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

[powershines]

"Would he not like me anymore if I stopped being shy?"

[hisowninvention]

"That's usually not how it works - once somebody starts to like someone, they only tend to stop if they have a reason to stop. So he might not like you anymore if you stopped being shy and started being obnoxious or something instead, but if you just stopped being shy, well, he already likes you and that's not enough to make him stop all by itself."

[powershines]

"Okay. What makes me nice to talk to?"

[hisowninvention]

"Mmm... hard to define. And it's more the kind of thing where even if I could pin down what it is for me, some of it wouldn't translate to other people. The parts that would - you're sensible, you're polite, you think things through. Sometimes you're funny."

[powershines]

Rapunzel nods thoughtfully.

[hisowninvention]

"That's about all I can think of, off the top of my head. But now that I know you want to know, maybe I'll pay more attention."

[powershines]

"Thank you."

[hisowninvention]

He smiles.

[powershines]

"Are you going to be in lots of trouble if I eventually mention to the king and queen that you have made a habit of stealing people's teacups, besides the crown thing? Should I not do that?"

[hisowninvention]

"Well... it depends on what they think of it. But they're probably going to find out anyway, if I stick around. I'm a moderately well-known thief. My guess is that if you stick up for me they'll let it slide. Although I might have to promise not to do it anymore. Will you be annoyed if I promise not to do it anymore without particularly knowing if I will or not?"

[powershines]

"Why would you do that?"

[hisowninvention]

"Well, if it's between making a promise I don't mean and getting arrested, I'd definitely rather make the promise."

[powershines]

"Well - I mean - you could also just stop stealing things."

[hisowninvention]

"I might really stop stealing things for a while. But I don't even know how long I'll be staying here or where I'll be going next, and I'm not going to consider a promise I made to avoid getting arrested very important the next time I'm eyeing somebody's teacups."

[powershines]

"That makes sense."

[hisowninvention]

[powershines]

"I'm worried me being nervous around people isn't going to go away very soon - or have an exception for m-my parents - and I'm not nervous around you."

[hisowninvention]

"...I could stay a while if you want. Assuming they don't arrest me. And I'm pretty sure they won't arrest me."

[powershines]

"I will ask them not to arrest you."

[hisowninvention]

"Thank you. I appreciate that."

[powershines]

"And I would like it if you would stay."

[hisowninvention]

"Then I will."

[powershines]

"Thank you."

[hisowninvention]

He smiles at her again and brushes breadcrumbs off the front of his shirt.

[onerequest]

Someone who was observant might be able to hear approaching hoofbeats at this time.