mother knows best

[powershines]

Rapunzel doesn't sleep well, and she does wind up wrapped up in her hair overnight like a golden-cocooned butterfly. She's still dozing fitfully when the sun comes up.

Comments

[kindestgarden]

"Rapunzel," says Ranae, "your dress is beautiful, but do you want to be in something less traveled-in and maybe more formal for the lantern release? There's not enough time to make something new but I think you're close to my size if you want to try some things on."

[powershines]

"That's a good idea."

And apparently she is relaxed enough now to let go of Rolan's arm so she can go try on clothes.

[hisowninvention]

"Have fun," says Rolan.

[powershines]

She smiles at him, a little nervously, and follows Ranae.

[sundayfish]

Cearl doesn't go with them.

"So," he sighs. "You probably know what I'm wondering."

[hisowninvention]

"I have a guess or two."

[sundayfish]

"What-all have you and my daughter been doing and what do you mean to be doing in the future?"

[hisowninvention]

"A lot of walking in the woods," he says. "And I plan to be her friend. It seems like she needs one."

[sundayfish]

"And that's all, is it?"

[hisowninvention]

"With respect, your majesty - if my plans change, she's going to find out before you do. I think she's had more than enough of people keeping things from her."

[sundayfish]

"I've had more than I like of not knowing where my daughter is or what she's doing or who with."

[hisowninvention]

"I can sympathize. I don't mean to make trouble," he says. "But I'm her friend before I'm anybody else's. You can count on that."

[sundayfish]

"She seems to. Isn't clear to me how she's picking her friends."

[hisowninvention]

"I'm the first person she's ever met who's been in her corner from the start. Seems like a pretty reasonable standard to me."

[sundayfish]

"Well, she's going to be chaperoned. That I'd do anyway, with the kidnapper on the loose yet. But you seem to make her feel better, so that'll be the extent of interfering."

[hisowninvention]

"Thank you," he says.

[sundayfish]

"Don't make me regret it and you'll be welcome," says Cearl.

[hisowninvention]

[sundayfish]

Cearl snorts.

And goes off, leaving Rolan to his own devices in his guest room.

[powershines]

Rapunzel appears, accompanied by two guards who are staying a polite distance - and out of earshot. She is in one of her mother's dresses, which fits pretty well and appears to have been laced on without disturbing the little girls' braiding work at all.

"Ranae says I have a couple hours to - collect my thoughts, before the sun sets and it's time for the lantern thing."

[hisowninvention]

"Cearl asked me what we've been doing and what I mean to do in the future - he didn't quite come out and say it, but he wanted to know if there were any Things going on. I told him I plan to be your friend, which is certainly true, but this seems like a good time to mention that I seem to have fallen in love with you at some point on the way here."

[powershines]

Rapunzel does not seem to know what to say to that.

[hisowninvention]

"Or maybe it wasn't a good time after all. Sorry."

[powershines]

"Well - I don't know - what am I supposed to say? What does that even mean, anyway, I don't - I don't know anything."

[hisowninvention]

"There isn't an official list of responses. It means different things to different people. To me it just means - I like you, I care about you a lot, I want to be near you and talk to you and help you and hug you and make sure you're okay. And... that if you eventually decided you wanted to get married and have children, and wanted to do those things with me in particular, I'd say yes."