███【 GL✖TCH 】❞ It’s of little concern to him, whether or not she makes the arrangements for trade or a family member does, the events transpiring beyond wooden barricade not for his viewing pleasure and would remain as such for likely years to come. He is prevented from seeing trade in a world that is not ink and paper or word of mouth, told foreign relations are not his problem at given time and the people living within their rule that will be his charge once paternal figures are deceased are to be ignored for he has no say in their affairs.
They set him up to fail and while spite will ensure he tries his hardest when time comes for throne, there’s no way of knowing right from wrong when he has not seen it.
❝Hnn. It matters; it always matters, everyone wants something.❞ Words are more to himself than her, quiet and perhaps even inaudible through door, reflecting briefly on past events that make her speech near laughably insincere from his perspective. Noiz’ experience with people dictates a firm belief in such—an extra hour outside of his room, a new book from the stores, a rabbit that parents do not know about and the means in which to care for it: all a trade. A suggestion given to prince that is followed up later with differing ways of saying ‘you owe me’, the goal behind actions all along and he has merely come to accept that in this world there is no free, no charity; there’s bargaining, and manipulation. It’s a sad place, when he thinks about it, but Noiz will opt to simply go with the flow of the world’s rotation, rather than attempt to fix what cannot be mended, too broken to repair. ❝It’s not a big deal; I’m used to it.❞
Used to it, but not a fan of it. He will never be a fan of being locked away, a “menace” kept from view of all including family except on the rare occasions in which they need him wandering about, or out of the castle completely. Strangers are not, however, someone he is so quick to spill his guts too—and even if they were, he hasn’t a clue where to begin.
A huffslips, and frustration is inevitable, as she merely desires to help he whom sits beyond door. But he doesn’t want her help, it seems—-the seeming fact though not fazing spare as she assumes herself able of assistance regardless. Thus is patience a virtue, figure shifting slightly to lay weight against timber before sliding body gracefully to sit against barrier.
❝Used to it?❞
It could be nostalgia if not a painful recollection, for a sense of empathy fuels motives even if situation holds scarce similarities. He’s certainly lonely, isn’t he? No one wants to be alone–at least, not all the time, and she finds difficulty finding this heir as an exception to the thought. They could be friends, she thinks… eventually—-she’d first have to find way of convincing him, and then conjure method of not finding frustration in filter-less dialogue.
❝—-You shouldn’t be used to it. C'mon, don’t be stubborn!
I mean… I can help you out, y'know. I’m sure I can figure out something.❞
Her volume increases for she wholeheartedly commits self in helping heir–whether he wants her help or not.
███【 GL✖TCH 】❞ ❝—Aren’t you here to make negotiations?❞ His response to the other’s query of requesting key from father, an allusion to the idea of patriarch throwing some degree of tantrum and refusing trade agreement for what will be perceived as audacity from femme. While Noiz himself is not perturbed by idea of lack of oversea exchange of goods he assumes that the other may be, for she seems involved in affairs that he himself is not allowed insight to, despite his position as heir to throne upon death of king.
Teeth pull and chew at inside of cheek, copper taste elicited from the cracks in skin, from which seeps shallow trickle of blood that is hardly even registered. It is not the first nor the last time in which he has caused minor damage to body and reaction is simply to spit opaque crimson fluid into hand, staring blankly down upon tendrils of scarlet creating vague wisps in saliva.
❝Why does it matter? Helping me won’t get you anything. Shouldn’t you be getting back to your family?❞ Whomever that may be, unaware of exactly who it is making the proper negotiations nor caring entirely. They must be wondering what it is she’s gotten herself into—something beyond her understanding is the answer to such inquiry.
░▒▒ 「 ❄; 」
❝No, not me—-❞
Not exactly her, at least. With thought on the matter does she question whether or not Elsa has even noted her absence in the midst business affairs; though it wasn’t as if her presence was exactly necessary at this time. Yet query marks the fact that he is not clueless as to what takes place beyond prison, and she wonders what exactly takes place behind closed doors. –Probably not best to question the matter, though.
But it’s a difficult situation, she assumes, for each word that rolls off heir’s tongue only suggests such. Further query only leaves her tongue tied–and although momentarily does she find complexity in vocalizing intentions.
