Chapter 5 – Storytime

-:-:-

Tangu was hot.

Chad wasn't surprised since based on the description, it was a lot like Agrabah – not that Chad had ever been allowed to visit Aziz's home. He'd read about it in books though, and briefly wondered if its culture was similar to Tangu's. The people seemed to dress the same, but that could easily be a necessity dictated to them by their surroundings, multiple layers proving to be the most effective against the blazing heat.

They'd been given special clothes for this portion of the trip – enchanted by the Sultan himself to maintain their body temperatures, but despite this, they were still discouraged from going out in the middle of the day, when the sun was at its highest peak. It left Chad's explorations relegated to the early mornings and evenings, with his time in between dedicated to exploring the areas of the palace and related buildings accessible to tagalong guests.

Chad had been delighted to discover a kind of cultural district not far from the palace. There was a museum and a gallery, a theater for live performances and a cultural center that held classes and live demonstrations every day, which was how Chad accidentally stumbled upon one of his favorite afternoon pastimes.

He was almost certain this story time was only supposed to be indulged by children, based on the crowd that gathered in the cozy nook filled with cool air, the spot tucked away enough to protect it from the noisy bustle of the rest of the building. Chad had been drawn by the crowd and stayed for the story, for perched in front of the mass of eager children was none other than Queen Scheherazade, her expression fond and engaged as she seemed to weave a story out of nothing, capturing the attention of the gathered children with great ease.

"And what did Queen Maleficent say to the humans that would try to invade her land?"

"We fight together!" the kids cheered. "Or die alone!"

"Exactly," Queen Scheherazade chirped. "Queen Maleficent knew that just as she could do things the humans could not, so they had crafts that were unlike any the Moors had ever seen. They worked together to create a new kingdom, one that respected both their heritages, and married the man who led way to the humans' understanding that while the Moors was fantastical, it was not to be feared. And who was that man?"

"King Stefan!" the kids cheered, making Chad smile at their happiness. Funny, Stefan was the name of Audrey's grandfather too, apparently it was a popular name in Enchancia as well.

"And thus concludes our story for the day," Queen Scheherazade murmured. "Do you have any requests for tomorrow?"

"Oh, ohhh!" a little girl in the front row said, waving her hand excitedly. "Do you have any stories about those new kingdoms, Queen Scheherazade?"

"You mean the kingdoms from Auradon?" Queen Scheherazade asked, forever indulgent. "I'm afraid I don't yet, but I'm slowly building up my repertoire, and as soon as I have them, I will share them with you."

"Are they really nice kingdoms?" a little boy asked. "How can there be so many new countries that we didn't know about? I thought the Dark Forest reached all the way to the other side of the continent."

"So we thought," Queen Scheherazade hummed. "But much of life is learning new things. We thought the forest consumed the rest of our land because it was so large – and as it so happened, the kingdoms of Auradon thought the same thing. We don't know what created that separation between us, but the kingdoms of Auradon want peace, and so long as they desire that, they are definitely 'nice'."

"Is it true that Prince Jadir will have to marry one of their princesses?" the first little girl asked.

"My son will marry whoever he chooses," Queen Scheherazade said. "Whether boy or girl, and my husband and I support him in that."

"If he marries a boy, how are they supposed to have babies?"

"With magic, I would assume," the queen replied with a small grin. "That's enough questions for today. I'll see you all tomorrow."

There were groans of disappointment, but the children seemed well versed in this enough that they didn't bother arguing it, some rushing up to the queen for hugs that she eagerly returned despite the put-upon expressions of her guards.

It was an interesting exchange, enough that Chad made a note of the time and came back earlier the next day, managing to catch the full story on the creation of the Privateers' kingdom, Port Royal – the traveling sailors that guarded the coasts of Atlantica and coordinated travel, fishing, and trade between the kingdoms of Enchancia.

"Story time?" Ben echoed that night when Chad eagerly shared what he had learned. "That sounds like fun."

"I know it's for little kids," Chad admitted with a flush. "But it's…"

"It sounds like fun," Ben repeated, wearing a firm smile. "And that's what matters. You don't have to feel bad for liking it; everyone can enjoy a good story."

Chad didn't really remember his mom reading bedtime stories to him, and after she'd died, his father had been too depressed to engage with him. In a way, this felt like getting back a part of his history that he hadn't been allowed before. It was nice.

Which was why he didn't feel bad going back a third day before earning a story about Hanover – how Queen Snow and her huntsman worked together to defeat Queen Grimhilde with the aid of the dwarves of Erebor.

