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[gottagetmeoneofthese]

runningracingdancingchasing​:

gottagetmeoneofthese​:

Oh no! His antics were both comical and pitiable, and Rapunzel found herself laughing softly as she followed him over. “Come on, silly, you’re not going to get any warmer like that. If we start walking, that’ll help warm us up, and when we get back to the castle, we can take a nice hot bath. Or…” She frowned very slightly. “Separate baths, I guess.”

She didn’t like that part. She’d spent her life bathing around Gothel, and had no concept that it wasn’t done to bath around people you cared about (and yet let strangers attend to you, standing by to scrub or comb or dry or fetch).

If he were embellishing his reactions to the cold a little, he decided he couldn’t really be blamed with her reaction. That being said, it was really cold. He huddled in close to her when she got near him, once more vampiring her body heat from her.

He could feel his cheeks turn about fifty shades of warm at the idea of a shared bath. It was a nice image, of course, but alas one that could not be done until later. “A co-ed bath sounds very lovely, but unfortunately, those times are for another day.” He’d say yes in a heart beat if it didn’t mean her father inevitably finding out and possibly rendering it impossible for him to assist in the creation of future heirs.

“We don’t have to go back right now if you aren’t ready. The Snuggly Ducking always has a fire going.”

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

runningracingdancingchasing​:

gottagetmeoneofthese​:

“Jinx?” she echoed. He knew about so many things that she’d never heard about! At the same time, it made her feel excitedly curious and also somewhat ashamed for not knowing. Perhaps her mother was right, that she didn’t know enough to take care of herself.

At his question, her cheeks warmed a bit, and she knew she needed to be vague about this. “Oh, you know… just that… people are dangerous. Bandits and ruffians and thugs and… you know, stuff like that!” She’d been told about violence and kidnappings and worse, though her mother hadn’t gone into detail about worse. She just warned her that all people in the world would hurt her and use her for her hair if they knew about it.

“Ah, something that brings bad luck.” He felt his cheeks warm even more. He knew it was silly to do in the first place, but having to explain it made it seem even more so. “Superstitions aren’t exactly about...real things. It’s usually a way for people to blame bad stuff happening on something that very likely isn’t even related. But sometimes it can be done to just...make you feel better. Like knocking on wood.”

Ah, it made sense. Maybe. “There are some questionable characters out there. But I’ve found it’s more people can be dangerous, rather than people are.” He decided it wouldn’t hurt anything if he kept his eyes on her while they walked. It was probably better, even. He could be warned ahead of time of any larger obstacles before his stick hit them. “I mean, everyone I’ve run into since starting this little...adventure of mine has been nice so far.” He blinked. “Granted, you’re the only person I’ve met so far.”

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

runningracingdancingchasing​:

Her hand nearly jumped at his touch, but it was gone as soon as it had been there. She found herself wishing it was still there. Her throat felt dry, and she swallowed to relieve that, smiling weakly and lifting her eyes to meet his once more. “As you say, my lord,” she answered. She did not feel much better, but at least he had not been offended. Even so, it did not change how quickly and easily she forgot those of lower class in her assumtions.

“Have you had a chance to look much at the books in your father’s library?” she wondered.

He’d made it awkward, hadn’t he. He could tell she still felt bad about her slip, one that he honestly hadn’t even thought to take offense to until she’d mentioned it. Hell, he’d done the same sort of thing but in reverse.

Eugene eagerly latched on to the new topic. “I have. Usually, if I’m supposed to be doing something, I can either be found hiding there or the Duchess’ garden. Preferably the latter with a book. People usually don’t go there for some reason.” 

He looked around the room they were in. “What about you?”

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

newdreaming​:

She heard the smile in his voice before she saw it. The tenderness and ease with which he spoke to her, about her, for her — it rushed over her like a summers breeze. It felt like belonging.

His comforting voice and suggestions washed over her and secured her decision — they were going to have a night to themselves and just get away. It sounded so wonderful in her heart and in her head that she actually sighed with relief out loud, and smiled over at him.

