Rumor Has It [Open]

[Deleted]

By 12:30, Humperdinck's day had, miraculously gone without incident. It was only when 12:35 came that it was proven that, clearly, he just could never remain in a pleasant mood, and all progress in technology in anything but weaponry and hunting gear would be stomped out before they started once he had his crown. See, by now he was aware of most of the basics in modern technology, had been given a cell phone by that corporation he had met with when he first arrived (not that he ever used it. Tyrone was the only one he would bother calling, and there were no, and now there never would be, cell phones in Florin). So yes, he had been aware of radios when 12:30 came and went.

However, it was then, as he heard a couple of third years snickering and a rather snotty voice coming from the school's speakers, that he understood that radios were an evil that desperately needed to be destroyed.

"Everyone's not so favorite Prince Humperdinck seems to have something of a flirtation with the mysterious Vanessa. At least, Buttercup would like to hope so, 'cause maybe it'll finally get him to leave her alone."

First, he lost all the color in his face. Then, he turned green. Then, an odd red/purple hybrid. Your average chameleon would've been jealous. How dare they tell such terrible lies about him and then tell him what he could or could not do with the wife that was rightfully his?? I mean, the idea. Flirting with that overgrown pile of seaweed with hair, just who did whatever they were listening to think they were?

It was only after threatening the third years that he got his answers about the radio show and had made his decision to abolish such technologies as quickly as possible. And he still wasn't sure if he would spare the girls.

"Turn that thing off and if you know what's good for you, you will stop smirking!" he barked, sword drawn, and finding the slightest bit of pleasure in seeing their fearful eyes. Ah, this was even better than snapping that one orangutan's neck. Sadly, the girls had managed to escape and he realized people were, in fact, staring at him. So he sheathed his sword, and glared right back.

"There is nothing to see, hear, or snicker at, now move!" Fortunately for those who had plans to see tomorrow, most of them did, in fact, move.

Most was clearly a key word here.

[bedivere]

"I am quite certain that drawing arms upon your fellow students is somehow against the rules." A calm voice said thoughtfully from behind him, and Bedivere made his way through the few lingering watchers who were clearly hoping for some kind of fight. They looked disappointed when the teachers shooed them away, slinking off to find their entertainment elsewhere (or to simply retreat to a safe distance and keep watching in case Humperdinck got into trouble).

"Now," Said Bedivere, drawing level with Humperdinck and looking at him expectantly "Would you kindly explain why you were waving a sword at a group of unarmed young ladies?"
Currently, he was still looking quite mild-mannered about the whole situation, it was obvious he was expecting a response from the young man, but didn't yet feel any need for an overt show of strength, so he wasn't really cutting a particularly threatening figure, even as a teacher.

[Deleted]

Now it’s time to explain what is probably obvious, but what the hell, is worth explaining anyway. When it came to Humperdinck and rules…well, they had tea once in a while, but usually it was because Humperdinck had it chained to the chair and was using said chair to bash any enemies in. That was when rules really applied to him, when he was applying them to anyone who decided that it’d be funny to stand in his way. So when this odd, bespectacled man who was clearly clueless of how things worked around here (around here being in Humperdinck’s very warped view of the world) pointed out that what he had just done was against the rules. And he wanted an explanation? Well, fine, if he was really going to question that sort of thing, he was going to give him an explanation all right, and surely that would get the man to back off, because obviously, Humperdinck was armed and he was not, so guess who won this one?

“…well I wasn’t just going to let them snicker at me, now was I? That, good sir, was a matter of protecting my pride,” he explained, perhaps bringing out the act that he demonstrated towards his people when he was addressing them…hmm, he would have to be more convincing, even if he truly, truly had done nothing wrong as far as he was concerned. He then flashed his best smile. “Besides, I wasn’t serious. It was just to remind them that they shouldn’t be snickering at people.” There, he had covered his bases well enough, he was sure. There was no possible way that anyone would disagree with his actions now.

[bedivere]

Arrogance should never be mistaken for intelligence, and just because one went around with the firm belief that one was correct, did not mean you were.
Unfortunately, to acknowledge that fact would be to put a dint in that total and firm belief, and arrogant people did not like to do that. Thus it was the unhappy task of those around them to correct this belief, and it was a task that Bedivere considered it his solemn duty to undertake with his students.
Humility and a willingness to accept the possibility that, sometimes, you might be incorrect, were the makings of a good... well, person, really.

