Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"So why exactly are we doing this? Are we getting paid for being in this new story or just expected to do extra work for nothing...? I'm glad to have more time under--with June, but this is excessive." - Vargo

"Seriously? Don't pretend to whine. More abuse by your handler is exactly up your alley. Don't give the creator shit because you think we'll back you up, Vargo..." - Ruen

"Guuuuuuys! Let's not fight! I think this will be fun! More time to learn from Ryis and Landen sounds like sunshine and melon pops!" - Catalina

"Wh-What did she say? I can't read her sign fast enough. Can someone translate--? Cat, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be rude. I just... I really can't understand you." - Doughtry

"Can we just DO this already? I have several organizing projects going at once for the museum and I swear I heard Errol and Eiland giggling about going to a site this morning. I need to cut them off before they toss a bunch of dirt covered, pest ridden, unlabeled nonsense around my storage room again. I'm also working on a souffle that is NOT going well SO I REALLY DON'T WANT TO JUST STAND AROUND GOSSIPING!" - Curtis

"Don't get your panties in a wad. I know your sugar loving noble and McGuns stress you out, but you know they'll be out there all day and probably all night excavating. If you're that ruffled then I'll just go tell them to stop creating mess for you. I don't have a problem. Celly's busy gardening today and I could use a break from trying to remember all those flower names." - Bethesda

"Are you okay, Suon? You look pale? Maybe you should have a seat? I think we should just go along with it. Why fight this new gig? We're all happy to show people our lives anyway. What's a little more with no hard lines?" - Amira

"I'm... okay... so many... people... I need... tea." - Suon

"That sounds delightful--! I, er, I mean. Dangummit! Who's wantin tea when you can fix yerself up a pint of, um... ale?" - Brutus

"Do we HAVE to entertain his insulting outlandish Southern act here too? Everyone knows you're a noble so stop making us look bad! Honestly, I don't know why I put up with this charade just to learn a thing or two from Balor. If he'd just come back and hand things off to Wheedle--the slimy deviant--then we could just chat in the capital as we used to." - Cassandra

"You're asking Balor to sell out to that snake? How he puts up with you is the real question. He's the most amazing salesmen I've ever met. If he wants to build up the economy of a small town ravaged by an earthquake then why interfere? I just want to watch closely to see how to get my own business up and running. Meanwhile all you see if dollar signs, you corrupt dealer................" - Rubel

"How about we all take a minute to collect ourselves? I understand everyone's point of view and I think we should come together to find a way to communicate this with the creator. I'm willing to present the information if you all wouldn't mind giving me a helping hand?" - J.R.

"Listen up! You all have riddled this story's first chapter with nonsense and I don't even know if this can be called a pilot. No warning or anything. The readers don't know what you look like or what your mannerisms are as you're talking because no one waited for me to come here and direct properly. We're doing this short stories thing and we're doing them together! So buckle up and get into hair and makeup or so help me--! You're fine, Catalina and J.R.. But the rest of you?! Well, mostly the whining ones. The concerned ones, it's okay. AND YOU, Vargo, I know you're not giving me sass! One chapter with no juniper for you! You're supposed to be docile and you're giving me lip cause you think I won't reprimand you. You're cute, but not cute enough to pull one over on me. Now let's get going!" - Unclaimed Song aka Ucii bka The Writer

Chapter Text

A figure would lift a golden brush with ornate designs from their mahogany table, gliding the object through a head of thick, sapphire colored hair. They'd hum a little tune, seeming enthralled with their hair care routine. It had been quite some time since he'd come to live in his new home and he was beginning to get quite accustomed. The mountains of decorative pillows stacked on various surfaces, intricately designed fabrics decorate everything in the room from the bed to the hangings on the windows that peer into the vast void, and there were so many places to sit that it was a wonder who it was all for given no one but him could enter this space. It was nothing like the cramp, tiny hut he used to call home. Anything he wanted would almost appear out of nowhere. Though, there was a catch. Actually, there were a few catches. Should he hope for food, it would be served in a pet bowl and have an eerie glow to it. The other day he was eating a mason jar filled with trail mix and he could swear he heard the whispers of an incantation in his head. The other catch was--.

