vatheon | 6: Because we focused on the snake, we missed the scorpion.

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6: Because we focused on the snake, we missed the scorpion.

Who: A newly-resurrected Jacob and all of you
Where: In the plaza
When: Noon on the 17th, first day of bodyswaps (Though if you want this to be before bodyswaps, just tell me!)
Style: Anything goes!
Status: Open to everyone ever! Please comfort your resident god figure, Vatheon.

[That night, before he had been so brutally murdered, he had felt that deep down in his bones, something was wrong. There was no getting rid of it- it was the same feeling he got every time he stood next to his brother...or, more clearly, that monster his brother had become.]

[And then, when he had paused in the middle of the street with the night air cold and damp around his neck, he had been grabbed, and the world had twisted sharply right in front of his eyes. And then everything went black. Ah, he thinks. This is what was wrong. I'm going to die.]

[He can feel his heart stop pumping, and he doesn't even feel anything over knowing that. Because the other part of him, the bright light connected to the Source back home, still shined like a lantern in the darkness...until it met the knives. And the cuts that dug deep into him. And the death and darkness that pierced it and made it shudder and twist until it was nothing but a trembling sliver of what it once was. He was still alive, even though his body wasn't, but even so, he suddenly wants it to be over. ]

[God. God, let it be over. Because, in the end, when he's facing death, he's only human. Just like everyone else, he's afraid. And he wants it to be done.]

[And then it is. The candle of his light is blown out, and he finally tumbles down into death's warm embrace. That's it. The end of a light.]

[When he awakens in Vatheon, however, and the Source flares up in him as if it's never left, the first thing he doesn't feel is relief.]

[It's apprehension. Again, he's back the way he was, still connected to the thing that has never made him age and has put the histories of every single person around him into his mind without warning. The powers that were forced upon him without even him having a choice of whether he wanted them or not.]

[Without even looking around, Jacob just sinks to his knees, burying his face in his hands as he tries to grasp it all. He'll never truly be able to escape this- escape being him. He'll be eternal, and the world will pass him by, and he'll be tied forever to the island with an invisible rope he can't let go of. For a brief moment, all his incredibly human feelings flare up in him, and it takes all of his energy not to actually cry. Of course, sooner or later, those emotions will be gone, packed inside his soul where they belong, and he'll pick himself up and be the god figure he is as usual.]

[So, if you're passing on by, dealing with your body swaps and confused feelings on the matter, don't mind the man shuddering in the middle of the plaza, Vatheon.]

[After all, he just came back to life. Which is a miracle, truly, but its a miracle that Jacob is not sure he entirely wants.]

[ooc: Just a quick reminder that for people who have never interacted with this character before, this is Jacob from the TV show LOST and...he's a god figure in his canon who has powers of omniscience and such. Therefore, I have a handy-dandy permission post over here as to how much he can know about your character and such. Thank you!]

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[At length, there's a quiet whine from next to Jacob and a small paw places itself on the closest knee. Ears down and eyes concerned, the little pup looks up at Jacob not only with that concern but with understanding.

Sola had died too. Twice. Nearly three times. He knows it's difficult to come back, he knows how it can make things hurt, things that shouldn't necessarily hurt. He also knows Jacob is important to Johnny, which in turn makes Jacob important to him.

So Sola remains there, paw on Jacob's knee, cold nose briefly pressing against the poor man's arm in an attempt at comfort.]

[He almost doesn't hear the whine, but when he feels that cold nose against his arm, he slowly pulls his hands away, looking at the small little puppy with a blank look.]

[Chibiterasu...but it wasn't really Chibiterasu, was it? He furrows his brows, tilting his head as he gazes at the puppy, before a name comes to mind:]

...Sola?

Arf!

[Jacob gets a quick bark and a tail wag for his recognition. The first one today! But he still remains cautious with Jacob looking so sad and pats his paw gently against the Human's knee, wishing desperately that he could speak, say something that will make Jacob feel better, let him know he's not alone.

The pats of his paw and quiet whines will have to do.]

Ah. It must be a curse. It happened while I was...

[Dead.]

[He shakes his head slightly and pats Sola on the head, smiling over at him in an attempt to show him he's going to be okay.]

I'll be alright. Don't worry about me.

[If a puppy's face can be incredulous, that would be Sola right now. 'Alright' is such a relative term, even to Sola's young mind, and he knows he wasn't alright for a long time after he'd come back to life. He also knows Signless' hugs helped immensely. His next course of action is quite obvious then, right?

