03-22-2026, 11:30 PM
Frankness is only useful if one is believed. Jude's Judeness deducts credibility before he even speaks; at least his feelings will not be hurt if his joke is not considered funny.
Not for the first time, Jude wonders what the relationship was like with Courtland, whether Courtland possessed credibility. Had he been alive at The Reaches, could he have explained Jude to his son and been believed? Would Courtland have been able to make it make sense? Then Jude wonders if Courtland knew about Near, the third wizard. Near didn't.
Suddenly Near excuses himself, leaving Jude perched on the couch and waiting for the camera to return to his scene. He simply takes the time to look around the room again, to blink away a little more of his drowsiness, and wondering how in the world he can persuade Near of his magical nature without picking a fight. A wizard battle, he reasons, would offer more demonstrable proof. But what if Near is the superior wizard?
The thought, occurring first in jest, chills Jude when seriously examined. Not until this very inopportune moment did he evaluate the possibility of being the lesser man. A frown is lodged on his features as Near's question drifts around the corner.
"I've been to Nevada a few times," he says distractedly. "But not recently." He would do better with a face than a name. He didn't always get people's real names.
Not for the first time, Jude wonders what the relationship was like with Courtland, whether Courtland possessed credibility. Had he been alive at The Reaches, could he have explained Jude to his son and been believed? Would Courtland have been able to make it make sense? Then Jude wonders if Courtland knew about Near, the third wizard. Near didn't.
Suddenly Near excuses himself, leaving Jude perched on the couch and waiting for the camera to return to his scene. He simply takes the time to look around the room again, to blink away a little more of his drowsiness, and wondering how in the world he can persuade Near of his magical nature without picking a fight. A wizard battle, he reasons, would offer more demonstrable proof. But what if Near is the superior wizard?
The thought, occurring first in jest, chills Jude when seriously examined. Not until this very inopportune moment did he evaluate the possibility of being the lesser man. A frown is lodged on his features as Near's question drifts around the corner.
"I've been to Nevada a few times," he says distractedly. "But not recently." He would do better with a face than a name. He didn't always get people's real names.