Day 82, morning

[amazing_am_i]

This was definitely NOT the interior of the stadium. In fact, it wasn't Earth any more at all. He did, however, recognize this place. It was the baths in Gisela's world. He was a step behind her, and part of him was relieved she made it back home and part of him was glad he came with her, but why was he brought back too? He had a game to play! He

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[gis_s_christ]

He was here. He wasn't supposed to be here. He was supposed to stay in his own world, where he belonged. She wasn't upset; she wasn't ready to be away from him. But he wasn't supposed to come back with her. She was sad for him, for only getting a little time back in his world.

"Yeah. This is the castle." She held on to him, curling her shaky fingers into his shirt. "I'm so sorry. Maybe... if you hadn't been walking so close behind me...?" He wouldn't have followed her through whatever thing pulled her back to this world? Maybe? "I'm sorry."

[amazing_am_i]

He sighed. "Don't apologize. It was a good day to have you in my world. I'm kinda glad I'm back here. And look at the bright side, I have all your books!" He smiled and let her hug him as long as she wanted. "When you're ready, we can go drop this stuff off in the rooms. You should rest to get rid of the jitters anyway."

[gis_s_christ]

"Glad?" She shook her head against him. "But didn't you want to go home?" Though she was pleased that the books had come through. That was one of her worries, that she would come home without them, and lose all of that knowledge.

She held him for a little longer, because even if he said he was kinda glad, she didn't believe he was okay with being back in Shin Makoku. But he was right. She probably did need to rest. So she stepped back. "Okay. I'm ready."

[amazing_am_i]

"I do want to be home, but I'd be pretty bummed out if you went back without me."

He wasn't sure if she wanted him to hold her on the way back or if she wanted him to keep his distance in case there were people about. Rumors were notorious in this place and as far as he knew, she was still supposed to be seeing Yuuri here. But since she wasn't feeling well, and he generally doesn't care about rumors and things of the sort, he put his arm back around her and led her from the bathroom.

Bert's room would be the first room passed while hers was a few rooms after. "If I stop at my room to drop stuff off, can you make it to yours or do you want to just come to my room?"

[gis_s_christ]

"Maybe not. But he did his best, and he gave me a good life." She continued to play with his hand, now lightly massaging the muscles of his palm. "There was a story I heard from some human children when I was in Small Cimeron, that was similar to a fable we have here. They may have stolen it from us... Though, to be fair, we may have stolen it from them... Maybe it's too old to know for certain.

"Okay. Once upon a time there was a poor orphan girl.” A coincidence? …maybe. “She was very beautiful, but dirty and her clothes were rags. Because she had no family and no name, she could only beg for work and food, and she was cold and lonely. Until one day, a royal crier arrived and announced that the Prince Under the Lake was dire need of a wife. He was holding a ball, and every eligible woman - no matter how rich or poor - was urged to come, that very night!”

[amazing_am_i]

Bert thought her story sounded a little familiar, but not completely. "Under the lake? Did they have scuba gear or a tunnel?" He watched her massage his hand and thought how it was feeling pretty good.

[gis_s_christ]

“Scuba…what? No. That’s… That makes no sense.” She brought his hand close for a light kiss, then went on.

“The orphan girl, though she had nothing, went down to the lake at sunset, and found herself among hundreds of other women, all eager and waiting to meet the Prince Under the Lake. The women had come from villages far and wide, and had dressed in their best attire. When they saw the orphan girl, with her torn dress and dirty face, they pointed and laughed and called her names. Why would the Prince want a filthy thing off the street when there hundreds of fine ladies for him to choose from? The orphan girl began to cry and she ran away. “ Her voice was a little more emotional than it needed to be, and she cleared her throat and relaxed the grip she'd taken on his hand.

[amazing_am_i]

Bert didn't say anything, but there were enough occasions where he dismissed someone on their appearance, though not usually girls. He was more of an ass to other guys. He noticed her getting a bit more into her story and didn't understand why. She was pretty and noble, so why was she empathizing? Instead he listened on.

"Why'd she run off? She was pretty, right? She should have been more confident with herself."

With her hand relinquishing it's grip, he placed it on her abdomen, just letting it rest