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Entry tags:
oo1; acquaintances
Who: Prince Hal
Where: Around the park
When: June 28th
Style: Prose but I'll match
Status: Open!
"Well, if you insist on following me, I suppose I can make an exception this time."
It was a different place, that was for certain. The brochure was ... explanatory enough, though it still left Hal feeling confused and very much out of place. But it was easier to just take it all one step at a time, to not let it overwhelm him, and try his best to just wake up from this strange new reality. He never remembered any of his dreams being so vivid, which was probably not the healthiest way to view this whole situation but- at least he wasn't making a spectacle.
Yet.
The park was a good place to just walk around, take in the scenery, and let himself think. It was such an absurd idea, an underwater city! Definitely a dream. There were a few other people about, gathered in groups or couples and chatting amongst themselves, dressed so strangely that it was only making him feel even more out of sorts. But he tried not to let it show, and at least the ducks were willing to listen to most of his frustrations.
This, however, was a little ridiculous. The small scrap of bread was a meager dinner at best, but the smaller of the ducks had been plenty happy for it. Greedy too, it would seem, having followed Hal away from the pond with the rest of the ducks. The prince had noticed his traveling companion a bit belatedly, and finally stopped to turn around and crouch down to continue their conversation.
"But if I could have your name, it would make further conversations much less awkward for the both of us."
"Quack!"
"... Woodrow?"
"Quack quack!"
"Woodrow then," Hal stood with a nod, gesturing for his new friend to follow him to the nearby fruit trees. "Come, let's get you an apple."
Where: Around the park
When: June 28th
Style: Prose but I'll match
Status: Open!
"Well, if you insist on following me, I suppose I can make an exception this time."
It was a different place, that was for certain. The brochure was ... explanatory enough, though it still left Hal feeling confused and very much out of place. But it was easier to just take it all one step at a time, to not let it overwhelm him, and try his best to just wake up from this strange new reality. He never remembered any of his dreams being so vivid, which was probably not the healthiest way to view this whole situation but- at least he wasn't making a spectacle.
Yet.
The park was a good place to just walk around, take in the scenery, and let himself think. It was such an absurd idea, an underwater city! Definitely a dream. There were a few other people about, gathered in groups or couples and chatting amongst themselves, dressed so strangely that it was only making him feel even more out of sorts. But he tried not to let it show, and at least the ducks were willing to listen to most of his frustrations.
This, however, was a little ridiculous. The small scrap of bread was a meager dinner at best, but the smaller of the ducks had been plenty happy for it. Greedy too, it would seem, having followed Hal away from the pond with the rest of the ducks. The prince had noticed his traveling companion a bit belatedly, and finally stopped to turn around and crouch down to continue their conversation.
"But if I could have your name, it would make further conversations much less awkward for the both of us."
"Quack!"
"... Woodrow?"
"Quack quack!"
"Woodrow then," Hal stood with a nod, gesturing for his new friend to follow him to the nearby fruit trees. "Come, let's get you an apple."
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"Are you new here as well or have you and the duck been friends for awhile?" There's an edge of mirth to his tone, obviously just trying to make friendly conversation. He's been withdrawn for long enough and he's ready to try and make friends.
Or he's just looking for information, but either way he seems genial.
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And they were probably lazy so they didn't want to fly up and get the fruit themselves. Clever, clever.
"I've only just met him," he continued with a shrug, helping himself to one of the tree's apples. He smiled fondly at the fruit and memories it brought with it, idly considering whether or not to share it with his duck friend. "It was late yesterday when I arrived here myself. And I'm afraid I'm at quite a loss at what to do with myself." Rubbing the apple on his coat sleeve, he looked up at the stranger, curious. "You as well, then."
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"Yes, I arrived a few days ago. I was lucky enough, or unlucky enough as the case may be, to find a couple of my friends were already brought here so I never thought to befriend the local waterfowl. I agree with not knowing what exactly to do, though. Whatever purpose we were brought here for doesn't seem to be all that urgent." Albert folds his arms at that, frowning a bit and wondering if perhaps the point is to let them stew first and see what they do before conducting whatever research they had planned. He's used to scientists with that sort of compulsion.
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"Others you know were brought here as well?" Hal asked, suddenly concerned but at the same time ... well, a little hopeful. There were some people he didn't particularly get along well with back home, but the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to at least see them once again. Who knew how long it would be until he returned home, if ever? Whatever the plans of the people who'd brought them here were, if there was a chance of seeing anyone from home again-
he could cross that bridge when the time came, he supposed. Or- well, if.
"It is quite strange," Hal pondered aloud, his feathered friend trying to get his attention by poking his boots with his beak. "Why they have decided to do all this is a little more concerning than how."
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"That may be, but it's the how that could possibly be reverse engineered to send us home. Perhaps even in time to prevent certain events from coming to pass. Whatever the mechanism is seems to have temporal properties."
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That was certainly interesting. Hal had a day to himself here at most, and naught was heard from anyone he knew. But it did seem to be erratic, random times from entirely random places, so. Perhaps he simply had to wait a while before a familiar face would show up. Nothing wrong with that, surely.
