Video; Day 3 of Egret

[adropofsunlight]

[Rapunzel seemed a tiny bit nervous and seemed to be for the most part mumbling to herself, but she was actually talking to Pascal, who was currently positioned on her shoulder.]

I know, but it's something I need to do, Pascal. I mean I am putting myself up for complete honesty and it's probably going to be negative honesty, but I can take it...

[With that said she was now focused on the task at hand.]

Hey, so um... Not that long ago, I asked a question to someone who... I guess I trust them enough to listen to what they had to say and it's... got me wondering about my relationship with Mother and if the way she acts with me is a bad thing. [She seemed nervous as she spoke, her friend patting her with his little green hands as she played with a stray strand of hair that wasn't tied up.]

So what I am about to explain why she is and the reason why she wants my hair to be so long. [She paused, taking a small breath before she carried on.]

Mother... Has always been rather protective of me. To the point, I live in a tower and in all my years I've never been outside of it until I arrived here. The reason for this? My hair. It's... How do I put it? It has magical healing properties. I sing a song and any injury heals like... like it never happened. It can even take away poison as Pascal here can attest to. [She gestures to her little friend who seems to nod.]

Another way she would always protect me was by telling me about the outside world and all the dangers it had. Ruffians, thugs, poison ivy, quicksand... There were a lot of things she would always list either the dangers or that I was naive or gullible to survive outside among other things.

{She had at least by this point stopped playing with her hair.]

That was her way to usually get me to stop asking to go outside. All of this... to protect me. That's always her reason. That's all I have to say. So I want to know? What is your honest opinion? it would help me understand it a little bit.

[She soon put her hands in front of her, giving a small bow before adding a tiny smile.]

Thank you for listening and... sorry if you didn't want to.

Comments

Video

[badassfreakingoverlord]

That's stupid.

[Hey. She asked for his opinion. She gets it.]

Video

[adropofsunlight]

What part is stupid?

[Or was it all stupid, which then made her want to ask why?]

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba immediately has an opinion, but he needs to know more to solidify it ]

Was she using this power to benefit herself at all? Or bringing people to the tower so you can heal them for a price?

[adropofsunlight]

The former. I never ever saw anyone except her.

[Would the latter be a better thing? Maybe..]

video

[littlefury]

What the hell, that’s my opinion on it!

[waver, please]

That’s crazy, not protective! You mean to tell me you’ve seriously never been in the outside world before now?!

video

[adropofsunlight]

I can see out so I can see stars and lights on my birthday, but no. I've never actually been allowed out.

[She was already figuring out quickly that the way her Mother was is not at all considered normal.]

[Voice]

[unfavorableinstigation]

[There is genuine anger in Nita's voice - muted, because Rapunzel is not the target of it, but still present. Her response is also audio instead of video, since her expression is not pleasant right now.]

You're not a problem, I promise.

And what she's doing is wrong - it'd be way better if she showed you how to get along in the outside world, rather than sequestering you from it!

[Voice]

[adropofsunlight]

I'm not?

[She sounded at least happy about that at least.]

I even know I am perfectly capable. I mean... I knocked a complete stranger out with just a frying pan. But... I still remember she wouldn't allow it.

Audio:

[blueberryprincess]

Your mother’s behavior is doing far more harm than good, I’m afraid. You can’t learn how to navigate in the world without being part of it. And sure, a lot of times it can be very rough. But that’s just part of living.

Audio:

[adropofsunlight]

So it is normal to go through negative things too as a way to learn?

[runs_on_batteries]

My dear girl, we can all respond with our outrage and our viewpoints, but the best person to answer this is you. Let me help you with that though.

The way to always tell if you're in a good relationship or not is how do you feel after an interaction. When she comes and visits you do you feel empowered? Loved? Respected? Valuable? If any of those are no, then it's unhealthy.

That's not to say that sometimes people who love us don't make us mad or if that ever happens once you write them off. We're all idiots to a degree, but you need to pay attention. Is this a pattern? Do they try their best and this one time they screwed it up or are you often being left with emotional wounds?

You deserve better than being locked away like a porcelain doll in a china cabinet. You're stronger than that and more capable.

[adropofsunlight]

I never thought to answer those questions before.

[She crossed her arms and was actually thinking about it.]

I guess the answer is obvious, I never really felt good after the talks, though I just always thought that it was also normal. But I put it down to the fact I had nothing to compare it to, really.