The story was wrapping up, Chad doing his best to finish up a sketch of what he thought the queen's evil form might look like, when a throat cleared next to him. When he glanced up, it was to see another teen his age watching him with an expression of amusement, his clothes of a high enough quality that he could easily be the kind of some high-ranking Tangu nobility.

"They not have story time in Auradon or something?" the guy asked, looking over Chad's ensemble knowingly before deducing where he was from. "This is your third time back."

Chad flushed, and he knew it wasn't from the heat. "I've never heard these stories before," he defended. "Plus, Queen Scheherazade is a good storyteller."

"Is she?" the kid challenged, like he was probing for information or something, though he still seemed amused.

"Yes," Chad said, closing his sketchbook with a definite movement and hugging it to his chest. "Before her, the best storyteller I knew was Queen Belle." Who had a channel of videos online where she read bedtime stories, which Chad might have watched when he went to Auradon Prep as his grandfather had blocked it when he'd been back home. "I think they're both good, though."

"Queen Belle, huh?" the guy echoed, making Chad restrain a sigh.

"She's the Queen of Auradon," he explained. "And she loves stories too."

The guy gave a lazy shrug. "Who doesn't love stories?"

"Exactly," Chad pressed, glad they were on the same page. "Stories are for everyone, it's how we learn and grow, which is why I'm not embarrassed to be here. This is a gift, and it's okay if I like it."

"Nice speech," the guy drawled. "So what, you're brownnosing?"

Chad paused, entirely thrown. "What?"

"Sucking up to her to get a shot at you know who?" he finished this with a wink for some reason, before continuing. "Is it supposed to be endearing?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Chad replied honestly. "But I don't want to talk to you anymore, so I'm not going to do that."

With that, Chad left, because it wasn't a crime to socially disengage from situations that left him uncomfortable.

There were a few moments of blissful peace before the guy scrambled up to catch him, seeming surprised that Chad didn't want to stick around and finish their talk. "Where are you going?"

"I don't know," Chad huffed. "Where's some place you can't follow?"

"Playing hard to get, huh?" the guy asked, smiling rakishly the way Malvin did sometimes when he was trying to project an air of confidence. "That your strategy? Going for something tried and true that will speak to my inner rebel? Because if that's the case, it's working."

"What's working?" Chad asked, wondering how he could have possibly gotten more confused.

The guy continued as though he hadn't heard Chad. "It's an easy ploy, I'll give you that," he hummed. "But that combined with your looks…" His gaze settled on Chad's mouth, and granted, it wasn't the first time it happened, not even the first time it'd happened maliciously, but it was the first time it'd happened maliciously post-therapy, and Chad had new tools he could use to defend himself with.

The first being the understanding that he was allowed the basic decency of not being spoken to like that, and he wasn't a baby for wanting that much.

"I don't have dick sucking lips," Chad snapped, keeping his voice in a low hiss that made the other teen startle. "I don't know who told you that-" It was probably Fritz at one of the mixers where non-royal kids were allowed, because Fritz was the worst. "But I don't and I've never done that and I'm not a whore."

"Um." The guy blinked. "I didn't think that."

"And I wasn't trying to get your attention," Chad continued. "I was listening to a story. You're the one that bothered me."

"Right-"

"And you're still bothering me even though I don't want to talk to you anymore," Chad pressed. "I get that sometimes people might play coy or whatever – or maybe that's a cultural misunderstanding and if that's the case, I apologize, but I'm not playing hard to get and I didn't come here to date someone but if I did, it probably wouldn't be you."

"Um." The guy swallowed. "Any chance you're just doubling down?"

"Stop. Following. Me," Chad growled, trying to do his best imitation of Ben before he stormed away, except he was representing Sardinia in a foreign land so really he just tried to glide, but like, with purpose. A purposeful glide. He could do that.

That time, the guy was nice enough to actually listen to him, which left Chad with the opportunity to retreat back to the palace. He was done with outside time for the day. Now was as good an opportunity as any other to finish his picture, or to practice his embroidery because that was apparently a big trade in Tangu and Ben had arranged for a beginner's kit to be delivered to their suite just for Chad, and either way he'd have something nice to show his dad on their nightly video call. Something that would pull his attention away from dumb strangers that accosted innocent people doing innocent things.

Ugh, it was another bad thing trying to ruin an otherwise good day and Chad wasn't going to stand for it.

