IC Inbox

[noblerise]

If contacting his personal number or via Libra:

"You have reached Jusis Albarea. I'm busy. Leave a message."

If contacting his work number:

"You have reached the office of Jusis Albarea, Esquire. I'm not available at this time, so please leave your name, number, and a brief message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you."

Black Order Inbox and Class VII Group Chat for reference.

Comments

[whiteshroud]

...Very well.

[He pauses, as if waiting for something, and then decides otherwise]

Enjoy your cheesecake, Jusis Albarea.

[And with that? He teleports away]

[gotbadblood]

[...]

I won't thank you, but I won't turn it down if you're offering.

[noblerise]

[Honestly, Jusis would be wondering where the hell the real Velvet is if she'd thanked him.]

Then I shall let you know what I find the moment I have anything to share.

[noblerise]

[Jusis nods as he listens. Although slightly surprised that Zhongli would turn to Jusis of all people, he can see the logic behind it at least.]

I'll block any and all recruitment attempts made towards him while we're in Kaisou, that much I can promise you.

[He's in no way interested in doing recruitment for the Order. It's perhaps the one order the blond will instantly defy.]

But that just covers recruitment. Do you have other specific requests I can assist with?

[lapislazily]

[He has no one else in the Order he can contact, and he doesn't dare.]

... Thank you. That means a great deal.

[And that's why Zhongli approached him. That and a few other reasons.]

I can't think of anything else pressing at the moment. It's impossible to erase ink once it's been spilled, so I'll deal with the consequences as they come.

[Though...]

Despite my initial misgivings, it would be beneficial for him to meet others like himself. He's a gentle soul with a troubled past—not an uncommon thing here, as we both know.

[He makes a thoughtful noise.]

If he eventually desires a place of his own, could I impose on you to help him as you helped me? He doesn't have the particular taste that I do, so he wouldn't waste your time. [Though he's... also not sure Xiao will want to move out ever, he wants to keep that option available.]

[noblerise]

[Jusis gives him a nod. Though, he does agree that gentle souls with troubled pasts are a dime a dozen, that doesn't make the 'kid's' situation any less sad.]

Of course, I'd be happy to help him if he wishes to have a place to call his home.

[...]

I would also not object to looking out for him when possible. I understand if you would rather I didn't, but it's hard to say from my perspective whether or not he won't try to follow you into the next Spirit Realm that appears.

[lapislazily]

[Patrizio reminds him of Xiao so much, even though in temperament they are very different.

He gives a soft sigh at Jusis's very apt prediction.]

I trust your intentions. [Jusis has more than proven himself.] An extra set of eyes looking out for him would not go amiss, though he might be less than receptive. I apologize if that ends up being the case.

[Xiao can handle most threats on this plane, but the Spirit Realm? Probably not. But it's no longer Zhongli's place to tell him to stay home. Xiao's made it clear he won't be following those orders anymore.]

[noblerise]

[Jusis gives him a small smile.]

I assure you, I'm quite used to people being difficult with me.

[Not that Jusis makes it easy to get along with him.]

You have my word that I'll do my best to help look out for him. With luck, those fears won't come to pass, but I'll be prepared if they do.

[lapislazily]

[Zhongli chuckles under his breath.]

So I've discovered. [He knows he isn't the easiest person to get along with.] Things would look very different had you not been sent here.

[Zhongli finds him to be perfectly reasonable, but they're cut from similar bolts of cloth, really.]

I'm not sure I could offer anything that would come close to paying such a debt.

[He hates open-ended contracts, but in this case...]

[gotbadblood]

Unless they decide to ship me back to Florida, I'll be around.

late 5/1; voice; un: freelancer

[lapislazily]

As per our last conversation—

I do enjoy debating the loopholes of the law with you. However, before we continue, I want to make one thing clear.

I will never break a contract.

There are such things as unfair contracts, and those are dealt with using the spirit of the original contract to prove the malevolence in its creation.

But for those contracts made in good faith, there is no lenience. There is no, "Just this one time." For if a man cannot be trusted at his word, then what does he have? If the God of Contracts cannot be trusted to keep his word, then no one's contracts have weight, and there is nothing remotely resembling order to be found in this world.

