell him if he's being stupid. This man doesn't have that problem.
Which, although nice, isn't particularly interesting.
"Fair point. It was a stupid question."
He holds his chin and looks at Felix closely, examining him. It's different from how clients normally look at him: The Adrestian isn't undressing Felix with his eyes or lingering on areas of erotic interest; he seems more mildly confused than aroused.
An impression that he deepens when he can't figure it out and shakes his head.
"I don't see how you're interesting." Pretty, yes, but most prostitutes were at a certain level. The market dictates that.
So far the most interesting thing about this is the reminder that even his choice in bedmates is something others note and use politically. Why can't he just relax once in a while?
Not that he has since his last attempt ended with his lover trying to stab him afterwards.
"Are you a spy?" No, wait. Phrasing. "Are you trained as a spy?"
That can't be it. They'd give him to Hubert. Although that would be hilarious. The thought makes his lips curl up in a smile.
True, he doesn't know what to do with this.
But at least he's managing better than Hubert would have. Or Caspar.
A second brow joins the first when this man actually agrees that his question was stupid. What kind of Adrestian noble does that? Is it some kind of trick to ingratiate himself to Felix, get him to like him? Please. Felix doesn't like anyone.
Then this starts to make a little more sense, he thinks. Interesting, huh? So the man is after peculiar thrills, is he? If so, he'll be disappointed.
"I'm not interesting." Which is not self-deprecation; as far as he's concerned, it's true, and he says it like it's a mere fact. He's a skilled professional courtesan who trains every day to keep himself in peak physical condition, and that's about it. Anymore, anyway.
He scoffs. "If I were trained as a spy, I wouldn't be here."
Then he pauses. He has questions, but he's not supposed to ask questions. At least, not beyond what do you need and the like. So what he eventually says is an only slightly judgmental, "Are you looking for something in particular?"
How wonderful then that Linhardt doesn't care about being liked. Honestly, he prefers the courtesan's so-far straight-forward nature. He's like a grumpier, prettier version of Caspar. At least judging by the musculature on display: Linhardt is familiar enough with human anatomy that he can tell the man favors dexterity but also strength.
Even if the courtesan doesn't like him, and the other man doesn't want anything from Linhardt, he just doesn't want to work. Linhardt doesn't either, so he understands. He doesn't like working either, and his work is actually required. If he were expected to work just so people could orgasm, he probably would be a lot grumpier than this man is.
"You don't seem to be." Linhardt agrees. He doesn't jump to Felix's defense or demand that Felix recant his self judgement, "It would be very stupid if you were a spy - especially if you would tell me - but something being stupid doesn't mean it doesn't happen."
His Emperor, Duke Aegir, and Lord Arundel are all idiots. That tended to flow downhill, along with Prince Dimitri's insanity and Rhea's zealotry.
"No." He shakes his head in answer to the question, "I was informed by the head of this establishment that he discovered something that would interest me and he wanted to give it to me as a birthday gift."
"I thought it would be something of interest to my research, not a..."
A what? His first instinct is to say 'sex toy' but that's not a good idea. Even he knows that.
"An ordinary courtesan." He finishes in an attempt to be diplomatic. He's sure the man is very popular: He's somehow both extraordinarily pretty and masculine. Combining the two so well is rare, and would be sought after by those who liked or desired a male bed partner.
He's not sure if he should be insulted or if the offer is genuine. Is the owner misinterpreting the youngest Hevring's constant desire to 'relax'?
"I work with medicine and human anatomy. Is there anything unusual about you healthwise? Any strange conditions, or odd growths, or weird magical abilities?"
"Or a Crest?" Linhardt laughs after asking, because that's ludicrous. Nobody with any kind of Crest would be stuck in a place like this.
When the noble pauses to find a more diplomatic thing to call him, Felix lifts his chin and his eyes narrow slightly. Go on, call him a whore. Do it. See where it gets you.
Instead, the man chooses to insult him in a totally different way.
"Ordinary?" He stands, struggling to maintain his cool facade. "You'll find no one better, here or anywhere else. Call me uninteresting, call me names if you like, I don't care. But I won't tolerate an insult to my skill."
He folds his arms as the noble explains what he's doing here, silently gritting his teeth. A birthday gift. Goddess, he feels sick just thinking about it. And adding insult to injury, this man doesn't even want him. What sense is there in any of this?
...but the answer hits him like getting trampled by wild horses. A Crest. He's a Crest scholar. Who works for the Emperor. A hollow pit opens up inside him and he suddenly wants to be anywhere but in the same room with this man. He tries to disguise the chill that grips him with annoyance, with spite, like he usually does, but he can't tell how well he succeeds. It comes out shakier than he'd like when he sits back down and snaps, "No. I have nothing you want. Go away."
No, that's not what he meant! Linhardt holds up his hands in a clearly apologetic gesture when Felix stands; Sothis knows he's defensive if anybody ever suggests he has any intellectual defect.
"No, that's..." Awkward, "I'm sure you're very good at..." Phrasing? "The erotic arts?" He never knows what's right to say or not regarding sexual matters. You were never supposed to discuss them in public except obliquely, but in whorehouses it's fine? Is sex shameful or not? How were you supposed to know how to act in a brothel if you couldn't discuss its topics outside?
Why are societies like this?
"A courtesan that only engages in erotic activities? I guess that might be a better description... although I didn't expect a courtesan at all." He sighs and shakes his head, he'd been hoping it would be a Relic.
Then things get interesting.
Previously, the other man had seemed to agree with Linhardt: This was ridiculous. As soon as he'd mentioned Crests, however, the prostitute's muscles had tensed and his heartbeat increased. To someone with Linhardt's healing senses, Felix might as well have been shouting his discomfort.
And that answer.
Hmmm.
It had changed from 'I don't know' to 'No.' Uncertainty to certainty. Certainty only happens in two circumstances: Either blind stubbornness or the possession of information.
There's no doubt that the man is stubborn; Linhardt hasn't been around many courtesans, but the ones he has been have been overly extroverted and very concerned with him liking them. This one doesn't care. (Neither does he; it's better this way). At the same time, he's clearly got enough emotional control that he's keeping most of his opinions to himself, so knee-jerk emotional shut off doesn't fit.
