laminae | Tangled AU

Tangled AU

Fern's first memories are painful ones. The first thing he feels is like he's dying, which might sound like a contradiction but makes sense within the context of his creation. Rapunzel's voice echoes throughout the Great Tree, the Decaying Incantation killing the once great being, and in a last ditch attempt to avoid death, either by the Tree itself or Zhan Tiri's influence, the slowly fading embers of its life force are pumped into whatever plant life it can reach. Of course, the Incantation still hits most of it, and every single one of those plants wither away into nothingness all the same.

Everything, that is, except for a small patch of grass. It fades like the rest, but one last spark of life enters as the Incantation is abruptly cut off by the impulsive actions of one Handmaiden, and it remains. As the group moves on towards the Dark Kingdom, and Adira drags Hector off to bandage his injuries, that patch of grass comes to life.

It's painful, suddenly wrenched into sentient consciousness thanks to a spell designed to kill. Like an explosion of death and decay all around him, threatening to smother him the very second he started existing. With no eyes and ears he can't tell what's going on around him, and with no mouth and lungs he can't cry out, so he can do nothing but fight back and push through the agony until it subsides into a dull ache.

He's weak at first, and the remains of the Tree overhead block out any sunlight he could have used to grow stronger. Still, the grass twitches and curls and gradually bundles itself together into a ball, and then after more time something more person-shaped. It's a rough approximation of the body the Great Tree had possessed shortly before its death, and since those memories are strongest in his mind that's what he goes with: two arms, two legs, a head, a body, two eyes and two ears, a nose, a mouth. Something vaguely human and at the same time distinctly not, something that allows him to more freely move around, find a patch of sunlight, and regain some strength. Human senses follow, again based on vague memories that aren't really his, and over the next few months he finds his footing in the complete and total disaster that is Being Alive. He doesn't start living, though, until the man the Tree had possessed finally returns to his long-destroyed home.

~

Beyond the Tree a whirlwind of events happen, not limited to the near total destruction of a kingdom, the rise of an ancient demon, and the reuniting of two cosmic powers. To say a lot has happened is a total understatement, and frankly, Hector is just glad to get out of there, away from people. He always did better with animals, and he has some literal and metaphorical wounds to lick. Turns out getting mind controlled twice is a horrifying experience, who knew.

He is, technically, back at the site of the Tree per Edmund's orders. Before he and Edmund and Adira had left Corona there was talk of building up a proper road of some sort to better connect the two kingdoms, and that would obviously involve clearing out the Tree's remains to make the area more amenable to horses and wagons. Unlike the rest of them, though, he doesn't particularly care about any of that. This was his home for many, many years, and he isn't so eager to raze what's left of it in the name of friendship and progress. So he goes, but he goes because being around the epitome of sunshine is a lot to deal with, and he needs to get away from all of that. All of those people. He needs a metaphorical dark hole where he can be alone with his rhino and his binturongs and all he has to worry about is survival of the fittest.

So it's a big downer to find someone else has taken up residence in his home. It goes without saying that as soon as his binturongs catch the scent that something is off Hector is on the hunt, and then it's only a matter of time before he's ambushing one residual plant monster he assumes is being controlled by Zhan Tiri. Or is Zhan Tiri, whichever. He doesn't care, he's just happy to get a good fight in. The creature is bizarre and learns quickly, mimicking him in the span of only a few minutes and creating a hardened blade out of vine, similar to his own retractable gauntlet sword. The thing fights fiercely, but mimicry isn't a replacement for actual skill and experience, and it isn't long before Hector gets the upper hand. And once he does, the creature starts falling apart, fighting more and more like a cornered animal. As it tires out he gradually finds himself comparing the creature more to his animals than the cunning and deliberate Zhan Tiri. Still, he doesn't hesitate in chopping its head off, ending the battle.

.... Except that doesn't take at all, and while the creature finally backs off it doesn't actually die. It regrows and reattaches its head, then scrambles up some old vines out of his reach to hiss at him. Sort of like an upset cat that's been dunked in a river instead of some demonic monster. It's hardly the most threatening thing... in fact, it's actually a little funny.

Thus began the strange, feral relationship between Hector and a small grass creature. A few more fights occur, though nothing quite as serious as the first one, and each time the creature retreats before he can chop another body part off. It becomes increasingly clear that this thing, while obviously magical, doesn't seem to be an agent of Zhan Tiri. He even learns the damn thing can talk and eat food, after one unfortunate night when he let his guard down while cooking a rabbit he had caught. It was roasting on a spit over a fire, and he had dozed off for all of two minutes, and the creature had snuck past the animals to steal it. He had gone after it, cursing up a storm, and it had responded with some equally vociferous curses. After that night, it had apparently decided that speaking to him was safe enough, and it started doing so.

