βThatβs its box. The lamb you wanted is inside it.β
+ and old sketch from ~2024
a bit of lore from this little prince inspired au:
in this version, the aviator and the prince meet around their late teens. a boy that was forced to grow up too fast and a boy who grew up and remained loyal to his unwavering, guileless imagination
each chapter of the little prince is Arthurβs diary entries dedicated to his best friend, FranΓ§ois, whom he lost contact with, but memories of their friendship have left a long lasting impression on him
le petit prince embodies FranΓ§oisβ seemingly childishly sanguine, yet deeply philosophical outlook on living β a resilient ability to always see the good in things and think outside the confines of reality, something Arthur deeply admires about him
every character in the little prince chronicles is imbued with bits and pieces of Arthurβs personality, experiences, and emotions, alongside representing greater societal structures and values and people Arthur has gotten to know throughout his life (further inspired by personalities FranΓ§ois had described to him in his silly anecdotes). The King, Conceited Man, Businessman, Fox, and Rose are each a collaborated exhibition in the museum of everyone FranΓ§ois and Arthur have ever met.
Arthur and the narrative heβs constructed around his affection for FranΓ§ois are later reunited with the real Fran, and they get to retell the tales of the little prince to Arthurβs nieces, who are approaching early adolescence (NA sisters)