"Eager to return home?" Hal asked, finally crouching down to share small pieces of apple with the duck. Eager little thing indeed. "I suppose, being so new here, I've yet to be exposed to the tortures and ailments this city can cause. It's not truly so terrible, is it?"
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"I haven't experienced any of these so-called curses yet either so I couldn't tell you, but if what I've heard is true then they shouldn't be too harmful." After all, you don't want to accidentally break your test subjects.
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"The curses-- ah, I have been ... briefly informed of them, yes," Hal answered, arms folded. This was all suddenly far more concerning that he'd liked. He just wanted to visit a few ducks, for God's sake. "An inconvenience at most, though often strange and potentially unsettling. But, I suppose not something to worry much about, should your sources be credible."
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Albert has certain feelings about being experimented on. He clenches his right hand involuntarily, the leather of his glove creaking slightly. Even so, he stands by what he'd said. While degrading, the curses likely wouldn't cause lasting harm.
"What about you? No thoughts of home yourself?"
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Home, of course, was another story. Hal sighed with a small shrug of his shoulders, longing for the normalcy of home yes but the conflict he would return to, not at all. But such was his fate.
"Plenty of thoughts, of course," the prince replied as he tossed one last apple piece to the duck below. What an easy life, Hal thought. He was almost envious. "I should like to return soon, if only for the fact that I know what is expected of me, in England. Though I cannot imagine such a sudden absence could be explained so easily."
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Albert personally finds that a little bit of a comfort considering what's to come in his time. If he goes about it correctly, he has the chance to prevent terrible things from happening assuming he can retain his memories from the bubble. Similarly, Hal has the look of someone with a great deal of responsibility on his shoulders. It may be a welcome respite for him not to have to worry, at least for awhile.
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"Selective vacationing?" Hal muttered, curious, but finding it all to be rather beneficial. There were so many things he would get in trouble for at home. But here? Perhaps not so much. "I don't understand it in the slightest, but I will gladly enjoy the reprieve."
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Otherwise he can't imagine someone taking the news quite so readily.
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"More of a great responsibility that I find myself an ill fit for," he answered, trying not to dwell on it. "There aren't as many opportunities to pet and feed ducks when you're the Prince of Wales."
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Strange, he'd thought Prince Charles was much older, though it could just be another trick of time travel.
Actually, if that was the case... Albert blinks at the thought. "Wait, what year are you from?"
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Was everything he had to work and prepare for all going to be in vain?
"Fourteen-ten, when last I recall," Hal answered, trying not to let the culture shock of it all hit him too hard - or at least, trying not to appear so. He knew he was different from everyone since arriving here, but there just seemed to be more evidence of that fact. "I was crowned Prince of Wales eleven years ago, at my father's coronation."
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Admittedly what little he knows about that period is more from Shakespeare than from actual history, but even so. If the time period is right, he's standing and talking to the young monarch Henry the fifth.
That's... definitely a new one.
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Hal tried not to look too stunned, but there were only so many reactions he had ready for being told by a complete stranger that they would one day take on their father's name. Prince Henry ... he found even that ill fitting for him, but such seemed to be his fate and it was inescapable no matter what he tried. Oh, well. But did that mean this man was from his world, further in the future ...?
"I ... suppose so, yes, though I still retain my birth name Harry for the time being," he said quietly, letting his curiosity get the better of him. "Forgive my asking, but ... you know who I am?"
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He's really not sure how much he should say, or if he's said too much already.
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"Harry, if you please," he answered with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I am hardly royalty here." The rest of it was indeed strange. Hal wasn't exactly sure what to say. Plays? "If there are ... plays, one day written about me, would it be within right to say they are not satire and parody? Am I-- ... was I a decent king, at least on the stage?"
He certainly hoped his fate was not to have such a terrible rule that he is made fun of for years to come.
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"I... wouldn't call it satirical. More a drama, really. And it contains one of the best written speeches in that writer's work, if you ask me." He'd actually thought the lines before heading into particularly hard battles.
Once more unto the breach.
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That wasn't so bad at all. Something memorable, which meant he must've been a half decent king at least to inspire such. So Hal decided to take it as praise, and with a smile he nodded his head. He didn't necessarily want to know his fate, but he couldn't deny the curiosity.
"I thank you for sharing this with me," he said gratefully. "I shall consider it an honour, that such a speech from one so talented was written for my name. Did you know him, by any chance?"
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He has to wonder, though, what effect this would have on history if they're never released. Do their captors even care that they may be changing the course of the entire world's development by taking such prominent people?
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"A great honour it is, then," Hal added, trying not to look like he was too immensely flattered (and flustered, if the rubbing of his neck was of any sign,) as they spoke. "And here I was, glad for the opportunity to converse with ducklings. I would have never thought ... someone found my life worth writing about."
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Albert's relaxed some over the course of the conversation. Despite Harry being royalty, he seems a genuinely nice person, also tossed into this situation through no fault of his own. Perhaps it would be alright to make friends, or at least friendly acquaintances, if they're to be stuck here for any amount of time.
"My name is Albert, by the way. Albert Heinrich."
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