the_isle | You're From The Isle If Anybody Asks

First Awareness

Those used to this by now probably knew what it meant when they felt their magic return for a moment. For the rest, suddenly their powers were back. Just for a few minutes, but a lot could be done in a few minutes. If the person even noticed their powers were back, that is.

Of course those on the shore might have seen the hazy indistinct shape through the barrier coming closer, might have seen the moment the hole in the barrier opened. Might have seen King Ben leading people down a gangplank through the barrier with crates of supplies....

Unions, Re And Otherwise

Once the supplies were unloaded, the barrier was sealed up again. King Ben seemed to be in charge during the unloading, Once the barrier was closed again, by the green magic streaming from the Queen's finger, it was Mal who seemed to be in charge.

"Alright, listen up. We have 2 hours and the clock is ticking. I'm not FG but we're keeping to a deadline anyway. If you want to come to Auradon or know someone you want us to bring back, you have 2 hours to convince us. You and everyone else, sharing the same 2 hours. Along with anyone who has a supply request for our next visit, or updates. Those of you bringing supplies to the school, time to get cracking. Two hours passes faster than midnight at the ball."

Those Who Left

(Please TL Here for boat and Auradon Shenanigans. TY)

Those What Remain

Once those going back to Auradon had left and the barrier was back in place, it was for those who remained on the Isle to sort the supplies and figure out how to get done everything that needed to be done with the people that remained.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Somewhat taken aback by the response, it took him a few seconds to respond. "That's not what I-" Too late. Chara had already taken off running and was through the doors to the so-called school.

Foulques sighed, palm meeting face in a universal gesture. "Well done, Foulques," he said sarcastically. "You great verbal clod. One would think I would know by now when to hold my tongue, but apparently not." Another sigh and he continued at a more normal pace; there was no need to run after Chara; they were both going to the same place, after all.

Chara was in their room, under the bed, wrapped up in blankets, trying to be silent about crying. Trying, and failing.

Foulques had paused to drop off the fish he had caught where Chell could prepare them but soon arrived in the room he, Sun, and Chara shared, quickly pinpointing the sounds of soft crying under the old desk that served as his bed. He went around behind it and crouched down to speak to the child. "Chara," he said gently, "my words in the courtyard had naught to do with you. I was merely referring to the various bits of metal and paper, broken furniture and other brick-a-brack that can be found here."

Edited Date: 2025-04-19 10:52 pm (UTC)

"Why can't we go home," they sniffled. "Back to Mr. Dad Guy and Mrs. Mom Lady? I wanna go home..." sniffled, hiccoughed. "I wish I never ate those stupid flowers..."

His first thought was that they really didn't have time to discuss this just then. His second was that his first didn't matter. "That would have been a much wiser decision," he said. There was no point in claiming otherwise, after all. "But it was not the flowers which brought you here. As to why we can't yet go home, tis the nature of the magic that did."

He gave a bit of a wry smile, trying to lighting the mood. "Though if you fear that I would discard you, you may put that fear aside. I may be a fool, but I'm not so great a fool as that." He reached under the desk to gently ruffle their hair.

They sniffled and looked out a little at the hair ruffle. "Cause you're not human..." said slowly, like looking for confirmation.

That wasn't something he could truthfully say, as in his own world, he would be considered human. But not hyur, which he was learning was equivalent to 'human' on most worlds. Instead of attempting to explain this, however, he answered, "Because it was not chance that made you part of my life, but choice. I have chosen you, as you have chosen me, and that means far more than what blood flows in our veins. Such bonds are not easily broken."

"But... that means you could just change your mind, doesn't it?" A sniffle.

He considered for a moment. He wouldn't do so, of course, but how to ease the child's mind?

He shifted position so that he was down on one knee, head bowed, as if Chara was royalty. "I swear in the name of the Twelve that I shall never betray or discard you, Chara Dreemur," he said. "I will keep you from harm and do all I can to see that you grow strong and well. May the gods strike me down where I stand should I ever break my oath." A bit dramatic? Absolutely. But even so, he found that he meant every word.

Edited Date: 2025-04-20 08:23 am (UTC)

Another sniffle. "Really?" small voice.

He raised his head and offered a bit of a wry smile. "Well, I could swear to each of the Twelve individually if it would reassure you further," he said, "but we are somewhat pressed for time. In other words, yes, really."

"But... But why? I'm not smart like Mrs. Mom Lady, or strong like Mr. Dad Guy, or fun like Asriel... I'm just... Chara..."

"You're certainly a clever child," he said, shifting back to a more normal crouch, "and what you lack in wisdom or strength can be gained through, study, experience, and hard work. As for not being fun, however, I'll have you know that you're far more fun than a great many of those I've known. Certainly more fun than most on this Isle. Chell, for example, is a fine fellow, but rather 'wooden' in more ways than one. I assure you, simply being Chara is quite enough."

There was a small sniffle, and then a small body was launching itself into Foulques.

Foulques instinctively caught Chara and held them, though the combination of the impact and his relatively awkward position forced him to sit down rather suddenly. They couldn't stay there too long, but neither did they have to move immediately.

The child clung, sobbing into him, shaking badly.

He rubbed Chara's back somewhat awkwardly in what he hoped was a soothing motion. Why couldn't he simply say what he felt? Why go through all the elaborate theatrics of swearing an other when a few simple words would have done the same, or more?

'Because you're a worthless coward,' came the response from his own mind. 'Chara and Sun call you a hero only because they do not know the way your craven heart trembles at the mere thought of calling them friend or family. Because you know that if they were to see you as you truly are, they would be disgusted by the broken, pathetic creature before them. You are undeserving of love or kindness; to rot here alone on this Isle for the rest of your days would be a just punishment for your actions. Tis only by the grace of the naive young King that you have any hope of more, and don't you dare forget it.'

For better or worse, such dark thoughts remained locked in his own mind. Chara didn't need to know them, and clearly had enough of their own to be getting on with. "Here now...", he said quietly. "There's naught to fear. Not from those from the mainland, or regarding our own connection. All will be well."

Edited Date: 2025-04-21 04:42 am (UTC)

"But... All is never well," they mumbled. "Things always go bad."

"That merely means you haven't yet reached the end of your story," he said. "There are many hardships in life, large and small, but your story continues beyond them. And because it does, you have the opportunity to make that story better. To bring the tale to a happy end before beginning the next one."

"Doesn't ending your story mean dead?" Chara asked, sniffling. "I already did that."

"And yet here we both are," he said. "Very much alive. And thus do our tales continue, however strange they become along the way."

"How do you have a happy end if it isn't the end?"

"As with any other end you hope to achieve, you must work toward it to make it possible," he said. "Good things may well come to those who wait, but they come much more quickly and in greater quantity to those who make the effort."

"But other than working to keep humans away which you won't let me do, and working to help monsters break free didn't work... what am I even supposed to do?"

Here he smiled slightly. "If I've learned aught from you and Sun, it's that deeds need not be carried out on a grand scale for them to be counted as significant," he said. "You needn't worry about saving all the world at your age. Merely do good as you can and dedicate yourself to improving your mind and body. The rest, I think you will find, will follow."