That leaves information.
And the only way the man could no to say 'no, I have nothing' is if he does have something.
Not just something. A Crest. And not a Saint's Crest: Linhardt knows all who have those. One of the others. He might be able to actually figure out the differences between them, and if he can, then maybe he can...
Linhardt's magic-filled, purplish eyes light on Felix, this time wearing a look of utter fascination. Now there is a similarity between him and some of Felix's previous clients, that look of possession as though Felix were a particularly pretty piece of artwork.
Regardless, it's nothing that they should be discussing here. The look fades as Linhardt exerts some self-control. As exciting as research is, this is a person.
"You're lying. That's fine." If the man had one of the Crests the Church had been trying to hide, he's probably been told his whole life to keep it to himself.
"How often do you think you'd want to visit here?" If the man's been living here for some time, surely he has friends. He can't just take the man and throw him in a tower for the rest of his life to be studied; he's not a prisoner. He hasn't done anything wrong.
Felix just watches Linhardt with a flat gaze as he stumbles through trying to be delicate about Felix's ...well, it's not really a profession, is it. He's not an employee. He belongs to this house. Whatever.
Then Linhardt goes from seeming bored to staring at him like he's a prize, and Felix's heart sinks. Why does he have to be such a terrible liar? It's too late now to salvage this. He's done for. He makes up his mind right then and there that he'd rather die than be a fucking guinea pig for those faceless mages again. He's not sure exactly how he'd make that happen, but he'd find a way.
For now, though, there's no need to be dramatic about it. There are still chances to escape between now and then. He hasn't left the House in years; surely, this change in venue will present some kind of opportunity. He can be patient when it comes to waiting for the right moment to strike. If he's careful, quick, and smart about it, he might have the first chance to get away from Enbarr that he's had since he was not much more than a child.
The thought calms him a little, lets him gather the frayed edges of his persona together so that he can deliver his answer in as cold a tone as he can muster: "Never."
That's not what he expected to hear. Linhardt frowns. Does the man have no friends or loved ones at all? That's...concerning, actually. "Is it that bad to be here? Should I shut this house down?" He asks in the same way he would if he were asking someone if he should buy some tea.
His power on the continental stage is frustratingly limited and his good options even more so. At least shutting down abuses he sees in the lives of ordinary people is something he can do in all this ridiculousness.
"If it's that bad, do you want your things from here or would you rather new ones?"
They gave him things, yes? Linhardt never feels right about these kinds of arrangements. He knows they're common, but that doesn't mean they're right. Honestly, if the man hadn't had a Crest, if he had just been a courtesan, Linhardt would have just let him go. He doesn't have any interest in keeping people.
But until he finds out which Crest it is, he can't exactly advise the man on how to proceed, and given what he knows, there are much more dangerous places in which the man could end up.
Felix looks at him skeptically. "What are you, some kind of self-proclaimed hero? No, it's not...like that. I just don't ever want to come back. I'll bring what little I have with me."
He doesn't have much, but he doesn't need much; the only thing he cares about that he doesn't have is a weapon, and he's not holding his breath for being given one anytime soon. Stealing one, though, that might be possible once he's out of here. He'll have to see.
"Are we done here? Can we leave, or are you planning to grill me with questions until I die of boredom?"
The noble hasn't even introduced himself, and frankly Felix doesn't care what his name is.
"No." Linhardt shakes his head, "But if I can prevent pain and abuse, I do so. If it isn't a problem, that's fine. Most people would have friends or lovers of their own that they wouldn't want to be separated from, I was initially concerned you didn't. But it seems you just don't like people."
There's no judgement in Linhardt's voice. He doesn't like people either, and he has far more social freedom than a courtesan. He's free to tell anybody in Adrestia when they're being idiots, this man can't. Linhardt can only imagine the stupidity he's had to smile through, and he has zero interest in policing the man's tone.
"Unfortunately, dying of boredom isn't possible or I would have died a decade ago. Yes, we can leave, but I will need to keep asking questions. Unless, of course, you would prefer I charge blindly ahead and make my decisions without any information, only blind conviction, and then leave you to deal with the consequences. If you're desperate for the conventional Adrestian noble experience."
Linhardt is well aware of how stupid everything is, thanks. He hates it. He gestures a delicate hand at his things, "Is this everything then? Can you carry it all or should I and my guards help?"
The guards he'd at least gotten to stay outside. His mother is ridiculous.
Felix tilts his head a little, evaluating the noble for a moment. Then he decides that, since the other man brought it up, he can be frank without breaking character.
"You're correct. I don't like people." Or at least, he's trained himself not to like them, because liking people backfires every time.
He can't help a quiet, wry snort at that comment about conventional nobles. "So you imagine yourself to be different, do you?" This is how the script goes, of course - the cold, distant companion learns that this lover is different from all the rest, this is the one who truly cares - but there's an edge of sarcasm in it this time that he usually tries to suppress.
Felix was honestly surprised the man came in with no guards. If he didn't know what security was like outside this room, he might have tried something. But he can't ruin his chances of finally being able to leave the House. He'd been angry and against this 'gift,' but once the possibility of escape crossed his mind, it stuck like a burr. He'll have to see what kind of forces the man brought, how many of them there are, what kind of transportation they're taking - all necessary information before he decides on a strategy, and given the nature of this whole thing, he may need to throw all his plans out the window and act on a sudden opportunity at any time. But he's keeping a sharp eye out.
He stands again and almost scowls, but manages to turn it into something colder and more neutral at the last second. "I don't need your help."
And it's not just bluster; he lifts the large backpack onto his back with little effort, muscles visibly flexing, and then picks up the medium-sized wooden chest that contains everything else and brushes past the noble and out of the room.
At which point the guards stop him, of course, and he rolls his eyes but stays put to wait for the other man. When Linhardt does follow, the madam pulls him aside to speak quietly to him. Always keep an eye on him, he's got far too much pride for his station. Feel free to subdue him at any time however you like, although we recommend not doing so in a way that will permanently mar his looks; otherwise, if you ever want to sell him off you'll get far less for him. The woman doesn't bother telling him Felix's name, either; maybe she assumes he was already asked, or maybe she just doesn't care.
