The Burden of Being Henry + The Kiss Scene
I made this point in my Hans-falling-in-love post but it deserved its own because I'm still thinking about it, days later.
As this scene from KCD1 points out, Henry is the axle upon which the world turns. And he does not like that about being a video game protagonist. Nothing happens unless he makes it happen. He always has to initiate. This is a burden (and it is a burden) that is always on his shoulders.
I remember a post in the first Hansry comm (rip) that suggested that Henry looked the way he looked after Hans kissed him because Hans took away his agency, his ability to give or deny consent in that moment.
I don't read that scene that way at all (and not only because this game clearly sees some value in establishing consent in a romance scene). I've already talked quite a bit about why I think Henry reacts the way that he does and I've seen others write up wonderful posts about it as well, but:
A part of me is almost convinced that Henry was never going to make the first move. It's too risky. It could get his lord in lord in trouble. Hans has been cagey about reciprocating any of Henry's subtle romantic advances because he's been stuck in a quagmire of repression and fear.
So Hans made the decision for them both. Willingly took away the need for Henry to shoulder that burden (and the responsibility that would come with any consequences that could very well follow) and took it on himself. Equality is a huge theme for Hans in this game, and by taking the initiative, he "lowers himself" in a sense to Henry's level, removing any artifice and any protection that might have been granted to him had Henry kissed him first. Just this once, Henry didn't have to be the one to do it. Just this once, someone else made something happen in his life.
And I think that for Henry in particular, video game protagonist that he is, that is really, really beautiful.
