mythmaking | Once upon a time...

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Once upon a time...

[ For the residents of Märchenstraße, and all the land surrounding it, the eighth of December was a day to look forward to. Looking at it from an outside perspective, strangers and travelers could easily assume it to be a holiday. At the very least, a day for a festival, if a modest one. A day that shopkeeps spent all morning preparing for, that all manner of creatures spent days traveling to the city to witness. They'd heard the talk that passed around, the rumors from those still left. But would it work? No one knew for sure, no matter how confident the stories seemed to be. But hope was very quickly becoming all they had left.

They had decorated the whole town. Streamers, banners, wreathes and garland made of autumn flowers, plus whatever the Fairy Godmother had cooked up. Oh, she was just giddy. No skepticism could be spoken around her, not if you wanted to escape the wrath of her wand! Rumor had it that she had caught wind of a few piglets squealing about the likelihood that their magic would fail, and that they were subsequently transformed into the band of musicians who could be found performing in the park.

Well, at least the music was festive.

Of course, the decorations weren't for the newcomers alone. Autumn was coming to a close in just a few weeks, and Old Man Winter would take the reigns like he did every year, and their weather would turn cold and harsh. The chill was already there, cool and biting when the wind picked up speed. Lady Autumn was much preferred to the citizens of the city with her gentle nature, even if she failed to show up, finishing her work in the orchards instead. That was what they liked about her.

It was mid-morning when Father Time was found outside of his tower, checking one of the numerous pocket watches he kept on his person. "Unnecessary, but comfortable," he called them, and closed the watch again. It was twelve o'clock in the afternoon, and where empty space had been just seconds before, now they were. Sitting on benches, lying in flower patches, scattered about the city and outside of the gates in peaceful slumber. They would awaken to the bells of the clock tower. Some, to many friendly and relieved faces all around them, some to grateful ones carrying gifts of food and clothing and magic, and some to fearful, cautious faces. Regardless of how the town treated them, they would awaken to a celebration of their arrival, and choices to be made, and the books. Each and every one. ]

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Unless she hasn't returned yet.

[Or maybe another arrival was his mother now. This was all quite bizarre to think about. They both had new parents in some form... only they had each other ultimately.]

[Drinking her own tea, she paused when he brought up the garden.]

It is. Though, allow me go with you. There's something I want to see as well.

[He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.]

Tellin' the truth here: I was gonna ask, since you'd be able to spot n' figure stuff out quicker than I could. I'm just good for havin' ideas n' theories bounced off me.

Nonsense. You have your moments, Kanji-kun. Don't take yourself from granted.

[She finishes her cup of tea and rises to her feet, nodding to him.]

Yeah? Well, m-maybe a couple'a times...

[He drained the last of the cup and was reaching for the pot when she rose.]

Sup? [A quick peer at the old grandfather clock ticking away at the wall. Having no currency to buy anything at the market, he hadn't really eaten since he got here.]

...Oh, we got some time. Ya wanna take a look in the garden now or jus' kinda chill until dinner?

[Naoto didn't know why, but she felt anxious to see the garden when it was mention. Bizarre since she wasn't particularly fond of flora typically, but this garden for some reason almost beckoned.]

If you don't mind. We could cover a decent amount for now and finish what we miss later.

Sure. [The chair was pushed back and he was on his feet as well, stretching his arms up and over his head. Damn, for waking up in a flower patch, that had to be the best sleep he's ever had earlier!]

[But with his jacket left on the back of the chair- the fire had warmed him up and the castle gardens were locked in summertime- he led the way to the garden. He was curious about it, though not in a way that pulled at Beauty, but out of never really being in a fancy garden before. Kanji, deep down, loved the hell outta flowers... even if it would've been strange for him to receive or even pick up any.]

