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Post by Jasper Rost on Mar 7, 2023 17:41:24 GMT -5
Jasper frowned when the woman simply walked away from the table without even addressing Hunt. But, he supposed she thought he was working. It wouldn't be safe for a guard to get drunk on the job. When the man refused to sit down the Prince let out a soft sigh. "There's this....rather handsome gentleman I've been trying to talk with I wanted to see here." Perhaps that was laying it on a bit thick. But what else was the Prince expected to do? "He seems to be avoiding me though. I think he doesn't like me." The woman returned rather quickly with his ale and a bright smile. "Anything else I can get you, Sir?"
"Another ale and a plate of crisps, please." She blinked in confusion at the request for another ale but nodded and moved away again none the less. Jasper grabbed his drink with a soft sigh. " He won't even sit with me." He looked up at the man as he spoke. Jasper wasn't sure what he'd done personally to upset the scout. Or was it perhaps just because he was the Prince of a different country? He wasn't sure.
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Exile
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Taknieri
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Post by Hunt Valier on Mar 7, 2023 17:59:01 GMT -5
The captain weathered the Prince's frown, this time not hesitating to meet his gaze, almost challenging him. Hunt wasn't being impolite. Far from it. But he certainly wasn't behaving how the man wanted and he knew it. Rather than get a rise out of him though, his goal was to get him to leave him alone.
The man's words were a bit thick, but Hunt didn't initially catch on, still vainly hoping he was a mere distraction and not the objective. He grunted softly, not particularly interested in addressing that man's personal problems. Especially as he understood this was a social call. And not one for a woman. As he ordered a second drink, Hunt narrowed his eyes. Oh, so this was still about him.
"That seems a bold assumption of this gentleman's opinion. Perhaps, Your Highness, this is less about you and merely a stance he takes with everyone for his own protection." Hunt offered, still content to lean against the wall and keep the distance between them. He cradled his wrist carefully, grimacing. He was only half telling the truth. He did have a specific problem with the man. But it wasn't his fault.
Hunt continued to meet his gaze as the woman returned and deposited a second drink and a plate of something he was unfamiliar with. It smelled fried and salty and terrible. Still, it was the Prince's miserable puppy expression that made him difficult to resist. He glanced up and down the aisle, most of the nearby tables vacant. "What do you want from me?" He demanded flatly, notably without any honorific attached. None of this dancing about the subject. "Why me?" Perhaps that was the more important question.
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Post by Jasper Rost on Mar 7, 2023 18:46:09 GMT -5
When he said that the stance was perhaps one he took for everyone that was a bit more understanding. Especially after seeing how he was treated by other soldiers he was supposed to fight along side with. He could understand the man being cautious of people's intentions. Finding it safer to be alone rather than let someone in. Jasper had a similar philosophy but Hunt hadn't seemed interested in his wealth or status like others were. He wasn't even pining after to be his Warden. "If that were the case I suppose I could understand it a bit more." He said as he continued to meet the man's gaze. Just happy he wasn't trying to avoid his eyes for once.
Then he asked the question Jasper had been expecting. "I don't know." He answered honestly with a shrug. There were many answers to that question he could give. Something to do with the Prince's loneliness. How he felt like perhaps Hunt could understand him. "You aren't after my wealth, my status, my throne." At least as far as he could tell. Had he not pursued the man the Prince was certain they never would have interacted again. He could have very well just left him with the medic or not intervened on the fight at all. It wasn't as if he was obligated to. And he was certain the scout would have been happier for it.
"Is it so wrong of me to want to talk to someone? Person to person." That's all Jasper wanted. Hunt seemed like one of the rare few that didn't care about his status. Was it so bad that he wanted to hold onto that? But as he told the man earlier, he wouldn't hold him hostage.
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Exile
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Taknieri
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Post by Hunt Valier on Mar 7, 2023 20:58:21 GMT -5
Expecting any sort of answer was a fool's errand and the Prince did not disappoint. Hunt sighed, reaching up to run his hand through his hair, establishing a bit more order to the mess. Whatever he wanted, he didn't know either. But he wasn't going to find it here. He snorted as the Prince finally arrived at the same conclusion.
