"Yes - ", she replied, grateful for the reassurance, not only that she would do well with the tests, but also that she wasn't the only one looking forward to later. "You will. Until then."
Reluctantly, she had to break the contact, otherwise she would get a much later start than she had anticipated. But as she made her way toward the 'fresher, it was with a new little spring in her step.
Several days passed. For the first time in years, Cassian lost track of how many. When he wasn't on duty, he was with Jyn: talking, not talking, holding each other while they slept. They were the deepest he'd slept in what felt like his whole life.
Tonight would be different. They were finding their footing surprisingly well with married life while in private. Tonight, for the first time since the wedding itself, they'd have to be a couple in public. Technically, Cassian was still on duty, so he'd be attending to Admiral Grendreef. But there was no mistake: many of the eyes would be on them.
Back into the formal uniform for him; but he couldn't complain, the expectations on Jyn would always be heavier and more complicated.
As they walked together into the hall, even knowing the night of playacting they probably had in front of them, he felt unexpectedly bolstered having her on his arm. It was easier to stand up straight at her side.
The best part of Jyn's day was coming home again. When she had begun thinking of the apartment as home, she didn't know, but it only really felt that way when she thought about sharing it with Joreth.
For the most part, they had fallen into some comfortable rhythms, and she found herself looking forward to the time they spent together, whether it was talking, in companionable silence, but especially when evening came and it was time to go to bed - together. Nothing other than sleep had happened, not that it was anyone's business, but there was something very comforting and familiar about holding each other through the night, and Jyn, too, had never slept as well.
Tonight, though, would be different. Tonight, there would be new roles to play as they navigated through her Uncle's celebratory soiree. Many higher ups would be in attendance, along with patrons who supported their research and development, and she knew very well that she would be expected to make a good impression. She was, after all, living proof of what those donations did - encourage and nurture the fine young minds of the next generation of Empire scientists and engineers. So, for as much as she would rather stay in reading or watching holos or anything else, she knew that the next few hours were going to be spent in a pretentious sort of hell.
She hated that she would be shown off as though she was little more than a prized piece of livestock. She hated that she was expected to look and behave like a complete stranger. She hated that she was expected to grin and bear it until she could be free again - at least until the next time she was summoned to play her well-practiced roles once again.
At least - and maybe she was selfish for thinking it - she wouldn't be alone this time around. She sighed and gently squeezed Joreth's arm, glancing down at the dress specially chosen for her tonight. "Are you ready?"
"I hate these things", she grimaced, shaking her head slightly. "All of this - it's just not me."
He was a career man, though, and she worried that her complaints were falling on deaf ears. Even though he had been nothing but understanding and ... seemingly accepting of who she was, she still wondered about what pieces of information she should be holding close to her chest.
Somehow, it was exactly the right thing to say, and although Jyn was still wound up tightly, it still felt reassuring to know that in this, too, she was not alone.
"Yes, we are. But somehow, I don't think we'll be able to stick together very long. You've got work to attend to and I - I suppose it's my job to be charming."
"Yes, I suppose we can", Jyn replied, marginally more amused than she had been moments before. Truth be told, the only way she was going to get through this was by remembering that they would be able to leave and decompress together later.
They neared the party, and Jyn could feel her tension rolling off of her in waves.
He leaned in to put his mouth closer to her ear and said quietly, like sharing a secret, "You haven't been, yet." He straightened, brushing a crease out of his jacket, and met her eyes to confirm. Before stepping into the big room.
He was always captured when she looked at him like that. The idea that it was something he'd said that had done it…
He pushed it down, as usual. But felt hyperaware of their points of contact—her fingers, his arm—as they joined the party.
Before starting this assignment, Cassian had been given a lot of new training. A lot of it just to fit in on Coruscant to a degree he'd never had to before. One lesson had been given by Mon Mothma herself: how to do Core ballroom dancing. He'd been to a number of events already, danced with quite a few people. He didn't imagine he'd be expected to that anymore; he'd only have to dance with Jyn. It only occurred to him now that he should have asked how she even felt about dancing.