That's fine. Felix doesn't care either. He doesn't plan to stick around long enough for it to matter.
"I don't blame you. People are exhausting." Linhardt shakes his head in sympathy.
"Of course I'm different. I have entirely unique character flaws, thank you." He's aware of them and he'll list them if Felix likes: He's indecisive, cowardly, passive, and hedonistic. Linhardt just accepts those things. He's told them to everybody. He's told all of them he hates politics and he's a pacifist. (Not that he's on the Church's side either, he's aware of how they've massaged history, and you don't do that unless you have something to hide.)
Linhardt definitely isn't going to stop Felix from carrying his own things. He isn't the type of person to put in effort if he doesn't have to, and clearly right now, he doesn't have to, "Alright."
The man can walk ahead if he wants. They'll both get out eventually, what does it matter who goes first?
He only encounters three guards outside: An archer, a brawler, and a soldier, all of whom look at him in open curiosity when he emerges.
At first, when the madam pulls him aside, Linhardt thinks she's going to tell him about something secretly embarrassing, like an allergy, but instead she says some truly crass things.
Linhardt's easy-going nature dissolves like sugar into hot tea, face flattening into a sheet of expressionless ice.
"I see. So he puts on airs." When the woman nods, he continues, "As opposed to you: The house manager for a brothel who decides to approach me, the man destined to administer Adrestia, and give me economic advice."
By the end of the speech, he's clearly speaking to her as though she's a very, very slow child. Then he shakes his head and turns away. He'll have her removed once he gets back to the Enbarr estate. Ban her from Enbarr or their territory at least. If she wants to be unpleasant, she can live in backwater, unpleasant places.
Okay, Felix has to admit that hearing an Adrestian noble blatantly admit to disliking people isn't exactly common. Keeping up appearances and all that. Still, he looks unimpressed by the man's insistence that his flaws are 'unique.' At least he admits he has flaws at all.
Felix can't hear his conversation with the madam, but he can tell that afterward her pleasant smile has become brittle, and he can admit to a little satisfaction at what is hopefully the last time he'll ever have to see her. He'd pray to the Goddess about it, if he thought the Goddess would give a shit.
He doesn't bother to say goodbye, or to say anything at all, to anyone. He just waits until the noble is ready to walk out the door and the guards let him follow.
He'd like to say that this is no big deal. He should be able to do something as simple as walk outside without feeling like a geyser of incomprehensible emotions is trying to erupt out of him. He tries to just keep walking like everything is fine.
But he can't. His feet just stop of their own accord and one hand comes up to shield his eyes from the sun as he looks around. His jaw is tight with the effort of keeping composed. Of course, he's seen this part of the city a million times through windows, and there was a time when they would take him to clients' houses instead of the clients coming to him, if they paid extra. But eventually - about five years ago - they decided that between his escape attempts and his attitude, he was a "troublemaker" and needed to be kept inside the House at all times.
And he hadn't thought he really missed going out all that much - his room has had a large window, he had plenty of fresh air, there were fewer random strangers trying to talk to him and fewer annoying merchants trying to sell him things. It was fine.
He's learning now that he was wrong. There's a big difference between seeing the world through a window and actually being out in it. He feels like he's just woken up from a very long dream. He silently chastises himself for this ridiculous and fanciful way of looking at it - nothing has changed. He's still exactly what he was yesterday: a very expensive prisoner.
...whatever. He wills himself to stop gawking at everything like an idiot and keep moving. But he can't help wondering whether this noble will also expect him to stay inside. Maybe he has a walled garden Felix could go out and eat meals in, or--
Ugh. Ugh. How pathetic can he get? He forces himself to stop thinking about it, instead looking around for their means of travel.
Linhardt stops when Felix does, peering at him curiously. He can feel some sort of stress: something is wrong but he doesn't know what it is. That happens a lot. Some things are easy, like broken bones. This... he doesn't even know where this is.
Which means he also doesn't know what to do about it, so at first Linhardt just waits. So do the guards, used to their eccentric heir. If Linhardt. has stopped, they stop.
Unfortunately, Linhardt is an academic at heart, and when he doesn't know something, he really, really wants to know.
"Is this a good or bad reaction? Should I put you in rooms with access to outside or not or is it-" Hmm, what else might have caused this? Actually, he's getting ahead of himself, there's a practical concern first here, so this conversation really is best left for later.
So he drops it.
"We're actually walking, if you're wondering. I wasn't expecting you to be a person. I thought you'd be something I could carry or just teleport home." He points off at a tree and a tower in the distance. The Hevring estate in Enbarr.
"What?" Felix's eyes snap up to the noble's face in annoyance before his training kicks in; he turns his frown into lowering his eyes behind his long lashes and turning his head away. "...I'm not having a 'reaction.'" Leave me alone, is the unspoken follow-up.
At least the man mentioned the possibility of access to the outdoors. That's something. Maybe.
Felix follows his gaze to the tower and tries to hide his frustration. He'd thought they would be leaving Enbarr altogether. He was going to wait to make a move until they'd passed beyond the city limits. Much safer that way. Harder to find him. He may have been only thirteen the last time he had to put any of his wilderness training to use, but he's sure he'll remember the important things. He could have disappeared into the countryside.
But they're barely going anywhere. That tower is visible enough from here that he'll probably still be able to see the House from a window. He's going to have to improvise, and it's going to have to be much sooner and much quicker than he'd planned for.
"If you could teleport there with something you could carry, why don't you just teleport all of us?"
He doesn't care if Felix looks him in the eyes or not; in fact, he'd prefer if the other man did because it would make his facial expressions easier to read. Still, he understands that the man's been trained to behave a certain way, and since now they're in public, it's best to allow it. Otherwise, one of the older Adrestian nobles may get wind and pull Linhardt aside for one of their half-avuncular, half-threatening discussions on respecting the order of things.
Always interesting words from people who betrayed their Emperor. At least his father didn't pretend to care about the system. He was interested in results.
