(We are so back.
...is it bad that I kinda love Constable Lumph? He's only mad at Eugene because he stole from him, and otherwise he's actually a really chill and polite guy, from what we're shown.)
(Chapter warnings: a few small time inconsistencies in conversation because I added a side conversation with Varian in the middle of another conversation and I'm too lazy to move it 😝 - pretend like it works right, prison anxiety/minor flashbacks due to past experiences)
"The hamlet of Pincosta!" Rapunzel exclaimed, sitting on the front of the caravan. Varian - sitting between her and Cassandra - yawned, then quickly covered his mouth as Cassandra threw a side-eye his way.
"Sorry," he mumbled through another yawn. "Hook kept me up all last night. Snores like a binturong with a head cold." Cassandra stifled a quiet snicker. With a sigh, Varian reclined as much as he could against the front of the caravan. However, Ruddiger squeaked in protest as his tail was caught between Varian's back and the wood. "Whoops, sorry buddy." Varian leaned forward slightly to allow Ruddiger to move his tail - who squeaked at him once he did - and then settled back once more, eyes moving back to Rapunzel.
"-known for its warm smiles, hardy handshakes, and world-famous-" Rapunzel paused for effect. "-Pincostan Pecan Pie."
"Sounds wonderful," Varian murmured, half asleep. "Though I prefer blueberry." He jerked back to consciousness as the caravan thumped over a rock, and, sitting back up, resigned himself to a day of tiredness.
"What'd you do, memorize the travel guide?" Cassandra asked, no more energy in her voice than Varian had. Rapunzel shrugged.
"Only through the Vs," she admitted. "That's why I wasn't very much help in Zoolberg." Lance threw open the front window.
"Did someone say 'Pecan Pie?'" he asked in an already-daydreaming voice. "What are we waiting for? Can't this thing go any faster!?" He swiftly ducked back inside before coming out of the side door. "Nevermind, I'll meet you there!" With that, Lance ran off to fulfill his pie fantasies, before quickly tripping and falling down a hill. The rest of the group collectively winced as he made contact with the ground - multiple times.
"Probably should've waited until we got to the bottom of the hill," Cassandra commented, voice still characteristically flat. Varian nodded in agreement.
"Gravity is a mean force," he added.
"Do we have to go to the hamlet of Pincosta?" Eugene asked, standing next to the caravan. "I mean, what is a hamlet anyway? Sounds like a tiny ham-"
"A hamlet is generally defined as a small settlement smaller than a town or village, often with no central place of worship," Varian offered, eyes closed at this point.
"IGNORE GOGGLES, HE'S HALF ASLEEP-" Eugene interjected indignantly. He turned back to the girls. "What's the point of going, amiright? No thank you!" He gave a rather forced-sounding laugh. "And you can get a hearty handshake anywhere." Varian's eyes fluttered open just in time to see Cassandra and Rapunzel exchanging a look. "Look, I say we take the scenic route! I love scenic routes, you love scenic routes! And you know why? 'Cause there's scenery!"
"Eugene..." A small smile crept onto Rapunzel's face. "Are you wanted here?"
"Yes," Eugene replied shamelessly. "I am wanted here. Very very much so."
"I figured," Varian said. Rapunzel's eyes saddened slightly.
"We have to go, Eugene," she told him. "We need food." As if on cue, Pascal and Ruddiger's stomachs growled in harmony.
"We've got plenty of food!" Eugene protested. He quickly took out their food sack. "Look how full this thing is!" A snoring noise emanated from said sack. "Shorty's in here, isn't he?"
YOU ARE READING
Secrets of an Alchemist
Fanfiction[TEMP HIATUS] Updates: ~Weekly, unless stated otherwise (Or two weeks between the end of one episode and the start of another) In a rewatch of Keeper of the Spire one day, I had an idea. And that idea... that idea grew into a fanfic. 🧪 What if Hect...
