All Is Fair In Fairy Tales

Clandestine Meetings

2011-08-04T16:15:40Z

Who: Carabosse and Puss de Carabas
When: A Thursday, late evening
Where: The forest
What: They chat about her arrival and other things

It was late in the evening, shadows creeping along the trees.

Carabosse stood stately in the midst of the forest. She hoped to catch a glimpse of the King but she could not know the kind of mischief he was running about just now. When the cat slinked up behind her, brushing his bright orange tail over her clean, black dress she almost frowned.

"Do you care to explain what took you so long de Carabas?"

He purred rather loudly, as if to say I missed you before he spoke. "I had to find someone I could trust. I can't exactly write with my paws."

"Did you forget about the signal I made for you?" she asked, her perfectly plucked brows crinkled. It hadn't taken all that long to put together. She packaged it simply so that the cat could easily open it. The black butterflies inside would float back to her and burst into red flowers if it was a good location for her to move, black flowers if she needed to find some other place to dwell.

"Oh," he said. "Oh. Yeah. I did forget." It was still resting in the bottom of his bag, forgotten underneath his discarded, scarlet clothing.

She should not have been surprised. Puss had a famously bad memory. She took a few steps further into the woods, her long black dress swishing around her legs. "Have you seen him?" she asked the cat who trailed behind her.

"Oh yes," Puss replied. "He looks wonderful," he said. "Up to trouble."

"Of course he is," the tall witch replied. She was fey too. She understood the need to cause havoc and chaos, as if it were a biological imperative. "Have you seen her?"

"Well Boss," Puss answered, using his favorite nickname for Carabosse. He shrugged his rounded shoulders, a gesture hardly noticeable from his stance on all four paws. "I haven't. He doesn't seem too perturbed that she hasn't arrived yet. His season's carried on longer than normal."

"Curious," Carabosse said quietly. She wasn't about to explain why this was so curious to Puss. He knew a great deal of information her typical servants would never learn. Of course, Puss wasn't her typical servant; he wasn't a servant at all.

"I did find someone you would take a great interest in," he said proudly, as if this were his first task and not some secondary mission he'd assigned himself. "She's a witch, but she doesn't know how to use her magic yet. She was a princess and she wandered away from..."

"Carabas," she said, silencing his rambling words. "I did not come to take an apprentice. I came to settle a place for myself."

Puss laughed, such a strange noise from a cat, "if you don't take her on, I will." He wasn't going to tell her that he already promised his tutelage to the girl.

"You'd teach her the old ways?" Carabosse asked suddenly disturbed. "Blasphemy."

"You think I don't have an itch to practice my own magic?"

"You'd be her slave."

"I'd be her servant. It's not entirely the same. My servitude would have a length, an end result. And I would see her have magic to rival your own."

"Honestly Puss," she said, using his common name, an uncommon thing for the dark fey. "I believe you capable and you have a wonderful eye to pick out those with talent. Just the same, I would rather not see you serving some creature that you had to teach the ancient ways. If she cannot learn to invoke you herself then she has no right invoking you at all."

Puss was quiet for a time, sitting next to one of his favorite ladies. He had this habit of collecting powerful, magical entities to surround himself with. It was almost like being home, amongst his own people. He often wondered, since Cara obviously knew the ancient ways, why she had never invoked him. He chalked it up to stubborn pride. What she couldn't achieve on her own was hardly worth achieving. "I see someone who needs my help Boss. I can't help it. I haven't felt this way since the miller called me forth."

Carabosse shook her head. "You do what you want to Puss. If you can achieve some measure of success with your little witch I may just take her on."

The cat was practically glowing with happiness, relieved that she agreed. He purred his approval rather loudly and rubbed against her dress leaving little remnants of orange fluff on her hem.

"Really now Carabas. Do you know how difficult it is to keep black clothing free of lint?"

"Did you go to the main office yet?"

Carabosse made the tiniest sound of disapproval. "I won't have dealings with that blithering hell cat." She'd seen the Chesire Cat slinking about, invisible to everyone; she had an eye for such tricks and the good sense to stay away from a secretive creature like that. "Need I really go?"

