^^''THE PRINCESS AND THE ERRAND''^^
Princess awakes at noon. The blinds are half-opened, and sunlight filters in as orange-yellow stripes.
The bed is lumpy. She doesn't wish to stay in this room any longer.
What should Princess do?
[[Open door to hallway.->Hallway]]
[[Open door to bathroom.->Bathroom]]Its hinges creak when she opens the door, for the condominum is old and Princess is not gentle.
In the hallway, the wallpaper is grey and striped and the floor is a soft carpet underneath her bare feet. There are two doors before her.
[[Enter the door across.->Knight's door]]
[[Enter the door to the left.->Living room]]
[[Lie on the carpet for a while.->Carpet]]When Princess goes into the bathroom, she wastes away in front of the mirror. Her hair is in tangles. Her once sun-bitten skin is now a sad pallor from staying indoors for so long.
Maybe this would be the day she went outside.
[[Put on sunscreen and braid hair.->Clean]]That's Knight's room! It would be rude to barge in when he wasn't yet home.
There was no where else to go but the living room.
[[Leave for the living room.->Living room]]The living room is not so much bigger than Princess's bedroom, but here, at least, there are signs of life.
The box of moving pictures is roaring in sound and on the counter there settles a ready-made bowl of cereal that had most likely been set by Knight before he left this morning.
[[Watch "television."->TV]]
[[Eat cereal.->Cereal]]
[[Leave through the front door.->Nope]]Princess lies flat on the carpeting. She closes her eyes and relaxes her muscles. Unfortunately, the floor is worse than the bed.
Maybe a sofa would be better.
[[Leave for the living room.->Living room]]Once her hair is tamed into braids, Princess slathers on the salve her friend Savior had gifted her that prevented heat burn. It is slick on her skin. In the mirror, she gleams.
Now she is presentable, perhaps Princess could leave her room.
[[Leave room.->Hallway]]Although Princess enjoys the little people behind the screen running about, today she is not in the mood for its giggly show tunes.
[[Eat cereal.->Cereal]]Princess douses the cereal in milk from the ice box that Savior calls "the refrigerator." The grainy bits are tasteless, even with its creamy addition.
[[Add sugar.->Why]]
[[Add strawberries.->Oh]]
[[Add ketchup.->Ok]]She considers going outside for a split second before her stomach grumbles in protest. Putting her hand to the offending belly, she also remembers--as she touches the fabric--she is still wearing her nightgown.
[[Eat cereal.->Cereal]]
[[Watch "television."->TV]]Princess hates overly sweet things.
[[Add strawberries.->Oh]]
[[Add ketchup.->Ok]]Squeezing the bottle of her favored condiment, Princess watches the red substance mix with her conconction to a putrid pink.
She likes the tang it introduces and finishes off her breakfast.
[[Put away dirty dishes.->enter sandman]]It would be a nice, fresh addition, if she could find any. But there aren't any berries to add.
[[Add sugar.->Why]]
[[Add ketchup.->Ok]]Knight laughs. "It is, yes. But recently you have gained the habit of indulgence. Don't mind it," he adds, when he sees her huff. "You deserve rest."
[["And you don't?"->Rest]]
[["Where did you run off to this morn?"->Feast]]He begins to unload the purchases and Princess sees he truly did not hold back.
"I received a message from the scrolls when I woke this morning," he begins patiently. "Savior is coming."
[["Savior!"->Savior]]
[["Whatever for?"->Well...]]The smile he delivers her is more than Princess can take.
"I would do anything if it meant you could rest a night without any worries to plague you," he says.
She blushes, and to divert her embarrassment, she asks, [["What is all of this for, then?"->Feast]]"Savior!" Princess cries, unable to hide her excitement. "I must--oh, shame on you for not rising me--I do not look the least presentable. I have not seen that girl for so long. What is the purpose for her arrival?"
"Pleasure," he answers, grinning at her enthusiasm. "I thought we might as well give into a small splurge. That Savior has quite the appetite."
"Not as much as me," Princess finds herself saying.
"No, not as much as you." As the smile on his face widens, his dimples deepen.
[["Do you need help with anything?"->Actually...]]"Actually, Your Highness, I was thinking... would you mind running a minor errand for me?" He sounds hesitant. "If it's too much, I apologize for even--"
"My dearest Knight," Princess says, "of course I can spare my hours! After all, I have not been helpful at all lately. If I stay in that room by myself any longer I may just eat glass."
Knight looks concerned after that decree, but nonetheless, he replies, "The directions for the store I would like you to visit is in my room. It is only a nearby destination. I shall retrieve it for you in a minute."
[["I think it would be better to do so in your stead."->What next?]]It's hard not to smell the fragrance that emits from his room the second Princess steps in, a testament to his unwavering new love for the Other Side's "detergent" and scented soaps. Princess's soap is unscented.
His bed has the same covers as hers but it is made. Everything in the room is neat and orderly, something that Knight has always been even before their escape to this world.
Aside from the bed, only a corner table, chair, and armoire furnishes the room. Tacked sweetly on the wall is a portrait--a miniature one, unpainted--of Knight and Princess together, unquestionably taken by Savior's interesting rectangular flash-box, weeks before. The sight of it stirs a warmth within her.
Only now does Princess realize she never asked Knight where the note had been left.
