nexus_crossings | Manhattan's Diamond King

Manhattan's Diamond King

Jack had been wandering the streets on a night watch with Diamond. The people of the Party and their Ministry of Truth goons were getting bold. It made Jack antsy and he wasn’t sleeping. It was weird sometimes how he went days and weeks here and there without sleeping. No one knew how he could do it.

The scenery had changed oddly when he turned a corner, Diamond at his side whining. He reached down and patted the white mutt that went with him everywhere. Straightening, Halloween Jack shifted the automatic weapon slung over one shoulder that stood in stark contrast to his feminine clothing including spike heeled black boots and gaudy diamond bracelets and earrings. He came very close to shooting the hologram when it startled him by appearing on his blind side. He’d seen something like this before but couldn’t remember where. He listened to it all the while wondering why the guy was in the weird get up. It looked enough like a military uniform to make him suspicious of the Nexus.

Walking on he kept looking up at the building corners, the trees, anywhere something could be hung. Though the gun was back in a resting position, he remained jumpy and jittery.. one part drugs and one part nerves. Diamond was watching the people coming out into the plaza. Normal morning traffic of shops opening.

Jack narrowed his eye at the people and eventually asks. “There aren’t any cameras or drones here?”

He is confused as hell about what is going on. The dog sat at his feet, looking up expectantly at her one eyes master. In the back of his mind there is a lingering worry that this is some Party trap or that he had been caught again and this was something in his own mind.

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He ponders this for a moment. Well, yes, his mind was altered. Seeing as the witch transferred copied Shiro's memories into it.

"Well, yes." Hiroki whispers. "It's possible that I was a child when the alteration began. Not that I can ask anyone for confirmation, even the witch surely doesn't remember, as she doesn't care. I'm pretty sure I had never been outside a cryopod, before that. Everything was so new and strange. The air being dry was the strangest thing of all."

He shrugs a little, and gives a little smile. "Long story. I might tell you someday, if you're ever very, very bored."

He shakes Halloween Jack's hand, and that's when he can no longer deny the familiarity.

Who are you, really? he would've asked, only he doesn't, because Jack's already said he remembers nothing, and so, such a question would've been terribly unhelpful, and must stay inside.

Instead, he asks,

"Are you a human?"

Edited 2020-09-28 19:39 (UTC)

"I've heard stories like this from kids that were vaporized a second time when they were teenagers." And Jack's right side nervous tick came back full force.

How Hiroki is looking at him feels odd, too familiar for a stranger.it leaves him wondering just how much this Ziggy person is like him.

Confusion comes with that question. "I don't know... I guess so. I'd have to be."

"That's- I'm not sure exactly what you mean, Jack, but, thing is, I'm not-"

He shakes his head.

"Okay, I am a 100% human, but I'm not quite normal. I'm a clone. So, the idiosyncrasies in my earliest life - yep. You can can how they might arise."

"Let's just go to that bar. And it's all gonna be on me, no worries, Pri-"

Oh. What is he thinking? Apparently nothing much, or he'd be more focused and remember that Jack is not Ziggy!

But wait, could Jack be-- no. Ridiculous!

"No worries, Jack."

Edited 2020-10-02 16:41 (UTC)

"They rewrite a new personality in people." Jack says matter of fact. "If you do it too much the mind just ..I guess stops having a personality. It's what vaporization is putting new memories and personalities in people."

"If the Ministry had clones I wouldn't know if I was one." Jack sighs and the trembling is still obvious on his right side. "I don't remember anything before a few years ago."

Jack lights up a little at the idea of a drink. "Sure. I can get the drinks. I've got ways."

He garbs on to Hiroki's upper arm to encourage him to follow Jack to the nearest thing that looks like a bar.

Hiroki giggles lightly when Jack grabs him, and does follow him.

"No, Jack, I'm paying. You needn't sell your body or anything."

He's half serious.

Jack stops and looks at Hiroki a bit confused. "Isn't that why you want to take me out? To buy me for a time?"

Jack didn't really have friends. He had those who followed him and those who bought something from him, often his body or services. The insistence on being monogamous AND wanting to pay for his time out was really crossing Jack's wires too much. He couldn't follow this line of thinking very well.

Hiroki stops abruptly and glares at Jack.

"I'd rather die than touch you," the young man utters tersely. "I won't let you starve. Shut up and trust me."

Jack is startled by the first comment and Hiroki has the insight from Ziggy's behavior to read it. The clear feelings of rejection and depression, the sadness that hangs over Ziggy when he feels unwanted. Jack's reasons are different but the hurt that shows up is the same.

"Are you always this rude?" Jack finally snaps back when he is told to shut up. "I don't have whatever fucking idyllic life you have with this person who looks like me."

He takes a deep breath trying to calm but he's anything but calm. It's another moment Hiroki will know the behavior, this is the verge of a yelling tantrum. That he's said something that has upset Jack at his core. It's behavior so much like Ziggy. "I'm a prostitute. It's the only way I have to get food where I live. No one just gives you anything. I get fed by someone and then they use my body. I don't have the luxury for whatever you have."