Puss wrinkled his nose, whiskers twisting this way and that as he did. "They seem to take it pretty seriously. At least you get free lodgings in exchange for a little work."

The witch frowned at him, barely visible in the darkness. She laid the palm of her left hand on a nearby tree and let it speak to her. This is a good place. A safe place. She let go before letting her own thoughts run free. She hated safe, good places; so damn predictable, filled to the brim with the honorable and innocent. At least her King was here. Together they could raise an impressive amount of hell.

"There's another mayor who sits at the office in the daytime. If you speak with him I'm sure he'll be reasonable and fair."

She clucked her tongue. "How much did you tell him?"

Puss sat, his front legs holding him erect. Of course his Boss could see straight through him; it was one of her gifts. "I didn't tell him about the shapetide. Only that I'm capable of certain kinds of blood magic and more powerful than I look."

"Did he asses you as a threat?"

"He's a child. One of the goodhearted, kind folks. I don't think he knew enough to see me as I am."

Carabosse nodded, satisfied. She wouldn't walk into this meeting entirely disillusioned, but she had a very good head start on what to expect. "If you don't mind, Puss, I'd like to take some time to familiarize myself with these woods."

"Course not. Good seeing you, Boss." With that the orange cat scampered off into the night, a flick of orange tail around a tree and he was gone.

The witch lingered where she was, touching trees, asking polite, quiet questions of the wood. Her King was in this world, but not in the forest tonight. She would be welcome here. The magic she spent on traveling to Haven was already replenished by her conversations with these trees. It was as if the land was as nourished by her arrival as she by simply tapping in to say hello. She wasn't entirely certain that Haven was as suitable as Puss thought, but she was willing to give it a try.

Settling

2011-07-17T18:16:17Z

Azkadellia arrived under cover of night. La Bonita Carnivale dropped her off at the docks; she was the great ship's sole passenger.

Her passage had been fairly miserable. She sailed Lake Finaqua in smaller crafts, little sailboats and dinghies, but this was a giant ship and the Sleepless Sea wasn't nearly as calm as the lake waters. She didn't much enjoy traveling by water this way, not that she planned a return trip to the shores of another reality.

For better or worse, Haven was her home now.

She followed Bluebeard's directions to the mayor's office. The doors were locked; wasn't that just her luck? She paced out front for a bit, biting her lip and wringing her hands ever so slightly. A wicked giggle, which would probably be more aptly described as a delighted cackle, filled the air near her left shoulder.

"Looking lost, ain't she pretty. You've landed yourself in Haven city."

She turned on the spot, horrified to find that no one was there. "Who speaks?" she asked, terrifying herself for a moment in that she sounded so much like the witch.

"Jumping. Jittery. A little bit twittery."

A horrible grin made entirely of shiny, perfectly white teeth appeared slowly near the stoop of the mayor's office. Vivid pink stripes formed in a trail down the figure's spine, followed by purple that filled in the blank spaces. It was a cat and easily the strangest cat Azkadellia had ever seen.

"Are you the mayor?" she asked warily, taking one step closer to the amazing appearing cat.

"In a sense, innocence. You're a treasure."

She frowned at the creature. Riddles really weren't her strong suit. Now if this cat had chosen to speak in the ancient language, that was something she could grasp. "I'm supposed to speak with you about lodgings and employment."

"In good measure. Where should you be? In a tower or up a tree?" The Chesire Cat walked in a lazy circle on all fours before settling again on the stoop, one arm extended forward, its head resting idly and quirked to the side.

Azkadellia thought the cat's position disconcerting, its head crooked so. "I grew up in a castle," she offered weakly, not sure the cat would understand that she was trying to help it.

"In the sky or by the sea? The north tower's the place to be."

"North tower," she repeated and made a mental note.

The cat's paw stretched, claws flexing out and then in. It was an almost comfortable gesture. "Now for employment. For which are you meant?"

She shrugged and pursed her lips. She didn't trust this creature enough to reveal any of her abilities or secrets.

The cat noticed her hesitation. "I'll pick a J-O-B. Something special, you'll see." The cat wrinkled its pink nose and tapped it with its front paw. It stretched upward, spine reaching a height entirely impossible for a cat with such girth. "I'll send word. Maybe by bird."

