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

[hisowninvention]

"Or," he says, "it could be a good idea to find out they mean it when they say something's okay."

[powershines]

"What if they don't, though?"

[hisowninvention]

"Better to find that out sooner than later, don't you think?"

[powershines]

"I mean, what do I do."

[hisowninvention]

"Oh. Well, running away with me is always an option."

[powershines]

"Oh. Okay."

[hisowninvention]

[powershines]

Now she is sort of snuggle-leaning on him.

"Do I just say I don't want to hug her if she tries - or before she tries - or - what?"

[hisowninvention]

"...hmm. I know how to handle that kind of thing, I'm not sure I know how to say how to handle that kind of thing."

[powershines]

"That's going to make it a lot harder for me to take your advice."

[hisowninvention]

"Yeah. There's - a lot more to it than the parts that can be done or described using words. But I think, under the circumstances, if she tries to hug you you can say you don't want to or shake your head or move away, and that should cover it."

[powershines]

"Okay."

[hisowninvention]

[kindestgarden]

The queen appears on her husband's arm, anxious and hopeful and not apparently inclined to try to hug Rapunzel right away.

"Claribel?" she asks waveringly.

[powershines]

"I-I think so. But I haven't been called that."

[hisowninvention]

[kindestgarden]

"Right - Cearl said - Rapunzel?"

[powershines]

"Yeah."

[kindestgarden]

Their majesties take seats opposite Rapunzel and her companion. "I'm so sorry we never found you," murmurs Ranae. "We looked, we looked. Have - have you been okay?"

[powershines]

"If I'd tried to answer that question - two days ago not knowing what I know now - I would've said yes. It was - fine day to day. But I didn't meet anyone but Gothel and she was lying to me."

[hisowninvention]

Rolan decides to start holding Rapunzel's hand. This seems like a positive contribution.

[powershines]

It is. She squeezes his hand.

"But I had - you know, food and a roof over my head and books and things to do with my time."

[kindestgarden]

"Things like...?"

[powershines]

"I don't know how good I am at any of it compared to anybody else, because there was no one to compare with, but I - sing, I play the piccolo, I had a couple of other instruments at home - I would really like it if I could get some of my things back, especially my old notebooks - I did a lot of craft projects. I cooked."

[hisowninvention]

"Really good muffins," murmurs Rolan.