Well, it's good that you did leave, at the very least. Though by the sound of it you could have done with walking away far sooner.
[Because if she'd backed away earlier, then she wouldn't be dealing with a broken nose about now, would she? Jade just barely manages not to outright point this out aloud verbatim--surely Rita's already as aware of such herself, after all. ...Yet Jade still can't be surprised at this turn of events either, and--perhaps that's the true sticking point, in all this. The thing that's setting off such a...hmm, hard to say what this feeling is, really. The shape of it's quite close to irritation, to the point he'd almost call it such, but--it's a little stronger than that too, isn't it? Something rather more deep-set.
He'd thought they'd reached a consensus on this, after all. He'd thought. After that talk in the labyrinth waiting room--Rita had seemed remorseful enough, at that time. Had he not made the issue plain enough, even then? Or perhaps she'd simply been remorseful for all the wrong reasons, all along?
The stickier point of the matter, too, is that Jade is hardly happy to see Rita fielding around an injury like this right now. Yet he can't even muster up any proper offense about it in the direction of any actual culprit, because Darcy has just never stricken Jade as the sort of person to be...]
"Crazy". I see. [Try as he might to maintain neutrality, the withering nature of the echoed term seeps through all the same. Really, that's the best explanation Rita could come up with? That's the only reason she can think of, as a possibility?] So you walked into the kitchens, without doing anything at all or saying anything at all. And she simply leapt upon you and broke your nose on the spot, is that right? She trapped you such that you could not simply leave?
[It's a rather bad faith way to ask after any context, granted. Jade knows it is. There's still the perfectly viable possibility that things really did transpire exactly how Rita's implying, and Darcy attacked her entirely unprompted. But the thing-like-irritation is still very persistently gnawing at thought, about now, and exasperation just can't help but have it seeping into spoken word too. Old poor habits flaring up...]
[The clear disapproval leaking through from him twists a new knot in Rita's stomach. Why? Why is he still turning it around on her? The unpleasant knot only tightens as Jade continues, and she's equal parts irritated and sheepish in response, a very odd combination that she doesn't quite know how to handle, her hands agitatedly curling into her sleeves.]
What? It--it wasn't exactly like that--but...she did freak out on the spot.
[It just didn't immediately get physical... But Rita refuses to believe that she escalated the situation unneccessarily. Why should she have obeyed Darcy from the start, anyway? It's on that thought that anger overtakes her warring emotions and she raises her voice stubbornly at Jade.]
It's--it's a public space; why the hell should I have left just because she claimed it, or whatever the hell she was thinking?!
Because apparently it was either walk away or get engaged in a ridiculous fight. You certainly seem entirely incapable of accessing any third or fourth options when it comes to Darcy.
[She might raise her voice, as indignant stubbornness sets in over whatever sheepishness Rita's quite visibly also warring with. But Jade is unmoved and unimpressed by the volume, and while his own tone remains even, his answer is a sharp and immediate thing. There it is--the crux, really, behind that burgeoning irate feeling. That when it comes to this particular sort of situation, Rita has so clearly opted to box herself into those options, with no interest whatsoever in any sort of alternative. Even in these downtime circumstances, now, outside that labyrinth waiting room...
Jade folds his arms, and sighs.]
I must say, I do not know what you're trying to argue for here. Do you want me to fervently agree that Darcy simply must be an insane person who'd have no reason at all to be angry at you? Do you wish for me to compliment you on your decisions well-made? Reassure you that this was in fact a very important and necessary fight? [A slight tilt of his head; dryly:] You're clearly not even proud of it, hiding around and trying to pretend as if nothing's happened after the fact. It's all making for quite a mixed message.
[And here she'd thought the scolding he'd given in the labyrinth waiting room was bad enough. As he lists off his rhetorical questions with clear disapproval, this is so much worse, even as somewhere inside, Rita wants to angrily scream that she's not trying to argue for anything with him, that she hadn't even wanted him to know in the first place, because this--this sucks.
With a sharp intake of breath, she abruptly starts pacing--stomping, really, swinging her arms with all the drama of an upset teen each time she turns around.]
