you're ripped at every edge

"Yes, my prince," Nixie spoke softly, bringing the tea and a cookie over to him. Although he told her to sit on his lap, she took her seat beside him, turning so she faced him and placing one leg over the other across his lap. She brought the cookie up to his lips so he could take a bite. Inwardly, Nixie was just thankful that this plan of hers wasn't backfiring and ruined everything. She held the tea out for him to take. "Careful, my prince, it's hot," she warned, looking up into his eyes. If Prince Jason wasn't such a massive entitles prick, she might have found him attractive. Sparkling blue eyes, curly blond hair and beautiful lips that she wouldn't mind kissing - if he wasn't a jerk.

---

"I hope I have not made you uncomfortable," Beck said, taking a quick glance to her before looking back out across the garden. They were coming up to one of the many fountains. When he was little, his nanny told him that little water pixies lived in the fountains and he had begged his parents for more water attractions in the garden in hopes of seeing one, one day. He was sure now that she was just telling tales, but there were always little things he picked up from even the servants. They all didn't seem entirely human. Maybe that was just his mind wanting to believe in the impossible though.

"I do not want my brother to inherit the throne," he admitted, then realising how that might sound: like a jealous brother. "Yes, I would like to reign, but I do not believe my brother would be able to do it. He does not care about the people, only of himself and who will sleep in his bed that night. I would not like to see you become one of his conquests. I do not think it would suit you, but do not think that I am commanding you that. You are here on your free will, and you may do as you wish. I only felt the need to voice my opinion." Beck wondered if he was stepping over some line.

Jason was about to admonish her not sitting down on his lap like he asked, but bit his bottom lip instead when she put her legs crossed over his lap. He took a bite from the cookie that she had offered him, swallowing and giving her a smile. He took the tea from her carefully as she had warned him to, and blew on it a little to cool it before taking a sip.

"Thank you Nixie, for bringing me these things. Have you eaten today? You should have some," He offered, one of his hands going down to rest on her knee, giving it a little pat before getting up and going to get the tray. Jason brought it back and put it on the bed beside them, lowering the cup to it and grabbing a cookie. He held it up to her, smiling, waiting for her to take a bite. "You look very beautiful in this outfit. Did you sew it yourself?" Jason asked.

---

Cassandra perked up a bit when she noticed the fountain up in front of them, and she was eager when they arrived closer to it. She sat down on its edge, trailing her fingertips through the water and causing ripples. When Beck began talking, she looked over to him, her eyes remaining on him so that he knew she was paying attention. "You haven't made me uncomfortable, more flattered than anything," She responded at first, nodding along with his talk about his brother and the throne.

"I do not think it's my place to say who would be a better King, all that I know is that you seem to be compassionate and kind, and that would be everything and more that this kingdom would need," Cassie said, and turned her face back down towards the water. Her fingers moved and the water responded, rearing up in small waves and curling around on itself, making intriguing patterns slightly elevated in the air.

"I appreciate your concern. Your brother, however, is not of my tastes. I do not intend to be with someone who abuses their power as does he. I cannot see the good in it, and I am not sorry for it. I find my attraction in people's hearts, and his does not seem right for mine," She explained, and turned to smile at him when she was done.

Nixie was honestly surprised he was being kinder to her while she wore her altered uniform. She shouldn't have expected anything else from him now that she was dressed like this. She was about to refuse his offer to share the cookies she brought, but only realise that she hadn't really ate that day. "Thank you, my prince," she smiled softly, taking a bite from the cookie when he returned, and replaced her legs back across his lap. She chewed, swallowed, and took the cookie she bit into out of his hand before speaking, "Yes, I did, my prince, I thought you might enjoy me in this far more than the previous uniform required."

Nixie's hair fell into her face, and she pushed it back behind an ear to keep it back. "Is there anything I can get you, my prince?" she asked him, taking another bite of the cookie. Servants weren't normally allowed to eat the food prepared for the royal family; they ate at separate times in different places, meals consisted of what wasn't deemed fit for the family. She could have traded this single cookie for even a better room in their quarters.

---

Beck sat himself down beside her at the fountain, happy that she seemed to find it as beautiful as he did. "Thank you, for your kind, honest words. It is very rare to find someone who will speak their mind as you did," he said, smiling. He was thankful that she was not interested in his brother. He would only cause pain and misery, like that he has caused his previous maids, toying with their hearts and emotions. Beck did not think that he would be able to bear to see Cassie in the same situation.