[[Examine corner table.->Corner table]]
[[Open armoire closet.->Armoire]]
[[Lay on bed.->Knight's bed]]
[[Open door to Knight's bathroom.->Knight's bathroom]]
"The Savior of Eight Isles has come to visit you for no other reason than to visit you," he says amusedly. "Is that so hard to believe she's come without ultieror motive?"
"I worry of news from our world," Princess admits, wringing her fingers.
When he sees this, he touches those fingers ever so lightly. "Out of anyone--Savior may very well be the only person capable of fixing our situation. Is that what has you so afraid?"
This is not a conversation she wants to have at the moment.
"You are cooking a meal for tonight, then?" Princess bites her lip. [["Is there anything I can do to help?"->Actually...]]He smiles, grateful, then turns to their little kitchen area.
As he busies himself with beginning preparations for what Princess imagines could only be a feast, she starts back toward his room.
[[Go to Knight's room.->Knight's room]]
[[Eat more cereal.->more cereal]]
[[Tell Knight he looks good today.->Lookin good]]Books are stacked and wedged between bookends. Both Princess and Knight enjoyed literature of any kind, and the sort they encounter here in this world is exciting, nonetheless difficult to digest in terms of its colloquialisms. He keeps the scrolls there, as well, and she remembers Savior.
Her eyes lock onto a small note on the center of the table and she grabs for it.
[[Read the note.->Directions]]She opens the double-doored closet and inspects his wide array of coats and longsleeves. They had come to the Other Side with nothing but the clothes they had on their backs, and so the collection now is impressive.
Wistfully, Princess recalls her finest silken dresses and how she had never missed them until they were no longer at her fingertips.
[[Examine corner table.->Corner table]]
[[Lay on bed.->Knight's bed]]
[[Open door to Knight's bathroom.->Knight's bathroom]]A wild, silly thought--but all the same, Princess slowly descends on the sheets. It smells, unsurprisngly, of his detergent, and is only slightly lumpier than her own.
[[Examine corner table.->Corner table]]
[[Open armoire closet.->Armoire]]
[[Open door to Knight's bathroom.->Knight's bathroom]]His bathroom is identical to Princess's. She pokes around, but there's nothing that interests her. She walks back to the bedroom.
[[Examine corner table.->Corner table]]
[[Open armoire closet.->Armoire]]
[[Lay on bed.->Knight's bed]]It's the directions! Before more pride inflates, she reads the note.
^^LEFT ON PARFIELD ST., 2 BLOCKS
RIGHT ON MAINE ST., 1 BLOCK
RIGHT ON DELCOLA BLVD, 1 BLOCK
BUILDING WITH RED AWNING
ASK AFTER JEROME'S ORDER^^
She can see ink bleeding from the other side.
[[Flip note.->Flipside]]It reads: "For Lucia."
Her heart thrums against her chest. Why had he written her private name? His name had been on the front as well. It had been a while...
Princess tucks the note in her nightgown breast pocket. Then she realizes--she couldn't leave the condominum dressed so thinly!
[[Open armoire closet.->Armoire coat]]Princess takes a coat from Knight's stash. He shouldn't mind. It was warm as she put her arms through its sleeves. There, now she was fit for travel.
[[Examine corner table.->Corner table no note]]
[[Lay on bed.->Knight's bed no note]]
[[Open door to Knight's bathroom.->Knight's bathroom no note]]
[[Leave room.->Back to K]]Back at the table, Princess wonders about the scrolls. Could she perhaps talk to Savior at this time?
[[Use scrolls.->Scrolls]]Knight is still at his station when Princess returns, putting away all the new ingredients and setting some aside for his menu.
"I found the note," Princess tells him.
He seems to be in a good mood. "I had just remembered I had neglected to tell you it was on my corner table. Was it hard to find?"
"No," she replies. She plays with the lapels of her coat--Knight's coat--and watches as he notices it's really his own.
He smiles again, but doesn't comment on her kleptomania. Instead, he says, "Thank you for this. I would do it myself if you hadn't volunteered."
"I think it would be good for me," says Princess. "To go outside, I mean."
"I'm sure it will." The corners of his eyes crinkle.
[["Am I allowed to know what the errand is?"->Hmm]]
[["What will you be cooking for tonight?"->what food]]
[["Why does my heart beat faster when I am with you?"->As if]]It fails. Savior must not be within range to answer. The scrolls aren't always the most stable means of communication. Princess tries to restrain her disappointment.
On the other hand, it is mere hours before her friend is scheduled to visit. Until then, Princess can wait.
[[Leave room.->Back to K]]A wild, silly thought--but all the same, Princess slowly descends on the sheets. It smells, unsurprisngly, of his detergent, and only slightly lumpier than her own.
[[Examine corner table.->Corner table no note]]
[[Open door to Knight's bathroom.->Knight's bathroom no note]]
[[Leave room.->Back to K]]His bathroom is identical to Princess's. She pokes around, but there's nothing that interests her. She walks back to the bedroom.
[[Examine corner table.->Corner table no note]]
[[Lay on bed.->Knight's bed no note]]
[[Leave room.->Back to K]]"Wouldn't it be better as a surprise?" asks Knight. He is teasing her. A year ago she might not have dreamed it possible.
[["Well, is tonight's menu a secret?"->what food]]
[["Oh, couldn't you just tell me? Please?"->puppy dog]]"I shall be making a Middle Isle classic--//cheartu//. Steaming vegetable stew and delicate meats. The crops on this Side are not so much different from home, though I may have to alter some aspects of the recipe. No youji plants here, after all."