No! I don't want any of that, I-- Just--what do even want me to say?! This wasn't like that room! There wasn't even anyone else involved this time, and now you're-
You're acting like it's all my fault and you weren't even there! You didn't see what happened!
[Ugh. She's not going to be proud of this, either, but logic is swiftly taking a major backseat to messy emotions.]
[It's as if she's finally reached something of a boiling point in all this, the way Rita suddenly bursts into sharp breaths and dramatic stomping about as she does. Perhaps her emotions actually have, though, which...does make sense, in a way, with all things considered. Still, Jade couldn't be more of a polar opposite against her if he tried right now; he remains exactly where he'd stood to begin with in this room, arms still folded, expression only growing all the more flat in the face of the way Rita's flares up.]
So that's how it seems to you, right now? That I'm acting as if this is your fault? Even after I've already told you once before, how I do not care where the fault lies in these conflicts--you'd really have me repeat myself again? ...Hm. It would seem you really do think that talk we had in that room only counted while we were in there.
[And now that they're out, none of it applies any longer--or so it rather sounds and seems, at any rate. That may not be Rita's actual thoughts or intentions, in reality, but it's the impression that comes off--and, in turn, the impression that's setting the distinct disappointment in Jade's tone now.]
...You're correct, I was not there this time, and I did not see what happened. All I see now is the results--the fact you were injured by it. Which is not something that I enjoy seeing happen to a friend, astonishing as I'm sure that is to hear from me. [If his tone weren't so dryly flat already, perhaps it'd be easier to detect the briefest flicker of self-deprecation there--but let's move on, before such things can sink in--] If it were some accident, or an unpreventable outcome, that would be one thing. But the cause was neither of those things--and on top of that, you'd even rather try to hide it, than tell anyone about it afterward. Will you be trying to hide it the next time you come to blows with someone else in an argument, too? When you injure them instead--or perhaps even if one of you kills the other, eventually? I suppose I'll always be wondering now.
[In this place where even death isn't a permanent solution of any kind...]
If you want to know what I'd like for you to say, then at least answer this. How much longer shall I have to expect this petty circle of vengeance to go round and round, whether we're in downtime or not? Seeing as it's now reached a point where violence is a given regardless, apparently. [Here, another sigh.] You may not be able to control how these conflicts begin--but you can always control how they end. Do you plan to go forward from here in the exact same way you have been?
[In the face of Jade's calmly dry disappointment, Rita's messy feelings only grow messier and more tangled as she initially continues to pace, because she needs to do something that isn't just standing there and pointedly not looking at Jade. Which she does eventually do when he starts to say that she's at least right that he wasn't there, although what follows is possibly an even more unpleasant dressing-down, even if it contains that little hint of self-deprecation that would make her scoff or roll her eyes under any other, less unpleasant circumstances.
And, again: she feels too much to know where to even begin untangling it. Indignant, frustrated, and angry, because yes, he does seem to be blaming her for--if not starting the fight then apparently continuing to participate in it until it went this far--and all of that only worsens with the way he continues, too. Actually, for a moment, indignation does come to the forefront at his dry wondering comment, and she looks up to properly meet his gaze again-]
Hey, just--what kind of person do you take me for?! I was only keeping it from you!
[In total contrast to Jade, her voice comes out thick and upset. Because--ah, yeah, apparently his heavy disappointment invokes an unhappy guilt, which when vortexed up in the emotional blender with everything else...well, then comes the teen drama. But following the admission that she didn't hide it from anyone else, she crosses her arms, back to a combination of angry and sheepish that she still doesn't know how to process. Where did Jade's weird talent for making her into such an emotional mess come from? When did it even start?
...After a lengthy pause (of not looking at him, again), she finally responds in a quieter mutter.]
I'm not out for vengeance, you know. [Even if sometimes she really thinks it'd be satisfying to wring Darcy's neck, she promised Natsuno, after all.] ...But I'll defend myself if she comes at me again.
...Hmph. So it was only me you were determined to never tell? I'm truly so much more reassured now.
