Fool's Dawn

"I don't want to ruin the party! I don't want her to be sad!" Mutt rubs at their head with their hands. "It is fun...can you help me get up?"

 

Legion smiles, holding out her hands. "Of course I can. Take my hands. You can lean on me."

 

Mutt takes Legion's hands and she helps them up. They steady themselves by leaning on the edge of the table, and they look around the room.

 

Legion keeps a hand on Mutt, ready to help them stay upright.

There are so many people, all talking and mingling and enjoying themselves - sharing drinks, sharing food, sharing conversation. One looks like a shape made of light, not even humanoid, just a moving ripple in the air, and they're curling around a hulking man with thick rolls of flesh that seems to have no legs, who moves around with the strength of his hands and arms. There are others, too, a young man in a cravat and faded suit with strange, cricket-like legs talking to a girl who looks like she's a ball-jointed doll in voluminous, gothic-lolita style.

The Queen is mingling, smiling brightly and nibbing on sweets, drinking the same fizzy drink that Mutt had been...

Mutt is pulled through the room by Legion, who insists on introducing them to countless faces they can't hold in their memory, dragging their sluggish body around, showing them off with a pleased, prideful smile... it's only when she realizes Mutt is nearly dead on their feet that she tugs him towards one of the other wings, and up a stairwell. "Come on, Mutt, let's get you to your room."

 

Mutt follows her gratefully, more than ready to get some rest. "Am I really going to get to stay here?" they ask as they walk. It's hard to believe how much has changed since morning.

 

"Of course. We wouldn't have brought you here if you weren't going to stay." She smiles thinly. "You're one of us, now, this is your home..."

She pushes open a door, revealing a modest room with a bed framed by thick fabric hangings. "And this is your room."

 

"I get a bed?" Mutt's eyes widen and their face breaks into a grin again.

 

"You get a bed and pillows," Legion grins.

 

Mutt flops onto the bed and stares up at the ceiling. This is the best day of their entire life.

 

Legion chuckles. "....sweet dreams, Mutt. We'll begin in the morning."

 

Mutt falls asleep quickly and dreams contentedly of nothing.

 

The morning brings a wake-up call from shadows and embers, and you hear Even's voice from among the fabric canopy of your bed. "Sleep well?"

 

"Yes!" Mutt can't remember the last time they slept so well.

 

"Excellent."

The cloud of smoke drops down, and bony fingers pat Mutt's hair. "Are you ready for your big day? You're going to play a prince..."

 

"A prince?" Mutt looks excited, then frowns. "But I don't know how."

 

"We'll show you. It's going to be easy." Even grins. "You just pretend to be noble."

 

"Okay," they decide. "As long as you show me how." They smile again.

 

"Don't worry, Mutt, you'll be a natural!" Even laughs. "Just be yourself, the rest will come with it."

 

"But I'm not a prince," they start, then realize they're just going in circles. "Okay. Let's go."

 

He chuckles, smoke draping over Mutt's shoulders. "There are fine clothes in the drawers, get dressed and meet us downstairs for breakfast."