dreamcrystals | awakening;

Entry tags:

awakening;

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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Susato recognizes both of them, of course. Her expression seems to brighten at Sitron's excited neighing, and even the petals on her favorite sakura hairpin seem to glow as they catch the sunlight. Over time, perhaps, Susato has lost some of her formality, but seeing Prince Hans bow, it is all too easy to fall into her usual good habits.

She curtsies in return. ]

Hello! It is a pleasure to see you up and about. I see you've managed to get the flowers out of his mane.

[ A bit of a laugh as she reaches out to give him some well-deserved pets. He didn't think she forgot, did he? ]

Thank you, I'm certainly grateful to be up and about now... and with a healthy Sitron by my side. You truly have my gratitude.

[Sitron happily accepts these free pets though, lowering his head just slightly so that she can easily give him more if wanted.]

If there's anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask.

[ Susato does keep it up for a while, but she knows what Sitron really wants. Once there's an acceptable break in the pettings, she will of course untie the ribbon on the bag, pulling out the first of the many carrots before offering some to Prince Hans as well. ]

Well, perhaps you would do me the pleasure of visiting the Wild Harvest sometime. But until you do, please enjoy the carrots from our garden. Both of you.

[ She holds the first carrot out to Sitron, expecting him to chomp it immediately. ]

[He takes a few of the offered carrots, before placing them in the bag that's hanging off Sitron's saddle, although he saves one for himself. They'll be good snacks for Sitron later... or perhaps they can be used for cooking. He's still working on making decent dishes, even though he can always get food from various restaurants here without any concern.]

The Wild Harvest... I believe I've passed by that establishment a few times in the past, but I have yet to venture inside. I'd be happy to sit down and eat, although, are you sure that's all you want from me?

[And as expected, Sitron takes a sizeable bite out of the carrot. Friendship ended with Hans, Susato is now his best friend.]

[ As she should be! Hans was supposed to feed him some too, but Susato is more than happy to do all this hard work. She watches as Sitron chews happily, distantly considering the way he seems to insist.

She really doesn't feel like she's done much to deserve any favors, but... ]

Well... do you think he would let me ride him?

[ Does that count? It's tecnically something she wants from Sitron, but it probably counts. ]

[Ah, that's an easily repaid favor. He has no problems with this.]

I don't see why not.

[He looks over at his faithful steed, watching how he's happily munching on the carrot that Susato has fed him. Huh, Sitron really seems pleased by all this....]

Are you okay with this, Sitron?

[The answering neigh is a solid approval, no debate there.] It seems that he's on board with this as well.

[ She knew she could count on Sitron! It's not like she's gotten to do a whole lot of outdoorsy activities until... well, recently, so she looks rather excited. At the same, she knows nothing about riding a horse, so she can only help she won't fall and make a fool out of herself.

She'll make sure the carrots are either gone or safely stored inside the satchel for later before giving Sitron a pat on his saddle. ]

Why, thank you! [ If she falls, just leave her, OK? OK. ] Maybe just a scenic walk along the lakeshore, then. Will you help me up?

[He offers a hand to Susato, pulling all the stops to present himself as a noble prince. He remembers the possible worth of her last name now, and how there's definitely a solid chance that she's connected to one Yujin Mikotoba, the person that talked about forming a council here in the future.

So, it wouldn't hurt to be nice to her.]

It'd be my honor.

[ Wow, chivalry isn't dead??? Well, he is nobility, after all, and she did ask. Despite that, Susato seems to hesitate for a second, but she'll take his hand and mount herself atop Sitron, with all the grace of a slightly wobbly doll.

It's fine. She seems delighted once she's found her place! As they trot along, she's looking at the back of Sitron's head, trying to keep balance. ]

Ah! Actually... I did remember something else I wanted to ask you.

[Please don't fall, Susato... Hans would have to put in extra effort not to laugh and that's exhausting.]

Please, ask away. I don't imagine any question you'd have would be too personal, right?

[Hans asks that in a light, almost teasing sort of tone. But really, he thinks he'll be able to answer whatever inquiry she may have. She seems to be a rather polite and formal type herself, along with being kind.]

[ She wouldn't have even blamed him if he laughed in that case. She'd still be embarrassed, of course, but... ]

O, Oh, no! Well... I suppose... that depends...?

[ Certainly not anything of the nature of what she asked a Certain Gossip some months ago, but still. ]

I was just wondering about the unicorn plush we found, and... and where you may have gotten it.

[ Hans may or may not have woken up with the plush in his arms, depending on whether Ferran or another visitor moved it. ]

[Of all the things to be asked... he really should've just thrown that thing away. To this day, he's not sure what possessed him to keep it, especially since he and Tifa aren't close at all. Sure, he had to take it at that time to be polite, but nothing stopped him from throwing it away once he got home.

And now he has to give a suitable answer for it.]

Hm? Oh that plush?

[Hans actually takes a moment, like he's trying to figure out the best way to answer this. He usually has quick responses for everything, but.]

Lady Tifa gave it to me as a token of appreciation. Perhaps not quite my style, but who am I to deny a present that brings me no harm?

[ Susato held tightly onto the reigns, though Hans is probably still the one doing the heavy lifting when it came to keeping Sitron in line. They start to walk, and it may not have quite the same atmosphere as the town did during the flower festival, she can still appreciate fresh air.