"I am very glad you see it that way," he spoke, "I will always love my brother, but I feel like unless he changes his ways, he will never find someone to marry, someone to love. They will all continue to become his playthings until he grows bored and moves onto the next." Beck shook his head. "Nothing more about my brother. Tell me about where you grew up, if you will?" he asked of her.

"I do enjoy this, however, I would rather no one else saw it. You'll keep it just for me, yeah? It's honestly beautiful, the sewing done is quite lovely, and it compliments you well," He said with a small hum, grabbing another cookie then for himself and taking a bite. As he chewed, he looked over to her, to her eyes, and wondered where they had come from.

"Where did you come from? Did you- did you have family before you came here?" He asked then, curious to get to know her for one of the first times. Usually he didn't really care much for backstories, just cared for the moment and that they were here, none of the other stuff really ever mattered to him.

Something about Nixie kept him absolutely intrigued, however. She always managed to surprise him in ways that he couldn't predict, in which he had never really experienced before. All of his previous maids usually failed many tasks and got so fumbled over how attractive he was or how he treated them that he got so tired of them easily. He usually took advantage of them being starstruck over him being the prince, but he usually hated it. Everyone was so excited because of his lineage but never of himself, just his position, just that they could say that they could see him when he woke up or knew what he wanted to eat for breakfast.

One of his hands returned to her knee, resting there, his thumb slightly rubbing circles into the skin there. It was after he had finished his cookie, and he sipped tea with his other hand as he looked over to her.

---

She nodded her head when he thanked her, humming in affirmation. "I do always worry about crossing a line with my opinions, since I've never really apologetic about them. Thank you for listening and finding them admirable," Cassie responded, and looked over to him in surprise when he asked her of where she had come from. "No one really ever asks me that question," She said softly, a little breathy laugh following.

"I grew up about a several weeks journey South of here. It's a little town on the edge of a forest that ever since I was a child, I was told stories of. Everyone always talked about how it was an enchanted forest, and only those of powerful magical ability were able to make their way out. Many journeyed to our town because of this, as everyone wanted to see what it was that was contained within the woods. I watched many walk in and never come back out. All of the children were always.. hesitant about those woods, but never scared. They never seemed to be a devious thing, we all figured that those who were lost inside were taken to other places around the world when they were unworthy of the forest. There were those that were negative, but I always remained strong in my beliefs," She took a moment to smile into the water, returning her fingers to the water lapping at the tiled edges.

"That's a story for another time, however. I grew up with my Mum, mostly, as my Father was the town leader and a teacher in the school that we had, teaching kids magic and the sort, and I didn't see him as often. My parents loved each other dearly, so I grew up with a lot of love. I was an only child, but I loved our small family. We had the greatest festivities and holidays, and the food, my Gods, I'd love to go back and rest for awhile and just eat myself away," Cassie laughed, then, her head tilting back with the memory as it poured from her lips.

"There was a small lake just outside of the town that all of the children played in when it grew warmer. It's where I first discovered my magic. I was five years old, and I had gone alone because my parents were both busy with other matters. I was swimming around in the shallow end of the water when I slipped on a rock and fell. I began drowning, and I believe that was the scariest moment of my life so far. I saw my parents faces, all of the people in town and how I might never see them again. Thinking about my parents was the worst, and the feeling in my chest, not even just the lack of oxygen, but never seeing them again, broke my heart. My magic came to me, then, in that moment. I controlled the water around me to propel me to the surface, and carried myself to shore. I've always been the closest with water, and it's been the easiest for me to control since then," She finished, and looked over to his eyes and colored pink.

"My Gods, I've been rambling, haven't I?" She said with a little giggle, covering her mouth with her hand.

Nixie nodded her head, "Yes, my prince, I will be sure to only wear this for your eyes." She wondered for a moment why he would want her to only wear this in private with him. Surely he would have wanted to parade her around like a little lap dog to anyone he passed. Was it that he would be jealous of looks from the guardsmen or any other male in the castle?