With a low canine grunt, Sola wriggles into Jacob's lap and places both paws against the man's shoulders in the closest thing he can get to a hug in this diminutive form, nuzzling his fuzzy little muzzle against Jacob's cheek.

He resists the instinctual urge to lick his face though. He's got to draw the line somewhere.]

[Well, Jacob technically doesn't lie, and saying he will be alright is much different than saying he is alright. But no matter. He lets out a slight laugh at the attempted hug, before wrapping his arms around Sola (carefully!) in return.]

...

Thanks. I needed this...

[A quiet yap answers Jacob's thanks along with a quick tail wag as Sola settles down into Jacob's lap. Really the Hylian-turned-puppy isn't quite sure what to do with himself in this body but as long as someone needs him, even just for hugs and pets, he'll be happy to help.

He just hopes Chibi isn't doing anything bad with his own body. Or worse, touching his stuff.]

[Right, because touching your stuff is the worst thing to happen while a puppy is in your body, Sola.]

[Here, have some pets! And some cuddles. And okay, later a few minutes he'll let go of you, because he doesn't want to treat you as a little puppy forever, no matter how cute you are.]

You haven't been like this for long, have you?

Ruff.

[That's a no. It's only been a day. Even so, he's really enjoying the scratches and cuddles and pets. Can he get those when he's in his regular body? Yes please.

The lack of thumbs is terribly irksome though. He can't even work his SFC right. He did find out a cool thing he can do with his tail though. Look Jacob, look!]

Oh. How nice...it seems you've found a talent to go along with the curse. I like it...thank you, Sola.

[He reaches over and scratches behind Sola's ears as a sort of thank you for the picture- hey, that's what the picture is showing, right? Sola wants to be petted. So how could Jacob ever say no?]

For five straight days he'd sat by the coral, waiting for the sign that the man whose body he had held and hidden away would return, full of the life Johnny loved so much.

When the fifth day came and passed and he'd awoken in Rinoa's body, he decided he would go back to the coral and wait until Jacob came back, even if that meant weeks.

He was still adjusting to the feeling of having a damp towel over his head, his sense of sight, smell, and hearing all dampened as they were, so when he saw the figure from a distance, he didn't immediately identify who it was. When the person fell to their knees, Johnny picked up his pace and, by the time he saw and recognized that light-colored clothing, he was running.

Without a word, the 'girl' sunk to her knees as well and threw her arms around the bent figure, already feeling the tears welling up in borrowed eyes.]

...Jacob...

...?

[There's a confused sort of noise from Jacob, whose thoughts are scurrying like ants still in his mind, as "she" wraps her arms around him. It's not a familiar touch at all, and he somewhat flinches back, blinking as he looks the figure in the eyes. It's Rinoa.]

Are...

[But...there's something very, very familiar about this. Jacob pores through what he knows, and the fact that a woman he barely knows would act like this...no, this is a curse. There's a long pause as he tilts his head like a curious owl, and then says:]

Johnny?

[He hadn't even given thought to whether or not Jacob would recognize him, his thoughts had been focused on getting to the man as soon as possible. The fact Jacob recognized him even like this both put a warmth in his heart and broke it at the same time.

Grip tightening, tears fell freely from Rinoa's brown eyes as Johnny tried to cover Jacob as best he could with Rinoa's smaller stature; an attempt to protect the man from the world itself.

He had already failed once.]

I'm sorry, Jacob. I'm so sorry...I didn't protect you like I should have. I'll do better from now on, I promise! I- I'll protect you.

[He knew he was babbling and crying on a man who had just come back, but Johnny didn't ever want to let go. As if letting go would mean Jacob would vanish.]

No. No, Johnny...don't say that. It's not your fault.

[All the mixed emotions he's been feeling have suddenly given way to concern, and he tries to move Johnny off of him so that he can look him squarely in the eyes.]

Stop it, please...whether you protected me or not, it was going to happen. And really, I'm back, don't try to blame yourself like this.

[He saw that change, the concern in Jacob's eyes, and it made a wave of sadness rush through him. This wasn't about him, he needed to know if Jacob was going to be okay.

Internalize. He was good at that.

He pushed the feelings away and brought smaller hands up to take Jacob's larger ones, determination settling into his expression.]

I will protect you this time. Whoever did this, I won't let them near you again.

