Chapter 9
Tunic


The project was taking longer than expected.
Mainly because Varian kept doing his alchemy instead.
Which was fine, but if he wanted to get it sewn up, he'd need to actually work on it.
But his head had different plans, and not just alchemy.

For some reason, all he could think about was yesterday, at the building. He would often pull out the photo and look at it closely to try and figure out if he recognized the people in it, but he never could, even if they looked so familiar. He had started doing his alchemy to try and keep his mind off of it, because it was driving him crazy. Ruddiger ate an apple and watched Varian.

Varian slowly mixed in the chemicals together, which crackled, sizzled and bubbled as it impacted with the various other chemicals, he wiped his brow and set the flask down, then stirred the mixture. "I think by the time I finish this, it'll leave me time to quickly sew the tunic and then I can see if I can find Cassie-" He paused, "-Cassandra," He corrected himself, "To give it to her."

Ruddiger nodded as if to say okay.
Then continued eating his apple until he reached the apple core, and set it down.


Cassandra walked outside to get some fresh air after having to smell nothing but paint and flowers from Rapunzel's room; she hated her job as a Lady-in-Waiting, though she didn't want to admit it. She would rather be a royal guard, like her father, the Captain... But she was stuck doing this, dealing with the Princess of Corona, Rapunzel.

She walked along the sidewalk, kicking along a small rock that had strayed from a wagon hauling rocks to a different kingdom, humming a soft song she had heard one of the other ladies singing.

Varian knew this was his chance, so he casually walked out of the alleyway as she walked by, just, y'know, coincidentally. "Hey Varian, how are you?" Cassandra looked up and noticed him. "Cassie!-" He spoke, and instantly covered his mouth. "Er, Cassandra. Hey. I was actually looking for you..." Varian nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

"Cassie?" She paused but shook her head, "What is it?" She asked. "Well, I wanted to give you something I think you'd like..." Varian took the tunic out from his bag and held it up to her.

"Oh." Cassandra's eyes lit up, there was no hiding it. "I'm sure that dress is annoying to walk around in, having to wear a tight corset and grabbing your skirt to keep it off the ground." Varian suggested, "So I made you this, for days outside of the castle." Varian blushed a bit.

"Thank you, but you really didn't have to, I..." Cassandra smiled faintly.
"Oh, but I wanted to! You...made a impact on me back at the bakery... I kind of look up to you in a way." Varian's face turned even redder. Cassandra had never had anyone look up to her before.

"Really? That's nice to hear..." Cassandra took the tunic gently and looked down shyly, which was odd of her, but she was flattered. "Not a lot of people look up to me, I guess because I'm so rude half of the time." She snarked jokingly. Varian smiled, then slowly frowned upon seeing the guards walk by, "Yeah... Hey, sorry, but I have somewhere to be... I'm really, truly sorry! I'll come back to see you soon!" Varian suddenly ran off into the alleyway.

Cassandra was going to go after him, but she decided against it. "Of course..." She frowned; was it something she said to him? "Hello Miss Cassandra! Looks like rain, eh?" Pete waved.

"Does." Cassandra nodded after looking into the sky, beginning to hear quiet thundering echoing through. She looked back into the alleyway and wondered why Varian ran off so suddenly...

She looked at the guards, then back at the alleyway.
He...couldn't be; could he?

She shook her head, no. He wasn't a thief.
He was far too nice to be a thief. At least, she thought.

But then again...


"So, which looks better, Eugene. This one, or this one?" Rapunzel held up two paintings. "Um, you know Blondie... They...both look the..." Eugene blinked as he realized they looked pretty much the same to him, "Gorgeous!" Eugene smiled and corrected himself before he said the wrong thing, "I like them both." He suggested. Rapunzel laughed and put the paintings down, "Aw Eugene..."

Cassandra walked through the halls and nearly ran into the two of them, "Sorry about that." She apologized before heading back to her room. "It's okay, Cass!" Rapunzel waved, and then turned back around to talk to Eugene about her paintings.

She threw the tunic on her bed, stretched, began taking her dress and corset off, then tried on the tunic. It was well-made, and it looked very expensive, the fabric specifically. "He must have made this by-hand. I wonder where he got the fabric?" She muttered to herself, looking in the mirror. She liked this a whole lot better than her lady-in-waiting dress, indeed.