Taran Wanderer

Assistant Pig-Keeper

[taranthewanderer]

TARAN ALEXANDER PRYDAIN

“To him the horizon was just a slight curve fading out behind the last tree line, begging to be straightened by a quickly embarked adventure.” —Atticus

Nicknames: Taran Pronouns: He/Him Magick Status: Mundus (Owns an oracular pig) Nationality: Welsh (secretly Monan) Ethnicity: White Accent: Welsh Height: 6′2″ Build: Lean Complexion: Fair Eye Color: Hazel Hair Color/Length/Style: Brown/Short-to-Medium/Windswept most days Tattoos: None Piercings: None Daily Jewelry: None

What would you find if you Googled them? Not much. He made a Twitter and Instagram when he moved because he was told that it would help him fit in. He doesn’t seem to really be from anywhere, though?

What natives would know about them: He seems to be rather attached to Eilonwy Llyr, brings her up all the time. Apparently he’s from the same small town in Wales that she is. Also he’s got a pig with him everywhere! Cute!

Other: Always carries around a journal to sketch in and a pouch with Hen Wen’s Letter Sticks for her oracular abilities.

[ Bio ] [ Mona ] [ Statistics ]

[strange-sight]

Daybreak || Open

[strange-sight]

"...Well - they might offer outdoor seating. A lot of places here do." Fawn tried, if only to appease the little pig that looked too cute to properly say no to. "...I see people bring their dogs to dine with them all the time - so I don't think she would be any different. Especially if she's very well mannered, which she seems."

Because what a polite and regal little lady she seemed to be! So cute, truly. And her little piggy snorts would never fail to amuse Fawn, even if she could actually understand the language that she was speaking. "That way she wouldn't have to wait outside while you get the food at least."

[taranthewanderer]

"Not used to that here so much, though most places back home offer that more." Taran was, admittedly, not someone who went out to eat much (unless you counted Pixie's or the Court where he'd somehow found himself a semi-regular of each). He liked cooking, missed having meals back on the farm together as a family. He hadn't realized how much the small things like that would be the parts he was homesick for.

He heard the way Hen Wen squealed at the girl and sighed, not needing to speak pig to know exactly what she wanted. "Would you care to join us? It'd be nice to have the company." Sure, she seemed to enjoy the pig more than Taran but he supposed it just was the way his whole life would go.

[strange-sight]

Daybreak || Open

[strange-sight]

"...Well - they might offer outdoor seating. A lot of places here do." Fawn tried, if only to appease the little pig that looked too cute to properly say no to. "...I see people bring their dogs to dine with them all the time - so I don't think she would be any different. Especially if she's very well mannered, which she seems."

Because what a polite and regal little lady she seemed to be! So cute, truly. And her little piggy snorts would never fail to amuse Fawn, even if she could actually understand the language that she was speaking. "That way she wouldn't have to wait outside while you get the food at least."

[taranthewanderer]

As Hen Wen preened and leaned against her new friend Taran could see that she had found a kindred spirit in this girl. Stubborn, it seemed, and enthusiastic. Plus she was complimenting Hen Wen which did wonders for the swine's mood. Oftentimes that would make Taran irritated but this time it brought upon a fond smile.

"Sure, she seems sweet and innocent now but you should see her when it's time to get up for the day," he joked. "But you're right, that would probably work. Plus, if you're not too busy, maybe you could keep her company while I order. I could even get you something if you'd like?" Taran was starting to feel like he had more of a disposable income from his job at the Moon Market. He could afford to pay it forward.

"This is Hen Wen and I'm Taran, by the way."

[gabriella-krasimira]

Gabriella turned as she was complimented and did her best not to preen under the recognition. It had been a long time since she’d graced the stage. Her anger after what happened to Vanya had kept her from doing the thing she loved most. Mostly because it reminded her so much of her lost love. It was always Vanya who Gabby went to after performing; often preening like a peacock underneath the sweet words whispered in dark corners. 

She ignored the slight pang that reminded her that now this was all she had. Strangers congratulating her on a well done performance. 

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I was afraid that it would be a little too old fashioned compared to the other performers.”

[taranthewanderer]

Taran took a sip of his drink as the woman smiled, glad that he hadn't fully stumbled over the compliment. "Oh, I don't know about that. I've heard that other performers pick a mix of new and old." Especially since Taran had experienced the wide array of events the Court offered from a typical night to the Nerdlesque that they had hosted at BarnCon.

"Mind if I ask what inspired you to sing that song? I don't know much about music, admittedly, but if you've got the time I'd love to pick your brain."

