[open commentlog | backdated to day 4 of her amnesia]

[70ftandcounting]

[Fragments of thoughts shift inside of Rapunzel’s mind, and wispy pieces of memory slip away whenever she tried to grasp it. Uncertain as to who she truly is and just what she’s doing here, she’s been wandering the Keep in a listless daze, only eating and drinking when her body reminds her that she is hungry and thirsty, because eating is not something that she remembers to do.
 
She wanders even now, hands loose at her sides and hazel eyes blank and distant while dirty, bare feet take her on an aimless path. Her hair, seventy feet long once more, trails behind her and catches dust and other bits of debris as she walks. The dress she wears is torn and covered in blood, though just who’s it is is questionable. In her hand, she holds a torch that has long been burned out.
 
Approach?]

((ooc: so Rapunzel died. Oops. Feel free to run into her.))

Comments

sobs

[yolonceler]

[The Once-ler finally got all his memories back yesterday, and has been fretting ever since. He hasn't seen Rapunzel on the journal network at all and has spent hours pacing back and forth in his room, chain-smoking, staring at the mural they painted. Them. Together. The Once-ler can't close his eyes for too long because the darkness just reminds him of the staircase, the falling, and then - nothing. He hasn't slept for three days, hasn't eaten in one. His suit is stuffed under his bed so he doesn't have to see it. Just pacing, smoking, staring.

At least, he smokes until he runs out of cigars. The Once-ler drags himself out of his room and makes for the apothecary, praying he doesn't run into anybody looking for a conversation. On the way there, he steps over a trail of hair, and doesn't think anything of it until -

Rapunzel's hair.

He whirls around and stares at it, then follows it with his eyes to the source. The Once-ler is overcome with emotion, unable to move or speak for a good like while.

He finally manages to call out,]

Rapunzel!

/crai

[70ftandcounting]

[The look on Rapunzel’s face as she turns around to face Once-ler is one of confusion – and unrecognizing. She has no idea who this person is, who ‘Rapunzel’ might be, or why he’s talking to her to begin with. A teasing, taunting little strain of memory wafts through her mind and she snatches at it, frantically trying to grasp hold of it before it drifts away again. She’s either not fast enough or it simply vanishes before she even had a chance of getting to it.
 
Peering at him in mild apprehension and wearing a very guarded expression, she swallows, and backs up a step.]
 
Who?

[yolonceler]

[What is that look on her face? What is that - that single word, why - ... Did she just get back? Has she been back? No, if she'd been back, she would have remembered everything. The Once-ler knows very little about these memory shenanigans. He takes a tentative step forward.]

You, that's... your name. You're Rapunzel. You're Rapunzel, and I'm the Once-ler, d... don't you remember? Anything, we... do you remember anything at all? [He scrubs a hand over his face, trying to nonchalantly wipe away the tears building up in his eyes.] We painted a mural, and I m-made you a dress...

[70ftandcounting]

[It hits in a flash - her name, her mother - her HAIR.]

--Oh!

[Rapunzel’s hands instinctively go up, as if she’s trying to ward him off. Her eyes are wide and she looks like a deer, ready to take flight at the first threat of that distance between them shortening.
 
Carefully, slowly, she backs away and leans to pull her hair protectively to her.
 
Mother wouldn’t like it getting dirty like that…Mother would be angry. Especially if this boy were here to do her harm, or worse – kidnap her.]
 
You stay back. Stay away from me. [He was here to take it – wasn’t he?]

[yolonceler]

[If the Once-ler weren't aware of his emotions, he'd think he was having a heart attack. It hurts. His legs feel weak. He forgets to tell himself that boys don't cry. One of his only friends in every dimension in existence doesn't recognize him, not even a little bit, and he feels like his soul is being crushed.

Is he overreacting?]

Please listen to me, I won't come near you, please just talk to me. Rapunzel, please.

[70ftandcounting]

[Her hair finally close to her body – in her arms, wrapped around her waist, pooled at her feet – she appears to visibly relax, just a little.]
 
Talk. Yes. What do you want? [Her eyes narrow a little.]
 
Are you after my hair? Trying to steal it? Cut it?
 
I won’t let you.

[yolonceler]

No! No, I don't want... [He trails off. Give him a moment to stop the hyperventilating before it begins.] Just... please, try to remember. Everything, anything. I - ... Just think really hard. A green suit, you should remember that? A really green suit, unforgettable. And... painting, that mural, with the fluffy trees. And that time you danced with... [Me.] ... someone at a party. And the time when you...

[He has to stop there. More deep breathing exercises.]

[70ftandcounting]

I don’t know what you’re talking about.
 
[She’s looking at him closer now, uncertain and confused – green. Flashes of green and music and other colors – red and yellow and orange and more shades of green. She drops her hair and presses her palms to her temples, eyes squeezing shut.]
 
Stop. Stop it! You’re trying to confuse me!
 
[She looks behind her, gauging the distance of the hall and how fast she might be able to get away from him if she takes off running. He’s – worrying her, frightening her with all of his words and the flashes of memory she brings up and and subsequently forgets.]

[yolonceler]

No, I'm not! Please, just think really, really hard, because I know... [The Once-ler rubs at his eyes. Stop crying you sissy.] ... You kissed me then I kissed you and then we got chased by a guy with an axe and then we...

[He's babbling. The Once-ler drops his hands to his sides helplessly.]

Please just look at me.

[abstinentzombie]

[Kloe was actually getting kind of worried. When you don't hear from the Keep's little ball of sunshine for a while, you kind of have to wonder where the fuck she went. Especially after the whole revolt fiasco.

