[He's gotten rather brilliant at bringing down the mood with his mere presence, but it's hardly the topics he chooses that do (unless he stumbles onto someone's latent trauma, which has happened more than once, which is worth noting.)
He goes quiet, still. The concept is not new to him. He's heard of it from others. From Sam. Sam's White Wolf, his friends. People like Jon, who he once met, or Coraline, who he never saw again. Nadine's companions, too.
He takes a step back.]
No.
[There is not softening that could have worked. He chokes for a moment, heat in his eyes. Estinien was... he was not an easy friend, but they had shared much in so short a time. Jaskier had great respect for him. Admiration. Even if, at the end, he'd been a little afraid of him, too.
It is not only that he is gone. It is that he is gone, and their last conversation was... was that. Was Estinien defending his stance, and Jaskier refusing to budge. The impasse that had cracked open between them.]
I'm sorry. I'm -- [He takes her hand in both of his, holding it, not only because he thinks she may need it, but because he does, too.] I had no idea. The last time we spoke... I don't think he wanted to see me again. So I thought -- [There's no point in explaining, really. He's gone.] I'm sorry.
no subject
He goes quiet, still. The concept is not new to him. He's heard of it from others. From Sam. Sam's White Wolf, his friends. People like Jon, who he once met, or Coraline, who he never saw again. Nadine's companions, too.
He takes a step back.]
No.
[There is not softening that could have worked. He chokes for a moment, heat in his eyes. Estinien was... he was not an easy friend, but they had shared much in so short a time. Jaskier had great respect for him. Admiration. Even if, at the end, he'd been a little afraid of him, too.
It is not only that he is gone. It is that he is gone, and their last conversation was... was that. Was Estinien defending his stance, and Jaskier refusing to budge. The impasse that had cracked open between them.]
I'm sorry. I'm -- [He takes her hand in both of his, holding it, not only because he thinks she may need it, but because he does, too.] I had no idea. The last time we spoke... I don't think he wanted to see me again. So I thought -- [There's no point in explaining, really. He's gone.] I'm sorry.