All I wanted was to see the outside world for once, to fulfill a dream I had, but she would usually tell me I was too naive or clumsy to be able to. But here... I at least not know that I'm at least capable of taking care of myself and to know that some of the things she said aren't true.

And really I have the people here to thank for that.

[springforth]

[Others seem to have covered the problems of an exceedingly overprotective mother (More so than her own honestly). But there's more to this.]

Do you want your hair to be long? And how do you feel about being away from home?

[adropofsunlight]

[This was honestly a question she had never expected to be asked.]

My hair? Honestly, I don't know. I mean it's a hassle to deal with outside the tower, but it's solved by always putting it up, but at the same time it does have its uses with the healing component.

As for being away from home. it's different and not what I was expecting when I left my tower, but I've been happier... When I wasn't in a down mood because I left in the first place.

[myblueskies]

You never went outside before? [That was terrible! He can't imagine not going outside ever!

It doesn't sound very protective. It sounds a lot scarier than that!] The outside world isn't scary at all! So it's bad that you weren't allowed outside!

[adropofsunlight]

No, I just was only allowed to look out the only window we had.

[And she always didn't think to just step out on what was in front of her until near her 18th birthday.]

[knifewithnoname]

[Her hair was magical and could heal her? Well that was strange. But honestly no stranger than anything else on this train so she took it as fact.

She's not sure what Rapunzel wants opinions on honestly. If outside was dangerous? Maybe if you had never ever gone outside before. She wouldn't know what was dangerous and what to avoid. If her mother was right? She had no idea.]

I do no really be knowing about mothers. But Nerdanel did be saying they can be seeing the future when they do be growing their children inside them. The women grow children inside of them thing is still weird. Even weirder than magical hair, honestly.] So maybe she did be seeing something bad happening and that's why she do be keeping you inside.

Or maybe she did be wanting your hair-magic for herself. [Mothers weren't bosses. But they were surely sort of the same. People to obey.]

[adropofsunlight]

[Mothers can see the future? That wasn't exactly something she would have ever considered really. That could be a reason, but after the thoughts of so many others it made her wonder if that was even a reason.]

I never would have known mothers can do that.

video;

[flatteries]

[ Well, the protect squad sure already settled in.. So Inigo figures that probably doesn't need much weighing in anymore. Especially since he's probably the furthest thing from an expert, since his own mother was the biggest sweetheart. So instead he smiles widely. ]

Rapunzel! It's so great of you that you were able to talk about all of that. [ There's genuine pride in his voice, since he means it. Inigo is of the let's-not-talk-about-any-problems-ever-and-die-with-them mentality, so he does really think it's great that she can talk about them. In front of everyone. That's wild. ] You're truly cool. But you know that, right?

video;

[adropofsunlight]

Thank you. Tho it did take one person to get me to consider it and I don't even think this was their intention when they said what they said. But I am happier by saying it.

[Because even if she has only been here a very short time, she has in her mind already learned a lot.]

Cool? Are you saying I am cold or something?

Video response

[sweetnessandfight]

Mothers are meant to protect their children. That said...I think that your mother may have taken it a bit too far, perhaps?

To my people, the Xaela, children are valued and treasured, and most of us do not have your gifts! You would be treasured and protected, as are the children of the rest of the tribes, but...you would not be sheltered. Au Ra children are meant to be in the world--not imprisoned away from it. The world is dangerous, but danger can come from anywhere. The best way to protect is as others have said--to teach you to be aware of it, and so you may protect yourself from it.

[And here, Sarai smiles and ducks her head a little.] I should tell you about the troubles my sister and I used to get in out on the Steppes. But we left our home too--and when we left, we were about your age. And we weren't warriors! So it's surprising that we did not have problems, either...but we managed.

What I suppose I mean to say is, I do not think your mother gave you ways to manage away from her, and that is...not the way mothers should be. I think she may have valued your magic more than she cared for you. I am not certain without knowing your mother, but I fear that this is the case, and I am sorry. Also, I might have simply babbled and said the same thing Tony Stark did in a different way, but he is a parent and I am not, so he is wiser in this case.

Video response

[adropofsunlight]

I enjoyed the babbling though. It's always a good thing if it's similar because that way you know it's probably on the right track. At least if many people say the same thing it's most likely to be accurate, right?