Felix is obviously having a reaction, but Linhardt doesn't press it. If he doesn't want to discuss it, all pushing would do is make the man lie to be left alone.
He gestures for them all to start walking, the guards falling into step several yards behind them in deference to Linhardt's natural predilection for privacy.
It's a decent question.
"I'm still learning, and living things, especially people, are harder to teleport than objects. For objects, you just need to know where they're physically going to be. For living things, you need to make sure to keep the connection between their bodies and souls intact, or else the body on the other side will have an empty mind."
Not that he'd ever seen such a thing, but there were warnings in the most advanced writings about it.
"I've never heard of such a thing." Felix only sounds mildly skeptical. "But it implies that similar magic could do it deliberately. Doesn't it?"
He knows a Crest is in the blood, but is it in the soul, too? Is that something the faceless mages might have been trying to experiment with? Is this noble, talking about these things so blithely, one of them?
He keeps a sharp eye on their surroundings and the potential for opportunities presenting themselves as they walk, although he still plans to wait on doing anything until they're sufficiently far away from the House. He's not in the mood for tempting fate.
Linhardt almost stops walking. He does trip a little over his own feet, catching himself from falling. Nobody listens to him talk about magic and then asks good questions. Who is this person? He likes them, even if they are grumpy and asocial. Given the nature of people, who could blame him?
"I suppose you could," He answers, musing aloud, "It might even have a few medical uses." If nothing else, separating the mind and body would help isolate which behaviors were due to which, which would be invaluable for researching trait inheritance.
The guards aren't watching them closely; they're all aware that they're only there to satisfy Lady Hevring: Linhardt is more than capable of looking after himself. He turns down a street, gesturing for Felix to follow. Soon enough, their destination is in view.
The tower isn't the estate, only the part that was visible over the skyline. The rest of the estate is lined with an iron fence and high hedges. Through areas of fence, Felix can see a lush green lawn of a size large enough to almost be a mall as well as several other buildings and numerous greenhouses.
Felix's eyes slide over to glance sidelong at the noble. "Medical uses, huh? It doesn't sound like you know how to reverse it." And that's okay with you? is the disgusted question he doesn't ask, his tone still even enough.
The guards are far enough from them, and paying little enough attention, that when the noble turns a corner, Felix sees his opportunity and immediately takes it. Instead of following the man around the corner, he takes off running with no warning. He would rather fight - there are only four of them, after all - but even if he could get his hands on one of their weapons, the noble's magic is a highly unpredictable factor. Safer to just book it. And this is another reason he didn't bring much - his bag isn't so heavy on his back that it hinders him much, and he drops the chest the instant he starts running.
If he can make it to the next intersection, he plans to duck down a different side street and hopefully lose his captors in a maze of alleys.
"Obviously I'd have to figure that out first, but it'd make surgery easier, for example, or healing severe burns when the skin needs to be regrown layer by layer." Linhardt looks over at the man with a vaguely puzzled look on his face: Did he find the practice of medicine that disgusting? People twitching during surgical operations is a real problem.
The vaguely puzzled look turns into one of alarm when he looks away for a minute...only for the man to take off running down the street.
Linhardt stands there for a moment, conflicted. He can't blame the man, really. He'd certainly run if he were in the man's position. On the other hand, they're in the wealthiest part of Enbarr, someone running here is going to be apprehended very quickly and depending on which Crest the man has, he could end up in a situation far worse than the one he was in.
So he takes off after him. Linhardt can run, he's even decently fast, but he hates it and, more importantly, they're attracting attention. There isn't time for a lengthy chase. At least the courtesan is smart enough to dodge down a side alley when he reaches the intersection between the Hevring estate and the Enbarr residences of Baron von Och.
Instead of following him, Linhardt reaches out and feels with his magical senses. As a mage, he doesn't need a line of sight; he can tell where the man is without it.
And, in lieu of a better idea, Linhardt's solution is fairly simple: He whips up a wind spell that picks Felix up and throws him backwards, blowing him head over heels and crashing onto his behind, somersaulting backwards as the guards catch up with Linhardt, who looks contrite and raises a glowing hand to heal the damage Felix just sustained, faith magic seeping into him to smooth away cuts, abrasions, bruises, and other damage.
"I understand why you did that." He says calmly.
He tilts his head, "And I can't reassure you. I wouldn't believe anything I say if I were you."
Still, he reaches out and offers Felix a hand up.
"Still, I will say that if you have a home you want to return to, I will help you if you wish. I'm no slaver."
As soon as the wind picks up, unnaturally sudden and strong, Felix knows what's happening. He grits his teeth and lowers his center of gravity, determined to push forward - but in the end, the magic wins.
Rolling to a halt, he pushes himself up onto his hands and knees as the faith magic washes over him. He fixes his eyes on the ground, mostly to keep his face hidden behind the now-tangled curtain of his hair until he can school his expression at least a little; glaring murderous daggers at this noble right after such a demonstration of power would be satisfying, but also a terrible idea. So he just stays there for a moment, catching his breath and seething quietly.
I understand, the man says, and Felix can't help a scoff. And then I wouldn't believe anything I say, and he tries not to sneer as he replies, "Wasn't planning to."
He bats the offered hand aside and gets to his feet on his own, turning his back to the noble immediately. "Don't bother."
He puts his hand back in his pocket when the courtesan doesn't take it. If he doesn't want help, that's fine. It saves Linhardt the effort of helping. He doesn't care that the man doesn't want to look at him either. Linhardt wouldn't be happy in the man's situation; he's not going to demand the man pretend to be happy to placate his own ego.
"I thought not." The man is smart.
Linhardt stands there with Felix just a little too long, the silence starting to become awkward before he breaks it.
"You attempted to escape and failed. Please come with me before we run into Count Varley and he insists on doing something barbaric like whipping you."
It doesn't matter. One failed attempt is hardly the end of things; even if the noble does decide to follow the House's example and confine Felix to the manor, it should be a lot easier to figure out a way out of here without being seen than it was back there.
He glances over his shoulder at the other man, scornful. "You're just standing there. If you want me to come with you, you'll have to start moving."
