The Majesty of Choice

Forever

Gerard sits with Frank in a tavern, Gerard had been calling it a bar but apparently, it's a 'tavern' because the Giants don't want to give off the impression that they get drunk a lot. However, as Gerard has witnessed, this is false advertisement. Giants quite enjoy being drunk. Or rather, Giants don't overly enjoy being sober.

The tavern is very large, to accommodate the Giants, and on what he supposes is the counter of the bar, is where the human bar actually is. There's a long staircase leading up to it, and there's several people all walking about out on what Gerard has a hard time grasping is actually the Giants bar counter. There's no way to put into perspective how large the space is, it seems so big that it's practically outside. The Giants are just too big, it's incomprehensible. They're all smiles and dancing in the bar, which eases Gerard's mind a little bit, but he's still worried.

Gerard faces a lot of inquiring stares from both humans and Giants alike. Everyone wants to eavesdrop and spy on the Prince, because he's the Prince. No one knows why the heck the Prince is here. And even if that wasn't on everyone's minds, he's still the Prince, and there's been murmurs as the two of them have walked past which leads him to believe that the Prince being in town isn't the only piece of gossip flying. People also want to talk about how the Prince was kissing someone. And how that someone was a guy.

After being noticed, the original Giant who had looked down at them had taken them into the bar to have a discussion, and Frank's hands have been sweating uncontrollably since. The Giant, who introduced himself as Koopooduk seems rather official, though who he is doesn't necessarily seem important, because right now he's the one who's going to determine how the Giants treat them. Right now, what matters is that he likes Frank. He does at least seem to be a person of importance, so his opinion of them is very big, as it may very well determine if they're allowed to live or not.

"So you see," Frank says nervously, because he hasn't been able to get many words at all out so far. "It's not that I... I'm not, I don't, disrespect, or like, dislike Giants. That's not it, because, well, I mean, I'm just not very informed. I'm kind of, unprepared. I don't know anything about my own Kingdom, not much about the world at all, because... or, and I've been learning a lot about different people, and different cultures, just by, like, I don't know like trekking across this place, which I really, I should have done sooner, because I'm going to be in charge of this Kingdom someday, like this is a land I'm going to rule, and I've been, I've been an idiot not to know anything about it. But I only found out recently, that my Uncle, he, well he believes in segregation. He likes to, I don't know, he likes to, well, he thinks he's keeping people at bay, and you know, up until recently, I just kind of accepted that, we don't talk much, he's not, like very, I don't know empathetic? So, I just sort of went along with what he said, because I didn't, I didn't know any better."

"You're going to have to slow it down, or get to a point, because I'm not getting how any of this relates," Koopooduk says. He speaks rather slowly, and Gerard, after hearing him speak more, realizes that this may not be on account of him being drunk, because he seems to be perfectly clear headed. It may rather be because of how large he actually is. His functions, and every day actions are inherently slower than Gerard's, a human. It's not that the Giants speak slowly, or that he as a human speaks quickly, it's simply that the sheer size difference between them makes their interactions more difficult.

"I'm sorry, I'm nervous, I rant, when I'm nervous..." Frank says.

Gerard rolls his eyes and decides to step in, "listen, so this is how it goes. I met Frank, or, uh, the Prince, a few weeks ago, and he was, honestly, let's be honest here, I was on the same page as you, like I get it. His Uncle is a colossal piece of shit, I mean, enormous, like, you can't get worse than that guy. What a dick. Just a waste of space. So, I met Frank, and I thought, well he must be like his Uncle, right? They are family, hell, his Uncle practically raised him! But then I actually talked with him and realized I kind of put my foot in my mouth, because Frank's actually like, a decent person. Don't get me wrong, he has his flaws, but I think his biggest strength is that he is willing to learn. He actually does care about his people, unlike his Uncle, who just cares about making people miserable, but Frank, is actually a good person. And I know that sounds hard to believe, because I have a generally negative view of royalty, but look at his father, I mean, he was a good King, he was the best King, we've never had a better one. And this is his son. Frank is not a product of his Uncle, but rather of his father, and when you look at his father, it's easier to see how it's possible for him to have a heart, because, honestly, Frank, he's got a heart. A really, really big one. He's a little dim, and a little rude, but he is so concerned and honest and just willing to listen, to just take it, take constant criticism, and he's good about it. He actually wants to better the lives of the people in this Kingdom, even if that means you just relentlessly insult him, and he wants to start with those who his family has wronged."