To Build A Life (open)

A blight in the dark, dancing darkness and shadows, a silent nightmare. Sitting up with a start the teen blinked and stood. The bench made his neck ache, he had been at a bus stop waiting for his uncle but the man forgot again, leading him to pass out to nap. Stretching he took his backpack and looked to the sky. It was still day out. After his glance he went to a hobby shop. Slowly and surely he got there. Looking up at the sign Dustain smiled. He could get supplies to make a new Marionette. He needed a new one anyway. His last one got smashed when it fell from the stairs in his uncle's house. This store should have what he needed. He needed a knife, wood, pins, special paint... fabric. It be hard but he needed at least some things. Pushing the door open he went inside. The store was quiet. Dustain went fast to the craft wood to look at the cheepest but most reliable wood he could find.

Elsa needed some things for a project of hers, she wanted to get some plain fake flowers and than paint them to decorate her room. She walked into the hobby shop and looked around, it was a very nice store she thought. She also remembered she needed some wood for one of Carlisle's projects, her brother always liked making things.

Elsa walked towards the woods, she had no idea which one he would need to make his project. She huffed a bit as she tried to think. She finally just grabbed some random wood and walked towards the other end of the aisle when she suddenly tripped and ran into a young boy. " Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm super clumsy, are you ok?" She asked him kindly.

It was an interesting factor, some wood despite the same grain and colour it seemed to be more price taking. Made his wallet scream figuratively. Though he had to admit the wood he needed, had to be soft. Which, in his case, cost a lot. He sighed and counted the money he had before sighing yet again. He needed the wood. Moving his hand he picked it up then looked upward. Paint! Taking three small jars he stepped back and counted how much it was in his head. As he counted he was ran into. With a urk or so he blinked before he looked at her, he had managed to catch the paints, "Uh oh hey. It's ok. Nothing harmed." He said and saw the wood she held, "You do woodcraft?" He asked. He didn't expect to talk so much but he did need to since he got bumped.

Elsa was glad the young man wasn't hurt or had paint spilled on him or anything, he looked about Carlisle's age maybe a bit younger. She shrugged inwardly, when he asked about the wood she held in her hand she blinked. " Oh this? Nah, my brother is more into wood crafting and all that kinda stuff. He is trying to build a bird house for Art class and, well, he went through all the wood the professor gave him and he needed more so i came here to get him some. While i was here i thought I'd get me some fake flowers to paint and put in my dorm." She said with a shrug.

" You're into woodcrafting I see," she said as she nodded to the wood. " I'm Elsa, Elsa Vega, what's your name?" She asked him kindly.

Dustain hadn't really socialized in most of his life. Mainly due to just being so absorbed in his work as a kid, all thanks to his father. He still dreamed of those strange puppets. However he sighed and put the items on the counter and began to look for the rather tiny nails and pins. As she explained he was silent and listened, not trying to be rude but he didn’t want to forget things he needed. It was rather nice to know someone else used wood out there.

Wood was fun to work with as well as dangerous. He had cut himself many times with his carving tool, though he paused once he found what he needed then spoke, “Is he making a mansion for birds?” wait dorm? Was she a student in a college? At least they had something in common, least sort of to his knowledge.

Dustain smiled with a soft nod, “I make puppets. Or Marionettes. My dad taught me when I was little.” He said after gathering his supplies and then nodded again, “Dustain, Dustain Clydious Frynge. A mouthful but heck might as well and say it here and there.” The male laughed before looking around. This was a bit too far from the fabric but he didn’t mind it, “Isn’t your name Danish or Sweedish? I remember it from an old story by a rather weird author.”

Elsa watched as the young man looked for his items as she spoke, she knew he was listening even if it looked like he wasn't. Her brother would do the same thing, but he'd be half listening to her. She looked at some of the paint they had for the wood and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

When he asked about if he was making a bird house mansion she giggled. " I wish. He had built so many and messed up each and everyone of them that he deemed them 'unusable' so while he had classes I told him that i'd get some while i was in town." She said simply, her brother was good at many things, but wood carving, not so much.

Elsa listened as he spoke. " Oh you make marionettes. That's pretty cool, must be very difficult though." She stated, when he said his full name she nodded. " It is a bit of a mouthful but i've heard longer names, my middle names Teagen, not that much of a mouthful but." She shrugged a bit, when he asked about her name she smiled at him. " It's swedish. Most people are reminded about the movie 'Frozen' and yeah...i've been asked one to many times to sing 'Let it Go'." She shook her head a bit. She noticed he looked around a bit. " Looking for something particular?"