Linhardt laughs. "Fair point." He says, gesturing for Felix to follow him and then proceeding back the way they came, running into the guards a moment later. The noble reassures his guards, who look at Felix dubiously, clearly not quite as sanguine about the situation as their master.
"Look at it this way," He tells Felix as they start walking toward the estate, "Once I show you to your rooms I have a meeting to attend to, so at least you don't have to listen to me much longer. Or anybody, if you lock the doors."
Hey, he appreciates being left alone, and the man seems to share his general view on people.
Felix ignores the guards entirely, turning to follow the noble as though they're the only two people present. He can't help arching a brow. "And here I thought you'd have them lock from the other side. What's stopping me from locking the doors and climbing out the window?"
Linhardt might think he wouldn't say this if he were actually planning to do it, but Felix is legitimately asking. He has to know what he'll be dealing with, here, and he's getting the sense that this noble doesn't bother with pleasant lies for appearances' or propriety's sake. Enviable in the extreme, honestly, that he has the luxury. The things Felix would have said to past clients if he could have would probably have gotten him killed.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2021-09-02 02:26 am (UTC)They learned early on that he didn't have the social skills to pull off 'charming,' so his appeal for clients is in his cold, demure persona that lets them feel like they're the only ones who can warm him up - it's the easiest way to seduce them without having to talk much. Then again, he's pretty enough that sometimes he barely needs to do anything at all. A single disdainful glance over his shoulder or the simple act of pulling his dark hair loose is often enough.
So when they told him they were just going to give him to some middling Adrestian official's heir, of course he was offended. He argued until they threatened to drag him kicking and screaming if they had to. Eventually, he had no choice but to give in.
He sits now in a velvet armchair, dressed as he does when he's on the clock, hair down aside from a few artful braids along the sides. He's only just barely keeping his fury reined in behind a cool gaze when this noble comes in.
Felix arches a brow and holds up his hands, both of which are of course empty. "Do I look like I'm holding something? What kind of question is that?"
...okay, so he's pretty close to breaking character already and if he ruins this deal with his attitude problem he'll be in big trouble, but come on.
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Date: 2021-09-02 02:37 pm (UTC)So Linhardt nods, accepting being called out for his stupidity. In fact, his gaze on Felix is appreciative; Linhardt wants to make good decisions, and he can't do that if people won't tell him if he's being stupid. This man doesn't have that problem.
Which, although nice, isn't particularly interesting.
"Fair point. It was a stupid question."
He holds his chin and looks at Felix closely, examining him. It's different from how clients normally look at him: The Adrestian isn't undressing Felix with his eyes or lingering on areas of erotic interest; he seems more mildly confused than aroused.
An impression that he deepens when he can't figure it out and shakes his head.
"I don't see how you're interesting." Pretty, yes, but most prostitutes were at a certain level. The market dictates that.
So far the most interesting thing about this is the reminder that even his choice in bedmates is something others note and use politically. Why can't he just relax once in a while?
Not that he has since his last attempt ended with his lover trying to stab him afterwards.
"Are you a spy?" No, wait. Phrasing. "Are you trained as a spy?"
That can't be it. They'd give him to Hubert. Although that would be hilarious. The thought makes his lips curl up in a smile.
True, he doesn't know what to do with this.
But at least he's managing better than Hubert would have. Or Caspar.
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Date: 2021-09-02 08:55 pm (UTC)Then this starts to make a little more sense, he thinks. Interesting, huh? So the man is after peculiar thrills, is he? If so, he'll be disappointed.
"I'm not interesting." Which is not self-deprecation; as far as he's concerned, it's true, and he says it like it's a mere fact. He's a skilled professional courtesan who trains every day to keep himself in peak physical condition, and that's about it. Anymore, anyway.
He scoffs. "If I were trained as a spy, I wouldn't be here."
Then he pauses. He has questions, but he's not supposed to ask questions. At least, not beyond what do you need and the like. So what he eventually says is an only slightly judgmental, "Are you looking for something in particular?"
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Date: 2021-09-02 09:35 pm (UTC)Even if the courtesan doesn't like him, and the other man doesn't want anything from Linhardt, he just doesn't want to work. Linhardt doesn't either, so he understands. He doesn't like working either, and his work is actually required. If he were expected to work just so people could orgasm, he probably would be a lot grumpier than this man is.
"You don't seem to be." Linhardt agrees. He doesn't jump to Felix's defense or demand that Felix recant his self judgement, "It would be very stupid if you were a spy - especially if you would tell me - but something being stupid doesn't mean it doesn't happen."
His Emperor, Duke Aegir, and Lord Arundel are all idiots. That tended to flow downhill, along with Prince Dimitri's insanity and Rhea's zealotry.
"No." He shakes his head in answer to the question, "I was informed by the head of this establishment that he discovered something that would interest me and he wanted to give it to me as a birthday gift."
"I thought it would be something of interest to my research, not a..."
A what? His first instinct is to say 'sex toy' but that's not a good idea. Even he knows that.
"An ordinary courtesan." He finishes in an attempt to be diplomatic. He's sure the man is very popular: He's somehow both extraordinarily pretty and masculine. Combining the two so well is rare, and would be sought after by those who liked or desired a male bed partner.
He's not sure if he should be insulted or if the offer is genuine. Is the owner misinterpreting the youngest Hevring's constant desire to 'relax'?
"I work with medicine and human anatomy. Is there anything unusual about you healthwise? Any strange conditions, or odd growths, or weird magical abilities?"
"Or a Crest?" Linhardt laughs after asking, because that's ludicrous. Nobody with any kind of Crest would be stuck in a place like this.
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Date: 2021-09-03 01:51 am (UTC)Instead, the man chooses to insult him in a totally different way.
"Ordinary?" He stands, struggling to maintain his cool facade. "You'll find no one better, here or anywhere else. Call me uninteresting, call me names if you like, I don't care. But I won't tolerate an insult to my skill."
He folds his arms as the noble explains what he's doing here, silently gritting his teeth. A birthday gift. Goddess, he feels sick just thinking about it. And adding insult to injury, this man doesn't even want him. What sense is there in any of this?