She laughed at his question before hastily covering her mouth, wishing to take back her laughter. "Forgive me, my prince, I did not mean to laugh. It was just, do we not all have a family at some point? Whether it be in your mother's womb, an orphanage full of rowdy children, or growing up with one or both parents?" she asked, looking to him. "I did have a family. I grew up to the far west of the castle, by the sea. It was this very small village where we lived off the fish caught that day and any crop we could harvest. My father was one of the fishermen, so we lived right next to the sea where he would wake up before the sun rose and wouldn't return until after it sank later in the night. Often times we, my mother, brothers, and I, would not see him for days, but when he returned he would bring back barrels of sea life. He was always such a happy, happy man." Nixie's voice grew soft as she spoke, playing with the hem of her skirt lightly, something to keep her fingers occupied.

"My mother used to patch clothing for the other villagers for a few cents here and there until she could afford herbs. She started her own little garden and used them to heal the wounds the fishermen would return with or illnesses. She was very good at what she did. Unfortunately, she grew sick, and passed a few weeks later. She taught me what she knew, hoping I would be able to continue her work. And I did, for a little while. Cove and Jordan, my brothers, took up fishing with my father, even if that was the last thing they wanted to do. Even then, it was not enough to pay our dues and feed us at the same time, especially with rising taxes.

Nixie shook her head, thinking of her family. "I worked as a barkeep for a while, my father protested that action, and eventually I came here. I send all my pay to them." Nixie had to stop talking. He couldn't have been that interested in her. He could not have wanted to know all that about her. She tried not to focus on his hand resting on her leg, or the calming effect it was bringing her.

---

Beck listened to her with a grand interest. Everyone had their own story and if he could spend the rest of his days listening to them all, he would. Cassie had this look on her face while she spoke, one that he could study for days and never look away. He wanted to memorise every little intimate detail of her face, from her little nose to her bright eyes, which hinted at light circles beneath from light sleep, probably from her journey here. "I would imagine that would be the scariest and worst way to discover your affinity towards magics," he murmured.

"I've heard of that forest before, I think I read about it in a book once. I've always wanted to see it. Will you tell me more about it one day?" Beck asked her, "And do not apologise for rambling, I really enjoy hearing about other people."

Jason became intrigued with her story, having set down his tea cup and set his other hand down near her ankle, where his fingers subconsciously started to massage the skin there. "I've only been there once before, when I was young. I didn't get to see much of it since I was small and inside the carriage, but I remember the ocean. I always want to go back there and see it," He murmured, once she was finished, and looked down to her leg then, where he was still rubbing small circles. "I'm sorry about your Mum, too," Jason said, his voice still as soft.

"If you could choose something that you would love to do, what would it be? If you could live comfortably without having any dependency on work, would you keep on with your Mother's practice?" He asked, his eyes trailing to hers, then. They were soft, as was his expression.

---

"It was terrifying, but I am thankful for the growth that I have made since then. I would not be the person I am today without it," she replied, watching him look at her and feeling like he was looking at her more retrospectively than she had ever felt she had been by someone. It felt like looking into her eyes was like he was looking into her soul, which she felt like many would never take the time to.

"I will tell you more. I will even maybe tell you about how I walked through it," She told him, a mischievous smile on her lips, her eyes twinkling with it. "I'm glad that you like to hear about people. I have many stories that I've always wanted to divulge," Cassandra said with a little giggle.

"I do have a question though. I hope that I'm not overstepping any boundaries we have set here, but was your brother being truthful about you having not had experience with girls? It's just, you're so handsome, and kind, and a prince, I feel like it would be easy for you to find someone who would think of you as the stars and moon," She said, looking down then, afraid of his reaction.

Nixie smiled, glad he knew of her village, of the place she called her home. She missed it so dearly, so much it made her ache. "It is alright. It happened long ago, that I am done crying," she assured him, placing one of her hands over his own. Her movements were gentle and meant nothing more than reassurance.

She nodded her head at his question. "Without a doubt, I would carry on my mother's practice. Unfortunately, I do not believe that will be possible for me. I will spend my days here, serving you until you grow bored of me, and then I will go to a different part of the castle. I do not believe that I will be able to take on fully what my mother did as long as I am here. Please, my prince, do not think that I am complaining. I do enjoy my work here, and every day I spend here, is another day that my brothers can go on learning the crafts that they wish and making a family one day." She didn't tell him about her secret garden, about the herbs she already tended to. She thought that was best to keep a secret.

