Jack may not be aware of the personal connections, but the general sublimity of the performance is not entirely lost on him, certainly. The music was lovely -- he certainly appreciated knowing what it was about. Of course, one could not expect to stay on top of everything in the general madness of the performance, but it was a fairly... satisfying sort of madness, really.
And so, later, he picks up his spoon. "Thank you again, for the invitation, Ali. It was wonderful. Literally." He takes his bite, and his eyes, widened so often during the evening, squint up a bit pleasantly. "And this is delicious."
"It's no fault of yours. It's merely that I've let my mind turn to subjects like witchcraft and compulsion occasionally," And letting Nexus people notice that was fine when one was just adhering to the letter of instructions, but not as much once one realized one should try to evade concern even in such a place as the Nexus. "And I've ended up thinking too much about such matters as bewitchment. For a moment, I was recalling some of those trains of thought.
"But I entirely understand that you were making a perfectly normal joke. And regarding the spirit of it, I am, as you know, always quite happy to enjoy your company."
She knows he's keeping something from her, and she doesn't like it. The sudden firm grip on her fork, or the little line that forms between her eyebrows are all the hints of displeasure she displays. And those too are soon gone.
He has no reason to trust you, she reminds herself.
"I can understand where such thoughts would be distasteful," she murmurs, gaze lowered again. "I've had people try and force me to do things. It was horrible."
She pauses, peeking up at him through her lashes. "I hope that if you're ever in trouble, Jack, you'll feel able to come to me. No matter how big the problem. I'll help you. And I can. Really."
"I understand. Thank you, Ali," he says, quite sincerely. He can't honestly say that he will feel he can tell her, because he can't, but her intetnions mean a lot to him, and the smile is completely genuine.
"Oh, don't worry about me, it's part of the job and I've always known that. It's sort of a particularly violent way of hazing the new girl." She rubs the side of her neck, trying not to remember it too much. "But they know better now."
"They're well. As far as I know anyway. I haven't seen some of my brothers in a while. They're off saving the world, or being newlyweds, you know how it is."
And so, later, he picks up his spoon. "Thank you again, for the invitation, Ali. It was wonderful. Literally." He takes his bite, and his eyes, widened so often during the evening, squint up a bit pleasantly. "And this is delicious."
Reply
Reply
Reply
"But I entirely understand that you were making a perfectly normal joke. And regarding the spirit of it, I am, as you know, always quite happy to enjoy your company."
Reply
He has no reason to trust you, she reminds herself.
"I can understand where such thoughts would be distasteful," she murmurs, gaze lowered again. "I've had people try and force me to do things. It was horrible."
She pauses, peeking up at him through her lashes. "I hope that if you're ever in trouble, Jack, you'll feel able to come to me. No matter how big the problem. I'll help you. And I can. Really."
Reply
"I understand. Thank you, Ali," he says, quite sincerely. He can't honestly say that he will feel he can tell her, because he can't, but her intetnions mean a lot to him, and the smile is completely genuine.
Reply
"Oh, don't worry about me, it's part of the job and I've always known that. It's sort of a particularly violent way of hazing the new girl." She rubs the side of her neck, trying not to remember it too much. "But they know better now."
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment