Shadow Prince
Apr. 11th, 2019 11:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerHappy start of Persona day!
...yes, I literally named Teddie Bearson. because.
there is a strong likelihood any character voiced by Yuri Lowenthal will somehow become tied to yosuke in my head. As you'll probably notice if you watch my review/commentaries, I had the sudden 'the Prince could be Yosuke' thought and just never stopped. This is the result. (I'm not sure where to go after the worldbuilding, so it might just end up being the worldbuilding chapters. But hey. Worldbuilding.
~Dreamer~
Main Points:
Persona 4 Prince of Persia inspired au
Chapter Summary: Prince Yosuke is concerned about the ritual.
Word Count: 1116
Rating: Gen?
The Princes of Sumaru were known as the Shadow Princes (though this nickname is used even for the Queen who rules their kingdom, for the Princesses of the line). It was enough for their citizens to know they were safe and protected, their enemies to know that the royalty could strike from the shadows and their never-seen bodyguards were deadly.
Humanity fears the loss of their most important sense, never mind that if they just applied their hearing, their sense of touch, the darkness would be less of a mystery, for—for the most part—the world does not change simply because of the lack of lighting. Yet there are those who can see and navigate this world, untouched by its unseen dangers, and in so doing become an unknown to be whispered about themselves.
Prince Yosuke sighs and shivers. He’s been told the stories of the Kanet, their loyalty and devotion, but this is the final night he has to himself, his mind truly his own. Tomorrow early in the morning rather than celebrating his birthday as every year previous, he will undergo a solemn ceremony starting far too early in the morning. It goes late into the night, too, so he should be in bed, but he can hardly rest with these thoughts in his head.
He longs to run away across the roofs, to hide on the glass roof over the garden, marveling at the plants held within and the spectacular structure built to ensure every single plant gets the nourishment it requires, or to sit on one of the roofs of the wall guard towers, staring off into the sands of the desert, or just keep running over the beautifully tiled market roofs, stalls all silent in the middle of the night. The stars and moon are beautiful tonight, but their warmth is distant, muted and uncaring. He doesn’t engage in ridiculous antics for once, not when he knows today, of all days, he would not get away with such things, not without a scolding he would not easily recover from.
Instead, he takes a run at the wall, and just before the Goddess Juryo would drag him earthward once more, his fingers easily catch the edge of a pillar, and from there, he swings his legs up, catching himself against the crossbeams. From there, it’s easy enough to hoist himself up using his legs, wedging himself in a corner of the room. From here, he can view the stars. He fixes his gaze upon one. It will be the representation of the change that is coming, his shadow that will share mind and thought. He knows that they are not literally stars, for though they are hope in the darkness, they are made of shadow, not light, but he would feel awkward speaking to the shadows in the torchlight. “Kanet, know that my fear is not for, or of, you. I know that you will be as a loyal servant. It is natural to fear change, but I likewise look forward to it. I can join my brothers and sisters on the battlefield, once we have trained.” And—true, he has not spoken of his own situation. “Know that I am Prince Yosuke of the Sumaru royal line. You know, probably better than I, of the way our lines have been joined. How your people have served mine. I am the third in line for the throne. Prince Akihiko is many years my elder, and far more mature and responsible than I will probably ever be. Shiza’s sword is as deadly as Akihiko’s fists. He even has a suitor that he at last shows some signs of returning affection, the beautiful and deadly Lady Mitsuru, of the land of Kirio, one of our strongest allies. Our mother, Queen Maya, the ruler of our fair realm, delights in the match, for our kingdoms only grow stronger together. The second child, Princess Yukiko, rails, as I do, against limitation and tradition, but her rebellion is far more subtle than I—and as second child, who has had long enough to become accustomed to her Kanet and likewise for her Kanet to her, she has been able to satisfy her desire for freedom by flying free as a bird on the battlefield. All of Sumaru’s enemies fear the flick of Amate’s fan, as keen and deadly as Yukiko’s wrath. In all honesty, she may desire to become Lady Mitsuru.” He sighs. “I, meanwhile, take to the rooftops as easily as the ground. When I am bored by my lessons, it is easy enough to seek an escape in the market, or within the ruins of the old capital to the east, easily reachable from the walls, despite its dangers. I cannot stand fish before it is skinned, gutted, and cooked, my favorite color is the orange of a thousand sunsets and the glow of a fire’s embers, I love the songs of the birds and bards, and I long to become a hero of Sumaru. I am beloved by our people, so the whispers say, for I am the approachable one and care for our lowliest peasant, often stopping to help a merchant carry his goods or pay for the feeding of the poor of our city, though our servants tend to hate my flightly and unpredictable ways—and my habit of disappearing. Mother’s beloved consort, Lord Katsuya, is Captain of the Guard, and stories are told of their courtship and adventures. Last but not least is the darling of the kingdom, Prince Kumarou. He is young, far from his Joining ceremony, and is charming if not sensible. He tries to follow me everywhere, which is yet another reason for the servants to hate me. Kumarou is hardly as skilled as I, and has already broken his leg in the attempt. I am not sure how he will act when I am shut away in the fortress of Mayona to come to terms with you, but he will have to learn to act on his own while I am away.” Yosuke falls silent for one long moment, two, staring fixedly at the star flickering within his sight. “Please take good care of me, bodyguard. I place myself in your hands.” He watches until his vision fades into black, and he however briefly joins the land of the sleeping.