...but the answer hits him like getting trampled by wild horses. A Crest. He's a Crest scholar. Who works for the Emperor. A hollow pit opens up inside him and he suddenly wants to be anywhere but in the same room with this man. He tries to disguise the chill that grips him with annoyance, with spite, like he usually does, but he can't tell how well he succeeds. It comes out shakier than he'd like when he sits back down and snaps, "No. I have nothing you want. Go away."
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Date: 2021-09-03 01:37 pm (UTC)"No, that's..." Awkward, "I'm sure you're very good at..." Phrasing? "The erotic arts?" He never knows what's right to say or not regarding sexual matters. You were never supposed to discuss them in public except obliquely, but in whorehouses it's fine? Is sex shameful or not? How were you supposed to know how to act in a brothel if you couldn't discuss its topics outside?
Why are societies like this?
"A courtesan that only engages in erotic activities? I guess that might be a better description... although I didn't expect a courtesan at all." He sighs and shakes his head, he'd been hoping it would be a Relic.
Then things get interesting.
Previously, the other man had seemed to agree with Linhardt: This was ridiculous. As soon as he'd mentioned Crests, however, the prostitute's muscles had tensed and his heartbeat increased. To someone with Linhardt's healing senses, Felix might as well have been shouting his discomfort.
And that answer.
Hmmm.
It had changed from 'I don't know' to 'No.' Uncertainty to certainty. Certainty only happens in two circumstances: Either blind stubbornness or the possession of information.
There's no doubt that the man is stubborn; Linhardt hasn't been around many courtesans, but the ones he has been have been overly extroverted and very concerned with him liking them. This one doesn't care. (Neither does he; it's better this way). At the same time, he's clearly got enough emotional control that he's keeping most of his opinions to himself, so knee-jerk emotional shut off doesn't fit.
That leaves information.
And the only way the man could no to say 'no, I have nothing' is if he does have something.
Not just something. A Crest. And not a Saint's Crest: Linhardt knows all who have those. One of the others. He might be able to actually figure out the differences between them, and if he can, then maybe he can...
Linhardt's magic-filled, purplish eyes light on Felix, this time wearing a look of utter fascination. Now there is a similarity between him and some of Felix's previous clients, that look of possession as though Felix were a particularly pretty piece of artwork.
Regardless, it's nothing that they should be discussing here. The look fades as Linhardt exerts some self-control. As exciting as research is, this is a person.
"You're lying. That's fine." If the man had one of the Crests the Church had been trying to hide, he's probably been told his whole life to keep it to himself.
"How often do you think you'd want to visit here?" If the man's been living here for some time, surely he has friends. He can't just take the man and throw him in a tower for the rest of his life to be studied; he's not a prisoner. He hasn't done anything wrong.
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Date: 2021-09-05 10:22 am (UTC)Then Linhardt goes from seeming bored to staring at him like he's a prize, and Felix's heart sinks. Why does he have to be such a terrible liar? It's too late now to salvage this. He's done for. He makes up his mind right then and there that he'd rather die than be a fucking guinea pig for those faceless mages again. He's not sure exactly how he'd make that happen, but he'd find a way.
For now, though, there's no need to be dramatic about it. There are still chances to escape between now and then. He hasn't left the House in years; surely, this change in venue will present some kind of opportunity. He can be patient when it comes to waiting for the right moment to strike. If he's careful, quick, and smart about it, he might have the first chance to get away from Enbarr that he's had since he was not much more than a child.
The thought calms him a little, lets him gather the frayed edges of his persona together so that he can deliver his answer in as cold a tone as he can muster: "Never."
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Date: 2021-09-05 08:46 pm (UTC)That's not what he expected to hear. Linhardt frowns. Does the man have no friends or loved ones at all? That's...concerning, actually. "Is it that bad to be here? Should I shut this house down?" He asks in the same way he would if he were asking someone if he should buy some tea.
His power on the continental stage is frustratingly limited and his good options even more so. At least shutting down abuses he sees in the lives of ordinary people is something he can do in all this ridiculousness.
"If it's that bad, do you want your things from here or would you rather new ones?"
They gave him things, yes? Linhardt never feels right about these kinds of arrangements. He knows they're common, but that doesn't mean they're right. Honestly, if the man hadn't had a Crest, if he had just been a courtesan, Linhardt would have just let him go. He doesn't have any interest in keeping people.
But until he finds out which Crest it is, he can't exactly advise the man on how to proceed, and given what he knows, there are much more dangerous places in which the man could end up.
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Date: 2021-09-06 02:55 am (UTC)He doesn't have much, but he doesn't need much; the only thing he cares about that he doesn't have is a weapon, and he's not holding his breath for being given one anytime soon. Stealing one, though, that might be possible once he's out of here. He'll have to see.
"Are we done here? Can we leave, or are you planning to grill me with questions until I die of boredom?"
The noble hasn't even introduced himself, and frankly Felix doesn't care what his name is.
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Date: 2021-09-06 02:04 pm (UTC)There's no judgement in Linhardt's voice. He doesn't like people either, and he has far more social freedom than a courtesan. He's free to tell anybody in Adrestia when they're being idiots, this man can't. Linhardt can only imagine the stupidity he's had to smile through, and he has zero interest in policing the man's tone.
"Unfortunately, dying of boredom isn't possible or I would have died a decade ago. Yes, we can leave, but I will need to keep asking questions. Unless, of course, you would prefer I charge blindly ahead and make my decisions without any information, only blind conviction, and then leave you to deal with the consequences. If you're desperate for the conventional Adrestian noble experience."
Linhardt is well aware of how stupid everything is, thanks. He hates it. He gestures a delicate hand at his things, "Is this everything then? Can you carry it all or should I and my guards help?"
The guards he'd at least gotten to stay outside. His mother is ridiculous.
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Date: 2021-09-07 12:24 am (UTC)"You're correct. I don't like people." Or at least, he's trained himself not to like them, because liking people backfires every time.
He can't help a quiet, wry snort at that comment about conventional nobles. "So you imagine yourself to be different, do you?" This is how the script goes, of course - the cold, distant companion learns that this lover is different from all the rest, this is the one who truly cares - but there's an edge of sarcasm in it this time that he usually tries to suppress.