“Oh, Eugene, you don’t have to do that — I’ll explain the truth to Mom sometime tomorrow, she’ll understand. She…just knows sometimes, you know?” Wow, it felt really good to say that about her mother, her real mother, as she never had before. And it was so nice to be able to go to her parents and trust they would do what was best for her, even if the kingdom may have other opinions on where she should be and who she should be with. She and Eugene had proven, this summer, that they were stronger together. Rather than apart, and that Rapunzel could take care of herself. And that she could be trusted to know her own limits and when to push herself, or when to step back.

Well, hopefully they’d proven that. She wasn’t so sure, sometimes. Some days she worried she was going to be kicked out of this life, this beautiful dream she’d been able to experience. The place where she was meant to be — sometimes it all felt so fragile. She was glad Eugene could understand and sympathize, and once again, she felt so incredibly blessed to have him in her life.

“Shall we take the secret tunnel? I can pack a bag really quick- were probably going to need a blanket or two. Or three. Wait, how long are we going to be out again? Forever? For forever we might need three blankets.” She was joking a bit now, her mood considerably better than it had been moments ago. “And some snacks, that might be a good idea too! I can ask Pascal to snag something from the party for us, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind and would help cover for us, too.”

His eyebrows raised and he perked up a little at that. “That’s right, you have family that’s actually helpful with things.” Eugene nodded. “It sounds like a better plan than mine. Too many of those and they might question their decision to let me stay.” Not that he worried about that, of course, every night.

He helped her pack. Or rather, he picked up some things that looked like they might belong on a trip. A book, some bits of charcoal. A bag. He wasn’t quite sure how to pack for a pleasure trip just yet. As it was old habits died hard and he had an extra set of clothes of hers rolled up and ready to go before he could think otherwise.

“The secret tunnel might be our best bet, unless you want to just hide out on the roof.” Probably not, so he started thinking of other places they could go. “We could go back to that clearing. Or a meadow. Or even the Snuggly Duckling if you wanna risk being found.” He snorted softly. “Maybe half a forever? But probably best to round it up to two blankets.” Eugene was happy that ‘forever’ was something she casually considered with him. He paused and looked at her a moment before his eyes drifted as the image skirted about in his mind. “I would pay to see a tray of food just walking out of the party cause a ruckus. But it’s probably safer for him to grab something from the kitchens if they aren’t all out yet.”

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

streetwisetemptress​:

@gottagetmeoneofthese Continued from here

‘Punched a what?’ She was baffled by such a ridiculous accusation. “You’ve got the wrong person! I would never do that! And for your information, I’m not heartless like some people I know!” Her body was shaking out of anger and eyes narrowed towards the man.

Growling as he walked away, her eyes shifted towards the suspicious horse as she stepped back, alerting those around them.

How the hell was she going to get out of this?

Crossing her arms over chest in frustration, the accuser returned fill her in on the new information. Ready to object, there wasn’t an opportunity when the man and his loyal steed were seen bickering. What was this childish nonsense? This didn’t help her anger and frustrations at all. She wanted to leave again… The gears in her brain thinking of the perfect escape plan. And as soon as an idea was thought out, they were in her peripheral vision once again. This was going to be filled with more lies. “Why would I promise something that I’ve never committed?” She scoffed, her fists clenching under her arms. “I don’t even know how to cook!”

“Some people?” His hand went to his heart. “I’m hurt. It usually takes people at least half an hour to decide if they hate me.” The horse whinied. “It took you five minutes? Well, I’m your best friend now, so what does that say about your judgement.”

He looked up at her when she said she didn’t know how to cook. Flipping his little notebook closed, he leaned toward Max. “I mean, it’s believable. Cooking’s hard.”

Max snorted again.

Eugene leaned back and gave the horse a look. “If we arrest her, and she’s innocent, you’re the one that gets to tell Rapunzel.”

The horse kept his glare for all of five seconds before harrumphing a sigh and rolling his eyes. Then he went to the corner, plopped his butt on the ground, and sulked. 

He turned back to Esmerelda. “Sorry, he’s used to the old ‘arrest now, ask questions never’ regime and I still don’t know what I’m doing.” He pursed his lips and bounced on his heels a bit. “So. Visiting long?”

@gottagetmeoneofthese Continued from here

‘Punched a what?’ She was baffled by such a ridiculous accusation. “You’ve got the wrong person! I would never do that! And for your information, I’m not heartless like some people I know!” Her body was shaking out of anger and eyes narrowed towards the man.

