adventurersclub | ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE...

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ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE...

The first thing you notice upon gaining consciousness is the smell. The air smells musty and woody, like the back corner of some forgotten tourist trap. As you stir yourself awake, you find yourself in a wicker bed with a soft sheet draped over you. The room’s walls are wood-paneled, and a nearby desk displays a digital clock reading “9 AM”. A singular potted plant provides the barest amount of decoration--though, the exact plant species differs between rooms. A note written in flowing cursive has been taped to your door.

MEETING IN THE LOBBY AT NOON
- G ♥
As you make your way out of your room, you’ll find yourself on a balcony overlooking a octagonal lobby below. Various artifacts and trophies decorate the club from top to bottom, cluttering the walls and any available surface. From here, you can clearly see that the marble floor of the lobby is decorated to look like a compass. Descending the stairs will reveal that, in addition to the artifacts mounted on the walls, several plaques have been put up detailing the lives of those trapped here--including you.

If you peer out the windows, you’ll see a tropical island sprawled out before you, overgrown with palm trees and shrubs. If you peer far enough above the treeline, you might even be able to see the ocean. No matter how hard you try, the front door is sealed shut and the windows seem impossible to break.

You've got until noon 'til the meeting happens. For now...enjoy the club, if you can.

[ OOC: Welcome to the Adventurers Club! We're so excited to have you here. This is the intro log--feel free to mingle on this post to your hearts content. At 6 PM EST, we'll be introducing the host! If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the mods. ]

[ LOCATIONS | REGAINS | BIOS ]

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......... Cass?

[That voice.

If Rapunzel hadn't been so sure she was awake, she'd be convinced this was a dream. She, too, had been hearing her best friend's voice in her dreams; once the angry, bitter words Cass spit at her while under Zhan Tiri's thumb, more often than not, she now hears the softer, happier words from their last talk before Cass set out on her journey.

But this wasn't a dream! it felt way too real to be one! SO when Rapunzel turns and sees her, she cna't help but let out a happy squeal, charging forward and immediately throwing her arms around the other woman.]

Cass! Ohmigosh, I can't believe it! [For the moment, all of her panic and worry is gone. She's just... so happy!] Is this where you've been this entire time??? How did you get wher? Where are Owl and Fidella??

[It's her. No mistaking that brown bob now, or that sparkle in those deep, emerald green eyes.

And here Cass was, a much better surprise than that day she turned up in the throne room, unannounced and prepared to threaten the whole of Corona if she didn't get what she wanted. Her ranger clothes were still on point, hair still that distinct grey and black, her lips curled upward.

She's ready for Rapunzel and holds her arms open wide to catch her. The force of her favorite princess ramming into her pushes her back a footstep, but Cass has wrapped her arms around her, burying herself in Rapunzel's shoulder. Just for a second.]

It's been a while, Raps. [She looks up, all smiles. Until the facts hit her.] But, unfortunately... I don't know how I got here. I was going to ask you the same thing.

[It's fine. It's absolutely fine. Just the feeling of Cass's arms around her, pressed in close and real and here is enough to bring a few tears stinging to the corner of Rapunzel's eyes. It's comforting, and that thread of panic lancing through her lessens just a little, now that she has her dearest friend by her side.]

Too long. I feel like I haven't gotten a letter in weeks!

[Cass you've caused the mail carrier nothing but grief while you were gone. Poor guy gets accosted by Raps the minute he crosses the archway into castle grounds.]

Really? That's weird. [Hm.....] Do you think... something bad's about to happen?

[It can't be Zhan Tiri - they made sure she was never coming back. But someone else...?

[It's a hug just as strong as the one they shared in her bedroom, right before Cass journeyed out of Rapunzel's life, and Corona on the whole. Her disorientation clears up - not entirely. But having Rapunzel here to anchor her helps.]

I can only write so fast!

[She can only imagine, and she laughs so lightly at it. Her letter-writing time was one of the highlights of her day on the road.]

Probably. At least Fidella and Owl aren't around. [So they're... probably safe.] Looks like we might have another adventure on our hands. So much for starting fresh.

[Rapunzel can't help but laugh at the "starting fresh" comment.]

Aw, c'mon Cass. You can't tell me you weren't hoping for some grand adventure when you hit the road. I bet you'd get bored if you didn't sniff out some sort of trouble eventually.

