Video

[benumbing]

[The video opens with Jack crouched on the beach, a handful of sand trickling from the gaps between his fingers. He's staring at it like he's trying to find the catch, something that would prove that it's counterfeit.

After a moment he sighs and dusts his hands together.]

Am I the only one who liked the city better the way it was? Or does that make me a blasphemer? [Wouldn't be the first time. He glances back, eyes lifting in the direction of the skyscrapers.] This looks a little too much like the city I came from.

[Everything clean and shiny and fake. Jack sighs before he speaks again.]

I'm looking for something that I lost recently, something that I was hoping someone might've found. [Jack chews on the inside of his cheek for a moment.] It's one of those hairless little...things. I haven't seen it in days. I don't think it could see very well, and I doubt it could swim. If anyone has seen one wandering around-

[He doesn't know how to finish. He cares, and that's never been an easy thing for Jack to show. He takes another deep breath, forcing a smile to his lips.]

Return it and I'm in your debt. Maybe we could even roll around on the beach together, make memories, get sand in our underwear. That sort of thing.

Comments

video;

[iustitiae]

I haven't seen it, but I can still help you make memories with our new found eternal sunset anyway.

video;

[benumbing]

I bet you can. We might even have time to squeeze in a volleyball game. What do you say?

video;

[iustitiae]

Volleyball. Sounds invigorating.

[says connor, who plays lacrosse]

video;

[pellameno]

The little rabbit looking things? There was one in my garden yesterday.... I can bring you there and maybe it'll come to you.

video;

[benumbing]

Those are the ones. [jack looks hopeful at the mention of it, even if hope is something that scares him more often than not these days. he struggles with what to say for a moment or two before finally nodding.] Please.

Re: video;

[pellameno]

Sure. I might get a little turned around, though, I hope you don't mind a walk. [ The new setting has him pretty confused. ] Where exactly are you now?

Video

[survivethis]

I'll keep an eye out for your pet while I'm on patrol.

No sand required.

[Not that he isn't attractive. It's an interesting offer, though.]

You must not like where you come from very much.

[Since he doesn't like the new look of the world.]

Video

[benumbing]

He doesn't bite. [which just confuses jack even more as to why he got so angry, why he now feels actual guilt about it.] And I'll tell you a thing about sand - it chafes. It always sounds like a better idea than it actually is.

[jack takes a second look around, like he might see things a little differently this time.]

It's complicated. What do you think about it?

Re: Video

[survivethis]

[Jill knows what chafing sand feels like, but she's not going to share those stories.]

I think it's nice to see a blue sky again. Was starting to feel claustrophobic. That and the food's improved. I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

[sunsetsitter]

Yes, you're a terrible, blasphemous person and you should be punished.

[She's using her super serious voice.]

[benumbing]

You sound like a very strict disciplinarian. Where would you start? The time-out step? Sending me to bed without dinner?

[sunsetsitter]

You're a little old for those, don't you think? I'd have to skip straight to monitoring your electronics use. No unsupervised funtime, mister!

video

[unitas]

[ The video shows off a nug, snuggled down on a couch and draped with a tiny, nug-sized blanket. Maybe that stubby nose looks familiar, or those big, dark eyes. ]

Is this your little fucker? [ She lifts the blanket a little and beneath a naked paw is a well-worn paintbrush, marked by the nug's teeth. ] He claimed one of my paintbrushes as a chew toy.

video

[benumbing]

[jack shouldn't be able to tell one of those damn things from the next. they're all dark-eyed and pink and naked, like some newborn babe that didn't quite get 'done'.

but there's a sudden weight lifted from his chest, and he has no doubt.]

Where did you find it?

video

[skelebro]

['Sup? Hope you don't mind a walking, talking skeleton on your feed, 'cause Sans don't seem too bothered by the fact that he has no flesh or organs to speak of.]

Couple people really had it out for animals a little bit ago.

[Just as a warning.]

[blessedmaiden]

[Hello, complete stranger, have a completely black video because someone is covering the camera with her fingers. Rydia still has to learn how to use cellphones properly...]

I preferred the city as it was as well... but everyone seems so happy it's hard to complain.

[benumbing]

[even when the place was a cave, it wasn't that dark. it takes jack a moment to figure out what's happening.]

Either you're covering up your phone, or someone's buried you in the sand. I really hope it's the first.

video

[outstandingbalance]

Does this mean we both lose the bet, or does this not count? Because I definitely did not see this coming.

[Natasha has no particular insight into where to find Jack's... pet? Or even what it is. Little hairless things doesn't enlighten her much. But she's curious about his take on the change.

And she doesn't mind the idea of chatting with him again. If he's not too busy with other things.]

Or do we let it ride until there's monsters?

video

[benumbing]

[even if he was, he'd make time. jack enjoyed her company before. plus she can hold her alcohol. it's as good as the first step to friendship and respect.]

I say it's still in play. Too much sun for vampires, too much sand for locusts.

video;

[fulminants]

Yeah, murdercave was cooler.

[ Johnny likes it the way it was before, too. ] More special and weird, you know? Anyway, you didn't accidentally kill George, did you?

[ yes, he's named it. suck it up, jack. he thinks it's kind of sweet that jack's worried, actually. ] I can swing by and help you look.

video;

[benumbing]

[johnny's opinion surprises him, at least until he goes on to explain his reasons behind it. johnny has a thing for being special, and he's practically a sun himself. no wonder he liked the cave the way it was before.]

George.

video;

[fourthsaken]

Are you serious? The city is way better than it was before. This at least looks less creepy...

[Jade may be biased. She's never seen the ocean or a big city before and as overwhelming as it is, it's also very cool. If the city had changed to look like her home, she'd feel very differently about it and be wishing for their creepy cave back.]

video;

[benumbing]

Sometimes things that look clean and innocent are actually the most dark and menacing.

[it was true with shiloh. such a dirty city with such a polished exterior.]

At least the cave reminded us that there was danger.

(Video)

[handofsilver]

Do not sell yourself too cheaply. (Listen to the ancient-but-not-as-ancient-as-other-Elves Elf!)

(Video)

[benumbing]

I've probably given myself away for less, and to worse than anyone here.