What had not been acceptable for Jove were missions which involved intense emotional involvement. He was a man cut off in nature, always keeping himself a degree or two removed from anything around him. He never saw this as a problem, and it certainly hadn't been formed via a defense mechanism from some sort of trauma. Jove wasn't one of those who had such an involved backstory, he was simply different from others. Even in his past relationship, regardless of intimacy, he simply came across as guarded. It would take a truly empathetic individual to understand the way he operated, and so he tried to avoid being the shoulder to cry on, as he understood this could be perceived as coldness. There were times, however, which this sort of thing was unavoidable for the type of work he did.
Jove was no longer a businessman. He was an officer of the Rune Knights, a wielder of great magic and power, authority and influence. He was someone who represented all those around him, all members of Fiore, and driven by personal ethics, those who could not fend for themselves. Sometimes death was involved. Sometimes he could not protect the ones he served, and he had to witness them perish early. He could not always save everyone. A simple rule then, something which could make his type of work possible for such a relatively normal man.
Whoever he could reach.
That was it. Whoever he could physically touch, grab, hold; Protect them. He was not so conceited as to talk about putting his life on the line; he was, however, foolish enough to do so. After all, had he not fought time and time again? Could any threat, despite difference in power, not easily kill him in a stroke of luck or twist of fate? It would be ridiculous to say he didn't care, but clearly he could not convey this.
A few times, however, the two would converge. Some who could empathize with this disconnected man, and those whom he could reach. He only wished he had done so while they lived.
Underneath the catacombs of Phantom Lord, spirits had grown restless. There was very little information associated with the actual job, simply the bare minimum. Ghosts with great power and influence over the physical realm had appeared, and a mage was needed to come deal with it. Upon arriving, Jove was given more information regarding what was happening. Spirits had indeed made their home beneath the now long gone dark guild, but the situations was not as straight forward as that. There were spirits of innocents who had become trapped there for the crime of dying it its proximity, and there were darker entities which fed off of them. It hardly made any sense, but in a world of magic it was certainly possible. This had been going on for weeks, and the echoes of horror came through the floors throughout.
Jove had entered the basement, met with the voice of a scared young man. He was still just a child comparatively, and the Knight stared at him with the same emotionless expression he usually wore. "Hello." He said greeted the one before him as if they were still alive, and the spirit somehow smiled back. It was certainly aware of the danger it was in, this echo of life, and yet it still felt so human. It thanked him for coming, and yet warned him to leave. Even though it would perish in one of the worst fates imaginable, it still worried for another. Jove reached forward, despite knowing his hand would pass through, and yet it did not. Magic coursed through his fingers, allowing him to interact with the spirit, and feel its ethereal shoulder. "You're safe now. It'll only be a moment."
WC:761/1500