Brighter Than the Stars

Annabelle - Pastries, Pastries, Pastries

We only stopped at the islands briefly. Immediately, I bolted off towards the trees–I could see the fruits hanging low enough to pick. We'd also stopped at the only building on that side of the islands, a store for tourists, where I'd purchased dried moonfruit slices. While we had dried fruit on the ship, we didn't have this kind, and I couldn't take any back with me (it'd have spoiled) so I had to work with what I could get. When we were finally underway, we sat on the deck with cards. The breeze made it difficult, but I was so bored I didn't even care. Chasing a card across the deck might provide some excitement, anyway. I set the package of moonfruit in the middle, and Leo poked Nicole with one until she took a bite.

Days later, we finally arrived in Atala, and I was first off. Nicole half-threw my things at me and rolled her eyes when she caught up, and I stuck my tongue out at her. As much as I love the ocean, I'm glad to be on solid ground again, especially back here. I can already smell the pasties and hear the music, everything encouraging me to just run around and explore, even though we are technically here on actual business.

Several people have crowded around the docks to get a glimpse of Itari's new queen–once the real story got out, it created quite the disturbance. James instructed his guards into position, and Maddie finally stepped off. We made our way through the crowds to the business district, which is heavily guarded in preparation for this meeting.

As soon as we're in our inn room, I jumped onto the bed. It was nicer than anything I'd been in in recent years–though, in recent years I'd been traveling to go on elaborate heists. So, maybe that made sense.

Nicole rolled her eyes again as she walked in behind me. "You're ridiculous. And you need to calm down."

"Or maybe you need to start to share my enthusiastic passion for life." I dropped onto my back and spread my arms out as I stared at the ceiling.

"How about no," she said.

"Lame."

Madeline appeared in the doorway just then, a few blond curls escaping her neat bun. "My room is down a floor," she said. She'd been put near the other leaders, and their meeting room. Probably, whoever else they'd brought was near us, but I had a feeling they wouldn't be pleased if I started knocking on doors. Clara slipped into the room around her, her ribbons back in her hair. "Stop by when you go to dinner, though, and I'll come with. I have some work I need to get done."

"Do you need to, really, or could you technically blow it off?" Nicole threw a pillow at my head. "It's a fair question!" I protested. "Technically, you can blow almost anything off, if you really want to, and just do it later."

"I'm afraid that, in this case, I can't," Maddie said. She picked up the pillow and set it back on the bed. "As much as I wish I could. Unfortunately, I don't think running a kingdom allows me to 'blow it off' whenever I'd like."

...

The next morning, I sat with James in a cafe, eating one of the best croissants I'd ever had in my life. Madeline had ended up stuck with work, and Leo and Nicole had left before James or I had been awake–probably because we hadn't woken up until it was nearly time for lunch. And while I usually liked croissants for breakfast–which for me meant ten, but James had taken about eight years to do his hair–I was eating an almond one for lunch, even though I'd probably just eat a late lunch later, because I loved all the food here. James had gone for chocolate, which I supported, because while it may not have been as classy, I loved chocolate.

"Okay," I said, once I swallowed. "We're definitely going to the theatre. No exceptions. Atala has possibly the best theatres ever, and so you will not stop me from going. And you're coming, because you need that experience."

"Whatever," he said, through a mouthful of croissant.

"Swallow before you talk," I told him. "If we can find Leo and Nicole, I'm dragging them along, too, because no way I can continue to associate with people who have never been."

"Well, if I refuse to go, then I guess you're going to have to continue to associate with people who have never been."

"Very funny. You're going."

And he did. Somewhat reluctantly, but he went. And while he would never admit it, he seemed to almost like it. "See? See?" I jabbed him in the ribs as we left. "Wasn't that the best performance you've ever been to in your life? Wasn't it? Maybe there aren't any gambling halls for you, but who cares when there's this."

"Okay, okay," he finally said, a hint of a smile on his face. "It was good."

"It was better than good. It was great. It was amazing. It was fantastic. It was–"

"I get it, I get it. But you know that's not my thing, Annie–how do I know what makes it good instead of great? I went, and it was good, and I liked it, and that's all you'll get out of me." But he smiled, bemused. "That'll just have to be enough for you."

"For now. The next chance I get, you're coming with me again. And Leo and Nicole, too, unless they've been to one already today. By the way, do we have a curfew?"

He shrugged. "Don't know. Does it matter? We might be supposed to check back in for dinner, but I want to try some of that lamb they had down at that cafe looking thing. Did you see it? Or smell it? Just thinking about it makes me hungry."

"We ate, like, two hours ago. Dinner isn't for another couple hours," I reminded him.

"Too bad. I vote we head to the nearest cafe for pastries immediately."

"I second that, actually. Congrats on being right for once in your life."

"Hey!"

Word Count: 1,041