dramatispersonae

EMERALD

[You're in an oval, almost egg-shaped room, with a high dome and clear walls that allow you to see the other team's rooms, although you can't hear them. In the middle of the room is a table, with some of the items from the Ring scattered about. An ornate book lays there as well, open to the first page:]

"There were formerly a king and a queen, who were so sorry that they had no children; so sorry that it cannot be expressed. They went to all the waters in the world; vows, pilgrimages, all ways were tried, and all to no purpose.

At last, however, the Queen had a daughter. There was a very fine christening; and the Princess had for her god-mothers all the fairies they could find in the whole kingdom (they found seven), that every one of them might give her a gift, as was the custom of fairies in those days. By this means the Princess had all the perfections imaginable."

The Princess is already wonderful, isn't she? What more could you want in a princess?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Any ideas?

[sure sounds like you do]

She needs a way, something, outside of her role. Support that has agency of its own.

We can't give her a person.

No . . . But we can empower her other side. The one that wasn't encouraged, the one that can overcome outlines only half of what a princess is.

So... Staging a rebellion against her role.

No. She is a princess and that gives her a special power. However, a princess that sits in an ivory tower with silks and jewels while knowing nothing of her land and people is not a princess worth anything.

Edited 2015-01-10 04:22 (UTC)

Then... a ruling queen.

A ruler, whatever her title. Someone who can lead and guide.

What helps someone be a ruler?

Confidence and power. She has people to listen to her and a reason to be listened to. The next step needs to be hers . . .

Jack and I were agreed on a bow. It's offensive when she already has a lot defensively, and she can safely lead from the rear that way.

[thoughtful]

It works.

Okay.

I don't see that there's a way to do that from where we are. How about focusing on making her role something better, yeah?

[a beat]

We can. We only have to figure out how.

No. We can't. That's not how these things work. Rewriting a story doesn't free the characters—only they can do that.

I don't want to free her. She can keep her role if she wants it, but it doesn't fit what she needs, what we all need. If neither gives, then one of them will break.

Her role is what we're making it now. We've already started it. You're the one who brought up agency and something outside her role, but that's exactly what we can't give.

What about a choice? A chance?

What about it? That's on her, my love. She sees her chance and she takes it.

So how about we let her to it, and just try to make her job easier. Let's let her be a better leader.

But this isn't really about her, is it?

This is her chance. She's giving it to us. She wants to be a better leader, so she's listening to those she's leading.

. . . No, but it isn't only about my position, either. She's one of the better chances we have of making a change.

We both want change, but I'm being realistic about this.

Mm. And I trust in the people that believe in my role as a prince.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EMERALD

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