I just can’t believe you dream of Arendelle and then I went there in my dreams!
Who: Elsa and Rapunzel What: Dinner! When: Last week sometime Where: Rapunzel's place Status: Complete Rating: PG
Rapunzel was glad that her dreams had finally ended in their happily ever after. Her dream mother had died, she saved Eugene, and was reunited with her actual parents. It had been the perfect ending to her horrific 18 years trapped inside a tower. She was a little nervous because Eugene cut her hair in the dreams and she didn’t know if that meant her hair was no longer going to be functional in the living world, but it didn’t seem to have any ill effects as far as she could tell. She didn’t mind that she didn’t have a real excuse to use her powers to heal someone so far, but it had worked well a few times when she had gotten some papercuts at work or a couple bumps and bruises.
She had invited Elsa over for dinner at her place because she had realized not too long ago that they spent all their time at her place. Rapunzel wanted to do something nice for her and was cooking up some pasta, salad, and breadsticks for them. She had done a major clean of her apartment to make sure everything looked nice and she was just putting the breadsticks into the oven when she heard the door buzzer and she rushed over to let Elsa inside. “Hey beautiful,” she answered with a smile on her face as she took in the sight of Elsa.
Elsa was very nervous, going over to Rapunzel's. It was hard to explain even to herself just why, but she figured it was a step in their relationship.
Her dreams had stalled, repeating the last few bits up until she followed her Grandfather deeper into Ahtohallan. That had been the newest part and she had a terrible feeling about where it could lead. But until she dreamed onward she'd just have to tell her anxiety to buzz off.
Seeing Rapunzel's smiling face did a lot to ease her mind, and she bounced on her heels a bit, gripping the bottle of wine she'd brought in her hands, "Hi. You look radiant."
She also had something rolled up under her arm.
Rapunzel honestly didn’t think too much about it. She liked Elsa and she wanted to invite Elsa over to her place anyway, so it just seemed normal to her. She would definitely soothe Elsa’s nerves though if she noticed she was acting nervous. She had told the other woman about her dreams resolving shortly after they happened, but she had another dream that she thought Elsa would be really interested in.
“Aw, you’re so sweet,” Rapunzel smiled brightly as she leaned up to give Elsa a quick kiss before grabbing the wine in her hand and inviting her inside. She eyed the item under Elsa’s arm and raised her eyebrows, “What else ya got there?” She shut the door after Elsa came inside and lead the way into the kitchen so she could pour the wine for them.
Elsa smiled dumbly at the kiss, then shook herself out of it. The last thing she needed was to rush things.
But she really did enjoy doting on someone, and Rapunzel was the fortunate recipient of that desire. "A painting. I know it's not as good as some of yours, but I was inspired."
Elsa knew she was better at the technical part of things, but she enjoyed art. And she'd wanted to capture her memory of one of their walks together, holding hands. "It's a gift."
Rapunzel’s eyes went wide when Elsa said it was a painting. Her expression was surprise and excitement to see what it looked like. “Hey, don’t go saying that. I’m sure it’s lovely, never compare yourself to others.” That was the best piece of advice she had gotten when she was younger and trying to figure out her own art. Everyone was different and comparing yourself to others just made life harder.
She set the wine bottle down before she took the painting from Elsa and opened it up.
It really was a sketchy painting of them, holding hands. The most detailed part of the scene was the park bench they were walking past. Elsa felt a little self-conscious, considering she was showing this to an actual artist. Even if they were kind of sort of dating.
What she didn't say was that her sketch book had been filled with Rapunzel lately, along with images from her dreams.
"I just thought of us."
It was beautiful. Rapunzel could feel the emotion behind the painting and she liked how it wasn’t completely polished either. It really represented a piece of Elsa and Rapunzel felt a little self conscious now that she was the holder of it. She stayed quiet as she studied the painting and got herself lost in it for a moment. She set it down at Elsa’s words and smiled.
