Work Text:
Laslow slips into Xander’s study as quietly as a mouse. In an ideal world, his liege will already have retired to bed.
Instead, Laslow now sees that Xander is not in bed. He’s slumped over his desk, face stuck to a pile of paperwork. “Sigh,” Laslow whispers. This is the most annoying thing about being a retainer to the prince: having to watch him work himself into an early grave.
Waking Xander only gives him a second wind, one he’ll use to work far into the night. Instead, Laslow slips behind him and drapes a heavy quilt over his shoulders. As he does he notices Peri pop into the room. She’s about to speak but closes her mouth when Laslow puts his finger to his lips.
Prince Xander’s cat jumps down and trots over to Peri, and she picks her up and rubs her big, fluffy ears. Peri steps away to feed her, and then asks “He fell asleep working again?”
Laslow actually does sigh this time. “Yes.”
“Maybe we can do something to help him relax?” Peri asks.
“Well, that went awful the last time,” Laslow mumbles.
“It wasn’t awful, he brought back such pretty shells…” Peri smiles briefly. “Then again, he spent his whole trip studying them rather than relaxing… and interviewing all those women for you…”
“He came back with a lovely tan but no less overworked,” Laslow says. He can admit it may have been partially their fault. “The man is incapable of relaxing.” He picks up the tea tray and Peri holds the door for him so they can leave Xander to sleep at his desk.
“So we need to think of something else,” Peri decides. “We’re smart! We’ll keep trying until we find a way for him to relax.”
Laslow chuckles. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, darling. Between the two of us, surely we can find some way to help him relax.”
…
Xander expects that Laslow or Peri will soon show up to bring him tea for the morning and tell him he’s overworking himself. They’re kind but not subtle. One of them covered him last night, and they’re likely to address it today.
He does not expect the two of them to approach together as if they're staging an intervention. “Something you need to say?”
“You’re tired!” Peri blurts. “You need to relax, Xandy, or you’ll get more wrinkles!”
More , Xander’s mind echoes. He breathes in deeply through his nose. Laslow clears his throat.
“Milord, your handsome visage aside, I fear your health may deteriorate if you keep losing sleep. Your coronation is soon, if you fell ill before that it could delay the occasion. We thought you might consider taking some words of advice?”
Xander releases the pent-up breath with a frustrated sigh. They’re doing this because they care , he reminds himself. “And what advice might that be, Laslow?”
…
“I’ve thought about this, it will do you a world of good, Milord,” Laslow says. It’s near lunchtime and he’s brought a fresh tray of tea. Laslow has a list of virtues and vices each as long as he is tall, but one thing Xander cannot deny is his exquisite taste in fine tea. He’s never over-steeped a brew.
He sets the tray down and waits, expectantly. Xander realizes he’s asking for him to step away from his work.
As was their entire arrangement. He stands from his desk, pushes the chair in, and comes closer. “Yes?”
“You need to rest intentionally, not simply because you’ve run out of energy and fallen over. So please, have your tea. I’ve brought you this as well.” From a satchel he’s wearing, Laslow pulls a small hourglass. Xander can’t help but raise his brow at it. “See, when you look at me like that, I suspect you’re not taking this seriously. Rest. For an hour!”
“I see.”
Already, Xander doesn’t think an hour is an appropriate amount of time. Perhaps fifteen minutes–the tea will cool before an hour passes. He wonders if Laslow would know if he were to simply ignore the request, but he doesn’t want to. He wants to respect the wishes of his retainers, who truly think he can somehow better himself by taking time away from his work.
The first ten minutes, Xander will argue until his dying breath, are a resounding success. He has his tea before it goes cold, he enjoys the view from his window, and he reflects on the documents he was just preparing and realizes, having stepped away from them, something that he can improve.
It is the minutes after that that are laced with failure. It only takes about thirteen after he finishes the tea that he’s decided an hour is too long. Ultimately when Laslow returns, Xander has migrated the documents from his desk to the tea table and has begun working again during his intentional rest.
…
The weather is nice today. Having been cooped up for several days now, Xander accepts Peri’s offer to take a quick stroll to stretch their legs without thought. It’s only when she leads him to the training grounds that he suspects she may be up to something.
When she stops she spins on her heel, with her pigtails and skirt spinning as she faces him. “We should spar! Being healthy is a really important part of relaxing. Sometimes when I’m too busy I come out here to make some training dummies bleed! It’s a great way to relax!”
Xander watches her smile spread across her face fondly. She’s, much like Laslow, easy to read. Like a book. They’re trying so hard to be helpful. Why they intend to do it at the expense of his sanity, he doesn’t know. “Do you feel that you are overworked, Peri?” he asks her.
“No!” she says. She folds her hands behind her back. “Everyone feels overwhelmed sometimes. Even when it’s not too much work–we all have days where the normal amount seems like too much.”
“Well said,” he responds. He looks around and notices a set of training swords to their right, propped up on a small weapon rack. He takes one for himself and another to pass to her. “Shall we?”