She glances at him briefly for his reaction, but her luckily for Hans, her mind-reading ability is not quite literally... or at the very least, seems to be selectively active. (Rude, sir.) ]

That's sweet. I'm sure it was well-earned... What did you do for her?

[So, does he give her the long story or the short one? Well, the long version involves him being slightly terrible, so it's best if he just sticks with the short one. Easy decision there.

He returns an easy smile, as if he has no problems talking about love and romance.]

Actually, I was helping her pick out a present for her significant other. She truly wanted to get him something nice and I was somehow able to assist her. I'm not the best when it comes to romantic relationships, so I'm glad I was able to help.

[Turns out, leaving someone to die ruins the mood a lot.]

[ It's probably a really good thing he stuck to the short version. Susato finds no reason to question it, either, and Sitron doesn't seem intent on ratting him out. Wins all around. ]

I see.

[ Significant other? Ah... doesn't she have one of those now...? The idea lightly tugs at the back of her mind. That's two in the "not the best at romantic relationships" category... Well... 3? ]

That makes more sense than my initial guess. I thought you had a daughter.

[Daughter............

Hans makes a small noise, a little indescribable in its tone. Does he give the impression that he'd have a child by now? Or is that unicorn plush that impressionable? He can't imagine having a little runt running around, not until he's the king of a kingdom.]

Oh, nothing of that sort. [If his voice sounds slightly strained, forgive him. Also, ignore Sitron that may have laughed a little, mostly at his master's expense.]

I've still yet to find someone to marry and that must come first for me.

Edited 2022-05-30 04:54 (UTC)

[ It's tough without seeing Sitron's ~~Dreamworks~~ face! She's a little alarmed by his little neigh, and luckily this outweighs Hans own noise in response. She calms as quickly as Sitron does, though. And Hans would probably not have been surprised to know Ferran reacted similarly. ]

Ah. [ In a way, she... doesn't know what to say to that. She simply steadies herself as they continue on. She doesn't know him very well, but she doesn't see any reason why he should have any trouble in the marriage department. She might be a little surprised, but she hasn't give it much thought herself.

... ]

Where I am from, there is omiai. Not quite an arranged marriage, but it is comparable to... "matchmaking," where a man and a woman are introduced to each other with the explicit possibility of marriage. It was first practiced among samurai, I think. That I remember, it was mainly to strengthen military alliances among warlords, and maintain moral support.

...I don't know whether I was fortunate or not... that my family never considered such a thing.

[He wonders briefly how his life might have played out if he was born as a mere commoner. Such an idea is hard to really consider, as he was born and raised to rule over others. Perhaps he'd hate that even more than his current situation.

It's pointless to think about such things anyway.]

I may not have heard of that term specifically, but such a concept isn't foreign to me. It's actually quite common for kingdoms to marry off their children to other members of royalty, either to establish alliances or quell rising tensions.

[......]

You're uncertain about your fortune in this matter? I thought many would want to choose their own person to marry.

[ As a noble, wouldn't he have been a part of this custom? She looks at him curiously for a moment, though it's not like she can argue the point. She can only assume that he considers himself one of the many. ]

It's true. But... in a way, it does simplify things, to have the decision made for you.

[ Don't have to worry about feelings, whether he actually likes you or not, whether you actually like him-- ]

As a woman, perhaps I am simply used to that.

. . . A, Anyway, it is not as though I am in a rush to marry.

[ Hans didn't seem too worried about it either, did he? ]

[Guess he can see the appeal in a way. If he was married off to a kingdom without his input, things wouldn't be so complicated. Heh, he'd probably be in a better position than his current one, not that it's hard to do that. He'll probably be jailed or something; he still doesn't know what his family plans to do with him once he returns home.

Although, if he was forcibly married, maybe he'd just try to kill the king and queen in his new home. Who knows.]

Certainly easier, but would it make you happy? [What's happiness anyway though.]

No rush at all? No one in your life has caught your interest?

[Spill the tea, Susato. Especially about yourself.]

...!

[ She straightens her back, perking up suddenly. Any thoughts given to what might make her happy, gone as soon as they form. ]

N, No rush. [ She parrots him, though she of course, quite notably, does not answer the second leg of that question right away. Somehow she suspects that Prince Hans is not really interested, anyway... (but who knows.) ] . . . What about you? Would you say you are actively, um... looking?

[.....So she probably likes someone, given that reaction. Perhaps he should leave it alone, that would be the princely thing to do, but also he could poke at her because he can. He has no real use for this probably, but it's not like he's trying to take over a kingdom here; he has time to bother people.]

If you answer the second half of my question, I'll answer yours. You have my word that I won't say anything.

. . . That's not fair. I could likely guess at your answer.

[ But then again, he probably also knows her answer, too. It's none of his business, but she doesn't exactly have a reason to lie, and it's not like she is ashamed.

She can still put off answering him, though. Her entire demeanor seems to lighten as she brushes Sitron's mane idly with her hand. ]

Or Sitron would tell me. Wouldn't you, Sitron?

Perhaps I'd surprise you, Lady Mikotoba.

[And before he can pester her more about the subject, Sitron, the traitor, neighs in agreement to Susato's question. Wow, he sees how it is. There's only room for one backstabbing POS around here and he's already taken that slot, thank you. Sitron is just Not Allowed.]

He's quite a treacherous creature, isn't he? I don't understand where he got that behavior.

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