Growling as he walked away, her eyes shifted towards the suspicious horse as she stepped back, alerting those around them.

How the hell was she going to get out of this?

Crossing her arms over chest in frustration, the accuser returned fill her in on the new information. Ready to object, there wasn’t an opportunity when the man and his loyal steed were seen bickering. What was this childish nonsense? This didn’t help her anger and frustrations at all. She wanted to leave again… The gears in her brain thinking of the perfect escape plan. And as soon as an idea was thought out, they were in her peripheral vision once again. This was going to be filled with more lies. “Why would I promise something that I’ve never committed?” She scoffed, her fists clenching under her arms. “I don’t even know how to cook!”

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

thcsevoices​:

Varian almost wished he could capture this moment, it would make for great blackmail material if he ever needed it in the future. Unfortunately, the chain wouldn’t hold out forever, and he didn’t want to waste any time trying to track down the portrait painter.

“Uh. No? I mean, I’ve been working on a cushion that’s filled with air instead of feathers, for camping and stuff, but it hasn’t been tested yet, and the self-inflate mechanism still has some bugs to work out.” Something told him Eugene wouldn’t be too enthusiastic about being his test subject in these circumstances. “Do you want me to just go find Max? Or Rapunzel?”

Eugene looked all around him as Varian spoke, each possibility more improbable than the last. This was what he got. He should just stay on the ground. He should just--

He broke off his train of thought to give Varian a look. “And give him yet another reason to laugh at me?” They were currently tied in their eternal game of ‘who can fail the hardest’ and he wasn’t about to break the tie. And what was the point of recovering something of Rapunzel’s if she had to recover him, anyway?

He looked up at the chandelier this time, then his eyes followed the chain that was secured to the wall. “I don’t suppose going that route would be a good idea.” Figuring Varian could agree with his genius as he climbs, he started to pull himself up.

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

droppingdonkeys​:

“Mirabel’s situation is what makes her the most special. She can do whatever she wants.” It’s said before she even realizes it.

Estúpida Luisa, pouring her mind wanderings out to a (still relative) stranger. She resisted the urge to bash her head against the barn’s rafters, for it’d likely fall apart if she did go through with that.

“Lo siento, I’m rambling.” She wished for a second Isabela or Mirabel had found him, they’d know the right things to say. They were so much better at talking. Luisa wasn’t. She was good for doing things, like lifting and moving and- Now her mind was rambling, too. She forced herself to smile, a practised smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m fine. It’s fine.” A very Madrigal answer. The family was very good at pretending they were fine after all. “Today’s expected to be pretty warm. If you stay inside ‘till noon, the Encanto ought to be inside, napping.”

He blinked at her. There was obviously a lot going on here. He wondered just how much free time Luisa got. Was she wasting it on him, or was he an excuse to get a few minutes to herself?

He tried to picture the eager little girl that was here a few minutes ago. “Is she able to help? Seems like that’s what she wants.” He figured, with a family as great as hers, helping them would be her biggest wish.

“Of course. You’re the spitting image of fine. You realize I have absolutely no stake in whether or not your family is picture perfect, right?”

His eyebrows rose and he got a little excited. “Ohhh, the siesta! It was my favorite part of Spain.” He felt an annoying urge to defend himself. “Which I napped through!” Oh, right. Friends and honesty blah blah. “...Sometimes!”

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

waitlifted​:

“I know.” It was a quiet admission. There were a million better ways she could have handled it, that much was apparent; the obvious being just talk to her. She was tired of Rapunzel crossing boundaries, yes, but she could have been much better at communicating those boundaries, too.

“Honestly, I’m just lucky she’s letting me go now, instead of locking me up for the rest of time.” There was a short, ironic laugh that didn’t meet her eyes. “It’s… funny, I guess, in a way. If anyone else had done it I never would’ve forgiven them. And here I am, asking for forgiveness I don’t deserve.”

Cassandra wasn’t sure what she expected to get out of this conversation. They had been adversarial from day one, sure, but she thought they were growing past that on the road. And maybe part of her hoped that, as an ex-con himself, he’d have some sort of understanding of the process of making amends, maybe even some tips. But that was foolish, wasn’t it? To spend nearly a year making his life a living hell, and then expect help and sympathy from it?