Now this was just absurd. The very thought of which sent Azkadellia into a fit of giggles. The cat's rhyming had chased into her head and she was almost stuck in a loop of it. "Can you help me find my way?"

Now the cat smirked and the stripes started to fade. "Walk to your right, turn left, then straight ahead. You'll find the castle proper and upstairs to the north you'll find a bed."

"What's your name?" she thought to ask before the cat disappeared completely.

"I'm known as the Chesire Cat," it replied with a hint of personal pride. "Who is it that I'm looking at?"

"Azkadellia of the O.Z."

That alarmingly toothy smile was all that was left. "Azkadellia, no longer of the O.Z., welcome to Haven City." With another cackle, less disturbing now that she knew who made the sound, the cat had disappeared entirely.

She followed its directions, walking to the right until she came upon a left turn. This avenue was deeply quiet at this time of night. A few candles lit the windows, but she couldn't sense any movement or life afoot. She assumed for the moment that all was peacefully asleep.

The castle appeared in the distance, a monolith among the tangled side streets she passed and the smaller dwellings haphazardly lined up along the avenue. She arrived with sore feet and heavy hands, her packed bags slowing her travel. She wasn't looking forward to climbing the stairs.

Her first concern was getting inside the building. There was a drowsy guard at the post, but she appeared to be expecting her arrival. "Not too hard to find, eh?" she asked.

"Not too hard," Azkadee replied quietly and waited while the woman jingled some keys around and made her way out of the post.

The guard unlocked a small side door near the main gate and showed Azkadellia in. "I'll show you up to the tower. Imagine you're in the mood for sleep after dealing with the cat."

Azkadellia nodded gratefully and followed the woman across the inner courtyard and up to the main castle. The woman saluted two standing suits of armor, which startled Azkadee when they saluted back. Another door unlocked, a large foyer to cross and a double helix staircase to climb. Her room was small, but decidedly comfortable.

The guard left her to it. She set her heavy bags down near the light wooden dresser and crossed to the window. It had a fairly clear view of the northern shore and the gates she'd just come from. Always facing the past. Like I could ever change it.

She looked away, checking her thoughts back in place. Her new bed was already made, clean lilac bedding with a fluffy looking white pillow. She took off her traveling jacket and decided that she didn't need to undress for bed tonight. Flopping down she rolled onto her stomach. The bed was a little softer than she liked, but that was something she could sort out tomorrow. Sleep beckoned and she could no longer ignore it.

The Fall of His Season

2011-04-14T00:32:06Z

Oberon stood at the edge of his territory; a cigarette dangled from his lips.

His season was over, but snow still clung to the branches. The cold wouldn't be chased away by the sun. Winter would not be felled so easily, not this year at least.

Titania wasn't here to sing the trees awake. He would be lying if he didn't find that a gift. It left a bit more time to linger in his season, a little more time to ponder his machinations for his down time.

Traveling the Sleepless Sea

2011-04-13T22:13:11Z

The man at the helm of the ship stood with his hands on his hips. Their bearing was clear enough and the wind so fair he didn't need to touch the giant wheel before him. He had a light load this trip, but that's how it went. The captains of the ships driving the Sleepless Sea took turns picking up a load at one of the docks, sailing toward the north gate of Haven. Sometimes they had a crowd, sometimes there were no passengers at all and they could lay parked in the harbor for days until one arrived.

This round La Bonita Carnivale carried a few passengers, most of them keeping to themselves. He didn't pry. If one chose to approach him he'd answer their questions to the best of his knowledge.

He'd been doing this a few years now, enough to know what facts were best discovered by the new residents on their own and which facts were better shared beforehand.

An apprentice and a favor

2011-03-27T03:36:19Z

In the one hundred years that she had been asleep the very walls of the castle had grown quiet and still, even after the awakening it was as if the castle itself refused to jump to life. It was a single kiss and a determination above all others to live that brought a little spark back into the sleepy castle. She had quietly bid her time, doing her "womanly" deeds and carrying on as if she wanted to be the Queen some day.