[Rita, this isn't going to help with that wondering...not in the least....for all that she might have her reasons, yes, if this is how telling him is going to go every single time. That's the other sticking point, though, as far as Jade's concerned--maybe she simply shouldn't be doing things that she wouldn't even want to tell him about afterwards?? Surely that's not a difficult line of logic to utilize!!!
...But, well. All that quite aside. It seems that Rita's finally starting to settle back down now, at the very least...and so, in turn, the dry disappointment in Jade's own tone is finally lightening just a little. Ruling out 'vengeance' and citing only self-defense--is a start, if nothing else. The prospect of potentially having to field this issue with Rita yet again in the future is already a very tiring one, after all, so if that at least mitigates the possibility of a repeat somewhat...]
I never said you shouldn't defend yourself, if you're attacked. I suggest only that if there's a way to avert that attack before it begins, it would be worth taking--if only so multiple parties could be saved a great deal of trouble all around. [...So. It'd be nice, if that could be that. Is there anything else to say, at this point, that he hasn't already either said now or said before? The more pessimistic part of Jade does wonder if this conversation, too, is going to be rendered entirely moot yet again in another month or so. (...Goodness, it certainly is troublesome. Having to care this much, about this sort of thing. He didn't used to--)] ...Are you sure you don't require anything from a healer like Tear, at this stage of things? Your nose was the only major injury?
[Ugh...she would've rathered that he never found out at all, but just blurting it out like that right in front of him was kind of mortifying!! As if he doesn't already have enough disappointment in her... Even though this is exactly why she didn't want to tell him in the first place! The hiding part is clearly his fault...kind of...sort of...right??
Still, Rita doesn't answer that dry comment, just absently fiddling with her sleeves and brushing out imaginary wrinkles instead of meeting his eyes. He does start...backing down doesn't feel right here, it's more easing off--he starts easing off on her a little, but she doesn't feel very relieved about it, not when his disapproval is still ringing in her head.]
...
[Yeah, no comment immediately on her end, not until he asks about her injury (as if he hasn't already thoroughly bruised whatever remained of her pride...), and she idly kicks at the floor with the toe of her shoe.]
...That's all. Clarke treated it, anyway.
[There is definitely nothing petulant about this reply. Nothing petulant about it!!]
[Ah, Clarke, of course. She does seem to have some medical knowledge, Jade's gathered over time...and doubtless Rita must have set her to keep some sort of discretion too. From him specifically, apparently, which is still quite the aggravating idea...but whatever, he's not going to get any more hung up on that. He isn't!! Anyway--]
Well, then it sounds like there won't be any lasting disfigurement, at the very least. That's all I wished to know. [Rita's starting to avoid eye contact yet again, and the atmosphere overall is settling from upset to something rather more awkward. Jade opts to address it as brusquely as possible--there's kind of no proper ending to a conversation like this, really, so...] I've all the answers I need, so I shall excuse myself from your quarters now. Unless there's anything else you want to speak about?
[Good thing she wasn't looking to him for any bedside manner!! Even if, now that he's mentioned it, Tear's healing probably would have saved her a lot of pain and discomfort...
But now is...hm. She doesn't like how this has gone, of course, and part of her really would like for it to just end already. At the same time...just leaving it on this note...feels wrong. She just wishes she knew what would make it right.]
...It's...not like I'm happy this happened, or anything like that, you know...
B--besides, don't tell me you've never gotten in a fight like that before.
[It really isn't the most pleasant sort of note to end things on, is it? At this point it's the best that could be managed as far as Jade can tell, though; even if Rita were to outright ask, he couldn't really tell her how she could immediately make any of this right instead. The fight already happened, after all. If she'd just actually try her best not to let it happen again, in the future...]
No, you've been quite the opposite of happy about any of this thus far indeed. I'm hardly about to accuse that you might be.
[It's a silver lining, if anything, that she at least isn't proud of the turn of events. There's a bit of hope that it might make a repeat just a bit more unappealing, in that sense...
That other statement, though, has Jade giving Rita a rather long look. Goodness knows she's been familiar with him for well over a year by now--plenty of time, surely, to garner a sense of his own character. Is that even a sort of question that really needs answering? Even when he was Rita's age...]
