Scene One: Ignition

Eugene let out a long, exasperated breath. Rapunzel could be so demanding sometimes. This was not how he wanted to spend their only free hour together. He wanted to actually do something, not be her toy to use as she wished. Lately he'd been feeling like an object to Rapunzel, only there to fill her desires. He was tired of only being a model for her to paint.

"Eugene! I told you not to move!"

"You've had me standing like this for the better part of an hour! My arm is tired and I feel ridiculous!"

Actually, Eugene looked ridiculous. He really was being used to fulfill Rapunzel's desires, as odd as they might be. Earlier that day, after the conference she had had to attend with her father, Rapunzel had sought out Eugene with one artistically daring idea in her head; paint Eugene standing heroically, shirtless and holding her famous frying pan. This idea had actually been implanted in her head by a dream she had had the night before in which Eugene had ridden up to her tower on Maximus to rescue her. (Actually, Eugene had been wearing less, but Rapunzel didn't want to paint quite that much.)

"If you'll just be still a bit longer, I'm working on your nose right now."

"Whatever," Eugene grumbled. Rapunzel barely heard how irritated Eugene sounded. She'd been doing that lately, not paying attention to him. He was trying not to let it get under his skin. "Where'd you even come up with this idea?" Rapunzel blushed and almost dropped her paint brush.

"Ah, well, um, you know, books…. heheh." (Rapunzel was actually too embarrassed to tell Eugene about her dream, cause then she'd be forced to tell the whole dream, and some things happened that just shouldn't be spoken aloud) She tried to change the subject.

"I think it's going to be a nice picture. I was going to hang it above the mantel."

"I don't want this picture hanging above a mantel!"

"I was talking about above our mantel."

"I said I don't want to see this picture above a mantel!"

"Stop being difficult! I want to see it!"

"Then put it in your closet!"

"What is your problem, Eugene?" Rapunzel threw her paintbrush down and stormed up to her husband. "Why are you being so… irritating? All I'm doing is painting a picture of you! Is that so bad?" Eugene broke his pose and crossed his arms, barring down at his wife.

"I don't know, maybe not. This is the only time all week you've looked at me this long."

"What?" Rapunzel took a step back. She felt like she'd been slapped across the face and punched in the stomach.

"Oh, don't tell me you haven't noticed. Try to recall, Blondie, the last time you and I saw each other and spent time together."

"Eugene, you're being ridiculous. We've seen each other this whole week."

"Besides waking up in the morning and going to bed."

"Eh, well, we… we had lunch…. didn't we?" Eugene narrowed his eyes at her. She squirmed a bit. Rapunzel looked away, quickly trying to recall the last time she'd spent more than ten minutes with Eugene. Monday, she had to sit in the throne room with her parents listening to requests from the people. Had she seen Eugene that day? What about Tuesday? She had riding lessons and Eugene was in his own lesson, so, no. Wednesday, surely she saw him Wednesday. No, she hadn't. She'd been in a dress fitting the whole day. Thursday, Rapunzel had not had any lessons, but her father had taken Eugene to survey the countryside. They'd been gone all day.

"See, you have been too busy all week to even think about your husband."

"Well if you gave me time, I wasn't done thinking! Just give me enough time to think!" Friday. They'd spent Friday together. "We were together all of Friday."

"We were at the orphanage the whole day, so it wasn't just the two of us."

"Uh… well."

"Rapunzel, today has been the only day in weeks you and I have had a moment to ourselves. You've even been too tired for sex at night and I figured you would have wanted to at least do that, than paint some stupid picture!" Eugene gestured angrily to the canvas on the easel. Eugene pressed his hands into his eyes. He suddenly looked so tired. Rapunzel outstretched a hand towards him, but he moved away and her hand fell short. He sighed, removing his hands from his eyes and looked down at Rapunzel. She didn't like the look he gave her. "You know, Rapunzel, I consider our time together precious and it would be nice if you thought that too."