[strange-sight]

Daybreak || Open

[strange-sight]

Fawn's expression didn't change as the adorable little pig came and smugly sat beside her, even if her lip twitched up dangerously close to a smile. Her brow raised slightly though, and Fawn glanced down at her new companion. "...Oh? ...I mean - I wouldn't discredit her just because you're a human and she's a pig. Pigs are actually incredibly intelligent." Fawn said as she knelt down to give the cutie a little chin scratch.

"...Great instincts too. Humans..." She gave an unstable motion of her hand. "Not so much."

[taranthewanderer]

Taran sometimes felt like he was arguing with a wall when he argued with Hen Wen. She was a special and clever pig, of course, and he had been encouraged his entire life to make sure and treat her just as well as anyone could. She required special food preparations and bathing rituals and to be pampered here and there. Things no ordinary swine might need.

And that had gone straight to her head, just as this incident absolutely would as well.

"I mean, you're not incorrect," Taran mused, though he felt a bit of indignation at the clear dig. "She's incredibly smart but she doesn't understand what's best for her half of the time. I was trying to explain to her that, just because Tiana's smells good, doesn't mean they'll allow her to dine there. She hates waiting outside but most places don't much appreciate farm animals wandering."

[strange-sight]

Daybreak || Open

[strange-sight]

"—You know you're totally hurting their feelings, right?"

[outfit]

[taranthewanderer]

Taran turned to face the person interrupting his and Hen Wen's disagreement. "Uh, what?" The oracular pig, however, held her head up smugly and moved to sit beside the stranger. Any time someone took her side she grew more and more full of herself.

Hence, well, the royal treatment she not only received but demanded.

"Yeah, well, Hen Wen still has to remember that she's a pig and I'm a human. She doesn't always know what's best." Taran gave a roll of his eyes, knowing that Hen Wen was going to play the victim for sure.

[taranthewanderer]

Kristoff — Frozen

Ron Weasley — Harry Potter

Harvey Kinkle — Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Brock — Pokémon

Rubeus Hagrid — Harry Potter

Spike — Land Before Time

Little John — Robin Hood

Peeta Mellark — The Hunger Games

The Scarecrow — The Wizard of Oz

[gabriella-krasimira]

It’s Been A Long Time || Open

song choice

As far as song selections went, Gabriella knew that It’s Been A Long, Long Time was probably a bit old compared to what the other performers were doing. But those years were the happiest she had been and, well, she was feeling rather nostalgic.

So she let the music wash over her, let the words fall from her lips with ease as she swayed along.

And as the final notes finished, she gave only a small smirk to the crowd before slipping off the stage and heading towards the bar. “I’ll take a Manhattan, if you don’t mind.”

[outfit]

[taranthewanderer]

Taran didn't know most of the music being sung here at The Court but that didn't stop him from hovering near the bar and drinking. It was a calm atmosphere for the most part and Taran found that he could be left mostly alone with his thoughts. Small talk wasn't so engaging after all.

When one of the singers in a red dress came over and ordered a drink beside him he smiled politely. "You sounded great up there." He kept his tone light, conversational, in case the singer needed to run off right away so she wouldn't feel obligated to linger. "Well done!"

[ Outfit ]

[taranthewanderer]

A New Adventure || Tareba

straythisway​:

Reba couldn’t help the little grin that curls her mouth higher upward. Every time someone hears her talk, its like they expect some other voice to come out. It was sometimes amusing, sometimes annoying. This time, it was amusing.

She even laughs at his, what she thought, was a pick up line. Oh, he was just the cutest wasn’t he? Absolute darling, with his accent and his curiosity. Reba was delighted, truly.

“Really? And where’s home, Taran? ‘m Magdalene by the way. Most people jus’ call me Maggie, though.”

🐖

Every time someone asked where home was Taran had to give pause. It was so normal to simply explain where he was from within the wards of Mona but here he had to be much more cautious. “Wales, actually. A small farm in the middle of nowhere. How about yourself? Haven’t heard a voice like yours before.”

“Maggie, that’s a nice name. Well it’s nice to meet you, Maggie.” He didn’t mention that he thought Magdalene was a beautiful name since she seemed intent upon the nickname but he almost did.

[ariel-the-defiant]

Ariel had been too caught up in her own fangirling to notice the other person reaching for the same shelf. When she heard him, she shook her head, trying to focus on the present moment.

"What? Oh, no, you're fine! Honestly, I didn't even see you there," she quickly replied. "Actually, now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever seen you here before - and I come here on a weekly basis. Are you new in town ?" she asked, after taking a better look at him.

[taranthewanderer]

Well, the locals certainly noticed everything. Taran couldn't be too surprised, though, because he knew that if any newcomers were to appear in his neck of the woods in Mona he'd notice straight away as well. He glanced at the figurine once again, deciding to leave it for the time being.

