"Well, if you have the strength to eavesdrop, then you must be on the mend," said as he gradually sits on the side of Barnaby's bed, acting not the least bit offended that the contents of his private conversation have been shared with the class. His little ploy worked. J couldn't care less that the methods were slightly different from what he'd planned. In fact, it's a better outcome overall if Barnaby willingly behaves himself and doesn't put up a struggle by trying to return to the fray too early, knowing that Kivander's life is at risk if he does.
Surprisingly, the demon listens to Barnaby struggle to offer up his thanks with patience that seems unbefitting of a monster that's crawled out of the depths of the underworld. But J has listened many times to the frustrated monologues of someone else, struggling with feelings of self-loathing and boundless fury, as Makoto professed his guilt over his obsessions or his hatred of a world that never gave him a chance. Sometimes, despite all the innumerable differences, J sees a strong similarity between the two Aions he's taken under his wing. They're both so wholly reckless and absent of a reasonable man's sense of self-preservation, that at times he wonders which one will self-destruct first.
"This routine of yours, of apologizing to others and wallowing in self-loathing after nearly getting yourself killed..." he poses the start of a question almost conversationally, then pauses in his thoughts. For a moment J initially doesn't make eye contact, instead appearing to be idly checking his nails for breakage. But in reality he's observing where Barnaby's life blood has dried, wedging deep into nail beds, seen as fingers curl inward over his palm. "Doesn't it feel a little trite to you by now?"
With a sigh he sets the proof of Barnaby's near-death experience aside, pushing off the bed to stand over the man who shouldn't be moving at all, less so struggling to sit upright. J reaches with his right hand to place a warm palm on Barnaby's forehead, gently trying to encourage him to be still and lie back against the bed. "Try something new, Barnaby. Start protecting your own life with half as much dedication as you do everyone else's. Then we can skip all of that jazz, hmm?"
That's enough for now, though. He can see the exhaustion in Barnaby's eyes, that suggests what he needs most now is rest. His fellow Aion's shard has been examined by the healer, who had simply gone to work the moment J's orders landed. It's free from obvious cracks. And if the healer notices the hole, and the Kenoma filling in that empty space carved out of it, they know better than to say a word concerning what can only be the Regent's work. The healer simply nods to J that all is well, so that he may set this momentary debacle aside and return to the battle. J still needs to keep an eye out to make certain that Makoto doesn't follow Barnaby's lead. "Rest for now, and I'll see you once the dust has cleared."
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Surprisingly, the demon listens to Barnaby struggle to offer up his thanks with patience that seems unbefitting of a monster that's crawled out of the depths of the underworld. But J has listened many times to the frustrated monologues of someone else, struggling with feelings of self-loathing and boundless fury, as Makoto professed his guilt over his obsessions or his hatred of a world that never gave him a chance. Sometimes, despite all the innumerable differences, J sees a strong similarity between the two Aions he's taken under his wing. They're both so wholly reckless and absent of a reasonable man's sense of self-preservation, that at times he wonders which one will self-destruct first.
"This routine of yours, of apologizing to others and wallowing in self-loathing after nearly getting yourself killed..." he poses the start of a question almost conversationally, then pauses in his thoughts. For a moment J initially doesn't make eye contact, instead appearing to be idly checking his nails for breakage. But in reality he's observing where Barnaby's life blood has dried, wedging deep into nail beds, seen as fingers curl inward over his palm. "Doesn't it feel a little trite to you by now?"
With a sigh he sets the proof of Barnaby's near-death experience aside, pushing off the bed to stand over the man who shouldn't be moving at all, less so struggling to sit upright. J reaches with his right hand to place a warm palm on Barnaby's forehead, gently trying to encourage him to be still and lie back against the bed. "Try something new, Barnaby. Start protecting your own life with half as much dedication as you do everyone else's. Then we can skip all of that jazz, hmm?"
That's enough for now, though. He can see the exhaustion in Barnaby's eyes, that suggests what he needs most now is rest. His fellow Aion's shard has been examined by the healer, who had simply gone to work the moment J's orders landed. It's free from obvious cracks. And if the healer notices the hole, and the Kenoma filling in that empty space carved out of it, they know better than to say a word concerning what can only be the Regent's work. The healer simply nods to J that all is well, so that he may set this momentary debacle aside and return to the battle. J still needs to keep an eye out to make certain that Makoto doesn't follow Barnaby's lead. "Rest for now, and I'll see you once the dust has cleared."