“I love it. It’s beautiful,” Rapunzel said breathlessly as she wrapped her arms around Elsa, pulling her close, and pressing her lips against Elsa’s. She was going to have to find a frame for it later and hang it up somewhere special.
"I'm glad you like it." Elsa rested a hand on the small of Rapunzel's back, returning the kiss enthusiastically. She stepped back before she could skip dinner and go straight to dessert, and then she changed her mind and leaned back in to kiss Rapunzel again, just for good measure.
“Very much so,” Rapunzel grinned as they kissed a few more times, “Alright, so we’ve got wine and I’ve got breadsticks in the oven. Does shrimp scampi sound okay to you? I realized we hadn’t gone over any possible food allergies yet. If not, I’ve got other things I can make.” She had prepared and bought extras just in case. While she waited for Elsa’s reply she went and grabbed two wine glasses and her corkscrew so she could serve them.
"That's fine," Elsa replied, rubbing her hand into the small of Rapunzel's back before she pulled herself away. She figured sitting down would let herself behave.
If she was honest, she really enjoyed not behaving and that was a bit like whiplash for her.
"The only thing I'm allergic to is penicillin. And since I doubt you're feeding me antibiotics, we're probably good."
“Whaaaat? I’m not?” Rapunzel teased with a grin at the comment. She was happy that Elsa didn’t have any allergies, “I don’t have any either. Although my stomach gets upset if I eat too much dairy, but that doesn’t stop me.” She huffed out a laugh as she walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed all the ingredients.
She started throwing everything into the pan and pot as she started cooking, “So, welcome to my place. It’s pretty empty except for Pascal right now. I’ve been debating if I want another pet, but I’m really not sure yet.”
"There's no such thing as too much dairy," Elsa agreed. Just like there was no thing as too much chocolate.
There was such a thing as too much Lutefisk but she'd never introduce that to Rapunzel in a million years.
"Is Pascal from your dreams, or did you have him already? I've got a cat and the rats, you've already met. I'd love for Bruni to show his cute little head, or the Nokk."
“Agreed, but my stomach begs to differ sometimes,” Rapunzel chuckled as she tossed the noodles in the pot and then started cooking up the shrimp with lemon, garlic, and butter, “And Pascal is from my dreams. He was my only companion for a long time in the tower. Being a chameleon is great for playing hide and go seek.”
Pascal was also the sweetest little lizard she had ever seen and she couldn’t have asked for a better gift from her dreams. She would let Elsa play with him later if she wanted to, but might as well do it after dinner.
"I'll keep that in mind next time I treat you." Elsa wasn't about to try cooking for Rapunzel. She lived on take-out and restaurants; cooking only led to disaster.
"Maybe he and Bruni will get along, if I ever get him. He's a fire salamander. Literally. Fire and everything." Elsa grinned.
“Aw, you’re so sweet,” Rapunzel smiled at Elsa and then nodded, “Oh they would totally get along. That sounds absolutely adorable.” She let the food cook for a moment as she poured the wine for them and then brought the glass over to Elsa.
She leaned down to kiss her with a grin before deepening the kiss just a little bit before she pulled away, “Alright, dinner is almost ready.”
"Are we sure we can't skip to dessert?" Elsa asked, breathlessly. She grinned, flushing slightly when she realized she'd caused Rapunzel's breath to mist.
"We should probably eat," she decided, sighing dramatically. Besides, her favorite thing to do was listen to Rapunzel.
“Yes, I am very sure,” Rapunzel retorted with a laugh as she watched her breath mist into the air, smiling at the grin on Elsa’s face, “I worked hard on this meal and by hard I mean not really, but I really want to eat it.”
“Besides, I have a cool dream to tell you about,” Rapunzel teased as she stirred the food one more time before going to grab dishes and utensils. She dished everything up, bringing Elsa’s plate to her, and then moved to sit across from her at the table.
