[OPEN]

[cicatrize]

WHO: Jack Benjamin and YOU!
WHERE: Around Maurtia Falls and Heropa
WHEN: Month of October
WHAT: Shopping, snooping around government buildings, beach, and a general catch-all for any other meet ups people want to do. Also using it as a catch-all yolo.
WARNINGS: Language? That's about it.



[A] MAURTIA FALLS; EXPLORATION/SHOPPING

[ Maurtia Falls, Jack decides, is honest in a way that he likes. Not like Shiloh, that wants to think having God's Chosen resided in their tax dollar rich palace makes the rest of the city as shining and flawless as the concept of divine favor is, and ignores all that goes on in the shadows and behind closed doors. Just leeching. He doesn't stick out as an imPort, but a few manage to catch it. A few that, after seeing the casual shrug Jack had shot them and their obviously shady dealings, decided to smile and toss him a wink in appreciation for minding his own damn business. Aw. What congenial people. Jack can be found wandering the streets, mostly minding himself, stepping into shops, blowing the stipend he'd been issued from the government upon entry on shiny things, but maybe also exploring that underground side of things.

It's a part of city life he could never really get too close to at home - not like this, without a hood pulled up or a car with dark tinted windows and the cover of deep night. He's curious. Just curious. For now. ]

[B] HEROPA; SNOOPING IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS/LIBRARY

[ okay so first of all - who the shit is the president of the united states and when the fuck did nations become coorporations? that's what you get presidents from, right? heads of cooporations? CEOs? since when did capitalism slam it's way through to the top of government and who allowed it?

someone like william cross, probably. so, honestly, it isn't that surprising. jack, being from a world that hasn't even breathed the word 'democracy', yet held most of the modernizations in culture and economics as this one, is spending a lot of his time in both the library at heropa and the actual government buildings he can use his 'assistant for imPort public relations' pass to get into. he can be found searching around for materials to catch himself up on his new sovereign's way of ruling, or perhaps at whatever central help desk he can find at either place, giving a coy tilt of his head and spark of charm to the man or woman trying to assist him. ]

What, no pamphlets, cute little fact cards? Democracy For Dummies? [ which is fucking insulting but a large part of what too up the nonfiction informative section of the collection. jack sighs, and mutters lower, as he glances out towards the building at large, turning his head away from the man/woman at the help desk. ] Democracy for Monarchs?

[C] HEROPA; BEACH YO

[ and, of course, jack's not going his first week on vacation without hitting the ridiculously lovely beaches on the Florida coast. that's just criminal. shiloh was always so grey and dull and cold half the year, and heading to the beach at all, as crown prince to the globe's most influential nation, meant a few million cameras in his face.

here, all it means is the occasional passerby blocking his sun, and probably some sunburns (have you seen him? he is pale as the moon ok). jack's not likely to be doing a whole hell of a lot on the beach - lying out, maybe reading, probably texting, probably drinking, definitely turning red on his shoulders and neck - but his imPort tattoo will be visible enough for anyone to spot, and any beach balls that come bouncing his way will be giving a casual swat back from whence they came, with a hand waved in dismissal at whatever apologies might follow them. splashing or sand getting kicked on his person, however, will be less kindly met. ]

[D] WILDCARD;

[[ idk, hit me, bros. if there was an idea you had that wouldn't fit into any of these, feel free to slap a prompt in the comments, or shoot me a pp at wuzzafuzzle, or a pm to this journal /o/


[[ooc; PS, Jack's powers include Charm Speak, so if I could get you guys to check out his permissions page for that, that'd be badass. Thanks! ]]

Comments

[hisheartsdesire]

[Desperate to maintain some semblance of control, and knowing Dorian's all wound up and ready to pounce, Toby puts his hand out in front of Dorian to hold him back. He glances at a security mirror up in the corner of the room, and he's not standing between his boyfriend and the other man. Should anything transpire, Toby doesn't want Dorian to get into any sort of trouble for it.]

