Welcome to Arendelle!/For the First Time in Forever...
♪For the first time,
*Pain WASHED AWAY*-
For the first time,
*I saw a way*
There COULD BE a place for me:
A place with a *FAMILY*-
*Love and shelter for all my days*...!♪
"The Music of Love", 'Frankenstein: A New Musical'
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Up until now, Pinocchio had only ever seen glimpses of an *ACTUAL village or town* from- HIS windows, or the occasional open crack of a front door as a customer was coming in or going out. Seeing one IN FULL (kind of) had only happened in his dreams and daydreams, reading about it in his books, or watching them onscreen in a movie or television show. So he'd never been out in Pariva proper ...and would never, now that he'd run away. (Desperately dashing through town didn't count.)
But HERE, *NOW*...
It was like something out of a storybook with modern touches! Children his age, older, and younger raced about laughing and shrieking while their parents shopped, gossiped, visited, or sold their wares inside and outside. The streets were clean- the beautiful houses well-cared for. In the distance, he could see the peak of a snow-capped mountain, even though down in the town it was pleasantly warm.
The air smelled *wonderfully* of both fir trees and the sea- the result of the massive forest that lay just behind the kingdom and the sparkling clear blue water that stretched out in front.
From what little Sebastian had told him and from what- HE had relayed, it was actually almost like being back in Pariva sans the awful betrayal and heartache; just Norwegian rather than Italian, though still nestled among a mountain range.
"*It's BEAUTIFUL*, isn't it, 'Nocchi?" Hans murmured happily at his side, breathing in the fresh air. "*Nothing like* the Southern Isles, that's for sure! The castle, included. Looks more like something out of a fairy-tale instead of a long dark sea-serpent hidden amongst rock made of the same material."
"Well, that sounds gloomy," chirruped Sebastian, whom Hans had by now been introduced to.
'It was,' Hans' eyes said even though his mouth didn't aloud. 'It was *a PRISON* to me, and my father was the jailer.'
Sitron, Hans' handsome dun-colored horse, nickered and softly nudged his rider's cheek- Figaro, a little black-and-white kitten, mewled comfortingly from Hans' shoulder-satchel. (They had both also now truly met and had almost instantly become fond of Pinocchio, who of course returned the sentiments.) Pinocchio gently squeezed his now-brother's hand that he was already holding and looked up at him.
'It's okay, Hans,' was what they were all saying to the self-exiled prince. 'You're no longer there, and *NEVER* will be again! You don't have to deal with and try to avoid THEM anymore. They'll *never hurt you* again, if any of us have anything to say about it...!'
"Thank you, 'mine venner' (my friends)," Hans chuckled a little damply, blinking away both hurt and touched tears in his light hazel-green eyes. "'Min *familie*'..."
"'"Ohana" means "family", and "family" means *NOBODY* gets LEFT BEHIND- *or FORGOTTEN*"'," Sebastian quoted from Pinocchio's vest pocket while giving Hans a kind sympathetic look. "That's how 'family' *SHOULD be*, anyway!"
Pinocchio nodded in quiet vehement agreement.
"*Agreed ONE-HUNDRED PERCENT*," Hans also replied. Then he chuckled upon hearing Sitron neigh and Figaro meow, "Seems like the vote's unanimous."
By now, the two newcomers (five, counting Sitron, Figaro, and a hidden Sebastian) seemed to have garner some attention. The *POSITIVE kind*, thankfully.
"Welcome to Arendelle!" said a sweet-faced blonde woman dressed in green and purple. "Are you both new here? Haven't seen you two boys around before."
Pinocchio shrank back against Hans' side in sudden shy nervousness as Sebastian went quiet. He felt a bit better upon registering his adopted older brother's warm long-fingered hand gently resting on his shoulder, though. (Thank heavens he'd Shifted back to 'human' just before they'd gotten off the ship! He didn't know how Arendelle viewed actual magic...)
"We are, yes, 'min dame' (my lady)," said Hans courteously. "Just arrived from far away! I'm Hans, and this is my younger brother Pinocchio. This is our horse Sitron, and our cat Figaro. It's okay, 'Nocchi- don't be scared. She just wants to say 'hi'."
Pinocchio swallowed hard, then stepped forward a bit in order to bow and tip his Tyrolean cap. "Ch-'Ciao, signora'," he stammered through a nervous yet still bright sweet smile. "H-How do you do?"
The blonde lady giggled and curtsied in turn, instantly charmed by Pinocchio's adorableness and good manners. "'Hallo', young Pinocchio! Well enough, thank you. My, what nice manners you have- just like your brother! And just as handsome- you're going to be a heartbreaker yourself when you grow up, I'm sure of it!
"Hmm... you spoke a bit of *Italian* even though your elder brother spoke our native language. Are you and he half-Italian?"
*Yikes*. Pinocchio's mind froze like a lake in winter, unsure of what to say to that. Luckily, Hans did.
"We're mostly Italian, but our mother's side of the family has some Norse and Danish blood," he replied smoothly. "Our father was a woodcarver, and our mother was born into a baker's family, though she had a great love of singing and performing. 'Nocchi takes after them both, sans the 'prima donna' ascept our 'madre' was known around town for."
