[ She hasn't forgotten about him -- she's a little ashamed to admit that sometimes she keeps tabs on him too, though she can't access the Conquest network (which is frustrating, because she'd like to). But he's terrifying, familiar and ominous all at the same time. Because what if he leaves again? Jade has to watch him like a hawk to make sure that he's not going to do that.

But if she did, she also thinks, her anger would be justified. The same anger that curls up in her stomach and won't go anywhere, waiting for her to release it on the person that deserves it.

She shoves that aside and steps forward as well, jamming her hands into her pockets when she catches him looking at them. No one else needs to know about her injuries. It's embarrassing, a conditioned habit that she can't really stop. ]

Sorry. I don't mean to, I just forget, and then I look down...

[ Oops, she's rambling, trying to justify her actions to him. Once she realizes it, she clams right up. ]