And Kloe certainly wasn't planning on finding her right away. But she did. And it... wasn't a pretty sight. Suddenly having all of her hair back also didn't help. Uncertainly she just stands there (holy shit was that blood?), just for a moment, before Kloe approaches.]

Hey. Rapunzel.

[70ftandcounting]

[Rapunzel is giving Kloe an equally uncertain look – this other person seems to know her and Rapunzel…thinks maybe she looks a little bit familiar, too, but…
 
It fades, just like that.]
 
No?

[abstinentzombie]

[Ooooh damn it. What kind of answer is that? No. Kloe licks her lips and looks Rapunzel over for a quick second. Yeah, that's definitely blood on her dress.]

I'm Doctor Kloe Bishop.

[She pauses.]

Do you remember where you are?

[70ftandcounting]

A castle!

[She sounds briefly excited about this, then deflates.]

Mother will be looking for me.

[abstinentzombie]

[Oookay, well, that's something.]

Your mother isn't here. I want you to come with me so I can get you somewhere safe.

[70ftandcounting]

[Well that sounds like someone trying to kidnap her if she ever heard it.]

...No, I think I'm alright. Thank you, though.

[Backing...away...slowly...]

[abstinentzombie]

[Kloe isn't very good at this.

She doesn't want Rapunzel to run off (because then she'd need to chase her down, which would make everything worse), but Kloe makes no move to get closer. Because if anything that'd freak her out more.

Augh.]

Are you hungry? When was the last time you ate?

[Um um.]

And you need a new dress. Yours has blood on it.

[70ftandcounting]

I --

[Frown.]

I don't remember.

[As if on cue, her stomach rumbles. Loudly.]

No I like this dress. I made it.

[needsnobottle]

[Okay that? Is the scariest damn thing Tammy has ever seen. It's not just that she hadn't been expecting to see all of that hair again--and how had she gotten that back? The djinn hadn't done it, Tammy was certain, which meant some other magical means was at play here. It's more the way that the vibrant girl is walking; faded and shuffling along, looking far worse for wear than she should. As if she's not really there. For an instant she is precisely like the light in this crazy Keep; not nearly as powerful as the sun, more a mockery than a true source of warmth and light.

Tammy runs up to her as soon as she spots her, her expression drawn and worried. She hadn't heard from Rapunzel during the uprising and she's been terrified ever since. In fact, the other girls is entirely the reason why Tammy is out right now--she'd stopped by the girl's room and when she hadn't answered, run off to see if she could find her.

She hadn't expected to see this.]

Rapunzel?

[70ftandcounting]

[The name has her pausing, and Rapunzel's face kind of scrunches up as if she briefly recognizes it, but her expression soon clears and she shakes her head. Giving Tammy a wary look, Rapunzel backs away as she's approached, scooting her hair behind her protectively.]

No. Who is Rapunzel?

[Her? Someone else? She's not quite sure at the moment.]

[needsnobottle]

[and that is not the answer Tammy had been expecting either. Cue those alarm bells, which is more like a continuous siren between her ears at this point. Everything about Rapunzel has been screaming "off!! All wrong!" since Tammy laid eyes on her and this seals it. Something has happened. Tammy feels her chest constrict with the panic, the reaction panicked and instinctive and far, far too strong. She reminds herself to breath, lifting her empty hands to reassure the other girl that she's unarmed and not reaching for her. She doesn't miss that instinctive protection of her hair; no matter what has happened, no matter what she's forgot, she seems to remember innately that her hair is something people seek.

Tammy isn't after her hair though; her concern is entirely for the girl carrying it around.]

Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. [She pauses, licking her lips and struggling to think past the shrill worry whistling through her mind, form a coherent way to address the insane moment.]I'm Tammy. Do you...remember your name?

[70ftandcounting]

[Rapunzel bites at her lip as she considers the question.]

I...don't know. [Doesn't she? The name 'Rapunzel' certainly rings a bell, though she can't say if it's hers or not.] That might be me. I'm not sure.

[Twisting at the hair in her hands, Rapunzel eyes Tammy like a frightened animal, all wide eyes and tense, jumpy muscles. She's terrified, that much is obvious, but Tammy's presence somehow soothes her, just a fraction.]

You look familiar.

[needsnobottle]

[That is slightly comforting, muting the warning sirens in her skull just a fraction. Because if Tammy looks familiar, then hopefully that means whatever is going on with her memory is temporary, and she'll remember everything if she is only given the right stimulus.

Tammy is trying not to think too hard about what Rapunzel might remember, once it all comes back to her. Though she can't stop herself from wondering why it is that both she and this Once-ler guy seem to be having memory problems. Her gut twists but she keeps her expression as open and soft as possible, her stance relaxed.]

We're friends, you and I. We've done some dancing, and baking together. [Stick with the light subjects for now. Maybe if she brings these up Rapunzel will remember, easing the way for the rest.]

[70ftandcounting]

Are we?

[She tilts her head, expression wrinkling as she tries to call the memories up, but it's nothing but a blank slate.]

I don't remember.

[It's frusting, being told something like that, and not being able to recall anything. No, just Tammy's features are vaguely recognizable, but the things the girl speaks of...

Rapunzel doesn't know.]

I'm sorry.

[needsnobottle]

Hey, don't apologize. It's okay.

[Tammy keeps herself as relaxed and soothing as she can, because no matter what there's clearly something going on here. Something she'll get to the bottom of, if it kills her, but right now she's focused on making sure Rapunzel is okay. As okay as possible.

Starting with making sure she's not hurt.]

Are you feeling okay, at least? You're not hurt or anything, right?

[70ftandcounting]

I...I don't think so.

[She's covered in blood, but there doesn't appear to be any visible injuries. No, it just looks like something REALLY BAD HAPPENED, but no real indication as to what it might have been.]