sixwordstories | (no subject)

How so?

Because you're going around here bad-mouthing my wife in that way of yours, where you never say anything directly bad about her but let other people form the impression that she's a horrible person, which you and I both know is not the case.

I've done nothing of the sort. I've just implied that she changed you, which she has. Maybe you can't see it, but I do.

You don't belong with her. Especially not after all she's said about your people. You should be proud of who you are, Jacks. You should be allowed to be proud of who you are. Where you come from.

But she makes you ashamed.

She doesn't respect you.

I have changed, you're right. But I've changed because I wanted to change, not because anyone made me change. I've become the person who I was meant to be, who I wanted to be. The boy that you knew who'd come to tea and tug your pigtails while our mothers danced around the topic of marriage between the families is gone. And I'm sorry for that, if you feel that you've lost a friend. But I will not apologize for who I am today, and all that has happened to bring me here.

I belong with who I love. And that person is Janna. Yes, we come from very different backgrounds, and yes, that leads to difficulties from time to time. But they are difficulties that we will work out together and be the stronger for, because we love each other.

I respect my wife, and she respects me -- no matter what you may think on the matter.

It's not what I think, Jacks. It's what everyone knows. The horrible things she's said about your family...about Mainoreau.

What Janna has said about my mother, was prompted by the terrible, awful things my mother has said about her -- which she says happily in front of her. You can't expect anyone to listen to those sorts of things without becoming angry.

Your mother is not always wrong.

She's worried about you, you know. She misses you.

*laughs, bitterly* My mother misses having me under her thumb to do with as she pleased. She doesn't approve of Janna because she thinks Janna's beneath us. Because of who she is and where she comes from. Has called her scum, and dirty, and vulgar -- simply for being from Andal Thema, and being who she is. She's referred to my wife as "that gypsy whore of yours" -- in front of my wife.

Tell me, does that sound like a concerned and loving mother?

Perhaps not the last part. But what mother doesn't worry that their child's chosen intended may be beneath them?

You should see how my mother is with Jasmine these days.

And, Jacks, sometimes...I respect Janna as a person. And a pilot. She's did some fantastic things. But...

She's not one of us, Jacks. *lays her hand on his arm, looking up at him*

*stops, staring at them and Adamantine's hand*

Well isn't this a cozy picture.

*turns and walks out*

*sighs, the sound speaking of long suffering and profound irritation. He gives Adamantine a tight, sarcastic smile* Wonderful. And if you'll excuse me, Adamantine, I've got to go and figure out how to work this out. Because that's what I want to do -- work things out with Janna.

*he's still a moment, trying to figure out something to say that doesn't sound so dismissive -- they were friends, once, back when they were children -- great friends. Adamantine and her sisters were part of the small social circle that some of the Old Nobilty parents had arranged. They'd spent weeks and even months as guests in each others' family homes -- the palace in the capital of Mainoreau, her parents' country holdings out in the Summerlands, Jasper Winton's family home in the mountains of the Rio Dao, and a few others. Those had been good times -- they had been young then, children still, and while they all knew that they were friends because they should be, because their position in Kelsorian society made it appropriate for them to be so he had still enjoyed their company. Everything had made sense within itself, and Adamantine had been his constant companion on many a childhood adventure. It wasn't until the Academy that things changed.

And yes, he had changed. His interests had changed -- he'd enjoyed the classes in military history and strategy, got a feel for them straight away, and that was a part of it. Every planetary noble in the system, every governor's kid or steadholder's kid or royal kid or senator's kid or what have you could attend the Academy, and was expected to. Some of the outer planets were little more that barely organized outposts of mayhem, and it had long been the tradition that those who were in line to lead their planets should at least get something of a base, solid education in what it meant to be a part of the Kelsorian system, and a thorough instruction in system law and diplomatic history. A lot of his old friends had felt this a waste of time, something to interfere with the more important task of socializing, though no one dared fail the core curriculum. Jacks, though, had been smitten with the subject straight away, and had begun, in his deepest heart, to dream of becoming a naval commander.

And so he'd begun to make friends outside of the group his mother had always called his "peers". First with his roomate, a second-year named Devlin Reynolds who was a trouble-maker of the first degree and, at fifteen, already one to watch out for in the flight sims. Devlin was a lot of fun, once Jacks had gotten over the initial scandal he felt whenever Devlin did something that broke the rules. Then he'd become close with Devlin's brother and friends, and their easy way with each other was unlike the tense and strictly regulated heirarchy of his other friends. He's still been able, then, to maintain good relationships with everyone. It wasn't until his second year that things took a turn toward the inevitable.

