I am greeted by the sight of a lavishly furnished sitting room, and a very stiff looking Rafferty. Hands clasped behind his back, he immediately stood upon my arrival, a serious expression on his face. He looked cute in his crisp green suit, much better compared to my first impression of him. Then again people usually tend to look better when snot isn't pouring down their face. "Hello your highness," I greet politely. Grabbing a fistful of my dress I attempt to bow gracefully. "I am very happy to see you again." Bam! Take that Serenity! I can act like a proper lady if I wanted!

Rafferty's expression faltered for a second before steeling itself again in a mask that was far too serious for a five year old. "I am pleased to see you as well Kalliope. Please," He gestured to the cushy chair opposite from him. "Take a seat. I have prepared some tea and pastries to enjoy while we talk." Well aren't you the little gentleman, I think amusedly while I walk over and settle myself in the chair. It took a bit to arrange my dress so I could sit comfortably due to the sheer mass of layers in it.

Once I was sitting Rafferty lowered himself into his own chair opposite of me. Between us was a fancy looking table full of even fancier goodies. The silver platter held egg and cucumber finger sandwiches, a tiered server was filled with scones, raspberry cream cupcakes, and citrus tartlets, jars of honey, clotted cream, and jam were placed strategically near delicate silverware and in the center of it all was an elaborately crafted tea set.

Holy macaroni, this kid has taste! I gap at the exquisitely made items in front of me. Even to my untrained eye I could tell that all the dish ware here was expensive. Probably even more than this stupid dress if that were possible. Just then my stomach grumbled, reminding me that I haven't had anything to eat yet. Reaching forward I eagerly grab an egg sandwich and begin to wolf it down. One thing I have to admit about my new life- the food's great. The helpings are WAAAYY too small though.

Swallowing, I go to grab another one but freeze when I notice Rafferty's eyes on me. Oops. Shoveling food into your mouth isn't very ladylike is it? I sit back up and place my hands in my lap, trying to ignore the gnawing in my stomach. "Sorry, I haven't eaten today." Rafferty blinked before shaking his head frantically. "N-no it's fine!" He said loudly. "Please, eat! Don't let me stop you. Uh- here!" He picked up the tea pot, struggling slightly under it's weight. "Let me pour you some tea!"

Urgh. Tea. I'm tempted to say no but he was staring at me with such childlike enthusiasm I begrudgingly lift my cup towards him. Arms trembling, he carefully poured a stream of hot liquid into my teacup, his lips pursed together in concentration. I eye the steaming substance distastefully. I've never liked tea. Not in my last life and probably not in this one. I doubt I ever will.

Lifting the cup to my mouth I take a sip. Yep. Still tastes like weak leaf juice and hot water. Ew. Grimacing, I fight the urge to spit it back out and instead force myself to swallow. "How is it?" He asked imploringly. Plastering a smile on my face I manage to reply in a somewhat convincing manner, "Yeah. . . Yeah it's fine. Thanks." Another sip of that god awful drink. Bleh. I suppress a shudder.

Rafferty's face relaxed into one of relief. "It's white tea. Did you know that white tea is tea made from new growth buds and young leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis? Oh! Oh! And," he starts to ramble on about his knowledge on white tea while I pretend to listen. He's way too mature for a five year old. It's actually edging away from impressive too kinda freaky on how much. Smiling like I was paying attention, I add four cubes of sugar to my tea and stir in some honey for good measure before taking a sip to test it. Still gross, but at least it's sweet enough to mostly mask the taste.

Placing down the cup, I pick up a dessert plate, stopping momentarily to admire the blue rosemaling patterns on the white ceramic. When that moment passed I start loading it up with food, the grumbling in my stomach becoming louder. "White tea therefore retains the high concentrations of catechins which are present-" Rafferty stopped abruptly and coughed into his fist. "S-sorry. . . You don't want to know tea stuff. But I um. . . I wanted to see you again. I couldn't find you the gardens. . ." He looked down at his lap, possibly embarrassed.

