part 262 slippers made of glass

[aphanon_meme]

"Some claim the shoe was made of fur... others insist it was glass!" Don't mind me, just watching Ever After while writing and reading and staring at a wall. Cinderella is one of my favorite fairytales. I really like the Rodgers & Hammerstein version, too. "Impossible" has been my main ringtone for a while now, so I love it when people call

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Will only be here an hour or two, but at least the ball is rolling

[iceandheather]

[Norway passes by with a cup of coffee of his own - he sees France, but honestly, he isn't sure he has the energy to deal with that right now, so he fully intends to just keep his head down and get out of his way as quickly as possible--]

[... Wait a minute. What's that he's reading?]

[This bookworm slows, trying to catch the title as he passes. Unfortunately for Norway, it looks as if he's staring at far more than just the title.]

[iceandheather]

[Shit. He did see it. Well, can't be helped now.]

Is that right.

[He gives him a good hard look.]

Would like to hear 'bout these rumours. If y'don't mind. Not keen on things bein' spread around and me not knowin' it, understand.

[Despite That Look and its confidence, he's uncertain. It's probably all just nonsense. Then again, one can never know.]

[le_coq_gaulois]

[Nods.]

Oh, I can't disclose them to you. Privacy between myself those who came out with them, you know. I was under the impression that you knew about them and I only wanted them confirmed or denied by you, nothing more, nothing less.

[He's used to That Look and just smiles back confidently. Sneaky sneaky Francis.]

[iceandheather]

[Oh, he's a frustrating one, that France. Not a bad smile, though -- wait. Well. Anyway.]

Well. If you're going to keep it hush, looks like you won't be gettin' anything confirmed. [Considers] 'M particular about keeping what's private... private. So. Long's you don't go spreadin' whatever nonsense it is, suppose I can't complain.

[le_coq_gaulois]

[Dammit.]

[Oh wait.]

I would never spread something so private around. I only wished to confirm, for my knowledge alone, that they had some validity to them or not. If you do not wish to answer, then I suppose I'll live in ignorance forever.

[And forever judge you. Looking at you with judging eyes. Judge, judge, judge. Better start talking.]

[iceandheather]

Hmm.

[Looking at you right back. Quite a lot of judging going on here.]

Well. Looks like it's all on you, here.

[Steeples his fingers; raises an eyebrow]

See, I can't confirm anything if'n I don't know what you're on about, now can I. 'N it ain't like I'm askin' about who said it, mind. Just what.

[le_coq_gaulois]

[Oh snap, steepled fingers. It's on.]

It's nothing, really. It's only I've heard some certain things about your...relations with a few people around here. It's nothing of great significance, I assure you, but it does paint your character as far from moralistic.

[If you catch his drift. Come on, he's baiting you here. TAKE. THE. BAIT.]

[iceandheather]

Relations.

[He says it flatly, and flat-faced. His mind races. He can't think of anything -- well there was that one, but there isn't any way France would know about that. And that other time -- but he wouldn't know about that either, would he.]

[And then again, maybe something else entirely-- And everything was justified, anyhow--]

[After hesitating, Norway settles for:]

Can't say I can think of anything what would paint me that way. But that depends on what you'd call "moralistic".

[le_coq_gaulois]

Oh, multiple partners, going from one to the other, strange partnerships, and simply things quite out of your character, Norway.

[Pause, grinning.] Or perhaps I simply don't know enough about your character, though I would love to get to know more.

[iceandheather]

[He opens his mouth to protest. Fine, he can admit to the first two things, but "strange" partnerships? Nothing of the sort---]

[And then he remembers that other other time -- And shuts it. Oh.]

[There might be the slightest hint of flush creeping up, as he tries to think of a way to respond to that, but he would never admit to it.]

...I'm sure you would.

[le_coq_gaulois]

[It's hard to keep the grin on his face from not growing. Aren't you just the most precious thing when flustered?]

I would and from the looks of it, you know quite a lot about it. [He'll just stir his coffee idly and sit back, waiting for you to spill.]

[iceandheather]

Well.

[Considers. On the one hand, he'd rather not get into it. On the other... he isn't about to let rumours run away unchecked. And on the other-other hand, flustered and bothered by all this as he is, it's slightly difficult to make Rational decisions.]

Can't say I see anything wrong with... [hand-wave] All those things you mentioned. Nothin' inherently bad about it. Don't see why someone would go gossipin' about it, really.

[le_coq_gaulois]

No one is gossiping about it, but if they were, I would like to know the truth behind all that so I may disspell it.

[He is pure of heart. See? He's trying to do you a favor.]

[iceandheather]

[Just. Stares]

Don't suppose you could just say it ain't so, without actually knowin' one way or another.

[As if his evasiveness weren't answer enough already.]

[le_coq_gaulois]

Exactly. I would not want to proliferate a truth if it were not true nor deny a lie if I do not know it's a lie.

[Just waits for you to spill the beans.]

[iceandheather]

Thought so.

[Damn it France, why do you have to make this difficult.]

... Might've done some've that. What you mentioned. Just now 'n then.

[Trying to avoid going into specifics]