Context: These forests and you have been for as long as you can remember. Here, you can grow anything. There are others, too, of course. The humans always seem to be happy to see you, so you repay them with many kindnesses. You even craft flowers for lovers to bind them together, something that has brightened a wartorn landscape. Despite all of that, you keep your distance from them, and none of them have ever come to your part of the forest. Until tonight...

Setting: The Timeless Forest

Tags:[M4F][Strangers to ?][Dorky Dad King Speaker][Forest Cryptid Listener][Fantasy][Narrator][Meet Cute?][Flirting][Mom x Dad Energy][Slow Burn][Cottagecore][Plant Powers][Mild Comedy][Tea][Mild Angst][CW: Mentions of Death/Orphaned Children]

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[K] = King Mercurius aka 'Merc' aka 'Hi, Depression, I'm Dad'.

[Scene opens in your forest]

[SFX: Late night forest ambiance - light fantasy influence]

[It is a quiet, rare night. The forest is calm as you wander through it to find new paths and crevices, new places for new things to grow. It is so calm that you almost wander headfirst into a stranger in your forest]

[SFX: The Listener wandering for a [Pause] of VA’s discretion / them bumping into [K]]

[K] “Oops… Apologies, my Lady, I didn’t mean to startle…”

[You look up at the man, frozen. He looks down at you, startled but managing]

[K] “Oh. Well… Look at you.”

[...]

[K] “I have no idea who or what you are but you’re so beautiful that you shook me out of a three-day ‘new child won’t sleep’ fog… Ahem, apologies, that was absolutely not very Kingly of me. Here… a bow to you, my friend.”

[The King offers you a humble bow]

[K] “Please, forgive me… I did not come to your woods to chase you out. Tis simply peaceful here, and I enjoy some time alone when I can find it. Hm… I am sure you can understand the love of solitude, certainly?”

[...]

[SFX: Soft forest ambiance/night bird song]

[The handsome older man smiles and stands tall]

[K] “...It is alright if you are shy. I am King Mercurius, Merc to my friends… If I had to guess, given your ethereal beauty and how the trees seem to glow in your presence, you are Her?”

[...?]

[K] “My denizens fondly call you many names. The Lady of the Forest, the Wandering Siren, the Gardener, and, my favorite, the Rare Beauty.”

[Pause...?]

[K] “Many stories are told in our taverns… Tales of you healing sickly crops, singing from afar and cheering the hearts of those who hear it, and, of course, of growing special flowers for lovers to bind them.”

[...]

[He bends and retrieves his walking stick, seeming unbothered]

[K] “...Nice to meet you, hmhm.”

[...?]

[He pauses as you speak but doesn’t draw attention to it]

[K] “Am I bothered that you are here? My dear, you’d have every right to feel that way toward me, but I highly doubt I could say the same. This is your home. I am a King, yes, but I’m not so miserable that I’d have people trying to chase you down for taxes or some nonsense…”

[...]

[SFX: The forest seeming to come more alive]

[K] “Oh? Haha. Seems like the forest’s really starting to wake up… Would you like me to go, fair Lady?”

[...Pause]

[K, surprised] “You would like to invite me to tea? My Lady, I am most flattered… I must, unfortunately, warn you in advance…”

[His tone shifts to something sterner, a bit colder, but not unkind]

[K] “I have had Fae, and many others, try to betray me before. I have bested all those situations… and do not want to harm anyone unless necessary. I was a simple, rotten mercenary before I ever was a King… That dog has not died in me.”

[Pause]

[He bows again, pleasant]

[K] “Thank you for giving me your word. If you assure me we are gossiping in good faith, then I would be honored. Here, my arm, if you would like to tuck your hand into the crook of it.”

[...]

[You do so and lead him through the forest, nervous to your core]

[SFX: Them traversing the forest / the forest incorporating more fantasy-like noises as they carry on - Use to fill a [Pause] of VA’s discretion]

[K] “...May I comment on your appearance?”

[...?]

[K] “Your horns… They’re beautiful. The flowers growing in the cracks in them even more so… It almost looks like sapphire lobelia?”

[Pause!]

[SFX: A wooden/thatch door being pushed open and a fire gently crackling]

[K] “Oh, what a lovely home… I was right, was I? Ha! Well, Mother would be pleased if she was still with us. She adored her garden and loved trying to grow difficult things in all sorts of ways. Honestly, looking around your cottage is making me rather nostalgic.”

[Pause]

[K] “Sit at the table here? Very well. Please do tell me if my etiquette is off, I often forget myself.”

[Pause?]

[He chuckles. In the light of the fire, his features are highlighted even more so. He’s terribly handsome, and his eyes appear to hint that he is aware and does not care at all]

[K] “I did say I was a mercenary before, aye… Grew up on the streets so I was good at thieving. Fell in with pirates, got better at thieving and decent at fighting. By the time I was in my late teens, I had a reputation for being able to get tough jobs done. Almost moved into assassin work… And then I met General Sialis.”

