Author's Note: These drabbles are meant to reflect both a canon and AU version of Jihl. I aim for exposition; what does she do outside of the military life, and what was her past like? What happens when the end comes? Make of these what you will. All content is, of course, property of Square.
Clockwork
With a smooth press of her gloved hand, the front door clicked shut, and the eternal fireworks of Nautilus withered to a haze in Jihl's eyes. For a few moments, she could still see them glimmering and popping in rhythm to the vibrant mass of visitors below. She took a deep breath as they faded from her mind and forced herself to feign alertness as she crossed the entryway into her bedroom. Her satchel, which she only bothered bringing when multiple meetings were certain, was left carelessly by a lone chair in the hallway.
It was like clockwork. A coat, deep jade in hue and ornamental as was the norm for officers, found itself slipped off its owner's shoulders and draped over a large armchair. Jihl gazed at it, her matching eyes scrutinizing its surface for marks and scratches, and allowed her hand to slowly caress it. She let everything within her quiet down, if only for that stolen moment; she had no idea how many more she could gather. Coarse hide mingled with smooth. Cool lingered while heat overwhelmed the garment's brilliant illuminated sections. As always after her long days, Jihl allowed a transition into what might only be called a rest period.
Clockwork.
She recognized the weight of her clothing just then, even without the coat. It was painfully apparent that she was overheating, though the fact snuck up on her only once she freed her mind. Then she noticed it. The stickiness, the grit; it manifested rather suddenly, but every time was the same. She expected it by now. After all, the warm weather was more than pleased to add itself onto her regimen of constant motion from base to ship, ship to headquarters, and everywhere she was needed. Her weary hands wandered to her blouse to pull apart several buttons and with her first real sigh of relief of the day, she sat on her bed.
The other officers agreed. Today seemed more intense than usual. Clenching her teeth, she fought the sudden sharp pain that knifed through her upper back and neck. Yet, it was over as soon as it had begun, and so she moved on.
Minutes ticked by. Jihl's gloves were off by now, and she removed her glasses and rubbed her pained eyes with equally aching hands. She glanced at them when her vision refocused. They were one of the few features on her body that she truly appreciated. With a hair of a smile, she recounted the number of times they held her baton to strike down yet another filthy brute from the world below. Delicate yet brimming with strength at the same time, they brought her satisfaction. Half-shutting her eyes, she cleaned the lenses of her glasses as she filed her daily accomplishments away into her mind.
The silence was broken by running water. Routine resumed as Jihl readied a bath for herself, making sure to pepper the water with a variety of salts and other additives to scent and soften it. Today seemed like a good day for rose petals, she figured; perhaps the pale blue ones. Those, too, were crushed and sprinkled in with the rest. Sensitive fingers checked the temperature; it was just right. A bit on the hot side, but only because it would allow for a longer soaking time. She eased herself into the moderately oversized tub and leaned back. The ceiling blurred to her, its ivory tones melding with silver marble.
One hour passed. Jihl finished wringing out her hair and let out a contented sigh. Her skin, now free of the day's impurities, seemed as if it were wrapped in silk. Bergamot and lavender essences filled the room. She cast her eyes to her clothing, which she folded as neatly as she could given her exhaustion. Even without her glasses, she could see that a button was beginning to detach. She turned away. Petty things. She wouldn't let them overtake her soothed mind.
The stars were never prominently visible from Jihl's windows due to the ever-present fireworks lighting up the night, but she was sometimes thankful for it. Her towel wrapped tightly around her body, she stood in front of the bedroom window and stared, silent. Currently, the explosions in the air were reds and oranges. She smiled to herself, noting that there was nearly no sign of stars tonight at all. Letting her towel drop to the floor, she stretched, completely oblivious to the presence of a window at all. Everyone was so far below her; they wouldn't notice. She didn't have to cater to them anyway. She was free right now. Inhaling deeply, Jihl shut her eyes and welcomed the sensations of pure calm. It was so rare, but so precious. No metal trapping her neck, no transparent film clinging to her and choking every inch of her. No rules. Her eyes opened. She was alone.
Her bed invited her further. Not wasting more than a minute, she melted into it, hiding under layers of luxurious fabrics. She pulled her favorite of the bunch, the down blanket, close to her. So much warmth. It was then that the realization that she could finally sleep hit her. Every time she was blessed with the ability to spend more than paltry minutes in bed, it seemed, was a grand revelation.
The clockwork ended there. Jihl's eyes, though begging for rest, never shut. She recalled the lack of stars tonight. Rarely had this manifested in her mind as a trigger of any sort, but it did. Just to spite her weary body, it did. She exhaled slowly, fighting her brain's urge to recollect. The academy. Like the voices from outside that could only be heard if her windows were open, her mind forced her years upon her at this very hour. She cringed. Pleasant heat enveloped her, but she could only see white flowers on top of a hill that was illuminated by a thousand stars. Her hands were held back then, but she clung tighter to her blanket. Absurd, she reasoned; the past was not present. But she held on, a tremor running through her.
Thoughts dissipated with a tired whimper. She was alone again.