Chapter Text
Jester stared at her reflection, twirling just enough to let the skirt of her burnt orange velvet dress pick up and float around her. It looked good against her blue skin- she looked good in it and with her makeup done and her hair curled and pinned in a way that made it look like a short, curly bob. Together, her entire ensemble struck all the balances that she needed for tonight- elegant but comfortable, glamorous but approachable, youthful but still mature somehow, gorgeous but in a way that strangers didn’t dare bother her- perfect for a young woman on her wedding anniversary.
She glanced out the window over her balcony- this inn she was staying in for the week was really nice, almost as nice as the Chateau, so of course her room had its own balcony- scanning the streets for any sign of her date, husband, whatever. Her Caleb.
A tiny voice in the back of her mind pokes her, prods her, reminding her that Caleb is not hers and never has been. They were close, yes, even among members of the Mighty Nein they had always been rather close. But if there had ever been a chance at them being anything other than friends- she hesitates to say more than friends because can two people be closer than they once were? She doubts it- that chance was lost in Aeor over three years ago.
Still, it is fun to pretend, and that is what tonight is supposed to be about. They had already been messaging about this for almost two weeks now in order to figure out if they needed to bring any paperwork with them tonight. But this year did not seem to be the year that their divorce seemed necessary or wanted. Caleb claimed that having a wife to get home to had gotten him out of several less savory conversations at the academy, and as for herself, Jester simply did not want to be divorced as of yet. She had told Caleb that she liked the privacy and ability to reject dates it offered her- and that was certainly true as well- however, there was another, more sentimental reason as well.
She just wanted to see Caleb. Their marriage, false though it might be, had given her ample excuses to drop in on him from picking up packages to committing a little bit of tax fraud to even just showing up unannounced because it wasn’t like he was going to turn away his wife, right? And in that, she had been able to spend more time with him than she could have ever gotten away with otherwise. Not that she ever truly thought that Caleb might turn her away per say, but now, she could stop by without raising any suspicions or making things weird between them. Because the last thing she wanted was to make things weirder than they already were. Caleb deserved better than that.
There was a rapping knock at the door that sent her head snapping in its direction. Why was she so shocked? It wasn’t like she was nervous or anything, and besides, she was expecting Caleb any minute now! Though the knock hardly sounded like him, and maybe that was why her heart was fluttering so fast- like a hummingbird in her chest that would die should it stand still.
“Who is it?” she called, her voice strangely shrill and not at all sounding like the voice of someone who had fought dragons and leviathans, stood in front of royalty, and casually chatted with an archfey every day of her life.
“Just Talia, ma’am, from the front desk,” the brusque but not unfriendly voice of the tiefling woman who had checked her in called back, “I was sent to tell you that your date has arrived.”
Caleb was here! Good, finally.
“Coming!” she shouted. And with one last spritz of perfume, Jester ran to open the door.
Talia was still there, and took a step back so that the two of them did not collide.
“I was also supposed to give you this,” she said by way of an explanation, pushing a box into her hands.
Jester stared at it curiously. It was a deep, shiny emerald green with looping golden text in Zemnian across the lid. One of these days she would learn at least a little bit of Caleb’s first language, but today was not that day. So instead, she eagerly ripped off the lid to reveal about two dozen gorgeous, perfectly tempered little chocolates of all sorts lined up like little soldiers. They’re stunning, and knowing Caleb, they will probably taste even better than they look.
Giddy with excitement, Jester ran back into the room to set the chocolates down on the bed for later before dashing through the hotel- grinning ear to ear as she reached the lobby.
And there, standing under the chandelier, was an especially handsome looking Caleb Widogast. He had paid special attention to his hair- pulling some back in a braid while letting the rest gently fall behind him. It had grown even longer now than when she had last seen him a couple months ago, now landing near his armpit. He was wearing a rich navy blue tailcoat suit that seemed to shimmer under the candlelight. But as she approached, Jester realized that there were actually silver threads woven into the coat as well. And if she squinted, she could just barely make out a rune subtly woven into his jacket.
But no sooner had she realized this than he turned towards her, and the shimmering fabric looked downright dull compared to his smile.
“Jester,” his voice sounded out of breath for some reason, “You are a vision.”
She feels her cheeks grow warm and flushing, though under her makeup, it might not be visible to anyone. Still, even makeup can not hide her beaming grin.
“Cay-leb! What are you talking about? I’m obviously underdressed next to you!” she teased.
He blinked quite a lot after that comment before chuckling, and Jester was pleased to see a warm smile spread across his face. It, like all things associated with her favorite wizard, reminded her of warm, familiar amber things. And for just a moment, she was transported to a box of cream-filled caramels shared with her mama many years ago as lips sticky with sugar smiled in the warmth of this safe, secret moment. And then, she’s back with Caleb as if nothing had happened.
“Well, we should get going,” he mumbled, “This lobby is gorgeous, but ah… we have a reservation.”
He offered her his arm, which she gladly took as Caleb led her through the city streets. As they strolled, the conversation flowed easily, letting them catch up on his students’ progress, her travels, Beau and Yasha’s most recent dinner party, her weekend at Veth’s, how the mittens that looked like bread that she had given him were wonderful in the winter, how her parents seemed closer than ever to reconciliation- all the essential things they had missed out on since they had last been together.
Upon reaching The Rose Petal, it was all Jester could do not to gasp. Sure, she had been in many fancy places in her life- hell, she had grown up in a pretty fancy place. But never before had she seen a restaurant that looked so beautiful. Through the window, she could see tables with layers of delicate fabric shaped like flower petals laid out so that the tables themselves looked like upside down roses suspended in time. In the center of the dining room stood an ornate spiral staircase that led to a second level. From here, Jester could not tell if it was a metal staircase that was largely covered in plant life or if it truly was vines, branches, and moss. Floating gently through the air were glass baubles filled with warm, almost amber light that made her feel safe and as though she were soaring all at once.
“Wow, Caleb,” she said in a breathless whisper, “This place is beautiful.”
Even with him out of her periphery, Jester could almost hear his smile beside her.
“I did my best. Would you like to go inside?”
Jester nodded and allowed Caleb to open the door for her. They stepped inside to see a small, ornate podium with a gangly looking elf in a suit standing behind it.
“Hallo, I have, um, we are the reservation for Widogast.”
The elf nodded, their eyes scanning an itinerary in front of them before checking something off with a quill.
“Of course. Right this way, Mr. and Mrs. Widogast.”
Mrs. Widogast? Well, they were married and celebrating their wedding anniversary. Of course someone down the line would think to call her Mrs. Widogast. And it wasn’t the first time she had heard the term; Beau in particular had teased her with it on at least a couple occasions. But still, there was something strange about it.
“A copper for your thoughts?”
Caleb’s voice pulled her back into the moment. They were sitting down now at one of the gorgeous rose tables as he watched her, concern evident in his eyes as the warm light danced in his iris.
“Just that Jester Widogast doesn’t have nearly as good of a ring to it as Caleb Lavorre.”
It was a half-truth; something she had gotten quite good at over the years. At this point, she didn’t think anyone could sense the ever changing masks she quietly put on. They were so similar to herself that sometimes even she wasn’t sure.
Across the table, Caleb smiled.
“Well, if you would like your last name back, we could always get a divorce,” he teased.
“Nope, not gonna happen. You’re stuck with me,” she teased right back, “We’re just going to have to put the reservation under my last name next time.”
“As you wish.”