I want to talk about how alone Hans really is. Straight up, before Henry barged into the picture, I couldn't even imagine how Hans spent his time.
Now, this isn't to say Hans doesn't talk to people. He clearly does, when he wants to, but the circumstances really dictate when he does. If it's him just seeking out a bit of comfort, he'll go flirt with a bath maid or woman, drink with a few laborers, or argue with annoying peasants that disrespect him, but put his ass in a room full of his "betters", and he just crumbles like a pillar of sand.
It is obvious that Hanush doesn't engage with Hans too much, even though he is his guardian. We know the Rattay priest often teaches Hans things like literature and scripture, and I'm sure other tutors have taught him diplomacy, as he's very good at it. However, Hans severely lacks social education. He's awkward, says many inappropriate things without seeming to realize it's inappropriate, and has difficulty making friends.
In KCD, Hans wanders around Rattay alone. He sits alone, he reads alone, he leans up against buildings, and stares off into space alone. He's never seen drinking with anybody, he never converses with anybody, and he just feels so isolated from everything.
This doesn't change in KCD2 either, not really. Sure, Hans has Henry as a genuine friend now, someone who not only likes him for him but also treats him equally, protects him, and stands by him, even when he's being a massive prick. However, when Henry isn't available, what does Hans do? The same exact behaviours. He isolates himself. He doesn't talk to anyone, and the few conversations he does have are very short and curt. He wanders around, eats by himself, sits by himself, and stares off into space. This does not seem to be an NPC-specific schedule thing.
Sure, NPCS do similar activities, but Hans specifically has less dialogue triggered with the Devils Pack or any of the NPCs in Von Bergows' castle. If at all, honestly, I don't remember Hans speaking to anyone at all there. He also purposefully stands apart from them as well, removing himself to the furthest parts of the Den where literally no one else but Henry goes. 99% of the time, Hans is leaning against some pillar at the Den, just thinking, or maybe people watching? I've caught him once, halfheartedly flirting with a bathhouse maid in my entire 180-hour playthrough. Then he says he takes strolls in the woods often as well.
The man can't even enjoy parties. Sure, it seems he does, but watch him more closely and you'll see he just drinks himself stupid and still stands off somewhere by himself again. At the Semine Wedding, he did this until he managed to woo Enneleyn to a one-on-one. At Von Bergows' party, he just gives up and goes to bed early, and then at the rebellion meeting, he slumps in a chair next to the fireplace and stares at the flames. Then he drinks himself into a frenzy after the wedding announcement.
It's incredibly alarming how used to this he is. I'm certain it's not because he wants to be alone, considering how excited and attached to Henry he is. He's just always been so invisible to everyone else. Literally. It isn't just that Hans isn't engaging; no one tries to engage with him. I'm not saying they're required to, but Dry Devil and Zizka very clearly have had their opinions set on the poor man from the get-go, and everyone else just seems to follow in line.
One would assume Hans would try to make more friends while he's able to. These people don't really know him yet, they're not from Rattay where Hanush has made sure to sour his name, (He also pulls this same shit at the rebellions meeting too) Yet, nothing is that different is it? Zizka treats Hans like an expensive, fragile glass cup, and Dry Devil, if talking about Hans at all, just seems to view him as a troublesome child. Hans is used to this, so he falls into his habits, not even bothering to defend himself or try to change their minds.
It's heartbreaking. This is obviously a deep-rooted issue and ties back to Han's lack of self-esteem. Oh, he acts like he has an ego, but look closer at that birdie and you'll see an empty space where any self-worth is supposed to be. He just adapts and makes himself as small and out of the way as he can. Until he's with Henry again, where he's a little more open and active, in all the good and horrible, chaotic ways. Which is why his relationship with Henry means so much to him, and why it terrifies him to possibly lose it. Especially in his romance, where I believe we get to see Hans with all his walls down and the most exposed and vulnerable he's ever been.
discoholicmusic
turnnoffyourmind
stormborns
snowghoul
theartofmadeline
romaincrisis
ellievsbear
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
blakekathryn
gamechangershow
