some context: after ever after (my prequel for my own vat7k series) centers around varian’s 18th birthday. and i wanted to have a lot of his motivation for leaving corona and completing the seven trials to be him feeling isolated from the rest of corona, for him to feel uncertain about who he is and who he wants to be
i also wanted to show how varian and rapunzel have grown their relationship from the first season of tts to sort of siblings in vat7k (im a sucker for freckled siblings, could you tell?)
this scene takes place directly after varian’s birthday party. the party was held at the castle and all of corona was invited.
He only stops once he’s found a balcony that’s lit by the night sky.
Varian walks forward until he’s leaned against the ledge and staring up at the stars. He connects constellations, a calming technique his dad taught him. He’s high enough that he can see the forest in the distance but low enough that he can still hear people as they make their way home from the party.
As he’s making the connections of the All Mother, he hears the soft sound of footsteps behind him. It’s the quiet pitter patter of someone that is obviously not wearing shoes. He smiles in quiet amusement. Of course it was Rapunzel who found him.
“Had enough of shoes for the night?” Varian glances at her as she settles next to him. She wrinkles her nose.
“Shoes are restricting,” she responds easily, gesturing at her feet. “I’d rather let my toes be free.”
Varian snorts. “Right, because we wouldn’t want them to feel claustrophobic.”
“Exactly, you get it!” Rapunzel remarks, grinning brightly.
Varian shakes his head but smiles as she wiggles her toes at him. When she’s done, she bumps his shoulder with hers, bringing his attention back up towards her face. Her expression is serious now and Varian finds himself averting his eyes.
“Varian,” she says softly, placing a warm hand on his. He thinks about pulling away but decides against it. “You can talk to me, if you need to.”
“I know,” he mumbles. She stays quiet while he goes through the multiple scenarios of how this conversation might go wrong. But when he looks into her eyes, all he sees is open kindness and a promise to listen to whatever it is he needs to get off his chest. He looks back at the stars.
He sighs. Then: “I’ve spent all this time doing everything I can to redeem myself but people still see me as the kid who attacked Corona. They didn’t say it in so many words but with enough back-handed compliments, you kind of get the gist.”
Rapunzel is rubbing small circles into the back of his hand. She hasn’t said anything yet so he continues.
“I feel like I can’t go two steps without getting reminded of who I used to be.” He laughs mirthlessly. “By the Sun, I don’t even know who I am now! How am I supposed to know when all I see in the mirror is that angry little kid?”
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