Chapter Text
"What-cha doin'?"
"Reading the Cursing of Castle Castle."
"Don't you mean the Cursing of Château Castle?"
"That’s what I said."
Isabeau chuckles, "It really isn't buddy."
Rin scoffs, they scoff! Isabeau really doesn’t know how to handle them, "So. What do you want?"
Isabeau raises his hands, "Nothing! I was just curious is all! Is it good? Mirabelle has been trying to get me into the series but I haven't really settled on it yet."
"Yes, but..." Rin stops, a look of annoyance on their face. It doesn't look like they intend to continue their thought. Isabeau decides to give them a bit of a verbal nudge.
"But...?"
Rin glances at Isabeau through the corner of their eyes, before snapping back to the pages of their book, "It's just... I don't get why Lady Bonita the Third would do something like that...?"
"Like what?" Come on Isabeau! Friendly curious! You practiced this expression for ages in front of a mirror! You can do it!!
"Like..." Rin stops, eyes unwavering towards the pages of their book, before they close it, and sigh, "Like nothing. Sorry- Spoilers."
"Aww, boo!" Dang it Isabeau! You scared them off! Isabeau traces an imaginary tear down the side of his face, "Just when I thought I'd get to hear about what the Mysterious Rin is into!"
"Mysterious Rin?" They look surprised, but whatever they were about to say next is interrupted.
"ISABEAU! RIN! Have either of you seen where I threw my darkless bow? I can't find it anywhere and we're supposed to leave soon...!"
Isabeau opened his mouth, about to say he hadn't, when Rin beats him to the punch.
"It's inbetween the wall and the bed you slept in last night- it probably fell back there while you were sleeping"
"If you knew, why didn't you say something earlier?" Mirabelle pouts, "I'm all- just- discombobulated! We're running late cause I'm taking too long and it would have helped!" She finishes exasperated.
"Oh, sorry." Rin's eyes widen, and they look genuinely concerned, fingers fidgeting at the frayed edges of their hardcover book, "I didn't know I was supposed to?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel bad... It's not that you're supposed to, or even have to, but it would help, you know? Sorry." Mirabelle worries at her lip, hand drifting to her face, likely about to start biting her nails.
"Mira, do you need help?" Isabeau asks gently, offering a hand while he offers a hand. Ooh, that’s a good one, save that for later!
She takes it gratefully, "Thanks Isabeau!"
"Anytime!" He smiles.
"You should probably know then- your monster book is still on the bar counter downstairs..." Rin chimes in, a bit hesitantly. Their eyes are still locked on the cover of their book. "And Isabeau, you left your sewing kit on the table in the room over."
"AH!"
"CRAB!"
"Thanks Rin!" Mirabelle scurries off to presumably grab her bow, when Isabeau turns to Rin, eyes wide.
"How did you know that? And how do you keep track of everything?" Isabeau asks, as Rin shrugs, gets up, and packs away their book.
"Spoilers."