"Now where is my darling guinea pig? I need to test a potion~." A voice would chirp across the vacant space that should have been a ceiling for the building. Instead it was something similar to a endless spiral of colors and lines. The moment the voice would cease speaking, Vargo would suddenly be warped from the desk he had been brushing his hair at and to Juniper's bathhouse. Resting on the table to the back of the witch's room would be a purple genie lamp with gold sparkles and intricate swirls of solid gold. A hand rest upon the waste of an impatient purple haired woman as she examines the fragile looking male that had appeared suddenly in her vicinity. Vargo wasn't much to sneeze at. He had fine posture, but seemed partial to arching his back to appear smaller around others as he was now. He'd rub at his upper arm while combing his fluffed up blue hair out of the way.  While he would have liked time to get prepared before being summoned, this was his norm. "Drink this." The voluptuous female would rock her hips, swinging them to one side and lingering there. In one hand would be a wooden ladle angled in the blue haired male's direction with some sort of smoking, bubbling spoonful of something with a toxic green color. "Well?"

"Ehhhhh..." he'd whimper before making his way over to Juniper obediently. He wasn't sure about drinking that, but he wasn't about to tell her no. It was less him being submissive and more that he knew disobeying her was not an option. Well, maybe it was a little of him being submissive. Who could blame him? This was a Goddess--! A God! A witch was like a God to him. Because of her magic or something. Putting his internal excuse making aside, he would stare at the ladle, trying to decide if he was ready to drink from it or not.

"Oh?" He'd jerk his head up and look at the female when she'd speak again. "Are you refusing? You sure are taking your sweet time, "she'd tease, amusement plain on her face as her subject began sweating bullets and trying to explain himself. She would begin to put the ladle back into the pot only for it to be grasped and Vargo to take a drink from it. She'd grin as his face would go pale and he'd fall to his knees. "Perhaps it could have used a few fewer toadstools?" She was enjoying watching him squirm.

"It's... very bitter... and yet sugar sweet."

"That was for you, lovely. You enjoy sweet things and I detest that so I tried to put a little something to give the illusion that I was giving you something sweet only for it to turn bitter. It would seem that the two flavors did not do as desired. Pity." The male would seem to wince in pain, but not say anything about it. Instead he would just continue sitting there, murmuring something under his breath. Juniper would move to her desk before opening up a potion with an audible *PoP!* sound. She'd fling its contents over the ailing male before replacing the cork. "Now..." She'd watch as the male would recover, opening and closing his hands before standing up again, "What was that you said a moment ago?"

"H-Huh?"

"Under your breath. You said something." She asked knowing full well what he'd said.

"I don't--."

"Let's not lie, Vargo," she'd even use his name, "You're fully aware that I'm no one's fool. I didn't mishear. I simply want you to say it loud enough to be heard."

"I said......" Swallows hard. He wasn't sure how she would take hearing it again. It honestly just slipped out. It's not like he went around using it. "I..." Takes a deep breath. "I said--." he'd begin with a hint of confidence ion his voice before realizing she was standing right in front of him again when his eyes lift from gazing at the floor. The way she purrs out 'Yes?' would knock him back down a peg. "I called you June--. But it was an accident! I was... losing health rapidly and I wasn't thinking--."

"A nickname? For me? You shouldn't have. "She was being awfully playful, but Vargo seemed worried about that. In fact, he knew what this playful behavior meant. "I should repay you for coming up with such a clever nickname, shouldn't I? A heartfelt gesture for a heartfelt gesture." She'd loom. "I think I have just the errand to make you run each time you decide to refer to me as anything more informal than Junpier. Wouldn't you agree?" He'd fervently shake his head. "Defiance on top?" He'd yelp. "Yes. I think I have just the thing."

From outside the bathhouse passerby's might hear a yelp of pain followed by Dozy emerging with a paw-written sign in his mouth. 'Closed' with a paw print would be scribbled onto the page that he would affix to the front door, it marking the wood like a stain as the page burns from magic so the note is plastered onto the door. He would return inside while anyone attempting to enter would be unable to open the door.

Chapter Text

"I can handle more. Don't put your animals in daycare just to spare me a trip, Amira..."

Frowns while staring at the fumbling fellow redhead before him. She always did this. If she needed help then all she had to do was ask him to come out and he would. It wasn't like the rancher wasn't getting paid. On top, he felt better looking after them than the farmer's livestock going to that Hayden guy. He clearly had his hands full getting a handle on that chicken of his. "I'm sorry Ruen. I'll let you know next time..."

"You will. Cause I'm staying at the inn now."

"Huuuuuuh?! What? But I thought--?"

"I'm attached to your animals. I'd rather you let me look after them than someone else. Why not move to Mistria if I'm out here this much already? So..." Narrows his blue eyes. "Don't. Do. That. Again. Got that?" Jabs a finger at the farmer who'd continue apologizing to him. "Don't apologize. It's your choice. Just don't make one because you're worried about me. I'm here to help you. Unless you want to tell her Highness Adeline that she was wrong..."

