Isle of Avalon - IC Inbox

[standvastig]

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[leitstern]

[Now Hendrik jokes? Oh dear. He could comment about that. He could, or...]

Shortcake?

[Dessert! That's the important question, here.]

[standvastig]

Strawberry shortcake. There are extra strawberries as well.

[It seemed someone had a lot more luck with redirecting all the rain into something profitable. Like more berries to sell.]

[leitstern]

My, my. You are a good soul.

Next thing you know, you shall be trying to convince me to stay.

[standvastig]

[That... That particular reply gives Hendrik pause.]

I thought you intended to stay?

[leitstern]

Of course I do! But surely there is a difference between one's presence being tolerated or accepted?

[Perhaps this is not the time.]

[standvastig]

I was not aware that discussion was needed.

[Then again, Hendrik isn't always aware certain conversations need to be had. They generally need to smack him in the face.

And he certainly has spent the majority of his time renting this house and not occupying one of its bedrooms.]

You are here now. You are staying here.

[So he can keep an eye on him. But he doesn't think that needs to be said.]

[leitstern]

[No response comes for a few minutes.

There is something deep and indescribable in having those words in written form. A little look here, a little peek there. That he can take his phone out his pocket and read them anytime he likes - and feel those strange emotions anew? It leaves him more than a little shook up.]

I shall endeavour to return home at midnight in a state of high spirits, then.

[He is staying here under scrutiny, yes. But he remembers a time when he went completely unnoticed. And this compared to that is heaven.]

[standvastig]

[He reads and rereads the reply from Jasper, tilting his head. Jasper is alluding to something, but he isn't quite sure what.]

You are giving yourself a curfew?

[Truth be told, if that is what is being said, it would be a weight off his shoulders. Not that he generally considered Jasper the type to stay out all night.]

[leitstern]

Not if I can help it. But should it ascribe you some level of comfort...

[He will at least make an effort. For a week.]

[standvastig]

I never took you to be the type to stay out terribly late. So I suppose it does not matter.

[...He says that, not quite taking into consideration that Jasper may very well prove him wrong. He needs to be better about this.]

[leitstern]

Goodness! Now you are simply asking me to prove you wrong.

[That is warning enough.]

Hendrik, I hope you should know me better than that.

[There had been a connection. It's too late in the day to think it might still be here.]

[standvastig]

[They had certainly been pushing each other along in their youths. Jasper had long been his motivation to do better. To be better.

But on this topic, perhaps it's best not to dig so far into the past.]

You have had the tendency to stay up, but not stay out. Where would you possibly go?

[leitstern]

[Perhaps it is time for more honesty in this conversation.]

Home.

[standvastig]

[Well, he sure lost him with that response.]

Home

[He hovers back and forth between a period or question mark before ending with neither.]

[leitstern]

That is where we are, is it not?

[Not home on Erdrea but home here.]

[standvastig]

[Once again, Hendrik finds himself reading and rereading Jasper's words, trying to ensure he understands before replying.]

Yes, I suppose it is home.

[It's a tough feeling to process. Last Bastion certainly wasn't a home, and anything that preceded it had been reduced to rubble.]

[leitstern]

[Well, where do they take this conversation from here? Either they speak of their true home or avoid what should be an uncomfortable discussion.]

And somewhere to lay your head, I suppose.

[standvastig]

[That is a decent enough segue to safer topics.]

Speaking of which. I do hope you intend to help purchase more furnishings for the house.

[leitstern]

Absolutely. I know your eye for style is abysmal.

[A comment about having seen the spartan furnishings of Hendrik's room might not go down well.]

[standvastig]

I will take that to mean I can take back my curtains and bedsheets.

[Jasper has never held back on his thoughts of his sense of style, even when they were children.]

[leitstern]

I find that an empty threat.

[standvastig]

How is that an empty threat? You can replace them once you are not relying on them.

[leitstern]

[That is not Hendrik threatening to enter his bedroom and remove his drapes before he's found replacements.]

I was labouring under the impression you would...

You know what? Pay me no heed.

[Except do. He loves attention.]

[standvastig]

Very well. I will take them tomorrow morning.

[leitstern]

Tomorrow? Oh, you are far too eager to drive me up the wall!