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Spring had been such a beautiful season for the start of Misfits’ first full year in the Valley. Her new farm was thriving, and she was getting along well enough with most of the villagers. Enough to start taking part in their festivities. The Egg Festival had certainly been fun enough. Definitely different than Easter, and a lot more enjoyable if you asked her.
So why wouldn’t she attend the Flower Dance?
First she had to find out what it was first.
She supposed, from what she was told by Marnie when she was getting some food for her new chickens, that it was some kind of amorous festival. More like a Spring version of Valentine’s day but without the chocolate or hearts. Well that sounded interesting. From Emily she heard what’s typically worn by the women and men during the dance. Simple white dresses and blue shirts and pants before she started to prattle about the meaning and deeper connection of things. She hadn’t meant to zone out at that point but by then she figured it was probably better to just go home, do a few more chores and go to sleep.
Before she rested her head and closed her optics she did think a bit about going. Would Magnus go? She’d found him during the egg festival. Completely distracted from continuing to compete in the egg hunt she handed her eggs to Jas and Vincent to listen instead to the wizard speak about basilisks and rotting eggs. She liked his company more than most in town. Although she had neglected to go and visit him in recent days. She couldn’t help it. Getting a coop together, getting sprinklers up so she could have a little more time in the day. Not to mention fashioning scarecrows. She had no idea the corvids in the area could be so ravenous. And she still wanted to befriend them!
Maybe she would go for the fun of it. While sleeping she spent a little time thinking of a new holoform dress for herself. Something simple. Short. Sleeves of course to cover her own. A nice belt of blue to call back her hoodie. And a flower crown of lavender with a matching blue ribbon.
In the morning she fluffed her hair and put on her new outfit. She headed to the forest by way of passing Magnus’ tower out of habit, finding that the wizard was in fact not in. She hadn’t asked if he was going so maybe he was? It had been a few days since she last spoke to him. Or maybe he was further in the forest doing something else. She’d visit later if she remembered.
So she followed the sound of laughter and music and soon found paper buntings and floral decorations leading to the festival. She was about to turn to cross a bridge when she spied the top of a familiar hat. She started to call out to him, but Magnus beat her to that.
“I was wondering if you were going to attend or not.” He peered around the bush, his expression his typical neutral, though it brightened a little seeing her wear something different for a change, “Going all out? I didn’t think you’d do such a thing.”
“I was wondering the same about you.”
“I thought I might watch from afar.” He shrugged, “you know how I fair already in crowds.”
“Mind some company anyways?” Misfits offered much to his surprise.
“Wouldn’t you rather go join the others? You dressed up and everything. Would you really be content to sit on the sidelines?”
“Maybe I want to see what's up before I jump in Magnus. And just maybe I want to catch up with you. It’s been a few days and I feel bad for not stopping by. I’ve been working on that coop and the chickens.” She pouted only a little for dramatics. But she did genuinely miss speaking to him regularly, now that she had her own cozy little house. Sometimes she replayed the sound of his cauldron bubbling just to have some sort of noise in her cabin. Sometimes she adapted to new situations just a little too fast for herself. It was what it was.
“Besides, it’s a nice enough day to dress pretty. I haven’t worn anything different in probably ten years.” And maybe she still only trusted him anyways. “And even more besides that, I can hear Shane eating from here.”
“Can you truly?” He started leading her away from the festivities and towards the ridge that was above where everyone else was.
“No, but I can hear him talking something about pepper chutney loudly enough over the music. My audials are blessedly not that strong. I cannot begin to tell you how many sounds I had to relearn to tune out when I woke up in this new body.”
“I suppose that explains your eavesdropping.” He checked back to see if she was doing alright out of politeness. She kept up easily.
“Not on purpose! I can’t help it if someone says something and my brain just hones in on it while I’m trying to focus on something else. I have so much gossip I wish I didn’t know.” She waved a hand as if to wave all the ick away.
Magnus held up a tree branch for her. “Care to spill some tea as you say?”
She gasped playfully, smirking as she passed under his arm. “Look at you picking up slang! Very good! Although, I’m surprised you’d want to hear town gossip.”
“Why? You’re a very chatty person and perhaps I have missed your visits just as much. The tower has become rather quiet. Besides that you have rather interesting thoughts.”
