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[ When Susato woke up that morning, it was not unlike any other nightmare she's ever had. It's not as though she's been a stranger to the theme of ice in her nightmares either as of late, so she doesn't think anything of the shivers that followed her throughout the day.

The week-long lapse likely helped. The feeling of betrayal is far less intense now, though seeing his message still comes as a shock. It takes a moment before she knows how to respond. ]

I will be free shortly. [ She doesn't even know how to address him anymore. Should she still call him Prince? Maybe that dream was just that, but she doesn't think it's a coincidence, combined with what he said on the moon. ] Where would you like to meet?

[It's been tempting to just leave all of this alone, but letting this fester is not something that he's willing to chance. While he's not worried that she's going to tell everyone about their shared dream, Hans would rather deal with this now on his own terms than meeting her unexpectedly at some point.

No, that's definitely not appealing.]

Wherever's most comfortable for you, I'd be willing to meet you there.

[ Her first thought is that it should be somewhere open. The market, perhaps. The Dream board has also made for fantastic landmark in the past, but Susato realizes that she doesn't have to decide right now. ]

I'll be outside the Harvest in about ten minutes.

[ Until then, she'll go about her usual routine. Dusting, sweeping, mopping, cleaning...

It's a lot, but she's a punctual girl. She won't be "late," though who knows where Hans might be coming from. Does he even know where it is? ]

[Hans is never the type to be late, and so as ten minutes closes in, Hans appears in view with that ever present smile on him. Guess he didn't get lost along the way, but there's an edge of concern that takes a hold of him as he stands before Susato, his smiling disappearing altogether.

He briefly wonders if she sees right through him now, but he'll keep this up until she pushes that subject.]

Susato... how are you?

[While maintaining that worry, his eyes search hers as if trying to gauge her reaction.]

[ Ah, so he does know. When he sees Susato, he reaction is a neutral one, neither antagonizing nor overly friendly. He may or may not be happy to see that her hair is all dark and perfectly natural once more. ]

Well enough as of late. Yours isn't the first nightmare I've wandered into without meaning to.

...But is that truly what you came to ask about?

[It would be rather foolish to believe that his nightmare was the first one she's been a part of, although, he wonders if this is the first time she's died in one. A rather callous question to ask, however, so Hans keeps his thoughts to himself for the time being. Besides, it's not something he really needs to know right now.]

Of course... I was worried about your health after that nightmare. I know our injuries don't carry over, but it must've been frightening still. I wish to extend my deepest apologies about that.

[Hans places a hand against his stomach and bows slightly to her.]

[ Even though everything about this feels wrong, it is hard not to soften at the sight of his bow. She wants to believe that he is being sincere, that his dream was just that and nothing more. She sighs softly, trying to shake this feeling that she is somehow giving into him. ]

In the end, I suppose you've saved me the effort of reaching out to you.

[ Would she have, eventually? No way of knowing now. ]

So... will you tell me how much of it was true?

[Hans straightens himself as Susato continues speaking, eventually reaching the question that he's been well-prepared for. Well, at least the question he's been expecting since the dream ended. It's what he would've asked if he died in such a manner in someone's dream. As such, he takes on a sympathetic expression, his hands clasped in front of him.]

It's the least I can do... what would you like to know first? A lot happened there.

[ She pauses to consider. A lot did happen, and she wonders if she should they should be sitting down for this conversation, but she won't wait for that. She's always been direct, and not one to shy away from difficult topics. ]

Well, that I am aware, your title is still 'prince,' not 'king.' So...

Is it too naïve of me to hope that the ice queen of your world still lives?

[The same pleasant expression remains on Hans' face, although there's a flicker of something that passes through, but it doesn't last long. The only thing that's changed is the slight decrease in temperature, but it's not too cold just yet.]

It's not naïve at all, as the ice queen still lives and rules over Arendelle with her sister. Both of them are in perfect health.

[He looks like he's telling the truth, but he always seems sincere.] I'm merely a prince from the Southern Islands.

[ He seems sincere, but he always has. Susato appears subtly relieved, like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, but it is too early to say. If they still live, then he isn't a murderer as the whispers said, but perhaps there's still something more sinister behind the way the dream manifested.

At the drop in temperature, Susato finds her arms wrapping around herself slightly without realizing it, however subtle. ]

I see. Then what happened to me didn't... [ She shivers. For a moment, she can see the surface of the lake once again, from underneath, where she was trapped. Frozen.

She trails off. ]

You said Princess Anna did not scream.

[He notices the slight chill that's crept on her and normally he'd offer her his jacket, but perhaps that can wait until a little later, especially as her next comments give him pause. Ah, so it's come to this, not that he's surprised. Still, it takes the prince a moment, as if trying to decide how to phrase his next words.]

...She didn't.

[If he really wanted to, he can probably make some elaborate lie about all this. About why he knows what he does, but he's slowly working on the honesty thing. And the guilt bit. Maybe he's not fully there yet, but Hans is trying now.]

The ice consumed her, but luckily for her, it soon melted after the curse was broken. It's why she's alive and well.

Edited 2022-10-17 17:50 (UTC)

[ She can sense that he is trying. Does it take more effort for him to tell the truth, or concoct elaborate lies, she wonders? He did say something about that in the dream. The curse. It should have been broken with the death of the ice queen, but since the ice queen lived... ]

H, How... did she break the curse?

