through the darkness and the light

[manlet]

Who: H.C. Andersen & you!
When: Before embarking on the Dragon's Tree quest.
Where: All over the place, tbh.
What: Andersen campaigning for an arts fund, getting used to being part of society again, generally being his grumpy self.
Warnings: Mild Lostbelt spoilers, nothing major! Will update if anything changes.

1 | THUMBELINA
[Spring brings with it sorely needed splashes of color. In the frozen heights of Chaldea, flowers were nonexistent. With all that their organization had experienced, it was becoming increasingly rare to find any sights of natural life. Aefenglom has fulfilled that need, but Andersen can't feel fully comforted by it. This still, after all, isn't his world.

But that doesn't mean he can't find a bit of diversion for himself. He's gathered flowers that've been thrown away and casts some enchantment on them. Infuse a bit of air into them, and they'll dance as if they were people. He sits on the steps of the flower shop that's so kindly donated their rubbish to him, surrounded by curious bystanders and floating flowers of purple and red and blue, his voice clear and loud:]

"You must not be called Thumbelina any more," said the spirit of the flowers to her. "It is an ugly name, and you are so very pretty. We will call you Maia..."

[The reason for his storytelling soon becomes evident as he begins passing around a hat, which people toss in their tips. A blue tulip, fashioned into the shape of a sparrow, sits atop his head and preens itself.]

No, I don't take requests. I take commissions. If there's a story you want told, you'll have to contact my agent. What's an agent? Ha ha ha! Forget it, just toss me a coin and I'll give you a story that's worth the amount.

2 | THE NORTHERN OUTPOST
[He's to venture beyond the city, anyway. What harm could there be in a quick stop? This is how Andersen winds up at the Northern Outpost as a researcher, lugging a laughably large satchel full of journals and whatnot into the caverns. It becomes apparent he isn't used to rappelling and that he needs help to safely navigate the bowels of the earth. But for all his complaining and pouting, his eyes noticeably light up once they reach the room.]

Look at this place... [He goes straight for a verse etched on the nearest wall, careful not to touch it.] It's going to take hours to capture everything in here.

Comments

MOMO.

[manlet]

[After seeing the young man's performance, Andersen thought it worthwhile to invite him for a drink. He's always been drawn to other artists -- performers, especially -- and if he's to rally up support for his burgeoning idea, he needs to make connections. Rubbing elbows is more his Bonded's territory than his, but he certainly will do his best.

The bar he's invited Momo to is near the docks. The barkeep already knows about Andersen's strange appearance and doesn't even bat an eye as he comes in with his guest.]

The beer's shitty and watered-down, but everything else tastes fine. [He grins and pats his pocket.] Order whatever you like. I'll be paying.

[yesdoubt]

[Socialising with other people in his industry has always been very much Momo's schtick, and a big part of why he's so successful back home, so he doesn't hesitate to take an offer to go out drinking. Drinking parties were practically his bread and butter back in the day, before he got enough phone numbers to basically be an entertainment industry directory on his own merits.

And while Andersen's appearance is...odd for inviting him to a bar, the actual mannerisms of the other man don't strike him as childish, so he writes it off as some other bizarro supernatural thing and just rolls with the fact for now. The warning about the beer gets a laugh, and Momo takes a seat as easily as if this were somewhere he's been a thousand times before.]

I'm more of a spirits guy, anyway. I'll just get a whiskey for now and we'll see how that goes.

[manlet]

[People who know how to drink are always on Andersen's shortlist. Though he'd normally scowl and grumble at the idea of meeting new people, he's in a rather good mood as he sits across from Momo. His legs dangle; the chairs are a little too big for him, but he doesn't mind.]

As for me, I'll go with a bourbon. Hey, Alby!

[For someone so small, he knows how to grab someone's attention. After waving down the barkeep and placing his order, Andersen settles back into his seat.]

There's a fair amount of musicians among the Mirrorbound, but I've had depressing luck in finding singers. You a professional?

[yesdoubt]

[Knowing the bartender is nice additional confirmation that Momo's not gone out drinking with an actual pre-teen, and he leans on the counter fairly casually as they get into it, chin resting on one hand.]

Yeah, back home I'm part of an idol duo, if you're familiar with that term. My partner's not here, so I can't go pro again here just yet, but I'm working in radio and making sure we have good connections with the industry here in case Yuki does show up. And making sure my skills stay sharp, obviously.

[Contingency, and also the fact that Momo's basically incapable of operating in a manner that's not in Yuki's best interests, even if Yuki isn't actually here. His own natural skills lie in forming networks, so that's what he'll do in the meantime.]

[manlet]

[Fortunately, his knowledge of idols is great, thanks to a few enthusiastic coworkers back home. He nods his approval.]

A good strategy. Even if the artistic scene in Aefenglom is... underdeveloped, shall we say? That's no excuse for us to slack off. Artists like us live and breathe our craft, and in the absence of a trail, we ought to blaze one!

[He's so enthusiastic about it that he's waggling his finger in the air as he speaks, as if he's presenting before an audience.]

Really, with all the magical shit they're capable of here, I'm disappointed they haven't invented televisions yet.