Princess, a little relieved there would be no youji--for she disliked the vegetable--says, "I am sure it will be wonderful."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
[["I think I should leave now if I want to return as soon as possible."->say bye]]As if she could ask //that!//
[["What sort of store is the red building?"->Hmm]]
[["Whatever you're about to prepare looks hearty."->what food]]Although she schools her face into something most pitiable, Knight does not falter.
"I apologize, Your Highness." He poses, "A little mystery can be entertaining, can it not?"
[["I suppose..."->Fine dude]]"I suppose," she says reluctantly. The hands on the clock struck the next hour. [["Maybe it is time I go."->say bye]]Knight agrees. "I wouldn't want you out at nightfall," he thinks aloud. A look flitters across his features, enlightened. "I must give you money. I had already paid for the order, but if you were to find anything desirable along the way..."
He gives her $50.
[[Ask for more.->more money]]
[["Thank you."->next go]]Princess is very full, but she reaches inside the container of "Cheeri-o's" and scoops up a handful.
It crunches loudly as she chews.
[[Go to Knight's room.->Knight's room]]
[[Tell Knight cereal is amazing.->cereal love]]"Your Highness is also looking well this morning," he says happily. "Perhaps it is your complexion?"
He goes back to his work.
[[Go to Knight's room.->Knight's room]]
[[Eat more cereal.->more cereal]]
[[Keep complimenting him.->more compliment]]He blushes, cheeks flushing a rosy tint. "Thank you..."
[[Go to Knight's room.->Knight's room]]
[[Eat more cereal.->more cereal]]"As you've said countless times, Your Highness," Knight replies. "I am more of an 'oatmeal' fanatic myself."
[[Go to Knight's room.->Knight's room]]
[[Tell Knight he looks good today.->Lookin good]]Undoubtedly, Knight would give more if she simply asked, but Princess didn't want to depend on him for something like this.
[["Is there anything else?"->next go]]"One more item of concern--communication," he tells her.
Princess thinks, suddenly, of the scrolls, but is caught off guard as he hands her a small, thick black mirror the size of her palm.
"It's a mobile device," explains Knight. "If you press this button here, you will be able to 'text' or call me."
"I learned what a phone is from the television," Princess says proudly, and puts the phone in her pocket for safe-keeping. "You are good to me, my Knight."
"As you are to me, my Princess."
[["Farewell!"->front door]]After his goodbyes, Knight retreats back to his preparations at the counter and stove.
Princess lingers at the front door.
[[Put on boots.->boots]]
[[Leave.->no boots]]The boots are clunky but comfortable. With a final wave for Knight, she exits the condominium.
Outside, the air is fresh and cools her skin. Some clouds have blocked the sunrays and large shadows flitter across the area. The street is empty save for the few 'cars'--another interesting metal invention by humans from the Other Side--that pass.
Princess reaches the end of the block and...
[[takes out her phone.->too early]]
[[rereads the directions.->directions again]]
[[continues walking straight.->Near Parfield Park]]With bare feet? Princess thinks that would not be the best option.
[[Put on boots.->boots]]
[[Step outside anyway.->seriously boots]]Knight catches her before she leaves. "Your Highness," he calls out in worry, "why have you not put on your shoes? The ground outside is gravel rock."
[[Put on boots.->boots]]
[["I have found that my feet long to be free from constraint."->um nah]]Blanching, Knight says, a finality, "You may get sick."
She's made him upset, and [[puts on the boots->boots]] in remorse.The phone is weighty in unaccustomed hands. Princess plays with the screen until it presents more options.
[[Call Knight.->call knight early]]
[[Text Knight "HELLO."->text]]
[[Put phone away.->put phone away]]^^LEFT ON PARFIELD ST., 2 BLOCKS
RIGHT ON MAINE ST., 1 BLOCK
RIGHT ON DELCOLA, 1 BLOCK
BUILDING WITH RED AWNING
ASK AFTER JEROME'S ORDER^^
The sign nearest to her indicates that Princess is currently on Parfield Street.
[[Walk two blocks, then turn left.->correct]]
[[Walk one block, then turn left.->wrong]]
Princess continues on the path and sees that the tall buildings she had once been surrounded with depletes in numbers as time goes by.
She nears a clearing with dewy cut grass and swaying trees. A multitude of children play in the shade. The pole's sign reads: "Parfield Park."
[[Go to Parfield Park.->Parfield Park]]
It would be strange to call him so soon after she had just said goodbye.
[[Text Knight "HELLO."->text]]
[[Put phone away.->put phone away]]His response chimes in immediately.
^^//Hello, Your Majesty!//^^
[[Don't reply.->no reply]]
[[Reply "ARE YOU SURE THIS MACHINE IS NOT MAGICKED?"->reply to him]]Putting the phone away, Princess barely witnesses a car that passes--it heralds a loud noise, sounding like an amplified duck.
Across the street, a girl in purple throws their fist in the air in a fit of anger. "Not to me you don't, deadbeat!" yells the stranger.
[[Reread directions.->directions again]]
[[Cross the street and talk to Purple Girl.->abby]]Princess doesn't know how to reply, so she tucks back the phone into her pocket, thinking she'd apologize later.
All this dilly-dallying boosts her determination.
[[Read directions.->directions again]]He says:
//^^There should be a space bar near the bottom of the 'keyboard.' :)^^//
It seems she had replied a jumble of letters, collectively, "AAREYOUSURETHISMACHINEISNOTMAGICKED."
