Xaviers!

"Maybe you're right. I just don't want us to not have enough and get caught in a lie. That'd be even worse, right?"

"Ah, not to worry." she says, tapping the side of her head. "I can make sure we're not going to get caught out."

"If we, erm, all play our roles correctly, I do not know how deeply the Prince will want to look into things. There are...issues of propriety."

Jez got up from her chair to answer the door before there was a knock, the three girls waiting outside wearing different clothes and even wearing their hair differently.

"Well then, I guess we've got some work to do."
"Walk, walk, fashion baby." Oh no one of them was doing peace signs.

"Creepy. In a cool way!"

"If you are going to pretend," Katarina said, with perhaps too much inflection on the word pretend, "to be Jezebelle's girlfriend, I would suggest not calling her creepy."

She frowned over in her own little corner of the bed.

"Hey, you can't tell me what to call my pretend-girlfriend. Maybe Creep is a cute in-joke."

Katarina stared down her nose at Nailah, witheringly.

"Oookay, guess it's not." she says, raising her hands in mock-surrender.

The little audience watched from the doorway and looked at each other.

"How about a compromise. If I go goth you can call me spooky?"

"Yes! Excellent!" Nailah laughs. "Alright, let's do this, I guess."

"Awesome! Let's start at the zub?"
'What about the library?'
"Who takes selfies at the library?"

"It's a pretty cool library. Oh! You want one where we're flying?"

"YES!" All three said in unison, looking very excited at the prospect. Luckily, Nailah wouldn't have to worry about them fighting over who got to go first.

"To the roof, then! Easier on my wings that way." she says, already halfway out the door in excitement.

"Yes, quite, have fun," Katarina muttered to herself as the various problems helpers filed their way out.

The quartet made their way out into the hallway and heading for the roof, leaving Katarina alone with her thoughts.

"You're not actually okay with this, are you."

Oh, right, there was that other Jez. The one sitting on the bed.

"I'm not okay with any of this, Jezebelle," Katarina sighed, flopping down next to Jez. "And I am very, very worried."

Jez was quiet for a moment before she fell backward as well, staring at the ceiling.

"I can't begin to know how much you've got going through your head right now. Or how much responsibility you have. Or any of that other stuff that comes with being a princess and future leader.

"... but the good guys always win. Right?"

"No, I'm afraid they do not. And things have spiraled so quickly...I came in here to let you know we were in danger, and now all of a sudden, we have roped a third person, someone who's life does not matter to anyone out to hurt me, into our scheme. In addition, some strange mysterious third party has found out about what is going on, before I could make it all the way back here.

I've already put you on the spot by bringing you into my employ; and now we're adding the extra complication of me having to know and disapprove of a fake relationship -- a relationship that people might check into, including our mysterious spy on campus. That's complicated, and if that mysterious person goes back and confirms that you and Nailah are not a thing, then perhaps we have dug our hole more...

...And I'm jealous that you and Nailah get to go out and pretend like you're having a good time. I wanted to take you places; I wanted to go horseback riding and go out to eat and all sorts of things, and now I'm afraid if we do that, that I'm going to bring everything down upon my head.

All because I had to be this....this whatever I am," she frowned.

Jez folded her hands over her stomach, listening to Katarina's troubles. It was some time before she spoke again.

"Yeah, this is really not fair. And it's totally not fair to put all of the pressure on you for this. But what else is there? Do we just... give up? Do we... stop... being together?"

She reached out for Katarina's hand, resting it atop hers. "I really would like to go horseback riding with you sometime still. Just... I don't want you to have to risk everything just to enjoy yourself."

Katarina shook her head.

"I do not want to give up. I was raised to not give up. I just...do not yet see the way to get from here to a place where everything is OK.

Relationships do not tend to run well in the royal family. I do sometimes wonder what it would have been like if Mother and Father had cared for one another. Getting to be with someone you...someone you really feel is special is not the usual outcome in my life."

Katarina took Jez's hand again. "But just because something has not been done before does not mean it can be done going forward, yes? Your cover story is a good plan, even if it makes things much more complicated. And even if means my girlfriend is currently hanging around with my roommate. Princesses' don't get jealous, presumably," she said, with a wry smile. "And if it means that, for now, we have to be with each other only in private, I'm sure we can be...creative and figure how that will work."

"It's sad to say, but loveless marriages aren't exclusive to nobility. But I'm sorry all the same that it's true for your parents too."

Jez squeezed Katarina's hand. "Well, we don't have to limit being together just in private, if I'm going to be your handmaiden. We just have to keep the more intimate moments private, which is a compromise I'm willing to make."

The girl rolled onto her side to be closer to the princess, smiling. "And speaking of which, we're in private right now...."

"We are, indeed," Katarina said with a smile.

"You shall help me out of this dress now, I think, handmaiden -- and we'll see if I can't distract you from your new 'girlfriend'."

Jez bit her bottom lip, her cheeks flushing a bit. "As you wish, your excellency."

"Just think of it as one of your dress-up dolls, if you're uncomfortable," Katarina smiled, in a stage whisper.

Jez smirked and wrapped her arms around Katarina, snuggling in close and leaning in for a kiss before her eyes went wide and she let out a startled whoop.

"What? Are you alright?" Katarina said, with some alarm.

Jez nodded her head, stroking Katarina's arms in a reassuring fashion. "I'm fine. I just... we just jumped off the roof. That was... I didn't realize how much it'd remind me of, you know...."

"Shhh," Katarina said, pulling Jez in closer. "It's alright. You're with me; I've got you."

"I'm alright, I promise." Jez tried to reassure Katarina by giving her forehead a little kiss. "It wasn't a panic attack or anything, it was just a fright, that's all."

And then there were fingers tugging at the zipper to her dress. She had been asked to assist her, after all.

"Well, let us hope that you are less frightened in here than you are out there," Katarina said, stretching her arms out to make Jez's job easier.

"I dunno, maybe I like it when YOU make me scared." Jez smirked. At least she didn't waggle her eyebrows.

"Well, I can't leap off a building with you. But I suppose we could see what I can do if you don't live up to my exacting standards," she said, putting on her haughty 'better than you' voice. "We can't accept remedial work."

"Of course, your highness. Nothing but the best will do." Jez's voice was quieter and huskier as she leaned in to kiss the redhead's neck, fully committing to what they'd started.

"Yes, I think....I think you may just be worth some international intrigue. Though perhaps you can fully convince me," Katarina said, pulling Jez in closer.

Jez's hand combed through Katarina's hair, the girl muttering softly as things got heavier. "And a couple of little benefits to this arrangement... I help get your roommate out of here, and I'll know when she's coming back... and whether or not I can delay her."

And from the actions that followed, it appeared as though Jez was going to capitalize on that advantage to its fullest.

"Well, then. Let's see just how long you can delay her..."

((FTB))