[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/PLyfcLV.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/wPyT7ht.png[/img][/center]
[color=lightgray][color=E77298]Time:[/color] 2:30pm
[color=E77298]Location:[/color] On Alibeth Ave
[color=E77298]Attire:[/color][url=i.imgur.com/ngEDMGH.jpg]Dress[/url]
[color=E77298]Interaction:[/color][@Rodiak] Zarai [@mantou] Wystan
[hr]

Anastasia, Zarai, Wystan, and Ser Barrios had enjoyed some afternoon brunch of eggs and baked goods after their conversation with Wulfric had finished.  It was coming on 2:30pm when Anastasia suddenly paused in her tracks as they had left the restaurant. Through the crowd was the unmistakable form of Darryn as he stood off to the side in the grass, meeting her eyes with unnerving intensity, his messy brown hair just barely clouding them.

She needed to talk to him, but she felt awful ditching her friends especially since Zarai had gone through all the effort to spend time with her today, even coming back from the castle. [color=E77298] “I’ll… You know. I’ve absolutely loved hanging out with you guys.”[/color] Anastasia turned to her friends, holding Zarai's hand and looking into her eyes with earnest determination, [color=E77298] “ Zarai, you’re beautiful and so sweet and I promise I am going to find whoever hurt you and I am going to [i]kick[/i] them really, really hard. I love every minute I spend with you…Ser Barrios, your cool factor is unmatched and you’re high on my list for protecting Zarai all the time.”[/color] 

She then turned to Wystan,  [color=E77298] “And Wystan… I remember you said that my safety mattered to you last night, as more than a job thing, and I want you to know it’s the same for me. I don’t view you as some bodyguard doing your duty.”[/color] Anastasia smiled at him and touched his arm gently,[color=E77298] “You’re one of my best friends. I cherish my time with you as well…. But… I know my brothers are going to be in that sword competition. They’re gonna need you right now and I have a mess I have to clean up. It’s something I need to do on my own. ”[/color] Her eyes moved to Zarai and Ser Barrios, hoping they’d understand as well. [color=E77298] “I will let the guards Wulfric bestowed me continue to tail me so I promise I’ll stay safe and I really want to see you all later and spend more time. Please don’t be mad- Okay, sorry, bye!”[/color] 

The princess had gathered the skirt of her dress and then ran off before they could object, disappearing into the crowd. 

She came to a staggering halt before Darryn, who was standing under a tree. [color=E77298] "Darryn!"[/color] She leaned on her knees and panted. Anastasia didn't even have a chance to look up and meet his eyes as the words tumbled out. [color=E77298] "I was afraid you'd run away! I'm so sorry. I didn't know you'd get in trouble and it would all happen that way. I really didn't think ahead on that one. I was going to crawl out my window to come free you, but then Callum told me you were safe and-"[/color] 

[color=f6989d]"Stop,"[/color] he interrupted.

Anastasia felt her throat close up. She picked up her head to meet a gaze brimming with tears and anger. [color=f6989d] “Everyone else might fall for your act… Even I did so…”[/color] His gaze averted as his last words fell into a murmur. [color=f6989d] “ But…”[/color] His brown eyes met hers once again. [color=f6989d]” Not anymore.”[/color]

[color=E77298] “I’m-... I’m not acting! I really am sorry. I never meant for you to get hurt.”[/color]

Darryn nodded slowly and thoughtfully, his expression still heavy with anger and mistrust. [color=f6989d] “I believe that part…”[/color] His gaze flickered to where Zarai and Wystan had been standing before they left. Anastasia followed his gaze, feeling a pang of guilt in her chest.
[color=f6989d]”...Do they know the real [i]Princess Anastasia[/i]? Do you…?”[/color]

[color=E77298] “....What do you mean?”[/color]

He let out a frustrated sigh. [color=f6989d]” You put on this fake persona, this ditzy and happy act. All you care about is how people perceive you and what you’re going through. You didn't even consider how your actions would affect me. You're still only thinking about yourself, even now.”[/color] His brows furrowed in anger. [color=f6989d] “Do you think they'll still like you once they realize how [i]fake[/i] you are?”[/color]

[color=E77298] “I mean every word I say!”[/color] Anastasia cried defensively. She gestured towards where Zarai and Wystan had been standing. [color=E77298] “Especially to them! And to you!”[/color] She gestured at Darryn next, but his expression remained cold.

Taking a deep breath, Anastasia tried to control her emotions and speak more clearly. [color=E77298]” Darryn, you don't sound like yourself at all. I know you've been through a lot, but I put myself on the line for you this morning. I messed up, but I'm trying to fix it and apologize to you. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things right… I care about you.”[/color]

Darryn's expression softened slightly, but he still looked skeptical. 

 [color=f6989d] “...Tell me you love me then.”[/color] 

The words came out through gritted teeth. He watched the color drain from her skin.

[color=f6989d]“Tell me that every time you flirted with me, you [i]kissed[/i] me… That you asked for my help taking you and Callum everywhere… That this is all because you felt something for me.”[/color] he demanded, his piercing gaze locked onto hers. But still, Anastasia remained silent. He knew there was some blame he could not entirely leave on her. After all, he had been taking them to the party on someone else’s orders rather than to appease her. In his anger, he did not find that to be worth mentioning. 
[color=f6989d]“Tell me that Riona is wrong and that you’re not like your father…”[/color] His voice grew more brutal, each word feeling like a sharp knife stabbing into her heart. [color=f6989d]“A selfish, terrible person who uses people like tools.”[/color]

Anastasia was stunned. Had Darryn really fallen in love with her? She had never considered that possibility before. To her, flirting was just a bit of harmless fun. She enjoyed the momentary affection and attention she could receive from it. It had never dawned on her that someone could actually…

[color=D173A5][i]Did you think I really loved you? Do you really think anyone would? That anyone would want you for anything other than to take you to bed?[/i][/color]

The words echoed again in her head, just as they had the night prior.

Right now, she wanted to defend herself. Anastasia wanted to yell and scream and tell him how she’d never use anybody like that. 

But then there was the urge to defend her father under all that. That was the very thought that made her realize he was right.  

[color=f6989d] “You’ll never be really loved, Anastasia.”[/color] Darryn's words were cold and cutting, and his eyes bore into her, searching for a reaction. [color=f6989d] “Maybe you've been surrounded by people who only value you for your looks, and that's made you believe that's all you're worth…Maybe that’s why you've been living your life like a whore instead of a princess… But the truth is, Annie, the reason you'll never be loved is that you're ugly on the inside.”[/color] His eyes glinted with a cruel satisfaction as Anastasia's eyes filled with tears. His eyes glowed red for that moment, his face inches from hers. In fear, she had stumbled back a step. 

[color=f6989d]” Oh, poor princess,”[/color] he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. He pulled out a few small colored pellets from his pocket and held them out to her. 

[color=f6989d]“Remember these? Consider them a parting gift.”[/color] He placed the pellets in her palm and let go of her wrist. [color=f6989d] “We're done here,”[/color] he said before turning on his heel and walking away.

Anastasia remained rooted to her spot, her eyes bearing an emptiness unusual for her. After some time, she raised her palm to her lips and threw her head back.[/color]