Lets Talk about Life

"Oh god no," Jude said with a wave of his hand. "Not even close." Did people really think that about him? Apparently they did. "I was firmly middle of the class. I didn't really have many friends, and I definitely didn't date anyone. I felt like it was... disingenuous to even try. Like, I didn't want to be friends with someone, but have to constantly lie to them and hide things. My dad wanted me to be used to blending in, so mostly I did that."

Which probably sounded silly to others, but that had been his life for a long time. Blending in was important. Being able to vanish in the crowd.

It was not to have to not.

"Being here was the most popular I've ever been."

Jude let out a small laugh, rolling his eyes at that.

"It's not so bad. I kind of had an idea of it back when I was... well, Jude-the-Junior-Sentinel. But that was kind of different, since I was always behind a mask. I guess I'm adjusting alright here? But part of that is just... uh, tradeoff. I'm not sneaking out at night to go stop bank robberies anymore. Now I'm making plans and going to movies and all that. Honestly, the worst part is trying to make sure no one feels... neglected, or anything. Balancing everyone out."

Dating two people was probably not the best plan for that, but Jude was kind of jumping in feet first, wasn't he?

"I figure you probably had a lot of friends back at home. Popular in school, right?"

They were the same, in that. They said they were happy with their lives before, but their actions said otherwise. They both had things they wish they could have fixed, and now they were there, in Manta Carlos, with that option.

"So. You said you were going into botany, right? And your mom was going to open a flower shop? Any other plans for Manta Carlos?"

There was definitely an attempt at keeping it cool, but Gabe was not doing so well. Jude was doing a bit better, but only by virtue of the fact that he was, in many ways, flying high. He'd asked. He'd expected a no. He'd got a yes.

He was two for two.

"Uh..." He trailed off for a moment, thinking about things. "I'm really hoping they find Armorer and We The People soon. I like both of them, and I worry, but a part of that is definitely man not having an arm is kind of a pain. It wasn't as hard of an adjustment as I thought considering I didn't have sensation in the old one anyway, but every so often I go to like, cut my dinner and oops, no hand for a knife."

Which was unfortunate.

"I was looking into designing charms that keep auras and other mind stuff from effecting me. The ones on the island are expensive, but I think if I set things up and asked Daniel for help, I might be able to make a rudimentary one."

"Well, I've had a few offers for prosthetic. As for regrowing it..."

Jude winced and reached up, tapping the metal on his neck.

"I'm wary of it, honestly. It can't just be regrown, it has to be instantly regrown, because I'd have to remove the metal to get it to regrow, and if I remove the metal as it is right now I'd bleed out in a few seconds. The explosion severed my jugular vein, and only the metal kept me from bleeding out."

He tipped his head back to show it off more clearly, and if Gabe was familiar with the layout of the veins in the neck, he'd note that one of ht metal patches did go right over the larges vein in the neck.

"Just had an uncomfortable encounter with someone who had an aura. It wasn't bad, but... I used to have Giltenn in my ear going you're under the effect of an aura, but I don't have that anymore. It's easy to miss them sometimes."