Wait, Dorian—it's fine. [His tone says he'll brook no argument, though it's absolutely ridiculous Toby has to deal with any of this at all.

He swallows, his free hand going to his back pocket as he glares hard at the other man.]

I don't know who you are, or who you think you are, and why I have anything to prove to you. But I'm Tobias Matthews.

[Once his wallet is out, he shoots a quick glance at Dorian to make sure he doesn't do anything, then lowers his other hand to flip through the wallet. As he does so, he adds,]

Does your David have a reflection? Can his likeness be captured? Look around us, at the mirrors or anything else like them. I don't show up in any of them, and the same goes for my I.D.

[With that, he moves present his old work card to the stranger. His new employment as a phone sex operator doesn't have a physical ID. He then glances back at Dorian before caressing his face and trying to calm him down.]

[brushoff]

[ Toby putting his hand out works. Dorian's still tense, still borderline snarling at Jack with his fists clenched. Because yeah, it is ridiculous that Toby has to deal with any of this at all because he's Toby, not this David person, and the last thing either of them need right now is dealing with someone who's entirely delusional.

Those quick glances, Toby putting his hand out, just trying to get between Dorian and Jack is doing wonders for keeping Dorian from flying off the handle. And when Toby mentions his lack of reflection, his inability to be photographed, that scowl of Dorian's takes on a darkly smug tone. Because really, what were the odds that this David person didn't have a reflection at all? Near minimal, Dorian knew that much. Toby was right and this new annoyance looked like a fool.

Dorian finally relaxes a bit when Toby turns back to him, his hand caressing Dorian's face. And then it's like letting the air out of a balloon. Dorian relaxes, his fists unclench, he visibly deflates a bit. Just a touch from Toby is enough to make him calm down a little bit. ]

If that doesn't convince him, there is another way, [ Dorian adds in, under his breath, said more to Toby than to Jack. And, as Dorian brings a hand up to his throat to undo the top button of his shirt, exposing more of his neck, it's obvious what 'other way' Dorian is thinking about. There's a little part of Dorian that's thinking that Toby nomming on his neck will definitely get them banned from the grocery store, but the majority of his thoughts are still dedicated to proving Jack Benjamin wrong. ]

i spent way too long looking at chris egan's chest for this but i'm okay with it tbh

[cicatrize]

[ the moment the reflections are mentioned, jack's eyes dart up for any reflective surface in the store - mirrors above the produce, metal sidings, anything. he doesn't show up in any of them - jack doesn't need to look at the ID to know that. however, disturbing as that is, it doesn't exactly prove anything. not in the sense of what jack's thinking. ]

And how do I know that's an ability you were born with and not something the Porter granted you? [ that's the big issue right there, and as toby's holding up his ID, Jack reaches straight passed it, towards the hand holding it, to yank down his sleeve. There it is. ImPort tattoo. Lifting up his own arm, Jack's pushing his coat sleeve up to show the same - ImPort, Registered. ] There's plenty I can do now that I couldn't do at home. If the alternative has anything to do with a power, save it. It's not good enough.

[ for one, he couldn't do Charm Speak despite how well he could mimic it on false charm alone, and he sure as hell couldn't shapeshift. which makes him wonder if this is something along the lines of shapeshifting - but it looking like David is giving a shapeshifter such issue, why not just change back? and where would he have seen david to begin with to know how to mimic him? for jack, he has to be aware of every tiny little feature to get an immitation completely spot on--

Oh. That's a thing. ]

But here's food for thought. If I don't know you, why is it I can tell you without looking -- [ jack reaches up a hand, pointing at the side of Toby's throat, though not touching, at one prominent mark, surrounded by a couple lighter ones, making a circling sort of motion with his index finger. ] You have a pattern of moles that starts here.