She hopped over a stream. Turning to watch him simply step over it and take the lead again. “Well there’s not much going on in the town as of late. Unless you’d like to hear more of the exciting tales of Marnie and Lewis playing cat and mouse, Jodi lamenting about her husband to Olivia and Caroline or Abigail complaining that her father is being boring.”
She got a quiet huff of a laugh from that last one. A rare treat! “And your thoughts?”
“I wish he’d commit or Marlon to step up. I know how Jodi feels and Abigail is correct her father is in fact boring. ” She shrugged. “The times I’ve shopped in Pierre’s for the extra seeds or groceries, his conversations are stale or money related. Has he no other hobbies?” her bow pins back at how sad.
“I heard he was once a boxer at one time. But I’m not surprised.”
Misfits paused a moment, her bow wiggling in thought. “Even Caroline complains about him.” She sighs and continues to follow, hearing the festivities becoming louder once more. “I literally just heard her yesterday complain that he’s going to be doing another shop at this festival. Does he not spend holidays with his family?”
“Apparently not.” With his back turned to her, she didn’t notice Magnus’ eye twitch. “Do you often visit them?”
“At least once a week. Just to keep up appearances as a ‘normal’ human. Who needs groceries like a normal regular person.” She almost trips on a rock. Magnus looked back just in time to see her catch herself and act as though she meant to do that. He shakes his head.
“Is that a joke at my expense?”
“No! Actually it’s not. When you’re the new Farmer in town…people get a little nosy. Soooo…”
“Hm, indeed. Do they ask you of me?”
“Of course they do. I usually steer the conversation away. Especially if they have something negative to say. Mostly Andy. But that’s just the sort of person he is. We have his sort back home too. Granted he’s much friendlier and easier to talk to. The ones back home are mostly hostile.”
“Interesting.” He stopped just at the edge of the woods on the ridge looking over the festival where there was food and conversation and all the towns folk. A perfect view of it all. Something Misfits took a moment to enjoy.
“Wow, Evelyn really did a great job with the flower arrangements. I’ll have to tell her that later.”
“Have you similar festivals where you’re from?” Magnus decided to join her a little closer to the edge to see the flower barrels himself. They were rather pretty like she said.
“Flowers? I suppose you could count the cherry blossom viewings…maybe Beltane…no wait Beltane was the marking of Summer…anyways No. Not really except the closest thing being Valentine’s day.”
“You spoke of that one. That’s the one with the chocolate, hearts and cards?”
“That’s right. But that’s not specifically about flowers nor is it about dancing.”
“What about the Cybertronians then?”
“As far as Cybertron goes, If there were such festivals, they have been lost to time and war.”
Magnus watched her bow droop for a moment, and pick up about half way than it usually sat on her head. “That is very unfortunate.”
Fits put her hands behind her back while she observed the festivities. Magnus watched her fidget to position her fingers between her sleeves. All this time, he still had forgotten to ask her if she kept her hands hidden because she hated certain textures or if it was simply something she was used to. Perhaps tomorrow. He had a feeling she would visit him tomorrow for a chat.
“So then…what can you tell me about this festival?” She looked back at him to see him fingering the brim of his hat while he thought. She thought it was a cute fidget he did.
“I don’t particularly know. You might have better luck at the library…I could check mine. There might have been a tome about it. But from what I’ve seen it’s more or less lost its true meaning.”
“Ah, just like Valentine’s. Still it’s a nice excuse to get out and celebrate the season before it ends. In my time researching humanities to explain to Cybertronians, Humans really will take any chance for an excuse to party.”
“When you say it like that, you sound older than I am.” He stopped touching the brim to scoff at her.
“Maybe I should start lying about my age just for a laugh. How about a thousand and two?”
“Mocking your elders?”
“Do you actually want to be called an old man?” She turned to look at him, a tilt to her head said she was actually being genuine with her question despite the mirth in her voice.
“Am I not old for a human?” Magnus questioned back, looking her in the eye.
Her bow wiggled, her lips thinned while she chose her words, hesitating to answer, “yeah?“
“Then I am an old man, by definition. Despite how I look.” he replied holding out his hands, it was as simple as that.
“Shall I get out the old names then? Start calling you an old coot?” She was laughing at her own joke.
“Perhaps grandfather.” Two could play this game.
She sputtered, Magnus could just make out an electrical buzz and snap in her voice.
“No no no no nononononono, now you go too far!”