Elsa muttered something incredibly naughty under her breath, but behaved, sitting back in the chair and watching Rapunzel putter around with the food. The scene was so domestic that it gave her a heart squishy as she imagined hugging Rapunzel from behind while she cooked.
“Oh yes? I know you had a happily ever after. Or at least the beginnings of one.”
Oh how Rapunzel wanted to ask her what she was muttering, but she would save that for later. For now she was more curious about the dreams she had. At Elsa's comment she gave a nod, "yeah, being reunited with my actual parents, being a princess, and soon to marry a thief with a heart of gold. Pretty much a happily ever after, buuut, there was an interesting turn of events the other night."
She paused for dramatic effect as she took a sip of wine, "Eugene and I were sent to go to a little town, you might know, called Arendelle to attend a certain Queen's coronation." Her expression was amusement because she had no idea if Elsa even knew she was there because the two hadn't talked during it.
Elsa was a perfectly innocent angel, she swears.
Leaning forward, she listened intently as Rapunzel spoke, feeling a great deal of joy on her behalf. To have her parents again, her family, and love besides? Elsa wasn't jealous per say, though she did feel a little longing.
"Interesting turn of events?" Elsa's eyebrow rose as Rapunzel paused for dramatic effect. "Wait, what? Really?"
She racked her brain for that little information, trying to remember if they'd met or not. "Honestly there were so many dignitaries that I barely had a chance to talk to too many before, well." She gestured and a little bit of snow fell into Rapunzel's hair, "But I knew Corona. Of Corona. I was supposed to do this grand tour on a ship of friendly nations a few years after that, but that never happened."
Elsa couldn't help but grin and felt a little fanciful, "Maybe we'll meet for real after I return from the Enchanted Forest. If I return. Maybe I can steal you from Eugene."
Rapunzel’s head lifted up to look at the snow that was falling on her and she let out a chuckle, “Oh, I didn’t expect you to remember because it seemed like such a quick thing, but it was really great to watch you get crowned. I just can’t believe you dream of Arendelle and then I went there in my dreams!”
“And I hope we do get to meet for real in the dreams and of course you would want to steal me from Eugene,” Rapunzel let out a laugh and reached over to grab her hand, “Think we’d fall for each other in our dreams? It would definitely be a surprising turn of events if a princess and a queen from different countries got together.”
That they shared a dreamworld was a little surprising, even if Elsa could recall seeing Corona on maps. She'd just never really made the connection before, and Rapunzel's dream did confirm it was the same Corona.
"It would be surprising, though mostly because as far as I've dreamed I've rejected every man who's so much as looked at me. I don't think I was quite ready to consider a relationship in my dreams, and I also think I'd rather be looking for a wife than a husband." Elsa smiled, blushing slightly, "The two best blacksmiths in Arendelle are both women. And each other's wife. So it's not unheard of."
She leaned forward, "Besides, it would be a great way to strengthen the ties between our countries."
“Well, at least you’re figuring that out. I think we’d have to change the timeline of my life though because I don’t think dream me would be ready for a relationship with another woman. She’s been sheltered for so long that she doesn’t even know that’s a possibility. And honestly. Eugene is a really great person, but sometimes the only person she’s ever met and fell in love with so far,” Rapunzel was a little more cautious about that relationship since the dream version of herself had no clue about the world just yet. She was still learning.
“I like that your country is progressive. I don’t know enough about Corona yet, but I’m sure they would probably have the same views,” she didn’t think anything would happen in their dreams to make them be together, but she was happy to have Elsa to herself in this world, “Well, we can definitely strengthen those ties here in this world.”
They'd have to figure out the heir thing, but at least for Arendelle Anna and Kristoff were very likely to stay together. Corona might have other problems, but it didn't really matter, did it?
"I guess you'll find out, unless your dreams are done with you," Elsa replied. Unsure how she'd react if Rapunzel's boyfriend showed up one day, Elsa tried to put it out of her mind. Instead, she reached over and took Rapunzel's hand, wanting the contact, suddenly. "Are you suggesting diplomatic relations?"
