[He does nothing to hide his surprise as Lelouch closes the space, observing him from so little distance, leaving him trapped under his gaze. Jeremiah can't look away, not when Lelouch demands his attention so, so wholly focused and scrutinizing. Amazing that he's seen these tactics time and again used on others, yet the presence of his emperor, even with no throne and no empire left, still manages to leave him with a sense of obligation to comply when it's trained on him.
The answer takes him a moment, searching Lelouch's face all the while, life carrying on all around them, uncaring. Their silence is still deafening. It's not as if he'll be able to ascertain the rest of his thoughts he's not voicing, no matter how long he looks. A year and change and sometimes it's just as hard to understand him as it is to sometimes read him simply by observing.]
No. [Jeremiah swallows, feeling an immediate pull of guilt in spite of what is surely a sensible reasoning.] If you simply asked me to die with nothing to be gained, it would be a waste.
[As if they haven't both ended lives they could have both spared, had they chosen. Simply put, Jeremiah had prepared since pledging himself to Lelouch for the day he would need to sacrifice himself, if it was ever needed of him. His own life wasn't greater than the plan he had for the world, Jeremiah would give it to see everything through, a stepping stone closer to their goal. It hadn't come to that, though, and he shelved thoughts of dying for his master for another day, under dire circumstances and nothing less.
Should Lelouch want him to explain, he'll do so. If he doesn't, inquiring why? wouldn't likely do much, so Jeremiah instead sits quietly and waits for the next move, wondering if he still looks caught in the headlights.]
no subject
The answer takes him a moment, searching Lelouch's face all the while, life carrying on all around them, uncaring. Their silence is still deafening. It's not as if he'll be able to ascertain the rest of his thoughts he's not voicing, no matter how long he looks. A year and change and sometimes it's just as hard to understand him as it is to sometimes read him simply by observing.]
No. [Jeremiah swallows, feeling an immediate pull of guilt in spite of what is surely a sensible reasoning.] If you simply asked me to die with nothing to be gained, it would be a waste.
[As if they haven't both ended lives they could have both spared, had they chosen. Simply put, Jeremiah had prepared since pledging himself to Lelouch for the day he would need to sacrifice himself, if it was ever needed of him. His own life wasn't greater than the plan he had for the world, Jeremiah would give it to see everything through, a stepping stone closer to their goal. It hadn't come to that, though, and he shelved thoughts of dying for his master for another day, under dire circumstances and nothing less.
Should Lelouch want him to explain, he'll do so. If he doesn't, inquiring why? wouldn't likely do much, so Jeremiah instead sits quietly and waits for the next move, wondering if he still looks caught in the headlights.]