KINTSUGI

Eamon glanced away to the hide the tug of the smile as the other answered. Perhaps it had something to do with English not being his first language, but most native speakers recognised ‘fine’ to mean they were not fine at all but definitely didn’t want to talk about it. With the mention of the weather outside though the Irish prince let his smile show. “Yeah, that’s about the crux of it. I didn’t feel like getting dressed in fifteen layers just for a bit of sunlight.” 

“I drink tea… I’m Irish,” he answered, as if his hereditary was the perfect answer to it. Which he guessed it kind of was. “I haven’t tried barley tea before though, just regular and green. What was it you called it again?” Then Eamon found himself actually laughing. Appearances could be deceiving but he didn’t think the Asian boy had probably ever punched anything in his life. “It depends what that something is that you punch I guess. If it’s anything harder than a pillow it just tends to cause more pain. I think the tea might be the safer route. Do you think I could get some in the village?” 

As timid as Hiroki was, he was more than capable of holding his own in a fight. His father decided if his son hadn’t the confidence to be social, he may as well be forced into finding confidence elsewhere - which Hiroki had done the moment he began training in Kenjutsu. “Irish people drink a lot of tea?” Hiroki’s head tilted, “in Japan, we do too. Too much sometimes, I think.” With tea ceremonies and what not, the drink was practically an art form.

“Mugicha,” he smiled, appreciating the fact Eamon asked. The laughter was a little confusing but the prince took it as a good sign. At least the other wasn’t bored. “I'm sorry, I don’t know. I haven’t really explored there yet but I do have some myself, if you’d like to try?” Hiroki hoped asking an Irishman to partake in a cup of tea wasn’t some kind of double entendre he wasn’t aware of.

Rarely he paid any attention to plants, some were obsessed with them, but he barely noticed them, so the reason why he was in the greenhouse was because he was just walking around the mansion, as he had nothing better to do, and he just ended up there, but it had nothing to do with him wanting to admire them, “I’m good, just a little bored,” he wasn’t used to not having anything to do, as back at home he had so many responsibilities, but he would take boring over that any day, “Nah, I was just walking around, you know? Exploring the castle and all, I probably will go back to my rewatch of Doctor Who soon, I’m gonna guess you’re a plant lover, yeah?”

Hiroki nodded along as the other spoke, desperately hoping he understood everything that was being said to him. It wasn’t really a case of being terrible at English, but rather a lack of confidence in his language skills. The prince’s eyes lit up at the mention of Doctor Who. He often watched the show with Japanese subtitles back home whenever he could steal a quiet moment to himself. “I like plants, love is a little strong,” he smiled. “I was also bored, being inside too long isn’t good for the soul.” While he admired the castle for it’s interior design, Hiroki still couldn’t help but feel a longing for exploring the grounds without losing a toe or three. “Who....is your favourite Doctor?” 

Chiara was happy to find out that there was a greenhouse, the grounds looked quite nice covered in show yes, but she also liked to be able to see actual plants, she wouldn’t say she knew a lot about them but she had always enjoyed spending the few times she was alone and doing nothing in the garden or having all kinds of plants in her room and apartment so as often as possible she would ventured there, it wasn’t often that she saw other people there so she smiled when she saw she wasn’t alone “Hi, I’m good and you?” She gave a nod “Yes, outside there is too much snow.”

“I am good, too. Thank you,” Hiroki smiled, somewhat awkwardly. Small-talk had always been difficult for the prince. To him it felt less like socializing and more like an intricate dance with complicated steps which were to be done exactly right, otherwise he might commit some kind of faux pas and be sentenced to feeling embarrassed for the rest of the week. “Snow can be beautiful but there is a feeling about winter here....it is, um...” he gestured, unsure of which word to use. He wrinkled his nose and hoped for the best, “suffocating? I think.” The prince still longed to be at home, where things were familiar and comfortable. Everything here felt wrong, but he was sure that would pass with time. “The greenhouse is nice, though.”

Aurora sat on the greenhouse floor as she took photos of the various plants with her phone. Normally, she would like to be in the nature itself to paint it later, but with the weather being so cold and the greenhouse already full with plants, she thought it better to simply photograph them and work with the references later on. It had only been a few minutes when she heard the sound of someone sitting down. Standing up, Aurora looked over to see who was joining her space only to see a face she had not expected. The younger Japanese prince was so notorious for avoiding social situations, that Aurora had not anticipated ever meeting him.

