Little Adventures

[monochromatically]

Who; Mono and all of you!
What; Open Logs!
Where; Market shops, Park, Harbour district
When; Mid-August to now
Warnings; None aside from parts of a weird kids song in the last one atm, but I will update if anything comes up since Mono does come from a canon that can have sensitive topics.




Melancholic Melody - Something charming about the sound of a music box.

Mono had learned to budget what money he managed to get, and he was looking forward to having an actual job soon to make that easier… But he should be saving what he had for now to buy bread at a discount later from the baker’s stall. Or saving it away to buy clothes, or to get the ones he had repaired.

What the child was currently doing was staring in the window of an old-fashioned shop that had music boxes in the window. Specifically, one that worked with a little crank on the side… It wasn’t the same, of course, as the one he remembered seeing… But it was close enough that it had caught Mono’s attention enough for him to press his face against the glass and stare at it pensively. He wasn’t sure why, but he wanted to buy it… Just in case Six showed up.

It wasn’t like he owed her one. The more he thought about music boxes, the more that nagging, prickling sensation from the back of his mind bothered him. Almost like he did owe her one. Like he had a reason to feel kind of bad, like he’d done something.

But he remembered her having a music box in the Hunter’s cabin… And it had seemed important to her then… So maybe that was why? Maybe it was simply because he hadn’t stopped to grab it and take it with them when they fled that horrible place.

So anyone walking by would see the kid staring intently, as though debating something of great importance. Humming under his breath as he tried to remember the melody, and wondering what the one in the shop sounded like.


Learning that nature can be fun - Climbing trees or getting on eye level with the creatures!

Mono tended to stick to the city since arriving, but slowly he’d eventually gotten curious enough to venture into the park. He’d never seen so much green, or so many interesting creatures before. The forest that the… Hunter’s cabin… had been in had been ominous and full of fog and a number of very unpleasant things and sights.

The park was bright and green, and the sound of wildlife was far more inviting than the squawking of the crows (although he had happened upon a few in his time here) feasting on who knew what. Mono had to admit… Nature like this? It was kinda nice. He still didn’t think he’d be wandering into the actual forest anytime soon, but he was happy to run around in the grass or climb the trees there to get a better view of the park and what people were doing in it.

Mono could be found doing just that, or if you happened to spot the child later in the day? He was lying on his stomach next to the pond, feet kicking in the air lightly as he poked at the water and considered some frogs that were swimming around or sitting on the rocks nearby.


Sent on a ferry upon our sea - Why are kids songs … so weird?

Mono, like any child, got little ideas in his head when he was bored that may or may not make sense to everyone else. He liked to wander, and today had found him wandering around the harbour district. Specifically, near the docks. The child was wandering down the weathered wooden planks, bare footfalls drowned out by the sound of him humming a song stuck in his head, and sometimes the odd pieces of the song being sung quietly. “Having a nightmare in a boat. Come with me, oh no, no, no…” Humming a little more, he never could figure out all the actual lyrics. The bullies always sounded so garbled and… honestly, he was pretty sure they changed them sometimes. “He’s gone, he’s gone, he’s gone… Don’t leave me. No more bellman among the sea.”

Mono sat on the edge of the docks, his little feet dangling over the edge as he considered a little rowboat. He’d been on the river before. It was kind of nice and peaceful. Just floating across it on the door… It still had taken him back to the Pale City, but it had been nice after the horrors of the forest. And the child couldn’t deny that, as daunting as it had been, he felt like he’d been meant to return there. “Run, run, here comes Veronica… Sent on a ferry upon our sea.”

Tugging his yellow sou’wester hat a little more snug on his head and down over his eyes, he finally slipped off the edge to hop into the little rowboat. Exploring the inside of it for anything interesting. Wondering absently how hard it might be to go out in it.

Comments

Nature

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis had made a little mixture of sliced grapes, cracked corn and chopped up lettuce. It was a little thing that he tried to do on his days off and to go feed the ducks. And he'd been there often enough that he swore the ducks now knew him by mere sight because he always sat at a certain bench and fed them.