A fistfight to prove something that I couldn't simply brush off with a word or a departure first? No, I'm afraid I cannot ever recall getting into such encounters. Surprising as you may or may not find it, I engage in fights that I either cannot avoid or will win. There is no in between. [Normal emotional outbursts? Simply can't relate. ........He'd always been too busy with...other projects....but, after a pause, Jade will concede one factor with a certain dryness:] Perhaps it's another type of common passion that I rather lack. But it's the truth of the matter.
[She doesn't formulate a proper response, but she...supposes that's as good as she can expect, that he at least agrees with something she's said. Even if it's of less importance than everything else...
But--look, yeah, she has known Jade for a while, but still!! Doesn't everyone get in at least one fight in their life? (Unless they're, like, practically a saint...which Jade is decidedly not, even if he is someone important!)]
N--not to prove anything, just when it's someone... [Then again, maybe she shouldn't be trying to argue this or it'll come back around to why she got in the fight in the first place...] N-nevermind.
Look--just--it's not going to happen again, okay? [At least--she'll try to avoid it.]
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come_sailaway
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[Because if she'd backed away earlier, then she wouldn't be dealing with a broken nose about now, would she? Jade just barely manages not to outright point this out aloud verbatim--surely Rita's already as aware of such herself, after all. ...Yet Jade still can't be surprised at this turn of events either, and--perhaps that's the true sticking point, in all this. The thing that's setting off such a...hmm, hard to say what this feeling is, really. The shape of it's quite close to irritation, to the point he'd almost call it such, but--it's a little stronger than that too, isn't it? Something rather more deep-set.
He'd thought they'd reached a consensus on this, after all. He'd thought. After that talk in the labyrinth waiting room--Rita had seemed remorseful enough, at that time. Had he not made the issue plain enough, even then? Or perhaps she'd simply been remorseful for all the wrong reasons, all along?
The stickier point of the matter, too, is that Jade is hardly happy to see Rita fielding around an injury like this right now. Yet he can't even muster up any proper offense about it in the direction of any actual culprit, because Darcy has just never stricken Jade as the sort of person to be...]
"Crazy". I see. [Try as he might to maintain neutrality, the withering nature of the echoed term seeps through all the same. Really, that's the best explanation Rita could come up with? That's the only reason she can think of, as a possibility?] So you walked into the kitchens, without doing anything at all or saying anything at all. And she simply leapt upon you and broke your nose on the spot, is that right? She trapped you such that you could not simply leave?
[It's a rather bad faith way to ask after any context, granted. Jade knows it is. There's still the perfectly viable possibility that things really did transpire exactly how Rita's implying, and Darcy attacked her entirely unprompted. But the thing-like-irritation is still very persistently gnawing at thought, about now, and exasperation just can't help but have it seeping into spoken word too. Old poor habits flaring up...]
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What? It--it wasn't exactly like that--but...she did freak out on the spot.
[It just didn't immediately get physical... But Rita refuses to believe that she escalated the situation unneccessarily. Why should she have obeyed Darcy from the start, anyway? It's on that thought that anger overtakes her warring emotions and she raises her voice stubbornly at Jade.]
It's--it's a public space; why the hell should I have left just because she claimed it, or whatever the hell she was thinking?!
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[She might raise her voice, as indignant stubbornness sets in over whatever sheepishness Rita's quite visibly also warring with. But Jade is unmoved and unimpressed by the volume, and while his own tone remains even, his answer is a sharp and immediate thing. There it is--the crux, really, behind that burgeoning irate feeling. That when it comes to this particular sort of situation, Rita has so clearly opted to box herself into those options, with no interest whatsoever in any sort of alternative. Even in these downtime circumstances, now, outside that labyrinth waiting room...
Jade folds his arms, and sighs.]
