Feels like it was yesterday
Who: Jade Curtiss and Emperor Peony IX
What: A reunion.
Where: Keterburg lofts
When: The day of Peony's return, don't ask me when that is though!
( I hear your footsteps like you're walking, I hear your voice like you're talking to me... )
What: A reunion.
Where: Keterburg lofts
When: The day of Peony's return, don't ask me when that is though!
( I hear your footsteps like you're walking, I hear your voice like you're talking to me... )
At Jade's beckoning, however, he found that he didn't want to wait any longer. If Jade was ill, he needed to be cared for. And with Dist still insisting that he was dead and drama queening all over the island, Peony was the only one left in the house. It was his responsibility, he supposed.
He crept down the hall to Jade's bedroom, twisting the doorknob and pushing the door open just enough to push his head in. He did his very best impression of the flamboyant Dist, smiling brightly, "Yes, Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaade?"
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Peony... Peony was alive.
The countenance of the man framed in the entrance was jovial, a smile was on his face, but Jade felt like he had seen a ghost. It could not be Peony, not his Peony... he could not have survived the gaping hole in his chest that...
But this was still... Peony.
Perhaps, this time, it wouldn't be like with Nebilim.
Perhaps, this time, he would get a second chance.
A chance to set things right.
"Peony..."
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"Guy and Saphir said I died. The last thing I remember is sending you out to investigate that hyperresonance in Kimlasca," he explained, coming to a stop at the edge of Jade's bed, folding his hands behind his back. "But they said you took it really hard."
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There was so much he wanted to tell him...
That he knew it was wrong but that, that night near the fire... he should have kissed him, all those people be damned. Malkuth be damned.
But this Peony wouldn't understand.
This Peony didn't make his heart ache, just by looking at the sunset.
Jade took a breath and schooled his features into his usual smile.
The one that didn't reach his eyes.
"Of course, I took it really hard... if you were gone I'd inherit all those rappigs and I don't know the first thing about how to give them baths!"
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But at least Jade was smiling now, even if it was that same half-smile. The one that said no, he wasn't really happy, but he would pretend he was. That smile always made Peony a little sad. He wished Jade could be truly happy, if only once.
"What are you doing in bed this early? Getting too late for you, old man?"
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He paused.
There was something surreal about bantering with Peony, like that, just a few days after holding on to his cooling corpse and hoping for death to come for him as well.
"Although, a violent death seems preferable, in hindsight, to having Dist fretting over me nonstop."
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Peony chuckled quietly, however, glancing toward the door again. "Well, I didn't see him when I came in. I think he's out hitting people with his chair. Do you need anything?"
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He wanted nothing more than to slump back in the bed and close his eyes, to take shallow breaths and dampen the pain in his chest. But Peony was here, and he didn't want him to worry.
Pulling the collar of his robe back snug around his neck, he handed the book om his lap to Peony. "And perhaps get me a new novel? I think Dist brought a pile back with him yesterday."
"But don't worry, I'm all right, it's just a scratch", he lied, "If we had a full strength Seventh Fonist here I'd have been back on my feet already."
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He wandered out of the room for a few moments. He still didn't know the way around this house, so it took him a little while to find where Dist had piled the books. He switched out the book Jade handed him with one from the top of the pile, and simply hoped that it was not one he'd read already. Despite the fact that he was the emperor, he enjoyed helping people. And surely fetching a book for his dear, injured colonel was no crime.
Peony jogged back to the bedroom. He was just a bundle of energy today. He knocked before entering again, of course. It was only polite.
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He really should talk to him about the lofts.
About the situation in the world.
He wasn't quite sure how to tell him that this room was not only his, but, by his friend's insistence, Peony's as well.
"We've been organizing, to live in this world", Jade started, a little hesitant, "Once I am back on my feet, Dist and I can finish the next loft for you. We haven't found a way back to Auldrant yet, so we're doing the best we can, here."
He paused.
"In the meantime, between Dist, Natalia and I, we have a few extra rooms."
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The others shouldn't have to go through extra trouble just because of him. Not if it wasn't completely necessary, and this certainly was not. He was not an emperor here, after all. In this land, he was just the same as everyone else. There was something vaguely comforting about that thought, equal footing. After all, if he had not been an emperor back home, perhaps he and Nephry could have been happy together...
"Besides, with me here taking care of you, maybe Dist will stop fawning all over you." Now THAT was a long shot.
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The memories were different, but the face was the same.
It was Peony's face.
"I never thought I would see the day were you would be taking care of me. It's simply... contrary to nature."
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"What do you mean, 'contrary to my nature?' I take care of you a lot, Jade. Don't you remember when you got the flu and I made chicken soup for you? From scratch? With my bare hands?" He asked, holding his hands up to Jade, fingers twitching. "I didn't even let the housemaids help me. And you said it was delicious. Also when ( ... )
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He finally settled for resignation and waited for his friend to finish.
It's true that Peony had been his only shelter through a difficult childhood. And that he probably wouldn't have made it to adulthood without him.
But, since then, the roles had been swapped.
Jade had been the one to support Peony, to protect him, to keep him out of trouble.
Normally, he would have argued.
Peony would have left in a fuss.
They would have made up later, once Peony had apologized.
But this wasn't a normal day. Peony had died.
And he hadn't. He had been left behind.
He sighed.
"I appreciate it, Peony."
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Peony was not as clueless as he looked... or acted, sometimes. This had to be a bizarre circumstance for Jade. Even if it sounded crazy to Peony, Jade had watched him die only a few days beforehand. To suddenly see your best friend again after you were sure he was dead... He supposed he could allow Jade to act a bit strange.
"Of course you do. I should probably stay in here with you tonight, anyway. In case you need anything else. You shouldn't move too much."
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He moved over a little to give Peony space on the bed, but mostly to avoid looking at his best friend directly.
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