JUDE
the light of dawn is coming
It's not any easier for him to hear her call someone else her best friend. There's this awkward, unspoken sentiment between them - a shared one - that neither is willing to voice or face. They'd been best friends once. More than best friends sure, but always had that been the base.
"Yeah. But I won't take 'nothing' for an answer either." There's surprising weight to the words despite their quiet tone. Maybe combing this endless forest is all he can do, but then by the gods he'll do it. Maybe he'll never find a flower either, but until a better solution is discovered he can say he did everything within his power.
There's a bit of relief in knowing she's equally dismissing the greater good for personal attachment the same way he is. Like there's now less reason to hide it. "It's easier when we're not rulers, or fighters capable of doing something more with it. Easier to be selfish." The plight of the powerful is to be forced to forsake their own hearts for the greater good. In that way, Jude is ever grateful to not be powerful or important. He isn't sure he could do it in their shoes.
"It's why we're not the only ones. I know Koa's looking too. It's for his sister." The one who forced you off my front step. Hopefully she won't know that, but he tries to offer Koa's name as an olive branch. A 'you can talk about this with me' offering. Jude's heart is still knotted up over them both, but he's also tired. And far too aware of the fact that the trial is his own. Self-inflicted. The only resolution he'll find is being able to move on somehow, and maybe that means forcing himself to look at both Sohalia and Koa in a different light. One he can't turn away from - though he's blind to the fact they're still connected in any way.
"Yeah. But I won't take 'nothing' for an answer either." There's surprising weight to the words despite their quiet tone. Maybe combing this endless forest is all he can do, but then by the gods he'll do it. Maybe he'll never find a flower either, but until a better solution is discovered he can say he did everything within his power.
There's a bit of relief in knowing she's equally dismissing the greater good for personal attachment the same way he is. Like there's now less reason to hide it. "It's easier when we're not rulers, or fighters capable of doing something more with it. Easier to be selfish." The plight of the powerful is to be forced to forsake their own hearts for the greater good. In that way, Jude is ever grateful to not be powerful or important. He isn't sure he could do it in their shoes.
"It's why we're not the only ones. I know Koa's looking too. It's for his sister." The one who forced you off my front step. Hopefully she won't know that, but he tries to offer Koa's name as an olive branch. A 'you can talk about this with me' offering. Jude's heart is still knotted up over them both, but he's also tired. And far too aware of the fact that the trial is his own. Self-inflicted. The only resolution he'll find is being able to move on somehow, and maybe that means forcing himself to look at both Sohalia and Koa in a different light. One he can't turn away from - though he's blind to the fact they're still connected in any way.
ready to return everything the darkness stole
