He hadn’t had much of a chance to speak to Kieran yet. Nor had Kieran participated in any of their discussion this afternoon... which was entirely understandable, considering the date. So, when Jude had spoken himself almost hoarse to the others (grateful to be back in his own voice, as well as the rest of it) and people began to disperse, he dropped into the chair nearest Kieran’s, grateful he had shown up at all.
On some other day, Kieran might have just been baiting him for fun. But today? When he wasn’t feeling entirely well and was therefore due later in the attic, any lingering doubt might leave him stranded, not trusting the person in Jude’s body not to tell. (Jude wasn’t even sure that everything about him was back to normal, or how to tell. What if there was something else awry with him, and purple hair was not the only side effect?)
So this was serious, but he couldn’t be the one to panic – and so his tone was gentler than it might have been. “When are you ever convinced by me?” he asked mildly, gaze drifting to the sketchbook and back again to read Kieran’s face. The problem was he didn’t know how to prove himself, not absolutely. “What am I doing wrong?”
On some other day, Kieran might have just been baiting him for fun. But today? When he wasn’t feeling entirely well and was therefore due later in the attic, any lingering doubt might leave him stranded, not trusting the person in Jude’s body not to tell. (Jude wasn’t even sure that everything about him was back to normal, or how to tell. What if there was something else awry with him, and purple hair was not the only side effect?)
So this was serious, but he couldn’t be the one to panic – and so his tone was gentler than it might have been. “When are you ever convinced by me?” he asked mildly, gaze drifting to the sketchbook and back again to read Kieran’s face. The problem was he didn’t know how to prove himself, not absolutely. “What am I doing wrong?”
