Application - Herr Drosselmeyer from Princess Tutu

[tragitragedy]

((OOC: To avoid godmodding issues, Drosselmeyer's canonical story spinner abilities (i.e., writing stories that come true) have been voided by the magic of Hogwarts. Of course, he can surely find other ways to mess with people's lives...))An old and eccentric man strode through the Sorting Room doors, a red cloak flowing from his hunched shoulders

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[tragitragedy]

"Princess Kraehe liked the heartless prince as he was, and preferred that he would remain that way and marry her under her father's blessing. But Princess Tutu was acting in accordance with the prince's own heart--his desire to regain his feelings and return to the man he once was. But we must not forget that each shard of heart returned to the prince was one less piece that sealed away the monster raven. And as the raven's return loomed ominously like a dark cloud on the horizon, our players became aware of a sudden twist of fate."

Ah, Kraehe had truly grown into her role as prima donna at that time, so much more beautiful in her despairing tears than in her earlier confidence. Drosselmeyer smiled fondly as he remembered it, then continued in a reverent, almost admiring tone, "For Kraehe, that pitiable princess seeking the heartless prince's love, learned that she was not, after all, the daughter of the monster raven. Instead, he had stolen her as a child, raised her on his own corrupting blood, and used her as a tool to bring the prince's heart to him to eat, once Princess Tutu would have restored it. And the prince's heart, having remained so near the raven for so long, had also begun to absorb his dark influence. The once-kindly prince turned on Princess Kraehe as well, not content with her love. He sought the devoted hearts of all of his people, demanded that they love only him, and thought to give his own heart willingly to the monster raven. And in that darkest hour, Princess Tutu located the final piece of the prince's shattered heart."

[woocha]

Princess Tutu fixes it, right? Wishbone asked pleadingly.

[tragitragedy]

Drosselmeyer had sat up straighter and just opened his mouth, preparing to launch into the climax and tragic resolution of eternal despair that he'd prepared for his story with much gusto and relish, when he caught Wishbone's puppy-eyes. And felt the slightest twinge of misgiving. After all, a truly excellent storyteller must be sensitive to his audience, and Wishbone didn't much seem like the type to accept anything less than a happy ending. Drosselmeyer's eager smile faltered a bit.

But then, people were always capable of surprising you, and Wishbone might appreciate--or grow to appreciate--the particular draw of tragedy. So he decided to forge ahead. Although if Wishbone put up enough of a fuss at the conclusion, Drosselmeyer might be persuaded to offer him the alternate ending his characters had so kindly written for him.

"Yes, Princess Tutu returned the final piece of the prince's heart. But it was not without a hard battle that she fought, this time with herself. For when she learned the nature of the final piece of the prince's heart, she also learned that it--the prince's Hope--had called her into existence and, when she returned it, she would be no more. But her love for the prince's smile was stronger than her desire to be loved by the prince, and so she selflessly completed the prince's heart and disappeared in a flash of light.

"The monster raven, freed by Princess Tutu's act, spread his black wings over the kingdom like a storm cloud and rained his terrible blood down. All of the people who had suffered so long under the ravens' pecking beaks turned to ravens themselves. And the prince, although his heart had become whole, was still corrupted by the monster raven's influence. He became a raven as well, and determined to offer his heart to the monster raven to eat. So he prepared to fly up to meet him.

"Princess Kraehe saw what had happened to the prince she had tried so hard to love, and her heart hurt for him when she saw the way that the raven's blood had twisted the prince's nature, the same way it had twisted her own. Crying, she ran after the prince and cried out in helpless despair her enduring love for him. It was this love, at last, that freed the prince's true and kind heart. He returned to his former nature and vowed to meet the raven in battle immediately and destroy him once and for all. But the monster raven was as cunning as he was wicked, and he swallowed Kraehe whole so that if the prince destroyed him, he would also destroy his princess. The prince, paralyzed by his inability to harm the innocent Princess Kraehe, took the only course of action left to him. He asked Princess Kraehe to wait for him until the day he could save her, then took out his own heart and shattered it once more, to keep the monster raven sealed until he might one day be able to overcome him. And the Princess Kraehe, all alone within the dark depths of the raven's stomach, danced in eternal sadness and despair, until she had no tears left. To this day she dances still, not even daring to hope for her prince. The end." Drosselmeyer nodded decively, satisfied with his conclusion.

[woocha]

Wishbone visibly drooped. That's so sad. It's a good story, but it's so sad. He stood on his hind legs so Drosselmeyer can scratch his ears.

[tragitragedy]

Drosselmeyer reached down and obliged with the scratching. "Well, it is only one version of the story," he admitted. "But it's my favorite, so very sad and beautiful. What kinds of stories do you like best?" he asked. After all, Wishbone had been such a delightful audience, and he had appreciated Drosselmeyer's work, so he certainly wouldn't mind telling him more stories in the future.

[woocha]

Heroic ones! And ones where people explore strange lands! And mysteries, I love those too! Wishbone closed his eyes, he did love his scratches.

[tragitragedy]

"Well, perhaps another time I can tell you an exciting story like one of those," Drosselmeyer offered. Ooh, maybe he could adapt and embellish something from the trials of his descendants in fighting against the Book Men. Plenty of action scenes, and axes, and the Book Men had had the mysterious air of a secret society. Plus Drosselmeyer wouldn't mind vilifying them enough to make the boys look like heroes in comparison.

He continued to scratch Wishbone's ears, amused. "It's as good as a story, hm?"

Vote: Ravenclaw

[woocha]

Yeah! Oh, thank you for the story and the scratches!