Everyday You'll Take Me Higher

“Ah. You were kidnapped by a frog.” He didn’t really know what to say to that, so he’d resorted to repeating the last thing she said while he processed it. His world had its strange things, but Maia’s sounded stranger. “Yeah. He’s also a prince who tried to kill both of them,” he said dryly. Anna might believe that Hans could change, but Kristoff wasn’t convinced. He didn’t lose his skeptical look at the mention of a fairy prince; he didn’t think much of princes, but he’d had bad experiences with them. “Why don’t you see him?” Asking blunt questions was really the only tool in his belt besides silence. Maybe he should have gone with the second one in this case, but it was no way to continue the conversation.

“See, it sounds so odd and strange. I don’t know if I can really talk about it.” How could she try to explain to someone that she almost married a mole? Surely she must seem insane in this world and it makes her prefer to just put on a small smile. Pretend everything is all right. That she has always been this size and everything was okay. “Oh that sounds terrible” She frowned, “He did not succeed though?” She hoped that was the case. Pausing in her making of another flower necklace, she wondered at Kristoff’s question. Why wasn’t she going to see Cornelius? “He has his own life here” She told him, her voice a little more quieter, “And I shouldn’t really impose.” Besides, she was the one that insisted they try to find their own way, wanting to make sure that what they felt was true. Wouldn’t she just be going back on that if she constantly sought him out? She shook her head, “I didn’t have him for awhile. Thought he was completely gone. So when he came back, I just. Needed to make sure that what I felt and thought weren’t just spur of the moment. So I am just making friends on my own. Does that make sense?” 

“I’m starting to think you like flowers,” she joked a bit more, smiling back at her.  At least she found something she enjoyed, something that could bring her happiness while bringing happiness to others as well.  It was what she hoped to get out of her art.  Maybe not happiness for all of it, but some feeling, some reminder that they were all human.  “I think it was more that I needed to find someone I could trust first.  Someone that I could depend on.  Didn’t have someone like that in my life for a long time,” she admitted.  It was easier now to talk about how much she had gone through now that she was in a stable place.  She had a family, people who loved and cared for her, so she could look back on the girl that felt like the world was against her and not feel the same pain she once did.  “I don’t know.  I still get up to trouble sometimes, but I feel happier knowing that I can do more than just be a punk.”

Maia laughed, “I suppose that is an accurate assumption.” Flowers were how she was born, they were she was going to go see the Court of the Fairies. In a lot of ways, it was where her hope for things were stemmed. “Oh. That is so sweet. I am glad you were able to find someone you could trust and depend on. Those kind of people are important to keep around.” She smiled, appreciating the fact that Angel has overcome so much. It was great to see people be in a happier place, after all. “Of course. But I do not think it is trouble if you are being mischievous” She teased, “Everyone has moments like that. It isn’t trouble in that case.” 

Kristoff had never met a fairy, but it wasn’t exactly a surprise to hear they existed alongside trolls and Snow Queens. “Things went wrong because of the fairy?” If they weren’t nice like in stories, then that seemed like good information to have. “Yeah. My girlfriend, Anna. And her sister, and her ex-boyfriend. That’s all, I think.” He wasn’t even going to touch the subject of whether or not Jack Frost was from his world, or any world in particular. “Are there other people here from your home?”

“Yeah. They took me in when I was a kid.” He gave a small nod and hoped his expression conveyed how much he didn’t want to continue on that topic. It was easier to talk about her. “Ah… That was just you though?” Five inches tall explained a lot, her comment about being the only one like her coming back to him. “Me too. I thought it was because we were together at the time, but some other people from Arendelle showed up too.”

“That is sweet.” Maia nodded, giving him a small smile but refraining from asking questions. She never met a troll before and felt like maybe she should read some of her fairy tales to brush up on the subject before approaching Kristoff about it again. “Well it was, until I met a fairy” She sighed, smiling a little at the thought of Cornelius before frowning, “But then a lot of things went wrong and then... I came here. Tall.” She tilted her head, curious, “So you have friends from your home here too besides Sven?” 

“Uh huh.” The word was full of doubt, but he didn’t press the issue. Maybe that really was all she meant. It was Fableton so he didn’t think so, but maybe he was just too suspicious of everyone. “I kind of get that,” he added after a moment. “I mostly had trolls and Sven growing up.” He wasn’t sure he’d call himself lonely, but it had definitely affected him and the ways he interacted with other people. It might have something to do with him talking to reindeer as well.

“Trolls?” Maia asked, though she gave a small smile, feeling a bit relieved that she can trust Kristoff somewhat. “I only had animals and bugs. But that was because I... was barely five inches tall.” In truth she actually didn’t know how tall she was back then, mostly because she never actually measured herself. She made sure to know how tall she is now, mostly because she is proud of her height, even if it is supposedly still on the shorter and smaller side compared to others. “I think Sven staying with you is wonderful, though.” 