[[Don't reply.->no reply]]
[[Reply "WHAT IS ':)'?"->reply to him2]]
[[Reply "THANK YOU."->reply to him3]]The walk is enough to clear her mind. Princess meditates on the way there.
When she's reached the crosswalk, she pulls up the note again and the proper route is to turn right.
[[Turn right on Maine Street.->correct route]]Princess takes the nearest turn and suddenly--she trips over the curb! Her grip on the note loosens and a gust of wind blows it higher than she can reach. The paper flutters away, unremorseful.
She has lost the directions. Hopefully she remembers them.
[[Turn back.->Back Without Note]]
[[Continue forward.->Journey Without Note]]As she comes closer, Princess notes that Purple Girl's source of color stems from a bathrobe draped over sleepclothes. Savior has one just like it in pink.
[["Hello, how are you?"->Hi abby]]
[["I adore that color."->royalty]]The park, according to its engravings, was constructed for recreation and pleasure, welcoming peoples and children from all different walks of life. It was also to preserve nature as it was made originally.
This touches Princess deeply, and, looking around, she sees that the Park of Parfield is a very honored place indeed.
There is nothing artificial about the sand and grass in the lot, and the strange structures she's heard referred to as part of the 'playground' are colorful and enticing. Even the guardians have their own places of rest along the edges.
[[Go to swings.->Swings]]
[[Go to see-saw.->SeeSaw]]
[[Go to slide. ->Slide]]
[[Go to benches.->Benches]]The directions had instructed her to take two blocks then turn left--this, at least, she remembers. The walk over is far from tumultuous, but Princess still finds her knees wobble after a few minutes.
She's at the corner of the crosswalk. Where was she to go now?
[[Turn left on Maine Street.->where ya goin]]After walking aimlessly, turning corners left and right, she sees that she has come right back to Parfield.
[[Guess a direction.->Near Parfield Park]]"I'm fine, thanks," says the girl amiably, who--after her initial words at the person in the vehicle--Princess had expected to be less meek. She shrugs. "It's been a long day, though."
The day, for Princess, has only begun, but instead she comments on the weather--is it not what the people in the moving box 'telly' did often?
[["I wish the sun still shone. It was not cloudy previously."->next abby]]Purple Girl, though startled at her suddeness, grins, albeit confusedly. "Thanks?" She focuses her eyes on Princess, stark and clear. "Hey, look--we match. Pajama girls, right?"
Princess returns the smile. "It is most comfortable."
"Totally."
[["The weather looks rather dreary, does it not?"->next abby]]Purple Girl nods. "Hope it won't rain."
The girl is holding a large container of milk. Princess looks up to see that they are outside a merchant's bazaar named "DRUGSTORE." Perhaps this "Drug" was from whom Knight purchased the mystery item?
It occurs to Princess that maybe Purple Girl could help her.
[[Ask if she knows what place the directions lead.->YAY]]
[["Are you on your own errand, as well?"->kils milk]]Right as she lays down the bowl in the sink, she hears the front door open and her immediate reaction is to freeze. However, it is her only her Knight--appearing with a clutter of brown paper bags filled to the brim with vegetables and more boxed food.
"Your Highness," he greets her. Knight puts down the load onto the counter. "I did not think you were awake."
Princess blinks.
[["It's high past noon!"->Noon]]
[["Did you go to the markets?"->Feast]]When she reaches Delcola Boulevard, she glances at the directions once more, which tells her to turn right immediately.
[[Turn right on Delcola Boulevard.->still correct]]
[[Turn left on Delcola Boulevard.->where ya goin]]Before she can cross the street, a bright yellow car abruptly stops right there on the street. Inside, the driver seems to be yelling.
"Whadya mean, ya ain't got no cash? What'd ya think this was, a charity drive?" He continued, "I ain't Uber--us cab drivers //earn// that respect, hear me?"
Princess took pity on the poor peasant who must have had their reasons to hail a wagon without compensation. She approaches undeterringly.
[[Offer the driver money.->hi kil]]"Well, that's a coincidence," she says, an amused smirk laying about her full lips. "That, my cute friend, is the flower shop where I work."
"Flower shop?"
"Yup. I'm headed there, anyway. Wanna follow?" Purple Girl laughs. "Wow, this is really weird. Did B put you up to this?"
"Who?" Excited, Princess takes her free hand, which was not carrying milk. "Thank you! One day your kindess will be repayed tenfold!"
"Cool," says Princess's new friend, and Princess [[follows her to their destination->Flower Shop with Abby]].Her upbeat demeanor quickly melts. "I didn't want to go, but there was no one else. My coworker drinks a lot of milk--y'know, as if it'll actually make him grow taller? He sucks."
"But you have still bought him what he desired?" asks Princess.
"It's complicated," says Purple Girl, and it most likely was.
[["Where do you work?"->Double yay]]"Oh, just a couple blocks away."
Princess asks, "You are stationed near this area? You know this area well?"
"Sure, I guess," says Purple Girl. "Why?"
"Do you happen to know where this is?"
[[Show her the directions.->YAY]]Swinging is now Princess's new favorite activity. She loves to feel the rush of wind against her face.
[[Go to see-saw.->SeeSaw]]
[[Go to slide. ->Slide]]
[[Go to benches.->Benches]]
[[Remember the errand.->WHOOPS]]
Princess sits on one unoccupied slot on the see-saw. No child is heavy enough to lift her from the ground. She worries about her cereal intake...
