Maybe He Won't Recognise Me? [Private/Hayden]

Honestly, it was something she was whole-heartedly, very proactively trying to avoid, no matter how inevitable it seemed. This was by no means a pleasant or sought after reunion, but the rise of power and status Yuel accumulated over the years within Karakura progressively gave her a plethora of less-than-lovely responsibilities and obligations. This one, however, would take the cake: having a meeting with the King of Vastime.

Why would they meet? The leadership of her native organisation and Vastime were making motions to better connect and communicate their resources and findings, especially with their rapidly growing military pining for advancements in technology. Of course, it wasn't purely for the sake of their military, but making leaps in the overall quality of living for their people by taking steps forward in science and technology. That said, for arguably the most technologically advanced place on Earth, the African nation reached out to Karakura, with potential for future engagements on purposes aside from just sharing resources and findings. Given Yuel's position, it was within her purview--and expectations of office--to visit Vastime and speak directly to the people she might soon be working with. That in itself was a very exciting prospect that Yuel most usually jumped at when the opportunity arose; her obsession with expansions of research on innumerable fields went that far.

So why was that not this case this time around? That was because there was an expectation to meet the King before she engages with his researchers, to which her stomach churns in pain. Desmond and Yuel had something of a history together, that history namely being leaving him to die before a gillian. Well, not quite "leave him to die", as she did offer a strike to the hollow before fleeing in fear. Also, it wasn't intentional or anything. In fact, he didn't even die, so there was nothing to worry about, right? Aha, right?!

To be honest, it was a bit of a surprise that the person whom defended her in the outskirts all those years ago grew to be such a large figure. Before, he was barely enough to take down the gillian, and in fact normally someone of that calibre would most certainly be slain. Yet, he persisted, and now, maybe by the workings of fate, as the two of them first met as the most ordinary individuals in the world, they were now meeting again, this time as global influencers. Since that's the case, with this meeting being destiny, there really was no way to avoid it.

"Guh... nvm, even trying to convince myself with fate is no good. No good, no good, I have a stomachache now, I gotta go to the restroom! Excuse me for a moment!"

She called out to the escort guiding her in the palace grounds, letting them know of her internal troubles. Before they could respond, Yuel already started dashing away to the nearest bathroom she could recall passing by. Maybe it really was fate acting behind the scenes, working in its mysterious ways, because the person she didn't want to encounter most of all, Yuel bumped into right after turning on a corner.

To make matters worse, and inexplicably more coincidental, the reason for Yuel's stomach cramping up wasn't from the cringe of nostalgia, but because it was that time of the month... the same as three years ago.

The whole scenario reeked of her younger, high school years. Now seventeen years old, with the influence of the japanese president and her own legitimate academic achievements, Yuel graduated from school early and entirely forewent higher education. If anything, she'd be a professor at Karakura University with her talents, rather than a potential student. But in this moment, a wave of nostalgia hit her from those days, mostly because when she was younger, these sort of cliched moments were painfully common place. Round a corner and bump into someone? This must be the first meeting of her potential love, right? Actually, this moment was much worse.

Falling to the floor, Yuel bit her lip to prevent shrieking in pain, but what really helped was the voice she heard, entirely distracting her from the pain on her bottom. This voice was unfortunately familiar, and her eyes quickly launched up to match the origin. It was him, the man from three years ago, now King-Militant of Vastime: Desmond Hayden.

Yuel's eyes widened and her face paled, aside from the reddened blush of her cheeks. Although she was indeed embarrassed for falling down in front of him, it was mostly out of the crushing anxiety and fear of being recognised, to an outside perspective it might be misinterpreted. After all, a young woman gazing at an unfamiliar but rugged man with wide eyes, rosy cheeks, and a flustered appearance overall? Usually in this scenario, such an expression eluded to something else.

With quick thinking, Yuel attempted to stay calm and took the man's hand, quickly picking herself up with the help of his strength. The young woman stood up and straightened out her clothes and posture as quick and elegantly as possible. Yuel figured the more "proper" and unconcerned she was, the less conspicuous she'd look. Soon after, she offered a pronounced and perfect curtsy in a fashion fit for greeting royalty. As one of the most well-studied persons in all of Karakura, and by extension likely the world, the Duulheim was sure to study on culture, customs, and courtesies of Vastime, and she very clearly displayed that here, with both her bow and her steady, focused voice.

"G-greetings, Your Majesty. Thank you for your help, and, uh, I'm pleased to be acquainthe-..."