With her faerie god mother dead, killed by the man who forced himself on her and insisted he take her as his wife, there was no hope that she would ever be the sorceress she had the potential to be. That was... until the day she heard of Haven. It was the one chance she had to escape. She all but lost hope until that sweet scent of freedom wafted it's way into her tower. So she bid her time quietly, just like the walls around her.

When the night lay heavy on the land like a blanket she slithered like a snake from her bed and dressed in a tunic and leggings, throwing a cloak over shoulders. She only had one order of business left to take care of. That pesky husband of hers. A sneaky little smile crept into the corners of her lips as her fingers wrapped around her dagger.

Like a Cheshire cat moving in the night she snuck through the darkness, standing over that contemptible man she rose the dagger high in the air and plunge it down into his chest. Her blade was quick and true finding his heart, the only noise escaping from his lips was his sad gurgling death rattle. She cleaned the blade with the sheets already stained red and stashed it away in its sheath.

She moved swiftly through the palace, having readied her horse before the sun went down. "Fly," she whispered to the horse who took off at a gallop, leaving her past and her castle in the dust behind them. They rode until the came to the port where she bought a boat fare for her and her horse. By the time the sun rose they were well on their way to Haven. After two days of easy sailing they made it to port. She slept the first night but it was near impossible to get her eyes to close the second night.

Riding into the city of Haven she felt lighter, more free and alive than she had ever felt even after an entire night of not sleeping. She was filled with a foreign energy, as if she had not only killed her husband but had somehow claimed his life as her own. She found a place to tie her horse so she could explore the town.

A feeling of voraciousness took over as she plodded down the street, her own feet leading her to a little tavern where she plunked herself down at the bar and ordered bread and ale. Welcome home Helen, she thought to herself with a little smile.

Puss had been wandering the streets of Haven for several days. He happily explored the forest and the park, every inch of the coastline which was entirely surrounded by a body of water the locals called the Sleepless Sea. He wasn't here on his own errand, but he was discrete enough not to make that known.

He wandered about like a speechless cat, nipping a bite at any back door and narrowly escaping one attempt on his life. Fairy tales had a tendency to be brutal creatures, he surmised. It was a wonder he'd been able to survive on his feline charms without revealing his true nature.

Just the same, he was looking for a little ear scritch, maybe a fairy tale he could trust to write a letter for him, since he couldn't hold a pen in his paws. He happened on the path of a fierce looking creature who was brimming with magical energy. He did what any kitty would, he sauntered up to her and rubbed the length of his body against her leg.

Helen was completely lost in eating her bread when she felt another creature against her leg. She looked down to see a darling cat and her eyes went a little wide. "Awww," she swooned. There was nothing that got to her heart like a little pair of kitty eyes staring up at her. "Aren't you just darling?" she asked reaching down to scratch behind his ears.

She ripped off a little piece of bread and offered it to him. "It's not the feast of kings," she shrugged. "But it's nice and basic," she grinned.

He leaned into the scratch and purred happily. Taking the piece of bread in his mouth he gobbled it up in one bite. Then he decided to throw caution to the wind since she'd been so nice to him. "It was delightful, my lady," he commended as he rose up on his hind legs to offer her a bow.

"Oh!" she said putting her hand over her chest. She was only a little surprised as she had spent much of her time dreaming and talking cats was not too far out of her realm of possibilities. "So you're a talking cat?" she asked brightly, offering him the stool next to her. "What's your name?"

"Something like that," he offered with a little kitty smirk. "I am the Marquis, Puss de Carabas. And who might I ask is this lovely lady before me?"

"Such an extravagant name for such a marvelous cat," she smiled sweetly. "I'm Helen," she offered. "Free from all men and their titles," she said taking a swig of ale. "Just got into town this morning."

Puss hopped up on the stool once his introduction was complete. He sat up like a regal gentleman. "It's more of an empty title to impress. I cannot help my ego sometimes," he admitted honestly. Then he reached out a paw as if to shake and bowed his head to place a tiny, impeccable lick to her knuckles. "It is an honor to meet you Helen. I have not been here long myself, just familiarizing myself with the territory before I settle in."

She laughed sweetly, enjoying Puss's company already. "You've already impressed me," she said taking another swig of ale. Even for a sweet looking cat she could not deny the air or regality and grace that was oozing from her new companion. She reached out and accepted his greeting. "It's an absolute honor to meet you as well Puss de Carabas."