Her throat felt very tight suddenly, and she stood up again, turning towards the door. “So, that’s it. I’m apologizing. You don’t have to accept it, but I wanted to at least get it out there before I go.” And then he’d never have to see her again if he didn’t want to.

He sighed and shook his head. Of course she knew. He’d known, too, when he’d had his own bout of betrayal. Despite still being annoyed at himself for that he was glad he’d come out of that bout of stupidity rather quickly.

“She spent the first eighteen years of her life locked away. She wouldn’t wish that on anyone.” He studied her for a moment. “If our roles were reversed, would you forgive me?”

He watched her face the door. He *wanted* to want to stop her, missed even the general annoyance laced with something like jealousy he’d felt for her in the beginning. Instead, all he felt was a burning resentment. And maybe it was because Rapunzel wouldn’t be able to stay angry that he felt he should. “Thanks. But I’m not sure I can.” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Though if she wants you at the wedding, I won’t fight her on it.” He could offer her that much, at least.

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

"I still like Eugene Fitzherbert much better than Flynn Rider, and that includes how attractive you are."

"And I think that test is very blind. You're a 97.6 (repeating) at least."

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

tested positive for being touch starved

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

How Attractive are you from 1-100?

Well, then. He already figured this quiz was blind with the Rapunzel rankings. The Flynn Rider score stings a bit though.

Stolen from: @runningracingdancingchasing​

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

waitlifted​:

She looked at him almost in surprise as he asked what she took. She knew Rapunzel hadn’t noticed, but he hadn’t, either? Had nobody realized what was happening to her, this whole time? Fresh pain threatened to swell up at that thought, but to her credit, she managed to keep the anger out of her voice.

“Eugene, when she came to the kingdom, my life was over. They told her to pick a lady in waiting, she pointed at me, and that was it. Nobody asked me if I wanted it. All that time practicing, training for the life I could’ve had, all for nothing.” And what was she supposed to do? Abandon her duties to the royal family? Either way, she’d never become captain like she had dreamed.

Not that she’d get to now, either. Not after what she did.

“Look, I’m not saying I was right. But you wanted to know the reason, so… there it is. I know it doesn’t justify it, but nothing I could say would justify it.” Her right hand twitched, the healing of the sundrop not preventing the lingering phantom pains she still felt from time to time. “So… now you know, I guess.”

He knew she’d been unhappy about it in the beginning, had even mentioned it might be a possibility to Rapunzel. But after that Princess Battle he thought she’d chosen to stay. 

“It doesn’t. And I can’t say that ‘knowing’ makes it make any more sense.” He snorted softly. “You know, you’re gonna laugh, there was a time where I suspected that part of your animosity toward me was because...well, clearly I was wrong.”

He patted his hands on his knees, suddenly finding them very interesting. “Not to make you feel worse, but...” Okay, it was kind of to make her feel worse. “She... probably would have let you go. If she realized you were being serious and not just angry about something. She almost did that one time.” He shrugged. “She might have even told her father it was her decision, not yours, and advocated for a different position. Because you are her best friend that isn’t me or the frog.”

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

waitlifted​:

She gave a slight, self-deprecating smile at his remark. “Something I’ll have to work on.” It was hard for her, to bare her heart so openly, be honest with people and with herself… but as Rapunzel said, just because it was difficult didn’t mean she shouldn’t try.

She still felt a little hesitant to intrude, but at his invitation, Cassandra took a seat, drumming her fingers against the side of the chair as she weighed how to explain it. Her mind had been so clouded at the time, she almost wasn’t sure she could, not in a way that made sense.

“Well… I was mad. Mad that I was her servant, mad that she never listened to me, mad about the entire world passing me over without a second glance while she got to be the girl who had everything. So, when she was going to take the moonstone for herself, just like she took everything… I snapped.” Her left hand had curled into a trembling fist. Even now, the frustration, the pain was still fresh and raw. “Of course, if I knew it was Zhan Tiri pushing me to do that… But I can’t go back and change it.” At least not that she knew of, though with all of the magic they’d seen it wasn’t out of the question.