[yesdoubt]

[Momo's already nodding along with that enthusiasm, because he always appreciates anyone who's passionate about their craft. He's heard bits and pieces about the artistic scene here, but talking to someone more familiar with it could definitely help him out.

It might have to wait until he's done with the next topic, though, because as soon as Andersen mentions television, Momo is doing the old "milking the giant cow" dramatic hand-spready gesticulation that says he's been thinking the exact same thing.]

Right!? I don't know a lot about magic, so I figured I might've just been overestimating how much it can do...but the more I think about it, the Watches can record and transmit video already. How did they figure that out in tiny form before they figured it out in full size form? [He holds his fingers together when he says "tiny" as if to emphasise, then spreads his hands when he gets to the full size. He has a lot of Opinions about this topic.] And the radio half runs on magic too, surely all the experimental witchy types here would jump at the chance to go the next step.

MIKASA.

[manlet]

[For Andersen, full moons are quiet nights spent at his desk. His Bonded isn't the sort to go rampant, thank god, though there are some instances in which he'll disappear. He isn't too concerned about these occurrences -- Dantes can take care of himself -- but as it happens, he actually needs to talk to him about something.

Which is why he's braving the dark streets in a hooded cloak, careful to hide himself with an illusion. He doesn't want to be bothered by any Monsters gone wild... but when he reaches a spot where he thinks Dantes may be, he lets his spell drop. The last thing he wants is to startle him.]

[stopfen]

[If he was paying attention, he might notice that he was being followed long before he dropped the illusion. Mikasa didn't bother with hiding, why would she? Instead she just wanders, keeping her distance. Large black eyes peering out at him. Seeing where the much shorter person went. It's late, why was someone so small out so late?

But for now, she stays still, watching...]

[manlet]

[It's a cold, chilly night, made all the worse by the wind whistling by. He can't stay out for too long, least he catches a cold, but he's too stubborn to turn back. A little further, he tells himself. He raises his lantern, shadows dancing with the flickering light, and he peers up at the rooftops for any hint of a feline form.]

[stopfen]

[Mikasa was patient enough. Waiting, waiting for the best moment to approach. Not the best moment to strike. Nothing violent. Nonono, just...Not-stalking, yes. She hadn't been stalking at all. Just guarding him. Making sure he wasn't in danger.

After watching for another moment. Seeing him looking around, lost? She starts moving closer. It wasn't a run or even a jog. But her legs were long, a lot longer than his. Her paces could cover a lot more ground.

It doesn't take her long to be close enough to just reach out. An arm wrapping around his waist as she just hauls him up onto her shoulder. Lets go.]

[manlet]

[No sign of Dantes. Andersen makes a frustrated sound. He's been out for far longer than he'd like to be and he's beginning to think he should've just waited for him at the theater. He raises his hand, ready to recast his invisibility spell, when he feels something snatch him up.

He screams. How can he not scream? He's being kidnapped!]

Fuck!

[His pulse skyrockets. For a brief, wild moment, his panicked mind spits out that maybe this was a Rathmore who somehow escaped, who's now enacting revenge-- no. No, they were taken care of. Right?

Andersen squirms, struggles, and is overall uncooperative as he tries to wiggle his way out of his captor's grasp.]

Put me down this instant, or I'll set both of us on fire!

[He knows the magic to do it!!]

[stopfen]

[His captor pauses, leaning down. Letting her head hang close enough to look at the boy's face, not even blinking as she stares with solid black eyes. Small, stubby antenna twitching forward, to short to prod at him. Not a Rathmore, nowhere close, just a fae that was now tilting her head.]

...You have a very deep voice.

[Child, why do you sound older than the runt?

But still, the threat doesn't make her let go. Instead her grip tightens. Stop wiggling. You'll hurt yourself.]

ZELDA.

[manlet]

[So there's these two strangers who hit it off, at a bar. Andersen jabs a thumb at himself.]

Want to see me outdrink that sailor over there?

[NO]

[lucubrates]

[ Between Andersen and the sailor, Zelda thinks that the sailor has about three Andersen's worth of mass on him. This isn't logical in any way, shape, or form. Raising a nearly full glass of wine to the author in question, she shakes her head. ]

Are you mad? He is a whole tree's length taller than you. You must not. I shall not have it.

[ She takes a swig. ]

A man's ego need not be stroked to know his own worth. Outdrinking a sailor shall only get you under the table.

[manlet]

Well, excuse me, princess.

[Andersen cups his drink, sullen at having his idea shot down.]

Pubs are places where the peasantry can unleash their vices, where they can push their limits -- especially alcoholic ones! When one is under the influence, idiocy is lauded as heroic acts, the failure of common sense is hailed as visionary. Man must have his places to go crazy and stupid.

[lucubrates]

[ Well, he's got her there. ]

If you believe I shall rise to the challenge to stroke your ego, Mr. Andersen, I assure you that I have much better things in my life to tend to.

[ She takes a second to return to her wine, nursing it. ]

Now, if you'd like to show me how the commonfolk do it, I shall watch, but only for research purposes.

[ Hm. ]