So he squashed his annoyance down and tried to focus on other things, like what pattern he should use to embroider Ben's handkerchief, which was obviously much more important.

-:-:-

Chad refused his interaction with the random stranger ward him off from attending story time the next day. He enjoyed story time, he liked learning and listening to Queen Scheherazade's voice, and it was open to all, and he was part of that no matter what his age was.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Ben asked when they got ready to part for the day. "I could always call hooky for my meetings. I think they've all been surprised by my professionalism – it might ease their minds to see me act my age for once."

"No Ben, I've got this," Chad insisted with a shake of his head. "I'll be okay, and you know if you miss those meetings you'll be too worried about what you missed to focus on anything else. It's better if you go, and I'm a perfectly capable individual."

"It's not your capability that's being questioned," Ben said, always one intent to nip those lines of dialogue in the bud. "But everyone appreciates having backup, even me."

And then he grinned, because Chad was Ben's backup, and even though they were a few weeks into their trip, they were still sharing a bed at night, because bros could cuddle and Chad was Ben's sleep backup and it was a job that made Chad feel very important.

"Thanks," Chad said, feeling his cheeks heat in a pleased flush. "But I can handle this one."

Hopefully.

At the very least, Chad had enough practice of committing to things he didn't feel certain about despite his rampant anxiety, so getting to the cultural center wasn't horrible, and neither was waiting for the story. Things got better when story time actually arrived because no matter Chad's mood, the queen was an excellent narrator that pulled Chad in with little effort, making him glad all over again as she explained the kingdom of Atlantica and its people that could shift from human to mermaid with their inherent magic. Neat.

It was a perfectly nice and respectable time, one that he spent un-harassed, at least until Queen Scheherazade parted ways with them for the day, because that was when the rude stranger decided to make a reappearance.

"Okay, so-" the guy began like they were already halfway through a conversation. "Maybe we started off on the wrong foot."

"The foot where you were a tool and I wasn't doing anything?" Chad asked. "Yes, that sounds right."

"Cut me a break," the guy huffed. "With the way everything is- I mean, shit, you Auradon people all look the same anyway."

Chad shot him a hurt look, but he supposed with his hair mostly covered he could be mistaken for one of the other princes or something, though Chad didn't know what that had to do with anything.

Instead of being confused, he focused on his annoyance. "You still haven't actually apologized," he pointed out. "If you really thought we were on the wrong foot, we would have done that by now."

"I'm sorry," the guy said, and while he didn't sound entirely genuine, he was more sincere than not, which Chad guessed counted. "It's been stressful lately. Watching the stories always calms me down, is an escape for me, so when you kept coming back…"

Ah, it was like Mal and her mural all over again.

"I'm sorry," Chad offered, because even if he didn't understand the dude's situation, he could sympathize with the pressures they were under as members of nobility. "If it's any consolation, I'm really not trying to win any brownie points."

At that, the corner of the guy's lips kicked up in a smirk not unlike Mal's. "Yeah, I figured that much," he said, but it wasn't sarcastic. "So um- what's your name, exactly?"

"Chad," the blond offered. "And yours?"

The guy paused, and like just about everyone else Chad had asked on this trip, he seemed surprised that Chad didn't already know that, like Chad wasn't from an entirely different side of the continent. "Jay," he said eventually. "I'm Jay."

"Hello," Chad said, shaking his hand. "I would say it's a pleasure to meet you, but that would be a lie."

That earned him another huffed laugh that had Jay squeezing his hand. "Can't say I blame you," he offered wryly. "Any chance you'd be willing to let me make that up to you?"

"Depends how you'd want to do that," Chad said, his gaze narrowed in suspicion.

"How about lunch?" the guy said. "Have you gotten a chance to taste real Tangun food? And not that baby stuff they serve at the palace – the real stuff."

Chad wavered uncertainly. "Our guide told us-"

"Yeah, yeah – exotic pallets, your constitution might not be up for it, it's all a bunch of over-paranoid malarkey," Jay waved off. "Trying to keep us from being liable in case any of you get sick, but come on, you can't tell me you don't want to get a taste of our real cuisine."

"I sort of don't want to break the rules more," Chad said. "It was a simple one. I don't like breaking simple rules."

Because the implication was usually that he was so remarkably stupid, and that was why he broke them. Or that he was irresponsible, or thoughtless, or a sissy.

Jay seemed to give this some thought. "How about this?" he began. "I'll take you to get some good food, and if you have an adverse response to it, I'll hide you away until the worst of it passes. That way no one will know you broke the rules."

