[Open Post]

[fair_hero]

The girl who is at the moment a boy and yet is still fair Hero--she's practising her mending, because she's been being taught to mend, to be useful

Comments

[stillnotprince]

Don John, as it happens, is still a tall, plain woman wearing an ill-fitting uniform and wrapped in a thick (but worn) cloak even though it is has not yet gotten cold. He's warm, actually, but pride will keep him from taking it off.

He's probably huddled on a bench somewhere, not willing to speak to Hero (or anyone else), at least not first.

[fair_hero]

Well, that absolutely will not do, so if Hero decides to get up and move about a little no one can fault her. Her mending is abandoned on her bench, and when she sees Don John she watches him shyly, not coming forward immediately.

[stillnotprince]

He will not even consent to look at her.

[fair_hero]

Softly, "My lord?"

[stillnotprince]

"No." Like ice.

[fair_hero]

"I pray you send me not away," soft, soft.

[stillnotprince]

"Do as you would."

[fair_hero]

So slowly and quietly she comes over and sits by him, not very close, not wanting to upset him.

[stillnotprince]

He broods for a while longer, and then glances at her. It is very quick and their eyes will not even have a chance to meet.

[fair_hero]

She offers a tiny smile.

[stillnotprince]

He offers no such thing in return.

[fair_hero]

So she watches him softly, with her eyes that are still very young and yet more grown-up that one might expect (she's grown up, some, over the last months), and although her face is mild, her eyes are very full of a soft love and devotion.