journal 🔶 goodnight sweet prince

[noblegarnet]

Sender: Ferran

[After about a day or two of dealing with the entire town changing suddenly and a little bit of anxiety regarding the following subject...]

So this is the second time I've found somebody in a dead sleep I can't get them out of, and I was wondering if anybody else has seen it happen? It doesn't seem like it hurts them or they need anything special, but it can be kind of alarming to come visit a friend and they're just lying there and won't wake up for days. For the record, the last time it happened, my friend came out of it fine as far as I know, but she's not here anymore, so I can't ask her more about it.

[It's probably a good thing he already went through this or the panic might have had... a very bad effect on him, as he is now. Anyway...!]

I guess if anybody needs Prince Hans, they'll have to take a rain check. I can take any messages for him.

And if someone could let me know how to take care of a horse, that would be great. I'd like him to not have to worry about his poor animal when he wakes up.

Comments

[judicialassistant]

[ He enjoys getting that reaction out of her far too much. What a gremlin. ]

Th, They're not... [ miracles. ] Never mind.

[ She starts looking around the house. It has a familiar vibe to it, the minimalist way he seems to live, though she can't place it and doesn't comment on it. Maybe it's because it doesn't look like a prince lives here? Maybe that's why it bothers her.

But whatever. She's disillusioned with the upper class by now anyway. ]

I still don't have his consent to be here, though if we're concerned about his health...

[ That's a good enough excuse. They should check on him. ]

[noblegarnet]

[He lets out a quiet chuckle at her stammering. Stop being so susceptible to compliments, then!]

Right, it's for his own good. [Good loophole, Susato! You'll be a proper member of the legal system yet.] And he'll owe me, anyway.

[Which Ferran could very well hold over Hans at some point. Maybe. Probably just as a joke, but still. He sets Susato's gifts down on a table in the living area after she trails off, his gaze turning towards the bedroom.]

There's not much to see right now, though, probably. It's been the same for the past day and a half.

[judicialassistant]

[ Does that mean he's been out cold for the past day and a half? Much like one of their investigations in the "real world" (aka Great Britain), she slowly gets more comfortable nosing about and turning things over and upside down to get a better look at them.

Be her Ryunosuke, Ferran. ]

He'll owe you? [ Well, okay. She can understand, but surely Ferran isn't the only one who's noticed his condition? Besides, she wonders how Hans would feel about that. ] Did you know him well?

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran's willing to wager he knows the most about Hans out of everyone else in this place, but maybe that's self-centered of him. Either way, he's the one who's here, making sure things are fine, so it doesn't particularly matter.

If Susato is looking for someone to stop her from peeking about, Ferran will fail her. She might find a unicorn plush somewhere around here, though.]

Decently enough. We met the first day all of us showed up here, so... I guess it's been half a year or something?

[judicialassistant]

[ ...Yeah, something like that is hard to miss. The colors make the unicorn plush stand out, and when she picks it up, she can't help but squeeze its little horn.

No squeaking, at least, so she can't say it is a dog toy. ]

That is a long time. What's he like? [ Does the unicorn have a name/name tag? Important questions. ] . . . Does he happen to have a daughter?

[noblegarnet]

[Sadly, the unicorn doesn't have much that's indicative of any origin or recipient. But Ferran lets out a disparaging laugh, almost in disbelief at the question. Hans, a parent of any kind?? He's not sorry in his opinion of that being a terrible idea, at least as things stand now.]

Oh, god, no. [He turns to Susato to see what might have brought on the question, setting aside the answer of what Hans is like for now.] Why?

[judicialassistant]

[ Rather than make her feel stupid, Ferran's laugh is actually rather delightful. Maybe a part of her still thinks she's being made fun of, however, so when he turns, he will see Susato holding up the unicorn in question with a casual shrug.

Trying not to smile. ]

It practically jumped out at me. [ Which in this world, is not totally impossible, so let's not manifest it. You know what she means. ]

[noblegarnet]

[He at least wasn't laughing at her expense, but Hans's.]

Huh. [Ferran tilts his head, a pleasant smile still on his face even though there's a hint of confusion in his brow.] I can see why.

[He wouldn't have taken Hans as the type to own much that's cute, at least not for his own sake. And Ferran doesn't think he's invested in fooling anyone in particular...?]

He's still kind of a mystery to me sometimes, to be honest.

[judicialassistant]

[ Hmmm... Well, if Ferran doesn't have any insight into the matter, the answer certainly isn't going to jump out at her. Not without some more investigation. She decides to put it back where she found it for now.

If you catch her patting the unicorn's head or squeezing its horn, no you didn't. ]

It's cute. Maybe it's a keepsake of some sort.

[ Like, maybe it reminds him of someone else? ]

Did you find anything in his room where he is sleeping?

[noblegarnet]

Could be. Or... maybe a gift? [... that he didn't bother getting rid of. Feels like the more likely option. Hmm.

He shrugs at the question, because of course he did look—though perhaps not so thoroughly that it might be called snooping. Better to just check if anything important is around, you know?]

Nothing you wouldn't expect in any bedroom. For a prince, you'd think he'd want a little more in terms of luxury, but maybe he's been trying the utilitarian thing?

[judicialassistant]

Hmm.

