candor1 | Open RP Post

Cassian released Jyn and turned away, making his way toward the refreshments table. He was accosted by several officers along the way—some of whom hadn't given him the time of day, before. He still didn't understand how or why the act of getting married would make him suddenly on their radar. Perhaps Jyn or Krennic had been, and that attention extended now to himself. Whatever it was, he hoped it opened more doors for his real purpose, not prove a liability.

Well, Erso was a highly lauded name, after all. And the fact that there had been no rumors - as of yet - of strife in their still very-new marriage probably meant that some of them just wanted to know how he'd managed to tame her. Others just wanted to be seen with him since more eyes were sure to be on him. And none of it was genuine.

She smiled pleasantly enough once they'd reached where they were going, as private as private could be in a crowded room. "I trust that all is well?", Krennic asked, his insincerity dripping from every word. "I've been informed that your tests were stellar."

"I'm glad", Jyn replied, nodding appreciatively. "I've been doing due diligence to my studies, but I do so enjoy spending time with my husband, as well."

Her expression brightened a touch, and the hand still clutching Krennic's arm tightened just so. "Speaking of, I was wondering if I put in a holiday request it might be granted. I do believe we're allowed a proper honeymoon?"

"Of course, my dear", he practically gritted out. "I'm sure we can find the time for that."

Cassian would be waiting for her near the refreshments when she was done. After a few fraught conversations of his own with, among others, Aune Grendreef. I want to really make this work, he'd told her. And she'd sighed and let him go.

The rest of the conversation was nothing that Jyn hadn't been expecting - the suggestion that she make nice with some of what Krennic pointed out as generous donors, and the slyly leering offer to come to him if she needed anything, which left her skin crawling in the aftermath. She knew what that meant, and no, she would not go to him seeking any of his aid.

Her mask slipped a little as she made her way to the refreshments - to the safety of Joreth's side - but she felt she managed to slip it back into place quickly enough. "The Director requests your presence for a quick talk once we've finished our drinks."

Cassian handed Jyn her drink, and his now-empty hand went seamlessly to the small of her back. He used the other to raise his own drink to his mouth, to hide his expression at that; just kept it to a nod. Not unexpected, from either of them. Also not really looking forward to it.

But might as well get it over with. Cassian drained his glass, set it down empty on the table, pressed a quick, light kiss to Jyn's temple—somewhere between for show and for strength, for both of them. And crossed the room to face Krennic himself.

It didn't feel like a performative gesture, the reassuring weight of his hand against her back, and Jyn was grateful for it, even if the only way she could show it was with a soft, fleeting smile. For as much as she wasn't looking forward to parting - to going and charming the donors in order to get them to donate more, once he pressed the kiss to her temple and quickly stepped away, she took a breath and did the same.

The Director smiled benevolently - although with a sharp edge - once Joreth joined him. "I've got a bit of a job for you to do, my boy."

"I'll have to clear it with Admiral Grendreef, sir," said Cassian dutifully.

"It's for the best if you don't", Krennic countered. "This is between us, of the highest importance. "I fear that our lovely Jyn is beginning to show signs of sympathy with some rather unsavory people - the kind that continually keep trying to rise up against us when, as you know, all we're trying to do is help. Since you're now the one who spends the most time with her ... I would just appreciate you keeping an eye on her, informing me of anything ... suspicious. I trust you can do that, yes?"

"Which unsavory people would that be, sir?" said Cassian. Avoiding commitment and hopefully getting more intel himself.

"You know exactly who I'm talking about, Lieutenant, don't play dumb", Krennic replied, his congenial tone long gone. "Rebels, who we will beat into submission until they're gone. Do this for me, and you'll be rewarded handsomely. Speak a word of it to anyone, and you'll be reassigned. Pity, since you and your wife seem to be getting on famously, don't you think?"

Don't challenge him. Krennic sure didn't make it easy. Cassian drew himself upright and folded his arms across his chest. He wasn't ignoring Jyn's warning; but caving in to this too easily would be more suspicious than not. "I'm sorry, Director, but I answer to the Admiral, not to you. I believe an Admiral still outranks a Director. I thank you for the warning—I will keep my eyes open for any unsavory acquaintance on Jyn's part. I could even talk to you about it. But I don't think the Admiral would approve of your threat."

"Disappointing that you should choose not to work with me on ... nipping this in the bud if it is, indeed true", Krennic sniffed, his rage at being denied only just simmering below the surface. "But ... I would appreciate your insight if you do see or hear anything. No threats here, Sward, just concern for my lovely niece, that's all. If you'll excuse me."

