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

[judicialassistant]

[ 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.

[sleightofhans]

[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.]

[judicialassistant]

[ 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. ]

[sleightofhans]

[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?

[judicialassistant]

[ 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?

[sleightofhans]

[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.]

[judicialassistant]

[ 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.

[sleightofhans]

[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.

[judicialassistant]

[ 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.

[sleightofhans]

[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.

1/2

[judicialassistant]

[ 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.

[judicialassistant]

. . . 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? ]

[sleightofhans]

[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.]

[judicialassistant]

...!

[ 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?

[sleightofhans]

[.....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.

[judicialassistant]

. . . 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?

[sleightofhans]

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.

[judicialassistant]

[ ...Hmmm.

Susato doesn't know what he could be talking about. If only she could understand horses as well as snakes! She sure looks happy though...and her age is showing. She isn't usually this playful... ]

He needs to learn how to keep a young maiden's secrets. And a young gentlemen's... so it would appear.

[sleightofhans]

[That cracks a small smile from him, genuinely looking amused by this.]

Are you suggesting that Sitron needs to be disciplined? You know, you aren't entirely incorrect about that. Perhaps I've spoiled him far too much in the past, letting him do as he please despite some unruly behavior.

[If a horse can look betrayed, Sitron certainly does now. What's worse is that he's being double teamed by the two people that he liked. Such a cruel world he lives in...]

[judicialassistant]

[ Poor Sitron... She was just kidding. She fluffs his mane a bit to hopefully convey the feeling. ]

Well, don't be too hard on him. Truth be told, I don't actually like keeping secrets, as a general rule.

If you truly wish to know my answer, I suppose there is no harm in telling you... [ While being Very Vague about it, at least. ]

[sleightofhans]

[Secrets are so much fun though... especially if they're the murdering kind. Unfortunately, he doesn't think that Susato has those sort of secrets, so he'll just have to settle for relationship deets. Well, at least she's doing a good job building tension for this and he genuinely wants to know.]

Please don't keep me further in suspense.

[Even Sitron seems interested in hearing her answer-- especially Sitron.]

[judicialassistant]

[ She's keeping secrets of the murdering kind. Does that count?

. . . On that note-- ]

Um. It's... someone I have known since I was very young. [ Try not to be too disappointed, Hans. ]

[sleightofhans]

[Hmmm, that's a little vague, but guess it's something. He'll take it and run with it for now, since he doubts he'll get an actual name.]

A childhood friend of yours? That's quite popular from what I hear, when people are free to choose who they want to be with. I find it charming, being with someone that you've known all your life.

[Certainly you can trust them, right? No secret attempted murders or anything right--]

No hidden surprises to watch out for.

[judicialassistant]

[ Internally, she might be screaming. Because there were surprises. Three-and-some years apart would do that to you, on top of her thinking he was dead for about half a year. But externally, she just chuckles with a slightly nervous edge. ]

N, No, none at all! Though I wonder if that makes me boring...

[ She's... predictable, isn't she?

She's just going to stew on that for a while while she thinks of what else she can say. Or ask. (Wasn't he supposed to be telling her something...?) ]

[sleightofhans]

There's nothing boring about true love.

[And that's what it is, right?? Hans wonders if she'd protest against the description, which would be something to poke at her for. If not, he can still tease her. He figures that he's putting her in a slightly awkward position either way.]