[It's... a little difficult to joke about Cass leaving. Make no mistake, Rapunzel is happy that Cass is trying to find a way to make herself truly happy. And she'll support her best friend in whatever way she can, whether it just be through letters or making sure Cass always has a well-tended room to come home to, should she wander back to Corona every so often. But it just... hurts, a little. Knowing that Cass is doing so much, so far away from her...]

...Okay, you're right! But I would've liked maybe another day or two to prepare, before I went off on another grand adventure.

[In all honestly, she had a thirst for adventure in much the same way Rapunzel loved traveling; seeing the sights, fighting bad guys, saving lives... It was her style, and why she'd thought about starting her trek with a return to Vardaros.]

But another adventure with you is always better than going it alone.

[And that's the truth. Just having Rapunzel here already made a world of difference. They had taken on great and powerful foes together, having Rapunzel at her side... She'd missed it. From the moment she knew she wasn't going to see her bedroom for a while, knew that she might not see her princess for a while... It hurt, a little.]

... Yeah. Our adventures together are always the best.

[It was Cass, as much as Eugene (and the guys of course), that made the trip to the Dark Kingdom as fun as it was. Though looking back on it now makes her realize all the mistakes she made, and all the little things she said or did that hurt Cass and led to her falling into Zhan Tiri's clutches.... there were good times too. She never felt as safe as she did when they were sleeping in that cramped caravan, with Cass only a few feet away.]

We'll make this an even better adventure than last time. Right?

[No more hard feelings. No more hurting each other.]

[It was Cass that voiced the opinion that maybe bringing along so many people (okay, Shorty was a stowaway) wasn't a great idea. They were here on a quest, Cassandra had set aside her time, and a position working with her father, to help Rapunzel reach the Dark Kingdom... and Rapunzel set time aside to host festivals in Vardaros, or enjoy life as a bird.

But looking back, back before things became strained... it was nice. Cass had fun and she liked seeing Raps so happy. If not for that stupid tree, and that stupid Adira... maybe things would have stayed that way.]

Right. No arguments or last minute betrayals this time.

[For just the briefest moment, Rapunzel's smile falters; this isn't the first time Cass has made jokes about situations that... aren't really the best. And though they've put their conflict behind them and talked it all out, it's still a somewhat tender subject. Not a bleeding wound, but a healing scar that still hurts when you poke it.

It hurts, yes, but she's more worried about how it might be affecting Cass. If she's joking about it, though, it should be okay, right...?]

Nope, nothing's gunna separate us this time. I mean... if we could beat Zhan Tiri, then nothing will be able to get us down, right?

[How else is Cass meant to let go of some emotional steam? Or did it matter if some part of Cassandra meant for that to be honest - that she really wanted to promise that terrible decisions like that were behind her. They could move forward from here without worry.

Raps could move on without worry.]

Right. Nothing.

[Of course, if this is more of Zhan Tiri's ilk, Cass was liable to burn down the building.]

So... How've you been?

[We're off to a good start.]

[Nice try, Cass. Though distance may separate them - or... did until today - they still share a tightly-woven bond. Rapunzel won't move on until Cass does; even if they can only communicate through letters, Rapunzel will make sure that Cass isn't dragged down by the weight of her past mistakes.]

I've been pretty happy! My dad let me help with the team in charge of rebuilding, and its' going really well. Old Corona and the town are pretty much done, so we just have to focus on the castle now. We had a big street fair when all the businesses finished re-opening, Eugene proposed...

[Wait, she just drops that so casually???]

Oh! Did I tell you that Varian figured out his hot water system? Dad made him royal engineer for that! The whole city has instant not water now, and he's working out a way to bring it to the rest of the kingdom too!

[Heh. Try as she might, Rapunzel will always be there, and she's learned there's no sense in attempting to change that. Not that she'd want to, but it was a fact now; Rapunzel would always be in her corner, no matter what.]

Oh, instant hot water. That ought to help with-

[wait. WAIT]

Whoa, hold on. Eugene proposed? Again??

Yeah! When everything finally started calming down, he took me out on a boat like he did when we first saw the lanterns together. [Rapunzel is still smiling, but it's... softer now.] And then he asked, and I accepted.

[She's happy. She's so happy. Talking about it is great, but at the same time it's almost like something is... off. Why does it feel weird telling Cass this, when she's always been able to share everything with her best friend...?]

