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Familiar Shadows (Vex & Cassandra)
Dec. 17th, 2018 08:30 pmFor some reason I'm suddenly feeling like returning to my angst/comfort Cassandra de Rolo & Vex'ahlia fic. Here's a taste:
It was a familiar scene at this point: Cassandra surrounded in darkness, sitting primly at her writing desk, surrounded by a glow of candle light, working into the night. Vex had thought Percy’s return to Whitestone would have at least stopped these late nights—giving Cassandra time to rest and enjoy a semblance of a normal life. But it seemed that even Percy shouldering many responsibilities was not enough to keep Cassandra from working into the night.
Vex knocked lightly on the door and walked in. “Cassandra, dear?”
Cassandra turned her head only a degree to glance at Vex and then returned to her work, “Ah, Lady Vex’ahlia.” A pause as her quill works away at a document. “What brings you to my office so late at night?”
Vex sauntered into the room and laid a hand on Cassandra’s shoulder. Cassandra pulled back only a fraction of an inch, but Vex felt the instinct to run held in a vice grip to the chair. Vex stumbled for a moment over her words. “I-ah-thought you might want some help.” She smiled. “I’m very good with money.”
Cassandra met her eyes with ice. “Yes, Lady Vex’ahlia, I was aware of that.” She turned her eyes back to the work in front of her. “These, however, are not matters of money. I can see to them myself with no problem.”
Vex pulled up a seat and sat beside Cassandra.
“Would you perhaps like some company?”
“No, Lady Vex’ahlia, I am almost done for the night and this will go quicker if I am left to my own thoughts.”
“I see, well. Cassandra, I would very much like to spend some more time with you. Perhaps you would like to join me for a hunt. We will be leaving in three days for a brief excursion into the forest.”
“I’m afraid things are far too busy with the harvest right now.”
Vex paused. She didn’t want to push, but she did want to have time to get to better know Cassandra. She was the last of Percy’s family and the poor girl clearly needed someone.
She leaned forward and placed a hand on Cassandra’s shoulder again, “Dear, perhaps we could have dinner some time, just to get to know each other better.”
Cassandra whipped her body around to look at Vex directly, Vex’s hand falling from the shoulder. Vex saw a fiery anger in her eyes and then the familiar retreat of that fire into ice. “Lady Vex’ahlia, this is nothing personal, but I would prefer if in the future you would refrain from touching me or using any kind of affectionate names for me. My name is Cassandra and you may address me as such.”
Vex froze for a moment and then excused herself quickly, giving her apologies. “Of course, Cassandra. I meant no harm.” She fled the room.
It was a familiar scene at this point: Cassandra surrounded in darkness, sitting primly at her writing desk, surrounded by a glow of candle light, working into the night. Vex had thought Percy’s return to Whitestone would have at least stopped these late nights—giving Cassandra time to rest and enjoy a semblance of a normal life. But it seemed that even Percy shouldering many responsibilities was not enough to keep Cassandra from working into the night.
Vex knocked lightly on the door and walked in. “Cassandra, dear?”
Cassandra turned her head only a degree to glance at Vex and then returned to her work, “Ah, Lady Vex’ahlia.” A pause as her quill works away at a document. “What brings you to my office so late at night?”
Vex sauntered into the room and laid a hand on Cassandra’s shoulder. Cassandra pulled back only a fraction of an inch, but Vex felt the instinct to run held in a vice grip to the chair. Vex stumbled for a moment over her words. “I-ah-thought you might want some help.” She smiled. “I’m very good with money.”
Cassandra met her eyes with ice. “Yes, Lady Vex’ahlia, I was aware of that.” She turned her eyes back to the work in front of her. “These, however, are not matters of money. I can see to them myself with no problem.”
Vex pulled up a seat and sat beside Cassandra.
“Would you perhaps like some company?”
“No, Lady Vex’ahlia, I am almost done for the night and this will go quicker if I am left to my own thoughts.”
“I see, well. Cassandra, I would very much like to spend some more time with you. Perhaps you would like to join me for a hunt. We will be leaving in three days for a brief excursion into the forest.”
“I’m afraid things are far too busy with the harvest right now.”
Vex paused. She didn’t want to push, but she did want to have time to get to better know Cassandra. She was the last of Percy’s family and the poor girl clearly needed someone.
She leaned forward and placed a hand on Cassandra’s shoulder again, “Dear, perhaps we could have dinner some time, just to get to know each other better.”
Cassandra whipped her body around to look at Vex directly, Vex’s hand falling from the shoulder. Vex saw a fiery anger in her eyes and then the familiar retreat of that fire into ice. “Lady Vex’ahlia, this is nothing personal, but I would prefer if in the future you would refrain from touching me or using any kind of affectionate names for me. My name is Cassandra and you may address me as such.”
Vex froze for a moment and then excused herself quickly, giving her apologies. “Of course, Cassandra. I meant no harm.” She fled the room.