It also occurred to him that they might be expected to kiss at some point in the night. And maybe they would have preferred to have their first kiss be one they actually chose, for themselves and one another, not for an audience. But don't worry about that now, unless/until it comes up.
To start, they stuck together working their way through the room. Cassian brought them over to where he'd spotted Admiral and Mrs. Grendreef, presented Jyn to them (as if they didn't know her). Had Grendreef make the jaw-clenching suggestion that, later in the night, they'd have to share a dance, only with Grendreef dancing with Jyn and Cassian dancing with Aune. There didn't seem to be a way not to agree. Again, though, one thing at a time. And first there were more people to meet and greet.
Sometimes, when Jyn was observing Joreth particularly closely, she caught sight of a surprise in his expression that made her feel ... a comfortable warmth slowly beginning to grow in the pit of her belly.
She hardly knew what it meant, but she knew one thing - for as much as she had wanted to hate him on principle alone, she didn't.
She was grateful for his steadfast presence as they made their way through the room, exchanging pleasantries as they did, Jyn's smile plastered on her face, clearly not reaching her eyes - not that anyone really noticed, not that anyone really cared.
All this was about was posturing and preening and lauding each other's accomplishments.
Jyn knew that she and Joreth would probably be expected to take to the dance floor at least once during the course of the night. Dancing had never been her favorite pastime, but somehow, the prospect of doing it with him didn't seem quite so daunting.
(The expected public display of affection ... less so. Jyn knew that she would rather their first kiss to be one that was real and wanted by both of them, shared in private where they didn't have to act in front of an audience. But no need to worry about that now, she would just have to wait to see if or when it happened to come up.)
They made their way through the crowd quickly enough, taking a detour to greet and Admiral and his wife, who she was indeed acquainted with. The conversation was pleasant enough, and although Jyn wasn't exactly pleased with the idea of sharing a dance later, there really was no delicate way of declining the offer.
But more than that, her stomach turned to see the covetous glance the Admiral's wife was directing Joreth's way - and Jyn was keen enough to consider what that might have meant in terms of his duties with the family.
"I'm sorry", she offered, smiling apologetically. "We have yet to greet my Uncle, and I'm sure he wants to speak with us. We'll catch up again later for those dances."
Grendreef let them go amiably enough; his wife, a bit frigidly, but no more than could be misconstrued as elitist boredom. Cassian didn't show what he was thinking or feeling. But Jyn, so close to him, might be able to feel the slightest loosening of tension in him.
And Jyn was left wondering - although she was so accustomed to these sorts of events that no one that glanced at her would be able to tell what she was thinking, a pleasant enough smile on her face was enough to fool most anyone. It's not like they were paying much attention, after all.
Krennic, of course, was located in the center of the crowd, always a point of attention. Jyn gently led Joreth nearer and nearer to the man that called himself her uncle.
"Do you enjoy working for the Admiral? Or are you hoping for another posting at some point?"
Jyn hummed thoughtfully, nodding. "I'm sure he'll be - " (she'll be) "Hard-pressed to let you go when the time comes. Besides, I'm sure this is little more than an excuse to introduce you to people who can help you advance in your career."
He was exactly right, and as they continued walking, Jyn nodded her agreement, the smile still on her lips. "Whatever he asks, do not falter. If he smells blood, he'll never let up."
Not that her being married now - his own machination - would cease his advances.
But that was not a facet of their relationship Jyn had shared, not one that she would even know how to begin speaking about even if she wanted to.
They were drawing too close to Krennic for Cassian to respond out loud. Instead, he again put his hand over hers where she held his arm, and gently squeezed her fingers.
