atoastbw

[atoastbw]

its a slippery slope💦

[atoastbw]

firefighter crossing

[atoastbw]

Not sure if anybody else has brought this up before, but during the Suchdol siege, Henry can have this conversation with Hans: (minor spoilers for the final act of the game)

This is a sweet conversation on its own, but what stood out to me is how Hans compares Henry to Alexander the Great. Because yes, while Hans is simply teasing Henry on his excitement about being appointed a commander, I think it's a lot more interesting when you realise that it's Hans who shares far more similarities with Alexander.

(Forgive me for any inaccuracies, though I have an avid obsession with ancient Greek mythology and history, there are still gaps in my knowledge)

Both Alexander and the real Jan Ptáček:

came into power when they were young: Alexander inherited the Macedonian throne at 20, Ptáček became the official lord of his estates at ~24 years old.

died young: Alexander died at 32, Ptáček at 31

have only one known (surviving + legitimate) son and heir: Alexander III for Alexander, Hynce/Hynek for Ptáček

More importantly, in game, Hans and Henry's relationship reflects that of Alexander and Hephaestion.

Hephaestion was Alexander's second-in-command, advisor, confidant, and most crucially, his closest friend, there by Alexander's side through both personal matters and his renowned military career. And when Hephaestion died, Alexander fell into a horrible grief, failing to take proper care of himself while still ordering a grand funeral for his companion.

While it is still debated whether or not their relationship was also romantic in nature, there is no doubt that they shared an immensely deep bond, one that has been noted multiple times across various historical records. What has also been recorded is Alexander's worship of the mythical hero Achilles from Homer's Illiad, with him likely having compared himself and Hephaestion to Achilles and Patroclus, one of Greek mythology's greatest lovers (yes, I know that this too is also debated and can depend on the translation, but come on, how are they "just really close friends"?).

Like Alexander and Hephaestion after them, Achilles and Patroclus were inseperable. Tragically, Achilles's grief over Patroclus's death is well-known, so consumed by it that his continued fighting in the Trojan War was mostly driven by revenge, which culminates in him dragging the corpse of Hector (Patroclus's killer) around the city of Troy for days in pure rage while also refusing to give up Patroclus's body to be prepared for his funeral rites. Life imitates art, and the similarities are clear.

All of this is to say that, going back to KCD2, Hans mentioning Alexander the Great likely means that he's aware of Hephaestion, and by extension Achilles and Patroclus too, if not through Alexander then through an education in Classical literature. Furthermore, we all know by now how he later brings up the tale of Galehaut and Lancelot to use as a metaphor for how he sees his relationship with Henry (which happens regardless of if the player chooses to pursue him romantically or not).

So imagine Hans, who knows all these tragic stories yet can only watch as the lives of him and his closest (and perhaps only) friend play out in a similar fashion, one of war and untimely death. Being one of two souls brought together only to become cosmically and inexplicably intertwined, yet faced with the horrifying but very real possibility of your other half dying much too soon, leaving you behind to somehow continue living in their absence. As Madeline Miller wrote in The Song of Achilles, "And perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone."

It is no wonder then, that Hans confesses his feelings for Henry before the latter goes on his life-or-death mission - they've grown so close over a relatively short period and Hans has seen Henry put his life on the line far too many times. He needs Henry to know how much his death would break him, and why exactly it is so. Even if it could cost him their friendship, he needs Henry to know how much he cares, how much he feels for him, because despite seeing how this story often ends, he's hoping that theirs will be different.

Maybe, just maybe, unlike Achilles and Alexander and Galehut, his love will be enough to keep his other half alive, enough to bring Henry back to his arms, safe and sound for another day.

(Of course, I could just be misinterpreting all of this because of my shipper lens, but I feel that the choice of having Hans use Alexander the Great as a point of reference was intentional beyond him being a famous wartime strategist. The fact that this was kept behind a skill check on scholarship feels like an bonus easter egg too, as if it's saying that you as the player should also have certain knowledge to understand the different layers to it.)

[atoastbw]

[atoastbw]

Always buckle up

[atoastbw]

Please enjoy these screenshots I took during the Cuman camp quest of a drunk, wet, and shirtless Henry lit by firelight.

[atoastbw]

late night reports

[atoastbw]

[atoastbw]

and he wore his nicest waistcoat too...

(was rewatching Pride and Prejudice and my hand slipped)

[atoastbw]

Me while editing: *adds a sentence*

*finds nearly identical sentence in the next paragraph*

[atoastbw]

What would have happened if Henry and Hans figured out their feelings for each other much sooner?

An exploration into first times, banter, and finding equality where society created differences.

- a huge thank you to my wonderful co-author and friend @atoastbw ♥️

[atoastbw]

oh no my pornography is turning into an angst-filled character study

[atoastbw]

My favourite kind of fics to read and to write

[atoastbw]

distractions. original post here. 

[atoastbw]

like, sir, we are in the middle of a galactic crisis but if you wanna take a break to romance me on the citadel i will reschedule the reapers myself

[atoastbw]

If you see this on your dashboard, reblog this, NO MATTER WHAT and all your dreams and wishes will come true.

[atoastbw]

'he would not fucking say that' maybe he would if he knew he was starring in his very own porn fic for the sole purpose of delighting some freaks on archive of our own dot org. maybe he'd play it up for the cameras. ever consider that