[It's a perfectly reasonable question. A given question, and given phrasing, with a topic like this, with the way Jack's been addressing it. And yet the pang that comes immediately after Zelos asks that...it still strikes more deep and acute than it probably ought to, by now.]
[Jack shifts, and then stands up--because sitting still just won't work out, here, it's too--he paces forward a bit, slowly, staff absently flicking up into a proper grip, head bowing--]
...Yeah. [The word almost comes out in a slight laugh in itself--if only because, if there's a laugh to go over that, if he just keeps his tone light enough, then maybe--] Yeah, I did. About, four years old, I think--tiny. Long brown hair. ...Best ice skater I'd ever seen.
[He stops pacing, a couple of feet from the bed. Sighs.]
[It's something of a deflection, sure, but he...doesn't mind it so much. Because he probably does owe Zelos that, at least. Something of an explanation. (Nowhere near the full and proper one, but it's still so difficult to lay out, the right words...) So it's only a small pause before he turns around to face Zelos again, with a frown that's lighter this time.]
[But definitely sympathetic, in its own way.]
So she might have your title...but she wouldn't have you. And is that what she wants? Do you know?
[Half-elf...the additional context helps things a bit, though there's probably more context under that which Jack isn't picking up just yet. Some sort of societal thing, maybe...but either way, Zelos's last statement earns a steady look.]
None of us can really take care of anybody, while we're on this ship. But we're gonna get off eventually. And in the time between then and now--well, whether time stops at home or not...she'll still be there, and you'll still be getting back eventually.
--But I know it's probably not as easy as that, so...I don't know. [And with that Jack shifts to glance away and start pacing again, making a slow circuit to the other side of the bed.]
no subject
[It's a perfectly reasonable question. A given question, and given phrasing, with a topic like this, with the way Jack's been addressing it. And yet the pang that comes immediately after Zelos asks that...it still strikes more deep and acute than it probably ought to, by now.]
[Jack shifts, and then stands up--because sitting still just won't work out, here, it's too--he paces forward a bit, slowly, staff absently flicking up into a proper grip, head bowing--]
...Yeah. [The word almost comes out in a slight laugh in itself--if only because, if there's a laugh to go over that, if he just keeps his tone light enough, then maybe--] Yeah, I did. About, four years old, I think--tiny. Long brown hair. ...Best ice skater I'd ever seen.
[He stops pacing, a couple of feet from the bed. Sighs.]
[It's something of a deflection, sure, but he...doesn't mind it so much. Because he probably does owe Zelos that, at least. Something of an explanation. (Nowhere near the full and proper one, but it's still so difficult to lay out, the right words...) So it's only a small pause before he turns around to face Zelos again, with a frown that's lighter this time.]
[But definitely sympathetic, in its own way.]
So she might have your title...but she wouldn't have you. And is that what she wants? Do you know?
[Half-elf...the additional context helps things a bit, though there's probably more context under that which Jack isn't picking up just yet. Some sort of societal thing, maybe...but either way, Zelos's last statement earns a steady look.]
None of us can really take care of anybody, while we're on this ship. But we're gonna get off eventually. And in the time between then and now--well, whether time stops at home or not...she'll still be there, and you'll still be getting back eventually.
--But I know it's probably not as easy as that, so...I don't know. [And with that Jack shifts to glance away and start pacing again, making a slow circuit to the other side of the bed.]