•||• Next stop, anywhere! • Catch-all [ semi-open ]

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🧙 WHO: Rapunzel -&- YOU!
⚔️️ WHAT: Anything, everything
🕒 WHEN: The duration of her stay in Avalon
🗺️ WHERE: Next stop, ANYWHERE!
⚠️ WARNINGS: Will update as needed

LOG TRACKER HERE

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I will, you too. Stay warm, I'll be there soon.

[ She was reluctant to say goodbye as it was, but doubly so after that. There was almost a sense of distraction in Zen's tone after that which left her feeling uneasy. Maybe she shouldn't have said anything until they were face to face. What if she'd made a mistake by telling him like that?

If it wouldn't have been cruel to the horse Rapunzel would've pushed for them to gallop the entire way, but as it was they did have to stop for rest and water, and at some point she does take the chance while "camping" to let people know where she is. Other than that, she doesn't even think about stopping again.

They reach the inn within record time, but it couldn't have been fast enough even if they'd teleported (which, in hindsight, might've been possible if she'd thought to ask the network if anyone had or knew where to buy or find a teleport spell to the Rent-a-Ride). That sentiment is doubled in her mind when she finally spots Zen among the few otherworlders milling around outside. He's seated alone and he looks as if he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. The sight makes her heart ache. The last thing she'd wanted or meant to do was cause him distress.

Once she's down from the stallion's back she gives him a few reassuring pets and hands him off to someone who offers for now, and approaches Zen, his coat in her hands. Once she reaches him and he's standing she swings the coat open and around to cover his shoulders, much like he had done for her in the past with his cloak. The look on her face is worried. Couldn't hide that even if she tried, but she tries for a smile too. ]

I'm alright, but you must be cold.

[ A non-answer, not to evade, but because she's got more pressing concerns. ]

I'm more worried about you. Zen, are you okay?

[ Even as she asks the question Rapunzel is bringing a hand up to cup his cheek, feeling the cold clinging to his skin and not liking it. As she's waiting for his answer- probably before he actually can -her arms are slipping around his waist as she steps forward to hug him, sharing some of her body heat.

Pascal is covering his eyes from where he's hiding in the hood of her coat. ]

[wirant]

[ He only realizes how cold he is when the cloak is wrapped around his shoulders and Rapunzel wraps her arms around him. Zen's own arms wrap around her on reflex as he pulls her a little closer and rests his cheek against the top of her head. He holds her tightly, maybe a little too tightly, both because she's very warm and because he's genuinely worried for her. Not only was the trip long, but he's been gone for so much longer than he can wrap his head around.

It takes him a moment to respond. He's so relieved to see her that it's almost overwhelming. At the same time, though, it's so like her to worry about him over herself. He almost wants to laugh. ]

I should be asking you that.

[ She's the one who was left alone. ]

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[ His grip is a little tight. Rapunzel doesn't complain, just tightens hers a little in response, buries her face against his shoulder, and ducks her head. The result is her hunching in a little, becoming just a little bit smaller in his arms while fitting into his hold. ]

It's okay now, you're back.

[ She'd known that he would have wanted her to keep living her life here, but some days were still admittedly much harder than others, especially in the beginning when she was still doing things with two people in mind out of habit. Shopping, cooking, budgeting, and scheduling her day. Finding a way to support herself was jarring but... ultimately probably the one thing that kept her going, gave her something to keep her mind busy.

And she can't bring herself to lie to him, doesn't want him to think that getting over his disappearance was some easy thing, like his absence was just no big deal. How hurt would he be if she made it sound like it was nothing? Neither did she want to compound on the guilt she can imagine he's feeling- if just because she'd be feeling it were their positions reversed. No, simple truth was she'd missed him and never really got past missing him, life just continued regardless. Now that Zen had returned things could get back to... well maybe not normal, not with what they both knew now, but they could get back to their routine and they could heal. ]

I know how much you miss home, I felt so selfish for wanting you back, but I'm just so glad you're here again. Does that make me a terrible person?

[ The last part is stifled- no, actually all of it is probably a little muffled honestly. So was that sniffle. In fact-- you didn't hear that. Shut up. She's not crying YOU ARE. ]

[wirant]

[ Zen would be lying if he said he wasn't conflicted about Avalon. He misses his family and friends desperately. It was an adjustment, being so far from those who were always by his side. Kiki and Mitsuhide especially. At the same time, though, the idea of leaving Rapunzel behind, to live in Avalon alone, makes his heart drop to his stomach.

Until now, he'd forced himself to stop thinking about it. He had taken thoughts of home, of Shirayuki and Mitsuhide and Kiki and locked them away in the depths of his heart. He thought it better to focus on the present than worry about the things he couldn't change. It was something he'd learned how to do well over the years, a necessary part of growing up as the second prince of a kingdom. Sometimes there were things out of his control, and worrying about them would only make the rest of his work all the more difficult.

Being faced with disappearing as he did makes it difficult to set those feelings aside this time, not when he can see just how much it's affecting Rapunzel. ]

Hey,

[ His voice is soft and warm, though he does try to pull away from their embrace so he can try and look her in the eyes. If she tries to avoid his gaze, he'll gently tilt her chin up towards him.

Zen smiles again, though this time it's less forced. ]

That doesn't make you a terrible person, Rapunzel. It just means you care. [ He brushes some of her hair out of her face, his hand coming to rest against her cheek. ] I would have felt the same, if I was the one who stayed behind.

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[ She should have been happy to know he might be back with the people from his world who cared about him, and she was. There wasn't any bitterness, just sorrow at the sudden parting. So when Zen offered reassurances that her reaction was a natural one Rapunzel felt a small sense of relief from her guilt nearly immediately. If it would stay that way was yet to be seen, but she trusted Zen, and if he said he would've felt the same were their situations reversed then she believed it without question. She's just glad that it hadn't come to that, knowing now how it felt. Rapunzel didn't want him beating himself up with guilt, but neither did she want him to be on the receiving end of that sort of sudden isolation and loss.

The warmth of his palm was more from the emotion the touch stirred rather than his body temperature having returned to normal just yet, but nonetheless, Rapunzel cupped the back of that hand so that she could press her cheek into it a little more, expression still a little guilty as she processed his words.

Eventually, she did accept that he was right, and if for no other reason than to reassure him she mustered up a smile. The warmth and affection that she felt for him was there and for what it was worth it did seem she had taken his words to heart.

He felt the same. For now, at least with regards to her admission, that was what mattered. ]

I do, you mean a lot to me, Zen. More than anything I just want you to be happy, wherever you are.