Prologue

[faentasy]

PROLOGUE

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The clink of glasses, the clatter of utensils upon plates and the soft murmur of conversation flows smoothly in the warmly lit dining hall. It's a dinner party, a rather vivacious one at that, with the food flowing freely. Savory and sweet, regional specialties, refined and rustic, there's something for everyone. Omurice, chiffon cake, kimchi, sizzling porterhouse steaks—it might be more apt to call it a buffet than anything else.

Do buffets usually serve such a unique smorgasbord of food? And actually, weren't you doing something else? A free meal is usually a good thing but is anything truly free? Who are these people around you? And where exactly are you?

Whatever thoughts are racing through your mind, they're abruptly cut off by a note, high pitched G-sharp from a woodwind. All your senses return to you, though they won't tell you much. Maybe not all of them actually, if you're used to feats of heroic strength or manipulating reality or numerous other abilities. There is one clue at least, a heavy weighted paper beneath your plate, an embossed note rather than a list of courses.

"Enjoy yourselves. I'll come see you when you've had your fill. And don't try to dine and dash, huh? There's something I have—something I can do for you, after all. Besides, you've already agreed to the terms anyway!"

Welcome to your Fairy Tale.

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Comments

[begrimed]

Oh, a man of the arts yourself?

[ Twirling the flute between his fingers. ]

It's something of a personal piece of mine, that's all.

[heroicact]

A musician by trade and spirit, though it's been some time since I've had the chance. More's the pity -- it seems music has advanced so much more than I'd anticipated.

[He still doesn't know what disco is, but he's totally learning new things!! Totally!! In this timeline there is no murder yet but there sure is a lot of arts nerd.

He watches the flute, with something like a flash of longing or nostalgia, but doesn't comment upon it.]

You've not named it, then?

[begrimed]

Not yet, do you think I should?

[heroicact]

Well... I think there's a certain power given to music through giving it a name -- but if the occasion isn't right, or the people aren't right, or something, then an untitled piece has its own charm.

I guess it depends on what it was written for?

[Maybe it's because he's a musician that it's like the politest of indirect questions, but he does seem genuinely curious.]

[begrimed]

I often have a lotta free time on my hands and there's only so many ways you can entertain yourself.

[ Hamelin doesn't seem to mind any! ]

[heroicact]

Ahh, I was rather hoping we were worth a piece, ourselves. You've brought us here and laid us all out rather dramatically, after all -- to think the theme to all this is merely something generic just won't do, would it?

[begrimed]

Hahaha, it wouldn't pay to insult you after I've "kidnapped" you, is that it?

[ To quote so many others here even if that's not what he views this as. ]

[heroicact]

You quite mistake me, and I couldn't imagine why -- I wouldn't call myself a man easy to insult, nor even easy to kidnap! I'm merely a wandering artist in search of inspiration and curiosities... something like that.

[A quiet, amused sort of breath, almost laughter but not quite.]

... Well, put that way, it makes us both sound like dilettantes with nothing better to do.

[begrimed]

I've been called far worse things.

[ A smile here, small but genuine. ]

[heroicact]

I think we have that in common, somehow. It must be something like a rite of passage for an artist, particularly one that plays for the public.

[I don't know where this is in the meet & greet timeline but it is definitely ironic at some point far past its date.]