[Anise had known the Colonel for a really long time, and so she knew that when he stopped making jokes about something, it was really bad.]
[Still, she couldn't figure out what that 'really bad' thing could be. It hadn't really hit her yet that people here could just leave. Sure, maybe Guy had done it, but he was Guy! He left to do stuff for Malkuth all the time back home, so him being gone here didn't really make a difference. Luke was more of a permanent fixture, so it was harder to imagine him being gone.]
[The worst she can imagine is that he's been abducted for some bad mission by the Malnosso. Yeah, that had to be it!]
Did he get taken by the scary robots? We have to go save him!
[That wasn't fair. This wasn't fair! This world was supposed to be the place where they were finally happy; it was where Ion was still alive, and all her friends were too. And that place wasn't complete without Luke!]
[But, there's a tiny part of Anise that's going to cling to a small hope.]
But, he'll be back, right?
[People showed up again after leaving all the time. At least, that's what she'd been told. Gloomietta showed up again after she left, why couldn't Luke, too?]
[Jade's expression does not change. He looks down towards her quietly.]
Anise. It may be a possibility, but it is far from a certainty. [It isn't fair. It really isn't. Then, so much of Luke's life was unfair. It was unfair that in the end, he had to sacrifice himself. And now, it was unfair that he had been returned to that fate.]
There are many who return home without ever returning, at least not yet.
[Jade's not changing his expression and it's really starting to worry her. She'd kind of hoped that maybe the Colonel had come from a point in the future where they'd managed to find Luke. But if he wasn't even bother to joke around, it had to be really serious.]
What if they don't have somewhere to go back to? They'll return then, right?
[He imagined this would prove to be difficult. He tries to look her in the eyes.]
You should know as well as I do that the world is not so kind or fair. Especially not this one. [He takes one hand out of his pocket to push at his glasses softly.] Besides that, it would be more obvious if that were the case. The likes of Sync and Gelda Nebilim would still be here in this world, for instance.
[He goes on, wit a calming tone in his voice. He's not frustrated or exasperated.]
I know that I'm asking something difficult of you, Anise. But this will be healthier for you in the long run. You have to accept the truth of what's happened, or at least recognize it as a possibility. Luke is gone. Gone to whatever fate he experienced in the end of Eldrant.
Perona know what the clothing is, and she blinks, then bristles with a soft bit of red beginning to color her cheeks and nose.]
My stuffed animal! Bearsy is my stuffed animal! What the hell kind of question--how could you even ask me that?! Pervert! [SHE IS NOT LOOKING FOR NIGHTWEAR, JESUS MAN.]
[Now that's an amusing display. A light smile lingers on Jade's face as he shrugs his shoulders.]
My apologies. I thought that I should at least entertain the definition of 'teddy' most commonly used by adults. Rest assured, your stuffed animal will be found in no time.
[Areyou calling her immature? Fuck you, dude, you're walking a thin line as it is, don't push it. Perona has robbed the joy from people for much, much less. As is, she's too flustered to even think about siccing her hollows on him. That sure as hell was unexpected.]
He had better be... [She grumbles.That threat wasn't directed at Jade this time.] I'll check the other end, you look near here. You know what he looks like, right?
[One brow raises up, far enough that it gets lost among Perona's bangs, and she narrows her eyes. Buddy, don't act cute...you're doing it wrong and that is insulting.]
With both of us looking, I'm sure he will be. ...You can get started at any time. [And she'll keep a close eye on you with one of her ghosts, of course.]
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