Moroi Court, Pennsylvania | Sunday Afternoon

[guardianborn]

Rose hadn’t gone to mass this morning. She knew she should, but she’d quite possibly - okay, definitely - overexerted herself training yesterday, and moving, even walking down to the church, seemed like way too much effort

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[bitten_notshy]

As Jack moved the last of his things into his student flat, it occurred to him that almost no one from Fandom knew where he was living anymore. He hadn't seen or heard from Rose in months, and he missed her; this seemed like an excellent reason to check in.

He took a photo showing his current contact information, then tapped out a text to send with it.

Am back in London. New address attached. How was your summer? Still w/princess?

[guardianborn]

Rose grinned at the text, thrilled to hear from Jack and saved the picture instantly so his address didn't get lost.

Nope - with Queen. Also cleared of murder charges. Busy summer. You?

She shouldn't enjoy being so cryptic, but Jack of all people would appreciate it.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack hesitated a second at the text, but ended up dialing Rose's number.

There was no way he could fit any possible response in 140 characters, and she had to know that.

"You just had to make me pay overseas calling charges, didn't you?"

[guardianborn]

"I missed your voice," she teased happily. "Send me the bill. I get a real stipend now and everything."

[bitten_notshy]

"I missed yours too," Jack answered. "A stipend? You are moving up in the world. I'm impressed."

[guardianborn]

"My best friend's Queen," Rose shared. "She drags us all up with her."

[bitten_notshy]

"Lissa inherited the crown?" Jack was suitably impressed, if not precisely clear on how things worked in Rose's world. "That's amazing. I figured you meant the old queen. Congratulations. Are you liking it?"

[guardianborn]

"Elected. After the old queen was murdered." The pride in Rose's voice was obvious as she added, "half the people think she's a saint or the reincarnation of one of our great Queens. So it could be worse. I'm - happy."

The truth of that statement was also obvious (even if some of it was the calm before the storm she didn't know was coming), but for the first time possibly ever, Rose was more than certain of her own place.

[bitten_notshy]

"You sound it," Jack said. He wasn't sure he'd ever heard her so content. "That's -- more exciting than my summer. Was that the murder you got tangled up in? The old queen?"

He could see the logic of the detectives in that world -- if an old queen was killed, the best friend of the new queen was a reasonable suspect. He thought they were insane, because Rose wasn't that kind of killer, but he understood the reasoning.

[guardianborn]

"The murderer killed her with my stake," Rose complained. "Like I'd ever be that stupid! I tried to point out that if I killed her, I wouldn't a) have a screaming fight with her the day before and b) use my personal weapon, but they didn't believe me."

[bitten_notshy]

"You'd have to be either stupid or going for martyrdom to do it that way," Jack agreed. "I take it somebody set you up."

[guardianborn]

Rose smirked. "Hey, that's what you get when you're that awesome. I'm just surprised no one's set you up for murder yet."

[bitten_notshy]

"No, only Sebastien," Jack sighed. "It's a long story, but we both got through it in one piece."

[guardianborn]

"I'm glad," she said seriously. "Next time let me know if I can help?" She wondered about the next question - and Emma - then asked "is he there in England with you?"

[bitten_notshy]

"He fucked off to Mumbai," Jack said, tone equal parts irritated and concerned. "Over a thousand years old, and he still thinks running solves something, the further the better. He says he'll be back, but he seems to think he still needs time."

He frowned into the phone.

"I should have called you."

[guardianborn]

She snorted. "Hey, I could've told him that doesn't work, and I'm an idiot like ninety-percent of the time. How worried about him are you?"

"Yeah, you should've, dumbass," Rose said, affection in her voice. "You know I'd come."