[The books could barely touch upon the splendor of the gardens that were taking in the last couple of hours of sunshine, the air warm and breezy, scented in lavender and heavy floral bloom. Within the stone walls that seemed to block out the snow and cold were fountains, small ponds with geese taking a much-needed break from migrating to paddle away in the warmth and bursts of color from the fields of flowers bearing shades from deepest purple to vivid sunset hues. Many trees scattered among the gardens surrounding the castle were ready for harvesting, bearing bright red apples, sizely oranges, and even lemons in the peak of season among others, some with ornate benches beneath begging for visitors to sit in the shade and enjoy the fruit or just sit and bask in it all.]

...I'm glad we skipped the library for a bit. Shit...

[Naoto had picked up her jacket and draped it over her crossed arms. With Kanji up, she walked along to the garden with him. Yes, he said they had equal ownership of the castle, but it was still technically whomever Beast was.]

[Out into the garden they stepped and Naoto felt a strange wash of relief. Flowers and plants of many species abound and all healthy, their scents carried on the wind. Unless they stepped beyond the gates, there really was little reason to wear winter clothes. Birds in the middle of migration or choosing to nest, fountains, trees, it all seemed to make her react. It was strange. She raised her hands, staring at her fingers, but then clenched them slowly.]

Hm... [Naoto wondered, but soon wandered forward to inspect the flowers closer.]

[He made his way down the steps and felt a sort of calm when he was standing on the grass. He remembered that Beast loved his garden,but most of all, he adored his roses which were the only thing he had left 'in the world' before the merchant father took one as a gift for Beauty.]

[As she went to look around, he wandered, inspecting other blooms before a force of habit inspired him to pick a few. A little blue, a little purple, and some white... most of these flowers, he'd never even seen before! But one such bloom had a fat little bee filling her pollen baskets, and after the smallest brush of a finger against the fuzzy form, she decided it was time to move on to the next cluster.]

Beast's got a helluva gardener or somethin'...!

[Speaking about roses, Naoto had found them. She stepped closer, raising a hand to touch leaves, petals, and even thorny stems. She went around the thorns and back to the flowers. This... it didn't feel entirely natural to her. As the castle was enchanted, maybe the garden was as well. There was no way all these flowers could be so vibrant.]

[She flinched slightly when she pricked herself on accident and pulled her finger back to inspect. She should have been paying more attention. Still, upon inspection, there was a bead of blood falling away and little more. She could've sworn she saw a green flicker there.]

[He sighed and wondered if there was anything TO find here. The rose garden didn't feel any different to him, and it wasn't like they'd find the original Beauty and Beast here. But when he looked up, he noticed she was looking at her finger.]

...Sup? Y'didn't poke yerself, didja?

[Shit, at least she wasn't Sleeping Beauty, or she'd conk out right there. No, wait, that's a spindle. Shit, was he already getting his stories mixed up?]

[Fingers curling in, she lowered her hand and shook her head.]

No.

[It was a lie, but the bead of blood and small prick was gone. There was no need to alarm him, or maybe there was. She didn't understand how it just... healed.]

Kanji-kun, do you feel anything from the flowers?

No. ...Well, I mean, they're p-pretty. But that ain't what you're lookin' for, right?

Why, do you?

[She nodded]

Yes... I feel something strange. An energy perhaps? The garden was enchanted, was it not?

Yeah. Every version of the story talks about the enchantment over the castle and everything in n' around it. Beast loves his roses, and it pissed him off when--

[He froze, turned his head. There, crunching on tender leaves and petals and stepping around the hedge, was a buck who'd decided to make himself at home in his goddamned--]

[The deep-throated snarl that followed was not human, rather than his shout to shoo which was what he'd intended initially. The whites of the deer's eyes were visible as it turned tail and fled. Kanji was three steps after the deer before he stopped, paused and finished his thought, almost seeming to snap back into things.]

--When s-somebody touched 'em without his permission.

[Shit.]

[Naoto's head whipped around at the crunch, hand flying to her waist, but she had no gun. That wasn't good. If it was some dangerous creature, she wouldn't do so well. Her heart raced and her knees bent. Her persona definitely wasn't coming to her... but it was merely a stag.]

..--!

[The snarl was behind her, but all that was behind her was Kanji. Glancing over her shoulder at him, her eyes wide, she only noticed the deer fleeing before facing Kanji fully.]