"You seriousness, and their snickering, is of no matter," he explained, calmly but firmly "A gentleman should never draw upon an unarmed lady."
At one time, he may have simply said 'lady', but he had seen some rather dangerous ladies out there and it would be the utmost insult to consider an armed lady any less of a threat than an armed man. He supposed, in contrast, one ought to not draw upon an unarmed man either, and while that bit of etiquette was probably up for debate, he continued anyway.
"In fact, drawing upon anybody not bearing arms themselves, and with no physical provocation to do so, is really quite dishonourable."

[Deleted]

For a brief minute or so, Humperdinck was smiling, feeling rather proud of himself, actually. Sure, he had a sense that perhaps this man wasn't your average peasant, but he was still hardly royalty, he could tell you that much. So combined with Humperdinck's rock solid excuse and the fact that chances were that this man realized he was really no match, he would be declared guiltless of this supposed crime (he still didn't see how it could possibly be a crime. Again, he was going to be King: that power was absolute. Sure, he wasn't too keen on the responsibilities of such, but he was certain he could find a way around that).

So when he realized that what was coming out of the other man's mouth was hardly a pardon, but a...a lecture...well, honestly, those girls probably would have very much liked to have taken a photograph of his reaction if they didn't fear for their very lives. Although they needn't have feared, because apparently whoever this professor (not that Humperdinck cared for that, seeing as he was still a bloody prince for God's sake, that should beat out any civil servant!) was wasn't going to have any of Humperdinck's violent tendencies.

So stunned, was the arrogant, unpleasant and just downright cruel young prince, that he nearly lost his cool right then and there, but it somehow occurred to that tiny brain of his that if he was to draw his weapon, that was just going to make matters worse. He had to handle this thing with diplomacy (he really loathed the word, to be honest, it was the only reason he had to come up with such a complicated plan to start a war with Guilder), so with a great deal of effort his took a deep breath, trying for another smile.

"I see...well, I suppose you may have something of a point there." It really took all the effort in the world to not scowl at the thought of actually admitting he was wrong, even if he didn't believe it in the slightest. "I'm sure a man of your own honor, whatever that may be, would know all about that...in fact, I should know who I'm getting such sound advice from, sir." After all, there was an off chance that once he got his crown, he could use it to his advantage against the man, who was most certainly on the already extensive list of people Humperdinck had a major problem with.

[bedivere]

Bedivere was pleased to note that Humperdinck seemed to be taking his words into consideration. He was willing to take the Prince's agreement at face value, always willing to see the best in people - although that couldn't be mistaken for naivety, Bedivere wouldn't allow himself to be conned by a well-mannered facade.

"Sir Bedivere of Camelot," He announced with a slight bow "I teach English here. And to whom might I be delivering this advice?"

He was not so arrogant to deliver his title with anything other than simple matter-of-factness, although he has found in the past that people rethought him when they discovered he was a knight, but mostly only because he seemed so unlike a knight at first glance.

[Deleted]

Ahh, a knight. So Humperdinck had been right that, at the very least, he wasn't the lowest of the low peasants. That would simply be asking for a good beheading...well, you know, if he hadn't been lecturing him about it (the very nerve, really, but that would be handled for another time). Admittedly, Florin had a fair amount of decent knights, he supposed...you had to understand that Count Rugen was really the only person he held any sort of respect for, and the knights were merely more tools. Perhaps with any luck, if he didn't wind up setting Bedivere up first (the wheels in his head were certainly turning), perhaps the knight could be of some use.

"Ah yes...yes, I've heard of Camelot..." A small amount of smugness couldn't help but creep into his own smile when he realized the knight had bowed...that was more like it. He did so terribly miss the bowing. But no, he wouldn't let the facade break just yet. "I am Prince Humperdinck of Florin, and I certainly hope this awful...misunderstanding will not taint your opinion of my land." Which was ironic, seeing as the prince was already thinking of some nasty things about Camelot. It was just fortunate that he was as good of an actor as he was.

[bedivere]

"Of course, your highness." Bedivere nodded, unaware that he'd pandered to Humperdinck's arrogance with his bow, thinking it only polite - and of course now that he knew the young man was a prince, there was a certain respect he automatically conveyed.
That didn't mean he didn't expect any respect in return, of course, in this situation Humperdinck was still a student and he, Bedivere, was a teacher, not to mention the elder of the two, both things which encouraged a certain amount of deference in their own right - at least to someone as well-mannered and versed in etiquette as Bedivere.

"One should not allow one's opinion of an entire country to be swayed by a single person's actions, even a member of that country's royal family." It was hard to tell if he was somehow trying to subtly insult Humperdinck, or merely stating a fact.