Then goes here [ his finger actually touches to the man's chest, directly over this pattern, or, close to it, at least. ] here, and here. You've worn v-necks around me before. I'm closeted, not dead.

[ of course he fucking looked. maybe longer than he should have, but we're not here to talk about his mixed feelings on david shepherd and the appeal of his skin. it also didn't help that david was looming over him, with a hand on his shoulder, the entire ride on the humvee until his father's helicopter touched down. all jack had to stare at out of his one good eye was the half unbuttoned shirt he had on. ]

i did that too! i love looking for prominent marks like beauty marks and things XD

[hisheartsdesire]

Dorian... [Already, Toby has to swallow from salivating the moment Dorian's throat is exposed. He has a nervous look about him, a pleading look, because he's not ready for so many random people to know the monster that he really is.

When the stranger takes his arm instead of the ID, Toby is quick to pull away after his imPort tattoo is revealed. Then, he mentions marks on Toby's neck and chest; how is it possible that this stranger's David is so similar and has the same exact marks? The idea that someone else than Dorian seems so familiar with Toby's body is disturbing, but still Toby worries about the alternative.]

Dorian Gray here knows me from my world, knows me far more intimately than anyone else ever will. What he can say goes far beyond the physical.

[Hopefully that will stroke Dorian's ego. Toby is determined to remain Dorian's heart's desire, no matter what. He'll quash the notion that anyone else is, has been, or can ever be more familiar with him than Dorian.]

I don't suppose someone completely like him is in your world, too? Someone you've obviously looked at, perhaps even wanted to touch but never could. [There's some measure of vitriol in his tone as he continues.] I don't know that you'll take either of our words over your opinion, but Dorian knows that I'm exactly as I had been back in our home world. The alternative would reveal that much, and certainly he'll revel in it as much as I will, but.

[Though Toby himself loves Dorian and his blood, the idea of feeding in front of this stranger, in front of so many others... He doesn't think he can do it. His voice is low when he continues, and his words are directed to both Dorian and the stranger.]

Not if we stay here.

[brushoff]

[ The fact that this man knows Toby's body so well to point out something as seemingly insignificant as a pattern of moles just makes Dorian inwardly fume. He knows that he's not Toby's one and only. He knows that Toby had people before him and one of them could in theory be ported in. But this stranger knowing Toby's body so well? That's enough to set him off.

It does stroke his ego. Dorian looks over at Toby, giving him a small loving smile as the other man continues. He's looking at Toby like Toby's the world as he continues talking. Because yeah, they do know each other in a strictly intimate sense. But there's just so much more than just sex with these two, and he's just so happy that Toby's comfortable enough with it that he's telling a practical stranger. ]

Really, it'd just be easier if you'd simply believe him, [ Dorian added in, looking over at Jack. Because it's just now occurring to him that Toby might not want to feed in front of this stranger, this guy he doesn't really know (even though Dorian knows they both would love it.) ] Why would David lie to you anyway? If he's someone you care about, surely he'd have given up on the charade by now, wouldn't he?

[ a small pause before, ] As for the second method, there's a small copse of trees behind the store. I doubt we'd be disturbed there.

[cicatrize]

[ Dorian and Toby start in on the adorations and ego stroking, and Jack's eyes are rolling with a vague half-sneer curling his lips. ] Please, excruciatingly precious as all that is, any more sap and I'm likely vomit.

