Halloween Jack (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
apocalypsejack) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
nexus_crossings2020-09-20 10:28 am
apocalypsejack) wrote in nexus_crossings2020-09-20 10:28 am
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.
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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"And, mhm, meeting Jack was just, overwhelming, somehow."
He smiles, snuggles to Ziggy, and then, with a soft smile, whispers, "But I guess Antheans are just overwhelming, hmm? One'd think I'd get used to that, but nah."
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"We can't help it if you like aliens." Ziggy teases, half awake and content.
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Or like a voyeur.
Liking... aliens...?
Hiroki only stops himself from laughing because it'd wake Jack up, probably.
"You're impossible. Be glad I don't get attracted to every alien I'm friends with, or I probably wouldn't've been single by the time I met you," he teases.
Truth is, he had no idea Ziggy was an alien when they've met, and whatever he was, he'd love Ziggy just as much either way.
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Ziggy can sense the humor in Hiroki's emotions and grins. "No, I'm perfect.. perfectly impossible and you wouldn't have any other alien because of it." He teases quietly. "Are you still tired?"
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Hiroki giggles just a little, quietly. And then shakes his head. He's really not so tired anymore, he's had a good rest and he has a feeling that Ziggy's definitely helped. Ziggy, and Atlas.
Oh, right, that reminds him, he's forgotten to tell Ziggy-
"Allura's going to call Blue here soon. I mean, the Blue Lion. Just in case we get into the fight with Honerva. Another reason, though Allura probably won't say it, she obviously misses Blue. It's been a while, so that's only natural."
"Anyway, in short, Blue'll be in Nexus soon, I'm sure. I'm definitely gonna ask Allura for a ride someday. I've missed the Lions of Voltron, too. Also, I've never been a passenger in a Lion, I'm sure that's fun, too. Hey, you could also come."
I wonder if I'd still be able to pilot Black. Probably not, as a lot of weird stuff's happened to me, mentally and spiritually, and I don't even know if Black'd recognise me anymore. But I could be a passenger, if he ever came here.
"About Jack," Hiroki whispers, do you think we should tell him you might be him from another Reality or not? Because, really, your choice. I'm not sure what I'd do in such a situation, anyway. And we're not even sure yet."
After a good rest and now thinking things through, and talking to Ziggy about it, now it seems more likely to Hiroki than Jack's another Reality's Ziggy rather than a clone.
Because, for example, if he was a clone, no memory erasure would be necessary, he just wouldn't have memories. And Ziggy's confirmed that Jack's mind had been emptied.
So, yeah, probably not a clone, Hiroki thinks. Whew.
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I would love to see one of the lions. he's a little more excited in voice than he thought he would be. I am sure Black would welcome you back.
Ziggy strokes Jack's hair as he sleeps thinking about Hiroki's question. I think finding out he's half alien will be enough of a shock. That's what is important for him, not that he might be me. He's his own person and you taught me the pain of thinking you're someone else. He doesn't need that.
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For the vote of confidence regarding Black.
Speaking of others, sometimes I wonder whether to tell other Paladins about the Nexus, because I miss everyone, but... maybe after the war. Everyone's surely too busy now.
Then again, time doesn't pass normally in Nexus, and everybody in the Voltron Coalition needs vacation sometimes, honestly!
Allura can tell them someday. Or Shiro, or Romelle.
Hiroki grins. Yeah, he really misses his friends, who are like a family to him, too. He knows that Ziggy's not content with how they treated Hiroki, but right now, he doesn't care.
Maybe also because Hiroki's not sure he'd've done anything any differently, if he was in any of their shoes.
And this is the first time he's allowed himself to think that all of them, even Keith whom the clone had tried to kill (had tried not to kill, it was Haggar who had tried any killings), wouldn't mind seeing him, too. And really, much of that was thanks to Allura, who, he knows by now, still considers Hiroki a friend. Maybe not as close, but still. (Or, she might be as confused about how close friends they are, as he is with anybody whom he's met who first knew Shiro. It's a bit of a mess. But they're dealing with it. Slowly.)
Right. Jack. True, any nebulous connection he might or might not have to Ziggy shouldn't be a priority right now. Being an alien without knowing was pretty surprising on its own.
You're right. Maybe tell him a little about Antheans before you tell him he's one? So that he doesn't think it's something bad. Either way, it's going to be a lot to deal with, but yes, he deserves to know.
It's strange, but I'm really not attracted to Jack. Maybe because he just seemed so young and lost. Not that I should talk, I'm way younger, in every possible way. I wish I was the age I'm feeling like I am. Because sometimes, just talking to people I barely know, I'm feeling like a fraud. Like I'm lying that I'm as old as I look. Because of course I'm not gonna be telling strangers.
And then he realises that Ziggy's heard that thought, too. Now that's slightly embarassing.
"Never mind, okay? Stuff's weird, you know."
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I was thinking about introducing him to Mom. She'll be able to tell more about him than I will. He does need to know what he is though. It's dangerous if he doesn't. Ziggy was thinking just about food and movement like cars.