His greeting made her smile- he was trying. Aurora walked towards him and nodded her head politely, “Hello, I am well, thank you,” she replies, “I am photographing them,” she explains and shows him her phone with photos of the various plants, “I paint to relax so, I wanted to get some material to work from,” she adds and smiles, “I don’t believe we have met, I’m Aurora,”

Hiroki took a deep, calming breath as inconspicuously as he could. Now a conversation had been initiated, he simply had to keep it going for a polite amount of time. How long that was exactly, he wasn’t sure, but the last thing he wanted was to seem rude to someone who’d so nicely returned his greeting. 

He looked at her phone and nodded. Painting to relax was something he could relate to, although he wasn’t especially skilled when it came to art. Admiring it was more his speed. “My name is Hiroki, it’s nice to meet you,” the prince bowed his head. “Do you have any photographs of your artwork that you would show me?” he asked softly, glancing at her to offer a smile. 

Even though the greenhouse wasn’t technically outside Rosa was still wrapped up in way too many clothes for it to be comfortable. She almost looked like the stay puft marshmallow man walking among the flowers. But when someone was used to eighty degree weather almost year round being in the negatives wasn’t pleasant. 

At least she had the company now. And it was one of her favorites too. “Hiro!” And despite the layers of clothing she practically sprinted towards the man, wrapping her arms around his neck and almost toppling them both over. “I missed home and the flowers were making it a little better but now you’re here too! Not the same, of course, but it’s so nice to see you.” She couldn’t recall how long it had been since she had seen him last but it couldn’t have been too many months between visits. Knowing he was a nervous person, she pulled away from him and gave an apologetic smile as she backed away. “Sorry, familiar faces are hard not to tackle.”

Seeing someone dressed so snugly sprinting his way had Hiroki fearing for his life, but the alarm bells sounding in his head were quickly silenced once he realized who it was. Rosamie was one of few people Hiroki could relax around, which also meant receiving a hug from her didn’t immediately trigger his fight or flight response. He wrapped his arms around the princess in return and smiled broadly once she let go, “it’s fine. I always like your energy.” It was infectious in the best way, something Hiroki certainly needed. 

“I’m glad it’s you. I was preparing for small talk with a stranger and-” he wrinkled his nose in distaste, “I’m still lacking when it comes to that.” At least now he wouldn’t have to worry about presenting himself in a prince-like manner, Rosamie already knew him well enough for a façade to be of no use. “Ah! The internet here is sad, I tried to play the otome game I showed you last time we met, it’s so slow. I fell asleep twice waiting for it to load. What have you been doing? How is your family?”

Eamon had been hoping he could get away with spending the entirety of the cold months indoors, but unfortunately Adelaide insisted that he still get his daily dose of fresh air and she always seemed to know if he was lying. She had mentioned something about seasonal depression and how sunlight and vegetation was suppose to help counter against it. Of course, when it was -29 outside stepping out there in anything less than full Arctic gear for more than a few minutes was actually a serious risk for hypothermia. So they had compromised and when he didn’t feel like bundling right up he could spend time in the greenhouse.

Which was what he had been doing and he had to admit, it was nice to be surrounded by some kind of greenery again. Of course when he wanted to be alone was when he never was and he honestly wondered what kind of karma the universe had against him. Catching the other male’s eye Eamon nodded politely in greeting before they spoke. “I’m alright I guess, you?” the Irish prince answered, glancing around at the mention of the plants. “Something like that I guess. Adelaide said something about oxygen and plants cheering you up. You?”

“I’m fine,” Hiroki nodded. Fine wasn’t quite how he was feeling, but the Japanese prince had never really been one for answering that question truthfully. If he did, the conversations he had with people around the castle would last an hour and that was fifty-nine minutes too long. “I wanted to go outside but I also did not want to die,” he smiled, “so this is as close to outside as I will get.” 

