GUYS. GUYS. GUYS LOOK! TugLover98 drew some fanart! Check out how amazing it is! :D riding-the-wind. tumblr dot com /post/ 125310786094 /i-drew-this-one-a-few-seconds-ago-and-its-the-one & riding-the-wind. tumblr dot com /post/ 125307990654/ theres-lleusorta-he-looks-like-an-elf-in-th
Okay, this one is at the request of Guest (no idea which one but oh well). There's not much of plot though. Sorry ^^;
Disclaimed.
...
Recruitment
...
Jack subtly surveyed the area as he landed before the small cottage and made his way towards the door. So far so good; he couldn't see anyone who might be staking-out the area. Nevertheless, he remained on guard as he knocked in the rhythmic pattern he'd memorised upon the aged wood.
"What's the password?" a voice asked from inside.
Jack blinked, not prepared for the question, and turned to fully face the door. "Wait, no one told me about a password," he said.
"Then I can't let you in."
"Seriously?"
"You could always try to guess it."
"Just let him in," a second, exasperated voice replied before Jack had the chance.
"But he doesn't know the password!"
"There is no password."
"Then how can we be sure we're not letting people in who aren't supposed to be here?"
"Please tell me that's not a serious question."
Jack rolled his eyes as the two continued to debate and walked around to the side of the house to where he knew a window to be. Thankfully, it was unlocked and he successfully managed to haul it open and climb through.
"Breaking and entering!" Lleu gasped in mock horror from where he still stood by the door. "As a Guardian, I expected more from you."
"I didn't break anything," Jack gestured to the perfectly intact window.
"But you did enter."
"Because you wouldn't let me in!"
"You didn't know the password!"
"What password?" Jack cried at the same time May, who was seated beside Ceres at the table, said, "There is no password."
"Man, you guys are really bad at this secret-business," Lleu told them, crossing his arms and raising a brow.
"Will you all please shut up?" Ceres snapped at them all. "We have too much work to do to waste time. And I would like to return to my autumn duties before the season's over."
"Yeah, yeah," Lleu rolled his eyes. "Just give me a minute," he said before disappearing into another room."
"Have we decided on a song yet?" Jack asked, joining them at the table and setting to work moulding his ice.
"We've been working on it," May informed him. "But it still needs work. We're hoping to sort out some of the kinks today."
"How's your reading going?" Ceres asked, pulling her case up onto the table and opening it.
Jack grimaced.
"How do you expect to participate if you can't read the sheets?"
"I can play by ear!" Jack protested.
"Don't worry, Snow Cone, I'll play it for you first," Lleu said, his weight falling heavily over Jack's shoulders.
"Is this necessary?" Jack sighed, half smooshed in his seat with his project slipping into his lap.
"Yep."
"And how are you intending to be of any use with your hands covered like that?" Ceres looked pointedly at the ridiculous heat-proof suit.
Lleu looked down at himself. "Um…"
"Take it off."
"But then it'll get too hot!"
"The window is open," May said. "Just don't get too close and Jack will be fine."
Lleu sighed dramatically and slid back upright. "Fiiiiine."
"Here are the notes," Ceres stood up, handing each of them a copy. "And when you're ready," she glanced pointedly at Lleu, "we can get started."
"I get to keep the sunglasses, though," Lleu smirked, plonking himself down on the remaining chair and sliding a pair of glasses on.
"You're… aware those are women's sunglasses, right?" May asked carefully.
"Don't be silly, May; sunglasses don't have a gender."
"Where did you even get those?" Jack grinned.
"Found 'em on the beach. Some tourist must have forgotten them or something. Oh well, finder's keepers." He grabbed his ukulele from where it was resting against the table leg. "Shall we get started?"
"Yes, please," Ceres stressed, violin already positioned under her chin. May likewise had her lap harp ready.
"Waiting on you, Snow Cone," Lleu said.
"Yeah, well, it would be done by now if you hadn't interrupted me," Jack replied, applying the finishing touches to his own, temporary instrument. "Flute is ready."
"Alright, I'll count us in," May smiled.
They played through the song three times before Ceres put her violin down in frustration. "There's still something wrong," she huffed.
"Yeah, it's really hard to see the sheet music with these on," Lleu agreed, sliding his sunglasses up so that they were resting on top of his head.
Ceres glared at him. "No, I meant there's something missing."
"Is there something wrong with the second verse, do you think?" May suggested.
"It's the whole thing! We're missing something. I just can't think what it is."
Jack stared down at his ice flute in contemplation.
"Everything has to be perfect," Ceres added.
No one argued with her. If they were going to perform this at Mother Nature's birthday then they were all in agreement.
"I have an idea!" Jack announced.
"If it's got anything to do with costumes, I'm in," Lleu strummed his ukulele.
"What? No," he grabbed his staff and headed over to the door. "I'll be right back!"
"This ought to be good," Ceres groaned, leaning back in her seat.
...
...
Jack returned exactly twenty minutes and thirty-four seconds later, directly into the main room of the cottage by way of snow globe.
"I'm back!" he announced happily. "And I brought company."
The three other seasonals looked down at the two elves – one holding a sousaphone and the other a trumpet – trotting excitedly after him.
"You've got to be kidding me," Ceres deadpanned.
"What?" Jack looked insulted. "You don't trust my judgement?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
"…No."
"Hey, if Snow Cone wants to give the little guys a shot, then let's give them a shot. How bad can it be?" Lleu crossed his arms.
"It's worth a try, at least," May conceded.
"Great!" Jack grinned. He grabbed his sheet music and knelt down in front of the elves. "Okay, you guys, this is what we're playing."
"Can they even read?" Ceres crinkled her nose.
"Honestly, I have no idea. They seem pretty keen, though. Should we give this a try?"
"Fine, but if things go wrong I'm blaming you."
"You know, I'm so used to that now that it would be weird if you didn't."
May counted them in again and they played exactly as they had before, except this time, on perfect cue and pitch, the horns joined them. The other three seasonals obviously hadn't expected the elves to be able play at all, judging from their expressions. Jack felt a sort of smug satisfaction in that. They may have been little minions of disaster, but damn they knew how to play an instrument.
With the horns added to their conglomeration of music, there was an added depth to the overall sound, and one that Jack felt did wonders to fix that certain something that had been missing. Perhaps it had been wonder, he mused.
"Wow, who knew elves could play?" Lleu said in awe when they finished, turning to Ceres. "Even you have to admit that was pretty darn good."
"I think that's what was missing," May agreed. "Just that extra sound. The song still needs work, though, but we're definitely getting somewhere now."
"You guys reckon you can play with us on Mom's birthday?" Jack asked the two elves, who were basking in the praise. They looked to each other before nodding vigorously. "Great! But we have to keep this a secret, got it?" At their obvious confusion, he added, "It's kind of a rivalry thing between us nature spirits; we all try to one-up each other when it comes to Mom's birthday, and if they find out what we're doing this year they'll be better prepared to out-do us."
"Fine," Ceres conceded. "They can stay. But they have to show up to every practice and they'd better not tell anyone!"
"Can they even talk?" Lleu frowned.
"I've never heard them talk," Jack shrugged. "Do you guys promise to keep this a secret?"
The elves agreed excitedly.
"Alright then, welcome to the group!"
Guest Review Responses:
Guest: (Ch.84:) To be honest I'm not quite sure how to respond to that but I'm hoping it was a good 'aaaa' XD (Ch.85:) He's onto us! XD Thank you!
Shamangirl1: All the bonding :P Glad you like it!
Guest: Actually, I didn't! But it was close. It's not completely breaking the 4th wall since it was just a theory and not a proper acknowledgement :P