I think I was finally ready. Everything and everyone was finally at peace again. I still don't want to stay just in Corona for the rest of my life, but... it was a step I wanted to take.

[Cassandra knew this day would come. Since the moment Fitzherbert tired to propose in front of the entire castle, and then that bout of awkwardness the moment they reached Vardaros. Truth be told, she thought they might have been married by the time she came for the Demanitus scroll, but apparently not.

It was only a matter of time, along with Rapunzel's acceptance of it. They loved each other, truly and deeply. Cassandra knows it's fantastic news... and yet, it leaves a hollow feeling in her chest.]

Well, it's about time. [She smiles bright and delighted.] I'm proud of you both. I almost thought he might never get it right.

Edited 2020-06-27 01:33 (UTC)

[Married by then? Rapunzel can't even imagine marrying Eugene in the middle of all of that. It's not that she didn't love him, it's not that she didn't want to focus a bit on their relationship to stop herself from thinking about how hurt she was over everything... it just. Felt wrong.

It didn't feel whole.]

You know I never really needed a big setup to accept his proposal. I think, if I'd been comfortable with my life that first time or we didn't have our journey to worry about the second time, I might have said yes then and there. But things kept happening, and it was never the right time...

[Time...]

... Even after we get out of here, I think we might wait a little longer until the actual wedding. As nice as it'll be to move onto a new chapter of my life, I know I can't take that step without you there, Cass.

[Maybe she assumed Rapunzel had moved on without her, up until she felt Rapunzel's fear through the red rocks, and her destiny shifted to destroying her. It's not that she spent lonesome nights wondering in quiet contemplation if Rapunzel still thought about her or not.]

Hey, the first proposal was a bad time. You were under a lot of stress from everyone, trust me, I know how that feels.

[Ah... She nods slowly, her voice soft.]

I, uh... I could take some time out of my trip to come back home. I'm not your lady-in-waiting anymore, but that doesn't mean I can't help you on your big day.

You don't have to help me. I just... want you to be there.

[She knows that Cass doesn't belong at her side. She knows that Cass's purpose doesn't lie somewhere within Corona - she accepted as much to her the day Cass left Corona. But still...]

It feels right, having you there with us.

[Us. Yes, us. Eugene misses Cass too, even if he doesn't acknowledge it the same way. She's heard him complaining about having nobody to pick on enough to know what he really means; bantering with other people just isn't as fun as bantering with Cass.]

[Us. That's what it had always been, for almost two years. The three of them, versus the world. Even on the road, she... missed the banter with Eugene, hearing the soft tones of Rapunzel's voice...

Leaving Corona just as things had gotten back on track with all of them had been a difficult decision. Not a impossible one - just difficult. She had no idea how quickly she'd start missing that life again.]

I was starting to miss the times when it was just you and me. And Eugene, of course.

[The thought honestly brings a smile.]

I'll be there.

There was nothing we couldn't do without each other.

[It's why everything just sort of... fell apart without Cass there, those months where she had turned against them. A puzzle can look nice when it's nearly complete, sure, but without that final piece...]

I can take care of getting a suit tailored for you!! I'll even make it flashy if you want, so Eugene can complain that you're trying to upstage him.

[She doesn't normally like upsetting Eugene, but if Cass thinks it'll be funny, she can make an exception. Like that time she painted his face on Cass's training dummy.]

Yup. We made a pretty good team.

[There's nothing I couldn't do, not with you by my side.

When she said those words, she meant it. There was no denying just how well they had worked together, even after her thoughts strayed to eventually, finally betraying her friends. Some part of her just wanted that moment to remain forever...]

A suit? Really? I... Wow, Raps. [That does brighten her expression.] I'll accept flashy, just for that reason.

Let's just talk it over, after we get out of here. Okay?

Yeah! It really suits you, y'know?

[Eh? Eh??? Rapunzel wiggles her eyebrows; c'mon, that had to get a giggle out of Cass!]

Aww, fine. But... I can't promise I won't sketch something. I have way too many ideas!

[If it sounds like Rapunzel has already been planning this... she totally has. There was never any doubt to her that she'd ask Cass to be there, and she knew Eugene felt the same. It was all just a matter of getting all the pieces to fall together at the right time.]

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ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE...

look out belooooow

oh lord she coming

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