ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ ᴏꜰ ᴀꜱʜᴇꜱ: ꜱᴇᴍɪ-ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ʀᴏʟᴇᴘʟᴀʏ discussion
Mod
Mod
Gabriella was lost. Like... really lost. She'd never been to this part of the castle before. Well, she hadn't been up to the caste at all, really. So it wasn't expected of her to know the place like the back of her hand.
A volunteer at heart, Gabriella had heard of an opportunity to help tutor the palace staff's children. She knew that she absolutely had to take the chance. Not only was she a teacher, but she just adored children. This was perfect! The only problem was that she was totally lost. And totally late. Hopefully they wouldn't be too upset with her!
Mod
Cassian was doing his daily patrol, a tedious job. Usually, he would pass it off to one of the newer people, but he had nothing better to do today. It was like this most of the time, dull and peaceful. Which was good, even if he felt useless. Sure, when there was a threat he handled it with ease, but that was a rare occasion. Which was good. It's not like he wanted for something dangerous to happen. Okay. Maybe a little bit. He was almost done with the third and final walk around the palace grounds before he noticed a shortish blonde woman walking around the place. She seemed lost, and mostly harmless, but if Cassian went off assumptions, he'd be out of a job and dead, most likely. The guard walked over to the woman. "Name and business?" he asked, hand near the hilt of his sword.
Mod
Gabriella's heart was beating fast as she approached the man. She turned towards him quickly, startled by his imposing figure. "Oh!" she replied, her voice squeaky with nervousness. "I'm here for the tutoring position? Gab- um Gabriella Hart? Sir." Her words trailed off as she took in the sight of him. He was tall and muscular, with broad shoulders and a stern expression. The hand that rested on the hilt of his sword was calloused and weathered, a clear sign that he was a man of action. Gabriella tried to steady her breathing as she looked up at him. She knew that she had to make a good impression if she wanted to get the job. But her uncertainty made it sound like she was asking him questions, even though she wasn't. And the fact that he had a hand on his sword didn't help matters either. She was sure that it was very sharp and dangerous, and the thought of him using it made her shudder. Despite her nervousness, Gabriella tried to maintain her composure. She stood up straight, clasping her hands in front of her, and looked him in the eye. She hoped that her confidence would win him over, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was out of her depth. All she could do was wait for his response and hope for the best.
Mod
Cassian looked at her for a moment before bringing his hand down from his belt. He looked her up and down, pretending to size her up. She looked to be around twenty-five, or twenty-six, blonde, average height if not a little taller. He knew she most likely wasn’t a threat, and he also knew that a tutor is coming today by the name of Gabriella. Still, it was fun intimidating people, and she was very easy scared, so it seemed. “All right then. I’ll take you to the library, but for us, or to know if you have any weapons or potential weapons with you," cause this girl surely had weapons. "Whoever is interviewing you almost certainly want to see your credentials and I’m assuming you’ve already had a background check.” Cassian churches that forward to motion for her to follow him.
Mod
Gabriella was surprised when the man asked her if she had any weapons with her. She found the question ridiculous and couldn't understand why she would need a weapon in the palace. She felt relieved when he moved his hand from his belt, but her relief was short-lived. The man looked her up and down, making her feel uncomfortable. Gabriella was wearing a light blue sundress with brown boots. She responded to the man's question in a soft voice, "Um, Sir? Weapons? Why would I bring weapons to the palace? And yes, sir. My interviewer already has my credential list, and I've already gone through a background check." She followed behind him, clasping her hands together behind her.
Mod
Cassian almost laughed at her question. Why wouldn't someone bring weapons to the palace? If not for malicious intent, it might be for self-defense. It's not like the locals trusted them as much as they trusted the Royals past. A smirk played at his lips, and he led her through the palace. "If you do end up getting the job, I will be the one to give you a tour and a rundown of the procedures, safety or otherwise. Most of them are common sense, but you'd be surprised at how many people are lacking in the category. It seems everything is in order, so it should go by quickly. I will be outside the library. If you aren't accepted, you will exit the way you came. Understood?"