"Well, seems we both need to keep our eyes out for other people," he chuckled. "But, yes, I'm somewhat new. Slowly getting used to all of the shops and things here in Swynlake. Figured that I should check out Whosits and Whatsits finally. I've been in town for a few months but, ah, I'd still say I'm new, yes."

Realizing he had probably rambled for too long he gave a half wave. "Taran, by the way."

[taranthewanderer]

Isn't It Neat? || Tariel

One thing Swynlake had that Taran felt much more at home in was the antique and trinket shop. He had left Hen Wen outside the shop per the rules but he'd gotten her a harness at Ruff to Fluff that he was able to keep tied to the bench out front so she wouldn't wander too far off.

As he perused the shelves, he found an antique figurine that reminded him of Dohmnall and reached forward to examine it further only to find someone else reaching for the same shelf (and perhaps the same item) themselves.

"Oh!" He breathed, retracting his hand. "Am I in your way? I didn't see you there."

@ariel-the-defiant

[taranthewanderer]

♥ 115 likes taranprydain: Winter is drawing closer to its close so Hen Wen and I held our own sort of candlemas for Imbolc this year. It’s odd to be so far away from home for the holidays but great to have different friends and family near.

[ashleigh-inyourdreams]

OMG || OPEN

[ashleigh-inyourdreams]

"Oh my god! What the hell do you think you're doing??"

[taranthewanderer]

Truthfully Taran probably should have been more careful in Pixie’s to not knock into another person but the music was fun and he was starting to really like these haunts in Swynlake. He’d knocked over a stranger’s drink and now someone was yelling at him. “Ah! Sorry! Didn’t see that there!”

[taranthewanderer]

A New Adventure || Tareba

straythisway​:

Reba was back at the Court. She hadn’t quite expected to find herself there, not really, but it had kind of happened anyway after her shift at Chippamunka’s.

Thankfully, she wasn’t in uniform and - hopefully - didn’t smell like a grease frier. She’d shaken out her hair and was just in a plain Strays t-shirt and some jeans, a jacket covering half the tee and her hair down over her shoulder. Though she hadn’t quite admitted that she was a band member yet to people around town, Reba couldn’t quite let go of the sentimental parts.

Being here helped her with that, too.

She’d been chatting with the bartender while he got her drink sorted and had turned to listen to the most recent set when someone spoke off to her left. Turning, Reba’s brows raise and she grins slightly, amusement curling the corners of her eyes.

“Well, now, honey ’m enjoyin’ it just fine. What about yourself?”

Taran was thrown off by the accent, as he often was here in Swynlake, and his surprise showed clear on his face. Everyone here sounded so different, that was a culture shock of its own. His smile grew, however, and he felt his body shift into more of a comfortable position.

“Oh I think this place is very interesting! Back home you mostly got music at the festivals,” he shrugged. “Everything about this town is very accessible, though. Do you come here often?” Now, if this had been anyone else that would have been the cheesiest line but Taran was not aware of English pickup line cliches and, as such, could not have known. He was genuinely curious about the stranger’s habits.

“My name’s Taran, by the way. Taran Prydain!”

[taranthewanderer]

A New Adventure || Tareba

Taran hadn’t been certain if he would like a club or lounge or whatever one might classify the Court of Miracles as (nor did he particularly care to learn of its classification) but he’d been sitting toward the back for awhile and doodling in his journal while others performed and the crowd seemed to eat it up. Most of the singers didn’t hold his attention, though Jessica always got him to look up from his work for her songs.

His head did raise, however, when a red-headed girl walked past him. He couldn’t read her expression, though he made a note in the margins of his jokingly called adventure journal that it might be worth pursuing.

Getting up from his seat for the first time in probably an hour, he decided to follow her over to the bar. He didn’t introduce himself immediately, instead he ordered a drink (the bartender had suggested a gimlet whatever that was) and waited until after he’d taken a sip to broach the subject.

“Enjoying the music?” He asked, putting on a (somewhat forced) smile. “It’s actually my first time here, surprisingly enough.”

@straythisway​

[jere-me--oh-my]

“When you’ve been gone long enough to thing everything’s changed / know that I still feel the same / Though it feels like forever, I don’t care how long it’s been / or where it is that you wander, I just want you back here again / ‘cause it’s not up to me where it is that you’re going / it’s not up to me where it is that you’ve been”  

Home by Bear’s Den

10/25

A randomiser advent aesthetic for @taranthewanderer

[lepetitdragonvert]

Original illustration for page 1 of “Friendly Animals” by Burd

1928

Source : Swanngalleries

Artist : C. M. Burd

“How many little pigs do you count ?”