Blue's Doubts

**[Scene: The practice yard after drills. The sun has dipped low, casting long shadows across the gravel. Blue Sylvanranth and Katherine Kendal sit on overturned training barrels, sipping tepid water and catching their breath. A barking voice fades in the distance, still yelling at someone about their shield stance.]**
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**Blue (casually, bouncing her heel):** So, Marvelous once convinced a whole tavern that she was the crown princess of a lost jungle kingdom. Wore a tablecloth like a cape and everything. By the end of the night, she had three marriage proposals, one duel, and a goat.
**Katherine (smiling):** I believe it. She told me I needed more “sparkle” and tried to convince me to bejewel my scabbard.
**Blue (laughs, then sighs):** She was always like that. Loud. Gorgeous. Half wild, half magic trick. And for a second—when we reconnected—I thought maybe I’d finally get to *be* hers again. Like… I’d been waiting my whole life for her to come back and mean it.
**Katherine:** But she left again.
**Blue (nods, fidgeting):** Yeah. The note said I had a bigger world now. That I’d outgrown her. Which is just the kind of nonsense someone says when they’re already halfway out the window. (pause) And now I’ve got *Theron Sylvanranth* calling me daughter. Do you know how *intense* that is? He looks at you like he's already seen how you'll disappoint him, and he's *fine with it*, but still watching anyway.
**Katherine (thoughtfully):** He has been kind. Just… distant.
**Blue (defensive, too fast):** No, no—he’s been *great*! I mean, totally formal, eerily calm, scary-smart, and probably plotting twelve things while we talk—but *great*. I just… I keep thinking I need to *deserve* him, y’know? Like, not screw up. Smile more. Talk less. Pretend I know what half those council words even mean.
**Katherine:** That sounds exhausting.
**Blue (voice wavers):** It is. It *really* is. (pause) And then there’s Sorek. Gods, Kat—he’s the best thing that’s happened to me. He growls and swears and throws boots at my head, but he *sees* me. He doesn’t care who my parents are. He calls me “kid” and means it like a badge.
**Katherine (nods):** He once told me I was about as subtle as a trebuchet. I think that was affection.
**Blue (smiling):** He makes me feel like I’m not failing every second I’m not dancing or smiling. Like I don’t have to be… *performing*.
**Katherine:** Then stop performing. Be the you that bleeds and bruises and still gets up. That’s the one who’s real.
**Blue (quietly):** I’m scared the real me isn’t enough. Not for him. Not for anyone.
**Katherine:** Then we keep walking. Shoulder to shoulder. Until you believe it.
**Blue (shaky breath, then grinning again):** Ugh, now you’re being wise and inspiring. Who even *are* you, Kendal? Should I be writing this down?
**Katherine (dry):** Please don’t. I’d rather die than be quoted by some bard.
**Blue (laughs, this time real):** Deal.