[ let it not be sad that jack was ever a romantic. Like, ever. At all. Just doesn't happen. He's never even seen his parent be actually romantic for the sake of romance. That sneer grows ever more with the suggestion that jack wants David in a physical way, or even emotional. Maybe, if David were just some boy in a club, sure, but David single handedly dismantled his life. He'd thought, before his uncle went batshit after the coup, that David was the best of all of them, for a time. Wanted to live up to the noble image David had of him, actually be that man, but... Well, then David brought not only tanks to Shiloh, but he brought back Silas, and that's something Jack can never forgive him for. ]

I'm not nearly desperate or pathetic enough to covet David. Even if he weren't the sole responsible party for near every difficulty in my life, I still wouldn't. [ probably. Probably to the last one. But he wouldn't be David if he weren't so obnoxiously good in a way that nulled every excuse jack had not to be. Well, if that really was David. If this one standing in front of him is telling the truth. Though, as he thinks of it, this isn't the first time it's happened to him. Three people on his network post mistook him for 'Bucky Barnes', and when jack looked up the network history for the tag, the man wasn't only similar - he was identical. Something Jack hasn't really come to terms with yet, or decided how to feel about it. Strange, to look at your face and see someone else behind it. It would be, well, hilariously appropriate for Jack to have to stare at a David that isn't David during all his time here. Maybe God followed him from Shiloh after all. The lines of Jack's expression harden, eyes cold as they pass over Dorian and Toby both, considering them and the arguments they offer. His tone comes out low, hollowed, something changed in it. ]

Everyone in Shiloh lies, and I don't "care" about David. [ not in the sense Dorian's meaning. They aren't allies, they aren't even friends. Jack swallows, remembers standing in front of his father and near begging for execution. David just stood there, stoic, watching. And when they dragged him away to a fate far worse, he hadn't even flinched. ] The last time I saw him, he'd delivered me straight into a death sentence after I called him a friend.

[ cold eyes slide to Toby again, as if checking one last time for something telling behind his eyes. ] If David knew what's best for him, he'd stay hidden.

[ a beat passes, and eventually, jack nods, assenting. ]

Fine. Let's see it. [ off he goes, marching for the store exit ]

[hisheartsdesire]

[If the stranger actually grows sick of him and Dorian, then Toby would be proud they'd made it happen. They were having a perfectly peaceful night until the man accosted him. If it weren't for Toby's initial defensiveness, he'd have simply tried to ignore the stranger and his bold accusations. Despite his irritation at this situation, Toby finds himself intrigued and somewhat curious about the stranger and his David.

If there's anything the stranger might catch behind Toby's eyes, it's deadness. Because Toby has been undead over two-hundred sixty years, and had permanently put himself to rest thirty years ago. At least, it seemed like he was completely done for, but Dorian had made a contract to bring back his heart's desire. As such, Toby has returned, but not truly to life. No, he probably would never be alive in that sense, never again.

He doesn't bother commenting on the stranger's words, saves his breath rather than arguing about who David is or what the stranger's relationship is with him. Instead, Toby simply files the information away, not knowing if he'll learn anything more than that. He undoubtedly sees the man's bitterness at some sort of betrayal, but there's more to that relationship than meets the eye. Maybe David is someone like Ivar. But that's hardly any of Toby's business, and he doesn't care so long as the man leaves him and Dorian in peace.

So he takes Dorian's hand and gives it a squeeze before also heading to exit the grocery.]

[brushoff]

[ He doesn't care about Jack's words. Sure, Dorian recognizes them and senses some of the bitterness but a: this doesn't tell him anything to begin with and b: why the fuck would he care about Shiloh, about this man's world in the first place? He doesn't. It's all a lovely little story but, in Dorian's mind, it doesn't matter.

What matters is that they get this sorted out.

As Toby squeezes his hand, Dorian can't help but give the other man a small, comforting smile. He knows this is stupid. They both know this is stupid. But they'll plow through this bullshit and they'll sort everything out. It's got to be that way, after all.

He sets the basket down as the three head out of the store, Dorian glaring daggers at the back of Jack's head. Because really, this is all ridiculous. This isn't David, he doesn't know why this man would think Toby's David, and he's just too damn stubborn to accept the truth.

As they exit and leave the store, Dorian's free hand goes up to his neck as he starts to fumble with buttons, attempting to undo the top few, getting this out of the way now so they could simply go ahead and prove this annoyance wrong. ]