w4 curfew | discount tavern (karaoke)

[halians]

cute image to be replaced by something shitposty inevitably

also its discount bc we're not as cute </3

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[halians]

[ hi. strohl's here, sitting on one of the couches - he's taken off his coat and folded it under hulkenberg's head wherever she's decided to settle down for the evening, and is sitting with one leg jittering, trying actively not to fuss too much.

even more weirdo behaviour for the karaoke lounge is that he's thumbing through a book! strohl jr is here too, curled up against hulkenberg's side. yay ]

[honourous]

[ mnf. ]

'Tis the same as his..?

[halians]

The very same. There were a bunch of wrapped presents in our lounge...? And when I opened mine, lo and behold.

[ the book, he sounds warm as he says it, though tired. ] Never read the whole thing - just overheard snatches of what he shared with others.

[honourous]

Lo. 'Tis at least a silver lining to this day. [ sighing and shifting to get comfortable. ]

I think only His Highness has read it in full, and more than once over. What passage did you find yourself drawn to..? 'Twas before I joined you all.

[halians]

[ god, deja vu. he waits for her to move, adjusting the coat a little so it's a comfy pillow. strohl jr yawns contentedly and snuggles in closer to help. ]

Feels like a thousand years ago, at this point. [ but, he'll flip pages... eventually coming to show hulkenberg the section. strohl clears his throat, and begins to read aloud: ]

"In this world, there's no bloodstained contest for sovereignty. The people choose their sovereign from among themselves. One cannot put a sovereign to the sword to seize power. Such an act would be met with scorn and be judged as murder. Taking power or wealth by force is seen as the most shameful of transgressions."

... Was the day before the royal funeral. [ ... ] Seems too on the nose, now.

[honourous]

[ fussy. she doesn't seem to mind everyone henning at her, and instead looks up at him while he reads, processing through the pain soup. it... ]

A bit, maybe, but perhaps 'tis what makes it so true. That we saw a display of such a thing that went against the author's desire so harshly immediately after you had been presented with the idea of such a utopia.

[halians]

I remember thinking at the time how far this could be from reality.

[ bitterly, even, considering. louis you stupid fuck. ] Still feels far, but. Something about his highness that makes you want to chase his dreams. If anyone could get close to it.

[ he won't linger on that too long - instead just very, very lightly taps her on the forehead with the book, careful not to agitate any injuries. ]

Was the day before I met you, too, you know.

[honourous]

He will. His Highness... he proved even as captain that he would be able to rise to those heights. [ fuck louis, will has this in the bag. hopefully. she still worries, but - ] He lifted all of us up with him, after all.

[ as he can see when the book comes away, disturbing her bangs, her forehead is blessedly fine. her head is largely unscathed. she'll survive being tapped there. ]

'Twas so long ago, wasn't it... but I don't regret joining the two of you on the chase after Zorba. Not a bit.

[agleam]

[peeks over his shoulder... nosy...]

[halians]

[ he will gladly open it for him to see! the inside has artwork like so alongside lots of text! ]

Could just ask, you know. [ teasing. ] It's a bit of a tradition among ours to share it anyhow.

[agleam]

Okay, then, I'll ask. What's the story?

[halians]

It's Will's favourite novel; I've never seen him without it. Think he's probably read it a thousand times.

[ will 💖💖💖 ]

The book itself's a banned one, but it's a fantasy about a utopia.

[agleam]

Sounds nice. What happens in it? Or is it more, like, about the philosophy of one?

[halians]

The latter, moreso. It's a vision - though it's based upon the old world, we think, nowadays. See...

[ he flips a few pages in the book, and opens to another section, leaning a little against rupert so he can properly see the illustration that corresponds with a passage: ]

"In this country, the enlightened king hears the voices of the citizens, and protects their way of life. Society's purpose is to protect its citizens. This is a basic principle of this utopia. All are equal, all live in safety, and the rich and poor are as one. With no gaps, no conflict. All are friends, deserving of help."

[agleam]

[expression softening a little]

Sounds nice. I think you guys are gonna do great if he likes that idea so much.

[bulls]

[ everything happening a million years ago yesterday aside, just leans against the back of whatever couch he's sitting on, nodding at the book curiously. ]

Bit of light reading?

[halians]

Mm. It's a fantasy about a utopia - belongs to a friend.

[ a very good friend...... we have forgotten about yesterday it's okay. ] Appeared in our lounge today, wrapped up like a present.

[bulls]

A utopia, huh?

[ the word sure makes him think for a moment before he rests his cheek on his hand. ]

A pleasant present it seems - what sort of friend?

[halians]

[ he glances over at hulkenberg briefly here, but otherwise just looks soft. ]

We knew him for some time as solely our captain, but he is the prince. The true and rightful king of Euchronia, though earned by the people as opposed to merely by bloodline.

...If I had to describe him in a few words... kind. Brave. [ a beat. a little laugh: ] Strange. My kind of strange, though. He loves this book. Carries it with him everywhere we go.

[toxicate]

[ also nosy ]

...a spellbook?

[halians]

Hah, no. It's a novel - a fantasy about a utopia.

[ he will turn the book to let him see the cover of it! ] Belongs to our captain.

[toxicate]

[ ooh. peers at it thoughtfully ]

Are they fond of the genre?

[halians]

He is.

[ smiling... the look on his face is so fond... ]

Well. He's fond of this one in particular. I've never even seen him without it. Think he's got the whole bloody thing memorised, at this point.

[toxicate]

[ wow... gay.......... ]

You must be enjoying it too, then.

[halians]

[ hah. ]

...It was a nice surprise, yeah. Makes me miss him, though. Sort of like a brother to me.

[




if your teammates besides rupert heard you say this strohl

anyway.] You want to hear a bit? Sort of the tradition.