jeckilon - Tumblr blog

jeckilon · 2 days ago

Text

Sanguinity: Chapter 3 a rebelcaptain regency au

“But I would venture to say,�� Bodhi added, “that there are times we cannot choose the people who will become part of our lives; one day they just enter and stay there—providence itself decides for us.”

“Well then,” Jyn said, “let us hope that in doing so, it is due to its benevolence, and that the people it chooses to grace us with will enrich the village.” She then briefly thought of the Andors, and found herself scouring the crowd, hoping to spot the sister. As for the brother, she did not know exactly what to look out for yet.

____

Everyone attends the Rook ball. Jyn hosts, seizes her prospects, and finally meets Cassian for the first time. Sparks fly.

Read Chapter 3 of Sanguinity below the cut, or check it out on ao3! Rating T.

The days passed by so gently, as though time floated along the easy winds of the spring. Friday came upon Endor Village like the quiet dawn, and before everyone knew it, the Rook ball, the first event of the season, finally commenced.

Just as the last drop of daylight faded from the sky, Mabayar Hall received its first carriage, which transported the visiting Donwells—Sir Donwell, his wife Mrs. Donwell, and their ward, James Donwell. Soon the hundred other people that had been invited to attend followed, which included, among a few other persons of importance, the Ersos, Philip Krennic (without his father, who had to be away on an important meeting), and to the curiosity of everyone present, the Andors.

About an hour into the merriment, Jyn had been quickly pulled aside, for Bodhi’s particular want of her counsel on the matter of the chandelier.

“I do not see what you have been worrying about, Mr. Rook,” said Jyn as they both stood by the corner of the ballroom, straining their necks to look at the fixture overhead. Streams of wax had already trickled down from the candles, their warm light softly fractured by the crystals. “I think it’s just right—neither ostentatious nor gauche.”

“As long as you are sure,” Mr. Rook said. “I thought the same myself, but I do not want to stir conversation about its being too much or too little.”

Jyn looked at her friend, her expression mirthful. “For a gentleman whose reputation has already been established, you certainly still do worry about what others regard of you.”

Bodhi, chuckling, replied, “I know you are above forsaking me, Miss Erso, if I threw the worst party in the world, but I am not sure the others will be as tolerant of such failings.”

“If that is the case,” replied Jyn, “which I highly doubt it would be, then the only failing on your part would be consorting with the wrong company. Sensible friends would know that there are much worse blunders than a dowdy chandelier to reserve such sentiments for. Perhaps it is simply a matter of choosing the people with whom we are to be.”

“And I have,” Bodhi agreed. “For you are my dear friend.”

Jyn smiled.

“But I would venture to say,” Bodhi added, “that there are times we cannot choose the people who will become part of our lives; one day they just enter and stay there—providence itself decides for us.”

“But I believe it has not renounced us thus far,” she finally continued after her failed attempt, “for our village is made up of do-good sorts of people, and I hope that whoever will enter it now will be the same. Which is why I beseech you, good friend, not to distress yourself.”

“You are right.” Bodhi nodded. “I do not believe anybody in this town has done or will do anybody anything in ill will, and over a trivial matter, no less.”

“I believe not, indeed.”

Just then, a man from across the room came into their view, with a light head of hair and an easy, airy strut.

Bodhi leaned in closer to Jyn to try and direct her gaze. “Look, it is Philip.”

Jyn, suddenly feeling alert, scrambled to spot the man in question from the crowd. “Oh.”

Bodhi then waved his hand in the air to capture the gentleman’s attention. “Mr. Krennic!”

The man’s face instantly lit up into a lopsided smile the moment he took notice of them. Jyn watched him, the object of her rather bizarre feelings for the last couple of weeks, pace towards their direction in big, perky strides.

“Miss Erso!” he called out. “Mr. Rook!”

When he stopped just before her, he gave her a curt nod, which Jyn cordially returned.

“Mr. Krennic,” she greeted. “I hope you are having a good time this evening.”

Philip grinned. “I am, now that I’ve finally spotted you two tonight.”

“What do you mean?” Bodhi asked, suddenly anxious. “Have you not been enjoying the ball?”

Philip laughed. “Oh, not because you have hosted a terrible one, no. I cannot imagine ever offending you and Miss Erso on that point! No, I have just been dealing with an important matter with Sir Donwell.”

This roused Jyn’s curiosity, for she very much liked Sir Donwell. “I hope he is all right?” she inquired. “And Mr. and Mrs. Donwell, too.”