He'd even purchased a bird feeder for the house but those would never just waddle up to him and 'talk' to him as he liked to call it. So he made sure to go out at least once a week to the park to come feed these birds who always seemed to ravenous.

Today though he happened to spot a certain little boy laying on his stomach as if studying the frogs there. And he thought to himself that Sania from back home would more than likely have a willing student in her research of wildlife. And it wasn't much fun being turned into one of them, but that wasn't a story he would ever reveal to the boy. So for now he stood some feet away and spoke to him.

"They're quite the interesting creatures."

[monochromatically]

Mono was quite mesmerized by the little creatures. They made such interesting sounds. So, Ignis actually managed to do what was at one point unthinkable. He actually surprised the kid, who usually always kept on guard. He looked up in surprise, peeking from under the newsboy hat he was wearing today- someone could thank Aerith for his starting to leave the paper bag behind. “Oh! Hi, Mr. Ignis!” He propped himself up on his elbows before looking back at the frogs again. “They’re so small, and they make really funny sounds.”

I don't know how I kept missing this thread!

[faithfulsupport]

He could only smile at the lad. It was quite adorable to see Mono doing things other children here did. "Well hello Mono." And he got down to the other's level and smiled. "It used to be said back where I'm from, that if you play with frogs long enough you could become one."

It was something he and Noct heard but as he'd gotten older he figured it was just to make sure the Royal Prince didn't get mixed up with chasing after them. So instead as they became older, they'd occasionally got turned into one.

It's okay!

[monochromatically]

Mono was reaching out to poke at the water again, wondering if he could get a frog to land in his hand if he was very careful when Ignis spoke up again.

… Huh… That was an idea that put a spin on the giant jarred frogs the teacher kept in the science room back in the Pale City in a new and horrifying light. Maybe that was why they were so big, and why the only students left in the school were the porcelain bullies… 

He very slowly drew his hand back, giving Ignis a look that was a mixture of curious and slightly horrified. “I didn’t know that.” He drew his hand back slowly. “I don’t think I wanna become a frog… Frogs end up in jars.”

[faithfulsupport]

He couldn't help but smile as the boy withdrew and looked at him with that look on his face. "Only the ones that get caught end up in jars." But there was a smile that had been threatening to show the entire time which more than likely was reflected in his words.

Since he was a master at a poker face it didn't show, but finally the advisor decided to show a slight smile. "I'm actually only kidding about turning into a frog. However, it was an expression we heard in the Citadel, and it was one more than likely to keep our crown prince from dirtying himself by playing in the water or falling in it."

Of course, the whole thing about actually being turned into a frog by magic was real. And it was no fun to be helpless and hop around trying to avoid any other damage that a frog could only defend against by trying to hop out of the way.

[monochromatically]

“Frogs aren’t good at not getting caught in my world, I think. At least the ones around the school.” He responded with a blunt little tone, “So I like not being a frog because I’m good at not getting caught like I am.” It was how his logic worked out, anyway. Mono was pretty sure he would have had a much harder time escaping the teacher and her rather scary ‘trick’ if he were a frog.

The child relaxed a little, at least when Ignis confirmed he’d been joking, “So these frogs aren’t people then, right?” He turned his attention back to them, curious again. Mono wasn’t sure if he could completely write the idea off in his world considering how strange everything was and how little he understood about some things. But if it wasn’t real here? He’d be very glad, indeed. “That’s kinda mean to tell kids though, sometimes getting dirt on you happens!” He was, after all, usually quite a messy little kid. Worse in his world, when he remembered the swamp he’d swam through to make one of his escapes.

[faithfulsupport]

The boy's words were concerning but Ignis wasn't going to poke into territory not quite meant for him. But Six help anyone that scared this boy. However, the advisor remained quiet on that matter and just listened. He didn't even want to think about anyone threatening the other either so he made himself relax.

"No." the royal advisor replied with a smile. "And dirt and mud are certainly things that should be part and parcel for growing up." He was more than sure Iris would've loved to get dirty too if he recalled the story correctly about how Noct had gone and saved her when she had gotten lost when she was little.