At least, she tried to be steady and focused. The though bow itself was definitely well executed, her speech was a little off. The nervousness in her tone was clearly conveyed, stutter and all, even biting her tongue at the end to seal the deal. It didn't help that Yuel was speaking English, the primary language in Vastime, to which the girl was acquainted with enough to be perfectly fluent, but having lived in Japan with mostly japanese speakers, it wasn't her most practiced language. Again, though, to an outsiders perspective, this might be mistaken for bashfulness.

After her bow and greeting, Yuel lifted her head, immediately facing Hayden's directly. She had to look up a considerable amount as she was only 5'4, 5'7 with her formal heels on. It was only then that she also noticed the man beside him, and for a little while she was speechless. Mostly because, W-wha... T-this guy's really hot!

"A-ahhm, p-pardon me--oh! I've forgotten to introduce myself. I'm Yuel Duulheim, one of the leaders of the research department of the Yayjuu. I was the representative sent to formalise the process of our cooperation. Might I have the pleasure of knowing who you are?"

This time around, Yuel's slightly nervous speech really was bashfulness, bordering coquettish. Of course, even if it was meant for the man besides Hayden, given her actions prior, onlookers might be mistaken.

The corner of her mouth, mid smile, started twitching.

He remembers me....

It was like her soul literally left her body. In fact, for the two spiritually aware men before her, they'd genuinely feel the depths of her spiritual energy weaken and almost remove itself from Yuel's self, like an out of body experience. Actually, that's exactly what it was. Yuel's face was blank, the rest of her expression turning pale aside from her still rosy cheeks. After starting a mental reboot, her spiritual body returned to its physical form, further signaled by a small shake of her head and recalibration. The reason was sheer embarrassment, though once again to an outside perspective it may have been a reaction of coquettish infatuation.

"A-ahh, ahaha, I'm rather flattered you remember me, Your Majesty. It is an hono-..."

Her words trailed off at the end into a pause. What's with that expression? Yuel was afraid that he'd maybe tease her, maybe be angry, or god forbid at worst, fail to acknowledge it at all. Well, the lattermost was what happened, but a lot of that concern washed away when she saw his face. It reminded her of Shadin. Fatigued, in a most ancient sense. That can't be right...

In similar fashion to Yuel being a reminder of simpler times to Hayden, Hayden was a reminder to Yuel of very much the same. Of a world where, all these terrible things happened all over, but none of it felt like it concerned either of them so directly, so personally. Now, the two of them were influential figures across the many realms, and their responsibilities were heavy and all-consuming. All the while, Yuel did what she could to not let it get her down. Sure, she suffered amany terrifying and life-changing circumstances, some that left scars in her heart. But, this expression Hayden showed her... it really was like Shadin's. The face of a man with more burden's than he'd ever share. And because of this similarity, in her eyes, Yuel superimposed the image of Hayden and Shadin together. Without even thinking, the girl treated the two very much the same. She reached her hand out and brought it to his cheek as a comfort, and she wore a solemn but supportive face, very much coloured with concern. A soft, caressing voice was let out, a whisper to Hayden, but a bit to herself as well.

"...What happened to you? You're not alone out here anymore, don't wear that face."

Yuel's eyes were soul-staring, but it was abruptly interrupted by a return of her faculties. This girl was never one to have much luck with empathy and appropriate emotional consideration. It came to the point where she just assumed that she'd never come to understand people very well, in the same way she'd never come to understand very well what an ape was thinking. To that extent, Yuel also just assumed that her impulsive efforts to comfort people were always done wrong, and that was with people she knew well. To do this with a King?!! Isn't that, like, impudence or something?! People were probably executed back in the day for doing this type of thing!

The Duulheim's hand shot back to her side and her back stood up straight, an expression of fear and regret and apology and submission on her face.

"A-ahh, aah, uhm, e-excuse me, Your Majesty, I-I didn't m-mean to, uh... Y-yes! Colonel Decter! Very nice to meet you, I am Yuel Duulheim, one of the leaders of the research departohpardonmewhatamIrepeatingthatforhahahayes it's very nice to meet you, Colonel. I-I've heard of your achievements before, you've done well of yourself, sir!"

If it wasn't for the paleness in her face and fear of god in her heart, Yuel would normally be infinitely flattered and reddened by the colonel knowing of her. No time to enjoy the presence of his masculine gorgeousness though, the King was speaking to her!

"Ahahaha, yes, you are right Your Majesty--I'm just a bit of a ditz, and I was looking for the restroom, but I lost my escort! Oh, but, I don't need to go that badly, so we can just go straight back to the meeting room--the meeting is much more important, so we can just go ahead with that, hahaha! OH, I'm not, like, meaning to be suspicious or anything, I really was looking for the restroom, I'm not snooping around the palace or anything!"

OhmyTruthkillmewhatamIsaying