"Can I offer you some more bread?"she asked halving what was left of the loaf. "How are you finding the city so far? It seems like a nice place," she said looking around the little tavern.

"No, my lady, I've had enough sustenance for today." He'd earn more bread as soon as his boss arrived in Haven. "It's more pleasant than I expected. There's plenty of room to move around, plenty of interesting sights." He hadn't been approached yet for a job or lodgings, but he'd also been playing the kitty dumb show up to this point. "I think I'll settle here."

He nodded to the bartender who looked at him only a little curiously. Talking animals were normal enough in Haven. "May I have a small saucer of milk, my good sir?" The tender nodded and fixed the bowl to bring over. Puss didn't have his pouch with him, but he leaned in to Helen. "If I may press upon your good nature, I shall pay you back when I've retrieved my belongings."

Helen smiled happily. "I'm definitely staying," she said with a nod. She chewed on a piece of bread thoughtfully. She had burned every single bridge on her way to Haven, there really were no other logical choices at that point. "No where else to go, no where else I want to be," she shrugged.

"No need to pay me back," she beamed at him. "I think you're my first friend, if you would allow me to call you that," she said sweetly, scratching behind his ears.

He leaned into those scratches with such delight that he was willing to let her call him whatever she wanted. "Absolutely," he purred. "We shall have to keep in touch no matter where we end up settling."

"I agree. It is so delightful to finally talk to someone I'm not related or married to," she said. It was a strange sort of relief to say it aloud.

He smiled sadly. She was relieved to be without those things, but it had been so long since Puss had been able to speak to a lover or a family member. He wasn't entirely sure if any of his family was still alive. He dipped his head toward the bowl of milk and lapped at it quietly. He turned to her with a smile and then nodded gratefully to the bartender. "This is the finest cream I've had yet, good sir."

Helen had seen the sadness in his smile and couldn't help but reach out and pat his head gently. "We will have to remember this tavern and come back again," she said sweetly. "Where are you from?"

"A little of everywhere. I tend to wander," he admitted. Chances were he'd get some lodgings here, but then wander from mistress to master as he liked. He often liked to sleep underneath the stars, or at the beach with the pounding waves to lull him toward dreams. "And you? Where do you hail from?"

"I'm from a tiny, quiet village in a place called France," she said. "I was never let outside palace walls or anything so I never got to wander. I have every intention of taking full advantage of this freedom though," she nodded. "I spent most of my time in the realm of dreams though," she admitted a bit ruefully.

"Now that's a realm I don't mind at all," he replied wistfully. "What's your story?" he asked, realizing there was more to this woman than what a first impression betrayed. She had layers, some he wanted to leave undisturbed and others he wanted to dig beneath. "If you don't mind telling it."

She smiled at her new friend. "I was the delightful first daughter to the king and queen of my land," she said a bit wistfully. "But at my birth my wicked faerie godmother came and cursed me. When I reached adulthood I would prick my finger on a spindle and die tragically. Fortunately another faerie godmother spared me from death and instead granted me a delightful one hundred years sleep," she said brightly. "So growing up I was sheltered from everything because my parents didn't want me to prick my fingers on anything and being the insanely curious kid I was... I pricked my finger on a spindle anyways," she shrugged.

"I spent the next hundred years in dream land. It wasn't so bad though, I liked dreaming. Kind of a rude awakening though," she grimaced a bit.

He recognized the story immediately. His boss, the lady he was running this very errand for, was the same wicked faerie godmother. Carabosse had a tendency to wax philosophic about her charges. They either tended to die horribly or succeed spectacularly. This one was just starting out, but he sensed in her that spark of magic that could be nursed into something bright and terrifying.

He offered her a paw on top of one of her hands. Either way he was going to end up in the middle of what could be a messy reunion. At the very least he could set himself with more bargaining chips. "Am I mistaken in thinking that you have some studies in magic?" he asked quietly leaning in so that no one near them would overhear.

