No such thing as too many Princes - Let's Play Be My Princess

Oh, God, Tome, that's perfect. I'm dying.

And trying so hard not to make a Germans kidnapping people joke.

It's okay, though, I'm 1/4 German. Bavarian, actually.

Joshua

Joshua no

You're doing it wrong.

Just... ask her to make you some more rice balls if you're going to insist that's what this is about, geez. She'd probably be happy to come visit Dres Van again if you, you know, extended an invitation like a normal human being instead of abducting her off the street and making her miss classes.

My original reaction to Josh admitting he was abducting her: "Face, meet Hand. Elbow, meet Surface-Of-Desk. Expression, meet Not Impressed."

My current reaction after reading this? "HEADCANON ACCEPTED THROUGH TEARS OF LAUGHTER. But previous statement still strongly applies."

...The fact that Josh admits it with a straight face is somewhat O_O inducing. WTF.

On the other hand that sad face. D: LET ME LOVE YOU!

Woops, wrong thread
I should stop looking at so many threads at once.

I know that feeling.

Haha I love how casual Joshua was about the kidnapping! Ain't nothing but a thing his world.

On a completely different note...

Anyway back to Joshua, I might be dense but I actually have no idea what he's going to do once they get back...is she the new head chef?

I keep meaning to watch that show, aaaaah, must go find the manga as well!

And I think he's going to have Amaya teach the current head chef how to make rice balls. Or something.

Several hours later, Amaya finds herself back in Dres Van Manor, making rice balls. The royal chef is watching her make them.

Considering Josh's record with firing chefs, it's probably been a pretty nerve-wracking last few days for the guy.

She brings the rice balls to Josh, thinking that it's at least a once-in-a-lifetime experience. He looks at the plate and slowly reaches for one.


This would actually be kind of sweet of he hadn't DRAGGED HER HERE AGAINST HER WILL.

Josh bites into the rice ball.



Joshua: "This is good."



Amaya: (There's something cute about him when he eats like that...)



Amaya: (I don't know how I feel about coming all this way just to make rice balls... But I can't stay here forever.)

Implying that she could have been persuaded to come for a different reason.

PERSUADED, Josh.

Josh frowns and stands up.

Joshua: "You can't."

Amaya: "Huh...?"

Joshua: "I can't allow you to go home."



Amaya: "You won't let me...?"


Personal space...PERSONAL SPACE!

Joshua: "If you want to go home that badly, I suggest you find me someone who can make these as well as you do."

Oh, so we're still pretending this is about rice balls. Okay.

Joshua is being even meaner than usual and Amaya loses her temper. (About damn time.)

Amaya: "You need someone specifically to make you rice balls!?"



Joshua: "...Of course."

Amaya: "What do you mean, of course!? Don't tell me you intend to keep me here just so I can make you rice balls!?"

Joshua nods decisively.

Joshua: "That was the idea. Is there a problem with that?"

Is there a...

ARGH!



Amaya: "They're just rice balls... Can't you find someone else to make them for you!?"


Oh, no, not the woobie face. I can't keep up a good rage when you do that.

Amaya: (What?)


If only he would do that more often.

Unfortunately, the moment is fleeting, and he returns to his usual, over confident self.



Amaya: "W-what!?"



Amaya feels his smile is so out of place that it makes her even angrier.

Amaya: "What are you saying!? Just because you are a prince...don't you dare think you can have your own way all the time!!"

She glares at Josh, grabs her belongings, and heads toward the exit.

That's my girl. I'm so proud. *sniff*

Jan calls out her name, but she doesn't turn back.



As she walks out of the manor, someone grabs her arm.

??: "Wait!!"

No, it's not Josh coming to his senses and running after her to apologize/confess.

It's Jan.



Jan: "But it seems you have a stubborn streak as well."

Damn straight.

Jan smiles, and she relaxes a bit.

Amaya: "I'm sorry, I lost my temper a bit back there..."

Jan: "No, it's fine. You were coerced into coming here today, so I can see how you must feel."

Amaya: "Is His Highness always like that?"

Jan: "Well, he is and he isn't."

Amaya: "Meaning...?"

He's always that stubborn, but not usually that crazy?



Amaya: (Huh...? Is he making fun of me?)

Jan reaches out and touches her cheek.

Jan: "One thing I can say is..."



Jan: "His Highness is not the same person he used to be."

Amaya: "He's not the same person?"

Jan: "Yes. Now, please allow me to escort you home."

A limo pulls up.

Jan: "Please don't tell me you were planning on walking all the way back?"