Chad considered this. "How do I know you'll keep your word?"

Again, Jay was surprised, but he recovered quickly. "Because… I'll give you my phone," he declared, before passing it over. "There, now you have collateral. If I make a wrong move, you now possess one of the most important things I own."

That seemed like too big a ploy to risk just to get someone out to prank them, so Chad decided Jay was likely being serious.

"Okay," he decided, tucking the phone into the innermost pocket of his tunic. "But I reserve the right to leave if you're rude again." A pause, then, "I will return your phone, though."

"Then we have a deal," Jay hummed, looking pleased.

They shook on it, and then Jay was directing them through the cultural district, taking them to a small restaurant that thankfully wasn't that far from the palace.

"Hey, it's me, Jay!" he greeted the hostess for some reason, who gave him a strange look before taking Jay and Chad to a private room at the back of the restaurant.

"Do you come here often?" Chad asked as they were handed their menus, the waiter offering a grand welcome to 'Jay and his guest'.

"Yep," Jay said, his cheeks heated in a flush. "All the time; they know me."

"That's… nice," Chad settled on before looking over his menu.

He wasn't sure why he tried, he didn't know what half of it was.

"We'll start you with the easy stuff," Jay said, and that was how they came to share a plate of samosas, which were crispy and fluffy and came with three sauces Chad couldn't tell apart if he tried, they were all tasty though. "Like it?" Jay asked as though Chad wasn't grinning like a loon.

"Yeah," Chad chirped, never one to shy away from small talk. "This has um- been one of my favorite parts of this tour – trying all the new foods, learning new things." He took another bite of his samosa and tried not to moan. "So good."

"You think this is something," Jay said. "Wait till we get to the next course."

They spent the next twenty minutes with Jay explaining the selection of appetizers brought to them, because of course there was more than one, despite Chad's protests.

"Please," Jay dismissed with a wave of his hand. "You actually want to try this stuff. Some of the other royals think it's too gross."

"Really?" Chad asked. "Agraben food seems similar to this, I would have thought they'd like it."

"Not you guys," Jay sighed. "It's the Enchancian assholes I'm talking about."

"Jay," Chad hissed, his cheeks flaring with warmth. "You shouldn't call them that. Those people are your Sultan's allies."

Jay gave him another odd look, but it was there and gone in less than a moment, like it had never been there at all. "Maybe, but I'm just calling it like I see it," he continued. "You know, like you."

"That's different," Chad huffed. "Not liking a certain food isn't equivocal to harassing someone in a public place."

Jay's cheeks flushed dark. "I wasn't harassing you."

"As the person who was harassed, I get to decide that," Chad sniffed. "And you're missing the point."

"I think the new point is that we need the next course," Jay said, gesturing for their waiter's return.

It was when they got to the main course that things got dicey, because that was when a certain um- heat factor seemed to kick in.

"Hot," Chad groaned around his mouthful of curry, his eyes beginning to water and tongue burning under the effects of the spice.

Jay merely puffed up with pride in response. "It's good, right? It's got way more depth of flavor than Moors food."

"They um- each have their benefits," Chad murmured, fumbling for his glass of water and taking a few swigs. "Um-"

"Is it too much for you?" Jay asked, and it didn't even seem to be a taunt. He wasn't bothered by the heat either, which was natural, because he'd grown up on this food and Chad had not, so that wasn't something he should feel bad about, but-

But Jay looked a little bit sad, because he'd been sharing the best food in Tangu with Chad, and maybe it was actually disappointing for him not to share the entirety of his favorites with an actually eager audience.

In light of that, Chad decided to suck it up, because underneath the spice, there was a depth of flavor that was exciting and definitely tasty.

"I'll be okay," Chad decided, taking another bite of his food to prove this. "I just needed some time to adjust."

That earned him a smile from Jay, one Chad suspected was entirely open, the first of its kind, before Jay launched onto a new discussion about the many different types of curry.

"You're sweating," Jay pointed out halfway through the dish, Chad trying to hide the fact that his nose was running and his eyes were wet and his stomach burned. "It's kind of cute."

"My body's not used to this," Chad pressed. "It's doing its best."

"I appreciate the effort," Jay said, so wonderfully candid Chad couldn't help but finish the plate.

Which may have been something he regretted later when they were finally leaving the restaurant, his stomach giving a dangerous twinge.