And with that, he swept away, seething under his high collar.

Cassian watched him go, made sure he was well off before turning around too and making his way back to Jyn.

Jyn was bored out of her mind, trying to appear as invested as possible in a mind-numblingly boring conversation with some man about his vague business dealings, fighting not to roll her eyes or worse every time she caught him staring directly at her chest .

"Sorry to interrupt," his voice came softly over her shoulder, just loud enough for the other man to hear too. "May I steal you away?"

"Of course - ", Jyn answered, smiling softly, only her eyes betraying her relief. She then turned to her speaking partner, her expression shifting into something apologetic. "If we can put a pause to this conversation?"

He looked a bit put out by the interruption, but waved her off dismissively.

She turned back to Joreth, sighing softly. "I'm all yours."

He swept an arm around her waist, to shoot a smile past her at the boring man, then bring her around to his side as they walked away. He murmured in her ear, "Well, your uncle wants me to report to him, on you. What's new with you?"

There was no mistaking the tension in her shoulders, how stunned she was - at least momentarily - to hear what Krennic had asked of Joreth. Of all the things she could have anticipated, that possibility had not been in the forefront of her mind. She struggled to pull her expression together, not wanting to draw any undue attention to them as they walked.

"For what?", she asked, shaking her head slightly. "I - you know, fending off his propositions. Nothing new."

Cassian made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. He had enough trouble as a man with darker coloring and an Outer Rim accent. He couldn't imagine being a woman or a nonhuman in the Empire.

Back to her first question: "Your choice of 'crowd'," he said softly back. "Possible Rebellion influence. Your standard paranoia."

(And again, that nagging voice coming from the back of his… no, not even his brain; different organ entirely. Can't take anyone with you. Shh.)

While her engineering achievements were being lauded by her uncle, she wasn't respected on more than a superficial level. But that wasn't solely what had turned her toward looking for something elsewhere, even if it had been a factor.

"I don't know why he would think that - ", she started, all the while cursing herself for not being more careful in her queries. The pause went on as she considered whether or not she could trust her new husband. Probably not with something of this magnitude. After all, what had they shared other than a few nights wrapped up in each other's arms, that was comfort, not trust, and he was by his own admission, a career officer. "I am loyal to our cause."

Just saying the words left a sour taste in her mouth. But what else could she say? It was an impossible situation all around.

"What did you tell him?"

I am loyal to our cause. He wondered if he was really picking up on the hidden grimace behind her words, or was imagining it because… he wanted it there.

Not now. Leave it. Leave it.

Cassian shifted his arm to rest around her shoulders, where he could turn them toward each other and he could say more quietly still, satisfied nobody but her could hear, "That I answer to the Admiral, not to him. And I might consider doing as he asked, but I won't be threatened.

"Incidentally: I've considered it and decided to reject it."

Jyn worried that she hadn't tempered her expression, her voice, the tone of it well enough to obscure her true feelings. But he didn't bring attention to it, so although she didn't relax, per se, she at least didn't feel as though he was doubting her.

Or her loyalty.

"I told you not to challenge him", Jyn whispered, sighing as she gently rested her forehead to his. "Now he might turn his suspicion toward you as well, and I - I don't want that."

Jyn closed her eyes momentarily, the little worry knot between her eyebrows deepening.

"Why did you tell him no?"

The faintest shiver went through him when she rested their faces together. Outwardly, he kept calm.

"I remembered," he said softly. "I didn't tell him no. I told him I'd think about it. I'm telling you." He lifted his hand to her face to brush her furrowed brow with his thumb. "I just reminded him, when he tried to threaten me, that Admiral Grendreef outranks him, and will be more inclined to believe me than him. Which, incidentally, is true. I don't like threats, and everyone should remember their place."

Only the last bit may have been more Sward than Andor.

Jyn exhaled slowly, but the tension was still palpable, even though all she wanted was to project an aura of calm, just in case anyone was watching. At least they couldn't hear. At least they had a modicum of privacy.

"Oh, I'm sure he didn't like that", she said, her eyes slowly fluttering open. "I just don't want you to get into any trouble on my behalf. I can court it well enough on my own."

She shared a smile, small and fleeting, but genuine. "Thank you."

He felt suffused by her smile, however small, and returned it. "Neither of us have done anything but what was expected of us. If your uncle or anyone else doesn't like it… they should have thought of that before putting us together. Picked someone who didn't consider 'marriage' to be a team thing."

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