I’ve traveled all this way for something

[maskormods]

WHO: YOU.
WHERE: Eden East's cruiseship
WHEN: Saturday February 15th, around 5 PM EST
WHAT: Registration in motion... among other things.
WARNINGS: None anticipated; let us know if this should be edited.

" The new frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises -- it is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them. It appeals to their pride, not to their pocketbook -- it holds out the promise of more sacrifice instead of more security. But I tell you the new frontier is here, whether we seek it or not. "
( from jfk's speech "the new frontier," 7/15/1960. )

The sun hasn't set yet and the temperature hovers somewhere just below 70 degrees this evening; imPorts, both recently arrived and not, will have been escorted to this event so that they can meet each other, have a good time, and of course officially state their registration status. Or lack thereof. It's your decision, they emphasize, even though the unspoken "but" is always there.

It's an elaborate spread, certainly much more elegant than last time. Eden East herself, elegant in her backless champagne-colored dress, meets and greets each and every imPort as she flutters to and fro. She'll find you and chat for a few moments, shaking your hand and complimenting your dress. She'll know your name, and she'll have an entourage of aids and cameras following her wake. Captain Holiday, in contrast, maintains the energy of someone who feels out of place holding the Swear-In ceremony somewhere so extravagant. As imPorts arrive he tells them where to be for the ceremony part of the evening, but that they are free to enjoy themselves until then and after.

( Please state your character's official status -- REGISTERED or UNSETTLED -- in the subject header of your thread. Characters who are UNDECIDED may be contacted later in the week for their decision via their IC contact post. )

Comments

[cardea]

He was, indeed, the very picture of what Anna imagined a loving fiancee would be after all that had happened. Attentive, charming, loving, and adorably befuddled over his own concern. Anna, for her part, froze for half an instant at hearing his voice, heart stopping. Then, wasted no time, she threw her arms around his neck, the momentum of her leap probably forcing him into a spin to keep from falling over.

He was here, he was here. The implications of what that fact may have for Arendelle were not yet realized in her overwhelming joy at the most important person in her life being here, with her, in her time of need.

"Hans."

After the first exclamation she murmured his name a few times over, convincing herself he was here, that it would all be okay. Her Prince Charming had returned to where he belonged, at the side of his princess in distress.

"Oh thank goodness. I was so- I found Elsa and she- oh. Are you alright?"

She pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, her own wide in sudden distress that something may have happened while he was out of her sight.

[iampretty]

As she threw her arms around his neck, he hugged her back, bringing her into a spin as he held her tight. She was here and she was thankfully in one piece, and he was going to do everything to reassure Anna that everything was going to be fine. Though really, he had no idea just what he would do now.

"I'm fine," Hans replied, gently smiling at Anna. "And really, I'm so much better now that you're here." He replayed her words in his mind, trying to get some semblance of what she might have been through. She mentioned she found Elsa, something that he filed away as a topic to talk about later. Not now, though. Now was for the lovers act, putting on the schmaltz and the romance that Anna so desperately wanted.

"I thought...well, I was starting to think that I'd be alone in this place."

[cardea]

"Never."

She pressed her forehead even harder against his, as though she has any control over whether they were here or not. But, really, that was the point of true love, wasn't it? Nothing could keep them apart, no matter how strange or unexpected the situation. Love would conquer it all.

"We could never be alone, not anymore. We waited too long to find each other."

And with that resolute statement, Anna was ready to at least let her feet hit the ground again, loosening her grip enough to allow that.

"But if you're still here- it's true, isn't it? There's no way back to Arendelle?"

[iampretty]

"I've only been here for a few days," Hans admitted, frowning slightly, as he lowered her towards the ground. "If there is a way back to Arendelle, I haven't found it yet."

But he would. Oh he would. Getting back to his soon-to-be-kingdom was the first priority on Hans's list...it was just that things such as 'having to work for a living' were getting more and more in the way of that. He didn't want to sit down and start a new life here, despite what the government was pushing on him.

And speaking of Arendelle... "Anna, did you talk to Elsa? Will she be able to bring back summer?"

[cardea]

For the first time since his arrival, Anna actually moved to step away from Hans, looking resolutely away. Because she couldn't look him in the eye as she said it, she just couldn't. It wasn't exactly choosing between her sister and her fiancee- it never even entered into her mind such a thing may happen- but it was speaking less than ideally about one in front of the other. And not in a way that Anna could really find a way to twist and make her fault.

"Elsa....Elsa says she don't know how to fix it, Hans."

The pause was for less than a breath a Anna looked back up, pleadingly, into his eyes.