[ Wait, no. They talked about this, too...? ]

You mentioned a legend. Some sort of... "act of true love?"

Edited (i had reread our thread a bit oops) 2022-10-22 03:09 (UTC)

[He knows where this conversation is going. It's possible that he can get himself out of it still, make an elaborate lie to free himself of this crime, but Hans finds himself having little interest in doing so. He can't wholly explain it, even if Susato ends up punching him or telling others about what he's really like.

Maybe people should know, although Hans isn't racing to tell everyone what he's done either.]

Yes, Princess Anna performed an 'act of true love' towards her sister... by saving her life at the cost of her own.

[It sounds a little confusing, but Hans isn't lying. He smiles at Susato.] Quite noble of her, wouldn't you agree?

[ Yeah, it's definitely confusing. Susato is visibly trying to wrap her head around the events as Hans describes them. So much so that she doesn't even end up answering his question. Perhaps she recognizes his attempt to distract, or perhaps the question just didn't process in the first place. ]

So... When the ice consumed her, Princess Anna actually died... [ When said aloud, it makes sense. It is spoken like a realization, though Susato continues almost seamlessly. "Saving her life" is pretty vague. ] What did she do?

[Hans lets out a sigh, almost hoping that she'd figure it out, but he knows that he's been almost cryptic about all this. The prince drops all proper formality and looks at her with a serious expression, his face nearly cold. He still isn't quite sure if guilt is something he feels about all this, maybe he never will, despite having some second thoughts about becoming a king.]

I was hoping that I wouldn't have to speak so plainly about it, Susato.

[Maybe he can dance around the truth for just a little longer, but why prolong the inevitable?]

She turned to ice in front of her sister, just as I was about to kill her.

[ Should she have been able to figure it out...? Perhaps if she'd been able to spend a little more time with him, and gotten to know him even an inkling. Susato feels all the air leave her lungs suddenly, though the initial shock does not last long. Everything appears to fall into place, from their time on the moon, and his dream. ]

You...

[ ......He failed in the end. He was spared that burden of becoming a murderer. Lucky him. ]

Was the crown that important to you?

I hope you wouldn't think I'd try and murder people for fun. I'm not that heartless, I'd hope.

[If there are ways to make this conversation go down better, this isn't one of them, especially since he's talking about a rather serious matter with a rather blasé attitude. However, he eventually sobers up, but who knows how much guilt he actually feels about this.]

The crown was the only goal that's ever mattered to me.

[ ...No. No, he failed to kill the queen, but the death of the Princess would still be on his hands. Yet the curse was undone, and they both lived... Susato looks rather outwardly conflicted, not at all helped by his blasé attitude. There are many things she could say here. About power, about corruption, about greed, about justice.

In the end, however, only one word comes out, spoken in a small voice laced with disbelief. ]

...Why?

[He wonders if his answer really matters, would she forgive him if his reason was more 'understanding?' Maybe? He can't predict that. However, he doesn't intend to lie now of all times.]

I'm a prince, raised to be a king since I was young, but everyone knew that I wouldn't ever get that chance normally. So, I thought I'd make my own path to succession, even if it wasn't my own kingdom.

[It's as simple as that, without getting too much into the details. Hans tits his head at her, almost as if he's gauging her reaction, but it's mostly for show.]

Or did you want to hear a different answer, Susato? To make you feel less betrayed by my comments?

[ Is there even an answer that would make her feel less betrayed? Is there an answer that makes this okay? If there is, she can't think of one. All she can do is quietly shake her head. It seems he is just like the nobles back in Great Britain. Been a while since she'd been forced to think about them. ]

I would rather hear that you regret what you did. That you've changed.

...But I don't expect you to insult me by saying so now.

Oh, but I've changed for the better--

[Hans cuts himself short, however, his placid smile disappearing before this charade goes any further. He won't insult her by doing that and it's not worth that effort.]

...Would you believe me if I said I've tried feeling regret for what happened? But the most I can manifest is regretting that I didn't succeed. [Hans doesn't look especially proud by that admission, a small exhale leaving him as he draws his eyes elsewhere.]

Or sometimes I think about how I could've chosen a different goal. Living life here, where it's been mundane, hasn't been terrible.

[ Susato stares at him before he cuts himself short, as if daring him to finish that sentence. He doesn't; and once that smile disappears, she gets the sense that he is being honest with her for the first time. Even if she no longer sees him the same way... she wonders if her father would judge her for taking comfort in that. ]

You would not be the first to change their goals because of this place. Perhaps... that's a line of thinking you should follow.

[ There is a pause as Susato allows those words to hang in the air... ]

What would you have chosen?

[On one hand, Susato hasn't gotten too upset with him. Oh, she's definitely not pleased, but her reaction could've been far worse. Guess he'll keep going then, it's not often he can speak so honestly.]

Who knows? Maybe I would've taken a ship to a faraway country, living a life entirely separate from what my family wanted of me.

[Maybe it'd be a 'screw you' to them, but it's just as likely that they wouldn't care. Be relieved, even. Why give them that satisfaction?]

But maybe I'd regret it within a few days, and that I really should've tried again to find a kingdom to take over. Except with far less mistakes on my end.

[ What his family expected... She can almost feel the weight behind those words. It doesn't sound like he's changed though, no. He says he has tried feeling regret for what he did, but who knows if this attempt was even genuine. Meanwhile, someone like Kazuma has to stew in guilt.

It isn't fair. ]

Did you ever face justice?

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