It's Monday! We're getting to the point where Juvia's sliding away from the melancholy and into desperation. She's about to get progressively weirder, and we're going to have a little fun with it. Now that they've had their talk, Gray thinks he's gotten a reset with Juvia. Ah, but we know better, don't we? ;)
Also, there's a bit in this chapter that's vaguely inspired by the first Harry Potter. :)
guest: Yes, I did notice that in canon, and normally I don't quite know how to handle it. I'm glad this story gives me the opportunity to acknowledge the elephant in the room and do something with it. I'll admit that I really play up the creepy factor here (we're just starting to see some of that in these chapters). Hopefully, it's not too mean-spirited of me, but it gets worse. XD Thanks for reviewing!
- K. Chandler
The satisfying click of his study door lifted a weight from Gray's shoulders. It was good to be home!
In Isvan, Gray had the safety provided by his elite guard, rules that made sense, and a palace he knew he could defend. Best of all, there was no stalker-Juvia to be found. It seemed like a firm talking-to had put a stop to her shenanigans.
A week later, a non-descript wooden crate arrived with a handwritten note.
I had these commissioned for you to commemorate our newfound friendship. I hope that you'll accept. – Juvia.
Juvia must not have been too upset, then. Gray was relieved. He had felt badly about turning her down, and he'd hoped that she wouldn't take it too hard.
The wording was simple. Impersonal. Deliberate. This was probably Juvia's way of showing that she understood, and that there'd be no hard feelings between them and no political ramifications for their kingdoms. It was a thoughtful gesture, and Gray appreciated it.
But of course, he'd expect as much from Juvia. Despite outward appearances, her serious nature and distant facade, she was a kind girl.
Curious as to the contents, Gray had the box opened. Inside were a collection of paintings.
There were watercolored landscapes and paintings of people. There was a rather flattering portrait of Gray himself. Another showed Gray defeating Natsu in a fencing match. That one made him smile. Natsu's expression of defeat was so realistic.
There was even one from the day that they had gone on that picnic in Magnolia. Gray had the picnic basket, his fingers loose around the wicker handle. He was talking with Lucy, who was walking between Gray and Natsu. Wendy trailed behind them.
That one would be perfect to liven up the sitting room. Gray had it hung up before sitting down to draft a thank you message.
Delighted to accept. Your thoughtfulness brightens the halls of Isvan Palace. Many thanks. – Gray.
More artwork and decorative pieces arrived in the days that followed. Rugs and curtains and tapestries. Paintings and murals and other decorative pieces. All were gifts from Juvia.
Gray wasn't sure what to do with all of it. Maybe he needed to let Juvia know that there was such a thing as too much of a good thing.
Gray wrote back:
Thank you for your continued generosity. I am deeply flattered by your recent desire to redecorate Isvan Palace. The pieces are finely crafted, and I am grateful for your kindness. Unfortunately, I'm afraid these aren't quite appropriate for my palace's humble decor, though the gesture is appreciated. – Gray.
The packages continued to pour in.
"Are you planning to do anything about these, Highness?" Erza asked.
Gray peeked into the wooden crate, barely glancing at the wintry blue canvases. He let the lid slam shut.
"I don't know what to do about them, to be entirely honest."
"You could tell her to stop?" Erza suggested.
"I have," Gray said. "Wrote her a nice thank you note. Hopefully, she gets the message."
Juvia didn't get the message.
The next package brought fewer decorative pieces and more artwork. This time the pictures were mostly of Juvia or Gray… or both together.
The next day brought a book of charcoal drawings. Most of them were of Juvia.
"She's beautiful," Lyon breathed. He craned over Gray's shoulder as Gray thumbed through the sketchbook.
"Sure," Gray said. "Though I'm not entirely sure why she keeps sending me pictures of herself. What does she expect me to do with them?"
"Admire them?" Lyon suggested.
"Yeah… about that…" Gray said.
"Shall I display these somewhere?" Lyon asked.
"Why don't you just put them in the green room with the others?"
The green room had been flooded with gifts. Paintings and statues crated away and gathering dust. Gray wasn't quite sure what to do with it all.
But, like Natsu had pointed out, there was no law against this.
This was probably just Juvia's special brand of social awkwardness. And awkwardness could be endearing, right? Sometimes?
Gray didn't find this situation endearing at all. It was just weird.
"Just one today," Lyon said. "And it's small."
Gray breathed a sigh of relief. It was the first time in weeks that the packages had gotten smaller.
Gray peeled back the paper from another painting. Gray and Juvia were crossing the lawn. Natsu was in the background.
It wasn't the first time Juvia had portrayed them looking like a couple. She was sending these images with such regularity that it almost felt normal to see her at his side. Almost.
But something about this picture bothered him. But Gray didn't know what. All he knew was that he was filled with a sense of unease every time he looked at the picture.
It wasn't until that night that Gray realized what was wrong.
Bolting out of bed, Gray padded downstairs to where he had left the painting. A shiver crept down his spine. He felt like he was being watched.
Gray looked at the painting again.
He knew why this was so familiar. This was the day he and Natsu had met Lucy at Magnolia for croquet. It was accurate, down to the last detail.