Mod
Gabriella stood nervously in front of the guard. "Um, yes, sir. Thank you," she replied politely. She didn't know how to properly address him, whether to bow or curtsey, or both. So, she just nodded her head and walked into the library, her heart pounding with anticipation.
After an hour, Gabriella walked back into the hallway, her nerves now replaced with excitement. She had landed the job! The interviewer had been impressed with her bubbly personality and her experience as an educator. Gabriella couldn't believe it; she was going to start her new job soon. As she stepped out of the library, Gabriella looked around, wondering if the guard from earlier was still there. He had told her he would be waiting around the area. She scanned the surroundings, trying to spot him.
Mod
Cassian quickly got bored after waiting for half an hour and decided to finish his patrol. He had thought it would take only ten minutes, but he was sadly mistaken. After another forty-five minutes, he made his way back to the library doors to find Gabriella waiting there. "You're hyper," he said gruffly. "I'm assuming you got the job?" The woman was all but bouncing, a grin on her face that was so big, he would think it hurt. It was an average-paying job watching a bunch of sticky kids- he didn't think anyone should be that excited. Nevertheless, at least it wasn't him doing it.
Mod
Gabriella had been waiting patiently for the guard to arrive. She was worried about getting lost or encountering another patrolling guard if she wandered off. As she saw him approaching, she tried to contain her smile by biting the insides of her cheeks, but it was no use. When he finally reached her, she cheerfully greeted him and confirmed that she had gotten the job. "Yes, I did," she said. "Your presence brought me good luck!"
Mod
Cassian would have laughed if he wasn't already feeling irritated by the girl's exaggerated cheeriness. He hoped she wasn't always so cheesy, or he might have to invest in some ear plugs, because holy shit. Gabriella was everything he wasn't, everything he steered clear of. She was giddy and naive and was optimistic about an objectively bad job. Your presence brought me good luck? Who the fuck even spoke like that, especially to a complete stranger who she didn't even know the name of? He barely knew the woman, and yet he already wished she hadn't gotten the job. This was going to be an even longer day than he had thought. This was normal, Cassian being irrationally angry or annoyed. It was a common occurrence, and his friends and family had become accustomed to it. Though his friends and family didn't often trigger his anger, so they didn't have to worry too much. His dad offered to pay for proper help, but Cassian always denied, the fury helping with his job (which was already a higher priority than his supposed anger issues anyways). Deep breaths and shoving down the feelings were his coping skills, and they had worked so far.
Offering a tight smile, Cassian told her, "I highly doubt I gave you good luck. But if I did, then I assure you. I didn't mean to." It was rude, yes. Unnecessary, yes. And did he regret it? Yes...a little. She was a nice person, he could tell. But god, she got on his nerves like no one else did. "It's time for the tour, now. Follow me, and try not to break anything.
Mod
Gabriella's elated mood came crashing down as soon as she noticed the expression on the other person's face. She felt hurt and disrespected - like a child being scolded. The condescending remark - Try not to break anything - only added fuel to the fire. Gabriella couldn't bear to look at the person, so she lowered her gaze and clasped her hands tightly in front of her. The tears were welling up in her eyes, but she bit her lip to hold them back. She nodded silently, not trusting her voice, and positioned herself behind the person, ready to follow.
Mod
((awwwwwwwwww no im sry dont cry ur so amazing gabbbyyyyy))
Mod
Mod
Cassian took her around the palace ground, leading her and pointing out random things he had been thought about the place that he though people like her might find interesting. "You'll have a room near the palace or in the palace starting next week, and you will be given an escort to you regular job since you are now technically on the staff here and every staff member is given an assigned solider and the appropriate transport and housing. Any questions?"
Mod
Gabriella stood still, gazing around in complete silence, her heart heavy with hurt by the other person's rudeness. She couldn't believe she would be living on the palace grounds. Her eyes widened with surprise as she took in the grandeur of the surroundings. "So, I live here now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She wondered who would be assigned as her soldier, and if they would be kind to her. There were a million questions swirling in her mind, but she chose to keep quiet and limited herself to only the one, not wanting to appear childish. Again.
