silversnowfall | [75][action/voiced]

[It feels like she's been locked in that research room forever. Almost worse than legislative paperwork, turning five small piles of books about various worlds into something that might be useful. Synthesizing data, in a way that felt adventurously real at first before the familiar tedium of it all set in again. And there was more, left undone. There was always more.

Regardless, it will be a while before she attempts another mission. Even one that seems suited to her set of skills. Unlike so many others who go away on missions, Nephry walks herself toward home without difficulty. Thinking to surprise most of her housemates, she stops at the flower shop for something decorative and colorful. Anything to erase the lines of letters from behind her closed eyelids.

Once she does get home, however, there are some orders of business to address.]

Those of you who name your home as a planet called 'Earth': are you aware of just how many different worlds there are that share that name? That share most of a history, often an entire history save for one significant event? It was quite interesting. [Dull hours of reading aside.] Even more interesting that it doesn't seem to be true of most if not all of the other worlds represented here - there is only one Auldrant, for example.

[And now, the heavier news.]

When I returned a short while ago, I...I found Anise's room empty. It appears she has gone home.

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[Now that's an irritating thought to be reminded of. He keeps up a smirk, but his glasses glint.]

It sounds less impressive applied to a room that was actually orderly. [Because unless Peony paid a visit, he has no doubts that his room was kept up in a similarly neat manner.]

What an assumption to make about yourself. [It was true, though. Jade rarely had a corner of his life out of place.]

It's a subject that I feel oddly qualified to make assumptions regarding. [He says with some injections of sarcasm.]

[Nephry sighs. She just doesn't have the energy for an argument within her right now. Pulling Anise's former door almost-closed, she turns away from Jade to head down the hall, already wondering what he'll say when he follows.]

[And he quickly falls into line behind her.]

Did she ever tell you any of her goals or aspirations?

Oh yes. I heard she intended to court and marry His Majesty.

Now, now, let's not be jealous. [He gives a smirk.] But I suppose it's natural that you'd think that. Even if she did want to confide in you, the time hasn't yet come for her where she changes her mind in that field. Now she's on her way down that road.

Jealous? You must be thinking of someone else.

[Her voice drops, down to less-loud.]

She wanted to be the next Fon Master.

[Of course, he was more concerned with rifling her feathers than guessing rather or not she's jealous. But he raises a curious eyebrow at that. So she did know.]

Oh? Do you think the world's ready for its first female fon master?

I think it is more prepared now than it was, or than it will be in a few years' time. When changes follow close on the heels of other changes, people accept them more readily. If we have time to settle into a new way of life in Auldrant, and then she comes along to alter what feels familiar again, it will be harder for her.

It's a sound analysis. [He says as if surrendering a point.] But I am sure she has the required strength to cope with that in spades. And I am also certain that she will not truly be alone in her endeavors.

Certainly not. Do you think it was already part of her plan to obtain the favor of so many powerful political figures? Or was it luck?

I'm certain that she had this planned from the beginning. Her propensity for scheming know no boundaries. It's only a shame that all of her work in this world is now lost.

No, here I don't think she was after those connections. Not the way she seemed to be in Auldrant. Anise looked for something different here.

Perhaps. What exactly do you think that she was seeking here?

The person she might have been if the circumstances of her life had not forced her hand.

That's right. She was present here from before her betrayal. Now that she's back there, she could be living that as we speak. It's a shame. [In the last sentence, there isn't much of his usual levity.]

I think she struggled with that even here. In light of Ion's presence, it must have been hard.

It certainly must have been. I never had the chance to speak to her directly about it, but... It seemed as if she had found out what had happened to him - or for her, what would happen to him.

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