[[Go to swings.->Swings]]
[[Go to slide. ->Slide]]
[[Go to benches.->Benches]]
[[Remember the errand.->WHOOPS]]
The slides are crowded with toddlers and babies who are lifted onto the platforms whenever they cried.
[[Go to swings.->Swings]]
[[Go to see-saw.->SeeSaw]]
[[Go to benches.->Benches]]
[[Remember the errand.->WHOOPS]]
What catches Princess's eye at the sight of the benches is a young man, looking to be near Knight's age, braiding the hair of a little girl as she sits on his lap. They appear to be brother and sister.
[[Talk to them.->hi benga]]
[[Go to swings.->Swings]]
[[Go to see-saw.->SeeSaw]]
[[Go to slide. ->Slide]]After all this time, day has turned to night. The park had cleared out, and now she was left alone to her thoughts. She had completely forgotten the errand! How could she forget? Princess feels her heart sink to her feet.
She has to remedy her predicament, and can only think of one thing to do.
[[Call Knight.->QUICK END ROUTE]]Knight finds her at Parfield Park in mere minutes. In tow is the one she had waited all evening to see--Savior! She has her usual lighthearted gait when she skips towards Princess, and Knight himself looks to be rushing at her--if he could even do something as mundane as //rushing//.
But when Princess is embraced by both, she quakes and apologizes.
"I lament the time I have wasted," she says to them. Then to Knight: "I could not even finish a simple task as this!"
Knight shakes his head. "No, Your Highness. All I had wanted was for you to go out and enjoy yourself. It seems that is what you did, and I cannot blame you for that."
"Ol' Cap here had a feeling you might've gotten distracted, anyway," Savior says, smiling. That, by itself, recharges Princess. "So he called me up scrolltime--like, Facetime, get it--and asked me to pick it up for you. It is //for// you, you know." There, in her arms, is a bouquet of deep red flowers, so eye-catching and raw. "They're called roses. Happy birthday, silly."
Princess looks to Knight.
"Happy birthday, Lucia," he says, and smiles just as softly.
The smell of //cheartu// wafts all through the rooms that night, and even as she lay in her lumpy bed, she does not mind.
———
[[''^^QUICK END ROUTE^^''->ENDEND]]
When they arrive, a yellow car is stationed at the front, unmoving and stirring a commotion. There is a young man already there with a little girl at his side. Purple Girl addresses him when she asks, "What's going on?"
"Just got here," comes replies. He shoos the little girl inside and she complies, then he leaves them to confront the driver, who sounded as if he were yelling. The young man asks, "What's going on here?"
"I oughta call the cops! No money?" the man cries out, enraged in the front seat. "Wait until the uniforms come, see if you'll be laughing in jail!"
But the boy in the back seat was not laughing. In fact, he was not showing any face of amusement whatsoever.
Princess remembered the wads of paper burning in her pocket.
[[Offer the money.->Flower Shop with Abby 2]]The older brother is very talented at braiding, however his sister does not seem to be satisfied with his work.
"But I want a fishtail!" she cries out. "You're doing a French."
"I don't know what that is, kid," he confesses, sighing. "Tell you what--tonight I'll Google a how-to, then by tomorrow you'll have fishtails so good, people will think you belong in the ocean. For now, though, you have to keep the braid. We don't want any hair in your face playing soccer."
The girl is pouting. "Aw, fine."
[["Would you like me to try?"->benga ok]]
[["She would be adorable whichever way."->benga why]]The girl retreats into her brother's side shyly. "Hi," the girl says.
"Hello," replies Princess. "I like to think that I am very good at braiding hair. Yours is very lovely with or without--I do not doubt."
Older Brother begins, "I don't know..."
But Little Sister interrupts, saying, "Thank you, pretty lady, I think your hair is pretty, too. Can you really braid my hair? Can you do a fishtail?"
"Unfortunately, like your brother, I do not quite know what a fishtail is either," Princess says, sitting down beside them, "but in my home country, braids signify royalty. The more complex, the higher your stature. It is one of the shallower forms of fashion, I think."
"Could you?" asks Little Sister, her eyes aglow and wide.
[[Braid her hair.->bye benga]]The two look up in alarm. Older Brother even goes so far as to stand in her presence.
"Can I help you?" he asks, looking at her warily.
"No, but perhaps I may be of assistance? In my country, we have a way of styling hair that goes beyond revered fashion fads. It is an art," Princess says honestly. She remembers when she would used to braid the hair of the younger court children at the castle and wondered if she was out of practice.
Older Brother--who had relaxed a bit at the mention of her country--shrugs his broad shoulders. "What do you think, bug?"
Little Sister grins. She has a missing front tooth.
[[Braid her hair.->bye benga]]Princess ties Little Girl's hair in the fashion that she once wore, once upon a summer. She steps back to admire her job.
"Ooh!" says Little Girl. "Ooh! Ooh!"
Older Brother looks on fondly. "It's very beautiful," he compliments. "Thank you, miss. Are you looking after someone, too?"
"Hmm? No, I--" As she recalled the reason for why she was there originally, she scrambled. "Oh, I have completely neglected--How could I let this happen?"
"What's wrong?" asks Older Brother, eyebrows furrowing.
[[Tell him.->benga can help]]
"You said red awning?" asks Older Brother. He begins to smile as she nods. "I think I know where you mean. You're lucky you came to us."