If you would rather end our little agreement then you have my permission. We can settle the matter this way, unfair as the consequences might be to Patrizio, and never speak of it again. It was my expense and my unfair choice to lean on you for that request. I will accept any anger he wishes to throw in my direction, and I will endure whatever assumptions you might have about my personal matters. [Call him poor! He doesn't care!]

... However, I will not tolerate being accused of breaking a contract. You should know that I hold them to be inviolable.

[It's a sad truth that one day, the contract with the Black Order could put Jusis and Zhongli on different sides of the same line. What can be done then?]

I see the value in things: the beauty of your vase, the expert stitching in your suit, and yes, the inherent value in our continued friendship and cooperation. Despite our disagreements, I'd like to continue that friendship.

[He just wants Jusis to know he toed a line, that's all.]

That's all I have to say.

Take care.

[and he hangs up, jeez, most dramatic email reply ever]

[noblerise]

[Zhongli has perhaps said more than he thought in this basically verbal work email. Jusis can connect the dots to form quite the tapestry. To him, this is both a threat and a cry for help. This is a man who has forgotten that Rex Lapis is not meant to remain, but for Zhongli to step out from those ashes and live without those shackles.

He has to wonder if the man truly sees the value in friendship and not as just another contract. Another agreement to be shackled to.

There is no wisdom from a god being hurt by his own dogma.

Jusis sees no point in replying to this. Not just because Zhongli has made it clear he doesn't want to open a discussion on it today, if ever. Lines are being toed, certainly, and Zhongli has made his own misstep with the blond, but that won't be called out. Not today. Later, when Zhongli has cooled off.]

text | May 7th

[switchaxe]

you home?

[noblerise]

Yes, I have a few hours before Rean and Elliot are expecting me.

[switchaxe]

cool omw

[And he will show up and knock on the door! Because manners]

[noblerise]

[Jusis appreciates Ash's manners when he uses them! He opens the door and stands aside to let him in.]

Hello, Ash. What brings you here today?

[Clearly, it's not to visit Fugo or he wouldn't have even bothered asking if Jusis, specifically, was home.]

[switchaxe]

Here.

[Ash hands Jusis a blank deed as he walks into the apartment, promptly shoving his hands in his pockets.]

To help with the house hunting.

[noblerise]

[Jusis blinks as he skims over the deed he's suddenly been handed. This....]

Are you certain I should have this? You could have given this to Elliot, or use it for yourself.

[The blond isn't really going to argue it. He can guess as to why Ash probably wanted to give this to him instead. Even if it's not the same reason or anything, it still reminds him of how he heard about Crow preparing to fulfill his final role as C.]

[switchaxe]

Elliot has a house, an' you're house hunting. It was at that creepy Goodwill, I was there looking for a knife...look, do you not want it? I can go give it to the other two if you don't want it. I just figured it'd be better if you got it to save some fuckin' money and shit.

early may. text; un: eunietheboss

[medicgunner]

hey you

didn't you owe me a tea day?

[noblerise]

I do, indeed, owe you a tea day. Honestly, this comes at a good time. I've been in need of a break soon from preparing to move. Is there a time and date that would work for you?

[noblerise]

[Jusis hesitates for a moment, but then he sets the deed on the table.]

No, I'll take it. Thank you, Ash. I truly appreciate this.

[He looks over at the kid with a small smile.]

I still want a photo of you at your graduation, however.

[switchaxe]

[Ash looks away with a scoff, blushing a little.]

Dunno why. I don't plan on walkin' across the stage or anything.

[Too much formality. Too much...normalcy.

Still...]

If you guys wanna do somethin' else though, I won't argue.

[noblerise]

[Well... Jusis decides it's better to be honest.]

It won't hurt to have it to look back on in triumph, but... should it come to it, consider the photo proof. A monument to you and your accomplishments that Elliot, Rean, myself, and all of us can look back on with pride. Despite everything life threw at you, you could graduate high school and be proud of doing that through your own hard work.

[Just a moment where Ash could at least pretend to be a normal teenager graduating high school.]

If you're up to it, on the last day of school, I'd be happy to treat you and whoever you would like to invite out for a celebratory dinner. It can be as small or big as you'd like, of course.

[switchaxe]

[Ash still isn't looking at Jusis, but he's listening. After a moment, he sighs.]

I don't wanna promise I'll walk, just in case I can't. [His situation isn't getting better and he knows it.] But if I can...I'll do it. And if I can't, we can...still get a picture later or something. That okay?