Chapter Text
It wasn’t quite a dilemma, but it was something bothering Jester. She was enjoying life down in the underworld. Jester never had better friends than Nott and Caleb if she was being honest. Caleb didn’t have a lot of time for hanging out with Nott and Jester, but he tried to find time each day for them. Depending on the day they would take walks through the halls of Caleb’s kingdom, make sure Frumpkin was thoroughly scratched, or on days where he had little time, Caleb recommend books to Jester. But, if they were lucky and Caleb had enough time, he would join them for pranks.
Jester was surprised when she discovered the Lord of the Dead’s sense of humor. He’d barely bat an eye at dirty pictures on the walls, but when Jester had perfectly timed thaumaturgy to make it sound like one of the stuffier reapers had farted during an important meeting, Caleb spent the rest of the meeting with his hand over his mouth to cover his smile. After that, Caleb was officially invited to Nott’s and Jester’s pranks. Neither of the girls realized how much he needed that. True, he was still stiff and awkward most of the time, but not even Nott had seen Caleb smile so much before(the record had been previously three and a half smiles in one day, but all of those would be considered sad smiles and should not be counted).
But all that had nothing to do with her problem, or maybe it had everything to do with her problem. It was getting close to when Jester was going to go back home, which was great since she missed her mom. But, she’d miss her friends when she’d go. She wished she could be with both, but that would be impossible.
Jester tried to explain it to Nott, but her friend had trouble at grasping the problem. “Then you’re going home to your mom,” Nott said when Jester told her how she felt.
“But then I’ll miss you guys a lot,” Jester said.
“Then stay here.” Nott smiled like she just gave Jester a pearl of wisdom.
“I can’t just do that either. No matter what I do it’ll hurt.”
Nott frowned as she gave it some thought. “Then talk to Caleb, he’s really smart. He’ll know what you should do.”
“Do you think he’d even have the time for me? He’s been really busy.” As the date for Jester to go home drew closer, Caleb’s time for them had become even more scarce.
Nott nodded. “He likes you. I can tell. Go on I’ll finish our prank.”
“Thanks Nott.” Her heart hadn’t been in their joke this time anyways.
On her way to see Caleb, she passed a fruit basket and grabbed something from it on a whim. Jester didn’t know what kind of fruit it was, but it felt good to have something in her hands to play with.
Caleb was reading in his study, but with how quickly he turned the pages, Jester doubted that he actually read any of it. He looked up when she came in. “Ah Jester, do you need somethi-” The blood drained from his face when he saw the fruit she was carrying. “What is that? You don’t intend to-?” He didn’t even finish the sentence.
“Intend to what?” It took her moment to realize what he was thinking. “Oh no, I’m not eating this, just playing.” She mimed taking a bite though to see how flustered he’d get.
“That’s good, but be careful. First you’re eating it wrong,” he said as he got up, “and second you cannot stay here.”
Jester rolled the fruit in her hands. “I thought it was my choice on staying or not.”
Caleb took the fruit from her. “Normally yes, but I have word from the living world.” He frowned and sighed. “I didn’t want to burden you with this, but your mother is heartbroken with you gone.”
“I know and I miss her so much too.”
Caleb shook his head as he peeled the fruit. Beneath the thick rind sat bright, glittering gems of red fruit. “No, you don’t understand. The harvests are dying. The fields are barren and the fishing nets are empty. Normally, I would say a period of rest is good for the fields, but this is just death. Your mother needs you Jester.”
Jester felt everything go cold. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I have to go now.”
“It wasn’t safe for you to go back. The search for you is only now starting to calm down,” Caleb explained. “But it should be safe now. I’ll make sure that everything is ready for your return.”
Jester nodded trying not to cry. While she was having fun and making friends, her mother was devastated. “Thank you.” Her voice was already thick and husky. The worst part was that Jester was still upset for having to say goodbye to her friends.
Caleb gently grabbed her hand. “You’re a good daughter and you’re mother truly does love you. I know this is selfish of me to say, but I’m grateful for the time you were here. You are a good friend too.”
“Nott is easy to be friends with,” Jester said.
Caleb shook his head. “Not just for Nott. I know I’m not easy to get along with, so thank you. You’re special to me.”
“I’m glad you’re my friend too.” She meant it, she really did. Jester just hoped that Caleb realized that.
“No, I mean-”he looked away for a moment unable to finish what he wanted to say. All at once, Caleb grabbed her arm and pressed his mouth to hers.
Everything stopped. It was like the two of them were statues. Jester had been kissed before, plenty of times, but she still had no clue what to think of this one. As suddenly as it had started, it ended.
Caleb had turned chalky pale. “I’m so sorry.” And he ran.
Jester pressed her hands to her lips. What just happened? She’d been kissed by the Lord of the Dead, she realized that much. But, what did it mean? Was he going for a friendly cheek kiss and missed or did he mean it? After several long moments of uncertainty, Jester knew one thing; She had to find him.
She found Caleb sitting on the floor next to Nott and hid herself before either of them noticed her. Caleb’s face was beet red as he failed to cover it with his hands. The fruit was sitting on the floor next to him. “I ruined everything.”