Jack just turns away and there's a flicker of sadness and anger that rushes off of him. Jack can't use his empathic abilities, doesn't know he has them, but sometimes, when he's pushed into strong emotions they flicker to life briefly.

"I understand, by Voltron, you've made that quiznaking clear! But I won't touch you and I'll give you whatever you want. And yes, I'm always this quiznaking rude, and yes, my afterlife is utterly quiznaking idyllic, thank you for noticing, I cherish it with the short existence my spirit's got left before it disappears forever, thanks!"

"What? Am I too ruined and poisoned to be close to you like you're some ministry hound that is above someone like me?" Jack's face is crunched up from upset and feeling tossed away.

But that last comment hurts another part that Jack doesn't often talk about. He lashes out because he doesn't know what to do with his feelings. The empathic ability blossoming fullly awake, only he doesnt know he's transmitting anything. "At least you'll disappear and be free eventually. I'm just..." Jack sighs. "Since they tried to vaporize me I stopped aging. I'm trapped or something. I don't know "

Jack looks down, noticing that the other man hasn't pulled away. The confusion starts mingling with the hurt and depression swirling around him.

Abrupty, Hiroki leans closer and kisses Jack's forehead.

It's earnest, tender, and there's no desire in the gesture.

"I'm sorry, Jack," he says. "I shouldn't've reacted this way. My bad. And how could I be above you, ever? You're a person."

Jack doesn't know how to handle the extreme rejection and now the closeness, the kiss. He just starts shaking, especially the right side. He does know how to handle the words though.

"You don't understand. I'm not, not really. I don't know who I am, where I'm from, nothing. I don't even know what I can do or not."

Jack shrugs but he leans his forehead back into Hiroki's lips. It is comfortable, at least close to what he knows. The hand on Hiroki's arm is tightening but, like Ziggy, Jack isn't overly strong. "They never made me a new person. They only took the person I was."

"You are a person. You're Jack."

Hiroki doesn't back away. He welcomes the touch, but isn't doing anything.

"Shsh. I'll protect you, Jack. Please, lemme introduce you to Ziggy. Might help."

Hiroki sounds upset, but caring and resolved.

"Jack is just something I made up because I didn't have any...." Jack didn't have the words for when he escaped and realized there was nothing left of his memories and very little of his personality.

"I don't need to be protected." Jack slips his arms around Hiroki's chest and presses into his body. He doesn't say anything to the introduction because it only adds to his confusion over whatever os going on.

"Alright, Jack."

Hiroki puts his right arm on his shoulder.

"Let's go that bar."

One think that will become instantly apparent, as the contact becomes closer, is that Jack is so much thinner than Ziggy, emaciated like someone starved for a long time. Jack leans in farther, sort of reluctant to let go.

"I'd prefer food to drink. I've got plenty of booze at home." Jack comments as he rests his head on Hiroki's shoulder. He can imagine why this other person likes him so much. He feels good to be next to.

"You're right. There are probably no proper dinners at this bar. Let's go to a good restaurant. Food's on me, buddy," the clone says softly, with affection.

Hiroki pats Jack, the way one would a younger brother who's crying on one's shoulder.

"I know a good one. We're going, okay? Just don't kiss me. Wouldn't want any misunderstandings."

He gently tugs Jack. Let's go.

Jack is still very confused but then, maybe this is a situation of food now and then he owes him in the future. That thought relaxes Jack a little until Hiroki says more. Then the confusion rushes back.

"You're not very worldly are you" Jack asks as he is tugged sideways from where he was comfortably resting. This whole interaction has left him unsure about what this person is after.

"Nah, I'm just a very dumb clone who was born yesterday," he replies with a grin. "Go on, laugh at me. I'm sure I'm a good joke. It might even make you feel better."

"Now, follow me."

And he begins to walk, leading Halloween Jack to a good restaurant.

Ziggy, save us, Hiroki thinks, desperately.

"You don't seem to understand the rules on how others survive." Jack just shook his head and followed along with Diamond in tow.

Ziggy heard but it would take him time to pinpoint where to go.

"That's alright, I'm dead, anyway."

"You don't seem very dead to me." Jack comments. "I'd know. Our streets are littered with them."

"Thanks, you're a dear."

He then winces at what Jack says next.

"And you're hot." Jack smiles broadly. The violence of his own world doesn't effect him too much. He's partially desensitized.

Hiroki stops and stares at Jack, wide-eyed. His right arm's trembling.

Ziggy, please, I've just met your clone and he says I'm hot. Need help.

Why is he thinking towards Ziggy? Surely Ziggy won't hear him anyway. Wait. Wait, he might. He just might. Atlas. Pilot. Quintessence. Connection.

Hiroki resumes walking towards the restaurant. He pats Jack's head like one would a child, ruffles his hair playfully.

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it's weekend already for me, and I think I might be in a mood for a tag or two, heh

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