#shekindness

josh has never found cause to grumble over his portfolio. some —those with a softer constitution, perhaps — might feel daunted by the piles and piles of files balanced on his desk, but he's never figured out how to say no to the president. however, there is one noticeable exception. foreign policy. at his request, and of every diplomat he's ever crossed paths with, his sprawling list of duties remains blissfully devoid of anything foreign policy-related. his particular set of skills are best reserved for americans.

so how the hell is he stuck with the princess? not just accidentally, not because he was the only available option—actually stuck, in his office, under lockdown.

❛⠀no reason to worry, ❜⠀he says, clapping his hands, the sound bouncing off the walls of his suddenly far-too-small office. ❛⠀ this thing happens a lot this month. georgetown freshmen pledging a frat tend to cause a ruckus. you remember being that age. ❜⠀

TOPHER   IS   NOT   MEANT   TO   BE   ANYWHERE   NEAR   THE   PALACE.         and   really,   he   follows   that   rule   sebastian   sets      —      he   does!      it’s   just   his   luck   that   the   girl   he   attempts   to   pickpocket   is   the   princess   herself.      he   stays   away   from   the   palace,   and   he   still   gets   caught      —      still   gets   into   trouble.   

JUST A RLY CUTE MEME :]

CLOTHED   IN   SIMPLICITY   AND   COZINESS,   THE   PRINCE   WAITS.         he   decides   on   a   smaller,   more   intimate   and   casual   locale   for   their   first   meeting   outside   of   a   ball   or   banquet      —      anytime   really,   not   surrounded   by   hundreds   of   people   watching   on.      the   sitting   room   attached   to   his   chambers   sees   little   use   but   topher’s   own   reading   over   the   years      —      scant   though   they’ve   been   with   him   in   his   own   palace’s   walls      —      but   it   is   warm   and   a   little   small   for   the   castle,   and   it   will   be   perfect,   he   thinks.      oh,   god,   he   hopes.

he   stands   when   she   enters:      ella,   the   girl   of   his   dreams,   the   angel   who’s   finally   come   back   down   to   earth,   floating   into   his   life   as   she   does   when   he   so   needs   her.      he   smiles,   a   little   nervous,   wringing   his   hands   together   in   front   of   him,   stepping   a   bit   to   meet   her   at   the   doorway,   slouching   down   a   bit   so   he’s   nearer   her   eye   level.            “      i      —      are   you   comfortable?      are   you   hungry?      ”            he   gestures   back   towards   the   waiting   refreshments   brought   by   the   staff   at   his   request:      steaming   cocoa,   sweet   and   savory   biscuits,   some   soup,   all   arranged   atop   a   table   by   the   crackling   hearth.            “      i   hope   you   like   cocoa!      ”            the   enthusiasm   is   probably   too   much.            “      i   mean,   if   you   don’t,   that’s   absolutely   fine!      tea?      i   could   order   some   tea   .   .   .      ”

❝  i didn’t know where else to go.  ❞

when he opened the door to his office, she was the last person he had expected to see standing in front of him, and his first instinct had been to ask if she was lost. the slat wasn’t that confusing to navigate, after all. but the words were swallowed back as kaz looked at her. from the silence that surrounded them, it was clear that the slat was near empty, which was probably why she had reached the bottom of the barrel and gone to kaz brekker for  —  advice? comfort? company?   —   frankly, all those options seemed like hell for everyone involved.