06-03-2026, 04:47 PM
Because Near has not once managed to maintain what he would qualify as a civilized conversation with Jude for more than a few turns at a go, his understanding of the Jude/Courtland thing remains fuzzy at best. The fundamental outline is shaped something like “Jude came around to the Reaches for demonic tupperware parties,” painted in with a smeary conviction that there must have been some level of weird masked sex involved, because isn’t there always with that kind of thing?
So the statement that Jude knew Courtland better is less a specific concession than a general one. Shouldn’t cost a damn thing to say it. Anyone who knew Courtland knew him better than Near, basically. That doesn’t keep the words from leaving a shitty aftertaste.
Jude’s interest has obviously shifted to the note. He plucks it out of Near’s hand and stands there looking at it like he’s searching for a secret message hidden between those three lines. But that’s all there is. An address. A key. Near takes another drink to wash down the bad taste, then lays the key and the envelope down on the counter next to the ring of condensation.
“Huh. Well, it’s probably nothing important. Thought I might go take a look anyway, blow some money before Minnesota. I’ve never been to Vegas. Maybe being a wizard makes you lucky, right?”
So the statement that Jude knew Courtland better is less a specific concession than a general one. Shouldn’t cost a damn thing to say it. Anyone who knew Courtland knew him better than Near, basically. That doesn’t keep the words from leaving a shitty aftertaste.
Jude’s interest has obviously shifted to the note. He plucks it out of Near’s hand and stands there looking at it like he’s searching for a secret message hidden between those three lines. But that’s all there is. An address. A key. Near takes another drink to wash down the bad taste, then lays the key and the envelope down on the counter next to the ring of condensation.
“Huh. Well, it’s probably nothing important. Thought I might go take a look anyway, blow some money before Minnesota. I’ve never been to Vegas. Maybe being a wizard makes you lucky, right?”