Felix was honestly surprised the man came in with no guards. If he didn't know what security was like outside this room, he might have tried something. But he can't ruin his chances of finally being able to leave the House. He'd been angry and against this 'gift,' but once the possibility of escape crossed his mind, it stuck like a burr. He'll have to see what kind of forces the man brought, how many of them there are, what kind of transportation they're taking - all necessary information before he decides on a strategy, and given the nature of this whole thing, he may need to throw all his plans out the window and act on a sudden opportunity at any time. But he's keeping a sharp eye out.
He stands again and almost scowls, but manages to turn it into something colder and more neutral at the last second. "I don't need your help."
And it's not just bluster; he lifts the large backpack onto his back with little effort, muscles visibly flexing, and then picks up the medium-sized wooden chest that contains everything else and brushes past the noble and out of the room.
At which point the guards stop him, of course, and he rolls his eyes but stays put to wait for the other man. When Linhardt does follow, the madam pulls him aside to speak quietly to him. Always keep an eye on him, he's got far too much pride for his station. Feel free to subdue him at any time however you like, although we recommend not doing so in a way that will permanently mar his looks; otherwise, if you ever want to sell him off you'll get far less for him. The woman doesn't bother telling him Felix's name, either; maybe she assumes he was already asked, or maybe she just doesn't care.
That's fine. Felix doesn't care either. He doesn't plan to stick around long enough for it to matter.
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Date: 2021-09-07 01:35 am (UTC)"Of course I'm different. I have entirely unique character flaws, thank you." He's aware of them and he'll list them if Felix likes: He's indecisive, cowardly, passive, and hedonistic. Linhardt just accepts those things. He's told them to everybody. He's told all of them he hates politics and he's a pacifist. (Not that he's on the Church's side either, he's aware of how they've massaged history, and you don't do that unless you have something to hide.)
Linhardt definitely isn't going to stop Felix from carrying his own things. He isn't the type of person to put in effort if he doesn't have to, and clearly right now, he doesn't have to, "Alright."
The man can walk ahead if he wants. They'll both get out eventually, what does it matter who goes first?
He only encounters three guards outside: An archer, a brawler, and a soldier, all of whom look at him in open curiosity when he emerges.
At first, when the madam pulls him aside, Linhardt thinks she's going to tell him about something secretly embarrassing, like an allergy, but instead she says some truly crass things.
Linhardt's easy-going nature dissolves like sugar into hot tea, face flattening into a sheet of expressionless ice.
"I see. So he puts on airs." When the woman nods, he continues, "As opposed to you: The house manager for a brothel who decides to approach me, the man destined to administer Adrestia, and give me economic advice."
By the end of the speech, he's clearly speaking to her as though she's a very, very slow child. Then he shakes his head and turns away. He'll have her removed once he gets back to the Enbarr estate. Ban her from Enbarr or their territory at least. If she wants to be unpleasant, she can live in backwater, unpleasant places.
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Date: 2021-09-07 02:39 am (UTC)Felix can't hear his conversation with the madam, but he can tell that afterward her pleasant smile has become brittle, and he can admit to a little satisfaction at what is hopefully the last time he'll ever have to see her. He'd pray to the Goddess about it, if he thought the Goddess would give a shit.
He doesn't bother to say goodbye, or to say anything at all, to anyone. He just waits until the noble is ready to walk out the door and the guards let him follow.
He'd like to say that this is no big deal. He should be able to do something as simple as walk outside without feeling like a geyser of incomprehensible emotions is trying to erupt out of him. He tries to just keep walking like everything is fine.
But he can't. His feet just stop of their own accord and one hand comes up to shield his eyes from the sun as he looks around. His jaw is tight with the effort of keeping composed. Of course, he's seen this part of the city a million times through windows, and there was a time when they would take him to clients' houses instead of the clients coming to him, if they paid extra. But eventually - about five years ago - they decided that between his escape attempts and his attitude, he was a "troublemaker" and needed to be kept inside the House at all times.
And he hadn't thought he really missed going out all that much - his room
hashad a large window, he had plenty of fresh air, there were fewer random strangers trying to talk to him and fewer annoying merchants trying to sell him things. It was fine.He's learning now that he was wrong. There's a big difference between seeing the world through a window and actually being out in it. He feels like he's just woken up from a very long dream. He silently chastises himself for this ridiculous and fanciful way of looking at it - nothing has changed. He's still exactly what he was yesterday: a very expensive prisoner.
...whatever. He wills himself to stop gawking at everything like an idiot and keep moving. But he can't help wondering whether this noble will also expect him to stay inside. Maybe he has a walled garden Felix could go out and eat meals in, or--
Ugh. Ugh. How pathetic can he get? He forces himself to stop thinking about it, instead looking around for their means of travel.
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Date: 2021-09-07 03:02 am (UTC)Which means he also doesn't know what to do about it, so at first Linhardt just waits. So do the guards, used to their eccentric heir. If Linhardt. has stopped, they stop.
Unfortunately, Linhardt is an academic at heart, and when he doesn't know something, he really, really wants to know.
"Is this a good or bad reaction? Should I put you in rooms with access to outside or not or is it-" Hmm, what else might have caused this? Actually, he's getting ahead of himself, there's a practical concern first here, so this conversation really is best left for later.
So he drops it.
"We're actually walking, if you're wondering. I wasn't expecting you to be a person. I thought you'd be something I could carry or just teleport home." He points off at a tree and a tower in the distance. The Hevring estate in Enbarr.
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Date: 2021-09-07 03:21 am (UTC)At least the man mentioned the possibility of access to the outdoors. That's something. Maybe.
Felix follows his gaze to the tower and tries to hide his frustration. He'd thought they would be leaving Enbarr altogether. He was going to wait to make a move until they'd passed beyond the city limits. Much safer that way. Harder to find him. He may have been only thirteen the last time he had to put any of his wilderness training to use, but he's sure he'll remember the important things. He could have disappeared into the countryside.