❝It won’t get me anything… but it’s not like any of that matters anyway.
You can’t tell me that you like being locked behind that door, can you?❞
No matter the size or ‘luxury’ does a prison remain a prison–mentally or physically. Not so much sympathy, but empathy, flows, and spare is certain in the fact that even elder would find desolation in such a situation. Perhaps what heir required was a helping hand, one that spare was more than willing to lend.
⇢║▌✖ ＧＬＩＴＣＨ } Heir fails to find need to respond, unspoken affirmation hitting the air to form stagnant wall of momentarily silence in air shared by both persons. Tongue flits out over chapped brims, back of head tapping against ornate door and distantly he bothers to wonder why it is that total stranger would care aside from some belief that perhaps he can be of use to her. Which, given situation, seems idiotic—she already has agreements from parental figures, both of whom evidently care little about son and as such will not be able to be further coerce into anything by means of using his blackmailed opinions or otherwise. And so, situation seems odd, brows furrowing above peridot optics, not giving answer to second query without pause for thought.
❝Dunno. It’s possible my dad has ‘em—that’s just a guess.❞ Giving him knowledge of key location is detrimental, really, for he’d steal them first chance he is able. He is useless in providing his own freedom and frequently has thought of leaving crossed his mind. But that is giving up, a forfeit and while resolve is d w i n d l i n g he continues to hold on to this game he is losing.
Fingers tap idly against knees as legs cross in pretzel-esque form, lids sliding down to cover eyes and he wonders if he is silent if she will leave. No one tries that hard to help another, this is likely merely conversation and waits for dame to abscond to someone of more ample chatter.
░▒▒ 「 ❄; 」
She could be helpful–or rather, there is potential in that statement. Perhaps it is a sense of empathy that provides such motivation, for she knows all too well the feeling of being shut out. Though this case may differ a bit from her own experience, the emotion that floods could all the same prove overwhelming. Thus does the silence which fills the atmosphere fail to send her marching further from heir’s dwelling, heels instead taking one firm step closer with no intention of departing.
❝Should I ask him for them then?❞
The answer is assumed to be no, though she finds no harm in asking in the off chance that her query may be preference. Regardless, she knows of no other way that she could unlock those multiple locks beside forceful means.
❝–There’s gotta be some way other way to get them.❞
Assumption leads to following regards, though vocals fail to reach the volume at which they had prior. She could also request assistance from elder, brief pondering on the idea undergone before coming to the conclusion that heir’s parents in blonde’s presence would ravage that plan.
⇢║▌✖ ＧＬＩＴＣＨ } He does not bother to answer first query, for it feels rather self explanatory—he certainly would not lock himself away with such measures for any purpose aside from accident; in which case, his demeanor would not be so accepting of situation. Then again, he is not idiotic enough to manage such a feat, thus preventing scenario altogether. Exhale is cast openly from betwixt tin brims and lids drop to cover sallow hues in manner of exhaustion, though more in terms of mental strength than anything else.
He wonders what monarchs have told the female beyond door to his isolation, if he were here at all or if his body is to reside elsewhere by their decree, their facade of kindness and his falsified addiction to sports or hunting in the nearby woodland. Deduction is made rather easily that they have lied, past suggesting their repeat tale of his taking to forests with rifle in hand and deer for target, rather bitter huff of laughter escaping though it is near silent in volume, hardly audible to his own ears.
❝Yeah; have fun getting the keys.❞ Plural—keys. A tad excessive, paranoid and afraid of the monster in their abode, the one given life from womb of matriarch that has grown from mere ghost into overpowering shadow, with claws grown sharp and eyes glowing red—a creation of their imagination, that he has begun to see in the mirror. Words and actions certainly do leave prominent mark, even if his only act “deserving” of judgement is that of inability to experience physical world the way others do.
Fingers clench into fists, nose scrunching in distaste.