“I’m not sure,” Rapunzel answered honestly. It felt like things could keep going especially if she got to see how she adapted to being a princess, but she wasn’t sure. She really doubted anyone from her dreams, especially Euguene, would show up in real life. She was far more concentrated on Elsa and grinned when Elsa grabbed her hand, “I mean, we’re already working on that, so may as well keep at it.”
“It would be so surprising to see two women together ruling a kingdom. But I do have to say that I’m happy I don’t have to worry about ruling a kingdom around here,” Rapunzel chuckled as she flipped Elsa’s hand over and let her finger draw absentminded patterns on it, “I’m more than content to just be a normal person and be with you.”
Elsa liked the idea of keeping at it. Of working on this thing between the two of them that felt like it was growing stronger even when they were apart. Because Elsa did frequently think of Rapunzel and she hoped that was a good thing.
"I can't say that I miss most of my Queenly duties," she admitted. "I was very overworked and that was all my fault. I think I felt guilty for the eternal winter thing."
“Yeah, if I had been there I would have told you not to blame yourself for any of it,” Rapunzel didn’t comment on the fact that she thought Elsa had taken it a bit too far after what happened with her sister and locking herself away. She knew it wouldn’t do any good because it had happened and the past couldn’t be changed, especially in a dream.
“So, what do you think of dinner?” Rapunzel asked as she grabbed her wine and took another sip before grabbing her fork to eat a few more bites. She thought it turned out pretty well and she was also trying to not shove all the breadsticks in her face.
Elsa would be the first to agree that she'd taken the isolation too far. But the trolls and her father had scared her, on top of hurting her sister. It had felt like the only thing she could do and her father's actions only reinforced that.
Though that was where the complicated feelings came from.
If she'd been able to focus on positive emotions instead of negative, maybe all would have been well.
She looked down at her plate, which she'd finished about half, then back up at Rapunzel. This beaming ball of sunshine and warmth that made her feel ... well, a lot of things.
"It was amazing," Elsa said, before she tilted her head. Teasingly, she added, "Even if you didn't really leave any breadsticks for me."
Sometimes parents did the wrong thing and their selfish decisions made the repercussions on the children a lot worse, but children can’t say anything because they didn’t know better. Rapunzel wanted nothing more than to soothe that younger Elsa.
“Oh my god,” Rapunzel’s jaw dropped in protest and then she grinned, “I mean if you really want to taste garlic you’re more than welcome to come over here and make out with me.” She playfully pulled the last breadstick over towards her with a grin on her face. The idea of doing it like lady and tramp crossed her mind but a mouthful of bread was not going to be attractive.
Elsa laughed, a deep belly laugh that made her grab her stomach before she could double over. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I love garlic and I love kissing you but I think we'll want some mints first."
That wasn't high on the list of foods she would eat off of Rapunzel's skin. Sushi or chocolate on the other hand…
Rapunzel did have a bottle of chocolate syrup in her fridge if Elsa brought it up. However, she just watched Elsa laugh with a happy smile. It was so rare to see Elsa laugh like this and was absolutely thrilled by it. “I love when you laugh like that,” Rapunzel blurted out with a grin, “And I’ll make sure to grab us some mints once we’re done.” That only made her want to eat faster before pushing the breadstick back over to Elsa for her to enjoy.
"Thank you," Elsa said, politely taking one of the breadsticks. She pretended to nibble at it like they were at a state dinner, eyes glimmering with mischief.
Rapunzel laughed and pushed away her food, "okay, time to go find some mints and take this to my room. We can leave the plates here and I will clean them later." She got up out of her chair and went around the table to grab Elsa's hand. She gave her a chaste kiss before pulling her along to her bedroom, stopping to grab some mints, and popped a couple in her mouth before handing a couple over to Elsa. That was taken care of and now it was time to have some fun.