"But she's just scared. We're all scared. She can fix it- I know she can! It will just take time...and us, helping her. We have to get back. Our home is depending on us and- and- oh, no. If you're here, who's there?"

And now it was finally settling on her, the real meaning of both of them being on this boat.

"Who is taking care of Arendelle?!"

[iampretty]

His expression fell as Anna mentioned that Elsa had no idea how to fix it. He still looked shocked as Anna launched into her ramble about Elsa. That put a damper in his plans. Of course, he had his doubts that talking it out would solve the problem, but it was annoying to see that his doubts were proven right. He needed to come up with a solution himself to bring back summer-a more definite solution.

But that would have to wait. Now, it was time to reassure his fiancee.

"It's okay," Hans responded, looking at Anna reassuringly. "Your horse came back to Arendelle, without you. I was worried that something had happened so I left with some of the kingdom's best men to rescue you. The servants are taking care of Arendelle at the moment." Which was less than ideal. But, Hans knew that his whole scheme centered on Anna being alive, so saving her took priority.

[cardea]

"Okay. Okay. They took care of so much until Elsa was old enough, they'll know what to do for now."

Her concern wasn't vanishing anytime soon, but that did take some of the edge out of her expression. Hans simply vanishing from the throne would have done far more to throw the kingdom deeper into chaos. Him not instantly returning wasn't ideal, but manageable. For a time, anyway.

And, besides, that bit of news did have a tiny silver lining.

"But...you came after me?"

[iampretty]

"Of course I did," Hans responded, with a smile. He walked closer to Anna, taking her hands and giving her a big, eager, happy smile. "I'd never leave you, Anna. Once I thought you were in danger...well, I had to try to find you."

After all, he can't get a kingdom if his princess was dead. Then he'd just be left kingdomless and stuck.

[cardea]

About that concern not vanishing soon thing? It was time to strike that. Anna's face melted into a happy, bordering on content smile at that proclamation because, all in all, what's a little danger and being tossed into a new dimension in the face of true love. She brought their joined hands up to her face, pressing one cheek on top them in her enthusiasm.

"And we're together again, even here. I just knew we were meant to be. So it will work out. It has to."

Things always did, after all. Happy was just how the stories go.

"We can do it...Somehow."

[iampretty]

"I know we can." Because hope and optimism and love and all that nonsense. It would work out because Hans would make it work out, because even in this strange world Anna was still here, so he still had a chance at his kingdom. He just needed to keep their relationship static until they both got home...then, well, things would change.

"And...it might take a while, but honestly? I'm fine with that. No matter what, we'll get back home to Arendelle."

[cardea]

She lowered their hands slightly to give a sharp nod. Because, just that simply, it would be alright. With the weight of so many (though certainly not all) concerns lifted for her shoulders, Anna could finally, fully breathe again. Such, she could only conclude, were the wonders of true love. This full trust in not only one another, but the general goodness of the world and fate as a result of it. So, basically, Elsa and Kristoff could just go shut up. Like they knew anything about the wonders of love and what good it did a soul. They would live here, for now, and find a way back when they could. So no reason at all not to enjoy themselves in the meantime.

"Until then, we'll have to live in this kingdom. Which-" she bit her lip, smiling fading slightly as they moved on to the next dilemma- "Hans, still isn't ours. I can only swear loyalty to Elsa."

[iampretty]

This was a problem for Hans as well. Despite the fact that he saw so much potential in registering, he wasn't entirely fond of the idea of swearing fealty to a different kingdom. But how high could he rise here, how much information could he glean if he wasn't registered?

The dilemma was obvious, and shown in his frown.

"I know. But...I know that these people are fine with us now, but I can't help but wonder what would happen if we pushed our luck and didn't swear loyalty." He looked around the room, eyes lingering on some of the others there. They couldn't tolerate them forever.

[cardea]

"I'm not afraid of these people- or their rulers."

She smiled slightly with that, the entire idea of pushing luck simply unfathomable to her. Despite the fact they were here unwillingly, despite everything, all the members of the government she'd spoken to had been kind. It was all just like Elsa's magic, really, overwhelming and uncontrolled, but not anyone's fault. The faith in the greater good was very clearly winning out in her mind.

"They'll understand. But you...you should do what feels right. And we'll figure it out from there."

[iampretty]

"I'm not sure what feels right at the moment," Hans remarked, with a small frown, looking around. How best to put this so that he gets the best regard.

"I just want you to know that even if I do register, I'll put Arendelle over all. If I had to choose between this place and Arendelle, I'd choose Arendelle in a heartbeat."