#alvarthegrooth

[the-smallest-star]

“??”

“Hi! Don’t panic I’m friendly. You’re Rose’s old husband right? James?”

“I-... yes?”

“Oh great! I’m in the right place! This is Alvar, he’s been hiding in woods from the same people I’ve been hiding from so I’ll take him off your hands.”

“Who... who are you? Your skin is...”

“Blue, yes I know. My name is Herish, I need to talk to you about your daughter. OH! Could I also trouble you for some food? I’ve travelled a reeeeeeally long way, like galaxies kind of far.”

“How do you know Rose? How do you know me? Or Hannah?!”

“Man, Earthlings are paranoid. I’m Rose’s father, her biological one soooo guess that makes me by human standards your ex-father-in-law! Now about that food and what I need to talk to you about?”

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“Oh NOOOOO!”

“What’s wrong mister? If you’re hurting we have painkillers.”

“No its... its not that! I-.. thank you for your help but- dammit!”

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t, I just can’t! I know he wants me to and I’m going to get punished, but I can’t take you back with me!”

“Take me where?”

“To my boss, Trifu! We found an energy reading here and he sent me to go get it, but it came from you! You’re a kid, I can’t- I won’t! I couldn’t, a Grooth would never get a kid in that kind of trouble! But he’s gonna be so pissed.... ugghhhh.”

“Why do you have to go back to him if he’s going to punish you?”

“Because I owe him a debt, he helped me. Unless a new debt comes or he releases me from service willingly or by death then I owe him. The last time I went against his orders was over a kid and he slapped that thing on me as punishment.”

“I mean... I helped you?”

“....... oh fuck. Kid... don’t... don’t take the debt... Trifu would be so mad.”

“But he’s already mad, and if it meant you didn’t have to go back to him-”

“Kid that would mean I’d have to stay here until I paid my debt to you. Don’t do it. I’m not very likeable. And Trifu would be pissed at you.”

“Maybe theres a loophole? Like I ask you for something really easy and then its paid?”

“I... don’t know... and Trifu would still be angry at you.”

[the-smallest-star]

The stranger

It had stayed out there all night, hammering against the barrier like a wild animal. Hannah knew it had been annoying Cromwell and he was probably not far away from doing something about it... but something was bothering her about it.

She got up earlier than normal before anyone would usually come wake her, the sun only just starting to peek over the castle. It was raining so she grabbed her umbrella and headed out.

Sure enough the beast was still there, though its clawing and growling and punching was weaker. If this was normal an animal would of just walked away or taken a break... but it hadn’t. Upon seeing her it snarled and tried to push harder, but it didn’t have the energy.

“... hello?” Hannah tried to speak with it, but again no reaction. It must have some kind of intelligence, it wore clothes. Sparky popped into existence, hissing at it before looking to Hannah and nudging into her, trying to encourage her back inside. “Sparky, somethings wrong. Can you take a look for me? I don’t think it’ll attack you....” Hannah asked, the floating friend puffing out slightly in annoyance.

If it would keep her from leaving the barrier.

Bobbing over to the beast Hannah was right, it didn’t even react to the warm glow nearby even as he passed the barrier. Examining it Sparky gave a small chirp and moved the shawl enough to show a heavy iron like collar. It thrummed strangely, causing glowing blue lines to show beneath the fur and skin of the beast.

Maybe Hannah was right.

Suspicions further proven Hannah approached, remaining in the barrier as she stood at the very edge and raised her hand. She could see the seam and focused on it, her crystal like gems starting to grow out of it and straining the metal. It took a minute or two, it was sturdy to prevent it from coming off, sparks flickering from it as the beast growled and slammed against the barrier still.

CRACK. CLINK.

The heavy collar fell to the ground, blue blood coated metal prongs that protruded from it. The beast staggered a moment though its striking finally stopped and it slumped to the ground heavily, unconscious. Sparky snuffled and nudged around it, finding a metal slim card holder of some kind. Picking it up the orb returned to Hannah and handed it over.