He's been looking in the gardens for me? I pause mid bite on my cupcake to stare at him. Huh. Well, I guess it's natural to want to know your family. And this is what I wanted I think absentmindedly, chomping on the last of the cupcake. Ok. Time to strategize on how to befriend him so I don't end up punished in the potential future downfall. Gotta do this carefully. "I wasn't allowed out," I explain. "They've been keeping me in the nursery since they found out I escaped last time."

"Oh. So that's why you weren't in the gardens?" I nod, slathering a scone in clotted cream. "When they saw me without the dress on they freaked out." It was true. When I returned wearing just the undergarments that day one of them even fainted. "Indecency!" They cried, like it was the end of the world. It was not decent for a girl to be running around in her undergarments. Ever since then they've practically been stitching me into the dresses, afraid I'd take it off again. Not that their fear wasn't unwarranted- I would take them off if I could.

The undergarments were much easier to move in, and they covered everything. I'd rather just wear those. Sometimes I really hate being reincarnated into a world where women had to wear dresses 24/7. Just thinking about it pisses me off. Wolfing down the scone I try to push the thought from my mind. No use getting mad over it now. "Ah- yeah. You- uh. You weren't wearing a dress last time," He murmured awkwardly. "Why not? Your not supposed to not wear them."

"Just because I'm supposed to doesn't mean I want," I reply grumpily, shoving a cucumber sandwich into my mouth. "Their itchy and hot and tight and hard to walk in. I hate them." "But you have to wear them. All girls have to wear them don't they?" I roll my eyes. "Well if you think dresses are so great let's see you wear one for a day. Then you'll see that they suck." Oh crap. That was pretty rude. Maybe I shouldn't have been snide with him.

Thankfully he didn't seem offended, just confused. Confused was better than mad, so I'll take it. "Boys can't wear dresses," Rafferty stated, tilting his head. "Yes they can. Girls can wear pants so boys can wear dresses." He seemed to consider my words. "I guess so. . ." He shook his head. "Kalliope?" "Kal. I told you to call me Kal remember?" "Kal," he corrected.
"May. . . May I come play with you sometimes?" Ok, so far so good. He must like me enough if he wants to play with me. But then again it took him a month to actually bother to ask for me. Sure he said he was looking for me in the gardens but being the prince he could've just asked for me a lot sooner.

I peer at him from over my tart, scrutinizing his face. It looks earnest. A bit desperate even. Yeesh, just how hard up is this kid for friends? "Do you really mean that your highness?" "Of course!!" He cried, frantically nodding his head. "I wanna play with you! I want to! I do!" "But your highness said that last time," I muse absentmindedly, chewing the tart. "And you didn't come see me for a month."

"B-but I looked for you in the gardens! I waited for you in them be-because I didn't know where else to find you! And I had to study and-and-" His voice hitched and his eyes began to water. He quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve, but his voice still trembled when he spoke. "I-I didn't think to ask for you until I heard some maids talking about you, and uhg-I-I'm sorry," Oh crap, I sit up immediately, alarmed. Rafferty started hiccuping and gasping for breath, tears streaking down his face.

Aw man, I took it too far. I made him cry again. Crap, uh crap crap, what do I do? "H-hey," I stand and walk over to his side, extending my hand to pat his back. "I'm sorry ok, I believe you. Stop-stop crying kid, I'm sorry." Uhh ok what's soothing, uhhhh. . . Tea! Tea's supposed to be soothing right? Reaching forward, I grab the cup and hold it up to him. "Here, drink this," Hiccuping, Rafferty shakily took the cup and gulped it down before taking a deep breath.

"You feel better now?" He sniffled and wiped his face with his sleeve again before nodding. "D-does tha-that mean you'll pla-play with me?" He stammered, watching me with wet eyes. If it means you stop crying than YES. "Yes yes!! Of course!" I reply, nodding my head quickly. He smiled, his whole face brightening. Phew. Thank god that stopped before he escalated. Turns out tea parties weren't wastes of time after all. Guess this means I'll be seeing more of Rafferty then. I smile wirily. Looks like I'll have to start brainwashing him to like me.

A few days later I heard from the gossiping of maids that Rafferty, the crown prince of the country, had been spotted wearing a dress while he attended his studies. . . Oops. . . Did I do that?