Yet he had followed him here. He supposed, maybe, he did understand, as much as he would continue to deny it. Hunt had the rotten luck of being shoved into the Prince's life at just the moment where the man found himself wanting. This had nothing to do with who Hunt was and everything to do with the Prince. It was a relief, in a way.
The captain shook his head at the lack of answer, grumbling to himself in Taknieri about how he wasn't sure what else he had expected. "No, Your Highness. It is not wrong of you," he said softly as he looked away again. Insisted almost. Because while he could tell the man was trying to make a joke, he could tell how real that pain in his voice was. How desperate was his need to be seen as human. He grimaced and sat down across from the man, stiffly, rearranging his cloak and sword and still keenly aware of movement beyond their table. "What do you wish to talk to this gentleman about? Person to person?" He echoed, frown not leaving his face. Just because he was seated, did not mean he was enthusiastic. But he was here.
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Post by Jasper Rost on Mar 7, 2023 21:15:35 GMT -5
Jasper just wanted to be seen as a man. Even if just for a little bit. Not the Prince. Not Harlan Rost's son. Not the future King of Manthir. Just a man. He ached for companionship. Real companionship. He'd had it very few times in his life. Pearce was the first. There was the girl he was betrothed to, they got on quiet well. But even they still saw him for his title. The Viscount so rarely even used his actual name. And his fiancee loved to bring up how he would one day be King. That wasn't what he wanted. There was this hole, this seemingly bottomless void, that he'd been so desperate to fill.
When the man finally sat down the Prince couldn't help the way he smiled. The warmth in his eyes as he watched the scout settle into the seat across from him. Like an excited pup, if he had a tail it would have been wagging. Still, he contained the majority of his excitement by reaching out to grab a few of the greasy, delicious, horrible for you crips that he'd ordered. Luckily they were still fairly hot. When asked what he would as the gentleman he thought while he chewed.
"Lot's of things. What's his favorite color? The food he misses most from his home? Does he hate this bloody cold as much as I do?" He chuckled a bit as he took more of the food. Jasper didn't realize he was as hungry as he was.
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Exile
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Post by Hunt Valier on Mar 7, 2023 21:28:42 GMT -5
The scout was certain if the Prince was a puppy, his tail would be wagging incessantly. Luckily Hunt was a dog person, even if he was poised more like a large cat.
He hardly glanced at the food. The smell alone made him grimace. Not that there were not plenty of fried foods in Taknier but whatever this was cooked in he wasn't so sure about. The Prince ate like a starving man and Hunt nudged the plate closer to him. As for the drink, he wasn't sure yet.
He snorted. "He supposes he is partial to blue." Classic kingdom colors, not very personal. "Raw fish. Dumplings. Not whatever this passes for," he gestured dismissively. "Taknieri is...much colder most places, as Your Highness knows. The capital is nearly always blanketed in snow."
"Do you have a favorite color? I believe I know your favorite food," he noted dryly.
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Post by Jasper Rost on Mar 7, 2023 21:43:19 GMT -5
If he was being honest part of Jasper hadn't expected him to answer. Whether he was being sincere or just humoring him it hardly mattered. This was the first time the man had engaged in a casual conversation and the Prince was hardly one to look a gift horse in the mouth. As the food was nudged closer to him he snorted a bit but continued eating anyway. Luckily for Hunt the Prince was rather partial to the aloof nature of cats himself. "I think blue would look rather dashing on him." He said with that same warm smile. Though whether or not Taknier was colder hadn't been the question. He knew which country was colder. But he decided not to push.
"Actually, these are not my favorite." He said before stuffing three more in his mouth. "Just a guilty pleasure." He chuckled before taking a sip of his own ale. "No my favorite food was something I used to share with the late Prince of Taknier." The warmth that had been in his eyes a moment ago faded a bit thinking about him. The other Prince had been one of the only people that really understood Jasper. That knew the struggles and what it was like wanting to have a normal life while also caring about his kingdom. "It was this....soup I think it was." He looked down at the table to remember the last time he'd eaten it with the other man.
"It was served with this still steaming, nearly boiling hot broth with these thin slices of raw meat that would be cooked by the broth and there were these noodles in it and it had this array of vegetables to add." He still wasn't sure if it was the food he'd enjoyed or just the company that made the memory of the food so amazing. His smile turned sad for a moment before Jasper pulled himself out of his memory and turned his attention back to the plate in front of him. "But I haven't had a chance to have it in ages." He said with a chuckle.