...yes, I literally named Teddie Bearson. because.
there is a strong likelihood any character voiced by Yuri Lowenthal will somehow become tied to yosuke in my head. As you'll probably notice if you watch my review/commentaries, I had the sudden 'the Prince could be Yosuke' thought and just never stopped. This is the result. (I'm not sure where to go after the worldbuilding, so it might just end up being the worldbuilding chapters. But hey. Worldbuilding.
~Dreamer~
Main Points:
Persona 4 Prince of Persia inspired au
Chapter Summary: Prince Yosuke is concerned about the ritual.
Word Count: 1116
Rating: Gen?
Humanity has always feared the dark, personifying it as evil. Yet what is it, exactly, that is feared? It’s the unknown, the fact that anything can lurk within. Humans fear the unknown, often acting to destroy what they cannot understand. Even a simple explanation is enough to lessen their ire, even if the explanation is untrue.
The Princes of Sumaru were known as the Shadow Princes (though this nickname is used even for the Queen who rules their kingdom, for the Princesses of the line). It was enough for their citizens to know they were safe and protected, their enemies to know that the royalty could strike from the shadows and their never-seen bodyguards were deadly.
Humanity fears the loss of their most important sense, never mind that if they just applied their hearing, their sense of touch, the darkness would be less of a mystery, for—for the most part—the world does not change simply because of the lack of lighting. Yet there are those who can see and navigate this world, untouched by its unseen dangers, and in so doing become an unknown to be whispered about themselves.
Prince Yosuke sighs and shivers. He’s been told the stories of the Kanet, their loyalty and devotion, but this is the final night he has to himself, his mind truly his own. Tomorrow early in the morning rather than celebrating his birthday as every year previous, he will undergo a solemn ceremony starting far too early in the morning. It goes late into the night, too, so he should be in bed, but he can hardly rest with these thoughts in his head.
He longs to run away across the roofs, to hide on the glass roof over the garden, marveling at the plants held within and the spectacular structure built to ensure every single plant gets the nourishment it requires, or to sit on one of the roofs of the wall guard towers, staring off into the sands of the desert, or just keep running over the beautifully tiled market roofs, stalls all silent in the middle of the night. The stars and moon are beautiful tonight, but their warmth is distant, muted and uncaring. He doesn’t engage in ridiculous antics for once, not when he knows today, of all days, he would not get away with such things, not without a scolding he would not easily recover from.
Instead, he takes a run at the wall, and just before the Goddess Juryo would drag him earthward once more, his fingers easily catch the edge of a pillar, and from there, he swings his legs up, catching himself against the crossbeams. From there, it’s easy enough to hoist himself up using his legs, wedging himself in a corner of the room. From here, he can view the stars. He fixes his gaze upon one. It will be the representation of the change that is coming, his shadow that will share mind and thought. He knows that they are not literally stars, for though they are hope in the darkness, they are made of shadow, not light, but he would feel awkward speaking to the shadows in the torchlight. “Kanet, know that my fear is not for, or of, you. I know that you will be as a loyal servant. It is natural to fear change, but I likewise look forward to it. I can join my brothers and sisters on the battlefield, once we have trained.” And—true, he has not spoken of his own situation. “Know that I am Prince Yosuke of the Sumaru royal line. You know, probably better than I, of the way our lines have been joined. How your people have served mine. I am the third in line for the throne. Prince Akihiko is many years my elder, and far more mature and responsible than I will probably ever be. Shiza’s sword is as deadly as Akihiko’s fists. He even has a suitor that he at last shows some signs of returning affection, the beautiful and deadly Lady Mitsuru, of the land of Kirio, one of our strongest allies. Our mother, Queen Maya, the ruler of our fair realm, delights in the match, for our kingdoms only grow stronger together. The second child, Princess Yukiko, rails, as I do, against limitation and tradition, but her rebellion is far more subtle than I—and as second child, who has had long enough to become accustomed to her Kanet and likewise for her Kanet to her, she has been able to satisfy her desire for freedom by flying free as a bird on the battlefield. All of Sumaru’s enemies fear the flick of Amate’s fan, as keen and deadly as Yukiko’s wrath. In all honesty, she may desire to become Lady Mitsuru.” He sighs. “I, meanwhile, take to the rooftops as easily as the ground. When I am bored by my lessons, it is easy enough to seek an escape in the market, or within the ruins of the old capital to the east, easily reachable from the walls, despite its dangers. I cannot stand fish before it is skinned, gutted, and cooked, my favorite color is the orange of a thousand sunsets and the glow of a fire’s embers, I love the songs of the birds and bards, and I long to become a hero of Sumaru. I am beloved by our people, so the whispers say, for I am the approachable one and care for our lowliest peasant, often stopping to help a merchant carry his goods or pay for the feeding of the poor of our city, though our servants tend to hate my flightly and unpredictable ways—and my habit of disappearing. Mother’s beloved consort, Lord Katsuya, is Captain of the Guard, and stories are told of their courtship and adventures. Last but not least is the darling of the kingdom, Prince Kumarou. He is young, far from his Joining ceremony, and is charming if not sensible. He tries to follow me everywhere, which is yet another reason for the servants to hate me. Kumarou is hardly as skilled as I, and has already broken his leg in the attempt. I am not sure how he will act when I am shut away in the fortress of Mayona to come to terms with you, but he will have to learn to act on his own while I am away.” Yosuke falls silent for one long moment, two, staring fixedly at the star flickering within his sight. “Please take good care of me, bodyguard. I place myself in your hands.” He watches until his vision fades into black, and he however briefly joins the land of the sleeping.