[monochromatically]

Concerning, strange things were sort of common enough comments from the child. Mono had very few experiences he could share or explain about his world that would be anything other than vaguely unsettling to outright horrifying.

But at the confirmation that these frogs weren’t people? Well, Mono was delighted, and he relaxed again. Poking his hand back into the water to see if he could coax a frog closer to get a better look at it. Small, live frogs were exciting and interesting. Most animals in this place were, really. He still wasn’t fond of crows or ravens, but wildlife, in general, was really nice to see in a less sinister setting.

“Dirt and mud are everywhere too, kinda hard to avoid it and all. Plus, it’s not so bad in a place like this, you can wash it off pretty easy.” Yeah, his trench-coat seemed a little beyond hope on that front… It had been through a lot. But he could still take a bath when he felt like it. That was one of the things about being in the apartments that was pretty great.

[faithfulsupport]

That answer had Ignis chuckle. "This is true. But back home it seemed His Majesty had people just waiting to scrub him clean in case he got dirty." Not to mention his father King Regis would expect to see his crown prince of a son clean and neat. There were so many days that the staff would part his hair in such a way that he waited for them to leave before calling Ignis in to have him part it the way he liked it. Of course with Noct's hair being the rat's nest that it was most of the time, no matter how many times a brush ran through the dark locks, it always messed right back up.

"However, as he got older, that same Crown Prince got plenty of chances to sleep out under the stars and we were sent on a mission a few times to collect frogs in order to study them for Miss Sania Yeagre. And he was quite in his glory to go chase after them."

Of course Noctis might tell another version of this story, but Ignis got to get his version in first.

Music Box

[unbreakable_king]

"My brother loved them too."

Rhy hadn't meant to disturb Mono. But he had recognized the young man, and seen him staring so intently into a shop, that Rhy had been unable to keep away. Especially when... When he saw what it was.

Music boxes. The one item that Rhy had been certain his brother collected and brought into Red London against all norms and laws. Kell had been so intrigued by the works of the gray world, by clockwork. In Arnes there were enchantments that could do that same, but the puzzle of gears and metal rollers and little pins, they had been magic to his brother who had every magic at hand.

"When I see one, I always think of him."

[monochromatically]

Mono lifted his forehead from where it was pressed against the glass, looking up to see Rhy there. It seemed kind of odd to the boy, like he hadn't expected to see the man. But it made sense, of course. It wasn't like Rhy was bound to that area they met for lunch sometimes... He saw him at a distance around the city when he was checking up on people.

But it was still a bit startling to have his thoughts so muddled by his inner debate to suddenly being addressed. "Oh. Hi, Mister Rhy."

Tilting his head a bit curiously, Mono wondered what Rhy's brother was like then. He didn't seem to be here, since he most often saw the man with his husband... "Really? My friend had one when I met her... I think it was really special to her." He responded as he looked back in the window. "So I guess I kinda think of her too?"

[unbreakable_king]

Mister Rhy? Yes, he liked that. It made him sound like a normal person, in his own estimation.

"Seems like we both miss someone dear to us, and these remind us of them. Did she like the music? My brother loved the fact that they worked at all, without magic."

[monochromatically]

Mono nodded a little at that, “I think so... I think she really liked the song that it played, like it meant something to her.” He never really figured that out, though. Six was even more quiet than he tended to be... And he’d gotten her out of a very scary place. “I miss her a lot...” And he’d just lost her before being dragged here, had fallen for something that seemed so foolish now. She’d even tried to stop him, so it was his fault.

He tilted his head a little though, “Without magic? So there are ones that work with magic? I know these are all full of metal and little gear things... If you aren’t careful, they can break.” He wasn’t entirely sure how he knew that, but it sounded right.

[unbreakable_king]

"I miss him too," Rhy answered, letting Mono know he isn't alone on his feelings. But the rest?

He shook his head.

"In my home, if magic can do, it does do. The idea of little boxes with magic that work by pieces of metal is breathtaking to me."