"How so?"
"I know the owner of the store," he continues, "and we were on our way there after playing. Would you like me to show you where?"
Princess smiles. "I would be very grateful."
[[Follow Older Brother and Little Sister.->Flower Shop with Benga]]"Is this enough?" asks Princess, gifting the money Knight had given her to the driver. She knows that this would be a better use of her wealth than random spending.
The driver dives at her cash and is about to speed away when the boy in the back kicks the front seat. The driver stills. The boy opens the door, but does not get out.
"Where're you headed?" the boy asks--nearly whispers--and, funnily, she notes some of his fluffy curls is sticking up in all directions--a proper bedhead.
[[Tell him about the building with the red awning.->ya kil]]When they arrive, a yellow car is stationed at the front, unmoving and stirring a commotion. A girl with a large gallon of milk appears from the corner, and she looks to Older Brother in confusion.
"What's up?" she asks him. She is wearing a purple bathrobe.
"Just got here," comes replies. He shoos his sister inside and she complies, then he leaves them to confront the driver, who sounded as if he were yelling. Older Brother asks, "What's going on here?"
"I oughta call the cops! No money?" the man cries out, enraged in the front seat. "Wait until the uniforms come, see if you'll be laughing in jail!"
But the boy in the back seat was not laughing. In fact, he was not showing any face of amusement whatsoever.
Princess remembered the wads of paper burning in her pocket.
[[Offer the money.->Flower Shop with Benga 2]]Bedhead stares at Princess, grey eyes like the clouds above. "Near here?" he asks.
"It should be."
He nods, curls still in disarray. "I know. Take us here," he commands the driver--now placated--and inputs the "GPS" machine aggressively.
Princess brightens and slides inside the vehicle with him.
She tells the driver to keep the change, and [[they off they went->Flower Shop with Kil]].They stop in front of a shop with a red awning, the window display teeming with breathtaking plants for which Princess could not conjure names.
"A medicine kiosk?" Princess asks confusedly.
"Flower shop," answers Bedhead, unperturbed. He unlocks the door and gets out, leaving her to struggle unbuckling the 'seatbelt.' Eventually, it relents and she is freed. The car takes its leave.
Before they enter, a small group of people turn the corner and greet Bedhead familiarly.
"Hey," says a man, older than Princess but young enough to be around Knight's age. A younger girl walks by his side. "Who is--"
"Your nasty dairy," says the older girl wearing a stunningly puple bathrobe, thrusting a gallon of milk at Bedhead's chest. "I'm not your slave."
Bedhead takes it accordingly. The girl in purple bounds towards the flower shop entrance, and Bedhead follows in suit, not before murmuring to the other man something like, "She paid for my cab."
"Oh, thank you for that," he says, surprised. Near him, the little girl jumps in circles, her nearly braided hair bouncing along with her.
Princess nods, furtive, before saying, "I have an errand to retrieve at this destination. Could you be of assistance? It is under the name Jerome."
He smiles, then: "Right. Of course. Come in."
[[Enter flower shop.->Flower Shop Kids]]The street she turns to is quaint and sweet. A 'coin-op laundry' resides beside a dining restauraunt. It is more populated than the condominium's neighborhood. In fact, when she reaches the designated address, a yellow car she's learned to be a 'taxi cab' rushes away with its window still ajar. She hears angry complaints rustle up a storm until it speeds away.
Princess thinks these 'cars' are a little too dangerous for her tastes--and she's spent most of her younger days amongst warrior mermaids and warring werewolves.
She spots the red awning without further wandering. Princess realizes that this is a shop that sold flowers. The front display is full of exotic plants of the Other Side she cannot name, but they are beautiful in color all the same, and it is not as though the vendors of her home country did not sell the flowers for the same purposes.
[[Go inside.->Flower Shop]]Outside, the air is fresh and cools her skin. Some clouds have blocked the sunrays and large shadows flitter across the area. The street is empty save for the few 'cars' that pass.
Princess reaches the end of the block and...
[[takes out her phone.->too early]]
[[rereads the directions.->directions again]]
[[continues walking straight.->Near Parfield Park]]"Will this help?" she asks, offering the money up. "I do not need it, but if it helps ease the situation--"
The driver snatches it from her hands. "You got it, ma."
The boy inside the car exits, and looks to Princess--then looks away. "Thanks," he mutters, and heads into the shop with the red awning.
Older Brother comes to her side and says, "You didn't have to do that. I'm sorry about him."
The girl in purple trudges after the first boy. "Here's your stupid milk, loser!" Now that they were inside the store, Princess can't see if Purple Girl chucks the container or not.
"It's no problem," says Princess. "I do have an order, by the way--it's under... It's under Jerome."
"Jerome?" Older Brother's eyes light up. "Yeah, we've had it since this morning. Are you--yeah, of course you are. Come inside."
He goes in first, and just in time, Princess realizes that this is a shop that sold flowers. The front display is full of exotic plants of the Other Side she cannot name, but they are beautiful in color all the same, and it is not as though the vendors of her home country did not sell the flowers for the same purposes.
[[Go inside.->Flower Shop Kids]]"Will this help?" she asks, offering the money up. "I do not need it, but if it helps ease the situation--"
The driver snatches it from her hands. "You got it, ma."
The boy inside the car exits, and looks to Princess--then looks away. "Thanks," he mutters, and heads into the shop with the red awning.