It was a small comfort when he put his little paw on her hand, she put her other hand over his paw and smiled at him warmly. Removing her top hand she leaned in closer, a brilliant smile. "I am well versed in the basic and intermediate stuff," she said. "I never got the training I should have gotten and my stupid husband killed my faerie godmother before I had the chance to learn anything useful from her," she lamented a bit.

Except that her husband didn't kill her faerie godmother. Perhaps she had been led to believe that he slayed the dragon to woo her. Perhaps he honestly believed it himself since Cara was quite skilled at hiding out when necessary. Either way, revealing such did not serve his purpose at this point.

"Would you like to study further?" Puss had the learning, an intimate knowledge of the old ways that he longed to pass on. Here was the perfect opportunity for both of them and a bond that even his complicated relationship with Carabosse couldn't break.

Helen could not help the smile that lifted the corners of her lips, her eyes went wide with delight. "There is nothing I want more than to learn more," she said feeling that hungering need for magical knowledge. She had always been an excellent and brilliant student, she was sure even one hundred years sleep couldn't diminish that.

He winked at her, a funny thing to witness in cat form. "I'll tell you a little secret then if you can do me a favor."

"Anything," she said bright eyed. "Anything at all."

"I need you to write a letter for me. Since I can't very well hold a pen in my paws," he said gesturing the futility of such a thing. Plus his handwriting was nearly illegible. "And if you do this very simple thing for me I will teach you all I know of magic. I am not bragging when I tell you that I am quite gifted and well versed in the old ways, ways that aren't taught anymore."

She could barely contain her excitement. "Seriously?" she asked flailing her hands a little. "I will write every letter you ever need written Puss de Carabas," she said wanting to scoop him off the bar stool and squish him into a hug, though she refrained from doing so but clinging to her own stool. "I could never express how grateful I would be for such lessons."

"I would be quite grateful myself simply to pass on what I know." He grinned at her promise, though he didn't know if she was aware of making one. "I will hold you to it. You shall be my official scribe for the length of your apprenticeship."

"I am more than okay with this arrangement," she said clapping her hands together. "When do we start?"

"We should probably set up proper apartments in the city first," he said with a lopsided smirk. Magic wasn't the sort of thing you taught out in the open. They needed privacy and safety. "Perhaps we should pay the gentleman and see how to go about it."

"Right," Helen said realizing that she had gotten ahead of herself. She smiled shyly and called the bar tender over, she slid a sliver over the counter. "Thank you," she said brightly, hopping off her stool as if she were were about to leave when the bar tender pushed her silver back across the counter.

"We don't take currency," the tender said. "You're new, yeah?" It wasn't always obvious, it took some travelers a long time to settle in; they had that green look about them. "You need to talk to the mayor," he instructed. "There's an office down near the main gates. They'll get you all sorted out." He didn't feel much like explaining it to newbies every time they wandered in through his bar.

Puss grinned at Helen. "Perhaps I can escort my lady to the office. Are they open at such a late hour?"

The tender nodded. "There's always someone around the office," he answered vaguely.

Helen stared at the bar tender for a brief moment before putting her silver away and nodding slowly. She should have figured something like this would happen, they were in an entirely new place as it were. "Of course," Helen said to the tender. "Thank you."

She turned to Puss at his offer and smiled. "I would love that," she led him back to the door and outside. "Do you want to walk or would you prefer a ride? I tied my horse up over there," she pointed down the street.

"I can ride a horse but I'd rather stroll," he replied and started on his way toward the main gates. He'd been around enough and had a decent sense of direction. "It is a lovely day."

"It is," she agreed with a smile. The sun felt nice on her skin and it was nice to get her legs stretched out. She walked slowly with Puss, a sort of aimless meandering down the streets. "Do you have any idea where we're going?" she asked after a few moments.

"I do," he replied pluckily. "It's not much farther." Just a bit further down the street and then a left. The walk was lovely, the sun light rising higher in the sky. It would be afternoon before long. After the left turn the avenue opened up onto a wide walkway. The main gates were visible, the rest of the fence and the beach beyond hidden by tall trees and residences. Puss knew the spots where there were gaps in the fence, which is probably how Helen slipped through without first going through the gates.