“Oh, yes, quite all right,” Philip easily assured her. “They are as healthy as ever. They are playing cards in the waiting room, James with them. No, we have only been discussing certain matters—” here he stopped himself “—but forgive me, I need not trouble you with the dull specifics, as I imagine you two have this party to preoccupy yourselves with at the moment.”

“Speaking of,” Bodhi said gravely, his eyes directed towards a footman who fast approached them, a somewhat panicked look on his face.

“A matter in the kitchen, sir,” he said before Bodhi pulled him in for barely audible whispers. Just then, he requested to excuse himself from Jyn and Philip, effectively leaving them both alone together as he followed his footman outside the hall, and towards the kitchen downstairs.

The gentleman Jyn was now left with then beheld her with a beamed up expression. Jyn tried to pay it back with her own polite smile.

“So, Miss Erso,” he said, “you look like you could use a refreshment. Might I get you some?”

To this Jyn had no objection; she was beyond parched. Together, they snaked through the crowd until they reached the table topped with all sorts of confections and liquor.

Philip ladled some punch into a cup and handed it to Jyn. “I must say,” he said as he now arranged his own drink, “I am glad to have finally run into you, Miss Erso. I have been meaning to call on Vallt Park, but as I’ve been busy, I haven’t been able to.”

Jyn swallowed before responding. “Ah—it is no problem. I am sure Mama and Papa will be glad to receive you there should you find the time again.”

This seemed to delight the gentleman. “You shall see me soon, then.”

To this, Jyn only responded with an affirming nod.

Philip took a sip of his drink. “So tell me, have you been studying still?”

This finally sparked Jyn’s genuine interest. “Oh, yes, actually. I’ve been reading up on Southern English flora.”

Philip’s eyes lit up. Enthused, he remarked, “That sounds incredibly fascinating, Miss Erso.”

Jyn felt a small smile break across her face, realizing that the subject being brought up was helping ease her nerves. Infused with more confident energy, she said, “It really is. Though, when I went to the shop the other day, I found that there were no pamphlets on the subject at all.”

Philip’s eyes narrowed. “Oh?”

“Well, there are books, yes, but I do not imagine them to be as accessible, for they are either too thick or too advanced. A pamphlet, in my opinion, makes it easier for anyone to be more interested in botany, for it divulges information in tidbits. You can choose one that simply interests you, and from there you can begin to nurse a deeper enthusiasm for your preferred niche. I thought it a shame, really, when I discovered it.”

Philip nodded thoughtfully as he seemed to ponder on this. “I see. Yes, that is truly a shame. I myself have learned a thing or two from pamphlets, and so concur with you there.”

“More people ought to write such publications,” continued Jyn, “for I imagine, if written well, they would attract a good number of readers. I know for certain it would attract me.”

“They really ought to, yes.” Then, quite passionately Philip added, “It is regrettable to know that our great botanists have not yet found the sense you have long already had, Miss Erso. I am of hope that one day you shall finally find the pamphlet you seek—on every shelf, in every shop and library, and in all of England.”

Jyn watched him curiously, not at all insensible to the warm, if not fervent approbation he had given to her opinions.

“I must say,” she remarked, “I appreciate that you not only see my point, but also acquiesce to it, Mr. Krennic.”

Philip chuckled, swirling his drink. “I do not think there will ever be a time where I would not, if I’m being honest.”

Jyn knitted her brows. “Do you mean to say that you do not intend to ever disagree with me?”

After giving it some thought, Philip shook his head, his mouth down to a pout. “No. I do not find myself doing it.”

“Forgive me, Mr. Krennic, but that is absurd.” Jyn let out a sharp chuckle, characteristic of both incredulity and amusement. “What if I had been wrong? What if I had said there ought to be more pamphlets on the various methods of killing wildlife instead? Would you still take this opinion for yourself, merely because I had said it?”

“Well,” Philip explained, “if you did so to the best of your judgment, then you would be right, I still probably would.”

Jyn laughed in disbelief. “What if nothing else could have informed it but my lunacy?”

Philip smiled. “But you are not lunatic, Miss Erso. Nor did you say those things.”

Jyn beheld Philip in quiet amazement. She shook her head. “You esteem my opinion too much, Mr. Krennic. I hope you do not mind my saying so, but I sometimes think you’re too agreeable. Too agreeable for anyone’s good, in fact.”

“Is that such a bad thing?” Philip enthralled.

Jyn smiled. “Had I not known you for a while, I would totally suspect it.”

To this Philip did not reply, only laughed.

“Well,” Jyn posed, “must I, Mr. Krennic?”

