socialcapital | [ JACKSON HEART ]

No. It's personal.

[He sets his cup on the coffee table, and opens his hands toward the cookies.]

May I take one of these for the road?

"Go for it. You need fuel to get wherever you're going, I bet."

Just as you need time to get through the studies of this long night.

[He takes a single cookie, wrapping it in a clean handkerchief before slipping it into his jacket pocket.]

Still. Thank you for allowing me to share this cup of coffee with you.

"Well, thank you for visiting."

[He shakes his head.]

It was my pleasure.

I look forward to our paths crossing again. No matter how far from now that point will be.

Edited 2026-03-17 01:20 (UTC)

I... realize this is a particularly Sun Sign impulse, and not a practice those of your Family are known for. I would like to hug you goodbye.

Would you be comfortable with that? It is perfectly acceptable to say no.

"A hug...?"

He rolls it over in his head, then shrugs and nods.

"Sure, I don't mind."

[He leans over, wrapping his arms around Umbra's shoulders. There's an odd sense of relief in the movement -- as if it's something he'd been holding back from for too long.]

Take care of yourself. No matter how it feels now, you'll figure this out.

He was braced for it, so he doesn't tense - in fact, the relief seems to be a bit contagious, since he relaxes into the hug a little.

"Of course. I'm gonna get this accountant thing locked in."

"Mr. Jackson Umbra, CPA."

It will be a professional designation to be proud of.

"I'm Jackson Umbra, an accountant with the Cirrus Network~... it still sounds silly right now, but I'll make it work for me."

It will become more natural with time.

[A light squeeze, and he pulls back.]

You have time. And that time is yours, now, and no one else's.

I'm sure you'll use it well.

"At the very least I'll do my best."

He gives Satin a little shoulder pat.

"Try not to let the old ladies bully you out there."

[There is a tiny moment of relief where he considers how unlikely it is that he will face such challenges here.

And then he thinks of Ms. Harmonious Song.

And then he thinks of the unknown amount of danger there is in classifying Ms. Harmonious Song in such a way.]

I will... do my best.

Harmonious Song IS both old and a lady. She hasn't been the bullying type so far, but she does share a divine essence with this little gremlin, so who knows.

Jackson does a little giggle, a surprisingly unfamiliar sound because of the rasp his still-healing injury gives it.

"Good luck."

Thank you.

[He heads to the door, putting his shoes on and giving a polite bow in farewell before heading out.]

He waves goodbye.

You got a cookie!

[He has a cookie. And a path that leads back to the Garden.

The warmth of where he held Umbra's body against his still lingers. As does the vague intrusive thought of what it would feel like to cup the side of Umbra's throat, and feel the vibrations of that raspy chuckle against his palm.

... but he's a stranger here. Such thoughts have no place in these moments from years past.

So he retraces his steps, and returns to the one place that might still lead "forward" -- unwrapping the cookie and placing it in the last remaining hollow of the sealed gate.]

Prince, brother, servant, merchant, companion, musician, celebrity, pigeon friend, student...

... I'm still missing "a perfectly good accountant".

The cookie, placed in the last hollow, glows a little bit. There's the soft click of a lock opening.

[He looks at that faint glow, resting his fingers on the hollow's edge.]

I'm sorry. I thought about bringing a frond from your fern, but small as it was... even in this dream, I couldn't bring myself to harm something you loved.

I hope these things you were able to give me freely are enough.

Satin that is so cute.

Harmonious Song gives him a little wave.

"I'm sure he's missed you too. I didn't mention this, because your dedication was so touching, but you did have enough pieces to unlock it around two paths ago."

[What did she just...?]

[What?]

[Two... paths ago...?]

[WHAT?!!]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

1/2

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

1/9

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]

Re: [ CONCRETE ]