But they're barely going anywhere. That tower is visible enough from here that he'll probably still be able to see the House from a window. He's going to have to improvise, and it's going to have to be much sooner and much quicker than he'd planned for.
"If you could teleport there with something you could carry, why don't you just teleport all of us?"
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Date: 2021-09-07 03:34 pm (UTC)Always interesting words from people who betrayed their Emperor. At least his father didn't pretend to care about the system. He was interested in results.
Felix is obviously having a reaction, but Linhardt doesn't press it. If he doesn't want to discuss it, all pushing would do is make the man lie to be left alone.
He gestures for them all to start walking, the guards falling into step several yards behind them in deference to Linhardt's natural predilection for privacy.
It's a decent question.
"I'm still learning, and living things, especially people, are harder to teleport than objects. For objects, you just need to know where they're physically going to be. For living things, you need to make sure to keep the connection between their bodies and souls intact, or else the body on the other side will have an empty mind."
Not that he'd ever seen such a thing, but there were warnings in the most advanced writings about it.
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Date: 2021-09-08 06:09 am (UTC)He knows a Crest is in the blood, but is it in the soul, too? Is that something the faceless mages might have been trying to experiment with? Is this noble, talking about these things so blithely, one of them?
He keeps a sharp eye on their surroundings and the potential for opportunities presenting themselves as they walk, although he still plans to wait on doing anything until they're sufficiently far away from the House. He's not in the mood for tempting fate.
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Date: 2021-09-09 12:11 am (UTC)"I suppose you could," He answers, musing aloud, "It might even have a few medical uses." If nothing else, separating the mind and body would help isolate which behaviors were due to which, which would be invaluable for researching trait inheritance.
The guards aren't watching them closely; they're all aware that they're only there to satisfy Lady Hevring: Linhardt is more than capable of looking after himself. He turns down a street, gesturing for Felix to follow. Soon enough, their destination is in view.
The tower isn't the estate, only the part that was visible over the skyline. The rest of the estate is lined with an iron fence and high hedges. Through areas of fence, Felix can see a lush green lawn of a size large enough to almost be a mall as well as several other buildings and numerous greenhouses.
A getaway in the midst of the city.
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Date: 2021-09-09 01:59 am (UTC)The guards are far enough from them, and paying little enough attention, that when the noble turns a corner, Felix sees his opportunity and immediately takes it. Instead of following the man around the corner, he takes off running with no warning. He would rather fight - there are only four of them, after all - but even if he could get his hands on one of their weapons, the noble's magic is a highly unpredictable factor. Safer to just book it. And this is another reason he didn't bring much - his bag isn't so heavy on his back that it hinders him much, and he drops the chest the instant he starts running.
If he can make it to the next intersection, he plans to duck down a different side street and hopefully lose his captors in a maze of alleys.
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Date: 2021-09-09 08:45 pm (UTC)The vaguely puzzled look turns into one of alarm when he looks away for a minute...only for the man to take off running down the street.
Linhardt stands there for a moment, conflicted. He can't blame the man, really. He'd certainly run if he were in the man's position. On the other hand, they're in the wealthiest part of Enbarr, someone running here is going to be apprehended very quickly and depending on which Crest the man has, he could end up in a situation far worse than the one he was in.
So he takes off after him. Linhardt can run, he's even decently fast, but he hates it and, more importantly, they're attracting attention. There isn't time for a lengthy chase. At least the courtesan is smart enough to dodge down a side alley when he reaches the intersection between the Hevring estate and the Enbarr residences of Baron von Och.
Instead of following him, Linhardt reaches out and feels with his magical senses. As a mage, he doesn't need a line of sight; he can tell where the man is without it.
And, in lieu of a better idea, Linhardt's solution is fairly simple: He whips up a wind spell that picks Felix up and throws him backwards, blowing him head over heels and crashing onto his behind, somersaulting backwards as the guards catch up with Linhardt, who looks contrite and raises a glowing hand to heal the damage Felix just sustained, faith magic seeping into him to smooth away cuts, abrasions, bruises, and other damage.
"I understand why you did that." He says calmly.
He tilts his head, "And I can't reassure you. I wouldn't believe anything I say if I were you."
Still, he reaches out and offers Felix a hand up.
"Still, I will say that if you have a home you want to return to, I will help you if you wish. I'm no slaver."
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Date: 2021-09-10 04:42 am (UTC)Rolling to a halt, he pushes himself up onto his hands and knees as the faith magic washes over him. He fixes his eyes on the ground, mostly to keep his face hidden behind the now-tangled curtain of his hair until he can school his expression at least a little; glaring murderous daggers at this noble right after such a demonstration of power would be satisfying, but also a terrible idea. So he just stays there for a moment, catching his breath and seething quietly.
I understand, the man says, and Felix can't help a scoff. And then I wouldn't believe anything I say, and he tries not to sneer as he replies, "Wasn't planning to."
He bats the offered hand aside and gets to his feet on his own, turning his back to the noble immediately. "Don't bother."
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Date: 2021-09-11 11:12 pm (UTC)"I thought not." The man is smart.
Linhardt stands there with Felix just a little too long, the silence starting to become awkward before he breaks it.
"You attempted to escape and failed. Please come with me before we run into Count Varley and he insists on doing something barbaric like whipping you."
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Date: 2021-09-12 06:40 am (UTC)He glances over his shoulder at the other man, scornful. "You're just standing there. If you want me to come with you, you'll have to start moving."
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Date: 2021-09-12 10:04 pm (UTC)"Look at it this way," He tells Felix as they start walking toward the estate, "Once I show you to your rooms I have a meeting to attend to, so at least you don't have to listen to me much longer. Or anybody, if you lock the doors."
Hey, he appreciates being left alone, and the man seems to share his general view on people.
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Date: 2021-09-12 10:19 pm (UTC)Linhardt might think he wouldn't say this if he were actually planning to do it, but Felix is legitimately asking. He has to know what he'll be dealing with, here, and he's getting the sense that this noble doesn't bother with pleasant lies for appearances' or propriety's sake. Enviable in the extreme, honestly, that he has the luxury. The things Felix would have said to past clients if he could have would probably have gotten him killed.
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