Fairy Tale - Prologue
Nov. 18th, 2024 02:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iridesenescenceSeason: Spring
Eichi: That's a lot of picture books, Tori.
Tori: Here we go... ♪ Phew.
That's not all of them yet, Eichi-sama. Yuzuru's carrying three times the amount I was.
Yuzuru: Indeed. I shall set my pile down over here then.
Wataru: Hm, hm. From Cinderella, Snow White, to Jack and the Beanstalk, The Farmer and the Badger, and even The Honest Woodcutter and Hansel and Gretel...
I see you've gathered fairy tales from all across the world, spanning the Grimms' and Andersen's tales to folktales passed down in Japan.
Yuzuru: Yes, Bocchama and I visited quite a number of libraries to gather as many picture books of familiar stories as we could.
Eichi: You wanted us to rate the picture books, if I recall correctly?
Tori: Ah, yeah. Let me explain.
Of course, you already know this, Eichi-sama, but remember how the construction plans for the amusement park Atlantis were temporarily halted?
Well, thanks to Ryuseitai, the problems on that end have been resolved.
And since it's been resolved, it means plans for the main attraction have to be put in motion.
Eichi: The main attraction?
Tori: Yeah. The area's theme will be a mess if the main attraction isn't decided on first, right?
Wataru: Hm, that's a fair point. Popular theme parks do tend to designate an area for each theme.
Eichi: Ah, I see. I think I understand what you're trying to say, Tori.
So you want to pick the theme for the main attraction from these picture books?
Tori: That's right! I knew you'd get it, Eichi-sama ♪
I thought it might be better to hear everyone's opinions instead of deciding everything myself. I want Atlantis to be an amusement park that all sorts of people will enjoy, after all.
Personally, I was thinking "Cinderella" might be a good choice. It's got a fancy setting, and it's a well-known fairy tale.
Eichi: Cinderella, huh? A story about a blessed girl who, out of sheer luck, was given a phenomenal opportunity even without doing anything.
Tori: ... Huh?
Eichi-sama...? I think that's a little different from the story that I know...
Um, then what about "The Little Mermaid"?
Since we're building Atlantis, a fairy tale tied to the sea would make sense. Though I'd prefer a story with a happy ending...
Eichi: Goodness. I'm astounded at the impulsiveness of the mermaid for leaving behind a life of stability to chase after a transient romance. How could she be so foolish? Don't you think it's too hasty of a decision?
Tori: H-huh...?
Yuzuru: Eichi-sama, please stop making unnecessary comments on the fairy tales like that.
Each stab you take at the fairy tales is also a stab taken at Bocchama's motivation.
Eichi: Whoops, looks like I've angered Tori's excellent butler. I'll behave myself and stop talking for a while, then.
Tori: Ah, no, it's okay. I did ask for your opinions, so I want to hear them no matter what they may be.
Actually, what kind of picture books do you like, Yuzuru?
Yuzuru: Myself? Well, let's see... I suppose a picture book that catches my attention would be this one.
Wataru: Oho, so your choice is "The Happy Prince", Butler-san?
Taking pity on a sorrowful gilded statue of a prince, a swallow helps grant the prince's wish by delivering the gold leaf covering the statue to the poor people across town.
It ends on quite a tragic note, though.
Yuzuru: Yes. I feel a sort of kinship with the swallow, who was so devoted it was even willing to place its own life on the line.
However, even if it were a request from my master himself, I would never do anything that would be disadvantageous to him.
Even if such actions could help others in need, to lose my master would make me a disgrace of a butler.
Tori: Then that's just your story, it wouldn't work as a fairy tale.
Yuzuru: Right, so I would change the title to "The Prince Is Happy".
Tori: Are you even trying to help pick a story for this?
What kind of picture book would you pick, Hibiki-senpai? You seem like you'd enjoy fun stories, so I'm just a little interested to hear from you.
Wataru: Amazing ☆ If Himegimi's interested, then I must give my all here!
Why yes, I do love fun stories! And "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" is simply as fun as it gets!
Tori: "The Pied Piper of Hamelin"? What was that story about...?
Yuzuru: If I recall correctly... In a town that is plagued by a swarm of rats, a pipe-playing boy appears.
The villagers promise to reward him for his work, so he plays his pipe and leads the swarm of rats out of town and drowns them in the river.
But the villagers don't reward him as promised, and the piper, enraged, plays his pipe again. This time, all the children in town are summoned by the sound of his pipe, and led away by the piper, never to be seen again.
I believe that summarises the story.
Eichi: Fufu, a story that depicts well the arrogance of man.
Tori: That's not fun at all!
I do want to ask, what exactly is the appeal of a story like that?
Wataru: It's unclear if the piper is a god, a spirit, a human, or perhaps even a wizard that does sometimes appear in fairy tales. Don't you think it's interesting when there are characters cloaked in mystery and you can't tell whether they're good or evil?
Tori: No I don't, it's just creepy.
Besides, amusement parks will have lots of families visiting. How would you feel being a parent and seeing a main attraction based on a story where children get taken away?
Wataru: Ah, that's true. It would certainly leave a terrible impression.
What about turning it into a haunted house then?
Tori: There's no way that's going to be the main attraction.
Eichi: ♪~
Tori: ... Huh? Eichi-sama, why are you picking out some of the books?
Eichi: Reading such self-serving stories might lead people to falsely believe that when they're in trouble, someone or something will lend them a hand — and that would certainly be a problem.
These picture books are especially self-serving, so I think I'll practise the good old art of book burning... ♪
Tori: Book... burning...?
Yuzuru: Eichi-sama, those books are borrowed from libraries. You cannot set them on fire.
Tori: On fire?! S-stop, don't do that!!