Now he laughed, “oh ho? Do I now? Care to admit anything to your friend then?”
Her hair frizzled, “ Oh now you’re teasing me! I told you about my dating life and that the Mech I called my Grandfather, for his age, was considered a silver fox and looked good for his age. And I’m never going to hear the end of it.”
“Merely an observation. I am curious what you think of the other older men in town.” His smile subdued a little. Maybe he had prodded a little too much.
“I don’t actually. That’s not how I run. I’m not attracted to old men. I’m not a shallow person. My relationships mean something to me. A lot to me actually.”
Or perhaps…he had prodded for something else…
“I see. Apologies if I have upset you.” His words were sincere, and she smiled once more, her bow and hair returning to its normal fluffy state. She held her cheek in one hand smiling and waved at him with the other. He was forgiven.
“No harm done. I just…hate being assumed I’m into older men because they’re older. The two people I dated just happened to be way older than me by a numerical age, not an age considered by their people. And I haven’t been able to find anyone that makes me feel the way they made me feel since.”
“Two…?”
“One of them was our third wheel. We hated leaving him out. He was a very good friend to us both. He was a treasure to us. I could hardly call it dating with the bond we had... But I don’t think I could ever do that again. Not that I’m expecting what happened to them to ever happen again...Anyways. I’d be looking for just some one to share my time with." Her bow settled on the top of her head again only to pick up again at the change in voices at the festival down below. “Oh? Are they starting soon?”
Magnus moved forward again to look at what she was seeing, couples starting to form. Partners finding one another to start the dance with. “Soon, They’re partnering up. I know they do as much as that.”
Fits watched with interest as the people she was getting to know started different conversations. She smiled watching some of the ones she knew better.
Magnus glanced at her, “Are you not going to go down? Shane seems to be done eating.”
“I’m more curious if Clint over there is going to finally bite the damn bullet and strike his nerve to speak to Emily.” She pointed to the blacksmith who’s hands could be seen shaking while he looked at the blue haired woman nearby. “He spoke to me about asking her the other day. Come on Clint, just talk to her.”
“You seem rather invested in that. Does he speak often of her?”
“Every time I’ve gone to the Saloon he’s always in there watching her .” Fits looked at Magnus and mimicked the lovelorn look of Clint. “And then he asks if I ’ve spoken to her recently. And how he’s so nervous.”
“And what did you tell him?”
She rolled her eyes, dramatic head tilt and all. Enough to say she’s had this conversation with Clint more times than she would rather. “Bite the damn bullet and ask her out. The worst she says is no and you pick yourself up and you move on until you see someone else or someone sees you. If she says yes, the worst case is you don’t actually match up with each other as much as you thought in your head. He’s wasting time because someone else will snatch her up.”
“Looks like Shane’s already asked her.” Magnus almost laughed.
Misfits turned her head and palmed her forehead watching Clint’s shoulders sag and him start to leave the Festival. She made a rumbling grumble. “I’m gonna hear about this the next time I go in for iron when I’m too lazy to go to the mines…for Primes sakes Clint, your backbone is made of gallium!”
“Why don’t you go ask him to dance?” A suggestion made simply out of curiosity.
“No, because I know Clint’s type. He’s gonna assume it means way more than it does if I do that as a friend to him. I am very not interested in his type of person.”
“I see.”
There was an odd feeling from her, like mischief and amusement. Like a sunny ray of light from a storm cloud. Something he would learn later as her Field. A form of subcommunication for her adopted species to convey emotion and thought.
“How about you dance with me, Magnus?”
Magnus gave her what she would later teach him as ‘a Deer in the headlights’ look. “What?”
“Age catching up there old man? Come on, I know you heard what I said. Will you dance with me?” She smiled, but her body language said she was being genuine. It wasn’t a joke. She wasn’t joking in the slightest. No, the only thing he saw was her bow briefly crinkle as though wondering if she had upset him.
“You’re asking me if I want to dance with you?”
“I am in fact asking you Mr. Rasmodius, the only other person on this ridge besides me. Unless there’s an elemental nearby that I can’t see.”
“...Why?”
“Why not? It’s the same as getting dressed up for a nice day. Why not dance with a friend?” She rocked a little on her heels, smirking in an odd way of embarrassment? Or perhaps glee she was doing such a silly thing. “Pretty please?”