The young man comes to her side and says, "You didn't have to do that. I'm sorry about him."
Purple Girl trudges after the first boy. "Here's your stupid milk, loser!" Now that they were inside the store, Princess can't see if Purple Girl chucks the container or not.
"It's no problem," says Princess. "I do have an order, by the way--it's under... It's under Jerome."
"Jerome?" The young man's eyes light up. "Yeah, we've had it since this morning. Are you--of course you are. Come inside."
He goes in first, and just in time, Princess realizes that this is a shop that sold flowers. The front display is full of exotic plants of the Other Side she cannot name, but they are beautiful in color all the same, and it is not as though the vendors of her home country did not sell the flowers for the same purposes.
[[Go inside.->Flower Shop Kids]]Together, all the people come inside the store, a loving atmosphere despite all the silly bickering. Shelves are stocked with pots and ceramics, seeds and fertilizer. Perhaps Princess could buy a small plant for the condominium, or a bag of pretty-petal flower seeds for Savior when she came.
An old man is at the register, writing on catalogs and busying himself. But when he hears the ruckus of people come in, he greets them heartily, wrinkles at the ends of his eyes.
"Welcome," he says. "Let me guess--Jerome's Lucia?"
Princess shies at her private name, and burns at the usage of it within Knight's. Suddenly, she is stricken timid.
[["I'm sorry?"->Flower Shop perf order]]
[[Shake head.->Flower shop perf look]]Princess enters the store and sees a few others milling about. It smells so natural, so intoxicating. Shelves are stocked with pots and ceramics, seeds and fertilizer. Perhaps Princess could buy a small plant for the condominium, or a bag of pretty-petal flower seeds for Savior when she came.
An old man is at the register, writing on catalogs and busying himself. Princess approaches the man with caution, though her excitement is unbridled.
"Welcome," he says, smiling as he notices her. "How may I help you?"
[["I have an order."->Flower Shop good order]]
[["I am only browsing."->Flower shop good look]]Savior is at the table when Princess returns home, funneling Cheeri-o's into her mouth as Princess did earlier.
Princess embraces her dear friend. "I missed you so," she says.
"I missed you, too, birthday girl," says Savior, her mouth still full with cereal. Swallowing, she continues, "I've been waiting for a while now. Didn't let the servant serve?"
"I volunteered." She held the flowers close to her chest. "Where is the man, in his room?"
"Moping."
"Moping?"
"I put him in a time out," Savior explains. "He was about to run off and come looking for you. I told him to trust in your instincts. That flower shop is literally, like, ten minutes away. Easy peasy, right?"
[[Tell her about the journey.->haha]]
[["I only had to follow Knight's instructions."->lol]]"Hmm," says Savior. "Maybe next time do a little exploring. There's always more to see than what you've already seen."
"Are you attempting to sound wise?"
"Just 'cause it's your birthday doesn't mean you can talk back to your elders, kid!" She ruffles Princess's hair. "Now go see Knight. I think he's melting with worry."
[[Go to Knight.->GOOD END ROUTE yo]]Savior grins. "If there's one thing Cap is good for, it's being a stickler for rules. Next time he sends you out, don't be afraid to do a little adventuring--never hurts, right?"
"I suppose not," Princess says.
"Well, come on then, birthday girl. Your Knight awaits!"
[[Go to Knight.->GOOD END ROUTE yo]]Savior is at the table when Princess returns home, funneling Cheeri-o's into her mouth as Princess did earlier.
Princess embraces her dear friend. "I missed you so," she says.
"I missed you, too, birthday girl," says Savior, her mouth still full with cereal. Swallowing, she continues, "I've been waiting for a while now. Didn't let the servant serve?"
"I volunteered." She held the flowers close to her chest. "Where is the man, in his room?"
"Moping."
"Moping?"
"I put him in a time out," Savior explains. "He was about to run off and come looking for you. I told him to trust in your instincts. That flower shop is literally, like, ten minutes away. Easy peasy, right?"
[[Tell her about the journey.->haha kids]]
[["Something of that nature."->lol kids]]After the tale, Savior does not stop laughing.
Between breaths, she tries to speak. "Of--course--you--would. Ha! Classic."
Because she had to admit it //was// a little ridiculous, Princess laughs as well. "These 'cab drivers' are most tempermental, are they not?"
"Honey, you're lucky this isn't New York," Savior replies. "So you're off to see the wizard?"
[[Go to Knight.->PERFECT END ROUTE yo]]
"//Suuure//," drawls Savior, eyeing her suspiciously. "One day I'll get the deets. Anyway, I think it's time you see Mr. Mopey."
[[Go to Knight.->PERFECT END ROUTE yo]]She hesitates in front of Knight's door.
[[Knock.->PERFECT END ROUTE]]
[[Go back to Savior in the living room.->Savior Living Room perf]]
[[Retreat to Princess's room.->Old Room perf]]She hesitates in front of Knight's door.
[[Knock.->GOOD END ROUTE]]
[[Go back to Savior in the living room.->Savior Living Room good]]
[[Retreat to Princess's room.->Old Room good]]A voice--familiar and sweet and the cause of Princess's beating heart--calls out to her.
"Come in."
Princess enters Knight's room with the bouquet of roses rustling in her arms.
———
[[''^^GOOD END ROUTE^^''->ENDEND]]
A voice--familiar and sweet and the cause of Princess's beating heart--calls out to her.