Though they were less conversations, and more it demanding to know what Hector was doing on any given day. The demands start out simple enough, wanting to know more about eating (makes sense, it's obviously a plant), but grow more complicated over time - how did you build that trap for dinner, what's that thing on your arm, why is it called a sword, how did you get the sword.

There are a lot of sword questions, and one day the creature reappears holding Demanitus's enchanted spear. Hector had thought that thing had gotten buried in the rubble of the Great Tree when it collapsed, but apparently this thing had been doing some digging.

It's gradual, but Hector even starts answering some of them. Mostly the questions about weaponry, and when he does his answers are usually bitingly sharp or mocking, but they're still answers, and the creature accepts them with the kind of curiosity you normally only see in kids. It's a tenuous foundation, but it's there and over time it becomes more solid, to the point where Hector finds he doesn't even mind having the grass.... kid.... thing around. He stays out of his way when he's in a bad mood, and he's aggressive and won't hesitate to fight, and the kid is clearly growing more attached to him (though, that might be because there isn't anyone else around). It's still strange, but it isn't the worst thing ever, and it's certainly preferable to being surrounded by actual people.

When the weather starts to cool down Hector leaves him some proper clothes (patched together, with more animal furs than necessary), and at some point their occasional fights shift from impulsive bursts of violence to actual training and sparring. Hector can't even remember when he started giving the kid a nickname, but he did at some point, if only because he needed something short when telling him off, and 'grass monster' was too much of a mouthful.

~

It doesn't last.

Hector had been keeping in contact with Edmund and Adira via letters sent and received by Hamuel during his time at the Tree. He hadn't mentioned Fern - there didn't seem to be much of a point, if he wasn't connected to Zhan Tiri - though he did offhandedly say the spear had been recovered. Unfortunately, he one day receives word from a very tired Hamuel that Edmund is ordering him back to the Dark Kingdom proper to assist with rebuilding efforts, and to leave the spear in Corona with Quirin's son, apparently some kind of genius alchemist similar to Demanitus himself. He has absolutely no desire to take the kid with him, though efforts to simply leave don't come so easily when Fern starts following him, so he does the first thing that comes to mind.

He tries to ditch him. Several times. But it turns out it isn't so easy to ditch a kid made out of grass in forests, so as soon as he meets up with Adira he tries to pawn him off onto her. That doesn't go so well, either. That leaves him with two options: take him to the Dark Kingdom, or dump him with Quirin.

He chooses the latter, and does it in the most spectacularly low effort way possible. Taking Fern with him, he makes a rapid trip to Old Corona, showing up late one night on Quirin's doorstep with absolutely no notice. He tells Fern a few simple lies to make him stay put long enough to get away, then knocks on Quirin's door. Quirin is, understandably, not thrilled with this arrangement, but Hector doesn't give him any options. After a very quick (and lacking) explanation of what's going on the guy books it out of there on his rhino, leaving Fern standing there on his doorstep, spear in hand. As exasperated as Quirin is, he can't very leave just leave... whatever this thing is... like Hector just did, so he sends word to Varian that the spear is currently in his possession and lets Fern stay. It takes Fern a few days to feel comfortable enough to even go inside the house, and while that isn't the best situation (his presence has a tendency to terrify the Old Corona citizens), Quirin figures he can get this sorted out before Varian arrives.

He's being far too optimistic, though in the meantime he does manage to persuade Fern indoors during a particularly heavy and cold rain, even letting him use Varian's bed for the moment. Just until he can get ahold of literally anyone else in the Brotherhood.

So that's where Fern is tonight. He isn't used to sleeping on a bed but it's a lot softer and more comfortable than the ground, so he doesn't mind. The faint aroma of chemicals bothers him more, honestly, and he tries to ignore it as he burrows further until the blankets.

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None of this is how Varian thought his night would go in all honesty. It's definitely a... weirder night. Not as weird as some of the adventures he's been dragged on, of course, but still pretty damn weird. He looks down at his hand as it's not taken... okay, that's- odd.

"Nice to meet you, Fern," he looks up from his hand to the boy, then down again. "Uhhhh did...did Hector not teach you about shaking hands?"

Even as he says it he knows that obviously, no, Hector did not teach Fern about shaking hands. His uncle probably uses some weird dominance display to greet people like a wild animal or something.

"Look, you take my hand in yours," he reaches a little closer, but doesn't actually take Fern's hand- that seems like a good way to get stabbed. "Okay? You do that."

