A Cassarian Story
Varian always knew that he cared for Cassandra. But he didn't realize how much until she was gone.
Six long years after Cassandra leaves Corona, she finally returns. Varian is overjoyed, but she comes bearing terrible news. A stran...
"Abhu?" Opal says, the name feeling strange on her tongue. "Who's Abhu?"
Cassandra and Varian exchange sad glances. "He's... an old friend," Cassandra replies. "But you'll learn more about him later."
"Yeah, he ended up helping us out a lot," Varian adds. "Even though, you know, I never really liked him."
"The only reason you never liked him is because you thought he had feelings for me," Cassandra says.
"He did!" Varian says with an irritated expression.
Cassandra shakes her head, and then turns back to Opal. "Anyway, I wasn't looking forward to dinner. I knew the news I had was going to devastate everyone."
"And on the other hand, I was looking forward to dinner," Varian says. "I wasn't sure what kind of news your mother had, but I was happy she had returned and I was eager to spend some more time with her..."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out. You always have." The bittersweet smile Cassandra gives Varian causes butterflies to flutter in his stomach. "See you tonight."
"Y-Yeah! See you tonight," Varian replies. But she has already gone out the door.
For a prolonged moment, Varian doesn't move. His body feels frozen in place. Did that actually happen? Has Cassandra really returned after all this time? He didn't hallucinate the entire thing, did he?
"You saw her too, right?" Varian asks Ruddiger. The raccoon chitters in annoyance, but nods his head.
A smile spreads across Varian's face. "She's back... She's really back." And she is even more beautiful than he remembered her being! Her once-short hair has now grown to a length well past her shoulders, and her gorgeous hazel eyes still have the same sparkle in them. But his smile disappears once he remembers the expression on her face when he asked why she is here. "I wonder what her news is?"
He faces his table to get back to work, but he can't focus on it at all. Cassandra is the only thing on his mind right now, and his brain keeps pondering what her news may be. Guess I'll find out tonight... he thinks.
Later that evening, Varian arrives at the dining room dressed in his best. "How do I look, buddy?" He asks Ruddiger, straightening out his clothes.
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Ruddiger gives him a once-over, hops up onto his shoulder, and smooths out the cowlick in his hair. He then leaps back down to the floor, smiles up at Varian, and gives him two tiny thumbs up.
"Thanks Ruddiger," Varian says, patting the raccoon's head. "I'll see you later tonight." As Ruddiger rushes off, Varian takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly before finally opening the door and walking into the room. He discovers Rapunzel, Eugene, and Lance are already there.
