songerein | interactive dream

Entry tags:

interactive dream | childhood

Who: Hans Westergaard and you
Which: Open interactive dream
What: Tiny Hans is getting ignored by a couple of his brothers and is Sad. Maybe help or help ignore him because it is still Hans.
Warnings: Probably mentioned childhood neglect

[There's something elegant and refined about the large hallway, expansive with a sleek ground and decorative walls. It's clear that it's part of some castle with how everything's designed, with blurry portraits hanging about and armor statues standing still throughout the hall. However, there's definitely something cold and empty about the place, especially with no whisper of anyone around, not to mention that the atmosphere just seems bleak.

For whatever reason, the hallway has no windows and no real doors leading anywhere, just endlessly continuing with no spark of life until a small boy with red hair can be spotted in the distance. Although he doesn't to be in any sort of danger, it's clear that he's visibly upset, especially with the incoherent pleading that can be heard.

Unfortunately, there's only the faint laughter of two other children, almost cruel, echoing through the hall as the kid continues to call out. They can't be seen, as the only person standing in the hall is the young boy-- Hans. As one approaches him, his words can finally be deciphered, and he's just as miserable as before.]

Please, don't leave me here... why do you always ignore me. I'm your brother too...

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[Nier can spot Hans who happens to be standing in some strange hallway. There's something very odd about this place although he can't exactly put his finger on it. He decides to be careful as he walks. ]

Are you all by yourself? What happened?

[He sounds extremely concerned. Nier has a younger sister and she's basically a kid. He certainly has a softer spot for children and that makes it harder for him to just ignore this entire scene. ]

[Despite himself, Hans can't stop himself from being slightly intimidated by Nier, the strange man with stark white hair drawing closer and closer to him. It's only by the fact that he seems quite kind, his voice more soft-spoken than anything his father has ever voiced towards him, that prevents him from running off.

Hans grips his arms with his opposite hand. He knows that he should probably tell the guards that someone weird is here, but he just doesn't want to right now. The king is probably going to be mad later, but...]

...I'm always by myself.

[He seems sad, but almost resigned to this fact, like it's just something he has to accept.] I'm the thirteenth prince after all.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset or scared. It must be hard being a prince.

[ Nier looks a little apologetic. He doesn't want to frighten Hans even more. The kid hasn't done anything wrong as far as Nier's concerned. ]

Is there something you want to do? I'll try to help you as best as I can.

...I'm okay.

[Probably the most least convincing reassurance ever. But as kind as Nier appears to be, Hans seems to hesitate, knowing that the young man probably has better things to do than spend time with a kid.]

Wouldn't your rather speak with my father or one of my older brothers? ...I doubt I could get you any real influence or power if that's why you're here. You'd be wasting your time trying to get in my good graces.

[Unless he's here to murder, but Hans doesn't think he's here to do that. ~~Shame~~.]

Are you sure you're okay?

[ Nier respects human life but detests these monsters called shades. Since there don't appear to be any beasts roaming around he keeps his blade sheathed to his side. ]

I'd prefer to speak with you more. If you're the prince that would make your father the king??

[He nods slightly, if only to appease this stranger. It's strange that he actually wants to speak with Hans more, but he doesn't dare complain about that. It is a little nice, although he's still half expecting Nier to just leave him soon and talk to the king instead. It's why anyone would want to visit this dreadful castle.]

He's the king of the Southern Isles, thus making him the most important man here. [Status and power, he can understand those concepts.] ...You look like a warrior. Does that mean you want to join the knights and protect him? I can probably at least take you to him...

So your father really IS the king! If the king doesn't need any more protection then he'll be okay.

[ Nier doesn't sound particularly worried about him. He's focusing most of his concern on Hans. ]

What about you though? It'll be safer for us to stick together.

[Perhaps he should insist that his father be protected as much as possible, but Hans decides to hold back that comment. His knights are surely enough and he might even get insulted and thus angry at him for bringing this stranger to serve as his guard.

...Plus this white haired man really seems worried about him. Maybe he can take advantage of this-- no, it's nice to have a kindness of a stranger, right?]

You're willing to help me? [...] With anything?

I'm just a single person. There's limits to what I can do on my own. If it's a reasonable favor then of course. I'll help.

[ Pretty sure murder falls somewhere under unreasonable but hey. Nier is trying his best to extend his kindness to Hans who appear to be struggling with something.]

