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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Whoops! Fern realizes a bit too late that maybe shoving a noodly nerd, no matter how dangerous he can be, isn't a good idea. Helpfully, when Varian moves to sit back up Fern grabs hold of his shoulder to help him right himself. His hand lingers there, even after the other boy is back to sitting normally. It's partly because he likes it there, partly because he's being distracted by processing that response.

"You're serious?" That wasn't actually a joke? Oh, geez, that's a lot to take in. Except... he doesn't do that, because he's more interested in something else.

"Hold up - fight? This Ulf guy likes to fight??" He sounds very, very excited about this. "Why wouldn't I want to fight someone??"

Sorry, Fern. Varian is vaguely aware that he's still being spoken to, but he's too busy staring at the hand that's remaining on his shoulder. It feels...really nice to have it there, the weight of it welcoming and comforting while churning up those awkward feelings in his stomach again all at the same time. He blinks- realising Fern asked him a question, looking up from where he'd been staring for way too long.

"Huh?" so eloquent. "N-no, no he doesn't. He's a mime. But I know YOU like to fight. Don't pick one with him because he isn't speaking to you and...acting weird. That's what mimes do? It's like...talking but without words."

It takes Fern a little bit to notice the silence and the staring, but once he does he furrows his brow. What's up with that?

"Oh, uh - okay." The whole mime thing is still really weird to him, but it's a little less important right now. Reluctantly he pulls his hand back, thinking he did something wrong, figuring that Varian probably just isn't thrilled with a weird grass person touching him. He shifts a little uncomfortably at that thought. "Um, you okay?"

Varian's brow furrows softly. He feels the loss of Fern's hand as he moves it and he finds he mourns it no longer being on his shoulder. His own hand moves to hover over his shoulder where Fern had left it for a brief moment, before it drops again. He doesn't even know how to answer that question. He feels weird and awkward in a way he hasn't for years. He manages a lopsided smile.

"Y-yeah, I'm good. Are...are you good?"

Fern just sits there, watching Varian reach up to his shoulder, look a little... sad? That he isn't touching him anymore? He isn't totally sure, but that isn't the expression of someone who is repulsed by being touched.

It's weird, it's really weird, and Fern is feeling a strange twisting in his nonexistent guts that makes him want to settle his hand on the other boy's shoulder again. So... he does, though it's halting and awkward and he has no clue if it's a good idea.

"Um, yeah. I'm good," he replies, his cheeks turning a darker shade of green. "You were just - starting - and I thought - ...."

He trails off, unsure of what he even thought.

Oh. Well. Varian definitely wasn't expecting the other boy's hand to return and his breath catches at the action, his chest suddenly feeling very tight and fluttery. Seeing Fern's blush only darkens his own as a nervous chuckle escapes him. He hesitates for a moment because the wild, insane idea to put his hand over the other boys comes into his head, unbidden. He probably shouldn't. That would probably be a bad move.

Feeling a little reckless, he goes ahead and does it anyway. He'd only intended to give Fern's hand a reassuring pat with his own and then remove it, but instead, it lingers there, fingers curling a little on the back of the other boy's hand.

"Oh...no- no, I'm okay. Sorry. I- uh" he clears his throat, looking at Fern. "I um- I didn't mean to stare."

Okay. Okay, there is definitely something going on here. The blushing, and the awkward chuckle, aaaand now Varian is putting his hand on his and the feeling is... really nice? Not just warm because of the differences in their body temperatures, there's more to it than that, and Fern isn't totally sure why that is, but it's making his blush darken.

And it's making apple and plum and cherry blossoms start blooming in his hair. It's fine, this is fine. He doesn't move his hand, it seems just fine where it is, and Varian doesn't seem bothered. The opposite, in fact.

"It's - it's cool," he replies softly. "I"m just - not really used to it."

He should let go of his hand. Varian's eyes travel to Fern's hair, watching the blossoms appear and that makes his pulse quicken a little. He's aware of what this is, these feelings awkwardly hammering around inside him. He remembers how he had these strange fluttery feelings around Cass and Eugene - he can recognise what they are. He's a little afraid of indulging in them, though. Because, unlike Cass or Eugene, Fern's attainable and that's terrifying. He's never been in a position where someone reciprocating those feelings would be possible. He kind of gave up on that. No one really wants anything to do with the guy that did the damage he did, not that there's any people his own ages around for that anyway.

He still hasn't let go of his hand. It stays there, his thumb brushing lazily over the back of the other boy's hand. This is stupid, and dangerous and he really should stop. But he doesn't want to.

"Oh...oh, okay, g-good?" god, words are hard. "So...so long as you're okay with it. I um- don't want to make you uncomfortable."

Fern, meanwhile, is more than a little clueless as to the exact emotions going on inside his head. There's a bunch of new things rolling around, ones he's never actually felt before, and they're getting bigger and bigger. He isn't sure what to do about this. They don't feel bad, but it's a lot at the same time.

