And the sunlight hurts my eyes

[leitstern]

Where: Puerto Valor
When: Before Dundrasil
Summary: Vacation

Comments

[standvastig]

That is hardly fair.

[Hendrik shakes his head, but his eyes linger on Jasper -- likely because of that particularly long draw from his drink. He knows his friend to be more interested in alcohol than himself, though it's never come up in conversation as to why.]

Don Rodrigo watches his trainees like a hawk. If there was even a whiff of alcohol on any of the other boys' breath, the whole group was doing laps.

[No way was he risking it after suffering from others' mistakes.]

What about you? You make it sound like you were drinking up north.

[leitstern]

[Jasper looks towards the beach: a world away from the frozen wastes of the northern hemisphere. He finds it easier to speak of those solitary years in this warmth. Feelings are shared because of alcohol. He dwells on them as he looks at his drink and finishes the glass.]

Not much as I would like. Not that I had the opportunity.

[He grumbles lowly.]

Work kept me busy. The need to keep a certain image. I am certain you understand?

[standvastig]

A certain image. I suppose so.

[Hendrik finally averts his eyes from Jasper to focus on his drink, brows pinching together at the grumbling. He's also probably a bit surprised by how Jasper just slammed down that drink as if it was water.]

So what changed?

[leitstern]

[The question wrinkles his nose. He pushes back his chair, frowning at his drink. His throat is already parched and thirsting for another. Something cool and refreshing.]

I met people who were true to themselves.

[He neglects to say some of those "people" were monsters.]

[standvastig]

[His eyes are already flitting back to Jasper, surprised that it looks like he's going to stand up and leave.]

I do not understand. You say that as if many of the people you met were not true to themselves.

[If that is the case, what in the world is going on up in Sniflheim?]

[leitstern]

[Eyes turn on his friend. He looks for a glimmer of understanding but finds nothing but questions. He swallows anger and annoyance, focused on enjoying this vacation.

It only serves to highlight how different they have become since they were apart.]

Do you suppose you were the only one to find it difficult to acclimatise to being so far from home? People had already made friends, Hendrik.

[standvastig]

Of course some would make for faster friends than others.

[They did not become friends right away.]

But you are there to learn together. I did not know everyone who was sent to Puerto Valor either.

[He's trying to rationalize Jasper's experiences, but still finding himself woefully unable to understand his friend's comments.]

What does that have to do with being true to themselves?

[leitstern]

They were honest in enjoying each other's company.

[He frowns at the memory of finding it hard. They both know he has an attitude that most cannot understand.
He looks around the beach at their fellow knights and finds himself curious.]

Did you make friends here?

[standvastig]

[Hendrik stares at Jasper for a long moment, unsure what to say. He knows of course that his friend is pretty aloof and sometimes hard to get along with, but interacting day in and day out should have helped with matters like that, right?]

I did. After I was more confident I was keeping up with lessons and training.

[leitstern]

[That makes Jasper pause. Was he forgotten easily? He looks around at the men his friend embraces and finds himself unable to enjoy their company as deeply. Is his company judged too dry these days? He finds himself moved to the point he looks back at the bar. A drink will surely help his mood.]

Good for you. I would not have wanted you to suffer alone.

[standvastig]

[Perhaps it's how Jasper looks away and to the bar, or maybe it's his mood throughout this entire conversation, but Hendrik's slight frown turns stormy.]

That sounds rather insincere of you.

[leitstern]

There is no need to accuse me of insincerity.

[The accusation draws his attention: a frown of confusion that his closest friend accuses and points his finger.

Figuratively speaking.]

You know me better than that, surely?

[standvastig]

You have been in a mood this entire time, Jasper. What am I to think when you cannot even look at me as you say that?

[He takes a deep breath and releases it, finally turning to drink his beer. He's been paying so much attention to Jasper that he's barely touched it. The lemony sourness doesn't help much, but he's resolute in finishing the drink.]

[leitstern]

[Jasper turns his gaze, across Hendrik and his irritation, out towards the ocean. It is a different sight to the frozen waters of the north. Welcoming, warm, calming and peaceful. He pushes off the table and leaves his chair - still looking elsewhere.]

You need think nothing. I am heading out.

[For a walk? Down towards the beacon to resume swimming. It is, perhaps, one of those rare times he doesn't escalate the argument. He simply wishes not to argue at all.]

[standvastig]

Fine.

[Hendrik doesn't attempt to hide his irritation at Jasper's abrupt decision, the hand around his tankard clenching tight in reaction.

He also doesn't bother to watch Jasper leave.]