[Letting go of one of the man's hands, Johnny, tentatively, reached out to Jacob's cheek.]

Are you....will you be all right?

I don't needprotection, Johnny. It's alright. The person who did this...maybe he had his reasons for doing so.

[His gaze is a little distant when Johnny asks that, but he shakes his head, trying to give his best reassuring smile.]

I will. It'll take a little while, but I will.

Bull-fucking-shit.

[He glares at Jacob....although he knows it's not as effective as he might like simply because of who it's directed at.]

You just died Jacob. If anyone in this city needs protection, it's you. And, unless you've got some super power you've neglected to tell me, you're not going to change my mind, not on this one.

I don't want to see you hurt.

[His expression turned sad and he leaned forward to kiss Jacob on the cheek, pulling the man close again.]

Please just...let me stay with you. Even those who watch over others need to be watched over themselves, sometimes.

I don't have superpowers, Johnny. I just have what I was given. That's all. Immortality does not an invincible man make, you know.

[He stares levelly back at Johnny, as if trying to neutralize that glare of his by the sheer power of his calm.]

I know you don't...but when things happen, they have to happen. But still...

[And his expression softens as he receives the kiss- how long has it been since he has been kissed like that? He doesn't even remember Mother doing the same. He lets out a sigh, grasping Johnny's arms in a sort of half-hug.]

...

Alright. I have no problems with that, Johnny. Stay as long as you like.

[Johnny grinned and pulled away, but only enough to stand and take Jacob's hands so he could help him up. Or...well, he hoped to. Rinoa's body wasn't as strong as Johnny's, nor as tall.]

Come on. I'll take you home, okay?

[Despite the lack of strength from Johnny's new body, Jacob makes his way to his feet with a smile, giving the vampire a nod.]

Alright. I wonder how Ma'at must be doing. She must have worried about me...

How is the rest of Vatheon doing?

Edited 2012-09-25 05:33 (UTC)

[Johnny kept Jacob's hand in his as he walked with him.]

I think she misses you. I checked on her a bit while...while we were waiting.

Everything else's been fine, I guess. Some people've been trying to find whoever was responsible...but there's just nothing to go on.

What's important right now, though, is that you take it easy, okay? I know dying's not exactly the most pleasant of experiences.

[Gorthan is in the Plaza, replenishing himself and grateful that the coral seems to function at full power again. The curse is... interesting, and it actually sounds like the sort of misadventure Gorthan would get into. After all, he once had an experience in the body and mind of the great Zartas... but the curse doesn't seem to have affected him.

Earthlings. Always with their feelings that Gorthan never quite seems to understand... he approaches the man, holding out a violet, four-fingered hand.]

Cease this pitiful display. Rise.

[The touch makes him flinch, and the vague annoyance that he had as a kid flits through him as he glances upward at Gorthan. Pitiful...?]

[But of course, the calmness that always is a part of him ever since he became the guardian of the Source pushes the annoyance back, and he smiles bittersweetly, shaking his head as he pushes himself off the ground.]

Of course. I merely needed to get a bearing on my situation...that's all.

[Gorthan frowns slightly at his hand being refused. Earthlings are truly unpredictable, not responding to their own code of communication... ah, he could go on about Earthlings for days, before realizing that he actually admires some of them.]

Said situation being...?

Oh, being resurrected from being killed.

[He says it calmly, as if it happened to him much more than once. Jacob then smiles and then takes the proffered hand, pulling himself up so he can stand and look Gorthan right in the eyes.]

I do apologize...coming back so unexpectedly was quite surprising, even for me. It takes a while to get over something like that.

[Now understanding the gravity of the situation, Gorthan nods.]

Apology accepted, and allow me to apologize in turn. I understand perfectly. It must not be easy...

[He turns his back to Jacob, but gestures for the man to follow him.]

Come. I will treat you to one of those warm drinks that your species always seems to find so comforting.

It's alright. No need to apologize. It was just a rather unexpected thing, that's all.

[He nods and smiles, moving to follow Gorthan wherever he might lead him.]

That sounds good. Does your kind drink those kinds of things as well?

No. Our physiology does not allow absorption of them. Our drinks are... vastly different in nature.

[Because they're refined emotional energy, but Gorthan will carefully refrain from mentioning that.

Gorthan will purposefully direct his steps to the bar that looks least crowded. And in general it's very clear that this duck isn't the most sociable of individuals.]