There were several times Eugene wanted to interrupt, indignation on Rapunzel’s behalf making him want to correct her, but he was very proud of himself when he didn’t. While he felt it was nearly impossible to lie convincingly to Rapunzel, he was pretty sure he didn’t have that problem with Cassandra, at least not as far as facial expressions went. He arched an eyebrow from time to time but that was about it.

Of all the questions and points he had, he focused on the important one. “What has she taken from you?” He sat up and draped his forearms on his thighs and he leaned toward her, watching. “Not as a result of her parents doing, or,..yours. What has she herself done to take something from you?”

He sighed and rubbed his face in his hands before offering her something. He hadn’t even told Rapunzel yet because he was pretty sure she’d feel bad for something she had no control over. “I get the jealousy. There was a time when I couldn’t escape those posters. A lost little girl with parents desperately searching for her? What kid in our shoes wouldn’t want to hate her a little for it.”

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

newdreaming​:

She bit her lip, examining the flowers in her blonde braid from the mirror but not really seeing them fully. They reminded her of springtime, of summer, not of dancing in a hot and crowded ballroom.

Why was she so nervous, so hesitant? It wasn’t because of the party — she loved parties, after all. Maybe it was the buildup of anxiety which had been playing at her all week. The lessons, the fittings, the conferences and meetings — all had taken their toll on the princess and no matter how many times she’d plastered a smile to her face, it hadn’t been enough to fully eliminate the stress from winding itself up inside her. Coiled, like a snake or twisted rope, waiting to knock her on her feet or bite her exposed ankles.

She sighed heavily and finally turned, sticking her head out from the bathroom. Her eyes found him, and she couldn’t help but smile a little at his relaxed pose. Effortlessly, Eugene had oriented himself to this lifestyle of luxury. If you didn’t know his backstory or his roguish ways, it would be very easy to believe he had grown up in a castle. She wishes some of his nonchalance would rub off on her — often, it felt like every barefoot step she took was out of place. Each action she took would be examined and judged by those around her who were more accustomed to this incredibly detailed and organized life. Sometimes, it was enough to make her scream. Other times, like now, it was enough to make her (hauntingly) yearn for the peaceful (though false and sterile, she had to remind herself) solitude of the Tower. That thought was definitely enough to make her scream.

She lingered in the doorway, hands at her sides then clasped in front of her. Then behind her back. Then, finally, pulling her braid in front of her and buried in the blonde tresses.

“I don’t know what it is, Eugene,” she said after a moment. “I feel torn right down the middle between wanting to go —because of my parents and my duties, not because I necessarily want to go, if that makes any sense — and really really really not wanting to go.” She shrugged, certain she wasn’t being clear at all. “Do you ever feel that way? Like you have to make a decision between two important things, two important feelings — and you know that whatever you decide you just have to stick with, no matter what happens after?”

She struggled to find the right words to express herself. “It’s just been a really long week, and I don’t want to do anything that would..I don’t know. Put me over the edge? But I also really don’t want to disappoint anyone. I feel like I’m swinging on a rope, higher and higher, and I’m about to jump off, or fall. Or something big is about to happen and I keep waiting and waiting for it, but it just won’t happen — you know what I mean?”

Eugene had lived for so long watching his back, usually wondering where his next meal was coming from or if he’d have enough to eat if he could get anything. It was nice to not worry about those things here, but it was more than that. For the first time he felt safe enough to be Eugene. It was easy to relax when she was around, even when she wasn’t in the same room, because he knew he was wanted. 

A part of him wished he could be all of that for Rapunzel, and more, but she actually had a family. Hers was the sort of story that a young Eugene Fitzherbert would have been jealous over. (Had been, when he’d see her missing posters even as far as his orphanage.) 

He looked up at her when she poked her head out of the bathroom door and continued to listen.  He knew he was a Something Big for her, knew that what she was going through right now had nothing to do with how she felt for him.

He shrugged a shoulder as he kicked up a chair, sending it forward to land on its legs again. “I guess I felt a little like that once. But I’m not quite sure I realized I was saying goodbye to Flynn at the time.” He wasn’t sure if he would have gone back to Flynn if they’d parted ways, but he wasn’t sure if he would have felt safe enough to do otherwise.