I must say, I do not know what you're trying to argue for here. Do you want me to fervently agree that Darcy simply must be an insane person who'd have no reason at all to be angry at you? Do you wish for me to compliment you on your decisions well-made? Reassure you that this was in fact a very important and necessary fight? [A slight tilt of his head; dryly:] You're clearly not even proud of it, hiding around and trying to pretend as if nothing's happened after the fact. It's all making for quite a mixed message.
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With a sharp intake of breath, she abruptly starts pacing--stomping, really, swinging her arms with all the drama of an upset teen each time she turns around.]
No! I don't want any of that, I-- Just--what do even want me to say?! This wasn't like that room! There wasn't even anyone else involved this time, and now you're-
You're acting like it's all my fault and you weren't even there! You didn't see what happened!
[Ugh. She's not going to be proud of this, either, but logic is swiftly taking a major backseat to messy emotions.]
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So that's how it seems to you, right now? That I'm acting as if this is your fault? Even after I've already told you once before, how I do not care where the fault lies in these conflicts--you'd really have me repeat myself again? ...Hm. It would seem you really do think that talk we had in that room only counted while we were in there.
[And now that they're out, none of it applies any longer--or so it rather sounds and seems, at any rate. That may not be Rita's actual thoughts or intentions, in reality, but it's the impression that comes off--and, in turn, the impression that's setting the distinct disappointment in Jade's tone now.]
...You're correct, I was not there this time, and I did not see what happened. All I see now is the results--the fact you were injured by it. Which is not something that I enjoy seeing happen to a friend, astonishing as I'm sure that is to hear from me. [If his tone weren't so dryly flat already, perhaps it'd be easier to detect the briefest flicker of self-deprecation there--but let's move on, before such things can sink in--] If it were some accident, or an unpreventable outcome, that would be one thing. But the cause was neither of those things--and on top of that, you'd even rather try to hide it, than tell anyone about it afterward. Will you be trying to hide it the next time you come to blows with someone else in an argument, too? When you injure them instead--or perhaps even if one of you kills the other, eventually? I suppose I'll always be wondering now.
[In this place where even death isn't a permanent solution of any kind...]
If you want to know what I'd like for you to say, then at least answer this. How much longer shall I have to expect this petty circle of vengeance to go round and round, whether we're in downtime or not? Seeing as it's now reached a point where violence is a given regardless, apparently. [Here, another sigh.] You may not be able to control how these conflicts begin--but you can always control how they end. Do you plan to go forward from here in the exact same way you have been?
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[In the face of Jade's calmly dry disappointment, Rita's messy feelings only grow messier and more tangled as she initially continues to pace, because she needs to do something that isn't just standing there and pointedly not looking at Jade. Which she does eventually do when he starts to say that she's at least right that he wasn't there, although what follows is possibly an even more unpleasant dressing-down, even if it contains that little hint of self-deprecation that would make her scoff or roll her eyes under any other, less unpleasant circumstances.
And, again: she feels too much to know where to even begin untangling it. Indignant, frustrated, and angry, because yes, he does seem to be blaming her for--if not starting the fight then apparently continuing to participate in it until it went this far--and all of that only worsens with the way he continues, too. Actually, for a moment, indignation does come to the forefront at his dry wondering comment, and she looks up to properly meet his gaze again-]
Hey, just--what kind of person do you take me for?! I was only keeping it from you!
[In total contrast to Jade, her voice comes out thick and upset. Because--ah, yeah, apparently his heavy disappointment invokes an unhappy guilt, which when vortexed up in the emotional blender with everything else...well, then comes the teen drama. But following the admission that she didn't hide it from anyone else, she crosses her arms, back to a combination of angry and sheepish that she still doesn't know how to process. Where did Jade's weird talent for making her into such an emotional mess come from? When did it even start?
...After a lengthy pause (of not looking at him, again), she finally responds in a quieter mutter.]
I'm not out for vengeance, you know. [Even if sometimes she really thinks it'd be satisfying to wring Darcy's neck, she promised Natsuno, after all.] ...But I'll defend myself if she comes at me again.
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[Rita, this isn't going to help with that wondering...not in the least....for all that she might have her reasons, yes, if this is how telling him is going to go every single time. That's the other sticking point, though, as far as Jade's concerned--maybe she simply shouldn't be doing things that she wouldn't even want to tell him about afterwards?? Surely that's not a difficult line of logic to utilize!!!