Oh. That's sad, that you can't share with me, but I perfectly understand.

[Jacob notices that and nods as he opens the door for Gorthan politely, as if writing that mental note somewhere in the back of his mind.]

After you.

[... Gorthan enters and immediately wonders what he's doing in a place like this. Oh, right - he's trying to be nice to an earthling again. He glances at the list of what the establishment has available and only recognizes the names of about half the items, and even then he has no image to associate them with in his mind.]

What do you, personally, usually order in places like this?

Wine. It's a beverage distilled from a fruit called "grapes", which is usually fermented for along period of time to produce it. There are different types, like red and white wine...I like red, myself.

[He goes over and asks for a glass of it after he gives his explanation- really, he's so calm that it almost doesn't seem like he just recovered from being dead only a short time before.]

[Gorthan narrows his eyes as he considers the explanation for a long moment. He may not know much about earthlings and their customs, but he knows his chemistry and biochemistry, so...]

You mean fermented into producing psychoactive substances.

But I should not be so surprised. It is merely natural, for a race as emotionally rich as yours to seek distorted sensory perception.

Denzel's mind had gone to Jacob to the fact now there's a killer out there and now that someone else was in his body and doing heck knows what to it!

In Captain Jack Harkness body, crosses the plaza in search of himself. Crocker's new hands where on his face, with a look of distress and results in jumping at seeing Jacob in the plaza, "GAH! A ghost!" There's a pause, "Oh, right. No one actually dies here." There's another pause, "Hello. Glad to see you're back." That rare thing where Crocker lifts the side of cheeks, happens on side before going back to frowning quickly, and staring and rubbing a hand on the oppesite shoulder. How to approach this? Denzel cautiously walks over and sits down next to the other man, "Hello.... What seems to be the problem?" Crocker couldn't believe he was doing this but then again, in their last conversation, Crocker had felt some kind of connection.

The man approaching makes Jacob remove his hands from his face slightly to stares at him for a while, unsure how to answer. Ah. He thought he was a ghost. That actually makes Jacob smile slightly, because back home, that is probably what would have happened once he died. The island would've not been done with him.

"I assure you, I'm not a ghost." He places his hands on his knees, face once again the perfect vision of calm, though that sadness in his blue eyes never quite fades away. "Though I was dead. Which is not an experience I would like to repeat again, really."

A nod at the question. "The problem? There really isn't one. More like just making myself recover from being resurrected so...abruptly."

"Yeah, I know. You would had been more transparent." Denzel gulps hard, "I don't blame you."

Denzel nervously twiddles his fingers, "I don't blame you doesn't sound like a very pleasant experience... On the plus side, at least you're back?" Crocker gets points for trying for comfort at the very least.

"Not all ghosts are transparent," says Jacob with absolute certainty as he gets back up to his feet. "They might seem very real to those who see them..."

At the next part, Jacob softly smiles, taking that awkward attempt at comfort kindly. He knows it's not often that people talk with the resurrected dead. "Yes, I am. And it is very good to be alive. I have to thank this place for that, for bringing me back to life."

There's a short pause, "It's the mulitverse here with everything in it's own set of rules. OF COURSE THAT'S POSSIBLE!" There's some eye twitching and a few crazy 'ha ha ha's' before groaning and turning depressed.

"You don't die. You don't age here.... You wonder why a place would want that to be... Heck, it's like having the legendary philosopher's stone!" Denzel pauses, not sure if the other followed, before rubbing his own arm akwardly, "Wonder if that will get boring..."

*and Ghirahim watches, through Link's eyes. He's not afraid of Jacob anymore. In fact, with his mind clear from the curse that bound him to the demon king, he wonders why he was even afraid of Jacob to begin with. All he sees is the same kind of pain that Hylia exhibited.

Of course, it looks like Link, but he's certainly not dressed like him, and certainly doesn't move like him. He approaches Jacob silently.*

...Johnny was beside himself.

*Despite the fact that it's actually Ghirahim, there's nothing of his usual smugness or mocking tone.*

Was he, now?

[He looks up, blue eyes monetarily troubled, before its just pushed back into his mind. Jacob smiles calmly- no matter what the body or the tone, he can still tell its you, Ghirahim.]

I'll have to comfort him...either way, being in that body must be quite interesting, isn't it, Ghirahim? No longer a sword...

