Jude
dagger to chest, I'll cut out my ego
I will not speak to you as an equal
I will not speak to you as an equal
She is certainly not the weird one, the wrong one. Safrin had told him how valuable a love like his was, but Jude knew it was unique in a bitter, unwelcome way. Unwelcome to all but her, at least. It doesn't make Sohalia cruel - it makes Jude pitiable. She is unfamiliar to him now with how she has grown and changed over the years. It would be ridiculous to think she wouldn't grow far past what they briefly used to be. Jude simply hasn't been afforded that sort of growth with all he lost and the ways it left him isolated. Maybe if he starts here, that can change.
Or maybe the future will reveal that that, too, is inherent to his offset soul.
"Don't be sorry," he murmurs. "It's not exactly commonplace. You don't have to be anything more than yourself." He can say it with confidence because, though he can't claim to know her anymore, Jude is certain that she is as kind and giving as she has always been. That means he can count on her gentle nature to ensure this meeting is civil and swift, whether she puts on an act or not.
Dark brows draw together when she hesitates and begins pulling out the knot from on top of her head. "Just a little of the ends will work," he urges, uncertain where she's going with it but suddenly apprehensive. "And I hope so. I hope that with the love gone, the rest - what made me love you as a best friend first - can exist peacefully." Pale fingers fidget with Joan's scales as he forces himself to keep his eyes on hers. "If you want that too. If the memory of this won't be too weird once it's gone." He will still remember all of it given Safrin is the one aiding him and not Ludo, but Jude is tentatively hopeful that the embarrassment won't be so strong when he can't feel the emotions that had driven him to this.
Or maybe the future will reveal that that, too, is inherent to his offset soul.
"Don't be sorry," he murmurs. "It's not exactly commonplace. You don't have to be anything more than yourself." He can say it with confidence because, though he can't claim to know her anymore, Jude is certain that she is as kind and giving as she has always been. That means he can count on her gentle nature to ensure this meeting is civil and swift, whether she puts on an act or not.
Dark brows draw together when she hesitates and begins pulling out the knot from on top of her head. "Just a little of the ends will work," he urges, uncertain where she's going with it but suddenly apprehensive. "And I hope so. I hope that with the love gone, the rest - what made me love you as a best friend first - can exist peacefully." Pale fingers fidget with Joan's scales as he forces himself to keep his eyes on hers. "If you want that too. If the memory of this won't be too weird once it's gone." He will still remember all of it given Safrin is the one aiding him and not Ludo, but Jude is tentatively hopeful that the embarrassment won't be so strong when he can't feel the emotions that had driven him to this.
Label my pride and I'll cast it away
If power corrupts, then just let me be weak
If power corrupts, then just let me be weak
