imperious | dark is the new black

[Jade's mouth opens in surprise, even with Peony's follow-up comment. He tries to think of a reply and he fails completely.]

[Jade Curtiss has actually been shocked into speechlessness.]

Don't keep your mouth open like that. You're going to make me look bad by association.

[Peony squints at Jade before putting the rappig down - not dropping - and walks over to Jade looking almost concerned. His voice drops lower in case anyone might be listening]

Everything all right?

I'm fine. [Jade knows that he wants to ask something along the lines of 'What's wrong with you?' but he is having difficulty finding the exact way to put it.] Your Majesty. It... is not like you to treat Aslan like that.

[Sure, he was grumpy enough when he wasn't feeling well, and he insulted the intelligence of the Cute Jade with trolltastic vengeance. But this is very different, and it's unsettling Jade.]

[Peony looks more amused than anything else] Oh? I didn't realize you cared so much.

[he picks up Aslan, holding him out to Jade] Why don't you show me how I usually treat Aslan?

[For a moment, Jade is just annoyed.] I would prefer that the inane displays of affection remain Your Majesty's domain, thank you.

[Peony drops the rappig when Jade doesn't accept it, and instead slings an arm around Jade's shoulder and tousles his hair]

Don't be jealous. I have enough affection for all my pets. Even you.

[Jade straightens his glasses, not bothering with a valiant effort to get his hair straightened.] How flattering.

[Something wasn't right about that, though. Jade just can't shake the sense that something is really wrong.]

You should be flattered. It takes a lot to be the Emperor's favourite pet monster.

[Aslan squeals in distress and nudges Peony's leg, looking to be picked up again. Peony laughs, tightening his grip around Jade's shoulder.]

See how jealous you make Aslan.

[Jade has good instincts as a soldier and a scientist, but he was programmed a long time ago to trust Peony and to question himself. Even with that, he finds himself shrugging himself out of his Emperor's gripping and stepping away so he can face him.]

If you'll excuse me, Your Majesty. I'm sure we both have urgent work to attend to.

[But Jade never really learned to lie to Peony, and in the way he holds himself, every line and angle tells how disturbed he feels.]

[the smile falls from Peony's face, and he looks genuinely concerned. He steps close to Jade, talking in a hushed voice so only Jade can hear]

Maybe it would be better if we found somewhere more private, then you can tell me what the hell is bothering you.

Nothing is bothering me. [Jade says it before he thinks about it, and then he realises just how much of a lie it is.] No. You're right. Perhaps we do need to talk.

All right, come on.

[Peony picks up Aslan and plants an arm around Jade's neck]

You know I don't like to see you this bothered. You should've come to me sooner.

[and with that, they drop from the Plane. A kid who looks much like a young Peony crashes into Peony. Peony hands him Aslan before he can say anything, and pulls him up to his feet. He smiles warmly at the boy, before tousling his hair much the same way he did Jade's earlier.]

Go outside and play with Aslan before someone yells at you for running around in here.

[and then Peony continues dragging Jade along, until they reach Peony's office. Peony pulls Jade inside and shuts the door behind him and locks it for good measure.]

All right, no one is going to interrupt or hear, so what's going on?

[Today is Jade's day for open-mouth stares. And then he understands.]

[He straightens up, appraising Peony and the office and everything that doesn't fit.] A few questions first, if it doesn't trouble you. For about how long have you been able to visit the Plane?

[Peony looks wounded]

Me first. What the hell's with that tone?

Please, Your Majesty. I have a hypothesis about what has been troubling me. I need to verify it before we continue.

[reluctant] I don't know, a little less than a year.

Did I arrive before you? And I had been killed during a fight to the death that occurred prior to your arrival?

I -

[he has to pause for a moment to think this over. Although that is right, something about this feels wrong]

Something like that. I can't be expected to keep up with all the stupid things you do. If I did, I wouldn't have time for anything else.

Guy was given access a month or two ago. Saphir not long after. There was an experiment based on fairytales, and you were made the wizard of the Emerald City. Not so long afterwards, Guy was put under an individual experiment: his memories were altered and he was made to believe he was a God General. You gave me permission to decide whether or not to call in a psychic to restore his memories, and as Guy was too dangerous to be left alone, I did.

Why are you telling me this?

Because I need to know who you really are. I need to know if you're the Emperor I serve, manipulated by an experiment, or if you are the Emperor of another world's Jade.

You shouldn't have children, Your Majesty. You fell in love with my sister a long time ago, and you have refused to marry for years.

That doesn't even -

[he takes a deep breath and moves closer to Jade, looking concerned and disturbed. His voice is gentler, like he's trying to talk Jade down from the edge]

Why would I refuse to marry if I fell in love with her?

[he also wonders why he would even fall in love with Nephry, but something is going on with Jade and he doesn't want to risk Jade being insulted on behalf of his sister]

As strange as it sounds, I've been asking you that for years. You seem to find a loveless political marriage unappealing.

[he smiles a little. Jade's stupidity is cute, even when Peony is worried Jade has lost it]

I mean if I fell in love with her, why wouldn't I marry her?

[He shrugs.] She married Osborne while you were in Grand Chokmah. And for whatever reason, you keep rejecting my offers to remove that problem.

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