He glances down at their hands, watching Varian's thumb brush over his hand, his fingers curling a little bit. This time he does the staring, as he tries to process all of this. Varian doesn't want to make him uncomfortable, and he... well. "I, um. I don't really know how I'm feeling," he says honestly, his voice still soft. "I don't think I'm uncomfortable, though. Just - really, really good?"

He makes a noise like a sigh, growing a bit more embarrassed. "I'm not good at explaining this."

Varian is pretty sure his heartbeat is audible at this point. There's a twinge of guilt in all the good feelings because Fern doesn't really know what any of this is. He hasn't experienced it before- hell, he's barely experienced life outside of being a tree before. He doesn't want to take advantage of that.

But it does feel good to know that this isn't...crossing some sort of line.

"It- it's okay," he can feel his face heating up more and wow is he glad the horse knows the way they're going because he is not concentrating on the road. "I um... I'm not really good at explaining this either. It's uh- it can be complicated. Emotions. And...stuff."

Emotions and stuff. Poetry.

It's definitely new for Fern, and a little scary. If he had a heartbeat it'd probably be thudding in his ears right now, and when Varian's face keeps darkening a few more flowers bloom in his hair. It's okay, he's okay and he feels a huge weight off his shoulder when he hears that they're in the same boat. He still feels nervous and weird, but he isn't alone in that, and that's... nice. Really nice.

"H - hah, yeah. 'Complicated' is putting it lightly," he agrees. His attention is entirely on Varian right now, not on their surroundings or the road or where they're going. "I'm - I'm glad it's not easy for you, either. It's a lot, huh? But I guess - I just really like hanging out with you. And touching you." The latter of which has him sounding a little like this is a new novelty, which it kind of is, since affectionate touching was never particularly common with Hector.

An awkward, nervous laugh bubbles out of Varian's chest as Fern talks about touching him. Oh lord, he is so deeply unprepared for any of this. He has no idea what he's doing. But at least Fern doesn't, either. He can take some small comfort in that.

"Y-yeah, it's a lot. Like... a lot, a lot," he clear his throat. "Um. But... but I like all of that too. It's...uh. It's really nice. You- you're really nice."

That nervous laugh has Fern's smile widening a fraction, as he realizes just how much he enjoys hearing it. It's awkward, for sure, but it's also cute, and it's not something he's really ever heard from other people. It's uniquely Varian.

"You're nice, too," he starts, then laughs a little himself. "... Well, you're kind of a pain, but in a nice way? It's fun being around you, even when you wanna make me pull my hair out. Which is also kind of all the time, but I still like it."

Yeah, he's realizing that he's faltering here and making Varian sound horrible. His blush darkens, and he finishes lamely, "It's uh, it's really new. I don't remember ever feeling like this about anyone before."

"Wow, rude," it's said with a very fond snort, though. "And yeah. Same...for me. You're one of the most aggravating people I have ever met and sometimes I genuinely wanna just like...throw you out of a window or something."

Look, they can share in this feeling at least. Being aggravated and attracted to one another at the same time. As Fern divulges that he hasn't felt this way before, Varian's nervousness grows a little more.

"Oh...um. I kind of have...well, sorta," it's so complicated. "More...awkward puppy crushes than...anything else. With people way too old for me. Who definitely didn't reciprocate. So- probably...doesn't count."

Fern can't help but let out an abrupt laugh. Okay, yeah, being aggravating enough to get thrown out a window doesn't surprise him, and he knows he a regular person would probably be insulted, but this just means they're on the same page with each other. That's... really nice. It doesn't seem like these kinds of feelings are pretty typical between two people.

Fern blinks curiously as Varian explains his side of things. 'Puppy crush' is new to him, though thanks to Hector's memories he has a decent idea of what a crush is. Which... is what this is, isn't it? He isn't totally sure, but hey, now he knows Varian has more experience with this than him, so he leans in a little.

"So this is a crush? Um - for both of us? And not just an - awkward puppy crush?"

The laugh surprises one out of Varian too, just two awkward idiots laughing on a cart. That's where they're at right now. It's really nice to be on the same page- to have that same level of understanding. Even if it's making his heart do pretty dramatic summersaults in his chest.

He should be glad for his 'uncle's' memories here. Really helping the cause. Thanks, Hector. Fern leans in a little more and Varian's blush deepens. At this point, he's pretty sure he can feel his heartbeat in his ears.

"H-hah, yeah. I um... I'm pretty sure that's...that's what this is. Yes."

Fern doesn't think much about invading Varian's space. This is totally fine, why wouldn't it be fine? They're both thinking the same way, and that's really great, and even though this is all very new to Fern he's utterly thrilled in a nervous kind of way. The only issue is... well, he has no idea what to do about any of this. They're on the same page, but what's next?

"So what're we supp - " He starts, but is abruptly cut off as the wagon suddenly comes to a stop, and the horse pulling it and then lets out a loud snuff, rolling his eyes. Kids.