❝Tch—take a guess.❞
░▒▒ 「 ❄; 」
❝It’s Noiz–right?❞
Bewilderment is evident across both features and vocals. There’s no one else she could determine it to be, though the case that it was he didn’t match to the story told by current monarchs. A lie perhaps. the probability of such not to be disregarded, though she can’t determine why parents would feel it necessary. Silence thus echoes through empty halls, irises shifting their gaze unto multiple locks with no clue as to how she’ll locate each separate key.
❝You wouldn’t happen to know where they are.
…Would you?❞
An awkward chuckle slips in. She’s aware that her presence is more an irritable factor than anything, and though while this matter may be nothing of her concern does she still feel inclined to attempt assistance.
⇢║▌✖ ＧＬＩＴＣＨ } Immediate thought is that other is an idiot. Given that locks are on outside of door and lay home to keys of which he cannot obtain and cannot possible insert into that which he cannot touch, from side of door he sits upon she is horrifically unobservant. Intentions are likely good ones, but that is not reason to give her gentleness—he is brash, snappish, more so even when locked away in isolation merely for his existence. Knowledge or not of why he resides within room, it should be clear in crystal why it is he does not leave—cannot, is not allowed to, story behind it be damned the context clues are in plain sight.
❝They’re on the outside.❞ Something tells him that alone will fail to be clue, given how that much likely has been perceived already—merely not… further thought about. Tongue clicks silver stud upon top tier of ivories in apparent agitation that would not be quite as bad had conversation not taken place with him locked away. Fear, claustrophobic tendencies, tend to make him more volatile. ❝No, I can’t unlock them; I’m on the other side of the door.❞ Frown finds way unto feathers and fingers curl inward toward palms as discomfort bubbles beneath skin. He wishes to vocalize that he is not allowed to have ‘out’ but giving life story is not something he is particularly willing to do. As such, he falls into silence.
If woman is smarter than she appears she will take given hint.
░▒▒ 「 ❄; 」
Hint is taken by tone of voice; though stubborn nature proves dominate, thus the spare’s unwillingness to travel elsewhere. There’s a moment of silence, however, mentality having since spared moment to make sense of the situation.
❝–Someone locked you in?❞
Upon arrival had both she and heir been told of an elder son, though… he’s said to be away on a hunting trip. Hence had puzzlement spread unto her person, the inevitable thought insisting that he who remains beyond timber couldn’t be Galndact’s own heir–but who else could it be? Regardless of identity does his tone urge her to leave. However, her mind in contrast insists that she remain in attempt to assist stranger.
❝Well… since they’re on this side of the door, maybe I can unlock it!
⇢║▌✖ ＧＬＩＴＣＨ } Familiarity comes in form of spacious room and copious locks, light streaming in from window of thick glass and bolted frame. It is confinement, far from abnormal and yet still are shivers sent down spine every so often with the ticking of clock located on far side of where frame is currently situated. Back lays flat against door that will fail to open by anything but key belonging to housemaid that is likely on far end of castle, optics staring blankly upon extremities that tremble in slight, counting minutes and reciting numerical equations within psyche to distract self from knowledge of freedom, tangible if one could but gain access to keyholes well out of reach.
From down hallway does he hear footsteps, lofty and taken in far too delicate of stride to belong to younger sibling; question comes to mind as to whom is frolicking about corridors though he has not long to ponder. Woman’s voice reaches ears, foreign and thus counted as perhaps one from other kingdom, come to commence trade with their own. Jovial tone is nails upon chalkboard and he is quiet in his response—perhaps she may not even hear him.
❝—Can’t you see the locks?❞ They are meant to keep boy in—not others out.
░▒▒ 「 ❄; 」
Though muffled do foreign vocals prove able in breaching timber, spare taken aback slightly while allowing mentality a moment to ponder. He’s unwilling, she assumes–yet her own ambition does not allow acceptance of his response.
❝Sure I do.
But you can unlock ‘em, can’t you?❞
Assumptions must be consistent, as mind is only able to wrap about the idea that he who lies beyond door’s barriers must be lonely. Perhaps he’s even a tad bit shy, though regardless of the reason has spare brought it upon herself to urge him in joining those business affairs which occur within castle’s barriers. In the off chance that he merely finds professionalism as life sapping as she does she plan to invite him in exploration of the halls; companionship is bound to develop even the dullest of events into some form of excitement, after all.
