adorable princess:3

Mira leads you by the hand into her room, where she locks the door. "Can you undress while I get everything out?" she asks.

You nod, and start pulling at your pins. Uselessly. (Blind it...)

Mira pulls the shopping bags from under the bed and takes a few things from them. You recognize the wipes, powder, and. um. diapers. (Still a little weird. Of course it is.) But, Mira says it'll help, and you do like it... You have complicated feelings about it.

She looks over at you, and sees you completely dressed. "Do you need help after all?" You answer with a tiny nod. With a smile, she comes over and pulls off your pins, then unhooks your belt. (Thankfully, you're able to get the rest off yourself.)

Mira leads you over to the bed and has you lay down, like last time. As she slides the diaper under you and pulls it over your front, you immediately feel yourself slip a little more. (Stars... It feels so soft. Comfortable. For once, you actually feel safe.) You hold the front in place for Mira as she does the side tapes.

"How does it feel?" Mira asks, taking your hands to pull you up.

Some kind of. Sound. Comes out of your mouth. A happy sound?

Whatever it is makes Mira giggle at you. "Aw, do you like it?"

"Ah-huh!" you answer. (Why are you just making sounds. You can still think, why don't you talk?)

"Great!" You like holding her hands. "Your nightgown is in your room, I think. Let's get you changed into it." She leads you by the hand (warm, love it) into the room you and Isabeau share. "Can you find it for me?"

You nod excitedly, pulling her over to the backpacks beside your bed. (Let's see, you think your clothes were in... the big one?) "Da!" you say, pointing at the bigger backpack.

"In there?" Mira confirms. Letting go of your hand (sad...), she opens the backpack and reaches inside. You can't help but smile when she pulls out your nightgown. (You were right!) Turning to you with it in her hands, she says, "Arms up, gotta get that shirt off."

You do as she asks, raising your arms into the air. She grabs the bottom of your shirt, lifting it up and over and off your head. Then she lifts your nightgown over your head and pulls it down. Your arms pop out and the nightgown falls all the way down to your ankles. Fwoosh! You can't help but giggle!

Mira giggles with you. "Is it comfy?"

You nod. Super comfy!

She smiles. (You're doing good! Made her happy!) With an awkward laugh, she says, "I didn't really think this through... We'll probably stay up for a little while longer. Unless you wanna go to bed already?"

"Nuh uh," you tell her, before promptly betraying yourself with a big yawn. She gives you a suspicious look, teasingly of course, that makes your face hot. "Mm... yeh..." (Stars, when did you start feeling so tired? You haven't stayed up later than usual at all.)

"Sounds good. Did you bring Mr. Grizz?" When you shake your head, she continues, "Then I'll go get him while you get into bed."

You nod, and start doing just that. You feel a little clumsy, but you get yourself under the covers without too much trouble. By the time you're done, Mira's already beside your bed again, handing you Mr. Grizz. So soft, so snuggly! You hug him super duper tight.

Mira giggles (you love that sound). With the utmost care, she slides your eyepatch off your head and sets it on the table beside you. "Sweet dreams, Siffrin!" She turns off the lamp, and as she gently pulls the door closed behind her, darkness envelops the room. Warm, comforting darkness.

You feel the smooth sheets beneath you, the warm blanket on top of you. Your airy nightgown, keeping you nice and cool, and Mr. Grizz's plush fur, prickly but in a soft way. The air against your usually covered eye, the padding between your legs, hugging your body, keeping you safe.

You are safe.

You are safe.

You are here.

And you are very very quickly falling asleep.

Isabeau walks into the dark room a while later, placing himself on his bed. "Sif, you awake?"

Incoherent mumbling for a reply. Maybe that's a yes?

"To be honest, I was glad when Mira told me you went to bed early," Isabeau tells them. "I know you don't act tired, but... We know you need more sleep than you're getting."

Siffrin shifts under the covers. A shrug?

Isabeau sighs. "I know, I know. I just... What you went through took a lot out of you. Using that much Craft, there's no way you're back to one-hundred percent already." A little softer, he adds, "Euphrasie said you might never be. So just, try to take it easy, ok—"

A loud, rankling snore from Siffrin cuts him off.

Okay. This is fine. You just have to have dinner with your family, and you’re a little regressed. Mira is leading you down the stairs right now and you need to come up with a plan. Okay! Easy, just stop being regressed!

...Your brain feels... fuzzy, when you try to do that. So that’s a no.

Um, okay, you can just... pretend! Right! (So, how do you usually act? Well... you walk confidently. And you don’t hold anyone's hand.) Casually, you let go of Mira's hand. She briefly turns around and gives you a concerned look, but blessedly, she doesn’t say anything.

(Great! You got that part down! The next thing will probably be your talking. You’re not sure how to make yourself talk normal, so... the best plan is to just keep your talking to a minimum.) No more time for plans. You’re at the door to the dining hall. You swallow. (You got this, Siffrin. You've had plenty of acting experience, this should be no different.)

You follow right behind Mira as you enter the dining hall. There's a few long tables that run the length of the room, but your family reserved the end of the one nearest the door. Looks like Bonbon gathered everything you'll need and set out your food.