He looked down at his shoes, gently scuffing the ground with one of them before piping up again, “you...mentioned cheering up?” It was none of his business really, but Hiro felt he should at least ask. “Do you drink tea? Some kinds help lift your mood....or they should. Maybe it’s more of a placebo? Is that the right word?” He gave a light shake of his head, “there’s a tea my grandmother swore by. Mugicha....barley? I think it’s barley. It doesn’t sound good but it’s very soothing.” Hiroki grimaced slightly, preaching about tea likely wasn’t the best way to plant the seeds of friendship. “Or you could punch something. That is very uh-” he gestured in thin air, trying to find the word, “therapeutic.” 

It was the first time that Alexi had decided to takeadvantage of the castle amenities since he had started working there over a yearago and of course he would have to pay for it. It had been cold outside, somethinghe was used to, but the pool was heated and taking a dip had sounded like sucha great idea at the time…until he emerged and saw that his skin had turned blueafter only being in for a minute or two. Clothes were hastily put back onbefore Alexi made his way into the halls of the castle, head swiveling in eachdirection to make sure no one was coming at the time. “How am I supposed to getthis off?”

What even was it? How in the world-? Suddenly a face came tomind and the housekeeper grit his teeth together. “Pim!” As if the girl couldhear him from wherever she was he let her name slip out in a frustrated growl.He was used to being on the receiving end of her pranks, but this was too far. Unfortunately,he had been so distracted by his skin color that he hadn’t noticed the personcoming towards him in time to duck into an empty room. There he was, standingin the middle of the hall looking like a smurf and not knowing what to say. So,he decided to act as if nothing was happening. “Hello…is there anything I can getyou?”

As luck would have it, Hiroki hadn’t immersed his entire body in the pool. His face was more or less dye free and with the right outfit, which included a turtle neck, long pants, and gloves, he convinced himself the other castle inhabitants would be none the wiser. Even so, he desperately needed to find someone who could help him out, he could hardly walk around looking like doraemon until the dye faded away naturally.

Quite lost in thought, Hiroki turned down a corridor, where the blue man group’s missing member caught him off guard. “Ah, you went for a swim,” he quickly caught himself before an amused smile made it across his face - after all, who was he to laugh at poor Alexi when under his turtle neck he’d suffered the same fate. He cleared his throat and smiled apologetically, “I did too.” He pulled off a glove and wiggled blue fingers at the other, “a Prim prank. She doesn’t know how to remove the dye. I was hoping someone else might...” Hiroki looked at Alexi hopefully, “do you know how?” 

@ito-hiroki​

When Pim had opened her mail that day she definitely hadn’t expected the letter from her mother to say what it did. She was never surprised receiving one, the queen usually sent them once a month or so reminding her to be well behaved and to at least try and be flattering towards one of the princes on her list. But she had been going on about it ever since she was sixteen and none of the negotiations had ever worked out. Until now…

Wonderful news dear! I have once again been in talks with the Japanese royal family and I am absolutely delighted to say that a decision has finally been reached and you are to be wed to the younger brother Hiroki. Please, I beg of you, show him your best side. And no nonsense…

She had read the letter three times before it finally sunk in and she felt an empty cavern open up in the pit of her stomach. They were supposed to keep denying her until she was old enough that her parents would give up and resign themselves to her being a spinster. But now…

Running from her room she made a beeline to the prince’s, barely managing to stop herself from slamming straight into it before she began knocking relentlessly. “Hiro! Hiro! Open up! Did you get a letter too?”

Hiroki sat on his bed with two letters in hand; one from his father which was stern and down to business, the other from his mother which apologized for the cold tone of the first letter and reminded Hiroki to bundle up so as not to catch a cold. No number of kind words could soften the blow of the news, however. He was now betrothed. Part of him had assumed his parents wouldn’t bother, after all he wasn’t exactly the family favourite. As far as he was ever aware, his existence didn’t mean all too much in the grand scheme of things. He was simply there, and that was that.  

The knocking and shouting dragged him out of his head and back to reality, where his stomach tied itself in a tight knot at the sound of Pim’s voice. He wet his lips and slipped off the bed over to the door. For a moment he stood there, hand resting on the handle, hesitant to open it. He felt if he did, there’d be no avoiding the situation. At least if he stayed in his room, in his own little word, he could pretend he never read the letter. 

Finally he turned the handle and pulled the door open, stepping aside for Pim to enter if she wanted to. “I got one too,” he held up the paper and sighed. “I can’t believe it....I didn’t think they would ever....” Hiroki shook his head and returned to the same spot on his where he’d previously been sitting. “私は飲み物が必要...”