"Ahhh. And yourself?"
"Mm... something of a mix, but I think I'm a bit more like our uncle, actually."
"You said 'was' relating to them. Are they- not around anymore?"
Pinocchio bit his lower lip and rubbed at his arm as Hans stiffened a bit and his eyes went dark, cold, and sad. "We're- We're- W-We're kinda dead to each other now, 'signora'," the dark-haired child-Creation said sadly. "H-Hans 'n I both c-came out, if- if you know what I mean, and n-neither 'f them at all liked it. They- They were gonna send us away from each other t-to separate con-conversion th-therapy places, but- b-but we r-ran away that night so w-we'd still be t'gether."
He *HATED* lying like this- he really did. But something told him that magic outside of stories wasn't exactly encouraged in Arendelle due to something *BAD* happening here in the past, so his being a part-Faerie and Creation would still be a secret that *HAD TO be kept*. -Besides, it would have been true where HANS' so-called family (sans Prince Lars) was concerned anyway, from what he'd been told so far.
"Your poor things!" the motherly-looking woman clucked sympathetically. "SHAME ON THEM both for treating their own sons like that! I hope it somehow *haunts them* until their dying days...! Well, you needn't worry about being accepted here; it's *completely legal* to be openly gay, bi, or panromantic here in Arendelle! Why, we even have a pair of married women who are the best blacksmiths in the village! And such nice ladies, as well-!"
Illegal on the Southern Isles under Hans' former father's iron-fisted rule, yes ...but had *Pariva* been in the same boat??? Pinocchio didn't know. Maybe he should look it up sometime...
Well, at least here in Arendelle he could *SOMEWHAT be himself*. Even in the future sometimes, girls were just- um, *NOTHANKYOU* romantically-wise! Who knew, with Hans??
"No other family, 'Herre' Hans?"
"-Yes, good 'Fru'. But neither our aunt nor our uncle could take us in, and 'Padre' didn't have any other family on his side."
True, on Zia Chiara's part. Zio Niccolo hadn't even known about his surprise nephew, though- and wouldn't ever, unless the Forgetting Spell was somehow lifted over Pariva and he and G-Gep-Geppetto got to talking. (Would he have been kind- accepting?? Loving, even? Pinocchio liked to think that he would have been so, even if more than a bit flabbergasted at first...)
"Hmm... Looking for a job, I take it?"
"'Ja', my lady."
"Well now, I might be able to help you there... You say that your mother's side of the family are bakers? Well, 'Fru' Tomally of Tomally's Baked Goods is looking for another assistant in her bakery; and should you, your brother, your cat, and your horse need a place to stay, she will be more than willing to offer it to you as well!"
"*Wonderful*! Could you please direct us there, 'min dame'?"
"I'll do you one better, young Hans- I'll *TAKE you four there*! I've finished my shopping and have nothing else to do right now, so I might as well simply do a good deed."
"Gee- *really*??! Thank you very much, 'Signora'! We really appreciate it!"
"Oh, it's nothing, sweetheart- but you're both very welcome, anyway. Come along, then; to Tomally's Baked Goods! -Ah; I apologize for never once offering *MY name*. I am 'Fru' Eliza."
%"Pleased to meet you, 'Fru' Eliza%!"
"And 'tis wonderful to *meet YOU TWO*, young 'herres' Hans and Pinocchio."
'She's awful nice. I hope the others in our new home plus this Ms. Tomally will be, too... I hope I can actually make some friends my own age or close to it in school.'
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Tomally's Baked Goods was a cozy-looking bakery connected to a just-as-pretty and snug-looking home. The bakery was painted sunset-orange, and the house calming shades of blue and green. Tomally herself was a plump solid-looking woman with warm brown eyes and sandy-brown hair pulled back in a bun wearing a simple dark blue dress under a flour-and-butter-stained white apron, and the man standing next to her with a matching gold wedding band on his left hand was round-bellied, short, completely bald, had just-as-kind dark eyes, and smelled of mint. He must be her husband...
"'Fru' Eliza! And what brings you here today? Fresh bread? Some cookies? Cake for a special occasion?"
"None of the above today, thank you, 'Fru' Tomally. We have a couple of newcomers here in Arendelle, and Hans here is looking for a job in order to support himself and his younger brother Pinocchio. And since I was told some of their family were bakers, I thought of you and took them here."
The two younger males were given a quiet taking-in look- then 'Fru' Tomally's eyes softened further when she realized why they were apparently alone. "I see," she said quietly, then asking gently of Hans, "Was it death in the family, or something else?"
"S-Somethin' else, Sig-'Signora' Tomally." It was Pinocchio who quietly replied when Hans didn't seem able to speak, rubbing his lip between his teeth and fiddling with the hem of his dungarees. "W-We- We b-both came o-out 'f the closet, and- and they were awful angry 'n u-upset about it. So- So Hans 'n I left. We're- We're pretty much dead t' each other, now. S-So- it- it was kinda sorta a 'death in th' family'."
