A Sudden Proposal
Butler: Pardon us, madam.
Rena: Thank you for visiting our store! New customers are always welcome.
Noble: BY ALL THAT IS HOLY!
Butler: We were hoping that madam might be able to repair this lance. Yes, quite.
Rena: Well, let me take a look.
Noble: Such a beauty... Young lady!
Rena: Yes?
Noble: Pray give me your hand in marriage!
Rena: Okay, so that's one lance repair and one marriage proposal. Got it. ...Wait, run that by me again?
Renee: I'm baaaaack! Hey, so who was the fancy guy with Jeeves the butler back there? Some kind of rich weapon nut?
Rena: *sigh*
Renee: You okay, Sis?
Rena: That man just...proposed to me.
Renee: WHAAAT?!
Soon, word that a wealthy noble had asked Rena to marry him spread throughout the castle. The noble returned to the store day after day seeking Rena's answer...
Noble: ...Sweet Rena! Please do me the honor of becoming my wife!
Rena: My apologies, sir, but without me here, our smithy would have no one to run it. I am afraid my answer must be no.
Noble: ...Darling Rena! Your constant rejections are like daggers through my broken heart! Please change your mind! Pleeeeease!
Rena: What's that? You have a broken dagger? Well, we can fix that right up!
Noble: ...Beloved Rena! I climbed the highest mountain in the land and fought twenty dragons to claim the rare jewel that rests in this engagement ring! Please say yes!
Rena: Oooo, sorry. I really like these gloves, see, and there's no way I can fit a ring over them. Such a shame. Toodles!
Ramona: I'm startin' to think we're gonna have to tattoo Rena's rejection on that joker's face so he finally gets it.
Renee: Aw, I think it's kinda sweet. I mean, he's not creepy or anything—he's just in love. ...Plus, he's super rich, which never huuuurts! But Rena seems pretty convinced this isn't the guy for her.
Ramona: Yeah, maybe he's just not her type. Or...I dunno. Maybe there's somethin' else goin' on here.
Several days later...
Noble: Why, Rena?! Why will you not marry me?! With every rejection, my heart shrivels more—soon it will be naught but a blackened, empty husk!
Rena: Umm...
Noble: Is there something you dislike about me? It will be changed! ...Wait, is it my hair? Do you not like my hair? Consider it gone! ...Jeeves, come shave my head at once!
Rena: Look, this has nothing to do with you. I mean, not SPECIFICALLY you, anyway. It's just that... Well, I have a responsibility to look after my sisters.
Renee: Wait, so WE'RE the reason you won't get hitched to Captain Richypants?!
Ramona: Way to blow our hiding spot, idiot!
Rena: Oh, dear. Were you two eavesdropping?
Renee: Our underhanded sneakiness is SO not the issue at the moment! You can't get married because you think you need to look after us—no, to look after me?
Ramona: Easy, Renee!
Rena: No, I didn't mean...
Renee: I can't believe I was getting in the way of your happiness... I don't wanna be some...some big fat BURDEN for you! Hmph. Seriously...
Ramona: Found her!
Rena: Renee, you mustn't just run off like that. You had me really worried!
Renee: YOU'RE NOT OUR MOM! If you ever fall in love with somebody, Ramona and me are gonna be fine! So if you're into Mr. Moneybags, don't let us hold you back!
Rena: I'm sorry, Renee. I didn't mean for what I said to come out like it did. But I'm still not going to marry him.
Renee: But...money bags.
Rena: I actually do dream of getting married.
Ramona: Wait, really? ...Huh. I figured love didn't hold much interest for ya.
Rena: Hee hee! Of course it does, Ramona! I think everyone dreams of love in one form or another. For me, what I want is to have a big, loving family like Mom and Dad did.
Renee: Soooo...Richy McRichpants isn't that guy?
Rena: I have a plan for my romantic future, Renee. I know what I'm doing— and right now, that plan involves staying right where I am.
Renee: Is that 'cause I'm holding you back?
Rena: It's because I want to see you SUCCEED. You and Ramona both have oodles of talent—and I want to support that in whatever form it takes. I just want the two of you to be happy. That's my honest goal.
Ramona: So ya ain't turnin' that guy down because of us?
Rena: No, Ramona. I'm just not ready to get married right now. Mom and Dad wanted us to be happy above all else, and that's a desire I share. So what I want—what I TRULY want— is to stick around and help the two of you find that happiness. I'm not pretending to be Mom. I just have a plan—an order to things. I wouldn't be truly happy if I pursued my own desires while yours were unfulfilled. Once you two are happy, I'll be happy— in fact, I'll be TRIPLE happy!
Ramona: Huh. I guess that makes sense.
Renee: Yaaaay! It's not my faaaaault! In that case, I'm gonna hurry up and become the best blacksmith ever so we can all be happy! Then you can find some other rich guy and I can come to your house and swim around in a huge pool of gold coins!
Ramona: Glad ya have a plan all figured out, Sis. I ain't sure what form my happiness is gonna take, but I know I'll find it someday. So if ya wanna wait for that to happen, Rena, I'll try to make it worthwhile.
Rena: *sniff* You guys are the best. There's no romance in the world that could give me what the two of you do. We've given our all to get here, and we ALL deserve true happiness!
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