He listened and counted his items. Calculating the price made him know there would be no fabric buying today. It didn't matter, he could just use old shirts. Dustain didn't mind it but he did need to keep some money left over, yet he chuckled a bit, "I bet a few could be used. A bird house does not need to be extravagant or wondrous to be used by a bird. So long as it's safe and clean a bird will enjoy it's home." The male said and made sure to stack things so they wouldn't fall. He nodded to her. It was difficult. Especially since some had to be detailed and some just looked like artist maniquins.

Snickering he shook his head, "Because no one knows of the story of Elsa, the one Hans Christian Anderson wrote. Entitled the Ice Queen." He blinked then looked down. Maybe she didnt? What if by telling her that version in short would be upsetting? It was a sad story. No happy ending at all. Yet as he thought she woke his brain a bit and he chuckled nervously, "Well I did need fabric for my project but I need to save money. I'll just ask my uncle for some. But would you like help while you are here?"

Elsa watched him count his items, wondering why he was. She shrugged inwardly, maybe he wanted to make sure he hand all the items he needed? She didn't know but listened as he spoke and she nodded. " I know right? But he is determined to get an A and will not be happy with anything less, so I just say 'ooookay' and go and buy the wood he needs." She laughed softly, she wondered if it had something to do with it being his first year or something? She contemplated this for a few moments.

" I haven't heard the story, is it any good?" She asked him curiously, she noticed he hesitated. " Is the story really that bad?" She asked with a small smile and a raised eye brow, when he said he didn't have enough money for fabric she thought for a moment. " I can buy it for you if you'd like? I have more than enough money to spare?" She offered kindly, being a dancer sure had it's perks sometimes. " Umm...I'm trying to think, I need paint for my flowers. Carlisle has paint for his bird house, sooooo....hmmm." She said as she scratched her head in thought, she wasn't sure what all she needed to find.

Sure the male was interested in keeping some cash but then again this gift he had, cost a lot to keep practicing with. His favorite puppet to use was getting old, rather more it was not able to move the way it used to. Some joints were too stiff, some were so loose that they bent in the wrong direction at times.Though he had to admit, striving for an A was pretty big it seemed. Though he did have to admit, he wanted to get good grades it be a bit hard. Dustain wanted to get good grade but maybe he should see if he could help the guy?

Yet when she asked him about it he winced, "Well... for one Anna doesn't live past a little girl. It upsets Elsa a lot, enough that well... she goes crazy. Loosing Anna who kept her happy took a toll on her. There really was no happy ending..." he looked down, "The Snow Queen, was a sad tale about reality... Hans Christian Anderson wrote it. Its sad." he said softly. Though he blinked, "Wait... you'd help me? Do I owe you for it?" he asked. He chuckled then spoke, "I could help you find things if you want." he said before smiling a bit.

Elsa could see Dustain was in thought and she kept quiet until he spoke about the story. When she listened she nodded softly. " Oh. It actually sounds interesting, I may look into it. But it is kinda sad though, but they had to alter it some for little children because kids want happy happy fun movies with a happy ending." She said with a shrug. " Do you attend a university?" She asked him curiously, she swore she had seen him before but couldn't place him.

Elsa smiled. " Of course I'd help you, why shouldn't I?" She asked him. " No you don't owe me. I have some extra cash I can spare, come on, you pick out the fabric and I'll buy it." She said kindly, she didn't mind helping someone out if they needed it, and it seemed that Dustain needed it so he could complete his marionette.

Elsa nodded. " Ok. You help me with what I need and than we'll go get what you need." She said with a smile, he reminded her a bit of Carlisle in a way, she didn't know if it was because he looked around his age or if it was just her older sister side messing with her.

The male nodded at her, it was sad but he did feel bad. Though he nodded, it was a bit different than the Disney one. However he blinked then nodded with a smile, Luna something... I can't fully say the last part." yet deep down he could have sworn she was familiar now that he thought on it but maybe not? Moving he began to lead the way to the flowers, "Thanks for wanting to help me." he said as he stood before the isle and smiled, "Maybe some time I can introduce you to my two marionettes." he said softly.

Elsa sensed he felt bad and she looked at him. " Don't feel bad for telling me Dustain. I actually am interested in the story, and not all stories can be full of sunshine and rainbows." She said kindly, she walked with him toward the flowers. When he spoke about the school her smile widened.