[ Susato seems to be thinking about something, but otherwise doesn't know what to say. Other than the fact that, well, she might know someone like that. Trying the utilitarian thing. ]

Can you show me? I promise to be respectful. [ At the very least, she'll get to see what he looks like. ]

[noblegarnet]

Sure.

[He trusts Susato; she's not going to do anything weird, and if Hans has a problem with her being around, he can take it up with Ferran later.

He tilts his head in the direction of the bedroom, leading her that way. Inside is one redheaded prince in a deep magical sleep, like a reverse fairy tale or something. There's really not much else remarkable about the way he looks.

Once they've stepped inside, he folds his arms and leans against the wall.]

I don't think anything is wrong, judging from the last time I saw this happen, but it would be nice to have some warning, you know?

[judicialassistant]

[ Nope! Definitely doesn't have a single weird bone in her body. She will follow Ferran in the direction of his head tilt, looking along the walls to either side of her as she goes.

When he enters the room, she sees Ferran lean against the wall, which supposes is Ferran body language for "have at it." So she approaches Hans cautiously, taking note of his features as closes in on him. She is hesitant, but reaches her hand out to feel for a fever, and in the end, she's as puzzled as before. ]

Hmm. I wonder if there is a sickness that mimics sleep...

If there is a name for it, my father might know. You said you've found someone else like this before?

[noblegarnet]

Yeah. She didn't end up needing anything, and she just woke up after a few weeks passed like nothing had happened.

[There's some blank walls, more blank walls, a boring bedroom, and a boring prince. Well, he looks nice, but that's about it for now.]

I'd call that a pretty convenient sickness, if it is one.

1/2

[judicialassistant]

. . . [ Susato hums, tilting her head. There were days when she certainly could have used such a sickness, but she refuses to be jealous over this. Instead, she gets something of an idea, turning to Ferran. ]

Hold on.

[judicialassistant]

[ She leaves the room hurriedly.

When she reenters, it is with that unicorn plush in her hand. Ferran is free to take guesses as to what she's going to do with it, but he'd better be quick, because she is quickly approaching the sleeping Hans. Then she'll softly tuck it beneath his arm, doing her best to make him (and the unicorn) look comfortable. ]

...There. Um, if he's going to stuck this way for a while, maybe... maybe it'll give him good dreams.

[noblegarnet]

[He watches her go with no little curiosity, but ultimately has no idea what she's thinking until she actually puts the doll under Hans's arm. It's kind of funny seeing him with a cutesy stuffed animal; even having it around was already vastly different from what his view of Hans is...]

Heh heh... maybe so.

[Although... his smile fades slightly, and he hums in thought.]

That's not a bad idea, actually. I should bring that dawn flower over...

[judicialassistant]

[ Oh.

. . . She should've thought of that first. She'll turn her attention away from Hans and his unicorn, then, seeing Ferran's expression turn a little more serious. ]

You should keep it. I can bring him another one.

[noblegarnet]

Are you sure? [Well, maybe the population they have at the greenhouse is decent enough to let another one go here and there.] Thanks.

[He shrugs, just a casual lift of his shoulders.]

I mean, I'll probably be staying here a while anyway, but it'll be good to have for afterwards.

[Because he's not even going to momentarily entertain the idea that there won't be an afterwards—a time when Hans wakes up.]

[judicialassistant]

Of course.

[ What if Ferran just moved in permanently while Hans was asleep and just stayed once he woke up? Hah. Whatever happens, she's all too happy to spread the flower around. It's an important discovery, after all. ]

He'll have one tonight. Just remember what I said about taking care of them.

[noblegarnet]

[Listen, don't give him any ideas... he's in Hans's hair enough as is, probably.

He answers her with a nod and mild smile.]

Of course. Mine hasn't withered away yet, so I think I've gotten the hang of it.

[Ferran is very diligent about taking care of things that are not himself. But in this case, the thing he's taking care of is also taking care of him, so that's something...!]

[judicialassistant]

Good.

[ She knew he could do it. She's mostly parroting what she learned from 76, of course, and even Yujin, who's arguably put in more work into the greenhouse than she has. But she cares about it just as much, and she is all to happy to spread Kazuma and 76's discovery. ]

I should go see if they need me at the Harvest, but I will bring dinner for you and Sitron when I come back. [ And the flower, of course. ]

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran opens his mouth to protest, but simply lets out an exhale and gives her a tired smile. Why should he refuse, after all? He's learned time and time again that he can't take care of everything himself.]

Thanks. And for the snacks, too. [He's looking forward to those cookies! He gestures in the direction of the door, not about to be a subpar host when he's got the energy for it, even if he's not in his own home.] I'll walk you out.

[judicialassistant]

[ No protests! Susato wouldn't hear of it, anyway, but she has decided that she's snooped enough for now. She is still looking this way and that as she slowly makes her way to the door with Ferran, and she finds herself lingerinng in the doorway. ]

Let me know if anything changes.

[ She's got papa on speed dial-- ]

[noblegarnet]

Yeah, yeah, I hear you. [With some humor:] You'll be the first to know, okay?

[He's practically waving her away at this point. Shoo! He's got this taken care of, so don't stay any longer just because of worry.]

I'll see you later.