---

His eyes grew in surprised when Cassie spoke about walking through the forest and he wanted to much to ask, but held his tongue. It would be for a different day. "I will listen to any story you wish to confide in me," he smiled at her.

Beck grew a little bashful at her question, but nodded. "In a way, yes, but also no. I have slept with women, I have had flings, but nothing that interested both them and myself. It would be easy to find someone to think of me like that, but I also need to feel something for them as well. I need to feel like I could not breathe another breath without them by my side. I want them to be my sun and moon and all of my stars and be the person to push me to be better than I ever thought I could be, all while hopefully, they feel the same for me. It is not a very easy thing to find in a woman where most around here only want a higher title," he answered, dipping a finger in the fountain and drawing absent patters. He didn't realise that where his finger was travelling made the water there, and only there, to freeze.

When she placed one of her hands over his own, he smiled to himself, and upturned his hand so that he could thread his fingers through hers. He wasn't quite sure why he did it, but it did feel right in the moment to do so. When he heard that she would wish to continue her mother's practice, he looked to her. "You should, you know. It would honor her in the best way," He said, and he met her eyes and hoped he looked as earnest as he felt.

"I wouldn't mind if you would like to. I would even give you some money if you'd like to go into town and buy some different seeds and plants. If anything, I'd be jealous. I'd love to go into town, as I am never able to do anything as simple as that without having everyone react, and bow, and kneel, and while it's nice to see how loyal they are to the royalty, sometimes I wish I could just walk through. I heard that there's this bookstore in town that gets books from faraway lands. I'd send someone for me, but it doesn't feel the same when someone else picks it out. I like- I like to feel the spine, and how heavy it is, and inspect the pages. Books are one of the things in this world that I feel like I do truly love," He stops speaking for a moment, realising that he'd just talked for so long, about something that he was sure he had never really personally shared with anyone.

"Either way, I do believe that your time here isn't the best due to me being.. The way that I am. All of my previous maids were always so superficial. They all only cared for my title and not my person. I think it's made me a certain type of way.. that isn't the best to get along with. You are the only one who hasn't put up with all my bullshit, which is feat upon it's own. I would like to repay you, at best, by helping you with this. By helping you continue your Mother's legacy," Jason finished, and squeezed her hand in his, then.

---

She nodded her head along as he spoke to her, agreeing to most of what he was saying, and got distracted once he put his fingers in the water, watching them absentmindedly as he talked. It took her a minute before she noticed the water freezing behind where his fingers had trailed, and she exclaimed a noise, out loud, that she was unaware she was able to make. "Beck! Look! You're freezing the water!" Cassandra said, a bright smile on her lips as she laughed in pure excitement.

"That's absolutely amazing! Everything you're doing is freezing. Do you think maybe you have an inclination towards the cold? Perhaps you were unable to warm the cup without my help because maybe that's not where your magic lies. Have you ever tried freezing things before?" Cassie started rambling, filled with happiness at this revelation, almost bouncing where she sat.

Nixie didn't notice him flipping his hand over and lacing together their fingers, and she surely didn't notice how nicely their hands fit together, like the space between their fingers were meant for each other. She listened to his kind words about supporting her want to continue her mother's work, about how he so strongly wanted to go to a single bookstore in town, and about how, although she was different than his previous maids, that her time was limited here. "My prince, it will not be so easy to get rid of me. As you know, I am good at my job, and I would hope no matter what mood you find yourself in, that you would realise it would not be a good idea to let go of me," she said, voice soft, and hoping that she wasn't speaking out of turn. It was hard, most of the time, to have to hold her tongue. Nixie was not used to that. She was used to cursing the drunken men in the bar she used to work in, to goofing around with fishermen and sailor. She was not used to keeping herself censored or mute. It was not fun.

Her face lit up with an idea, smile wide as she looked to him. "Would you fancy going on an adventure, my prince? Get you out of these clothes and into more commoner type and going into town?" she asked him. Maybe if he didn't dress like he was royal, then people wouldn't think that he was. She was sure she could find something in his closet that wouldn't make him look like a prince. It would work.

---

Beck was startled when she spoke, excited, and he yanked his fingers from the water. He turned to look at the water in the fountain, seeing the frozen bits floating around. "I.. I did that?" he asked, surprised and in disbelief. He would have never in his life thought that he would have been able to do that.

