@ofplacidity
continued from here:]
A pin could drop in the hall, its resounding thud against the ground heard above the white noise of the heavy silence blanketing all caught in its midst. Those standing on guard teetered at the edge of a knife, fully prepared to take that plunge over the side if he made the barest hint of a move against what they deemed appropriate though they were commanded to stand down. He supposed that’s where the largest issue stemmed. He hadn’t a clue where their standards began, if it would be okay for him to shift from one foot to another, if only to jostle his apparent weight, or to organize the myriad of thoughts suddenly erupting in his mind.
He decided not to press his luck by trying, standing erect, as still as he could manage.
He was in quite the predicament with no one to blame but himself. He willingly imposed himself into a position of danger, with no clear method on how to peacefully escape. Save for obeying what instructions were given to him.
At the least, one out of the lot did not appear too prone to striking with unwavering force without first determining the cause of his arrival. If there was even a purpose behind it.
The one who approached, one foot in front of the other, holding strong to that intimate gap remaining between them.... he was of great importance.
“Are you a prince?” Was he speaking out of turn?
The annoyed huffing from nearby may be a clear indication of it.
The voice rising from the armor was young. Perhaps too young in such a large body, imposing in its own right. Certainly a fair match against the armor of those soldiers standing in the room alongside him.
“My name is Alphonse.” Names were power. Giving them so freely away should not be such a common occurrence as it was in the present world, but with that exchange, a piece of their identity was offered. To be used. To be abused. According to the will of the one who took it.
“I have traveled from far away seeking this knowledge. It’s of a highly personal nature.” How should he go about this....?
He’d been in the company of a prince before, but.... he was hardly as....
what was the word....
Formal? As that situation began to unveil on its own.
“Might I request an audience with you? In private?” Was that rude? Did that push his luck a little too far?
