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]

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?"

[in_tatters]

"Good - you, um. You look nice."

[go_meta]

"Thanks! I just sort of throw on whatever my handmaid gives me but she has good taste and I definitely needed the bath."

[in_tatters]

"I feel like if I comment on that in any way I'm just doomed. So I'm not."

[go_meta]

"Sorry. Anyway, how do you like it here?"

[in_tatters]

"It's nice - Vi is being abrasive with the staff, though."

[go_meta]

"Oh dear. Do I need to intervene?"

[in_tatters]

"No, no, it's just the uh - maid was acting like we were uncultured. Which, technically we are, but - sister."

[go_meta]

"...If she's being rude I can get you a nicer one."

[in_tatters]

"Ask Zeviana, I was fine with it," he shrugs.

[go_meta]

"Okay. So what's up?"

[in_tatters]

"Kayam came by and mentioned something? I'm uh - checking to make sure it's not false?"

[go_meta]

"Um, okay? What?"

[in_tatters]

"Apparently, uh - you have a crush on me the size of a continent?"

[go_meta]

"That is not how crush sizes are measured."

[in_tatters]

"... There's a system for measuring crush sizes?"

[go_meta]

"Nooo but if there were it wouldn't compare them to landmasses, I don't think."

[in_tatters]

"Okay, well -" He fidgets. "Should I drop this conversation and never bring it up again?"