...But, well. All that quite aside. It seems that Rita's finally starting to settle back down now, at the very least...and so, in turn, the dry disappointment in Jade's own tone is finally lightening just a little. Ruling out 'vengeance' and citing only self-defense--is a start, if nothing else. The prospect of potentially having to field this issue with Rita yet again in the future is already a very tiring one, after all, so if that at least mitigates the possibility of a repeat somewhat...]
I never said you shouldn't defend yourself, if you're attacked. I suggest only that if there's a way to avert that attack before it begins, it would be worth taking--if only so multiple parties could be saved a great deal of trouble all around. [...So. It'd be nice, if that could be that. Is there anything else to say, at this point, that he hasn't already either said now or said before? The more pessimistic part of Jade does wonder if this conversation, too, is going to be rendered entirely moot yet again in another month or so. (...Goodness, it certainly is troublesome. Having to care this much, about this sort of thing. He didn't used to--)] ...Are you sure you don't require anything from a healer like Tear, at this stage of things? Your nose was the only major injury?
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Still, Rita doesn't answer that dry comment, just absently fiddling with her sleeves and brushing out imaginary wrinkles instead of meeting his eyes. He does start...backing down doesn't feel right here, it's more easing off--he starts easing off on her a little, but she doesn't feel very relieved about it, not when his disapproval is still ringing in her head.]
...
[Yeah, no comment immediately on her end, not until he asks about her injury (as if he hasn't already thoroughly bruised whatever remained of her pride...), and she idly kicks at the floor with the toe of her shoe.]
...That's all. Clarke treated it, anyway.
[There is definitely nothing petulant about this reply. Nothing petulant about it!!]
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Well, then it sounds like there won't be any lasting disfigurement, at the very least. That's all I wished to know. [Rita's starting to avoid eye contact yet again, and the atmosphere overall is settling from upset to something rather more awkward. Jade opts to address it as brusquely as possible--there's kind of no proper ending to a conversation like this, really, so...] I've all the answers I need, so I shall excuse myself from your quarters now. Unless there's anything else you want to speak about?
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But now is...hm. She doesn't like how this has gone, of course, and part of her really would like for it to just end already. At the same time...just leaving it on this note...feels wrong. She just wishes she knew what would make it right.]
...It's...not like I'm happy this happened, or anything like that, you know...
B--besides, don't tell me you've never gotten in a fight like that before.
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No, you've been quite the opposite of happy about any of this thus far indeed. I'm hardly about to accuse that you might be.
[It's a silver lining, if anything, that she at least isn't proud of the turn of events. There's a bit of hope that it might make a repeat just a bit more unappealing, in that sense...
That other statement, though, has Jade giving Rita a rather long look. Goodness knows she's been familiar with him for well over a year by now--plenty of time, surely, to garner a sense of his own character. Is that even a sort of question that really needs answering? Even when he was Rita's age...]
A fistfight to prove something that I couldn't simply brush off with a word or a departure first? No, I'm afraid I cannot ever recall getting into such encounters. Surprising as you may or may not find it, I engage in fights that I either cannot avoid or will win. There is no in between. [Normal emotional outbursts? Simply can't relate. ........He'd always been too busy with...other projects....but, after a pause, Jade will concede one factor with a certain dryness:] Perhaps it's another type of common passion that I rather lack. But it's the truth of the matter.
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[She doesn't formulate a proper response, but she...supposes that's as good as she can expect, that he at least agrees with something she's said. Even if it's of less importance than everything else...
But--look, yeah, she has known Jade for a while, but still!! Doesn't everyone get in at least one fight in their life? (Unless they're, like, practically a saint...which Jade is decidedly not, even if he is someone important!)]
N--not to prove anything, just when it's someone... [Then again, maybe she shouldn't be trying to argue this or it'll come back around to why she got in the fight in the first place...] N-nevermind.
Look--just--it's not going to happen again, okay? [At least--she'll try to avoid it.]