[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

[abstinentzombie]

[And ten minutes later Kloe's knocking on her door.]

Open up.

[70ftandcounting]

[There's a shuffle, then--]

It's open.

[abstinentzombie]

[She pulls open the door and steps insides, two bottles in her hands.]

I brought a present.

[70ftandcounting]

[Rapunzel isn't facing Kloe. She's standing in the middle of her room, back to the door, still clutching the remains of her long hair, now brown.]

What is it?

[abstinentzombie]

[And Kloe just. Stops. Because woah is that really you, Rapunzel?]

You did that just now?

[70ftandcounting]

A few minutes ago.

[abstinentzombie]

[...Jeez.

Kloe sets the bottles down and steps over.]

We should clean this up, or you'll end up finding random hair for weeks.

[70ftandcounting]

The bonfire.

[She looks down at what she's holding.]

Help me get it to the bonfire?

[abstinentzombie]

Yeah, sure thing.

[Kloe looks around for something to sweep the hair into so it doesn't get all over the place.]

[70ftandcounting]

[They don't need anything. Rapunzel is used to carrying it around.

She just picks it all up in a bundle.]

Get the door, please?

[abstinentzombie]

[That works too.

Kloe silently turns around and pulls open the door, holding it for Rapunzel.]

[70ftandcounting]

[She slips through it, and starts to head towards the outside.]

Don't forget your present.

[She saw the bottles, she knows what they are. Kevas let her get tipsy one time, so she's...aware of what it will do.

And that happy, giddy feeling she had?

She wants it now, because God is she trying not to cry.]

[abstinentzombie]

Right.

[Once Rapunzel is on her way out, Kloe goes back inside to grab the bottles. She shuts the door behind her and then catches up to Rapunzel.]

How're you holding up?

[70ftandcounting]

[She's waiting for Kloe by the door. When she catches up, Rapunzel heads back toward to the bonfire.]

I'm...alright.

[abstinentzombie]

[Unconvinced Kloe is unconvinced.]

How 'alright' is alright?

[70ftandcounting]

[Tiny smile.]

I'm...very used to my hair. Not having it feels both good and bad.

[abstinentzombie]

[Kloe intentionally reaches a hand over to totally muss up Rapunzel's new short hair.]

I don't know how you managed to deal with it all. I've never had hair past my shoulders.

[Because length regulations.]

[70ftandcounting]

Your hair is very pretty.

[She says this distantly as she hauls her own long, brown trail of it up to the fire.]

[abstinentzombie]

[Compliments. How does one react to compliments.]

...Thanks. So is yours.

[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.]