"I hope you're ready to be wowed," Jay said, seeming almost excited. "We're having jalebi next, and it's sweet but not too sweet-"

"Jay," Chad interrupted, fumbling for the other teen's arm distractedly. "I um- I think I need um-"

"What?" Jay perked up, worried. "Water? We just drank a ton of it."

"No, um-" Chad's stomach rumbled hard, and he tried not to double over, subtly pressing one hand to it in an effort to stave off the growing pain. "Bathroom."

"What?" Jay still didn't seem to get it.

"Bathroom," Chad hissed. "I need-"

There was a familiar twist, the one that predated his body revolting the way it had when his grandfather poisoned his food, supposedly to 'toughen him up' but hey, if it had actually killed Chad, it wouldn't have been that big a loss, would it?

Knowing he had little time, he ran, managing to make it into an alley before he lost his lunch behind a trashcan, chest heaving with exertion as his body rejected the food that taunted it.

"Aw, shit," Jay said, and then his hand was on Chad's back, giving it a few comforting rubs. "I'm sorry-"

Chad heaved again, humiliated tears burning at his eyes that he tried to force back, tried to stay composed, but it was hard. He'd brought this on himself, he'd wanted to be polite, had been excited about making yet another friend because he seemed to be on some kind of unconventional roll for him, but now Jay would never want to be his friend because Chad was a loser who threw up in public.

He cut off with a few gags, and when he swayed back into the standing position, he was pretty sure he was crying too, because what else could go wrong?

"Shit," Jay repeated. "Chad, it's okay."

"No, it's not," Chad sniffed, trying to subtly rub at his cheeks but there was no subtle way to do that so he was just very obvious instead. "I'm making Auradon look awful."

"If anyone looks awful, it's me," Jay insisted. "Me being the shittiest host ever and thinking those fucking guides were just like, babying you or something."

"Um." Chad sniffed. "Do um- you think we could clean it up? Or maybe I could borrow some cleaning supplies from the restaurant?"

"Chad," Jay cut in, his voice firm. "I'm not making you clean up the food I poisoned you with. I will call someone, they will handle it, and then we will hide out as promised in case you have to throw up again."

"Um." Chad held his stomach, fresh tears slipping down his cheeks when he realized it wasn't over. "I might need that to be sooner rather than later."

"Alright, hold on," Jay said, and then he was wrapping an arm around Chad's waist. He didn't have a time to ask why before the world around them was consumed in a flash of light, and when it dissolved, they were in an entirely new space – the back alley replaced with a large, fancy room.

Right – Chad was still getting used to the fact that seemingly everyone had access to magic in Enchancia, or more over, that access to it wasn't that big a deal, so it was used casually and without thought. Chad would have questioned it but his stomach was twisting again, and that was enough to have him sprinting for the open door of the bathroom, managing to make it to the toilet before he threw up yet again.

"Yep, okay, that's good," Jay said, crouching down beside Chad and wrapping a comforting arm across his shoulders. "You just let it out."

Seeing as Chad had no other choice, he gladly surrendered to that, wishing that maybe he'd listen to common sense for once.

-:-:-

"Okay," Jay said later, after he'd made some calls and Chad had no more lunch to lose. "That is another my bad."

"My fault," Chad groaned, graciously accepting the glass of water Jay offered him with a few sniffs. "I'm the one that should have said no, but you looked so happy, so I thought…" He sighed. "I dunno, I wanted to be cool."

"You are killing me," Jay declared as he dragged a hand across his face. "Just- forget me for once. You don't have to cater to my stupid whims just to make me feel good – I've got enough people doing that for me already."

"But it's your culture," Chad said. "You shouldn't feel bad for sharing that. And I did like it, it just also sort of hurt my stomach a lot." He sighed. "I'm sorry for ruining lunch."

"Again, not your fault," Jay sighed. "Do you wanna take some of that stuff off? Enjoy the air conditioning a bit before you get back to your life of whatever it is you do on this trip?"

"Learning, mostly," Chad said. "And keeping Ben company, but he's usually busy, so I learn stuff for both of us and take it back to him."

"That is disgustingly sweet," Jay declared, but he was wearing a smile when he said it, like maybe he was fond or something. "Any reason you don't hang out with the other Auradon people?"

"They're all busy doing- you know," Chad said, following Jay's lead and taking off his outer Tangu wear. The additional layers would good for outside, but when inside, it was easier to appreciate the magically-instigated air conditioning with less clothes.

"And why aren't you?" Jay pressed, showing Chad where he could abandon his stuff. Jay's room was pretty big – almost a large suite in itself. Maybe he was a cousin to the queen, or something. Or a second cousin. Some form of distant royalty.