It's definitely a weird night for both of them. Fern gives a tiny shrug at that question because yes, Hector absolutely did not teach him basic human niceties like shaking hands. This is looking like an invitation to get ambushed, honestly. He's sus.

He's still eyeing Varian's hand, but since he's reasonably confident he could toss him around like a noodle if it came to a fight he reluctantly decides to give whatever this is a try. Unfolding his arms, he reaches a hand out to grab Varian's. He is bizarrely strong for being made out of grass, and he's clutching the other boy's hand like he's going to throw him or something. "Okay, now what?"

"Oh...wow, that's a grip."

One day Varian might learn to filter thoughts that come into his head before they make an exit via his mouth. Today is not that day. He's just gonna.. sail by that, it's fine, he's pretty sure a guy who doesn't know how to shake hands is going to be all that bothered by his social faux-pases.

"Anyway. Now you kinda... shake your hand up and down- slowly, like this-" he moves his arm up and down. "See?"

"Thanks, I guess," he responds, raising his eyebrows a bit. The gawkiness isn't getting past him, despite his lack of exposure to general human manners. He looks down at their hands, shaking Varian's in return when he indicates, and looking thoroughly unimpressed.

"Is this it?" He asks. Sure, the whole name of it would mean some kind of shaking, but this... feels like it's lacking.

"Yup. That's pretty much it. Standard human greeting."

Okay, he's just gonna... let go now. One smooth movement, like a pro. That's fine. He managed to teach a social action to someone, Rapunzel would be so proud of him.

"Uh. Anyway. Yeah," okay he's doing great here. "So. Nice to meet you. Again. Sorry about the... bed thing."

Fern will let go when Varian makes the move to, though he does so a lot more awkwardly. Like he still thinks this is bizarre and doesn't quite get the point of it, but is going along because... whatever. Varian seems intent on it, so it's fine, he guesses.

He drops his hand back to his side, giving a small shrug. "Uh, nice to meet you. The bed thing's fine, Quirin didn't think you'd get here until tomorrow, so...."

They were just unlucky, is all.

"...Yeah."

He rubs the back of his neck, feeling the awkwardness wash over him again. It's weird and he doesn't know what to make of it. He thought he was largely over his awkward, bumbling attempts at socialisation, but clearly not.

"I was trying to beat the storm. Probably should have stopped at the Snuggly Duckling when I realised it wasn't gonna get any better, but I decided to just keep going anyway."

Because he's stubborn and stupid and has an inability to back down once he's set his mind to something.

That's a clear sign of stubbornness if Fern has ever seen one. He is, however, a bit confused at Varian's explanation. "You... should've stopped at a duck?" He echoes, baffled. Of course, he knows what a duck is, but he doesn't see what that has to do with a rainstorm and travel. "Why a duck?"

... Maybe it's a giant duck like Hector's rhino?

"W- no?"

Hector did you not teach him anything? (Of course, he didn't, why would Hector teach anyone anything that wasn't stabbing or scrambling around in trees like a feral... something). Varian heaves out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Right, no. It's a tavern. That's... it's a building where people go to eat and drink. Sleep sometimes. Like a house, but you pay to use stuff."

"Oh," he says, it finally clicking in his mind. "Ohhhh. Okay, that makes sense, if you suck at surviving outside."

Sorry Varian, he's kind of looking the other boy up and down and deciding that yeah, there's no way he'd be able to find food and shelter out in the woods by himself. He shrugs, then continues casually. "I've never seen one of those before."

Hector totally never taught him anything that wasn't stabbing or scrambling around in trees like a feral animal. That is one hundred percent true.

Edited 2021-06-30 20:19 (UTC)

"Yeah, and it-" sorry, Varian just picked up what's being put down. "HEY! I can survive outside just fine."

He cannot. He absolutely cannot and Fern is right to say it. He does flush under that look though, folding his arms, clearly self-conscious about the entire thing. Rude. This is super rude.

"Well, maybe I can show you sometime? The Snuggly Duckling is pretty violent, though... given the whole sword thing you'd probably like that."

Fern just snorts, clearly not believing that argument. Varian doesn't look like much - Fern is pretty sure that he could ambush him pretty easily. He doesn't even look all that convinced himself, given that blush.

A trip to the Snuggly Duckling sounds pretty interesting at least, and Fern perks up at that. "Oh, yeah? That does sound fun." Especially if it's violent, that's just pushing him right over into definitely have to see this territory, and he grins and nods, "Okay, you can take me there sometime."

