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

[sundayfish]

"Can increase the guard for a while." Cearl gets up. "Rapunzel, you can invite your friend to stay in the palace for a bit, if he makes you feel better. I'll get Ranae. She might - cry, might try to hug you, you don't have to let her if you don't want to."

And he turns to go.

[powershines]

Rapunzel looks up at Rolan.

[hisowninvention]

Rolan smiles down at Rapunzel. "I'll stay."

[powershines]

Armhug. "Thank you."

[hisowninvention]

"You're welcome."

And, what the hell, he puts down his bag and gives her an entire hug. Hugs are important.

[powershines]

Entire hug. "Am I being too - clingy, I can't tell."

[hisowninvention]

"Not at all," he says. Hug hug.

[powershines]

"Okay. Good." She swallows. "He seems nice though, I guess."

[hisowninvention]

"Yeah, he does."

[powershines]

"I guess I can let the queen hug me if she really wants."

[hisowninvention]

"She probably really wants," he says. "But it's okay not to, even so."

[powershines]

"He said. But I'm going to be living with these people, I think is the idea."

[hisowninvention]

"Yeah."

[powershines]

"So it seems like it might be a better idea to do what they want."

[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."