re_alignment | 01

[Texting? It's a bit beyond her abilities, considering typing mechanisms of any sort weren't exactly available in her tower. Not to mention that typing feels doubly unnatural with the alphabet all out of order and spaced strangely. Initially, the other two options aren't much better for her, and it takes some fiddling around before she gets the audio function to turn on.]

Um... hello? Am I doing this right? Can anyone hear me?

[Well, assuming she's using it correctly, here goes nothing.]

My name is Rapunzel, and while I'm sure that gigantic, talking, magic-living-statue person meant well, I really, really can't stay long. You see, I have a very important thing I recently set off to do, and if I don't go right back to take care of it, I may never have a chance to again... [She mumbles the rest of the sentence.] and I've kind of been waiting my whole life for it. [Ahem.] So, if anyone would be so kind to tell me how I could possibly return home, I'd be really appreciative.

[There's a small moment of thoughtful silence.]

But before I forget, by any chance, did someone by the name of Euge-- um, Flynn Rider get here before me? I know it might be a bit of a stretch, but I thought it might be a good idea to check.

[In all honesty, Rapunzel would be relieved to see a familiar face in this strange, enormous, intimidating world. That said, if there is some sort of hidden way back home, she'd need to make sure Flynn could return with her.]

Okay, I think that's everything I wanted to ask about.

...And I really do hope this strange thing is actually working and that I haven't been talking to myself this entire time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think... you are right. That is very insightful.

Hrm. Well, I can say that life is often very complicated. Especially when it comes to the people you know and the things you believe. Sometimes you think you know something about someone else and then learn you were perhaps wrong about them. It is hard.

[People are confusing, news at 11.]

It is perhaps not my place, but if I might offer some advice? Mothers know quite a lot, but when it comes to people you know, it is best to follow your own gut. And if you believe in him being a good person, and in being your friend, then perhaps he feels the same way.

I couldn't agree more.

[However, there's still a bit if disillusionment in that sort of thinking; she has yet to see someone she thought of as "good" do something "bad". She's mostly going off of is her surprisingly pleasant encounter with the ruffians in the Snugly Duckling.]

I'm glad you think so. That's exactly what I want to believe. Not that Mother never meant well, but she was wrong about so much of the outsi- of the world. I mean, it's completely reasonable that she would be wrong about Flynn too.

[Right? Right.]

[Strelok is used to things being less cut-and-dry, really. He's rarely met truly evil people... or completely good people, for that matter. Aside from Doctor, but that's just him.]

It is. Mothers, they like to try to protect their children from the world... but we have to make our own choices and opinions sooner or later.

[Even if they're bad choices. But... hrm.]

Before, you corrected yourself. You started to say 'outside'. You have been... indoors for a long while?

[Rapunzel realizes he's right, about action and thinking independent of her mother's. All the same, Gothel's words echo in her head. You're not leaving this tower, ever. Though she may not voice it right now, she's definitely trying to find a way to justify Mother trying to keep her from making any independent choices... at least in regards to anything and everything outside the tower.]

Slip of the tongue. [Ahhahahahahaaaa....] But you could say that.

Your mother being worried about you again? She could not keep you away from the world forever. We all have to live in it.

Sometimes, the world will... ['kick our asses' but she seems young and... delicate for that kind of language, uhhhh] ... be unkind. Even to good people. It can be hard. But it worth all the trouble it might make for you. Even if someone's parents do not think so.

Yes... and well... it's complicated too. Sure, Mother kept me inside, but I stayed willingly too.

[After all, her hair is a gift that needed to stay hidden and protected.]

I think I was figuring that out on my journey with Flynn. We kind of ran into a bunch of trouble, and just on the first day. [There's a bit of a nervous chuckle, though the tone that follows is warm, excited even.]But I had learned so much about everything outside, things I didn't even think possible. It was so... so... amazing.

[Rapunzel pauses for a moment, that eagerness in tone vanishing into cautiousness.]

Not that Mother thought it was enough. But I knew better. Or... I thought I did. Being here, I can't help but wonder if she was right.

Heh, that sounds about right. The world likes to throw trouble at someone all at once. All the monsters and bad guys come out. But it has a way of making up for it.

Every world has its ups and its downs. Even this one. You will have to decide how you feel about this one. It can be harsh sometimes, but amazing too.

Luckily, I never have much trouble with monsters.

[She was taught that all the "real" things of the outside world were plenty deadly on their own.

With the second statement, though, Rapunzel takes a brief moment to think over her first impressions.]

If there's one thing about this place, one thing I really like, it's that everyone here -well, everyone that's responded to my silly questions- seems to be genuinely nice. Never in a million years would I have expected it from a world that looks like... well, this one.

I am glad to know that. I hope that it stays that way.

[Because really? He's seen the monsters around here and he doesn't envy anyone else running across them.

Strelok smiles, though it can't be seen, and rests his cheek on his fist. He'd forgotten how cute civilians can be sometimes. D'aww.]

Then you have had very good luck, miss. I hope the residents here continue to be nice to you. And well. I guess they say to never judge a book by its cover for a reason, yes? Even the roughest things can surprise you.

I hope so too.

[There's a light laugh, short and good-natured.]

Surprise might be a bit of an understatement. Everything here, especially the metal people, are things I would have never even been able to dream up even if I tried. But I guess that just makes the nice people all the better.

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