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]

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

[pleating]

"She's in the library if you want to go right now."

[in_tatters]

"Uh - what, right now-?"

[try_me]

"Yup," says Zeviana, who immediately starts pushing her brother to the door. "Right now, shoo, before you think about it too much. Shoo!"

[in_tatters]

"Eep!"

And then he is out of the room, and Zeviana closes the door on him.

[try_me]

"There," says Zeviana, casually leaning on the door to prevent him from coming back in. "That'll work."

[pleating]

"He doesn't know where the library is, does he?"

[try_me]

"No idea."

[pleating]

"I'll show him where to find it," laughs Kayam, and she lets herself out of the room.

[in_tatters]

Adarin is currently looking like a confused and lost puppy. "... I don't know where the library is."

[pleating]

"I figured. This way." Stroll, stroll.

[in_tatters]

"Thank you."

Stroll, stroll. Nervous fidgeting. "You're uh - not bothered if Shara and I...? You mentioned that you're pining."

[pleating]

"Yeah, I'm kinda pining. But I'm not jealous. And me and her isn't going to happen anyway."

[in_tatters]

"Okay - I'm sorry."

[pleating]

"That's she's straight? Why are you sorry? If she wasn't we'd have been together since we were about fifteen and you'd never get a bit in edgewise."

[in_tatters]

"... Fair point," he laughs. "But I'm sorry that you're pining."

[pleating]

"I'm not miserable. I just haven't quite got to the point where I can look at other girls without comparing, in my head."

[in_tatters]

Adarin nods. "Okay. Then - I suppose I'll shut up about it?"

[pleating]

"Sounds like a plan. You make her happy, okay?"

[in_tatters]

"I'll genuinely try my best."

[pleating]

"Good. Library's end of this hall, can't miss it."

[in_tatters]

He nods. "Thanks."

And then... Off to the library. Before he thinks about this too much and flees back to the guest room.

[go_meta]

Shara is in there! She is freshly bathed and in a nice dress and still wearing her crown with the lazily floating diamonds as she leans over a book.

[in_tatters]

"Hey," says Adarin, for lack of anything better to say.

[go_meta]

"Hi!" says Shara, looking up. "How're you doing?"