hadriel | 001 [video]

Entry tags:

001 [video]

[Jack's parked himself, where else, in Delight's bar, and even though he's halfway through the bottle in front of him, he's still composed. It's equal parts troubling and impressive...his reputation for being a party prince back home was well-earned.]

At least one of the gods here has good taste in alcohol. That's more than I can say for the god of my father. I think he prefers sweet wine and the blood of lambs or bulls...

[He waves his hand dismissively before taking another drink. He doesn't want to talk about sacrifice, or even think about it. But he's not shying away from the subject of blood.]

I'm here to ask where I can find training with the weapons in the armory. I served in the military of my world, but we were somewhat more...advanced with our weapons - which really just means we grew impatient with the time it took us to kill a great number of people, so we came up with tanks and guns. But since there are actual monsters here and I can't burst into flames or shoot ice daggers from my eyes, I'd like to master something as quickly as possible.

[And he doesn't find the up-close and personal aspect of if to be as distasteful as he might've thought. Maybe because he'll be killing monsters and not someone's son, though there are instances where he thinks the two can overlap.]

I'll be in your debt. [And the sobering way that he says those words show just how seriously Jack takes them. But it's followed by his lips curving into a smirk.] And in exchange, I'll also bring the tastiest monsters right to your doorstep. The ugly ones taste just like chicken.

[But they don't stay down as easily, not unless you're the youngest Stark girl.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh, he's so ridiculous. But almost believable too, so shameless that it's admirable. Jack's once again struck by how there's no pretense about him. He's impetuous, yes, but honest.

Jack doesn't answer at first, because he's not sure that he will. It's something about himself that he's admitted to his mother, that his father admitted to a courtroom full of strangers, but has Jack ever really admitted it to himself?

Without shame. What's it like to live like that? He looks at Johnny for a moment more.]

Someone who loved me. And someone I loved and wronged in equal part.

Ouch.

[ Johnny grimaces in sympathy -- wronging someone who loved and you loved you, and having them die on you? No, that's awful and terrible. The humor disappears under honest sympathy. ]

Sorry to hear that, buddy. She must've really been something, for you to still mourn her this way.

[Jack laughs and looks away. It's not funny, but he laughs anyway. Of course he would assume that it was a woman, most people would. And he wonders if Johnny's entire tune would change if he knew otherwise. It could. Why else was he taught to hide it away. It's a flaw, right? A mistake by his very Creator that has made him perverse and shameful.

There's a sudden anger in him, not so much because of Johnny, though he may bear the brunt of it. It's not much different than the fights he used to seek out in bars and clubs. He's not the greatest when it comes to dealing with his emotions. Pain becomes anger, and anger becomes violence.]

He deserved better than to be mourned. [Jack looks back at the video then. He said it. He actually said it, and now there's no turning back. I won't be a coward, not here. Not again.] He deserved to live, to have everything that he never asked of me because he knew I wouldn't give it. He deserves everything that I took from him and then some. Crying over his casket? No, he deserved so much more than that, Johnny.

[ Johnny's silent for a long moment, surprised. So it's another guy, huh? A gay prince, no wonder he's so messed up. The world screws over people who don't fit into their ideal mold, and princes and princesses always seem to get the short end of the stick.

See, people don't often realise that Johnny's much more perceptive than he lets on; it's a hidden talent, really -- but he sees the pain that becomes anger that becomes violence, and he knows he's not lashing out at him.

Jack's laugh sounds like the saddest, most bitter thing he's ever heard. Princes are never really allowed to be with who they love, not really; he can only imagine the hate, the fear, all the things that are so alien to Johnny himself, wrapped around this man. ]

Dude sounds like a saint. [ He says eventually. Apportioning blame isn't going to help anything, because what use is that to a dead lover? Johnny wants to know him. Wants to remember him, too. That would be nice, won't it? This way, the memory doesn't fall to Jack alone. Someone else will remember. ] What's his name?

[This is a test. Jack just isn't sure if it's one for Johnny or himself. Johnny's quiet for a long time, and he wonders what's going through his mind, what he really thinks about it. But does Mr. "Hot Undead Nurses" really have room to judge?

He doesn't respond right away either, but the knot in his stomach at least starts to soften when he compliments Joseph. He would bear the weight of any shock or disgust, as long as it didn't fall on the better man.]

Joseph. [Jack answers him with a quietness that's almost uncharacteristic.] His name was Joseph.

[ Johnny's thinking is admittedly simple: you like who you like, and as long as you're not hurting anyone, it's all good with him. Granted, Johnny's never really batted for the same team -- but he's seen the crap that people get for the whole gay thing, and it seriously sucks ass.

Now, though: Johnny is genuinely interested to know about this person who's snagged his new friend's heart, a life lost -- he assumes, quite tragically. Jack probably needs to talk about him, too; he has the feeling that he's never breathed much of a word to anyone, taking that pain all onto himself. ]

So what's he like? Is he a civilian?

He was gentle and brave.

[He could say more, about how good he was, how loving and funny. Genuine. Jack could tell him so much more about Joseph Lasile, but the words get caught in his throat.]

Tell me about your mother.

[ Johnny really doesn't want to talk about his mother. He hasn't talked about her for years, so why start now? ] Well, you know. She died.

[ But Jack shared something so personal, it feels like a cop out to shut that down. Still, he continues, wanting to show that it doesn't bother him. Not at all. Not in the least. ] Dad went off the rails after that, so that sucked.

But hey! My sister and I made it, and I got to bag pretty much about the hottest round of Victoria's Secret Angels. And save the world a few times. [ He grins wickedly. ]

We've already established that.

[Flat, because no, you don't get someone else to open up and then turn elusive. What Johnny does follow with his surprising. Ordinary people have hard lives, but Jack never thought theirs compared to the pressures that he knew, not really. And he might still believe that, but it's obvious that Johnny's upbringing was no picnic.]

I have a sister. A twin. [A pause and a slow predatory smile.] And if you ever "bagged" her, I can promise you that they'd never find your body.

So, the gorgeous genes run in the family, huh?

[ Johnny says this without thinking -- because listen, Jack is objectively a very good looking son of a bitch, so. ]

[Well that was unexpected. But Jack suspects that it was said with an utter lack of thought.]

I wouldn't say that they completely began and ended with me.

[ He laughs. ] I'd tell you the same about my sister, too -- but she's married and is probably scarier than me. [ Gestures a little. ] Also -- you're both batting for the same team.

Do you think I've never been with a woman before? [Johnny, please. Jack leans closer, his voice a little more wicked.] Single, married.

[ THERE IT IS, THE HORRIFIED LOOK

HE'S OK WITH U BEING GAY

HE'S NOT OK WITH U SLEEPING WITH HIS SISTER! ]

Don't sleep with my sister!

I had no idea she was even here.

[Give him your horror, Johnny, he can taste it.]

Maybe we should agree that both our sisters are off limits.

[ YOU'RE A BAD PERSON ]

Much better. [ He squints. ] So, you're bisexual?

You're very curious.

That's me! Always curious. I don't judge.

I think I'll just leave you in suspense.

Awww, that's no fun! [ But he's flitting on to another subject. ] So, your world, right? Is it modern, or do you have castles and horses and knights and all that?

I have apartments and SUVs. Does that answer you question?

[The fact that he knows...and moved right on...is surprising.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

001 [video]

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;