"No..." Amira would whimper. The orange haired girl would adjust herself to be sure her clothes were laying properly before speaking further. "I'd love to have more of your help with my animals, Ruen. I just didn't want... to seem like I was putting too much on you. I can tell you enjoy working with them, but I wanted to try to do things myself. When I couldn't, Hayden was the fastest I could ask for help. I even had March help and that went about as well as you'd think it would." Recalls how he yelled at the animals and almost got trampled if they all hadn't burst into tears instead. "They'll be back tomorrow once Hayden brings them--."

"I'll pick them up for you." Blue eyes meet surprised hazel ones. "That's fine, right? You don't mind if I help get them back home? Instead of waiting on him to bring them tomorrow, I can see if he'll let me transport them back by tonight."

"You don't have to do that, Ruen. It can be like they went away for a play date. You just just relax for today!"

"Relax. Easy for her to say." Mutters, walking the path towards Sweetwater Farms to park at his usual spot on breaks which was this weird chicken statue. "What kind of name for a farm is Sweetwater? Nosy guy trying to poach my employer. I'll teach him a thing or two. "Grins mischievously before noticing someone sitting near where he usually had lunch. They didn't seem to be paying attention. In fact, they were really focused on whatever meal they were having. "That's the Hayden guy, isn't it...?" Watches the man a moment before approaching. Stands there waiting as this man sits there chewing with his eyes closed. He was so engrossed in his meal. "What're you eating that's got you that zoned out?"

"!!!" Hayden would open his eyes up wide and give a nervous chuckle when seeing this... Wait. He knew this person. "Oh! You're that hired Ranch Hand that Lady Adeline got to help out poor Amira. Name's Hayden. I'm--." He'd begin, extending a hand to shake Ruen's only to notice they weren't interested.

"I know exactly who you are."

"By the looks of ya, "he'd begin, lowering his hand some, "you ain't too keen on meeting me."

"You know who I am--Hayden, right? You know who I am so you can guess my keenness. What's with you watching Amira's animals? I'll have you return them. They're under me."

"Protective of your flock, I see." Retracts his hand, dusting off some potato crumbs from his chest as best he can. The towering man would stand, far outclassing the angry looking redhead that had challenged him.

"Protective of my place. I like looking after Amira's animals. She's nice and her animals like her, she just can't care for so many herself. I'm not about to let somebody put me out of work with their little daycare."

"Little?" He'd chuckle.

"Little." They'd have something of a stare off. It wouldn't last very long though. "But Amira thinks it's a good thing they get to go out and meet other animals. I can't disagree with her. So while I am annoyed... It's a good thing you helped her. it works for her and them. So thanks for that." Despite their demeanor and resting bitch face, the smaller of them seemed almost neutral after saying that.

"Sure thing, Ruen! you just let me know whenever you and Amira want them to have a little play date on my farm. My animals love new faces and there's always one popping up over at Mistgrove Farms." There's a pause. Both seemed to know each other without having met, it seemed.

"You're awful cheerful," Ruen'd randomly compliment. "Is that because of whatever you were eating?"

"Oh!" The large man would glance at his half eaten baked potato before looking back at the rancher in their denim overalls. He forgot they asked about that. "I like to think I'm a nice fella on my own, but I do enjoy a good baked potato now and then. One a day normally suits." How was that once and a while? Ruen seems to frown, but looks a bit surprised.

"All that zoning out for a potato?"

"A baked potato."

"A baked potato."

"Yes. They're one of my favorite meals, genuinely." Goes into his sacks and hands Ruen one of his own with no plate or anything. "Yer welcome to have one for yourself. Brought another in case someone hungry passed by."

"That happen a lot?"

"Nope." Ruen found this man odd... but he kind of liked that about him. "Maybe next you stop by we can talk about animals over a baked potato," he'd offer.

"This was the exception." He'd start. "I don't talk about work when I'm not working. Animals are work." Before the large man could say anything, the redhead would continue. "But sure. I'll come by your farm for lunch on my break tomorrow. I owe you something in return for the, uh, potato and looking out for my employer and her animals."

"It's a date!"

"..." The pepper haired man would bounce with amusement, happy with his response and bridging into talking about something else, while the other male seemed... preoccupied by something. "Yeah... Okay." They felt... odd. As Hayden would speak about something, the blue eyed male would seem to be a little bit more reserved while holding onto the baked potato given. Maybe... he'd give Hayden a baked potato in return. One that's more the type Ruen would make since he liked them so much. The potato. The baked potato was the liked thing he meant. Yeah.