dango daikazoku (instrumental)
The Setting
The plot of Reuben Hood and Servil takes place in the year 1990 in Nottingham, England. It's a basic take on Robin Hood, while intended to be less, well, obvious, but because of a bad name choice that just stuck, this is how it's going to go down.
The town consists mostly of poor people that are suffering from illness, and lack of the basic needs that are food, water, and shelter. Most of the poorer folk die due to their awful health and living conditions, and if any make it, it's a miracle.
On the other side of the spectrum however, are the Nobles that are the richer people of Nottingham. They're everything that the poorer townsfolk hate, because of their benefits. Rarely are any generous enough to give to the poor, even out of pity, due to their lack of sympathy.
In Nottingham, when Reuben and Servil were both just children, there was a man that would come to people's houses and give them gifts of food and water and clothing depending on the season. He would also bring them tools and anything of use, if he managed to get them.
He disappeared, but had actually been imprisoned and later on executed for his crimes. It goes without saying that the Nobles are not at all tolerant when they're stolen from, no matter the cause, and that any thieves are put to death after being imprisoned for a few days, sometimes weeks to torture them first.
The town consists mostly of poor people that are suffering from illness, and lack of the basic needs that are food, water, and shelter. Most of the poorer folk die due to their awful health and living conditions, and if any make it, it's a miracle.
On the other side of the spectrum however, are the Nobles that are the richer people of Nottingham. They're everything that the poorer townsfolk hate, because of their benefits. Rarely are any generous enough to give to the poor, even out of pity, due to their lack of sympathy.
In Nottingham, when Reuben and Servil were both just children, there was a man that would come to people's houses and give them gifts of food and water and clothing depending on the season. He would also bring them tools and anything of use, if he managed to get them.
He disappeared, but had actually been imprisoned and later on executed for his crimes. It goes without saying that the Nobles are not at all tolerant when they're stolen from, no matter the cause, and that any thieves are put to death after being imprisoned for a few days, sometimes weeks to torture them first.
The Characters
The story revolves around two characters, Reuben, a thief and Servil, a prestigious Noble.
Reuben is a young man who steals from the rich and gives to the poor, his choices heavily inspired by the man mentioned above. He has a strong hatred for the Nobles, as they are arrogant and unhelpful to those in need. Reuben often steals things such as food, clothes, trinkets, tools, and anything else he can get his hands on. He's friendly and is devoted to his "job" in hopes of making the town a better place, since he expects to open the Nobles' eyes so that they can see how much better the poorer people thrive when given their basic needs and then some.
Servil is a Noble, an heir to the Noble family no less. He's just as all nobles are, strict, refined, and one of the most proper people you'll ever meet in Nottingham. He usually keeps to himself, locking himself in his room and reading and studying. Until one day when the Spring festivals are being held, he decides to go and has more fun than he at first expected- having planned to quickly return home, Servil had the time of his life and stayed long enough to catch Reuben's eye.
During the festival, Reuben had been scouting the area, taking food and not-so-subtly stealing from people when they weren't looking. He found himself distracted though by Servil's presence, having suddenly been dazzled by someone he should have hated. Reuben goes out of his way to find out where Servil lives and begins giving him gifts and leaving him notes that, instead of pushing away Servil, only piques his curiosity.
Reuben is a young man who steals from the rich and gives to the poor, his choices heavily inspired by the man mentioned above. He has a strong hatred for the Nobles, as they are arrogant and unhelpful to those in need. Reuben often steals things such as food, clothes, trinkets, tools, and anything else he can get his hands on. He's friendly and is devoted to his "job" in hopes of making the town a better place, since he expects to open the Nobles' eyes so that they can see how much better the poorer people thrive when given their basic needs and then some.
Servil is a Noble, an heir to the Noble family no less. He's just as all nobles are, strict, refined, and one of the most proper people you'll ever meet in Nottingham. He usually keeps to himself, locking himself in his room and reading and studying. Until one day when the Spring festivals are being held, he decides to go and has more fun than he at first expected- having planned to quickly return home, Servil had the time of his life and stayed long enough to catch Reuben's eye.
During the festival, Reuben had been scouting the area, taking food and not-so-subtly stealing from people when they weren't looking. He found himself distracted though by Servil's presence, having suddenly been dazzled by someone he should have hated. Reuben goes out of his way to find out where Servil lives and begins giving him gifts and leaving him notes that, instead of pushing away Servil, only piques his curiosity.
The Plot
After Reuben finally introduces himself to Servil for the first time after some serenading on his balcony with a mandolin, the two quickly grow an attachment to the other because of their differences. Servil is enthralled with Reuben's personality and his cause, as he finds him so interesting since Reuben has the potential to help him become his own person instead of following his parent's expectations. Reuben falls hopelessly in love with Servil, despite his status. He adores everything about him, and deems him different from everyone else. With a promise to him detailing a quieter life in the future as a married couple, Reuben continues his duties to make enough money in order to make that dream that felt so far away, a reality.
~~this part is a wip kind of~~
After years of risky stealing and saving, Reuben finally comes up with enough for them to leave. He presents to him in secret a ring with the promise of marriage- but once Servil finds Reubens gift, Reuben has already been imprisoned for his crimes, and sentenced to execution. Servil, unaware of the events, searches for Reuben the very same day, only to find him being prepared for his death.
~~this part is a wip kind of~~
After years of risky stealing and saving, Reuben finally comes up with enough for them to leave. He presents to him in secret a ring with the promise of marriage- but once Servil finds Reubens gift, Reuben has already been imprisoned for his crimes, and sentenced to execution. Servil, unaware of the events, searches for Reuben the very same day, only to find him being prepared for his death.
The Conclusion.
Once Servil finally approaches the center of the town where Reuben is being publicly shamed and humiliated before being put to death, he reassures Reuben of his affections. Prior to this, Reuben had felt that he had been turned in by his fiance, but his fears were put to rest once Servil began letting Reuben know how much he loved him, and how distraught he was over the fact that they couldn't have their happy ending like they had dreamed of.
Reuben, feeling foolish for accepting his death, decidedly changed his mind once he realized how genuine Servil's feelings were. He didn't want to leave, he wanted to stay and live as long as he could with Servil at his side, fulfilling his promises that he'd been hinting at since the moment they both realized their love for each other.
As Reuben began to apologize and openly regretted his death sentence, the platform beneath him had already opened, and the last thing Servil witnessed was Reuben's body falling limp, his hands still clenched in fists from when he began struggling to escape, now open, as if they had reached for Servil a little too late.
~~~
Reuben, feeling foolish for accepting his death, decidedly changed his mind once he realized how genuine Servil's feelings were. He didn't want to leave, he wanted to stay and live as long as he could with Servil at his side, fulfilling his promises that he'd been hinting at since the moment they both realized their love for each other.
As Reuben began to apologize and openly regretted his death sentence, the platform beneath him had already opened, and the last thing Servil witnessed was Reuben's body falling limp, his hands still clenched in fists from when he began struggling to escape, now open, as if they had reached for Servil a little too late.
~~~
Two days later, Servil was found under a tree, where he had been mourning his lover's death. He refused to eat, sleep, or return home. He was completely dead to the world. He hadn't noticed Little John approaching him, offering him the ring that had been on Reuben's finger, slipped on in the very last moments of his life.
A reminder of his promises that he would have kept if he could.
A reminder of his promises that he would have kept if he could.