[Hendrik doesn't look up from his food to see Jasper pouring their drinks, attempting to eat some of the bacon in front of him. It's clear that he's eating more out of knowing he should than any actual enjoyment or appreciation of the meal in front of him.
[That harsh laughter provokes him to cease thoughts of eating. It turns him towards drinking and he downs half his glass. This untimely disappearance of the Princess is provoking the other man and provoking his own damn nerves.]
I have shown interest in you. Why does that not satisfy you?
Because I know you showed interest in the world before.
[For a brief moment, it seems that Hendrik's voice will rise further with anger. But silence follows as he holds his fork to his plate, eyes focused downward.]
Never mind. It does not matter. That is me clinging to the past.
[Jasper's gaze follows Hendrik's to his plate. One of his fingers begins drumming the table, one of his feet tapping its toes. There is no difference in his voice when he begins answering - a neutral tone that hides emotion and suppresses sentiment.]
Well, perhaps if you acknowledge that our mutual accord has a future this would be less depressing.
[Hendrik returns to picking and slowly eating his food for awhile, his mind slowly turning over Jasper's words. He eventually lifts his head to aim at Jasper that same blank, weary expression he had on his face in the garden.]
[The simple question provokes him into slamming the table with a fist. Plates jump. Cutlery rattles. He seizes his towel and pulls it away, freeing damp hair upon throwing it to the floor. His urge to drink mixes with his anger and he swills directly from the bottle.
Anything to avoid spitting anger in Hendrik's face.]
[Hendrik barely reacts to the fist banging against the table, watching hazily as Jasper seems to wind himself up into a knot of some kind. He blinks slowly and sets his fork down, scratching at the bridge of his nose before leaning back against his chair.]
The universe as we know it is being destroyed, if what we are being told here is true. Trying to find any sort of peace here is fleeting, as this last month has made abundantly clear.
[He speaks clearly despite the topic, having spent too much time holding back his thoughts on the matter.]
Even should we return to Erdrea, Heliodor is in pieces. The World Tree is dead. The Luminary is gone. Where does our "mutual accord" have a future, precisely?
[Jasper clenches his fingers into his palms, mirroring Hendrik for a moment as he scratches the bridge of his nose. Only instead of leaning back he angles forward, one finger now twirling in his hair. It is flicked away as he straightens his back. His voice holds itself together in face of unindentified emotion.]
Hendrik, I have lost my love of anticipating tomorrow - but that hardly suggests I cannot enjoy the present. Our accord is all that offers me any sort of peace. It has a future no matter where we are so long as we stand together.
[Both hands steady his plate and progress towards straightening his cutlery. It is simple enough to tackle Hendrik's observation without troubling himself - and he answers swiftly.]
We are fundamentally different in most regards. That hardly means we cannot work together.
[Jasper drinks from his glass. It saves him from answering for all of a second, but the need to respond is staring him in the face. He frowns and realises that need is staring off to the side. Or wherever Hendrik now finds himself looking.
What a prickly predicament they find themselves in, he thinks. He extends his hand across the table; palm facing the air, ready for a simple touch or even a handshake.]
You have always been stubborn. But it speaks volumes that you realize it.
[The movement out of the corner of his eye draws Hendrik's attention back to Jasper, and he looks at the table, where his hand rests. He gives it a pensive look before pulling his hand up and resting it on top of the other man's.
He says nothing for a long moment, his expression downcast despite looking at Jasper.]
[Fingers move together, finding strength in unity. Differences that were once a divide are now set aside in favour of moving forward. He watches his friend look at him in misery and discovers he dislikes the sight.]
It is a pity that we have lost so many years. Still, plenty lie ahead.
[What Hendrik agrees to is left unsaid, his eyes straying down to their clasped hands as Jasper strengthens his hold.
He needs to remind himself to stop looking for those similarities. Needs to remind himself that they are very different people -- not just in capability, but in their thoughts and hearts. If they still had any similarities between them, they wouldn't be where they are now.
With his free hand, he reaches for his beer and takes a long swig.]
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Wait on your answer.
[He pours himself a drink thereafter, continuing on.]
The weight of the world burdens your shoulders. It might help if you loaded a portion of it onto mine.
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But the comments are worth a bitter laugh.]
You have shown no interest in the world.
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I have shown interest in you. Why does that not satisfy you?
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[For a brief moment, it seems that Hendrik's voice will rise further with anger. But silence follows as he holds his fork to his plate, eyes focused downward.]
Never mind. It does not matter. That is me clinging to the past.
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Well, perhaps if you acknowledge that our mutual accord has a future this would be less depressing.
[For him as well as this stubborn man.]
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Does it?
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Anything to avoid spitting anger in Hendrik's face.]
Not with you moping over your bacon, I dare say.
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The universe as we know it is being destroyed, if what we are being told here is true. Trying to find any sort of peace here is fleeting, as this last month has made abundantly clear.
[He speaks clearly despite the topic, having spent too much time holding back his thoughts on the matter.]
Even should we return to Erdrea, Heliodor is in pieces. The World Tree is dead. The Luminary is gone. Where does our "mutual accord" have a future, precisely?
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Hendrik, I have lost my love of anticipating tomorrow - but that hardly suggests I cannot enjoy the present. Our accord is all that offers me any sort of peace. It has a future no matter where we are so long as we stand together.
[The less he speaks of Erdrea the better.]
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I see. So we are fundamentally different in that regard.
[He hasn't 'lost his love' for thinking about the future. Hoping for the future. Even if they both live for others.]
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We are fundamentally different in most regards. That hardly means we cannot work together.
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[He tries to swallow a sigh.]
I suppose I do not understand... Or I have been unwilling to accept our feelings have diverged so much.
[Even though that fact is right there in his face.]
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What a prickly predicament they find themselves in, he thinks. He extends his hand across the table; palm facing the air, ready for a simple touch or even a handshake.]
You have always been stubborn. But it speaks volumes that you realize it.
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He says nothing for a long moment, his expression downcast despite looking at Jasper.]
Apologies.
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[Fingers move together, finding strength in unity. Differences that were once a divide are now set aside in favour of moving forward. He watches his friend look at him in misery and discovers he dislikes the sight.]
It is a pity that we have lost so many years. Still, plenty lie ahead.
no subject
[What Hendrik agrees to is left unsaid, his eyes straying down to their clasped hands as Jasper strengthens his hold.
He needs to remind himself to stop looking for those similarities. Needs to remind himself that they are very different people -- not just in capability, but in their thoughts and hearts. If they still had any similarities between them, they wouldn't be where they are now.
With his free hand, he reaches for his beer and takes a long swig.]