awakening;

[sleightofhans]

Sender: Hans Westergaard

Hello, this is Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. I've been informed that I've been asleep for the past month in something known as a 'sleep coma.' As such, I hope that explains my absence lately and I apologize for any missed dates I've had.

[Should he also apologize for worrying anyone? It's not something he feels accustomed to, especially not in a genuine manner. But apparently, there's been a couple of people that actually cared and. He doesn't know what to do with that right now, so he'll just continue writing.]

I'm not entirely sure how common such an incident is, but if anyone's curious, I'll do my best to provide details about the long sleep I was in. I'm just grateful that my body nor mind didn't degrade at all while in such a state.

[ooc: Also, if anyone wants to visit him in person, I'm cool with it!]

Comments

sender: sora

[oathkeeper]

[It's not that they hang out on a daily basis or anything but Sora sees the message written and he's more than curious about it! Is that were Hans has been? Sora will reply in his messy-like but readable enough writing.]

whoa! are you okay, hans? i thought it was a little weird that i haven't bumped into you lately.

did you have any dreams or anything while you were sleeping?

[Look, he's legitimately wondering if Hans is okay! He's not trying to be annoying! Probably!]

[sleightofhans]

[Ah, Sora. Besides Ferran, he's really the only person in this entire town that knows about him, but... he also is genuinely asking about his well-being. Hans finds himself rubbing his eyes for a second, not quite prepared for this either. He thought he was.]

Yes, I'm fine.

I just had normal dreams. Although, I wasn't quite aware that I was asleep for that long until Ferran informed me. It did feel longer than normal, but certainly not a month.

[He's not even going to try and misdirect the conversation this time. Not now at least, he's fine talking about this bit.]

[oathkeeper]

[Look what happens when you start to have normal feelings, people tend to have normal feelings for you right back!]

a whole month just blinked away for you then? that's really crazy. i bet you really need to stretch your legs out.

i don't know a lot of people who fall asleep like that here, it's probably pretty rare for it to happen.

[sleightofhans]

[gross]

Ferran mentioned to me that I'm the second person he knows that's fallen into this sleep. I wouldn't worry too much about it, not until it becomes more of a common occurrence. It's entirely random, from what little I know about this.

[He barely holds back a comment that it only affects terrible people, because he's still trying to have a normal conversation.]

[oathkeeper]

[Super gross.]

i guess so! so long as you're okay too! a month is a long time!

i mean i slept for a whole year once so at least it wasn't that bad, right?

[What was that about sleep comas only being for terrible people? Untrue.]

Sender: Anya

[grandduchess_anya]

(Hello random stranger here, but Anya feels that she might need to give Hans an update of what happened while he was asleep.)

There was a big flower festival in town and a dreamshift that gave it an entire makeover to boot.

And everyone got ‘very interesting’ costumes that were very clingy to remove and are very difficult to be destroyed, I learned how ridiculously invulnerable they can be when I attempted to cut up my costume as an experiment.

[sleightofhans]

[While Ferran has given him a run down of the events he's missed, Hans isn't going to say no to another person's perspective. While missing a month isn't too long, it still feels weird to know that a chunk of time is gone from him.

At least he only missed a flower festival.]

Wow! That costume almost sounds like armor rather than a simple piece of fabric. Why were you trying to cut it apart?

[grandduchess_anya]

I was wondering how strong it can handle any kind of damages, so I ended up cutting my costume into pieces to see if it can regenerate from said damages. And sure enough, it restored itself moments after I had cut it up.

It must have been the dreamotion magic making them that strong.

[sleightofhans]

Perhaps it takes similar magic to break that regeneration, but I'm not entirely familiar with that specific skillset.

It would be useful to have that ability applied to clothes that you actually want to wear. You wouldn't have to worry about tears in your outfit.

Sender: Susato Mikotoba

[judicialassistant]

[ It's been a while. A lot has happened since Susato visited his house. There was a whole festival during which she became a princess, and then it was over, like a fleeting whirlwind.

Maybe it doesn't register right away, but eventually, she recognizes the name her hand lingers, as if she's about to turn the page.

And there's really only one person who would have informed him. ]

Hello, Prince Hans. Ferran was worried about you.

[ ...There's a pause, and she writes a little more. ]

Is Sitron alright? How are you feeling?

[sleightofhans]

[Mikotoba, huh? The name isn't familiar to Hans, but clearly, she's friends or at least acquaintances with Ferran.]

He certainly was, I hope I didn't cause him too much undue stress during my sleep.

Yes, Sitron is quite well, I truly owe my thanks to Ferran and anyone else that watched over him. He would've been lonely without anyone around to take care of him.

[...He actually does feel a little gratitude for people taking care of Sitron. It's easy to acknowledge that part.]

And I'm only slightly groggy, but in good health otherwise. Thank you for asking about me, that's quite kind of you.

