platinum and diamond

[go_meta]

They get to Casasha. Shara gets her cream puff and her fruit. Strangers incline their heads to her and call her "pennon"; a few recognize her personally or just know that there aren't any other Swanpennons her age and call her "princess". Casasha is pretty densely populated - there's farmland in parts of it, but the place the wilds spit them out in isn't it; it's a largish city by the source of the river they've been following, and after they spend a night in an inn there - and their horses are more thoroughly seen to than is possible on the trail - they'll be proceeding on a well-trafficked highway to the royal household.

Comments

[in_tatters]

"Okay, well. I'm worried about accidentally becoming an - I don't know, accidental stain on your honor due to rumors and my reprogramming due to horrible unethical magic."

[go_meta]

"Uh? No. Even if the likely rumors were true it would be the kind of thing that is considered perfectly traditional and I don't see what the horrible unethical magic has to do with it."

[in_tatters]

"See, it sounds stupid when I say it out loud. Okay then, as long as I'm not making any horrific cultural missteps that personally cause you trouble, then it's fine. Had to be sure."

[go_meta]

"You're fine," she assures him.

[in_tatters]

"Good. Let me know if I'm ever not. I'm kind of being obsessively careful, and all."

[go_meta]

"I'll tell you, I promise I'll tell you."

[in_tatters]

He laughs. "Thanks, I realize I keep asking the same thing of you over and over - it's important, is all. Sorry."

[go_meta]

"No harm done."

[in_tatters]

"I'll stop extracting the same promise from you over and over. I'll choose different wordings of the same one, instead," he jokes.

[go_meta]

"If that's what it takes to make you feel comfortable."

[in_tatters]

"Thank you," says Adarin, sincerely. "It's very kind of you."

[go_meta]

"You're welcome."

[in_tatters]

[go_meta]

"You're looking at me funny."

[in_tatters]

"Sorry, I'll stop," he laughs.

Oh look, clouds!

"Better?"

[go_meta]

"I'm not complaining, I just don't know what it means."

[in_tatters]

"I'm not sure how to even begin to explain that one, sorry. Suffice to say, I like your company."

[go_meta]

"Oh, good."

[in_tatters]

[go_meta]

"You're doing it again," laughs Shara.

[in_tatters]

"Pff, sorry, didn't even realize it that time."

[go_meta]

"You don't have to be sorry, I'm just super curious. It looks sort of like you're considering painting me."

[in_tatters]

"If I could paint, I definitely would paint you, but. Can't, sorry."

[go_meta]

"Aw. I guessed wrong."

[in_tatters]

"Try again later and win a prize," he teases.