crackplot.

[herfourthorns]

*a flower-pot, overturned where it had been left outside at the rose's request, spilling soil and one delicate little foot that flows into a leg and the figure of a girl, lain out in the sun asleep with only her long red hair to cover her -- like a sleeping princess, the blind and enchanted innocent, but as she wakes she can only become aware that

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[false_kyllikki]

Kyllikki has been walking the edges of the mansion's grounds today, teaching herself not to dread the strange forests and the strangely hot sunlight--smiling on the gardens outside of the cottages, until she reaches Percy's cottage, and sees the girl sprawled upon the ground-- "Oh! Are you not well? Are you hurt?" she asks, scurrying to kneel at her side.

[herfourthorns]

The girl stifles a yawn, lifting herself on crooked elbows, hair hanging to dust the ground as she blinks behind it. "You needn't speak so loudly! How could I be hurt, who could hurt me, whem I have my thorns ..."

[false_kyllikki]

Kyllikki is a little entranced by her hair; she has never really seen red hair before, and it's beautiful-- "Thorns?" she asks, smiling uncertainly.

[herfourthorns]

"My thorns, my thorns ..." She extends a tiny hand, with tiny fingers -- and quite shrieks as soon as she glimpses them. "Oh!"

[false_kyllikki]

She catches the Rose's hand, a little afraid, because people shouldn't shriek to see their hands-- "What is wrong, lady? What is it?"

[herfourthorns]

"My thorns! Something's happened to my thorns, something's happened... " She draws the hair from her eyes like a curtain, half-hysterical. "Oh! What is this, what is this?"

[false_kyllikki]

Kyllikki doesn't know what to do, she's been hysterical herself and she doesn't know what to do, but she throws her arms around the Rose's shoulders so that at least she can't tear at herself. "It is only your hair, lady, your beautiful hair ..."

[herfourthorns]

"It's hideous! I'm hideous! Oh, what's happened to me ... ?"

[false_kyllikki]

Quietly, trembling, she asks, "What were you, before, lady?"

[herfourthorns]

"I was a flower, the most beautiful flower, a rose with the softest petals, breathing the sweetest fragrance ... but look at me now. I'm hideous now ..."

[false_kyllikki]

Kyllikki very, very carefully strokes the Rose's hair, as though afraid of being thrown off. "I think you beautiful, lady flower," she whispers, trying to sound comforting when she has never been comforted but by her kidnapper-husband, when she was being stolen.

[herfourthorns]

And though the Rose is used to throwing fits in exchange for comfort and attention, she is not at all used to being so genuinely vulnerable -- it frightens her, and she clings to Kyllikki with a sob.

[false_kyllikki]

Ever-so-gently, Kyllikki asks, "Would you have me clothe you, flower? I could braid your hair, and even give you pots to put your roots in ..." She shows her shoes, indicating her meaning.

[herfourthorns]

And she must be feeling very vulnerable to say, weakly, "I won't trouble you ..."

[false_kyllikki]

"It would please me to; I have not had a friend in so many years ..." She smiles, her eyes shininghopeful.

[herfourthorns]

"A friend ... ?"