“Yes! But it’s for fun–don’t forget!”
Of course. She is right in the sense that oftentimes it is relaxing to simply swing a sword around–and Xander has indulged in that before. It’s an opportunity for him to reflect on his work, his decisions, his upcoming tasks… and, naturally, his form with his weapon.
Peri is a formidable opponent with any weapon, but she is especially lethal when she wields a lance. It’s her specialty and she’s made more than one joyful quip about skewering people like kabobs. Laslow excels with swords and uses a form of playful footwork that Xander has never been able to mimic.
Peri’s stance with the sword is a touch too tall. Her chest is too open–clearly a habit of using the lance that she needs to draw back and project upwards. “You need to sit deeper into your left foot,” he suggests. She swings, he counters, and he uses his sword to tap her shoulder until she shifts it slightly. “Your stance needs work–schedule more time for you and Laslow to work together on this.”
They continue for a few minutes and she makes improvements when he suggests. After nearly half an hour has passed she stops, panting, and then huffs. “Xandy!”
“Yes?”
“Have you been relaxing at all?” she asks. “Because I sure can’t–you keep bossing me around! You’re not supposed to be a boss right now, you’re taking a break!”
Xander has quite enjoyed himself and the fresh air… but he suspects that he’s failed in her mission to make him relax.
…
Weeks pass without much progress. Time and again his retainers come to him with a new scheme on how to help him relax. They’re all meant with the best of intentions, but it’s becoming a nuisance. Xander is the prince, soon to be the king, and he simply does not have time to be dillydallying with relaxation techniques. The hypnotherapy, he’s decided, is where he needs to draw the line.
When they next interrupt his work, it’s in his study again. It will soon be time to write his speech for his coronation. He looks at the two of them and their hopeful eyes. They think they can help him–but he simply doesn’t need to be helped in such a way.
“Perhaps,” Laslow begins softly, “Perhaps today we can suggest something new to help you find time to relax, milord?”
“You may certainly try,” Xander mumbles. He sets his quill down and turns his attention fully to them. “What shall we try today?”
“Setting boundaries,” Peri says. She raises her arms above her head and twists her shoulders to stretch. “Laslow thought of this one. He’s right though, it’s good!”
“Thank you, Peri,” Laslow hums. “Perhaps setting a few healthy boundaries would help you to relax, and to separate yourself from your work? You could consider setting aside dedicated time in your schedule for your family, or a specific time when you were simply ‘done’ working for the day?”
Boundaries. Xander is familiar with that term–and with setting them. He’s a man who knows how to tell someone yes or no, how to make decisions and enforce them. He nods his head. “I’m well versed in the benefit of setting boundaries, I believe.”
“Oh,” Peri says. “So… what should you set first?”
Desperately he hopes they don’t take too much offense when he says, “I believe the two of you need to let the subject of relaxation drop. This is far too much time wasted and while I am happy to indulge in the occasional whim, I’ve had quite enough of your suggestions of self-care.”
There is silence among them. Laslow blinks, his cheeks slowly turning a rosy, embarrassed pink. Peri dips her head to one side and moves from a look of confusion to frustration. She’s never liked being scolded.
“Please take the morning to yourselves. I will see both of you before lunchtime. Thank you,” Xander says. The boundary he sets here is, of course, that he simply has no desire to discuss this further.
…
It amazes him how much guilt he feels. Xander finds himself unable to focus on his tasks at all, and as it draws closer to afternoon he’s more than sure he owes his beloved retainers at least something of an apology. After all, everything they’ve done for him has stemmed from kindness.
He sets aside his things and dresses in lighter armor for the day. He asked them to take the morning to themselves, but he finds both Laslow and Peri moping together at the training grounds. When he enters and their eyes land on him, they both stand a little taller and wait for his instructions.
“We’re going into town,” Xander says, softly. Laslow wrings his hands and dips his head to the side. Peri’s eyes light up.
“Why?” Laslow asks.
“For tea, and for cakes. To take a break, together.” Xander wants to be calm and express kindness–but it’s hard not to smirk at the way Peri claps her hands together with excitement.
“Really?” she asks, rocking on her heels.
“Yes. I’ve heard the tea shop Laslow likes has delightful cakes this time of year.”
Laslow hums. “I thought you were cross with us?”
“I was frustrated,” Xander answers. He’s had a few hours to think about it, after all. “The two of you know me better than anyone else. You know when I’ve overworked myself, but I think you forget that I love my position. I find happiness in putting all of myself into my kingdom–and Nohr needs me to do so. Rest assured–I enjoy it very much.”
Peri hesitates. “But…”
“You’ve both worked tirelessly to solve a problem you saw, and while I think further action won’t be necessary, I also want to recognize the hard work you put forth.”
Laslow chuckles. Peri giggles. It’s enchanting to see them happy again, and Xander is thankful for these wonderful friends.