This snippet sunday is brought to you by angst and flirting
☀️
Janu slinked down the halls in the late evening. The castle had yet to go to bed, but its daily business had slowed to a mere few servants tending to cleaning the floors. Torches were lit and quickly warmed the halls, fighting off the chill that had begun to set in as the sun tucked behind the mountains.
She held onto Xaviers cloak in her arms and stood in front of the door where she closed her eyes and relaxed her body with a silent exhale.
Inside, The sunset baked the office in orange through its small window. Xavier had busied himself with the last of the day's paperwork but had found it increasingly hard to focus.
Janu’s necklace was neatly coiled on the side of his desk and he couldn’t help but find himself distracted by the delicate golden thing. It was intricate in patterning, little transparent jewels hugged by filigree. It was a bit old, but maintained beautifully.
His mind kept wandering to what Janu might be thinking. It had been a couple days since she first came onto him… with no response. No yes nor a no.
They told each other that if one were to return the others special apparel, the other would know their intentions had been settled. If Janu found her necklace on her doorknob, or the cloak was folded neatly by Xavier's office, it was decided that the other had changed their mind- that their flirting would come to an end. The past would be left in the past and they'd forget what could've been.
Janu kicked at the ground with her boot, staring at the door and biting her cheek.
She had to make a choice. If she didn't make the choice now then it would just eat her alive for another day.
She wanted him, and wanted it bad.
However she couldn't help but be influenced by the nagging fluttering in her stomach.
Jan was almost sold to the Canes, almost given to Xavier like a pet. An apology to Zachariah in the form of Dikaiosyn’s own daughter. Skalono committed the crime of overstepping and taking more than he was offered. He was meant to take Saria, and he had taken Alexandria as well in a bold move against the Midonians. He was punished severely for the crime and Janu was part of it. Peace was settled for the prize of an Anemoian virgin princess’ hand.
Zachariah almost took two off with what he had done when his unmarried sons did not take the offering.
This man on the other side of the door though… Xavier was not some cruel thing that did not feel pity or remorse. He did not bear the same cruel fangs or stare at her with a cold, objectifying gaze.
He had hid her naked body in this cloak and then suffered for trying to protect her from the whims of old men pawning her around.
No, he was no monster. Xavier was just a man, and Janu was no longer a scared girl shipped across the sea. Their fathers were dead and could only hurt them now when they thought too much of the subject.
Xavier squinted, staring at the door when he heard a quiet and singular thump. She had placed her forehead against the wood and gripped onto the cloak tighter.
He sat up and leaned back in his chair, tapping his feathered quill against his hand idly while he waited to see if someone would knock or come in. He had almost figured it was just the broom of a clumsy servant cleaning outside. He almost got back to work before Janu finally announced her presence by tapping on the door with her knuckle.
“Come in” he hummed, adjusting in his chair.
Janu opened the door, tipping her head in.
It had been so strange seeing Xavier without his cloak lately. He looked so much smaller while he haunted the halls. Less intimidating. More human in a way Janu could not articulate to herself. This was just a man. One with power and presence, but just a man.
Well, perhaps he was something more in this lighting. The golden orange skylight framed his face, and the light of his reflector lantern pointed at his papers brightened his dark eyes. Beautiful. An idol on fire.
Janu opened the door further and stepped in, closing the door behind her as quiet as she could. She was now wearing the old, dark cloak that hung to her ankles. In her arms, she had replaced it with her own, scarlet and gold hooded cape.
She held the knob until it was shut and let go of it slowly so it didn’t make a ker-thunk from the latch bolt resting in its bore.
Xavier hadn’t seen Janu look so cautious since those old days. Ever since he had begun working for the Aeraki, Janu presented herself with an unexpected confidence. She held her head high and carried herself as if she were the Crown and not Skalono.
Xavier had some worry in the back of his mind that the events of Midonia had ruined the young girl, but this woman… this woman was something else now.
She was her mother's girl, that was for sure. Stubborn, self-assured, and commanding. A passionate lover of her kingdom and family.
She looked at him through slightly furrowed brows and a blank but tight expression while she slowly made her way over to him. She pulled off her gloves and placed them on the desk before rounding the desk.
Xavier tilted his head and spoke,
“Hm? Princess- Uh, oh wow,”
He looked her over, staring at his cloak on her. He must’ve been blushing because Janu cracked a smile.
She looked beautiful. She was beautiful while drunk and pathetically sad, fooling about by wearing his cloak that previous night they spent together- But this evening… the shadow that cast over her bathed her red as the cape in her arms. She was stunning.
Her hair was up in her bun properly and her makeup was sharp; It was perfect. She was an immaculate, autonomous statue of a Goddess.