Directly opposite the gates the Mayor's office was a large, brick building that stood three stories tall. The very top of it had a clock situated just below the belfry, though there was no bell in the small tower. The front doors were open to the warm morning and a young boy sat on the steps.

Puss approached with Helen in tow and a little kitty smirk.

"Maybe this kid knows where we go," she suggested to Puss. As they stepped closer she waved at the boy on the steps. "Hey kid!" she called. "Do you know where we can find the mayor?"

The boy smiled broadly. "I'm him," he replied. Christopher Robin rose from his spot on the stoop. He liked to spend his time at the office on the steps if at all possible. Unless there was immediate business he didn't need to be stuffed up inside his office. "You're new," he said simply. He had a good head for faces and names, though it was possible the cat checked them in the night before.

Puss nodded and stood up on his hind legs. "We are indeed, sir. We require lodgings, and perhaps some understanding of this fine city." He had wandered around at his leisure and mostly stayed out of trouble, but he wondered if there were things you couldn't learn just by observing.

"I suggest we head upstairs," CR said gently. "We'll talk awhile and get you sorted."

Helen had to admit she was surprised by the boy's proclamation but she nodded a bit dumbly and followed along behind the boy. "What's your name Mr. mayor?" she asked. "How long have you been here?"

"Christopher Robin," he replied. "You can call me CR if you like." He turned into the building and lead them up the expansive flight of stairs to the second floor. He kept his office here, a bright and cheerful room with a plain balsa wood desk. There were two cushy, velveteen chairs in front of his desk. He had others stashed away in a closet if there was a family coming through, but tales tended to trickle through in ones or twos. "It's entirely up to you; I can speak with you both at once or we can go it one at a time." He sat down behind his desk and waited for them to decide.

There were things that Puss didn't want Helen to know about him yet; he didn't know how much CR would ask. "You can go first," the cat said with a bright smile and padded out of the room to leave the Mayor and his apprentice alone.

Christopher Robin took out a form from the top drawer and held his pen over it. "Your name?"

She could barely get a word out before Puss was bounding out of the room, leaving her alone in the room with the young mayor. She plunked down in one of the chairs and closed her eyes momentarily, tiredness settling in over her body. She took a deep breath and looked at Christopher Robin. "I'm Helen," she replied simply.

CR jotted the name down. Some tales didn't have last names; he assumed she didn't or she wasn't ready to share it. He asked the next few questions in a row, jotting down her answers in between and asking for clarification when necessary. "Do you have an dependents? Have you brought any animals with you? Any magical artifacts to claim? Please be aware that if you do have an artifact you haven't claimed you will be held accountable for it and any damage done as a result."

He smiled at her kindly once that round was finished. "In Haven almost everything is free. In order for that to happen each fairy tale must help out by taking a job. We base this job on your interests or skill set. Is there anything you're particularly gifted at, or anything you'd have an interest in helping with?"

"No dependents. I brought one horse," she had to think. "Uh... no, no magical artifacts," she answered and then looked up as he explained how things were down in Haven.

"I'm... I'm not really sure. I'm a good musician," she shrugged. "I can do basic enchantments. I'm a fantastic dreamer," she laughed a bit disdainfully at that.

"Would you have an interest in entertaining?" He'd have to ascertain just what kind of enchantments she was gifted at in order to find a job dealing with that. It was easier to go with her other talents; entertainers were always in demand.

She pouted a little but at the very least being an entertainer wouldn't be challenging and it would give her plenty of time for her training with Puss. She nodded slowly. "Yes, I will be an entertainer. I can play any instrument and sing. It should be easy enough," she shrugged.

He noted her disappointment. "If it turns out you don't enjoy it we can look for another career." Then he took out a smaller pad of paper to jot down a name and address. "Pay this gentleman a visit when you're ready to start work." CR gave her a kinder smile; it was always overwhelming to move and the tales needed a bit of time to adjust to their new reality. "Now onto the subject of living arrangements. It's entirely up to you, but I can set you up in a cottage in the woods, a cottage on the farm, a tower room in the central castle, or a lovely apartment elsewhere in the city."

"Ok," she nodded. It would be easier to start with something like entertaining; thanks to one of her faerie godmothers she had been granted musical talent like no other. She took the paper feeling somewhat comforted by the little mayor. "No towers please," she said a bit quickly, sitting back in her chair and gripping the arms tightly. "I think a cottage in the woods would be very nice though," she said calming herself down a little.

