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[fourthsaken]

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.

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[fourthsaken]

[Jade can't quite hide her frown as she listens to Jason talk about his unhappy holidays back home. She quietly watches him decorate the tree haphazardly, letting him take charge even if he's putting very little care into the process. She doesn't want to take over a holiday he already doesn't like. Jade's holidays have been rough since her mom died, but before that they were always wonderful. She feels bad that Jason has never had that.]

That sucks. If you want, we can make this Christmas better than that.

[whatisay]

Not if you take me to Christmas Mass, you can't, [he teases, not uncomfortable to bitch about his family but not wanting to drag Jade down at the moment.]

I was just planning on spending it here. I wouldn't even have to worry about the postman being chatty. The only problem is that the only thing on the radio is those damn holiday jingles.

[fourthsaken]

[That doesn't sound like a good Christmas to Jade. She shifts from one foot to another, mulling over the right invitation in her head. If she does this wrong, she's sure Jason won't accept it.

She busies herself with rearranging ornaments on the tree, not looking Jason in the eyes as she continues, trying her best to sound casual.]

If you wanted to come over for Christmas Ever. I'm gonna have dinner and stuff before I got to mass. I mean, it won't be a big deal, but if you wanted to come, you're invited. I haven't invited anyone else yet, so we can make sure no one you don't like is there.

[whatisay]

[He wants to say no. To do so would be to protect his pride, which feels bruised and battered over the last year and a half of humiliations and indignities. For a moment he looks like he's about to say that, but then he gets up and goes to the water boiling on the stove instead.

He's lonely, and he hates to even acknowledge that. Not long ago he would have turned her down to spare his pride in a form of self-inflicted sabotage. He sighs. He doesn't know why he can't be happy to accept her offer.]

I'd be obliged if you saved a serving for me.

[fourthsaken]

[Jade can't hide how excited she is that Jason accepted her offer. She grins at him, returning to decorating with her original enthusiasm. As casual as she tried to act, it's obvious that it would've been crushing if Jason had refused to show up.]

Okay. Cool. Would it be okay if I invited Enjolras too?

[whatisay]

[Jason doesn't grin back at her. He gives her a sort of weak smile as if he were facing some sort of cancer diagnosis and trying to seem happy about it, and it turns into a frown at her mention of their boss.]

He has it in for me, you know.

[fourthsaken]

[Jade can't help but give him a confused look. She has no clue why Jason would think Enjolras would do anything to harm him.]

What are you talking about?

[whatisay]

I mean that he's looking for any excuse to humiliate and even fire me. He's only started scheduling me on opposite shifts from him because he can't stand the sight of me, but the instant he remembers I work for him I'm gone. He'll kick me out on the streets.

[There's a kind of manic energy to the way Jason says that; he seems to switch from his usual dreary irritation to something more fervent.]

[fourthsaken]

[Jade is openly confused, unable to imagine how anyone could think such things about Enjolras, especially someone close to him.]

Have you tried talking to him about this?

[whatisay]

Why would I do that? The instant I let him know he's gotten to me is when he'll start lording it over me. Or he'll deny it and make me out to look like a fool.

[fourthsaken]

Jason, talk to him. I swear Enjolras isn't out to get your or anything like that.

[whatisay]

[Jason throws up his hands in a typical "why do I bother?" gesture.]

Of course he'd have you thinking that. He's been turning people against me since he hired me. Did you know it was another Pandemonium staffer who ripped off my wings and made me whatever this world's version of a cripple is?

[fourthsaken]

[Jade just stops herself from rolling her eyes. She knows that won't help Jason feel less like they're somehow out to get him. She fixes him with the most sympathetic look that she can.]

... Jason, you get them I'm not on like, his side, right? I care about both of you. You're both important to me. I don't want this to be like some weird competition.

[whatisay]

You can't be on both our sides when there's sabotage going on. [Jason rummages through the cabinet and pours the coffee, sloshing it over the side of the mugs in evident agitation.]

[fourthsaken]

[Jade abandons her decorations to join Jason, reaching out to catch his wrist. She squeezes it reassuringly.]

Jason...

I'm not against you, okay? I care about you. If I really thought Enjolras was out to get you or whatever I'd do something about it.

[whatisay]

[He pulls away from her, knocking over one of the coffee mugs in the process. For a moment, he gives her a look as if she, too, is the enemy, as if the private and distorted reality he lives in has swallowed her up into its list of antagonists as well.]

So you think I'm stupid.

[fourthsaken]

[She just manages to save the coffee mug using her telekinesis, but the coffee still spills. She reaches out her hand again, stubbornly waiting for Jason to accept it. She's not sure how a simple thing like inviting him to celebrate Christmas Eve with her is teetering towards disaster.]

What? No. I'd never think that.

[whatisay]

[He doesn't accept her hand. Instead, he skulks around the corner of the kitchen. A year ago he may have responded with unpredictable anger, but now he just sulks, eying her suspiciously.]

And you don't think I'm crazy? Because I've known crazy, Crazy would have been paying rent for the property taxes back home if you could collect from it, and I know that I'm not just paranoid or whatever you think. You just don't have the full picture.

[fourthsaken]

[Without realizing it, Jade shifts to shadow, obviously upset. She doesn't know how to reassure Jason that's she's not out to get him. She gives him space for now.]

Dude, I know you're not crazy. I'd never think that. I know what it's like for people to think you're crazy when you're not. People back home said I was crazy like, all the time.

[whatisay]

[Jason stalks for a bit, shoes smacking against the floor with a stomp sure to irritate the downstairs shop, focusing nervous and indignant energy into the heels of his feet. He bites down on his lip, which opens up a bloody puncture because of his fangs.]

Alright, alright, you don't. I couldn't abide you lingering around if you did. I don't have time for people who are going to recommend me to Jackson if I point out I've been treated unfairly or if I mention I don't remember my father's name anymore. That's all I'm saying, that Enjolras is singling me out and treating me unfairly.