" Luna Vermiculus University? Yeah, it's latin so it's hard to say. Everyone calls it LVU or just Luna." She said, she knew she had seen him somewhere. " You're a...freshman? Right?" She asked him politely as they came to the fake flower aisle.

Elsa smiled at him. " You're very welcome. I'm more than happy to help." She said as she began to look at some of the flowers. " I'd like that if you showed me a couple of marionettes." She said softly as she began picking some flowers. " Wanna help me pick some flowers Dustain? I have a hard time making decisions." She laughed softly.

He truly felt sorry for saying it, but she was interested and it made him feel better. Dustain never met anyone who appreciated the darker side of things like this. To know true beauty you must first know the darker side of it. Yet when she said the name of the school he nodded, "Yes that! I'm going to be a freshman there.... I came to learn more about my gift." he said softly. He then began to look about the flowers... moving he began to pick some out for her, based on how she was to him. Nice, gentle, and friendly. Flowers to match her. Smiling he held them to her, "To pick fake ones is like to dig inside the soul. You pick by your heart not the eyes. I figured these would match the way you are to me. Nice, kind, & friendly." he smiled more, "I can show you sometime. Just my marionette's are at the school."

Elsa listened and she nodded. " Oh what's your gift? I'm part muse part human, so I can influence or help peoples creativity. But only with music. My mom was the muse of music." She said with a smile, she hoped he wasn't one of those people who would say she was insane and needed to be committed to Havergaust Asylum.

Elsa was looking at flowers when she heard Dustain, she smiled sweetly as he handed the flowers to her. " Thank you. These are perfect." She said she than grabbed the paint she would use to paint the flowers along with some brushes. " Now, let's go get your fabric you need yeah?" She said as she grabbed his hand gently and practically dragged him to the fabrics just like she would do with Carlisle.

" Ok. When we're done here we can go back to the school and you can show me your marionette's. Unless you have somewhere else to go before heading back to Luna?" She asked him.

Dustain blinked before bookworm mode kicked in again, "Like the Greek Muse? So the Greeks did have a right to say those were real?! That is so fascinating!" though he looked down. There was nothing he could use to show her! Turning he followed and spoke, "Well, I am able to make the puppets live and dance. It is hard to explain." he said softly. He began to grab the fabrics and spoke, "Nope, just was gonna go back- but I can make the puppets move. They don't need strings. When I was a kid my father would make me put on shows for people. Well more like... force." he finished and looked up, "I got all I need."

Elsa giggled at how excited Dustain seemed when she told him she was a muse. " Yes. They are real, my mom was the muse of music, there are a lot of muse children as well as demi-gods and goddesses. Norse gods exist as well." She informed him as well. When he spoke about his gift she nodded. " When we get back to Luna how about you show me your gift?" She asked him, she had special access to the freshmans common room because of Carlisle, she didn't go in there much unless it was to see him.

Elsa's eyes narrowed. " Your dad forced you? Thats not very nice." She told him honestly, she saw him grab the fabrics he needed and she walked to the register with him. " Alrighty. Lets go pay for this stuff." She told him, she set her things down on the counter and turned to Dustain. " Put your stuff up here too silly." She said kindly.

The male, Dustain, was such a curious lad. He loved to learn new things, what was more - was that he loved to learn about myths and legend. To hear these were real, it got him so excited. Her question about seeing his gift made him smile a bit. Nodding a "yes" to her he then sighed. Nodding once again he looked away, "It put me in a coma once." Dustain whispered. Once she was ready to pay he waited then smiled with a nod. Putting the items on the counter Dustain waited, "Thank you for helping me pay for this stuff."

Elsa looked at Dustain and smiled. " You like urban myths and legends don't you?" She asked him curiously as she walked with him. When he told her that he had been put into a coma she blinked. " Oh my god. I can't believe that your dad let that happen! Thats just terrible." She said with a shake of her head, how could a father push and use their child's gift so much that they put their child into a coma. Elsa paid for her things and helped pay for Dustains things and she smiled at him. " You're very welcome. I try to help out as much as I can." She said, once he had his things she walked out to the parking lot and came up to her car and she opened her passenger side door before getting in the drivers side. She put her bags in the backseat and looked at Dustain. " Get in silly. This will be much faster than walking or waiting on a bus." She told him kindly.