Mod
((awww i feel badddd
also
girl doesnt know she's being written by us
'she wondered who she would be assigned' pffffffffffft))
Cassian turned to her and saw that even after the hour the tour had taken, she was still quite obviously hurt. He closed his eyes and internally groaned. Of course, she was the sensitive type. Typical. "Yes, Miss Hart. You will be living here, though you will still be allowed to keep your old house." Fuck, he did not want to do this. "I apologize if I hurt you earlier. I snapped and It wasn't right of me." Oh god, shoot me now.
Mod
((my innocent little baby is too innocent for her own big heart <3))
A wave of relief washed over Gabriella as she realized that she wouldn't have to part with her beloved small cottage. It meant the world to her and the mere thought of selling it had caused her great distress. She visibly relaxed and let out a sigh of relief as the guard spoke again. To her surprise, he began to apologize for his earlier behavior. Despite feeling a bit taken aback, Gabriella managed to muster a smile and responded, "It's alright. I forgive you, Mr...." Suddenly, she realized that she didn't know the guard's name and trailed off, feeling a little embarrassed.
Mod
"Cassian," he told her. "Cassian Peters." While she seemed nice enough, that moment told Cassian they had nothing in common at all. She was quick to forgive, and he never did. She reacted with sadness, and he reacted with anger. They would never be anything close to friends, and that was enough for him to cut out any and all emotional attachments that were never even going to appear so he shouldn't even need extra walls. Still, he didn't want her to take his apology the wrong way, so he made sure to keep his responses quick and clipped.
Mod
Gabriella stepped closer to Cassian, her boots clicking against the marble floor. She extended her hand and placed it gently on top of his rough hand, which was slightly calloused from years of hard work. A warm smile spread across her lips as she looked up at him. "It's truly a pleasure to meet you, Cassian Peters," she said, her voice soft and genuine.
Mod
((asdfghjkl awwwwwwwwww))
Cassian stiffened only a little her touch, a little tingle running through his fingertips. He didn't want to offend her again by pulling away, so instead he did his best to return her smile, though compared to the ease and warmth of hers it could very well be called a grimace, and replied, "Likewise, Miss Hart. Here, I'll bring you back to the carriage." Her patted her hand and drew away, walking her to the palace gates. "Have a good evening."
Mod
As they walked towards the carriage, Gabriella kindly corrected Cassian when he addressed her formally. "Please, call me Gabriella," she said with a friendly smile. She then wished him a good evening in return, and waved as she made her way to the waiting carriage.
Mod
All these years of passing off jobs to the newer recruits has finally come back to bite him. Because apparently, Cassian had been selected to be miss Gabriella Hart's temporary personal guard. Lovely. Wonderful. Amazing. God, he was so incredibly fucked, it was almost hard to get u the morning she was supposed to start her job because he knew he'd have to play nice all fucking day when all he wanted to do was...well, anything but that.
Mod
Gabriella was finally starting! It'd felt like an eternity since the interview date to when she actually was starting. She packed a small box of only the essentials. She had three work days this week, so she wasn't planning on staying at the palace for very long. Only four days. She arrived at the palace, her nerves bubbling widely. She looked around, wondering if her appointed guard would be there.
Mod
Cassian was indeed waiting, arms crossed and a grumpy expression on his face. Hopefully it would be enough to make Gabriella back off, but for some reason he highly doubted that would be the case. Instead, he wondered if it would only make her more insistent to win him over. The thought made him want to shudder.
Mod
As she approached the guard who appeared to be sulking, she exclaimed, "Cassian! How are you doing? Are you the guard assigned to protect me?"
Mod
He bit back a sigh, hiding his frustration. "That's me. It's only temporary. Your actual guard is on his way back from a trip, so I'm filling in while he's gone." He stood firmly on his feet, ignoring the urge to rock back and forth out of pure awkwardness. "I assure you, he'll be back soon, so you don't have to worry."
Mod
She couldn't help but deflate at the news. "Oh," she replied. "I see." She bit her lip and ducked her head as she grabbed her single bag. "Well, uhm, we should probably go inside."
