fourthsaken | IC inbox!

right. i'll be there soon. gotta catch the bus from vandare.

[Jason wasn't kidding when he called the castle decrepit. Especially with Eponine gone and only three people inhabiting it (and Jason's rather spartan aesthetics, not because he prefers minimalism but because he's a cheap bastard who refuses to pay for decor), it feels huge and empty.

Jason's already got the door open and is waiting in the archway when Jade crosses the bridge. He has a robe tied on over his clothing and looks every bit like he just revived from death yesterday.]

Thank you. How was the dinner? Probably eventful, given the crowd you invited to it.

[Jade arrives a few hours later, a totebag full of leftovers slung over one shoulder and her ever present black umbrella in hand. The castle's more than a little intimidating. Jade had never imagined that Jason would ever invite her over. It feels weird. Half the time she's not even sure if Jason likes her. She hovers at the door anxiously, shifting from one foot to another.

Still, she takes when look at Jason and realizes there are much more important issues at hand than her own nervousness.]

Dude, should you be standing? You look like shit.

You could say I can stand it. [A small, rueful smile crosses his lips for a half second. There's a chap along the top one, as if his upper lip is splitting into one of those cat's mouth's, but slowly.] Come in, at least. It smells like pond scum out here.

[The inside of the castle is just about as looming and empty as the outside. Jason leads her towards the kitchen, which also serves as a visiting room, since it's the only place with a table and chairs. In lieu of a refrigerator, they have an old-fashioned ice box, and all the lighting is by torch and candle.] I'm just trying to rest myself while I try and find out what memories it was I lost. What I say I'm an unlucky bastard not to have lost the whole lot. How was the dinner?

[Jade follows him closely, taking in the castle's whole foreboding look. It's a lot to take in and more than a little creepy. Jade starts unpacking her bag when they reach the kitchen, setting out a couple containers of food, one that appears to be full of turkey and another full of various sides. She takes a pie tin out too, with about a quarter of a pumpkin pie left.]

It was good. I think everyone had fun. Sorry you missed it.

That so? With an invitation list as mixed as that one, I'm surprised it all went smoothly. I would have put money on a three-ring circus. [He half-smiles again, then examines the food.]

You can help yourself to water, if you like. It's in the ice box. [He looks over the food, feeling hunger for the first time for actual food rather than human flesh in a long time. Since that catastrophic feeding last month the sight of food makes him feel ill, but it seems death has healed him up a bit. He goes to the cabinet and grabs a fork, then a second, in case Jade wants to eat any of her leftovers now.] Grantaire didn't get himself too polluted, did he? I worry about that one.

Thanks.

[Jade moves to the ice box to grab a glass of water, feeling a little awkward to be helping herself in Jason's kitchen, but then again he gave her permission. She still looks a little confused by the whole situation, she can't stop fidgeting, repeatedly tucking the same stray strand of hair behind her ear.]

Dude, come on. Grantaire's not that bad. He was fine. He even brought Enjolras along. I... I was really glad he did.

I didn't say he was bad. I said he's a drunk. There might not be much of a difference on the surface but Grantaire's alright. [Call it personal history, call it trauma, whatever - Jason gets antsy around people who drown their problems in liquor. It's like he can't help but see them on their deathbed as if in premonition.

Once he start eating Jason realizes that he feels like he's starving. He still has his table manners, thankfully - he only sheds those when eating human flesh - but he does make quick work of the turkey.]

Enjolras still a coat rack? [Jason says that as if he doesn't care at all that his boss is missing his soul, but - up until he died and went missing for a week - he was fretting over making sure Enjolras got enough food. Spoonfeeding him, even, with the ease of someone who's actually administered food like that before.]

Don't call him that.

[She shoots him a scathing glare, stabbing at a piece of sweet potato on his plate.

Jade knows Jason doesn't mean it, probably cares about Enjolras in his own weird way. She'd noticed Jason's efforts to make sure Enjolras was eating. Of course she hadn't said anything just in case it made Jason realize he wasn't being enough of a jerk and inspired him to stop. While Jason was missing, Jade had taken over those duties, worrying about both of them.]

His soul's still gone. It's been way too long.

If he didn't want to be called a drunk, he wouldn't drink.

[Jason meets Jade's glare with a certain firmness, like he's not going to budge on this or his feelings on Grantaire, complicated as they are. He did return Grantaire when the inebriated wendigo went missing back then, and has developed a habit of hovering around Grantaire and commiserating about the human condition when his shifts and Grantaire's sobriety coincide.]

It has. I can't imagine it'll feel like home to go back to the cafe tomorrow and not get lectured about the proletariat or equality for the twenty-fifth time. It's too quiet. I'll have to listen to customers ramble on.

[Heaven forbid.]

I was talking about Enjolras. He's not a coat rack. He can probably understand us.

[Jade's not sure if he can hear them, but she hopes he can. That's why she continues to check in with Enjolras, reading to him and telling him about what's been going on at the store. When he comes back, she hopes he won't have felt like he missed much.]

Good. He'll get an honest idea of what's going on around him, instead of a sugarcoated one.

[He gestures to the rest of the food she brought.] Are you going to have anything? Eponine will probably be glad this is here. She hasn't had holiday food in her life, I don't think.

[She shakes her head. She'd much rather someone else enjoy it, she's got tons more leftovers back home.]

Let her enjoy them. I've got enough leftovers to last me days.

Alright. I'm obliged to you. I don't know that anyone else would have made this effort.

[He gets up from where he was seated.] Do you want me to show you out or are you planning to linger?

Dude, you died. Of course other people would do this for you.

[She starts to clear the dirty plates, intent on washing them. It's the least she can do really.]

Uh, I don't mind staying if you wanted company.

[It's weird. Jade doesn't spend a lot of time with Jason, he's not her friend like Enjolras is, but she feels bad leaving him alone.]

I wouldn't do this for me.

[And that's the difference between him and her. He wouldn't lift a finger to help someone else if he didn't have some sort of preexisting fondness or obligation to them. He certainly wouldn't be bringing them food.]

I'm alright. I appreciate it, Jade. I think I just need to lie down some more and keep recovering from this drowning business.

Are you...

[Jade pauses, the very embodiment of awkwardness as she sets aside the last clean dish. Jason has never been particularly nice to her, but he hasn't been as outwardly hostile to her as he has been to others either. It's weird, but she feels like she shouldn't just leave.]

Are you sure you're okay being alone after that? I... I wouldn't mind staying if you wanted company or whatever.

I'm fine. [He bristles a little bit - more evident now that he has fur along the back of his neck to perk. But he also flushes at the face. It's clearly more from embarrassment than anything else.]

Here, I'll just make sure you get out and on the road safe. You can call a car, can't you?

[Jade won't push the issue but she gives him a worried glance.]

Uh, I usually take the bus.

[He gets up to lead her out.]

I'll call you a car. It's safer that way for a woman, you know, even if you are intangible or whatever it is with you shades.

[Jade rolls her eyes. A car is totally unnecessary, but she's not about to argue with Jason when he's recovering from death. She'll let him win this argument.]

Fine. Whatever you wanna do.

IC inbox!

<jaded> [either is cool with me!]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

/wrap with your tag?

sounds good!

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, JADED. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 005.04.008.13 * CHARACTER NAME/ALIAS has joined 005.04.008.13 <JADED> hey, you've reached Jade. <JADED> leave a message or whatever and i'll get back to you. <JADED>** God, I hope this shitty thing actually works.