Fern looks over, and sees that they're in front of a low, cozy building. The Snuggly Duckling. "Oh."

Varian's feeling increasingly nervous, the longer Fern remains very much in his personal space. Because he knows what he wants to do about that but he absolutely should not. That would probably make things so much more awkward and messy than they already are. But then Fern starts to ask what they're supposed to do and he very almost does it anyway.

Thankfully, the horse stops to tell them that they're here and he stares at the pub. Oh god, he's so red and his breathing is everywhere and Lance will know. Lance will absolutely know and he'll never hear the end of it.

"W-well! Here we are!!" he slides a little away from Fern, trying to will his heart rate down. "The Snuggly Duckling! One fighty pub, as promised! Ha ha!"

When Varian scoots back Fern will lean back as well, his happy expression fading into surprise and then momentary disappointment. Well, they're here, and he still isn't sure what either of them should be doing. But... they've got time to sort that out, right? So it shouldn't be a big deal. They can set it aside for now and Fern can focus on being in his very first pub, which is still extremely cool to him, so that disappointment is replaced by another grin.

"Great!" He says, getting to his feet and immediately jumping off the wagon to the ground. He punches the air excitedly - the total opposite of Varian, since he has no idea what awaits them. "Let's do this!"

They sure are here. Varian clambers off the wagon, leading the horse around to the side, unhitching him and popping him into the stable. He turns and offers Fern a smile. He'd been hoping doing all that simple, easy work would have eased his awkward, nervousness over their conversation. But looking at the boy again brings it all swelling back to the front of his mind.

"R-right. Let's do this."

Oh god, he's so doomed. He steps inside to the familiar noise and smells of the Snuggly Duckling. A few rough-looking guys boom a greeting to him as he leads Fern to a quiet table out of the way- because that loud greeting sure turns to confused noises at the sight of the GREEN BOY with him. Varian sits down, glancing around at the decor to try and calm himself down. Come on, Varian, you've got to be able to deal with this, if you can't deal with the Snuggly Duckling you can't deal with the city.

"So. This is the Snuggly Duckling," he points out the mime waving at them, and then confusedly miming a flower growing out of the ground. "...That's Ulf."

While Varian gets the horse to the stables Fern patiently waits, practically bouncing on his heels in his excitement to go inside and see what the place is like. His emotions are doing all kinds of flip flops, but they're good flip flops, and it doesn't really occur to him that he might want to try exercising some control over them. He grins and nods, and follows Varian inside.

He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but it wasn't this. Looking around in fascination, his gaze quickly settles on the other occupants and their colourful appearances. Not as colourful as he is, but some of them look incredibly tough, and he immediately wants to fight them. That feeling only increases when they see him and they vocalize their confusion - it takes him a second, but he realizes what's going on there, that he's a new weirdo, and quickly growing self-consciousness feeds into his desire to go over there and pick a fight.

So he's staring a little at them, as he trails after Varian to the table. He sits, and he doesn't stop staring, though his gaze flicks over to Ulf. What is he doing? Is he making fun of him?

His grass twitches a bit, his enthusiasm continuing to fade. "I'm gonna go fight them." All of them.

Varian had been trying to blend in with the chair, because he can hear Lance's booming voice in the kitchens and before long he's going to have to explain the green boy and also why he's looking so very flustered and Lance will never, ever let him live it down.

He's only pulled out of his spiral when Fern speaks, panic suddenly settling in. He sits up, waving his hands desperately.

"NO! No no, don't fight them, oh god please don't fight them. It's fine, they'll settle down."

He'll stop, he won't just storm on over to the rest of the crowd in the pub, but he's also giving Varian a skeptical look. They don't look like they're going to settle down, and he needs to like... defend himself. Both of them, because he's guessing some of those comments he can't quite hear are about Varian, and the thought of the other boy getting insulted rankles him.

"But they're being jerks!" He protests, shooting a glare at them. Of course, it isn't all that intimidating, especially to a bunch of guys who could rival a mob of vikings, so they mostly remain confused.

Varian would really rather not get into a bar fight today. While he's sure the guys here are always spoiling for one, he really doesn't want to be dragged in front of the royal council to explain why he did that. So instead, he reaches out to carefully put a hand on Fern's shoulder.

"Yeah, they're like that, but they don't mean anything by it, it's just how they are," he throws them a glare hoping that will... at least make them go away, before clearing his throat. "It's not worth it. C'mon, we're supposed to sleep here tonight, you don't want to end up out in the cold, do you?"

The hand on his shoulder helps a lot, even if it causes some more looks from the Snuggly Duckling gang. Fern keeps scowling, but he sinks back down into his chair. Ugh, fine, as much as he'd like to go over there and start throwing punches Varian obviously doesn't want him to, and for some reason (crush reasons, he guesses) Varian wins out.

"No," he says sullenly. Sleeping in a warm building is infinitely better than sleeping outside when he's a plant with no body heat. "I'd rather sleep in another bed than outside."

Still, he huffs. "So what do we do next?"

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