Jyn was appreciative of the reassurance, no matter which way it arrived. She took a deep breath as they neared the Director, who smiled widely - insincerely - in greeting, reaching for her free hand. "Ah, speak of the devil", he practically crooned, all the while Jyn forced herself to keep from cringing away. "And how is the married life treating you two?"
She looked to Joreth, and smiled in response, far more genuinely than she had yet during the course of the evening so far.
"Better than expected", she replied, and their small audience responded with approving sentiments.
He returned the smile—also simultaneously acting and genuine—then extended one hand to Krennic. His other went around Jyn's shoulders; a subtle move of 'claiming' her back from Krennic. "We haven't properly met, sir. Lieutenant Joreth Sward."
Jyn would have rankled if she would have believed for one moment that this was exactly what it looked like - a pissing contest between two men and the woman they thought couldn't take care of herself.
But she felt as though with Joreth, at least, it was an attempt to keep her shielded from the older man's attention. For once, it felt good that she didn't have to try to do it herself - or, rather, put up with them just by virtue of who he was.
Krennic's expression might have seemed pleasant, but Jyn knew him well enough to know that the gesture had perturbed him profusely. Still, he genially returned the shake and a nod. "Lieutenant. Admiral Grendreef speaks very highly of you. He would have to - we want only the best for our Jyn, you know."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Reluctantly, she had to break the contact, otherwise she would get a much later start than she had anticipated. But as she made her way toward the 'fresher, it was with a new little spring in her step.
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* * *
Several days passed. For the first time in years, Cassian lost track of how many. When he wasn't on duty, he was with Jyn: talking, not talking, holding each other while they slept. They were the deepest he'd slept in what felt like his whole life.
Tonight would be different. They were finding their footing surprisingly well with married life while in private. Tonight, for the first time since the wedding itself, they'd have to be a couple in public. Technically, Cassian was still on duty, so he'd be attending to Admiral Grendreef. But there was no mistake: many of the eyes would be on them.
Back into the formal uniform for him; but he couldn't complain, the expectations on Jyn would always be heavier and more complicated.
As they walked together into the hall, even knowing the night of playacting they probably had in front of them, he felt unexpectedly bolstered having her on his arm. It was easier to stand up straight at her side.
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For the most part, they had fallen into some comfortable rhythms, and she found herself looking forward to the time they spent together, whether it was talking, in companionable silence, but especially when evening came and it was time to go to bed - together. Nothing other than sleep had happened, not that it was anyone's business, but there was something very comforting and familiar about holding each other through the night, and Jyn, too, had never slept as well.
Tonight, though, would be different. Tonight, there would be new roles to play as they navigated through her Uncle's celebratory soiree. Many higher ups would be in attendance, along with patrons who supported their research and development, and she knew very well that she would be expected to make a good impression. She was, after all, living proof of what those donations did - encourage and nurture the fine young minds of the next generation of Empire scientists and engineers. So, for as much as she would rather stay in reading or watching holos or anything else, she knew that the next few hours were going to be spent in a pretentious sort of hell.
She hated that she would be shown off as though she was little more than a prized piece of livestock. She hated that she was expected to look and behave like a complete stranger. She hated that she was expected to grin and bear it until she could be free again - at least until the next time she was summoned to play her well-practiced roles once again.
At least - and maybe she was selfish for thinking it - she wouldn't be alone this time around. She sighed and gently squeezed Joreth's arm, glancing down at the dress specially chosen for her tonight. "Are you ready?"
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He was a career man, though, and she worried that her complaints were falling on deaf ears. Even though he had been nothing but understanding and ... seemingly accepting of who she was, she still wondered about what pieces of information she should be holding close to her chest.
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"Me neither," he murmured back. "I wish the job was just the work. At least we're on a team, now."
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"Yes, we are. But somehow, I don't think we'll be able to stick together very long. You've got work to attend to and I - I suppose it's my job to be charming."
She snorted softly, rolling her eyes.
Charming. What a joke.
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They neared the party, and Jyn could feel her tension rolling off of her in waves.
