capeandcowl | seventeen. text.

Once upon a time, there were two kings who lived in two separate kingdoms and sat upon two separate thrones; one kingdom was in a valley bathed in light and had bountiful harvests and green, green grass for all the livestock to live on, whereas the other was on a mountain bathed in darkness and suffered drought and famine and so forth, and many of the animals were sickly and the residents were poor. One day, after many weeks of rainfall, a powerful storm hung on the horizon, and the king in the dark kingdom offered the other king and his residents shelter on the mountain with them, for while life was difficult there, their height lent them protection from the dangerous flow of the river below, the same river that allowed the light kingdom to flourish so easily in better times.

"And why should I do that!" cried the king. "We are so comfortable where we are. How could you ask us to give that up, to live life in suffering like you?"

And when storm came, the river overflowed and swallowed the light kingdom, choking the life out of all those bountiful harvests and green, green grasses, and those who didn't drown succumbed to illness and starvation soon after.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[nodding vigorously.] Yes, yes, I was-- Katurian, it was so scary, I don't...I've never been so scared! Not even when the dragons were...[sniff, huff.] I, I was in a tree. To hide, because...because at the park, oh...oh, the poor park and all the animals...But the branch broke and I fell. And they saw me, and I had to run! And...and then someone came to save me, but I didn't know, it was so fast, I...I thought I was done for, but...[catching her breath; even reliving it is scary. she wipes at her cheek hastily before clasping both hands under her chin.] I'd never been so scared before, Katurian. Never, ever. Not even the well...

Oh Jesus.

[Breaking his heart.]

Oh Jesus, I h-had-- I had no idea, I had no idea that had happened to you. You aren't hurt, are you? From falling? Or otherwise?

Mh, [sniff, shaking her head.] no, no not really. Little scratches, that's all, and they're all better now. After I took care of them. And I was saved, but I thought I wasn't, it was so mean of me...But I'd never known anyone to magically p-poof anywhere! Not even a wizard!

There are some pretty incredible things out here. But I'm glad you're all right. Physically-- all right. Sometimes, fear is enough.

It was more than scary...[she wipes hair away from her eyes, mouth pressed into a thin line as she does so.] And...and these scary things. They keep happening, don't they? Why?

Why do bad things happen. [Pause.] Is that what you're asking me? Giselle.

This never, ever happens in Andalasia! Not ever! [...a slight pause, grimacing and shaking her head.] Well, not never-ever, but...but never this terrible! The ogre was nowhere near this scary!

[Oh lord, there's some sputtering here. Katurian cannot deal with this fairytale stuff, okay. Not even for depressing talk time. He's practically star struck.]

Y-Yeah?

Uh-hunh...[sniff.] Oh...Ohhh, I'm sorry. Goodness. [swiping at her eyes again.] I certainly don't mean to...to...[her voice trails, lips pursed together tightly, unhappily.]

C-Could you-- Could you tell me about the orge? Or the well. Or-- I know all these things must be difficult for you to talk about, so you don't need to tell me, but I'd like to hear you talk about your world. Sometime.

[her face reads confusion.]

About Andalasia...? Oh, but. But it's not a bad place! Those were just...just...[one hand flutters, trying to snatch the words she wants.] Well. Well Andalasia isn't always like that at all. It's always been so nice and wonderful before...

No. [Sheepish. He isn't sure what he's doing, he just--]

I want to hear about your adventures.

seventeen. text.

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