That was when first Monyla, and then Janna had shown up in his life. Adamantine was a year behind him as well, and was shocked to see the sort of people that he was spending his time with at the Academy. He tried to introduce her to them, but she was from a society that didn't handle drunken male poker playing very well, and retreated from it in no little annoyance and distaste. They had managed to maintain their friendship outside of the rest of it all until Jacks had the misfortune to fall in with the two girls in the school who Adamantine wound up hating more than anyone else. Jacks, being a fifteen year old boy and only just starting to come into the looks that would see him well through his later years in school, had a very poor understanding of women, and especially female interaction. His mother hadn't helped much there, either, truth be told. So he's missed the growing animosity between them -- and when it spiraled to a head, he was probably the only one in the Academy who could honestly claim surprise, though no one believed him.

After that, it had been on -- Janna and Adamantine that a hatred of each other that was nearly pathological. So he was stuck in a difficult position, and tried to maintain his friendships with both. This, he had found, often led to hardship, mental anguish, and physical peril of his person. And in the end, he had chosen Janna -- the girl whom he'd loved since he first laid eyes on her, and he was happy in that choice, though he wished that he hadn't need make it like he had.

And while his relationship with his wife is the most important thing to him, there's a part of him who's still the boy from Mainoreau, and who thought, growing up, that it was the woman standing in front of him and not the one who'd gone out the door who'd be his best friend for always, and his wife.*

If you can figure out a way to be friends without the subject of my wife coming up, let me know. Because I miss some things, too, from back then -- but I have priorites, and they just walked out the door.

*turns and leave, walking after Janna -- not running, because that would imply that he'd done something wrong and he most certainly hadn't, but making his choice apparent*

*Adamantine had almost smiled when Janna walked in to find her and Jacks together. Yes, it had been innocent, but still...the gypsy needed to know that there were people who loved all of Jacks. Who did not find a single part of him distasteful (except for maybe his current company) and who hated the thought of him being stuck out in the outer regions. That there were people who would be happy to take him if she discovered she couldn't handle it

But as Jacks went to go after Janna, that smile faded. Once again he was choosing her. And why not? She was his wife. Logic dictated that he would go after her. It was just...she was supposed to be his wife. Even more so than her sisters. She still had the notes he had written her as a child. Promising her that they would be the best of friends forever. She still had the flowers he had brought her, pressed into an album. Where was that boy? Where had he gone?

A small tear rolled down her cheek as she grabbed Jack's wrist. She couldn't...she had to...*

Wait. Please?

*Janna kept a stone face as she headed down the corridor -- had they still been back in school she would be going to find Rafer and Devlin, looking for a game of cards and a bottle of whiskey. Hell or even Nate.

How could he? What made him think that...

She had obviously been stupid. Stupid to think Jacks would have...

Dante. She needed Dante. And alcohol*

*he took a breath, about to tell her no, that he had to go -- and then stopped, angry now. Why was Janna the one who always got the right to be angry? Why was he the one who alway had to apologize, for everything? He wasn't in the wrong here -- either by talking to Adamantine, or for wanting his children to grow up knowing something of their heritage of Mainoreau. He loved Janna, more than anything, but that didn't give her the right to decide that he was going to take the blame for everything for the rest of their lives.*

A minute, Addy -- I can stay a minute, but then I have to go. *he smiled, sadly* You know I do.

But you don't.

Please don't go after her, Jacks. Please. Stay with me.

*closing the space between them, she stands up on tip toe, kissing him lightly*

I love you.

*for a terrifying, confusing minute he lets her kiss him, her lips soft on his, and he has a flash of what it would be like -- what it would have been like to marry Adamantine. No career in the Navy, as that wouldn't have pleased his mother and it wouldn't have the been the lifestyle that was considered appropriate. Stephen would have the throne, and as Adamantine's family were of the Duchal line, they'd have no responsibilities other than to spend money, appear at all the right functions, maintain the right society, and stay out of the tabloids. One long life of vacations in the Rio Dao, balls and festivals and events, staying in bed all day if their calendar was clear -- and then children, who would be Mainorauex as a matter of course.

It would have been an easier life -- by a quirk of fate he was king now, the final word save the Council of Elders, whose position he still didn't fully understand. He was the final end of responsibility for an entire people, and he still was working hard every day to understand them, to gain their trust and their respect for more than just having Aladar's approval and their princess' hand, but for himself. His relationship with Janna was stormy -- they fought, often and loudly, about the big things and the small. It was hard work all the time, but --

But he loved Janna, and he was falling more in love with Andal Thema by the day, and he loved this life. It was what he wanted, what he was meant to do*

No, Addy -- *he pulled back, gently, almost as though he didn't want to startle her* I'm sorry, I can't. *he stepped away, slowly, shaking his head.* I can't.

*he turned and left, going after Janna -- but still not running*

(no subject)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

reply part one

reply part 2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject