Between feathers and scales

while Elly still disagrees with her superiors decision, she plans on resuming her occupation/service normally, and stays on her best behavior while she's locked up

kneeling on the cold prison cell floor, praying for the sentinels grace and forgiveness, she catches the attention of Brant, who is kept in the cell across hers

as he tries talking to her and getting her to join him in his escape (unsuccessfully, he gets called a criminal and good-for-nothing), the troupes echo task force busts through the ceiling

on the look out for their captain, they also break down the door to Ellys cell, and while she backs into a corner (staying a good prisoner, like she was told to!), a very big and fluffy bear type echo (cuddly wuddly for the initiated) won't take no for an answer and hoists her over its shoulder!

she gets carried off onto the troupes ship, with no amount of thrashing and protesting being enough to make the echo loosen its grip on her (much to the amusement of the crew on board)

after being brought to the fools hideout against her will, they greet her warmly and welcome her to the troupe (which causes her quite a bit of discomfort and a weird feeling inside her gut)

Elly decides to make her way back to Ragunna city on her own, fully intent on turning herself in and hoping to rejoin the Order

she sneaks out at night, hoping to remain undetected and make her way back home, when Brant spots her leaving

not wanting the Order to know of their hideouts location, he lets her go on one condition! she has to stay blindfolded until they reach the mainland, and he will accompany her back to Ragunna Citys outskirt

even though he doesn't understand why anyone would possibly choose a life in the Order over freedom within Fool's Elysium, he still doesn't want her to end up tacet discord food

on their journey, they talk alot about their differences, the people they love and how they came to live their lives

its here that Brant learns the reason for why Elly was jailed, and his opinion of her shifts, having been sent on the pilgrimage as a child himself

Elly in turn, starts seeing the Orders practices for what they really are, thanks to Brant giving her a space to express doubts she has long harboured

She also apologizes for calling him and his crew criminals, when she has seen the kindness and community of the troupe firsthand

suddenly being free from the Orders strict codes of conduct and regulations, for the first time since her childhood, with no one to punish her for asking questions, she starts viewing the world and the people around her differently

days spent evading roaming tacet discords and dark tide monsters, staying off the beaten path, laughing about missteps and exaggerated tales of glory, delighting in views and sharing an occasional travel song - they bond, leaving them both more conflicted than they expected

the last night of their journey, not far from Ragunna gates, both of them sit around the campfire and talk about their own thoughts on the sentinel, the Order and the Pilgrim's Sail

Brant mentions, that by all accounts - even if she wasn't banished before, if another Acolyte were to hear the way she spoke, she'd be surely sent on the Pilgrim's Sail now!

Staring into the flames, Elly contemplates for a long time, ruminating on her choices and turning over every thought in her head

Her concentrated face makes Brant chuckle, as he tells her that no matter what, she will always have a place in the troupe

This time, she actually considers the invitation, but Brant tells her to sleep on it, and give him her answer tomorrow

The next morning they climb atop a hill overlooking the city, and Elly tells Brant of her decision to join the troupe. It's not an easy decision, she has family inside the Order, friends, she doesn't wish to lose. But she can't ignore her doubts and the cruelty behind the Orders actions no longer.

And so, even though they came all this way, they turn around together, but not after the hug Brant gives Elly almost crushes her right then and there (he was really relieved)

That evening, they burn her hat, with Elly only keeping the thorns as a reminder of the responsibility towards the victims of her actions as an Acolyte.

Back at Fool's Elysium, an actual celebration follows and she joins them as vocal backup for performances.

Tipsy and in high spirits, Brant and Elly wander away from the celebrations busy center, to walk stumble along the beach outside the hideout

giggling and bumping against each other, they plop down in the sand, the sounds of music and laughter now more subdued in the background

They talk again, about Brants plans for new adventures out at sea, new plays and pieces for the crew to perform and about Ellys future with the troupe.

Their energy dying down a little, Brant asks her if she is truly happy, now that she joined them. When she doesn't immediately answer, he continues talking, spurred on by the liquor...

He tells her that he's glad she came back with him, that he would have missed her if she went back to Ragunna. That he wouldn't have forgiven himself if he had let her go back to the Order and let them hurt her.. And that, if she would have been jailed again, he'd have come back to break her out in a heartbeat. It all practically spills out of him.

At that, she pulls him closer by his shirt and clumsily kisses the corner of his mouth, before promptly passing out on top of him, never actually verbally answering his question.

So he just sits there. Face flushed. One hand on her back, steadying her sleeping form, the other in the sand, trying to anchor himself- trying to comprehen what just happened.

Anyway they take a few more weeks until they actually confess to each other, much to the amusement of the crew. After passing out on Brants chest, Elly forgot their conversation ever happened and is confused when the next morning Brant seems a little more jumpy around her <3

Headcanons

menace4menace when they have a common target

Brant throws Elly slices of orange whenever he peels one, and she will! catch them with her mouth

they enjoy performing duets after Elly gets over her inital fear of performing

when one of them has trouble sleeping, the other sings to them softly until they drift off

when they first meet, Brant only calls her Madam Acolyte, never by her actual name, not really viewing the Orders members as individuals. It takes him until they reach the hideout to ask for her name, and even longer to actually use it. On their journey back to Ragunna City he starts calling her "Princess" and "Principessa" teasingly. This soon turns into a genuine nickname and loses its bite~

» [Lost Boy] «

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Museum:

Collected Miscellany:

third leg? - puppy boy - tacet mark thoughts - Peter PanxWendy songs - more tacet mark thoughts - soft gestures