Mod
Cassian couldn't tell if she was upset that he was her guard, or if she was upset that the situation was temporary. It had to be first one- he had been nothing but rude and standoffish, and there was no way she could actually want him to be her guard. Damn, he had at least tried to be civil, but she went straight for the gut, making him feel like the shittiest person ever. Which he was used to, so it's not like it phased him...much. "Listen sweetheart, I'm not too thrilled either," he drawled. "But promise you, it'll be bearable."
Mod
The thought of Gabriella having to be guarded by someone else made her really nervous. At least she knew Cassian. At least, as much as one did after a chance encounter. And a tour. But, still! Hopefully, though, the new guard would be a little nicer. Cassian was mean! He wasn't thrilled that he was her temporary guard? What had she done to him? What made him dislike her so?
Mod
He looked over at her and saw her expression. Fuck. Had he read it wrong again? Did she actually want him to be around her- it was unlikely, but the only reason she could look so hurt right now. Cassian sighed. "Is something wrong?" He stopped walking and leaned back against the doorframe, eyebrows furrowed in confusion and slight annoyance.
Mod
"Cassian, why are you so rude towards me?" The question was asked with a soft tone, her lips visibly tense from being bitten. She couldn't understand why he was so hostile towards her. The need for clarity was evident in her voice as she sought an explanation for his unkind behavior.
Mod
The guard sighed, clasping his calloused hands above his head, then dropping them to his sides. "It's not anything personal, -" mostly. "I'm not really a people person. Most people get used to it, I guess." It was true, but also not really, because he was certainly much ruder to Gabriella than warranted- in fact, being rude at all to Gabriella was more than warranted. She was a sweet person, and he could admit that he was being awful to her. But he couldn't bring himself to stop, almost scared to be nice to her. A girl like her would get hurt by him one way or the other, and a girl like her wouldn't be compatible with him in any sense, friendship or otherwise.
Mod
"So, you're rude, because you expect people to get.. used to it?" She repeated, appalled. "That's terrible. Just.. terrible." Cassian was saying this, but it seemed to be something else. More personal. It's like he enjoyed seeing her in pain. Maybe that's just who he is. Then why is she drawn to him? He's dangerous.
Mod
"It's not because I expect them too, they just do," he said. "And you don't get to judge me, Miss Hart. How I live my life is none of your business. But I'm so very sorry that I don't live up to your moral standards." Gabriella judging him really set him the wrong type of feeling- so she was so high and mighty. So, she was such a perfect angel that she could call him awful without even knowing him?
Mod
"I'm not judging you." She replied, crossing her arms. "You asked me what was wrong, after all. Your attitude is what is wrong."
Mod
Not judging him? She called him terrible after giving her an explanation to a question she had asked. If you don't want an answer, don't ask a fucking question. She was acting so high and mighty, it made him want to knock her down a few pegs, get to her realize she wasn't the perfect princess she pretended to be. First impression were often wrong, and Cassian really wanted for that to be the case here, because if she was truly this sweet, angelic person, then Cassian wouldn't only be an asshole, but he'd be an asshole for all the wrong reasons. And he hated being wrong.
Was his anger unwarranted? Probably yes. It usually was, but people he knew were better than him made him lash out, determined to not feel as inferior as he was feeling. It gave him a feeling of power, a feeling of comfort to know that he was on the same level as the other person. But Gabriella Hart was so utterly and obviously objectively better than him, and that pissed him off.
"Well, lucky for you, you only have to deal with my attitude for a few days," he sneered. "And you are judging me, whether you realize it or not. I'm sorry to say it, but the more time you spend around here, the more you're realize that people suck. Especially the people here. So how about I show you to your room so we can be done with this oh so riveting conversation, hm?"
The guard looked down at her, daring her to say something back, something to egg him on. Perhaps he'd scare her away, and she'd quit. Maybe she'd ask for a new solider for the next few days. Either option was more viable than the one he was living out.
I've said that Cassian is an angry person, and I'm sure you can tell by everything that's been said and done so far. But it may surprise you to know that while every part of his body rejects the sentiment, he actually feels the tiniest bit guilty for his treatment of Gabby. While he tells himself she'd putting on an act, she's not as good as she seemed, he knows that she's done nothing to deserve this behavior, and he's done everything to deserve her negative. judgment.