[Pause?]

[SFX: Kitchenware rattling/a pot being put on]

[K] “Oh, milk and sugar, please. I have a crippling sweet tooth.”

[...Pause?]

[K] “Hm? Oh! General Sialis, yes… He was the head general of the royal army. A prince, who preferred fighting. My very first mission as an ‘assassin’ was to kill that man. Needless to say, he grabbed me by my neck, slammed me into his desk, and put the fear of every god in the pantheon in me! So… yeah. I started working for him that night. Sent my apologies to the assassins and they pretty much laughed it off.”

[SFX: Cups being set down]

[K] “...He changed my life. As much as I hate to admit it because you’ll never catch me admitting I loved the surly old fucker like a father to just anyone. He was a man of high standards and high honor. Taught me that the humility my childhood had handed me apparently hadn’t sunk in… Ah, but, let us not speak of sad things. May I ask your name?”

[Pause]

[K] “You do not have one? Well… I quite like ‘Lady’ for you. Looking at you reminds me of everything I appreciate about ladies.”

[Pause…]

[He chuckles]

[K] “I said I was a good merc, not a good flirt.”

[SFX: Tea/cream/sugar being poured/mixed]

[You pour tea for him and offer a kindness of your home]

[SFX: Leaves ruffling]

[K] “Ah…? You have fresh mint, lemons from your lemon tree, or blackberries baked in the sun, if I wish? Hmm… This feels like a Fae etiquette riddle so, here is my answer: if you would be so kind, would you mix it how you like it, please?”

[...]

[SFX: The tea being mixed to VA’s discretion]

[He smiles as you prepare his tea as you would your own and tips his head in appreciation]

[K] “Thank you, Fair Lady. A moment for it to cool a touch…”

[...]

[He smiles, unbothered]

[K] “I know I’m staring… Terribly sorry, I’ve just never seen anything like you… Curiosity is going to get me, I’m sure, but… are you a Fae?”

[...Pause]

[K] “You don’t know what you are? You have simply always been here… Interesting… Do you have kin? Others like you?”

[Pause…]

[K, sympathetic] “...I see. Well, I can sympathize with growing up quite alone… Still, that implies you’ve survived by yourself for however long you have lived… You are quite resourceful to have done so…”

[Pause…]

[K] “Yes, the forest does seem to respect your presence. And you, its.”

[...]

[SFX: Polite tea time]

[Pause…]

[K] “Ah, King or not, I have time… After all, this is technically also good for the kingdom. Simply being able to meet you and establish a connection is important. Mind you, there is no pressure on you to interact any more than you feel comfortable with… but if any of those Fae Hunters try to come after you, I want you to know that I will protect you.”

[...]

[SFX: The foliage rustling as though it shuddered]

[The King smiles at you. There’s something in his tired, slightly sarcastic, yet earnest smile that has your entire sense of purpose confused]

[K] “My thanks for your hospitality, my Lady. I fear I must leave back to the castle… Tilla probably needs an infant break by now.”

[Pause?]

[K] “Queen? Ha! Tilla is an old thief friend. I pay him to watch them when I need to do literally anything else… It’s an odd situation.”

[He sighs, finishes his tea in a chugging fashion, then sets the cup down before standing]

[Pause…?]

[K] “...They’re not my children… I have no Queen or partner at present. They are Silias’s…”

[...]

[He offers a sad smile]

[K] “You are kind to offer a gift to me, my Lady…”

[SFX: Foliage rustling/subtle magic hints, if desired]

[His eyes widen as you grow a kindness for him: a perfect rose that looks entirely crystalline]

[K] “...Fucking hells, that is gorgeous… It looks like a rose made of crystal…”

[Pause <3]

[He accepts the gift and tucks it carefully into his front pocket]

[K] “Thank you, my Lady… I will treasure it.”

[...]

[K] “...It will let me visit again safely if I like. Again… my thanks. When I next return, I shall try and bring you a gift just as thoughtful. For now, your hand, if I may?”

[He takes your hand and kisses the back of it]

[K] “There we are… Farewell for now, my friend. Keep yourself safe…”

[His smile fades to bitter exhaustion]

[K] “...You are a light of hope in a dark time… I would be remiss to see you extinguished.”

[SFX: The front door being opened]

[Pause…]

[K] “Heh… I will sleep when I can, I promise. Goodnight, Pretty Lady.”

[With that, he heads off with a confidence that might just be from exhaustion]

[SFX: Fade out on forest ambiance/the door shutting once more]

[To be continued]

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Note: So, if you want to know how flustered I am writing this man, read all of his lines in Leo from Rise of the TMNT’s voice but deeper and a little more grizzled. You will see the problem immediately.