i'll wait, so show me why you're strong

[ravagers]

[ Generally, people need time to cope and gather themselves after a... thing... like that. Unfortunately, that's not how Vanille sees it. Her thing is avoid, and once she gets out of that hellhole that's the courtroom, she makes her way to the supplies closet, then to the library. She spends some time setting up things, pushing things aside to make room. Once she's finished, and she's met up with the Party Brigade, she makes enough invitations for everyone. She slips them under everyone's doors, or hands them out if she sees someone walking around.



Inside the library, there are candles set up to provide some soft, comforting lighting. There are pots of tea, courtesy of Mercy, pancakes made by Viktor, and books (picked out by Estelle, of course) laid out on the surrounding tables. The others have provided their own touches, and Vanille's even managed to make something: sugar cookies, which are actually very good. They're flavored lightly with all sorts of flavors--not all in the same cookie, okay--and each plate is marked with whatever flavor she's put in them.

After a successful trial, it's healthy to indulge, right? Let's mingle. ]

Comments

[stepout]

[ Wow, girl. ]

Well, we're allowed to stay here indefinitely [ unless we want to die ] so you've got plenty of time, I guess.

[firstaid]

Yes, I suppose I do...

[Except she doesn't sound too happy like that. To be trapped... again.]

[stepout]

[ ...no one'd be happy to be here. ]

It's not an ideal situation, but you need to make what you can of it. [ Her tone's a little gentler this time; still even, but gentle. ] Reading's a better past-time than... Well, you know. A lot of other ones.

[firstaid]

I suppose it really is. At least we have books here. I'm really grateful for that.

[Honestly, without book she probably would have settled in here as well as she had.]

[stepout]

...Me too, actually. The variety's more than I'm used to. [ It's kind of nice. ] Do you read a lot back where you're from?

[firstaid]

I do. Back when I couldn't leave the castle, books were all I had.

[And books were her friends and her only escape.]

[stepout]

[ ...Some people are going to be more less-thrilled about being trapped here than others, she gets why now though. As far as this princess's concerned. ]

Why couldn't you leave? [ ... ] Just because you're a princess doesn't mean you should be banned from visiting your... subjects, I guess they'd be.

[firstaid]

I'm... not really sure myself. I just wasn't allowed to leave and I obeyed that.

[She did as she was told, simple enough. Well, until she finally escaped.]

Honestly, I'm not sure if people know me.

[People even just kind of stare at her and wonder if she's the princess sometimes. It's bad.]

[stepout]

[ Oh no... ]

...If it's any consolation, you look like a princess to me. [ That is, she'd never wonder about it. ] How'd you finally get to leave?

[firstaid]

Do I really?

[She's not sure if she totally believes that, but she will take it. In any case, she latches on to the question.]

As to how I left, well, I ran away.

[Simple enough, right?]