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[takeatrip]

WHO: Jayden and others
WHAT: Catch-all for May, with OTA and closed starters
WHERE: Cadens, the Horizon, maybe elsewhere idek
WHEN: All month
WARNINGS: TBD


[ Please feel free to PM, message me on Discord at Ami#8741,
or ping me on plurk at amiasha to plot and/or for closed starters! Wildcards also welcome. ]

Comments

[restingstitchface]

[The control he keeps on his emotions refuses to crack. His face is a calm and impassive facade that reveals no tells. It's the softness of his voice that reveals a considerate side. Advice? Sure, he can offer that.]

Oh? In that case, I can offer a few words.

[He leans forward in his chair.]

You need to lighten up. Be compassionate to yourself and accept that, no matter what happens, everything will turn out all right.

[takeatrip]

[Jayden watches Crane's reaction, waiting to see what he'll say, not sure what he's expecting. But although the sentiment is nice, it's also something he's heard many times before.

So he turns back to the piano again, returning to idly pressing the keys.]

I'll keep that in mind.

[But the chances he'll actually do that are very slim. It feels like a nice but ultimately naive way of looking at things, because while hoping for the best certainly has its place, there are times when it's just not pragmatic. He has very little confidence anything about being here is going to turn out alright.

He's not about to say any of that, however, and diverts the topic, though not far enough that it might seem overtly obvious that he's doing so.]

I've been workin' on a few different things, they just haven't all come together yet.

[Which is true, although it's likely he would've made more progress if he weren't also spending so much time playing around in the Horizon.]

[restingstitchface]

[Crane reveals little emotion about being palmed off with words, excuses his patients tried time and time before. His face keeps its bright and pleasant inoffensiveness even as his ego bristles at the insult. His opinion being worthless. His time being wasted.

There were consequences for such behaviour back home after a month or three. Patients wheeled downstairs for additional therapy. The thought elicits a smile and lightens his face. All in good time.

He knows the difference between naivete and confidence, after all.]

That sounds like procrastination.

[Like he said, you're hesitant.]

[takeatrip]

[Jayden's gaze flickers Crane's direction again, both at the smile and the comment, feeling another flash of annoyance. He reminds himself again that Crane is probably just trying to help, and is likely purposefully ignoring the deflections rather than not getting the hints, and it's all probably out of good intentions.

But that isn't going to stop Jayden from giving increasingly unimpressed responses the more this goes on. Normally, despite his awkwardness, Jayden is quite empathetic and so tries his best not to make people feel bad, but he does have a limit and is rapidly approaching it with the turn this conversation has taken.]

I prefer to know what I'm doing before I do it, but if you want to call that procrastination, go ahead. I'm not stoppin' you.

[restingstitchface]

[There's a little buzz in burrowing underneath Norman's skin: a terrible thrill in getting one over him mentally. His body language remains unchallenging, a visible measure of attentiveness and reservation. His voice has the same tone. It might even sound pensive regarding Norman's mood.

But his inner thoughts are anything but. Still, he gestures with a hand.]

Sorry for the offense but I figured an intelligent man like you respected honesty.

[takeatrip]

[He's a little mollified by the apology, but that's counterbalanced by not appreciating the attempt to feign innocence while claiming honesty. But now he has to decide if he's going to challenge the statement or not, which--if it gets to the point where he has to consciously decide--is always something of a struggle.]

It's fine.

[He says, and it's half true; it's not that big of a deal and so he's willing to move on provided Crane does the same, even though he doesn't particularly think the apology is genuine. And he almost leaves it at that, but considering his last few attempts to deflect the conversation hadn't worked, he changes his mind and adds--]

Your experiences since arrivin' here have been a little different from mine, so I guess it isn't too surprising you'd have a different outlook on settlin' in.

[It's only slightly a jab, delivered with no venom other than the words themselves, but it should still be enough to get the point across: he doesn't appreciate being judged by someone he barely knows.]

[restingstitchface]

[Delicate. Vulnerable. Crane watches impassively, longing for a journal and pen, to analyse this bruised and tender man. Norman strikes out with words to hide his weak underbelly - but that doesn't obscure the scent of blood in the water.]

Perhaps.

[He isn't apologetic. Passing judgment is what he does for a living, after all. On behavior, on capacity, on people themselves.]

A different topic, then?

[takeatrip]

[The lack of an apologetic tone doesn't really bother Jayden, as he's far more interested in the overall result. The topic seems to have been dropped, at least for now, and that's what matters to him.

However, he's also lost most of his interest in conversation for the moment. So Crane's question is met with a shrug, Jayden's attention still mostly on the piano.]

Sure, but I've run out of ideas for small talk unless you're interested in discussin' the fake weather.

[And, clearly, he's not interested in any personal topics.]

[restingstitchface]

[Crane laughs gently and leans forward, hands on knees until he pushes onto his feet. Small talk was never a popular subject. Not an inch fascinating compared to people.]

Not particularly. But please visit for a chat sometime.

[His tone is polite and apologetic; for their conversation reaching it's end and their company needing to part. Though internally he feels grateful for having time to himself again.

Still, their time is over, it seems.]

[takeatrip]

[Jayden is similarly relieved by the conversation ending, both because it had been a bit strange and because he'll also be glad to be alone with his thoughts once more.

But although he is glad for that, he does look away from the piano to nod politely in farewell to Crane. Better to end on a amicable note.]

'Til next time.