imperious | dark is the new black

Your preoccupation with discretion is understandable and forgivable. Your willingness to marry for your career isn't altogether surprising. [Even if it is disturbing.] Nor do I have any doubts that you truly care for me.

I won't tolerate manipulation. Not from you.

Who says it was for my career? Maybe I was in love like your Peony and just didn't get rejected by the girl.

[calm and soothing and apologetic] I wouldn't expect you to either. I'm not like that with my Jade, which I'm sure you'll realize if you are him. It's because you're not my Jade, and I was worried and scared. I won't do that to you in the future. It's only fair. After all, I wouldn't want your Peony to do anything like that to my Jade.

Why do you have rappigs?

[grin] I like having pets.

[a beat] Honestly? It started out as a ploy, yeah. If people think I'm a soft-hearted idiot, of course they'll underestimate me. It doesn't mean I don't love having pets, and it sure as hell doesn't mean I don't love them.

You know how it is, even us monsters can somehow love others.

[He rolls his eyes.] You can stop that. You aren't a monster, just a politician.

There's a difference?

[He has no intention of playing that game.] You'll have my protection for as long as this lasts. If you need help, then you will be given it. I won't play out his life like it's mine.

Would you prefer I play out your Peony's life like it's mine? I know he's not discrete and he's hung up on some girl who rejected him ages ago. So what should I be? Loud and lonely? I can pull that off, I'm sure.

Stop it.

Stop what?

If that's all you want, I do have work to do.

It's not all I want, and whatever work you can do will have to wait. After all, you won't have much work to do without an Emperor to serve.

Surprising as it may be, I have more than a few projects that I'm quite capable of working on on my own.

Really? From the way things sounded, I figured all you did in that world of yours was hug rappigs.

Only on weekends, Your Majesty.

Ha, I think that was the traces of a sense of humour! I was afraid you lost it in whatever reality you're stuck in.

Ah, it's so sad when an old man thinks he's funny and is not. I'm so glad that your world seems to have much lower standards.

You shouldn't talk about yourself that way. I think you're funny, even if you don't. Why do you think I've kept you around all this time?

I don't try to fathom the reasons of lonely children.

Self awareness never was your strong point.

Projection is a dangerous habit, Your Majesty.

Hey, maybe I was wrong. You might be better at self awareness than I thought.

[Jade crouches down and really looks at Peony, and when he does, he smiles.] Well. I was expecting a fair few things in common.

Permission to make a query? Your Majesty.

[he stares back at Jade curiously, and for the first time, he truly feels unsettled, but he smiles to hide it]

Go for it.

[Jade continues to smile, watching him. It has been said that Jade is a cold person. Certainly, his eyes aren't any warmer for their redness. And watching Peony--looking at him--he is unfeeling now, the data coming to him like numbers to a machine.]

You mentioned the Professor. It wasn't in ignorance. Tell me about Keterberg. And tell me what happened after.

[The smile is as bright as icicles.] And please, Your Majesty, don't concern yourself with sparing my sensitive feelings. I know you wouldn't want to hurt me by bringing up painful experiences, but I think I can manage to suffer through it.

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