"I've never tried this before, anything like this," he admitted. Beck placed his hand just above the water, barely touching, and waving it over. Nothing happened at first. He tried again, closing his eyes and trying not to think about it to hard. He thought about Cassie's smile and the village she grew up in, her believing in him and he tried once more, waving his hand just overtop of the water and slowly the water started freezing over.

Jason held her hand tighter, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to let her know that it was there. "I don't want you to stop being my maid at all, Nixie. I like you way, way too much for that. I was simply stating that I would allow you to take some spare time from being my maid to pursue what you would like. I know that you need the money, and I understand, but I also want you to be happy. If your brothers are able to pursue their passion, why not you?" He stated, and brought her hand up, then, to kiss the top of it. "I don't want you to hate this. I want you to be happy," Jason murmured, before setting their hands back down on her legs.

At her idea, the biggest smile grew on his lips, and his eyes glowed with the proposition. "I would love that, Nixie. As long as you are with me, I would very much enjoy it. And since it's growing dark soon, I'm sure I would be less recognizable even with different clothing," He stated, and patted her leg with his free hand. "Do you think I have something that would work? I'm sure I have a cloak in there as well. Do you have something to wear? As much as I like you in these clothes, I would much prefer they stay for my eyes only," Jason murmured, looking back over to her, his smile still lingering on his lips.

---

She hummed and nodded her head in affirmation when he asked if he was the one who caused the frozen pieces of ice in the fountain. "You're absolutely incredible, Beck. It's so beautiful," She murmured, watching as he once again tried to focus, and in a moment, starting freezing over the whole fountain. "You've made so much progress and you're doing such a fantastic job. I knew you had it in you, I could feel it. Your magic is very powerful," Cassie murmured.

Once the whole fountain had frozen, even the top where it would flourish out, she looked over to Beck, still smiling brilliantly. "I'm so proud. Can I? I want to feel it," Cassandra said, and reached out both of her hands, palms up.

Nixie smiled, happy to know that he supported her want and need to continue on her mother's work. It would bring her so much joy to be able to do that. She would no longer have to hide her garden from him, being able to freely go out and tend to it as she wished. She guessed with the exception of tending to Jason as well.

She ducked her head at his comment about being happy as long as she was there. "I am positive there is something in your closet to wear. Would you like me to pick you out something to wear before going to my quarters and finding something for myself?" she asked him, before standing up and smoothing out the skirt of her uniform. She had worn a cloak overtop to get to his room without the looks of everyone she passed, so she would just put that back on before going back to her room. She still had a few things to wear that wasn't any part of her uniform, something would match and work for her.

---

Beck was still so amazed by himself. He started at his hands, completely in disbelief that he was able to do that. "Um, yes, yes," he stammered out, realising that she was talking and gods, that made him feel embarrassed. He placed his hands on top of hers. They felt so warm on his skin, her hands, skin.

"Of course. You would know better than I since you've spent more time in the town than I have," He said, and watched as she went over to his closet. Jason couldn't help but admire her body once more, and how good she looked in the outfit. He wished to spend more time with her in it, but knew there would be more later if she continued to visit him in it. It was hard to resist touching her as well, the warmth of her legs on his now gone leaving an ache in his chest that he was unfamiliar with.

Once she found something for him to wear, he took the clothes from her with a smile. "I'll get dressed. You go ahead and go to your quarters and find something to wear yourself and get changed. I'll go and meet you outside of the kitchens, the entrance to the gardens. We can sneak out that way without the guards seeing us, I believe," Jason told her, and put his clothes down on his bed to gather up the cloak that she had worn on her way to his bedroom.

He brought it over to her and unfurled it, reaching around her to bring it over her shoulders, tying the tie in the front into a bow for her. "There you are," He said softly, giving her a smile. "I'll see you in a few minutes," He said, before turning and beginning to take off his shirt, letting it drop to the bed as he changed into what she had picked for him.

---

When Beck placed his hands on hers she instantly felt the magic that coursed through his fingertips, and she gasped, softly. Her eyes closed suddenly when she was overcome with the intensity of the magic there, at the unfurling of such a concentration of energy that was awakening inside of him. She gripped his hands tightly as she almost choked with it, her head bowing down as she was entranced by the images that flashed by her closed eyelids.