There was something unsettling about that.
Because instead of Lucy, Juvia had drawn herself in Lucy's place.
"Another package for you, Highness."
"Leave it with the others," Gray said, not looking up. This document needed to be finished. He could deal with whatever nonsense had come in the mail later.
"I think you might want to see this," Lyon said. "It's a rather large package."
With a sigh, Gray pushed the papers away. "Fine. What's the matter now?"
"Come down to the drawing room," Lyon said.
With a shrug, Gray followed. Now that he had been interrupted, he might as well see what the fuss was about.
Down in the drawing room was a wooden crate that was taller than he was.
"When you said large, you weren't joking," he said. "What's in it?"
"We were waiting for you to open it," Lyon said. "Something as large as this must be important."
"May I do the honors?" Erza asked.
"Please," Gray said, waving for her to proceed.
Erza requipped into her armor, choosing a sturdy steel blade for the task. She wedged the tapered of her sword between the boards, prying at each one—likely with more force than necessary—to dismantle the crate to reveal a bundle wrapped in navy silk and an accompanying note.
The accompanying note fluttered out. The message was a simple, the signature offset with a heart.
For your eyes only. :heart: – Juvia.
"What in the world…?" Gray shuddered, more than a little disturbed.
After unrolling the three layers of fabric, Erza revealed… a life-sized depiction of Queen Juvia in a very large gilded frame. She looked like she was dressed for bed. She wore a nightgown so sheer that Gray could see the outline of her legs, despite the billows of fabric pooling around her feet. Her shoulders were bare, save for tumbling curls, and was she tugging open her bodice?
Gray grimaced, rubbing at his temples. Now that he'd seen it, he wished that he could un-see it. He could feel the start of a headache pulling behind his eyes.
"I think she fancies you, Highness," Erza observed.
"Really? What was your first clue?" Gray groused.
"Well, to begin with, there was the—"
"I didn't mean literally."
What was wrong with this girl? Why did she have herself painted like that!? And why send it to him?! Hadn't he made it perfectly clear that he was not interested?
"Send it back," he said. Time to put an end to this nonsense.
"What? But why?" Lyon asked, eying the portrait with reverence.
"Because it's creepy, that's why," Gray said.
"That's rude!" Lyon scolded. "Consider how that's going to be viewed—rejecting a gift from the leader of an allied kingdom."
"This isn't the kind of thing you send to an ally or even a friend. It's more like—"
"Something you'd send to… a lover?" Lyon suggested.
"Sorry, wrong address. I'm not her lover," Gray said.
"You could only be so fortunate!" Lyon retorted. "To be chosen by such a noble creature," he mumbled in a tone of reverence.
"I don't know whether I should be more disturbed by that, or you," Gray said. "Under any other circumstance, I'd accept this for the pleasure of destroying it. But as gratifying as it would be to burn it, I'm not sure it's going to get the message across," said Gray.
"Burn it?" Lyon gasped. "You'd do that to such a lovely painting?"
"That's not the word I'd use for it."
Gray looked back at the painting. Juvia's eyes seemed to follow him. Gray yanked at the fabric that had protected the portrait during its travels, flipping it up to cover the wretched thing again.
"Send it back, burn it, I don't care," Gray said. "I really just don't want it around."
"This is a work of art!" Lyon protested.
"You want it?" Gray asked. "It's yours."
Gray marched back to his study, convinced that things couldn't get any worse.
"Gray. You should come see this," Erza said.
"What did she send this time?" Gray asked.
"You figured that one out awfully quickly," Erza said, sounding genuinely impressed.
"It's mail time," Gray said. "What else could it be?"
This time Juvia's offering was a pair of antique vases and a tapestry.
All my love – Juvia. PS: The vases are ancient Alakitasian. I thought they would liven up the décor.
Gray's mouth gave a wry lift. The vases, at least, were tasteful.
The tapestry was another matter entirely. Made of the finest Fantasman craftsmanship, the tapestry depicted Gray's study in Isvan Palace. The artwork was superb and frighteningly accurate.
Gray suppressed a shudder.
How did Juvia know what his study looked like? Anyone would have thought she had been there… or maybe…
Gray, himself, was in the tapestry as well. Shirtless, no less. Gray swallowed hard, his stomach churning as his eyes fell another detail. Just like his study, Gray himself was depicted in vivid detail. Everything from the mole on his left shoulder to the scar at his hip and the tattoo on his chest.
How did she know that?! A shuddering breath left Gray's lungs. He couldn't help but feel violated.
Gray tightened his hands into fists, trying to keep from punching someone.
"Highness?" Erza said. "Gray…"
"Get rid of it."
So... I think Gray knows where he stands now. :) Should Gray have handled that one differently?
What about Juvia? Has she crossed the line yet? Should it go without saying that some things are frowned upon in polite society?
Next time, in Toxic, strange courtship rituals: Juvia had picked up a butter knife, slicing at a lock of her own hair furiously and tugging at it until she tore it off. Juvia beamed at Gray. "For you, my darling," she said, holding out her sawed-off curl. "Let's trade!"
Stop back next Monday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.