Fru Tomally clucked her own tongue in sympathetic anger as her husband shook his head in the same manner. "That is such a shame- I am so sorry. Well, you are both safe here in Arendelle when it comes to that. There *USED TO be a law against it*, but good King Agnarr changed that when he took the throne." 'And at *only fourteen years old* after his father was killed, the poor lad!'
"Looking for a job, are you, young Hans?"
"'Ja', Fru Tomally," Hans nodded.
"Have you ever worked in a bakery before?"
"No, ma'am; only ever read about it or saw it on television, or saw it in person when we'd visit Uncle Nico's bakeshop. But I'm more than willing to learn!"
"...Well, I do need an assistant, and beggars can't be choosers. And if you say that you're willing- you're hired, Hans. Do you and your brother have a place to stay, yet?"
They both shook their heads, Pinocchio flushing a little.
A silent conversation between Fru Tomally and her husband Herre Johann, then the latter said warmly, "Well, then- you are more than welcome to stay with us. Your cat and horse, too! We have a small stable out back that's never really been used, but will work out fine for him or her once it's cleaned up and out. We only have one guest-room, though- I'm afraid you'll have to share a bed."
That was just fine with both boys. (Pinocchio didn't really care to sleep alone, anyway.)
"How old are you and Pinocchio, Hans? What is your last name?" Tomally then wanted to know.
THIS, at least, they could be honest about, same as their orientation.
"I'm twenty years old, Fru Tomally- 'Nocchi here was a late-in-life kind of planned-yet-'oops' baby, so he's nine instead of closer to my age. Our last name?? -Well, now, it's 'Belmagio'."
"Any middle names? Just so we know for the paperwork to get you two instated as Arendellian and Norwegian citizens?"
"'Santino Jacob Tyler'."
"E-Ed-'Edward Seth Benjamin'."
"*Goodness*! Quite long names... But they suit you both nicely, I have to admit."
'More than ye know where "Edward" is concerned, milady,' Sebastian mused ruefully from Pinocchio's pocket.
"...I don't suppose you'd be willing to share a couple or few Italian confection recipes?" queried Herre Johann hopefully, making his wife playfully slap his arm.
After making sure that Hans was okay with it- "'Si'- yes! Of course, Mr. Johann 'n Mrs. Tomally! I'd be more than happy to do that! I'm sure that Arendelle would LOVE t' have some 'Italia' treats from your bakery as well as Norwegian...!"
"Well, it seems like you're both going to get on just fine from here. I will leave the young 'herres' Belmagio in your hands, Fru Tomally- Herre Johann. I must get back home, or *MY OWN husband* will be worried about me!"
"Don't *want THAT* now, do we? 'Ha det', Fru Eliza! Have a nice rest of your day."
"The same to you, Fru Tomally and Herre Johann. Goodbye, young 'herre' Hans and Pinocchio! Welcome to Arendelle, as I said before!"
"'Ha det', Fru Eliza. And thank you very much for helping us out as well as welcoming us."
"G-Goodbye, Mrs. Eliza! Y-Yes- t-thanks a lot for not leavin' Hans 'n I plus Sitron and Figaro stranded in our new home!"
"You are very welcome, 'muller'. A shame the royal family doesn't come down to the village like they used to; I think they'd very much like you both, such nice sweet well-mannered young men... Ah, well- it is what it is, and will be for some time yet. No use crying over spilt milk, so to speak."
That was right. Lars had told him and Hans had read that the royal family of Arendelle were recluses- especially Crown Princess Elsa. *Why exactly*, nobody knew; but it had started ten years ago, and hadn't stopped since ...this very day, actually, come to think of it.
It did not matter much right now, though. His to-be-new job and Pinocchio's well-being mental, physical, and emotional were first and foremost in the self-exiled prince's mind. His family including Sitron, Figaro, and Sebastian came first, and now always would...
"It's getting close to closing-time and supper-time, by now. Let me just close up early for the night, and then I'll fix us some dinner. Johann, love, would you please show Hans and Pinocchio to the guest-room so they can unpack after Hans sees to his horse?"
"Of course, 'elskede'. Come on, lads- let's make that stable livable for Sitron, and then untack, groom, and feed him."
Taking care of Sitron, at least, was familiar territory- washing, drying, and putting away dishes was a bit more of a problem, but luckily Hans had often secretly watched the Westergaards' servants and took careful note of what they did when it came to chores. And Pinocchio was more than used to chores for all that his own 'padre' had been a bit well-off, so he was quite able to give Hans some whispered instruction here and there, and would do the same with his new job when 'Nocchi' himself wasn't busy.
All-in-all, not a bad first day in their new home- especially since at the end of it Hans was actually snuggling down beside someone in bed and dreaming non *BITTER-sweet* for once. No one knew who he *TRULY was*- thanks to Fru Agata's Forgetting Spell, all anyone remembered about the Southern Isle's princes was that there were twelve of them. TWELVE, not *thirteen*!
He was now just Hans, which would have once greatly bothered him ...but now he couldn't think of anything better. After being an *OLDER brother*, of course. And he would *NEVER* be anything *like THEM* towards 'Nocchi if he could help it-!