(Aw thanks)
Rosa accepted his answer as easily as if he’d told her he lived next door— in fact, she would have been far more doubtful if he’d said the latter. It made sense, didn’t it? The moon, the night, the stars; they were a constant, while humanity was ever-shifting, always changing, fluctuating. She herself was as two-faced as the Greek god Janus, she knew that much. Ups and downs, first terrified then calm— she’d always been that way. Alternating. At least it was a small consolation that at her core, she was always the same. Rosa. Tucked away for no one to see, safe.
But Jaxon was different— he was still, anchored, anchoring her down. Soothing her. Present in his mind and body, just like the moon and the night, even the stars, which switched positions, because at the end of the day, they were still there, even though she couldn’t see them. So it made perfect sense to her that he could have been birthed by the beautiful, serene darkness. Did it not make sense to everyone else?
“I think,” Rosa cleared her throat, meeting his golden eyes again. “You came from a different place than me. I did not come from the night and the moon, or the snow and the stars. You came from a better place.”
Jaxon’s eyes sparkled mysteriously in the half-light of the moonlight spilling into the chamber. He reached out for her hands again, this time giving her an option.
“I might be. But the stars were cold, as well as the moon and snow. I came down to seek someone warm. Like you.” He smiled brightly, his radiant white teeth sparkling in the moonlight and sparkling snowflakes.
Rosa hesitating, her hands lingering in midair before she pulled them back against her chest, as if to protect her heart. And in that brief moment, she was very, very vulnerable. “Someone like me?” Doubt made her voice quiver, she was afraid— afraid that she would end up believing him.
Jaxon set his hands down on his lap, accepting her want for space. It was only natural. She’d grow to like him. His smile softened as well as hus gleaming eyes, and he nodded.
“Someone like you. Someone who needs the warmth of another.”
The warmth of another… Rosa shivered— then winced at the irony. “How- how do you know that?” God, she sounded so small and pathetic… her fingers wrapped around the cross charm rested against her bosom, a small comfort. God apparently had no love or sympathy for the broken girl of Pinehyll Street. Why would he? Whoever Jaxon, this guardian angel, had been sent by, it definitely wasn’t the Lord in heaven.
“How I know that?” He asked softly, tilting his head a little. That was such an odd question. He knew he wanted it. It felt like it was hardwired into his brain. To be with her and her only.
“Why, it’s what I want.”
This in itself was most likely a lie; but for once Rosa was tired of the hard and bitter truth. She let go, let herself be fooled by his smooth tongue, just this once. Sighing, she tried again. “But how did you know?”
He blinked and tilted his head in the other direction. “My brain says I want it. And I agree. I think it is right.” He smiled. “I trust my brain.” He pulled his hands out for her again.
Rosa’s whole body stilled, her eyes glueing themselves to Jaxon’s hands, the ones reaching out to her. She attempted to chuckle, though it was a rough, nervous noise, as if she didn’t get much practice. “You trust your brain? I wish I could say the same..” Her hands stayed folded against her chest, and she stayed frozen except for her mouth, which moved to form sentences.
Jaxon curled his hands up slowly again, setting them down. “I can help you with that. I bet I can!” He stayed where he was, but he was tempted to move forward and give her the hug she deserved. Of course he already had a solid idea on how she felt about contact.
Rosa shook her head and averted her eyes— then froze. She had maintained eye-contact without a second thought, and with a stranger no less. Her head whipped around to face him, confusion distorting her features. Who was this man, who calmed her and held her to his chest? Who told her he was her guardian angel? Who didn’t run away or beat her? Who made her feel safe enough to meet his eyes without hesitation?
Jaxon blinked a couple times when she looked away from him, furrowing his brow slightly. He replaces his smile immediately. There was nothing to get upset. He needed to be patient and kind to her.
“Rosa, dear? Are you okay?”
Dear. The word made her flinch. When was the last time someone had called her that? Rosa met his eyes squarely, her fists gathering bunches of her skirt. “I’m fine.” A lie in itself, but when had that actually been the truth? Eleven years ago? “Just— just confused.” At least that much could be trusted..
Jaxon caught her flinch and chewed on his lip.
“I’m sorry for calling you that. I won’t call you it any more.” He smiled a little, trying to beg for her to look at him again.
“Why are you confused? I know it’s a lot at once. I apologize.”
And now he was apologizing to her? He, the moonchild, was apologizing the her, the insane menace? It didn’t make sense, nothing made sense anymore. In just a few short minutes, her world had been turned upside down. “Don’t— don’t be sorry,” she told him quietly, studying his admittedly beautiful eyes. “Don’t apologize to me. Just—“
(Oh, TT, where were we gonna go with this? I’m just curious.)
(Well, I was planning on having them finish off the conversation just as her father hears Rosa talking to herself and bursts in, then I’ll ask the Adventurers the first question)
(Hm maybe we could do that now? I’m at a loss for what to say, I apologize.)
No problem
Want me to start?
Don’t worry about it
How much time do you want to have passed?
I don’t care. Whatever’s good for you.
It was difficult, but Rosa attempted to keep herself loose as she conversed with Jax. And in truth, he made it seem like it was alright, how she was acting. He made her feel like maybe she wasn’t the inane girl, that maybe she had some value. Which was stupid, but there it was.
She opened her mouth to speak, but pounding footsteps outside her door stopped her cold.
(Sorry! I’ll respond in a sec. i thought I were doing the adventurer th8ng.)