Varian is vaguely aware Fern doesn't believe him and there's a desire to push the subject. To stamp his feet and say he really is able to look after himself in the wilderness... despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. He does, eventually, relent.

"Some people would consider it fun, yeah. And it's okay. The chef there is a friend of mine."

God, how would Lance even deal with Fern? That might be a fun thing to find out. Varian bets there will be screaming.

"Well, if you ever want to see the capital, it's on the way. I'd honestly want to take the spear back to my lab there for better study anyway, so you're welcome to tag along."

Yeah, sure, just bring the sketchy plant person into the palace. Why not.

Fern nods a little. He has a vague idea of what a chef is thanks to having been in Hector's head, so he at least isn't totally clueless there. He does raise an eyebrow at the mention of the spear, though. There's only one he's seen around here, and, well....

He moves to sit down on his makeshift bed, folding his arms. "That spear isn't going anywhere without me," he says firmly. "So if you want to take it I'll have to go with you." Which would be fine, but there's something else complicated matters. He continues, frowning. "And I need to be here for when Hector comes back, so it isn't going anywhere."

He's still fully under the impression that Hector is coming back for him. Why wouldn't he? He had said he wouldn't, and he wouldn't lie about that.

Well, he should have expected that. That Fern and the spear would be a package deal. Oh well, Corona has seen some pretty weird shit in the last few years. He's pretty sure they can cope with Fern. Probably. But then Fern keeps speaking and something uncomfortable settles in Varian's chest. Oh. Oh no.

He frowns, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to find a way to broach this with someone who is still pretty much a stranger. It's an uncomfortable subject even for someone he knows well.

"Um. I don't- I don't think Hector will be coming back for a while," or ever - he can't bring himself to say that, though, adding quickly: "And- and the Palace is only a day's ride away, so if he does show up, Dad can make sure a message gets back to you quickly to come back to him."

Fern's eyes widen slightly at this information about Hector. He isn't expecting to be here too long, and since Hector found him he hasn't been away from the man. Being here is weird enough, and the thought of having to be stuck here for what, weeks? Months? Without him seems even weirder. He's growing visibly uneasy, though Varian at least makes visiting the capitol at least sound doable.

"Uh," he says slowly, looking down at his hands. "I guess if it's only a day away it'd be okay. That's an easy trip back here for when he comes back."

Ah. Even Varian, for all his poor social skills, can see this is a bitter pill for Fern to swallow. Not that he's really doing it at all. He doesn't know his uncle well enough to pass too much judgement- he was in prison when the gang dealt with him and his time with Varian has been fleeting at best and weird at worst. He'd muttered something about Varian being scrawny and then vanished off into the night.

But he never came across as nurturing. Not once. Varian's surprised to find it worries him, just how clearly this bothered Fern. It's pulling at his empathy a great deal. Still, he offers a smile.

"Okay, sure. We can do that. I wanna stay here in Old Corona for a few days. Help Dad out with some farm work and stuff, but then we can head back."

The idea of Hector not actually coming back for him isn't something Fern has allowed himself to consider. If he did then he'd have to face being alone again, and even though Hector isn't exactly a good person he was good company. Enough that Fern has found being around him was infinitely better than being on his own and scared and confused again.

So this isn't ideal, but it isn't too big of a deal. They spend a few days here, then go to Corona, then when Hector comes back he'll head back here and the two of them can go off... where Hector wants. He grins a little. "Alright. Sounds like we got a whole plan, then."

He'll start rearranging his bedding, satisfied with this. "I don't know about you but I could use some shut-eye."

Varian could understand the desire not to be alone. He'd been alone for a damn long time during the darkest period of his life. He'd never want to go back to that life again either. Not for anything.

"Sure thing."

He watches Fern start to get himself settled and lingers for a moment, before clearing his throat. It's fine. This is just... a weird feeling for being tired and having a stressful night. It's fine.

"Uh. Well, goodnight. See you in the morning?"

Fern is quite content to leave things there, but the throat clearing catches his attention. It's like the umpteenth time that's happened, and it's enough to make him look up a little suspiciously. Those suspicions are confirmed as he sees Varian watching like before, like a bit of a weirdo --

Or maybe that's supposed to be the other way around. Varian is perfectly normal and he's the grass weirdo, and that's where all the staring comes from. It's some reasonable logic, though it's no actual comfort and Fern can feel himself growing embarrassed again.

So he does that absolutely sane and rational thing, which is to punch at his bedding a bit harder and reply bluntly. "Yup. Hopefully it quits raining. Sooo quit staring and go to bed."

