[broadcast mind]

[charmprince]

[You're gardening-- pruning the roses--, and small, barely more than a toddler, looking up at your aunt-- a pinched, angry-looking middle-aged woman. She's stern, a little scary, and she's always talking about your father and mother and looking at you like you're not exactly what she wants around, but you know she loves you because why would she

Comments

Video.

[supercilious]

People fear what they do not understand.

Video.

[charmprince]

[She looks tired, and in the dim light of her room, maybe a little shamefaced. She's not sure why, though; she's got nothing to be ashamed of. Even so, her blanket's draped around her shoulders like a shawl, and she doesn't meet the eyes of his video-self.]

They don't understand much of anything at all. But neither do I, so it balances out.

Video.

[supercilious]

I think you understand quite a bit.

On their behalf, I'm sorry.

Video.

[charmprince]

Never the things that need understanding. It seems as though no matter how old you get, those are always out of reach.

Anyway, you don't need to apologize for her. It's technically true, you know, even if I didn't do anything at the time to warrant the accusation.

[mothertodragons]

Your people feared you?

[charmprince]

Ah-- [Oh, a new face. This isn't... the first impression Asellus would have liked to have made, but...]

Among... other things, yes. Fear is-- maybe a bit weak of a word for it?

[mothertodragons]

To encounter fear and hatred from your own people... it is the worst kind of pain.

[charmprince]

...So you know how it feels, too, then.

[Because why else would she say that? Most people just dismiss it with a 'you'll be fine' or don't ask at all.]

It's-- well, it's hard, being turned away from over what you are.

[voice]

[isherarmor]

You don't seem monstrous at all.

[voice]

[charmprince]

[Oh, sweetheart. It's kind of you, but...]

I like to think I'm not. But you can't always tell from impressions who is the man and who is the monster, can you?

[Her behavior their first conversation seemed to imply that she might have learned that lesson. At least, Asellus hopes so. It's a dangerous one to leave unlearned.]

[voice]

[isherarmor]

No. No, you can't.

[And this was the worst lesson to have learned. But Anatole might be different. Those things - all bound up in names and claims and loyalties - they don't matter here.]