But then again, I will say for the second time that he hates being wrong. So, he continues until he had truly and irreversibly fucked up.
Mod
The young woman's eyes welled up with tears as a pained expression flashed across her face. She spoke in a soft voice, barely audible, "Okay. I deeply apologize for making you feel judged, Cassian. I want you to know that it was never my intention to hurt you. I hope that in the future we can put this behind us and become friends." She swallowed hard, her anxiety rising as she awaited his reaction. It felt like he was trying to make her cry, or worse, leave and ask for another guard. But she was determined not to let that happen, except for maybe shedding a few tears, since she was an emotional person.
Mod
How the hell was he supposed to respond to that? God, she made it so hard to be a normal person- or rather, how he normally was- when if he was admittedly an asshole, all she did was apologize and be nice to him? How was it possible for one person to have so much restrain? Was she punking him, intentionally egging him on? She just stood there, looking all sad and apologetic, when she didn't have anything to be sorry for! Good job Cass, you're once again, proving to be a shitty person.
Cassian couldn't find it in him to respond for a solid few minutes before his shoulders slumped. His eyes shut, and when he opened them, she was crying. He felt a weird sense of guilt, tugging in his chest. "Gabriella don't cry," he sighed. "It's- it's not than fault."
Mod
Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to maintain her composure. "I'm-not crying," she managed to choke out, her voice trembling with emotion. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to hide her vulnerability. Despite her best efforts, another sniffle escaped her, betraying her true feelings. "I'm sorry," she apologized, feeling embarrassed and exposed. She wished she could disappear, or at least retreat to the safety of her room. "Um, where's my room?" she asked, her gaze fixed on the ground, unwilling to meet Cassian's weirdly sympathetic eyes.
Mod
He ran a hand down his face. "Here, I'll take you," he said. turning to motioning for her to follow. Cassian knew he should apologize, but at the same time, he didn't want to give her more hope that they could be friends, or that he was a person she'd even want to be friends with. Only a few more days, and you never have to talk again.
And when they got to her room, he planned to walk away, but she was still fucking crying and don't say it, you goddamn idiot- "I'm sorry," he bit out. "I was rude and unfair to you earlier." When was the last time he had said sorry? It must have been a while ago, and the worst part was Cassian knew his apology was sincere. The words left a bad taste in his mouth, the shame from how he had treated her making him want to crawl into a hole, not because he was upset that he made her cry, but because he felt shame in the first place. That's not how he ever felt about anything. It was awful.
But that didn't stop him from wanting to make her feel better. Gross.
Mod
As they walked towards Gabriella's room, Cassian led the way, while Gabriella trailed behind him, trying to regain her composure. Despite her best efforts, tears streamed down her cheeks. Upon reaching their destination, Gabriella opened the door and placed her bag on the desk before turning to face Cassian. His apology brought a faint smile to her face, and the tears ceased to fall. "Cassian, it's alright. I forgive you. As I mentioned earlier, I hope we can become friends," she said in a calm voice, hoping to dispel any lingering tension between them.
Mod
Godfuckdamnshitfuckshit. That pretty much sums up what Cassian was feeling and thinking in that moment. Gabriella was someone he shouldn't talk to, someone who he's made cry the second time seeing. It wasn't a self-deprecating thing to say that he would hurt her, that he has hurt her, and when she realizes the kind of things he does, she'll regret ever speaking to him. The thought kind of comforted him, knowing that even if they somehow became friends, she'd realize it was a bad idea. It gave him the freedom to just nod and give her a polite smile. "I'll let you get settled in, Miss Hart."
The only issue would be making sure he didn't get attached- which honestly, wouldn't be an issue at all. It's not like he could ever like a sweet ball of sunshine whose smile made everyone else smile, and who's laugh brightens your day. And yes, it's true that right now, he didn't like her. Right now, he believed what he told himself. But it's also true that he would find it quite easy to like Gabriella. Too easy.