"Wonderful," he said brightly. "I'll have one of the faeries take you down as soon as I've finished speaking with your friend. I'll try to find you a single room cottage for now, but you have the option to move in with others later."

Christopher Robin stood from his chair and moved around the desk to shake her hand. "It was very nice meeting you Helen. I hope you find Haven to be a suitable home."

"Sounds great," she said brightly. "Thank you so much Christopher Robin," she said taking his hand and giving it a firm shake. "I look forward to living here, you have such a lovely community."

He offered her a brave smile, because she didn't really know what Haven was really like yet. He hoped she settled in before she got a real taste of it. He walked her to the office door and ushered in the patient Puss.

His interview with the cat was a bit longer and Christopher Robin appeared at the door again with Puss beside him once their business was finished. "Do stop in if you have any problems or concerns," he said kindly and waved them both off.

Puss turned to Helen with a big kitty grin. "I think I'm going to like it here," he announced. "I have a little lodging near the farm where I can catch all the mice I'd like to eat. Would you like to finish up our business there?"

"Thanks again Christopher Robin," she said sweetly before they left. She walked alongside Puss smiling. "I think I will like it too. I have a cottage in the woods," she told him. "It should be nice and far away from everyone," she gave a little smirk. "I would love to," she said to his question.

A little ball of light tinkled at Helen's shoulder before landing. He made little bell noises in place of speech. Puss stopped walking immediately and strained to listen. "He wants to show you to your house."

"Oh! Right!" she turned to the little ball of light and then back to Puss. "You up for the walk?" she asked. There was no way she would have been able to find her new house all by herself but she still wanted to discuss things with Puss.

"Absolutely," Puss replied. They followed the faerie south from the gates toward the west where the woods stood. It was such a pleasant afternoon that Puss didn't mind walking from one side of the city to the other (or just about). The faerie led them to a pleasant little cottage, tinkling at the door and then flying back off toward the Mayor's office. "He said welcome home."

Seeing the cottage she got excited and clapped her hands together. "This is just perfect!" she said excitedly. She flung open the door and frolicked through the small cottage. Upon investigation she discovered that the cottage was pretty basic but perfect nonetheless; an open kitchen and sitting room, a bed room attached in the back, and a small wash room off of that. With a little smile and a new bounce in her step she looked to her companion. "I'm really going to like it here," she said with a little laugh. "A cottage of my very own," she beamed. "Shall we?" she asked the cat.

He nodded to their next point of business. "If we can find a pen and some paper I'll just have you jot down a note for me so I can send it off." Then as far as he was concerned she could have the rest of the day to enjoy her new home. They could start their studies tomorrow.

"Okay!" she agreed enthusiastically. Near the window there was a chair and a small side table with some parchment and a quill stowed away inside. "Make yourself comfortable," she said offering Puss a small stool near her chair.

He hopped up on the stool and dictated his message to her. "Dear Boss, All is good here. Puss."

Helen wrote it down just as Puss had dictated. "That's it?" she asked with a little laugh.

"Yeah," he replied happily. It was short, to the point, and should it be intercepted there was nothing in it to reveal its true meaning. He could send it out on the next boat leaving Haven and have one of the pirates mail it off. "Thank you," he said genuinely.

She laughed lightly. "Fair enough," she said handing the note over. "Want me to get you something to carry it with?" she asked looking around the small cottage. There had to be something in there if he wanted it. She stopped and looked at Puss with a big smile. "You're welcome," she said. "Any time."

"Oh no. I can just carry it in my mouth." He had his bag stashed in a thicket of trees near the beach. He could swing to pick it up before heading to his new residence. "I'll drop by tomorrow so we can begin our lessons." With that he picked up the letter and headed toward the door.

She nodded. "Excellent," she said walking him to the door. "Thank you Puss," she beamed at him, opening the door for the cat. She still had to go back into town to collect her horse and get some food for the cottage which she would do after investigating the cottage a little more thoroughly. "Have a good night," she beamed. "I will see you in tomorrow!"