[Jeremiah’s brows knit in puzzlement, but he stays the urge to refute him and absorbs the words instead. Lelouch recedes back into his chair, a more familiar pensiveness sharpening his gaze, silent as well. The lull in conversation isn’t an absence of a response, not when he can see the other man is far from done with his train of thought, so he instead turns to his drink. If it reads as avoidance, he supposes he can’t help it, but it seems favorable over simply staring Lelouch down.

The warmth of the day isn’t abating, but it’s pleasant now that they’re at rest, the light of early evening growing ever warmer, redder, painting the backdrop of mountains around them. A beautiful setting, life flourishing around them, almost mocking as Jeremiah wonders the thread in his mind he must currently be following for him to speak of things so morbidly.]

I joined you because- [you’re still alive sits in his mouth, the most concise answer to his uninterrupted loyalty, but he swallows it.] my work wasn’t yet done. You still have need of accomplices, and I am still willing to serve. I could never have retired to a peaceful world with little need of another soldier or assassin, when you would be continuing to fight in the shadows for justice. These are evils few others could defeat as we can, after all.

[His frown only deepens as he concludes his thought, still just as troubled. Strange, to find himself scrutinizing his lord in turn, but he can’t help but search for the things unsaid in vain. There's few other ways to get answers but to pry, his restless questions refusing to fade from the forefront.]

Whatever weighs on your mind seems quite heavy tonight. You don't often ask me these sorts of things.