#thread: hans

Elsa stopped in their tracks as soon as they saw the man in front of her. She couldn't help but feel hatred as they finally came face to face with him. "Hans, why are you here?" He's the last person she'd ever want to see in this already chaotic city.

Did she curate tonight’s outfit specifically to make Hans regret that he ever dared to speak a negative word of her body? Well, yes. Partially. The last time he came over is far from removed from her mind, their strange ( but shared ) ability to tear each other down so brutally still plaguing her. Some mornings, his vituperative words echo across the fields of her thoughts when she looks in the mirror; insults, though, at this point in her life, are nearly effortless to push down and ignore. What lingers with an unabating, disquieting presence is how effortlessly his switch flipped, how his familiar touch swiftly turned cold and insidious. She feels it still every now and then through the obtrusive gropes and leering gazes of her clientele. Each time, it hurts a bit worse– Ludo can no longer play ignorant to the man Hans has revealed himself to be.

Anger, heartbreak, and betrayal are all still quite present between them, burning Ludovica from the inside. No one would guess it looking at the two now, bent over a glass coffee table with a bottle of wine and a platter of vicious gossip between them as if their last meeting had never happened. Amongst all their similarities, one of the most striking is their ability to compartmentalize emotion. Their fights are malicious  ( and sure, perhaps they’ve never fully resolved any issues up front ) ,  but in the end, they’re always simply two halves of the same rotten whole. 

An invitation to go all out was accepted without any further question, and she plans on doing just that. “I really need to take a break from this shit. For real this time,” she says immediately after inhaling a line, pressing a finger to her nostril. Then, paradoxically, “Let’s fucking do everything tonight. Like you said. Oh my god, should we trip? We haven’t done acid since Ibiza— or at least I haven’t.” 

It’s for the best, this stint of sobriety. That’s what she’s telling herself, at least. That it’s just a stint. 

Ludovica is all but known for abandoning people in their time of need, but Hans is different. She can never quite stay angry at him or go against him, because, unfortunately, they’re cut from the same cloth. And so... as ridiculous as it sounds, even to her own ears, she’s agreed to stick to only alcohol, nicotine, and weed in a show of moral support— at least when she’s with him. 

Cut to Hans and Ludo in their newfound weekend routine, trading cocaine and clubbing for Pinterest drink recipes and movie marathons. 

“—- Okay, see, this is why this is my favorite historical period. There’s something so sexy about beheading, don’t you think?”

Before Hans can answer — assuming he’d give that comment anything but an eye roll — the sound of the front door unlocking sends Ludo into best behavior mode on the spot. She tosses the dab pen at Hans and stands from her spot on the couch, moving to greet Adam first with a wide smile.

“Adam!” She stands on her toes to wrap her arms around him, careful not to tip the glass of red wine that’s still in her grasp. “Hans said you wouldn’t be back until later. Come hang out with us! Please? I haven’t seen you in ages.”

Elsa thought they were by themselves. They had ventured out to the quiet spot they loved in the forest, and they had never seen anyone else here before. They were suddenly startled by hearing footsteps, and without thinking used their ice powers, narrowly missing the other. They feel terrified. "What are you doing here?"

Elsa realizes they are lost, and notice the man closest to them. "Excuse me. Can you possibly help me figure out where I am? I am hopelessly lost, and just want to go home at this point."

Kieran smiled when Hans came into view. "Hey! I'm glad you stopped by. I just finished my last lesson for the day, and have all my chores done. Plus, I don't need to be home for a while, so I was thinking of going for a ride? Want to join? I've got a couple horses that need some exercise."

“Be nice to the dog!” Ludo hollers out a warning as the excited pattering of Enzo’s claws on hardwood floors signals Hans' arrival. She emerges from the bedroom shortly after, still in the process of slipping one of many new dresses over her head. An obstacle course of large shopping bags, tissue paper, and discarded price tags sprawls across her living room. Spotting the open bottle of wine amongst the wreck takes her a moment, but she manages, plucking the red from it’s spot on the coffee table and extending it to Hans. “There’s only one glass left, so finish it off.” 

Then, of course, a twirl to display the expensive new fabric stretched over her body. “What do you think?” A quick greeting kiss on the cheek, and she pulls back with a smile. “I went a little overboard. But you’re gonna love the dresses.”