Mod
Gabriella quit.
Gabriella quit.
Gabriella quit.
The news had been broken to him five minutes ago, and for five minutes, he'd been running around trying to find her. He knew he fucked up, and he only made it worst when he kissed her, but he couldn't just let her quit a job he knew she loved so much. He searched every possible place he could think of, her room stripped clean, the kids crying from her goodbyes. The palace doors burst open as Cassian barreled through them, calling for Gabriella.
And there she was.
Mod
Gabriella was not quitting because of Cassian. No. She would never do such a thing. She loved her job, but she just couldn't take it anymore. The workload was too much. Or so she told herself. She'd made the decision the previous week. She packed her bags before going into work this morning. She broke the news to the children, a couple of tears falling down her cheeks as she did so. She'd miss them. Now, she was making her way through the courtyard, trying not to think about the first time she stepped foot in the yard. How lost she'd been... No. Stop.
Mod
"Gabriella!" he called, trying to resist the urge to run, settling for a fast walk, until he gave and ran to her. He looked at her with wide eyes, not caring about the blatant and unfiltered show of emotions on his face, shining through his eyes. He ran a hand through his blond hair, thankful that his armor was off because he already felt suffocated enough. "I heard you were leaving," Cassian said simply. "And I know you don't want to see me, but I couldn't let you leave without at least asking for you to stay."
Mod
Gabriella turned, immediately recognizing the voice. Cassian. She watched as his casual strut turned to a run. Her breath caught. She'd forgotten just how beautiful he was. They'd hadn't seen each other in weeks. Not sense the kiss. She ducked her head. As mad as she had been at Cassian, him coming after her- God. "Okay," she replied softly. "Ask me," Gabi prompted, looking up at him. Willing him to tell her how he felt. That's what she wanted. She wanted to hear the words. She knew that whole 'show don't tell' crap, but she wanted to feel the words moving from one ear to another, to feel the warmth that the words would cause on her cheeks. But, she suspected this was not going to be the case.
Mod
((keyboard was overheating with this one lmao. wrote this fast as i could))
"Please, Gabriella," he said softly, looking at her with an unflinching stare. "Please stay. I know I was out of line those weeks ago. I know I was asshole a thousand times over, and I know I've been the worst. I haven't been a good person, and instead of trying to prove that to you, I should have been trying to get better. I understand if you're leaving anyways, I'm too late, but these past few weeks all I've been trying to do is find a way to make it up to you." He took and deep breath.
"You once told me you wanted to be friends. I responded like the idiot I was, but I promise you, that's not how I feel. Gabriella, I want to be your friend. I want to be your best friend, the friend that knows your hopes and dreams, and the little things that annoy you, and the little things you care about. I want to be the friend that you go to when you're sad, and when you're happy, when you need to cry or scream or laugh. I want to be all of that for you. I'm still not a good person, Gabriella, but I want to be better. You make me want to be better."
"And if you want to yell or laugh or cry after I'm finished talking, then I'll let you, and I'll be there until you decide to leave or stay. But if you're going to leave, then I want to be here to say goodbye. And if you're going to stay, I want to be here to welcome you the way I should have when you first arrived four months ago."
He found the courage to step forward and gently take her hand. "Gabriella, I want to be the friend you fall for and stay for and share things with. I want to mean as much to you as you mean to me." A could barely stand to look at her, to see what her reaction was going to be, but he was done being a coward. He was done being scared, especially when it came to Gabriella Hart.
Mod
((oyoooooooyototoeiudhfkjsnn
i thought you fell asleep on me lmfao))
Gabi didn't say anything for a long time. She let the birds tweet and the leaves rustle before she finally looked up at the man in front of her. Tears rolled down her cheek, because of course. "Oh, Cass," she murmured, her hands shaking. How did she know he wasn't lying? She looked up into his eyes and saw it right there, the truth. She saw his genuine feelings staring right back at her. Which is why she stepped forward, murmuring a quick, "Please don't slap me." Before she pressed her lips against his, holding onto his hand as if her life depended on it. Something hit her foot (her bag), but she didn't care enough to pull away to look.