Ziggy giggles lightly. I understand. Remember I'm 90, look 20, and am a teenager by species. Age isn't clear for me... it probably isn't for Jack either, if he even knows how old he is. There's a lot of holes in his mind.
I have some slower time at work, so :) a tag
Hiroki smiles a little.
He nods, he's sure Aletayria can help. Looking more serious now, he ponders something, then puts it into words.
Mhm. Speaking of holes in minds, I've been remembering. Stuff from before I thought I was Shiro. I think I remember most stuff now. It's so weird... I don't think I'd call myself that person anymore, I have more in common with Shiro than with myself from my earliest time in life. Probably because I didn't know anything, back then. I don't think many people remember the time when they didn't understand almost anything.
You probably already know that Nexus pulled me here from that time once. It's funny, I can now imagine how confusing I must've been for people in Nexus. That's when I met Mantis, for example. He really helped. Well, the fact that he's psychic helped with communication, also. He explained some things to me using images. Memories. That helped.
He assumes Ziggy knows, about Hiroki's time in Nexus as young clone, because after all, the 'child' (mentally) himself had met Thomas then. Hiroki's also told Aletayria about it.
So today, when I saw Jack in the plaza, and he looked like you and he looked almost as confused and scared as I had back then, suddenly in Nexus, I just wanted to protect him. Because somebody could hurt him, quiznak, for all I knew, Honerva could notice him and decide there's an easy Anthean for the taking because he's so confused, and, yeah... you know.
Hmmmm.
Right. Sometime, we should warn Jack, just in case, to stay away from Honerva. Wherever she might be right now. Quiznak, I know she's somewhere in Nexus, but I have no idea where exactly.
Because Hiroki knows that Honerva's somewhat intrigued by Antheans and what possibilities they might present, and Jack is an Anthean after all, so... surely it's not paranoia if things might happen.
Anyway... for more immediate matters now.
Do you think Jack's eaten enough? I know he must've been starved.
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I think he's more confused that no one is spying on him. He's very paranoid and wary. Ziggy didn't know why but he could feel it distinctly. I asked Lucifer to keep track of her for us. He's concerned about what she's done.
Ziggy wasn't sure if Hiroki had met Lucifer. If not, he should introduce them for sure.
I think food is scarce where he's from. You can't let someone who has starved eat too much at once. It can make them sick. Ziggy glances at Jack where he is still cuddled up with them sleeping. Ziggy reaches down and strokes the equally red hair. I think that's why he's sleeping so long. He finally has enough food to sleep.
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And spying huh? Right. The Ministry. Being watched-
Hiroki flinches, and takes a deep breath. There's a reason he's called Ziggy instead of just helping Jack himself. And the reason's horrible selfish, and Ziggy might know it already. And the reason is, that, beside reminding Shiro's clone of Ziggy, Jack also reminds Shiro's clone of himself. Of the himself he doesn't know, and would instantly want to help, if he's ever met that himself, here somehow (everything was possible here), ever. But would be so overwhelmed--
Would surely need help for that, selfishly, too.
You've asked the (or, a?) devil himself to monitor Honerva and he will just like that? Maybe instead of calling you Princess Ziggy, you should be Goddess Ziggy. Anyway- good idea. And, yes, I've met Lucifer. Rather serious man, and decent one, I think.
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Lucifer values freedom. I think he sees her actions as violations of his own morals.. or principles maybe? I've met with him a few times. We have some interesting things in common that I don't quite understand but I think he's friendly.
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Light giggle.
He's calming. He's calming. Slowly.
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The man in his world he asked to use his face, I don't know that's something to do with angels needing to ask for their appearance or something. Anyway, the singer he offered that to him... I'm a fictional character that singer plays. Apparently, I'm an alter ego of another person in some other universes and not a real person. It's so strange."
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Hiroki wants to lighten the mood, right now. Stuff's gotten heavy. Of course, they'll help Jack, but, in the meantime...
Just act as if you're Jack's brother, if he's never had one, maybe he'll take you.
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That had been true of Ziggy and Hiroki too if he thought about it.
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"I loved you too fast. That's why I knew it was a mistake-- until it wasn't. I don't know. I don't know anything. If I'm your mistake, don't realise it too soon. You can make some mistakes..."
"Well, I love you slowly now..."
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"Hiroki." Ziggy pulls himself up to lay his head in the crook of Hiroki's neck. "I've never thought you were a mistake. Even when you died and I didn't want to get up off the floor, I never thought you were a mistake."
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Ah--
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
"Still, if I ever--"
"I don't want to think it'd kill you, if I were ever gone again. I hope- could you find some more happiness in life, anyway, if, someday, I am gone again? Which I hope I won't be, but-"
"Would you do that for me, my Paladin? Ziggy?"
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"Hiroki. I'm watching my parents. My father's mortal like you and I don't think I am. I don't want to lose you now... but when you're old I probably will.... unless how you are now extends your life."
He kisses Hiroki's jaw and nuzzles. "I'm not going to find happiness for a long time, maybe I won't ever, but you're worth it now."