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

[pleating]

"And then kiss her. Or, like, tilt your head and lean forward a little and make gooey eye contact, maybe."

[in_tatters]

Adarin laughs, a little nervously. "I'll - um. Figure it out?"

[pleating]

Kayam looks at him skeptically. "You will, huh? All by yourself."

[try_me]

Zeviana has been trying not to laugh, the entire time. "You're doomed. You're so doomed."

[in_tatters]

He sighs.

[pleating]

"I don't think he's doomed to anything more than a few awkward moments at the very beginning."

[in_tatters]

"Fun."

[try_me]

"Can I watch you flail about failing at romancing her?"

[in_tatters]

"No."

[pleating]

"Yeah, I did say alone, there was a reason."

[try_me]

"Awww. Fine, fine."

[pleating]

"Thank you for not sabotaging milady's love life for your personal amusement."

[try_me]

"You're welcome!"

[in_tatters]

"I feel so loved," says Adarin in a deadpan.

[try_me]

"Awww. Do you want me to coach you? I can coach you -"

[in_tatters]

"Nnnnno that's okay, we'll just figure it out."

[pleating]

"Shara will probably produce plenty of opinions about the details when she knows you are not labeled fragile, this end up, keep out of direct sunlight, no sudden movements or loud noises, do not expose to bagpipe music."

[in_tatters]

Adarin cracks up. "What would happen if I were fragile and exposed to bagpipe music?"

[pleating]

"Uuuum, lingering death from... fluid in the lungs, that's what."

[in_tatters]

"Sounds drawn out. I'll avoid bagpipes, then."

[pleating]

"Well, the point is that you don't actually need the fragility labeling."

[in_tatters]

"But what if I die?" says Adarin in mock-fear.

[try_me]

"He will never get to kiss her if he dies first!"

[pleating]

"All right, go ahead and be careful around bagpipes but don't be careful around Shara, she doesn't even know how to play."

[in_tatters]

"Oh, well, that's okay, then."