**HANS** **stormborn | they/them | post 11 | [profile](https://noogie.me/hans)** Hans figures they should probably meet their new roommate. It’s been… what, twenty years, since they had to share a room? Back in that cramped apartment when they played for the Heat, with Dougie and Jakey. It was fun, but exhausting. The room is vacant when they enter, with two neatly made beds on opposite sides of the room, two desks, two chairs. After some poking, Hans concludes that the two beds are identical in comfiness… *comfortableness? comfort?*, so they arbitrarily choose the one on the left. They flop on the bed with a dramatic sigh. Out of habit, they reach inside their pockets to fish out their phone, but the thing’s been bricked since they’ve woken up in Strategos. “Never should’ve gotten rid of my flip phone,” they mutter. ___ **HAZELWOOD** - she/her - starborn - *[profile](<https://docs.google.com/document/d/11T5dTL9VlSo9FsMjdB1TTRedmQL22VHCE5WTfi7c3SE/edit>)* It had been... a while since Hazelwood had a roommate. (Since Riven? Vallum wasn't one for close quarters) A *room* even that she could return to and calls hers. To be gifted one so freely here was the familiar part of all her travels; the rest wasn't. She found the room just a bit after Hans had, entering with little grandeur. **"Oh."** She said upon seeing them, then nodded a hello. Theirs was a familiar face - but from where? ___ **HANS** **post 12** “Hey,” Hans signs back, their bob tail flicking in curiosity as they sit up to greet their new roomie. The way this other cat carried herself—direct, yet dignified. They feel a strange sense of envy. Hans stares at Hazelwood a little too long before shaking their head. “Ugh, sorry, I’m being a jackass.” They stand up from their bed, roll back their shoulders, tries to hold themself up a little more proud as they introduce themself. “I’m Coach Hans. Or, um, just *Hans* is fine, actually, don’t call me *Coach*. How about you?” *Great job. She probably thinks I’m weird now,* they think, mentally chastising themself for slightly fumbling. Hans smiles weakly as they hold out a paw, hoping that handshakes are universal. ___ The staring contest isn't unusual - perhaps that is what this one did from wherever they were from - but the word choice halted her more than the supposed reason *why* it was used. (*When*ever they were from had some interesting words. The flow of the signs she marked down for later studying.) Hazelwood clasps the offered hand and sketches a short bow in return. "**Knight Hazelwood."** Oh Saints it had been a while since she used her own name sign (a gift of course from those now long buried), but she moves past the sudden longing to say, "**Thou's title is one mine ears hasn't heard before. What does it mean?"** (turns out handshakes are old af but coach is something she can trip over XD) ___ **HANS** **post 13** **“Pleasure to meet you, Knight Hazelwood.”** Hans says, curious at her fantastical name. For a moment, Hans thinks that maybe her first name was *Knight,* and she could be from the same time and world as them, but her antiquated choice of words soon made it clear that Knight Hazelwood is a *real* knight. **“A coach is like… a head strategist. Commander, maybe? For sports, though, not war.”** Hans offers, scratching at their chin. They’ve never had to explain their job before. Their paws and expressions are careful and deliberate as they sign. **“I’m responsible for training my team, we’re called the Blades. Professional hockey team.”** They hum, finally content with how they’ve introduced themself to Hazelwood. Hans sits back on their bed, tucking their paws beneath their body, a casual loaf. **“Hey, Knight, do you like sports? Jousting, maybe? …Dragon hunting?”** (Hans is very much picturing Hazelwood as a fairy tale knight lol) ___ She nods at the descriptions, though several of the words are entirely unfamiliar to her. (Her list to study was going to be longer than the conversation itself, she knew) When Hans sits, so does Hazelwood, not on the bed (wrinkling her nose a bit at the idea of sullying it with her clothes) but pulling the chair out from the opposite desk. "**Sports?**" She tries to think of the last time she got to... play. It takes an embarrassingly long time to even get a glimmer of an idea. Never with Vallum, and rarely with Riven. The mention of a dragon is an out she takes with gusto. "**No, never dragons. Thine beasts are trouble yes, but to be respected."** *Lest they poison an entire kingdom with their death.* ___ **HANS** **post 14** Hans leans forward in interest, fascinated. Doesn’t seem that the knight has any interest in sports, but dragons are real in her world? “We don’t have dragons where I’m from,” Hans signs, then hums, thinking. “It’s all mythology to us, fairy tales.” They suddenly feel a deep sense of concern.