...Maybe?



Amaya: (Uh... I can't exactly tell him I hadn't even thought that far yet...)

That sent all my Yandere Alarm Bells screaming. And then she left. Which made me so freaking releaved.

*de-lurking*

I never really liked tsunderes but Josh's sooooooooooo nnnngggghhhh!
I do believe Lambert was supposed to go kinda like this instead of the train wreck it turned out to be?

Also, will you do a second route after you're finished with Joshua?
I'm really really really curious to see Wilfred's rouuuuute! Because of all the smut that it supposedly contains he's so ~*~*dreamy*~*~!

Hello, MariPanda!

I'll probably do as many routes as people want. If anyone is like me, they'll probably break down and buy the routes themselves anyway instead of waiting for updates (like I did when the Pirates in Love LP started). Actually, I'd encourage anyone who enjoys this if they can afford the $4 and have a device that can play Android or iOS apps to support Voltage by buying just one route for one of their games.

(Or you can buy everything they have out and then camp the update button every week. Not that I do that or anything.)

*checks to see if the Yamato sequel has dropped yet*

Ooooooh as many routes as we waaant?


So, in this game, every route is worth $4 dollars, that right?
Maybe I'll try buying some (after I get my Chezems, of course) eventually~!

SAME. And when someone grabbed her arm, I was sure it was the yan part coming out.

Also, how is she going to explain this to her teacher? "I'm sorry, but a prince abducted me to make him rice balls. No, I don't get it either. "

The only way would be if Yan explained it when they got there, or if Josh ended up following and he explained everything. The later is as likely as I am gonna get a boyfriend, which is none.

And then I went home. But with the exact opposite feels attached.

And now I'm going to bed (it's like... 2 in the morning here and my contacts are drying up). And locking my door. And windows. omg he's gonna kill me

Gah! Joshua!



Does he realize how ridculously insane/childish he sounds? Ok no he doesn't, but he wasn't brought up in a cave! Jan's coming across as quite the enabler. I know technically he has to do whatever Josh says on pain of death, but as Josh's only parental figure some major boundary lessons needed to be taught. I think they both need help. That's why I love Amaya's no-nonsense attitude in this part :)
*strokes Josh and Jan's heads* shh...shh...it's all part of the healing process...

Yay for Amaya ! Good girl !

And Josh, stop it. You're supposed to be an awkward hedgehog, not a yandere one. *hits him with a newspaper*

pleeeease Joshua, go and get lost, you and your weird balls obsession, we don't care anymore. Let's follow our previous feeling and target Jan so badly!

(BTW, I totally wonder how did she manage to make rice balls during a party at Noble Michel, if she has not brought the ingredients with here. Which is unlikely, unless you imagine she always carry a lot of condiment in her handbag since one week. Ok, it's supposed to have a very large kitchen here, but, really? have they rice vinegar? Yakinori leaves? umeboshi ? I'm pretty sure that her onigiri was totally plain white rice and not savory at all. duh!)

mmm I want onigiri and plenty of umeboshi, right now!

I totally imagined it...so I took the liberty of creating a scenario.

and moments later...

(sorry it's so hastily drawn)

Why is it every thread I read ends up with yanderes at some point or another why

Because they love you. You wouldn't leave them right? Right? They love you and don't ever want you to leave them. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE THEM. *cough* Kuudere with Yan tendancies here.

Because violence is unavoidable..

Joshua wins...


(yes and i'm not ashamed mixing MK and Otome, in fact, that would be totally funny)

Romantic waltzing for purplevelvet's continued happiness

sorry but I'm still trying to understand how he knew where Amaya lived to be able to stalk abduct come and get her in the first place.

Josh's most likely response:

He's the prince and he probably had to sign some of the paperwork she filled out. Or something.

When the limo gets to the gate, the immigration officer checking the visas keeps telling Amaya he cannot allow her to go through.



Officer: "There isn't anything I can do. I have been told by my supervisors not to allow her through... Maybe the Liebens have something to do with it?"

Mother #*(%er

Back to Dres Van Manor. Josh is relaxing in the hall, reading the newspaper. Amaya is pissed.

Amaya: "What do you mean by all of this!?"



It's kind of obvious from the way he smiles that he knows exactly what she's talking about.

Jan: "So Your Highness gave the order to keep her within the Kingdom then?"



Joshua: "Is there a problem?"

YES.

Jan smiles.

Jan: "No, I was just making sure."

Jan stop don't encourage him.

Amaya: "Your Highness... Why did you do that...!?"