Opening the container Hannah found a few things; an odd green rock on the end of a leather like thread like a necklace, a weird metal flat circle with a button on it... and what looked like an ID card with the beast’s face on it written in a language she didn’t understand, but there was a name on it in letters she could make out.

“... Alvar Akita?” She read aloud, noticing the beast’s ear twitch but it still didn’t wake. This wasn’t a monster... it was a person of some kind. Looking at her umbrella she carefully extended it past the barrier, laying it against this Alvar person to shelter their head from the rain. “Can you watch them Sparky? I’m gonna get the first aid kit.” Hannah watched her friend nod, with that she hurried off back into the castle.

[the-smallest-star]

So what was Hannah's first job? If she ever had one, with a rich Dad like hers who needs to work!

“Hannah actually left home when she was 17, her family relationships were…. strained.”

“Tanya helped her get an apartment and a job which was…. what did she say her job was?…. OH! Yeah she was a waitress for a cafe.”

“Tanya says she was a klutz, had trouble recalling orders and panicked about getting fired all in the first week. But I think Tanya dragged her back to her place after work on lessons of how to work that kind of job, she picked it up and got better at it. Maybe I should ask if she’d like to fill in at my folks restaurant when they set up closer.” 

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“Would you look at that, all the abducted Grooth freed and reunited with their families to return to their homeworld.”

“Yeah, its pretty nice. I’m glad it worked out.”

“It would not have if it was not for you. You have given them a security that they have been needing for a long time.”

“Me? C’mon I didn’t do much.”

“You did more than you think. The Grooth have been hiding from Garganquaders for centuries, when they found their homeworld they thought that was it. A lifetime of slavery.”

“I don’t know how I gave them security, all I did was prove the Garganquaders they had no right to take them.”

“Exactly. You gave them security, slavery is not permitted under the law of the Zodiac Council. You proved they are citizens of the council and that they exist under the Lunanoff’s rule. The Garganquaders or anyone else have no right to take them for their own gain. They do not have to hide themselves anymore.”

“Whats more is you challenged an authority which has never been challenged before. Garganquaders have been careful where they step so they cannot be regulated by any rules set by the council or other authorities, you found a link, you challenged them and you proved them wrong through evidence and without violence.”

“You’re making it sound like I’ve done something no one else would do.”

 “Not many would! This is going to be a wonderful example to the council why you are to inherit the Tsar’s position. News of this will spread!”

“Look at what you have accomplished, you’ve come so far from the young lady who first arrived here. I am proud, the Grooth are proud, the Lunanoff’s... and I daresay if Lord Atlen was still with us he would be proud of you too.”

“... Yeah... yeah I did alright.”

@seirlranpiscesatlen @omnipotentmoon

[the-smallest-star]

@lord-aku continued from x

“Pet?!” Alvar snarled, claws almost digging into his charge’s shoulders. This dark creature was trouble, he could pratically smell it. He calmed slightly feeling the young woman’s hand on his chest, soothing him.

“He’s not a pet, he’s my friend. I can’t say I have, I haven’t come across you in any books or scrolls.” And the modern era didn’t exactly have spirits and strange creatures as a curriculum. 

[the-smallest-star]

“AHH!!”

“Hannah?”    “My Lady?

“My hair!”

“It uh... nice mane?”

“MY LADY!! ITS BEAUTIFUL!”

“ W-What happened?! It- it just grew out while I slept!”

“Really? Doesn’t hair take a while to grow for humans?”

“AHEM- Um... Well technically yes, it can take several months for it to grow. Perhaps you had an energy spike? I mean its not like you age so it can’t change your overall age... so maybe it shot to your hair instead and grew it out?”

“Guess that explains it.”

“Despite the surprise I think you look lovely. Right Alvar?”

“I don’t get human grooming she always looked fine. It smells normal....”

“Gee, thanks Alvar you make me feel so much better. Guess I can leave it for a while.”

“What you doin’ with it?”

“Tying it back so it doesn’t get in the way.”