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Post by Copper on Jun 29, 2015 19:48:31 GMT
The older Giovanni turned around with a sigh, crossing his arms over his chest and settling a piercing gaze that he did not share with his younger counterpart on Tessa. "I'm not a fear. I'm, unfortunately, very real."
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Post by Dawnmist on Jun 29, 2015 20:11:15 GMT
She inhaled, drawing back a little subconsciously. "Wh- what do you mean? How are you real? I thought..." I thought you were gone.
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Post by Copper on Jun 29, 2015 20:24:26 GMT
"No matter how many times you rewrite time, the alternate versions exist in their own timelines, which do continue on their own," younger Giovanni muttered quietly, from his place on the floor. "This... Version of me and his Tessa's ghost still exist, even though he fixed the timeline for us specifically. And somewhere out there is the timeline that we left, with all of our friends confused as to where we disappeared off to. They never ceased to exist either. Only now, they're just... Splinters, I guess."
Older Giovanni sighed, glancing at his younger self. "That's right. Doesn't that make you wonder a bit whether the ghosts you just faced down were the real deal or just made by the maze?" He shrugged, averting his gaze from the two. "I need to get going now. I have to find my version of Tessa. I think she's here somewhere, and... I miss her."
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Post by Dawnmist on Jun 29, 2015 20:37:49 GMT
Tessa's expression softened at his words, an ache in her chest arising at his tone. Still, she couldn't help but feel uneasy at the prospect of herself as a ghost. How much more did it take before I killed myself? She couldn't help but wonder. Somehow, she didn't think it was much. Her emotions had always been able to cloud her thoughts, encouraging her to act without thinking. Perhaps Elizabeth was the same, and perhaps that was why she had...
But it didn't matter now. Lizzie was gone, and Tessa had to focus on the task at hand. She couldn't even pretend to understand the concept of separate timelines, but the feeling behind the older Giovanni's words were real enough. "Thank you," she said softly to him. "A- and, I'm sorry. I didn't want you to be alone."
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Post by Copper on Jun 29, 2015 20:51:10 GMT
Giovanni reached forward, gently ruffling Tessa's hair with the beginnings of a tear in his eye. "You know, I'm starting to have the feeling that you may never have really left me at all." He paused before turning to his younger self, words more stern. "Keep her safe, kid. She's the only thing keeping you sane, she has been for a while; and you know it." With that, he walked out of the room, a door having formed itself in front of the chalk circle.
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Post by Dawnmist on Jun 29, 2015 21:01:35 GMT
She wiped at her eyes with the edge of her sleeve, not turning back to her Giovanni until she had managed to fully compose herself. Truthfully, she had no idea that her cousin thought so highly of her, nor that he valued her so much. It was quite humbling. "We- uh, we should get going. We can't put it off forever," Tessa said at last, still not meeting his gaze as she held out his battered wand. The wand in her other hand felt heavy, almost as if its former bearer was a completely different person. In a sense, she was.
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Post by Copper on Jun 29, 2015 21:07:55 GMT
Giovanni mumbled his thanks, taking the wand and standing. Although he knew it so perfectly, every inscription and bend in the wood, it still felt cold and alien. Just as his future self had. He wondered briefly why he had felt the need to say the truth about just how much he had come to value and lean on Tessa for support in the past few months-- it certainly made the atmosphere much more awkward. That isn't important right now. The others are. Making it out alive is.
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Post by Dawnmist on Jun 29, 2015 21:13:44 GMT
She took a tentative step in the direction of their next fear, glancing sideways at the ground for reassurance that he was following. She gave her wand an experimental flick, relieved to feel it tingle beneath her touch: alive, if a little sluggish. "Are you okay?" She asked quietly, all too aware that she hadn't thought to ask him about how he was doing. She had been too absorbed in herself for the past couple of months, and had paid little attention to anybody else.
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Post by Silaluk on Jun 29, 2015 21:31:39 GMT
"But what I'm wondering...is why they're out here in the middle of this forest. This feels weird, Ricardo. I'm not sure about this..." -- Philip nodded and moved closer to Jack until their faces were only a couple inches apart. It will be okay. I've got you now. The Canadian tried to smile but only managed in clearing his throat awkwardly. He pulled his hand away from Jack's and stood. We will find a way out. "It's probably more of these weird--" The door burst open, revealing a patio full of whispering adults and an old, wrinkled woman who bore a striking resemblance to the Gryffindor. Wordlessly, she pulled Ricardo's ear down to her level, dragging him inside the house. -- Jack felt himself go bright red at the proximity of their faces. He hoped that the gently lapping flames covered it, for the most part. His voice came out as an overly fast, awkward stammer. "Uh... You're awfully close there, Phil. Everything... Everything okay?" The other Jack sighed, leaning his chin in his hand. "Can't we stay here a little longer? We're both pretty stressed out, and besides..." He raised his eyebrows, a smile tugging at his lips. "We're alone here." "Ricardo! Um, Miss! Señora!" Vincent called, following the woman into the house in hopes to catch Ricardo before whatever family member that was hid him away. -- Fine. Philip let out a soft sigh, closing his eyes. He pulled Jack closer, letting his lips brush the cripple's jawline. Just fine, he tapped. Philip's mouth went dry. We should find a way out. What had gotten into Jack? He didn't seem scared anymore. And it wasn't like him to just want to sit back and give up. And all of this 'we're alone here' stuff... |
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Post by Copper on Jun 29, 2015 21:38:10 GMT
"I'm... Fine," Giovanni murmured quietly. "Still kind of surprised by my alternate. I guess I figured I'd hate him less."