"My favorite color is a tie between deep green and lilac."
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Post by Hunt Valier on Mar 7, 2023 22:00:15 GMT -5
There were those words again. Dashing. Handsome. Hunt was quickly getting the implication that not only was the Prince of specific tastes, but he was one of them. He continued to push the implications away, however. As nice as it was to be found interesting in such a way, that was far from acceptable on any level. The Prince could allow himself such freedoms, but Hunt didn't dare allow them of himself. Not because he didn't want the same, but it was so ingrained at this point that he ignored it. It took effort, but that was normal. He didn't begin to allow himself to look at the Prince the way the man looked at him.
Hunt shifted his gaze from the aisle back to the Prince as he explained this was just a pleasure food. He didn't particularly care but the mam had him here for conversation after all. Whether he gave decent answers, he did pay half attention.
The mention of his own late royal made his eyes tighten. He leaned back from the table and looked at the aisle again. He whispered softly in Taknieri: "May the wind guide His steps." As one did of dead royals or a close friend. Hearing the way the Prince spoke did not help. He bit back the name of what the man wanted to say. It was not a surprised they shared an association. He wanted nothing of that revelation, however.
"Better than the…stew or whatever you call it here." Noodles were always served heavy and rice…he'll he missed rice. Boiled eggs. Bamboo. All the array of spices only considered a delicacy here. "I imagine your palace chef could make a passable recreation," he said distractedly.
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Post by Jasper Rost on Mar 8, 2023 0:33:01 GMT -5
Thinking about the late Prince always made Jasper's chest feel tight. Like someone had gripped his heart and lungs as hard as they could and wouldn't let go. The man had been the first person he ever had any real feelings for. Not that those feelings ever went anywhere for a number of reasons. One of which being how strict Taknier was on their policy for same sex relationships. To this day he was convinced it had been just a young boy crush but at the time it had consumed him.
Beyond his romantic feelings for the man though they had been friends. Very good friends. They'd spent as much time possible together, wrote letters to each other when Jasper had to return home. The man had been one of the biggest reasons he'd always wanted to go back to Taknier. Just to spend a moment of time with him. Losing him had been losing a piece of himself. Not that he'd ever publicly shown that. The only person who even knew a fraction of his pain had been Pearce in a letter he'd sent about how much losing such a close friend made it feel like he couldn't breathe.
The comment that a chef here could make a fairly passable recreation made Jasper shake his head. "It wouldn't be the same." Not without him. "Besides if I'm going to eat something I want the real thing, not something that could be mistaken for it." He nudged the plate a little closer to Hunt. "I promise these are good though."
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Exile
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Post by Hunt Valier on Mar 8, 2023 0:49:13 GMT -5
Hunt didn't like thinking about the First Prince or the Third Prince for that matter. Of course he was still determined to find out what had happened to the man and would stand by the actions that had gotten him exiled, but that was neither here nor there. He'd decided he would never fill that hole and it was best to ignore it.
The corner of his mouth curled into the faintest smile and then faded as the man continued. The real thing, not something that could be mistaken for it. That hit home more than it should have. He steeled himself again, glancing back at the table at the sound of the plate scrapping along it. His nose wrinkled faintly but he reached out and picked one up.
"And you call this garbage what, exactly? Oh, excuse me, I meant 'delicacy.' Sometimes my Imperial is...not so good," he feigned. But he relented and took the morsel in his mouth, gagging slightly at how salty it was. But he supposed it wasn't terrible. Hunt took the ale after a moment and washed his mouth out. "Liar," he coughed.
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Post by Jasper Rost on Mar 8, 2023 1:06:51 GMT -5
Jasper shared a similar idea. He wanted to find out who took his friend away from him. Though he wouldn't forgive them he wanted to hear them beg for it. The Prince was not normally a very angry or vengeful man. He preferred to let things go and move on with his life. But this? This wasn't something he could let go. Some monster had taken someone very precious away from him and he would make sure they paid for it.
Watching the corners of the mans lips curl though make the Prince smile. It was the first time he'd seen Hunt even give the faintest sign of happiness since they'd met. But he didn't say anything. He didn't want to ruin the moment by pointing out something so small. Even if it felt relatively big.