[judicialassistant]

[ Look, he took her on a date, that officially qualifies her for the "friend" category, at least. ]

The least I can do is ask. It was Ferran who wrote to the whole community about your slumber, after all, but I suppose it is only fair. I admit, I had to come see for myself, if only because my father runs the community clinic here, and I thought he might be able to help.

[ She didn't touch anything. Much. Honest.

In fact, Ferran might have left him a dawn flower to add a little life to his place, and to ward off any potential nightmares. You can thank Susato for that, too. ]

[sleightofhans]

[Ah yes, Ferran deciding to tell everyone about his little deep slumber. He really was worried, wasn't he? ...Worried enough to watch over him every single day and take care of Sitron.]

Ah, so you actually came over while I was asleep? I'm sure Ferran appreciated having a friend over with him. I can't imagine that I was the best of company during that time.

Speaking of which, please accept my humble apologies for not being able to greet you properly.

sender: Beatrix

[roseofmay]

You live again, I see.

[That's it? That's it. Definitely not as if Beatrix was slightly worried or anything. No way.

...Well. Maybe just a little.]

[sleightofhans]

[Hans is actually a little surprised to see this message, but it quickly morphs into amusement. He may actually have some genuine positive feelings about this, but he's also been dealing with said Feelings way too much lately.]

Yes, just recently. I'm sorry if my absence worried you, Lady Beatrix. I hope you've been faring well this past month.

[roseofmay]

[Lady Beatrix.
There it is again. She chooses, for a multitude of reasons, to not even bother addressing that.]

I was not worried. Merely addressing the nature of your current condition. You have some practical value. It would be a shame if we were to be without that.

[That said...]

I am fine, thank you.

If you can spare the time, I should like to ask the experience of your sleep. Does not need to be this moment. If you know little, you are free to say that as well.

[sleightofhans]

[He can appreciate the blunt nature of her words. He may even find it charming, not that he'd say that to her face. He still values his health and life, after all.

As such, he decides to stop trying to tease her. Hans can pick on a multitude of other people still, and Ferran is also just a good backup for that.]

I'm certainly glad to hear of your good health.

Ah, yes, there's not much I can tell you about my sleep. As with any other sleep, pieces of my dreams remain, but even they are starting to fade as the day continues on. They have no real importance to anything here, just fantasies and the mundane mixed together.

I've been told that I didn't look any different while in this state, just completely oblivious to the world around me.

sender: Tifa Lockhart

[starshower]

Hans!

[It's been a while! She had no idea that he had been in any kind of sleep coma, but it's good to hear that he's awakened. Especially after what she's just experienced the last few days...]

Wondered why I haven't seen you around. How are you feeling?

[sleightofhans]

[The unicorn plush has been a topic of conversation in his home, and now he's talking to the person that gave it to him. He really should've just thrown that thing away, but.]

I'm faring well, thank you for asking. I'm only so fortunate that nothing happened to me while I was in such a vulnerable state.

[...That's maybe veering on something a little too honest.]

[starshower]

[Never throw away the unicorn plush. It's precious.]

I'm glad.

[Genuinely so. Even if she doesn't know him that well outside of the effects of those arrows, she's still happy to know that he woke up without issue...]

Can't imagine everyone would be nice enough to leave someone alone while they slept.

[Pranksters and the like.]

You mentioned a sleep coma? What was that like, if you don't mind me asking?

[sleightofhans]

[He decides not to mention that Ferran watched over him every day while he was asleep. Mostly because he doesn't want to get into that, and have feelings.]

Yes, that's right, but I'm afraid I won't be able to provide you with anything too interesting. It mostly felt like a normal sleep, perhaps slightly longer, but time wasn't something I could discern at all. It certainly didn't feel like a month had passed by and I can't remember most of it.

Even now, fragments of my dreams are leaving me.

Sender: Hunter

[hashtagwoof]

[ Oh, hey! It's the prince guy again!

... Should Hunter say anything to this guy? He did talk to that Ferran guy last month and...

...

Yeah, what the heck. ]

Dude, how'd you end up in a coma in the first place?

[sleightofhans]

[Because he's a shithead--]

It's entirely a mystery to me as well. One day I fell asleep, just like normal, and my body decided to sleep the entire month instead of a few hours. Quite a difference, if I say so myself.

[hashtagwoof]

[ Okay, if that's how we're gonna play... ]

OMG I thought you ate a poisoned apple and passed out! Glad to know you're just becoming more like a bear or something lol

[sleightofhans]

Oh, nothing of that sort. I would think I'd be in far more pain if I ate something poisonous. Or just dead.

And I don't believe I'm transforming into a bear. But I'm sure you'll hear from Ferran once more if I fall into another coma for a month.

Thank you for asking about my health, however. That's very kind. :)