Nott rubbed his back in an attempt to be comforting. “You can’t ruin everything Caleb. There’s too much everything for one god to ruin. And you never make mistakes.”
“I did this time. She’s going to hate us.”
“Who is?” Nott asked.
“Jester.” He said it like a prayer. Jester had never heard anybody say her name like that before. Full of love and desire and tinged with regret all at the same time. It made part of her wish she could stay there in the underworld.
Nott bolted up. “What happened?”
Caleb looked away still a hot red. “I kissed her,” he mumbled.
“WHAT?!”
“Shh. It was a mistake. I wasn’t thinking. It doesn’t matter. She’s leaving today,” he said.
“Because you kissed her?” For the first time, Jester saw Nott mad at Caleb. And she had a feeling it was the first time for Caleb too.
“It was a mistake, I know that, but no, that’s not why. The harvests have stopped giving fruit.”
Nott looked at him confused. “But you’ve said that letting fields rest is a good thing.” She grabbed the fruit and pulled out twelves pips laying them out in front of her. “You told me clearly that if the fields and harvest would stop for nearly six months of a year,” she divided the pips in half, “that it would allow for better harvests in the future. You’ve even tried to convince the other gods of this. That death can be good for life.”
“Ja, but not like this. If she doesn’t go back, then her mother won’t bring back the harvest. There will only be death,” Caleb said. He rested his head back. “It’s better this way for the living. For everyone. Now Jester will never look back.”
“But what about us?” Nott asked.
Jester stepped forward. “Yes, what about you? If Mom was so sad and lonely the crops died, what happens if you’re sad and lonely?”
“It’s nothing for you to be concerned about,” Caleb said turning away.
“I don’t think so,” Jester said. “You’re an important god with all sorts of powers and responsibilities. Who knows what sort of terrible things will happen if I leave you all alone.”
“You don’t have to worry about me.” But his voice was so sad and hurt that it made her worry all the more.
Gently, Jester grabbed Caleb’s hand and six of the seeds. “Each of these is a month, right?” Nott nodded. Jester popped the first seed in her mouth. “I was worried you know. I love people both here and in the land of the living.” Another seed went into her mouth. Caleb just stared at her. “And I know choosing either place would hurt people.” She swallowed another seed. “But who says I have to chose for always?” Another seed. “It’s not fair to anyone for me to stay in one place forever and that includes me.” One more seed. “Also, this fruit is tasty.” And she ate the final seed.
Nott stared at her wide eyed. “Jester?”
“I’m going to live in the land of the living for six months and here for the other six months of each year,” Jester said. “Unless Caleb has a problem with it.”
Caleb numbly shook his head.
Nott jumped into Jester’s arms and gave her a big hug. “I’m so glad you’re staying!”
“Me too. But it won’t be for always.” Jester poked the tip of Nott’s nose. “But a half year is plenty of time to become the greatest detective pair of all the lands.”
“Ah.” Caleb finally got his voice back. “It won’t be that simple. You can’t just go back and forth between living and death as you are. You have to have stakes in both. As the Ruby of the Sea’s daughter you ties to the living, but you don’t to the land of the dead yet. I know of one way, but it won’t be very nice.”
Jester’s blood went cold. “And what’s that.”
“You can marry me.” He was pale now and a little twitchy like any second, if Jester made the wrong move, he’d run away. “It’d be a terrible fate and one you don’t deserve, but with such little time, I don’t know if we can find a better one.” Now Caleb looked her in the eye. “I’m sorry.”
Nott’s jaw dropped was she looked back and forth between Caleb and Jester. “Nott, can you give us some privacy?” Jester asked knowing that Nott was just going to hide and watch them anyways.
“Oh, right, of course,” Nott said nodding before running off.
“I’m sorry,” Caleb said. “My offer is a cruel one.”
Jester looked him over walking a circle around him. As she thought before, he had his own unique style of handsome. He was barely more than an armful, but he did fit well in her arms. “If we were married, would you be the first thing I see every morning?”
“I can leave before you wake,” he said.
“I’m a cuddler, you’d never escape without waking me.”
Caleb frowned. “Then, unfortunately yes.”
“Would you be the one to comfort me when I’m sad and lonely?” she asked.
“Nott would help, she adores you.”
“But will you?”
He nodded. “I have little comfort to offer, but yes, I would do what I can for you.”
“And would I be the one to comfort you?”
Caleb frowned. “I don’t want to be a burden on you. I can take care of myself.” She doubted that, but she was not going push him on this quite yet.
Jester gave her next question some thought. “Will you love me?”
Caleb looked her confused. “Everyone loves you, Jester. You don’t have to ask.”
“But will you love me like a man loves his wife?”
He stared hard at the ground silent. “I’m… afraid I already do.”
“I’ve made my mind up,” Jester said standing right in front of him.
It was sad how frightened Caleb looked. “And your decision is?”
This time it was Jester who started the kiss. She wrapped her arms around him and held him. At first his arms were stiff at his side, but then he drew her into a tight embrace.
If Jester were somebody who rated kisses(which she might have in her youth), it would have received a low score. But that was okay, they would have six months a year to practice.