We'll make it through this.

[Guess asking this guy to murder his brothers is not something that falls under reasonable. But when has that stopped him before--]

So, you won't kill my brothers.

[He's working on that filter. Being able to lie and mask his emotions sort of comes and goes in this dream. It's not something he's really aware of and he just looks angry at well, everything. He grits his teeth and looks down, before nodding slightly to himself.]

...I guess that would be too obvious anyway. Twelve Westergaards suddenly killed, leaving only the youngest alive.

No, I won't kill your brothers.

[ Murder is definitely unreasonable. Nier tries his best to be a decent person no matter how hard that might seem. He frowns looking a little upset by the turn of conversation but then he continues.]

Why do you want them dead? That's your family!

[ He doesn't understand the reasoning behind Hans actions. ]

[Guess he was expecting too much out of this swordsman. Maybe if he was a mercenary or something, he'd have better luck, but he can't really change his mind. Ah, maybe he's in trouble now and he'll tell his father or his brothers about his somewhat murderous intent.

...

He doesn't find himself worried though.]

They wouldn't care if I died.

[He doesn't seem upset as he says this. In fact, the young prince just seems to accept it as fact, looking at Nier with a nearly blank look.]

Do you really mean that? You can try talking to them.

[ Nier's out here thinking it might be possible to communicate and express concerns. He remembers when Kainé and Emil weren't allowed into the village so Nier started protesting on their behalf. Sometimes just talking about your worries can make a difference. ]

I don't know what your family is like. What makes you feel that way?

I wouldn't lie. [...] Not about that.

[He doesn't really seem to notice the last comment he's made there, just admitting in that same quiet-- almost monotone voice. In face, it just continues, even as he speaks about his home life, the treatment he's received from his brothers.]

They ignore me, pretend that I don't exist. And that's when they're not treating me like I'm entirely beneath them. We're family only by blood, not by personal connection. The others can attest to that.

It doesn't sound like you're lying.

[ It sounds terribly lonely. Is there anyone that Hans can rely on at a time like this? His brothers won't acknowledge him and it's harsh in some aspects. Nier can't imagine how difficult this must be. ]

Are you lonely?

[ Sometimes Nier wishes that he had Weiss around. That talking book would know what to do in a situation like this. Instead he finds himself a little lost and confused. ]

...

[It's such a simple question, but one that's never really been asked of him. A weight begins to build in his chest, almost crushing in its intensity, but the young prince finally breaks into a more quiet tone as he finally answers his question. He keeps a hand clenched over his shirt, his eyes lowering to the ground.]

I am lonely.

[He certainly feels strange admitting something like that, and it doesn't provide him much relief, if any.] It's... not a big deal. I can handle it.

It might be worth telling your brothers how you feel. Try to get through to them and tell them you're lonely.

[ For a moment Nier is just quiet. He can't offer any words of comfort or anything that would sound reassuring. He knows what it's like to feel loneliness and pain. Maybe he can't help kill anyone but he's trying to offer other solutions that aren't murder. ]

They might be able to understand. Family is really important.

[He has his doubts about his brothers listening to him about that. Talking about feelings really isn't a thing they do, especially if it's admitting to something that might be perceived as weakness. Perhaps they would consider him even more of a spare if he did such a thing.

Nonetheless, he doesn't bother to argue, staying quiet for a few seconds.]

...Would your family care if you told them that?

Of course they would! I have a younger sister and her name is Yonah. She's my only family and I know she'd listen.

[ Little yonah is really all he has left for family. His parents passed away when he was still just a young boy. So he had grown close to his sister that way. ]

It might take a while to explain how you feel. Sometimes we don't have everything figured out and that's okay. Just don't go out and do anything too drastic, alright?

[He wonders if things are different between brothers and sisters, but guess it's little point of him to imagine such things.]

...I won't hurt them.

[He'll at least acknowledge him there, because there's little point trying to do something like that on his own. That will just paint a bigger target on his back-- possibly tossed into prison by his father. He has to be fully committed to a plan for that to pay off properly.]

Does that answer satisfy you?

It does! I hope you can talk things through and it works out.

[ Maybe there is a difference between sisters and brothers. Nier only knows what life is like with a younger sister and perhaps he'd have a different opinion if he had other brothers. ]

It might help to keep some kind of personal diary so you can keep track of your thoughts. I used to send out letters before.

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interactive dream | childhood

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