[video]

[70ftandcounting]

[Rapunzel is shown sitting on her bed, book propped up to show her cross legged and toying with her long, blond hair.]
 
Have any of you ever had something that bound you? That..just…kept you somewhere? Your entire life?
 
And then when you finally get away, when you think you’re free, you realize that you still aren’t free, because you have that one thing that still holds you in place?
 
[She looks up at her journal, eyes a little wet.]
 
There comes a day when you know that it’s time to really be free.
 
[She’s been at the Keep a year, today.
 
And now…now because of that truth, because of flashes of real memories she’s had since, she knows the truth. She knows everything.
 
And she knows what she has to do.]
 
Today is that day.
 
[She gets up, and shuts the book.]

Comments

[video]

[70ftandcounting]

[There's a long silence as Rapunzel seems to just...look through her book.]

...

Not really.

[video]

[needsnobottle]

[Less hesitation this time, since Rapunzel could have insisted she was fine and let it drop; admitting a problem meant she might be open to airing things out, in which case, Tammy couldn't really stop herself from offering her ear.]

Wanna talk about it?

[culinarybeast]

[B|]

Your eyes are wet.

[abstinentzombie]

[Compliments. How does one react to compliments.]

...Thanks. So is yours.

[70ftandcounting]

[Doesn't look convinced. She thought this woman was her mother for almost eighteen years.[

...Of...course. Yes.

[video]

[70ftandcounting]

....

Yes. I would.

[70ftandcounting]

It...was a long day, Tetsu.

I'm fine, really.

[drinkuntilidie]

[Kevas frowns a bit and puts an arm around her shoulders. Of course this wouldn't something that can be solved with only a few words.]

Be soundin' like jah ain't all dat convinced.

[video] + commentlog

[needsnobottle]

Give me a few minutes, and I'll be over there.

[And Tammy is there pretty quickly, though she detoured to the kitchens and grabbed a snack; not so much for herself as for Rapunzel. There was something about talking over food that always seemed to make it easier.

So she's got a couple of citrus fruits and two thick slabs of warm, fluffy bread spread with jam. And she just manages to rap her knuckles against the door without dropping anything.]

[culinarybeast]

[It's true she's not crying...yet. But the hell if that's normal behavior.

He narrows his eyes.]

Ya don't look fine.

[Audio]

[waitsandlistens]

So it's taken you this long to realize there's not parents here to tell you what to do?

[Audio]

[70ftandcounting]

In...a way, I suppose. Yes.

[Her mother had had that much control over her, she was still afraid to toe out of line.]

commentlog

[70ftandcounting]

[Rapunzel was waiting by the door, and pulls it open for Tammy when she hears the knock, allowing her in.]

Ooh, you brought a snack. Thank you.

[That makes her smile, and she waves Tammy in, shutting the door behind her.]

[70ftandcounting]

[She has to smile, because as argumentative as he is, it almost seems like he cares. Almost.]

I am. Thank you, for caring.

[70ftandcounting]

[She smiles, then heaves the huge wad of hair towards the fire, watching as it crackled and caught fire. She quickly shoves the rest in, then backs up, so the smoke doesn't cover her.]

[70ftandcounting]

It's just -- a lot. To take in, you know?

[Mainly because the woman she had thought for her entire life had been using her. It was a betrayal of the very worst kind.]

[drinkuntilidie]

Yeah, I know. I know what it be like to be used.

[This something he can relate with her completely. Anything he says won't take the sting away but he knows how she feels at the very least.]

[culinarybeast]

[IT'S ALL AN ILLUSION. JUST AN ILLUSION.

However, that doesn't explain why Tetsu's face is currently turning an interesting shade of red.]

It ain't-I mean that's...don't go...whatever. Just don't start cryin' alright? Ain't nothin' gonna get better by cryin'.

[70ftandcounting]

[She's still trying to smother that smile.]

I won't cry, Tetsu. I promise. Okay?

[70ftandcounting]

[She peers at him, then nods.]

It'll -- take a little getting used to.

[drinkuntilidie]

I know. If jah be needin' to talk 'bout anytin' I'll be dere to listen.

[He gives her an one armed hug and kisses the top of her head.]

[70ftandcounting]

[She hugs him back with both arms, and squeezes.]

Thank you. Really. It means so much to me that you're here for me.

[drinkuntilidie]

[Kevas smiles and puts his other arm around her, holding her tightly for a moment.]

Always will be Sunshine. I promise jah dat.

[70ftandcounting]

And...me too.

[A promise is a promise -- they're unbreakable, in her eyes. They'll always have each other, at least.]

[drinkuntilidie]

[He looks down at her with some pride and ruffles her hair. As far as Kevas is concerned, Rapunzel has been a part of his family for a long time now.]

Dat be my girlemon. Knew I could count on jah.