[First | Video | 8 December]

[fortunes_arc]

Hello...Hello?

[The woman on the feed is holding the commincator steady, but still unsure. First time using it and she thinks she has it working correctly. She wears a peculiar kind of military uniform and holds herself stiffly, formally; once she's sure she has the video working, she clears her throat and begins in an even voice.]

Greetings. I've

Comments

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[curtissy]

Tear. [Jade's frowning as he shows up on the feed; though Tear is still carrying herself well, the way she looks in the video suggests to him that she's from close to his timeline. As insensitive as it is though there's only one way to find out.]

I realize that this may be a difficult question for you, but I need to know the last thing you saw before you were sent here.

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[fortunes_arc]

Colonel Curtiss. [Instinctively she stands at attention; the tone of his voice is disconcerting, especially because he sounds like he's trying to have tact.]

Before arriving here I was in my quarters in Daath; I had just left a meeting with Grand Maestro Tritheim concerning his nomination for the new Commandant of the knights.

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[curtissy]

[That he certainly is; as unsympathetic as Jade can get he's still hardly one to not recognize depression when he sees it.

His mind begins to work, calculating her approximate point...In his timeline, Tritheim has already been made a Grand Maestro for about a year which means that she's fairly close to him timeline-wise.]

I see. That means that we've been taken from a fairly close point in time. [A pause.] How are you feeling, Tear?

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[fortunes_arc]

That's some consolation. This fractured timelines are...troubling..

[Asch's revelation still weighs heavily on her mind, and even if she is pleased to see Jade, she can't help but be distracted.]

[She blinks. The question caught her off guard.] I'm fine, all things considering.

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[curtissy]

And quite annoying, at that. [Oh, don't get Jade started on how Luke's the only one from before Eldrant.] It may be better if you get some rest first.

I see Luke has already spoken to you. [As if clarifying why he suggested rest.]

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[fortunes_arc]

Thank you for your concern, but I assure you, I'm fine.

Yes he has. [She misses his implications.] ...I'm not sure what to make of the situation.

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[curtissy]

If it helps, you don't have to make anything of it just yet. This is after all a unique situation and it's best not to make any judgments before you've had enough time to think about what you have seen and heard. [In other words, take your time.]

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[fortunes_arc]

[It's disconcerting to hear him being so kind, even if he is correct on all counts.]

Colonel, you've been here for some time now, correct? What's your take on the matter?

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[curtissy]

[Jade wouldn't even consider it as being kind; a wrong step right now would set them very far back and he prefers that they're all calm and collected while discussing this.]

Yes, that is correct. ...I have very little opinions on this matter, save for avoiding any discussion about the future.

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[fortunes_arc]

[Outside appearance suggests other, or perhaps Tear's just in need of a kind ear and calm mind at the moment, since hers isn't.]

But - we can't simply pretend that nothing's happened -

[She stops, and looks away.]

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[curtissy]

No, I agree. It will not be simple at all to pretend that nothing has happened, but that is exactly why it's necessary. [But in whose benefit, Luke's or theirs? Jade knows that he should stop here, and yet it doesn't feel right to end it like this.] ...That is as much as we can do for now, unless circumstances arise that would allow us to elaborate on the truth of what has happened. While they are different, I believe he still deserves as much.

[It's clear at least that the notion of spilling everything makes Jade uncomfortable judging by the adjusting of his glasses, but it's no more than what could be expected given that this is something he wouldn't even have considered before. Oh, how things change in years at times.]

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[fortunes_arc]

It just seems wrong to lie to him.

[But there's resignation in her voice. A long sigh shakes her shoulders and, when it's done, Tear straightens up and gives a curt nod.]

But. I agree, for now, that seems the best option. [She remembers him Akzeriuth, how raw that emotion was, and how quickly he ended their conversation now. If anything, no wasn't right, and the look on her face said so.]

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[curtissy]

And yet we still must, if only because the truth is something he can't handle in his present state. [Jade would actually like to be upfront too for once, maybe twice in his life, but as mentioned before old habits are hard to break and past experience guides him better than snap judgments, always.]

I'm sure it hasn't escaped your attention, but we do have other matters to look into as well. The enemy, for one. This world, for another.

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[fortunes_arc]

..I want to believe that he could handle it, if we can find a way to tell him, instead of treating him like he's a child when he's not.

[She looks up at that. It seems to have all but slipped her mind.] A-ah. Yes. I understand the basics of the situation from what Albarn told me - is there anything else that I should be aware of?