"I'm not supposed to," Chad said, remembering the rules dictated to him before he left, the promise he'd made his dad. "But that's okay, I'll find my own happily ever after someday." He considered telling Jay about Jane, wondering if they were at the girl bonding part of their relationship yet, when he caught the other teen staring at him.

More specifically staring at his hair, which Chad had just revealed after taking off his headpiece.

"Is it messy?" he asked, fingering the curls and despairing for potential fizziness. Bouncing around to these different climates seemed to leave his entire body confused, despite the fact that he was greatly enjoying his adventure.

"No," Jay said, still staring at it. "Sorry, I- it's um- nice."

"Oh." Chad blinked, the melted into a smile. "Thank you."

"I guess I haven't seen a guy with hair like yours before," Jay said, blushing. "I mean- long and blond and curly."

"It's not that long," Chad said, feeling a bit self-conscious despite the fact that Jay seemed to like his hair. "You have cool hair too."

A pause, and then Jay let out a startled laugh, running a hand through his own silky locks. "Thanks," he said, and just like that, things were back to normal. "So could I offer you a second, non-spicey lunch?"

Chad thought about this, then made a face. "I think my stomach's good for now."

"Then why don't we nap?" Jay said, like this was an entirely natural thing to offer. "That's what I usually do in the middle of the day anyway."

"No one will miss you?" Chad asked as Jay motioned him onward to a different part of the suite, revealing a bedroom just as grand as the first sitting room.

Jay let out a small scoff. "If I haven't shown up by this point, they know I'm not going to," he said, continuing his path towards a large bed. He stopped when he noticed Chad had, the blond taking stock of the other furniture. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for a couch?" Chad offered. "We probably shouldn't share the bed, right? I don't want to break any rules."

"Right," Jay said, but it wasn't judgmental. "Because you're a rule follower."

"I try to be," Chad replied. "Just- they're usually there for a reason."

"Well, take heart," Jay said. "Because there are no Tangu rules about two guys sharing a bed. Besides, it's huge anyway."

"That it is," Chad agreed, following Jay's lead and tugging off his boots. "This will be a platonic bro thing?"

Jay paused, then nodded. "The utmost platonic," he vowed, allowing Chad to fully relax.

"Okay," Chad said, smiling. "Then I'm um- down for napping. Losing my lunch has left me surprisingly tired."

Jay made a face. "Don't remind me," he sighed, gesturing for Chad to climb onto the bed first. For lack of any other option, Chad did so, noting that despite the utmost comfort of his and Ben's suite, this bed was still a little nicer. "I'm taking you to lunch again tomorrow," Jay declared. "For the best non spicey Tangu food, and you will not eat anything you don't like."

"Okay," Chad yawned, feeling suddenly exhausted by their ordeal. "They really weren't upset by the-"

"You didn't do anything wrong," Jay interrupted. "And it's been taken care of, so…"

"Naptime," Chad murmured, settling against the cool, comforting sheets. "Thanks for the story, Jay. And the food. The appetizers were pretty great."

"Noted," Jay hummed, and despite the size of the bed, he seemed to curl close, at least comparatively, a foot between them. "Thanks for giving me a chance."

"I suppose you worked for it," Chad murmured, but if Jay replied, he didn't hear it, immediately lulled by the call of sleep now that he was stationary and comfortable.

So that was one way to make a friend.

-:-:-

Endnotes:

And I'm back! There's a very good chance that next week will also be a Thursday update, but I should be able to update for the next two Wednesdays after that, assuming my schedule decides to play nice with me ^_^

Story notes:

Tangu is stolen from Sophia the First, Scheherazade is stolen from the Team Starkid musical 'Twisted', which is a play on the musical 'Wicked' where Jafar is the protagonist. I highly recommend watching it if you get the chance, at the very least, look up the title number of the show, that can be enjoyed on its own :) It's Act 2, Part 3.

Erebor isn't heavily featured in this one but it is borrowed from Tolkien's the Hobbit. Like to give a shoutout to it when I can ;)

I also really love the idea of Chad picking up crafts and recipes with each step of this trip. It will be a running theme and I have no apologies for this ^_^

There's a good chance when I was writing this part that I had just watched the Try Guys video where they went to three different Indian restaurants. Getting cultured, team ;)

Jalebi is an Indian sweet snack made by deep-frying maida flour batter in pretzel or circular shapes, which are then soaked in sugar syrup. I learned this from google.

Until next time :)