![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
✿|| The Start of Something New
[ The evening is still young, and already she's defied her mother's wishes by running off to find some where that she can be alone. Beyond the shelter of gauzy silk drapes is where she finds relief, gazing out over the gardens of the estate, long blonde hair plaited down the length of her back. There's a little bit of a nip in the air but she doesn't seem to mind.
The young woman can't bring herself to care much about that or anything else, as she listens to strangers mill about behind her from a safe distance, expression a blended mask of dejection, boredom, and disappointment to anyone that get close enough to see. She should be having the time of her life right now, she actually almost NEVER gets to interact with people, even after so much has changed- but there's no one here her age and on top of the fact that these people are all... snobbish upper-crust types, she already feels plenty out of place just by being from a different century.
It's been nothing but unfamiliar sights, unfamiliar faces, and unfamiliar sensations ever since she woke from her apparent centuries-long slumber. There are still days when Rapunzel feels like she's living in a dream rather than having been woken up from one.
Maybe the evening won't drag on too long, if she can just find some way to pass the time that DOESN'T involve thinking about all the things she's left behind in her old life.
If anyone notices the pretty young woman standing outside on the balcony all on her own, completely apart from the rest of the party they don't make any outward indication of it. Instead, Rapunzel is left to trail one fingertip very slowly around the rim of a glass from her spot standing next to the stone railing. Sparkling water of some kind... she hadn't really paid much attention when she accepted the offered glass, even less to what the server said it was as she hastily excused herself before Gothel could find her to drag her into more awkward introductions.
She's holding out hope, but it's dwindling by the minute. Is there any chance that there might be just ONE friendly face here? ]
The young woman can't bring herself to care much about that or anything else, as she listens to strangers mill about behind her from a safe distance, expression a blended mask of dejection, boredom, and disappointment to anyone that get close enough to see. She should be having the time of her life right now, she actually almost NEVER gets to interact with people, even after so much has changed- but there's no one here her age and on top of the fact that these people are all... snobbish upper-crust types, she already feels plenty out of place just by being from a different century.
It's been nothing but unfamiliar sights, unfamiliar faces, and unfamiliar sensations ever since she woke from her apparent centuries-long slumber. There are still days when Rapunzel feels like she's living in a dream rather than having been woken up from one.
Maybe the evening won't drag on too long, if she can just find some way to pass the time that DOESN'T involve thinking about all the things she's left behind in her old life.
If anyone notices the pretty young woman standing outside on the balcony all on her own, completely apart from the rest of the party they don't make any outward indication of it. Instead, Rapunzel is left to trail one fingertip very slowly around the rim of a glass from her spot standing next to the stone railing. Sparkling water of some kind... she hadn't really paid much attention when she accepted the offered glass, even less to what the server said it was as she hastily excused herself before Gothel could find her to drag her into more awkward introductions.
She's holding out hope, but it's dwindling by the minute. Is there any chance that there might be just ONE friendly face here? ]
no subject
As Gabriel's eyes asked that silent question, so too did Gothel's when Adrien mentioned the dancing being her daughter's idea. One trimmed eyebrow slipped upwards in surprise, as if echoing Gabriel's exact question now just as silently.
The look that she exchanged with Gabriel was indeed telling, but only the two of them would understand what it meant, be it a difference in age, experience, or roles between parents and children. Whatever the case, they seemed on the same page and just as quickly as the look was exchanged, Gothel's and Gabriel's gaze returned to the young blond(e)s. ]
Well, I must say I'm pleasantly surprised. And here I was worried that you'd spend the whole evening being a wallflower.
[ Ha, ha... ha ha... ]
But, no... only to introduce ourselves, officially of course. I think we've kept them long enough, Gabriel?
[ Rapunzel is the one a bit at a loss now, surprised by Gothel's admission and not realizing that it was at least in part for show. She is, after all, still getting used to her mother's public persona. ]
no subject
Gabriel seems to hesitate for a second, then nods. ]
Of course. By all means. We still have much to discuss anyway.
My assistant Nathalie will be meeting us shortly.
[ Oh, good. Adrien gives a thumbs up to his dad to show his approval (and reassure him). ]
Don't worry. We've got this.
no subject
What is surprising is Adrien's response, to which Gothel seems to take no notice at all. A pair of green eyes stares at the back of Adrien's head for a moment, then her eyes slide quickly back to Gothel's face. When the older woman shows no immediate signs of reacting to the gesture Rapunzel assumes she hadn't even paid attention to notice.
She's relieved when the two adults finally take their leave, feeling embarrassed and frustrated, but not wanting to let the remark ruin her first real night out. ]
Thanks, Adrien. [ She says with a small smile, ready to keep the conversation moving, anywhere but lingering on the interaction just now. It shouldn't be too surprising now why she has avoided the topic of her mother until now. She wouldn't even know what to SAY. She could really only excuse so much, for one reason or another. Inexperience, lack of familiarity with how these relationships normally work, frustrations bleeding into her responses... Yeah, safer just to avoid the subject completely. ]
no subject
He returns Rapunzel’s smile, though. ]
Hey, don’t sweat it. Adults are always like that.
[ Sensing that she doesn’t want to dwell, though, he rolls right off the topic. ]
They’re gone for now. If there’s anything else you wanna try... now’s our chance.
no subject
[ It's obviously a tease, since she's even smirking and raising an eyebrow with a playful challenge. ]
... Anything? ... Is there a garden somewhere here?
no subject
But it seems she's not quite out of ideas yet. ]
A garden, huh? ...I might have seen one on the way in.
[ ....... ]
Why?
no subject
Well, it's just that there's something I've always wanted to do. Mother won't exactly let me, so...
no subject
Okay. Let’s go.
no subject
Okay!
[ Is she 18 or 16????
What they're doing is totally legal(!!!).
BUT it's still a rush because it's something Gothel has scolded her for. "It's uncouth, dear."
She doesn't care. Damn it she wants to feel the grass with her own bare skin. Just once! ]
no subject
Once they're out, it's a lot easier.
He leads her to some stairs. ]
So what is it? Do you... [ he has no idea, so he's just going to bullshit ] want to make a bouquet or something?
I don't think we're actually allowed to pluck the flowers.
[ One or two might not hurt, though... ]