The young chef looks over at you. "There you are!" they say, standing on their chair. "I thought you were gonna make us wait til everything got cold."

"Sit down, Boniface," Odile tells them quietly.

Mira comes to your defense. "He was just taking a nap, Bonnie. Don’t blame him for that!" You worry about them fighting, but she sounds lighthearted.

"Yeah, yeah, Frin's a big sleepyhead," Bonbon replies. They're smiling though, so you think it's okay!

You and Mira take your seats, and everyone starts eating, chatting with each other. You look at the dishes in front of you. One bowl of green soup with lumpy green veggies and some other things floating in it, and one bowl of rice with... shiny orange meat...?

"It's chicken!" Bonbon explains. They must've seen you looking at it. "And I glazed it with some special sauce they had here."

"I'sh so good," Isabeau says with his mouth full of it. That makes you laugh.

Okay! You wanna try it! You pick up your fork and—your hand feels a little shaky. (Um. Okay. Just...) Gripping the fork with your whole hand, you stab one of the bits of chicken and get a little rice with it too. You only almost miss your mouth. (Mmm! Yummy!)

"I'ss wreally good!" you tell Isabeau. (Oh, stars. You said. You said it wrong.)

He looks at you a little funny. Or... maybe that's just a normal smile? "It really is!" he agrees, and turns to Bonbon. "Thanks for making it, Bonbon!"

They huff proudly.

Dinner goes on and your family talks with each other. You don’t say much, just eating your rice bowl. You don't really feel like eating the soup. (It looks too weird.) Isabeau asks if you’re gonna eat it, and you shake your head, sliding the bowl towards him. This time, he really does give you a look. But you don't say anything, and neither does he.

Once everyone's done with their food, Mira stands up, on the other side of Isabeau. "Excuse me, everyone?" she says to your table. "I know the plan is to leave tomorrow, but... I've been thinking, and I..." She clears her throat and gives her shoulders a little shake. With more confidence, she goes on, "I think we should stay in Enfen-Ici for a week or two."

"What???" Bonbon asks, shooting up from their chair. "But we gotta get to my sister! Y'know, the whole thing we agreed to stay together for?!?"

"We agreed to stay together for a lot of reasons, Boniface," Odile corrects. "But I am wondering the same thing. We planned to get there as soon as possible."

"I know," Mira says, shrinking a little, "but... Well, we've been pushing ourselves kinda hard... It'd be nice to have some time to not worry about being on the move."

Isabeau nods. "She's got a point."

"Thank you, Isabeau!" Mira nods with him. "And we did send that courier who will get to Bambouche long before us, so Pétronille won't be worried about you."

Bonbon pouts for a little bit. "My legs have been a little tired, I guess," they admit.

"I wouldn't mind the break either," Odile adds. "These old bones aren't what they used to be."

Mira claps. "Great! That's settled then!" She turns to you. "Siffrin, can I have a word with you, in private? It's feelings buddy stuff." Isabeau's concerned face relaxes. (What does she want to talk to you about...?)

As Mira leads you out of the dining hall, you hear Bonnie say, "Hey Dile?"

"Yes, Boniface?"

They hesitate. "What did your bones used to be? Were they not always bones?"

Sadly, you don't get to hear Odile's answer.

Mira looks around, making sure you're alone. "I know all this regression stuff is really new to you. And, honestly, me too."

You nod. "I'ss okay." After a moment, you add, "Yur doin' good."

She smiles faintly. (Yes! You love making Mira happy.) "Thanks, Siffrin. But as I was saying, I know it's really new, so we're staying in town until you can get more used to it."

(Oh.) "Sorry," you murmur.

"It's nothing to be sorry for!" she assures you, taking your hands. "I want to make sure you're comfortable with everything."

(Stars... Mira's so nice...) You can feel tears welling up. "Um... Mira..."

"Is something wrong...?" (You love how warm her hands are.)

You shake your head. "Can... Can I hab a hug...?"

Mira gives you such a deep, loving smile. "Of course, Siffrin." She wraps her arms around you and... (Stars...) You wrap your arms around her, feeling her back, between her shoulders. (She's here. She's holding you. She's with you. She's here.)

"Fank you..." you muffle into her shoulder.

She rubs slow little circles on your back. "Any time." After a few more circles, she asks softly, "You're regressed, aren't you?"

You nod.

"I had a feeling since dinner. I know we'll be sleeping soon, so do you want me to help you get changed...?"

(Changed...?) You pull away and look at her, a little confused.

"...Into a diaper, since you're regressed."

Your face suddenly feels like it's on fire. (Oh. You'd... You'd like it, but... You can't ask for that. You can't. You can't. You can't.) You shake your head really hard. You can't let her know you want it. You can't.

Mira's looking at you, with a slight frown, her eyebrows creased. "Siffrin... I'd never make you do anything you don't want to do." She goes silent. (She doesn't know what to say. You messed up. You did this.) "I just... I don't feel like you're telling me what you do want."

(How did... How does she know.) "I... I dun..."

She purses her lips doubtfully.

"I..." (You can't say it. You can't say it. You can't say it.)

She rubs her thumbs along your shoulders. "Siffrin. Do you want me to help you get changed?"

(You... You can't...) You...

Slowly,

very slowly,