He stood from his chair and walked over to the door, scratching his chin. He’d done that sort of waiting when he was younger, waiting for family in the orphanage, waiting for that feeling with Stalyan, trying to ignore that yearning in the years since and failing horribly to double down on it in a certain tower. “It took a little over two decades for my something big to finally happen,” he told her with a wink, tucking the hair behind her ear that wasn’t currently covered by her braid.

“Why don’t we go? Not to the party, but to...somewhere that isn’t here. And after, when we’re back, we can tell everyone I distracted you and made you lose track of time.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Something tells me they won’t be surprised by that amount of irresponsibility coming from me.”

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

runningracingdancingchasing​:

gottagetmeoneofthese​:

“Oh.” He was confused for a moment and then relief flooded through him as he realized that he could help her. “Oh! I can do that! Listen to you vent, I mean.” Oh, thank goodness. He could be useful. “And hey, anything you say, unless there’s some weird life or death thing, I won’t repeat it to others, okay? It can be  about Cassandra being annoying or your father being a complete butt about some things, not a word.”

He wrapped his arms more tightly around her and scooted closer, both to comfort her and to attempt to steal some body heat that might have gone missing from his lower extremities. Was it possible for just the legs to get hypothermia? “But when you do make a decision, either way I’m in.” He blinked. “Though I might try to get you to let me pack Hermut.”

At least he got a little half smile from her at calling her father a butt. That seemed like the sort of thing you weren’t supposed to say about a king.

She hugged him back, twisting a little awkwardly to do so, but grateful at how easily he gave her comfort. “Thank you, Eugene,” she mumbled. “For everything.” The chill from the water no longer felt refreshing, and she felt like she was right on the edge of shivering. “It’s getting cold in here, huh? Let’s go get dried off and cleaned up.”

Eugene was glad he got a bit of a smile out of her. He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Don’t mention it, Sunshine.” He shivered a little. “It is very cold, yes. My...toes are numb.”

After some careful extraction of his limbs from her he stood and instantly regretted so many life choices at that point as cool air became freezing against damp skin. “And now they aren’t.”

He hopped away from the ocean and found a safe dry place to cave in on himself as he tried to warm himself up again.

[gottagetmeoneofthese]

runningracingdancingchasing​:

gottagetmeoneofthese​:

It was far easier to follow her than to try to keep his own pace. He found he didn’t have many obstacles to avoid aside from the ones she warned him about. Turkeith flew above them, stretching out his wings and getting the lay of the land.

When her paced slowed he fell in step with her, walking stick more of an actual walking stick for the moment. “If everything goes as planned, which let’s hope it does,” he knocked on the wooden stock of the crossbow hanging at his side. “We’ll get just to the edge of the castle grounds the evening before. After a night’s rest, we’ll be in and participating with festivities and…” He trailed off, thinking of all the people there would be. “…dancing and…people… oh yay, but at least there will be food.” He’ll have to ask her if the coins he had were the right ones. Lance told him they were, Adira told him they were, but what if they were wrong? He didn’t want to try to avoid dancers for an entire day if there was no food.

She looked at him curiously when her rapped his knuckles against his weapon. “Why did you do that?” she wondered. “Are you checking that it hasn’t fallen apart? Because it hasn’t. What is it, anyway?” she wondered.

People. Probably a lot of people. Well, the good news was he wasn’t so bad. So maybe… most people weren’t? A girl could hope. “Mother has warned me about people,” she explained. “I guess I’m just lucky that the– that you… seem trustworthy.”

He felt his cheeks warm a bit and he snorted as he rubbed the back of his neck. “No. It’s a superstition, I guess. You knock on wood when you say something that could turn. You know, so you don’t jinx yourself.” He grabbed the stock and lifted it up. “It’s a cross bow. You load bolts, aim, shoot. It’s more or less for show, but the bolts came in handy when I climbed the tower.”

He arched a brow as he looked at her. (It was hard not to. His eyes literally drank up the sight any chance they got and it really didn’t hurt that she was a pretty sight.) “Oh? What did your mother warn you about?” Hopefully her mother gave her some legitimate concerns but he had the feeling he would be trying to assuage some otherwise unfounded concerns.