"Come in."
Princess enters Knight's room with the bouquet of roses rustling in her arms.
———
[[''^^PERFECT END ROUTE^^''->ENDEND]]
Princess and Savior catch up on affairs in the Eight Isles, nibbling on cereal in between pauses. Princess has begun to feel less homesick the longer she lives on the Other Side, but somehow she does not want to heal from the feeling--one day, she will go home.
[[After a comfortable chat, she heads towards unfinished business.->GOOD END ROUTE yo]]
[[She visits her room.->Old Room good]]Princess and Savior catch up on affairs in the Eight Isles, nibbling on cereal in between pauses. Princess has begun to feel less homesick the longer she lives on the Other Side, but somehow she does not want to heal from the feeling--one day, she will go home.
[[After a comfortable chat, she heads towards unfinished business.->PERFECT END ROUTE yo]]
[[She visits her room.->Old Room perf]]"I have an order to retrieve, under Jerome?"
"Then you are Jerome's Lucia?" asks the florist.
Princess jolts at her private name, and burns at the usage of it within Knight's. Suddenly stricken timid, she waits in silence.
He rummages in the back room before coming out with a bouquet of flowers so deeply red it imprints in her mind after seeing it only once.
"Twelve roses," says the old man, then squints at some inscription on his papers. "Oh, how sweet. Happy birthday, my dear."
The roses seem to glow under her touch.
"Thank you," Princess says, above a whisper. "Thank you so much."
[[Go home.->END]]"Is that so?" asks the owner very kindly. "No need to be shy."
[[Tell him about the order.->Flower Shop good order]]
[[Examine shelves.->Shelves good]]
[[Examine front display.->Display good]]
"The order was placed weeks ago, and it came in early this morning."
He rummages in the back room before coming out with a bouquet of flowers so deeply red it imprints in her mind before ever touching it.
"Twelve roses," says the old man, then squints at some inscription on his papers. "Oh, how sweet. Happy birthday, my dear."
The others who had come in with her crowds at those words.
"Happy birthday, lady!" says the youngest girl. The rest are smiling.
"Thank you," Princess whispers, touching the bouquet as gently as possible. "Thank you so much."
[[Go home.->END KIDS]]"Is that so?" asks the owner very kindly. "No need to be shy. If you'd like to look around first, please do so!"
[["I am... Lucia."->Flower Shop perf order]]
[[Examine shelves.->Shelves perf]]
[[Examine front display.->Display perf]]
Her room is the same as she left it this morning, only now it feels bigger than it was with the sunlight gone and black inky shadows in its place. Even here, she can smell the traces of Knight's //cheartu// stew steaming from the kitchen, though it is not unwelcome.
[[Princess leaves, longing to see Knight.->GOOD END ROUTE yo]]
[[She is reminded of home and goes back to the living room.->Savior Living Room good]]Her room is the same as she left it this morning, only now it feels bigger than it was with the sunlight gone and black inky shadows in its place. Even here, she can smell the traces of Knight's //cheartu// stew steaming from the kitchen, though it is not unwelcome.
[[Princess leaves, longing to see Knight.->PERFECT END ROUTE yo]]
[[She is reminded of home and goes back to the living room.->Savior Living Room perf]]The shelves are full with small circular plants labelled "SUCCULENTS." One plany was needled and pointy, and Princess was very tempted to touch--until the little girl does so herself and her older brother sighs in resignation.
"What did I say?" he scolds her. "Does it hurt? Do you need a bandaid?"
"I'm okay," she says, nonchalant, used to his worries. He still makes sure she's alright, and they pass the counter and enter a back door.
[[Talk to owner.->Flower Shop perf order]]
[[Examine front display.->Display perf]]The flowers by the window are cooled by air overhead, and Princess stays there admiring the rainbow array of color until she begins to feel a chill.
A young girl Princess's age is lugging--barely successfully--a few boxes nearby.
Princess asks, "Do you need any assistance?"
"No, thank you. I'm fine," she says. Her face is familiar--the shop owner's relative? "You're the person that paid for the cab, right? Thank you for that."
"It seems like everyone has been thanking me save the one I truly helped," Princess says, but not meanly.
"He can be like that, but he's grateful. So am I. You're very kind."
Before Princess can think to deny that fact, the girl returns to her hazardous labor.
[[Talk to owner.->Flower Shop perf order]]
[[Examine shelves.->Shelves perf]]The shelves are full with small circular plants labelled "SUCCULENTS." Princess pokes one sharp needled leaf with her middle finger and winces imperceptibly.
[[Talk to owner.->Flower Shop good order]]
[[Examine front display.->Display good]]The flowers by the window are cooled by air overhead, and Princess stays there admiring the rainbow array of color until she begins to feel a chill.
[[Talk to owner.->Flower Shop good order]]
[[Examine shelves.->Shelves good]]^^[[Restart from beginning?->Begin]]^^
^^[[Restart from outside condo?->Restart]]^^//^^It is a smile. :) The eyes and mouth.^^//
[[Reply back a colon and parentheses.->thats enough]]
[[Don't reply.->reply to him3]]After a few more minutes fiddling with the device, Princess decides it's time for seriousness.
[[Put phone away.->put phone away]]//^^You are 'getting the hang of it', as Savior would say. Congratulations!^^//
After a few more minutes fiddling with the device, Princess decides it's time for seriousness.
[[Put phone away.->put phone away]]