“No, I guess not,” he agreed. He didn’t know anything about living on a farm, but he’d encountered enough animals in the wild. They mostly left people alone if people left them alone. He continued to string flowers together while they talked, mostly for something to do. “The only one like you?” he repeated, nonplussed.

Maia paused, looking over at Kristoff, wondering if she should actually explain her backstory. He probably would think of her as being crazy. More than he might think now. “I mean, I didn’t have anyone besides my mama and animals growing up. That kind of gets a little lonely when you haven’t met anyone else that was just like you, or your age or have someone to talk to.” 

“What do you do?  Other than make flower crowns,” she added, slightly teasing with a friendly smile.  School was a big part of her life, even if it wasn’t the only thing, but she was curious about what Maia’s role in Fableton was.  “Oh, no, they shouldn’t have trusted me back then.  I’ve been more behaved lately, but I really was as far from an Angel as it came before I came to Fableton,” she admitted with a shrugged shoulder.  As Maia began showing her, Angel followed her instructions, her tongue sticking out the corner of her mouth as she concentrated.

“I work in a flower shop” Maia smiled, “Sophie’s Flower Shop actually. Over by Town Square.” She laughed a little knowing that it meant that she not only made flower crowns and necklaces but also work at a flower shop. There was a time that she loved singing and being on stage but that got her so much trouble. “Well maybe you just needed a friend that did trust you” She suggested, shrugging, “Are you happy being more behaved?” Watching Angel work she gave a soft smile before resuming her own necklace, wondering if Cornelius would like it. Almost immediately she stomped that thought down, knowing it might be weird to give him a necklace. 

He raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t very impressed by her stern look, but he’d had a lot of practice. It was basically his default expression. “No one said you would. But he has ideas of his own.” He couldn’t say with total confidence that Sven wouldn’t go around eating things that were poisonous given the opportunity, and that was a little sad. Kristoff had a basic understanding of the area’s plantlife though, and that was usually enough. “Is making friends useful?” There was no hostility in the question, only mild curiosity. Making friends wasn’t something he particularly excelled at and, truthfully, he didn’t consider it all that important.

Maia nodded, understanding Kristoff’s reasoning and decided that it makes sense. One can always predict what an animal is going to do. “I see. It is kind of like on the farm with my mama, with all the different farm animals. You can’t predict what they are going to do.” She paused in her flower crown making, looking at him with a curious expression. “I mean, I always thought it was somewhat useful. I was alone and the only one like me for so long so I always wanted to meet people like me.” 

“Or, you know, poisonous.” He shrugged. Daisies weren’t particularly toxic, but history suggested Sven would eat just about anything even if it made him sick. Kristoff did his best to keep that from happening, but there was only so much he could do. “My family has some weird ideas about what counts as a ‘useful’ skill.”

“I don’t know a lot of things but I do know flowers” Maia gave him a stern look, or as stern as she can give one, “I wouldn’t give him something poisonous. Intentionally.” She is naive about a lot of things but flowers and animals were not them. However, she can’t stop an animal from eating whatever they find on the ground and she looked around to make sure nothing was around that would make the poor thing too ill. “I mean, it is useful in a way” She shrugged, smiling again, “You’re making friends while doing it.” 

“It’s what a lot of advisers recommend for new students.  There’s a lot to learn there.  It would be a shame to just do something that you think you should do when there are so many other options that might be more interesting, you know?” she mused.  “See, you say that, but try telling that to the many, many people that have heard my name and then assumed I wasn’t the devious little punk I was,” she replied, laughing softly.  She supposed she was living up to her name a bit more nowadays, but she still felt like it was misleading.  Angel sat beside Maia and smiled over at her.  “How long did it take for you to learn?”

“Yeah that is interesting!” Maia listened to Angel as she began to organize the flowers around them to start their own lesson of sorts. There could be something there, taking a class or two. She has never been around people like herself until now, never able to be in a classroom. Now she can do all those things. It still seems terrifying but very exciting too. “Well that is a shame” She remarked, “I am sure you are a nice person. But assumptions often get people in a bit of trouble.” At least, sometimes. “Oh this. I am not sure. Maybe it took me a bit. I’ve been working on it for quite a few years.” She took two flowers and began to show Angel the small knots she was working on. 

“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been told,” she replied, tucking some hair behind her ear.  She always got a little weird whenever someone pointed out a way that she was being responsible, the trait still one she was adjusting to having.  “You could always take classes that interest you.  I knew I wanted to do art, but plenty of people try a few classes first before deciding what they want to study,” she suggested.  Her confused expression had her smiling.  “I just mean that I’m not exactly an angel.  Not a monster either, but definitely not an angel,” she admitted, shrugging a shoulder.  “It’s a good skill to have.  Could you… teach me?”

