hotel: rupert

[shaft]

Comments

[agleam]

[after another moment, he shakes his head.]

Honestly, I could use an excuse to not have to think about it for just a little more.

[shaft]

Saying you had a rough time seems like an understatement.

[ he shakes his head ]

I can share some gossip if you're looking for a distraction...

[agleam]

[the laugh he gives is humorless, but it's there.]

Sure. What've you got?

[shaft]

[ he thinks about it ]

Mikazuki and Tsuru are dating.

[agleam]

[he nods]

They seem like a pretty good match, don't they?

[shaft]

[ oh, that's not gossip then ]

Do they? I guess Tsuru is cute, and Mikazuki seems like the doting type.

[agleam]

[he nods.]

They seem really happy when they're talking about each other. It's sweet.

[shaft]

I thought it was perhaps a secret...

[agleam]

[his good eye blinks]

Why would that be a secret?

[shaft]

Don't people normally keep relationships secret?

[ ??? ]

[agleam]

[squints with his good eye]

Um... No? What, why? Is that normal where you come from?

[shaft]

I don't... really know anyone who was in a relationship.

Or if they were, it was a secret.

[agleam]

[...]

Claude, I'm engaged.

[shaft]

[ eyes go wide ]

Congratulations.

[agleam]

Thanks...

[a beat]

Is that, like, a cultural thing for you?

[he's still hung up on this sorry]

[shaft]

[ he thinks about it ]

It's not very proper for nobles to be promiscuous. But usually courtship is a public affair.

So I guess... dating without a proper courtship seems like something to keep on the downlow?

[agleam]

[pauses for another long moment]

Dating is considered promiscuous where you're from...?

[shaft]

[ he looks less and less certain ]

It depends on how modern you are? For the nobles, a relationship is a big deal. You should go into it with some intention of marriage.

[agleam]

Well - yeah, that's true where I'm from, too. I guess I don't understand what the difference between dating and courtship is, then.

[shaft]

I guess courtship is more... Declaring your intent. Sharing gifts. Going on long walks in public.

There's no rules to dating.

[agleam]

...It's always struck me as kind of weird that there's rules to that kind of thing at all. I mean, if you're happy and you're not hurting each other or anyone else, shouldn't that be all that matters?

[shaft]

I agree with you.

... I mean. I am dating Manwol after all.

[agleam]

Ah, right, I remember seeing... That one trial from daycare.

[which feels awkward to say so he's moving past it]

I don't think I ever got to say it, though, so - I'm happy for you guys! That's really great. I bet you're anxious to get back to her.

[shaft]

[ He seems a little embarrassed at talking about it aloud. ]

Thanks. I'm sure she's piping mad that I disappeared without a word.

[agleam]

Oh - if it helps, one of the first questions I asked the staff was whether time was kind of paused back home, the same way it was back at the school, and they said it was. So, she probably doesn't even realize you're gone.