Smiling, Philip said, “Forgive me. I do not mean to come off as sycophantic. If I seem like it, well, that is only because I regard your opinion with utmost value. You have, on several occasions, shared your wisdom which has hardly failed you. Not to mention, too, that you have always had a delightful disposition, which makes it difficult for anybody to disagree with.”

“But I do not mind disagreement,” insisted Jyn. “In fact, I prefer it, for I believe there is a fundamental difference in being correct because someone told me I was, and being correct because I was able to prove that I was. I find the latter to be more fulfilling, and above all more purposeful to the pursuit of knowledge.”

Philip grinned. “I suppose I’ll just have to agree to disagree.”

At this, Jyn could not help but muse again. But before she could say anything in return, a voice from somewhere behind her suddenly exclaimed:

“Miss Erso!”

Jyn spun around and saw there, filing through the crowd, the petite figure of her recent acquaintance, Kerri Andor. Behind her she pulled by the forearm a man of middling height and a dark head of hair. The black coat and matching waistcoat beneath that he wore made him stand out from the crowd—Jyn could only but stare.

From the distance she vaguely saw his features to be similar with Kerri’s. That was when she instantly surmised that he must be her brother.

Cassian Andor.

“Are those the Andors?” asked Philip, straining his eyes to spot them in the crowd.

“It would seem so,” replied Jyn, suddenly nervous.

Soon Kerri and her companion stopped to meet Jyn. “Miss Erso, I finally found you tonight!”

Jyn smiled and gave her acquaintance a bow. “Good evening, Miss Andor. I’m glad you made it.”

“I made it a point to, of course. I am immensely enjoying myself; you host quite a party! Nothing like the perfect opportunity for us to induct ourselves to the village.”

Jyn’s eyes then flitted to the man behind her, noting the blank yet vaguely curious expression on his face. Though she privately remarked that she had seen stone statue faces more animated than this, she also thought, even more privately, that the features that made it were not so unpleasant to behold.

For a brief moment their eyes met, at which she quickly looked away.

“Some introductions are in order,” said Kerri. Addressing Jyn she said, “Miss Erso, I’d like to finally introduce you to my brother, Cassian. Brother, meet Jyn Erso—” then when she realized that Jyn also had a companion herself “—and er…”

“Philip,” quickly intercepted Philip, a gleeful expression on his face. “Philip Krennic. I am a long-time friend of Miss Erso’s.”

Jyn curtsied, addressing Cassian. “Mr. Andor. Nice to finally meet you. Welcome to Endor Village.”

Cassian, a vague scowl now forming on his face, stiffly returned the greeting, and with significantly less gallantry. “Miss Erso.”

Jyn frowned.

Philip took a step forward. “It is great to finally meet you Miss Andor, Mr. Andor.” He offered Kerri a smile, and reached out a hand to Cassian.

Cassian just stared at the hand being extended to him, with seemingly no intent to take it. It took Kerri to lightly nudge his arm with her elbow for him to finally take it, though with a most visible reluctance, which, to Jyn, was just as bad as not receiving the handshake at all.

She found it odd, if not impolite.

“So,” Kerri said, her eyes narrowed in thought. “Mr. Krennic. Your name sounds familiar.”

“Hmm, you might have heard of my father,” replied Philip, “or my grandfather, for that matter. If you are involved in the affairs of shipbuilding, then it is likely. We invest in the trade, you see.”

“Ah, that must be it,” said Kerri, not quite convinced, but nodding. “My brother here briefly had some solicitor work done in that arena.”

“Did he now?” asked Philip, interested.

Kerri stared at her brother, expectant. Upon observing his general snobbish disposition, it was apparent to Jyn that Cassian had no desire to indulge the question, but when he registered his sister’s application, he finally said in a very clipped tone, “Yes, I did.”

Jyn—and Philip too, it seemed—expected him to supply the statement further, but a few seconds passed, and no such elaboration came.

Jyn was beginning to find no excuse for such impropriety.

To this, all Philip could say was, “Ah. Well, I suppose there’s no point in discussing such droll matters on an occasion such as this, am I right, Mr. Andor?” He laughed, then turned to Kerri. “So, Miss Andor, have you danced tonight yet?”

At that, Cassian’s frown seemed to deepen.

Kerri, however, remained oblivious to this. “I have not yet, actually,” she answered. “We’ve just arrived.”

“Well then,” said Philip, “I hope you allow me to be the first to receive the honor. My friend Miss Erso is already quite tired to even dance once—” he glanced at Jyn with a charmed smile “—so I entreat you, Miss Andor.”

He extended his hand. Where the brother had received such a gesture with total repugnance, his sister, on the other hand, took it with a light, easy grace. She glanced at her brother, and Jyn could tell by the intensity of their locked gazes that they were amounting to an unspoken disagreement.

Kerri would come out the winner, for ultimately, Cassian broke his gaze away first, and his sister, half-smiling, joined Philip to the dance floor triumphant.

As they commenced their uptempo waltz, Jyn suddenly became too aware that she now stood alone with the brother, and it would seem that neither she nor he were willing to break the air of awkward silence that hung about them.

They stood side by side, facing the ballroom floor. Jyn tried to glimpse a side-eye glance at him (who she realized considerably towered over her) only to find that he was also trying to do the same. Immediately he shifted his gaze towards his sister on the dance floor, a quiet indignance constant upon his countenance.

Too intrigued to ignore such behavior, Jyn finally spoke. “Are you not enjoying the party, Mr. Andor?”

To which, Cassian replied in a dismissive tone, “I had much rather be back at the house than be here.”

“You are liking Lah’mu Hall, then,” muttered Jyn bitterly under her breath.

Cassian did not respond.

She cleared her throat. “So, how has settling in been?”

The solicitor still did not respond. A few moments of silence passed without either one or the other speaking.

Jyn now took full offense for this impoliteness. “It’s true what has been said about you, Mr. Andor," she said pointedly. "You really are frugal in conversation.”

This finally elicited some type of reaction; Cassian turned his neck to face her.

“You might as well have been absent during our acquaintance,” Jyn continued, “for you did not much talk at all.”

After a few moments of him just staring at her, he finally spoke. “Well, Miss Erso, that usually happens when I find myself with company that does not warrant it.”

Jyn’s eyes widened, her mouth hanging open. “Excuse me?”

Cassian turned his face away and again returned to his silences.

Jyn could feel her blood begin to boil. “My, Mr. Andor,” she said in a tone of mockery, “have I not been interesting for you—not even enough to earn your basest civilities? Well then, forgive me for my insufficiency in meeting your expectations, so early into our introduction, no less.” She shifted her feet so she faced him. “Do enlighten me. When I had greeted you earlier, should I have already inquired into discussions of the suffering British economy, or the current uprisings and massacres following the calls for reform, or perhaps the long-standing question of parliamentary suffrage—not only for men, mind you, but for women, too?”

Cassian looked at her again, during which he seemed to be now carefully and intently observing the features of her countenance. He remained unflinching, however, in his indifference.

“Because I would have, Mr. Andor,” Jyn continued smugly, “but I had a feeling I should not have with you. And I was right.”

They then both found themselves in a staredown, with Jyn noticing, despite her budding abhorrence, the deep brown of Cassian’s eyes.

The look on his face began to change; his mouth slowly broke into a small, dry smile.

“Do I amuse you?” demanded Jyn.

Ignoring this question, Cassian said, rather sharply, “So, it’s true what has been said about you, Miss Erso.”

“What?”

“You have been given liberties much more than is due yourself.”

Jyn glowered. “For a man who so terribly wants to be interesting, that is a rather blasé predilection. I ought not to be given liberties? Why, because I am a lady?”

“Because it haphazardly bloats your self-importance,” answered Cassian. “And it is begging to make itself known to everybody.”

Jyn laughed dryly, so audibly that it captured the attention of a gentleman within her vicinity. “Now I’m unworthy of your conversation and self-important. Come on, Mr. Andor. You can try to be more unsubtle in showing your displeasure.”

“I am not displeased.”

“Oh I had much rather you were, if I’m being honest. I would hate to think this is your natural state.”

“What would that be?”

“Perpetually unpleasant.”

Cassian smiled coldly. “That does not offend me, for I do not imagine anybody pleases you much.”

“So says the man who has not shown a single sign of delight upon our introduction.”

Now Cassian motioned himself so that he now faced her. “Why?” he asked. “Have you just not, before even meeting me, already had presuppositions about my character? Why should I be glad to meet someone who already has prejudices against me? You’ve just admitted to having them.”

Jyn scoffed. “Not that I have to clarify my position to you, Mr. Andor, but I had actually hoped to make a pleasant acquaintance with you tonight, as your sister and my father have attested to your good character. And yet as I face you now, I admit I am lost, for I do not see a single modicum of pleasantness in you. You accuse me of prejudice, and yet you do nothing now to prove it wrong. You cannot hope to absolve yourself of my opinion if you are so solidly fixing it to me as fact.”

That was when Cassian stepped closer, bridging the considerable gap between them much shorter. Gravely, he said, “I do not believe I have to prove myself to you.”

“Clearly, you do not.” Jyn laughed. “But it humors me so that I seem to have so severely irked you—and without my even doing anything. What could I have possibly done to warrant myself a treatment of such boorish manner, Mr. Andor? Or are you just so dreadful that you make it a point to be mean because you can be?”

Cassian scoffed, which made Jyn roll her eyes.

“Is that all you can do?” she challenged. “Grunt and mumble and brood?”

Cassian slowly shook his head. “Clearly you are so caught up in your own head, so lost in your own perfect little world that you fail to see the answer to your question as it stands, plain as the day.”

“What?” Total bewilderment overtook Jyn’s countenance, for she had absolutely no idea what he meant.

She could hardly believe it. What an incredibly obnoxious man! What a truly ill-natured being for the new owner of her childhood home, and above all, her new very close neighbor! It quickly occurred to her that his arrival, as it turned out, did not signify a pleasant addition to the village; it only signified that he would plague it with his total lowliness.

“You truly surprise me, Mr. Andor,” she snarled. “I did not know anyone could be so unlikeable as you. And yet, as it stands, I suppose I find endless repose in the revelation that I had been right about you all along.”

Cassian let out a sharp gust of air through his nose. “Does that make you feel better about yourself? Being right?”

Jyn shrugged, and erected herself to a proud stance. “It very much does.”

Just then, the waltz had finished, and Jyn saw Kerri walking back with Philip, a smile on both their faces as they laughed about something funny. Briefly they joined Jyn and Cassian, and they became a party of four again.

“That was splendid,” Kerri beamed, addressing her brother.

Philip, in observing Jyn’s grim expression, asked, “Is something the matter, Miss Erso?”

Jyn, who had been looking at Cassian the entire time, finally broke her gaze to address Philip. “No, Mr. Krennic. Not quite.”

“We must leave, Kerri,” suddenly spoke Cassian, meeting his sister’s eyes.

“But I would like to talk some more with Miss Erso,” Kerri said.

Cassian seemed ready with a reason against their staying, but Jyn, unwilling to give him the satisfaction, went on ahead and said, “I’m afraid I have to attend to something myself, Miss Andor. I am required there now, as a matter of fact. I only waited for you to finish to properly excuse myself.”

Kerri looked disappointed. “All right,” she said, uncertain. “Well, I at least hope to find you again tonight, if you would please. I have much I would like to talk about with you, Miss Erso.”

Jyn tried her best to nod and smile reassuringly. “I hope so too.”

She gave Cassian one last look before she finally gave everyone a parting bow, turned on her heel, and walked away.

For some time after that, Jyn tried to spend a good few minutes on casual conversation with guests, but her irritation had gotten the best of her that she did not understand a single word they had said.

So she made the decision to head down to the kitchen instead. But before she could even reach the stairs, Bodhi had already found his way up and was on his way back to the party.

He met her in the hallway. “You look irritated,” he observed with concern. “Did something happen while I was gone?”

Jyn, her fists balled so tightly her fingernails could rip through her glove and pierce her palms, replied, “I met Mr. Andor.”

Bodhi’s face turned cautious. “And…was he not to your liking?”

“More like I am not to his liking, Mr. Rook, which I suppose, yes, makes him not to my liking.” She took a deep breath through her nose. “He is beyond improper, and not to mention hopelessly self-important!”

“What?” Bodhi replied, incredulous. “That is impossible. I wouldn’t have recommended him to Mr. Erso if he was. I mean, did he not like him, too?”

Jyn threw her arms in the air and let them fall back down against her thighs. “Well then, it would seem that he made a special, particular exception for me to this boundless agreeableness you speak of. I find it hard to believe that we talk of the same person. I am telling you, I have never met someone so unpleasant!”

Bodhi watched as Jyn paced back and forth in an attempt to dispel her anger. He had never seen his friend in such a state of distress over anybody before. “Miss Erso, you seem really agitated by him.”

“He is, without a doubt, the worst person I have ever met in my entire life,” she proclaimed with conviction. “I do not care if we are neighbors; I should hope to never see him again. For if I do, I shall hate him forever. And that is a promise, Mr. Rook.”

Jyn would soon remember, of course, that she would soon see Cassian again, when he would finally fulfill his commitment to calling on the Ersos at Vallt Park a few days from now.

#omgggg #I love this fic so much 😭#can’t wait to read the new chapter <33 #rebelcaptain #fic recs

17 notes · View notes