"I like being offputting with you."
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She nodded slightly, her grip on his arm tightening just a bit more. The party awaited.
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He pushed it down, as usual. But felt hyperaware of their points of contact—her fingers, his arm—as they joined the party.
Before starting this assignment, Cassian had been given a lot of new training. A lot of it just to fit in on Coruscant to a degree he'd never had to before. One lesson had been given by Mon Mothma herself: how to do Core ballroom dancing. He'd been to a number of events already, danced with quite a few people. He didn't imagine he'd be expected to that anymore; he'd only have to dance with Jyn. It only occurred to him now that he should have asked how she even felt about dancing.
It also occurred to him that they might be expected to kiss at some point in the night. And maybe they would have preferred to have their first kiss be one they actually chose, for themselves and one another, not for an audience. But don't worry about that now, unless/until it comes up.
To start, they stuck together working their way through the room. Cassian brought them over to where he'd spotted Admiral and Mrs. Grendreef, presented Jyn to them (as if they didn't know her). Had Grendreef make the jaw-clenching suggestion that, later in the night, they'd have to share a dance, only with Grendreef dancing with Jyn and Cassian dancing with Aune. There didn't seem to be a way not to agree. Again, though, one thing at a time. And first there were more people to meet and greet.
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She hardly knew what it meant, but she knew one thing - for as much as she had wanted to hate him on principle alone, she didn't.
She was grateful for his steadfast presence as they made their way through the room, exchanging pleasantries as they did, Jyn's smile plastered on her face, clearly not reaching her eyes - not that anyone really noticed, not that anyone really cared.
All this was about was posturing and preening and lauding each other's accomplishments.
Jyn knew that she and Joreth would probably be expected to take to the dance floor at least once during the course of the night. Dancing had never been her favorite pastime, but somehow, the prospect of doing it with him didn't seem quite so daunting.
(The expected public display of affection ... less so. Jyn knew that she would rather their first kiss to be one that was real and wanted by both of them, shared in private where they didn't have to act in front of an audience. But no need to worry about that now, she would just have to wait to see if or when it happened to come up.)
They made their way through the crowd quickly enough, taking a detour to greet and Admiral and his wife, who she was indeed acquainted with. The conversation was pleasant enough, and although Jyn wasn't exactly pleased with the idea of sharing a dance later, there really was no delicate way of declining the offer.
But more than that, her stomach turned to see the covetous glance the Admiral's wife was directing Joreth's way - and Jyn was keen enough to consider what that might have meant in terms of his duties with the family.
"I'm sorry", she offered, smiling apologetically. "We have yet to greet my Uncle, and I'm sure he wants to speak with us. We'll catch up again later for those dances."
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"After you," he murmured to her.
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Krennic, of course, was located in the center of the crowd, always a point of attention. Jyn gently led Joreth nearer and nearer to the man that called himself her uncle.
"Do you enjoy working for the Admiral? Or are you hoping for another posting at some point?"
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Not that her being married now - his own machination - would cease his advances.
But that was not a facet of their relationship Jyn had shared, not one that she would even know how to begin speaking about even if she wanted to.
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She looked to Joreth, and smiled in response, far more genuinely than she had yet during the course of the evening so far.
"Better than expected", she replied, and their small audience responded with approving sentiments.
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But she felt as though with Joreth, at least, it was an attempt to keep her shielded from the older man's attention. For once, it felt good that she didn't have to try to do it herself - or, rather, put up with them just by virtue of who he was.
Krennic's expression might have seemed pleasant, but Jyn knew him well enough to know that the gesture had perturbed him profusely. Still, he genially returned the shake and a nod. "Lieutenant. Admiral Grendreef speaks very highly of you. He would have to - we want only the best for our Jyn, you know."
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"The Admiral's too kind," Cassian answered. "And you, sir? I hear fascinating things about your current projects."
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This a good next scene?
It's great!
Yay! <3
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