She saw herself, several times, laughing, the water freezing over, and over, the warmth of her own magic, intertwining with his. She saw blue embers engulfed in flames, darkened figures against a flaming sky, the two of them pressed so closely together. It was then that she saw herself in Beck's eyes, looming over him, bare with her hair tumbling down over her shoulders. The vision closed in on her neck, and she felt the fire grow, almost so hot it was freezing cold.

It was then that she pulled her hands back with a gasp, clutching them together and bringing them to her chest. It was a moment before her eyelashes fluttered open, and she was sure her mouth was open in awe. Her heart was beating fast enough that she felt like she had been running for miles, and her breath was coming so fast she didn't even notice it until she felt her ears clear and she could hear again.

Nixie picked out his clothes and handed them to him, nodding her head at his words. She let him pull the cloak around her, tying it. "Thank you, my prince, I will see you soon." She sent him one last smile before slipping out of his room and heading to her own. There, she found a pretty pale blue dress that reached her knees with a lower neckline and straps. It was something she had picked up to wear at her job as a barkeep not too long before she found out that the royals requested her service. She laced on a pair of flats that a dancer would wear and applied a little makeup so she didn't look so awful. Nixie pulled the cloak back on, tying it up, before heading back out towards the kitchens and entrance to the gardens like he told her to. A last minute decision lead her to slipping into the kitchen to grab two apples before going to where he said to meet.

---

Beck felt her warmth with her hands in his and his eyes slid shut. It felt like only moments before he heard her gasp and his eyes flew open, looking to her with concern as she yanked her hands back away from his. "Cassie," Beck asked, "are you alright? Did you see something?" Her breathing was ragged and her look was worrisome to him. Beck repeated himself, "Are you alright?"

Jason finished pulling on the clothes that Nixie had picked for him and walked over to his closet, looking for the hooded cloak that he knew he had there. He found it nearly in the back and pulled it out, carrying it in his arms as he made his way through the castle and out to the gardens. As he waited for Nixie, he pulled it over his shoulders, leaving the hood down for the moment.

He was leaning against the castle wall, arms crossed, when Nixie came through the doorway where he told her to meet him. He smiled when he saw her, and when she turned towards him, was in shock to see her the most beautiful he had ever seen. The blue dress she was wearing was absolutely gorgeous, and she looked delicate and pretty in her dancer's shoes. "You look absolutely incredible, Nix," Jason murmured, and reached out for her then, softly wrapping his fingers around her wrist. His thumb rubbed the palm of her hand as he admired her for a second longer.

---

Cassie took a moment to calm down, waiting until she had more control over her breathing before speaking. She lowered her hands to her lap, keeping them curled together and nervously entwining her fingers in different patterns. She was aware of Beck's concern, and only waited a moment more before looking back to him, meeting his eyes and blushing despite herself.

"I'm fine. You're very powerful, Beck. Beyond anything that I could ever imagine. I- I've had visions before, but, never when touching another person. Only touching certain objects have I been able to peer into the future or see a memory, but, never with a person," She said, her voice slow and soft, her eyes darting away from his as she spoke of seeing the future.

"I haven't shared with anyone that I am able to see the future, and memories. I don't want others to be intimidated by me. I- I didn't mean to see what I did, and I hope that you understand I never had the intention. I didn't even know that it was possible," She said with a breathy laugh, slightly nervous.

Nixie gave him a bright smile. "Thank you, my prince," she ducked her head a little, trying to ignore the feeling he gave her when he wrapped his fingers around her wrist. She told herself she would not become like his previous maids: lovestruck and hopeless, she wouldn't. She couldn't.

Nixie held one of the apples out to him, "I thought I would grab a snack, in case you were feeling hungry," she offered to him, hoping to take his mind off of her and onto either eating or heading out to the town, which was a short walk or horse ride away, whichever he decided. "When we get into town, you will want to still be careful, my prince, everyone is not always so nice to fellow people," she told him, just as a warning. It seemed still a little too early for the drunks to be out and about, and pickpocketers only tried in the middle of the day or on the poor drunks. Nixie figured they would be fine. "Shall we head out?"