Amaya: "So you have someone to make you rice balls...?"

Joshua: "Don't ask questions you already know the answer to."

Amaya: (Is he seriously going to keep me here for the sake of a few rice balls...?)

Looks that way.

Josh's expression turns serious, and he places his hand on Amaya's chin again to tilt her face up to meet his.

Joshua: "I don't mean to keep you forever..."



Joshua: "Just for a little while..."

Amaya: "A little while...?"



Joshua: "I realize that I am being selfish... But will you please stay here for a little while longer with me?"

*blink*

*stare*

WHY COULDN'T YOU HAVE SAID THAT BEFORE YOU WENT TO THE PARTY AT NOBEL MICHEL WITH HER?!



Amaya: (Even so...)

There's a long silence, and Josh turns his head away from her. He starts speaking slowly and carefully.


Don't make that face.

I'm still mad at you.



Amaya: "Me...?"

He turns back to her.

Joshua: "Will you not stay just a little longer...?"



Amaya: (I can't say no to that face...)

It's so not fair when he does that.

Amaya: "All right, I will."

He seemed to smile with relief.

The longer he smiled, the more frantic my heartbeats became.



Later that night, Amaya is climbing the staircase on her way back to her room after dinner when she hears a familiar voice.

Roberto: "Is that you Amaya? I thought you had gone home."

Funny story, that.

Josh comes up behind Roberto and glares at him.


I think I know why Roberto irritates Josh. The man is like a particularly friendly cat. You know the kind.

Roberto: "I'm not wandering around... I just thought you might like some company."

Joshua: "My office is this way..."



Roberto: "Well, if we get along... Then at least it is less likely that our two kingdoms will go to war with each other..."

Amaya wonders if it's really that simple as Roberto turns to look at her.

He asks Josh why she's still there, and Josh doesn't seem to know what to say for a moment, but he recovers.

Joshua: "She is here to provide hospitality at the party tomorrow."

Amaya: (That's the first I've heard...)

Josh still has problems with being honest about his feelings. *sigh*


Uhhhh...

Roberto places an arm around Amaya's shoulder and Josh grabs him.



Roberto: "I'm... Cuddling?"

Joshua: "Cud..."



Amaya: (What...?)

Roberto looks amused at their identical looks of surprise.

Roberto: "It looks like there is nothing for me to worry about after all."

Joshua: "Worry? About what?"

Roberto: "Well, I heard that Josh had seemed pretty down lately...and I was worried so I came to see him myself... But I'm sure everything will be fine now that you are here, Amaya."



Joshua: "What are you implying!?"

Roberto: "Okay, okay. I won't get in your way. I hope to see you again soon though, Amaya."

Roberto waves his hand and hums a tune as he walks away.

Amaya: (Prince Roberto can be rather mysterious sometimes...)

Joshua sighs.

Joshua: "Honestly..."

As he climbs the stairs, Joshua's footsteps echo through the silence.

Roberto, you fucking win. I am no longer on the fence about you, I like you. I am willing to admit this.

Meanwhile, Joshua. Joshua, why, just. Josh. Josh, I don't know anymore, you just make me feel sad because you had it tough but you do things that drive me up the wall.

ALSO, I COMPLETELY FORGOT HIS COUNTRY WAS POTENTIALLY AT WAR SERIOUSLY WAY TO DROP THAT BOMB ON ME GAME.

And I vote B. Because COMMUNICATION.

I also vote for B!

Roberto, you are being. I believe I shall spend some of my Christmas money purchasing you. That sounds a little wrong.

Voting B because someone has to do the talking in this relationship!

Josh. Josh. Why do you do this? You make my feels go jhdbaoiajdhubsaqfijncbhf!!!!
*deep breaths*
I'm picking B, because someone can't be freaking honest for once with us. And talking may actually get us some freaking progress.

Josh is frustrating because he'll do something infuriating and then switch over to woobie mode and then do something infuriating again. He just keeps see-sawing (thankfully, we're almost done with that). He never gets as bad as Keith is at first, though. Keith is absolutely horrid on the first part of his route, but his redeeming feature is that once his switch flips from tsun to dere for the protagonist, it gets broken off, and he doesn't flip-flop back and forth like Josh does. He still tsuns pretty hard at everyone else, though, especially at Josh.

The tsun is just irritating now. B

Joshua, Joshua, Joshua...you really need to stop being so tsun and OPEN UP FOR ONCE.

I'm going to vote A here just because i'd like watch him squirm under the awkward and silent tension.