Listening to Angel talk about taking classes that interest her made Maia wonder what it was that she actually enjoyed doing. She loved flowers and animals, but did she want to take classes to know them better? There was also dancing and singing. Maybe there were classes for that. “Maybe I will see what classes I can try first” Maia nodded, “That is a good suggestion.” It was good to branch out like that. Right? “I don’t think names are quite meant to be so literal” She commented, knowing she full on changed her name from Thumbelina, “But of course I can teach you!” She patted the spot next to her, “Have a seat and we can get started now.” 

“I do.  It’s harder than I thought it would be, but I can tell that I’m becoming a better artist, so the hard work is worth it,” she admitted.  She had never thought of her as the school type, but she was really enjoying her time at FU.  “It’s a little misleading,” she replied, laughing softly.  “Thank you.  So are you.  Well, flower necklace artist at least.  I don’t think I could do something like that.  How’d you learn to do it?”

“That is wonderful! It is really good that you are working hard to do something you enjoy” She remarked, smiling, “It sounds interesting, going to school, but I wouldn’t know what I would study so I am impressed you got that all down.” Misleading? A small look of confusion fell on her face but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she smiled brightly at the mention of the necklace. “Oh, I practiced a lot when I was alone growing up. I also have... A good friend that I gave one to before. I like to keep up the practice.” She wasn’t going to say that she did them a lot more when she first came to Fableton, the necklace reminding her of Cornelius. It was still a little strange, to continue just calling him a friend but she knew that she will get used to it. In time. 

“He’ll eat it if you let him,” he said dryly about the necklace. He took a seat next to her as Sven came closer, tongue lolling, clearly looking for pats. “His name is Sven. He’s friendly.” Friendlier than Kristoff at any rate. Making daisy chains was one of the sillier skills he’d learned from the trolls, but he thought he remembered how to do it. He plucked a few and strung them together as she had, his fingers working nimbly through the knots.

Maia giggled, “Well that is okay, I suppose. Sven has to eat after all and they are not too difficult to make.” Reaching her hand out, she gently began to pat the reindeer, looking at him fondly. “He definitely seems friendly. It is nice to meet you, Sven.” She continued to pet the creature as she glanced over to Kristoff, her eyebrows rising a bit at the beginning of his daisy chain. “I didn’t know that you were familiar with making stuff like this.” 

Angel took the necklace, gently placing it over her head and adjusting it so it was aligned well beneath her hair.  It was beautiful.  She wondered if she’d made a fair trade after all.  “Studying to be,” she nodded.  “I’m a fine art and design major at FU,” she explained.  “I’m glad you like it.  I’m Angel.  It’s nice to meet you, Maia.”

“Oh right. There is a university here” Maia remarked, smiling as she wondered about the school. “Do you like it there?” She has briefly thought about going to school, furthering educating herself on this world. But that cost money, another thing in this world she had to understand about quickly and she wasn’t sure if she could afford it. “Angel is a lovely name” She smiled, “You are a really good artist.” 

Angel was back in the park with her sketchbook, hoping something interesting would pop up for her to put onto paper.  When the woman sat down and began making flower necklaces, she knew she’d found her subject.  Surprisingly, she finished her sketch right around the time the woman finished her necklace, and she decided to go over and thank her, potentially offer her the final piece.  She laughed softly at the offer that was presented to her when she got closer.  “How about we trade?” she suggested, carefully tearing the sketch from her sketchbook and holding it out to her.  “Sorry, the lighting was just too good not to capture.”

Maia blinked before smiling brightly and nodding, “Oh of course! A trade works.” Handing over the necklace, she gently took the sketch, looking at it. “This is really good. Are an artist of sorts?” She asked, looking up at the young woman, “Thank you for this, it’s really pretty.” Glancing back at the sketch, she had a soft look at her face, knowing that she doesn’t take too many photos or anything like this often. “My name is Maia, what’s yours?” 

Kristoff was talking to Sven in a low voice as they wandered around the grassy area. He didn’t like to leave his friend cooped up in the stables all the time, even if it had a fenced-in area for grazing, and he didn’t much care if people thought it was strange for him to be walking around with a reindeer. He broke off when he realized they weren’t alone, but the wariness quickly faded from his face when he recognized her. “Oh, hey. It’s Maia, right?” His gaze flicked to the flower chain in her hands, and he shook his head. “No, thanks.” After the slightest hesitation, he added, “Do you mind if we join you?”

“Yup. Hello Kristoff” Maia’s smile faded just slightly as she look at her flower necklace, wringing it a bit, “Oh. Okay.” It was a bit childish, wasn’t it? Making flower necklaces and whatnot. Shaking her head, she resumed her brightness, “Not at all. Feel free to join me.” Looking over at the reindeer, she clapped her hands, “Who is your friend? He certainly looks like a sweet creature.”