---

Beck let out a sigh of relief when she stated that she was alright. As she went on to explain that she could see the future and memories, it only intrigued him more and made him wonder just what she saw to cause that much of a reaction out of her. "I am glad you are fine, Cassie, and with you telling me I am powerful, I would have never thought of that. But, I must ask, and you do not have you answer, but what did you see?" he looked to her, reaching a hand up to brush hair away from her eyes gently, slowly, to not startle her. "I swear to not tell a soul about your visions, and I take no offense to you seeing anything from me, afterall, it is something you cannot help, right?"

Jason took the apple that she offered him and placed it inside a pocket of his cloak, to save for once they were in town. "Thank you, that was lovely of you to think of," he told her, and looked towards the gates that led from the gardens to outside of the castle. "Shall we walk? It's a lovely evening," He told her, and let his hand slip down and tangle with hers, leading her towards the exit.

At her comment about the town not containing nice people, he let out a laugh, tilting his head back slightly with it. "It's a good thing I'm not very nice, either, then," he said as they left the gate, effectively leaving the castle without alerting anyone. The sun was setting so it was still light out, but Jason brought up the palm of his free hand and ignited a burning flame there, to illuminate the area around them.

It wasn't long before they were approaching the town, and it glowed with the luminescence of the moon and stars, but the scattered lamp posts lit up with flames. He brought his hood up, then, down enough to cover the features of his face, and distinguished the light in his palm.

"Lead the way, Nix, to whatever store you wish," Jason told her, looking over to her with a smirk on his lips. He was feeling quite exhilarated having left the castle with her, as he'd only done it once before and been caught, anyways, since he was drunk and looking for attention. It was even more exciting to have her at his side, being able to lead the way through the town that he was not familiar with.

---

Cassie was quiet for a long moment after he had asked her what she had seen. She was transfixed at the feeling of his fingertips coming up to brush her hair away from her eyes, and once he had done so, she looked to him with a soft smile, eyes fond.

"Thank you for your support and for keeping my secret. For that, I am very grateful," She murmured, and it was a moment before she reached forward with one hand, taking his that had just pushed her hair away, and curling her fingers with his. She felt more balanced, more at peace, once she had done so.

"At first I saw you freezing things, over and over, and then I felt the mixing of our powers, the warmth of mine, the coolness of yours. I saw two figures standing closely together, dark silhouettes against a background, a setting sun," It was at this moment she became quiet again, her cheeks flaring up with a blush that she knew gave everything away.

"The next moment I was seeing things through your own eyes. I saw myself, sitting on top of you. I was- bare, and you reached forward to kiss my neck before I pulled away from the vision, to stop myself from seeing more," She smiled shyly, then, finally looking to him to see the expression and the emotion in his eyes. For a moment, she hoped that telling him wouldn't ruin it, but trusted in the fate of the future to not shift, knowing that this moment was probably planned, that the magic had brought them together.

"I didn't want to ruin it for myself, to know what would happen after that. But I could guess," She said with a small laugh, and ducked her head again, shy for what she had said, for how deeply she was probably blushing.

Nixie let herself enjoy the feeling of the prince's hand in her own, not wanting to pull away. She wanted to remember the moments that he was kind to her, for she was sure there wouldn't be too many like this. "Walking is fine," she said, before bringing her own apple to her mouth and taking a bite. She ate her apple on their journey with their path illuminated by Jason's magic, only to have it disappear when they were close enough. She hadn't bothered to pull her own hook up over her face, as no one would recognise her like they would the prince.

"This way," she told him, leading him easily through the people, being careful not to bump into any of them, and into a small bookstore on a corner, her hand still in his. "You know, m-Jason," Nixie had to quickly correct herself, "you aren't always such a mean person." She let her fingers skim along the spines of leather-bound books, pulling out any that caught her attention to flip through and eventually place back on the shelf.

---

Their hands together made Beck feel calm, and he squeezed her hand gently, just to let her know he approved and liked it. He listened to her speak of her vision and it become apparent what it was about very quickly. His eyes were on her lips, and it took him a moment to realise that he probably shouldn't even be looking at her there at that moment before he lifted his gaze to her eyes. Beck let out a nervous laugh. "That sounds like quite a vision." Beck couldn't stop thinking about it, the eventuality of them being that intimate. It only made him wonder when it would happen. His birthday was coming up in less than a week and he could only think about how lovely of a birthday present that would be.

