[audio]

[70ftandcounting]

Is...is it over?

[A soft, quiet noise. Not a whimper, not a cry - but maybe the tiniest of sniffles]

Is he gone?

[Bartimaeus was RIGHT.]

Comments

[likesfootnotes]

[Never be alone? Rapunzel, that is cute and Bartimaeus actually does not call you on that wee little detail called "your natural lifespan" being quite short compared to his.

What he does do, however, is stare rather suspiciously at the package before very carefully taking it.]

You, of course, mean that as in the spirit of everything that's not Santa. You didn't happen to employ little children to make this, did you?

[Otherwise, they could having words about certain sweet fairytale princesses - oh, yes, he's seen the hair and he knows stories about ridiculously long-haired maidens and many things that could entail (usually a national shortage of scissors).

Bartimaeus does give her the benefit of the doubt by carefully opening it.]

[70ftandcounting]

[Well. If you want to get technical, theoretically Rapunzel could keep herself alive for hundreds of years with her hair -- it's how her mother does it, after all!]

W-what?! No! No, of course not!

[When he opens it, he'll be holding a deep, deep purple quilt with gold sunbursts on it.]

[likesfootnotes]

[Bartimaeus has wit and sarcasm readied upon his Ptolemy lips, sharpened to tease her a bit further in this strange meeting of djinni and human.

Then he sees the quilt.

...

Congratulatios, Rapunzel. You are one of the few humans that have made him momentarily speechless.]

That's... unexpected.

[70ftandcounting]

[She fidgets, watching him carefully, twisting her hair in her hands.]

Do...

Do you like it? I could do another -- different colors, if you don't like the color? Or a different design!

[likesfootnotes]

Don't be ridiculous. It's quite... nice. I suppose.

[Baritmaeus has shaken it out and, quite possibly, suddenly grown the foot or so he needs to ensure that no portion of it hits the ground.

His expression, typically, guarded, but little hints of shock, surprise, and perhaps gratitude are flickering here and there as he looks at it.]

You're sure that you made this without any slaves or spirits?

[Hey, he needs to sound a little bit jaded - for posterity.]

[70ftandcounting]

[She brightens at that, and fidgets by busying her hands with her dress.]

I made it all by myself. I promise.

[She says this very seriously.]

[likesfootnotes]

[Rapunzel has neared painful levels of adorable and Bartimaeus is NOT SURE IF CAN WANT OR HUMAN WRY SO NICE. His expression almost reads that way, until he coughs and gets it back on track.]

Then I have no choice but to accept it.

[Oh, how it pains him - according to the drama in his voice.]

I suppose you'll be wanting a great thank you and some temple in return now?

[He scrutinizes her briefly.]

...thanks.

But there'll be no temples today.

[70ftandcounting]

[She gives him a confused look, and tucks her hair behind her ears.]

Nooo...I don't need anything in return. Especially not a temple.

[She smiles.]

But -- the thank you is nice.

[likesfootnotes]

Good! Then everything is settled.

[Normally, this is where he'd wait expectantly for a dismissal. Habit has him standing there, looking at her as though she should be reciting the incantation.]

[70ftandcounting]

[He's--really odd sometimes, but she smiles anyway.]

Do you want to go find something sweet?

[No dismissals, no incantations -- just a request for his company a bit longer.]

....DAT ICON ROFL

[likesfootnotes]

[Hold up. That was not the dismissal incantatio-- oh, right. He's in the Keep and can go anywhere he wants, whenever he wants to.

Except, for some reason, she wants to continue hanging out with him? Obviously she has a fever.]

That's not usually how things go. You'd be amazed, but most people can't wait to get rid of me after a few minutes of discussion.

[Bartimaeus remarks this as he absently grows two extra arms to help with re-folding the quilt for easier carrying.]

But... I suppose it could be tolerable. Maybe even fun, though I doubt that enough to check it out.

Let her dress you Barti

[70ftandcounting]

Why would I want to get rid of you?

[Rapunzel looks genuinely confused, brow furrowed and a perplexed expression crossing her face. Getting rid of him made no sense -- she liked talking to him.]

Is...that a yes or no? [So confusing and indecisive!

And she tries not to gape at the extra arms.]

Only if it's the same dress

[likesfootnotes]

[Bartimaeus tuckes the re-folded quilt under his arm, then scratches his chin with an extra hand.]

Usually it's quite obvious by the throbbing vein in your temple or the seething rage, but you've managed to avoid both triggers. Obviously you have a rare form of resistance.

[He shrugs, baffled at the fact that he's okay with this.]

Yes. Why not.

[It's not like he has something else to do. WHAT AM FREE TIME.]

well duh, you'd be so pretty in pink and purple

[70ftandcounting]

I suppose that's possible. [Her hair WAS a rare thing, after all.]

Great. Come on!

[She links arms with him, and steers towards the kitchens.]