... Kanji-kun, what was that?

How the hell should I know!? I just wanted the deer gone, but when I went to shout at it, scare it a little...

[His mouth felt weird. Really weird. It was like he was wearing those stupid gag fangs but... but they weren't gag fangs. By the time he reached into his mouth to feel, everything was back to normal, mouthfeel and all.]

Th-this place did somethin' to us. I thought the stupid books n' names were all of it!

[While Kanji hadn't felt them, Naoto had seen them and she couldn't help staring. For a moment, she didn't say anything, but slowly, she shook her head.]

If... logically speaking, we are to replace them, we would have to become them in some way...

[Turning to look at the place where the deer once had been, she frowned.] ... It... may be advisable to keep yourself calm until we understand all the effects.

How the hell can I be calm about this!? I'm makin'- makin' freakin' monster noises, Naoto!

[Fangs and irritation were replaced by very human fear. What if he got so mad that he changed, and the changes were permanent? He'd spent way too damn long trying NOT to scare people, trying -not- to give the impression that he was monstrous and unapproachable. ...So he was Beast. Whoever gave them their roles had a huge fucking sense of humor. Assholes.]

You may be making new sounds, but you're still you. Perhaps they'll call you Beast, but you're not a beast.

[Naoto stood there, turning to fully face him now. She was perhaps the only person here now he truly knew Kanji. He wasn't a brute, but he could be short-tempered and lash out in response. Still, he was a good kid - a good friend even.]

It will take longer for them to warm up here, but I can try helping. It's my role, is it not?

[He was freaking out, but Naoto was just so damn grounded in reality that he couldn't help but just look at her and wonder how the hell he was friends with such a cool, collected freakin' person. She had her moments of weakness, and her cool was tested plenty, but here she was in a new world, at least outwardly not letting everything bother her. It'd be stupid of him to assume that nothing here bothered her, however, but... he could take a page out of her book right now.]

H-helping...? I can't ask ya to do that! Y'got your own shit to deal with, right? I mean-

[Okay, Kanji, chill. Chill out. Use the brain for once.]

...W-we make a deal, then. We help each other out. But we already knew all that after the TV world n' Adachi shit, so nothin' really changes, yeah?

I jus' gotta figure out what I can do to help back when it comes to this Marchen stuff.

[It was true. Naoto was doing what she could to hold together, but faerie tales were beyond her knowledge. This world was nothing she would ever imagine. She would dwell in mysteries and alien planets, but not... fairies and elves. As uncomfortable as she was - as she wouldn't let on - she remained steady.]

[She wondered if any part of that mask broke when he mentioned her having to deal with her own problems. Or maybe he figured she would. Who could say.]

Hmhm... It's a deal. [She managed a small smile, one that was slightly disheartened. Once Kanji figured out Marchen, what good would she be? She didn't feel like she would ever be completely comfortable here.]

[He was looking a little better now. He was humble, but he was lying if he didn't feel way over his head here. How the hell could he figure anything out? But he had to look on the bright side and keep pushing forward anyway. If he could work it out, help her work it out, then he'll have done his part. Besides, they were castmates in a story, too. they had to partner up on this thing.]

[But it reminded him as he looked down at the grass, scuffing it a little with a shoe.]

...So how much of the story d'you think they'll want us to do, anyway? I mean...

[He paused, thought better of it, and didn't finish.]

[Naoto was glad that she could do something right now and keep him in control. It wouldn't do if he became angry and... well, she didn't know what would happen, but she didn't have a feeling he only had fangs now.]

[His question has color rising to her face]

... W-When I spoke to Father Time, he spoke as though we would complete the story in full.

I-in full.

[H-holy shit, they were still in high school! Wasn't that a bit much? Even if the storybook characters were younger than them, a sign of the old times, they were from 2012! Stuff like t-that shouldn't even be on their minds until well AFTER they graduated!]

I...

[Yeah, she doesn't say anything immediately herself after that. She looked back towards the roses, trying to cool the blush that's on her face.]

That's... why we should know the story. We can find ways to avoiding the more... uncomfortable moments.

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