Jason let Nixie guide him through the town, weaving around people easily, and he kept his hand in hers, a solid sign of closeness he hadn't felt with anyone before. He was amused when she almost called him "my prince", quickly shifting to his name, in which he enjoyed hearing the sound of in the shape of her voice. He chuckled softly at her comment, though his amusement grew when he realised that she had taken him to the bookstore first.

Since his face was cloaked, he was sure she'd have to peer in to see the excitement glowing in his eyes, the bright smile on his lips, increasing when he watched her drag her fingertips over the book's spines, open and flip through them, put them back. In the cramped little shop, candlelight illuminating certain corners, the dust smell of books in the air, she looked absolutely beautiful.

"I am nice to those that matter to me, mostly because I think they bring out a better side of me when they're around," Jason told her, his voice soft as he turned his attention from her to the books, finally. He became enamoured with all of the titles he could see, eagerly going from each one and putting his hand up to touch, bringing them out and smiling at how beautiful they were.

---

She giggled at his comment, looking to him to find his eyes lower, seemingly on her lips. She felt warmth in the pit of her stomach, a calmness over her chest with his hand in hers, and she had a moment to wonder how in a day, they could come to this. That she could travel here for weeks and be rewarded with this kind of experience, of helping someone who had so much power and they didn't even know it, someone who could be so gentle and kind and make her feel so at home.

Cassie understood, now, the love that she saw between her parents. She only ever had hoped that she would find someone who could be that, for her. She felt a sureness in her being, looking over at Beck. Everyone she had ever been with she'd always been uneasy, or it had only lasted for a night because she felt excitement, but not a spark. She looked to Beck's lips then, and wondered how it would feel. If it would be even more amazing then how his hand felt in hers, and realised she was getting ahead of herself.

"It certainly couldn't have been anything to expect, more surprising than me having a vision in the first place, but definitely not bad at all," She looked to the water, then, a small sigh escaping her lips, almost dreamy. "I wish I could tell time, to know, but I guess we will find out, won't we?" Cassie said, smiling then, and looked back to him, squeezing his hand in hers, twice, softly.

Nixie pulled out and opened a book, the first page dictated that it was of herbology. As she flipped through the first few pages, she had to stop herself from scoffing and making faces at the information. The text was persuading the reader to overwater their plants, probably unknowingly. There was no way any herb would be able to grow like that. She shut the book and put it back on the shelf.

"Does that mean I matter to you, Jason?" she asked, nonchalant, his answer would neither bother nor excite her. She looked to him, watching as he pulled book after book off the shelf to marvel at their beauty. She wondered if he knew she was aware of his collection under his bed. He had to, there was hiding nothing from a maid, or at least from her in a room she was required to clean almost daily.

---

"If the fates deemed it to happen, then yes, we will eventually find out," Beck mused, looking at her for one more moment before up at the sky. The sun had begun to set, creating a wondrous glow of reds and oranges across the garden. The air had grown slightly chillier as it does when nights come, but it was nothing unbearable.

"Are you hungry? We could go to the kitchens and have them make us something to eat if you are," he asked her, squeezing her hand gently. Beck knew that he was hungry; he had hardly ate a thing all day. His stomach rumbled softly, hopefully not loud enough for Cassie to hear.

He looked over to her and raised an eyebrow when she scoffed at a book, and he peered to see that it had "Herbology" printed on the front in gold lettering after she put it back on the shelf. He tucked a book that he already had in his hands underneath his arm and continued to look for another, and didn't look over to her when he spoke again.

"I suppose so, Nixie," Jason murmured, grabbing another book and opening it, turning the pages carefully as he tried to decide if he wanted it. He did this for several more books until he was balancing a stack of things that he wanted, and once he had realised, he figured he should stop.

"M'getting a little ahead of myself. Perhaps I should stop looking for more, gives us another reason to sneak out again, right, darlin'?" He said, looking over to her and giving a wink before he carried the books to the counter where the bookshop owner was, and counted out the right amount of coin that he was told they were for.

---

It took Beck reminding her about food to realise how hungry she actually was, and notice how late it actually was. She heard Beck's stomach rumble and she giggled, hiding her smile behind her free hand. "I'm starving, let's go do just that," She murmured to him, before standing and pulling him along with her.

"Lead the way, my hungry future lover," She said, giggling even more at that, and how silly it made her feel to say it out loud. Cassie straightened out her skirts, then, smoothing them down where they had gotten wrinkled around her hips.