If she saw the blush on his face - and she likely most definitely did at least see the heat if she was paying attention- She didn’t say anything.
“I mean you can say no too Magnus. There’s no hard feelings.” She watched him back away and move behind a tree with a few uttered words. He came back from behind the tree in a completely different outfit. Yet semi familiar as it was the kind of blue the men were wearing for the dance. This one was similar to his usual wear, but the cloak was longer and heavily embroidered with gold around the trim. He looked very dashing in it if you asked Misfits, she wasn’t going to lie about something like that. Not even if Magnus asked her.
“Give me a moment to steel myself. I will meet you down there.” He sighed and adjusted the hat and his coat.
Now it was her turn for shock. Her hair frizzled and her bow crinkled like a pair of navy lightning bolts over her head. “Wait wait. I thought up here.” Now her bow comically drooped behind her head.
Magnus almost smirked.”Oh? You don’t want to dance with the others? I’m a little surprised at you Misfits, I thought you were a very confident woman. Did your large friends perhaps neglect to teach you to dance?”
Misfits puffed her cheeks in indignation, “No! No they didn’t! It’s just been a while since I last danced and if I’m going to embarrass myself. I’d rather embarrass myself in front of someone I trust.” She was blushing, but Magnus could see the blue underneath the pink.
“And yet you ask me to embarrass myself by dancing too?”
“A thousand years and how ever many rituals and none of them involve dancing?”
“Some do. I am not familiar with modern dancing.” Misfits held out her hand to him. She didn’t meet his eyes for a moment.
“Fuck it,” She huffed, her confidence returning to her. She wasn’t going to give up. “How bad could we be? If you can’t laugh at yourself for having a little silly fun what’s the point? Just keep your eyes on me and not the others. We’ll be just fine.”
Her willfulness to go through with such a silly quest was infectious. As Magnus would later learn, it was just something she was good at without trying.
“Very well.” He held out his hand to her, “We should at least try to do this properly then.” To his surprise, she reached her hand out of her sleeve to take his. He didn’t feel the metal digits he had when she tapped his shoulders the time she lived in his tower. He felt flesh, warm and soft though calloused from her previous human body.
He led them back to the festivities, passing around the bush he’d been hiding behind earlier. Fits did look like she wanted to say something but she got distracted trying not to fumble over the rock from earlier that she forgot whatever it was.
Misfits felt a tremble in his hand when the conversations got louder as they approached. Glancing at him, she could see the nervousness taking over his face, as though he were going to a funeral rather than a festival of Spring. She had enough courage in her for both of them then she decided. She took to leading them with her head held high and her field full of confidence that she pushed to share with him as best she could. She knew their time as friends hadn’t been long enough for him to start fully noticing her EM field. But she hoped it reached him all the same in one way or another.
And it did to some degree. Magnus took notice of the way she started carrying herself, completely ignoring any whispers that she most definitely could hear from the others as they made their way to join the line up of pairs. Her smile hid any worries she had moments ago and banished any anxiety that tried to take hold on their journey. She picked the end of the line up, next to Maru and Doctor Harvey. Both of which waved to their new neighbors on the grassy dance floor.
Maru smiled at Fits and leaned. “I saw you earlier on the ridge, I like your dress. I was wondering if you were going to join with your friend or not.”
“Aw, thanks Maru, I like your dress too. The lace is nice.” Fits grinned, “We almost didn’t. He’s shy and I’m still new here. I forgot to ask anyone yesterday, does the dance we do matter or is it whatever?”
The young inventor shook her head. “Not really. Whatever dance is fine. I forgot you’re from out of town. There used to be a specific dance but nobody really does it anymore.”
“Oh cool! That’s fantastic thanks Maru. I’ll have to bring you some extra materials the next time I’m at your place or if I’m passing the clinic.” Her bow could barely hide the tips wiggling, she was already formulating a way to communicate to Magnus. She still had plenty of energy left in her for the day… she would be just fine. This wasn’t a drastic use of her holoforms. She made a deflective box around herself and Magnus. Simple enough, nobody could see them unless they stuck their heads into the box and for now it seemed they were fumbling with a stereo and everyone else had their own dances on their minds.
So she held up a hologram of words to Magnus that read:
THEY CAN’T SEE US RIGHT NOW. I have us covered. They can hear us though. CAN YOU WALTZ? IT’S EASY ENOUGH
Magnus squinted at her words and watched an animation of two figures form on her hand big enough for him to see the movements. It was a simple enough dance as she said. He pointed to her and then himself. The lettering changed.
