Niles/Ryoma C-S

C

Ryoma: Niles, could I speak with you for a moment?

Niles: Sure, but I can't imagine a prince would want much to do with me.

Ryoma: What was it like, growing up in Nohr?

Ryoma: I understand your circumstances were troubled before you entered Prince Leo's service.

Niles: ......

Ryoma: ...You don't have to answer, of course.

Niles: No, no. I can share with you some of my childhood.

Niles: It's just...are you sure you can handle it?

Ryoma: Is it truly so terrible?

Niles: Well, we often had the poor fighting in the streets over what little food we had.

Ryoma: I had heard there was food scarcity.

Niles: Single slices of bread and scraps of fishbones were what made up most of our meals.

Niles: There was a black market for what meager vegetables our barren soil could grow.

Ryoma: I can't imagine. How awful...

Niles: (I can't believe he's buying this. How far can I push it...)

Niles: I once saw a neighbor attack a man with a knife because he happened to be holding a turnip.

Niles: I still don't know how he got his hands on one in Nohr, but we made soup out of it for a week.

Ryoma: You left the other man in the street to die?!

Niles: Why spend time saving him and have another mouth to feed?

Ryoma: Such a harsh stance. I suppose it can't be helped, in an environment like that.

Ryoma: This must be difficult to recall, Niles. Thank you for telling me.

Niles: It's not a problem at all, milord.

Niles: We all wore leaves, too. If we could find them.

Ryoma: You what?

Niles: Wore leaves, and ate the same mud disks three meals a day.

Ryoma: .....

Niles: You know, I knew a family who turned to eating parchment to-

Ryoma: How long have you been lying to me?

Niles: It's no fun if I tell you.

Ryoma: Excuse me? I didn't come here to be mocked, Niles.

Niles: Neither did I. Good day, Prince Ryoma.

Niles: You can figure out how much of that was true for yourself.

B

Ryoma: I'm not exactly pleased with you lying to me last time, Niles.

Niles: Oh? I couldn't have guessed, by the way you stormed off.

Niles: You know something, milord? I'm not exactly pleased with you either.

Ryoma: Excuse me? I wouldn't have pushed if you hadn't wanted to answer!

Niles: You're missing the point. Why did you want to know in the first place?

Ryoma: I've never been to Nohr, obviously. I was only curious.

Niles: Is that really what you believe?

Ryoma: What are you implying, Niles?

Niles: Nohr is already the villain in your story, Prince Ryoma.

Niles: Clearly you already have an idea of what it's like.

Niles: Maybe that idea isn't far off from the truth.

Niles: But I don't want or need your pity, Your Highness.

Ryoma: Pity? Is that why you think I spoke with you?

Ryoma: If you think I would dare pity a retainer of Nohrian royalty-

Niles: Aha, and there it is again! That bitter spite.

Niles: At least you're being honest with your tone, if not your words.

Ryoma: It's you who should watch his tone, Niles.

Niles: I think I'd rather watch my step with you around, my lord.

Niles: My childhood - both its highs and lows - is not yours to weep over.

Niles: Nor is it yours to poke and prod at to make your opinion of Nohr worse.

Ryoma: You'll think I'm trying to antagonize you no matter what I say.

Ryoma: It seems we have nothing more to say to each other, Niles.

Niles: Mm. I'm sure you have important matters to attend to.

Niles: Good day, milord. (leaves)

Ryoma: He... How in the world does he manage to frustrate me so easily?

A

Ryoma: Niles.

Niles: Milord.

Ryoma: ...

Niles: Isn't there a war council soon? You wouldn't want to miss it.

Ryoma: Niles, I apologize. You were right.

Ryoma: I thought my questioning was only altruistic, but it wasn't.

Ryoma: Instead of trying to understand Nohr better...

Ryoma: I was seeking to confirm the biases I've held for nearly my whole life.

Niles: Oh? Well, this is unexpected.

Niles: I'd thought our last conversation would be the end, honestly.

Niles: So, you went off on your own? Did a little sword training to clear your head?

Ryoma: How did you-

Niles: You aren't a very hard man to figure out, Lord Ryoma.