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Post by Dawnmist on Jun 29, 2015 21:43:49 GMT
She blinked, taken aback by his word choice. "Hate? Why do you hate him?"
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Post by Copper on Jun 29, 2015 21:45:30 GMT
Ricardo winced as he was dragged into the circle of adults, who all stared at him with accusing eyes. "Abuela..."
The old woman turned to him, spitting out a word that he hoped he'd never have to hear aimed at him. "¡Marico!"
There was a stunned sort of silence before Ricardo's grandmother reared her hand back, slapping the Gryffindor hard across the face.
--
Jack felt blood rush to his face, knowing full well that by now the redness was undeniable. Still, he did not move from Philip's hold. If he were perfectly honest with himself, he was enjoying this on some level. "You're... A-Acting very diff.. Different," he managed to stammer out.
Jack sighed, Philip to hoist himself up. "I just thought we could use a small break," he said softly, fingertips briefly brushing across the Canadian's lips before grabbing his cane. "What was with all of that hugging business earlier? Now you've gotten so... shy all of a sudden."
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Post by Copper on Jun 29, 2015 21:48:02 GMT
"I usually feel some degree of disgust towards most versions of myself, honestly," Giovanni said softly, footsteps echoing in the hallway. "But him... This one especially. Projecting the mistakes of the other Tessa onto you. Treating me like an afterthought. Being so... Inattentive. Apathetic."
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Post by Dawnmist on Jun 29, 2015 21:55:42 GMT
"He's been through a lot," Tessa responded, seeking out his hand with her free one and threading her fingers through his, more for her own reassurance than anything. "Experiences like that, they change people. It isn't his fault." She spoke partially of herself; since her sister's death she was noticing changes in herself. And the time travel had only emphasised them.
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Post by Copper on Jun 29, 2015 22:04:03 GMT
"...That is a good point," the Ravenclaw muttered begrudgingly. "Still. He does make me deeply uncomfortable, at the very least." He stopped before the large double doors at the end of the hall, suddenly feeling very cold. "You ready?"
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Post by Silaluk on Jun 29, 2015 22:04:12 GMT
Vincent watched from behind the doorway, wincing when the slap hit Ricardo's face. At this point, he couldn't exactly intervene, no matter how much he wanted to.
--
Really? Philip acted clueless as he pressed his lips to Jack's neck, just below his jaw. We are fine here. It does not matter.
His lips buzzed and Philip glanced away. He was growing more uncomfortable by the second. Jack was acting strange. What do you mean? The fire cast shadows across Jack's face, making it look different and just a little scary. Had something happened while they were separated? He never should've run off like that...
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Post by Dawnmist on Jun 29, 2015 22:49:31 GMT
No, Tessa thought, every muscle in her body clenching uncomfortably at the thought of what lay behind the doors. But she simply nodded, mouth set in a tight line so that her lips blanched. I want to go home. She repeated the phrase internally, the mantra serving as some futile sort of motivation.
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Post by Copper on Jun 30, 2015 7:08:53 GMT
Ricardo stood, silent and head down as the other family members began to yell at him, words punctuated with slurs and hate. They smacked at his shoulders, his head, spilling beer and hissing.
--
"It's... It's fine," Jack whispered, heart threatening to burst from his chest. "Just a bit... For--forward."
The other Jack put on a mask of disappointment, a face tat he was practiced well. "I mean, I thought you liked me. What a shame."
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Post by Copper on Jun 30, 2015 7:10:38 GMT
Giovanni took a deep, shuddering breath. Don't think about it. Just numb yourself. Stay calm, because if you're calm, she is. Cautiously, he placed his palm on the door, pushing it open slowly.
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Post by Silaluk on Jun 30, 2015 7:55:22 GMT
Vincent couldn't take it anymore. He pushed through the crowd of people, grabbing Ricardo and dragging him away, hoping his relatives wouldn't come after them.
--
Philip grinned. This was it. He was going to crack. I thought you liked forward, he tapped, lips working their way up Jack's neck and eventually coming to rest on his mouth.
I do like you. You are my best friend. But... Philip's tapping trailed off as he backed away. But you are not Jack.
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