voice | un: miraclemoon

[feisticuffs]

[It's not often that Jade makes use of the network herself, preferring to respond to others, and she's been as preoccupied by the trials as many others have this past week. Even so, something troubling has come to her attention, and she would rather not sit and wonder and worry needlessly, if it indeed ends up being needless.]

I realize there's a great deal going on right now, and so I'll make this brief.

[Her tone is careful and refined, but there's certainly worry beneath all of that, thinly-veiled.]

Has anyone seen or heard from Dimitri recently? Even amidst the trials and current situation with Celliwig, it's unlike him to miss training or go silent.

[At least in her experience. She knows enough about his previous ghosting act to know that this doesn't feel right. If something has gone wrong, he can certainly take care of himself, but that doesn't keep concern from mounting.]

I know he has acquaintances here. If you hear anything, I would greatly appreciate if you would let me know.

Comments

[leitstern]

Nonsense. You swear a promise many vow but hardly mean. You would recover quite well. And be quite stubborn about it, I reckon.

[Like, oh, Hendrik. That man hadn't even noticed he was in need of assistance at one time.]

[feisticuffs]

I would feel regret.

[She is stubborn, indeed, and a resilient sort, but also far more compassionate than her fighting spirit often implies.]

I'm sorry if such a concept remains foreign to you.

[leitstern]

[Regret. Foreign. Few words could sound as harsh. He remembers a young boy who others teased and shunned, part of the crowd but never in the crowd. His emotions begin to boil and he feels his temperature rise - dredged from some forgotten place once mired in apathy. The thought of shutting down his emotions to serve his master touching his thoughts but not his words.]

I dare say we both understand why that is so.

[Cold. Bitter. This is the angriest he has been so far. Simply put, regret implies happiness. Had he ever been happy?]

[feisticuffs]

[It's an icy sort of anger, and it glances off her easily— much of what there is between the two of them is more the suggestion of what might have been; she had been so young before she had been forced to leave her own kingdom that any such memories are distant, if she had them at all. Even as a princess, a child her age was not often privy to the thoughts of others.]

You seem convinced as such, at least.

[Just as he'd been quick to accuse her of abandoning her kingdom and her family despite having been a child at the time.]

You have chosen to harden your heart. I have no intention of doing the same.

[leitstern]

Let yourself believe that. I doubt I should care to convince you otherwise.

[Steeling himself had gotten him through a dark period of his life. Perhaps it had been wrong, judging by Hendrik's opinion and experience, but he is unwilling to admit it had all been for naught.]

You have hardly been my constant companion these past twenty years. I would have you remember that.

[Well, sixteen, but twenty sounds more theatrical.]

[feisticuffs]

[And heaven forbid they not be as theatrical about this as possible!

She huffs softly, irate.]

No, I have not, nor have you been mine.

[They're strangers. The Jade and Jasper that had coexisted in Heliodor all those years ago are both long gone, for better or for worse.]

But I will not tell you how to manage your own disappointments. I would ask that you leave me to handle mine my own way, as well.

[leitstern]

Fine. Have it your way.

[With that, he'll leave her on read.

He cannot blame her for not trusting him in the present - but he can blame her [or her guardian] for not trusting him in the past.]