The Boardwalk, Wednesday afternoon

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

Rapunzel was skipping along with a huge grin on her face. She'd spent a good chunk of the morning brushing out her hair (she was finding it took a lot more effort to take care of it all here in Fandom; maybe because she kept dragging it through areas that were dirtier than she'd thought).

But! It had totally been worth it this morning because her roommate was taking her shopping! Which apparently would get her more clothes to wear! It sounded positively magical!

So in one fell swoop, Rapunzel was going to have more than one dress to wear and learn something new!

It was enough to make a girl skip along, and spin in gleeful circles every so often.

Though, to be fair, Rapunzel was prone to doing both of those things on a fairly regular basis anyway.

"So what do we do first?" she asked excitedly.

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[new-it-girl.livejournal.com]

Hanna looked around, trying to figure out what was most necessary at the moment. "You need shoes. And I need accessories. My dad's wedding is this weekend, and I need to look better than Kate, my soon-to-be-wicked-stepsister."

Yes, because that was the important thing about the whole situation.

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"Shoes," Rapunzel repeated. "Shoooooes."

"Those are those things you put on your feet, right?"

She cocked her head, looking down at Hanna's. "They look kind of uncomfortable?" Maybe?

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Hanna glanced down at her own, too. They had heels, of course. "They can be if you don't know how to wear them. I'm used to these. Maybe we'll go with the more comfortable kind for you. To start with."

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"There are different kinds?" Wait! Rapunzel knew that! She'd seen other people wearing different kinds!

"And if that's where you think we should start, let's do that!"

Suddenly she remembered something Hanna had said earlier. "And I'm sure you'll look better than your soon-to-be-wicked-stepsister!" Rapunzel had faith in her roommate!

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"Thanks!" Hanna beamed. That was exactly the kind of thing she needed to hear right now.

"How about these (http://www.zappos.com/product/7899457/color/306572)?" she continued, pointing out a cute pair of shoes. "Stylish and comfortable."

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"Oooh, they're a very pretty color! They'll be perfect for you!"

The fact that they were a near perfect match for the dress Rapunzel had on right that moment somehow went right past her.

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"Oh, no I meant for you!" Hanna said, grinning. "I think these will look great on you. They are perfect for someone who isn't ready for heels, yet."

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"Me?" Rapunzel's eyes got so, so wide. "Really?"

For her?

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"Yes, really," Hanna assured, amused at Rapunzel's excitement over shoes. "And they totally match your dress."

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"Oh!"

"They do!" That was so neat!

She clutched the shoes in her hand and sort of bounced in place. "So... should I... put them on?" That was a not-so-subtle way of asking how she was supposed to put them on.

[new-it-girl.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, you'll have to try them on to see if they fit," Hanna explained patiently. "Need some help?"

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"I just put them on my feet?" Rapunzel asked, holding the shoes up to examine them closely. "I don't need those... cloth things?"

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"Socks," Hanna told her, realizing it was probably frowned upon to try on a pair of shoes while barefoot. She found a pair of plain, thin socks, handing them to Rapunzel. "You should put those on first. Normally, these shoes can be worn without socks, but it's better to wear them when trying on new shoes."

Hanna was just going to add them to the shopping list.

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"Oh! Okay!" Rapunzel beamed. Then she set the shoes down and then shifted to balance a bit awkwardly on one foot. These sock things were hard!

She tottered a bit as she tugged at the thin fabric.

[new-it-girl.livejournal.com]

Hanna found this whole thing to be endearing. "This is all new for you, isn't it?"

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Rapunzel looked up at her roommate and nodded enthusiastically. "I've never been shopping before!" And sooner or later she'd figure out that shoes were a bit bigger than just shopping.

Except all that excited nodding only made Rapunzel's balance even worse, causing ger to totter wildly to her right, almost falling over.

[new-it-girl.livejournal.com]

"You okay?" Hanna asked, reaching out toward Rapunzel in an attempt to prevent her from falling. With a gentle chuckle, she added, "You might want to sit down first. It's easier to put socks on that way."

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Hanna got a grateful look at that steadying touch, and Rapunzel managed to find her balance again.

"Oh!" That was clever!

rapunzel hopped awkwardly over to the nearest little stool and settled onto it. "You're right! This is much easier!" She got both socks on and turned her attention to the shoes. (Which were just so pretty!)

[new-it-girl.livejournal.com]

Hanna smiled, waiting for Rapunzel to try them on. They were seemingly her first pair of nice shoes, and Hanna was there to see it.

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

First pair of shoes ever, truth be told.

It only took Rapunzel a moment to figure out that the one she was trying to pull on was meant for her left foot, and from there it was actually pretty easy to get both shoes onto her feet. The little ankle buckles were unfamiliar, though, and she stared down at them in consternation.

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Hanna noticed this. "Need some help with that?"

She didn't mind. When shoes were involved, Hanna was always willing to provide some expertise.

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With a sheepish sort of look, Rapunzel sighed and nodded. "They don't seem that complicated," she complained. "But I just can't seem to..." Well, figure them out.

[new-it-girl.livejournal.com]

"They can be complicated at first, but it gets easier once you get used to it," Hanna said as she began buckling one of the shoes, explaining as she went along. "Now, try the other one."

She wondered if Rapunzel was a fast learner.

[leavingthenest.livejournal.com]

Fortunately the buckles were pretty simple. So with Hanna's example to follow, Rapunzel managed to figure the second one out pretty quickly. "Like that?" she asked, her head swiveling back and forth between the two shoes, trying to figure out if they looked the same.

[new-it-girl.livejournal.com]

"Yes!" Hanna said enthusiastically. "They look awesome on you. I knew they would."

She felt kind of proud at the moment.

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"Really?" Rapunzel beamed.

"They feel kind of weird." Then she realized that might have sounded critical. "But not in a bad way! Just different!"

She stood up and tried taking a few experimental steps.

[new-it-girl.livejournal.com]

"Just be grateful we didn't go with heels," Hanna said.

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"They feel weirder?" Rapunzel guessed. Then she frowned a bit. "Then how come you wear them like that?"

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"Cause they look good," Hanna shrugged. "And I got used it. Believe me, the first time I tried to walk in heels, it was a disaster."

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Rapunzel giggled. "I have a hard time imagining you involved in anything that was a disaster!" she exclaimed as she walked back and forth trying to get used to the weird feeling of having something covering her feet.

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"Heels have a way of making anyone look silly." Especially Hanna, who was still in her socially awkward stage at the time she learned to walk on heels.

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"Then maybe I should stick with these?" Rapunzel giggled again.

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"Definitely," Hanna agreed, already deciding she was going to buy them and give them to Rapunzel as a gift. They were her first shoes, after all.

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"And look! They match the color of my dress!"

Wait.

Rapunzel gasped. "Did you do that on purpose?"

[new-it-girl.livejournal.com]

Hanna grinned. "Maybe."

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"That's so thoughtful of you!" Rapunzel declared, throwing her arms around her roommate in an impulsive hug.

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Hanna was surprised by the hug, but she accepted it easily. Rapunzel was so sweet, and that was very welcome after how crazy this year had been.

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"You're the best," Rapunzel declared, completely serious.