Human. *the confirmation feels strange, foreign. He never thought that he of all people would be...*

I was kept awake all night from this heartbeat. And I'm tired. I've...never been tired, before. But I can think for myself, now. And they're my own thoughts, not...

*he trails off.* What about you? Is it as hard for you to be a god as it was for Hylia?

How does it feel like, being human? And I'm not talking about physical...do you have emotions, again?

[He does sound genuinely curious, because "human" is something he abandoned a long time ago.]

Of course the change would be quite abrupt, but I'm happy you're getting to see what it's like. Sometimes another perspective is needed...

[He shakes his head.] I'm no god, Ghirahim. But still, the duty does come with some very brutal truths. I've had a long time to really accept them.

I don't think it will count for much, when things are back to normal. Or what passes for normal, anyway.

*he's silent for a while.* What duty is that?

Maybe it will. Sometimes people change in ways even they don't understand.

[A mysterious sort of smile.] I guard a very special island back home, Ghirahim. That's my duty. To make sure it never comes to any harm.

...So you are...

*very similar to Hylia, after all. That's something even he understands.*

You guard it alone?

[Bodyswaps have been quite the odd thing to deal with. Seeing Eridan control his own, being stuck in Eridan's himself - it's not the worst option of who-gets-whose that could have come up, but it's still taken some getting used to. He's tall, for one, not yet full height but a noticeable boost above what he's used to. He's also blind in one eye (a scar neatly marking face and lid, the eye itself clouded), and needs glasses besides. It feels different when he breathes, even if he's not tested the gills yet. A collapsing and expanding bladd-based aquatic vascular system supplies a beat different from a land dweller heart.]

[Also, there's the fins that betray his every emotion, and his new found inability to pronounce the letter v.]

[But once he had that sorted, and had also figured out who had Gamzee's body for the week, there was one simple task to make the rest of the week bearable: buying new clothes. That's what Karkat is heading home from as he passes through the Plaza, though he carries no bags. His purchases (inasmuch as acquiring free goods can be called that) are tucked, hidden, into his sylladex - barring the outfit he currently has on. No scarf, no cape, no ugly shoes nor tight, stripes pants. He's got a hoodie and simple jeans. It might be weird to see "Eridan" like that, if Jacob's ever met him.]

[But whether or not Jacob knows the sea dweller's fashions is far from Karkat's mind when he sees him. Sunk on his knees, face in his hands - that is not the pose he wants to see this man in.]

Jacob?

[He runs on over, and comes to a stop a few paces away, close enough for concern, distant enough for respect.]

Ignore the fins because this is Karkat--and if you're not Jacob, hell if I know what's going on, but I would not be surprised if there's something going on in that head of his that would make you freak out. We'll call him, or--if that is you--what the hell happened?

[Seeing him in a state like this, so unlike his normally placid and serene demeanor, is really not a comfort.]

Edited 2012-09-24 21:14 (UTC)

[Jacob doesn't answer right away, Instead he slowly brings his hands down from his face, and just stares at Karkat-turned-Eridan without saying a word. It's unsettling really, because that stare seems to go right through the troll into probably oblivion itself. And then, as suddenly as it it does that, it's pulled back, and what was once a troubled face is now as calm as it always was.]

[Emotions like those aren't necessary anymore. There is no need to relive them. So back into the recesses of his mind they must go.]

[He gets up slowly, and then turns to the young troll and smiles, hands clasped in front of him.]

No. It's me. Hello, Karkat. Long time no see. You look...different.

[And then he shrugs slightly at the question.]

Oh, I just returned back from the dead. It was quite the experience, let me tell you that.

[Unsettling? Of course it's unsettling, to receive such an empty gaze from a guy like Jacob, who's pretty odd to begin with. And in the circumstances - what happened, even? What could make him do that? If it even is him, which he doesn't know for sure yet. Even when Jacob pulls himself together again, the suddenness of it, as simple as flipping a switch, unnerves him all over again. The fins on his current face fold down, and he unconsciously takes a step back.]

[The first part would be easy enough to answer. His mouth opens, already half-forming the words when the second part hits his ears.]

You what?

[His fins droop further as dismay writes over his face.]

But how? What happened? How--how the heck can you just smile and brush it off like that?

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6: Because we focused on the snake, we missed the scorpion.

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how does I draw live action characters lol

NO THAT IS ADORABLE ahhhhh

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this is Karkat! just using this account for fitting icons

got it! :D

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