They can't order me to stop dreaming

Jim grabbed the plateCinderella was handing to him and put it on his leg. He looked at her, eyebrow raised. “They gave me a name that refer twice to something feminine.” He told her. Cruel it was just by this point of view, but it wasn’t on purpose. Pleiades had always been his favorite galleon, and for a while it was a honor do have it as his middle name. Until he decided to study the Pleiades stars.

“Oh,” she said with a small laugh, “I didn’t realize it was feminine.” She felt a little embarrassed at her previous statement. She had no way to know that. She could understand his feelings about it now. 

Ariel didn’t like that response at all. Even though her father had eventually relented, agreeing to let her live among humans with Eric, the time when he had firmly stood against it was recent enough that hearing someone agree with him left a sour taste in her mouth. Her father hadn’t had any good reasons at all — at least none that were true. Humans were not terrible like he had believed for so long. She shook her head, brows furrowing. “No, I don’t think he did,” she said, unable to keep from disagreeing. “His reasons were ridiculous and he shouldn’t have been so judgmental without finding out the truth first.”

Cinderella realized she’d hit a raw nerve with Ariel and nodded quietly. “Well, I don’t know the details,” she replied. “Sorry if I offended you.” She didn’t want to push it further. 

“How do you know the cat hasn’t turned around?” Her mind was racing, but Elsa knew of an animal’s habits. They generally visited where they were wanted, and unless the step-mother was an absolute horror, Elsa could find no reason for why this mystery cat was interested in leaving the comfort of its home. This woman seemed kind enough, persistent to some degree yet gentle. “It’s likely the cat didn’t go further if it’s tracks aren’t to be found now.” Elsa licked her lips and shook her head. “I’m going this way, you can’t.”

“Because that’d be too easy for everyone,” She replied. “Lucifer isn’t about to make anything easy.” Lucifer would go to the point of injuring himself if it brought grief to Cinderella. 

Town Square//Duke and Cinderella

Cinderella was glad for the Spring weather. It meant less fires she had to start n the morning and warmer weather to do her chores in. She only had an old shawl of her mother’s to keep her warm during the winter months as she went about her chores, making them not as easy to do especially before the fires had been lit for the day. 

“I should be grateful, though. I mean- I am grateful. I never thought I’d be able to leave the tower at all.” She was talking about herself far too much. Rapunzel was interested in learning more about Cinderella. She was fascinated by the thought of having little mice as friends.

Cinderella nodded, she could understand that feeling. She did get to leave the chateau (rare enough as that was) but she never truly was able to escape. 

"So it just… nails on?" Audrey asked with slight horror. How did that even work? Didn’t it hurt? She bent down, glancing up at the large beast suspiciously. The petite mechanic had never been comfortable around animals bigger than her (which was quite a lot at her tiny stature). She took a deep breath and held the flashlight a bit higher to take a good look. 

“That’s right,” she said with a nod. “It nails on and protects the hoof.” Major began to get a little antsy and tried to pull his foot away. Cinderella kept her gripe and leaned against him. “Just a little longer Major,” she said reassuring him. “I know.”

Tadashi stopped with several meters still between them. His breathing was raspy from the running, his face flushed with the exertion. After a few moments of composing himself, he smiles at the stranger.

“You’re just running pretty fast,” she said with a small laugh. Cinderella thought his clothing looked a bit strange but his accent was pretty different so she figured he wasn’t from around here. She didn’t get out in the world enough to know what the world’s fashions were like. 

As soon as Cinder spoke, Jack bit his lip and looked down to the kids. “Ah- well…” He began, but fell short pretty quickly.

Cinderella nodded still staring at the children in his palm. “I don’t suppose you know how to reverse it?” she asked waving back still feeling stunned. “I told them to play quietly,” she sighed before running a hand through her hair. 

Jack nodded, smiling as he flipped the box open, his compass inside. “Here.” He said, “You hold this…” And were she to hold a hand out, she’d find the needle spilling every which way, until it’d finally point in the direction of the shop. 

Cinderella looked down, unsure what a compass that wasn’t pointing North was going to do. She watched it as it stopped spinning and pointed in a direction. “What’s-- do I just follow where it is pointing?” she looked up in that direction. 

Jack pursed his lips, before giving a sullen nod. “I, uh.” He began, not sure how to articulate such a- huge problem. After a moment, he uncupped his hands. “Love… I shrunk the kids.” 

"You-- what?" she asked eyes widening. Cinderella placed a hand to her chest as she peered down at the figures in Jack's hand. 

Time Travel

Cinderella was on her way to the village market. Their eggs from the chickens she raised usually brought in a little income she could use to keep foods her stepfamily liked on the table. 

"It’s okay, I’m alright." Jim shrugged. The first days were the worst, but after almost ten years his father was gone he was more than okay with it. He was able to see now how bad of a father Leland was, and was glad he decided to left. Jim and his mother were very happy right now, and they haven’t spoken about Leland for a while. It was the best, to leave the past behind.

Cinderella nodded, glad he was okay. She liked Jim a lot already, he was nice to her and fun which was something she desperately needed in her life. She began unpacking some of the food as he explained the constellation he pointed at. She looked at the group of stars he was referring to. She nodded, never having learned much about stars before. She wondered if her father had lived if she would have learned anything about them. 

Twenty miles- damn, that was a hell of a walk to make. It was already late as it was, and making the trek in the dark would be a terrible danger. Especially for a woman who seemed so mild mannered…

Cinderella decided she could agree to that plan. She could use an extra set of eyes to find this shop and food would be good before she made her trek back home. "Alright," she agreed.