SEND “BEEP” FOR A RANDOM TEXT FROM MY MUSE.

22. a one word text

Going into the castle still felt painful. She only did it for Matthias, pointedly avoiding Ivan, but it hurt nevertheless. To know that she was no longer welcome here, that she did not belong, was unsettling. All she could do was take small steps towards it, starting with the surroundings. And what better way was to do that than with the greenhouse, a real beauty in the sea of snow?

Maggie was alone there, or so she thought. Before she could do anything, or avoid the Prince (because lately, all that lead to was questions, gossiping, and fake worry), and all she could do was muster up a smile. “Hey.” She greeted him. Was she supposed to refer to him by his title now, now that she was no longer a royal? “They’re quite the wonder, aren’t they? I would have expected everything to freeze here at this time of the year.”

Hiroki glanced around at the plants surrounding them and nodded in agreement. “Yes, certainly a wonder. It’s...comforting to see them growing, I think.” The prince took their existence as a sign that life went on outside of his own, even when his days in the castle passed by in such a blur that time seemed to stand still. Of course, he wasn’t confident enough in his English skills to express that just yet, so all he could do was gesture vaguely and offer her another smile. 

Most of the his interactions with people over the past two months or so had been quite awkward, mostly on account of that being a part of who he was. Luckily he’d grown used to it just enough to be able to embrace the feeling and run with it. With that in mind, he mustered up the courage to try and keep a conversation going. “Do you...have a favourite plant? I found a book on the different meanings they have, so I’m curious.” 

4. A late night text ( @pimchaiket )

Txt: sometimes you are cute but you still scare me (꒪⌓꒪)

He casually strolled through the greenhouse, admiring the plants as he went, trying to remember their names but failing miserably. English was hard enough without adding Latin to the mix. As he sat down to bask in the atmosphere he noticed he wasn't alone. He stood up again once they caught each other's eye, on his face was the look of someone who'd been caught red handed doing something he shouldn't have been. Too late now to bolt out of there to avoid socializing, he'd have to pretend he was a master in the art of small talk. "Hello, how are you?" Good start, not weird at all. Hiroki smiled, "here to admire the plants too?"

— ♔ In the past, people were born royal and for HIROKI ITO the TWENTYSIX-year-old PRINCE of JAPAN, that is a tradition HE intend/s to keep. To others, HE looks an awful lot like YAMAZAKI KENTO and has/have been painted as SPINELESS but behind closed doors, HE is/are ANXIOUS and TIMID but also KIND and WISE. It has also been said they are BETROTHED to PIM CHAIKET. (em/26/gmt+1/she/her)

Something akin to chaos had erupted in the castle as Pim hid away in the study, not managing to stay very quiet at all as she repeatedly let out giggles from the chair in the corner. She had successfully managed to convince Theo to add blue dye to the indoor swimming pool with her, thus turning anyone who went for a dip in it a startling shade of Smurf. So far at least a handful of people had managed to fall for it before word got around enough that staff members were sent in to drain the pool of all its water. Of course for that to happen it meant that half the castle had to be aware by now, and probably a portion of the village as well.

Trying to stifle herself with a fist to her mouth as she saw a figure approach she failed miserably, another fit of laughter bursting from her. “Whatever you’ve heard it wasn’t me.” 

Whenever something odd happened in the castle, Hiroki’s first thought was Pim. She seemed to have a penchant for mischief, so when Hiroki emerged from the pool after a refreshingly brief swim to find his skin a blotchy shade of blue, all he could do was sigh her name and dry off. 

As he left the pool and turned down a corridor, Hiroki hoped he might be able to navigate the castle without bumping into anyone, thus meaning he wouldn’t need to explain why he suddenly looked like he was blue raspberry flavoured. Luckily for him, and for the rest of the castle, hiding wasn’t Pim’s strong point. He walked passed the study, heard a giggle, and took a few steps back. Giggle, giggle. With a shake of his head he opened the door and folded his arms across his chest, which was as close to confrontational as Hiroki ever got. “Pim! I know it was you, I can feel it,” he huffed. “Please...tell me it washes off easily? I look like Doraemon!”