Once Upon A Time 1
Eichi: That's a lot of picture books, Tori.
Tori: Here we go... ♪ Phew.
That's not all of them yet, Eichi-sama. Yuzuru's carrying three times the amount I was.
Yuzuru: Indeed. I shall set my pile down over here then.
Wataru: Hm, hm. From Cinderella, Snow White, to Jack and the Beanstalk, The Farmer and the Badger, and even The Honest Woodcutter and Hansel and Gretel...
I see you've gathered fairy tales from all across the world, spanning the Grimms' and Andersen's tales to folktales passed down in Japan.
Yuzuru: Yes, Bocchama and I visited quite a number of libraries to gather as many picture books of familiar stories as we could.
Eichi: You wanted us to rate the picture books, if I recall correctly?
Tori: Ah, yeah. Let me explain.
Of course, you already know this, Eichi-sama, but remember how the construction plans for the amusement park Atlantis were temporarily halted?
Well, thanks to Ryuseitai, the problems on that end have been resolved.
And since it's been resolved, it means plans for the main attraction have to be put in motion.
Eichi: The main attraction?
Tori: Yeah. The area's theme will be a mess if the main attraction isn't decided on first, right?
Wataru: Hm, that's a fair point. Popular theme parks do tend to designate an area for each theme.
Eichi: Ah, I see. I think I understand what you're trying to say, Tori.
So you want to pick the theme for the main attraction from these picture books?
Tori: That's right! I knew you'd get it, Eichi-sama ♪
I thought it might be better to hear everyone's opinions instead of deciding everything myself. I want Atlantis to be an amusement park that all sorts of people will enjoy, after all.
Personally, I was thinking "Cinderella" might be a good choice. It's got a fancy setting, and it's a well-known fairy tale.
Eichi: Cinderella, huh? A story about a blessed girl who, out of sheer luck, was given a phenomenal opportunity even without doing anything.
Tori: ... Huh?
Eichi-sama...? I think that's a little different from the story that I know...
Um, then what about "The Little Mermaid"?
Since we're building Atlantis, a fairy tale tied to the sea would make sense. Though I'd prefer a story with a happy ending...
Eichi: Goodness. I'm astounded at the impulsiveness of the mermaid for leaving behind a life of stability to chase after a transient romance. How could she be so foolish? Don't you think it's too hasty of a decision?
Tori: H-huh...?
Yuzuru: Eichi-sama, please stop making unnecessary comments on the fairy tales like that.
Each stab you take at the fairy tales is also a stab taken at Bocchama's motivation.
Eichi: Whoops, looks like I've angered Tori's excellent butler. I'll behave myself and stop talking for a while, then.
Tori: Ah, no, it's okay. I did ask for your opinions, so I want to hear them no matter what they may be.
Actually, what kind of picture books do you like, Yuzuru?
Yuzuru: Myself? Well, let's see... I suppose a picture book that catches my attention would be this one.
Wataru: Oho, so your choice is "The Happy Prince", Butler-san?
Taking pity on a sorrowful gilded statue of a prince, a swallow helps grant the prince's wish by delivering the gold leaf covering the statue to the poor people across town.
It ends on quite a tragic note, though.
Yuzuru: Yes. I feel a sort of kinship with the swallow, who was so devoted it was even willing to place its own life on the line.
However, even if it were a request from my master himself, I would never do anything that would be disadvantageous to him.
Even if such actions could help others in need, to lose my master would make me a disgrace of a butler.
Tori: Then that's just your story, it wouldn't work as a fairy tale.
Yuzuru: Right, so I would change the title to "The Prince Is Happy".
Tori: Are you even trying to help pick a story for this?
What kind of picture book would you pick, Hibiki-senpai? You seem like you'd enjoy fun stories, so I'm just a little interested to hear from you.
Wataru: Amazing ☆ If Himegimi's interested, then I must give my all here!
Why yes, I do love fun stories! And "The Pied Piper of Hamelin" is simply as fun as it gets!
Tori: "The Pied Piper of Hamelin"? What was that story about...?
Yuzuru: If I recall correctly... In a town that is plagued by a swarm of rats, a pipe-playing boy appears.
The villagers promise to reward him for his work, so he plays his pipe and leads the swarm of rats out of town and drowns them in the river.
But the villagers don't reward him as promised, and the piper, enraged, plays his pipe again. This time, all the children in town are summoned by the sound of his pipe, and led away by the piper, never to be seen again.
I believe that summarises the story.
Eichi: Fufu, a story that depicts well the arrogance of man.
Tori: That's not fun at all!
I do want to ask, what exactly is the appeal of a story like that?
Wataru: It's unclear if the piper is a god, a spirit, a human, or perhaps even a wizard that does sometimes appear in fairy tales. Don't you think it's interesting when there are characters cloaked in mystery and you can't tell whether they're good or evil?
Tori: No I don't, it's just creepy.
Besides, amusement parks will have lots of families visiting. How would you feel being a parent and seeing a main attraction based on a story where children get taken away?
Wataru: Ah, that's true. It would certainly leave a terrible impression.
What about turning it into a haunted house then?
Tori: There's no way that's going to be the main attraction.
Eichi: ♪~
Tori: ... Huh? Eichi-sama, why are you picking out some of the books?
Eichi: Reading such self-serving stories might lead people to falsely believe that when they're in trouble, someone or something will lend them a hand — and that would certainly be a problem.
These picture books are especially self-serving, so I think I'll practise the good old art of book burning... ♪
Tori: Book... burning...?
Yuzuru: Eichi-sama, those books are borrowed from libraries. You cannot set them on fire.
Tori: On fire?! S-stop, don't do that!!
Once Upon A Time 1