I can't sleep, so onto brokenforums I go... and I see this.

I was going to mention this being a possibility of why he didn't go full yan on us when we ran out, but I was like, "NAH, THAT RULE ABOUT HOW AFTER MIDNIGHT YOU CAN'T LEAVE THE CASTLE BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE CONSIDERED AN ILLEGAL AND THERE'S A HEFTY PUNISHMENT CAN'T WORK HERE, NIGHT HASN'T COME YET." And I was half joking.

Apparently he had another card up his sleeve.

And I can't believe how she's basically forgiven him for kidnapping her like this! Just letting it slide. Just. SO MUCH RAGE.



I skipped a bunch of other gifs because they just didn't show my anger enough.

Yessss come to the Roberto side- I MEAN BIASED NO NEVER. :D

And yeah, he has had it tough, but that doesn't give him an excuse to go around kidnapping ladies just because he can't be honest with his feelings. Seriously, at this point I'm just kind of done with Josh. He won me over earlier, and I was actually enjoying him. Then this abducting thing happened. At first, I was kind of weirded out by how honest and happy he was about the whole thing, but I figure, hey, it's probably not going to be long, there will be difficulties explaining it in class, but it's just at the level of crazy hijinks because he's Oko-san. At this point, he's doing what in any other route would make him the BAD GUY of the route. Pretty much the last straw for me. Oko-san would be ashamed of you, sir.

I don't know. I read the part where he finally asked her to stay a little longer (right before she forgave him) as him meaning if she said no, he'd take her home. Hence the confession that he "didn't know what he was doing". Of course, now I'm coming into this with knowledge of having played his entire route, so that may lead me to being a bit more generous toward him.

Not everyone is going to like Josh's type of character, of course. That's why all the guys in these games have distinct personalities or "types", but I can understand why Josh is acting a bit crazy here.

Josh has been brought up all his life to follow "the Rules". He isn't supposed to let emotion govern him. He isn't supposed to have any friends, because everyone in the kingdom is beneath him in rank. Jan isn't his friend. He CAN'T be his friend, because he's a servant; that's what "the Rules" say. He has to act a certain way, speak a certain way, THINK a certain way. He wasn't raised by his parents; he was sent away as a child to an all-boys school, and he wasn't allowed to make friends there, either, again because no-one there was equal to his rank.

In other words, he was lonely, but he's always, always been lonely. That was "normal" for him. That was the way it should be.

Then, Amaya comes in, and she doesn't act the way "the Rules" say she should act. She doesn't kowtow to him; she doesn't treat him as special. She doesn't throw herself at him. She relates to him as just a person, and demands that he treat her the same. She challenges him on almost every level. He starts to come out of his shell, and he's not lonely anymore. And he starts to fall in love, for the first time in his life. But he can't bring himself to believe that she would have any feelings for him, so he does the one kindness he can for her, believeing he's making up for his mistake and the way he treated her at first: he sends her home.

And then, he's lonely again. And realizes that he actually IS lonely. And he can't take it.

Does this excuse what he did? Hell no. But he realizes and admits to her that he's being selfish, and I do really believe if, when he finally asked her to stay, she had said "No" he would have let her go home. It's a turning point in his character arc.

Does this mean he'll be perfect from this point forward? Again, hell no. There'll be backslides; there'll be moments where you want to shake him. He'll get jealous (oh, God, will he get jealous). He's still trying to sort out how he feels, and figure out how Amaya feels about him. But at the end of it, he'll be a much, much better person than when he started. Keith is the only one that edges out Josh in regards to character growth, I think.

It also helps that shortly we'll be introduced to the most hate-able character in the game as a foil to Josh. (Yes, worse even than Claude, and THAT, my friends, is quite a feat.)

Of course, you may want to take my opinion on Josh with a grain of salt, because my favorite character in In Your Arms Tonight is Kiyoto.

I have a high bullshit tolerance and I LIKE the broken guys, is what I'm saying.

Edit: Which is funny, because for RL boyfriends, I'd go for the Aiba-type every time.

The last time I heard this, the hate-able character was pretty much a frigging psychopath, kind of doing what Joshua was doing now, but with more of a subtext of "I'M GOING TO HURT YOU BECAUSE I HATE ONII-CHAN YOUR BROTHER."

So this? This fills me with TERROR.

But yeah, I don't know what about that just hit ALL my do not want buttons. I think it had to do with thinking about the possibility of it happening, dismissing it, and then the game proving me wrong. Probably didn't help that he's not Roberto it was kind of early and I hadn't gotten any sleep.