I hope I am not babbling myself.

[dredefulchilde]

I don’t think she loves you. I think she wants to control you and is confusing that with love.

[adropofsunlight]

So control and love are two very different things?

[hashtagparkerluck]

[ Oh wow. this was so much worse than he thought. He didn't mean to make her question her whole world view but honestly, if things are that bad well... ]

Wait-wait. You've never been outside?

Okay, you and Buttercup, next mission we're just all gonna be a bunch of kids. Well, hopefully. Depends on how dire the situation is, I guess.

[ That aside though. ]

Um but hey, if you need to talk to someone ever, uh my door's always open? I mean, not literally-just uh.. if you need something, just ask.

[adropofsunlight]

No, never. I always would just look outside and that was about the extent of it. Esepcially on my birthday. I loved looking out on my birthday because of the lights.

It was odd because the lights only came around then.

[It was why she really wanted to go out and find out what they meant or what they even were exactly.]

If things aren't dire, I would love that and thank you for being so kind. You've helped me a lot even if you probably didn't mean to.

[internetsexsymbol]

You've never left the house? That's...most moms don't do that, she's being overprotective. You have to experience the world for yourself. It doesn't matter if you have magic hair, if you're gullible, or if you have a poison ivy allergy, you can live in society just like everybody else!

Look, Mr. Stark has the right idea, you gotta look at how she's been making you feel, Rapunzel-chan. If she's holding you back, cut her off!

[adropofsunlight]

No. But wait, can people actually have an allergy to poison ivy? That must be awful.

Well I guess I am cutting her off already by being here. So.. that's something right? Though I wonder what will happen if I do that...

Video

[diamondsfortears]

[Daia listens intently, trying to understand all of it. And when she finishes, he pauses for a moment, trying to think on it. Finally, he reaches his own conclusion on it.]

I don't think it's a bad thing. It sounds like she loves you enough to keep you safe. But it's sad that she wouldn't let you go outside; there's lots to see.

...Not all humans are bad. But it can be hard when there's something they don't understand. [Like vampires, even if they don't want to suck your blood.] I've been run out of lots of towns. I can see why your mother would want to protect you from that.

Even if you're a good person, sometimes humans... can't see that.

But not all humans are bad! I've met lots of nice people on this train. I get to talk with them, and learn new things. There are people who are kind, just as much as there are ones who are afraid.

[A fidget, and then a smile.]

I like the people here. I'm sure your mother would be happy to hear that you made some good friends.

Video

[adropofsunlight]

I know, now that I've been here I can see what the world might have to offer.

[She paused for a moment.]

Though you mentioned you have been run out of towns a lot. Why is that? I mean you don't have to answer, I will add. But I do agree with you about the nice people here. They have been so nice and caring that I don't feel as afraid as I might have been all by myself.

voice

[pleple]

This is Ple Two. I wasn't sheltered the way you were but... if you want to talk I've been in a bit of a similar... uh. Situation.

voice

[adropofsunlight]

I will make a not of that thank you. The same I guess could apply, if you ever need to talk I am all ears too.

[thebetterweapon]

Darlin'.

[ He sighs. ]

Part of bein' a parent is letting your kids get hurt. Unfortunately, growing up hurts. Doesn't mean you can't be there for your kids, while they explore and stuff, but you gotta let them take steps outside on their own, or all you do is hurt them in the long run.

What your mother's doin'? Is scary. I taught my daughter about the world, protected her from some of it, until she was old enough to deal with it on her own. She should be doing the same for you.

[adropofsunlight]

Maybe. I mean even if I was hurt it would have proven what she has told me. But I never really knew or was allowed to find out.

But what everyone has said has really made me think a lot, which is a good thing. it helps me figure out the next steps anyway.

Video; sorry that I am late!

[really_sketchy]

I'm not sure... I spent some time locked away in a castle too. I know that it's hard and being alone is sad but I think being around people who are mean isn't very good either.

[She remembers the organization and shivers.]

And you don't need to be sorry.

It's okay. I'm happy to talk with you and maybe help, if I can. I haven't ever had family before... so I don't know what that's like but I think that if they cared about you that they'd help you be happy.

Video;

[adropofsunlight]

So there are others here who0 have been locked away too. While it's not good that people have been through this type of thing. It's good to know that there are others who have been through the situation.

it means we can help each other out.