Watching him gag at the taste of the food though made Jasper laugh. The sound bounced off the walls around them in the small space. His eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh come now it's not that bad." He insisted through a small fit of giggles. As if to prove his point he reached over to grab another and popped it in his mouth. It was greasy and salty and everything wrong and delicious with good drinking food. "What's a guilty pleasure food for you then, hm?"
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Post by Hunt Valier on Mar 8, 2023 1:34:28 GMT -5
Although not beyond the capacity for joy and happiness, the scout didn't particularly channel either emotion. Of course he had always been that way. More serious and stern and a little sad. But he supposed he had lost some of his old playfulness. Losing friends and family and his entire home tended to do that to a person.
Even had the man answered him, Bunt wouldn't have heard it. While the Prince broke out into a fit of giggles, Hunt barely got his breath back. The drink helped, but even after a second swallow he still wheezed and coughed. This had nothing to do with the taste so much as whatever it was cooked in. He pressed his hands to the table and tried to relax even as his throat constricted and he couldn't breathe.
Ignoring his company, the captain pushed himself up from the table and into the wall, wincing at the pressure to his wrist. Thankfully the rear exit was only a few steps away. Hunt staggered past a waitress and slammed through the door into the cooler evening air in the back alley. Relax. Breathe. It will pass. Relax. He repeated to himself, doing his best not to panic as he leaned against a wall, taking some comfort in the cold stone against his hands.
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Post by Jasper Rost on Mar 8, 2023 1:43:59 GMT -5
His laughter halted as he noticed the sudden color change in the mans face. "Hunt?" He asked in deep concern. As soon as the man stood from the table and stumbled off Jasper was quick on his heels. He ignored the serving girl as he followed after the man and found him outside. "What's wrong? What can I do to help?" He'd seen this once or twice before. The way a person wheezed for air like they couldn't get enough of it. The way their face changed color. How their face and throat seemed to swell up. He still wasn't sure what was going on.
"Do I need to get a medic again?" He didn't have a soldier to go fetch one this time and they were a little farther from the post than they had been before. But the Prince wasn't sure what to do. He wasn't even sure if the man could talk to him or not. He wasn't even sure what caused this to happen. The crisps? They were just made of potatoes. Was it what they were fried in?
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Post by Hunt Valier on Mar 8, 2023 2:02:37 GMT -5
The cold air helped. Not for breathing exactly but it was a shock he needed to help think straight. He cooled the temperature of his hand with his magic, pressing it to his forehead and then his throat gently. Mostly as a comfort than any real help. Relax. It's not that bad. Considering how minor amount he had eaten, he knew it would pass quickly enough. That didn't change his body's natural over-reaction.
The Prince when unnoticed at first, but he did hear his question about a medic. He shook his head slowly. "No," he wheezed, still struggling for air. Hunt could tell the man was worried and he was very nearly touched. Except he didn't want to be. This was a stupid attachment to be fostering. He turned to put his back to the wall, sliding against it until he was sitting on the damp stones, looking up at the dark sky and continuing to wheeze and try not to pass out. He at least had his panic under control, if not his airway.
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Post by Jasper Rost on Mar 8, 2023 2:15:02 GMT -5
He didn't want a medic. But should he go get one anyway? Jasper didn't want to leave the man alone like this. But what if it got worse? He chewed on his bottom lip nervously and watched as the man placed his hands on his forehead and throat. He knew Taknieri could cool or heat up their bodies. Was the cold helping? As the man slid down and sat on the cold damp stones the Prince took a deep breath. He hated the bloody cold.
Still, he moved to stand next to the scout and slid down the wall to sit next to him. The dampness of the stones soaked through his pants quickly. The cold stabbed against his ass like needles and made him shiver as he watched his breath puff out in smoke in the air in front of him. He placed his hands under his arms to keep his fingers warm as he tried not to focus on the cold. Thankfully most of his body remained warm with his furs and coat. His butt however was not so protected. He didn't know what was happening or how long it would take to pass.
Still, he stayed quiet next to him. If just to let Hunt focus on his breathing and making himself better. However he needed to do it. But he still wanted the man to know he was there with him if he needed him.
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