Are you asking who leads?
A simple nod.
Yeah, I can lead. Don’t worry. You can step on my toes all you want. They’re steel toes. Ha ha!
He did smile a little at that joke. She gestured that she was going to uncover them. She smiled brightly at him and gave a thumbs up, she looked eager, excited even that they had something to work with.
Lewis seemed to have finally gotten the music player to work. “Alright everyone! It’s time to start the dance! No more interruptions from Mr. Record player.”
Wizard and Pseudo approached like the other couples. Misfits bowed her head to Magnus and offered her hand. He noticed her bow hadn’t moved an inch since she got into the crowd. “Shall we?”
He took her hand. And placed his other on her side. Even here he felt flesh under her clothing. Though something hard underneath. Was she wearing armor under her dress? That certainly didn’t feel the same as she did normally. “That was very quick thinking.”
“It was either that or teenage shuffle waltz. I was going to ask earlier.” She used her free hand to wave the thoughts off and then placed it on his shoulder. Those thoughts didn’t matter anymore. The music had started and she was beginning to lead him in a simple box waltz. She moved him back, to his left, forward and back to his right. It did not take them long to get a rhythm going with such a simple dance and a little of their own flourish with Magnus’ cloak sweeping in the grass.
Fits even started to laugh. “This is fun. It’s been ages since I’ve danced with someone my height.”
“To someone who’s taller than you yet.” he pointed out.
She rolled her eyes. “Alright, alright. Still, thanks for indulging in a bit of silliness with me Magnus. I’ll have to make it up to you.”
“No one’s ever asked. I suppose a little dancing can’t hurt can it?” He became less and less aware of others when he focused on her instead. She usually wasn’t this close to him, inclined to give him his personal space even with how friendly and familiar she was. She held back for him, he could tell. Were all her holograms so detailed? He never noticed that her human avatar’s face had so many freckles all over it. Had they always been there? Did she add more when she spent extended periods of time in the sun? How lively her eyes looked when she smiled at this closeness.
“If you’re so inclined to teach me magic,” Fits’ voice pulled him from his thoughts. “I could always drop by and teach you some of the dances I actually do know. Swing dancing is a lot of fun with someone you’re friends with.”
Magnus decided to surprise her and take the lead in the dance. Now that they knew what they were doing. He could spin her around a little. He had watched prior dances after all. He felt a sudden burst of pure joy, like the joy in a child’s laugh. Was that coming from her? “I’m afraid you’d run out of lessons before I run out of things to teach you.”
There were giggles in her voice when she spoke. “Good! Then I can teach you something else! How about another language then?”
“Another? I already know fifty.” Neither of them were watching the others watch them. Lost in their own conversation.
“Fifty? I had trouble learning the six I already know and three of them are sign languages.”
“Three signed languages? I thought you were merely bilingual.”
“Well if you want to add some computer languages you can tack on another few. But one of them is actually speaking by holding hands. Chirolinguistics is very fun!”
The song came to an end. There was cheering from the bystanders and other couples. Misfits’ bow twitched ever so slightly and her hair ruffled a little. The Wizard did not miss the look of disappointment in her eyes as she watched the others start to leave and gather the decorations already.
“Only one song? Over already? Goodness…what a short festival.”
Magnus placed a careful hand on her shoulder. “It is getting late in the day,” he pointed out. He saw her eyes drift to their corners. She was looking at the chronometer in her vision.
“Oh wow…I hadn’t realized we had been on that ridge for so long. Well…they do say time flies when you’re having fun right?” She laughed, and sighed taking a moment to look at her surroundings starting to be touched by golden light. Committing it to her memory. “Ah well, I’m sure you’ve had enough socializing for the next decade today huh?” She started walking beside him to leave.
“That’s a bit of an understatement…” Magnus nodded his head politely enough to Lewis as they passed. “However…” he kept his voice very low knowing she could hear him just fine. “I don’t suppose you would be against someone walking you back to the farm would you?”
“Walk? Really? I’m surprised you’re not offering to warp.” She matched his voice.
He shrugged. “I believe you said something along the lines of 'why not if it’s such a nice day?’”
There was no mistaking this time that the radiating feeling of joy was coming from her.