[monochromatically]

Mono frowned sadly. It was nice to know he wasn’t the only person who missed someone… But he still felt kind of bad; he knew how much it bothered him to be separate from his friend. To know they needed him to save them, and that he was here instead of there. “I’m sorry… People keep telling me that maybe she’ll show up here, but I dunno… But maybe they both will?” Still, here was better than there and so he kind of hoped others were right.

“That’s kinda neat, though? That magic can do things like make pretty music and stuff.” He responded, tilting his head up at Rhy again. “People with power in my world don’t do nice things like that.” He looked back to the window again, looking at the box again. “But there’s lots of stuff with gears and electric things.”

[unbreakable_king]

Who knew. Maybe they would. But Rhy didn't hold his breath. He hadn't seen his mother, after all. Or his father. Perhaps it was for the better, the chance to grow.

To not see Alucard.

"Magic can do many things," he said, his hand coming up to touch his chest.

[monochromatically]

“Yeah, not all of it good… At least not that I saw.” The kid responded, shuddering a little as he thought about the porcelain bullies. He was pretty sure they were made of magic… They didn’t have gears, just shadows and smoke that escaped when you broke them. He just wasn’t sure who made them.

But he was trying to not sound too curious about Rhy’s world, with the idea of pretty things being done with magic.. Everything was far too warped where he was from, and pretty things were few and far between. The music box itself had been rather out of place, but it had suited Six in its own way.

[notarambler]

Sam caught the humming and walks over to the boy curious. "That's a pretty song," he comments quietly as he attempts to hum it himself. "Is it from your home?"

[monochromatically]

Mono was currently looking down in the stern of the rowboat, checking to see if there was anything interesting hidden in it. You never knew what people left behind sometimes, and he didn’t want to try taking the boat out if it was full of someone’s stuff. His head popped up, though, at the sound of Sam’s voice. He was… pretty sure he’d heard the voice before on the network.

He tilted his head up, and then a little further up… Wow. This guy was tall… Tall was slightly intimidating in Mono’s books, but at least he didn’t seem as tall as the people in his world. “Oh! Hi.” He wobbled a little and held the dock next to him carefully. “Yeah, It’s from a show on TV. I don’t know all the words, but it kinda gets stuck in your head.”

[notarambler]

Sam sits on the ground so as to be better looking the little guy in the eye. "Yeah a lot of songs from my world are like that," he says with a laugh, "you hum only the part you remember for days until it just decides to leave." He looks around. "Looking for something?"

[monochromatically]

“Exactly! Or you make up words instead like the bullies did.” He responded with a little nod, appreciating that Sam was a little more on his level. Made him seem a little more approachable, even if he kept himself situated on the boat carefully.

The question got a shrug. “Just kinda wondering if there were any neat things left behind. Stuff got left in weird places in my world all the time… And I thought it might be fun to float around in the boat.” Not necessarily safe, perhaps, but Mono was used to doing things without really thinking about that. So if he’d been left to his own devices, he might just have untied it and let himself drift.

[notarambler]

"Did people make fun of you for doing things your own way," Sam asks gently, "that's not far...people can be really mean sometimes." He shakes his head. "I never liked people who did that...but I do like boats...floating on the water is nice."

[monochromatically]

“Yeah, people are all kinda really mean where I’m from. I dunno that I understand it… I sometimes think it might be all they know how to be?” He hummed a little, sitting down in the boat. The porcelain bullies seemed to only know how to be nasty to one another, and to attack on sight. Everyone else… Well, part of him was angry for always being attacked just for being around. The other part of him blamed the signal tower for warping everyone, for changing people into monsters.

He nodded quickly though. Boats were fun. “Yeah, it’s all quiet and peaceful. I crossed a… I don’t think it was an ocean, but a lot of water on a door with my friend. It was nice, there was nothing scary around.”

[notarambler]

"You crossed an ocean with a friend," Sam asked, "that's amazingly brave of you," He smiles at the little guy. "My brother and I travel around too. I pretty much grew up that way."

[monochromatically]

Mono wasn’t sure if it had been the ocean, but it sure had been a lot of water. He tilted his head a little, kind of curious about what Sam meant by that. “Like on a boat? Or other ways?” He couldn’t help but wonder about the worlds of other people, especially when his was usually so different and weird by comparison.