Varian was fine to just...go to sleep. To write this off as a weird day brought on by too little sleep and a long, miserable journey in the rain. That's definitely what... all this is. That's the only logical explanation. He was turning to head upstairs when Fern said that and he stumbles in his steps- blushing up a storm.

"W-what?! No! I'm not- I'm not staring."

He was absolutely staring. He points to the stairs, nodding to himself and if he was making some sort of executive decision here. He starts to head towards the stairs going up them, ducking his head and just not looking at Fern because obviously, that's the best way to prove he was not staring. Obviously.

"Okay. Well. Goodnight. Still. Not staring."

And off he vanishes to his room to stare at his ceiling for an hour wondering what the holy hell was all that. Before eventually drifting off to sleep.

Fern, starting to feel exhaustion tug at him now that he's settled down, decides not to argue on the matter, though as Varian heads up the stairs he will a very distinct and skeptical scoff. Yeah, right, he was totally staring. And blushing! He doesn't even know what the blushing is about, maybe his first thought was right and Varian is the weirdo.

Ugh, whatever. He's tired and wants to go back to sleep. It isn't quite as comfortable as the bed but it's still nicer than sleeping outside, and it doesn't take Fern long at all to go ahead and snuggle under the blankets and pass out. His sleep is a deep, dreamless one, so when sunrise rolls around he's feeling pretty refreshed.

Quirin isn't the only one who gets up at dawn. Fern, like any good plant, is used to getting in as much sunlight as he possibly can, so when the first rays of the sun peek over the horizon he wakes up. Luckily, the rain from the night before has passed and the clouds have parted, so he doesn't say much to Quirin when he gets up and heads downstairs to make breakfast. Instead he kicks his bedding off to a corner so it's out of the way, then heads out and up onto the roof of the house to start absorbing some sun. Quirin, meanwhile, goes about getting ready for the day, leaving Varian to sleep while he heads out into the fields to do some farming. That means when Varian does finally wake up he'll be alone in the house, aside from Ruddiger.

Varian's never been much of one for mornings. Sure, when he was younger and he was expected to help in the fields, he'd begrudgingly drag himself out of bed and work the fields, longing for the sweet release of death, but those days are far behind him. He has loftier expectations now. Not that he doesn't plan to help his father, of course. Just... not until the sun is actually a little higher in the sky.

He's not surprised to not find his dad in the house- and honestly, a little part of him wondered if he dreamed the whole grass guy out of some weird stress-induced night. But after dressing, Ruddiger taking up his usual perch on his shoulders and coming downstairs he finds the pile of bedding on the floor and thinks ah - not a dream, then. He wanders through into the kitchen, grabbing a handful of bacon Quirin left on the side, chewing some and handing some to Ruddiger to eat before stepping outside into the sunshine, squinting around- maybe the grass guy just...left?

The grass absolutely did not leave.

Sunlight is still a necessity for Fern, and getting a nice tall vantage point to enjoy it is something he's found himself enjoying more and more. Not only does he get more direct sunlight (which his body loves, there are apple and plum blossoms and pumpkin vines sprouting in his hair), but he also gets a good view of his surroundings. He knows what's going on, while people on the ground remain clueless.

He hears the door opening when Varian steps outside, and cracks one eye open. Wow, finally took him long enough. He'd wonder if it was normal for humans to sleep that late, but both Quirin and Hector never have, so it's apparently a weird Varian thing. He could go ask him, but... meh. He should probably go say good morning though, and he's kind of curious as to what he's going to get up to.

It seems reasonable enough, so he hops to his feet and another thought strikes him. One that's even better than the other ones. He inches over to the very edge of the roof, above the front door, and stealthily peers down.

Then he proceeds to do what any sane person would and launches himself at the other boy in an attempt to ambush him and tackle him to the ground.

Edited 2021-07-08 17:51 (UTC)

Varian was not expecting the ambush. The kingdom has been living in peace for quite some time now, since Zhan Tiri's attack. Varian's work in the kingdom is definitely more...sedate these days. Sure, he makes military-grade weapons when Eugene requests them, but he never has to worry about actually fighting. That's Eugene's problem.

Which is to say he's very out of practice in a combat situation. Ruddiger hears Fern move and leaps from Varian's shoulders, chittering angrily, which is about the only warning Varian gets, really. It means he's half turned when Fern suddenly barrels into him. Varian lets out a strangled "GARAH!" before he hits the dirt with a thud. Good job, Fern, you definitely tackled him. He's just gonna lie there for a moment, groaning softly like a weak little skinny nerd with minimal combat skills. He's fine.

"Ow."

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