Niles: It some ways, I find that refreshing.

Ryoma: Yet I've surprised you anyway. Which is it?

Niles: Well, I didn't think you'd come apologizing, of all things.

Ryoma: I see. You thought I would realize you were right, and then never bring it up again.

Niles: Exactly. There's my bias as a Nohrian showing.

Niles: Now we've both been proven wrong. Doesn't that ease the sting?

Ryoma: I never considered that you could have a skewed perception of Hoshido...

Ryoma: Though I suppose it makes sense.

Niles: I'm just better at keeping my mouth shut about them.

Niles: If a Hoshidan proves me right, so be it.

Ryoma: I can't imagine you holding your tongue in regards to anything, Niles.

Niles: Oh? More prejudice, milord?

Ryoma: Only against you, and not Nohr.

Niles: Was that a joke? I've earned my quips.

Niles: Both those I make and those I receive.

Ryoma: That you have. But yes, it was a joke.

Ryoma: Perhaps we should speak more often, Niles.

Ryoma: After this whole incident, I find you much easier to talk to.

Niles: I couldn't agree more, Lord Ryoma.

S

Niles: We keep crossing paths, milord.

Ryoma: We do. Though normally in the daylight.

Niles: You aren't usually up this late, I take it?

Ryoma: Awake, often enough. Outside, less so.

Niles: ...

Ryoma: ...

Ryoma: Can I ask you something, Niles?

Niles: Oh no. Here we go again.

Niles: Yes, Prince Ryoma? What can I answer for you?

Ryoma: Have a little faith in me, would you?

Ryoma: What do you miss the most about Nohr?

Niles: Hmm... There isn't much to miss, honestly.

Niles: But if I had to pick, I'd say the stars.

Ryoma: I didn't think you were being literal when you talked about stargazing.

Niles: Most people don't. But the night sky in Nohr really is a sight to behold...

Niles: The constellations are so bright you could almost reach out and grab a star for yourself.

Niles: When I was younger, I used to dream about having a star for myself.

Niles: ...Why are you staring at me like that?

Ryoma: Niles... I think you are more brilliant than any star I've seen.

Ryoma: When you talk about things you love...

Ryoma: You light up even brighter than the sky above us.

Niles: This sky, maybe. But you haven't seen Nohr's.

Niles: I don't suppose you ever will.

Ryoma: Why are you so certain?

Ryoma: Niles, I love-

Niles: Think about this realistically, Ryoma.

Niles: You have a country to run, and I have a lord to protect.

Ryoma: I am think realistically. I'm thinking about my future.

Ryoma: The one I want with you.

Niles: And Hoshido? What about its future?

Niles: Are you going to engineer reasons to visit Nohr...

Niles: Just to have trysts with Prince Leo's retainer?

Ryoma: You make me question my views, some long-held.

Ryoma: The new age of Hoshido needs a king who can be challenged on his opinions.

Ryoma: One whose mind can be swayed from ill decisions.

Ryoma: I wouldn't ask you to stay in Hoshido forever, but some time together is better than none.

Niles: You really won't take no for an answer, will you?

Ryoma: You haven't said no. Nor have you rejected my feelings.

Niles: Ryoma, really? You're going to play the semantics game with me?

Ryoma: I am. Sometimes it's the only way to gain any lead with you.

Ryoma: I know Hoshido's sky could never replace Nohr's.

Ryoma: But perhaps it could match it, in time.

Ryoma: I love you, Niles. I want to wake up each day at your side.

Ryoma: If that isn't something you want, simply tell me so...

Ryoma: And that will be the end of it.

Niles: You may be the most stubborn man I've ever met.

Niles: At least I don't have much to pack.

Niles: But you will be the one telling Lord Leo about your naughty, naughty plans for me.

Ryoma: I think I can handle that.

Ryoma: ...

Niles: You want me to say it, don't you?

Ryoma: Are you going to make me wait until our wedding night?

Niles: I love you too, Ryoma.

Niles: Maybe any sky will be beautiful, if I'm gazing at it with you.